I'm in that season of "between books" and sometimes it's hard to know what to share with you beautiful humans. The truth is, I've been getting into the weeds with book four and it's been fun but slow-going. I'm working at the ol' day job a bit more since January, and I don't have as much time (or brains) to devote to writing as I wish I had! That, combined with *gestures at everything* is a bit of a drag. Creativity is hard to really tuck into right now.
But I'm plugging away at it.
[Gif of Austin Powers driving a cart stuck in a narrow corridor with text "Fuck Man, I'm trying..."]
Writers often get asked: Which are you, a plotter or a pantser? And the truth is, I'm some weird mix of the two. I can't totally fly by the seat of my pants, but I also can't fully plot and outline a book in full. I need to write to get to know my characters, which helps me visualize more of the plot, but I also can't really write until I have a plan in place. At least a partial one. So the end result, as you can imagine, is fairly chaotic. I plan a bit, write a bit, plan a bit more, write a bit more, etc... the whole while wishing I could just have (and follow) a detailed plan OR embrace the chaos and feel more confidence that I'll figure it out as I go.
I'm a plantser, I guess. Or maybe even a neutral plotter? Chaotic plantser? This grid of writing style alignments by Cheyanne Alepka has some interesting options:
[Writing Style Alignments by Cheyanne Alepka, originally posted on X/Twitter in 2019.]
Whatever it is, I'm trying my best to trust the process. I know from my previous three books that it DOES all come together eventually, and this is simply the messy beginning part when nothing is super clear yet and the ideas are all over the fucking shop. But it'll get there. It has to. *cue nervous laughter*
When I'm stuck in the weeds with plotting/planning, I often lean on my bookish friends as sounding boards to work through my thoughts. I'm a truly verbal processor, so I usually need to talk it out to work it out. Some exceptionally fabulous humans have tolerated receiving my rambling voice notes about book four already (looking at you, Katie, Riya, Andrea, Kari, and Kitty)... and let me just say THANK FUUUUCK for friends who will let you empty the contents of your brain. They deserve all the gold stars and forehead kisses forever. Especially Riya, who listened to me go on rather epically last night and helped me work through something I was stuck on! 🥳🥳🥳
In other news...
Romancing the Royal City 2027
[Attending author: Hannah Brixton will be signing at Romancing the Royal City, New Westminster 2027]
I'm so excited to share that I'll be a signing author at Romancing the Royal City, a new romance signing event here in BC 🇨🇦, in February of 2027! That's a whole year away, but still very exciting! And I'm so happy more wonderful bookish events are popping up near where I live. This is the first year for this event and the organizers have been wonderful and thorough so far. Make sure to follow their Instagram for updates!
Books Books Books!
Alright, people! Here are some new indie romances for your TBR:
[Cover of Fates that Bind by Ashtyn Kiana: Briarhollow Series Book 1]
Blurb:
Most of Renata Blackthorn’s life has been spent hiding–avoiding her mother’s cruelty, ashamed of her powerful spirit magic, and dreaming of escaping from her childhood home. As the only gray witch in a family of green witches, she’s always been an outsider. But the Blackthorn family curse, which afflicts those born with spirit magic, only makes her feel more isolated.
When a letter arrives from a late great-aunt, Renata inherits the eerie, crumbling Dreaming Willow Inn… Alongside it comes a warning: she’s the only one who can end the madness.
There are many places she has dreamed of running away to, but the inn where the curse started was one she hoped to avoid in every lifetime. Until it becomes a beacon of hope.
Once she steps foot on its grounds, fate stirs. So do the ghosts of her family’s past.
Renata quickly learns how the curse affects more than just her bloodline and its ability to give her everything she’s ever wanted—or take it all away, including her newfound coven and the man she never expected to meet in person, Archer Vexley.
After a decade of only finding him while sleeping, Archer is in Briarhollow with just as many ancestral ties to the Dreaming Willow Inn as she has. Not only that, he’s determined to learn more about the woman from his dreams.
Renata never thought she would meet him in person, or have a coven of her own. Now that she has everything, she won’t let fate rip it away.
Jules Bardot is ready to change things up. After years of teaching music at the local high school, he’s roped his brothers into opening Bardot Brothers Coffee Co.—a dream that’s been put on the back burner. What he didn’t plan on was an unexpected surprise in the form of Thea Rose: the somehow cute and sexy, single mom who just moved to town… and the woman he never thought he’d see again.
Thea Rose wants to start over. Joining Ballet Boston gave her a taste of the big-city life, but she never expected to stay, especially after her daughter was born, effectively ending her ballet career. Now she has the chance to get back to her small-town roots, raising her daughter outside of the hustle and bustle of the city. Only problem? Her quiet and broody failed attempt at a one-night stand is everywhere… and she can’t bring herself to avoid temptation.
Just as Jules and Thea finally give in, they get the ultimate plot twist: two pink lines. Jules is thrilled, but Thea… well, she’s been down this road before. Can she give Jules the chance he’s asking for and risk building a family with him? Or will she continue to do what she does best and hold him at arm’s length in an effort to protect her own heart? Jules is determined to strike the balance between loving Thea and letting her find her own stride, ready to make her, and their growing family, entirely his.
[Cover of The Fall Line by Meg Riley - The Heartwood Series]
Blurb:
I have a secret: I’ve never been kissed.
At least, not before I married the world’s hottest pro skier and world-renowned playboy.
The deal? Stay married until I secure my inheritance and keep my café, and he convinces his sponsors he’s changed his womanizing ways.
Easy… except Jett plays the part of devoted husband a little too well.
He’s sweeter than he lets on. He teaches me how to ski, how to date…
How to kiss.
He’s protective and calls me wife.
Our marriage might be the most meaningful relationship Jett Landry has ever had. And somewhere along the way, what started as a PR stunt has stopped feeling pretend.
Now I’m wondering if the man every woman wants, might actually want me.
The Fall Line is a reformed playboy, marriage of convenience small town romantic comedy with a guaranteed happily-ever after! It is the fourth book in The Heartwood Series and can be read as a standalone.
RITCR! I'm in love! My lovely Lovelies, I'm freshly home from a whirlwind trip to Banff, Alberta for Romance Invades the Canadian Rockies 2026! It was such an incredible experience, and I can't say enough gushy good things about how the two rock stars running Slow Burn Books (sisters Shannon and Nicola) planned and executed this event. It was seamless and fabulous. Do you know how much work goes into running an event that size with no hiccups!? THEY FUCKING SMASHED IT. [Photos from RITCR...
F*ck Me Sideways! It's a cover reveal? My beautiful Lennox Lovelies, You may remember that I was involved in a charity anthology that came out back in November (two days after Sweet Caroline because I plan my life real good-like 🥴). Well, as of tomorrow, Mistletoe Moments will have spent its six months out in the world and will no longer be available through retailers. We've raised a good chunk of money for Food Banks Canada and I couldn't be prouder of our little (well, not so little) group...
Miles & Caroline character art!!! My gorgeous Lennox Lovelies, What do parenting and authoring have in common? It's the LIES. Stick with me here. 😆 When I had babies and then very young kids, I was always told it would get easier. At the next milestone, the next age, when this growth spurt ended or that tooth finally came in. Heck, even when the weather changed. "It gets easier," more seasoned parents would tell me. Aaaand it was horseshit. Look, it's true that the relentless, soul-crushing...
