October Newsletter: Book 4, Soulful Romance, and Why Stories Matter
Updated: 4 days ago
September was wonderful.
We received much-needed rain here in our desert state, which always feels like a gift. I also attended a book fair down in St. George that was a great success. I was thrilled to sell quite a few complete sets of my series and even got to offer Book 4 of the Somewhere Aching series as a pre-release. Overall, September brought a lot of exciting wins. Of course, life always likes to keep things interesting.
We discovered a chipmunk infestation at our RV up in the mountains, and we still haven’t figured out how those little troublemakers are getting inside. They’re adorable in cartoons, but far less charming when they’re living in your walls. We’re currently deploying every deterrent we can think of, from traps to high-pitched sound devices, hoping to convince them to relocate. It definitely put a small damper on an otherwise perfect getaway.
On a much brighter note, my eldest son came to visit for a month. It was wonderful having him here. We gathered as a family for beer and pizza at Slackwater, shared stories, laughed far too much, and created the kind of memories that stay with you forever. Family means everything to me, and it’s probably why family relationships play such an important role in my stories.
Book News
Book 4 of the Somewhere Aching series is finally out, and I honestly couldn’t be more excited to share it with you. This book takes everything readers have come to love about the series and pushes it even deeper. The relationships are more complicated, the emotional stakes are higher, and the road to healing is anything but easy. And if you’ve been curious about the Somewhere Aching series but haven’t started yet, now’s the time. With four books available, you can completely immerse yourself in a story filled with heartbreak, hope, family, healing, and the kind of love that changes people.
Grab your copy of Book 4 today, and if you’ve already read it, please consider leaving a review. Reviews help independent authors more than you know and help new readers discover stories they might otherwise miss.
This series has become something incredibly special to me because it represents exactly the kind of stories I want to put into the world. Stories that aren’t afraid of darkness but never lose sight of hope. That can make it challenging to market at times, but it's also helped me better understand the kind of stories I truly want to write.
Up until now, my books have generally been categorized as dark romance. While they certainly contain darkness, emotional complexity, and plenty of grit, they don’t follow many of the familiar tropes readers often associate with the genre.
My stories are spicy. They’re raw. They explore painful subjects and messy emotions. But at their core, they’re deeply human and full of heart. Lately, I’ve started calling what I write Soulful Romance. I don’t know if it’s an official genre. Maybe it is. Maybe I’m making it up as I go. Either way, it feels right.
What’s Next?
I am currently up to my neck in a short story collection that I hope to release around Christmas. These stories explore heartbreak, darkness, loss, and tragedy, but they are also filled with hope. No matter how difficult the road becomes, my characters continue finding ways to save one another. In many ways, the collection reflects the same themes that run through all my work: connection, redemption, and the enduring strength of human relationships.
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the world around us. Many people are struggling. Costs keep rising, uncertainty seems everywhere, and it often feels like we’re encouraged to move past difficult emotions as quickly as possible. Yet those emotions don’t disappear simply because we ignore them. Perhaps that’s one reason I’m drawn to stories that sit with discomfort instead of running from it.
I believe we all need healthy outlets for the challenges life brings. For me, fiction has always provided that space. The stories that stay with me are the ones willing to explore pain honestly while still offering a glimpse of hope on the other side. Maybe that’s why catharsis remains one of storytelling’s greatest gifts. Anyway, that’s enough philosophizing for one newsletter!
A Fun Little Project
I’ve also been creating mystery books to sell around town on demand. I’m honestly touched by how many people have asked for them. While mystery novels aren’t usually my first choice as a reader, I’ve had so much fun designing and decorating these books. Even better have been the conversations with readers who accidentally jump right into the middle of one of my series and then have a thousand questions afterward. Those interactions always make me smile.
Quote of the Month
I love quotes. Words have such power to shape how we think, how we heal, and how we move through the world.
“Sometimes things fall apart so better things can fall back together.”— Marilyn Monroe
Life doesn’t always unfold the way we expect, but sometimes the hardest seasons are the ones that eventually lead us somewhere better. I try to look for rainbows after every storm. When I find them, I hold onto them tightly.
Pull out your favorite mugs, enjoy the cool evenings, and settle in with a good book and your favorite drink. Mine is a hot mug of apple cider topped with a splash of Fireball whisky.
What’s your favorite fall drink? I’d love to hear about it in the comments. 🍂☕️🍎
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