It’s funny what happens when you set such high hopes and throw your energy behind them. Sometimes a little thing called Life steps in and throws up a brick wall. And it all usually happens without a warning.

In my case, it felt more like I turned a corner and instead of a brick wall, I found myself on the edge of a huge chasm with no solid ground in sight. There was no ground behind me to step back on, either. I was just stuck staring down into this abyss on a tiny strip of land.

To put it simply:

• My marriage died suddenly.

• My Person left and never looked back.

• I was left with everything and yet had nothing.

• I still had an unfinished book.

To say that 2026 blew up is an understatement.

But here’s the thing about our hardest moments—they often clear the way for our best.

While I am still grieving, and will be for a while, it’s changing. With the help of loved ones and friends, both close and thousands of miles away, the steps across the abyss have started to appear. I’ve been able to move forward and look back at the emptiness a little less each day.

And—I finished the book. It took more effort than I’ve ever had to expend writing. My energy was depleted by my emotional expenditure, and writing each chapter came down to putting one letter down at a time.

Now that it’s finished, I believe it’s my best book yet. It’s got all the elements that make an entertaining story while still delivering a universal message on something every human has experienced: Grief.

In 2023, I wrote the first draft of Stages in the haze that followed my brother’s sudden death.

In 2026, I finished the final draft carrying the weight of the unexpected death of my marriage.

Nothing is a coincidence.

That’s why I believe wholeheartedly it’s my best work. When I write from the heart—even when it’s broken—the words and the sentiment behind them flow more naturally. The characters and the story take shape without me needing to force anything.

I hope you’ll consider ordering a copy of Stages, coming out on June 9, 2026. I promise it’s not full of the doom and gloom that is often associated, rightfully so, with grief. It’s guided by twists and turns, compelling characters, impossible choices, warm moments, and an ending that is the best I’ve ever crafted.

You can preorder the Kindle version now. The paperback will be available on or before June 9th.

Thank you for supporting me. I am forever grateful for being able to live my dream. ❤️

Three lives entwined by one shattering truth.

At thirty-eight, Cam has built a career fixing companies while never letting anything or anyone break her. As she’s about to battle her workplace rival for a coveted promotion, she inherits an estate from a grandmother she believed died decades before.

Sixteen-year-old Josie is struggling to make it through high school. Between her father’s drinking and her mother’s prolonged absence, she’s desperate to stay invisible. When a school essay contest exposes more than she intended, her father reveals a truth that shatters her world even more.

Sophia is a twenty-four-year-old who has learned that nothing pays the bills quite like a rich married man. After years of saving, she finally has the money she needs to start over. But just as she’s about to walk away, a message forces her to face a past she’s been trying to forget and a future she isn’t sure she can have.

As the losses pile on, each will make choices that ultimately lead to the untangling of the thread that binds them together.

Stages is a powerful story about how buried secrets, inherited pain, and unresolved grief mold us into the people we become.

PREORDER HERE

One more thing before I go…

Since heartbreak and grief are universal, I’ll be starting up a new section of my Substack called Letters from inside a broken heart. It’ll be the most raw and vulnerable version of me, adapted from the journal(s) I’ve kept in the months following the death of my marriage. I’ll be sharing these pieces in the hope that, maybe others grappling with grief and loss will feel a little less alone, crazy, and lost.

You won’t automatically receive those posts unless you subscribe separately for them here. Obviously, if this content doesn’t speak to you, feel free to scroll on past. :)

I’m a failed planner. If you’ve been around long enough, I’ve posted about this before. I love to get organized, buy pretty planners and calendars, and put all the things on them. I make endless to-do lists with pretty checkboxes.

But when it comes to actually doing all the things, I fall short.

I never lose motivation for the things I love, like writing. I’ve learned that what holds me back is the discomfort that rises in my chest when I start a new task. It’s an icky feeling. Uncomfortable. Unsettling.

So inevitably, I stop doing that thing and resort to one that comes easier. These tasks are also on my list, but they aren’t as important as the thing I’m avoiding.

I know what that discomfort is. I’ve felt it plenty of times throughout my life, and even more so since I declared I was going to publish a novel.

It’s fear.

Because the things I need to do aren’t easy. They require me to either tackle a task I’m not good at (like overhauling my website, BLESS) or overcome a really hard obstacle (like getting a story to work the way I want it to…send help and chocolate).

Fear wins when I avoid the hard things and allow my plans to evaporate.

Not this year. I’m flipping the script and turning fear straight on its head. Instead of anxiety being a bad thing, I’m determined to harness that energy and funnel it into excitement over my most ambitious year yet. [Hint: It has to do with books.]

I hope you’ll stay on this wild ride with me through 2026 and beyond and hold me accountable. It’s bound to be filled with ups and downs, twists and turns, and a lot of “damn that was fun” moments.

Have you learned to harness something you thought was negative and make it into a positive? I’d love to hear about it!

For your TBR (to-be-read) pile

In To Have and to Hold, Deb Brown leads readers through the emotionally turbulent world of pregnancy loss and infertility struggles with empathy and grace. Her writing is beautiful and captivating, and the story grabs you from the start. The characters are realistic, their reactions authentic as they experience the highs and tragic lows of their journey toward fulfilling their dreams of becoming parents. I felt invested in Amelia's struggles as if she were my best friend. I wanted to hug her at least a dozen times throughout the story—a testament to Deb Brown's strength as an emotional storyteller. This is a beautiful book about perseverance, faith, love, and hope. I'm excited to read more from this author!

Read it in Kindle Unlimited or order it here.

Speaking of TBR…

If you enjoy contemporary books written by and for women, you should join me over at Iris & Ivy Reads. This brand-new community goes live on January 13th and promises to be a fun place for all things reading. Twice a month, we’ll post a reader-focused essay, along with book recommendations and other tidbits we feel readers like us might like. We’ve got a lot of big plans, but we need your help to build the community. So spread the word to all your bookish pals and join us!

Case in point: my first book club appearance. I spent the morning trying to remember things like:

When did I actually start writing this book?

What was different about that draft?

How did I come up with the idea?

And my personal favorite: How did I even write an entire book?

The answer to that last question still eludes me.

I can’t tell you how I do it except that I just do. I come up with an idea. I make some notes. I start writing. I don’t typically outline. I don’t do much planning or plotting at all.

I’m not sure intuitive writing is a thing. But if it is, that’s my process. I go with it through the first draft, often exploring the characters’ internal motives. Contrary to what I used to think, the first draft isn’t where the magic happens. That comes later in all the other drafts that follow.

This type of writing process isn’t the most efficient for many. Some worry about wasted words. And yes, I do wind up with entire chapters, acts, and characters on the cutting room floor. But I don’t look at those words as being a waste. Instead, they build the characters, their world, and the plot. Every word I cut serves the final published story in some way.

The book club went great, by the way. They asked some thoughtful questions and shared some of their insights into the book. That was my favorite part—hearing readers connect with, fight for (and against) my characters, and just all-around enjoy the story. That’s what this whole wild and wonderful career is all about.

Exciting book news!

My third novel, Stages, is set to release on May 12, 2026!

Three lives entwined by one shattering truth.

At thirty-eight, Cam has built a career fixing companies while never letting anything or anyone break her. As she’s about to battle her workplace rival for a coveted promotion, she inherits an estate from a grandmother she believed died decades before.

Sixteen-year-old Josie is struggling to make it through high school. Between her father’s drinking and her mother’s prolonged absence, she’s desperate to stay invisible. When a school essay contest exposes more than she intended, her father reveals a truth that upends her world even more.

Sophia is a twenty-four-year-old who has learned that nothing pays the bills quite like a rich married man. After years of saving, she finally has the money she needs to start over. But just as she’s about to walk away, a message forces her to face a past she’s been trying to forget—and a future she isn’t sure she can have.

Stages is a powerful story about how buried secrets, inherited pain, and unresolved grief mold us into the people we become.

Preorder the Kindle version here. And stay tuned for updates and events as the publication date gets closer!

Attention Readers!

The hardest part about being a published author isn’t the writing (believe it or not), it’s reaching readers. So a few of us put our heads together and decided to start the kind of reading community we were looking for: one filled with contemporary fiction written by and for women. Introducing Iris & Ivy Reads, launching January, 2026. I’ll share more about it in the weeks ahead, but for now, subscribe to the Substack and become one of the first to join this vibrant reading community.

Iris & Ivy Reads

A reading collective that promotes contemporary fiction written by women for women.

After my break, I started writing…another book. I immediately thought of that infamous line from Friends, when Ross tried to explain to Rachel that he only cheated because “we were on a break.” It turns out that while I was on a break from one manuscript, I had a fling with another one. Awkward, I know.

In all seriousness, setting aside a draft until I can make it work is part of my process. One day, I’ll be able to give that original manuscript the love and attention it needs and deserves. But for now, I’ll keep working on my never-ending to-do list and several other projects, including my third book, launching in May 2026. Stay tuned for the official announcement coming soon. :)

Thank you doesn’t seem big enough for how much I appreciate every person who has read my books, written a review, and dropped me a note. I appreciate you coming along while I finally live my dream. Oh, and you might want to hold on because the ride is just beginning.

Who wants to win FREE books?

I’m part of a 19-book giveaway that’s happening between now and November 14th. This giveaway is a bit different because you get to choose the books you want to win. Pretty cool, right? No purchase necessary. Check out the details here and good luck!

News!

Guess what? Both of my books came up pretty big in awards in the span of a week. I am still giddy and probably will be for a very long time. You can all read about it on my website. Thank you again for all your support!

You may have noticed things look a little different. I changed newsletter platforms from Mailerlite to Substack, but don’t worry. I still won’t spam you or sell your information. Thank you for reading These are just words. Please share it with anyone you might think would enjoy my content. And feel free to drop me a line if you have questions or comments.