Where I’ve Been, What I’ve Been Writing, and What’s Coming Next

If you’ve been checking in here and wondering whether I quietly disappeared into the literary equivalent of the witness protection program—fair question.

It’s been a while.

Long enough, in fact, that I considered opening this post with a dramatic, windswept “she returned at last…” but decided against it because (1) I teach high school English full-time and have already used up my daily quota of theatrics by third period, and (2) the truth is a lot less glamorous and a lot more familiar: life got busy, writing got complicated, and something had to give. Unfortunately, that something was regular blogging.

That said, the absence wasn’t accidental, and it definitely wasn’t because I’ve stopped writing. Quite the opposite.

The Reality Behind the Silence

Teaching English full-time means I spend my days immersed in words—analyzing them, grading them, encouraging them, occasionally begging students to include them in complete sentences. By the time I sit down to write my own stories, I’m not starting from empty—I’m starting from already poured out.

And yet, the stories don’t exactly wait patiently.

So the writing continues, just…quietly. Behind the scenes. In early mornings, late nights, and those in-between moments where an idea refuses to be ignored (like on my laptop, in the car waiting for one of my kids’ many extracurriculars to wrap up). 

But here’s the part that doesn’t always get talked about enough: writing a novel—especially the kind of emotionally layered, historically grounded stories I aim to tell—is not a solo act. Not in the least.

Writing, But Make It a Team Sport

There’s a persistent myth that authors sit alone, conjuring perfect manuscripts out of thin air like literary magicians.

I regret to inform you that my process looks significantly less like magic and significantly more like a group project where everyone is talented, detail-oriented, and occasionally booked three weeks out.

My work goes through multiple stages of collaboration—developmental edits, line edits, revisions, re-revisions, and the delicate art of aligning schedules with an incredible editing team who are just as invested in getting the story right as I am.

And “getting it right” isn’t just about fixing commas or tightening prose. It’s about:

• Honoring the historical context

• Deepening character motivations

• Making sure emotional arcs actually land (instead of just existing in my head where they made perfect sense at 2 a.m.)

• Asking hard questions about what the story is really saying

  
  

All of that takes time. And coordination. And patience.

Lots of patience.

So while I haven’t been showing up here as consistently as I’d like, I have been deep in the work—revising, refining, and making sure the next book is something I’m genuinely proud to put into your hands.

Speaking of… No Greater Love

Now for the part you actually care about.

Things are moving forward.

One of the most exciting upcoming moments? The official blurb reveal for No Greater Love.

There’s something oddly surreal about condensing an entire novel—years of research, revisions, emotional damage (mostly mine), and countless cups of coffee—into a few carefully crafted paragraphs.

A back cover synopsis has one job: to invite readers into the story without giving too much away. Which sounds simple until you realize every sentence feels like it carries the weight of the entire book.

No pressure, right?

Still, I’m incredibly excited to finally begin sharing more of No Greater Love with you all. The reveal is coming soon, and I cannot wait for readers to get their first real glimpse into the heart of this story.

What’s Next (And How You Can Be Part of It)

With that momentum building, the next step is one I’m especially excited about: forming my ARC team.

If you’re new to the term, ARC stands for Advance Reader Copy. It’s an early version of the book shared with a small group of readers before release. ARC readers play a huge role in helping authors build early buzz, generate reviews, and honestly—just get the story into the hands of people who love this genre.

In other words, it’s one of the most collaborative and community-driven parts of publishing.

I’ll be opening up ARC sign-ups soon, and when I do, I’ll be sharing all the details over on my social media.

So if you’ve ever wanted a behind-the-scenes look at the process—or the chance to read No Greater Love before it officially launches—keep an eye out. I’d love to have you involved.

Final Thoughts Before I Disappear Again (Kidding…Mostly)

This post isn’t a grand “I’m back and will now blog every week without fail” declaration. I respect you too much to make promises I may not be able to keep between grading essays and revising chapters.

But it is a check-in.

A reminder that the work is happening. That the stories are coming. That even in the quiet stretches, progress is being made—thoughtfully, collaboratively, and with a lot of care.

Thank you for sticking with me through the quieter seasons. It means more than you probably realize.

More soon—especially that blurb reveal. 

And if you’re interested in joining the ARC team, stay tuned. I have a feeling you’re going to like what’s coming next.