Hello Again & Welcome!

In the last two weeks, our subscriber crew has nearly doubled! I just want to give a massive hello to everyone joining and thank all of you for being here! I love hearing from readers and authors, or even those elsewhere in the industry, so never be afraid to reach out or answer the questions I pose.

So what’s going on in my world? Life is a little chaotic at the moment. I mean, as a mom of four, with two children homeschooling and two toddlers, who is often the sole parent (because hubby is in a blue collar industry and works out of state), when is it not? But balancing mom life with author life when you’re gearing up for a release definitely adds a new level of chaos.

Ok, so that’s all, right? Um, no. Our family dog passed this week and that has added to the heightened emotions in the house. We are making it, and I’m more thankful than ever that we recently got the two older kiddos into counseling. As I’ve learned more about mental health through my adults years, it’s become important to me that we have professional help outside of the home. For one, I didn’t have the counseling or therapy I needed when I was younger, because I didn’t exhibit the “typical” symptoms for my various mental health challenges, and I wish that I had. In addition, I recognize that I can’t be everything for my children all of the time, and it wouldn’t be healthy for any of us to try. They’ve been really successful working through things with help and having actionable steps, thankfully, and when we have added stressors like this week, it helps to know there will be additional check-ins. Stepping down from my mental health soap-box now.

We’re also on the cusp of determining if we’ll be moving out of state or staying put for another year. Can I just say that having to give a sixty day notice for a rental, when most places only hold available housing for two weeks, is insanity to me? I digress.

Despite everything going on, I really just want to write but finding the time is just not happening lately. I anticipate a change in publishing schedule for the year, but more will come as I have actionable dates.

The Fallout Duet & More

We are two weeks from the release of When the Smoke Clears! ARCs were sent on Monday and no one has sent me any hate mail yet, so that’s a plus. If you still want to sign up, there’s time. Otherwise, both versions will be available on March 6th.

Want to help with release? Make sure you’ve added When the Smoke Clears to your TBR on Goodreads. It’s a quick way to help it get seen!

The Fallout Duet received a lot of love for Valentine’s! When Sparks Fly was free and almost 250 people downloaded their copy! This was the first time I’ve given digital copies away, aside from the ARCs, and I’m hopeful more love will spread for the books. Last weekend, When the Smoke Clears also managed to exceed my expectations for preordered copies! I didn’t hit my goal for When Sparks Fly but I still increased my goal for the sequel and being able to hit that when this authoring thing can be so varied feels amazing. Thank you all for your love of these books, Maci & Sutton’s story, and your support for me. It means more than I can say.

Speaking of love for the books…

I found out this week that When Sparks Fly has been nominated for TWO 2025 Indieverse Awards! I am so honored that readers chose to nominate my book baby, and so excited for my fellow indie authors.

In fact, huge congratulations to Stacey LP who was featured in a previous newsletter. Her debut Afterglow: Rising from the Ashes, which debuted the same day as When Sparks Fly, also received multiple nominations! If you’re in the mood for a dystopian, sci-fi about the aftermath of an alien invasion, with inclusive characters, definitely check her book out.

I look forward to sharing more about the awards, fellow nominees, and how you can get involved! Reading challenge anyone??

Indie Author Feature

Hannah Brixton is the author of Hey Jude and Jesse’s Girl. Aside from being a fellow indie author, I find her to generally be hilarious. She shares direct messages without context on her Instagram occasionally, and when I tell you I WISH I was on the receiving end of some of those messages!

“Sinkhole, take me now.”

Olena MacMillan is a hot mess. Feeling like she has a permanent seat on the struggle bus, she can’t seem to get her act together—or stop embarrassing herself.

Desperate for a fresh start in her hometown, Olena needs to focus. On getting her life on track. On resuscitating her landscape design business. Definitely not on the gorgeous landscaper she’s stuck working with. But something about his intense green eyes and hunky lumberjack vibe has her babbling non-stop.

Jude Sharpe is a man of routine. He likes his life just the way it is: familiar, predictable, and safe. And he’s determined to keep things professional, ignoring Olena’s magnetic pull. But who is he kidding? Even his dog is smitten.

But when Olena’s ex won’t stop harassing her, escalating his unhinged behavior, she has to dig deep for the courage to let Jude in or risk losing everything.

Hey Jude is the first book in the Lennox Valley Chronicles series. It features mature content intended for readers aged 18 and up. 

Coming Up

Even though When the Smoke Clears isn’t quite out, I already have plans for TWO bonus chapters. These will be available for newsletter subscribers only, so stay tuned. The first one will be available in March. I don’t want to give too much away, but my beta readers ate it up.

Save the date!

XOXO, Amanda