I got SO CLOSE to my reading goal of 50 books in 2025 that I have decided to try again in 2026. The only alteration is that I also must read at least one NONFICTION book a month as well.
A lot of these might be repeats from my school days. One of the benefits of having gone to college is that some of those textbooks are still on my shelf and I feel like it’ll be a nice refresher. That’s not to say I won’t be looking for new nonfiction to read as well.
SO… what’s on the list for writing now that Nora has its first full series?
**CASTLE OF THREE KINGS**
I started this book several years ago and never finished because (cough) I broke something in the worldbuilding that needed to be fixed. It has simmered for long enough and, since I began it as a book for my son and he is graduating this year, it is time to dust it off and finish.
It is full of all the things I wanted to impart to him as a parent that I didn’t quite know how to fit into conversation, and while it definitely embraces some familiar tropes, I am still hopeful that he will enjoy it.
Hard Deadline for this newest draft is the end of March.
** TANGO FIVE **
Book 3 of the Tapped Universe has already been outlined and because I want a break from Fantasy for a little while, I’m going to be working on it this year.
Why yes, that does mean I’ll be reviewing/reading/revising Tapped and Enemy Souls, with a possibility for cover art changes for both. (For reasons I’ll share in my blog eventually.)
Because I know myself and the amount of time it takes me to edit, revise, find an editor, implement said editor’s thoughts, and all such things, you can expect this novel sometime in the Winter. I’m just not certain what side of the year that’ll be on.
** QUERY TRENCHES **
In the background of those two major goals for 2026, I have one novel being shopped around to different agencies and publishing houses. There have been several iterations to its title, but if Last Song of Winter does not garner any bites in the first quarter of 2026, then I may take it back to the drawing board for dissection and revision.
** SECRET PROJECTS **
I have THREE secret projects going on in the background here. However, as last year taught me to be kinder to myself regarding deadlines, I’m going to keep them secret. Suffice to say, one is Nora related, one is a brand new fantasy wherein I will be world-building a ton, and one is a novel that was finished ages ago but requires alterations and publishing rights to be returned to me.
A not-so-secret project is the rights reversions to the Sedition Series. My original publisher – Wings ePress – has closed its doors and I know there are some circumstances that are causing a bit of delay in authors getting their rights back. Given my current deadlines and schedule, I am patiently waiting for the official publishing rights to be returned, but as soon as I have them I will be focused on getting them all published under my own name – and completing the series.
