Welcome to 2026. Wow. That happened fast. December is usually full of looking-back posts as people try to come to terms with another year gone, but the holidays are always busy and I prefer to take stock in January, and look ahead as well as back.
It felt like 2025 flew by as usual. I didn’t get half the things on my to-list done both in regards to writing and in life in general. I managed to make progress on some projects around our little farm on the edge of the woods. I mulched about 50 yards of forest trails (chipping wood is a lot of work). I didn’t get my garden beds done, but I built a Hügelkultur mound for the first time. I kayaked a few times, but not nearly enough. We had plans for some hikes that never happened, but we also had family visits, bonfires, foraging, star-gazing (I saw the Aurora Borealis finally!), and many other great moments. I think the trick is to make plans, but don’t stress if those plans fail to happen. Embrace the unexpected joys and the tranquil moments instead.
The biggest change that happened this year was more of a decision than an event. After my disastrous accident in December of 2024 when I tore the tendons on both sides of my right ankle, my husband and I decided not to build a barn and bring my horse Booker home. This was a really difficult decision to make. If you’ve been following my stories for a while, you’ll know that I hoped to adopt some goats and another horse to keep Booker company. But after wrecking my ankle, I realized how fragile my health can be. My husband will be retiring next year, and we are at the point in our lives where taking on a big project like that is probably not fair to us or the animals who would be depending on us. Booker is happy where he is. He currently resides at a barn only 5 minutes down the road with an amazing care-taker and a small herd to keep him company. We will continue to build and create a little haven here in Quebec. I’ll keep you up to date with those projects. (Maybe chickens? Bees?)
For writing, I spent many wonderful hours in my little tent in the woods—my refuge. I discovered the Merlin app and communed with the birds that I can always hear but never see. I published two books. Mech and Magic (The Knack Series Book 2) came in at a truly epic 138,000 words! It was a huge undertaking and I thoroughly enjoyed the world building for this one. I even created a card game to go along with Rowan’s steampunk world, another big creative project that was definitely worth the effort.
And 2025 also saw the publication of Black Annis Year (The Fair Folk of Mullarkey Series Book 1). This is my heart book that tells about many of my experiences with animal rescues, and it’s set in a fictional town in my own area of Quebec. This is a book I have wanted to write for many years and seeing published was truly satisfying.
2026 will see the second book in The Fair Folk of Mullarkey. I’m already deep into the first draft that is tentatively titled Hallow Crossing and it takes place in and around the Cedar Grove Inn, which may or may not be haunted. After that I will start The Knack, Book 3. This will be Noah’s book, and I’m very excited to get it started. I’m aiming for a late 2026 publication for that one too.
There were also writing/promo projects that I’d hoped to start in 2025 that never happened. Number 1 on that list is a merchandize store on my site. I haven’t abandoned this project, but I need to meditate on the logistics of it a bit more. I would like to offer direct sales of some of my books too, but recent changes in shipping tariffs have made me rethink this. I will have to do some more research. All that stuff takes away from writing time, and my gut tells me that my efforts are better spent in creating new stories, characters and worlds for you to devour. That doesn’t mean I am abandoning the merch store or other non-writing projects, only that they will come when they come. Like the hikes I missed out on, I plan big and accept what comes to be.
In the next few months I will be revising how I create promotions, interact on social media and distribute my books. There will be changes coming. Change is good. Social media evolves quickly and it’s easy to get caught up in out-dated models. But don’t worry, I won’t do anything drastic without your input. I will talk more about the coming changes in my next few newsletters, and I’ll ask you readers for insight via a poll too.
I’m wishing you all the best for 2026 and thank you for your continued support. I can’t wait to bring you new stories for the new year!
It felt like 2025 flew by as usual. I didn’t get half the things on my to-list done both in regards to writing and in life in general. I managed to make progress on some projects around our little farm on the edge of the woods. I mulched about 50 yards of forest trails (chipping wood is a lot of work). I didn’t get my garden beds done, but I built a Hügelkultur mound for the first time. I kayaked a few times, but not nearly enough. We had plans for some hikes that never happened, but we also had family visits, bonfires, foraging, star-gazing (I saw the Aurora Borealis finally!), and many other great moments. I think the trick is to make plans, but don’t stress if those plans fail to happen. Embrace the unexpected joys and the tranquil moments instead.
The biggest change that happened this year was more of a decision than an event. After my disastrous accident in December of 2024 when I tore the tendons on both sides of my right ankle, my husband and I decided not to build a barn and bring my horse Booker home. This was a really difficult decision to make. If you’ve been following my stories for a while, you’ll know that I hoped to adopt some goats and another horse to keep Booker company. But after wrecking my ankle, I realized how fragile my health can be. My husband will be retiring next year, and we are at the point in our lives where taking on a big project like that is probably not fair to us or the animals who would be depending on us. Booker is happy where he is. He currently resides at a barn only 5 minutes down the road with an amazing care-taker and a small herd to keep him company. We will continue to build and create a little haven here in Quebec. I’ll keep you up to date with those projects. (Maybe chickens? Bees?)
For writing, I spent many wonderful hours in my little tent in the woods—my refuge. I discovered the Merlin app and communed with the birds that I can always hear but never see. I published two books. Mech and Magic (The Knack Series Book 2) came in at a truly epic 138,000 words! It was a huge undertaking and I thoroughly enjoyed the world building for this one. I even created a card game to go along with Rowan’s steampunk world, another big creative project that was definitely worth the effort.
And 2025 also saw the publication of Black Annis Year (The Fair Folk of Mullarkey Series Book 1). This is my heart book that tells about many of my experiences with animal rescues, and it’s set in a fictional town in my own area of Quebec. This is a book I have wanted to write for many years and seeing published was truly satisfying.
2026 will see the second book in The Fair Folk of Mullarkey. I’m already deep into the first draft that is tentatively titled Hallow Crossing and it takes place in and around the Cedar Grove Inn, which may or may not be haunted. After that I will start The Knack, Book 3. This will be Noah’s book, and I’m very excited to get it started. I’m aiming for a late 2026 publication for that one too.
There were also writing/promo projects that I’d hoped to start in 2025 that never happened. Number 1 on that list is a merchandize store on my site. I haven’t abandoned this project, but I need to meditate on the logistics of it a bit more. I would like to offer direct sales of some of my books too, but recent changes in shipping tariffs have made me rethink this. I will have to do some more research. All that stuff takes away from writing time, and my gut tells me that my efforts are better spent in creating new stories, characters and worlds for you to devour. That doesn’t mean I am abandoning the merch store or other non-writing projects, only that they will come when they come. Like the hikes I missed out on, I plan big and accept what comes to be.
In the next few months I will be revising how I create promotions, interact on social media and distribute my books. There will be changes coming. Change is good. Social media evolves quickly and it’s easy to get caught up in out-dated models. But don’t worry, I won’t do anything drastic without your input. I will talk more about the coming changes in my next few newsletters, and I’ll ask you readers for insight via a poll too.
I’m wishing you all the best for 2026 and thank you for your continued support. I can’t wait to bring you new stories for the new year!
2025 NEW RELEASES
If you're new to the reader's group or you missed these 2025 new releases, you can find them below. I'm also including links to the series pages on my site which includes extras like maps, character images, and playlists.
A magical journey of second chances, hidden mysteries, and the unexpected enchantment of a small village—where love, loss, and the fae collide in the most surprising ways. Black Annis Year begins a new Cozy Fantasy series that will lift you up and bring all the feels.
GET BLACK ANNIS YEAR (affiliate link)
VISIT THE FAIR FOLK OF MULLARKEY SERIES PAGE
Magic runs the machines. Secrets run the city. And Squad 54 stands between order and chaos.
As enemies close in and new treacheries are revealed, Conall and Rowan must face the same question: How far will you go to protect what you love?
GET MECH AND MAGIC (affiliate link)
VISIT THE KNACK SERIES PAGE
BOOK FAIRS
Short stories, new stories, epic stories. This week's book fairs have a little of everything. The best part of the holidays is finding that block of down time to eat chocolate, sip tea and read a good book. You're sure to find one here.
Also included this week is the annual Smashwords Sale. This one's huge! Get thousands of books and huge discounts. Several of my books are part of this sale, including the Hidden Coven Series, and The Fair Folk of Mullarkey Series. So don't miss out!
Finally, are you fed up with Amazon? Feed your fiction addiction with Kobo Plus and find a whole new selection of ebooks and audiobooks to feast on for a small monthly fee. They even have the first month free!
SPOTLIGHT BOOKS
Valkyrie Cursed
The Rogue Valkyrie Series Book 1
by Rosie Wylor-Owen
Rowan McQuaid should be dead.
Valkyries don’t survive vampire bites. But after releasing a tomb full of rabid vampires, Rowan is still breathing. Her survival means one thing: somehow, she is immune.
When witches are slaughtered in their homes, Rowan discovers the vampires are hell-bent on killing the descendants of those who imprisoned them. And every drop of blood spilled is on her hands.
Forced to team up with the mysterious vampire Nate Hallewell, Rowan must find and stop the rogue vampires before they kill every witch in south east England.
