July Recap and Writing Updates
The Coterie {August 2025}
July recap
What a month! Strap in because this one’s going to be newsy.
First, we started July with a family staycation where we worked on projects around the house and had some fun around town. It was the perfect week of rest before we were swept into the whirlwind of the month.
Next, I had so much fun at the Columbus Book Festival, where I finally got to share the hardcover of I Wish I May with the world. I loved meeting readers face-to-face and seeing reactions to the new cover. It was such a busy event, and I definitely didn’t bring enough books because I SOLD OUT! It made me want to do more in-person events so keep reading to find out where I’m headed next.
The next week, I headed up to Grand Rapids, MI, for the Realm Makers Writers Conference and Expo. For my first Realm Makers conference, I had no idea what to expect. I knew I would be bringing a 9-month-old baby with me everywhere, so I was going to have to be flexible. Despite needing me for all her meals, my second is a very happy, easy-going baby. She hung out with me and snacked on puffs while I soaked up everything I could learn in one weekend.
I got to meet old friends, make new ones, and I brought home a massive stack of books by Christian authors to add to my TBR pile.
We also made the most of the weekend away and stopped at Frederick Meijer Gardens on the way home which was a lot of fun.
Of course all of this fun meant we picked up a nasty cold to share with the whole family, so the last two weeks of July were for recovery and for diving back into my manuscript.
Writing update
The first draft of Star Light Star Bright is chugging along. It’s looking like it might be a little longer than I expected, but we’ll see. I can’t make any promises on length, but I have just reached 27k words with approximately 50k more words to go.
I’m planning to have this draft done by September, but as I’ve learned this year, when you have a baby and a toddler, the only thing I can plan for is change. Once I reach “The End” on draft one, I’ll have a solid timeline and will set the official release date but it’s looking like an early 2026 release is likely. I want to get this book to you ASAP but I also want it done right, which means beta readers and multiple rounds with professional editors. Sooo…
If you’re chomping at the bit to read Star Light Star Bright, I will be looking for beta readers in September and October! If you’re an avid reader who would love to offer feedback on an early draft, fill out this form.
If you’re an experienced book reviewer but don’t have time to beta read in the next few months, stay tuned! I will have ARCs (aka Advance Reader Copies) available in November. In the meantime, here’s a little snippet to give you an idea of what’s to come.
A hand snatched hers and suddenly she was twirling, spinning. Falling?
Arms wrapped around her, Teddy caught her across his knee. “Hey.”
Toni looked up at him in surprise, mouth agape, pulse pounding. “Hi,” she replied. Their faces were too close. She wanted to wriggle free, but first she wanted to memorize each shade of blue that made up his irises.
Wait. No! Friends don’t stare into each other’s eyes.
He gently lifted her upright but gave her one more spin. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Your dress looked twirly and I had to know if I was right.” He released her hand, but slowly, gracefully. His fingers traced her wrist, her palm, each segment of each finger until their fingertips fell reluctantly away as if a magnet had held them together.
“Twirly,” Toni said, head spinning, her skin burning with the memory of his hands.
“You twirl magnificently,” he replied, eyes crinkled with a smile.
On my drafting table
Okay, it’s not actually a drafting table. It’s an iPad, and it’s in my lap while I sit scrunched up on the couch while my husband and I watch Psych after the girls go to bed. Drawing helps my brain unwind and tease out plot points that are giving me fits so I’ve been working on some swoony artwork of Theodore and Antonia.
It still needs some work, but I’m excited to share the finished piece with you!
Next Stop…
Stars Hollow! That’s right! I’m headed to beautiful Medina, OH for Stars Hollow Fest on August 16 from 4-9 PM. I’ll be at a table in Black Cat Books selling and signing the night away. It looks like an awesome event with tons of vendors, Kirk’s Easter egg hunt, and a dance marathon. I love describing I Wish I May as Gilmore Girls (think Rory as a fairy godmother) meets Ella Enchanted.
If you’ve read it, does the book give you that vibe? My early drafts of I Wish I May were heavily inspired by my latest binge watch of Gilmore Girls, but I’m not sure how much that comes across after 100 rounds of edits and a major rewrite. Still, this cozy, family-friendly event feels like a perfect place to sell my book and I can’t wait to see how this goes.
Suspended in the Stars by E. A. Hendryx
I had the chance to meet E. A. Hendryx at the Columbus Book Festival and after I had so much fun reading Shakespeare’s Julius Ceasar, I needed a different kind of fun and a lighter palette cleanser. This book has been hitting the spot. It has all the fun YA SciFi vibes of the Lunar Chronicles and a gripping plot that makes the pages fly by! Definitely recommend if you love a good YA romance and want to read The Greatest Showman meets Star Wars!
If you can’t wait for more sweet and wholesome retellings like Star Light Star Bright, these authors have teamed up to share a selection of retellings you might enjoy.
If you want more fantasy with cozy vibes like I Wish I May, check out this roundup with cozy reads from my fellow authors. (Note, some of these books might have different spice levels from what I write, so use your discretion and read the descriptions!)
Ahhh the artwork is gorgeous! I can't wait to see the whole thing 😊🤍✨💖