My birthday is coming up in a couple of months, and I’ve got a plan. First, I need to finish the edits of Mending Hearts, and I’m starting to see the end of the editing. I’ve been making my way through the book chapter by chapter, and while it’s a tedious process, I am making this book the best it can be. After all, it’s the first book of the Sunrise Beach series.
I won’t pretend that editing is always glamorous work. Some days it’s slow going which is most of the time for me since I still work a side gig. But then there are those moments where you land on a scene and it reminds you exactly why you wrote the story in the first place.
Rachel and Greg’s story has given me more than a few of those moments lately, and that keeps me going on the slower days. That’s the thing about writing sweet romance — the emotional payoff has to be earned on every single page, and when you hit a moment that truly lands, it makes all the careful, painstaking work worth it.
So yes, I’m still in it. Still editing. Still second guessing myself on parts of it. But the story is coming together in a way that makes me excited for you to read it.
A Little Birthday Surprise
Here’s something I haven’t shared yet. I’m planning a birthday release for Mending Hearts in the last week of April, right around the time I’ll be blowing out candles. And I’ve been thinking about that timing a lot lately.
Usually, birthdays mean other people give you something. But this year, I want to flip that around. Instead of receiving gifts, I get to give one — and that gift is Rachel and Greg’s story landing on your e-reader. (I know, I know — you still have to buy it. But it’s the thought that counts, right?)
A birthday release felt right from the moment I landed on the idea. Mending Hearts is set in Sunrise Beach, South Carolina—a cozy, fictional coastal town tucked between Pawley’s Island and Myrtle Beach. It’s a story about second chances, unexpected connections, and a dog who absolutely refuses to mind his own business. I have poured a lot of myself into this one, and I cannot wait to share it with you.
Something New Is Coming After the Launch
Once the book is out in the world, I have some exciting things in the works, including a YouTube channel I’ve been thinking about. I’m not ready to share all the details yet, but one idea I keep coming back to is recording myself reading Returning Home, the free novella that’s my gift to new readers who join my newsletter.
If you haven’t read Returning Home yet, it’s the perfect introduction to the world of Sunrise Beach and the kind of stories I love to write. The idea of reading it aloud, just me and the camera, feels like a really personal way to connect with you all in a new way.
But before I get too far ahead of myself, the book comes first!
One Question for You
As I’m putting together ideas for the channel, I’d love your input on something. If I recorded an audio reading of Returning Home and posted it on YouTube, would you listen? Drop a comment below and let me know — it would genuinely help me figure out where to start.
In the meantime, stay tuned. This birthday release is coming fast, and I have a feeling the last week of April is going to be a really good one. For both of us.