Hey, bestie! How are you doing? Grab a cup/glass of your favorite bevvy (might I recommend a Guinness to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? :D) and let’s tuck in.
It’s been a while since I’ve sent a newsletter and while I don’t have any official updates, I wanted to send a hello while I’m doing some writing and admin this weekend.
In my last email, I talked about how I wasn’t sure what my author future would look like. It may have sounded like I was about to give up, because it certainly felt like I was. I didn’t want to—I don’t want to—but despite trying so many different things my books haven’t taken off.
In-Person Events
But, if you follow me on Instagram, you saw that in February, I attended A Novel Event: Romance Edition. I loaded up copies of my Starling Hills books, Next Chapter of Us, friendship bracelets, and table decor.
Would you believe that I sold out of all of my books in five hours? It was so life-giving to step out from behind the screens and socials to hand-sell my books to smiling readers. I had a great time talking with other local authors and being immersed in an irl romance book space.
It gave me energy to re-tackle my current draft and re-vamp my socials. The social media energy comes and goes. Despite my efforts, the engagement and reach on my posts are absolutely horrific. And while I am by no means embarassed about my books, it is embarassing (imho) to be the lone person shouting in the void about my babies. So I struggle with consistency because of this.
Yet we push on! Over on my Instagram I’ve been sharing some bookish art I commissioned. Have you seen it? I have quite a little collection of art for my book babies now, and can’t wait to see it grow!
Anyway, this event in February pushed me to apply for more in-person author events! I’ll be attending Lust in the City in Owosso, Michigan in November. Can’t wait!
What I mean is:
I’m not ready to quit. I love writing and that’s the whole reason I do this. Daydreaming all day at my keyboard? YES please. And the plan was always the long haul with self-publishing. It’s just hard sometimes for little old me to keep my blinders on.
But my draft? It’s going great! I’ve been off the day job for the last week and had a lofty goal of adding 30,000 words. I didn’t make it, but I did add in a huge chunk of words and should still be able to finish the book by my April 1 goal.
Otherwise, my week off has been so luxurious drifting between my bed, laptop, Peloton, and back!
Publishing Plan 2025
I’m looking forward to sharing more about my next book (and the one after hehe)! From here, the proposed current 2025 Alaina Rose publishing road map looks like:
Early Summer: last small town romcom set in Starling Hills, completely unique from the Callaghan trilogy
Fall: start of a new series in a new subgenre *eyes emoji* (but with the same cozy-angst and steamy spice)
Winter: series of three super-spicy Christmas-themed novellettes
All subject to change, but hopefully goes off without a hitch!
Sale!!!!
And I’d be remise if I didn’t shout out Wildest Winter, who turns 1 on March 18. Bonkers! I’ve missed all the other anniversaries of my books but this one feels pretty special since it marks the anniversary of the end of the my first trilogy with my beloved Callaghans.
So, the Wildest Winter ebook will be free all week on the ‘zon! YAY.
What’s up with you? Hit reply/comment if you want to get a little chatty. Make sure to check out my cozy-angst, spicy small town romcoms here & review them on Amazon, on Goodreads, and on your social media channels!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day and Happy Spring! Stay hydrated, bestie!
Cheers!
Alaina
Ps, as for the “noshes & nibbles” section: my spouse made some amazing smashburgers this weekend and we sat outside(!) to eat them. This week has been dominated by my current love, Sprite Zero. It’s just so good to drink a pop at any time of day and not have to worry about the caffeine, eh?? Today, we’re going to get a proper Guinness and fish and chips in honor of St. Patrick’s Day tomorrow! And I’m usually a mini eggs gal, but this Easter season has been all about the Starburst jelly beans.