I’ve been asking myself if this author thing is sustainable. But even if it isn’t, it’s something I have to do.

Cross-posted to Substack.

Whoooo. Y’all. It has been a WEEK. My students started back on Monday, so it has been a whirlwind of get-to-know-you activities, helping students find their classes, smiling extra big, and talking. So. Much. Talking. I think the first two days, I came home and collapsed on the couch, and my husband woke me up to move to bed.

I wrote about this in The Write Time, actually:

At the end of the day, I’m completely beat. My cheeks hurt from smiling approachably, I can feel new wrinkles starting to form on my forehead from over-exaggerating my expressions, and my feet are killing me because of the heels I stupidly decided to wear today to make an impression. I do love this job, but the first day never gets easier. I feel out of shape, like I need to rebuild my stamina for teaching.

How’s that for relatable?

Thankfully, there’s coffee. Not to be dramatic, but coffee is saving my life this week. I will say that I feel pretty good about my caffeine intake—I’m keeping it to two cups of half-caff a day—but those are like a lifeline to me. I’ve started to just add dark chocolate almond milk to my iced coffee or cold brew for something different (and because the morning rush is REAL and I was not ready), and it’s pretty good! I will say, though, for someone who doesn’t believe Christmas season starts until after Thanksgiving, I ALSO believe that pumpkin spice season starts right after Labor Day. So… that’s happening. SOON.

I have been in my feels recently about this whole author thing. It looks both exactly and not at all like I thought it would. Lately, though, I’ve been struggling with a bit of an identity crisis as it pertains to all things in my life. I’ve had to answer some hard questions about my purpose on this planet and what I want my career(s) to look like. And that’s hard right now when I’m starting school and wondering how I ever did writing and teaching and parenting all at the same time. (How quickly I forget.) Couple that with the summer dip in engagement we’re all feeling, and I’ve had to do some soul-searching.

When everything feels like an uphill battle, at what point do you just turn around and roll back down the hill?

But here’s the thing. Writing has saved me in so many ways. I love teaching, which has been evident to me this week. Greeting the students and getting to know them is hard work, but it’s also so fun. Seeing a lightbulb moment when they get something? Priceless.

But writing? Writing calls to my soul. Writing about love when there’s so much animosity in the world? Making people happier than they were when they started my books? Hearing from readers about how my books have helped them reject purity culture that’s held them down and held them back their entire lives? It’s revolutionary. But, on top of that, I hear from readers who are using my novels to better their English, who have made career changes because of something they read or realized because of one of my characters.

On a more practical level, I have accomplished so much in such a short time. I’ve done signings. I have audiobooks. I have a hardcover. I have Publisher’s Marketplace reports for deals. And yes, I’ve done a lot of this myself, but WHO CARES? Because of my readers, I’ve had the ability to pay for professional audiobook production and hardcover special editions. Because you love my characters as much as I do. (Maybe even more, because they haven’t flipped your outline the middle finger and you don’t hate their guts while you’re editing them.)

So, as I’m sitting here, in the dark hours of the night, putting together this newsletter and acutely feeling the crushing weight of my to-do list, I thought it would be a good reminder to me that, not only have I been doing this, I CAN do this. The school load will lighten up. The draft will get finished. I won’t always be this tired.

But, more than that, writing makes me happy. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to stop, even if the thirty likes I get on an Instagram post turn to five. Even if each new release continues to get subsequently smaller and smaller. Even if the deals dry up and the royalties stop coming.

Because I’m a writer. It is the one thing that has been lying there, under the surface, throughout my entire life. This is what I was meant to do.

Romance Con is in TWO WEEKS! I can’t even believe it. I’m ready, nervous, and excited in equal measure. I can’t wait to meet those of you who are going to be there! Please be sure to come say hi! I promise, I’m cool to talk to. If you missed pre-orders and want to see what I’ll have available, check here for info!

I recently finished listening to The Write Choice audiobook and … my heart. I love this book so much, and Megan and Ben did such an amazing job with it. I couldn’t have crafted a better Katie and Brandon than these two.

I’m just about 2/3 through my next full-length book, which should hopefully be in your hands in March 2025. Things have stalled out a bit with the start of school, but the last third is always easier than the first. I think when I’m done with the draft, I’ll celebrate with a title reveal, so stay tuned for that.

You can still pre-order Christmas by Design! Get it now while it’s only $0.99!

Finished with my books? Why not check out this one? There’s a $0.99 sale coming up!

In the woods, there’s a house they say is haunted. Once you enter, you can never leave. In this house, your biggest dreams can become reality, and your worst vices can become dangerous addictions. Would you risk it?

When Savannah Miles comes into a sum of money, she decides to follow her life long dream and open her own thrift shop. The sweet looking house in the woods seems like the perfect place.

Except the house is filled with mystery, and three handsome men who have been stuck inside for decades. Felix, the original owner of the house, trapped for over a century. Luther, the 40-something postman whose search for the meaning of life led him to be stuck in the house since the 70’s. And Theo, whose string of bad luck left him in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Different times. Different vices. Different lives. Can the four of them work together in life and love to find a way to survive?

Jinxed is an 18+ “Why Choose” that includes mild discussions of depression and addiction.

This author gig really is the best gig in the world. I’m so happy to be on this journey with you all. Thank you for being here for it.

Happy reading,
Allie