Jane Porter's Blog

I’m excited to be flying to Dallas this weekend to join DARA, RWA’s Dallas chapter, for their annual holiday party.  I’m going to be speaking and feeling festive with my fellow romance authors, and then after the DARA meeting in the morning, I am hosting a holiday tea in the Bishop Arts District at Potpourri Boulangerie.  There will be 25 of us which is the perfect size for a Christmas tea.

Originally I’d hoped to have copies of my new book, A Very English Christmas, with me but the pub date was pushed back to December 10th.  But I am so pleased that my new story is going to be out very soon, a week from today as a matter of fact.  The countdown has begun!

And those of you who have read me, and followed my career, know it’s very unusual for me to go so long without having a book out which makes this new release extra special.  My year of migraines did a number on me.  Fortunately, the migraines are down (I still get a few a month, but not nearly every day) and I’ve created new external organization systems which help my memory, as well as taking some supplements to help focus, and that has got me excited about being creative.  So much energy was spent trying to remember what I’d written, what I needed to write, and where I wanted scenes to go (I write out of order which doesn’t help) that it made it increasingly challenging to write new fresh scenes.  But that is behind me now, and I’m nearly done with my February release, A Soldier’s Promise, which feels even better.

You can preorder A Very English Christmas ebook from all online retailers now, or you can also order a signed copy of the book from my new online shop. https://janeportershop.com/ and I will have that in the mail to you the moment the print books are in my hands.

Do check out my online shop and let me know what you think.  Happy December, and much love to you, always.

I promised last week that I’d share more about our Christmas movies, and here I am, finally catching my breath long enough to sit down and write to you. Life has been wonderfully full lately — Tule books, Tule films (yes, four Lifetime Christmas movies this year…isn’t that so cool?), my own December release, and then just everything else we all juggle this time of year. But today I wanted to pause, take a deep breath, and tell you something that fills me with so much joy and gratitude.

We have four beautiful books from Tule Publishing airing as Lifetime Christmas movies this holiday season. Four! I’m so proud of the authors who created these stories. I’ve watched them work so hard, often through real life storms, kids, deadlines, detours, and those days where writing feels like slogging uphill in the rain. And yet their stories shine. Truly shine.

Let me tell you about each one, because they deserve their moment.

Rodeo Christmas Romance

Based on: Catching a Christmas Cowboy by Leah Vale
Premiere: Saturday, December 13 at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Leah wrote a story with so much grit and tenderness that it stayed with me long after I finished it. This adaptation follows a fiercely independent rodeo bronc rider who’s caring for her injured horse over Christmas when she ends up clashing, and connecting with a brooding veteran. Two guarded hearts, one snow-covered ranch, and the kind of healing only the holidays can bring.

The Christmas Cookbook

Based on: The X-Mas Club by Lenora Worth
Premiere: Friday, December 5 at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Oh, Lenora. Her stories always have so much warmth, and this one is exactly what we need at the end of a long year. Our heroine joins a foodie Christmas club created for solo holiday celebrators with one rule: no romance allowed. Except rules tend to crumble when the right man walks in. It’s cozy and charming and festive in every way. A movie to watch with cocoa in hand and maybe a blanket wrapped around your shoulders.

The Christmas Clues

Based on: The Christmas Clues by Scarlet Wilson
Streaming: Available now at ctv.ca/movies/the-christmas-clues 

This film is pure holiday delight. Scarlet created a whimsical, heartfelt puzzle of a story where former students return home for a festive treasure hunt set up by their late mentor. And of course, two old flames are thrown together as they unravel clues, feelings, and second chances. I love second chances. I love hometowns. I love Christmas. So yes, this one hits all my buttons.

A Runaway Bride for Christmas

Based on: The Runaway Christmas Bride by Scarlet Wilson
Premiere: Friday, December 12 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

Scarlet has not one, but two movies this year. (Yes, I’m beaming.) This story follows Emma, a runaway bride who finds herself back in the only town she’s truly belonged to, only to run straight into her former high school crush. But her ex is determined to win her back, and Emma must decide what her heart is brave enough to choose. It’s tender, emotional, romantic — everything a Christmas movie should be.

I’m so proud of these authors I could burst. They pour their hearts into their books, and seeing those stories become films is incredibly special. These movies represent years of creativity, dedication, grit, belief, and pure storytelling joy. To Lenora, Leah, and Scarlet — thank you for trusting Tule with your books, and thank you for writing stories that matter.

And to you, my readers… thank you for being part of this world with me. Thank you for showing up, caring, cheering, and celebrating. You are my community. When I get to share news like this, I immediately want to share it with you.

Let’s enjoy this season together. The lights, the books, the movies, the moments that remind us we belong and we’re not alone. I’ll keep writing, you keep reading, and we’ll keep believing in happy endings.

xox
Jane

I am nearing the end of this year’s Christmas book.  It should have been done weeks ago (months ago?) but life keeps happening as I keep working on Tule books and Tule film (Tule has 4 Christmas Lifetime movies plus 1 non Christmas movie) in November and December.  Isn’t that so cool?  I’ll be sharing more about those later in the week.  Fortunately, I have a complete book and am just doing that extra touches and edits that make it a book I love.

I am also working on the very fun reader author event called, appropriately, Reader Author Get Together.  It’s a 20 year event, created by Lori Foster and I agreed to take it on for the next however many years.  It’s held every June in Greater Cincinnati–this year from June 3-6th.  Registration just opened and with 60+ authors attending, and 350+ readers, it’s a blast.  It’s jam packed with meals and parties, activities and writing sessions, plus spotlights on some of the featured authors attending like Brenda Novak, Jill Shelves, and Sherrilyn Kenyon.  Lori Foster will be there, too, along with a bunch of my friends, and some very cool Tule authors.  Check out the author list and event details here: https://readerauthorgettogether.com/

But let’s get back to my December 10th Christmas release.  This festive holiday story is lovely and infused with all my favorite things–handsome successful heroes who are still trying to figure out how to do it all, wonderful warm heroines who need a place where she can truly belong, and little girls who are not cooperating because (at least one of them) is eleven going on sixteen and feeling very misunderstood.  A Very English Christmas is set on the Langley Park estate outside the market town Bakewell, and it’s very Jane Porter…emotional, conflicted, hopeful, and most of all, happy at the end.  

Have you read the first two books in the Love at Langley Park series?  Who are you hoping to see return in this new book?  What makes these books set in England fun for you?  Answer these questions, or even just one of the question, and you could win a very special British Holiday Giveaway.  Winner announced from the comments on Monday.

I have the most interesting, and sometimes perplexing, conversations with my sons.  The three boys (okay, two are men now, but still) are all so different and wired differently, and respond to life differently.

My oldest, Jake, despite all, is my optimist.  He embraces life with gusto and seeks to squeeze out every bit of adventure and happiness and I support him living life his way.  He’s going to take a half glass and be glad there is something in it.

My middle, Ty, is the most well read, and is extremely articulate and analytical.  He, though, isn’t the optimist of the bunch.  He’s very loving with me, but he is definitely my glass is happy empty guy.  In fact, his glass might even be dry.

The youngest, Mac, is driven by logic, and has that engineering type approach to life.  Set steps.  Measured.  Exacting.  And what glass?  Why discuss a glass?  What does a glass have to do with anything?

Now I, as you can probably guess, am all about possibility and so my glass is never empty, and it will always have something, even if it’s just enough.  For me, there is always going to be hope, and fierce love, and even fiercer optimism.  As long as I have my family and friends, I will be okay.  I just need my people, and stories, and something beautiful to look at, whether it’s the sunset, a vase of flowers from the garden, or a beloved blanket made for me.

I wish I didn’t feel as much as I do, though.  Because if I didn’t feel so much, I wouldn’t be so emotional.  But then, I wouldn’t be so dang grateful for all the love I know.  I wouldn’t be grateful for my readers and friends, those people who are in my life not because they have to be, but because they choose to be.  And isn’t that a marvelous thing?  To belong.   To be part of something bigger than myself.  To have a world that keeps me safe and sane.

I love you all.  That’s not said lightly.  I have my faith, and then I have you.  My glue, my compass, my sunshine and star shine.  Thank you.  I believe in you.  I believe in us.

xox

I wrote a heartfelt blog earlier this morning after one of my sons and I had a conversation that troubled me so much I had to say something to you, my friends, my readers, my world and then when I went to post it, my laptop crashed.  So here I am, three hours later, trying again.

The conversation I had with my son has stayed with me, and it weighs on me because he’s not alone.  He’s not wrong.

My son is afraid we’re being manipulated by powers outside ourselves, setting us up for irreversible damage and harm, conflict that pits us against each other, forcing us to take sides.

I told him we are stronger than these outside forces–whether American politics or world politics–where there are clear signs of power grabs, power not intended to bring us together but to create division.  To create fear.  To take words and turn them into weapons, so that all we see and know is violence.

I told this son of mine that we can’t be manipulated if we come together and stay together.  I told him that I have hope.  And I do.  I spend time with readers and friends outside my suburb and state, and these readers and friends are good people, people with hearts and minds, people who want the best for us all, not just a few.  People who believe in our country as much as I do.  We are Americans, and we crave democracy and justice.  We crave peace.  We crave security.

Let us not let the news, or TikTok, or sound bites from this official or that official, shape us.  Dictate to us.  Confuse us.  Let us not be swayed by voices that aren’t wanting us to be unified, but divided, because divided we can be trampled and broken.  Divided we lack strength and its easier to sow fear.

I won’t let the news tie me into knots.  I won’t let social media make me heartsick this week.  I have muted, and unfollowed, and unfriended so many ‘friends’ in the last week, not because they lie or deceive, but they are amplifying noise that may or may not be the best for this country.  They may or may not realize what it’s like to be on the receiving end of dozens and dozens of negative messages.

We are allowed to feel what we feel.  We are allowed to be hurt, shocked, enraged, grief stricken, afraid, despondent.  We are allowed to be humans, and be overwhelmed and exhausted.  Or livid and loud.

However, each of us is responsible for taking care of our mental health, and our physical health, and making sure we do all the research necessary to ensure the messages we share are complete, and in context.  We need to know what we say is true, and even then, we don’t need to flog each other with what we’ve learned.

I say let us share with love, with hope, with the Peace of God which surpasses all understanding.  (Philippians 4:7).  We don’t have to be torn apart.  We don’t have to be afraid.  We don’t have to be manipulated and played.

We can stand firm, and we can stand together.  You.  Me.  Us.  We.

I’ve spent so much time with my head down, writing and working in recent months, it’s got me excited to be doing events and seeing my readers and friends.

Some of my upcoming events:

Friday, September 12, 2025 – I will be attending the Lewis County AAUW’s Evening with Authors in Centralia, WA as I’m being featured along with author Patrick Hutchinson during a moderated discussion. The event is a fundraiser is a benefit for the Hope Alliance which supports victims of domestic violence. This is a ticketed event.

Saturday, September 13, 2025 – I am the Keynote Speaker at the Southwest Washington Writers Conference for a one day event and giving two craft workshops.

Thursday, October 9, 2025 – I’ll be at In Bloom Bookery in Temecula, CA for a fun book event with stand-up comedian and author Kelsey Humphreys. For more details and booking your spot, click here.

Saturday, December 6, 2025 – I’m hosting a special Holiday Reader Tea in Dallas. Seating is limited but there are still some spaces available if you can join me.

Friday, April 17, 2026 – I’ll be joining dozens of other amazing authors for An Evening with the Stars. More details to come but mark it on your calendar if you’re in the area.

Friday, April 18-19, 2026 – I’m in Florida to give a workshop at the Writing for Success 2026 Conference. It’s a small conference but my friend and colleague, Sinclair, will also be there representing Tule.

Wednesday, June 3 – 6, 2026 – I’ll be back in Erlanger, Kentucky for RAGT 2026, the Annual Reader Author Get Together. Tickets are on sale January 6th. It’s a special four days and if you’re looking for a book community, this is it!

I will be listing more events are they are locked in so do keep an eye on my events page and I’ll shout when something new gets added.

For a chance to win a special surprise JP giveaway, share if you’ve had a chance to meet Jane yet and where. Winner announced on Wednesday!

Hello everyone! My name is Jaiden Colling and I have been a Marketing Assistant for the Tule Mystery imprint since April of last year. In an average week, you can find me brainstorming, planing and scheduling marketing for our mysteries with the amazing Mia, managing our cozy site, creating content to share on our socials, and handling author communications.

Thank you for having me, Jane!

1.  What is your favorite part of working with Tule?

This might sound cliché, but it would have to be the people. Everyone is so kind and welcoming, and I feel like I lucked out getting to work with all of them. The authors are gems too. I love being able to help them accomplish their goals and make their release dreams come true.

2.  What are some of the challenges/difficulties in working with Tule?

Working remotely! I know, I know—working remotely is the dream for most people, and believe me, I’m so grateful to work from home. The only downside is that I’m a social butterfly. Without going into the office every day, I sometimes end up seeing or talking to just one person all week! Thankfully, it’s my husband, but he might not always share my enthusiasm when I bombard him with a long monologue of everything I did that day the moment he walks through the door. lol

3.  What do you specifically like to read, if you have time for pleasure reading?

Anything I can get my hands on! I love all genres and just so happen to be a bookworm (so, basically I’m living the dream working for a publishing house). I can’t help but read more than one book at a time. Currently, I’m working my way through The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin and just picked up Buried by Tule’s very own C.J. Carmichael.

4.  What is an accomplishment you’re particul arly proud of? (Could be work-related or not!)

Ever since I can remember, I’ve wanted to work with books. A way to explore newlands, make new friends, and go on adventures—all from the comfort of my home? Sold! It started with reading to younger kids in school, volunteering at libraries, and my mom always encouraging me to read everything. As I matured, my love for books grew. I interned with a book touring company after I graduated high school (at 16), helped edit books, talked with authors, and even became a certified proofer! Every step I took along the way has brought me to where I am today, and I’m so thankful I never stopped pursuing my dream.

On a personal level, the accomplishment I’m most proud of is the incredible blessing of my family. I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by five generations of strong, wise, and loving women. The youngest is only two, yet I feel so grateful every day to be part of this beautiful legacy.

Each of them has taught me invaluable lessons, offering wisdom, encouragement, and unwavering support. I’m constantly inspired by their strength, and I’m truly blessed to be able to call them my family. To know that the love and guidance I receive is part of something so enduring and precious is an accomplishment I hold close to my heart.

5.  You are busy, and Tule isn’t your whole life. How do you juggle it all?

For me, it all comes down to time management. I love what I do, and because of that, sometimes I struggle to maintain a healthy work/life balance. I learned early on that if I finish everything I need to do in a reasonable amount of time, I have the rest of the day to do whatever floats into my head. Also, working remotely gives me the freedom and flexibility my spontaneous planning craves, and on any given day, I can work from a different state, a family member’s house while visiting, or even at a café with a constant stream of coffee coming my way.

How do you manage the work/life balance?

Hello everyone!

I am so happy to be here talking to you lovely people today! My name is Mia Gleason and I am a Marketing and Editorial Assistant here at Tule since April 2023. Well, what does that mean exactly? I support all of Tule Publishing’s marketing and editorial needs for our romance and women’s fiction imprints while also collaborating in managing our Tule Mystery imprint with my marketing partner, Jaiden!

1. What is your favorite part of working with Tule?

My favorite part of working with Tule has been the people. I was first hired on by Meghan and Cyndi and remember being so nervous about meeting Jane because, well – she’s JANE PORTER! When I met the editors, I feel like I instantly clicked and our energies were just so well blended. This team of strong, hardworking, women has been so inspiring and supportive it’s no wonder Tule’s reputation is so stellar. We truly work for each other, as well as our authors, and I think that makes the difference in our work and our team synergy. I’ve been on a lot of teams in my career and none of them can hold a candle to my people at Tule. The team is phenomenal, the authors are all SO wonderful and appreciative; the people are truly my absolute favorite part of working with Tule. 

2. What are some of the challenges/difficulties in working with Tule?

Hmmm…This is a tough one! I think some of the challenges/difficulties for me in working with Tule is the fact that we always have so many amazing things going on that it’s sometimes easy as a part-timer to have to be caught up and I’ve had to learn that it’s okay (and even encouraged!) to ask a lot of questions when you’re unsure of something, or if a project task doesn’t make sense. I came from a strong background of marketing and communications, but working for Tule is my first and only publishing experience so I was very much a rookie in my understanding of process and marketing needs. For example, Jane is a MARVEL on the film front, Meghan has been with Tule and is the most senior veteran team member, Cyndi is the most phenomenal numbers gal I’ve ever met, and each of our editors have SUCH an eye for storytelling that it’s almost scary, and then we’ve got the most amazing and talented graphics director in Lee Hyat – but still, everyone wears many hats and we are all hustling ALL. THE. TIME. for our authors and for Tule. I think it’s one of the best challenges/difficulties we could have, honestly. 

3. What do you specifically like to read, if you have time to pleasure read?

Oh, I make time to pleasure read. Lol. I don’t think it will come to a shock to any who read my profile, especially when I share that I am a millennial, that I read romantasy and fantasy. I took a long break from pleasure reading after college from burnout (no shock, there!) and got back into it a few years ago and average about 70+ books/year while working, toddler wrangling, and being a partner to my amazing husband (who will never know just how much I truly spend on books. Lol)

I’m currently reading The Plated Prisoner series.

4. What is an accomplishment you’re particularly proud of?  (could be work related or not!)

Truthfully…many of my accomplishments lately have been not work related and have been more about taking time for me and doing things for myself. I am incredibly proud of the fact that I’ve been able to go and experience fun and exciting things that bring me joy and prioritize myself as best as possible. In the last year I’ve been able to travel with friends, I’ve gone to Hawaii (and met the amazing Tule team!), and my husband and I took an amazing anniversary vacation to where we honeymooned six years ago. I’m so proud of myself for allowing FUN experiences to become a greater priority in my life while we’re young enough to fully embrace the joy!

5. You are busy, and Tule isn’t your whole life.  How do you juggle it all? 

Caffeine, patience with myself, and time management like you wouldn’t believe. A lot of my Tule work is done around my full-time job as a Director of Marketing so I have to be mindful of my time to make sure everyone is getting my best efforts at all times. It is not uncommon for me to wake up and get my son ready for daycare, work my 8 hour day, come home and spend time with my family, then hop on my laptop to burn that midnight oil for a few hours. It’s a busy life, but it’s my life and it gives me a creative and mentally active outlet – it gives me the challenge I need and the stimulation I crave. Is it a little wild? Yes. Is it for everyone? Probably not. But it’s the perfect balance for me and my life and that’s all that matters! Very happy to be a part of Tule!

Happy Friday!  I am so happy to welcome my longtime BFF, Cyndi Johnson Parent, to my blog.  We met as 15 year olds at Redwood High School in Visalia and four decades later, she’s still someone I trust with all my secrets and dreams.  Cyndi is brilliant, insightful, a true problem solver, and Tule’s team leader.  She knows how to bring everyone together and keeps us on the same page–not easy when we’re scattered over different time zones, and continents.  Cyndi was always the math girl, and I was the English girl and so it makes perfect sense that she is with Tule today, in charge of all the very important financial things, including keeping us in the black.  So delighted you get to meet someone who has kept me sane and shown me what true friendship is.  And without further ado, here is Cyndi.  

*

Hello everyone! My name is Cyndi Parent and here at Tule, I am the CFO or Chief Financial Officer. I have been apart of the team since August of 2018. My day-to-day usually consists of royalty management, sub-rights management, sales reporting, obtaining and managing promotions for individual titles and series, and coordinating these with authors.

I’m so glad to be here chatting with you today and I can’t wait to jump in!

1. What is your favorite part of working with Tule?

The community! Our team is fierce and driven and inspiring. Our authors are talented and eager. It is never boring being the one numbers girl surrounded by creatives.

2. What are some of the challenges/difficulties in working with Tule?

Working remotely and with varied hours from most of the team makes my desire for spoken word and discussion over written something I have learned to lean into.

3. What do you specifically like to read, if you have time to pleasure read?

News, personal interest and true crime. I have a very short attention span unless numbers are involved.

4. What is an accomplishment you’re particularly proud of? (could be work related or not!)

Being a mom to 3 strong and driven women. I think they are perfect in every way and only take a tiny bit of credit for that – haha! We encourage each other to be lifelong learners, to try new things, to cherish people and moments and to “have courage and be kind” — thanks, Cinderella! I think they might’ve learned those things from me – so for that I am proud!

5. You are busy, and Tule isn’t your whole life. How do you juggle it all?

I try to stick with a structured routine for work and recognize and plan for the “busy periods”. I plan ahead for time with family and friends outside of work and out of the house — I am not a fan of “staying in”. My calendar is full and I panic when it’s not. I am often accused of “running around” and trying to cram too many things into a weekend or vacation — it’s true, however I never look back and think I did too much, rather wish I could’ve experienced more!

Giveaway

I want to know about one of your high school friends.  Did you have a best friend in high school?  Are you still in touch today?  Tell me about your friend and what made you such good friends and you could win a special hometown-best friend giveaway.  Winner announced Monday.

Hello hello! My name is Julie Sturgeon and I am an Executive editor for our Tule Mystery Imprint. What does an Exec. editor do? Well, I help shepherd the mystery imprint, I oversee general submissions, and I work with authors to help them develop their story.

Thank you so much for sharing a bit about yourself, Julie! Let’s hop into the q&a.

1. What is your favorite part of working with Tule?

It’s on the West Coast and I’m on Eastern Standard Time, which is darn near perfect for severe night owls. No one really knows if I sleep in until noon.

2. What are some of the challenges/difficulties in working with Tule?

Because of Tule’s reputation for supporting authors, we’re a popular destination for pitches. It’s physically impossible to publish all of the great submissions we get. Sending out rejection letters makes me sad.

3. What do you specifically like to read, if you have time to pleasure read?

On my nightstand right now, I have a self-help book, two Bible study guides, a historical saga, a mystery, a thriller, a contemporary romance, a local magazine, and my iPhone to scroll social media feeds. I’m not making much progress on any of it.

4. What is an accomplishment you’re particularly proud of? (could be work related or not!)

I dug our household out of credit card debt back in the 2000s and have never carried a balance since. I’m also pretty proud of the fact that I found a hack to get season tickets in row 12 for Indiana University basketball games. This is a big deal to a gal who chose her dorm because it was across the street from Assembly Hall. I am pretty sure my mother knew I chose the entire university with a goal of meeting the players, which did happen because I was a student reporter in the press box my senior year. Throughout my lifetime, I’ve missed watching only four games.

5. You are busy, and Tule isn’t your whole life. How do you juggle it all?

I have a selfish knack for finding time for the things I want. If I don’t find time, I didn’t want it badly enough.

Traveling is a huge interest in my life. I’ve been to all 50 states and 52 countries (see
credit card debt above—airline tickets and hotel rooms were both a big part of the debt and the motivation that drove me to work 14 hours a day to shake it off). I have a loose philosophy of choosing something new over a place I’ve already been, but I make an exception for London, Yosemite National Park, and Hollywood, Florida. (I hang out at a mom-and-pop beach hotel in Hollywood every October, in fact.) And I intend to return to Israel and Buenos Aires, too.

I work hard, I play hard, and I’m all about multitasking and delegating crap I don’t want to do.

Also, I drink my fair share of Dr. Pepper.