Alicia Justice's Blog

A new holiday story is on the way… and you already know the characters.

I’ve been waiting so patiently (okay, not really) to share this, and the time has finally come:

My 2025 Christmas short story — the one following Addy and Kevin is getting its COVER + TITLE REVEAL on November 18th!

And the story releases on December 2nd.

If you’ve been wanting more of their journey… their healing… their found-family moments that tug at every heartstring you have?

This one is for you.

This story is soft and powerful.
Equal parts heartbreak and hope.

A reminder that sometimes the most unexpected people walk into your life exactly when you need them most.

Expect:
A cozy, emotional holiday setting
Addy finding her strength
Kevin being the steady, quiet protector we all adore
A bond that feels like fate
Moments that warm you straight through December

The cover is stunning. I actually screamed when I opened it, and the title fits this story like it was always meant to be.

Save the dates:
November 18 — Cover + Title Reveal
December 2 — Release Day

I cannot wait to share this one with you.

Mark your calendars, grab your cocoa, and prepare your heart. This Christmas story is full of hope, healing, and the kind of magic that only shows up when you least expect it.

Mission logged. Coffee consumed and Hope restored.
Until the next cup,

There are moments in an author’s career that feel big. Not just exciting-big… but heart-thumping, coffee-fueled, “oh wow, this is really happening” kind of big.

Today is one of those moments.

Because in August 2026, I’ll be attending my very first official book signing + convention. The Happily Indie After Author Event in Ohio!

I’ve dreamed about meeting readers in person for years. I’ve imagined chatting about favorite tropes, signing books, seeing your well-loved copies (tabbed and highlighted or freshly purchased — all are welcome!), and sharing in that electric community energy only bookish people understand.

And now… it’s happening.

I’ve already set up the Event Page on my website with all the details, including preorder information, travel notes, and FAQ-style updates I’ll continue adding to as we get closer. You’ll also find a special preorder form there — every preorder will come with exclusive convention-only swag you can’t get anywhere else.

What to Expect at the Event:

Signings for all my books

Special edition swag for preorders

Behind-the-scenes teasers from upcoming projects

The chance to chat all things Marines, Beacon Security, Waldon Springs, coffee, writing, K-pop, planners… you know. My usual chaos, but in person.

You’ll also be the first to know if more titles are added between now and the event (spoiler: they will be). And of course, if anything unexpected happens and I can’t attend, every single preorder will be shipped to you with extra love and no additional cost.

This milestone means more to me than I can really put into words…but I’ll try:
Thank you. For reading my stories. For showing up. For believing in this author journey right alongside me.

I can’t wait to meet you next August.
Coffee in one hand. Pen in the other.
Let’s make memories.

Mission logged. Coffee consumed and Hope restored.
Until the next cup,

The coffee’s ready. The Notion board is glowing. And somewhere between the last playlist shuffle and the click of my keyboard, the countdown hit zero.

Tomorrow… well, technically, tonight at 12:01 AM, the Rough Draft Challenge begins.
Fifty thousand words. Thirty days. One author armed with too much caffeine and not enough sanity.

It’s go time.

The Night Before

There’s something about this night that feels sacred. The final quiet before the storm of words begins. My pens are lined up, Scrivener is open to a fresh document, and I’ve already double-checked that my word tracker is working (because we all know I’ll be refreshing it every five minutes).

I’ve prepped everything I can:
Plot outline (mostly coherent)
Character sheets (covered in doodles)
Word count tracker (ready to scream in joy or panic)
Snacks and coffee stocked (priorities, always)

The rest? That’s the part you can’t plan. The magic that shows up when the world goes quiet and the story takes over.

The Story Awaits

This year, I’m stepping back into Waldon Springs, a place that’s starting to feel as real to me as my own hometown. Holly and Layton are waiting in the snow, stranded and stubborn, their story ready to unfold one word at a time.

I don’t know exactly how the journey will go, and that’s the best part. The discovery, the late-night breakthroughs, the “wait, what if” moments that make every draft an adventure.

And honestly? I can’t wait to dive in.

My Midnight Ritual

Every year, I start the Rough Draft Challenge the same way:

Brew a fresh cup of coffee at 11:55 PM

Light a candle (or three)

Take one deep breath before the first line

Remind myself that it doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to exist

That’s the magic of a first draft. It’s raw, messy, and alive.

A Little Encouragement

If you’re joining the Rough Draft Challenge too, here’s your reminder:

Write the story you want to write.
Don’t worry about polish or perfection; those belong to December.
Right now, it’s about showing up, word by word, and trusting that the story will find its way through the fog.

You’ve done the work. You’re ready.

At Midnight, We Write.
Here’s to coffee-fueled chaos, unexpected breakthroughs, and the start of something beautiful.

See you on the other side of 2,000 words.

Next Entry: Rough Draft Diaries 2025, Entry #1 — The First Words and the 2 AM Realizations

Because, of course, I’ll be back to share how the first day (and night) goes. Spoiler: there will be coffee, chaos, and at least one plot twist I didn’t see coming.

(Because there always is at least one. )

The final countdown to November has begun, which means it’s time to take my beautifully chaotic plot and turn it into a battle plan. Notion is open, my pens are loaded, and my caffeine supply is looking… promising.

During the Rough Draft Challenge, I write whenever the story demands it.  Mornings if inspiration hits early, afternoons during homeschool breaks, and (most often) late nights fueled by coffee and pure stubborn determination.

My daily goal? 2,000 words.
Ambitious. Chaotic. Very on brand.

Drafting Game Plan

Instead of boxing myself into a strict schedule, I’m embracing what works:

Night owl creativity — most big scenes happen after sunset
Flexible sprint sessions — 20–45 minute bursts anytime I can grab them
Day-by-day discovery — letting Holly & Layton lead the way
Grace built in — some days are 500 words… others are 5k, and both matter

I’ll be tracking everything in Notion so I can celebrate progress, even on days when the word count looks like a toddler’s scribble.

My Notion Setup (a snowy sneak peek)

My dashboard for this project includes:

  Word Count Trackers

Scene Masterlist

Character Mini-Profiles

Playlist Links

Motivation Corner

If you’ve been here a while, you know my Notion is forever evolving. I tinker with it weekly until it feels like home.

Rewards & Rituals

To keep the excitement high throughout the month:

Every 10k: Treat — new sticker, bookmark, or fancy latte
25k milestone: A whole guilt-free movie night
50k finish: Buying a new book without talking myself out of it first

Plus one sacred rule:
If the words are flowing, bedtime does not exist.

Final Prep Thoughts

There’s a shift that happens at this stage. The story goes from “someday project” to “soon-to-be book,” and suddenly everything feels real. I can see Holly & Layton moving through scenes I’ve only imagined so far; laughing, clashing, learning from each other.

That excitement is what carries me into November.
That spark is what becomes 50,000 words.

Next Entry: Preptober Diaries 2025, Entry #7 — The Calm Before Drafting

A moment to breathe before the madness starts: my last checklist, launch-day hype, and one final cup of “friendly warning” from the writing muse.

We’ve hit that point in Preptober where the excitement of a new story starts colliding with the reality of, well… real life. The notebooks are cluttered, my plotting playlist is looping the same three songs, and I’ve already had to rewrite the plot of Act Two twice.

 

But that’s how I know I’m right where I need to be. The middle of Preptober is messy and magical all at once. It’s where the story starts fighting back and where I start figuring out what it really wants to be

Finding the Rhythm

I’ve been working through the story beats this week, sketching out each turning point until the emotional arc finally feels right. The early scenes between Holly and Layton are clicking into place: the awkward tension, the forced-proximity banter, the spark neither of them expected.

I’m using my usual three-act structure template (with plenty of wiggle room, because these characters love to surprise me):

Setup – the moment they get stranded in Waldon SpringsThe Storm – where the weather (and their feelings) intensifyThe Breakthrough – that perfect mix of confession, chaos, and coffee

Every time I outline, I remind myself: structure isn’t a cage; it’s a safety net. It catches the wild ideas and keeps me from losing the thread when November hits.

The Mid-Month Slump

Somewhere around this stage, I always hit what I call the Preptober Fog. That week where I second-guess everything, start craving new ideas, and wonder if my outline makes any sense at all.

Here’s what helps me push through:

Mini goals. Instead of staring at the whole story, I focus on one act or even one scene at a time.Notebook time. When Scrivener feels too structured, I switch back to pen and paper. Messy notes remind me that it’s supposed to be fun.Soundtrack resets. I swap my plotting playlist for something atmospheric—rain sounds, lo-fi coffee shop noise, or instrumental jazz—to trick my brain back into focus.Community check-ins. Talking with other writers (and my Ko-Fi crew) always pulls me out of my own head.

It’s okay if your Preptober plan looks more like a tornado than a tidy outline right now. You’re building the bones of a story—and bones are meant to shift until they fit just right.

Preparing for the Rough Draft Challenge

November’s creeping closer, and that means it’s time to plan the actual writing part. My current goals:

Word count target: 50k (ambitious, yes, but I thrive on chaos and this is my normal November goal).Writing blocks: Evening sprints after homeschool and dinner, coffee within reach.Rewards system: Small treats for every 10k milestone. (Coffee doesn’t count…it’s a necessity. )

I’ll be sharing my exact drafting schedule and Notion setup soon, once I finish fine-tuning the chaos into something readable.

For now, I’m reminding myself why I started this story in the first place: because I love the quiet kind of hope that only a small-town Christmas can hold. And that’s worth pushing through the fog for.

 Next Entry: Preptober Diaries 2025, Entry #6 — Drafting Plans & Countdowns to Chaos

Coming soon: my November writing schedule, Rough Draft Challenge prep, and how I’m setting up my Notion dashboard to make the 50k climb a little less intimidating.

 

The plotting board is a mess, my Notion tabs have multiplied overnight, and my playlist has more versions than I’d like to admit. In other words, it’s officially the middle of Preptober.

This is the part of the month where I start living in two creative worlds at once. My 2025 Christmas story (the one I wrote last year) is deep in edits and headed toward its December release. At the same time, I’m knee-deep in plotting next year’s Waldon Springs story. Holly and Layton’s forced-proximity snowstorm romance. It’s a little wild juggling both timelines, but honestly? I love it. Something is grounding about polishing one story while discovering another.

The Plotting Stage (a.k.a. Organized Chaos)

Right now, my desk looks like a snow globe exploded across it; sticky notes, scene cards, and random scribbles that might be dialogue or might just be coffee stains.

I’ve been working through the major beats:

Where Holly and Layton meet (and how fast that first spark flies)

What’s keeping them from getting home

The moment they realize the town might not be so bad after all

And, of course, the scene where everything goes beautifully wrong before it finally goes right

I always call this phase “controlled discovery.” I know where I’m heading, but I leave enough room for surprises. That’s where the magic happens, the moments you didn’t see coming that suddenly make the whole story click.

Building the Perfect Playlist

Every story I write gets its own playlist, and this one is turning into a cozy mix of heartache and hope. Think soft acoustic guitar, a little modern country, a dash of cinematic winter mood, and just enough Christmas to set the tone without turning it into a carol marathon.

A few songs currently on repeat while I plot:

“Underneath the Tree” by Kelly Clarkson

“Something in the Orange” by Zach Bryan

“Evergreen” by Switchfoot

“Officially Christmas by Dan + Shay

“The Christmas Song by Dan + Shay

Let it Snow by Oscar Peterson

Music helps me find the emotional rhythm of a story long before I write the words. I’ll usually play it quietly while I build my outline, letting the tone sink in until I can feel the world of the book.

Balancing Two Worlds

It’s funny, editing one Christmas story while plotting another has me thinking about how each project captures a different kind of hope. Last year’s book is about healing. This new one is about timing and trust.

I’ll spend my mornings editing and my nights plotting, bouncing between tidy redlines and chaotic storyboards. It shouldn’t work, but it does. Switching between creation and refinement keeps both parts of my brain happy and makes the coffee taste even better. Well, most of the time.

By next week, I’ll be tightening the outline, building my scene tracker, and prepping my Rough Draft Challenge goals for November. Because yes, I’m absolutely going for the full 50k again this year.

Next Entry: Preptober Diaries 2025, Entry #5 — Story Beats, Snowflakes, and Surviving the Mid-Month Slump

Coming soon: how I’m breaking down the story structure, keeping motivation high, and setting up my November writing plan (with plenty of caffeine and chaos). Of course, but you wouldn’t expect anything less from me…right?

The notebooks are filling fast, and the playlist is dangerously long, so you know that means the characters have arrived.

This Preptober, I’m not prepping this year’s Christmas story (that one’s already written and heading into edits before its December release). Nope, this round of plotting chaos belongs to next year’s Christmas story. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned as an author, it’s that I’m always living a year ahead of my readers.

And this new Waldon Springs tale? It’s shaping up to be a cozy, snow-dusted romance full of banter, stubborn hearts, and a little unexpected magic. Meet Holly and Layton, the hearts (and occasional headaches) of the story I’ll be drafting this November.

Meet Holly

Holly is the kind of woman who keeps her planner color-coded and her heart wide open, even when life doesn’t go according to plan. She’s practical, passionate, and a little too stubborn for her own good. She’s on her way home for Christmas after a challenging year, determined to make this holiday one that feels like hope again.

She loves small traditions: cocoa by the fire, wrapping gifts late at night, the smell of pine trees. What she doesn’t love? Being stranded halfway home with a total stranger and no cell signal, after just finding out she’s losing her job.

Meet Layton

Layton’s the quieter type. A man who’s used to keeping his thoughts to himself and staying on the move. He’s got that unshakable calm people notice immediately, steady, intense, a little mysterious. There’s a weariness in him, though, like someone who’s carried too much for too long.

He doesn’t talk much about where he’s headed… or what he’s leaving behind. But he notices more than he says, especially when it comes to one stranded stranger who can’t help trying to fix everything around her.

There’s an undeniable pull between them, even when they’re both pretending not to notice. And maybe, just maybe, getting stuck in Waldon Springs isn’t such bad luck after all.

Reflections from the Plotting Desk

I’m still deep in character work, journaling their backstories, sketching the first spark scene, and figuring out what they each need before they can find what they’re looking for.

It’s equal parts chaos and magic right now: sticky notes, playlists, a hot mug of coffee, and the kind of story energy that makes me giddy to open Scrivener.

Meanwhile, my current Christmas story (the one I wrote last Preptober) is in the editing phase, and I can’t wait to share more about that soon. So yes, I’m living in two Christmases at once, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Next Entry: Preptober Diaries 2025, Entry #4 — Plotting, Playlists & the Perfect Snowstorm
Coming soon: how I’m outlining this story, what songs are inspiring it, and why I always need at least three highlighters to survive plotting week.

 

There’s something about October that makes me start dreaming in fairy lights and snow. Which is funny, considering I live in sunny Florida, where the only flakes we see come from a beachside latte. But growing up in Kentucky, I remember those cold nights, the kind where the air bites your nose and the world feels quiet under a blanket of snow.

Maybe that’s why I’m always drawn to writing small-town Christmas stories. There’s a kind of magic in them that feels like coming home, even if I’m writing barefoot with the AC running.

This year’s Preptober project is my way of bringing that nostalgia back. I’m plotting next year’s Waldon Springs Christmas story, and I can already tell it’s going to steal my heart. It’s planned as a short,  around 40k words, but we both know how my “shorts” tend to go. (If these two have their way, it’ll end up full length and full of feelings.)

This story brings two strangers together in the kind of serendipitous way only a small town like Waldon Springs can deliver

The Premise

When a winter storm halts travel just before Christmas, Holly and Layton both find themselves stranded in Waldon Springs. She’s just trying to get home to her family. He’s heading… well, somewhere he doesn’t talk about much. The town’s power flickers, the inn is booked solid, and fate decides they’ll be sharing a roof until the roads clear.

It’s forced proximity at its finest — cozy, awkward, a little spark-filled, and wrapped in the glow of Christmas lights.

Why This Story?

I’ve always loved the kind of Christmas tale that blends warmth with second chances, hope with humor. Waldon Springs has become my safe place to write those stories, where grief meets grace, and love always finds its way home.

This one’s a little different, though. It’s not about returning to someone you’ve loved before… it’s about finding someone when you least expect it.

Early Plotting Plans

So far, I’m knee-deep in character notes and scene sketches. My plotting journal is already a snow-covered mess of ideas, from cozy coffee-shop moments to one particularly inconvenient power outage. I’ve started working through the story beats and setting up my Notion page (because Preptober = organized chaos).

And yes, Layton might just have a little cowboy energy about him. I’m not saying boots are involved, but… I’m also not not saying that.

I’ll share more about their backstories in next week’s update once I’ve got their arcs mapped out.

For now, I’m leaning into the heart of what I want this story to feel like:
Snow falling.
Coffee brewing.
Two strangers realizing maybe — just maybe — they were meant to get stuck together.

Stay tuned for the next Preptober Diary, where I’ll introduce you properly to Holly and Layton (and probably gush about my playlist).

Next Entry: Preptober Diaries 2025, Entry #3 — Meet Holly & Layton
Coming soon: a peek into who they are, what they want, and how they clash (and spark).

Preptober is here, and I’m ready to dive headfirst into the chaos of plotting, prepping, and caffeinating my way through the month

October always feels like the calm before the storm, or maybe the countdown before the big mission. (Marine family energy, right?) For me, Preptober is where the real work happens: it’s not just about scribbling character names on sticky notes or pretending Pinterest counts as plotting (though… yes, I’ll still do both). It’s about building a comprehensive battle plan so that when November 1st arrives, I can hit the ground running.

This year, I’m preparing for the Rough Draft Challenge, which will take place in November, with the ambitious 50k in 30 days. But I’ve learned the hard way that winging it only gets me so far. Preptober is where I:

Map out my story — characters, arcs, stakes, and all the tangled threads.

Stock up my creative arsenal — playlists, candles, snacks, and about three too many notebooks.

Set my November survival plan — because writing 50k words during a busy life (mom life + author life = double chaos) requires strategy.

My Goals for Preptober

Finalize my story idea and plot the major beats.

Build character profiles that feel alive (and a little bit bossy—they always end up bossy).

Nail down my November schedule so I know when I’m writing and when I’m resting.

Share updates here on the blog 2–3 times a week, so you can follow along and maybe prep your own project too.

I want November to feel like a mission I’m ready for, not a battle I’m limping through. That starts here, today.

So here’s to Preptober 2025: messy notes, late-night brainstorming, and enough coffee to fuel an army. Let’s get this story ready to come alive.

What about you? Are you prepping a project this October? Or just cheering on the chaos with popcorn in hand? Either way—welcome to the ride.

The mission has begun.

Beacon in the Darkness is officially live! Kat and Mac’s story is out in the world, and I couldn’t be more excited — and honestly a little overwhelmed — to finally share it with you.

This isn’t just another release day for me. This is book five. Five. I still can’t quite believe I get to say that. When I first started writing, I never imagined my characters would find their way into so many hands and hearts. And yet, here we are.

This book is about more than suspense and danger (though there’s plenty of both). It’s about found family, healing from scars, and risking everything for the people who matter most. It’s about a woman who refuses to stop searching, a man who refuses to let her fight alone, and the loyal dog who refuses to leave their side.

But beyond the story itself, this book is about YOU — my readers. To everyone who has picked up one of my books, preordered, left a review, shared a post, or even just cheered me on: thank you. Your support is the reason I get to keep writing, and it means more than I could ever put into words.

If you’ve been waiting to dive into the Beacon Security series, now’s your chance. Kat, Mac, and Duke are ready to meet you.

Grab your copy here → https://books2read.com/b/3LQeYe
And when you finish, don’t forget to leave a review — your words help more readers discover this story and keep indie books shining.

From the bottom of my heart: thank you for being here with me on this journey. This book wouldn’t exist without your encouragement, your excitement, and your willingness to walk into the dark with me, one story at a time.

Here’s to Kat, Mac, Duke… and the beginning of Beacon Security.

Join the Release Party on Twitch Tonight

The celebration doesn’t stop here! Tonight, I’ll be live on Twitch for a special Beacon in the Darkness release party.

We’ll have:
3 ebook giveaways
A Q&A (ask me anything about Kat, Mac, Duke, or my writing process)
A peek at the official playlist
A live reading from the book

Grab your coffee, settle in, and come hang out for a night of suspense, community, and bookish fun.

Join me here → https://www.twitch.tv/authoraliciajustice
8 PM EST