A.C. Hobbs's Blog

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Ah, the golden age of vampire fiction. Or rather, the sparkly-diamonds age of vampire fiction. The “aughts” (early 2000s) when Edward Cullen prowled the dense forests of the Pacific Northwest and Kate Beckinsale karate-kicked werewolves while wearing skin-tight leather jumpsuits that glistened like a black trashbag. When Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise vied for our hearts with their Parisian wigs and too-bright eyes. When moody teen vampires ruled, while we pined and slowly suffocated beneath a noxious, glittering cloud of too much Love Spell.

Yes. Well. Those aren’t the vampires I’ll be introducing to you today. No shade against the overly-sexualized, beautiful, even sparkly vampires of yesteryore, but allow me to instead introduce ten vampires of a different breed. The bloody, brutal, voracious albeit suave breed.

Below you will find ten vampire books I think every (dark) fantasy and gothic fiction reader should have on their shelf. I’ve included my favorite vampire novel of all time.

Be careful though. . . these books bite.

10 Vampire Novels to Sink Your Teeth Into . . .

A Discovery of Witches by Deb Harkness. A professor uncovers a hidden alchemical manuscript that contains a prophecy involving all magical creatures (humans, witches, vampires, daemons). Her discovery draws a powerful vampire to her side. He should be her enemy. Instead, he ends up protecting her from her own.

The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahurin. A huntswoman investigates a murder that leads her to an ephemeral kingdom ruled by vampires. She isn’t sure if he is her ally, her enemy, or something more. Will he help her uncover the person behind the murders plaguing her kingdom? Or will she fall prey to darkness? This book is a fantastic gateway from fantasy to vampire thrillers.

Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas. This book is a must-read supernatural Western horror. Set during the Mexican- American War, this book feels like Como Aqua Para Chocolate meets Midnight Mass. A rancher’s daughter is thrust into close contact with a romance from her past: the vaquero Nestor. But something sinister stalks the night on the Texas-Mexico border. . . something far scarier than war.

The Historian by Elisabeth Kostova — This book is one of my all-time favorite books and arguably my favorite vampire novel, period. The Historian bounces between past and present as a troubled father races to protet his daughter from a menancing remnant of his past. Think dark academia Dracula.

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. Inspired by Russian folklore, this book is a whimsical nightmare about a young woman Vasilisa who befriends Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon, who reaps the souls of the dead. Danger and change threaten Vasilia’s way of life . . . and soon the dead themselves crawl from her nursery tales and into her village. She must call upon long-hidden gifts — and Frost himself — to save her people. The audiobook, in particular, is stunning.

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson. A sapphic retelling of Dracula, told from the point of view of his wives. This book is a poetic quick read that is alternately hauntingly beautiful and achingly dark.

Salem’s Lot by Stephen King. This is one of my husband’s favorite books. A man and a boy return to their hometown of Salem’s Lot to confront an unspeakable evil that lurks within its clapboard houses. I’ve never been a major Stephen King junkie. . . but I do like this one. And Mark may have disavowed and divorced me had I not included it.

The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland. This book is literary horror all the way. Achingly beautiful, it lingers with you long after you put it down. An immortal art teacher must reckon with a dark presence from her past. One that seeps into her delicately-balanced life as the headmistress of a prestigious preschool in New York. This book is about the haunting, insatiable appetities of humanity more than anything else. Absolutely beautiful!

Dracul by Dacre Stoker. Inspired by notes and texts left behind by Bram Stoker himself, this book is a prequel to THE vampire novel, Dracula. A young Bram notices peculiar behavior in his loving caretaker Ellen Crone. When she mysteriously disappears from his life, he mourns her loss. But years later, Bram’s sister insists she spotted Ellen abroad… and a nightmare creeps back into their lives. This book is a must-read for vampire horror fans. In true Stoker fashion, it will have you questioning, “Wait. . . was some of this real?”

Scythe and Pen by A.C. Hobbs (aka, me). A Gothic Jazz Age vampire fantasy. A prince, a journalist, and a gangster form an unlikely triumvirate with one goal: to catch a rogue killer that is terrorizing their city. Peaky Blinders meets Sinners in this grimdark urban fantasy that blends bloodthirsty monsters with political intrigue. Is this a shameless self-promotional plug? Maybe, but this IS my newsletter so . . . Perhaps one should expect such behavior.

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Honorable Mentions:

Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

Empire of the Vampire by Neil Gaiman

John Eyre by Mimi Matthews (a Dracula meets Jane Eyre rewrite)

So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison

Bury our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab

Anno Dracula by Kim Newman

Do you have a favorite Gothic horror, literary horror, or vampire novel to share? Drop it in the comments and I’ll check it out. I may even drop a review here!

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Oh yeah, um. . . my book is getting a sequel. I announced that everywhere but here. Months ago.

So much for “updating a newsletter” sheesh. Sorry, everyone.

Hi, I’m Abi and occasionally I forget how to author properly. But I wrote a rip-roaring vamprie novel set in a decadent Jazz Age. Think “Hades and Persephone, but make it horror.” And it performed well enough to merit an entire sequel.

Thank goodness, right because that Book One ending was a doozy. We all were left thinking about red lipstick when we really would have rather just had a full-on smooch, right.

You know that’s not happening, friends. Not with me. Not when I could turn the scene into a shoot-out instead.

THIS SILENT CITY will release Spring 2026 from independent publisher Counterpoise Press.

After tangling with the Capital killer, Demetrius, Gabriella, and Hades scramble to pick up the pieces left in his ruinous wake. But a new foe lurks in the grimy undercity. Rival gangs begin to encircle Hades, who must decide where he belongs: in the ivoried Towers or in Eastgate’s smog-choked streets. Will he rise as the king of the criminal underworld. . . or fall prey to the very darkness he wields as easy as his Colt revolver? Demetrius and Gabriella wrestle with their warring allegiances (and complicated emotions) as they decide how far they are willing to go for their nefarious, red-eyed partner.

If you adore gripping and gritty stories like Peaky Blinders, Sinners, and Priest of Bones . . . you don’t want to miss this thrilling vampire series set in the Jazz Age.

There. I did it. I authored properly. Good job, Me.

Harriet Gale by @zelyphia

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Life bombarded at full force this week. In rapid succession, my Jeep, cell phone, and laptop all frizzled on me. What began with a hard-shifting transmission morphed into weeks without a vehicle. What began as my Bluetooth glitching on my cell phone, turned into a crashed device that refused to power back on. Then, to make matters even spicier, my laptop updated overnight … and signed me out of every single platform, including my Google account, where all my manuscripts are stored in my GoogleDrive.

Guess what Google and Meta have in common? Two-step verification processes that require … you guessed it, a cell phone. Unfortunately, my Google Pixel is currently en route back to the store for repair or replacement.

So here I am … cosplaying the good old days. Soon, I shall be reduced to a walkie-talkie and a bicycle, I fear. Or perhaps a horse and buggy. Does anyone have a wax seal for sealing envelopes? Should I buy a pigeon for mail delivery? Should I begin to worry about scurvy? Does the Pony Express still operate?

I guess the Almighty decided I needed a BREAK from technology and socials. So here I am, reading, playing with my kiddo, and making the best of an unplanned (and hopefully temporary) hiatus.

character art of Hades and Gabriella

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Life lately:

I’ve submitted copyedits of THIS SILENT CITY, the sequel to Scythe and Pen, to Counterpoise Press. Recently, I discovered that I can download an .epub file of my manuscript and email it to my Kindle. With highlights and note-taking, I can easily read my work in a comfortable format. Perhaps it’s just me, but reading on a laptop screen is dreadful. Often, I print my manuscripts, but that can get pricey. So I was happy to realize I can email things to my Kindle (I know, I know, I’m very late to the game with that one. I’m not a very techy millennial).

I also completed another (secret) project that I can’t really talk about yet. It’s fun, exciting, and romantic — I will say that! Expect an announcement later this year. Maybe. Hopefully. The only thing I can say . . . the characters were inspired by our spring trip to Big Pine Key in the Florida Keys.

I’ve jumped back into drafting THE DREAD, my epic pirate fantasy as well as BOOK THREE in my Hades trilogy. Project Dread is unbelievably close to completion, after which I will begin major developmental edits. I would love to query that project; but querying is not for the faint of heart. After losing my agent offer during the 2020 lockdowns, I spent almost two years querying Scythe and Pen before I connected with Counterpoise Press. Hannah Parker has been a joy to work with and I know that CP is the perfect home for Hades’ rip-roaring series. But I would still love to land a literary agent, if possible. If not, I’ll remain indie — which honestly, I do adore! Different stories work well in different markets.

Hades and Gabriella by @hemoglobine_

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Recent Great Reads

I recently read and adored What Blood Remembers by C. Williams Phillps. This book releases November 14th. This noir Western thriller had me reading faster than ever. To be honest, I am a slow reader. As a busy mom and writer, I have limited free time to curl up with a book. But I made everyone wait as I read this pageturner. For Cole Traeger, life ends in blood spectacle when a disgraced mafia soldier tears through his home and family. But unexpected twists place Traeger on a path of revenge that winds through the Western United States and deep into cartel-controlled Mexico. Readers go on a heart-pounding journey of rival gang fights, back-alley deals, and high speed chases through the gritty southwest.

This was an exccellent and thrilling debut from Phillips. I can’t wait to see what else this author produces! I am so glad I received an ebook ARC and definitely recommend this book for fans of Westerns like No Country for Old Men, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, The Missing, or Taken.

I’ll post a full review on Instagram once I have a phone again!

I’ve also really been into Mimi Matthews’ books lately. Her Belles of London series reignited my love of historical romance. I’m currently reading John Eyre, her Dracula-flavored reimagining of the classic Jane Eyre. . . but make it genderbent. I’m actually obssessed. A vampiric Mr. Rochester . . . um yes please? This has me thinking I need to attempt a Jane Eyre rewrite. Maybe for Substack? Let’s make it even more horrific, shall we?

Yeah right, Abi, you have two books to write and you barely have time for those. Calm down, girl.

I also just downloaded my friend Moriah’s new book: The Curious Case of the Midnight Specter. I haven’t started it yet, but I loved her young adult debut last year! I am sure this one won’t disappoint. Her novella Thorns of Winter was excellent as well! You can follow Moriah’s newsletter here. She’s a local Carolina author and is incredibly sweet!

Pray all of my devices are fixed and operational soon. Although, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t somewhat enjoying the unplugged life. (Well, mostly unplugged.) Until then, I’ll be writing (in notebooks) and reading (physical books) . . . and being WAY less anxious without doom scrolling.

Stay warm and kind, friends.

=

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So far I’ve read 42 books this year. Since my goal was fifty, I am pretty thrilled to be so close to my goal, with half a year left! Here’s a look at my favorite reads of the year … so far! But we are only halfway!

The Women by Kristin Hannah

This book gutted me in all the best ways. Frances “Frankie” McGrath is a young nurse in the United States Army Nurse Corp during the Vietnam War. She withstands bombings and a repeatedly broken heart … only to return home to discover America has turned its back on the soldiers … and forgotten the women entirely.

The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker

I’m not really a romance reader … but this book was just what I needed! City girl Calla Fletcher attempts to reunite with her ailing father only to become entangled in a reluctant relationship with an Alaskan bush pilot. I tend to love romances when they are plot and character focused, more than romance focused. In other words, I’m not a spice reader! This book had me laughing and crying!

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

A sweeping Irish fantasy loosely based on the “Six Swans” fairytale. The spirited young Sorcha is the seventh child and only daugher of the Lord of Sevenwaters. But when her father is bewitched by an evil enchantress, disaster strikes the family. The new Lady of Sevenwaters curses the lord’s sons to live as swans. Only Sorcha can break the spell — but staying silent and weaving nettles into silken shirts. When she’s kidnapped by her father’s enemies, she is torn between saving her brothers and a love that comes only once.

This book is epic, beautiful, and perfect for fans of Outlander.

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The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer.

A nonfiction offering! This book was a balm to a busy mom like me. The entire book centers around the statement: “Ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.” A growing body of evidence suggests that hurry — toxic hustle culture and constant distraction — cause tremendous harm to our emotional and spiritual health. This is a short read (or listen!) and I highly recommend for exhausted, overworked, overtired, and overstimulated Christian readers.

What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon

Netflix, I beg of you, please pick up the rights to this STUNNING historical fiction. This book is another must-read for Outlander fans. Amy Harmon never misses. Ever. But this book may be my favorite of hers! New Yorker Anne Gallagher grew up listening to her grandfather’s stories of Ireland. When she returns to her native homeland to spread his ashes, she decides to revisit his old village … only to be sucked into another. As she navigates 1920s Ireland, she joins the Irish fight for independence … and loses her heart in the process. 10/10!!!

Suspended in the Stars by E.A. Hendryx

A beautifully written young-adult sci-fi I’ve been recommending to everyone I know with kids! A circus in space. A princess in disguise. A wise-cracking Han Solo-coded soldier with a tendancy for trouble. What more could you ask for?? I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a no-spice adventurous read for your pre-teen or young adult reader.

What Happened to theMcCrays by Tracey Lange

This book had me CRYING while I cooked dinner, head phones on to drown out the sizzle of stir fry. I blame the onions (it wasn’t the onions). Kyle and Casey are childhood sweethearts whose marriage of 16 years ends after tragedy. As they each try to piece together the shattered porcelain of their lives… they realize how much they’ve let each other down. Is redemption possible? Can they come to any kind of understanding or peace?

Ugh… what a fantastic story about love, loss, and family!

The Will of the Many by James Islington

Holy smokes. This epic is sure-to-be-a-classic. This may be one of the best books I’ve read in the last five years! When I finished this book, I immediately passed it to Mark and said “you need to start this today.”

Vis Telimus, an orphaned fugitive, finds himself at the elite Catenan Academy, a brutal school that hammers elite leaders from talented youth, while enforcing a rigid hierachy based on Will. Vis has been sent to find answers to a former student’s untimely death… Instead, he uncovers a labyrinth of lies and secrets. If he blows his cover, he will die. If he reveals his true name, he will die. And if he learns the truth of the Academy and the society it upholds … he will die.

The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahurin

A French-inspired vampire romantasy that’s utterly atmospheric and transportive. With a murder mystery, a vicious vampire male lead, and a world of masquerades and secrets… this book checked all my boxes. There’s a murder mystery, forbidden romance, and an abundance of gothic elements. Imagine if Anne Rice and S.J. Maas had a book baby.

Thrawn by Timothy Zahn

If you follow me on Instagram, you KNOW I’ve been knee-deep in the Star Wars Thrawn saga. From Hugo Award winning author Timothy Zahn, these books are Star Wars for grown-ups. Instead of space wizards and light-saber-wielding knights … you have morally grey masterminds and impossible choices between bad and worse.

In 1991, Zahn introduced the franchise to one of its greatest villains: Thrawn, a Sherlockian antihero who nearly crushed the New Republic in its infancy. Zahn’s original Thrawn novel, Heir to the Empire, was a bestselling hit that revitalized Star Wars, leading to development of the prequel films. After Disney acquired Lucasfilm, the beloved Expanded Universe novels were “decanonized,” including the fan-favorite blue-skinned Thrawn. But director Dave Filoni reintroduced fans to Thrawn in his animated series Rebels and streaming live action Ahsoka… opening the door for new Thrawn content, including two trilogies: the Thrawn trilogy and the Ascendancy trilogy.

I CANNOT RECOMMEND THIS AUDIOBOOKS ENOUGH. Even if you aren’t a big Star Wars fan… these audiobooks are fantastic. I’ve never been a Star Wars geek … but dang, these books are solid sci-fi. The audiobooks are totally immersive with a stellar narrator, sound effects, and music. Both trilogies are solid five star reads for me!

What have you read this year? Any new or old favorites? Share in the comments!

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Can you guess the book’s title?

This week brought some exciting emails my way. Which means that soon — very soon!— I’ll be able to share the title of Book Two in my Hades series. Follow me on Instagram (@achobbsauthor) to catch the news first.

The first book, SCYTHE AND PEN, is out now! A vampire prince strikes a deal with a notorious gangster to stop a monster stalking their city. The unlikely allies uncover a plot that threatens to pitch not just their sinister city, but the entire world into war.

Bringing these books to shelves was a labor of love that has lasted years. In our Post-COVID world, publishers and agents were simply uninterested in a gritty dark fantasy packed full of political intrigue and vicious underlords. But I refused to give up on these characters and have loved working with Counterpoise Press, a small traditional publishing house spearheaded by bestselling indie author Hannah Parker.

The moral of the story? Keep persuing your dreams. Sometimes the stubborn refusal to give up results in unexpected open doors.

This week, I also comissioned a map of the Capital, the setting of my gritty vampire thriller. The talented Annika Crum designed this beautiful Art Deco map of the government seat of the United League of Nations.

I loved working with Annika. Not only were her prices affordable, but she was incredibly kind, agreeable, and accomodating. I highly recommend her for any trad or indie authors in the market for a map.

Can you guess which real city served as the inspiration for the Capital?

In other news…

Local friends, come see me at Barnes and Noble (Woodruff Rd, Greenville SC) on June 28th! I will be there from 11am to 2pm, signing and selling copies of my debut dark fantasy thriller SCYTHE AND PEN.

I LOVE meeting local readers and writers. So if you see me there, please do not hesitate to say hello. If you already own a copy of my book, bring it by to get it signed!

This will likely be my last local book event of the summer, although I do have plans for regional events this fall.

Let’s Wrap This Up:

What are you currently writing?

I am still working on my pirate WIP tentatively titled THE DREAD. It is so close — I’m talking a few thousand words — to being complete draft. Once I finish drafting, I will print the manuscript and dive into major edits. I know I have some plot holes and pacing issues to fix, but in all honesty… I think THE DREAD is my best story to date. Is that conceited to say? I hope not. Honestly,

What are you currently reading?

If you follow me on Instagram and TikTok (which you should! I’m fun and funny, so they claim!) … you know I’ve become mildly obsessed with Grand Admiral Thrawn. Yes, the blue guy from Star Wars. I don’t know. All I can say is that in two weeks I’ve blown through six books, bought a Funko pop, and bought a tshirt. I don’t know. This is a no judgment zone. But I will tell you, Timothy Zahn, the prolific author who invented the iconic character, has me rooting for the Empire.

Author Spotlight:

My author friend Moriah Chavis announced a surprise novella! With two young adult novels and a genderbent Beauty and the Beast retelling under her belt, Chavis decided to dip her toes into self-publishing with a novella about mermaids.

I’ve read two of Moriah’s stories and am super excited for this novella, releasing Augsut 11, 2025.

How fun and romantic does this blurb sound?

The mermaid queen is dying, and Kiera’s in line for the crown.

When Kiera left her life in Marmor, the underground mermaid queendom located in the Bermuda Triangle, she traded her tail for legs. Now, engaged to the man of her dreams, the sea calls with news that threatens to the turn the tide.

Kiera doesn’t want to give up the life she’s created for herself, but her mother’s illness draws her back to the sea of grief and the world she left behind. She’s forced to decide which is stronger: her inheritance in the sea or her new life on land.

Preorder SEA OF SORROW, which releases August 11, 2025.

That’s all, folks. Stay tuned for more bookish news soon!

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Hello, readers! Here is a sneak peek into my latest project: THE DREAD, an adult nautical fantasy about a pirate king who kidnaps a mapmaker with ancestral ties to a fabled treasure horde. I am SO excited for this book. It has been such a joy to write. I hope that readers will enjoy reading it as much as I’ve enjoyed creating it!

Fast facts about this new book…

Word count goal: 95k (so, shorter than my debut!)

Status of novel: Editing, polishing, and (soon!) querying

Age range: 17+ (adult fantasy)

Content warnings and spice level: Some language, violence, and intimacy. Based off most BookTok spiciness scales, I would say it’s a grand total of two chili peppers.

Similar titles: Daughter of the Pirate King, Nightweaver, Dark Water Daughter, Pirates of the Caribbean (of course), The Ever King

Book blurb:

Young Imperial mapmaker Ariella Windcroft’s stomach churns, but whether from the turbulent sea or her imminent marriage to the dashing Governor of Portshelm, she is uncertain. A whistle splits the air, and her world vaults sideways. Through a haze of artillery smoke, Ariella spots a ship borne of sea yarns: a black frigate with sails the color of congealed blood. She recognizes the vessel of the infamous pirate Captain Jaryx Silvereye, a Disgraced elven commodore who carves his legend with pistol and rapier. Captain Silvereye intends to quest for the Last King’s treasure, rumored to be buried upon the Wandering Isle, but he needs a navigator. Convinced that Ariella possesses hidden knowledge, Silvereye demands that she chart an impossible pathway across vicious seas and Imperial trade routes. Ariella is plunged into a world of pirates, elves, sea-goddesses, and monsters. Soon, she discovers that others, including her erstwhile fiance, covet the Last King’s gold. Her bloodthirsty captor hides traumatic secrets of his own, secrets that could render them allies instead of enemies and turn a bid for buried treasure into an empire-breaking rebellion.

Like this so far? Check out my debut novel here. THE DREAD by A.C. HOBBS

CHAPTER ONE: THIS WIDE SEA

If you close your eyes, then maybe this isn’t real, the young woman whispered to herself. Eyes clenched tight, she leaned into the wind. If you close your eyes, you’re there. You’re in Imperia. You’re home…

A brine-laced breeze stroked her clammy skin. Overhead, she heard the slap and gutter of canvas. The creak of salt-stiffened rope. The singsong of male voices barking orders, raised in sharp laughter, bellowing warnings. Waves lapped the ship’s wooden hull. The ocean hissed and splashed and whipped itself into a frothing frenzy.

The young woman’s eyelashes fluttered open. She was greeted with a broad expanse of slate-blue water as far as the eye could see. Loneliness and emptiness stretching in every direction.

Out here, there was no birdsong. No babbling brooks or sighing leaves. No rattling Imperial stagecoaches or marching squadrons. This far off shore, the only sounds you heard were the ones you brought with you.

Except for the sea, the young woman thought. The constant breath of the great dark sea.

Ariella Windcroft gripped the deck rail until her knuckles blanched. Seaspray spattered her cheeks. An eastbound wind whipped her dark curls. She inhaled a shaky breath of air that stank of seaweed.

Suddenly her stomach heaved. With a moan, she willed the nausea to abate. Her fingernails dug crescent moons into the weathered wood. Gods, she hated the ocean. As if sensing her disdain, the boat lurched -- her stomach with it -- she paled.
As her mouth filled with saliva, Ariellat clenched her eyes, this time out of desperation.

The ship bucked like an angry horse. Rise, hover, tilt, plummet, only to rise again.

Oh, gods. Ariella groaned.

Ariella, pull yourself together. Her father’s voice snapped like the sails overhead, forceful even in memory. Her stomach tightened with grief instead of sea-sickness.

The gilded parlor of the Rhododendron Tea Room floated in her memory. Ariella saw pink china teacups, stems as delicate as flower petals. Powdered dainties, candied flowers, and cold cucumbers that she couldn’t even eat due to her whalebone corset. Her heart galloped beneath her bodice; her fingers trembled in lace gloves. Over it all loomed her father’s frown, severe and dark as a stormcloud. His black wig curled magnificently over his embroidered coat. The rich shot-green and black silk garment made his eyes pierce icy blue, while the silver wig glowed against his skin, dark as oiled walnut.

Ariella had stared at his chiseled features, unyielding as hardwood, and sought any resemblance to her own. But she had inherited her mother’s face, a fact her father routinely decried. Soft cupid lips, sandy complexion, and a regal brow. The sole concession to her father was her eyes: iridescent blue and cold as winter. And glistening now with unshed tears.

Father and daughter had glared at each other across the simpering tea service. In that tense moment, Ariella had realized that, shared color notwithstanding, they did not see matters eye-to-eye. Certainly not today. And now, she’d conceded with sinking dread, perhaps never.

“Ariella, I confess myself disappointed. I’d anticipated a better reception.”

Ariella had stifled a laugh. Her teacup rattled against its saucer as she set it aside. “I don’t know what to say, Father.”

“Your opinion is irrelevant. The matter is settled.” Sir Windcroft dabbed his mouth with a lace-edged napkin. “I’ve booked your passage aboard the Endeavor. You’ll sail within the fortnite.”

Ariella clutched her hands in her lap. “So soon?”

Unfazed, Windcroft continued: “Your mother’s cousin Eridena will collect you at Portshelm. After which you’ll be escorted to the Governor’s mansion. Your wedding will occur as soon as possible, I’ve been assured.” He sipped his tea and waved a hand. “Regrettably, I’m unable to attend the nuptials but Eridena is sufficient to the task, I’m sure.”

“Sufficient to the task,” repeated Ariella under her breath. She tapped the golden rim of her cup. The delicate lace ensconcing her finger was so diaphanous it appeared tattooed: white swirls and roses against flesh as dark as a coconut husk.

Her father droned as incessantly as the cicadas outside. Ariella stared at her tea -- stared at cream dwindling to surface scum -- stared at her tapping finger -- stared at the virginal tablecloth and hand painted saucer, fragile as a seashell -- stared -- stared -- stared --

“No.”

The single word jolted through her spiraling panic: swift as a bullet.

Her father stopped. The blue eyes met her face. “What did you say?”

The word welled up Ariella's throat and burst into the air between them. “No. No, I won’t go. I don’t want to.”

“You don’t want to?” her father repeated her words with the air of one being told the sky was purple.

Ariella’s cheeks scorched. “I want to stay here.”

Her father’s lip curled; then he boomed a laugh that made more than one patron glance their way.

“My dear” -- chortling as he poured her a fresh cup of tea -- “ what you want doesn’t matter a whit. The marriage is arranged. Dowry paid, papers signed.”

Ariella’s hands trembled. The teapot clattered on its burner. The silver spoons tinkled. Such nonsensical sounds.

“You’ll depart nine days hence. Here” -- offering a tray of sugar-encrusted pastries -- “have a biscuit.”

#

“Ari?”

The nickname splashed over Ariella’s memories and dissolved her father’s frown as easily as the biscuit in his tea. She turned to find her brother standing at the rail. His auburn curls, soft as ocean-froth, jumped on the wind. He squinted up at her, nose wrinkled. Unlike Ariella, William had inherited their father’s goodlooks. Yet the boy’s personality belonged to their mother: quick laugh, soft hair, lip-biting frown.

“Gods, William,” huffed Ariella. “What do you want?”

“Captain said I’m to man the helm,” gushed the boy. Ten years younger, he still viewed daily life as an adventure waiting to be bested. “Next bell! Can you believe it?”

Brandishing an invisible sword, he feinted left, then stabbed her side. “I’m captain of this ship now, Windcroft. And ye’ll do as I damn well say or it’s the brig for ya!”

“William!” Despite his cursing, Ariella found herself laughing. She caught his shoulders to assess his appearance. Shirttails loose, waistcoat unbuttoned.

“Well this uniform won’t do,” she tutted. “Tuck. Button.” As he obeyed, she pulled a ribbon from her pocket satchel and finger-combed his tousled hair. “There. Fit for duty, Soldier.”

William flashed a glittering grin.

And the first cannonball struck.

#

Blasted wood and shrill screams. Water jettisoned, furious white. The ship bell clanged, despite the fact that the cannon had rocked the Endeavor hard enough to throw every sailor from his bunk. Clearly someone had scrambled to his post.

Ariella peeled herself from the deck. The frenzied bell clanged and clanged, rebounding inside her skull. Boots thundered around her as she whirled, searching for her brother.

“Will? Will?” Her voice cracked. “WILLIAM!”

“I’ve got him, miss!” A black-haired sailor popped onto the quarter deck, hauling Wiliam by the bicep.

Ariella’s stomach dropped. She flew to her brother’s side, hands outstretched. Blood smeared the boy’s forehead, streaking down his cheek. “Oh gods, you’re hurt --”

"I’m fine -- don’t fuss -- I’m fine!” William squirmed, but his face was ashen. Ariella pulled him tight and turned to the sailor.

“Thank you, sir.”

“He’ll be fine,” the sailor shouted over the din. “Scalp wounds bleed something fierce. I’d get below decks if I were --”

A horrible whistle truncated his sentence. A boom and then a fountain of water jettisoned skyward. Ariella shrieked, clinging to William as oceanwater rained and drenched them both. The sailor rushed to the railing.

“A miss!” he crooned. “First must’ve been a lucky shot, the bastards!” He shepherded Ariella toward the stairs. “Get below decks, miss, quickly, quickly!”

“Below decks?” Ariella cried. Somehow trapping herself within the ship’s hull felt like a deathwish.

The sailor leaned close to be heard. “This is an Imperial frigate. A few cannons won’t sink her. Not today.”

“TAKE COVER!” bellowed a voice from above. The watchman leaned from the crows-nest, frantically waving his cap.

The whistle-shriek and a cannon – streaking black – ripped through rope and tackle. Canvas sagged like fallen laundry, and a scream pierced the air. A boom had splintered, ropes popping; a sailor scrambled to grab purchase on the shroud, a line, anything. Below, his comrades scurried, yelling for a net.

“Wh-what’s happening?” cried Ariella.

“Pirates!” yelled a sailor.

William’s eyes popped wide as silverspoons. “Pirates?”

Bodily, the sailor shoved Ariella towards the main deck. “Below! Now! Run!”

Pirates. The word stabbed cold through Ariella’s brain. Pirates! Pirates? No, this can’t be happening. Gods help us –

Ariella flew, dragging William behind her. Down the gangway they raced, leaping over fallen lines, past three sailors holding a net, screaming for their friend to jump, jump now, Sammy–

The flailing sailor plummeted.

The Endeavor’s own cannon roared.

Ariella screamed. Barely registering if the fallen sailor was safe, Ariella dragged William toward the center of the ship.

Again came the warning screech. Another water geyser, spray like bullets on her skin.

“RUN OUT THE GUNS!”

“TURN HER ABOUT!”

“ALL HANDS -- ALL HANDS ON DECK!”

Orders ricocheted like gunfire as the Endeavor came alive with purpose and fury. Ariella shoved William toward the main deck.

“Run, William! Run!”

Ahead a man beckoned from a hatch leading below decks. His eyes were wide and white beneath his tricorn. “Here, miss!”

Ariella’s skirts tangled, wet and heavy, around her legs. Safety beckoned from the darkness below. Ariella need only step into it. Yet on the precipice, she slowed, an unbidden force compelling her to turn and to look back.

The world slowed. Foam speckling the air, flying wood like confetti, the sea enraged and white.

Ariella’s gaze lifted to the horizon.

And she saw it.

Like a monster burst from the deep, black and hulking on the waves: a galleon. Hull as dark as pitch, sails proud and full, it crouched broadside. The galleon’s mainmast was a proud fist against the sky. From it unfurled a black flag.

Ariella’s eyes widened.

A black flag hoisted above a black ship. Black against cerulean blue skies, black as night, black as death.

The name popped into Ariella’s head, pulled from penny pamphlets, barked from citycriers. A name that had risen to gruesome prominence throughout the Empire. The name of the only vessel flying both black sheet and black banner.

She gasped the word like a curse: “The Dread.”

Light flashed on the galleon’s distant flanks. A thunderclap of ignited powder.

“Below!”

An urgent hand shoved between Ariella’s shoulderblades. Caught off guard, she tripped – toe catching against the hatch door – and tumbled down into the hold. Her hands scrambled for purchase. Briefly she grasped the ladder, then only empty air. The hatch fell, and the world closed upon her.

#

Fuzzed black lines and slatted light. Cold dripping onto her forehead. Pain sparking in her ankle.

Ariella’s vision focused. A gray rag hovered over her face, dripping brown water. A gnarled hand moved to reveal a face knotted and dark as driftwood.

“Ah, there she is,” wheezed the old man standing over her. He grinned, revealing two teeth stark in his black maw.

Ariella batted aside the dirty rag. Pressing a hand to her forehead, she stammered: “Wh-what happened?”

“Ye took a right nasty tumble, you did, miss,” said the old man. He slopped the rag into a bucket at his feet. Droplets spattered Ariella’s bodice. Wincing, she rose onto her elbows.

“Ari?” a nervous voice murmured over her shoulder.

Ariella’s heart skittered as memory slammed into her. Cannonfire, pirates…

“William!”

Wide-eyed and pale, her brother knelt at her side. Ariella grasped his knee. The cut on his forehead had stopped bleeding, although red caked his hair. Barrels loomed behind him. Pitch, salt, and spice mingled with sour water.

The hold, she realized. Someone must have carried her to the frigate’s cargo level.

“Your head struck the ladder,” William supplied. “A soldier brought us down here.”

Ariella inspected her own forehead and winced. A goose-egg had formed above her right eye.

William nodded at the old seadog. “Cookie here helped me.”

“I --” Ariella started to thank the seadog, but fear sank like a stone in her belly. “Oh gods, William! The Dread! I saw it” She grabbed her brother’s hands. “I saw the pirate ship!”

“Aye,” growled the cook. “And aptly named, I’d reckon.” He chuckled, the sound creaky as the frigate’s bones. Tapping a finger to his nose, he winked. “Ye’ll notice the quiet? Nary a cannon blast.”

Ariella’s heart surged. “Did we outrun them?”

“Outrun?” The cook’s eyes popped: hard and yellow as cueballs. “Outrun the Dread?” Whee! Godsbones, miss!” His shrill voice whistled through the gaps in his teeth. “No ship outruns the Dread. Nay. Look out yonder.”

As the words left his mouth, darkness bloomed around them. Something blocked the light rippling through the Endeavor’s portholes. As the sunlight faded, Ariella’s spirits sank.

Oh gods no.

The old cook chortled as if watching a street show. Outside, black planks overtook the slate sea. Weathered boards, speckled with salt, then the malignant eye of a cannon barrel. Its soulless glare bored straight into Ariella’s heart.

“Whee - heehee -- there’s no ship afloat can outpace the Dread.” The seadog’s voice pitched like a teakettle. “You’ll meet him now, missy. And maybe yer Maker too, eh? -- whee hee!” His wheezing laugh raised every hair on Ariella's neck.

A bone-shaking thud. The Endeavor pitched. Water splashed against the portholes and Ariella scrambled for a handhold as William careened into her.

“What was that?” he gasped, righting himself.

More thuds, followed by shouts overhead.

The cook’s grin stretched taut over his skull. “They’ve rafted ‘longside.”

They’re boarding us. Ariella’s core went cold. Without thought, she shoved William between the crowded barrels.

“Oof! Hey!”

“Hide!”

“But --”

“Hide now!” Ariella kicked him into the small curved slot behind two apple barrels, then lunged for a sheet of spare canvas. Boots thundered far above. “Hurry!”

“You too, missy.” The cook leered at her elbow. Taking the canvas, he nodded at the makeshift hiding spot. “In you go. Nary a peep.”

Ariella’s stomach twisted. She had no desire to entrust her fate to this drunken yellow-toothed lubber; but what choice did she have? She huddled beside William, pulling her skirts tight around her boots. Her corset bit into her ribcage, but the discomfort did not faze her.

With a final wink, the cook dropped the sheeting and disappeared from view.

“All hands!” boomed a distant voice. Ariella nearly leapt out of her skin. “All hands on deck!”

“That’ll be me,” grumbled the cook.

View shrouded by white, Ariella clutched her brother as the cook’s boots receded. She heard the dull thump of a hatch, then Ariella and William were alone with only their hammering hearts. Brother and sister exchanged one wide-eyed look.

A thud overhead -- William jumped. Ariella grabbed his hand with both her own. Don’t make a sound, her eyes begged. Fear crawled like spiders over her skin.

Voices, shouts, one loud doglike laugh. Heavy boots pounded over their heads as men traversed the decks. The Endeavor sloshed -- Ariella’s stomach with it -- with the redistribution of weight.

William, she repeated her brother’s name like a prayer. Just protect William…

A whistle pierced Ariella’s panic. High, long, and dignified. A captain’s whistle.

Ariella and William exchanged a bewildered glance. Did pirates salute their captains?

The cacophony overhead calmed. A heartbeat of silence passed; Ariella heard only William’s breathing.

A deep, male voice murmured. Ariella strained to catch the words but could not identify or distinguish anything concrete.

The hatch banged open. Light poured into the cargo hold, bright against their canvas shelter. Hands pressed to her mouth, Ariella willed herself still, willed herself silent, even as William trembled with round panicked eyes, even as bootsteps clambered down the ladder.

“Search every corner!” A voice boomed through the hold, and it was all Ariella could do not to yelp. Ariella’s eyes met William’s. She clutched his arm. Gods protect us. Please, please --

The canvas snapped -- light flooded their hiding place. Before Ariella could scream, she was hauled to her feet.

A tattooed face leered next to hers. “Two below, Cap’n! A girl and a whelp of a boy!”

#

Blinded by brightness, Ariella’s eyes smarted tears. She saw only searing white as she jerked against the pirate’s grip. One hand straggled free -- but her captor snatched her black hair.

“Let me go!” shrieked Ariella.

“Quiet, bitch!”

A shove drove Ariella to the deck. Pain rang through her knees. Her vision swam.

White figures molded into huddled shapes that further solidified into men, stripped of their blue coats. Ariella gasped. The Endeavor’s crew knelt along the gangway, hands bound and heads bowed. Behind them stood an army of men. Muskets, pistols, machetes brandished. One blade dripped red.

William! Ariella turned, only to have her hair yanked so severely that stars danced before her eyes.

“At ease, Bilson,” a voice barked.

A pair of boots stepped into Ariella’s vision. As she stared at the steel-capped toes, her heart sank. Her gaze traveled to a black belt festooned with tarnished coins -- up the velvet waistcoat, red as spilt blood -- to a bandolier jagged with knives -- and finally to a face.

A face borne from seamen’s yarns.

The pirate’s dark beard split into a cruel grin. One gold incisor winked. He was chiseled and bronzed by decades of sun with a glare as cold as the surrounding sea. Ariella’s blood thundered in her ears. The pirate’s boots creaked as he knelt bringing them face-to-face. An austere baritone, cultured as any Imperial schoolboy, rolled over her:

“Miss Windcroft, I presume?”

Eye to eye with the rogue, Ariella felt her spine go soft. The pirate captain’s left eye was blue as baywater, pure and vivid. But the right was blighted: a veil of white obscured its pupil. A name, whispered in ports and screamed from pamphlets, popped into Ariella's mind.

Silvereye.

Jaryx Silvereye, captain of the pirate vessel Dread, knelt before her. Sea salt encrusted his gold belt buckle, dusted the toes of his boots. One hand rested on his pistol as he assessed her, slowly. His smile uncoiled like a snake.

"I've searched this wide sea for you, lass. And here you are.

Thank you so much for reading this sneak-peek chapter of my upcoming novel. I am currently polishing the book to begin querying literary agents. Querying is a journey that can take a long time, so I appreciate every bit of support along the way!“How can I show support for this book?”

Subscribe to my Substack (it’s completely free and will stay that way)

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Borrow or purchase my debut fantasy novel SCYTHE AND PEN

If you’ve already read SCYTHE AND PEN, drop a review on GoodReads, Fable, or Amazon (or all three if you’re feeling frisky!)

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I will be posting updates along the way, about this book as well as Scythe and Pen’s sequel. Right now, I’m in a holding pattern for the sequel to my gangster fantasy novel, but fingers crossed, the ball will be rolling soon! Until then, you can subscribe (it’s free!) for updates, writing blurbs, book events, and more!

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Several months ago, my publisher Counterpoise Press reached out with news that an Italian publisher was interested in purchasing foreign rights to my dark fantasy debut. After a moment’s stunned shock, I thought “wow awesome!” After all, I had never expected Scythe and Pen to get published, much less spark any interest across the pond.

In publishing circles, time flows differently. Deals and plans move at a snail’s pace… then BAM! Everything happens at once. As months scrolled by, I completely forgot about the pending Italian deal… until my email notifications binged.

I spotted the subject line: SCYTHE AND PEN COVER FOR APPROVAL.

Friends, the gasp I gasped. The scream I screamt. I have never typed “approved” so fast in my life.

Scythe and Pen will be releasing from Digital Vintage Edizioni, an Italian fantasy and science fiction publishing house, on March 30, 2025. It’s stunning cover design is by premier Italian illustrator Venditti Antonello.

I love that the cover features Hades, Demetrius, and Gabriella — all together! Pardon me as I drool over Demetrius Raske. My goodness. Wait is it weird to drool over your own characters?? Let’s not think about it.

I’m so grateful for the opportunity to reach more readers in their own beautiful language. Stay tuned for more book news in the upcoming weeks!

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We blinked, and February is over. Here in Greenville, we have had stunning faux-spring weather that has coaxed confectionary pink blossoms on the trees and prompted my camelia bush to festoon itself in opulent magenta blooms. With the first hints of springs, come the first hints of what’s next for my writing career. Like the long sleepy winter, I’ve been in a period of behind-the-scenes work and waiting. But things are starting to take tentative shape.

Writing Update

I submitted the sequel to Scythe and Pen to the series’ publisher back in December. Right now, I’m just waiting for their feedback and thoughts. Waiting periods are always hard for authors, but they are standard to the industry. (After all, think about how long it takes you to read a book, now multiply that by 100, which is about where agents and publishers are with their bookish workload.)

But there’s no need to be languid in the waiting. I brainstormed the plot for the third (and final) book of Hades’ trilogy. I’m a detailed plot-planner and thus tend to write 20-30 page outlines, which proceed chapter by chapter. Now that I have my brainstorming coherently contained in an outline, I can go through, edit out superfluous bits (things that are “atmospheric” but don’t really serve a purpose furthering the plot) and make sure I wrap up all the loose ends of the overall story arc.

Psst… peep that title?

I also am about 60k words into a new story, a swashbuckling pirate romantasy entitled THE DREAD. I have had an absolute blast writing this story. I plan to dive back into drafting this ASAP. You can read a snippet of it here.

I also am excited to be partnering with Reedsy Learning to test-drive their How to Write a Novel masterclass, taught by Tom Bromley. This three month intensive course aims to help writers draft a book in about 100 days. I did the five prep classes and found them hugely informative. I’ll share more about my experience with this class on my Instagram.

A New Release from a Friend

Enough about me … Haaaaave you met Moriah? (That was for fellow millennial fans of How I Met Your Mother, by the way.)

My good author friend Moriah Chavis has a NEW BOOK RELEASING THIS YEAR!!! And she revealed the cover this week. I loved her first book Heart of the Sea, a young adult pirate-themed fantasy, as well as her novella Thorns of Winter. So I can only imagine that THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE MIDNIGHT SPECTER will be fantastic as well. It’s described as a Sherlock Holmesian story about a young woman in Edwardian England who can see ghosts.

I would have devoured this as a teen! Can’t wait to get my hands on this one. It releases in September.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Finally, I’m excited to announce that I will be attending the Local Author Expo here in Greenville, SC, as part of the Southern Author Fest. You will be able to find me at the Hughes Main Library in downtown Greenville, SC between 3-5pm on Sunday, March 9th. Bring your book to get it signed or buy a copy there!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! I’ll be back next week with a list of my reads so far this year as well as some more writing updates (something a little more personal this time).

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Who else is living in their villain era? In the Scythe and Pen world, we are forever in our villain era.

After all, nothing is so delicious as a bad boy with a good cause, a questionable chip on his shoulder and an ill-advised love interest. If you’ve read Scythe and Pen, you know exactly which chain-smoking, red-eyed gangster I’m describing.

Scroll to the bottom for some stunning Hades character art.

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In a sinister, magical metropolis populated by villains, a vampire and a gangster form an unlikely alliance to catch a killer. Read the first two chapters for FREE on my website. Add SCYTHE AND PEN to your GoodReads TBR list and join a community of over 5,000 readers who’ve braved the rain-slick streets of the Capital.

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Sequel Updates!!

I’m happy to share that I’ve officially submitted the sequel to Scythe and Pen’s publisher. Now, it’s just a waiting game as I await their feedback. Publishers can take a few months to read a manuscript, as they usually have several other books and projects on their plate. In the meantime, I’m outlining the third and final book in Hades’ saga, as well as drafting an entirely unrelated project.

You can read a little sneak peek of THAT swashbuckling WIP here.

Now, without further ado, the promised character art of our favorite grim gangster.

Art by Loran DeSore.

Eeek! I may have gasped when I saw this portrait for the first time. Loran perfectly captured Hades Cronus’ calculating glare. That look that takes a person’s measure and finds them wanting. And knows exactly how to manipulate that want.

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Turns out if you blister through life on panic-mode, you end up giving yourself panic attacks. I mean, who knew? Many wise people, that’s who.

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The last two years have been a rollercoaster for my family. Slow, ponderous climbs followed by dizzying free-falls. My husband and I have met lifelong goals (him, finishing a 100 miler and me, publishing my first novel) while simultaneously navigating a devastating religious trauma experience that splintered our lives and community into a million glass-shard pieces. More on that later…

These milestones (and millstones) were accompanied by a rapid series of big events: house shopping, moving, long distance roadtrips, and hosting family dinners. All were good, but all kept us barreling through life at a breakneck pace. By the end of 2024, I found myself crashing. Sitting up in bed, coccooned by autumnal dark, I told my husband, “I need to slow down. I can’t keep going like this.”

This year, I’ve made it a mission to slow down and savor life. After reading John Mark Comer’s book The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, I realized I needed to invite space into my life again. Space to rest, space to breathe, space to enjoy my life.

I’m a mother. A writer. A perfectionist. So this goal presents no small task. My natural inclination is to push, push, push, hustle, hustle, hustle. Make sure the house is always clean. Make sure I work out everyday. Make sure I meet those writing deadlines. Make sure my daughter gets all her extra-curriculars. Make sure I meet my reading goals. Make sure I hit my marketing goals. Make sure I reach out to friends and check on them. Make sure I stay up-to-date on news and events. Make sure, make sure, make sure. Go, go, go. Sound familiar, anyone?

Turns out if you blister through life on panic-mode, you end up giving yourself panic attacks. I mean, who knew? Many wise people, that’s who. Not me.

Here are a few practices I’m implementing in 2025 in order to regain life balance… and a shred of sanity.

Reclaim Sundays. As a Christian, Sunday has always been a significant day of the week for me. But I had never really considered the importance of sabbath, from a practical standpoint. Most Christians, like myself, view Sunday as a day of worship. After reading The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, I realized that Sundays can (and maybe should be) days of literal rest as well. A day to unplug, relax, and just breathe for a bit. This past Sunday, I made the decision to do exactly zero chores. I let the laundry wait. I let work wait. I let everything wait. I simply enjoyed the day with my husband and daughter. After church, we went for a hike and then spent the afternoon playing, reading, and enjoying each others’ company. We grilled dinner and watched the Super Bowl (and marveled at Kendrick Lamar’s jeans, Gap Long and Lean, anyone?). I locked social media and news apps and paid no attention to my notifications. And you know what? I felt rested by the end of it. I felt recharged and refreshed.

Take consistent social media breaks. Recently, I heard the following quote, from Phylicia Masonheimer: “We like to think we are omniscent and able to absorb all the content, all the news, and know everything with zero consequences. But that’s just not true. We aren’t omniscient. We aren’t designed to process all of this information. ” Those words struck a chord in my heart. I love staying abreast of current events and trends, especially in the bookish world. But sometimes too much of a good thing … is simply too much. I found myself feeling frazzled by social media, to the point that I was questioning whether a writing career was even for me. “Take. A. Break.” — the wise words of my sweet bookish friend Lauren. Maybe this goes without saying, but if social media is leading you to doubt yourself and your vocation … you need to take a step back. For four days now, I’ve been disengaged from my social platforms, and it’s been amazing. Not only have I gotten more done, my anxiety levels have plummeted. I’ve been more present with my family and with myself. Going forward, I plan to schedule social breaks into my month. My goal: to post three days a week only and to take one week completely off every single month. Less screen time equals more writing time.

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Read more of what I enjoy, not just what’s popular. I used to chase the BookTok and Bookstagram viral books. I was determined to stay “in the know” with mainstream authors and tropes. To be honest, I started to fall out of love witih reading. I found myself consistently DNFing books and losing interest. Last year, I stopped trying to force it. Instead of chasing trends, I decided to look up books similar to my five-star reads. I began to follow more review accounts (like lemonyreads and thebookscript on Instagram) with tastes simliar to my own. The result? I’m loving reading again. I’m rating books more highly and finishing more series.

Pssst, side bar… if you zoom into the above photo, you just might peep the working title of the sequel to Scythe and Pen.

Learn to say “no” or at least “not right now.” I have always been the person who tries to do it all. I will overstretch myself every single day, if I’m not careful. But lately, especially since having kids, I find myself practicing the word “no.” Not in a selfish, reclusive way, but in a I-simply-do-not-have-the-bandwidth way. In the famous words of Lorelai Gilmore, “We’re just one person!” My foray into the practice of “No” began in 2023, when I decided to stop moderating a social media site for my former church. While I loved the work and believed in the site’s cause, it had begun to monopolize my days. (Again, more on that later…) The decision to step away felt agonizing, until I did it and realized how silly I was being. We are allowed to say “no” to things when we simply do not have the time or if those things detract from the priorities of family, work, and personal space.

Even though the last few weeks have been focused on slowing down … I find myself dialing up. Dialing up the joy. Dialing up a sense of presence. Dialing up my inner peace. Dialing up a feeling of purpose again.

Life loves its curveballs. But I hope that I can maintain these priorities — to unplug, rest, and savor.

What brings you joy? How do you invite rest and peace into your life? Do you ever unplug from social media?

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