What's After Blood Money? The confetti has settled, the release day posts have been shared, and "Blood Money" is officially out in the world. So what happens next?

​If you're expecting me to say I'm obsessively checking sales numbers and refreshing review pages every five minutes, you might be surprised by my answer. The Unconventional Post-Release Author I have a pretty unconventional way of handling releases, and I've learned to embrace it rather than fight it. While many authors describe release day as the beginning of an intense promotional period filled with anxiety and constant monitoring, for me, it's actually a moment of profound relief.

I tend to work incredibly hard on my stories as I go, pouring my heart into every scene, every character development, every world-building detail. By the time Carol and I finish a Penn Scripter collaboration like "Blood Money," we've lived and breathed that world for months. When it finally goes out into the world, there's this beautiful sense of completion, like we've done everything we could do, and now it's time to let it find its audience.
​The Beauty of Letting Go I follow the Art of Letting go. Do I check sales obsessively? Not really. What I've discovered is, if a book flies and resonates with readers, that makes me feel absolutely awesome. The emails from readers who connected with Miles and Warren, the reviews that mention how the Dracules mythology felt fresh and compelling are moments of pure magic.

But if a book doesn't take off the way I hoped?

It still has a place in my heart.

​I still love going back to that world by reading the paperback version. In fact, I re-read my own stories every couple of years, and there's something wonderful about revisiting characters and worlds I created. The Author's Dilemma of Loving Ones Work While Seeing Its Flaws Re-reading my own work isn't without its challenges. I'll be honest, sometimes I have thoughts of "I should have handled this scene better" or "I wish I'd explored that character's motivation more deeply."

It's the author's eternal dilemma. We see every missed opportunity, every path not taken.

What I've learned to love about those moments of "what if" is it gives me the chance to incorporate those missed avenues into other stories. That scene I wish I'd written differently in one book? It might find its perfect home in the next one. Those character dynamics I didn't fully explore? They might become the foundation for an entirely new story.
​The Daily Reality of Constant Creative Flux The transition from creation to promotion isn't a dramatic shift for me, it happens on a weekly basis. I'm in constant flux every day, moving from drafting to revising to plotting.

One day I'm deep in Warren's 200,000-year-old psyche, the next I'm plotting out a completely different world with entirely new characters. (Though I'll admit, I could definitely use some organization help with the promotional side of things! If anyone has mastered the art of seamless transitions between creative and marketing brain, I'm all ears.) The Magic of Collaboration Working with my mom Carol on our Penn Scripter stories adds another beautiful layer to this post-release reality.

Our collaboration process is so much fun. One of us writes the draft and the other revises. Sometimes I'll give my draft to mom and she'll make sure it's copy-edited before it goes to our editor. Other times, she'll draft a story and I'll weave in descriptions to bring in the right mood.

But once the two of us get going, we have such joy in exploring these worlds together. There's something magical about sharing the creative process with someone who understands your vision so completely. Even if we only write the stories for ourselves, family, and friends, the completion is a success for us.  The Unexpected Joy of Writing Faster Lately, I've been writing faster, and it's revealed something unexpected about my creative process. I used to write books over such long periods that by the time I finished, I was ready to move on to a completely different type of story. I was satisfied with my time in that world.

Now, as I'm writing faster, I'm finding I miss the worlds I've created. I want to stay longer, explore more characters, dig deeper into the mythology I've built. It's making me want to write more series so I can remain in these worlds that have captured my imagination.

It's funny how changing your process can reveal new aspects of your creativity. I'm discovering I have more stories in me than I ever realized.
​The Real Post-Release Reality So what really happens after release day?

For me, it's a mixture of relief, gratitude, and anticipation. Relief that the story is complete and out in the world. Gratitude for readers who connect with the characters and worlds Carol and I have created. Also,  anticipation for the next story, the next world, the next collaboration.

It's not about the numbers or the rankings or the promotional strategies (though those have their place). It's about the continuation of the creative journey.

"Blood Money" is out in the world now, but Miles and Warren's world is still alive in my imagination. The Brightwood Estate still has secrets to reveal. There are other characters in the shadows waiting for their stories to be told ("Clay" is fascinating, and only Miles can relate to a boy way beyond his young age).  The Author's Truth Here's what I want other authors to know: there's no "right" way to handle post-release life.

Some authors thrive on the promotional hustle, the constant engagement, the strategic marketing. Others, like me, find peace in the letting go, in trusting that the right readers will find the story when they need it.

Both approaches are valid. Both can lead to success. The key is understanding your own creative rhythm and honoring it, rather than trying to force yourself into someone else's post-release reality. What's Next As for what comes next in our Penn Scripter journey? Carol and I are already brainstorming. She's given me an outline that I'm exploring. We're talking about other characters in the "Blood Money" universe that want their stories told. We're exploring new worlds entirely, new mythologies to build, new characters to fall in love with.

Because the real magic of being an author are the stories never really end. They just find new ways to begin.

To my readers: Thank you for making "Blood Money" feel like the success it is, regardless of any numbers or metrics. Your enthusiasm for Miles and Warren's story, your curiosity about our unique mythology, your willingness to dive into worlds where love might just be the most dangerous magic of all is what makes this journey worthwhile.

To my fellow authors: however you handle your post-release reality, trust your process. Trust your instincts. Trust that your stories will find the readers who need them most. Because sometimes the most unconventional approach is exactly the right one.

Signing off with love and a bit of darkness.

Until next time...
...happy reading! 

~ Stephy