The Second Draft

by Carrie Byrd

An ice queen’s newfound passion for her best friend upends both their lives in this beautiful lesbian romance about the power of desire and discovery.

No one has ever melted uptight Anne Lowell’s icy exterior, not even the husband of thirty years she just divorced. Still, she has her dazzling best friend and neighbor, Sadie Rosenthal, to brighten her days, so she’s content. Really, she is.

But when Anne realizes that her feelings for warm-hearted Sadie might be more than just friendship, she’s no longer able to ignore the shattering truth she’s spent a lifetime repressing.

Anne’s choice is clear. She can keep her rigid existence, or she can find the courage to begin a daunting journey with Sadie—one that just might help them both find true happiness.

ebook

Expected publication April 29, 2026

About the author

Carrie Byrd is a California native and college professor who lives just outside Philadelphia. She loves hiking and kayaking, burritos, video games, Old Hollywood, Eagles football and Phillies baseball, teaching poetry, talking a mile a minute, and traveling around the world with her wife.

An extrovert who thrives on a stage, Carrie once won first place by crowd vote for her improvised lip sync of “Jessie’s Girl” at a packed drag brunch. She considers it one of her life’s greatest accomplishments.

Carrie’s favorite word is thistle. It feels good to say out loud.