Harlow's Hot Releases 10/12 - 10/18

 

Intro

Welcome to Harlow's Hot Releases! This is a weekly blog where we dive into indie books releasing that week! This blog covers books releasing from October 12th to October 18th of 2026. This is the inaugural blog of this series so if there's anything you think could be tweaked, feel free to share!

This Week's Releases

Release #1 out on 10/16

Title: Dirty Zone (Book 5 in the Enforcers MM Hockey Series)

Author: Heather Leighson

Genre: MM hockey romance

Where to buy: link

Blurb:

Doing what’s right matters, but he’s here, close enough to touch.

Skylar

I did what I had to, for both our sakes. Sometimes love means letting go. And since he’s living his dream and playing in the NHL, I’ve never doubted my decision.

But he’s furious, standing in front of me and figuring out my secret.

Only a fool turns away a second chance at true love.

I’m a fool.

Yet, I can’t resist him.

Maverick

I don’t know if I should kiss him or demand answers. He ghosted me, leaving only questions about our relationship and what was real.

We were starry-eyed kids, but I was totally in love with him.

Still in love with him.

My deceit tore us apart, but fate’s giving me another shot.

But I didn’t count on fighting my Skylar, my angel.

Release #2 out on 10/13

Title: Anchor Point (Book 2 in the Harbour of Hope series)

Author: Hannah Cowan

Genres: romance, omegaverse, why choose

Where to buy: link

Blurb:

I’ve spent years proving to myself that I don’t need a pack. I just didn’t expect getting pregnant on my own to bring one straight to my door. As an omega, I was raised to believe that finding a pack was the beginning of every happily ever after. I tried that once, and all it taught me was that losing yourself for the sake of being loved isn’t much of a fairytale.

So I built a life that belongs entirely to me instead. A career I love, a clinic dedicated to helping omegas who need it most, and absolutely no plans to hand any part of myself over to an alpha again. There’s only one thing missing.

A baby.

The Everwell Clinic offers me exactly what I one carefully selected alpha, one heat, and no expectations afterward. Until Callum turns out to be far more than just the alpha I chose. And somehow, he isn’t the only one.

Callum, Elias, and Rasmus have found their way into very different corners of my life, and when instincts finally snap into place, I’m left with the one thing I stopped believing I’d ever have.

A pack of three scent-matched alphas who don’t just want to bond me. They want to court me and make room in their lives for a baby that won’t belong to all of them by blood.

I wanted to become a mother. I just never expected to find a family along the way.

Release #3 out 10/13

Title: Flicker My Flame (part of the Too Hot to Handle series with multiple indie authors)

Author: Bindi Kennedy

Genres: romance, first responder

Where to buy: link

Blurb:

In Tomothy Burke’s mind, people think of firefighters as strong, confident, bold, and brave. They do not think of him—a man trapped behind a desk and afraid of the shadow his large frame casts. Tom’s dissatisfied with the present. Wary of the future. Haunted by his past—including a fastidious red head who used to live next door, but mysteriously vanished one night from their small Aussie town.

Zac Hutton has a thing for bow ties, flirty banter, and giant men. He’s has been living a nomadic existence for a decade, but when fate calls him home, he answers, bringing with him laughter, sunshine and an eternal spark a certain grumpy fireman feared he’d never experience again.

Will Tomothy open himself up to happiness?

Will Zach stay long enough to find out?

Release #4 out 10/13

Title: Wombats and Wildfires (part of the Too Hot to Handle series with multiple indie authors)

Author: Vicki Hilton

Genres: romance, first responder

Where to buy: link

Blurb:

It’s usually bad form to profit from someone else’s misfortune, unless your victim is a six-foot-something, smoking-hot fireman with a sopping-wet T-shirt. In those circumstances, all bets are off.

Sunshiny Melody is one more rejection away from giving up on her photography dreams. All she needs is a paying job. Instead, she gets a wombat sanctuary to run. Blue Gum Valley couldn’t be further from the bright lights of Melbourne, but with her career on “do not resuscitate”, she has little choice but to put her dreams on hold.

Grumpy firefighter Ethan Barnes doesn’t have time for romance. The last time he tried, heartbreak put him firmly off dating. Then a desperate woman contacts the station needing her dog rescued. Of course, Ethan steps up. What he isn’t expecting? His emergency caller to be so beautiful… or so damn infuriating.

Ethan thinks he’ll never see her again, but when Melody posts a picture of him in the river, it sparks a thirst-trap storm neither of them saw coming.

Release #5 out 10/13

Title: The Second Spark (part of the Too Hot to Handle series with multiple indie authors)

Author: Katie Montinaro

Genres: romance, first responder

Where to buy: link

Blurb:

When Keely Baxter finds herself at the centre of an international scandal, she has no choice but to flee to the cosy childhood hometown she’s spent years trying to outrun. But hiding is difficult when she suddenly finds herself under the blazing gaze of the only man she’s ever loved - her brother’s best friend.

Tyler Whitmore’s life revolves around helping raise his niece, routine and simplicity. As a firefighter, he can handle emergencies, but he can’t handle Keely Baxter moving back across the street. For years, Tyler has tried to forget their secret dalliance…and failed.

With old feelings reigniting and the whole world watching, they must navigate the scandal that has followed her home while fighting their attraction to each other. Keely can’t risk another very public fall from grace. And Tyler has no intention of watching her walk away again.

After everything they’ve been through, can they trust that the timing might finally be right?

Release #6 out 10/13

Title: Flirting With Fire (part of the Too Hot to Handle series with multiple indie authors)

Author: Brooklyn Dean

Genres: romance, first responder

Where to buy: link

Blurb:

Things are getting HOT 'round here.

Gone are the elf ears, festive hats, and the security of a job Bonnie Snow was destined to do. This former Santa Coach and Texan expat has moved to Australia and is making life-changing adjustments in more ways than one.

Unbeknown to her, Henry 'Cavill' Cooper (ex-firefighter calendar model and her ex-holiday fling) is in Blue Gum Valley, too, and literally building a new life from the studs up. When rekindling their old flame leads to a disaster - including a blow-up chair, accidental public exposure, and a major housefire - Bonnie is left with no option but to move in with him.

They're flirting with fire, attempting to survive a platonic housemate situation - when the ‘house’ is nothing but splinters and a broken hot tub. Will Bonnie and Cav manage to rebuild their new lives, identities, and a home – together? Or will it all go up in smoke?

Release #7 out 10/13

Title: Almost Enough (book 2 in the Lily Ridge series)

Author: Alexandra Ayres

Genres: romance, comtemporary

Where to buy: link

Blurb:

Beau

I've spent years making myself easy to overlook. Work at the shop, go home, keep my head down.

Then my best friend's wedding sends me cross-country with the maid of honor—one truck, one cottage, and nonstop chatter I can't tune out.

Whitley Collins talks to strangers like old friends and asks the questions I've spent years avoiding. I tell myself I just have to get her there on time.

I don't just get her there. I fall for her.

But letting her in means she'll find out why I never left Lily Ridge, and I know what happens once people find out.

They leave.

Whitley

I've been told I'm too loud and chatty my entire life.

So when I'm stuck on a road trip with Beau Sinclair, a man who communicates mostly in grunts and disapproving eyebrow movements, I figure he'll beg me to take a vow of silence.

Instead, he listens. All the way through my excellent game of naming every cow we pass.

We make it to the wedding. We dance. I even get the broody guy to smile like he means it.

Then he's gone. No explanation.

And I'm left wondering… Was I too much after all?

Outro

This week is totally up my alley! What a way to kick us off! So many incredible releases have made my TBR super full.

Top 10 Tuesday: Bookish Discoveries I Made in 2025

Welcome back to Top 10 Tuesday, following the list from That Artsy Reader Girl! (Yes I am now going to try to pull 10 for every week).

This week's prompt is..... bookish discoveries I made in 2025 

These are in no particular order

1. Much more understanding of my niche in terms of books I'll enjoy (I have lowered my tolerance for finishing books I am not loving)
2. Many wonderful indie authors! (including Ariana St. Claire and Rebecca Kinkade)
3. That there are non-fiction books I enjoy (including some celebrity memoirs, psychology books, and random quandaries I have)
4. It is super easy for me to drop off a book in an LFL when done (seriously, I do not need to keep a book I'm not gonna reread, there's an LFL in my neighborhood. There is literally no reason to not let someone else have the chance to enjoy a book too)
5. Quality of reads over quantity is what keeps me out of slumps (if anyone would like, I can do a whole advice post about reading slumps)
6. Fun bookish challenges (like the Summer Reading Challenge or Magical Readathon. They are fun and add a deadline that can really help me finish non-ARCs)
7. Silly little prompts really motivate my reading
8. The power of audiobooks for me to reach my reading goals (I can read an audiobook at 3x speed, which is infinitely faster than eyeball reading for me. It also allows me to keep reading when I have a migraine)
9. Simpler bookish tracking is more sustainable (a fancy Notion setup is simply a headache for me to keep up with. My notes app and StoryGraph is all I need)
10. A tiny shoutout can help an author so much! (especially indie authors!)

What have you discovered in 2025? Any lessons we can all learn from? Lately I have been so picky with my reads, so I will be sticking with authors I already know I love for a little while. Let's all be proud I can do this with my ARC schedule (and the power of a DNF).

Here it all is in a pretty lil' graphic as always

The weather is quite nuts here, so we shall see if this gets uploaded on time if at all! Please forgive me if it is not Tuesday! Also how is this already the final T10T of January?? I feel like this month has dissolved in front of my eyes.

IAA Day 29: C.L. Ambrose

Indie Author Advent Day 29: C.L. Ambrose

Welcome to day 29 of the 2025 Indie Author Advent! This fun series will help us to get hyped for 2026 by celebrating some of the wonderful indie releases of 2025! Today I am interviewing C.L. Ambrose. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

C.L.'s 2025 Releases

• One Year to Teach You Love Again
• Skyewards

The Interview

1. What is your favorite thing about your 2025 releases?

"Writing One Year To Teach You Love Again and especially Skyewards was a very personal journey. Both books helped me to better understand who I am as a person. Also both books contain forms of queer representation (demi and ace) that we do not see often in MM romance. If only one ace person picks up Skyewards and finds themselves in it, then I'll be very happy to have contributed to making ace awareness more visible. Because, unfortunately, even in 2025 loads of folks don't even know what it means to be ace and ridicule ace people as prudish or stuck up. In reality, ace people are a valid part of the queer community and deserve to be seen and represented in media just like anybody else."

2. What are your inspirations for your books?

"I can get inspired by pretty much anything and never know when inspiration will strike next. My story ideas always just randomly pop up in my brain and when they don't leave me for weeks or even months, I know I'll have to write them down or otherwise I won't get any peace. One Year To Teach You Love Again was inspired by the desire to want to write a love after loss story because I lost my mum to terminal illness a few years ago and writing about this helped me heal."

3. Why do you think representation is so important in books?

"Representation isn't just important in books but in all media and general society – books only being one place to share queer experiences. I grew up in a very rural, very catholic place and we didn't have an internet connection before ca. 2008 when I was around 16. I also was never allowed to watch certain TV channels, so I basically didn't even know queer people existed until I finally went online. Like this, I figured out I'm queer myself and, in retrospect, everything makes so much sense. But I simply didn't know before why I felt so different and like the odd one out because there was no queer rep available to me. So in times like these current ones, where conservative bigots in certain countries are trying to ban any form of queer content from the public and especially from schools, queer representation in books is more necessary than ever, so that queer people can recognize themselves in it and feel less weird and less alone. And I'm more than glad to be able to contribute to this."

4. Any advice for people who want to publish in 2026?

"Just write whatever makes YOU happy and not what you think is trendy. You're the one who needs to read what you wrote most often and if you write something that doesn't appeal to you, personally, then I don't think you'll have fun doing this. Also 'just do it' and don't overthink things too much. There's an audience out there for everyone, the hardest part is finding it, but if you don't even try, you never will make it."

5. What are you most looking forward to in 2026? Any more releases on the horizon?

"Yes, I'll be releasing the first part of my zombie apocalypse trilogy, The Third State, in February and will start working on part two soon, hoping it will be ready for publication by autumn 2026. Also I hope to be able to squeeze in a few free short stories for my readers to enjoy."

6. Is there anything else you would like to add?

"Thank you for the opportunity to have my books featured and my voice heard, I really appreciate this a lot <3"

Outro

Thank you to C.L. for getting involved in this advent! I am excited to see what they come out with in 2026. Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their releases! 

IAA Day 28: Any Gravelle

Indie Author Advent Day 28: Any Gravelle

Welcome to day 28 of the 2025 Indie Author Advent! This fun series will help us to get hyped for 2026 by celebrating some of the wonderful indie releases of 2025! Today I am interviewing Any Gravelle. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

Any's 2025 Releases

• Snowed In
• Cold Played

The Interview

1. What is your favorite thing about your 2025 releases?

"These are my first two short stories that have been published in English and it's like a comeback to me because I didn't write since 2020. I also used one of my old characters for Strong Enough and it was great to meet her again on a new adventure."

2. What are your inspirations for your books?

"For Snowed In, it was something from my personal life that I'm not used to talk about and something that I wish to live with a guy."

3. Why do you think representation is so important in books?

" I was so thrilled to work on Cold Played because women were represented like strong characters. I also think it's important to write stories that people can relate to no matter who they are, so they can feel less alone."

4. Any advice for people who want to publish in 2026?

"Be patient, it's a marathon, not a sprint. Also, write something you want to read because you are going to spend a lot of time with your characters."

5. What are you most looking forward to in 2026? Any more releases on the horizon?

"I will be a Pages and Pleasure in Kitchener in April, it will be my biggest  Any more releases on the horizon? I am working on a project related to Butterfly, my short story in Snowed In, but I don't know if it will come true for now."

6. Is there anything else you would like to add?

"Thank you so much for this interview and feel free to follow me in IG : unelectricecompulsive2309 and maybe on TikTok in 2026."

Outro

Thank you to Any for getting involved in this advent! I am excited to see what they come out with in 2026. Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their releases!

IAA Day 27: Jessica Todd

Indie Author Advent Day 27: Jessica Todd

Welcome to day 27 of the 2025 Indie Author Advent! This fun series will help us to get hyped for 2026 by celebrating some of the wonderful indie releases of 2025! Today I am interviewing Jessica Todd. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

Jessica's 2025 Release

• Orchard: Sown Among Thorns

The Interview

1. What is your favorite thing about your 2025 release?

"I've written a lot, but this is my first time publishing any of my works. The funny thing is that this genre has never been on my roster. I mainly read and write fantasy and sci-fi, but this was the one to get published. Why? This is my favorite thing about this book is what it taught me. I rarely got caught up on the intricacies of what shape a Utahraptor's teeth were or thousands of years worth of fantasy lore. It's a short, fairly simple story about things I've dealt with and am familiar with: anxiety, church hurt, and an ever-increasingly obvious fear of failure. Now that I've crossed that line of throwing it out into the sea of other self-published books, I'm not as terrified as I was before hitting that button. It's a sea, but I know it's out there. I write much more confidently than I did, knowing that while yes it is scary to go to book signings and I still get stuttery and garbled when someone asks me about my book, but that feeling of knowing that I put something very personal of myself out there makes it so totally worth it - plus that serotonin you get from someone buying or even being interested in your book is awesome."

2. What are your inspirations for your book?

"My inspiration came from a few different sources, but the main one has to be church hurt. As I've grown up in church my whole life and have been around one of many aspects of that culture, I've seen and experienced firsthand how abusive some people will become when given power and/or authority. While largely there are people trying every day to do good and be the best representatives of Christ they can be, the law of big numbers applies - especially to such a large religion - and there are thousands of people who use God's Word for their own evil pursuits, and a lot of those are doing it intentionally. This was how my antagonist was born - out of a hatred for good being twisted for evil, pushing hatred towards our fellow human beings, and that person setting themself up as the cream of the crop when they aren't fit enough to clean a pig's sty... Also, I just love baking cookies."

3. Why do you think representation is so important in books?

"Representation is one of the most important attributes of a book while also being one of the most mishandled. It's one thing to have a character that is a POC, queer, or other marginalized attributes, but it's so important to represent that person well, not only in having that attribute, but also a personality outside of that one aspect. A character whose sole characteristic is the color of their skin, especially a hyper-stereotypical version of what the author sees that race as, is not a good character. 'They're black, so they act like a black character.' No, that's not how people work. It's difficult to fully represent the spectrum that is humanity in one book, but doing research into your characters' attributes, even if they're a side character or passing NPC, will be the difference between a real-feeling world with real-feeling characters and a one-dimensional addition to the ocean of token _____ characters. This representation will speak to someone reading your book, and whether that's an insightful nod or an insult is up to the author."

4. Any advice for people who want to publish in 2026?

"Do it. Has the idea been done before? Sure, but not by you. Does it need polishing? They always do, even mainstream published authors have typos and plot holes. Get it written, make your mark, even if not many people read it. You will have done it. You can do it."

5. What are you most looking forward to in 2026? Any more releases on the horizon?

"I'm excited to do a couple of book signings I have planned, but I'm most excited to see where this book-writing will lead. I'm currently working on the sequel to my first book, but I am also working on a Sci-Fi western with robot dinosaurs... and yes, I too am excited for that one to come out."

6. Is there anything else you would like to add?

"Thank you, Harlow Rose, for featuring me and my little book, and to you, the scroller, for reading. I hope each and every one of you has a good day and a better year than last year, and know that you're loved and worth more than the lies you've been told."

Outro

Thank you to Jessica for getting involved in this advent! I am excited to see what they come out with in 2026. Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their releases!

IAA Day 26: V.L. Locey

Indie Author Advent Day 26: V.L. Locey

Welcome to day 26 of the 2025 Indie Author Advent! This fun series will help us to get hyped for 2026 by celebrating some of the wonderful indie releases of 2025! Today I am interviewing V.L. Locey. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

V.L. Locey's 2025 Release

• The Christmas Mittens

The Interview

1. What is your favorite thing about your 2025 release?

"Oh goodness, this is hard to answer. I loved each and every one of them from the hockey romances to the westerns, my yearly paranormal Kestrel & Kee story and the romantasy stories, to my Laurel Holidays book, this year titled The Christmas Mittens. I suppose my favorite thing about my books is knowing that at the end of every single one love always finds a way"

2. What are your inspirations for your book?

"That ranges from TV shows to movies, songs, people I see or know. Things that I see online. Inspiration can bonk me over the head at any given time! LOL"

3. Why do you think representation is so important in books?

"Great question. Representation is so important so that people know that they are not alone, that they are loved, and that their stories are important."

4. Any advice for people who want to publish in 2026?

"My biggest advice to new authors is to learn discipline and to love your craft."

5. What are you most looking forward to in 2026? Any more releases on the horizon?

"Any more releases on the horizon? Oh oodles! I have a new romantasy trilogy coming out in 2026 as well as a few westerns in my Bastian Brothers quadrilogy, a few standalones, a surprise or two, and the launch of a new MM hockey romance series next September!"

6. Is there anything else you would like to add?

"Just that I'm so humbled and grateful to be a part of this wonderful community where I can do what I love and share my tales of romance and finding that special someone with all the wonderful readers out there."

Outro

Thank you to V.L. for getting involved in this advent! I am excited to see what they come out with in 2026. Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their releases!

IAA Day 25: Tyler Whittaker

Indie Author Advent Day 25: Tyler Whittaker

Welcome to day 25 of the 2025 Indie Author Advent! This fun series will help us to get hyped for 2026 by celebrating some of the wonderful indie releases of 2025! Today I am interviewing Tyler Whittaker. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

Tyler's 2025 Releases

• Sorry We're Closed
• Ready, Set, Not Yet!

The Interview

1. What is your favorite thing about your 2025 releases?

"There are so many things that I adore about Sorry, We're Closed, especially with it being my first ever experience with the entire self-publishing process, but my favourite thing about this release in particular is the entire story which Sawyer and Avory tell. Not only were Sawyer and Avory a massive outlet for me to express experiences and emotions which I, as a gay man, had experienced and struggled to voice to anyone, but knowing that there is at least one person out there who has read their story and then messaged me to say how much it helped, is all I ever wanted with this book. The laughs and tears which they have created is really just the cherry on top for me, and it inspires me to keep going at the keyboard."

2. What are your inspirations for your books?

"Queer, indie authors will forever and always be an inspiration for me to keep writing and to keep telling our stories because we do exist, we are writing, and we are still fighting around the globe just for our existence to be accepted without thought and hesitation. If there are people out there who can read any one of our books and find solace and safety in these characters and stories, then we have to keep writing.

When it came to Sorry, We're Closed, not only was I inspired to create a story based around experiences and emotions which I had previously experienced due to people's opinions on my sexuality and being out and proud, but I also found inspiration in so much around me which fueled the location, the characters, the situations which happen throughout. I took these inspirations and built on them with mood boards, writing about them, combining them with other things I found inspiration in and I would continue this process until I could fully picture what I wanted."

3. Why do you think representation is so important in books?

"Representation is so, so important in all forms of media because we are still having to ask this question. Every person deserves to see representation of themselves, and with asking this question, it shows that we do not have enough of it. Not seeing representation of myself at a younger age made it so much harder for me to believe that being myself was an option, but if I had the positive media representation that we are slowly beginning to see today, then maybe I could have felt okay about being who I am today so much sooner."

4. Any advice for people who want to publish in 2026?

"Oh boy, there are so many comical answers which I would love to give for the question, but one thing I would like to say which not only I wish I knew sooner, but it is something which I am still learning to accept: Don't write to please others, don't write because you feel you have to, don't write to keep up with others; write for you, and write what you want because you want to. Your books are coming to you for a reason, whether it's an idea, a character, an entire storyline, or absolutely anything else! So, don't rush it, don't force something else because you think it'll do better, and give yourself time. You are a human, and this process can be draining, painful and hard to let go of, but there is on other feeling that compares to releasing your work into the world."

5. What are you most looking forward to in 2026? Any more releases on the horizon?

"Ohhh, 2026! I am really excited for what I have planned so far! Recently, I have been focusing more on myself and my mental health as I have voiced online, so many of my original 2026 plans have actually been delayed but I hope people will see this and see that this is not me wanting to disappoint those who are excited, but wanting to create something amazing and something powerful rather than rushed and not cared for just to meet deadlines! Currently, I am working on the third installment in the Sweet and Savory Series which follows our boys Xander and Oli from the prequel to Sorry, We're Closed and my most recent release Ready, Set, Not Yet! And this has been hurting my heart! I hope people are ready!

Another project I am working on which I have only spoken about with a few close author friends of mine is actually a complete genre shift and will be entirely new territory for me, but this has been developing in the background slowly, all the way back to when I had only started writing Sorry, We're Closed, so I am very excited to eventually speak more on this!"

6. Is there anything else you would like to add?

"Whether you have already read my boys or are now considering it, thank you for the support and I hope they offer or have offered a ray of hope or a smile to your face when it was needed."

Outro

Thank you to Tyler for getting involved in this advent! I am excited to see what they come out with in 2026. Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their releases!

IAA Day 24: James Chance

Indie Author Advent Day 24: James Chance

Welcome to day 24 of the 2025 Indie Author Advent! This fun series will help us to get hyped for 2026 by celebrating some of the wonderful indie releases of 2025! Today I am interviewing James Chance. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

James' 2025 Releases

• Our Dark Mirror
• Our Bright Window

The Interview

1. What is your favorite thing about your 2025 releases?

"This is my debut series, so I have to say my favorite part is finally getting to share it with the world! It's been an incredible journey connecting with readers for the first time, and I'm so thankful for how much people say my characters have touched them. I believe the emotion is the most crucial part of all stories, and I pour so much of myself and my experiences into my books, so I can't help but be humbled and thrilled by someone out there feeling so deeply for what I create."

2. What are your inspirations for your books?

"I actually adapted much of the Our Dark Mirror series from a TTRPG I played with some friends back in 2020. Obviously my player character was Vincent, the MC, and my now-partner (not at the time) played Henry, the deuteragonist/love interest. So much of how he and I came to love each other (through many difficulties) is explored through the relationship's growth on-page, far beyond anything we had going in that game alone. But the in-game events spurred my wanting to expand and refine things, including adapting some of the basic side character concepts our other friends had into a more rounded supporting cast. I'm also inspired of course by countless other books and media that have changed my life, some notable favorites being The Raven Cycle, His Dark Materials, and most anything directed by Guillermo Del Toro."

3. Why do you think representation is so important in books?

"There's two answers to this one: community and authenticity. If you're a part of the group being portrayed, being seen and heard through other people's stories is deeply edifying. You don't feel so alone when other people can mirror your experiences, and maybe even show you new ways to handle feelings around them. And if you're not part of that group, the representation provides you with exposure and a chance to develop empathy for experiences that are different than yours. Obviously as authors we can't portray everything completely authentically, but I do my best to fill in gaps with research and consulting with others, while injecting a lot of my own identity into characters and situations. There are a ton of things about my lead character Vincent that especially speak to my experiences as a trans guy and on the autism spectrum, but that's the fun thing about monsters: that otherness/weirdness can draw parallels to a lot of different things, and we see ourselves in characters like these in our own unique ways. All I can hope is that the themes I write from the heart of my life can resonate with someone else's in a way that matters to them."

4. Any advice for people who want to publish in 2026?

"Make some friends! Follow some people on social media that like the same things you do. You never know who you can end up connecting with. I've met so many amazing people even just sending one-off messages appreciating their posts or books, and it snowballing from there. Take that, social anxiety! Point being, the community you're a part of IS the career. I always like to think of us as a bunch of people sitting around a giant campfire telling each other stories, because it really feels like that. You have to write from the heart, and find your people who also read and/or write from a similar place."

5. What are you most looking forward to in 2026? Any more releases on the horizon?

"Yes! The third and final book of the Our Dark Mirror series is coming out hopefully in the spring, and then it's on to my next adventure! I'm so stoked to finish off Vincent and Henry's story (they deserve a happy ending after everything I've put them through, lmao), and also to start something new for the first time in years. I have a standalone novel in the works that I'm so eager to start drafting properly."

6. Is there anything else you would like to add?

"I can never thank all of you readers and fellow writers enough for the support you've given me over the course of my first year in publishing. I really went from not thinking I'd amount to anything, despite my lifelong dreams of becoming an author, to actually having real people who love my work. Absolutely wild to me. I may not be the biggest name out there, but I really do believe in that authenticity - I'll keep writing from my weird little heart, if your weird little hearts will keep coming back for more!"

Outro

Thank you to James for getting involved in this advent! I am excited to see what they come out with in 2026. Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their releases!

IAA Day 23: Lily James

Indie Author Advent Day 23: Lily James

Welcome to day 23 of the 2025 Indie Author Advent! This fun series will help us to get hyped for 2026 by celebrating some of the wonderful indie releases of 2025! Today I am interviewing Lily James. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

Lily's 2025 Release

• Hyperspeed

The Interview

1. What is your favorite thing about your 2025 release?

"Hyperspeed was my debut, so I think that's probably my favourite thing about it. The story and the characters are extra special to me, because I had the courage and determination to write the book and release it to the world. I enjoy their relationship and the journey they go on, but really, I love my characters as if they were real people. They're constantly present in my head, even though their story has now been told, and it makes me happy to see other people love and enjoy them as much as I do."

2. What are your inspirations for your book?

"Hyperspeed came to me on a random Wednesday. I was on the train heading to work, and it was just prior to the new F1 season (I'm a big F1 fan). I was listening to Blinding Lights by The Weekend, which gives off those 80's synthwave vibes, and I suddenly started thinking... what would happen if F1 was in space... space race... alien racers... okay let's make it queer. And within 20 minutes, Hyperspeed and the Astro Space League universe was born."

3. Why do you think representation is so important in books?

"I think that representation, whether it be LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, disability, or BIPOC, is so important because there is already so little of it in mainstream media. When it is present, it's often glamorized or misrepresented because of the need to appeal to mass markets. Fortunately for us authors, we have the ability to represent what's "real" even in a fantasy or made up setting. We can present characters that we've created with real life problems, and show how they combat and overcome them."

4. Any advice for people who want to publish in 2026?

"Don't stop trying. I'll be honest and say that being an author is hard. It can seem overwhelming, knowing you have to create some characters, their story, their goals, and then put it all together in the form of a book with a beginning, middle, and end. But watching the final product come together is the most satisfying part, and when you get to the end, it's a literal representation of all the hard work and determination you put in. If something feels hard, or you finish a draft and it's not quite where you want it to be yet, don't stop there. Power through and mold it into the perfect book for you. Don't worry about writing for the sake of anyone else. Write for you and your passions, and that will be the best book you could possibly create."

5. What are you most looking forward to in 2026? Any more releases on the horizon?

"I've got the second book in the Astro Space League series, Afterburn, coming in 2026. But before that, I'm actually diving into contemporary! Given that my first book was a mashup of scifi and sports romance, this will be new for me. But I'm really excited for this one! Resonance is a standalone MM rockstar romance between a lead singer and ex-ballet dancer turned MUA. It explores addiction, recovery, emotional and physical healing, and the question of whether love is enough to make it through times of struggle. It'll be very different vibes from Hyperspeed, with more angst and a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, but I'm really excited to release the MCs to the world."

Outro

Thank you to Lily for getting involved in this advent! I am excited to see what they come out with in 2026. Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their releases!

IAA Day 22: Zoey Vale

Indie Author Advent Day 22: Zoey Vale

Welcome to day 22 of the 2025 Indie Author Advent! This fun series will help us to get hyped for 2026 by celebrating some of the wonderful indie releases of 2025! Today I am interviewing Zoey Vale. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

Zoey's 2025 Release

• Heartthrob

The Interview

1. What is your favorite thing about your 2025 release?

"I love so many things about Heartthrob, but I can't get over the intensity of feelings between Natalie and Chris. The pure acceptance of each other. Seeing only the best parts. How they allow themselves to fall into something highly improbable but shining with potential. That's a fantasy so many of us have and love getting lost in."

2. What are your inspirations for your book?

"I've been a devotee to alternative rock essentially my whole life and have been to a couple hundred (maybe more??) concerts. Reveling in live music is like nothing else. Heartthrob was a fun way to immerse myself in that world. The inspiration was certainly there after seeing many gorgeous frontmen perform."

3. Why do you think representation is so important in books?

"One of the reasons I wanted queer characters, BIPOC characters, and main characters with depression and substance use disorder in my book is because that's real life, especially in millenial Los Angeles. People are from all walks and backgrounds and they bring with them their own compelling stories. We need those stories! My writing will always include diverse characters--I'm planning to focus on disability and chronic illness representation in the future."

4. Any advice for people who want to publish in 2026?

"Of course it depends on your goals, but I just jumped into publishing once I felt ready. My draft sat for years in the cloud because I was too nervous to put it out there. Yet the response has been so positive and encouraging. Don't be nervous about what people will think of your book. Someone will love it. It will be worth the risk."

5. What are you most looking forward to in 2026? Any more releases on the horizon?

"Right now I am focusing on getting Heartthrob in the hands of readers. I'm trying to enjoy this time and accomplishment before moving on to the next thing. I'd love to go to a few cons and be on a podcast!"

6. Is there anything else you would like to add?

"As a debut author, I am so touched that anyone read my book. It still hasn't totally hit me that some people actually like it. I love to connect with readers and want to hear all your thoughts!"

Outro

Thank you to Zoey for getting involved in this advent! I am excited to see what they come out with in 2026. Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their releases!

IAA Day 20: Jane Hayes

Indie Author Advent Day 20: Jane Hayes

Welcome to day 20 of the 2025 Indie Author Advent! This fun series will help us to get hyped for 2026 by celebrating some of the wonderful indie releases of 2025! Today I am interviewing Jane Hayes. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

Jane's 2025 Release

• Finding the Pieces

The Interview

1. What is your favorite thing about your 2025 release?

"Finding the Pieces is a love story about Ellie and Dominic finding their way back to each other after a year of parenthood. They are both navigating mental health struggles after a traumatic birth experience and through the postpartum period. My favorite thing about this release has been the readers who have reached out to me to share how this story made them feel seen and less alone in what they experienced postpartum. I’m forever grateful to the readers who shared their stories with me, and I hope this helped to validate pieces of their own journey that we may have shared and were represented in this book."

2. What are your inspirations for your book?

"My own experience with birth trauma and postpartum mental health greatly inspired my second book, Finding the Pieces. My first book, Winning the Nightcap, is a love story between a professional baseball player and a dog trainer. My husband played baseball growing up, and he was an amazing resource for all of my (many) sport related questions. My dogs inspired all the fun puppy moments in this book. And my experiences in my own family and as a social worker inspired the piece of the story related to Aiden’s mom, who is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease."

3. Why do you think representation is so important in books?

"Books are such a powerful tool to connect with other people. Reading from the perspective of characters throughout some of the most challenging and also the most beautiful moments of their (admittedly fictional) lives helped me heal when I was struggling with my own mental health. I believe reading stories similar to what we each experience help to validate our own struggles and fears, while reading stories written from a perspective we haven’t experienced helps us to understand one another and be better, more empathetic people."

4. Any advice for people who want to publish in 2026?

"Push past those moments of self-doubt, find and build your support network in this community, and don’t be afraid to ask for help."

5. What are you most looking forward to in 2026? Any more releases on the horizon?

"Any more releases on the horizon? I will have at least one release next year (the third book in my series of interconnected standalone stories)… more fun details to come!"

6. Is there anything else you would like to add?

"Both of my books can be found on Kindle Unlimited, Amazon, or requested for order through your local bookstore."

Outro

Thank you to Jane for getting involved in this advent! I am excited to see what they come out with in 2026. Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their releases!

IAA Day 19: J.E. Ridge

Indie Author Advent Day 19: J. E. Ridge

Welcome to day 19 of the 2025 Indie Author Advent! This fun series will help us to get hyped for 2026 by celebrating some of the wonderful indie releases of 2025! Today I am interviewing J. E. Ridge. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

J.E.'s 2025 Releases

• The Vessel
• The Prince and His Stolen Throne
• The Mage and His Stolen Prince

The Interview

1. What is your favorite thing about your 2025 releases?

"It was really fun writing and editing The Prince and His Stolen Throne and The Mage and His Stolen Prince back-to-back. It’s not how I usually write a series, but it might be from now on. It just made the whole process smoother and the stories more consistent."

2. What are your inspirations for your books?

"Unexpected twists on familiar tropes. For The Vessel, I wanted to write about someone unknowingly becoming part of a Demonic Ritual but happily engaging with everything going on. For The Prince and His Stolen Throne, I wanted to write a story from the perspective of the person who double-crosses their friends, and what it was like for him knowing from the beginning that he would have to betray the people he loved."

3. Why do you think representation is so important in books?

"First, it’s always nice to see yourself in the story, which is why I write a lot of LGBTQ+ characters going on adventures. Second, it’s important to expose yourself to other identities and experiences so you can have a broader understanding of the world and the people around you. Plus, it’s always fun to see what tropes and archetypes are popular in other cultures."

4. Any advice for people who want to publish in 2026?

"Don’t rush the process. Find a pace that works for you and doesn’t lead to burn out, and make sure you’re taking breaks between drafts."

5. What are you most looking forward to in 2026? Any more releases on the horizon?

"I’m really looking forward to the release of the final book in the Shield & Sorrow trilogy. The last book came out in 2023 and ended on a cliffhanger, so I’m excited to finally give that story its conclusion."

Outro

Thank you to J.E. for getting involved in this advent! I am excited to see what they come out with in 2026. Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their releases!

IAA Day 18: Nicholas Young

Indie Author Advent Day 18: Nicholas Young

Welcome to day 18 of the 2025 Indie Author Advent! This fun series will help us to get hyped for 2026 by celebrating some of the wonderful indie releases of 2025! Today I am interviewing Nicholas Young. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

Nicholas' 2025 Release

• Under the Covered Bridge

The Interview

1. What is your favorite thing about your 2025 release?

"My favourite part of releasing Under the Covered Bridge has been connecting with readers around the world (literally!). Seeing people react to the story, share their emotions, build theories, and tell me which character they love the most has been overwhelming in the best way. Writing can feel lonely, but this book created a community I never expected."

2. What are your inspirations for your book?

"My biggest inspiration was my cousin Ricky. He was the first queer member of my family to come out, and he faced harsh judgement for it. He left Canada when he was still young, and when he returned, I hoped I would finally get the chance to ask him about his life, and be the family he and support he did not have growing up. I didn't. He passed away suddenly three years ago. I did not get the chance to hear his stories, so I wrote one for him. This book is my way of honouring him and giving him the life and love he deserved."

3. Why do you think representation is so important in books?

"Representation matters because our fight is not over. There are still protests against queer communities, even in countries that have legalized gay marriage. Rights that were once secure are being challenged and overruled. Queer stories let people see the truth of our lives. That we want to love who we love, and we want to be loved without conditions. Books can show the humanity behind labels and headlines, to let people have a real glimpse into our lives."

4. Any advice for people who want to publish in 2026?

"Market your book before launch. Let people into your process and your excitement. Perfection is not the goal. The quirks and imperfections in your book make it uniquely yours. Mistakes, page bleeds, or other issues can be fixed, it's okay, and those people get a rare copy of your book! Find your community on social media and talk to local bookstores. Build relationships. They matter significantly more than algorithms."

5. What are you most looking forward to in 2026? Any more releases on the horizon?

"I am looking forward to growing as an author and strengthening the small community I have built. I am currently writing a novel, shh, it's a secret, but more information will be released in the new year!!"

6. Is there anything else you would like to add?

"Only that I am grateful. For every reader who took a chance on a debut. For every message and review that reminded me why I wrote this book. For everyone sees a piece of themselves in Kaveh, Lukas, Chloe and even Niall. I struggled significantly with mental health this year, and writing Under the Covered Bridge healed me in ways I never expected, and I hope it offers even a small piece of that healing to someone else."

Outro

Thank you to Nicholas for getting involved in this advent! I am excited to see what they come out with in 2026. Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their releases!

IAA Day 17: J.B. Warrick

Indie Author Advent Day 17: J.B. Warrick

Welcome to day 17 of the 2025 Indie Author Advent! This fun series will help us to get hyped for 2026 by celebrating some of the wonderful indie releases of 2025! Today I am interviewing J.B. Warrick. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

J.B.'s 2025 Releases

• The Baritone's Rival
• The American's Covenmaster
• The Maestro's Mates
• Holiday Wishes and Tentacle Dreams

The Interview

1. What is your favorite thing about your 2025 releases?

"I adored writing more books in my Vampire Impresario series this year. All of them are set in the world of grand opera and feature vampires, although I got to branch out into a throuple, witches, and gargoyle shifters. It was super fun! But my favorite thing is my December release, which has a lot of firsts for me. Holiday Wishes and Tentacle Dreams is my first MX, my first tentacle romance, and my first cozy holiday novel. It's so Christmassy and spicy and fun and I had a blast writing it."

2. What are your inspirations for your books?

"My books tend to start with a fun character, and those are usually amalgams of people I know - often with a heavy dose of me in there as well. Once I get a sense of who I'm writing, all of the paranormal goodness just slots into place!"

3. Why do you think representation is so important in books?

"I remember the first time I read Mercedes Lackey's series The Last Herald-Mage as a teenager, and I lost my mind. To read about a gay character who used magic, was glamorous and prickly, and who fell in love (even if the road was insanely bumpy) was an experience I'd never had before. It allowed me to picture myself as the protagonist of my own story, rather than a bystander. 

Not only that, but we have a shortage of empathy in the world today. Reading is one way that we are able to relate to experiences that are foreign to us. I've read about a bazillion books about straight people in my lifetime. It never stopped me from being able to relate and understand what the characters were going through. Similarly, we need more queer books because art allows people to expand their horizons and gives them some of the tools needed to look beyond their assumptions about folks."

4. Any advice for people who want to publish in 2026?

"Just do it! My approach isn't for everyone, and there are all sorts of ways to do it, but for my brain, the perfect is the enemy of the good. Your first book probably won't be a smash hit. Write it anyway. Publish it anyway. Edit it until it feels like it's in a good place, but don't keep going over the same words again and again. Publish it and start writing the next one. You can't start finding your readers if they don't have anything to read."

5. What are you most looking forward to in 2026? Any more releases on the horizon?

"2026 is going to be a big year for me! I'm going to be starting a new series, featuring a new paranormal creature (which I'll be announcing verrrry soooon), and I'm planning on releasing SIX BOOKS over the course of the year. 

Does it feel daunting? Absolutely. Am I totally stoked to be doing it? Hell yeah I am."

6. Is there anything else you would like to add?

"Rate and review the books you like. Support your favorite indie authors - which doesn't necessarily mean buying more books (although definitely do that), but recommend those books to friends, talk up the authors you like. Similarly, authors - remember that artmaking is not a competition. Every good book released raises the level of empathy, inspiration, and pure joy in the world. If you treat your fellow authors as your colleagues rather than your competitors, you will find yourself in an incredible community of writers and readers that will buoy you when things inevitably get hard."

Outro

Thank you to J.B. for getting involved in this advent! I am excited to see what they come out with in 2026. Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their releases!