Secret Publishing Plans: Shhhhh

New Stories Coming in HOT in 2026-27

Apr 28, 2026

Happy April, Newsletter Subscribers!

I’m drafting this month’s newsletter from my bed, which is now taking up precious real estate in our living room because surprise: I had a big knee surgery yesterday! This particular recovery will be a girthy 12 months—HALP.

So, since I’m sequestered in my living-room-bed for 6 weeks (at minimum), yours truly has A LOT of time to write.

With that being said, let’s get to this newsletter then, shall we??

Table of Contents

Publishing Plans for 2026-27
New Character Art
Deleted Scenes Poll
Author Yap
Indie Author Spotlight
Shenanigans
A.J.’s Books

Publishing Plans for 2026-27

DON’T TELL MY PUBLISHER (ok fine, it’s me, but stay quiet anyways) but I thought it was about time I finally share the news with what I’m cooking up for the remainder of 2026 with a sneak peek into 2027, so without further ado:

Beyond the Churning Tides, May 14th, 2026 | Ocean-themed Anthology

Pre-Order Here

A F*ckery Novella, Summer 2026 | Benny & Rhema Adventure

Project Omak, Fall 2026 | Of Blood & Stone Short Story Spin-Off

A F*ckery Novel, Spring 2027 | Benny & Rhema Adventure

I’m So Excited!

All of these will be standalones! However, I will now be suggesting people read the F*ckery series in order as the character growth & romances build on one another. Are you ready for a Benny x Rhema novel or WHAT?!

I do have goals of writing new worlds, characters, and stories in 2027, so keep your eyes peeled!

New Character Art

I have heard your cries and pleas for MORE BACK STORY for Rhema and Benny, so you better believe we’ll be getting a whole lot more of our adoring duo’s beginnings in these next stories of F*ckery coming your way! Because of this, I just HAD to get a piece of art of our favorite muscle mommy, Rhema.

Artist: @j.sgrey

Are you melting too or is it just me????

Deleted Scene Poll

I’m officially cutting back from my Patreon, allowing Substack to be the place where ya’ll can vote for things, like this little diddy here: Deleted Scenes! I’ll be getting votes and then posting the deleted scene winner in the middle of the month for your enjoyment.

Which story and draft of a deleted scene do YOU want to read this upcoming May?? I’m going to select a random scene, so it could be spicy, adventurous, banter, you name it! So… what will it be?

Author Yap: Art History

This is going to be a new section I include in each newsletter to yap about random, niche interests I’ve got. This month’s subject: Art History!

When I went to my undergrad, I discovered something: I LOVED Art History. It combined my two biggest passions: art and society. So much of what we know about past cultures and history is through excavated art—writings, paintings, scrolls—real “The Mummy” kind of stuff. And yet, so much of it is a MYSTERY. What we find in an archaeology dig could very well be a toilet that we ended up identifying as a deity’s throne, or vice versa.

Hundreds of years from now, someone might find my cat’s litter box and declare it a holy site of worship because of its curved entrance and placement in the home.

Isn’t that f***ing hilarious?!

I love it. I LOVE how art says so much and how we as the subjective onlookers can just be flat out wrong about the artist’s intention. I think it screams “HUMANITY” at its loudest volume.

I also love how much we can learn about a people and culture when we get it right. What societal norms did they practice? Do we find them absurd? Fulfilling? Brilliant? What will people think of our era when they dig up our iPod shuffles and low-rise jeans? Our tarnished paint cans and our ripped-up beach balls?

I wonder what kind of conclusions they’ll make of us. And I wonder just how absurd we might appear to them, and what that can tell us about how we live our lives today.

An old sketch I did of my spouse laughing his head off when we were dating in 2016 <3

Indie Author Spotlight: Emily R. Bellas

Ink & Ambition by Emily R. Bellas

If ya’ll are looking for a cozy contemp romance with To All the Boys I Loved Before vibes, then LOOK NO FURTHER!! I was entranced by Bellas’ characters, Alex and Margot. We’ve got that classic duo of golden retriever frat boy energy x studious nerdy girl with ambitions for her future. Sometimes this kind of duo falls into a caricature that doesn’t feel real, but Alex and Margot are REAL people. Alex has a genuine heart for people and Margot knows how to have fun with her gal pals.

I actually got so much nostalgia from my college days reading this that it inspired me to reach out to some of my college buddies!

It’s got yearning, will they/won’t they energy, and forced proximity as they work on a podcast together in an arranged deal to get what they each want! Surely, love isn’t on the horizon… or is it?

It’s on KU and anywhere you buy your books! The second installment (interconnected standalones) just released last week and I ALSO highly suggest it.

Emily R Bellas is an indie author but long time recreational writer and reader. She currently teaches middle school in the Bronx, NY and has earned her bachelors and two masters in the education field of study. Emily lives in Brooklyn with her long-term partner and their stubbornly adorable puppy. Stuck is Emily's debut novel, followed closely by He Found Her.

Shenanigans

Hangout Time with the Fam Bam

Got to meet my six-month old niece this past month! And my god—she’s the cutest little alien I ever did see <3

Lore & Luster 2026

My spouse and I attended the first-ever Lore & Luster event in Tacoma, WA!! It was an AWESOME success where we completely sold out of both F*ckery stories and almost sold out of OBAS!

But let’s be real: the best part is being able to hangout with readers and fellow author friends!! Absolutely adored spending time with Samantha Jon, Dana Evyn, Enna Hawthorn , Nicole Nightshade !

Such an AMAZING group of writers and vendors!!!

Knee Surgery Time

It’s been a long time coming, but the second and final knee surgery has officially happened and, while it will be a grueling long haul, it’ll be worth it in the end!