New Year, New Books

I’m very close to finishing book 1 in a new urban fantasy series that I’ll be launching in February. The audiobooks will be voiced once again by the amazing Vivienne Leheny. I like the timing of a new series and a new year. I’ll be revealing more soon, so if you’re not on my VIP List, I recommend signing up now by hitting that red button on this page. I made a tentative schedule for 2026 and 2027 that I won’t share now because odds are it will change during the course of the year. If it holds, I’ll be releasing 2 new series in those two years: the UF series I mentioned above and a mammoth fantasy trilogy. I already have most of the covers and some character art and they’re stunning. I can’t wait to share more with you in 2026. For now, I wish you all a joyful, healthy, and fruitful new year!

FREE YA Fantasy This Week

Happy Holidays to you—Spire of Shadows is FREE on Amazon this week! The first book in the Wings and Blades Academy trilogy is filled with secrets and lies, political intrigue, found family, star-crossed romance, and—of course—humor. I love offering freebies because it gives you a chance to test the story waters with no cost to you. If you’re a mood reader like me, you can always download it now and read it later when you’re ready to invest in the characters (like Elder Sam!). Read the blurb on Amazon here. This trilogy is also offered as one of my special editions, so if you love the series, come back to my special editions page and purchase one for your trophy shelf.

I’m also close to announcing a new series, so make sure to check my blog each week or sign up for my VIP List by hitting the red button in the top corner to get the most up-to-date information on sales and new releases.

Wishing you all a merry and bright holiday season. Eat chocolate. Hug your loved ones. Enjoy the sleigh ride!

Free Light-Hearted Urban Fantasy

In the spirit of the season, this week Great Balls of Fury, the first book in my feel-good, funny Federal Bureau of Magic series, is FREE. You have until Dec 19th to grab this absolute bargain and delve into the paranormal world of Agent Eden Fury, Chief Fox, and the charming, cheese-loving town of Chipping Cheddar. Click here to download now.

More freebies are coming this month so be sure to check back or join my VIP List if you haven’t already. (Hit that bright red button in the top right corner of your screen.)

In other good news, my kids are both home from college, the cookies are baked, and I’m on the verge of finishing the first book in a new urban fantasy series. Hallelujah! It’s a Christmas miracle! I’ll share more on that new series in the coming weeks. I will tell you that I’ve managed to book the fantastic Vivienne Leheny to narrate the audiobooks. If you’re a fan of my Crossroads Queen audiobooks, then I know you’re rejoicing too!

Cozy Witches Big Box Set Sale

Winter has definitely arrived on my doorstep. My sweet dog, however, doesn’t seem to notice my grimace when it’s time to go outside, bless her. Unsurprisingly, I’ve been craving cozy everything—blankets, cocoa, and, of course, books.

If you’re also in the mood for cozy, feel-good magical stories that will have you snorting with laughter, my Starry Hollow Witches big box set is available for only 0.99 on Amazon (as well as free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers). This set includes the first 10 ebooks in the 19-book series. If you start reading today, you might finish the entire series by the end of the year! mybook.to/StarryHollowBigBoxSet

Free Holiday Short Story

‘Tis the season to spread joy. With that in mind, I’m here to share Miami Twist, the free prequel short story in my Magic Bullet series. This story is typically only available to readers who sign up for my VIP List, but in the spirit of giving, I’m offering it to you right now for free, no strings attached, but only for a limited time. If Alyse and friends are new to you, consider this your introduction to a fun urban fantasy world. You can download the story here.

Fantasy Character Artwork

I’ve been publishing for fourteen and a half years and I finally commissioned my first pieces of illustrated character art (with the exception of an animatic of a scene from Wild Knight I commissioned last year, which you can see on my Instagram account). Yes, yes, many of my covers feature the FMC, but this is a bit different and I’m excited to see how they turn out. If you’ll be attending FanGrrrls in Orlando in September 2026, you may be a lucky recipient of one or both postcards of the character artwork in your swag bag. No promises!

Special Editions for the Holidays

In last week’s blog entry, I discussed some behind-the-scenes research that went into my Midnight Empire: The Tower series (London’s arc, books 1-4). In the run up to the holidays, now seems like a good time to mention that, not only is this royal-vampire-meets-strong-willed-female-knight-with-a-secret urban fantasy series available in ebook, paperback, and audio, but also as a gorgeous special edition. If you or someone you know has a trophy shelf for all their pretties, be sure to take a look. This collector’s edition is 4 books packed into 1 stunning foiled hardcover with sprayed edges and interior designs. You can learn more here.

A video featuring the Midnight Empire: The Tower special edition hardback with foil that catches the light.

How I turned London into an urban fantasy vampire-ruled city

This week’s spotlight is on Midnight Empire, my 10-book series that kicks off in London (now called New Brittania) after a catastrophic event that blocks the sun and gives vampires their time to shine (only metaphorically, of course). The first 4 books follow London Hayes, a female knight with a deadly secret. I lived in London for a year and have been a frequent visitor ever since. I had a grand old time moving royal vampires into Buckingham Palace, for example, and creating statutes of various important figures in my fictional timeline. St. Paul’s Cathedral, Somerset House, and other landmarks also make an appearance, as well as the iconic double-decker bus, which a banner of knights commandeer to stop a lethal threat. It’s a fun, fast-paced series with strong female characters, a royal vampire love interest with a dangerous reputation, found family, animal sidekicks, magic, and plenty of action.

The first book in the series is called Wild Knight. The books are available on Amazon and enrolled in Kindle Unlimited. The series is also available in audio and has been translated into German and French with more languages to come. You can learn more about it here.

Nov 4, 2025: bargain books/special editions

I’m in Las Vegas this week to attend an author conference, where I’ll be speaking on two panels, followed by a book signing on Friday. If you’re in the area and would like to see me, please stop by Reader Nation in the Paris hotel. https://www.readernation.live I have limited stock with me, including a handful of stunning special editions, so get there early if you’d like to purchase a book for me to sign.

For my bargain shoppers, the Hex Support Mysteries 3-book bundle is available for only 0.99 for a limited time starting today. (Also available in Kindle Unlimited.) If you’re a fan of the TV series Charmed, this series about 3 sister witches solving crimes is for you.

As we enter the gift giving season, if you’re interested in a signed special edition for yourself or someone else, please purchase early enough to account for the inevitable slowdown in shipping. You can see those beauties on my special editions page.

Oct 28, 2025: Build-A-Character

I’m in Savannah this week, enjoying the process of scouting locations for my new series despite the gloomy weather. I found my MMC’s house and took lots of reference photos. I love a good Gothic-y mansion! I’ve started writing a smidge of the story, but I can’t wade too deep into story waters until I have a better handle on the characters, since they tend to drive the action for me. As with all my books, I anticipate a fully fleshed out ensemble. Side characters are every bit as fun and interesting to write as the mains, sometimes even more so because I can give them a longer leash. Once I have a clear picture of the key characters in my mind, hopefully the words will start flowing!

October 22, 2025: a new series

I’m in the world-building stage of a new series. Research is one of my favorite parts of the process. I love reading history and mythology books, and then distilling that information and pouring it into the creation of plot and characters. I’m taking my time, so I can’t announce a release date yet. I do, however, have a cover (!). Again, not ready to share, but I do love admiring shiny new covers in the privacy of my own home. Keep your eyes open for details in the near future!

October 14, 2025-urban fantasy recs

In light of my friend Helen Harper’s new release, A Skirl of Sorcery, book 3 in her Cat Lady Chronicles urban fantasy series, and following on from last week’s post of recommendations, I also have a list of bestselling urban fantasy authors and books to check out. I can’t possibly list or rank them in any special order, so choose your own adventure:

Helen Harper has multiple excellent series, but I’m partial to The Lazy Girl’s Guide to Magic. Slouch Witch is the first book in the series and it’s brilliant.

Deborah Wilde’s Blood & Ash, the first book in her Jezebel Files series, is a snarky good time. If you like a strong-willed FMC and witty banter, this series is for you.

Heather G. Harris has Glimmer of the Other, the first book in The Other Realm series. If you like your books fast-paced with plenty of action, you’ll love this world.

Lindsay Buroker’s Death Before Dragons series is great fun. Sinister Magic kicks off this action-packed, snark-filled series.

Linsey Hall’s Dragon’s Gift series has a slew of books and spinoff series that will keep your Kindle happy for a long time to come. Ancient Magic is the book that started it all.

My all-time favorite UF series is Kate Daniels by Ilona Andrews. I’m not someone who makes a habit of rereading books, but this series is my comfort read. Magic Bites is the book to get you started. There are also spinoff books featuring some of my favorite characters like Roman and Hugh, and I highly recommend those as well.

I’ve written a lot of urban fantasy and it’s impossible to judge your own children, but my most popular, bestselling series is Crossroads Queen, and the first book is Dead to the World. You can check out the urban fantasy tab on this website for my other series that, of course, I highly recommend.

Happy reading!

October 7, 2025-Paranormal Cozies

I'm home after a quick trip to Savannah to visit my younger daughter. While I was away, I received an email from a new reader who’d finished my Federal Bureau of Magic series (otherwise known as the Fury series) and was interested in reading more paranormal cozy books. The witchy season of October seems like the perfect time to spread the love for this magical genre, so here's a quick and dirty list of paranormal cozy series from bestselling authors (including more options from yours truly, which you can learn more about on this website by clicking the paranormal cozy header tab):   

Spellbound by Annabel Chase (Curse the Day, Book 1) 

Spellbound Ever After by Annabel Chase (Crazy For Brew, book 1)

Starry Hollow Witches by Annabel Chase (Magic & Murder, book 1)

The Bloomin' Psychic by Annabel Chase (Petal to the Metal, book 1)

Hex Support Mysteries by Annabel Chase (Pink Moon, book 1) 

Wicked Witches of the Midwest by Amanda M. Lee (Any Witch Way You Can, book 1)

Supernatural Speakeasy by Lily Harper Hart (The Hexorcist, book 1)

A Witch in the Woods series by Jenna St. James (Deadly Claws, book 1)

Sweet Tea Witches mysteries by Amy Boyles (Southern Magic, book1)

Ella Bloom Mysteries by Sarah Noffke (Dying for Magic, book1)

Of course, this is just a small taste of what's available. All of these authors are prolific and there are heaps more books in the genre available to read for free with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. You're welcome!

Prosecco wishes & billboard dreams

I just came back from New York City, where I spent yesterday on the corner across from Penn Station in front of a giant billboard WITH MY BOOK ON IT! Thanks to Amazon, this girl got a crick in her neck from staring upward for more time than was reasonably necessary. Also a shout out to the team from Simon Maverick as well for joining me in celebrating the upcoming release of Nerdplay on October 2nd. I now have more photos and videos of a billboard than one person will ever need, but I will treasure them always.

Kirkus Review of Nerdplay

The early reviews for Nerdplay are rolling in, and I’m thrilled to bits to share this one from Kirkus:

A sparkling love story with richly depicted lovers and a sly comic sensibility.

A lawyer trying to dispossess the proprietress of a sleepaway camp ends up falling for her instead in Chase’s fizzy romance.

She’s Cricket Abernathy, owner of the run-down Camp Abernathy by gorgeous Lake Willa in the Poconos; he’s Charlie Thorpe, a Philadelphia lawyer tasked with convincing her to sell the camp to his real-estate developer client—with a promotion to partner riding on his success. When Cricket rejects the offer, Charlie decides to look for secrets that could force her to sell by signing up for the two-week-long Comic-Camp for adult nerds who are into everything from Star Wars to Lord of the Rings. Cricket knows about his subterfuge, but lets him in anyway because of his granite jaw, muscular chest, and adorable dimples. Other campers include Adam, who plays a Sith Lord; Stefan, who dresses as a Viking; Hunter, who portrays a zombie from an apocalypse-set game; 11-year-old Olivia, who’s a dead shot with foam-tipped arrows; Angela, a cougar on the hunt for a fourth husband; and Esther, an old lady who crochets plushie penises as gag bridal gifts. Charlie, who is basically a nice guy and a good sport, bonds with these oddballs and, smitten by her toned physique and infectious humor, falls in love with Cricket. Cricket reciprocates Charlie’s ardor, and their relationship escalates from flirty banter to Cricket inspecting Charlie’s genitals for ticks, thence to skinny-dipping and…nature taking its course. Complications arise when Cricket’s old flame, Patrick, shows up. The situation worsens when Charlie discovers a lien on Camp Abernathy, giving his client leverage to take the land—and threatening Cricket’s home and livelihood.

Chase’s yarn follows a classic screwball-comedy formula, pairing a nervy heroine with a manly but menschy hero amid a constellation of loveable eccentrics in a narrative that’s full of blithe, energetic contrivances. It’s also a valentine to nerdishness and the pop-culture icons it feeds upon, spoofing them but also acknowledging their moral seriousness and relevance. (“Peter becomes a hero when he develops a genuine connection with others,” Adam explains to Charlie in a rather pointed interpretation of Guardians of the Galaxy.) The romantic leads are complicated and unfinished, with Charlie needing to release the emotions that his judgmental parents forced him to suppress and Cricket unable to break free from the safe but isolating cocoon of Camp Abernathy. Chase writes vigorous, evocative prose that crackles with smart and salacious repartee (“Your hand is on my ass, Charles Xavier Thorpe….[e]ither that or this lake has a small octopus”) and makes her characters, unlike many of the bland protagonists who populate romances, feel quirky, colorful, and alive. (“The memory of Cricket’s laughter rings in my head. It was a wicked, bawdy laugh that ought to belong to a gangster’s moll and not the bespectacled woman in the Tree of Mordor or Gondor or one of the ’dors T-shirt”). Readers will heartily root for Cricket and Charlie to get together and save their geeky paradise.

A sparkling love story with richly depicted lovers and a sly comic sensibility.

You can read the original review here.

September 23

I’m home from my author conference and trying to get back into my routine, while also finding time to implement all the new ideas I learned last week. It will more than likely take me until the end of the year. One of the more exciting bits of news is that books enrolled in Kindle Unlimited (which means the ebooks are exclusive to Amazon) are now allowed to be added to libraries. I’m thrilled, except that I now have over 140 books to upload to Draft2Digital so that I can make those titles available to libraries.

I have fab news about my upcoming romantic comedy, Nerdplay, which I’ll share with you next week. Like many authors, I read more widely than the genres in which I typically write, and romcoms have long been one of my favorite escapes. If you’re one of my regular urban fantasy/paranormal readers and not sure where to dip your toe in to contemporary romcoms before Nerdplay’s release, I have plenty of suggestions:

Emily Henry. My favorite is Book Lovers, followed closely by Beach Read. The banter. The humor. The chemistry between the main characters. I recommend these whenever anyone is searching for a feel-good romcom.

Abby Jiminez. Just for the Summer and Part of Your World. These books have SO MUCH HEART. They are warm hugs with a side of laughter and falling in love.

Christina Lauren. The Unhoneymooners, followed closely by The Paradise Problem. I absolutely laughed out loud when I read these books and the tropical settings only add to the escapism.

Happy reading!

September 16, 2025

I’m in sunny Florida this week for an annual author conference. It’s a great chance to shift out of hermit mode and talk about publishing and craft with other writers (and the beachside location doesn’t hurt).

Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a new book to read, my friend Lauretta Hignett has released The Wolf Vs The Dragon, the 7th book in her Hidden City Supernatural Sleuth series. If you like a hilariously unhinged FMC, you can check it out here.

September 9, 2025

I’m back home and trying to get into a routine as a first-time empty nester. Thankfully, I have plenty of work and a dog to keep me busy. I’m deep into the story of House of Many Doors, Nerdplay ARCs are in the process of going out, I received covers for my two 2026 series, and I came up with yet another series idea that has me wondering if I can squeeze a few more books into next year’s schedule. I won’t get to write all my ideas in this lifetime, but sometimes a new one shoots to the top of the priority list.

While you’re waiting for my next release, I highly recommend The Cat Lady Chronicles urban fantasy series by my friend Helen Harper. Book 1 is called Waifs and Strays and is available in Kindle Unlimited. You can expect mystery, magic, and adventure—and a lot of cats.

September 4, 2025

My younger daughter and I just finished watching season 2 of Wednesday on Netflix. If you’re searching for Wednesday Addams vibes in book form, I have a couple series that might scratch that itch for you. Federal Bureau of Magic is a 14-book series about a self-loathing fury in a family of evildoers (dark magic witches on her mother’s side and venegeance demons on her father’s side). The first book is Great Balls of Fury and it’s loaded with humor, action, magic, found family and actual family, and a blossoming romance with the local chief of police. My other suggestion is my Starry Hollow Witches series. This 19-book series is Wednesday meets Gilmore Girls. It’s tons of fun with characters that you’ll come to think of as family, including a raccoon familiar with a penchant for snappy comebacks and trouble. Start with Magic & Murder. These books will have you laughing straight into spooky season. You’re welcome.

August 26, 2025

One baby bird has flown the nest again, back to college. I’m flying with the second baby bird to her new nest next week. I’m trying to focus on the positives—like it’s an exciting time for them, and now I can binge-watch all those TV shows they weren’t interested in (looking at you, The Pitt).

In addition to writing, I’m catching up on admin this week because certain elements have been neglected. I don’t want it to pile up to the point where I’d rather set it on fire than deal with it. If only my work was writing and writing alone. Alas, the glamorous life of an author also involves tracking income and expenses, paying bills, creating marketing materials, planning sales, and more!

Also, for my appearance at FanGrrrls in Orlando next year, I’ve become a gold sponsor, which means, in addition to signing books, I’ll have a Friday morning panel with other authors. That’ll be anxiety for Future Me. If you haven’t bought your tickets yet, they’re available here. I hope to see you there!