Briar WestWe’re already a little way into July, but before I dive into everything this month has in store, I wanted to take a minute to look back at June. It turned out to be one of those months that felt nonstop while I was living it, but looking back now, I’m amazed by how much actually got checked off the list.
I don’t know about y’all, but June absolutely flew by. Between writing, editing, family life, dog appointments, and trying not to melt in this Louisiana heat, it felt like somebody hit the fast-forward button.
Somehow, despite all of that, the month ended with a lot more progress than I realized at the time. There were a few milestones worth celebrating, a lot of words written, and plenty happening around here, so I figured I’d catch you up on everything that’s been going on.
We Hit 50,000 KENP Pages!
I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I’m still smiling every time I think about it.
In June, my books crossed 50,000 Kindle Edition Normalized Pages (KENP) read.
On paper, that’s just a number. To me, it’s thousands of hours that readers have chosen to spend with my stories. It’s every late night, early morning, rewrite, moment of self-doubt, edit, and cup of coffee that somehow led here.
If you’ve read one page or fifty thousand, thank you. Every single page means more to me than you’ll probably ever know.
Thirteen Kinks of Halloween Is Moving Right Along
I’ve been having a blast working on this project.
We’re officially about three-quarters of the way through drafting Thirteen Kinks of Halloween, which means it’s finally starting to feel like a real book instead of a giant collection of scattered ideas and half-finished stories.
There’s still plenty left to do. Revisions, edits, proofreading…all the glamorous parts of writing. But seeing the finish line getting closer has me genuinely excited.
Barring any unexpected surprises, you’ll be able to read it this October, just in time for spooky season. I’m looking forward to sharing more as we get closer.
A Little Secret I’ve Been Keeping…
I guess it’s finally time to let y’all in on a little secret.
I’ve been quietly rough drafting a novella set in the Of Silence & Survival world.
I’ve really missed spending time with these characters, and it’s been nice working on a story that doesn’t need to stretch into a full-length novel. Some ideas are just meant to be shorter, and this one has been living in the back of my mind for a while.
Don’t worry, though. This isn’t replacing the novels. It’s just a chance to spend a little more time in that world while telling a story I’ve wanted to write for quite a while.
It’s still early, so I don’t have a release date to share yet, but I’m hoping to have it in your hands before the end of the year.
More details will come once it’s a little farther along.
If We’re Still Single Is in Editing
Mr. West and I are officially in the editing phase for If We’re Still Single, and it’s been a lot of fun seeing the story come together.
Our goal is still a January 2027 release. Like every edit, we’re finding little things to tweak, strengthen, and polish, but that’s all part of the process. Every pass makes the story a little stronger.
Co-writing a novel with your spouse is definitely a unique experience. Thankfully, it’s turned out to be one we both genuinely enjoy, and I’m excited for y’all to meet these characters.
Louisiana Is Officially an Oven
Louisiana has reached that time of year when walking outside feels like opening the dishwasher halfway through the dry cycle.
The heat has settled in, hurricane season is here, and we’ve already had our first tropical system move through the Gulf. Thankfully, southwest Louisiana avoided the worst of it, but like everyone else along the coast, we’ll be keeping one eye on the forecast for the next few months.
Poor Juneaux
Juneaux kept us on our toes last month.
Normally, she only has to visit the vet once a month for her Zycortal injection to manage her Addison’s disease. Early in June, though, she had us worried enough to make an extra trip.
The good news is she’s doing great now and is right back to acting like nothing ever happened.
Life with dogs is equal parts unconditional love and wondering what fresh madness they’re about to create. I wouldn’t trade it for anything…even if they do add a few gray hairs along the way.
(See below…a sweet, but sick Juneaux resting on the couch; per Vet’s orders. And notice, a sneaky, sus Olive planning to and following through with patting her many, many times on the head. LOL)
Vacation, All I Ever Wanted
We finally took a little staycation, crossed a few projects off the to-do list, and spent plenty of afternoons floating in the pool with the kids.
As much as I love traveling, there’s something to be said for slowing down at home. No (over) packing or sticking to tight schedules. Just family time, sunshine, and a chance to recharge before jumping back into everything waiting for us.
Hello, July
It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through the year. There are a lot of things I’m looking forward to over the next few months, and I’m thankful you’re here to share them with me.
Whether you’ve been reading my books since All the Quiet Things or you found me last week, I’m grateful you’re here. Every message, review, page read, and conversation reminds me why I love doing this.
Here’s hoping July brings a little progress, a little rest, and at least one book you can’t put down.
Thanks for spending a few minutes catching up with me. I actually think I want to do a monthly wrap up every month…it’s been fun!
XO,
Briar