I have a confession: I love travel planning but it can take up so much of my time and I need to be spending that time writing my book more…
I am a person who will spend three hours researching the most atmospheric street in all of Belgium and then completely agonize for hours/days about what restaurant to book. I wish you could see the itineraries I plan for my own personal trips - everything is detailed, and everything takes way too much time to plan.

Which is exactly why I started working with Emma at Tour with Absolutely — and honestly, it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made for both my writing life and my reader community.

I don’t work with a travel agent, I work with a tour designer and yes, there is a difference.

Here’s how it works: I tell Emma my dreams. Not an itinerary, not a spreadsheet — my dreams. I want to walk the same cobblestones a character might flee down at midnight. I want my readers to taste the chocolate that inspired a plot point. I want us all to stand somewhere so beautiful that someone in the group says something that ends up in the next book. Emma takes those dreams and turns them into something real, bookable, and frankly better than anything I could have planned.

“I bring the story. Emma brings everything else.”

When Emma and I are together, we dream together, I tell her where I want to go, what I want to taste, what I think readers would like to do. And when I'm back home, I share social media posts about cafes, chocolatiers, perfume shops, the best unique shopping experiences and more. In turn, she'll send me things that I never would have thought of, but are more perfect for me and for my reader tours.

We stay at the best boutique hotels, eat at the best restaurants with the most delicious foods that I still dream about and while we do all the regular ‘tourist’ experiences, we do them differently. They’re catered, special experiences, curated for our small group.

And the readers — oh, the readers. This is the part I didn’t fully anticipate when I started. So many readers over the years asked me to host a tour and I never thought anyone would ever want to join me. Boy, was I wrong! Every tour I host ends up sold out and it’s full of women who love the same things - books, chocolate, travel and want to find new friends!

Has everyone who’s joined one of my tours read my books before signing up? No. For some, I’m a ‘new-to-them’ author - which is so fun! The magic that happens when a group of people who love the same books end up together in the places those books live. Someone will say something over dinner, a throwaway observation about a doorway or a stranger’s coat, and suddenly I’m writing a note on my phone. Characters have been born on these trips. Plot twists have been voted on over wine. More than once, a reader has handed me an ending I didn’t know I needed.

For instance - those exact things happened for my novel I Know You Killed Your Husband!

Where we’ve been so far

Paris - Because Paris. There’s no better reason, and no better city to set a story in.

Belgium - For the chocolate, the old towns, and the feeling that something happened here once and never quite left.

Amalfi Coast - Because hello — the Amalfi Coast. Every scene writes itself.

Each one has left fingerprints on my writing. Each one has given me a room full of co-conspirators I didn’t have before. And none of them would have happened without Emma doing the quiet, essential work that yes, I could do, but would I do it as well as she? I don’t think so!

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WHAT’S COMING NEXT

2026 & 2027

Paris — again

Some cities you return to because you have to. Paris is one of them. New story, new streets, same magic.

DEC 2027 0 Vienna, Salzburg & Munich

Christmas markets. Mulled wine. Candlelight in baroque cathedrals. I already know something is going to be set here — I just don’t know what yet. Maybe you’ll help me figure it out.

Details on how to join are found on my website. If you’re already curious, reply to this post — I love knowing who’s dreaming alongside me.

Everyone talks about writing the book.

And yes — that’s the hard part. But once you type “The End,” you’re standing at the beginning of a whole other process, and nobody prepares you for it.

I have 58 published novels. 41 of those I self-published — across multiple pen names, multiple genres, multiple platforms. I’m also a hybrid author, which means I’ve worked with traditional publishers under my own name and navigated the indie side simultaneously. I’ve made mistakes, figured things out the hard way, and developed a workflow that works (for me).

This is the guide I wish someone had handed me — in the order you actually need to do things.
At least, this is how I do things. When you are only self publishing 1 or 2 or even 3 books a year, it’s easy to forget steps, drop balls, and then it makes for a frustrating experience. This is my ‘elevated’ version of what to do. I say elevated because mine is just a set of lists that I check off as I go. But I hope this at least helps in some way.

And as a caveat – this of course is not the ‘bible’ on how to self publish. It’s just what I do. I created this to help a few friends who are entering the trenches and thought it might help.

Let’s go.
First - make sure you have a fresh cup of coffee and maybe a pot waiting. I always find these steps take me longer than I thought they would (which is generally the case for me).

Step 1: Make Your Foundational Decisions

Before you touch a formatting tool or create an account anywhere, lock these in:

• Pen name — are you publishing under your real name or a pen name? This affects everything downstream.

• Imprint name — this is the “publisher” that appears on your book’s product page and copyright page. It doesn’t need to be a registered company, but it should feel intentional. Mine is Steena Holmes Press (or SH Press). Decide yours now.

• Copyright page — year, rights reserved language, your imprint name, your ISBN, any content warnings.

• Your blurb — write it and lock it before you do anything else. It feeds your metadata, your ad copy, your back matter, and your social posts. If it’s not done, you’re not ready.

Step 2: Get Your ISBN

An ISBN identifies your book. Each format — ebook, paperback, hardcover — needs its own.

• Canadian authors: ISBNs are free through Library and Archives Canada. Get them. Use them.

• American authors: Purchase through Bowker.

• Free option: KDP and D2D will both assign you a free ISBN — but it’s tied to their platform, which limits flexibility down the road.

My recommendation: use your own ISBNs whenever possible. It keeps your publishing identity clean and portable.

Step 3: Choose Your Trim Size

Before you format anything, decide your print trim size (common option: 5.25x8).

Why now? Because your trim size determines your page count, which determines your spine width, which determines the exact dimensions of your full wrap-around print cover. You cannot finalize your print cover until you know your page count.

Get this decided before you start formatting or commissioning your cover.

Step 4: Format Your Book

You need two files:

• Print-ready PDF — formatted to your chosen trim size, with proper margins, headers, and chapter breaks

• EPUB — for ebooks; reflowable, so trim size doesn’t apply, but clean formatting matters

Tool I use and recommend: Vellum (Mac only). It produces beautiful, professional files for both formats without requiring design or tech skills. Atticus is a solid cross-platform alternative.

Before you export your final files:

• Make sure your ISBN is on your copyright page

• Make sure your back matter is in place — more on what goes there in a moment

Step 5: Get Your Cover Made

You need two cover files:

• Ebook cover: flat front cover, typically 1600x2560px

• Print cover: full wrap — front, spine, and back. Use the KDP or D2D cover calculator to get exact dimensions based on your page count and paper type (cream vs. white paper affects spine width).

Your cover is your most important marketing asset. It is the first thing a reader sees. If it doesn’t look like it belongs next to traditionally published books in your genre, readers will scroll past it. This is not the place to cut corners.

There are some great cover designers available – a simple search will help you out. My advice – go with a fabulous premade cover for your first one – one that sells your book and fits the genre you are writing. This is a whole post on its own, but as someone who used to design covers for self pub authors – here’s a piece of advice: your cover does not need to TELL your story, it needs to sell it. It needs to draw attention, so don’t be nitpicky on your first cover. You can always get one custom made when you’ve made some money if that is an issue.

Step 6: Set Up Your Back Matter — Including Preorder Links

This step trips up a lot of first-time publishers, so I want to call it out specifically.

Your back matter is the pages at the end of your book after the story ends. It should include:

• A note from you / author bio

• A list of your other books (with links)

• Preorder links for your next book — if it exists

• A newsletter signup or free reader magnet offer

• Links to leave a review

• Here’s the thing about those preorder links: the link needs to be in the book before readers finish it. That means you need to set up your next book as a preorder on your distributors *first*, get the live link, and then drop it into your back matter before you publish book one.

I know that sounds like a lot when you’re just trying to get your first book out the door. But if a reader loves your book and flips to the back looking for what’s next — and there’s nothing there — you’ve lost them. They won’t come back to find you later. They’ll find another author.

Even a simple “Book 2 coming [season/year] — preorder here” with a live link is enough. Give them somewhere to go.

One important note: setting up a preorder works differently depending on format. For ebooks, you can set a preorder date well in advance — up to a year on KDP, even longer on D2D — which gives you plenty of runway to build anticipation. Paperback preorders are a different story. KDP gives you a much shorter window for print preorders. And on D2D, you must have a completed, fully formatted manuscript ready to upload before they’ll accept a print preorder at all — you can’t hold a spot with a placeholder file the way you can with ebooks. So plan accordingly: get your ebook preorder live first, use that link in your back matter, and sort out the print preorder separately once your files are finished.

Step 7: Upload Your Ebook

Ebook upload is more straightforward than print — and unlike print, there’s no platform order you need to follow (see next step for that). Here’s what you’ll fill in on both KDP and D2D:

• Title and series information Enter your book title exactly as it appears on your cover. If this is part of a series, add the series name and book number — this affects how your book shows up in search and on your author page.

• Publisher / imprint name This is the name you decided back in Step 1. Enter it consistently everywhere — KDP, D2D, everywhere. Inconsistency here looks unprofessional and can cause confusion in retailer catalogues.

• Blurb / book description Paste your finalized blurb. On KDP, use basic HTML formatting (<b> for bold, <br>for line breaks) to make it look polished on the product page — plain text comes out as one dense block. D2D has a visual editor so formatting is easier there.

• Categories and keywords (KDP) You get 3 categories on KDP — choose them carefully, as they directly affect discoverability and which bestseller lists you’re eligible for. For keywords, you have 7 fields — use them all, and think in phrases, not single words. What would your reader actually type into the search bar? Publisher Rocket is my go-to tool for researching both. Worth every penny of the one-time cost.

• Upload your EPUB file This is your formatted ebook file from Step 4. Upload it and use the previewer to check that everything looks right — chapter breaks, formatting, your back matter links — before you go any further.

• Upload your ebook cover Your flat front cover file from Step 5. Double-check it loads correctly and looks sharp in the previewer.

• Release date — publishing now or setting a preorder?

• Publishing now: your book goes live within 24-72 hours of submission.

• Preorder: you set a future release date, the book is immediately available for readers to purchase, and all preorder sales count on release day — which helps with visibility and rankings. You can set a preorder up to a year in advance on KDP, and D2D allows even longer. If you’re going the preorder route, get this live as early as possible and drop that link into your back matter before you publish anything.

• Pricing Set your price for each market (US, UK, CA, AU, etc.). KDP will auto-populate other markets based on your US price, but check each one — the conversions aren’t always clean. More on pricing strategy in Step 10.

• Enrollment decision If you’re going KU, enroll your ebook in KDP Select here. If you’re going wide, skip enrollment and also upload your EPUB to D2D — D2D will distribute to Kobo, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and others on your behalf.

Step 8: When Uploading PRINT - Upload to D2D First

If you’re doing a print edition, upload to Draft2Digital before you touch Amazon.

Use your own ISBN and upload your print files to D2D first. Wait until D2D confirms your book is live and distributed before you go anywhere near KDP.

Why? D2D distributes your print book to Ingram — the major wholesaler that gets your book into bookstores and libraries. If you upload to Amazon first, D2D can run into ISBN conflicts when it tries to push your book to Ingram. Going to D2D first, and waiting for confirmation, sidesteps this entirely.

I don’t know exactly why the conflict happens in that direction — but I know this workaround works (for me at least). D2D first. Always.

Step 9: Decide Your Distribution Strategy

• Kindle Unlimited (KU): Your ebook is exclusive to Amazon. You earn money based on pages read. Amazon-only, which means simpler to manage — but you’re putting all your eggs in one basket.

• Wide: Your ebook is available everywhere — Amazon, Kobo, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and more. Upload to both KDP and D2D; D2D will push to the other platforms on your behalf if you don’t want to manage those accounts individually.

• Libraries — and this part matters regardless of which you choose:

• Even if you go KU, you can still get your book into library systems. Here’s how: upload to D2D, but when you get to the distribution options, *do not* select retail vendors. Select libraries only — D2D will push your book to OverDrive, Hoopla, and other library platforms without touching the retail side. Since you’re not distributing to retail through D2D, your KU exclusivity with Amazon stays completely intact.

So to be clear: KU does not mean you have to skip libraries. It just means you need to be intentional about how you set it up on D2D.

If you are unsure about what to do - Mark Leslie is a fabulous resource for discussing the benefits of going wide. Everyone has a different opinion - some suggest KU to make the money first, keep it in for 3 months, then go wide. Others will suggest setting up wide preorders, then drop the ebook in KU after the first week, two weeks, or even the first month if you don’t see sales.

Just one note - going wide is a different mindset than being in KU. It might take longer to see the sales but you are hitting a broader range of readers.

The point of this post is NOT to sway you one way or the other.

Step 10: Think About Pricing — But Keep It Simple For Now

Here’s the honest truth I wish someone had told me earlier:

Pricing strategy doesn’t matter much if you only have one book.

You can run the most beautifully timed pricing strategy in the world — launch at 99¢, stack promos, hit the lists — and if a reader finishes your book and there’s nothing else for them to read, they move on. They don’t wait. They find another author.

Readers who love your book immediately go looking for your next one.

So right now, if this is your first or only book: price it fairly for your market, and put your energy into writing the next one. Offer something free — a short story, a bonus scene, a prequel — through your newsletter so readers have somewhere to go while they wait.

Once you have 2-3 books? Now the levers matter:

• Permafree book one — but only if it works for your genre. Not every genre responds well to free. Some readers assume a free book isn’t worth their time, or they download it and leave it in their library for “one day” that never comes. Know your genre before you go this route.

• Launch pricing at 99¢ with a bump after the first week

• Price pulsing — temporary drops coordinated with promotional stacks

• KU — worth considering because readers only have a limited number of borrows at a time, which means they’re more likely to read your book sooner rather than letting it sit. Same psychological principle as paid: when someone has committed something — money or a borrow slot — they prioritize it.

• There’s also a broader psychological argument for not going free too early: if a reader has to pay for your book, even a small amount, they tend to read it sooner. Free can feel low-stakes enough to deprioritize indefinitely. That’s not true for every reader or every genre — but it’s worth thinking about before you default to free as your strategy.

Step 11: Create Your Graphics

You need visual assets to talk about your book. Two tools I recommend:

• Canva — great for social graphics; the free tier is genuinely useful

• BookBrush — built for book marketing; excellent for 3D mockups, reels, and ad creative

What to create:

• Static social graphics (cover reveal, release day, quote cards)

• Video / reel content (animated cover, trailer-style clips)

• Website or shop graphics if you’re selling direct

Where to post: Figure out where your readers actually are before you spread yourself everywhere. Pick one or two platforms and show up consistently.

Step 12: Run Ads — But Have a Strategy First

Don’t run ads before your metadata is solid, your back matter is set up, and you have more than one book. When you’re ready:

• Amazon Ads — Sponsored Products with automatic targeting is a good starting point

• Facebook / Instagram — broader reach, needs strong visual creative

• BookBub Ads — highly targeted; works best with a low-priced or free entry point

• Newsletter promos — Fussy Librarian, Robin Reads, Bargain Booksy, and others drive real sales for discounted books

Stack your promos. Coordinate a price drop with multiple newsletter promotions on the same day or across the same week. One promo is a ripple. A stack is a wave.

Step 13 (Optional): Set Up Direct Sales on Your Website

Selling direct — through WooCommerce or Shopify, using BookVault for print and BookFunnel for digital — gives you higher margins and a direct relationship with your readers. It’s a whole strategy in itself, so I’ll save the full breakdown for another post. But if this is on your radar, know that it’s very doable and absolutely worth it once you have your publishing foundation in place.

Step 14: After Launch — The Work That Builds a Career

Publishing day is not the finish line. It’s the starting gun.

• Reviews: Reach out to your ARC readers with direct links to your product pages. Make it easy for them. Reviews are social proof and they affect Amazon’s recommendation algorithm.

• Back matter: Update your files as new books come out. Every book should always link to what’s next.

• Preorders: Get your next book up for preorder as soon as you can commit to a date. Preorder sales accumulate and all count on release day.

• Price pulsing: Periodically drop book one’s price — or make it free — to bring new readers into the series. Coordinate with newsletter promos.

• BookBub Featured Deals: Apply when you have solid reviews and at least a couple of books available. A featured deal can move thousands of copies in a day. They’re selective, but the application is free — submit repeatedly.

The Honest Summary

Self-publishing is not hard. But it is *a lot*. Every decision a traditional publisher would make for you is now yours to make — and to make well.

The good news: you don’t have to have it all figured out before your first book goes live. Start with the fundamentals. Format it properly. Upload in the right order. Set your metadata carefully.

Then write the next book.

The pricing strategies and promo stacks and ad funnels — those tools work best when you have a foundation under them. A series. A newsletter. Readers who are already waiting for what comes next.

Write good books. Get them in front of the right readers. Give those readers somewhere to go.

That’s the whole game.

Questions about any of these steps? Drop them in the comments — I’m happy to go deeper on anything here.

While I have you — my new psychological thriller *I Know You Killed Your Husband* releases May 21st. If you love dark domestic suspense, this one’s for you.
All new domestic psych suspense - I Know You Killed Your Husband

I’m sitting here, laptop ready, with several projects on the go. I’m proofing a book that comes out in May, outlining one due in August, working on different names and different projects — all at the same time. And I’m asking myself: why?

Not why am I writing. I know that answer. I write for me. For my own personal validation that this is something that is mine, that I can do this — that even if I failed at everything else in my life, I could still write a story that was swirling in my heart.

But why am I doing this? Why do I show up, day after day, and still not feel like I’m doing enough?

That question led me somewhere uncomfortable. And I think it might for you too.

For most of us, when we get really honest, the practical motivations only tell part of the story. Income. Stability. Building something that lasts. All true. But underneath, quieter and more persistent, is often something else entirely — a need to be seen by the right people. To belong in certain rooms. To have someone whose opinion we respect tell us, finally and definitively, that we're good enough (if you’re a writer, this might mean an agent, an editor, a publishing professional… and if you’re not, it might mean a boss, a coworker, a neighbor…)

The problem with chasing validation is that it's a moving target held by someone else. And they don't even know they're holding it.

We’ve all had moments of real success — the kind that should have felt like enough. And sometimes, briefly, it does. But then the next benchmark appears, the next comparison, the next room where we feel like we don’t quite measure up. The validation lands and then evaporates, like it never happened at all.

Here’s what I’ve come to understand: the validation trap isn’t really about ambition. It’s about proof. We’re not chasing success — we’re chasing proof. Proof that we’re not a fraud. Proof that we belong here. Proof that the thing we’ve built is real and we didn’t just get lucky (and in full disclosure, realizing this was hard for me).

For me, I realize this comes from a deep hurt from way back, something I’ve never actually acknowledged before and I need to let it sit with me for a bit before I can even understand it.

And the cruel irony is that external validation can never actually provide that proof we feel we need. Why? Because the part of us asking the question isn’t listening to numbers or opinions or industry nods. It’s older than any of that. It already decided the verdict long before any of this began.

So what do we do? We keep chasing. Making the move we think others want. Showing up hoping someone notices. Not always because it’s the smartest decision — but because we’re hoping this time, finally, it will give us that validation we need.

That’s the question worth sitting with. Because when we get honest with ourselves — really honest — the path forward gets a lot clearer. At least, it is for me. I’ve been sitting with that question and letting it roll around in my head and the answers are harder to accept than I thought they would be. But it’s what I need right now, before I dive back into the words. Recognizing the why is what helps me to finish each book rather than let it sit in document unfinished.

Maybe it’s why I’ve been able to write 60+ novels from start to finish and why I’ll keep going.

This is the first in a series where I’m going to get real about the stories we carry into our creative lives, the ways we accidentally let other people hold the measuring stick, and what it looks like to start taking it back.

I hope some of it lands for you. I know it has for me, and it makes it a little easier for me to go back to writing…

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FROM THE DESK OF A GLORIOUSLY DISTRACTED WRITER

I recently learned there’s a name for what happens inside my head. It’s called popcorn brain — and apparently, I have a championship-level case of it.

Here is the thing nobody tells you about publishing a book: the moment between finishing it and releasing it into the world is one of the strangest places a writer can inhabit. You’ve done everything you can do. The words are set. The cover exists. Somewhere out there, actual physical copies are making their way to actual shelves. And yet you are just… waiting. Hovering. Refreshing things you shouldn’t refresh.

Nine Missing Girls comes out next week. And I am, as I write this, fully inside the bubble.

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If you’ve never experienced it, the bubble is hard to describe. It’s not quite excitement, not quite dread — it’s both at once, with a generous helping of “what on earth do I do with my hands right now?” You want to know if readers will love it. You want to not want to know. You tell yourself not to look at Goodreads while you’re headed to Goodreads . . . You are, in short, completely useless.

My solution — and I say this with full awareness of how this sounds — is to be as productively chaotic as possible.

Which brings me to popcorn brain.

I recently came across the term and immediately felt, with some relief, that someone had finally named the thing I’ve been living with my entire writing life. Popcorn brain describes a mind so accustomed to the ping and scroll of constant stimulation that it pops from idea to idea, rarely settling. For a writer, you’d think this would be catastrophic. And for a long time, honestly, it was. Ideas would arrive — a character, a premise, a title so perfect it made me gasp — and then vanish just as quickly, lost somewhere between the dishes and the inbox.
And PS . . . if you’ve taken any strength courses through Becca Syme, you recognize that this popcorn brain is really ideation at it’s finest :)

But something has shifted. For someone who used to hate plotting and outlining (in fact, I wrote my first 50 novels as a panster (writing by the seat of my pants with no plan) I’ve fallen completely in love with the outline.

When you have a popcorn brain, the outline becomes a container — a beautiful, organised place to pour all those exploding ideas before they disappear into the ether. It’s become my version of catching lightning in a bottle, again and again.

Right now, while I wait for Nine Missing Girls to find its readers, I am outlining three completely different projects simultaneously. And doing copy edits for I Know You Killed Your Husband, out at the end of May.

I’m also, if I’m being completely transparent, spending a meaningful amount of time Googling boutique hotels, mapping the best cafés, and building my own walking tours for a trip I don’t take until June. Because apparently that is what my brain does when it needs to feel useful and the book is already out of my hands.
And for those who know me, I can already see you nodding... and you’re probably wondering why it took me so long to embrace this part of me.

THE TRIP: FIVE CITIES, ENGLISH BOOKSHOPS & A VERY IMPORTANT TRAIN

In June, I’m going on a research trip — and this time, I’m bringing you with me.

The focus is something I find endlessly fascinating: English-language bookshops in Europe. Independent, characterful, often improbable little havens for English readers in cities that have no obvious reason to have them. They are a kind of magic — and for one of the projects I’m currently outlining, they matter enormously.

It starts in London, which is really just a warm-up for a book lover. I’m there for a conference but before I get sucked into panels and workshops and taking endless notes, I’m looking forward to Daunt Books on Marylebone High Street — the original Edwardian building with its long oak galleries and skylights, where books are organised by country so fiction and travel writing and memoir all live side by side. Then the London Review Bookshop in Bloomsbury, and Hatchards on Piccadilly, the oldest continuously running bookshop in London. I could spend a week in London alone and not run out of shelves.

From London I travel to Bruges — a city that feels like it was designed specifically to make writers feel things. Books & Brunch on the Garenmarkt Square is already calling my name: used books, espresso, homemade quiche (well, maybe not the quiche but I’m hoping for a good pastry even though they’re known for their quiche), a cosy mezzanine. And De Reyghere — “The Heron” — has been a fixture on the city’s main market square for generations, with a travel shop right next door.

Then Paris. You know I love Paris! And this time, I’m not headed there for one of my Paris Tours that I host! We all know about the amazing Shakespeare & Company on the Left Bank — that glorious, labyrinthine institution opposite Notre-Dame. I’ve been before and I’ll keep going back until someone physically removes me. I’m also hoping to find my way to The Abbey Bookshop on the rue de la Parcheminerie, a Canadian-owned gem in a street that was once home to medieval scribes. Paris practically layers its literary history on top of you.

From Paris, the journey takes me to Geneva — and then on to the Chocolate Train.

A word about the Chocolate Train.

This has been on my list for years. A vintage train that winds through the Swiss countryside, stopping at a chocolate factory and a cheese factory before delivering you, utterly content, to Gruyères. I booked it as a birthday gift to myself. Because I am turning fifty in July, and that felt like exactly the right way to mark the occasion. Not a spa day. Not a party. A train full of chocolate, moving through mountains. I stand by this decision completely.

The trip ends in Venice, at the Libreria Acqua Alta — perhaps the most extraordinary bookshop in the world, where books are stored in bathtubs and gondolas to protect them from the city’s famous floods, and resident cats preside over the whole beautiful chaos. I can already feel the chapter it’s going to inspire.

I’ll be writing to you from all of it. Dispatches from bookshops. Notes from train windows. Late-night reflections from whoever I become when I’m away from my desk and the book is no longer in my hands to worry about. I want this Substack to be the place where the research lives before it becomes the story — where you can see the wondering before it becomes the writing.

Wish me luck. And if you want to help a bubble-dwelling writer feel a little less useless — the very best thing you can do is grab a copy of Nine Missing Girls. Pre-orders and launch week sales mean more than I can say. Your support is what makes all of this — the writing, the outlining, the chaotic Switzerland planning — possible.

And one more thing: I’d love to know — do you have a favourite English-language bookshop in Europe? A hidden gem, a beloved institution, somewhere you’d travel just for the shelves? Hit reply and tell me. It might just end up on my itinerary.

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So here I am, tucked up and reading, which honestly isn’t the worst way to be sick.

Currently reading: The Poisoned Daughter which a cousin recommended and I’m so glad she did. It’s exactly the kind of book a sick person needs — one that pulls you in and doesn’t let you think about your sinuses.

Currently listening: From Blood and Ash — though I’m having a complicated relationship with this one. I can’t quite connect with the characters, and I wonder if it’s the past tense narration that’s creating that slight distance for me. That said, it’s become my 2 a.m. companion when sleep won’t come, so it’s earning its keep.

Downloaded and waiting: Trust No One - The new James Rollins. It’s sitting there on my phone like a reward I haven’t unwrapped yet.

On the home front — my middle daughter is moving back, along with her zoo: two dogs and a cat. Combined with what we already have, we’ll be at four dogs and three cats. I’m equal parts excited and chaotic about it.

Here’s where I really need your help though: my resident cat is territorial and already side-eyeing the situation (she’s on a calming supplement to take the edge off). Does anyone have real advice for introducing a new cat into a house with a cat who considers herself the CEO? Have you done this? What worked? What absolutely did not?

Drop your tips — and your #FridayReads — in the comments. 🐱📚

I’m really quite a simple person.

I’m a mother to three beautiful daughters and a Gammy to one precious little girl who has completely stolen my heart. I host reader tours to some of the places I love most in the world — Paris, Belgium, Italy — and I spend most of my time writing about the kinds of secrets and relationships that quietly, devastatingly unravel lives.

I’ve been publishing novels for a long time now. Long enough that my 56th book is arriving on March 12th — a number I still honestly cannot fathom when I say it out loud. Fifty-six. Each one written with readers exactly like you in mind (and no, they’re not all under this name - different genres blah blah).

This new one — my 5th with Joffe Books — is the one I’m most nervous about. And the one I’m most proud of. Both things, completely true at the same time.

So let’s talk about this book…

NINE MISSING GIRLS will be out March 12/26.

It follows Detective Meri Amber — a woman you may have already met, or a woman you’re about to meet for the very first time. Either way, I promise: you’ve never seen her quite like this.

Meri is the FBI’s leading child abduction specialist. She has spent her career chasing the vanished — from Minnesota to Montana, from abandoned barns to dark cellars that still echo with what happened there. But every case cuts deeper than the last.

Because for Meri, this was never just a career. Her sister River disappeared when Meri was a teenager. Every missing girl is a mirror. Every case is personal. And for twenty years, she has never stopped looking.

Nine Missing Girls is nine complete mysteries — nine cases that reveal who Meri is and why she does what she does. From the horrifying secrets of the House of Dolls, to a macabre twelfth birthday party, to the sinister truths buried in the Widow’s Barn: nine stories that will chill you, move you, and stay with you long after the last page.

Now, let me explain why I’m so nervous about this book:

First, let me just say this - I wrote this book for readers, because you asked for more.

After The Sister Under the Stairs and The Girls in the Basement came out, the messages started arriving. Readers wanted more of Meri. They wanted to know what shaped her, what broke her, what kept her going case after case after case. And I realised I couldn’t answer that in a single novel. Meri is too layered, too complicated, too human to be contained in one story.

So I gave her my weekends.

I typically work on three novels simultaneously — one in the morning, one in the afternoon, one on weekends (normally I draft on the weekends). Meri was my weekend project. Every Saturday, I locked myself in my office and the outside world disappeared. I started with her rules. Not the ones they teach at the academy — the ones that keep you alive. Then I thought about every dark place a missing girl could end up. Then I asked myself the question that unlocked everything: how does this case affect Meri personally? Does it touch her sister?

Once I knew that, each case came alive through her voice. And her voice surprised me. The way she moves through a scene, the way she speaks — it’s unlike anything I’ve written before. More raw. More Meri than I expected.

Writing her in layers — case by case, weekend by weekend — was one of the great joys of my career. I hope when you read it, you feel that. That these nine stories were written with genuine love for a woman who deserves to be known fully.

A SMALL CONFESSION

I’ll be honest with you: I was scared about this book.

Not because I doubted the stories. But because it’s different. Short stories instead of a single novel. Nine voices instead of one long arc. A format I’d never tried before in 55 books of trying.

But here’s what I kept coming back to: Meri can’t be contained in one story. Her grief can’t be. Her obsession can’t be. Every case peels back another layer of who she is, and you need all nine layers to finally understand her.

This was the only honest way to write her.

So I did. And now she’s almost here. Coming March 12th!

Order your copy

And here’s something special: after you finish Nine Missing Girls, visit steenaholmes.com for a free bonus story — The Widow’s Basement. It’s the final case file, and it’s only there. Save it for last.

With coffee, chocolate, and so much gratitude,

Steena

PS — If you haven’t yet read The Sister Under the Stairs or The Girls in the Basement — that’s where Meri’s journey begins. Now is the perfect time.

PPS — Nine Missing Girls · March 12, 2026 · Joffe Books

On every reader tour I’ve hosted, this is something I’m told quite often - and I love it!

My response is always - Yes! That’s awesome! I can’t wait till you do!

And I mean it. I really do.

Writing for me has been a lifesaver and a life-changer. I discovered myself through my storytelling. I realized who I am as a person, my strengths, my core. I worked through some faith issues, some family issues, some woman issues. I’ve grown as a person, as a businesswoman, as a creative being.

But starting is hard. It’s hard if it’s your first novel or your 52nd (trust me, I’m struggling right now as I start a new book). The caveat - the only way to write is by sitting down and just do it - well, it’s the truth but it’s not the full truth.

There are so many ways to write a novel. You can write by longhand. You can type on a keyboard. You can dictate it into your phone or computer directly. You can write daily. You can write on weekends. You can write only at night. You can get it done in a month, a few months, half a year, a year, or even longer.

Bottom line, there is no ONE WAY to write a novel.

But… if you’re still struggling with how to get started, let me share how I do it. Maybe it will inspire you. Maybe you’ll realize it’s not what you want to do. Maybe you’ll take pieces of what works for me and find a method that works for you.

Every time I start a new novel, I remind myself of one thing: I don’t need to know everything - I just need to know what could happen.

Until recently, I didn’t outline and plot. To be honest, with almost all of my stories, I either knew how it would end or start. As I thought about the story, I would have flashes - moments, emotions, secrets. From this I would create thirty-forty what ifs.

Those fragments became the backbone of the story. Each one eventually turned into a chapter.

That’s my secret. After 52 novels… this is what works for me. I’ve never been a true plotter or true panster - I’ve always worked with ideas. Right now, for the past two books I’ve been writing, I’ve had to submit an outline / plot to my publisher and this is how I created it.

I don’t start with a plot — I start with ideas. I take those ideas and expand on them. Each what if starts as a point, then I expand it to a sentence, then into a paragraph and then into a chapter.

Basically, I work in layers.

Step One: Collect 30–40 “Story Sparks”

Think of them like fireflies. Each one is a glimmer of something intriguing — a moment that gives you goosebumps, a line of dialogue you can’t shake, a visual that feels charged.

You don’t need to know the order. You don’t even need to understand why they matter yet. Just write them down. Let them breathe.

Here’s what that looked like for me with Engaged to a Serial Killer.

10 Story Sparks That Became Chapters

1. The Breaking News Scene
A woman comes home after a long day only to see her fiancé’s face on the evening news — arrested for multiple murders.
(Spark → Chapter 1: The Ending of the Perfect Life.)

2. The Premonition Thread
She has an instinct — a shiver of warning — that something bad is coming, but she ignores it. Later, she realizes that feeling was right all along.
(Adds tension and foreshadowing — “Premonition” becomes a motif throughout.)

3. The Interrogation Room
A woman sits across from a detective who already knows her record. The mirrored wall, the camera, the bottled water — all the trappings of her past.
(Spark → Chapter 2: Promises Are Meant to Be Broken.)

4. The Detective’s Question
He asks if she’s ever killed before. She laughs — because she’s been asked that question before, and it never gets easier to answer.
(Spark → Chapter 6: How Dirty Are Your Hands?)

5. The Boss and the Fiancé
The woman’s boss and her fiancé are arrested together — as partners in murder. But which one betrayed her first?
(The “triangle of trust” that drives the entire book.)

6. The Therapist Connection
During questioning, she accidentally reveals she’s in therapy — and that her fiancé found the counselor for her. That small slip becomes a turning point.
(Spark → Chapter 3: “Leigh Kits” becomes a breadcrumb of doubt.)

7. The Detective with History
The detective interrogating her used to know her fiancé. He’s not just investigating — he’s settling an old score.
(Spark → Chapter 4: Cockroaches Always Survive.)

8. The Flashback Release Scene
Thirteen months earlier, she walked out of prison promising herself she’d never go back. That promise becomes a haunting echo when she’s detained again.
(Spark → Chapter 7: It’ll Be Different This Time... Promise.)

9. The Job Offer That Isn’t What It Seems
A councilman offers her a “second chance” job through a prison work program — but the offer comes with strings, secrets, and buried bodies.
(Spark → Chapter 9: Meet Your Fairy Godfather.)

10. The Discovery of the Gardens
Detectives start unearthing bodies in landscaped gardens — all tied to the company she works for. Each garden, another secret.
(Spark → Chapter 5 & 10: The garden motif becomes the physical manifestation of guilt.)

Step Two: Expand the Sparks

Once you have your 30–40 ideas, it’s time to expand them. Take the simple sentence and turn it into a paragraph or two - add characters, emotions, setting. You don’t have to write the entire chapter at this point, but give yourself enough of a jumping point to get started.

Step Three: Start Layering

It doesn’t matter what program you use - whether it’s Pages, Word, Scrivener, Notes, etc. Personally, I use Scrivener because I like that I can break things into scenes. Each idea, after expanding, becomes a scene for me. Generally, my books all have roughly 40 scenes (or 40 chapters).

I take those paragraphs and start layering them. (and the best part… once I have these short paragraphs, I also have an outline and plot I can hand into my publisher.)

First, I’ll work on the rough draft of the entire book and write the dialogue. Very simple “What do you think you are doing?” he said type of things. I don’t think about emotion, setting, gestures etc. Right now, it’s only dialogue. This helps me to understand the direction of the story, make sure it flows the way I want. Often, I’ll get surprised with new twists that I didn’t see coming - so watch out for that ;)

Usually by now, I’ve written 20-30k the book. As I layer, more words are obviously added until the book is done. My layers are:

• dialogue

• character development

• emotions (focus on intensity within the scenes)

• tightening (get rid of useless words, find stronger words)

• setting (setting is always last because it’s my weakest) throughout each layer I might add [add setting] so I know where to go back and add things.

Your Turn

Now remember - this is only ONE WAY of writing a novel and depending on who you are, it’s not the right way. It’s just the right way for me. But, if this post gives you any sense of inspiration, grab a notebook or open a new doc and list 30–40 ideas for the story you can’t stop thinking about.
They don’t need to be in order. They don’t need to make sense yet.
Just give your imagination permission to scatter clues.

That’s how stories start — not with structure, but with curiosity.

When you add in someone telling me I’m a ‘unicorn’ based on my own experience… I had to bake cookies just to give myself time to calm down and figure out why I’m getting so heated (cookies pictured below).

One thing I love about our writing community is that there are so many authors/writers willing to share their advice. No matter where they are in their journey, you can read their posts, substacks, emails etc and they’re there, offering advice, being real and true about their own publishing/writing journey.

But… then there are those who allow their own negativity to seep through and in the process, they could be destroying soemone’s own dream and not realize it.

Here’s some examples (all things I’ve seen this week online): Writer A has been actively seeking agents for their novel but keep getting rejected. Writer B asks a simple question on ‘an agent reached out via pitchfest, what do I do now?’. Writer A replies with ‘nothing - they’re going to reject you anyway.’

Or Writer C landed an agent, publishing deal but their book tanked for whatever reason and their publisher dropped them. Writer D asks if anyone has heard of XYZ Publisher and what are their experiences. Writer C spews all the anger they feel, and Writer D possibly passes up that deal that could have changed their lives.

Or Writer E asks how to know if a publisher who’s reached out on their selfpub books are legit and Writers F, G, H, I, J, K & L all tell them that publishers NEVER do, that it’s just a scam and if it does happen, it only happens to Unicorns and 1 in 500,000 ever gets this kind of jump in their career. They don’t answer the question and when anyone does saying it can happen, here’s what to look for, they get jumped on.

This journey we’re on as writers, it’s not for the faint of heart. It’s hard and can be soulwrenching on the best of days. We labor over our books, pouring so much of ourselves into them and then we have to rewrite, rewrite and rewrite. Nothing is guaranteed - not if you are an indie author or if you are with a publisher. You aren’t guaranteed sales, positive reviews or even another publishing contract and almost all of the time, all of these things are out of your hands, no matter how amazing of a writer you are.

So in this career where it is hard, the last thing we need to do is tear down someone’s dream because of our own past experiences.

Am I an unicorn is the publishing world. No. I’m a writer, like many, who work hard on their craft. Have I sold a lot of books? Yes. Have I had an upward career path with no obstacles? Hell no. I’ve had an agent and editor lose faith in my writing. I’ve had to step back from my own career and created a new name/write in a new genre in order for me to start believing in myself again. Have I written books that haven’t earned out? Yes. Have I written a some books that have? Again, yes. Did I have to get a part time job that turned into full time because I wasn’t bringing in enough from my writing? Yes again. Was I able to quit and then earn high six figures? Again, yes. My journey hasn’t been easy. It’s been of some highs and a lot of lows.

One thing however I’ve learned through all of this is: No One Will Believe in Me More than Me. And when I do believe in myself, things can change on a dime.

So how do I do that? How do I believe in myself when I’m at a low point, where nothing is going right, when it looks like I’m a failure as a writer?

Here’s where the power of a positive mindset comes in. Building up other authors. Supporting them, being their cheerleaders. Realizing there are ups and that I can be happy for everyone’s ups while hoping it happens to me too. I can take my own experiences and learn from them, turn them around so they benefit me. An editor doesn’t believe in my writing? Then I need to figure out why not. Readers stop buying my books? Look at the feedback I get and figure out why.

If I allow my own negativity to impact someone elses writing dreams - shame on me. I don’t ever want to be that person.

And to answer the questions asked above:

1. Writer A: If the agent you pitched reached out, do your homework! Take a look at their client list (if it’s listed) and read how they want books submitted to them very carefully. And congrats! Having an agent reach out is so awesome and it means you’re on the right path!

2. Writer D: Congrats on having that publisher interested in you! Asking for reviews from those who have worked with that publisher is great - but remember, everyone’s journey is different. Take a look at their books, see where they are ranking, look at the type of books they are promoting. Talk to your agent about expectations and realizes the publisher wants to make money from your book, so how can you both be good partners in that aspect.

3. Writer E: More and more indie authors are getting picked up by publishers, more than just 1 in 1/2 a million. Editors are actively looking for good books that hit the market and find readers attentions. It means you’re doing something right! So how do you know if they are legit? Again…homework! Look them up. Check out the authors and they books they are publishing. Even contact a few of those authors and see if they recommend their experience. It is happening. It’s happening more and more. And if working with a publisher is one of your goals - then congratulations that you are getting noticed!

See…that wasn’t hard. This community of ours, it’s a good one. And I need to remind myself that we all have different experiences, and not to get so worked up when I see others being so negative.

On the plus side…cookies anyone?

Let me set the scene: I am working on the dev edits on a book that sold to a publisher. It’s a strong story, a good story. Before I started working on it, I’d had a lengthly talk with my editor about the twists and hooks and journey and the expectations. I knew going in what she was looking for and my plan was to hit every note.

Except I didn’t. Not on purpose, but because for one reason or another, even though this book was plotted out, things happened, the story went where the story went, and I let it. Even knowing there could possibly be issues. And boy, there were issues. Not big ones, don’t get me wrong, this isn’t where my editor’s vision and mine didn’t align, but more like, I let the story go in a direction I knew I’d have to change later on and instead of spending the time right then to correct it, I decided to wait for dev edits to do it.

Take it from me, that’s not always the smartest path.

When I was mentioning the work I knew I needed to do, my writing coach asked me a question: when I worked in the corporate world and given a task that I knew was part of my job, did I complain and stomp my feet and do everything I could not to do it, or did I just do it, knowing this was what I was hired to do? of course, the answer was, this was my job, so I did. it. He reminded me that signing a contract with a publisher to write a novel, they agreed to buy, is no different. I knew the expectations going in, and while I submitted a novel I’d hoped they’d like, I also agreed to write a novel based on their feedback. Dev edits is their feedback to write the novel they agreed to publish.

So let’s talk developmental edits.
Especially when it’s for a trad book that has already been bought and not one you are self publishing.

It’s thrilling. It’s humbling. And it’s business.

It requires a shift in mindset

Before the sale, the book is yours. Every word, every subplot, every twist of that baby you spent hours/days/weeks/months/years on is a reflection of your vision, your gut, your passion. You guard it, nurture it, obsess over it. (and boy do we obsess over it).

But once that deal is inked?
It becomes a partnership - (this is the mindset that changed things for me).

That doesn’t mean losing creative control—it means expanding it. It means understanding that the editor who bought your book also has a vision. A vision that is shaped by market knowledge, reader expectations, and a deep desire to make your book shine—not just for readers, but for retailers, reviewers, and sales teams too.

And that’s where things get interesting.

Here’s the truth: sometimes edits will make you nod in complete agreement.
Sometimes they’ll sting. Sometimes they’ll make you cry. Sometimes you’ll end up drinking a full bottle of wine, or eating more of the cake that you’d intended (not that I’ve ever done that…lol)
Sometimes you’ll read the dev edit letter and think: “Wait. Do they even get this story?”

That’s normal. And I can guarantee it happens to every author out there, no matter how many books they’ve written, or how long they’ve been working on that editor for.

Here’s the thing about editorial notes: they aren’t just about fixing pacing or deepening character arcs. They’re about aligning your story with its potential in the publishing world. It’s no longer just about what you love—it’s about what your readers will connect to. And what your publisher can confidently stand behind.

That means being open. Flexible. Curious.

And brave enough to ask: “What would make this story stronger for everyone, not just me?”

When the Book Becomes Ours.

As a hybrid author, I find I enjoy self publishing and trad publishing. There’s no ‘one over the other’ for me. It’s all about what is best for that book, and it’s something I think very hard about when I work on a novel.

However, one of the surprising joys I have found in traditional publishing is collaboration. In fact, I’m finding this to be a really crucial part of my decision for how I want to publish a book.

I know, I know—most of us start writing because we love the solitary creative life. But a great editor doesn’t just rearrange your sentences. They challenge you to think bigger. To get out of your own way. To lean into the story’s full capacity.

It’s a gift.
Sometimes a frustrating one.
But a gift nonetheless.

The best developmental edits don’t strip away your voice. They sharpen it.

And a caveat: you don’t only find these types of collaborations with trad partners. You can find amazing editors as an indie author who will work with you like this on your novel. They key is finding the right one. If you are an indie author and are looking for a dev editors: Tiffany Yates Martin has an amazing book out called Intuitive Editing and I can say from personal experience she is a dream editor to work with.

Publishing your book means having to think about your career from a business perspective, and this is where many writers struggle—especially early on.

Publishing is an art, yes. But it’s also a business. When a publisher buys your book, they’ve invested in it. That means edits may also be guided by positioning, comparable titles, marketing angles, and more.

And while you can push back, and you should protect what matters to your story, understanding that you’re part of a bigger machine helps ease the sting when your favorite chapter is cut or your villain needs a new backstory (or when you have to rework 3/4 of your timeline and change so many chapters around, which means rewriting segments of almost every chapter…which you had a feeling you’d have to do anyway, so why didn’t you just write that way to begin with … speaking from current experience as I work thru dev edits right now).

Because now… it’s not just about the book. The book you’ve spent months working on, losing sleep over, having to prioritize over coffee dates… (or is that just a me thing?)

It’s about the product. The launch. The audience. The shelf life. And that means wearing a different hat when looking at the future of your book.

And that, my fellow writing friend, means having to look at your book a little differently.

Let's Talk

Have you ever gone through developmental edits with a traditional publisher? What surprised you most? Or—if you’re indie—how do you approach editorial collaboration?

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. This post is part of a new series I’ll be sharing about the business of writing—because behind every story is a strategy.

I’ll be honest - it’s my favorite part of travel and sometimes I wonder if I should have looked at a career in the travel industry.

Flipping through guidebooks (I have bookshelves full of travel guides and I still like to go through them), googling travel itineraries, saving Instagram posts, following rabbit holes on historical landmarks or hidden cafés, and of course, I need to find the best pastries, bakeries, and cafes no matter where I go!

For me, it’s more than just vacation prep—it’s story fodder. Every cobblestone street could hold a secret, every bustling market a hidden clue. But let’s be honest… trip planning also takes time. A lot of it.

In September, I’m headed to Belgium for my Sweet Chocolate Tour but before I actually make it to Brussels, first I need to stop in London. I’m not sure where you live, but flights staring in Canada and going anywhere are often expensive and for my travel dates, flying direct to London was ridiculous. So I used a travel hack that I love: I used GoogleFlights to show me cheaper routes. Flying to Dublin and then hoping over to London was so much cheaper (including booking a hotel room) - imagine that!

And just like that—a spontaneous mom-daughter trip was born.

What started as a savvy travel workaround is turning into something more magical. Two days. Three girls. One dreamy city with cobblestone streets, cozy bookstores, and centuries-old secrets. My Google map of Dublin is filling up with bakeries we must visit too! And of course… my writer brain can’t help it: a new story idea is already taking shape.

Now, I did mention I love travel planning right? I love the hours I can spend researching EVERYTHING…but I’m also on a time crunch with book deadlines, so for I decided to experiment: I asked ChatGPT to help me create a full travel itinerary.

Spoiler alert: it was a game-changer. Color me suprised.

📍 Why Dublin?

Dublin has never been on my list of ‘must travel to’ places. I’m not sure why, but I’m glad that’s changing. Those alley, those pubs, the history, the libraries, the bookshops, the cafes… I’m so glad we’re going now (and the more research I do, the more excited I’m getting)!

Traveling with my daughters means I want a balance of fun, food, history, and wandering. I asked ChatGPT to create a 2-day itinerary tailored to a girls’ getaway—with a twist of literary inspiration (because: me). Here's the plan so far:

Day One: Literary Legends + Cozy Corners

• Morning:
  Check into our hotel and grab coffee and pastries from Queen of Tarts (because how can you not with that name?).

• Stop in at Winding Stair Bookcase.

• Late Morning:
  Explore Trinity College Library and the Book of Kells. Now that my instagram is full of photos of The Long Room…I can not wait to go! ? I already feel a story idea forming: what if a girl stumbles on a hidden book that was never supposed to be there?

• Lunch:
  Avoca Café—bright, modern, and filled with Irish charm.

• Afternoon:
  A stroll through St. Stephen’s Green and a visit to The Little Museum of Dublin. It’s quirky, heartfelt, and perfect for a quick stop that doesn’t overwhelm. Or…we could even visit the Leprechaun Museum (because, why not?)

• Dinner:
  Traditional Irish fare at The Woollen Mills (bonus: great river views and the food is apparently delicious).

Day Two: Castles, Creepy Cemeteries + Chocolate

• Morning:
  St Patrick’s Cathedral & Marsh’s Library (after we grab some coffee first)

• Lunch:
  Grab picnic snacks at Fallon & Byrne and head to the Ha’penny Bridge for photos.

• Afternoon:
  Explore Glasnevin Cemetery and its museum. Yes, we’re those people (well, I am… I’ll find out if my daughters are too). We love a good ghost story, and this place is rich with them.

• Sweet treat stop:
  Butlers Chocolate Café because hello…chocolate—and also, hot chocolate is a vibe.

• Evening:
  End our night at The Brazen Head, Ireland’s oldest pub. We’ll go early, grab food, and soak in the stories whispered from its wood-paneled walls.

Now, we might also plan a day trip - my daughters will be heading back to Dublin before they head home (while I continue on to Belgium) so some of these things they might do on their return trip.

Chat GPT was great at day trip ideas too. It gave me 5 different options and while I know what I’d like to do - I’m going to leave this with my daughter’s to decide (one really wants to go hiking…this mom, not so much).

🌊 1. Howth Coastal Escape (Self-Guided via DART – 30 min)

Best for: Scenic cliff walks, seafood, market browsing
Highlights:

• Breathtaking Howth Cliff Walk (moderate trail with ocean views)

• Explore Howth Harbour and village shops

• Seals and sea birds often near the pier

• Lunch at Octopussy’s Tapas or The Oar House

• Stop at Howth Market (if open)

Why it’s great: Low effort, high reward. Feels like another world, yet so close.

🏰 2. Malahide Castle & Gardens (20 min by DART)

Best for: History, gardens, easy access
Highlights:

• Tour Malahide Castle with stories of hauntings

• Wander the Botanical Gardens and Butterfly House

• Walk to Malahide village for boutiques and cafés

• Try Gibney’s Pub for lunch

Why it’s great: A relaxed mix of castle vibes and cute town strolls.

🧙‍♀️ 3. Glendalough & Wicklow Mountains (Guided Tour – Full Day)

Best for: Nature lovers, dramatic scenery, ancient monastic ruins
Highlights:

• 6th-century Monastic City of Glendalough

• Scenic drives through the Wicklow Mountains

• Lough Tay (“Guinness Lake”) photo stop

• Option to add Powerscourt Gardens (on some tours)

Why it’s great: The views are stunning. Peaceful, soulful, and full of Irish charm.

🎬 4. Game of Thrones & Giant’s Causeway (Northern Ireland – Full Day)

Best for: Adventure, GOT fans, dramatic coastlines
Highlights:

• Giant’s Causeway (UNESCO site – volcanic rock formations)

• Dark Hedges (GOT filming location)

• Quick stop in Belfast or Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge

Why it’s great: Long day but thrilling. Book a tour to handle transport and timing.

🚂 5. Kilkenny Medieval City (1.5 hrs by train or tour)

Best for: Medieval architecture, shopping, cute town vibes
Highlights:

• Tour Kilkenny Castle

• Visit St. Canice’s Cathedral & climb the round tower

• Walk along the Medieval Mile

• Shops, crafts, and great pubs like Kyteler’s Inn

Why it’s great: Charming town, perfect for exploring and snapping pics.

Where will we go? Which one will my daughter’s pick? I’m not sure but I’ll keep you updated!

📚 Using Trip Planning as Story Research

Here’s the fun part: while creating my itinerary, I also flagged locations that might work for my next story idea. Dublin’s full of inspiration—here’s what’s standing out to me so far:

• The Long Room at Trinity College Library: It’s almost sacred. I’m picturing a secret society that leaves coded messages inside rare books.

• Glasnevin Cemetery: Hauntingly beautiful. What if a grieving woman keeps returning to one particular grave… but the person buried there isn’t who she thinks (or who I think…hmmm)?

• The Brazen Head Pub (Ireland’s oldest): I can already hear two characters meeting here for a whispered conversation that changes everything.

• The Little Museum of Dublin: A quirky, charming place that could hide an old clue. Maybe a photo no one noticed before?

Do I have a story I want to set in Dublin? Right now, no. But that will change, because it always does. Every time I travel, while I’m there, I seem to get hit with idea after idea after idea and I’m always taking notes so I don’t forget them. So, what does that mean…well, you’ll probably find a story from me where Dublin is a setting one day in the future :)

🧳 What ChatGPT Got Right

This is my first time using ChatGPT for this and I was pleasantly surprised. Was it perfect? No. I have a list of places I want to see and explore that it didn’t even mention. But, what it did get right is this: I didn’t want a generic tourist loop. I wanted something me—a blend of cozy, creepy, and creatively inspiring. What surprised me most was how specific and personal the itinerary felt. I could tweak the tone (dark academia vibes? check), add a theme (literary ghosts? sure), or ask for scenic walks instead of crowded tours.

What I do like is that it can create a google map with these locations that I can download to my maps on Google for while we’re there.

Plus, having a ready-made plan means I can spend more of my energy doing the fun part: researching the settings, imagining the characters, and plotting the stories.

🔄 The Joy of Research Isn’t Lost

Will this become my ‘go to’ for creating my trip itineraries? No, but I’ll keep it in my arsenal since it will be so helpful.

I will still deep-dive on places I want to visit. I still Google the legends behind old cathedrals and watch travel vlogs about hidden doors in Dublin Castle. But now I’m starting with a roadmap, which makes everything more intentional—and saves me from getting overwhelmed (because let’s be real, there are a lot of blog posts, instram reels, pinterest itineries out there and reading them all…can be overwhelming).

And honestly? I still get that travel planner’s high. I just don’t lose whole weekends doing it.

❓Your Turn

Have you ever used ChatGPT (or another AI) to help plan a trip? Would you want me to share my full Dublin itinerary in a future post after our visit and share what I changed?

Also: If you’ve been to Dublin and have a favorite bookstore, hidden café, or walkable neighborhood, I’d love to hear it.

When most people think of authors, they imagine quiet mornings at a favorite café (or in their office), long walks to plot twists, deep conversations with fellow authors, or having those insanely crazy days of getting words in your novel and having them be actual good words!

But here’s what we don’t talk about enough:
Being an author is also being a business.

Whether you’re traditionally published, indie, or hybrid—writing the book is just one part of the equation (did I just hear you groan? I get it!).

I’ll be honest, this is one of my favorite things to talk about with fellow writers, and something I love to discuss at conferences. Why…because once we understand this, it’s like a switch has been turned on and we start thinking about things a little differently.

✍️ Writing Is Art. Publishing Is Business.

We write because we need to, because there’s this creative well inside us that is overflowing with ideas and stories. We write because that is who we are - storytellers - at our core.

We publish because it’s a business. Even before we hit that submit button (whether it’s sending a novel to an agent or publishing it ourselves online) we have made the decision to share our writing with readers, which means we have to think about things a little differently.

The moment a manuscript turns into a product with a cover, a price tag, and a release date (whether its via a publisher or ourselves), it becomes something else entirely.

That’s when we shift from creator to marketer, strategist, accountant, project manager, PR rep, and CEO of our own storytelling brand.

I’m curious as to where you are in this process? Are you just starting out and still working on your novel? Are you published already and learning the ropes? Are you a season author who has done this several times and know there’s more to being a writer than just sitting in front of a computer and typing words?

Here’s a look at just a few of the hats we have to wear (often all in one day):

• Working with a team: agent, publisher, editor, marketer, assistant, cover designer, formatter, narrator etc

• Tracking royalties and updating spreadsheets or using online services and uploading reports (royalties and ads)

• Managing deadlines (sometimes across multiple publishers) (and if you have a pen name - managing deadlines for multiple names/books can be challenging)

• Planning launch campaigns

• All things Marketing (emails, creating graphics, scheduling posts, being present in online groups, hosting giveaways, etc etc etc)

• Keeping track of sales data, reader analytics, and ad spend

• Advertising (whether you are taking a course to learn it, in the middle of doing it yourself, hiring someone to take care of it for you)

These are only a ‘few’ of the things we do on a regular basis. It’s not easy. But it’s essential.

📌 3 Lessons I’ve Learned (the hard way)

1. Always know your goal.
Having a 1 year, 5 year, 10 year goal is important - even if you don’t think it is (I didn’t for the longest time…in fact, I still struggle with goals because they always change on me). Let’s break it down….
1 year goal - what is it you want to accomplish THIS year? Is it to write 1 book? 3 books? Do you want to start submitting to agents? Do you want to start self publishing? Do you want to land a new contract? Do you want to hit that amazing 6 figure income mark?
5 year goal - How many books do you want to have written? What will it take for you to do that? Do you want to have multiple publishing contracts? A new agent? Earn enough money to buy a home? Go on a vacation? Hire an assistant? Hit a list?
10 year goal - As far out as this might seem, dreaming about where you want to be in ten years is a good thing to do. I am where I wanted to be 10 years ago (as crazy as that sounds). My goals back then were to have multiple publishing contracts, to hit mid-6 figures, to write full time and to be speaking at conferences. So, I guess I now have to think about where I want to be in the next 10 years - do I want to continue writing at this pace? Set up a trust for my family? Vacationing more? Speaking more? Hosting more reader retreats?

2. Protect your time like a business owner would.
This is a hard one (at least for me). Not all “yeses” are worth it. Speaking gigs, social media, travel—it all sounds good until it starts eating your writing time. Know what fuels your business—and what drains it. Be honest with yourself on what you can handle and what is too much. Have that talk with your partner if you need to (my husband actually had to have a talk with me about how many books I plan on writing this year and how many reader trips I do - it was not a good conversation - lol). Know your limits and don’t be afraid to put yourself first.
Do you need to go to ‘all the conferences’? Do you need to be involved in all the multi-author giveaways? Do you need to take on a project to help someone else?

3. You are your brand.
Ahh. Branding. Another subject dear to my heart (I used to help other authors with their branding, spoke at conferences etc). Do you know what your brand is? Here’s some hints: It’s not your book, it’s not about your sales rank. Your Brand is You. It’s about the Promise You Make To Your Readers about what to expect with your books they read, about what to expect when you send out your newsletter or when they search you up and look at your website or join your mailing list. Staying true to your brand - even as it grows and changes - is going to be pivitol for your business.

☕ A Note to Fellow Writers

If you’re just starting out, this probably feels overwhelming. I get it. I still have days where I’d rather bury myself in fictional murders than face my email inbox.

But here’s the truth: the more you understand the business, the more empowered you are to shape your own path.

You don’t have to do it all alone. Build your team. Ask questions. Get smart. Be brave. Stay curious. And never stop learning.

Because this isn’t just art—it’s a career.
Because I love this topic so much, I’ll probably be focusing on it a little bit more in the coming weeks.

🤝 Let’s Chat

Writers: what’s one business lesson you wish you’d learned earlier?
Readers: is there something about the publishing process you’ve always been curious about?
Hit reply or drop a comment—I’d love to open the conversation.

Until next Friday,
Steena

Can we have a sit down for a moment? Where we hold our cups in hand and be honest with one another for a few vulnerable moments before the masks go back up and the constant smiles never disappear?

This career path we’ve chosen, it’s a hard one. It doesn’t matter if you’re a hobbyist, a newbie, or seasoned veteran with multiple accolades, the path for all of us is the same.

It’s a bumpy, windy road with speed guzzling dips and exhilarating heights.

We feel we’re alone, that its butt in the chair (or on the couch or bed or whereever you write), with most of our writer friends behind faceless screens. Many of us yearn for companionship, for others who understand what it’s like to stare at a blank screen or erase paragraphs of words that took longer than they should have to appear.

And yet we do it. We put in the time. We sacrifice a lot to make this dream of ours a success. And what is success anyway? I know what it is for me, but its almost never the same for you. And yet, we judge our measure of success by everyone elses and then feel like we’re less than.

(Boy, this sure isn’t a happy post, is it? It gets better, I promise)

But… despite all of that, would we do anything different? If you never had a single person read your words, would you still create imagined worlds and flawed characters with storylines that never seem to leave you alone until you start to write them down?

We are storytellers. We do something that almost everyone else wants to do (well, not my husband, but he’s a carpenter and builds houses, so he does something not everyone else can do anyway). Many of us have managed to find a way to make money (doesn’t matter how much) from our imaginations, and that’s an amazing thing.

We have qualities that are something to be proud of too. We’re stubborn, determined, constant, we know how to pivot, we’re willing to sacrifice, we’re imaginative and did I mention we’re determined? We have to be to keep doing what we’re doing, don’t you think?

Do you ever ask yourself why? Why do you keep putting in the time? Why you keep reworking your query letter? Why you’re willing to rewrite over and over and over again? Why you sign up for another class, learn how to do one more thing, join another group that promises to hold all the secrets to being a successful author?

I ask myself this all the time. I could easily jump back into the corporate world and there would be less stress, and yet, I’m a stubborn woman who doesn’t like being told I can’t do something when I darn well know I can.

I had an agent tell me that. They said if I left them, I wouldn’t sell any more books, and that if I went back to self publishing, I’d fail. I proved them wrong. I’ve since sold 6 books on contract, created a new name in a new genre that does amazingly well, and have even signed contracts under that name too.

Dear author, we’re amazing people. I think our determination is an admirable strength and our sense of community is one everyone is jealous of. For instance, a dear writer friend has recently suffered a devastating tragedy, and the community behind her is rallying to support her new book release. As we should be doing.

In all honesty, I think I’m writing this for myself. To remind myself why I’m doing this. Why I’m restructuring book #48 while finishing #49 and plotting #50. I’m in the weeds and it’s hard - not physically, but mentally for sure. All those thoughts we have when someone else sees our work and critiques it - it’s there, screaming in my ears - and yet, this is what I wanted and continue to want.

Every book we write should be better than the last, and that doesn’t happen unless we push ourselves to do better, to be better. So we take those courses. We join those writing groups. We find critique partners and hire editors. We put in the hours to learn our craft for one simple reason - and no, it’s not for sales. We want our readers to have a better reading experience. If they do, then they will come back and read our other books (which will result in the sales we’re looking for (but that’s a different post).

So, if you are still here, still reading, it’s that time to take a sip of our drink and put that smile back on our face, but this time, it’s a real one, because we found someone else who understands what this life of being a writer is like, and with all its ups and downs, we woudln’t want to be anywhere else than where we are right now.

Sincerely, the author who now needs a fresh cup of coffee and is ready to tackle more revisions.

🧠 Let's Talk About Impostor Syndrome

Here’s the truth most writers won’t say out loud: no matter how many books you’ve published—even 48—there are still moments when you look around a room of incredibly talented people and wonder, Do I belong here?

The answer is: yes, yes, you do. Even though, in the moment, you would rather slink away back to your hotel room and eat a box of chocolates from the chocolatier down the street. Okay, maybe this was me. And maybe I did eat those chocolates. And maybe I had good friends who made sure I didn’t slink away (fist pump to good friends, right?).

That’s impostor syndrome. And yes, it hit me hard last week. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a big conference like that, and let’s be honest, I’m not that big of a name in that world. My career was based in the women’s fiction world, and I’ve slowly been moving toward psychological suspense (if you call 6 titles in that genre moving slow…). The “Who Am I to be teaching a class, or speaking on a panel” hit me hard…but then I had several people come up and tell me how moved they were by what I said, or had questions about my writing process (3 books always on the go), or why I draft like I do, or how come… (you get the idea). I had to remind myself that I brought a lot to the table of this conference, things like:

• Years of experience (ups and downs, reinvention, hybrid author)

• A deep love of story

• A fierce belief in the power of books to change people & and the fierce belief in authors to be in control of their career

So if you're a writer—new, seasoned, published, or still drafting your first chapter—I see you. I hear you. I’ve got you. Your voice matters. Your story matters. And yes, you belong at the table.

🍷 NYC Eats: From Wilde to Italian

In between panels and pitch sessions, I made time to indulge a bit (because what’s New York without food adventures?).

• Oscar Wilde NYC – Eclectic, moody, bookish vibes with cocktails that feel like magic spells. The atmosphere was lush, so inventive! The theme was Alice in Wonderland and I was there for it! (the mocktails were so good, too)

• Quality Italian – I’m still dreaming about the fresh pasta, the creme brulee corn and the warm, intimate vibe (even though it was very loud). Pro tip: go hungry and make sure everyone at your table orders something different (and then share!)

• The hotel had a little cafe/bistro and every day I indulged in a chocolate chip scone. OMG so good. Also so expensive. The coffee…not that great. Silly me didn’t think to google the closest Starbucks - which turned out was right next door (and I didn’t see it until the last day! ugh)

📚 The Book Haul

Naturally, I didn’t leave empty-handed. I came home with a stack of thrillers, some advanced reader copies, and a few hidden gems I picked up from author friends and panelists I discovered. Here are a few titles now fighting for space on my nightstand:

• Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart

• Remote The Six by Eric Rickstad

• Serial Killer Support Group by Saratoga Schaefer

• and a lot more… can you see the theme here?

Once I start reading them, I’ll be sure to share my thoughts!

✍️ Deep in the Edit Cave

Meanwhile, I’m neck deep in edits on my next novel, coming January 2026. (Can we just agree that editing is both the most painful and most rewarding part of writing?) The coffee is strong, the snacks are steady, and the notes from my editor are slowly turning into something suspenseful. I’ll be able to share more about the book soon—and I can’t wait to show you the cover.

Oh…and while I’m deep in revisions, I just sent my editor thoughts on the necxt book and I’ve been writing pages of notes for upcoming book ideas all thanks to Thrillerfest! You know what that means, right? More books coming your way!

☕ Wrapping Up

So that’s this week: big city buzz, writer wobbles, book stacks, delicious food, and the click of keys as I dig deep into the next draft. What are you reading this week? Have you ever battled imposter syndrome—and what did you do to push past it?

With espresso and encouragement,
Steena

I’m going to be honest—this week my brain is mush. After wrapping up my 48th novel (cue confetti 🎉), I’ve spent the last week shifting into short story writing mode, organizing travel plans, and recovering from a writing hangover only fellow authors truly understand. Normally, I give myself time to breathe - and I highly recommend it (see below) but this year is full of writing projects and with Thrillerfest happening next week as well as edits being returned on a book - I have a very brief window to work on ‘other’ projects.

So...no new book this week for #fridayreads. I have been listening to a novel in the car when I’m running errands - the lastest Fourth Wing novel that is dramatized (and OMG I’m hooked!) What about you?
📚 What are you reading right now?
Drop your Friday read in the comments!

🖋 Behind the Scenes: The Writing Life

Let’s talk about the in-between. That weird space between finishing a project and starting the next. It’s filled with doubt, excitement, a few naps, and more coffee than I’d like to admit. Like I mentioned, I generally like to give myself some breathing room. I run all the errands I pushed to the side, I meet with friends, I get my hair cut, I go for walks, binge tv shows I’ve been wanting to catch up on…basically I let that well fill because as creatives, we need a full well when it comes to working on new projects. I should be listening to my own advice, and I feel the ‘grumps’ coming on because I haven’t…I’m still running all those errands but I’m fitting them in between time at my desk working on other projects before I head off to New York on Monday.

I’m telling myself July I’ll slow down, I’ll start working on a new book that is due to my publisher end of November and give my brain time to relax, but I know myself well enough that won’t happen and someday soon I’ll have a big crash. EEK!

So…this is a case of some advice I know I should be taking but life is too busy right now…

Here’s my advice this week for writers (and creatives in general):
👉 Give yourself grace.
Finishing something big—whether it's a book, a chapter, a character arc, or even just showing up at the page when it’s hard—is a win. The rest, the refill, the quiet, the waiting… it matters too. Let your brain breathe. Creativity isn't a faucet—it’s a well.

And if you’re in the writing trenches right now, here’s your reminder: keep going. No one else can tell your story the way you can.

🍝 Date Night, Italian Style

Most Friday’s is date night. Sometimes we order in, sometimes we go to Costco, sometimes we eat out and sometimes we do something different.

Last weekend, my husband and I had the sweetest little date night that totally transported me back to Italy. We made homemade ravioli! I loved the class so much I thought I could be a pro at making pasta at home. I haven’t tried yet though…maybe one day :)

Italy really has a hold on me lately—from what I’ve been reading to what I’ve been cooking. (Did I mention I’m wanting to plan an Italy trip for my 50th birthday next year!?)

🎈 This Weekend: Rodeos, Birthdays & Farmer’s Markets

One thing I’m very more conscious of is having balance when it comes to writing and my family. Once upon a time I didn’t understand how important that was until life forced me to focus. Now, I write during the day (like a full time job) and focus on family in the evenings and weekend. Sometimes life is slow and I can read the weekend away. Othertimes it’s jammed packed with things, like this weekend:

🎂 Birthday celebrations (my son-in-law)
🐴 Local rodeo fun (moving to a small farm town means fun farm things!)
🍓 Farmers markets (hello fresh strawberries)
👨‍👧 Father’s Day (early breakfast and a round of mini golf)

These are the weekends that fill my heart and make all the busy days worthwhile. Slowing down. Showing up. Making memories.

☕ Until Next Week

Whether you’re curled up with a book, out exploring your city, or just trying to remember what day it is (same), I hope you take a moment this weekend for something that makes you feel full—heart, mind, and soul.

And again—tell me what you're reading! I want to hear it all: the thrillers, the romances, the memoirs, the hidden gems.

With gratitude (and espresso),
Steena

This week feels like one big exhale. I’ve submitted my 48th novel (yes, really!) to my publisher, and while I’d love to say I celebrated with a glass of bubbly on a sun-drenched balcony somewhere in Italy, the truth is... It’s all about comfy sun dresses, a messy desk, a growing to-do list I need to finally tackle, and fresh baking from my youngest daughter (definitely one of the perks of her still living at home…mini cheesecakes and homemade cinnamon rolls for the win!)

Ending this book was a special treat because my parents were here - it was a quick visit as they were in the middle of dropping a trailer and picking one up (they are truck drivers) and I was able to send it off and spend time with them. Finishing a book—no matter how many I’ve written—always feels like a miracle.

🖋 What I’m Working on Now

Normally, after I finish a novel, I take a breather, catch up on shows I haven’t been able to watch, go shopping, schedule time to meet up with friends. This time, things are a little different. I’m head first into a new project with only a few weeks open for me to do this before I need to start plotting out my next novel that is due to my publisher end of November.

If you’re wondering what that new project is, well…I’m diving into short stories! Crazy since its been so long since I’ve done this, but the idea came to me at 11pm Tuesday night and now it’s all I can think about. In fact, I’m halfway done the first short story and I plotted out 10 different pieces. What are these about? Well… I’m focusing on characters from my psychological suspense world (including some fan favorites 👀). There’s something so satisfying about telling a powerful story in just a few thousand words—it forces you to dig deeper, faster, all the while leaving you with a satisfied ending.

I’ll be sharing more about these stories soon, so stay tuned!

✈️ New York, Here I Come!

In just a few weeks, I’ll be heading to New York City for ThrillerFest—a celebration of all things suspense, mystery, and adrenaline-fueled fiction. My Instagram feed is already full of NYC food, coffee, and Broadway ideas I’m bookmarking for my trip.

So let me ask you:
📚 Do you have a Broadway show you’ve loved recently?
🍩 What bakery or coffee shop should be at the top of my must-visit list?

Drop your recs in the comments—I want to make this trip delicious and unforgettable.

📦 What I’m Reading: One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

This week’s FridayRead came straight from a moving box. Back in March, we bought a house outside the city and I’m still unpacking. (Please tell me I’m not the only one.) But in a box marked “Steena’s TBR” I found a copy of One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle—and let’s just say the timing is perfect. I’ve been wanting to read this book for a long time, picking up and having to put it down because the timing was never right.

Apparently, I’m on an Italy kick lately. Last week it was The Amalfi Curse, and now this? I’m leaning into it.

Serle’s story about grief, time, and the bond between mother and daughter—set against the beauty of Positano—sounds just about perfect.

It’s also a reminder that books find us when we need them most.

And why am I so Italy focused? I’ve always wanted to drag bring my husband with me to Italy for my 50th birthday. Over ten years ago, I went to Santorini on a day trip and bought a painting that hangs above our bed. I’ve always said I wanted us to go there together. After my Sweet Amalfi Tour last year, he’s been wanting to go and see the sights himself…which is perfect timing, don’t you think? So I’ve been looking at photos, checking pricing to stay in Santorini for a few nights, then fly over Italy and explore Florence and the Amalfi Coast…if there’s one thing I love to do, it’s plan a trip - so you can bet I’m in my happy place right now!

☕ Wrapping Up

So that’s my week: one book finished, new stories started, and a suitcase slowly filling itself with NYC dreams. Wherever you are this Friday, I hope you’re reading something that moves you - I’d love to hear about it!

Happy reading…
Steena

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☕ Welcome to Read. Wander. Repeat.

Your weekly escape into books, travel, and story.

Ok - I’m doing this. I ‘should’ be working on edits for a book that is due to my publisher on Monday, but here I am, starting a new substack. Hello #professionalprocrastinator my name is Steena. LOL

So where to being? Well, if you know me, you know I'm Steena Holmes—NYT and USA Today bestselling author, coffee enthusiast, travel addict, and chocolate connoisseur (basically, I’m a coffee addict, chocolate lover and travelholic). I’ve been writing since 2005 when I submitted a sweet romance to a publishing contest and won (I still can’t believe it!). Since then, I’ve written romance, women’s fiction, destination fiction and psychological suspense/thriller novels. If I’m not writing (and I usually am), I’m chilling in with my pups, drinking coffee, enjoying chocolate or drinking coffee, sampling chocolate while traveling! Oh - and I’m reading. Always reading - whether it’s an ebook, paperback or listening in my car to an audio book.

My adventures have inspired me to host Sweet Tours, where readers join me on curated journeys like Sweet Christmas in Paris and Sweet Chocolate Belgium Tours in 2025. These trips blend my love for storytelling, exploration, and, of course, chocolate!

Why a substance? Well…it’s a great way to connect with fellow booklovers like you - whether you are a reader or an author or both. It’s also a great way to share my love of books and travel too.

📖 This Week's #FridayReads: The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner

Who doesn’t love the Amalfi Coast? I hosted a tour there last May and fell in love - so hard in fact that all I can think about is writing a book set there, so of course that means I’m currently immersed in The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Amalfi Coast, this novel has it all with mystery, romance and even a touch of magic! I’m a sucker for dual timelines and this book is so good!

If you're intrigued by tales of sunken treasures, ancient traditions, and forbidden love, this book is something you’ll enjoy! It's a perfect companion for those who, like me, dream of coastal adventures and uncovering hidden secrets.

Grab it here: https://amzn.to/4mD0BWM

✈️ Let's Journey Together

On Friday’s you can expect to find (one or more of the following):

• Book recommendations that transport you to new worlds

• Travel tales from my Sweet Tours and personal escapades

• Behind-the-scenes glimpses into my writing life

• Chocolate and coffee spots worth exploring

• Giveaways of books and other fun things from myself or other authors

Whether you're here for the books, the travel stories, or the sweet treats, I'm thrilled to have you join me.

So, grab your favorite mug, find a cozy nook, and let's embark on this journey together.

Until next Friday,
Steena

P.S. I'd love to hear about your current reads or travel dreams. Share them in the comments below!

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But first and always—I’m a reader.
The kind who packs more books than clothes.
The kind who believes a single sentence can change your day.
And the kind who knows every book is a ticket to somewhere else.

So welcome to Read. Wander. Repeat.

Every Friday, you’ll find me right here, sharing:

• What I’m reading now—and why I think you’ll love it

• Thoughtful recs across genres: suspense, women’s fiction, armchair travel, and the occasional dark twist

• Stories from my travels

• Behind-the-scenes peeks into life as a novelist

• A cozy place to reconnect with the joy of books and storytelling

I’ll also be cross-sharing in the Readers Coffeehouse Facebook group, so come say hi there too. Whether you read one book a month or five a week, whether you prefer paperbacks or audiobooks, there’s a place for you here.

✈️ Grab your coffee (or your passport).
📖 Crack open a fresh read.
💌 And let me know what’s on your #FridayReads list.

Welcome to the journey and happy reading!
Steena