I’m hitting the pause button…

Today’s update isn’t one I want to make, but I feel that I owe you the truth. I’ve made the difficult decision to cancel both the preorder for Hexes & Honey Buns and Furry Fortunes.

This decision wasn’t made lightly, and I really hate to let you down. However, at this time, I have to be honest with myself and admit that I am not in the headspace to finish work on either project. As it stands, Hexes & Honey Buns is completed. However, I don’t feel it is up to the standard of the other books in my catalog. I’ve only just begun work on Furry Fortunes, but I can already see that hitting the deadline necessary to ensure a proper edit and proofreading will not be possible.

At the heart of it, as much as I love the story worlds that I’ve created and the characters that we’ve all gotten to know, I am in a place creatively where my inspiration and joy for writing paranormal cozy mysteries is low. Since releasing Holly’s first book in the summer of 2016, I’ve been continuously working on book after book, with little down time between projects. There have been other points where this pressure caught up to me and I had to push a preorder deadline or cancel altogether, but even in those cases, the work continued on. This time I need to completely stop the wheel from turning for a bit to catch my breath and refuel my creative well.

Behind the scenes, I’ve recently accepted a position doing work on an undisclosed project. I am not able to share the details due to my contract, but suffice to say, it has taken more of my creative energy and focus than I originally intended. However, I am finding that my writing spark is present when working on this new project, and it was really that realization that made me start evaluating the other pieces of my process and the overall direction of my career.

All that being said, I have every intention of coming back and finishing the multiple series that I have started, as well as writing the Magic Inn spin-off series. But at this time, I think I need a few months off to focus on this new opportunity, and to just slow down a little and enjoy the simple things of life. I’d like to spend the summer out from behind my laptop as much as I can.

I can’t make any concrete promises on when you’ll get the next book, but my intention is to take something of a summer sabbatical and return in the fall. In the meantime, I will still be around! I check in with the Bat Wings Book Club at least once a day and really enjoy my time there. I’m looking forward to hosting some giveaways and maybe rebooting the merchandise section of my website. I also have a couple of audiobooks that are finishing up production and will release over the coming months. Additionally, I’ll continue to send this newsletter to keep you aware of any updates and check in every couple of weeks. I promise this isn’t goodbye. 🙂

Thank you for the support you’ve shown me—whether you’ve read all of my books or just finished your first one—it means the world. You allow me to continue my writing career and share my stories. I promise I have more magic in store, and I truly believe it will be better than ever after I’ve taken some time away.

Please come join The Bat Wings Book Club if you’re not already a member. I’d love to see you there. If not, that’s okay, too. I’ll be in touch. And as always, happy reading!

With love and gratitude,

Danielle Garrett