The author’s life is, at its core, a life of discovery. Sometimes those discoveries are exciting and invigorating… and other times they’re the kind that make you want to put your head down on your desk and groan. This past week, I’ve had a little of both.

As many of you know, I’m currently knee-deep in two books.

First up: Rise of the Variel (Dragon’s Oath, Book 4)

I’m working through chapter 17, and wow—this one fought me. Someone dies, new powers surface, and the emotional weight of the scene had me feeling like I was floundering for most of the week. But I showed up every day. No, I didn’t finish the chapter, but I did write enough to finally see where the story wants to go next. And that clarity? That’s a good discovery. That’s the kind that keeps me moving.

The second project: Heart’s Rekindled (Laramie Hearts, Book 2)

I had hoped to draft chapter 6, but something felt off. After rereading the opening chapters, I realized the protagonists from book one were unintentionally stealing the spotlight. Much as I love them, this is not their book—and it was time to fix that. Rewriting chapters is never fun, but sometimes it’s exactly what a story needs. In this case, I’m sending the protagonist from book one off on a supply run so he’s not center-stage during the foundational chapters. It’s the right move, even if it took a bit of wrestling to see it.

Writing isn’t just putting words on the page—it’s uncovering the shape of a story one choice at a time. This week reminded me that even the tough, messy discoveries can lead to stronger books.

Here’s to whatever I discover next.

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