Exciting News: I Signed a Book Contract!

I have some thrilling news to share with you all – I've signed a book contract! This one is quite different from my usual romance novels, and I'm absolutely buzzing with excitement (and admittedly a few nerves too).

The contract is with Tule Publishing, a US publisher that's owned and run by authors. What makes this extra special is that it's for a mystery with a romance subplot – a completely new genre for me! So soon I'll be able to add "mystery author" to my bio alongside romance writer.

How It All Came About

The story behind this contract is quite interesting. Back in late 2018, my writing critique partner Juanita came up with an idea that we were going to explore together as a fun, no-pressure co-writing project. Life got in the way for both of us – I was going through my divorce and completely burnt out from writing – so we set it aside.

Fast forward to about 18 months ago when we both returned to writing with renewed energy. Juanita expanded that original idea into a full series proposal and submitted it to her publisher, Tule. They loved the concept so much that when she asked if they'd consider bringing on other authors to write in the series, they said yes!

Along with our writing friend Suzanne, I submitted a proposal for a book in the series. There were emails back and forth, changes requested, a Zoom meeting with the editor, and then finally – the green light! Getting that contract in my inbox last week felt absolutely surreal.

Welcome to Bitterport

So what exactly will I be writing? The series is set in an abandoned ghost town in Tasmania called Bitterport. Here's the intriguing premise: a mysterious benefactor is gifting buildings in the town to people, but there's a catch. They have to renovate and restore these old buildings.

Of course, nothing is ever simple. The town has a history full of old mysteries and murders that need solving, plus the occasional ghost who isn't too happy about their home being disturbed! Each book will feature new mysteries and murders, along with a new romance for each of the beneficiaries who receive these gifted buildings.

I'm absolutely thrilled by the setting and the blend of historical mysteries with contemporary romance. It's going to stretch me as a writer in the best possible way.

A New Challenge

I'll be honest with you – I'm terrified and thrilled in equal measure! Mystery writing is completely outside my comfort zone, but that's exactly why I'm excited about it. I know the editing process is going to push me harder than I've been pushed before, and I'm expecting to learn so much from the experience.

The timeline means I'll be starting work on the book early in 2025, with publication likely in early 2026. It feels like a long way off, but I know the time will fly by once I dive into writing.

What This Means for My Other Books

Don't worry – this doesn't mean I'm abandoning romance! I'll still be continuing with my romance writing alongside this new mystery adventure. If anything, I think exploring a new genre will make me a better writer across the board.

I'm hoping you'll come along on this journey with me. It's going to be quite an adventure stepping into mystery writing, and I'd love to share the process with you as much as I can. If these first books in the series do well, there's potential for more Bitterport mysteries to come.

Thank you for all your support over the years. Having readers like you cheering me on makes taking risks like this feel possible. I can't wait to introduce you to the mysterious world of Bitterport!

Until next time,

Kerrie