As we sit in the Grimoire Cafe today, it’s with a laptop on our laps. It’s a sunny weekday afternoon, and the crowds have thinned to a few patrons quietly working, just like we are. Except Vlad in the corner, he’s still sipping his “coffee”. You’re starting to think he might live in an apartment above the coffee shop. You remind yourself to ask Tini about that. Speaking of Tini, the barista is wiping down the counters behind the bar and inventorying the ingredients on the shelves. Every once in a while, she lifts the lid on a pot simmering on a hot plate and the most incredible scent of vanilla and roses wafts your way.
The whole vibe is perfect for putting on your headphones and diving into some goal setting and strategic planning.

Most of the time, The Grimoire Cafe will contain posts about other people’s books/shows/movies, or other paranormal fantasy genre stuff, because I love talking about it all so much. But, being an author is a huge part of my life, so it would feel inauthentic not to write about author life sometimes too. Which is why, once a month or so, I’m going to share updates from author life here—just real, behind-the-scenes looks at goals I set and how I’m doing in the quest to accomplish them. I promise not to sugar coat it. Realism > toxic positivity, of course. But I also promise not to get negative, either, because that doesn’t help anybody.

This is an edited repost from the cafe’s original location, but the update and goals stand because the post is only weeks old. So here goes, my first author life update post at The Grimoire Cafe’s new home, and it starts with a confession:

I can’t bring myself to create “buy my book” content anymore

I just can’t do it, folks. I entered 2025 in deep burn-out, and the year really hasn’t helped me out much in terms of current events making me feel hopeful. But, I do feel my burn-out lifting. I want to work on things again, I can see a world where marketing might become part of my business again—but I’m not quite there yet. Which brings me to my first goal:

Goal 1: Finish and post evergreen content to Meta socials

I have a (very part time) assistant who is helping me craft a series of posts that will go up on Facebook and Instagram as evergreen content, and after that, I don’t know what will happen. I’m leaving myself open to inspiration, but I’ve gotta get that content posted first.

In the meatime, I have signed up for BlueSky and I like it a lot. It’s less evil, more fun. Find me there if you’re on Bluesky too.

Goal 2: Finish and launch my newsletter welcome sequence

I have been working on a 12-part welcome sequence for new subscribers to my author newsletter for over a year. Again, I blame burn-out. It’s designed to usher new subscribers into the world of Elle and get to know them as much as let them get to know me. My monthly newsletter is more author-news focused, a lot like this post, but with more project updates, and frequent freebies like sneak peeks at my WIPs and digital downloads. The welcome sequence is nearly ready to launch, so I’m setting that as a goal.

Goal 3: Sell 2 more books by June

Here’s a moment of vulnerability: I have sold only 2 books since the beginning of the year. Were my marketing efforts in 2024 paying off in a big way? No, I ended the year at 100 books sold in total. But were they doing something? Yes. Apparently they were. But ya know what? I know that now! And knowledge is power. So I need to start working out just how to move forward in a world where I can’t bring myself to create content all the time, just for the sake of marketing, but I do want readers to find my stories. If I can sell 2 books this month by experimenting with new ways of “marketing” that will give me data to work off of.

Do you think I can accomplish all 3 goals?🤞 Wish me luck and stay tuned, because next month I’ll give an update on how I’ve done and what comes next.

But first, here’s my story life snapshot:

👩🏼‍💻 Currently Writing: Blood Pact (Bloodline Saga 3) – Release date in 2025, to be announced soon! About to dive into revisions on Moonseeker (working title) as I’ve just started getting notes back from my critique partners on the second draft.

📚 Currently Reading: I just finished Our Ship Must Sail 2 (ARC) by Lin Lustig (it was SO GOOD!) and just started Midnight Ruin by Katee Robert (delish.)

📺 Currently Watching: I’m re-watching Ted Lasso while I take a break from The Handmaid’s Tale.

🎧 Currently Listening: The House on the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune – I started this one back in March, but then it was due back to the library. It’s available again so I’m diving back in!