fantasy

The Cover Is Here — Plus a Launch Week and Big Series News

/ Wendy Cheairs / Leave a comment
Hello Readers!
One week.
Trial by Earth is one week away and I have been vibrating at a frequency that is probably not healthy but is absolutely happening anyway. After all the writing and editing and sitting on secrets — it is almost time.
Let’s celebrate. There is also a cover reveal in this email. Scroll down. You’ll know it when you get there.
 TRIAL BY EARTH — ONE WEEK OUT
August 25th is almost here and I need you to be as excited as I am.
Book three of the Richmond Academy series is the pivot point — the middle of a five-book arc where everything gets heavier, darker, and more complicated before it gets better. Shayla’s earth powers. Georgios’s Minotaur heritage stepping forward in ways we haven’t seen yet. Darker twists. Bigger consequences. A secret or two I have been sitting on since book one.
This is the one where the tides really shift.
 Pre-order Trial by Earth — August 25th
And if you’re just joining us — welcome, and here’s where to start:
 Trial by Fire — Book one. Available now and on Kindle Unlimited.
 Trial by Sea — Book two. Out now and on Kindle Unlimited.
 Trial by Air — Book four. In editing, out in October, available for pre-order now.
 Trial by Spirit — Book five. In second draft. December 2026. The finale.
Five books. One year. One week until book three lands in your hands.
 Start with Trial by Fire
 Continue with Trial by Sea
 Pre-order Trial by Air
 THE COVER IS HERE — Not Your Maniac Pixie Dream GirlImage description
I have been waiting to share this and the wait is finally, gloriously over.Not Your Maniac Pixie Dream Girl — book one of the Not As Written series — releases in two weeks, and here she is.
 Meet Wisteria. See the cover. Pre-order now.
Meet Wisteria Creed: half-Pixie, half-Sidhe Fae, graveyard-shift radio host, and a woman with a very firm policy against being anyone’s idea of harmless. When a Wendigo tears through her San Diego neighborhood, she calls it in — and gets Detective Trevor Gibson, the one cop in the city willing to take her seriously.
What follows is a reluctant partnership, a slow-burn romance, and a case that keeps getting worse in exactly the ways she should have seen coming. Because the Wendigo wasn’t random. Someone has been capturing them. Studying them. And now that someone has decided Wisteria herself is the most interesting thing he’s ever found.
She has spent her whole life being told she is not quite enough. Decorative. Harmless. Not quite Sidhe enough to matter. San Diego was supposed to be the place where nobody knew enough about her to have an opinion either way.It turns out she is considerably more than anyone — including herself — gave her credit for. She is just about to find out exactly how much.
Paranormal romance with urban fantasy bones. Slow-burn romance. Found family. A protagonist who refuses, at every turn, to be what the story expected her to be.
Two weeks. I cannot wait.
 Pre-order Not Your Maniac Pixie Dream Girl
And Already Working on Book Two — Not Your Book Boyfriend
November 2026. That is how fast this series is moving and I am not sorry about it.
Book two picks up where Wisteria finally has the life she fought for — a real relationship, a hybrid form she is learning to trust, something like peace. Then New Avalon sends someone to watch over her: beautiful, attentive, flawless in every way a romance novel trains you to want.
There is just one problem. He is the most unsettling person she has ever met. Because nothing about him is real.
As his polished performance starts to crack — and pulls someone else’s carefully hidden life apart with it — Wisteria has to figure out whether “perfect” was ever actually the goal. Meanwhile the conspiracy that made her an anomaly turns out to be a lot older, and a lot less finished with her, than anyone let her believe.Not Your Book Boyfriend. Coming November 2026. The Not As Written series is just getting started.
Still Available — Anthologies Worth Your Time
 Once Upon A Fairytale — Available for pre-order now at $0.99. Dark fantasy fairytales, original stories, and my contribution Half-Coin Promise — two best friends, a split coin, and a promise that holds the whole story together.
 Seasons of Magic: Summer — Out now. My story The Flames of Lammas is inside — emotional, transformative, and the kind of magic that stays with you long after the last page.
 Pre-order Once Upon A Fairytale for $0.99
 Grab Seasons of Magic: Summer
From the Writing Cave
I am taking a day off today for some medical stuff — a rare and slightly disorienting experience when you live inside a manuscript — but I will be back tomorrow, coffee in hand, doing what I do.
Which is writing approximately all the books.
Trial by Air edits are nearly wrapped. Trial by Spirit is in active second draft. Two series running simultaneously, more projects on the horizon, and the desert outside still firmly committed to being the desert. Triple digits. Personal.Rude.
But September is on the calendar. I can see it from here. Fall is a real thing that exists and is coming and I am choosing to believe in it with my whole heart. Any day now the temperature will remember that autumn is a season and I will go outside again like a normal person.
Until then — the writing cave, the A/C, and approximately one million words to write.
Thank you for being here for all of it — the launches, the cover reveals, the quiet weeks, and the big ones. This one feels big. I hope you feel it too.

Happy Reading,
Wendy

P.S. Not Your Book Boyfriend lands in November — and I’ll just say this: Wisteria finally has everything she fought for in book one. New Avalon is about to send someone perfect to watch over her. Perfect is not what it looks like. November can’t come soon enough.
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I Got Best Friends, True Love, and Castles — Here’s What I Did With Them

/ Wendy Cheairs / Leave a comment
Hello Readers!

PT is done. I am free. The shoulder lives again.
I celebrated the only way that makes sense — by immediately going back to writing. Obviously.
It has been a big week, and there is a lot to share, so let’s get into it.
Brand New — Once Upon A Fairytale Anthology
Something new is available for pre-order, and I am so excited to tell you about it.
Once Upon A Fairytale is a dark fantasy fairytale anthology — original stories, not retellings — and it is exactly as delicious as that sounds. A prince imprisoned in a tower. A stolen child. A jealous enchantress. A mysterious hunter in the forest. These are not the fairytales you grew up with.Available to pre-order right now for only $0.99.
My contribution is called Half-Coin Promise, written under my W.M. Dawson pen name — and here’s how it came to be.
When I joined this anthology, the organizer rolled out story concepts for each author to work with. I got three: Best Friends, True Love, and Castles.I looked at those three things and knew immediately what the heart of the story had to be. Not the castles. Not even the love. The friendship.
Two girls split a coin and make a promise — find your own castle, and meet me at the gates when you’re done. That coin became the thread that runs through the whole story, keeping Elara and Lyric connected even as the world tears them apart. Labyrinths that feed on memory. Iron citadels wrapped in fog. A cursed valley that steals a musician’s voice. Separate roads, separate trials, one unbroken promise between them.
I wanted the friendship to shine all the way through — even the happily ever after. Because the best love stories, romantic or otherwise, are really about the people who walk alongside you while you figure yourself out.Half-Coin Promise is a fairy tale about the kind of love that doesn’t rescue you — it walks alongside you while you rescue yourself.
👉 Pre-order Once Upon A Fairytale for $0.99
Coming September 1 — Not Your Maniac Pixie Dream Girl
Three weeks. That is how long until Wisteria Creed officially arrives, and I am barely keeping it together.
If you haven’t met her yet — Wisteria is half-Pixie, half-Sidhe Fae, runs a graveyard-shift radio show, and has a very firm policy against being anyone’s idea of harmless. When a Wendigo tears through her San Diego neighborhood, she calls it in and gets Detective Trevor Gibson — the one cop in the city willing to take her seriously.
What follows is a reluctant partnership, a slow-burn romance, and a case that keeps getting worse in exactly the ways she should have seen coming. Someone has been capturing Wendigos. Studying them. And now that someone has decided Wisteria herself is the most interesting thing he’s ever found.
She has spent her whole life being told she is not quite enough. She is about to find out exactly how wrong that was.
This is the first book in a brand new series — paranormal romance with urban fantasy bones — and I cannot wait for you to meet her properly.
👉 Pre-order Not Your Maniac Pixie Dream Girl
Still Available — Seasons of Magic: Summer
Seasons of Magic: Summer is out now, and my story The Flames of Lammas is in there — emotional, transformative, and the kind of magic that stays with you.
If you haven’t grabbed it yet, it’s available now and will be around for a few more months. Don’t sleep on it.
👉 Grab Seasons of Magic: Summer
The Richmond Academy Series — The Final Stretch
Five books. One year. All happening right now — and the finish line is in sight.
🔥 Trial by Fire — Book one. Available now and on Kindle Unlimited.
🌊 Trial by Sea — Book two. Out now and on Kindle Unlimited.
🌍 Trial by Earth — Book three. August 25, 2026. Pre-order open — almost here.
💨 Trial by Wind — Book four. In editing. October 2026.
✨ Trial by Spirit — Book five. In second draft. December 2026. The finale.Yes. December. Shayla’s story ends this year. I have a lot of feelings about this, and I am processing them one chapter at a time.
👉 Start with Trial by Fire
👉 Continue with Trial by Sea
👉 Pre-order Trial by Earth — August 25
From the Writing Cave — A Free Woman
I am officially discharged from physical therapy, and I cannot tell you how good that feels.
Months of slow, stubborn, infuriating progress — and now I can move my shoulder almost entirely normally. A little soreness remains,s but I can work that out on my own, on my own schedule, without anyone making me do the thing with the resistance band. I am thrilled. I am grateful. I am free.The heat is still absolutely committed to being the heat — triple digits, relentless, personal — but I can see fall on the calendar from here. It exists. It is coming. I am choosing to believe in it the way you believe in something you desperately need to be true.
The writing cave, meanwhile, has never been busier or more alive—so many stories, so many deadlines, so much happening this year and into next. I wouldn’t trade a single sweaty, manuscript-covered moment of it.
Thank you for being here. For reading. For coming back week after week even when the desert is trying to end me. You are the best part of doing this.
Happy Reading,
Wendy
P.S. Trial by Spirit — book five, the final chapter of Shayla’s story — is in second draft right now. I am writing the ending of a series I have loved with my whole heart this year. December can’t come soon enough. And also I’m not ready. Both things are true simultaneously.
Image descriptionShe studies the stars while her love life crashes and burns.
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Don’t let the series number trip you up. Shaman is a standalone book. Its kick-ass FMC and swoon-worthy MMC will steal your heart. A druid straddles the line between light and darkness . . . Renleigh Rogan keeps to herself in her remote Montana cabin, tending her plants and honing her protection spells. Only occasionally does she indulge her shape-shifting abilities… Called to Scotland in the middle of the night to help heal a rogue warrior, her first instinct is to ignore the summons, but danger lies in disobeying a powerful goddess. A rogue is caught in a celestial tug-o-war . . . Jamie Lennox gave up the warrior community long ago, voluntarily fighting in the Morrigan’s rogue army. Cocky, and one of the most accomplished swordsmen in the community, he’s the perfect weapon for taking the warriors the Morrigan covets most. Yet when he loses a pivotal battle, she turns on him, leaving him injured and lost in a no-man’s land between good and evil, a place no warrior or rogue can exist for long. Luckily for him, a beautiful druid has come to his rescue, even if she’s saving him against her will. Two people are brought together by a force they never saw coming . . . The fact Jaime Lennox looks like a fallen angel has nothing to do with Renleigh’s decision to come to his aid. His sexy come-ons do not intrigue her either—not even a little bit. Nor does the mysterious past he hides. While the two of them spar inside an enchanted cottage in the Highlands, overhead, a celestial storm is brewing, one that will require each of them to decide what truly matters—their beliefs about themselves and each other or the truth that will set their love free.GET FOR FREE
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The Sun Is Trying to End Me — But the Books Are Thriving

/ Wendy Cheairs / Leave a comment
Hello Readers!
August is here and it is doing the most.
Trial by Earth is dropping at the end of this month. Seasons of Magic: Summer just landed on Saturday. Not Your Maniac Pixie Dream Girl is six weeks out. And somewhere in the writing cave, all five Richmond Academy books are in motion simultaneously, which is either impressive or unhinged — possibly both.Let’s talk about all of it.
Seasons of Magic: Summer — It’s Here!
Seasons of Magic: Summer dropped this past Saturday and I am so excited to finally have it out in the world.
My story in this anthology is called The Flames of Lammas — and it is a different kind of magic from my Magical Matchmaking contribution in Spring.Lara fled to Oregon to escape a man who nearly destroyed her — but starting over isn’t as simple as running away. Welcomed into a warm and powerful coven, she begins learning witchcraft and the sacred rituals of Lammas, hoping to release the pain and fear she left behind. Surrounded by newfound friendship, she finally starts to feel whole again.
But when her abusive ex tracks her down and demands she return, Lara’s fragile peace shatters.
With the support of her coven and the strength she’s fought to reclaim, Lara must face him under the rising flames of the Lammas bonfire. This time, she won’t run.
Because true magic isn’t about spells — it’s about finding the power within to set yourself free.
It’s emotional, it’s transformative, and it captured my imagination in a way I didn’t expect while writing it. I hope it stays with you.
👉 Grab Seasons of Magic: Summer
The Richmond Academy Series — All Five Books Are in MotionLet me paint you a picture of what August looks like from inside the writing cave.
Book three is releasing at the end of this month. Book four is in editing. Book five is in second draft. All five books in a single series, all in active stages, all happening this year.
I am fine. Everything is fine.
🔥 Trial by Fire — Book one. Available now and on Kindle Unlimited.
🌊 Trial by Sea — Book two. Out now and on Kindle Unlimited.
🌍 Trial by Earth — Book three. August 25, 2026. Pre-order open now — this one is almost here.
💨 Trial by Wind — Book four. In editing. Coming October 2026.
✨ Trial by Spirit — Book five. In second draft. The final book in the series.Yes, the final book. I’m not ready to talk about that emotionally but I am writing it anyway.
👉 Start with Trial by Fire
👉 Continue with Trial by Sea
👉 Pre-order Trial by Earth — August 25th
What’s Happening in Trial by Wind — A Tease
Since Trial by Wind is currently on my editing table, I want to share something about it — because something happened in this book that genuinely surprised me while writing it.
I had a plan. I knew where a certain dark secret was going and which character it belonged to. And then, somewhere in the drafting process, the story told me I had it wrong. A completely different character needed to carry this secret. The backstory, the lore, the way it ripples forward — it all made so much more sense the other way.
So I rewrote it. And it was one of the most fun rewrites I’ve ever done.I can’t tell you which character. I can’t tell you what the secret is. What I can tell you is that when you get to it, you’re either going to gasp or immediately flip back to look for the clues I planted. Possibly both.
Trial by Wind. October 2026. Watch for it.
Coming September 1st — Not Your Maniac Pixie Dream Girl
Six weeks out and the pre-order is live. Wisteria Creed — half-Pixie, half-Sidhe Fae, graveyard-shift radio host, firm policy against being anyone’s idea of harmless — is almost ready to meet you properly.
The cover is coming. The book is ready. September 1st is closer than it looks.
👉 Pre-order Not Your Maniac Pixie Dream Girl
From the Writing Cave (Send Help. And Ice.)
The desert has decided that August means business. We are back in the triple digits and the sun is doing that thing where it feels genuinely personal — like that level in Super Mario Brothers where the sun comes down trying to end you specifically. That is what stepping outside feels like right now. I am staying in. The cats are staying in. We have all made our peace with indoor life.On a significantly brighter note — PT is nearly over. I should know for certain next week, but the signs are very, very good. My shoulder is moving almost fully normally again, with just a few remaining hitches that I can manage with regular stretching. After months of this slow, stubborn thaw, freedom is right there. I can practically touch it. With my almost-fully-functional arm.I cannot wait.
Thank you for being here every week, for reading, and for following along on what has been the busiest and most exciting year of my writing life. You are very much a part of this.
Happy Reading,
Wendy
P.S. Five books. One series. Fire, sea, earth, wind, and spirit — all coming this year. Trial by Wind lands in October, and it has a secret in it that even surprised me while writing it. Trial by Spirit, the final book, is already in second draft. The end of Shayla’s story is being written right now. How are you feeling about that?
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 Theory Time — What Do You Think Is Coming in Book Three?

/ Wendy Cheairs / Leave a comment
Hello Readers!
We are a little over a month away from Trial by Earth dropping; the rain has finally shown up in the desert like an uninvited guest I am absolutely delighted to see, and the writing cave is running at full capacity.It’s a good week. Let’s talk about it.
The Richmond Academy Series — Where We AreFor anyone just joining us, here’s the full picture:
 Trial by Fire — Book one. Shayla arrives at Richmond Academy unable to control her spark and leaves something entirely different. Available now and on Kindle Unlimited.
 Trial by Sea — Book two. Shayla and Georgios face underwater trials, deepening secrets, and a mermaid heritage with a very inconvenient price tag. Out now and on Kindle Unlimited.
 Trial by Earth — Book three. Pre-order open now. Releasing August 25, 2026. And oh, do we need to talk about this one.
 Start with Trial by Fire
 Continue with Trial by Sea
 Pre-order Trial by Earth
Trial by Earth — Let’s Talk About Book Three
Here’s something I don’t think I’ve said out loud yet: Trial by Earth is the book I almost wrote second.
I had the water book and the earth book swapped in my original plan. But the deeper I got into this story — the darker twists, the weight of what happens to Shayla and Georgios here — the more I knew it belonged in the middle. Book three of five. The pivot point. The place where everything gets harder before it gets better.
And it is darker. I warned you I’d keep pushing these characters, and I meant it.
What makes this one different is the powers. We’ve seen Shayla’s fire. We’ve seen what water demanded of Georgios. Now we’re grounding — literally. Shayla develops earth powers in this book, and there is something about grounding energy, about roots and stability and what the earth asks of you, that hits completely differently against the chaos of everything happening around her.
And Georgios. His Minotaur powers come forward in a way we haven’t seen yet, and writing that side of him has been one of the most genuinely fun things I’ve done in this series. He’s been patient. He’s been steady. Book three is where we find out what’s underneath all that steadiness when it’s really, truly tested.
This is the middle of a five-book arc. If you know anything about five-act structure, you know what the middle means. Things shift here. Not everything shifts the way you’re expecting.
I have two questions for you, and I genuinely want your answers — hit reply:
 What do you think is coming in Trial by Earth? Theories, guesses, wild speculation — bring it all. I love seeing what readers expect versus what actually happens.
 What are you most worried about for Shayla and Georgios going into book three?
(I’ll just be over here, reading every reply, saying nothing.)
Last Call — Seasons of Magic: Spring
Seasons of Magic: Spring disappears at the end of July. That’s soon. If it’s been on your list, this is your official final nudge.
My story, Magical Matchmaking — clumsy witch, skeptical mundane man, love spell that goes gloriously sideways — is in there, along with a full anthology of magical stories. Still available on Kindle Unlimited.
After Spring comes Seasons of Magic: Summer, available for pre-order now and arriving August 1st. My contribution this time is quieter, more emotional — a woman reclaiming herself after everything. I’m proud of it in a different way than Magical Matchmaking.
 Grab Spring before it’s gone
 Pre-order Summer now
Coming September 1st — Not Your Maniac Pixie Dream Girl
The pre-order is live, and I am barely containing myself.
Meet Wisteria Creed: half-Pixie, half-Sidhe Fae, graveyard-shift radio host, and a woman with a very firm policy against being anyone’s idea of harmless. When a Wendigo tears through her San Diego neighborhood, she calls it in — and gets Detective Trevor Gibson, the one cop in the city willing to take her seriously.
What follows is a reluctant partnership, a slow-burn romance, and a case that keeps getting worse in exactly the ways she should have seen coming. Because the Wendigo wasn’t random. Someone has been capturing them. Studying them. And now that someone has decided Wisteria herself is the most interesting thing he’s ever found.
She’s spent her whole life being told she’s not quite enough. She’s about to find out exactly how wrong that was.
 Pre-order Not Your Maniac Pixie Dream Girl
From the Writing Cave
The rain arrived in the desert this week, and I cannot overstate how happy this has made me. We went from triple digits and suffering to actual clouds and actual rain and temperatures that feel like the atmosphere remembered we are living creatures with limits. I went outside voluntarily. It was a moment.The shoulder is doing so much better — and I may, fingers firmly crossed, be done with PT after my evaluation in August. I refuse to jinx it by saying more than that. But the idea of being free — truly free, arm working, PT behind me — is keeping me very motivated in the writing cave.
And the writing cave has been genuinely buzzing. So many projects, so much happening this year and into next. I am busy in the way that feels alive rather than exhausted, and I am grateful for every word of it.
Thank you for being here, for reading, and for replying when I ask questions. You make this worth doing every single week.
Happy Reading,
Wendy
P.S. Trial by Earth lands August 25th — and after that, we head into the wind. Book four is where Shayla finally gets to fly. Just thought you should know what’s coming.
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July Is Bringing the Heat (So Are the Books)

/ Wendy Cheairs / Leave a comment

Hello Readers!

Welcome to July.

A new month, a stack of books, one very warm cat, and news I’ve been sitting on so long I may have pulled something. Let’s get into it.

Trial by Fire — Still Only $0.99

If you’ve been on the fence about starting the Richmond Academy series, the fence just got a lot cheaper to climb.

Trial by Fire is still on sale for $0.99 for a limited time — and it’s also available on Kindle Unlimited. This is book one of a five-book arc, all releasing this year, and it’s the best place to start.

Shayla’s story begins here. Don’t miss it.

👉 Grab Trial by Fire for $0.99

Trial by Sea — Out Now

She’s out in the world and I am still not over it.

Trial by Sea is available right now — on Amazon and on Kindle Unlimited — and if you’ve already read it, you know what Shayla and Georgios are up against. If you haven’t yet, what are you waiting for? The tide isn’t going to hold forever.

👉 Read Trial by Sea now

Trial by Earth — Available for Pre-Order

And here’s the news I’ve been barely containing.

Trial by Earth, book three in the Richmond Academy series, is officially available for pre-order. Release date: August 25, 2026.

I’m nearly done. The manuscript is so close to my editor’s hands I can feel it. The moment it’s out of mine, I get to share the cover and the blurb — and I cannot wait. Pre-order now so it lands right on your Kindle the day it drops.

👉 Pre-order Trial by Earth

Seasons of Magic — A Chapter Ending, A New One Beginning

Seasons of Magic: Spring is still available for $0.99 and on Kindle Unlimited, but it won’t be around much longer. If you haven’t grabbed it yet, now is the time.

My story in Spring — Magical Matchmaking — follows a clumsy witch whose very sincere attempt at finding true love goes exactly as sideways as you’d expect. It’s warm, it’s funny, and the mundane man who doesn’t believe in magic is absolutely going to regret that position.

And coming very soon: Seasons of Magic: Summer, available for pre-order now at $0.99.

My story this time is a different kind of magic entirely.

Lara fled to Oregon to escape a man who nearly destroyed her — but starting over isn’t as simple as running away. Welcomed into a warm and powerful coven, she begins learning witchcraft and the sacred rituals of Lammas, hoping to release the pain she left behind. But when her ex tracks her down and demands she return, Lara’s fragile peace shatters. With her coven beside her and the strength she’s fought to reclaim, she’ll face him under the rising flames of the Lammas bonfire. This time, she won’t run.

It’s more emotional than Magical Matchmaking, more transformative — and I’m really proud of it.

👉 Grab Spring for $0.99


👉 Pre-order Summer for $0.99

Something Entirely New — Coming September 1st

Okay. I’ve been keeping this one close to my chest, and I am done waiting to tell you.

I have a brand new series — paranormal romance with urban fantasy bones — and the first book is called Not Your Maniac Pixie Dream Girl, available for pre-order now with a release date of September 1, 2026.

Meet Wisteria Creed: half-Pixie, half-Sidhe Fae, graveyard-shift radio host, and a woman with a very firm policy against being anyone’s idea of harmless. When a Wendigo tears through her San Diego neighborhood, she calls it in — and gets Detective Trevor Gibson, the one cop in the city willing to take her seriously.

What follows is a reluctant partnership, a slow-burn romance, and a case that keeps getting worse in exactly the ways she should have seen coming. Because the Wendigo wasn’t random. Someone has been capturing them. Studying them. And now he’s decided Wisteria herself is the most interesting thing he’s ever found.

She’s spent her whole life being told she’s not quite enough. San Diego was supposed to be the place where nobody knew enough about her to have an opinion.

She’s about to find out exactly how wrong that was.

👉 Pre-order Not Your Maniac Pixie Dream Girl

From the Writing Cave (and the Thermostat)

The desert has fully committed to its bit. We’re talking high 90s to 100-degree days, and my household has reached unanimous consensus: we do not go outside. We live inside now. The A/C is not a luxury, it is a lifestyle.

The cats are in agreement — except for Grayson, my solo boy, who has apparently decided that the logical response to triple-digit heat is to climb directly into my lap while I write and radiate as much additional warmth onto me as physically possible. I ask him daily why he does this. He has no answer. He simply purrs and increases the temperature. Cat logic is a mystery I will never solve.

On a genuinely bright note: the frozen shoulder is thawing. Like, actually thawing. My PT said — and I quote — “looks like someone’s been doing their homework” — which is the most validation I have ever received from a medical professional and I am still thinking about it. I can move my arm properly again. I can write nearly a full day without my arm staging a protest. I am so happy about this that I wrote even more books, apparently.

[Your indie author book recommendations go here]

Thank you — truly — for being here, for reading, and for sharing these stories with the people in your life. This has been a big month and you’ve been a big part of it.

Happy Reading,
Wendy

P.S. Next month brings Trial by Earth, the Seasons of Magic: Summer release, and a new series dropping on September 1st. If you think this month was a lot — just wait.

So Many Books, So Little Desert Shade

/ Wendy Cheairs / Leave a comment

Hello Readers!

It’s here. It’s actually here.

Trial by Sea officially dropped this Tuesday, June 23rd, and I have been doing a very undignified happy dance about it ever since. Shayla and Georgios are back, the stakes are higher, the secrets are deeper, and I am so ready for you to read it.

👉 Grab Trial by Sea on Amazon | Read on Kindle Unlimited

But wait — a deal you don’t want to miss

Haven’t started the series yet? This week only, Trial by Fire is on sale for just $0.99.

That’s book one of a five-book arc, all releasing this year, for less than a cup of coffee. Shayla’s story starts here, and trust me — you’ll want to be caught up before the tides really turn.

👉 Grab Trial by Fire for $0.99 — this week only

From the writing cave

Trial by Earth — book three — is nearly done. I’m talking almost-ready-to-hand-off-to-my-editor nearly done, which means I am very close to being able to share the blurb and the cover with you. I’ve been sitting on both and it is taking every ounce of restraint I have.

August can’t come soon enough.

And speaking of things I’ve been sitting on… I have a surprise.

I’ve been quietly brewing a brand new trilogy. It’s Fae and human, it’s unexpected, and the first book is called Not Your Maniac Pixie Dream Girl. The series name is still coming together, but the book itself? Coming along beautifully. The moment the cover is finished, it’s going up on Amazon — and I cannot wait to drop this one on you. More details coming this fall.

Yes, I know. So many books. The writing cave has been running at full capacity.

Seasons of Magic — one ending, one beginning

Seasons of Magic: Spring is winding down, so if you’ve been meaning to grab it, now is the time. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.

The good news? Seasons of Magic: Summer is right around the corner — available August 1st, 2026, and available to pre-order right now. A whole new season, a whole new collection of magical stories, including a new one from me.

👉 Grab Spring while you still can


👉 Pre-order Summer now

On the home front

Physical therapy continues to be, as I’ve taken to calling it, an experience. The frozen shoulder is improving — slowly, stubbornly, on its own schedule and absolutely nobody else’s. I’ve made peace with the timeline. Mostly.

Meanwhile, the heat has fully arrived in the desert, and my household has made a unanimous executive decision to stay indoors with the A/C. The cats are in full agreement. We are all operating at minimum necessary movement until further notice.

Thank you for reading, for sharing, and for following along on this wild year of books. Truly — every one of you matters.

Happy Reading and the many books,
Wendy

Two Weeks Until Trial by Sea! 

/ Wendy Cheairs / Leave a comment

Hello Readers!

We’re officially down to two weeks until the release of Trial by Sea on June 23rd, and I couldn’t be more excited!

It feels like just yesterday I was sharing Trial by Fire with all of you, and now Shayla’s journey is continuing. Book 2 takes everything I loved about the first story and turns up the stakes. Shayla and Georgios are really put through the wringer this time, and just when they think they understand what’s happening around them, the tides shift beneath their feet.

Meanwhile, I’ve been hard at work on Trial by Earth, which releases this August. The manuscript is coming together beautifully, and I’ve already started preparing for Book 4 in the Richmond Academy series. Watching this series grow beyond my original plans has been such an amazing experience. I’ve also had the chance to see all three covers together, and they look absolutely stunning as a set. I cannot wait to share them with everyone.

And yes, if you think Shayla and Georgios have it rough in Trial by Sea… let’s just say I may have pushed them even harder in Trial by Earth.

For those who haven’t pre-ordered yet, here’s a reminder of what’s waiting for you:

Trial by Sea


The Phoenix has risen… but the tide is coming in.

Shayla thought the worst was behind her. After surviving her first year at Richmond Academy, she’s no longer the girl who can’t control her spark. She’s a Phoenix Guardian in training, stronger and more steady than ever.

But as her relationship with Georgios deepens, so do the complications.

Georgios has secrets of his own—secrets tied to a mermaid heritage that demands a price Shayla isn’t sure they can pay. When they are drawn into a series of deadly underwater trials, their trust is pushed to the breaking point.

With a charismatic new rival determined to come between them and the Academy’s dark secrets rising to the surface, Shayla must master her powers before they are extinguished forever.

Meanwhile, if you’re looking for something magical to read right now, Seasons of Magic: Spring is still available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.

My story, Magical Matchmaking, follows a clumsy witch whose search for true love leads her directly into magical chaos—and into the path of a very handsome mundane man who doesn’t believe magic exists at all. Unsurprisingly, things don’t go according to plan.

And coming soon is Seasons of Magic: Summer!

This anthology features a whole new collection of magical stories, including my newest contribution. While it’s very different from the lighter romantic fun of Magical Matchmaking, I’m excited to share it. This story follows a woman learning how to embrace change and accept an entirely new life she never expected. It’s a little more emotional, a little more transformative, and a story that really captured my imagination while writing it.

Outside the writing cave, summer has officially arrived here in New Mexico. Thankfully, we’ve actually seen some rain lately, which has cooled things down and made the heat far more manageable. I’m grateful for every cloudy day and every drop of rain. It’s still warm, but not quite the scorching temperatures we’re used to, and I’m definitely not complaining.

As always, books remain one of life’s brightest spots. I’ve gathered another collection of exciting new releases, recommendations, and book deals from other authors for you to explore below.

Thank you for reading, supporting indie authors, and sharing stories with friends and fellow book lovers. Every reader makes a difference, and I appreciate each and every one of you.

Happy Reading,

Wendy

Welcome to June! 

/ Wendy Cheairs / Leave a comment

 New Books, New Adventures, and What’s Coming Next

Hello everyone,
Welcome to June, everyone!
I can’t believe we’re already halfway through the year. It feels like just yesterday I was sharing the release of Trial by Fire, and now we’re only a few weeks away from the next adventure.
Trial by Sea releases on June 23, 2026, and I am so excited to share Book 2 of the Richmond Academy series with you. I’ve been hard at work finishing up Trial by Earth, which will be released in August 2026, and it will be heading off to my editor soon. Even more exciting, the cover is nearly ready to share!I absolutely love how this series is coming together. Watching Shayla and Georgios grow from Trial by Fire through Trial by Sea, and now into Trial by Earth, has been such a rewarding journey. What started as a smaller project has continued to grow, and I’m thrilled to be spending so much time in the world of Richmond Academy.
If you haven’t pre-ordered yet, here’s a reminder of what’s coming in Trial by Sea:
The Phoenix has risen… but the tide is coming in.Shayla thought the worst was behind her. After surviving her first year at Richmond Academy, she’s no longer the girl who can’t control her spark. She’s a Phoenix Guardian in training, stronger and steadier than ever.But as her relationship with Georgios deepens, so do the complications.
Georgios has secrets of his own—secrets tied to a mermaid heritage that demands a price Shayla isn’t sure they can pay. When they are drawn into a series of deadly underwater trials, their trust is pushed to the breaking point.With a charismatic new rival determined to come between them and the Academy’s dark secrets rising to the surface, Shayla must master her powers before they are extinguished forever.
Perfect for readers who love supernatural academies, elemental magic, fated mates, and slow-burn romance.
Pre-order link- AMAZON
Meanwhile, Seasons of Magic: Spring is still available for only 99¢ on Amazon and through Kindle Unlimited.
My story, Magical Matchmaking, is part of the anthology. It’s a lighthearted romantic fantasy about a clumsy witch whose attempt to cast a spell for true love goes completely sideways—only to land her with a very handsome mundane who absolutely refuses to believe magic exists. As you can imagine, things get complicated quickly.
And there’s more magic on the horizon!
Seasons of Magic: Summer is now available for pre-order, and I’ll have another short story included in that collection. I’m looking forward to sharing more details as we get closer to release.
Behind the scenes, I’ve also been editing several other stories that will be releasing later this year. Between Richmond Academy, the Seasons of Magic anthologies, and a few other projects quietly taking shape, my writing schedule has been wonderfully full.
As for real life… summer has definitely arrived here in the desert. The temperatures keep climbing, the sun seems determined to bake all of us, and I’ve become very good friends with air conditioning and staying indoors whenever possible.
The frozen shoulder saga also continues. PT is helping and hurting at the same time—which I suppose means it’s working? Every exercise feels like it’s simultaneously helping me regain movement while reminding me exactly how much movement I don’t have yet. One day I shall once again possess a fully functioning shoulder. I can almost see that glorious future on the horizon.Until then, I’ll keep doing the exercises, keep writing stories, and keep looking forward to the next release.
In the meantime, books remain one of life’s greatest bright spots, and I’ve gathered a collection of exciting new releases, recommendations, and book deals from other authors for you to enjoy below.
As always, thank you so much for reading, supporting indie authors, and sharing books you love.
Happy Reading,Wendy

Happy end of the month, readers! 

/ Wendy Cheairs / Leave a comment
May has flown by over here, and between writing, editing, and everyday life, it’s been a wonderfully busy season.
First, a huge thank you to everyone who has been reading and sharing Trial by Fire! Seeing Shayla’s story find readers has been such a thrill. If you haven’t jumped into Richmond Academy yet, Book One is available now on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.
And I’m excited to share that Trial by Sea is coming June 23, 2026—and the countdown is officially on!
Trial by Sea – Richmond Academy Book 2
The Phoenix has risen… but the tide is coming in.Shayla thought the worst was behind her. After surviving her first year at Richmond Academy, she’s no longer the girl who can’t control her spark. She’s a Phoenix Guardian in training, stronger and steadier than ever.But as her relationship with Georgios deepens, so do the complications.Georgios has secrets of his own—secrets tied to a mermaid heritage that demands a price Shayla isn’t sure they can pay. When they’re drawn into a series of deadly underwater trials, their trust is pushed to the breaking point.
With a charismatic new rival determined to come between them and the Academy’s dark secrets rising to the surface, Shayla must master her powers before they’re extinguished forever.
Perfect for readers who love fated mates, elemental magic, supernatural academies, and slow-burn romance.
And because apparently I enjoy keeping myself busy—in the best way—I’ve officially started writing Trial by Earth, which will be releasing this August 2026! It’s been so much fun diving into the next stage of Shayla’s journey, and outlining the later Richmond Academy books as the series continues to grow. What originally started as a shorter plan is shaping into a full five-book series, and I’m so excited to keep building this world through the rest of the year.
Outside of Richmond Academy, I’ve also been editing several new stories coming later this year—including another installment in the Seasons of Magic anthologies.
Seasons of Magic: Spring is still available for only .99¢ on Amazon and also in Kindle Unlimited!
My story “Magical Matchmaking” is part of the anthology—a fun little romantic fantasy about a clumsy witch whose attempt to cast a spell to find true love definitely goes sideways… and somehow lands her face-to-face with exactly the wrong person: a very handsome mundane who absolutely does not believe in magic.
And later this year, Seasons of Magic: Summer will be arriving—and I’ll have another short story in that anthology to share with you soon.On the non-writing side of life… I’m still dealing with the dreaded frozen shoulder and all the glamorous fun that comes with PT. It still sounds completely made up every time I say it, but apparently it’s very real and very stubborn. The good news is it does seem to be improving—very slowly, very steadily—with lots of physical therapy and patience. Right now PT is on the calendar through August, and I’ll also have another shoulder shot in July, so I’m crossing my fingers and hoping for continued progress and a lot more movement soon.
In the meantime, books are still the bright spot, and I have a bunch of exciting reads and deals from other authors to share with you this week.
As always—thank you so much for reading, supporting indie authors, and sharing books you love.
Happy Reading,Wendy
Image description
A unicorn walks into a bar….


That is not a joke. Look, I’m a bartender, I have nothing to do with the xenos. I don’t care if it’s an elf or a vampire—as long as they don’t bother me, I steer clear. I have my reasons—you can see them in the scars on my neck. I never wanted to get involved. But my life changed for the second time when I saved the life of a unicorn. I made an enemy of something old—old and evil, and whatever it was, it’ll be back for another try. I also made a friend when I decided to help March. He’s only been a human man for a day. I’m responsible for him now. He’s my friend…and maybe something more. Maybe a lot more. It doesn’t matter to me that he isn’t magical anymore. I don’t care if he’s not PURE.
But he does.
From best-selling author Kim Alexander, a modern fairy tale of magic, love, and redemption.
GET HERE




Image description
A scandalous earl. A not-so-wicked stepmother. One kiss could ruin everything—or change it all.


Once labeled the wicked stepmother by a certain glass-slipper-wearing royal, Lady Margot Ashbourne has no interest in fairy tales—or second chances. Twice widowed and socially exiled, she’s focused on repairing her crumbling estate and staying far away from courtly nonsense.
But when the scandal-plagued and sharp-witted Earl of Raventhorn arrives offering help with her renovations—and perhaps more—Margot’s carefully ordered life is thrown into delightful disarray.
What begins as reluctant collaboration turns into verbal sparring, ballroom mischief, and one disastrous kiss that sets the ton ablaze with gossip. Suddenly, Margot is back in the spotlight she never wanted, and this time, love might just be the most dangerous risk of all.
This Regency-era romantic comedy blends wit, warmth, and a refreshingly mature heroine with a biting sense of humor. Perfect for fans of:
Midlife romance with sharp banter
Fairy tale retellings with a twist
Slow-burn chemistry and ballroom scandal
Redemption arcs for misunderstood women
Bridgerton meets Persuasion with sass
GET IT FREE




Image description
He’s my best friend’s older brother. I’m not the same girl I was last summer.


Age-Gap Insta-love Romance between A college girl and her best friend’s older brother. 
Ryker St. Thomas is my forbidden love. He always has been. My best friend’s brother, who just got back from a year long trek through Europe, shows up in our small town for summer vacation. Last time I saw him, I was just a dorky eighteen year old – now I’m a woman.
This time I’m not losing my chance to confess my love and I only have a week to do it.
I just can’t let my bestie find out.
–
Almost Off-Limits is a steamy age-gap forbidden love romance novella that’s light on plot and heavy on heat. Get ready for over the top insta-love, filthy forbidden trysts, and a super-sweet happily ever after.

The Briarwood Falls series feature stand-alone erotic romance novellas that can be enjoyed in any order.
READ FOR FREE KU
Image description
Can she collect enough fragments of her past before the nightmarish figure from her dreams catches up with her?


If you enjoy escaping into enchanting worlds full of adventure, mystery, magic, and with a hint of romance, then pick up this story today and find yourself lost in the magical land of Phildeterre. (This is a clean novel appropriate for all ages).
As she wakes up in a bedroom she doesn’t recognize, Ellayne becomes increasingly aware of one thing: she has no memories—no identity—no name. Dark figures not only haunt her nightmares, but also stalk her in reality. Ellayne finds herself on the run, chased by a hooded archer with deadly aim.

When the source of her memory loss is uncovered, Ellayne and the companions she’s made along the way must find a way to reverse the damage done to her by magic before she loses her memories again.
GET FOR FREE

Now available + what’s next in the series 

/ Wendy Cheairs / Leave a comment

May is here, and it’s already full of stories to fall into.

Seasons of the Year – Spring is now out and available on Amazon and KU (links below)! My story, Magical Matching, is part of this collection, and I’m so excited to finally share it with you. It follows a clumsy witch who casts a spell looking for love, actually finds it… and then has to figure out how to keep it. It’s magical, messy, and full of heart—everything I love about spring stories.

Also out now…

Trial By Fire is officially live on Amazon and KU!

This first book in the Richmond Academy series (part of the Mystical Society world) follows Shayla, a phoenix shifter who can’t shift, sent to an academy in Virginia where she’s expected to learn—no matter what. There’s pressure, friendship, magic, and plenty of twists as she starts finding her own strength and place in the world.

And behind the scenes, I’m already deep into Book 2: Trial by Sea, coming later this year. I’m hard at work writing it now, and I have to say—the cover is absolutely stunning. I can’t wait to show it to you.

Even more exciting… what started as a three-book plan is now looking like it may grow into a five-book series. I’m completely thrilled about this, because it means more time with these characters, more stories to tell, and more adventures at Richmond Academy. It also means I’ll be happily busy writing in this world through this year and into next.

On the real-life side, I’m still working through PT for the “frozen shoulder”—which still sounds completely fake, but is very real. I’m putting in the work to “unfreeze” it, even if I’d love a magical shortcut (sadly, those don’t exist outside of books). For now, it’s time, physical therapy, and a lot of patience… plus learning not to overdo it, which apparently makes it worse. Not my favorite lesson, but I’m getting there.

Through it all, I’m still writing, still building new stories, and still excited for everything coming next.

And of course, I’ve gathered up more exciting books, new releases, and deals from other authors below—because there’s always room for one more story on your list.

Happy Early Mother’s Day to all!

Happy Reading,
Wendy

Amazon

Amazon