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Hello Reader,
The older I get, the quicker the days fly by. The turn of the calendar means summer is almost over and I am not ready to get back to work in September. I'm going to do my best to enjoy every single moment. Some of my bucket list items for this month are getting to the beach, getting outside, and getting ice cream. My bucket list is small but realistic. What's on your bucket list for this month?
In this newsletter, you'll find info about
--The Blue Spruce Hills Novella Series
--This is Halloween by Sarah Branson
--The latest in my writing and coaching life
Welcome to Edy's Writing World
The Blue Spruce Hills Novella Series
Welcome to Blue Spruce Hills, a small Poconos town you won't want to leave.
Each standalone novella follows a woman on the brink of change. Whether it’s a lifetime resident, a newcomer, or someone just passing through, what moves her isn’t the view from the mountains; it’s the people. The neighbor who becomes a friend. The community that becomes a family.
This is a multi-author series: every novella stands alone, yet all of them share the warm, quirky cast that fills Blue Spruce Hills. Whether these women are starting over, coming home, letting go, or beginning again, you'll close each book feeling cozier, more hopeful, and a little more at home.
So, if you love small-town women’s fiction and stories about reinvention and found family, pour a cup of tea, settle in, and stay awhile.
Family is Family is now up for pre-order and will be coming to your Kindle on October 1, 2026. It will also be in Kindle Unlimited, so if you are a KU reader, mark your calendar!
She’s living the dream, but it’s not her own. Can this devoted divorcee pave her own path despite her irresponsible ex?
Violet McFadden is a helper at heart. Tired from co-parenting four teenage girls and co-owning a bookstore, this dedicated forty-five-year-old can’t seem to get five minutes to herself. But when their landlord unexpectedly raises their rent, she’s panicked that their struggling business and the source of their livelihood is doomed.
Although an upcoming 5k fundraiser may temporarily save the store, this conscientious shopkeeper finds that running a business is not where her heart belongs. She misses teaching and wants to return, but an unexpected snowstorm, urgent teenage fires, and her own overprotective motherly drive keep her firmly rooted in the past.
Will Violet choose herself and pursue her calling, or will she only keep her ex-husband’s dream alive?
Family is Family, part of the multi-author Blue Spruce Hills Novella Series, is a heartwarming standalone women’s fiction about tight-knit communities, complex families, and never being too old to start over.
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The first story in Blue Spruce Hills is This is Halloween by Sarah Branson. This novella will be released on September 17, 2026.
On what to expect from Blue Spruce Hills — and how "Halloween-y" it is:
Think cozy sweater season with a ghost in the corner: one who has opinions. This is Halloween follows Jules Lockwood, a nurse-midwife who is new to Blue Spruce Hills and not entirely sure she wants to stay, as she falls into an unexpected romance with local historian Eli Matthews. Oh, and she's being visited by Agnes Bell, the ghost of a nineteenth-century midwife who has very strong feelings about how things should be done. It's atmospheric and autumnal, but the Halloween elements serve the story rather than define it; there’s warmth, wit, a little romance, and a birth scene on Halloween night that I promise you won't forget.
On what I loves most about Jules:
I think I love Jules’s tendency towards resistance best. She arrives in Blue Spruce Hills carrying the weight of a past that taught her to make herself small, and she's built a whole identity around not needing anyone. Watching her slowly, reluctantly, and let the town (and Eli) in is the heart of the story for me. She's prickly in the best way, and Agnes keeps her honest.
On the collaboration:
I have worked with other authors a couple of other times on anthologies, but this is the first time writing in a novella series. I am always both thrilled and challenged to write with a group, because, much like my characters, I tend to go my own way, and the experience of being open to a collective helps me grow as a writer and a person.
On where to find you and where to start:
You can find me and all my work at sarahbranson.com. There you’ll find all my books: adult, YA, and even a middle-grade story. For new readers, I'd recommend starting with A Merry Life. My current work takes place in the New Earth universe, filled with action and adventure and futuristic pirates balanced with family, resiliency, and hope. Come October, you'll find This is Halloween nestled in the Blue Spruce Hills series. And if paranormal historical fiction is your thing, my novel Life Ends, Love Remains: A Revolutionary Ghost Story will also be making its debut.
Writing and Coaching Update:
Phew! As you can see, there is a lot going on behind the scenes this summer, so my passion project about changelings and elves is currently on hold. My goal for the summer was to write 50k words, and I am currently sitting at 30k. Hopefully, by the end of August, I'll report that the first draft is done!
For now, my time has been divided between working summer school, Blue Spruce Hills, and coaching. Not only do I offer programs related to writing your story, polishing your story, and publishing your story, but I am now offering proofreading services! I love to read, so anything you throw at me will be handled with care.
If you're a new writer and are curious about my coaching programs, please check out www.lastpagepress.com or my Instagram page. I'd love a follow on Instagram, as I'm trying to spread the word about my coaching business.
That's it here! I appreciate you reading to the end, as I know this has been a bit long, but I'm really excited about Blue Spruce Hills and I know you will love it!
Keep reading!
Edy
P.S. What's on your bucket list for August? Reply to this email and let me know! I hope you have some fun plans before we usher in fall.
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