What’s up peeps!
I hope you’re enjoying the holidays and getting ready for the New Year. I can’t believe we’re almost in 2026 already. Today I’ve got some big updates, a final Street Team invitation, and Snoopy living his best beach life.
🎉 Divine King Draft One Is Done!
You read that right. After nine months, I’ve officially wrapped the first draft of Divine King, the final book in the Leah Ackerman series.
This was, without a doubt, one of the hardest books I’ve ever written. I wanted to make sure every open thread was addressed and that the ending did justice to a story we’ve been working on since early 2020. On top of that, after my father passed away in June of 2024 and everything that followed, I didn’t have the headspace to start writing again until April of 2025.
With a firm deadline of February 20, 2026, I definitely felt the pressure. I owed it to you as readers, and to these characters, to finish strong without cutting corners or rushing the ending. Even now, this is still just a first draft. JP has been editing alongside me, and we’re sending it to editors and beta readers by mid-January, so the timeline was tight. Thankfully, we made it, and now we’re on track to finish this the right way.
After six years with this series, the emotions are mixed. Mostly relief, with a little nostalgic sadness. We started writing Leah Ackerman in February of 2020, and these characters were with me through the pandemic, my wedding, the loss of my grandfather and my father, and my move to Miami. Through all that chaos, this series was the one constant.
But endings are what make stories meaningful. That sense of finality is what gives all those hours of writing their weight. As much as I love this universe, I feel ready for something new. Thrillers, horror, and even nonfiction have been tugging at my brain for a while now. I’m not closing the door forever, but for now, after six years and six books with an incredible co-author, I can finally say that this chapter is complete.
My focus now shifts to marketing, translations, and making the February launch the best one yet, while also taking a short break from writing and settling into my new home and job.
You can preorder Divine King here!
👥 Street Team
I know I’ve mentioned this before, but with over 100 new subscribers recently, I wanted to send one final reminder. Our Street Team is over 30 readers strong, and they get advance reader copies of all our books. They help spread the word, share on socials if they want, and leave reviews if they feel comfortable doing so.
Reviews are never required, but they are always appreciated. Your support helps Leah’s story reach more readers, and we truly couldn’t do this without you.
If you’re interested in joining the Street Team, you can fill out the form here, or simply reply to this email and I’ll add you directly.
🐶 Snoopy at the Beach!
Wishing you all a Happy New Year filled with good vibes, health, and happiness.
Stay weird and keep those pages turning,
A.B. Cohen
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