End of the year reflections.
Dec 18, 2025 4:01 pm
December News
Contents
- Introduction, updates, and newsletter giveaway
- Sales, freebies, and/or new releases
- Giveaways and promotions
- Book recommendations
- Closing remarks
- My books
Hi ,
I'm finally starting the drafting phase of my next book. Thank you to everyone who voted for my new title. The title name is currently tied between Once upon a Vow and Once upon a Forbidden Door. Since I recently got a lot of new subscribers from a newsletter builder that just ended, I'm going to leave the form open until the end of January and see if I can get a clear winner. If you haven't voted yet, you can do so with this form or hit reply and let me know your thoughts.
Next month, I'll have a different question for you regarding Iris and Jonathan's story, but I'm still working out exactly how I want to phrase the question because it will potentially have a significant impact on what direction my writing will take overall.
If you've emailed me in the last couple months and I haven't replied, I'm very sorry. The honest truth is that I've been bombarded with scam emails reaching out to me about how brilliant my books are (while only mentioning things that can be found on the sales page) and trying to get me to buy their services. It's pretty depressing to get the initial joy of thinking my work was well received only to find that it's just more junk. So I've been struggling to keep up with it everything email related.
If you've been with me for a long time, you know that I started out monthly, then experimented with weekly emails for a few months, but cut it back to twice a month. Looking at the numbers, weekly emails did have slightly better open and click rates compared to my sending twice a month. Despite the common advice and the results I've seen, I'm going to return to monthly emails with the possibility of an extra in the month if there's something big going on. I just feel like I'm spending too much time on email and I want to return my focus to writing more than everything else.
The other thing I'm hoping backing off on the number of emails sent will do is give me more time for bonus content to give to you. I've attended a few summits recently that have given me a lot to think about and the biggest takeaway has been that I need to focus more on what works for me and less on what everyone else says will work. Because attempting to follow all of the shoulds has only left me feeling like I'm failing to hit any target milestones.
Sales, Freebies, and/or New Releases
I'm participating in the Smashwords end of year sale which runs through the first of January. Once upon a Shoe, Once upon an Isle of Treasure, and The Fox Assassin will all be FREE on Smashwords and the rest of my books will be discounted.
I'm aware of 3 different Advent Calendars for free books this month. I'm not part of these events or affiliated; I'm just aware of them and wanting to pass on the chance for free books to you. The other 2 I included in the last email I sent, but I recently discovered Maisy Magill's Cozy Fantasy & Romantasy calendar, so I'm adding it now. Robyn Sarty's should be 100% clean and sweet, and features multiple authors. Laura Greenwood's is, to the best of my knowledge, all her own books and she writes a variety of heat levels, some of which are clean. If you only want clean books, she has a heat level guide here.
Once upon a Betrothal will be on sale for $0.99 from the 20th through the 27th. I wanted to schedule it to start today, but my KDP enrollment dates had the wrong timing for that possibility.
Giveaways and Promotions
Something different
To the best of my knowledge, the only book in this one is my book, Once upon a Shoe, but I still wanted to share this because it might bring some of you value. Unicorn Mojo is a business I follow that has a wide variety of topics, many of them that work for me as an author. When I received an email asking for participants in this promotion, I reached out and offered my first book.
If all you want is my book, it's the third item from the bottom of the list on the last page. However, there is a wide variety of other types of freebies. If you look at everything, you may find something else of interest.
Book Recommendations
Lottie bought a house in the woods, not knowing that danger lurked around the corner.
Errol, a Seelie Fae, follows a scent to discover Lottie being attacked by a strange Unseelie.
After being rescued by Errol, Lottie discovers the existence of Fae in her world. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The Unseelie who attacked Lottie could come after her again and Errol is determined to protect her.
As Errol and Lottie seek answers, they discover that Lottie is secretly the daughter of the Unseelie queen and has had her memories magically repressed. Breaking Lottie’s spell could mean disaster.
Errol must save Lottie and the rest of the world. To do so, he needs to defeat the Unseelie queen before it’s too late.
Saved by Fae is a clean fantasy romance with more action than intimacy and a happily ever after.
Ludovic Stone was the arms-bearer and right-hand of Archmage Alastor an Ulbrecht and Sorceress Lianna; protecting them throughout the years from political threats and standing by their side through the hardships they faced due to their stature.
A failed assassination attempt against Lianna prompted Alastor to act and perform a grievous ritual to tap onto the power of the Void, the dark forces beyond the universe. Has he betrayed his friends and family to gain power? Can Lianna stop Alastor before it’s too late? Will she and Ludovic be able to save the world from the evil warlock he has become? What if it was all just a lie?
Azurem is one of four kingdoms ruled by guardians of magic. On the day that Princess Magdalena is to be crowned, she discovers that she wields a different, more volatile power than her father, calling into question the legitimacy of her birthright. The crown she was born to wear now hangs in the balance—and her new magic must remain a secret or else risk igniting a battle for the throne.
Ever since she was a child, Dagmara served the royal family of Azurem. As the most lethal and covert royal assassin, her job is a means to provide a better life for her brother. However, when Princess Magdalena’s father is killed, Dagmara begins to suspect the infamous Mad King—a man known for his terrorizing reign in an enemy kingdom.
When Princess Magdalena receives a marriage proposal from the Mad King, the two friends devise a plan to switch places. Princess Magdalena investigates her newfound powers on a quest full of romance, secrets, and espionage, while Dagmara goes undercover as the Mad King’s betrothed to bring him to justice once and for all. As Dagmara delves into the Mad King’s involvement in the murder, she catches the eye of his suspicious and handsome captain, a man embodying danger and desire. Caught between her heart and her blade, Dagmara must navigate politics and ancient clues that bring her closer to the truth—a truth that could unravel the fabric of the kingdom she has bled to protect.
One princess. One assassin. One switch that puts both their lives at stake.
Closing Remarks
Don't forget to either fill out this form or hit reply and tell me your thoughts on my potential titles for my Bluebeard retelling. The titles I put up for consideration are Once upon a Stepmother, Once upon a Secret, Once upon a Key, Once upon a Forbidden Door, Once upon a Vow, Once upon a Cage. And one of the votes so far has been a write in for Once upon a Knee.
In case you need it, here is the link for the subscriber free content.
Best of wishes,
-Amber
My Books
