Dear Reader,

This time next week, The Dowager's Grand Triumph will be published!

Okay, so I'm shouting a little. This launch feels very significant to me because it's not just a one-book milestone. And it's not just published book #20. It's the culmination of my very first Regency romance series.

I never thought I could write a series.

Yet I've loved every minute of researching and writing these stand-alone books that are subtly interconnected. If you've read all the others, you'll see how the connections have come full circle in book 6 (but you don't have to have read the others to enjoy the book).

Advance readers are loving it already

Reading tastes are wildly varied, so I'm always pleased when my books "land" with a reader. The 5 ⭐️ reviews are particularly gratifying. Like these:

I'd love to "meet" you at my Zoom launch party.

I went back and forth about whether to have a virtual launch for this book and eventually decided to have something low key and fun. It's just going to be a casual get-together to talk about books and writing and what's next for me—and you, if you're a writer.

I'm also going to give away one signed copy of Dowager, and offer a very preliminary sneak peek at the title and concept of my next series—coming in 2027.

In addition I'm only inviting people like you—friends and followers of my newsletter. I'm not publicizing the event on social media.

It's on Thursday, June 25 at 1pm EDT. I hope you'll consider joining me!

And now, a little poll for you. I always enjoy seeing the consensus! This one's silly and frivolous, so have some fun with it 😀:

Re that last choice: Right now I'm bingeing Bunheads, a series I'd all but forgotten about. Since my daughter is launching her own ballet studio in a couple of months, it's particularly apt. And Amy Sherman Palladino—with virtually the entire Gilmore Girls cast—it's a winner in my view. Not to mention Sutton Foster as the lead. Sigh.

The obligatory ask for preorders...

I know the book is imminent, but preorders still help Amazon say, "Hmmm. This book is getting attention," which encourages the algorithm to prioritize it in searches. TMI? Maybe.

Thank you, thank you, for reading my books and my newsletter. I appreciate all of you so much.

Best,

Susanne