Christmas was everything you’d want it to be.
Rather than the full-on Christmas lunch, we opted for a barbecue because it’s summer in New Zealand, so why not? That wasn’t the only break from tradition either, with my great-niece (how is that even possible?) and me opting to eat dessert first because we’re rebels like that. Or visionaries. Possibly both.
The day itself was hot enough to see us retreat indoors after lunch, hunkered down with the air-conditioning on full blast like Victorian invalids who’d discovered modern technology. There may have been a brief debate about whether moving at all was strictly necessary. Inertia won on the day.
New Year’s Eve also happened. I know this because I had one glass of wine, promptly fell asleep, and then woke up with a start when the fireworks went off and the cat embedded her claws in my chest in solidarity. If there was a countdown, I missed it.
With the new year already underway, I’ll admit to not making New Year’s resolutions. This is because I've mostly broken them by the second of January, which usually just leaves me racked with guilt.
But 2026 is the year I'll focus on my online store.
Don’t get me wrong: having my books available far and wide is great. I love accessibility. I love reach. What I love less is handing over power (and a chunky slice of income) to giant online retailers who can change the rules whenever the mood strikes. And the males who run them think women are unpredictable!
Selling direct also allows me to reward the people who actually matter - you - with special pricing, exclusive content, and the occasional bit of delightful mischief, all without getting a sternly worded email from a faceless algorithm. So yes. More control. More fun. Fewer digital overlords. And to this end:
The Vintage Edition eBooks of my Seventies Collective series are now exclusive.
You can still buy the original paperbacks from the major retailers, but the eBooks are a different story. This series will always hold a special place in my heart. Writing it felt less like recreating a decade and more like writing a love letter to a time that was messy, smoky around the edges, and gloriously under-documented
You can grab them direct HERE, with the prequel, Heels and a Tiara, FREE. If you can survive that snarky look at Aussie's Gold Coast in the harsh light of day, you’re ready for the rest of the series.
However you choose to kick off the new year, I wish only good things for you and yours in 2026. While some people start the year gently, I’ll be getting my teeth into Thirst Trapped. Ah, vampires. You’ve got to love them. And I do.
Make sure you subscribe to my SUBSTACK be first to hear when this vampire mystery is pre-released to subscribers at a very special rate.
Happy New Year
Andrene
PS: Did I mention that I might have finished The Pyrate Queen, the prequel to the Marina Witches Mysteries series? It's true! More news on that soon.
They say Anne Bonny died in chains. They were only half right.
She was the queen of the seven seas. A survivor. A legend. Then Captain Garnet took everything. Her freedom, her daughter, her life. Bound by ancient magic to the ship that was her prison, Anne's spirit endured for two centuries. Watching the world change through a porthole. Waiting for a promise to be kept.
That promise has finally come due in the form of Frankie Bonny, her great-granddaughter, and a red-headed witch with a temper every bit as fiery as Anne's own.
Restored to flesh and reunited with her immortal lover, Anne Bonny has unfinished business. The family that profited from her suffering still thrives. The score remain unsettled. And once a pirate, always a pirate.
She's back. She's alive. And she's done waiting.
