What happens when the Muse runs away with you?

You write a whole dang why choose fairytale retelling! *scream face emoji* Ho, boy... this is a writing cave update I didn't see coming.

Dear friends, creative souls, and life-long book devourers,

After last month’s update, I honestly cannot believe how much has happened in such a short space of time. Now that the flood gates to the Muse have opened, the words—and new incredible stories—are pouring out.

Despite the good news I have to share with you today, I wanted to take moment first to acknowledge that for many of my dearest friends and fellow book devourers—myself included—it feels like darkness is flooding the world.

Not just on a local level but on a global scale as well.

From LGBTQIA+ rights, to immigrant rights, to human rights and the need to fight for democracy as a whole. It’s a lot.

To keep myself moving forward, I’ve been taking strength from the brave and irrepressible joy taking shape on the page in front of me, from artists and creators who are out there sharing their work even when others are trying to silence their self expression, and from watching the incredible feats of courage and communal solidarity which are also on the rise.

So, however you have been standing up for your joy, your story, and the right for you and your loved ones to exist with the love, respect and resources necessary to thrive, I honor you.

In today’s post at MIRI AND THE MUSE—which serves as both my indie author newsletter and a personal journal into living a creative life filled with delicious glimmers—you will find:

• An update from the writing cave

• A tasty paranormal treat from Tracy Cooper-Posey

• A few tidbits and teasers from LONELY KITTY which kick started the KNIGHTS OF DESTRUCTION.

Keep scrolling to find out more about the new characters who have been bursting onto the page this month.

---

Update from the writing cave…

Hello my lovelies,

After attending the final B.A.B.E. (an epic trilogy of fantasy and romance book signings in Sydney), I got home feeling that fantastic fizzle of inspiration which came from working with my dear friend—Cassie Laelyn—to tell the readers all about her amazing books.

So I sat down in my new fabulous writing chair and got to work.

All I was trying to do was write an anthology piece for my first signing next year, I swear… and then, the Muse had her wicked way with me!

While at the signing, I’d had an idea for a fun way to do a why choose fairytale retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears set in the world of the KNIGHTS OF DESTRUCTION.

The anthology had a word count cap of 25K. At first, everything was going swimmingly. The work was tripping out of me at breakneck speed. So much so, in fact, that I hit that word count and… kept right on going.

That’s right, friends and fellow book devourers, I blew straight through that projected word count and found myself with a very rough draft for a full length novel a few weeks later.

Oh, don’t get me wrong. This book still needs work. Lots and lots of work. There are missing chapters and muddled character beats everywhere I look. But—and here’s the part I’m absolutely thrilled about—these characters are vibrant and joyful and absolutely fabulous.

And now, after reading their story, I cannot imagine the KNIGHTS OF DESTRUCTION world without GOLDIE LION & HER THREE BEARS in it. Neither can anybody else. Even Scarface is insisting that their story comes first.

And also—oh my gods—why won’t the Muse ever follow a nicely written out game plan?!

Funnily enough, looking back over my writing notebooks kept in the past few years as I planned this series, I discovered she kinda was following the game plan. Because I had notes and questions scrawled in there asking what I planned to do about the pride of mountain lions living out on the Olympic Peninsula?

They’d been making a nuisance of themselves, you see, nipping at the heels of key members of Destruction’s crew as they set up the Knights of Destruction MC and established their territory. I even mentioned that they were causing trouble for Tiny in KITTY’S CLAWS, a holiday short which follows on from LONELY KITTY.

(This wee beauty should be out in time to celebrate the New Year, huzzah!)

It was just that I had no idea what shape the pride’s story was going to take, nor how it would fit into the longer series arc for the KNIGHTS OF DESTRUCTION as a whole. But Goldie and her lumberjack bears took care of that, deftly weaving themselves into the initial formation phase of the crew.

So now—BAM—I have a brand new book all sketched out which I’m revising. Soon I’ll be able to put it through its paces with the editing process. My hope is that I can get it ready to release later this year. Which will, in turn, allow me plenty of time to keep plugging away on WEATHER WITCH and her epic, four-book-miniseries-style story arc.

With love,

M.S. xox

PS. Yes, I do plan to give that anthology piece another go in July to see if I can work up a standalone which is appropriately contained. I’m thinking a snowed in, cabin in the woods type experience written in singular POV will help me keep that pesky word count under control. I’ll let you know how it goes… ;-p

PPS. Meet Me In The Mountains is my next book signing. It’s being held in early Feb 2026 right here in NSW, Australia. Will I see you there?!

---

Who is ready for a why choose vampire romance?

My talented author friends and I have teamed up to offer our subscribers a new tasty morsel each and every month. This month’s saucy read is called BLOOD KNOT by Tracy Cooper-Posey. Rather than listen to me wax lyrical, why don’t you take a peek at what others have said about this awesome book?

“I’m blown away by the experience of this book. There was so much intensity between the characters, the chemistry between Winter, Nial and Sebastian left me panting in places…I emerged with a lump in my throat, tears in my eyes and my heart racing.” [The Bookish Snob]

“I lost a little of my heart to each of these characters. If you’re a fan of hot urban fantasy (and I do mean oven mit HOT), pick up Blood Knot, you won’t be disappointed.” [Alternative Read]

“I haven’t read a better love story than Blood Knot in a very long time. This one is her best so far. Don’t miss it.” [The Romance Studio]

---

GET TO KNOW MY KNIGHTS OF DESTRUCTION…

I’ve released a few teasers in this newsletter and the original inspiration that kicked off this brand new shifter romance / urban fantasy motorcycle club series. So make sure you check out the following posts…

Do you love seeing character mood boards, inspiration and aesthetics from your favorite authors? Me too. This one has a few juices ones I made up to help keep me on track during the writing process…

And last, but deinfitely not least, here’s a release day post I created which has a teaser with plenty of sizzle plus a favorite line called out by my book devourers in their reviews…

---

Happy reading, friends and fellow book devourers!

With love,

M.S. xox