A sneak peek at the color and chaos of my writing desk.
June 27, 2026
Dear Writing Diary,
Summer is officially here and my untitled 2027 project is now finally in the hands of my editor! I originally set out to write this story as a novella. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the characters and world took on a life of their own until the 40-50 page novella I initially planned grew into a full novel, which currently sits at 89,606 words.
Those of you who read my interview with Introverted Indies, have already gotten a teaser on what this new novel is about. But here is the pitch:
Spirited Away meets One Day in a romantic and cinematic love story between a human and an immortal in a Wishing Market that transports people to another world where their wishes can become reality. But every granted wish demands a price—and sometimes the cost is too steep.
This story snuck up on me in the best way. What started out as a simple idea of two people who meet in a market of wishes morphed into a story about love, the meaning of happiness, and discovering a found family. Writing it deeply touched me, and I hope you, as my readers, will feel the same. For those of you who have read The Fated, this story has a lighter and more whimsical tone but retains the same level of intricate worldbuilding and developed characters. For those of you who have read The Phoenix & The Neverending Winter, this new story leans even more into a magical and otherworldly setting, while also embracing humor in a way that I haven’t explored yet in any of my previous works.
I’m so excited to share this novel with you all next year, and in the meantime, check out its Pinterest board to give you a better idea of the vibe and aesthetic.
✨ What I’ve Been Reading & Watching
Hekate (audiobook) – Growing up, I loved Greek mythology and listening to this captivating and lyrical audiobook immediately transported be back into the familiar world of gods and monsters. While the romance was heartwarming, the core of this story is the love between mothers and daughters. Still, I would recommend to anyone who loves Greek mythology and wants to learn more about a compelling yet historically underrated goddess.
My Royal Nemesis (K-drama) – Watching my first ever Korean drama back in college forever changed my writing style, and this fun romantic K-drama brings all the feels. This drama tells the story of a royal concubine who is wrongfully executed but then wakes up in the body of a modern-day struggling actress. It delivers what classic K-drama romcoms do best: humor, plot twists, romance, and time-travel!
Veil of Shadows (C-drama) – I’m also a huge fan of Chinese historical and fantasy (referred to as Xianxia) dramas, and this fantasy is one of the most visually stunning I’ve seen. There are nine-tailed foxes, dragon deities, and so many twists and turns that at times, to be honest, I’m not sure what is happening, but I’ve learned to just enjoy the beautiful acting and aesthetic until the plot reveals its secrets like the most elaborate and intricately designed puzzle that it is.
This is a new section in my newsletter where I will be showcasing books by other indie authors!
Naomi Cole doesn’t believe in do-overs until a mysterious hotel invites her to experience something called a “time immersion.” Reeling from a lackluster career and a personal betrayal, she takes the leap…and wakes up in 1925 New Orleans.
This omnibus contains four stories in which a PI with a special gift for perceiving those who live outside the “natural” world and her long-suffering assistant solve cases involving vampires, ghosts, goddesses, and witches.
Also, check out some fantasy audiobooks from other amazing authors HERE!
Here’s to working on my next secret writing project this summer!
-K
P.S. Whoever’s reading this, if you’ve enjoyed these glimpses into my writing life, could you please hit the subscribe button? I would love to share more of my writing journey with you in the future. :)
Congratulations! Getting to the point that feels good enough to send to the editor is so hard.