Author: melbraxton

Mel doesn't know what to do with reality, so she daydreams of fantastical places. With strong heroines, thrilling plots, and toe-curling romance, she captivates readers with her storytelling. She loves her family, especially Lulu the dog, who mistakenly believes Mel’s job is to be a professional puppy cuddler.

Looking at 2026 by meeting myself where I’m at.

~ melbraxton ~ Leave a comment

So, I like to start my annual reflections by checking what I wrote last year.

And oh dang, that task was humbling.

Looking back on my 2025 goals was pretty uncomfortable. I had hoped to have book 3 of Bound by Thrones published by now, but it’s now on pace for a summer 2026 release. Yikes.

I know why I pivoted, but it’s hard not to feel disappointed when I miss my goals. I feel responsible to you, my readers, and I know it’s challenging to wait a long time between books.

The bottom line is, I’m not as fast of an author as I used to be. I reviewed the data, and it’s clear: the time it has taken me to write a book has gone up. There are a few factors, including shifts in family responsibilities and… well, some burnout.

2025 was an amazing year for recovery and figuring out how to shape an author path that really serves me. It was also a year of moving slower.

Dear readers, thank you for your patience while I figure this out.

My goal is to write books for the rest of my life. Right now, that means embracing my pace as it is. I feel safe to produce art within these healthy limits.

Thank you for your understanding.

Your support of my process helps me connect to the stories better. Your patience helps me stay in this for the long haul.

For 2026, my main goal is to bring Sacrifice and Salvation into your hands. The story is so cool. All the fantasy, adventure, and romance vibes mixed in one glorious last hurrah for Ayla and Zayne. It’s delicious, and I love giving this book my best.

Happy reading,

Mel Braxton

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Mel Braxton Newsletter

2025: a Bound by Thrones year

~ melbraxton

Winter moods are for reflecting. For me, this liminal season illuminates more than December holidays and the change in year. It’s an entire period of introspection, and while it took me time to put my thoughts together, I hope you’re ready for my 2025 update.

Let me start with a confession: 2024 was the first year I haven’t released a book since I began publishing, and honestly, I have no regrets.

2024 was more than my lack of publications. It was the year I dove into my why for writing, developed my voice, and cultivated a path toward my goals. Externally, 2024 might look like a pause at best (and a failure at worst) but I’m eager to show how I’ve grown behind the scenes.

Bound by Thrones (my fae trilogy) is in great shape. I’m kicking off 2025 by editing Book 2 (Secrets and Starlight, available June 21) into a publishable manuscript. I’ve also drafted Book 3, and it’s next-up for editing. In 2025, you’ll see the completion of this series.

Beyond 2025? There are more plans brewing, and I’ll share a few details with my newsletter crew on Tuesday, Jan 14. So if you would like to know more, be sure to sign up.

Just in case you needed further reason to join my monthly newsletter, this MerMay I’ll send out a free copy of The Wild Mermaid to all my subscribers. The Wild Mermaid is a thrilling story of self-discovery that I can’t wait to give a new home. I’ll share this and more over (like long-term plans for Illiam) over this next year.

All of that to say, please be gentle with yourself in this season of reflections and goal setting. What the world might see as a failed year might be the time you needed to ensure a magical future.

With all my best,

Mel Braxton

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2024: A Focus on Completion

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2023 has blown me away. And you, dear readers, have my gratitude. Your reception to Monster’s Duet has given a new skip to my step. Thank you, thank you, thank you. In return, I’m writing this up to introduce my 2024 goals.

The 2024 focus: finish my fae trilogy. This series stars Ayla, a half-fae bastard princess, who is forced into an adventure by the Shadow Prince, Zayne. Along the way, she discovers her wolf companion, found family, and hidden magic.

This trilogy might be epic, but by keeping the books tightly edited and under 300 pages, it’s never dull and the pages keep turning.

I’m writing Book 2 and Book 3 in parallel so that I can keep their release dates close. I’ll keep the updates churning as I make progress on these manuscripts.

I’ve also planned a few surprises for you as the year unfolds (including a newsletter exclusive novella!) so stay tuned, and thanks so much for your continued support!

“No one is allowed to frighten what is mine.” -Hollowstalk the Scarecrow

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We did it. It’s launch day for The Scarecrow’s Queen, and Monster’s Duet is complete.

A year ago, when we planned this project, I don’t think we quite understood how big our vision would become. But we should have known. We’re ambitious, and well… we committed to making Monster’s Duet great.

It’s been an adventure, becoming coauthors of not just one but two books. It’s been a learning experience like none other, and I’ve grown so much in through this process. There’s nothing like coauthoring to get out of one’s head and explore another’s methods in writing craft and publishing.

Thanks to Naomi for taking this plunge with me! –xoxox, Mel

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Want to learn a gargoyle’s secret name? 

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It’s time. A Gargoyle’s Delight is available, and we’re thrilled to bring you this book just in time for the spooky season.

I hope you find this romantic adventure to be frightful and endearing. In A Gargoyle’s Delight, readers will adventure with Summer as she faces a demon while wielding a gargoyle’s secret name.

Next month the celebration will continue with the launch of The Scarecrow’s Queen in which Delilah inherits a farm and its haunted scarecrow. And in other exciting news, the audiobook of A Gargoyle’s Delight is available October 10.

Enjoy and happy reading! xoxox, Mel

“I am a monstrous creature, a mate no human should want. I am not handsome or soft—I’m hard and unyielding. I was not made for attraction, desire. I am supposed to be fearsome, avoided. My image is used to guard the sanctuaries of humankind, to frighten off the very demons that would corrupt their minds and devour their souls. A being like me was never meant to be invited inside. Never meant to be loved.”

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