📝 CURRENTLY WORKING ON…

• DAUGHTER OF WOLVES #2 is due very soon, so I am plugging away on my draft. I’m loving the way the story is going, but those happy feelings change day by day. Ask me again tomorrow 😂

COVER REVEAL

I posted a reel on my Instagram but in case you missed it…BEHOLD, the beautiful cover for my New Adult debut, DAUGHTER OF WOLVES!!!

🐺

🐺

🐺

🐺

🐺

🐺

🐺

I continue to be absolutely BLESSED by the cover gods. If you’ll recall, the vibe of this is very similar to the artwork that I commissioned and shared with my announcement, so you know I love it. This illustration was done by the incredibly talented Eva Celebril, and it has a STUNNING wraparound that I hope I can share with you all very soon. Let’s just say that there is additional character art there, and it is 🔥

Here is the official description of DAUGHTER OF WOLVES:

Darkly romantic and hauntingly beautiful, Nicki Pau Preto’s Portuguese folklore-inspired adult debut is perfect for fans of Witch of the Wolves and A Dawn of Onyx.

The Wood takes what it is owed.

Lua is a seventh-born daughter, cursed and claimed by the dark forest. Among its ancient trees and dangerous denizens, she runs barefoot and wild with the wolves who raised her. But by night, she watches the family that abandoned her at birth, curious about the strange world of humans.

Humans like Cristiano. Though Thorne—the surly, handsome protector of the Wood who Lua once called friend—warns her of the risk Cristiano poses, she can’t help but be drawn to his charm. He offers the acceptance she longs for, enchanted by her connection to the forest. While the painful distance between Lua and Thorne only seems to grow, she can’t deny that he knows something Cristiano doesn’t: Lua is a shapeshifter unable to take on her wolf form.

As Cristiano’s affections bring her into the human world, dead bodies begin to appear near the border of the Wood, with villagers casting blame on the denizens of the forest. And the tenuous peace between them starts to fray. Now Lua must spy on the humans, uncovering the truth behind the deaths—or risk losing the only home she’s known, the family she’s always dreamt of finding, and the man who loves her for who she truly is.

DAUGHTER OF WOLVES is publishing February 2, 2027!

Here are the pre-order links, and you can add it on Goodreads as well.

CALLING ALL FIRST RIDERS

Really, this is for anyone who wants to help support my books, new and old!

If you feel so inclined, I would love it if you could boost my reel announcing the cover on Instagram. Likes, comments, shares—anything helps!!

Online visibility is so important these days, and really helps build excitement and word of mouth 😊 THANK YOU!!!!!

📚 CURRENTLY READING…

• AIR AWAKENS by Elise Kova - I read ALCHEMISTS OF LOOM years ago and have been wanting to read this series for ages, and I’m loving it so far!

📺 CURRENTLY WATCHING…

• NBA Playoffs, even though my team got knocked out in the first round 🥲

• 30 Rock just got added to Netflix and I adore that show, so I’m giving it a rewatch. I relate deeply to Liz Lemon 🤓

So, what do you think of the cover???? Let me know in the comments below!

🐺🐺🐺

📝 CURRENTLY WORKING ON…

• Just sent in the final draft of DAUGHTER OF WOLVES, my next book. Now she’s off to copyedits and I can work on Other Things, like DOW2 or maaaaaaybe something new and shiny. We’ll see how I feel 🙂

A YEAR IN REVIEW

I…don’t even know where to begin. A lot has happened to me recently, specifically in the last 12 months or so. Some of it good, some of it great, some of it bad, some of it terrible. Most of it personal.

It’s not in my nature to share that kind of stuff. Just ask my closest friends. I don’t mean to withhold things or be secretive, rather, I have a strong dislike for talking about myself in any capacity. I am also someone who processes things in solitude.

That’s me in regular life, but online? The last thing I want to do is walk up to the microphone and talk about myself. Be vulnerable. Ick.

BUT, but I think because of life stuff, I’ve withdrawn even more than usual lately. It was likely a form of self preservation, and the internet in general is something I avoid whenever I am busy or stressed because it is 100% guaranteed to make things worse. However, I have been missing my community. Missing my First Riders and engaging with readers and writers online. This life I have, this career that is a literal dream come true, is thanks to my readers. It’s thanks to YOU. It actually makes me emotional. It warms my cold, dead heart. You have read my words, loved my characters, followed me online, posted pictures and reviews and gushed and pushed my books on others. What a fucking gift. As the publishing landscape shifts, as it seemingly gets harder and harder to sell books, to be successful, I am more grateful than I can possibly express for the life you have given me.

And so, even though you didn’t ask for it, I’m going to try my hardest to be more open here, in this space. And so, without further ado…the last twelve months (or so):

End of 2024

On the heels of winning my first author award for BONESMITH, I also had a 15 year-ish relationship come to an end. I’m not going to get into details but it was a really, really hard time. It had been for months and it would continue to be for months. I moved into my friend’s basement and just tried to get through my deadlines.

Before the end of the year, I also found out my dad had stage 4 cancer.

January 2025

I went to Mexico with a writing friend for a much needed escape, and started drafting DAUGHTER OF WOLVES. It’s based on Portuguese folklore, and, since I am Portuguese through my father, it felt like the right time to work on it.

May 2025

After a few months of writing and preparing my proposal, my agent sold DAUGHTER OF WOLVES to Saturday Books. This was a new chapter in my publishing career, and it feels like it really kicked me out of limbo. I now knew what the next couple years would look like. I had some guaranteed income. I felt like I could breathe a little.

June 2025

For most of the year, I’d been looking at Nova Scotia real estate. I live in Ontario, where housing is astronomical, and my mom lives out east. I fantasized about buying a beachside house and running away to write books. It was extremely appealing to me…until I realized that I might be lonelier than even I liked to be. I showed a listing (with it’s own private beach!!!!!) to my sister-in-law, who show my niece, and she cried. She didn’t want me to move away 🥹 And of course, even though both my parents are living elsewhere (mom in Nova Scotia and dad in Portugal) my brothers, my nieces and nephews, my closest friends, all lived here, in Ontario. Then I thought maybe I could rent a new place instead, but rent in Ontario is higher than most mortgage payments. I met with a mortgage broker (university friend and reader of my books from the beginning—hi Sunny!) more out of curiosity than anything else. To my surprise, I was approved for more than I expected—me as a single, self-employed person. Long story short, I made an offer on a house in my hometown where I grew up. Literally 3 minutes away from both my brothers and their kids and my best friends. A month later, I was a first time home owner. By myself. I did this. Or rather, you, my readers, did this. I can never thank you enough.

July 2025

I turned 40 on the 14th and took possession of my house on the 25th. My friend Jessi threw me an amazing party, and it’s one of the best nights I can remember. It was sweltering, and we all wound up in the pool at 2am. Epic. Amazing. A birthday to remember.

I spent weeks on home renovations and moved in September 1st, though I’d continue to work on it for the next month or so. I’ll have to share a house tour sometime, but this might be one of my proudest moments ever.

December 2025-February 2026

I worked hard on revisions for DAUGHTER OF WOLVES. I started coaching my nephew’s U15 rep basketball team with my brother, which has been such a blast. Basketball was one of my first loves, and I played competitively for years before injuries sidelined me. I still watch the NBA pretty much every night, and love going to games. It’s been such a joy to see my nephew excel at it, to get to shoot around at practice with my brother like we used to when we were kids.

I hosted family Christmas. I cut off all my hair and I’m obsessed with it. My mom now has a place to stay when she comes to visit. Life is good.

February 7th, 2026

My dad died.

Death is hard. It is final. Our relationship was never great, but we had our moments. We didn’t have a lot in common, but we both loved good food, hot weather (the hotter the better), and sweeping, epic movies. Some of my best memories are him teaching me how to clean a sardine fresh off the grill, which parts of the crab had the best meat, or how to properly use a knife and fork. We both loved the beach in Portugal, the sun and the ocean. The heat. We also loved stories. He never read my books, but he’s a part of them. He is Veronyka’s lost father. Wren’s distant, disapproving parent. He is Vin’s search for acceptance.

And he is all over DAUGHTER OF WOLVES, in the orange roof tiles and port wine, the familial legacies good and bad.

I wish we had been closer. I wish he’d understood me and I’d understood him. I wish things could have been different.

I wish, I wish, I wish.

Now

I hosted a Galentine’s Party last Friday and boy did I need it. I needed to be around my nearest and dearest. It was medicine.

I handed in the final draft of DOW today, and I am so ready for this next year. I’ll be working on DOW2, and trying to get something else ready to sell. I’ll continue working on my house, spending time with friends and family, and being so fucking grateful.

I feel like I am more myself than ever before, and it is making me feel bold. Fearless. And excited for what’s to come.

Thanks for being here. For caring. For coming along for the ride.

📚 CURRENTLY READING…

• FABLE by Adrienne Young because I needed some sand and sun this winter, and it did not disappoint! Definitely Pirates of the Caribbean vibes, and the audiobook was fantastic.

• I have been extremely lucky to read some books pre-publication including CAPTIVE TRAITOR KING by Brigid Kemmerer (SO. GOOD.) and THE DARK IN HER VEINS by M. K. Lobb, whose writing I adore and this is no different.

📺 CURRENTLY WATCHING…

• Heated Rivalry, which I’ve watched TWICE, because HOLY SHIT was it ever good. Such an excellent adaptation of a book I really enjoyed. If only all adaptations were done this well.

• I saw Predator: Badlands in the theatre on a whim with my nephew (we love stupid monster movies) and it’s one of the best movies I’ve seen in ages! It’s an epic journey with a grumpy x sunshine dynamic, found family, and excellent familial drama. Highly recommend!

Thanks for reading! Please drop any questions or comments you have below!

🐺🐺🐺

In case you missed it, I announced my Next Thing on Instagram! It’s called DAUGHTER OF WOLVES, a New Adult fantasy romance!

I am soooo excited about this book!!! It’ll be a duology, and it has so many of my favorite things. Here are some of the tropes/elements you can expect:

🌙 Dark fairy tale vibes
🌙 Spice
🌙 Arranged marriage
🌙 Yearning
🌙 Love triangle
🌙 Magic forest
🌙 Shifters
🌙 Betrayal & revenge
🌙 Princess Mononoke meets One Dark Window
🌙 Fantasy-Horror

A little backstory

This book actually has its roots in a partial novel I wrote while querying CROWN OF FEATHERS back in 2016 (almost 10 years ago!!). It came from a dream, which is unusual for me, but since I needed a distraction, I dove right in. At the time, it was a Red Riding Hood retelling, and again, retellings are not something I ever thought I’d write. But it was dark and brutal and sexy, too…but I pantsed it (as in, wrote it without an outline) and ran out of steam around 30k in. Then, things started happening with COF, and I put the book aside.

Fast-forward to last summer, and I found myself thinking about this world again. Especially when I stumbled upon a Portuguese folk tale about female werewolf shifters. Suddenly, I knew exactly how to resurrect that old story. I was still under contract, working my way through LAST HOPE 2, but as soon as I wrapped things up, I went on a writing retreat in Mexico and started drafting.

The words flowed, the first-person present POV sucking me in and making the world come alive. Before long I had some sample chapters, an outline and pitch materials, and my agent took it on submission. We tried it a few different places and age categories, but New Adult, that crossover category with fast-paced YA storytelling coupled with more mature themes and experiences, was the absolute perfect fit. Saturday Books (and my new editor Sara Goodman) knew exactly what to do with it, and I cannot wait to share this story with you all!

It’s also coming out in the UK, and hopefully more places to come!

UPCOMING EVENTS

I will be at the Tween Reads Book Festival in Houston this weekend!

The full event schedule is here, and my panel times and locations are below:

11:00 - 11:40 AM CT: Magic in the Moment
Authors: Victor Pineiro, Nicki Pau Preto, James Riley, Kacy Ritter
Location: Dance Room 2

12:50 - 1:30 PM CT: Laughs, Tears, and Thrills
Authors: Jen Calonita, Nicki Pau Preto, Misa Sugiura, Lauren Tarshis
Location: Auditorium

2:40 - 3:20 PM CT: Friendship is Magical
Authors: Jen Calonita, Meg Medina, Nicki Pau Preto
Location: Dance Room 1

I will also be at the Wild Writers Lit Fest in Waterloo on November 8th!

My panel runs from 1:30 - 2:50 pm, and a ticket is required to attend! If you’re local, I hope I’ll see you there for a fun discussion!

LAST HOPE AWARD NOMINATIONS

I’m also super honored to share some award nominations LAST HOPE has received! The count is up to 3 😱, which is so amazing and worth celebrating, even if I don’t get the win.

• 2025-2026 Great Stone Face Children’s Book Award Nominee

• 2025 The Cartwheel Book Awards Nominee

• Forest of Reading Silver Birch Fiction Nominee

Okay, that’s it for now! Please drop any questions or comments you have below!

🌙🌙🌙

I’ll be moderating a panel THIS SATURDAY at 2pm at Chapters Woodbridge! If you’re local, come hang out and enjoy a bookish afternoon with me, Elora Cook, June Hur, and Jackie Khalilieh!

THE FORBIDDEN ROOM

I’ve been so busy lately I’ve completely lost track of the fact that LAST HOPE 2: THE FORBIDDEN ROOM is out on Tuesday! September has flown by, and it feels like I only just launched book 1, and here we are with book 2. I am super proud of this book, this world, and these characters. I hope you’ll give this series a try!

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

THE FORBIDDEN ROOM got another lovely trade review, this time from School Library Journal!

“A charming cast of magical underdogs find their place in this captivating series.” - School Library Journal

📚 CURRENTLY READING

• THE KNIGHT AND THE MOTH by Rachel Gillig - Truly adoring this unique world and the delicious enemies to lovers romance! Plus Bartholomew 😏

📺 CURRENTLY WATCHING

• Just started Love Island Games so NO SPOILERS but damn I love this trash 😂

Please drop any questions or comments you have below!

🐺🐺🐺

For my UK readers, the GHOSTSMITH ebook is currently on sale over on Amazon right now, so if you want a digital copy, it’s only 99p!

LAST HOPE PAPERBACK

The paperback edition of THE LAST HOPE SCHOOL FOR MAGICAL DELINQUENTS released on Tuesday! You can buy a copy here.

KIRKUS REVIEW

Speaking of LAST HOPE, book 2, THE FORBIDDEN ROOM, just got a lovely review from Kirkus!

“An entertaining blend of thrilling magic and hijinks.” - Kirkus Reviews

The sequel to LAST HOPE comes out September 30th.

You can read the full review here.

📚 CURRENTLY READING

• This Will Be Fun by E. B. Asher - this is a story about a set of heroes post-heroics, and they are jaded, drunk, and tired…perfect millennial vibes 😂

📺 CURRENTLY WATCHING

• Murderbot - I loved the books and loved the show! Perfect cozy sci-fi and I’m thrilled they’re doing a second season.

That’s it for now! Please drop any questions or comments you have below!

☠️☠️☠️

Right now you can pre-order three of my books from Barnes & Noble and get 25% off if you’re a member! If you’re gonna buy, now is a good time 😊

Pre-order GHOSTSMITH Paperback

Pre-order LAST HOPE Paperback

Pre-order LAST HOPE 2 Hardcover

Bye for now!

🐺🐺🐺

Hello friends! Please forgive my absence over the past… *checks notes* …4+ months!! 😅 I swear I’m doing stuff, and I’m continuing to do stuff, which is why I keep forgetting to write my newsletter. And then the longer I go without writing it, the more I have to recap, so I keep pushing it off…and off…and here we are 😜

UPDATES - Foreign Releases

Well, since I’ve been gone (cue Kelly Clarkson), BONESMITH has come out in several additional languages and territories! I’ve been blessed with some truly gorgeous photos, and so much cosplay! Check out my tagged photos on Instagram to see more, but here is a selection:

CZECH

POLISH

RUSSIAN

UPCOMING

UPDATES - English Language Releases!

I have paperback editions and a new hardcover release coming up, schedule is as follows:

• THE LAST HOPE SCHOOL FOR MAGICAL DELINQUENTS paperback - August 5th (USA & CAN)

• GHOSTSMITH paperback - August 19th (USA & CAN)

• GHOSTSMITH paperback - August 21st (UK)

• THE LAST HOPE SCHOOL FOR MAGICAL DELINQUENTS: THE FORBIDDEN ROOM hardcover - September 30th

INDIGO PRE-ORDER SALE

Speaking of summer releases, Indigo currently has the paperback edition of LAST HOPE on sale 30% off as part of their Most Anticipated Canadian Books special! It’s a great way to grab a copy cheap and maybe keep the kids in your life (or yourself) reading over the summer 😊

NEXT THING

Okay, so I can’t share details yet, but I have officially sold my Next Thing, and though I hope to share all with you some time over the next couple months, here’s some vibes to tide you over until then!

❤️🐺🌙

📚 CURRENTLY READING

• Just finished BELLADONNA by Adalyn Grace and had a great time with the gothic vibes and mysterious romance!

• Gobbled up BRIDE by Ali Hazelwood and can’t wait for the sequel!

📺 CURRENTLY WATCHING

• Silo Season 2 - I’ve been on a dystopian kick lately and I love Rebecca Ferguson! Eager to see where this season goes…

• Love Island USA - I’m an addict (and a mommy)(IYKYK)

Okay, I think that’s finally it! Please drop any questions or comments you have below!

☠️☠️☠️

I’m super excited to share the cover for LAST HOPE book two with everyone today!! The cover, description, and release date are all live across the internet, with pre-order links ready to go.

BUT FIRST…

✨

✨

✨

✨

✨

✨

✨

The beautiful! stunning! amazing! cover for THE LAST HOPE SCHOOL FOR MAGICAL DELINQUENTS: THE FORBIDDEN ROOM *mic drop*

I never know where to begin! I just adore James Firnhaber’s artwork, which so perfectly captured the magic and whimsy of LAST HOPE book 1, and book 2 is no different. The colors, the composition, not to mention the character art, which includes some sinister school board inspectors as well as a new student, and Brucifer, who I thought was on the cover of book 1 but that was actually just fire and THIS, clearly, is Brucifer, because he has little eyeballs 🥹 You’ll also see some other fun surprises, like the bug Vin is holding, and what is in Gilly’s jar?? 😏

I’m also so happy to share the full wrap, which includes Theo and Araminta, plus glimpses of a certain villain you may recall from the end of book 1, and some hints at what’s in store for Vin and the rest of Last Hope!

Here is the official description:

Vin and her friends are back in this thrilling sequel to The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents, perfect for fans of Nevermoor and The School for Good and Evil!

Lavinia “Vin” Lucas has finally found a home. At Last Hope School, she's made friends (including a magical fire sprite!) who love her for who she is, and gifted headmistress Ava Hope is guiding her in her newfound abilities as a Chameleon. But after the chaos and danger of last year, and the attack on the school, the eye of the Magical School Board is trained on Last Hope, and they are desperate to get Ava Hope and her unconventional methods removed from the school for good.

Meanwhile, beyond the magical wards of Last Hope, the Free Mages grow ever stronger, and their enigmatic new leader will do anything to get his hands on the increasingly powerful Vin. It's going to take every ounce of cunning Vin and her friends have to send the crooked school board packing while warding off the looming threat of the Free Mages.

With family secrets swirling, a mysterious new student with mind-reading powers entering the picture, and even a water sprite joining the crew, year two is more surprising and difficult than ever. And when the world of magic faces destruction, Vin must use her powers—no matter how dangerous—and do whatever she can to save her friends and Last Hope School once and for all.

LAST HOPE 2: THE FORBIDDEN ROOM publishes September 30th, 2025!

Here are the pre-order links, and you can add on Goodreads as well:

✨ Amazon.com
✨ Amazon.ca
✨ Barnes & Noble
✨ Indigo
✨ Goodreads

PRE-ORDER SALE

And, just in time, is B&N’s pre-order sale! You can get THE FORBIDDEN ROOM for 25% off if you’re a member. Check it out here.

EVENTS

I’ve got two events in Ontario for the month of March, details here:

In-Conversation with Kristen Ciccarelli
March 7th at 7pm, Indigo Kitchener
This is a ticketed event, and the cost covers a copy of Kristen’s book

Panel with Kristen Ciccarelli, Elly Blake, M. K. Lobb, and Elora Cook
March 27th at 6pm, Indigo North London

I hope I see some of you there!!

📚 CURRENTLY READING

• ONE DARK WINDOW by Rachel Gillig - just started this but absolutely loving it!! Finding it very inspiring for my current work-in-progress…

• EMILY WILDE #2 - I adored book 1, and cannot get enough of Emily, Wendell, and their scholarly hijinks! Also inspiring for another work-in-progress…

📺 CURRENTLY WATCHING

• Carnival Row - my friend has been bugging me to watch this for ages, and I finally cracked and started it. Loving the dark vibes and historical-adjacent world. Definitely inspiring…for…things… 😂

• The Good Place - This is a rewatch, but I just adore this show. So funny, so clever, and a masterclass in pacing and twists. Not inspiring for anything YET, but you never know 😏

Okay, that’s it! Please drop any questions or comments you have below!

✨✨✨

I know most end of year recaps happened at the end of last year, and most new year newsletters were sent at the start of this year, but, the end of last year was a hard one for me, and it’s still January, and I just got back from vacation, so what is time anyway?

THE LAST HOPE SCHOOL FOR MAGICAL DELINQUENTS published!

I can’t believe I haven’t written a newsletter since my middle grade novel debuted! It came out on October 1, 2024, and I’m so super proud of it. It’s all the cozy, funny, found family mischief I could cram into a book, and I hope you’ll give it a shot!

Buy it here!

Here are some wonderful things that fellow authors and trade publications had to say about it:

Thank you so much to everyone who bought a copy, or posted a picture, or gifted it to the children in your life. I will have some more LAST HOPE SCHOOL news soon, including the cover and release date for book 2!! Stay tuned!

Southern Festival of Books

I was so lucky to be able to attend the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville, doing an incredible school visit and panel with fellow MG authors. Here are some gorgeous, very professional looking photos taken by author Adam Rosenbaum’s wife:

I walked around the city (Nashville is amazing) and the festival, seeing other panels and buying signed books. Such a fun time!

Arlene Barlin Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy

BONESMITH was nominated for an award in Canada, and it WON! I was so incredibly surprised and honored. CROWN OF FEATHERS received some award nominations, but this is my first win, and I got to dress up and go to an award ceremony and everything. What a truly humbling night, and LOOK, my book as a sticker on it, like the fancy ones!!

It was truly such an amazing experience, and a lovely reminder that you never know, even a year after publication, where your books might take you :)

GHOSTSMITH named an Indigo Best Book of the Year

The cherry on top of a busy year :)

2025 UPDATES

I just got back from a vacation/writing retreat in Mexico, and leaving the sun and sand for polar vortex freezing temperatures was not a good time. But the trip was beautiful and productive! Working on my Next Thing and hoping I can share more soon. In the meantime, here are some pics of exactly where I wish I was right now:

EVENT(S)

I am so super excited that I will be in conversation with Kristen Ciccarelli on March 7 in Kitchener, Ontario, for the release of REBEL WITCH, the highly anticipated (by me, and everyone) sequel to HEARTLESS HUNTER.

This is a ticketed event, so please check out Kristen’s website for links and more information.

I’m also in the middle of lining up another event in London at the end of March, with more details soon!

SPECIAL EDITIONS

Dreamerwhale

I am so excited to be able to share more special edition news! The Italian Dreamerwhale edition of BONESMITH shipped, and I cannot get over how stunning and unique this edition is!

Gorgeous photo gallery thanks to @nicebooks_pics on Instagram!

The Bookish Box

Last but certainly not least, the Bookish Box special edition of GHOSTSMITH will soon be available!! They shared details online today, including images of the artwork and the on-sale dates. Learn more here, and check out these mockups!

Okay, phew, I think that’s it! Is anyone else tired? I’m tired.

I’ll try to get back to sending these more frequently, so they don’t have to be so jam-packed. If you lasted this long, thanks, and I’ll be in touch again soon! Please drop any questions or comments you have below!

👻👻👻

I just handed in my first major revisions on LAST HOPE 2, which have kept me very busy over the last month of summer. And as soon as I turned it in…I got sick! This always happens when I push myself a bit too hard, and now I’m trying to rest and recover 🤒

GHOSTSMITH

During that deadline haze, the second and final book in the House of the Dead duology published! GHOSTSMITH is out now in the US/Canada, the UK, and in France!

Here are some buy links!

I also want to thank you all, truly, for shouting about it, sharing pictures, and posting reviews—I sincerely couldn’t do this without you! Writing GHOSTSMITH was really hard for me, possibly the hardest time I’ve had writing a book so far (Wings of Shadow is up there too, and I sense a theme with last books in a series being a challenge) and I worried my readers would be disappointed. So, to see so many positive reviews was such a relief. Again, thank you!!! Y’all really are my ride or dies.

Foreign Rights

These are always tricky to share because we often don’t know when the book will be published or when we’re allowed to share the news, but I’m so happy to reveal that the House of the Dead duology will be publishing in:

• US/Canada

• UK

• Russia

• Italy

• France

• Spain

• Czech Republic

• Germany

With more to come! This has been such a thrill, as the Crown of Feathers trilogy didn’t do as well with foreign rights, and some publishers only bought one or two books in the trilogy (which absolutely sucks for readers to not be able to finish a series), but all these publishers have bought the complete duology, which is super exciting! And as I said…more to come!

Special Editions

I also want to take a moment to shout out some special editions!

The Fairyloot special edition of GHOSTSMITH is available for pre-order! I have gotten my copy of this and let me tell you, it is perfection and a gorgeous match for their BONESMITH edition. There is also some amazing character art inside, including a certain Gold Prince and some of Wren’s Breachside family…

The Bookish Box edition of BONESMITH is still available, and I absolutely love what they did for the cover and edge artwork. It’s truly stunning. I would also keep an eye out on their social media for an announcement sometime this fall… 🤐

Finally, the Dreamerwhale edition of BONESMITH is also available for my Italian readers, though frankly, this book is so pretty, I’d want a copy just for the cover. This is hands down my favorite special edition I’ve ever gotten, and like Bookish Box, they went in a wholly unique direction, which I am obsessed with.

Kobo Writing Life Podcast

I also did this great podcast interview with Kobo to coincide with the release of GHOSTSMITH, and it was such a fun chat, with a lot of discussion about my process, which might appeal to other writers out there!

You can listen on their website here, on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts!

THE LAST HOPE SCHOOL FOR MAGICAL DELINQUENTS

Is coming out in TWO WEEKS 😱 on October 1st!! I’ve never launched two books in the same year before, never mind like 6 weeks apart, and I feel like I’m dropping the ball on keeping you all in the loop!

This book is a combination of so many of my favorite things with regard to contemporary fantasy, including:

• misfits and found family

• x-men style magic

• magic boarding school!

• mischief and mayhem, like a black market homework trade and constant side bets and shady deals

• Home Alone style climax where the kids must defend against attack

So, I hope you’ll give it a try and come with me to this new genre/age category! I think there’s something for there for older and younger readers alike, and I can’t wait to hear what you think. I’ve also got some travel coming up for this release, and I’ll share more when I can!

You can find pre-order links here!

📚 CURRENTLY READING

• HEARTLESS HUNTER by Kristen Ciccarelli - I am fully understanding what all the hype is about! I loved Kristen’s Iskari series but she really knocked it out of the park with this one. I’m just on the last few chapters and am already eagerly awaiting book 2! The book is a masterclass in drama, tension, and stakes.

• LEGENDS & LATTES by Travis Baldree - I read this earlier this summer, and I really enjoyed it! The audio was really excellent. It was careful world building with subtle character interactions, like the build up to a vast fantasy world—but it never left that slow, gentle state. It’s like if Tolkien never left Hobbiton, and I dug it!

📺 CURRENTLY WATCHING

• Good Girls - I’ve had this on my Netflix watch list for years and I finally started the other day! It’s fun, empowering, and making my brain chew over new story ideas…

• Stranger Things - I love watching this show at this time of year, and I still need to finish the most recent season, so maybe I’ll make it all the way through this time! But for me, season 1 is perfection

Okay, I think that’s finally it! Please drop any questions or comments you have below!

☠️☠️☠️

I’m so excited to finally be able to share that Fairyloot is doing a special edition of GHOSTSMITH to match their stunning BONESMITH edition!!! This is not a part of their regular subscription, which means you’ll hopefully have a better chance of getting your hands on a copy. Here is their announcement post for more information.

I absolutely adore what they’ve done here, particularly the color palette, which is what I was hoping for the US edition but my publisher thought it would make the books look too similar. But that ghost green! Perfection. Not to mention Wren’s bad self on the edges again. I have not seen the final artwork for the interior, but I do know that a certain Golden Prince will be featured along with a few others we haven’t seen before!

FAIRYLOOT GIVEAWAY

In honor of this announcement, I am doing a giveaway for the Fairyloot edition of BONESMITH for my newsletter subscribers!

To enter, please LIKE/COMMENT/SHARE my most recent reel on Instagram, then comment on this post with a link to your Instagram page so I can check. That’s it!

I’ll choose a winner on Monday morning and contact you through DM. Giveaway is open internationally! If I don’t hear back by Tuesday morning, I will select another winner, so make sure you check your messages!

MORE EVENTS

I’ve got TWO upcoming events, both with fellow YA fantasy authors Kristen Ciccarelli and M. K. Lobb, and moderated by Elly Blake! The first is next Friday, the second the Friday after that––so come out and chat fantasy with us, and get your books signed!

Please drop any questions or comments you have below!

☠️☠️☠️

I forgot to mention that BONESMITH’s paperback released on July 2nd (!!) and it’s an Indigo Staff Pick of the Month!! This is a huge honor, and I’ve been too busy to visit the book in store, but I know it’ll get some prime placement for the month of July, (which is also my birth month 🦀♋︎, but don’t ask me how old I am) and I can’t wait to visit some local stores to sign and check it out. If you see it in the wild, please snap a pick and send it to me!

SALES

Because it’s a Staff Pick, BONESMITH’s paperback is on sale all month, and the hardcover is also still on sale.

Additionally, GHOSTSMITH was chosen as one of Indigo’s Most Anticipated Canadian Books, so pre-orders of the sequel are also on sale!! This one ends July 7th (as in, tomorrow) so I’d scoop that one ASAP if you’re interested. It’s definitely the cheapest the hardcover will be!

• Buy BONESMITH's hardcover ($20.87 Price reduced from $24.99)

• Buy BONESMITH’s paperback ($13.59 Price reduced from $16.99)

• Pre-order GHOSTSMITH’s hardcover ($18.74 Price reduced from $24.99)

GIVEAWAY

S&S Canada is celebrating the release of the BONESMITH paperback with a giveaway! 5 lucky winners will receive both a paperback of BONESMITH and an ARC of GHOSTSMITH! Giveaway ends July 12th. More info here.

EVENT REMINDER

I will be in Grimsby, Ontario, TOMORROW from 5-6:30pm for Grimsby Books anniversary celebration! Come say hi if you’re in the area! I have some WINGS OF SHADOW woodmarks left over that I’m bringing, as well as an ARC of GHOSTSMITH for the first person who asks!

Please drop any questions or comments you have below!

☠️☠️☠️

My publisher is running a giveaway for an annotated hardcover of BONESMITH and a signed ARC of GHOSTSMITH!!!!

I have never annotated a book before and I was so nervous because my handwriting is garbage, but I think I did okay 😅 and as you can see there are TONS of tabs.

Enter the giveaway here (you must be a US resident, I’m sorry international peeps) before midnight on July 1st.

EVENT REMINDER

I will be in Grimsby, Ontario, next Sunday, July 7th from 5-6:30pm for Grimsby Books anniversary celebration! There will be a ton of other awesome authors there signing books and hanging out, so come see us!

That’s it for now! Please drop any questions or comments you have below!

☠️☠️☠️

I just handed in the first draft of LAST HOPE 2 and collapsed. My mom is visiting for the week for my niece’s grade 8 graduation (!!!) so I’m hopping straight into family stuff while watching the Euro Cup whenever I can (viva Portugal! 🇵🇹)

I’ve got more exciting news coming this summer, including GHOSTMITH in less than 2 months, but that’ll be for the next newsletter! I hope you’re all having a lovely summer so far ☀️

KINDLE DEAL

The BONESMITH ebook is currently on sale for $1.99 at Amazon!

INDIGO’S MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS

GHOSTSMITH is one of Indigo’s Most Anticipated Books, so you get 500 bonus Plum points if you pre-order, plus it’s 20% off right now as a part of the Indigo bestsellers sale!

BONESMITH’s paperback pre-order is also on sale right now as a part of the same bestseller promotion (20% off) plus the hardcover is also on sale! HOUSE OF THE DEAD FOR EVERYBODY!!! ☠️👻

UPCOMING EVENTS

I’ll be at Grimsby Books’ First Anniversary celebration on Sunday, July 7th from 5-6:30 pm, signing books and hanging out. There will be lots of other authors in attendance, so if you’re in the area you should come visit me!

I will also be carrying an ARC of GHOSTSMITH that I will give to the first person who asks me for it! 👻👻👻

I have some other events coming up in July/August, but I will share when I have more details!

FOREIGN EDITIONS

I am woefully behind on this, but HEART OF FLAMES came out in German in May, and the Italian edition of BONESMITH came out at the start of June!

The German HOF is the fattest book in my collection 😂 and the Italian edition comes with SPRAYED EDGES on the standard hardcover!! I had no idea about this and it was a wonderful surprise when my author copies arrived. It’s a perfect ghostly green and matches the cover artwork beautifully.

The Italian edition is also being included in a book box and I cannot wait to see the final product (what I’ve seen so far might make it my favorite version yet).

It’s available through Dreamerwhale Box and it is gonna be EPIC. Check out their Instagram for more information!

That’s it for now, but I’ll be in touch again soon! Please drop any questions or comments you have below!

☠️☠️☠️

Amazon.com has a sale on all three of the Crown of Feathers ebooks, so now is a great time to scoop them for cheap!

And while browsing, I saw that the Bonesmith hardcover is also on sale!

Instagram Giveaway

I’m doing an Instagram giveaway for a signed ARC of GHOSTSMITH! I thought I’d share it here, in case any of you missed the ARC sign up I did on the last newsletter.

Okay, that’s it! Please drop any questions or comments you have below!

☠️☠️☠️

As mentioned, Barnes & Noble is running their pre-order sale for customers who are enrolled in B&N’s Membership program. You can get 25% off all physical books, audiobooks, and ebooks using the code PREORDER25. I have three different books available for you to pre-order, with links below (sale ends Friday):

☠️ BONESMITH paperback

👻 GHOSTSMITH hardcover, audiobook, and ebook

🏡 THE LAST HOPE SCHOOL FOR MAGICAL DELINQUENTS hardcover, audiobook, and ebook

AMAZON UK

I also wanted to add that BONESMITH is on sale in the UK for £0.99 again! I have no idea how long it will be on sale for, so if you’re interested, should probably grab it soon!

ARC OPPORTUNITIES

Interested in reading GHOSTSMITH early??

My publisher has asked me for any House of the Dead "super fans" who are also influencers/bookstagrammers/booktokers who might be interested in receiving an ARC of Ghostsmith! If this is you, please fill out this form before April 22nd.

Are you a librarian or bookseller??

Just putting out a reminder/repost from my last newsletter. If any of you are librarians or booksellers and are interested in reading LAST HOPE early and potentially providing a short review/blurb for use in promotional materials, please email me at asknickipaupreto [at] gmail [dot] com

MORE LAST HOPE STUFF

Firstly, it’s been a while now but I was so excited to see LAST HOPE featured in PW’s Fall 2024 Children's Sneak Preview!

Launching a book into the MG space feels a bit like being a debut again, so while I know the amount of online promotion will be very different from YA, I’m always so happy to see my little magic school book pop up anywhere 🥹

Speaking of, my publisher sent me this amazing graphic today! It’s going to be used on Edelweiss (which is an online platform used by libraries and booksellers) and I JUST LOVE IT SO MUCH!!! All the fun little tidbits! The comp titles! My girl Vin!!! I’ve never seen something like this for any of my books and it’s such a thrill 🤩

I have also seen the full wrap for the hardcover and YOU GUYS. I mean, it’s just completely perfect, and I cannot believed how blessed I am to have so much character art!!

I’m actually not sure who all these people ARE (lol) but they look FABULOUS! I’ll dig more into the magic and the characters I do know in a later newsletter, but for now, please enjoy this stunning piece of artwork done by the incredible James Firnhaber who has done so many gorgeous covers I could scroll his portfolio for hours.

OTHER UPDATES

• As you can see from the pics above, I have physical ARCs of LAST HOPE and GHOSTSMITH, and there will be lots of giveaways coming soon (including a special one with my publisher!). Stay tuned!

• I can confirm that there will be at least one special edition of GHOSTSMITH. I cannot say more, but rest assured, I will share as soon as I can 🤐

• I am currently drafting LAST HOPE 2 and while I can’t share much yet, I have been having such a blast. These kids are a delight. I’m also working on 4+ other book ideas 🤪 that I hope to be able to share more about sometime this year!

📚 CURRENTLY READING

• RUTHLESS VOWS by Rebecca Ross - I am this close to finishing this lovely historical fantasy duology. Thus far, the first book was my favorite, but I haven’t hit the end yet so…

• A ROVER’S STORY by Jasmine Warga - this is like Murderbot for kids and I am SO here for it.

📺 CURRENTLY WATCHING

• Fallout - I never played the game, but I’m enjoying this bizarre post-apocalyptic universe! It’s definitely darker than I thought it was gonna be, but I’m into it.

• DUNE Part 2 - I saw this TWICE in theaters and would easily see it again. I read the first book and I am just enamored of the films. The music! The effects! It is the ultimate escape. This is adaptation done so, so right. I recommend both the book and the movies!

Okay, I think that’s finally it! Please drop any questions or comments you have below!

☠️☠️☠️

Welcome to the very last school for the most troublesome students

I cannot tell you all how EXCITED I am to finally be able to talk more about LAST HOPE, my debut middle grade novel!!! It’s a contemporary fantasy that was such a treat to write, full of mischief and mayhem, and all the fun of a magic school story.

THE LAST HOPE SCHOOL FOR MAGICAL DELINQUENTS

Here is the official description:

A middle grade magic school fantasy perfect for fans of The School for Good and Evil and Witchlings, in which a girl with unparalleled power must work with her misfit classmates to save her new school.

Lavinia “Vin” Lucas is out of control and out of options. Stranded by parents who would rather use their average magical abilities to study dung beetles than raise her, Vin’s been on her own for years. But she’s never been able to corral her own powerful, unpredictable magic. After years of detention, suspension, and expulsion from magic schools far and wide, she’s now being sent to the Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents. If she gets expelled, it’s the end of the line.

Now, Vin is determined to behave. Except no one at Last Hope seems to want her to. Her new teachers—particularly the school’s kind headmistress—push her to explore her magic, and her mischievous classmates delight in every accident. And all the while, a mysterious fire sprite, a suspicious instructor, and her overwhelming abilities might just sabotage Vin. But for the first time, she is not alone.

So when a former student begins attacking the school, Vin must question just how much she knows about the headmistress and her new home. Is this place worth saving? And are her budding abilities—and every trick, trap, and deception in her friends’ delinquent arsenal—enough to protect Last Hope?

THE LAST HOPE SCHOOL FOR MAGICAL DELINQUENTS, my middle grade debut, publishes October 1, 2024!

And now, finally, it’s time for the cover (which is UTTER PERFECTION).

Are you ready???

✨

✨

✨

✨

✨

✨

✨

✨

✨

✨

I mean, where do I even BEGIN??? There are so many incredible details to go over, from the creeping vines to the skulking (taxidermy) tiger to the magical paper airplanes, and that’s not to mention the incredible character art! Top left is Last Hope’s enigmatic headmistress, Ava Hope, while front and center is my girl Vin Lucas, along with her new friends Gilly (top right), Araminta (bottom left), and her twin brother Theo. And THEIR MAGIC! Everything looks so vivid and colorful and FUN. The atmosphere is truly magical, and everything about this cover just makes me SO HAPPY. I think it’s inviting, quirky, and mysterious, which is truly perfect for LAST HOPE. Endless thank you’s to Kate and Lucia at Viking Books for Young Readers for this incredible design, and to James Firnhaber for the truly stunning, breathtaking art (check out his portfolio, it’s AMAZING)!

Here are the pre-order links, and you can add on Goodreads as well:

✨ Amazon.com
✨ Amazon.ca
✨ Barnes & Noble
✨ Indigo
✨ Goodreads

LAST HOPE Advance Reader Copies

I’m very excited to share that there will be print ARCs available for LAST HOPE! I don’t know how many I’ll get or who to request one from just yet, but stay tuned.

Librarian and Bookseller Reviews

Speaking of, if any of you are librarians or booksellers and are interested in reading LAST HOPE early and potentially providing a short review/blurb for use in promotional materials, please email me at asknickipaupreto [at] gmail [dot] com

📚 CURRENTLY READING

• The Mossheart’s Promise by Rebecca Mix - I finished this one recently and oh man did it speak to my inner child! I absolutely adored this apocalyptic fairy world, and can’t recommend it enough for any middle grade lovers, young and old.

• The Summer Queen by Rochelle Hassan - I just started this one but I absolutely adored the first book in the series, and I know I’ll love this one too. It’s multi-POV contemporary YA fantasy with lovable and sympathetic characters, dark and dangerous magic, and storytelling that doesn’t pull punches. If that sounds like something you’d like, definitely pick up book 1, The Buried and the Bound!

📺 CURRENTLY WATCHING

• Halo - I never played the video game so I can’t speak to the “authenticity” of this adaptation, but I’m enjoying it all the same! It’s an interesting sci-fi world to escape to, a mix of action and politics and fantasy style magic and mysticism.

• Vanderpump Rules - I jumped on this show after Scandoval last year, and I am officially hooked on this MESS 😂

• The Challenge - Another reality TV show I have been obsessed with for many years. This has been a weaker season, but I still love the show, and often rewatch older seasons.

That’s it for today! Pleeeeeeeease let me know what you think of the cover in the comments below!!! I’m so excited to share more about LAST HOPE soon!!

✨✨✨

Hello my friends! I just wanted to let you know that I will be doing an Instagram Live on Wednesday, November 29th at 7pm EST with Ashley Shuttleworth!

The event is to help launch A GRIM AND SUNKEN VOW, book 3 in the epic Hollow Star Saga, but we’re just going to be chatting all things writing and fantasy, so even if you haven’t read those books (add them to your TBR), you can still attend and have fun!

I have also just hit a deadline (it may or may not have been for GHOSTSMITH, and I may or may not chat about that book during this talk), so I will be celebrating with a glass of wine (or two). Come hang out with us, bring your beverage of choice, and let’s have a great night!

If you have any questions for us, please submit them in the comments for this post!

Leave a comment

AMAZON UK DEAL

UK readers! The BONESMITH ebook in on sale on Amazon in the UK for £0.99!

I have no idea how long this sale will last, but if you’ve been wanting to try BONESMITH for cheap, or to get a second digital copy, now’s the time to buy!

Thanks everyone! I hope I see you Wednesday, and don’t forget to leave your questions for me or Ashley in the comments!

☠️☠️☠️

The cover for GHOSTSMITH is now LIVE across the internet! Here is the Riveted Lit official reveal, with all the pre-order links!

☠️ Amazon.com
☠️ Barnes & Noble
☠️ Bookshop.org
☠️ Amazon.ca
☠️ Indigo.ca
☠️ Goodreads

If you’re enthusiastic about the book, I would love some help getting the word out, and there’s something in it for you, too! 

GHOSTSMITH ARC GIVEAWAY!

Help me boost the cover reveal and you could win an ARC of GHOSTSMITH!!

How to enter:

• LIKE/COMMENT/SHARE my reel on Instagram to help boost my announcement and spread the news!

• Make sure to tag me in your shares so I can see them, then post a link to your Instagram in the comments below, and that will be your entry into the giveaway. You must complete all 3 tasks (LIKE/COMMENT/SHARE) to be eligible.

Leave a comment

I will draw a random winner on Monday, October 23rd, 2023 and reply to your comment on Substack and/or DM you on Instagram, so be sure to check. If I don’t hear from you before the following Monday, I will draw a new winner. The ARCs won’t be printed until the new year, but I’ll mail it out as soon as I can. You must be a newsletter subscriber to win. Open internationally.

Okay, I think that’s it! Please drop any questions or comments you have below!

👻👻👻

We are officially in Spooky Season™ which feels like the perfect time to reveal the cover for GHOSTSMITH, the sequel to BONESMITH, and the final book in the House of the Dead duology ☠️👻

PLEASE REMEMBER: This is an early exclusive for my newsletter subscribers! The cover will be trickling out online over the next couple of days, but will not officially be revealed publicly until Wednesday, so please do not share or post anywhere online!! 

GHOSTSMITH COVER REVEAL

Here is the official description:

In this action-packed finale to the House of the Dead Duology, Wren and her friends put everything they know to the test as they battle the living and the undead to save their world.

Wren is still reeling from the revelation that the mother she thought was dead is actually the Corpse Queen, a ghostsmith with the terrifying power to control the undead. It was Wren’s own mother who created the iron revenants—an army of near unbeatable undead soldiers. When the iron revenants attack, no one in the Dominions will have the strength to stand in their way.

Now Wren, Leo, and Julian find themselves once more in the Breach, this time on the run from Wren’s father, who is determined to secure more power for himself and the House of Bone. The three are desperate to stop the upcoming war, but working together is easier said than done with Julian still furious about Wren double-crossing him. And to make matters worse, Wren is plagued by powerful new abilities that force her to reassess everything she knows about being a bonesmith.

When Wren’s long-lost twin brother shows up and vows to help her destroy the well of magic that feeds the iron revenants, she must decide if trusting him is worth potentially playing right into their mother’s hands.

After all, the dead might be dangerous, but it’s the living who can betray you.

GHOSTSMITH is book 2 of the House of the Dead Duology, and it’s releasing August 13, 2024! 

And now finally, FINALLY, here is the cover!!!

👻

👻

👻

👻

👻

👻

👻

👻

Behold the COMPLETE and UTTER badassery! My girl Wren has honestly never looked better, wielding both a bone blade and a certain bone ring, not to mention that antlered skull. And the eyes. THE EYES. Plus we have IRON REVENANTS people, looking slick and scary and just plain fucking COOL.

I am so so lucky to have been blessed with these covers, the artwork once again coming from the incredible Tommy Arnold, and I couldn’t ask for anything more. This is the perfect accompaniment to BONESMITH, and I cannot wait for all of you to get to read this book next year! But speaking of reading this book…

GHOSTSMITH ARCS

I’ve gotten some questions about this and I am thrilled to share that YES, there will be print and digital ARCs (advanced reader copies) for GHOSTSMITH! I will definitely be doing some giveaways (though the ARCs won’t be available until the new year), so check your inboxes as I’ll be in touch again soon 👻

FAIRYLOOT EDITION

I’m SO GLAD I can finally share the stunning photos that have been all over my instagram the past couple months, as BONESMITH was the YA selection for Fairyloot’s August box! This edition was truly magical, and while getting a fancy edition is such an incredible honor as a writer, the truly best part is all the new readers I find through book boxes. So many people messaged saying how much they enjoyed the book, but that they’d never heard of it or wouldn’t usually pick a book like that up, and they’re glad they did. That is the magic of what these boxes do!

This book box is also the reason why BONESMITH was a bestseller in the UK (and has already earned out, which is an exciting milestone for an author, and means I start to get royalty checks, yay!), so needless to say, I am extremely grateful ❤️

I have also gotten some questions about a Fairyloot edition of GHOSTSMITH, but I haven’t heard anything yet so fingers crossed (and maybe let Fairyloot know there’s demand on their posts)!

Behold these gorgeous photos courtesy of @booknerd623 on Instagram.

VIRTUL EVENTS

Speaking of Fairyloot, I have a virtual chat with them this Friday, as well as another virtual event tomorrow evening!

Your Bookish Life: This event will take place on zoom on Tuesday, October 17th at 7pm EST. More info and registration link here.

Fairy Chat: This event will take place on Instagram Live on Friday, October 20th at 1pm EST. Fairyloot has a post up today on Instagram where they are taking questions for the event.

So….what do you think?!?!?! Please let me know your thoughts on the cover, and drop any questions you have below!

☠️☠️☠️