Books, Babies, & Baking: A Little Holiday Catch-Up

Hey friends,

It’s been a minute since I popped into your inbox from this corner of the internet, so I thought Thanksgiving week would be the perfect time to sit down with a mug of something warm and catch you up on…well…everything.

What’s Happening at Self-Published Author 👩‍💻📖

If you’ve been following along over at Self-Published Author, you already know things have been busy in the best way.

SPA Academy is rolling along with fresh lessons each weekday, M-F, for indie authors who want to actually sell books, not just collect “I published” merit badges. I started a Substack where I publish a recap of what happened last week, and what’s coming in the week ahead. If that’s simpler for you, SUBSCRIBE HERE.
Our Indie Author Spotlights have taken off so well that we’re already booked out into the New Year. 🥂 This week’s Spotlight Author? Darius Knight - Over-the-Road Truck Driver Turned Fiction Writer. Read his inspiring story HERE.

Seeing so many indie authors step forward, share their stories, and claim their space has honestly been one of the most rewarding parts of my year. If you’re an author and you’re not hanging out with us yet, we’d love to have you join us for all the excitement coming in 2026. 😉

Angel Touched: Final Polish Before the Magic Drops 🌑✨

On the fiction front, I’m spending this week (you know…in between pie-baking and turkey-wrangling) doing a final polish on Angel Touched—smoothing out the last rough edges and making sure the story flows from beginning to end.

Here’s the quick snapshot:

He was ready to die. She was never meant to save him.

Fifteen-year-old Nathaniel Gray has made peace with the cancer slowly killing him—or so he tells himself. Underneath, he’s furious, numb, and sure the world has already moved on.

Thirteen-year-old Faith Portner only visits the hospital with her youth group to offer comfort. She has no idea she’s descended from an ancient line of angelic beings. No idea her touch can heal the dying…or awaken something much darker.

When Faith reaches out to comfort Nathaniel, an impossible surge of power rips through them both. He walks out of the hospital alive—but changed. Shadows coil at the edges of his new strength, tugging him toward a destiny neither of them understands.

Pre-orders are already live, and I’ll be uploading the final, polished version soon so that eBooks will begin delivering on December 15th. If dark, emotional, slightly-twisted paranormal is your thing, this one’s for you.

Thanksgiving Gratitude (and Cozy Recipes) 🦃🍂

Since we’re here in late November, let’s talk Thanksgiving for a second.

Over in my Tracy’s Cozy Kitchen Etsy shop, my most popular recipes this time of year are all about comfort and nostalgia—the kind of dishes that make the whole house smell like a warm hug:

That cozy, holiday-worthy Cream Cheese Brownies Recipe everyone keeps coming back for
A crowd-pleasing side dish, like my Best Recipe for Biscuits From Scratch that will melt in their mouths!
And a few cold-weather comfort recipes, like my Best Recipe for Minestrone Soup that transition perfectly into December

If you’ve grabbed any of my recipe downloads, I hope they’re adding a little extra magic to your holiday table this year.

The Sweetest New Chapter: Baby Delilah 👶💕

On a more personal note, this Thanksgiving I’m especially grateful for one very tiny, very precious reason:

Grandbaby Delilah joined our family on October 24th. 🥹💗

Her arrival came with some unexpected complications and an additional hospitalization for her mom after a c-section—but I am incredibly thankful to be able to say that both mom and baby are now healthy, home, and healing well.

There’s nothing like holding a new little human to instantly rearrange your priorities and remind you what truly matters. Stories, books, business, and creative projects are wonderful…but family is the heartbeat underneath it all.

Art Projects

Lastly, I’ll mention that I’ve been having fun digging back into some art projects in my free moments. This wood burning of Doris Day is the piece currently sitting on my workbench waiting to be finished -

Along with this one, I’m calling A Girl and Her Horse -

Wrapping It All Up With a Bow 🎁

So, as we step into the holidays, here’s what I’m carrying in my heart—and what I wish for you:

More stories—the ones we read and the ones we live
More connection—online and around real tables with real people
More courage to share your voice, your art, your weird, magical self with the world

Thank you for being here, for reading, for cheering me on in all my many creative rabbit trails.

Wishing you a cozy, joyful, meaning-filled holiday season—
with good food, good books, and good people around your table. ❤️

With love,
Tracy

Author | Artist | Foodie | Founder at Self-Published Author