Hey Strangers,
I can’t believe it’s January already. We’re in a brand new year, which feels like a fresh slate. I know it’s not. Not really. Time is arbitrary and all that. But as I was planning the year, everything seemed so possible. Opportunities seem limitless, and it’s a great feeling.
This time last year, I was diving into Strangers # 2 and on deadline. I’m saving myself the stress this year. I AM diving into Strangers # 3, but I’m not on deadline this time around, so I don’t need to add unnecessary pressure on myself.
Whether Strangers # 3 will come out this year remains to be seen. While publishing three books in three years would be amazing, it’s A LOT. I still work a normal 40 hours outside of writing, so ten straight months of hustling leads to burnout, and I’d like to avoid that again if possible.
Strangers # 2 came out at the end of October, and I did my best to take the rest of the year off. And I did for the most part, at least from writing, but life itself didn’t seem to slow down, so I’m not sure how much of a rest I really got.
But that’s okay; I’m not good at resting anyway. I always seem to be on the move, and I even started arm knitting or making bracelets while watching TV or listening to audiobooks because my hands always seem to need to be doing something. I don’t know who I am if I’m not multitasking!
While I do enjoy January being a reset button, I’m shockingly not one for goals or resolutions. I think you can decide to do anything you want at any time of the year. Want to eat healthier? Lose weight? Gain weight? Read more? Train for a 5K? Try every pasta shape? (I saw it on someone’s post, lol). Do it up—whenever you want.
With that said, there are some things I’d like to focus on this year:
- Outline and draft Strangers # 3
- Start working with my editor on it whenever that timeline is
- Outline my next book (non-Strangers related)
- Continue finding a home for my adult romantic fantasy that’s currently in the querying trenches
- Write more short stories
- Go to more book events
- Travel more
- Read more
- Watch more indie/international films
- Complain less
- Doom scroll less/on my phone less in general
- Be physically active more
Whatever you want to do this year, do it boldly. Life’s too short to be anything but your strangest self.
As of right now, Strangers # 3 solely exists in my phone’s note app. It’s been a lot of random thoughts here and there that I need to jot down quickly before they escape me—sometimes forever—but by the end of the month, I’m hoping to have a rough outline to start seeing the whole picture.
Also, in 2023, I sent a short story out in my newsletter on Winter Solstice, and while it’s already past 2024’s Winter Solstice, I wanted to remind everyone that it’s still available to read. It’s Draven’s prequel and all about what happened to him pre-Strangers in Our Heads (Strangers # 1). You can read it for free here for more Draven content. 😉
As of right now, I have no book events planned, but a lot of things are in the works. Once I have confirmed dates and locations, I’ll be updating my website!
I can say, though, that I believe my one out-of-state event will be in Atlantic City this year. Stay tuned!
With the holiday, December was eventful! I had two book events, met up with family for Christmas Eve and Christmas, and then ended up sick (because, of course!) and rang in the New Year on the couch.
I was supposed to see The Lion King at Shea’s with a friend but had to cancel due to illness, so that was a huge bummer. Hopefully, I can catch it if it comes back through!
Since last month, I’ve finished reading (and annotating) Strangers in Our Hearts (Strangers # 2), For You and Only You by Caroline Kepnes, The Whispering Night by Susan Dennard, The Boyfriend Countdown by Tori Samuels, and The Woman in Me by Britney Spears.
I’m currently reading The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, The Dark Place
by Britney Lewis, and an ARC of The Sweetheart Wager by Tori Samuels (releasing February 4th!). You can preorder The Sweetheart Wager here.
The Day That I Ruined Your Life by Boston Manor has been on repeat and is the inspiration behind my newest (non-Strangers related) novel. I’m also a big fan of Chalk Outlines by Ren & CHINCHILLA.
I’ve made it to season three of Ghost Whisperer! I forgot how much I loved this show when I was a teenager. There are only four seasons, so I’m not sure what I’ll switch to next.
Ilsi would do just about anything to break the Wall trapping her people, the Ice Chanters. But when she least expects it, Ilsi becomes the first person to pass through the Wall and into a world larger than she’d ever imagined. With the help of Reshma the Fire Weaver, she evades capture from outside enemies who seek to take advantage of the isolated clan.
Now on the run, Ilsi braves the outside world to find allies willing to free her people from isolation. All she has to do is figure out how to break the Wall and end its curse before… continue reading.
Instead of magic hair, Ripley has magic blood.
Ripley Griever has been locked away for 21 years, afraid of what the world would do with her unpredictable magic. But when Fletcher Darkly breaches the walls of her tower to rescue her, she breaks her mother’s loyalty to save him from her grips. Now, they must escape through treacherous terrain and malevolent creatures to reach the Kingdom of Elizy to fix her magic before the Cidris hunters capture her for her blood.
But as she journeys… continue reading.
Margo Diaz has a reputation as a workaholic. Everyone knows where she eats her lunch— at her desk, and where she spends her Friday nights— at the office. But when her ex-boyfriend announces his engagement to the same woman who broke up their relationship, she finds herself tangled in a lie. Because the only thing worse than working with your ex is telling everyone you have a boyfriend when you don’t.
Forced to plan a New Year’s gala to impress a client, Margo finds herself… continue reading.
Please take note that this is a system to spotlight other indie authors per their request. These titles have not been vetted and readers are encouraged to do their due diligence beforehand.
Stay strange (and Go Bills),
Bri
BRI EBERHART 
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