April 2026

Apr 28, 2026

Intro

Happy April, everyone! I hope that you’re not dying from the pollen out there. Let’s hop into this month’s newsletter!

As a lover of books and conventions, I was super excited to snag a Saturday ticket to BookCon 2026 in NYC! And it was everything I hoped for and more. The highlight of the convention for me was attending the highly anticipated Heated Rivalry panel with author Rachel Reid and showrunner Jacob Tierney. (You can watch the full talk here). They talked about the show, Tierney’s plans for Season 2, and Reid’s plan for the third Heated Rivalry/Seventh Game Changers book, Unrivaled. As a passionate Heated Rivalry fan, I loved hearing from the creators how much they love the source material as I do. And their own shock at how the show has been received.

Outside of that panel, I just loved being surrounded by so many books and book-loving people. I spent a small fortune on books (not sorry), and here is my haul:

Now I have choice paralysis on what to start cause they all sound so good! Let me know in the comments which of the titles stand out to you.

I also got a few of my copies signed by the indie authors, which I very much appreciate.

Here are some pics from BookCon

Under the Covers

Something I have been thinking about in the past few weeks is my writing priorities. As I mentioned in last month’s newsletter, I got a great opportunity to submit a story early this month. But it took me 2 months of dedicated writing to get that out, which seriously cut into my time for writing and editing.

When I finished that submission, there were at least 4 contests that had deadlines in April. If I wanted to submit my best work for those, that would mean spending another month away from my Hades and Persephone novella and my novel Hoyden and the Duke. Back in January, I talked about my goals for this year, and one of them is to have a query-ready draft of Hoyden and the Duke. And my personal goal was to have the first chapter of Hades and Persephone fully edited by the end of April. Already 2 months behind, adding another month to the schedule felt like pushing my main goals further into the future.

So I had to sit down and think about what I really wanted out of this year. I’ve decided I won’t enter any contests this year to focus on my two main projects instead. It wasn’t an easy decision, but the stress I was feeling from meeting so many deadlines is gone. Now I can give my all to these two works in progress!

Hades and Persephone

I am still deep in edits for my Hades and Persephone novella coming in June. I still don’t have a formal title - Passion seekers, I’m asking for your help!. Here is a bit of a sneak peek of the copy to provide some context:

Kore has never belonged to herself. Since birth, she’s meant to embody spring’s perfection, performing a version of herself designed by her mother, Demeter. She believes that maintaining control of her Earthly realm can only be done through perfection. Isolated within her mother’s court, Kore keeps her hunger for strange and beautiful dead things a secret. Tending to flowers she doesn’t love, waiting to be married to a god who will never bother to know her.

When a minotaur attacks her in the wild woods, it is Hades who answers Kore’s prayers for help. She discovers that he is not the grim sovereign her mother warned against, but a quiet man with violet eyes and careful hands, who understands her desire to embrace darkness. What begins as stolen afternoons becomes the most honest conversations of her life. When her mother’s house finally becomes unbearable, she runs from the life she’s always known and seeks refuge with the only person to accept her.

Life with Hades in the underworld should unsettle her. Instead, she finds the purpose she always longed for. With Demeter calling for her daughter’s rescue from the brute, Zeus himself delivers an ultimatum to Hades: return her, or go to war with all of Olympus. Kore understands exactly what staying will cost her. But the woman she’s become has no desire to be a pawn in Demeter’s pursuit of fake perfection. The only question left is what she will do to hold onto the new life and love she’s found.

What title do you think works best? (There’s a character limit, so select the number of the choice you like best.)

Below the Garden
Below the Earth, she bloomed
Dirt under her nails, crown on her head
Above a Maiden Below a Queen
Maiden below the garden

Romancelandia

Last month, I talked about the Pride and Prejudice remake. Well, apparently, there is also a Sense and Sensibility remake! Amaze! Amaze! Amaze! How come no one told me? Do you hate me 🥺?

This is joyous news. Two Austen adaptations in time for the holidays. What else could a girl ask for?

Project Hail Mary

Now I can guess you’re looking at me and going Project Hail Mary in this section?
Really, Jacque, but that’s not a romance. And to that I say, this is my Substack, and I write about what I want. I kid, I kid. But I do have an interesting take on Andy Weir’s novel-turned-movie. While not a romance, it is a love story about friendship, connection, and finding your place in the universe.

!!!!SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!

We have the romance structure, where we first meet our protagonist. Ryland Grace is, to put it kindly, a man who has given up. Academia chewed him up and spat him out, so he retreated to teaching middle schoolers. He can’t even be bothered to step in when humanity needs him most; instead, he’s forced into the role of hero. The man is the reluctant hero of reluctant heroes, coasting on the path of least resistance until the universe physically removes that option from him.

His current status quo is him trying to figure out why he’s on the ship and what his mission is. But then the unexpected happens. He encounters another life form in a fun meet-cute. Then shenanigans ensue.

But in connecting with Rocky, a sentient alien from another planet, a beautiful relationship is born. For the first time in Ryland’s life, he connects with and begins to love something outside himself. Here’s how it plays out:

Rocky and Ryland are two lonely strangers, as the crews on their ship died, working toward the same goal, understanding why the Astrophage doesn’t negatively impact the star Tau Ceti.
Adhesion - As they discuss their goal, they decide to help each other on this mission. Which will also benefit each of their civilizations
Falling in Love/Rising Action - Ryland and Rocky spend time together, sharing their different cultures, exchanging language, and coming up with a plan to study the astrophage. Rocky and Ryland getting on each other’s nerves, sharing vulnerabilities
Rocky Grand Gesture - sacrificing himself to save Ryland
Ryland’s grand gesture - not going back to Earth but going to save Rocky
HEA - Ryland is spending the remainder of his life on Rocky’s home planet

In the end, Rocky and Ryland’s relationship shows us how love of all kinds is universal.

The Kennedy Ryan Cinematic Universe

(Airhorns) Kennedy Ryan has inked a deal with Universal Studio Group, Variety states, “Under the terms of the agreement, Ryan will develop and produce series for a variety of platforms and create original IP for USG to adapt for television under her Scribe Chick Media banner.

First up is the series adaptation of her hit novel, “Before I Let Go,” which Ryan will co-write and executive produce. The project is currently in development at Peacock.” This is great news for Ryan, and I’m sure fans of the Skyland series are ecstatic to see their favorite novel come to life.

As a fellow creative, I can’t wait to see what original programming Ryan comes up with for Peacock. And now I want to take a moment to pitch to her and to Universal the idea of adapting the works of Beverly Jenkins. There’s a hungry fanbase (it’s me, I am the fanbase), and it’s a great IP that can bring in the Bridgerton audience (again, it’s me, I am the Bridgerton audience).

In all seriousness, congrats to Ryan on this new chapter!

Reads that Ruined my Sleep

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

What a beautiful Sci-Fi Romance, that had me immediately start it over once I finished it. Red and Blue are compelling characters who have satisfying arcs throughout the novel, from their first antagonistic interaction, which led to curiosity, to becoming confidants and then lovers. As a fan of time travel and wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff, this book really gets that aspect right. The twist of discovering who’s been tracking them the entire novel lands perfectly. The writing is phenomenal and poetic. The two authors properly capture each protagonist’s wit and humor, and you definitely feel like the characters are two different people. Highly recommend this one if you want to fall in love while time-traveling.

Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory

This is a sweet contemporary romance that I loved from start to finish. I was rooting for Max and Olivia from the moment they had their adorable meet-cute at a hotel bar. It’s easy to understand Olivia’s apprehension about dating an upcoming politician with aspirations for greater things. But Max’s persistence and dedication to getting to know her have Olivia lowering her walls. Now it wouldn’t be a romance if there weren’t any problems, and Max’s privilege does create a bump in their beautiful love story. But it doesn’t ruin it; with some clear communication, Olivia and Max are able to talk about how a black woman and a white man are perceived differently in society. What I love about Max is his willingness to listen to and believe Olivia when she shares her own experiences. And what can be more romantic than that?

Non Romance Thing

Hacks

Hacks is back for its 5th and final season. I love this show, it’s funny and heartwarming. Also, it’s another friendship love story! So glad that Deborah and Ava are working together and not against one another. I hate when these two fight. Hope they go out with a bang!

Robyn’s Sexisential Album

This album has been on repeat since it came out a few weeks ago. Every song on here is a gem, and who doesn’t love raw, honest lyrics over a hyperpop beat? Also, I’m so obsessed with the song Dopamine, I made a Heated Rivalry edit.

That’s all, Passion Seekers. See you next month. As always, if there’s something you want me to discuss, let me know in the comments below. And please share with your friends.

-Jacque