The first few months of 2026 have already held so much—personally, creatively, and professionally—and I wanted to take a moment to share a little life update and everything happening with Romance by TM. I'm positive that 2026 will be my best year yet as an author.
A New Chapter in My Health Journey
Back in November 2025, I underwent two major spinal surgeries. It’s not an exaggeration to say it has been life-changing. Some days, I still have a hard time believing that it's real. For the first time in almost 17 years, I'm experiencing the lowest pain levels I’ve had in nearly two decades. I took November, December, and January completely off to focus on healing—and I’m so glad I did. That time gave my body the space it needed for the initial recovery. I still have a long road and lots of physical therapy before I'm fully recovered. However, as of now I’m stepping back into life—and my work—with a level of energy and joy that feels brand new.
Back to Writing (and the Characters Are Talking Again!)
February marked my return to my writing, and it came with some big wins. My Parent Trap–inspired retelling (still untitled because apparently titles are hard 😅) officially moved into the editing phase. It will be published in last summer, early fall. But even more exciting…after almost 15 months of complete silence, Dylan—yes, that Dylan from Spring Bluff—finally decided to start talking to me again. I’ve now started drafting Redemption, Book 4 in the Spring Bluff series, and getting to dig into his story has been such a rewarding experience. If you know, you know—when a character goes quiet, it’s rough. So having him back? Feels like magic.
A Fresh Look for Secret in the Shadows
At the end of February, my incredible cover designer, Everly, finished the updated cover for Secret in the Shadows. I'm absolutely in love with it. Along with the new cover, the book also received a trim size update to 5.5 x 8.5, bringing it in line with Chasing the Truth for a more cohesive look across the series. I officially debuted the refreshed version at Montevallo Backyard Book Fest last weekend, and seeing it out in the world was such a full-circle moment. And we’re not done yet—Runaway is currently getting the same glow-up, with an updated cover and matching trim size coming soon!
Montevallo Backyard Book Fest (March 14)
Last weekend, I attended the Second Annual Montevallo Backyard Book Fest, and it was such a fantastic day. The weather was beautiful, the crowd was amazing, and I got to:
- Catch up with familiar readers
- Meet so many new ones
- Spend time with some wonderful author friends
And y’all… being in significantly less pain made such a difference. Events are so much more enjoyable now, and I’m incredibly grateful for that. Sales were steady all day, with Secret in the Shadows being the standout favorite. Everyone loved the new cover!And I have to brag on my son A for a second—his clay creations were a huge hit! His book buddies and figurines were flying off the table, and it was so fun watching people appreciate his artistic talent.
Rocket City Reading Festival (Huntsville)
Yesterday, I made my first trip up to Huntsville for the Rocket City Reading Festival—and wow, what a day. It was a shorter event (just three hours), but it was packed with steady traffic from start to finish. In fact… it was so busy that I completely forgot to take photos of my booth or even myself 😅 I also definitely felt the absence of my usual assistant (my son W). I carpooled with another author, so he couldn’t come along and let me tell you, I missed him! The weather was gorgeous (though the wind had some opinions…RIP to my acrylic bookmark holder, which did not survive a fall onto concrete).
Even with that little mishap, the day was a success:
- Steady sales
- New reader connections
- A few new author friendships
Chasing the Truth and Runaway tied as the most popular titles of the day. And once again, A had an amazing showing—his Easter bunny figurines and book buddies were especially popular!
What’s Next: Pickett Fest!
We’re not slowing down anytime soon! Next weekend, we’ll be at the Pickett Fest: Wilson Pickett Music and Art Festival in Prattville, and I’m so excited for this one.
We’ll have:
- My books
- My original artwork
- W’s artwork
- A’s clay creations
It’s going to be such a fun, creative weekend, and I can’t wait to see some familiar faces and meet new ones.
Final Thoughts
This year is already shaping up to be something special. From healing and rediscovering what my body is capable of… to reconnecting with my stories and getting back out into the world to meet readers—there’s just a lot of gratitude over here.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Truly.
And if you’ve been thinking about diving into the Spring Bluff series (or grabbing a fresh copy of Secret in the Shadows with the new look 👀), you can always find my books online or come see me in person at an upcoming event—I’d love to help you find your next read.
💛
Tiffany
Romance by TM