Heating Up the Holidays!

Hey! So… yeah. It’s been a hot minute since I did like an official blog post. Radio silence since September was not on my BINGO card for 2025. But then again, back in January, I didn’t know I’d be needing shoulder surgery. And while my body physically heals well after a surgery, mentally I always tend to hit a roadblock. I’m not sure about the science behind it, but when I look back at the 2-3 weeks leading up to and then the 6-8 weeks following my surgeries, I find that I crawl into a hole inside myself. I don’t find joy in the things I love. 

Reading? I can barely manage to reread my favorites. New books just aren’t happening, no matter how excited I was about the book just days before the funk hit.

Food becomes even more of a Have To than normal–which is saying something considering my ADD has me forgetting to eat on the regular.

In truth: All I want to do is curl up in my bed and watch my favorite movies. Not even a TV show– movies.

Anyways–enough about that. I really wanted to jump back in just before the year’s up and tell y’all about the incredible things and changes I’ve lined up for 2026.

The first and biggest change is:

REBRAND!

That’s right. I am doing a complete overhaul on everything Rosie P. Burke. I have been using the same colors and style since I started well over 3 years ago, but something happened this year. When I turned 40, I realized that those just weren’t me anymore. So, as of January 1, 2026, every book, newsletter, and webpage moving forward will be completely redesigned with my new aesthetic. 

Before anyone comes at me: Yes, I’m aware that I haven’t finished the 6th Man Series yet. After talking to those closest to me, I’ve realized that waiting to change the covers for those books I do have out isn’t something I’m willing to do. I want the change. I want to look at my online store or Amazon’s page and see these incredible covers–all of which I designed myself. I’ve learned a lot over the nearly four years I’ve been doing this and I put all of that current knowledge to use. Seeing them out in the world is going to mean so much… and I have ADD. Let’s be honest. My version of ADD has me jumping once I’ve decided on something. I don’t love to hem and haw over options; it’s a huge trait difference between me and Babe! Once I’ve made my mind up, my body wants to react.

So yes. On 1/1/26, everything will be the new designs. And since all of the Dropped Puck Series ebooks will be back on my online store, you can buy the digital versions with the new covers directly from me. (All paperbacks as well as the 6th Man Series books will still be on Amazon.)

Author Elevation Hub

My friend Amy and I brainstormed the Hub early this year. We were organized by and launched on May 19th. In the months since then, we’ve worked with some truly incredible authors. I’ve been able to read stories as an Alpha Reader that are witty and feisty and page-turningly fun. I’ve helped curate branding kits for each author who signed up at the VIP tier. One of those authors even took my ideas and is doing her own rebranding!! I have to admit, knowing that something I created will be enjoyed by others is a huge reason I write; seeing that creativity flourish in other areas is just as incredible.

I’ve loved every minute of the office hour chats and the Writing Sprints. Meeting up with authors as we work through our daily word count goals– typically smashing the DAILY goal in just under an hour!!–inspires me to work through my own mental blocks. 

I spent a lot of time, effort, and energy on this project–creating a space where authors can come together to support others, learn, and grow. So much so… that I won’t be able to finish my own work by the end of the year. I don’t regret for a single second the time I put into the Hub. I also know that this level of focus isn’t sustainable. Not if I want to keep creating my own works.

Moving forward, Amy and I are going to rework our programs and levels, making sure that what we offer is sustainable for us while we meet the goals and expectations of the authors we want to help. For me, that means I will not be having official office hours every week starting January 1st. I will gladly set aside time to meet with authors, chat, be their vent session buddy… all the things I would do in my office hours; only now they’ll be on a case-by-case request.

The writing sprints will still be every Friday, but are going to be reduced by 30 minutes. I’ll start at 12 noon every Friday, but we’ll wrap things up by 1:30 instead of 2pm. 

Content

The other big change for me will be my posting. For over a year, I’ve tried to post daily. When my mental health was great, so was my posting. (Of course, we see what it looks like when my mental health gets a bit droopy…)

I talk often about my dharma: my passion with a purpose. I have always known that my personal dharma is centered around books and reading. When my kids were little, that meant I would sign up to read to their classes. When I started writing, it meant creating stories I loved and sharing them with the world. As I got more into that world, it shifted to becoming a space other authors felt comfortable coming to with their questions and concerns. The Hub is a big part of fulfilling my dharma.

And yet… I look at my Author page on IG and I don’t see … me. I see me sharing others’ achievements. I see me spotlighting other authors’ works. I see a page that looks a lot like a readers’ fan page. 

Fun Fact: I actually already have a page that I started for this purpose! Years ago, I started rosieb_reading on IG so I could share authors and books I loved. It was a time when the Zon wasn’t letting me post reviews but I wanted to continue hyping up the authors I love. When I became an author myself, I tried to keep them separate. But gradually those posts shifted to my own author page. 

Overwhelm settled in when I tried to incorporate all the things from my reading page to my author one. It was too much, too busy… 

Back in September I realized I really missed sharing the books I read each week. Not because I wanted to track them or anything. No, it was just a fun thing to do. I loved finding fun backdrops that made the covers pop. I loved sharing my author friends and their works. It was a simple way to be creative each week. All these little things added up to a truly enjoyable moment. And I haven’t done one in YEARS!

That was the catalyst. Bringing back my weekly reads morphed into rejuvenating my Reading IG page. Next month I will shift my spotlights off my author page and start sharing those on Rosieb_Reading. 

My “What I Read” and “What to Read” will be there every Wednesday. My Spotlight Sundays will be there. I’ll share the Promos I’m participating in there as well as my author page. ARC reads and New Releases for the authors that I’m on Street Teams for –because, yes, I am a reader who loves their authors and will always love sharing their works!!–those will be on the reading page.

Rosieb_Reading is going to take some time to get back where I want it. But I’m incredibly excited to start fine tuning my spaces. As Gretchen Rubin likes to say– Outer Order means Inner Calm.

Street Team

Not sure how many of you are aware, but I have a Facebook Group: Rosie Burke’s Racy Babes. For years now, it’s been where I share snippets and sneak peeks, ask for ideas or opinions, and generally give fans dibs on the insider info. But lately I’ve felt like there’s something missing. A missed-connection or something like that. So, starting in January, RB2 will become more of a street team group. I will post content and graphics that the members can share on their social media platforms. Tag lines and tropes; quotes and quips… The fun parts of reading one of my books. 

To incentivize the members with this change, I plan to have a raffle. Each post and share from December 15th through January 31st will get your name entered into a raffle with the prize being a signed copy of Called Up with the new cover! (Plus a few goodies because that’s always a good time.) 

If you aren’t a member yet and think you’d like to be part of the RB2 Street Team, head over the FB’s and find us. Or, you know, just tap this link and get there faster. If you are a member, share the fun and invite your friends who love a good spice with witty banter and some game time action.

Now for December…

There’s so many incredible things about this month. If you’re a gift-giving type of person. December is your JAM! My husband and son are the best gift givers. Even at a young age, my  little guy would force Babe to go shopping for someone and would know exactly what he wanted to give them. There was no settling for him. I remember he made Babe go to three or four stores to find a water bottle that said “Mom” on it for Mother’s Day. He wanted flowers too, but the MUST HAVE was “Mom.” 

My daughter is a “make you something” person. Her gifts are always thought out and handmade. Over the years, she’s developed a really cool style and it’s been fun seeing her grow in her own creativity.

Now me? I’m not good at giving presents. I like to give experiences or things that will help in some way. Kids don’t appreciate that nearly as much as they should! IMO But that’s also why Babe is in charge of giving presents to the little boys in our families. The girls are getting older and I’m better now on their gifts but smaller boys? I’m trash!

While I’m not great at giving presents, I do love to give. That’s why I’m keeping my Dropped Puck Series in Kindle Unlimited for the month! You can read the series that started it all for free with your KU membership. 

I’m also in the works to have more of my books released onto Audible. As of today, every book I’ve written an published is either live on Audible, in pick-ups (the stage where I run through the story –again– and listen for any errors), or sent to ACX for their final review! This is incredibly exciting for me and while I don’t have a release date yet, be sure to check in with my socials for more information. I remember that last year ACX informed me they were putting a hold on any ACX production reviews starting December 1st; so, where it normally takes 10 business days for a project to go through them, starting 12/1, it can take between 15-20. That’s another reason I’m not shouting any date-ish time frames. 

The other thing I’ve got going on are the TWO anthology projects I am a part of!

Winter Dreams is a collection of free short romance stories that take place between Thanksgiving and New Years. They’re not all spicy (mine isn’t, actually!) and they don’t necessarily have anything to do with the holidays, per se. More like–things are heating up in the coldest months! And yes, they’re completely free to you! This won’t last long so please be sure to check out the WINTER DREAMS link and download all your (new) favorites!

Speaking on things not lasting long… (sorry, gutter mind = gutter humor)

I am also a part of the Holiday Playbook Anthology. Hosted by Taylor Delong, 11 authors all contributed a new short sports romance novella. I’m just as excited as you should be to get my hands on these other stories. BUT… and this is the real kicker– it’ll only be available from December 1st to 12th.

And finally, the thing I know you’re all wondering: When will we get Kyle’s story?!?

I’m working on it! I promise. I’m finding myself procrastinating because I don’t think I’m ready to leave the Franklin U. world just yet. And as soon as I type “The End” on Book 5, I’ll have to let these characters go, at least for a little while. And just like growing up in the real world, even if I go back to visit, it won’t ever be the same. Not really. So yeah, I know I’m dragging my feet but I have every intention of getting back behind the keyboard and working on our resident “Hemingway’s” love story.

The other thing that’s keeping me from finishing the story? Well, it’s this little thing called: The Twin Cobras! That’s right! I am already in the process of creating a new series, this one focused on the sport of MMA. I’ve got all these details and facts about my characters and their quirks racing through my head; I need to get them down on paper. Which means I’ve been splitting my time between Book 5 in the 6th Man Series and Book 1 in the Twin Cobras one.

If you want a little sneak peek at what’s in store with the Cobras, check out the Holiday Playbook Anthology, Hacker’s prequel novella is there waiting for you!

Okay, considering I haven’t written to y’all in ages, this is a LOT to throw at ya. But I think that’s it. When I get more information on any of the projects (all three hundred and forty seven of them!!), I’ll be sure to share with you.