May Days!

And things are getting hot in my neck of the woods. Actually going outside without a hoodie in tow just in case. At least for the next few days LOL.

So far the Kickstarter is going swimmingly! Thanks everyone. Actually going a little better than I expected since I was sick when I launched it and so couldn't really do all the drum calls and woot announcements. BUT we funded, we reached our first stretch goal, and we're almost to stretch goal two as I write this. So that's fantastic. I'm excited to get Cary's newest book out to readers.

As a writerly aside, I made myself laugh while editing. Twice. And while that could just be me and my sense of humor, it was fun to make myself laugh. I love these people and I love playing in their world.

If you haven't checked out the Kickstarter yet, please do!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/katsimons/the-trouble-with-families-and-goblins-urban-fantasy-romance

***

In addition to the Kickstarter this month, I also have the first standalone eBook short story from last year's Haunts and Howls collection. 

FOR WANT OF A CONCERT TICKET is a fun urban fantasy set to the backdrop of a Vegas conference room where witches and insurance adjusters are meeting just doors away from each other. And stuff happens.

It's up for preorder now and will publish on May 27th, so if you'd like this one as a standalone, preorder now so you don't miss the launch!

FOR WANT OF A CONCERT TICKET

Available Everywhere -- Preorder Now!

Out May 27th

A Concert in Vegas, a Witch Conference in Vegas, a Disaster in Vegas…

All Mary wants from her trip to Las Vegas? One concert ticket. The witches conference gives her a perfect excuse to travel. Visiting with the other like-minded witches never disappoints. But the lure of a concert ticket got her to Vegas.

Unfortunately, the magical vortex opening onto a shadow realm in the middle of a conference meeting room upends all her carefully laid plans.

Especially with mundane humans in danger.

As distractions go, Mary gives this one high marks. Closing the breach takes concentration, power, and a little luck. But the vortex isn’t the worst thing to happen. What comes out of the vortex…

That could destroy everything.

Author’s Note: This story is also published in the collection HAUNTS AND HOWLS AND DRAGON TALES.

 ***

For my paperback readers, the best way to get this story is still to just pick up HAUNTS AND HOWLS AND DRAGON TALES in trade paperback or large print editions! You'll get all the stories that way! 

***

Don't forget to check out The Cafe for the cute romance story up for the second half of May! Kara and Eddie at the Cafe is out to read for free until June 1st.

There are also some sales going on at the store to check out! It's my birthday month, so I've got a number of things up for sale that might be of interest!

I'll have one more Kickstarter reminder here next week. The Kickstarter ends on the 28th of May, so if you want an early copy of THE TROUBLE WITH FAMILIES AND GOBLINS, be sure to check that out and back before it ends.

Never fear if you miss it, however. Next month, I'll have details for the preorders for THE TROUBLE WITH FAMILIES AND GOBLINS, which will be available everywhere wide at the end of June/beginning of July. The release date is currently a little wobbly (which is why there's no preorder yet! Sorry about that.) But be sure to check back for the details next month.

And until then, I hope this month is treating you well!

Happy Reading!

And Now We Come to the End of 2025

And boy what a whirlwind of chaos the end of this year has been (also flu sucks!) ANYWAY. I'm going to use the new year to reset a little and get going again with a schedule I hope will be a little less chaotic.

More on the year ahead below. I also have new books out this month to talk about!

~~~

RELEASES

First up, the final Demon Witch series book APOCALYPSE WITCH is officially out everywhere now! The print and hardback editions should be available most places or will be available soon.

APOCALYPSE WITCH

A Demon Witch Novel

Demon Witch, Book 5

AVAILABLE NOW

The Apocalypse Witch… A disaster? A warning? Or a destiny…

With this new cursed power dangling a knife over her head and pinning a target to her back, witch Angie Jordan faces one last trial to find answers. Before the dark magic kills her. A journey that tests her control. Strains her bond with Sebastian. And reveals secrets that could devastate her realm. A quest that pits her and Sebastian against an enemy unlike anything they’ve encountered before.

As demons hunt them, and the dangers expand with every step, Angie’s powers grow more erratic. Uncertain who to trust, time becomes their enemy. Because if they fail, no one will be safe.

From the demons. Or from Angie.

Don’t miss this heart-pounding final book in the acclaimed Demon Witch series. With everything on the line, and the fate of Angie, Sebastian, and the entire human world hanging in the balance.

 ~~

The paperback and hardback editions of the other books in the series with the new covers are available some places but still populating out, so if you want the new covers, you can either order from my store, or give it another week or so for the updates to go through. Careful on Amazon. I've taken down the old versions of the books but the old covers are still showing so you might get directed to those editions.

Large Print editions of all the Demon Witch Books will be updated and rereleased in the new year. Ran out of time to get those sorted. So if you're a Large Print readers, be sure to check back here for updates.

~~

In addition to the new covers, there's also a new duology of the two shorter prequel stories. The eBook of HOWLING DREADFUL ON A MOONLIT STRANGE is only available in a few places so far, including my store. I'll be getting the eBook of the duology out in the new year as well.

But in the meantime, the paperback and hardback of this edition should be working its way out everywhere. And if you have the individual books for MOONLIT STRANGE and HOWLING DREADFUL, there's no big changes in the duology, so you don't need to buy that extra book.

HOWLING DREADFUL ON A MOONLIT STRANGE

A Demon Witch Prequel Duology

AVAILABLE NOW

When a witch enters the demon hunters’ world… Death and destruction follow.

Angela Jordan planned a future that fell apart one long-ago day in a church parking lot. Though she tries to follow her true path as a witch, fate and the demons pull her away. And when the demon hunter who saved her life knocks on her door, the hunter’s protégé in tow, looking for help, Angie answers the call.

Starting her down a path through a demonic world she hates. The only light…meeting the love of her life. But being in Sebastian’s world takes a toll on Angie. Forces her into her worst nightmares. Death always one mistake away.

To hold onto Sebastian, Angie lives and fights beside him. But the cost she pays might be too high. Even to keep the love of her life.

This prequel duology to the Demon Witch series takes readers on a dangerous meet cute, a beginning to a deep love, that could lead Angie and Sebastian into a bright future, or devastate them both. Don’t miss these darkly magical prequel stories to the Demon Witch series!

~~

AND in addition to the new Demon Witch books and editions, I'm SO excited to have out the latest HAUNTS AND HOWLS book! I'm kind of kicking myself for getting this one out so late in the year. I really do prefer to release the Haunts and Howls collections in October. But the last half of this year has just been crazy. BUT, it's out now! Available in eBook, Trade paperback, and Large Print editions!

HAUNTS AND HOWLS AND DRAGON TALES

A Haunts and Howls Collection

AVAILABLE NOW 

Follow, mere mortals, for here there be dragons…

Beyond the mists of time. Through the thin veil between realms. Enter a world of dragons both old and new. Mystic beings of power and magic. Danger and strength. Wisdom and violence.

Here, intrepid heroes venture into uncharted waters. Encountering creatures so powerful their legends span all of human history. Tread cautiously. For here there be dragons…

In this latest Haunts and Howls collection of seven new contemporary fantasy stories, bestselling author Kat Simons delivers dragon tales from the quiet to the epic. From the truly deadly, to the sublime. Don’t miss every delicious, dangerous adventure into the realms of dragons. Including a brand new Destiny Cats novella!

~~

I'm REALLY excited about this edition of the Haunts and Howls books. If you haven't guessed, I love dragons and have since I was a kid. My gateway into reading science fiction and fantasy was Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series. So this collection is near and dear to me. And I just love the stories in it. I hope readers will enjoy it too!

~~~

SALES

There are all sorts of seasonal sales going on this month as well, so be sure to check those out. I have a bunch of things on sale over at KatSimonsBooks.

AND most of my catalogue is in the Smashwords Annual Winter Sale! So be sure to check that out too. Lots of good books involved.

~~~

NEWS AND A LOOK-AHEAD

So, as I mentioned above, the last part of the year got away from me and I feel like I'm ending on a chaotic note. I'm hoping to corral all that chaos going into the new year and settle on a more reasonable schedule given the stuff going on in my personal life in the upcoming year (all good stuff! Just a lot of Big Events that I want to make sure I'm present for and not stressed about the publishing stuff around those things).

I will continue with the twice a month Stories from the Cafe at KatSimonsBooks. Those will still
come out every 1st and 15th of the month for readers to enjoy for free, with collections of the previous six months of stories coming out...well, every six months. VOLUME TWO of the STORIES FROM THE CAFE will be out in January toward the end of the month. You can preorder the eBook from KatSimonsBooks now if you want to make sure to get it!

The next two installments of the Dragon Thief series are written and just waiting on edits and cover art. Those will be released early in the new year. I was hoping for January and February or March release, but at this stage, it's looking more like February and March or April. If things go better than I anticipate, I'll be sure to update here! But yeah, looking like February and April will be more reasonable release times.

I also have book 9 of the Cary Redmond series just waiting in the wings! That one does have a cover--or at least it's almost finished. Still working through edits--but there's still editing. So for this book, I'm going to celebrate a little by doing a Kickstarter for it! That will be either March or April and I will definitely update here as it approaches and the prelaunch page goes live.

I will also have a new Haunts and Howls Collection out in October 2026, this one with a ghost theme!! Perfect for spooky season. So look out for that one. (I may launch it with a Kickstarter!) It will have a new Cary Redmond novella in it, and I have a story about writing that story. But I'll talk more about that closer to the time. (tease LOL)

Around all of this, I have a few Percy James Mysteries releasing and a couple more collections to put together that I've had on the backburner for entirely too long now. Time to get them out! I also have a really fun collaborative thing I'm doing in August, but I'll tell you more about that in the new year.

Because 2026 is for catching up a little, I will have Dragon Thief on hiatus after the twelfth book comes out, but only for a short time. Except the new season of Dragon Thief to start up again in 2027!

So big plans for the upcoming year, but hopefully a more reasonable work schedule for me. LOL. Wish me luck!

And until next month, may your holiday season be lovely and full of light and peace and warmth and love. Happy Holidays!

Kat

Well that went fast!

November was a weird month and now it's almost over! I'm not entirely sure how that happened, but here we are almost upon Thanksgiving here in the US. Eek! But I do have some updates and news, so here we go.

Once again, I'd like to thank everyone who was able to support the APOCALYPSE WITCH Kickstarter, whether by directly backing or passing the word. I truly appreciate all the help! The eBook is currently up for preorder and will release everywhere on December 3rd. If you're a backer, you will have received your copy already. The print books are going to probably launch a bit later than the eBook this time around because I'm doing some fun interior stuff and want to make sure I get the proofs before I let the books go live. But I'll have links and updates on that next month.

APOCALYPSE WITCH

Demon Witch, Book Five

Releases December 3rd

PURCHASE LINKS

The Apocalypse Witch… A disaster? A warning? Or a destiny…

With this new cursed power dangling a knife over her head and pinning a target to her back, witch Angie Jordan faces one last trial to find answers. Before the dark magic kills her. A journey that tests her control. Strains her bond with Sebastian. And reveals secrets that could devastate her realm. A quest that pits her and Sebastian against an enemy unlike anything they’ve encountered before.

As demons hunt them, and the dangers expand with every step, Angie’s powers grow more erratic. Uncertain who to trust, time becomes their enemy. Because if they fail, no one will be safe.

From the demons. Or from Angie.

Don’t miss this heart-pounding final book in the acclaimed Demon Witch series. With everything on the line, and the fate of Angie, Sebastian, and the entire human world hanging in the balance.

***

In addition to the release of Apocalypse Witch, I have the latest Haunts and Howls collection out!

First, I want to apologize for this one being a little later this year than usual. I do like to have the Haunts and Howls collections out in October for spooky season, but the year got away from me. Hopefully the plan for next year leaves us enough room to get everything lined up and the 2026 Haunts and Howls released at its usual time of year.

But! It is officially here now. And since the theme for this collection is Dragons... Well, those are just as fun in December as they are in October. Really, anytime is a good time for dragons.

HAUNTS AND HOWLS AND DRAGON TALES is out at my store today and will be out everywhere on December 17th. The trade paperbacks and large print paperbacks will release on December 17th as well, so for my print readers, that's the release date for you. (I'll post a reminder next month :D)

HAUNTS AND HOWLS AND DRAGON TALES
A Haunts and Howls Collection

BUY DIRECT  Out Now!
PREODER EVERYWHERE  Out December 17th

Follow, mere mortals, for here there be dragons… 

Beyond the mists of time. Through the thin veil between realms. Enter a world of dragons both old and new. Mystic beings of power and magic. Danger and strength. Wisdom and violence.

Here, intrepid heroes venture into uncharted waters. Encountering creatures so powerful their legends span all of human history. Tread cautiously. For here there be dragons…

In this latest Haunts and Howls collection of seven new contemporary fantasy stories, bestselling author Kat Simons delivers dragon tales from the quiet to the epic. From the truly deadly, to the sublime. Don’t miss every delicious, dangerous adventure into the realms of dragons. Including a brand new DestinyCats novella!

***

I'll have more about the other new editions of the Demon Witch series next month, so keep an eye out for that. I've been debating uploading the duology as an eBook, just to give readers alternatives. The print edition of Howling Dreadful on a Moonlit Strange (the combined book of the two prequel stories in the series) will be released with the other updated print books. I wasn't going to upload the eBook, but I did at the store and now I think I will everywhere. The more options, the better, right? More on that next month!

***

Finally, for my Dragon Thief readers! One of the things that got behind over the course of this autumn were the next two Dragon Thief books. They're written and queued up for editing, but the editing process got behind. 

SO, Dragon Thief book 11 will be out in January now. I'll have more on that next month. And because I'm behind, I'll have it out everywhere at the same time (though, of course, I appreciate it a lot when you buy direct! That's the best option for supporting me and my writing. But getting the books anywhere at all is super great too).

I'm still working on the 2026 schedule, so hopefully by next months update, I'll be able to give you a more solid release date for Book 12 in the series. And then, there will be a slight delay before I launch the third season of the Dragon Thief.

I need to get some backlogged projects and stories released over 2026, and since I am not, as it turns out, a four person team all on my own, the work involved will require I delay getting new Dragon Thief books out until probably 2027. All goes to plan (ha!), Book 13 should start the Third Season in January 2027. (And for the record, I cannot believe I'm talking about things in the year 2027. That makes my little GenX brain wobbly. When did that happen!?!)

I will keep you all updated! And you can check back here monthly for news. But in the meantime, there are still two more Dragon Thief stories on their way! And they're an awful lot of fun. :)

Okay, that's more than enough for this late in the month! LOL.

Until next month! Happy Reading.