Long Hot Days Up My Way

So of course I've started reading spooky stuff in anticipation of spooky season LOL. And both of the stories I have to talk about take place in the autumn!

RELEASES

First up this month, the new Cary Redmond novel, THE TROUBLE WITH FAMILIES AND GOBLINS, is out live in the world in paperback, large print paperback, and eBook editions!

TROUBLE WITH FAMILIES AND GOBLINS
A Cary Redmond Novel, Book 9

AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE

Trouble meets the family…

Back from Scotland and ready to settle into this new version of her job as a magical Protector, Cary Redmond faces only one big problem. Thanksgiving. More specifically, Thanksgiving with her family of mundane humans and her mate Deacon Jones’s family of leopard shifters.

Cary’s parents have no idea that shapeshifters exist in the world. Deacon’s mother happens to be the queen of the local leopard shifters. Not just the parents plan to gather for dinner, but every single member of each family intends to be there. And every single one of these people in one small house for one big meal means… Trouble.

Fine. Good. Manageable. No problem.

Except for the goblins.

And the mysterious dog.

And, of course, her former faery mentor Jaxer.And her sister’s pregnancy.

But everything is fine. Cary controls her Protector magic now. Thanksgiving involves lots of food and drink. All good. No problem. What could go wrong?

Oh boy…

In this return Kat Simons’ acclaimed Cary Redmond urban fantasy romance series, Trouble picks a family holiday to add a little light chaos to Cary’s already chaotic life. End of the world? Or just a talking-to from her mother? Could go either way. Don’t miss this latest magical Cary Redmond adventure!

~~

For Cary Redmond lovers, a heads up that Cary and Deacon will have a novella in this year's HAUNTS AND HOWLS collection, due out in October. More about that as we get closer, but the Cary and Deacon novella was super satisfying to write because it did exactly what I wanted it to do and that does not always happen. I can't wait to share it with readers.

~~~

Also, coming up on August 1st, I have a story that is part of a really cool project called the UNCOLLECTED ANTHOLOGY. UA is an urban fantasy collection, each edition written to a theme, and each edition having a special guest author. Each story is published independently by the various authors (thus the "Uncollected" part of the anthology) and now all the stories are also collected into a single edition available everywhere! So if you want to read just one or two stories, you can. You can buy them all individually. OR, you can pick up the collection.

For more about the anthology and previous issues, visit their website!

I was invited to be a guest author in issue #40, UNCOLLECTED ANTHOLOGY: EQUINOX! I have been reading UA stories for many years now, so being invited to participate has been really thrilling.

My contribution is called GOLDEN FLOWER REEDS, and is out everywhere for preorder now! All the anthology stories, including the collection, will release on August 1st, so be sure to watch for them.

GOLDEN FLOWER REEDS
Uncollected Anthology: Equinox

Issue Forty

AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE

The equinox marks a balance of light and dark…and the return of the elves.

Abrahm Reed hates the equinoxes with the power of a thousand suns. Not just because each equinox marks the period when day and night balance and the gateway between elfland and the human realm opens. Not just because the beautifully deadly elves should never be allowed around humans. But because every equinox, his father demands his presence.

As a half elf, half human, Abrahm moves between both worlds without restriction. Yet the alien elf realm has always rubbed him wrong. He feels more human and more comfortable in the mundane world. One of the many reasons his elf father hates him.

But something feels different this equinox. Off. Wrong. More wrong than usual.

Stepping through the portal into elfland cuts Abrahm off from everything safe, everything he knows back in Boston. Trapping him in a land of magic and death. Where even the most beautiful flowers prove treacherous. And survival is never guaranteed.

Enter Kat Simons’ richly disorienting and mysterious urban fantasy where the portal between realms marks a line between the safe, mundane human world and the deadly beauty of elfland. Where not even the son of an elf lord is safe.

~~

And as a little bonus, Abrahm also visits the Café on August 1st as well! So you can get a little taste of who Abrahm Reed is at the Café and then read his longer story.

~~~

NEWS AND UPDATES

Speaking of the Café, for those of you waiting for the VOLUME THREE collection, that release got a little delayed due to some scheduling conflicts. It's only delayed about three weeks, though and will be out later in August. So please be sure to check back then for updates!

If you're behind on the Cafe stories, all the stories from 2025 are in two collections that are out now, so you can pick those up in the meant time. And VOLUME ONE is currently on sale at KatSimonsBooks!

And finally, a heads up that DRAGON THIEF, book 1 in the Dragon Thief series, will be on sale for a limited time everywhere starting on July 28th, with the sale running through August 18th! If you're an Amazon shopper, you might have to give them a couple of days to price match--or nag them to price match. That usually works too :)

That's all for this month. Until August, I hope you're having a peaceful summer/winter with a lot of good books stacked up on your readers or bedside table just waiting to be read!

Happy Reading!

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!

April Brought Heat...

And not just because I have a dragon shifter book out this month! New York City has decided mid-April is a good time for late spring heat. Close to summer? I do not want to turn the air-conditioners on yet, but it is nice to go outside without a coat.

But the weather isn't the only heat. Dragon Thief 12, THE CHAIN JOB, the last book in Season Two of the series, is out everywhere in eBook now!

THE CHAIN JOB

Dragon Thief, Book 12

AVAILABLE NOW

How to outsmart a thief who knows all the same tricks…

From beloved author Kat Simons comes the highly anticipated final episode of Season Two in the Dragon Thief series, where magical thief Myra and her dragon shifter prince Christopher find themselves up against the clock in a race to stop a war.

When an old nemesis pokes his head out of his pub to sell treasure removed from the dragon king’s hoard, Myra and Christopher once again find themselves embroiled in a scheme to steal back stolen goods. That the thief used Myra to find a way into the hoard leaves a bad taste in Myra’s mouth. Making her only too happy to destroy her old acquaintance’s plans.

Especially since the stolen treasure holds dangerous magic, so terrible, it could trigger a dragon war. War among dragon shifters endangers everyone in New York and beyond.

But to stop a conflict and retrieve the treasure, Myra, Christopher, and the team have to out thief a thief with the same magic as Myra. All before time runs out.

Dive into the exciting series finale to Season Two of the Dragon Thief series, where Kat Simons blends unique world building, mystery, romance, and magic into a story impossible to put down, with characters readers won’t want to miss.

~~

For my print readers. the individual print editions of each book in Season Two will be out later in the year, around August or September. The full omnibus edition of the Season Two, in hardback, paperback, and eBook editions, will be out in November 2026. So look out for those then.

Season Three will start back up again in 2027 (a year that feels very weird to me, like, how did we get to 2027 already? The 80s were only 20 years ago LOL). More on that as the date approaches. but in the meantime, I hope readers enjoy THE CHAIN JOB!

~~~

As a reminder, I'll have the Kickstarter for the next Cary Redmond novel launching in early May! If you don't want to miss out on that, be sure to follow the prelaunch page! That will help the launch too. Appreciate the support!

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

I really think Cary Redmond readers are going to enjoy this book. We're visiting Cary's excessively mundane family, with the entire Jones family of shapeshifters coming along for the ride. While Cary's mom and sister are having issues. Jaxer shows up for the craic because of course he does. And there are goblins. *grin* Lots and lots of Trouble!

And Kickstarter backers will get the eBook early!

~~~

Looking ahead to May, it's all about the Kickstarter, but there will be an individual story from the last Haunts and Howls collection, HAUNTS AND HOWLS AND DRAGONS TALES, releasing in eBook, so I'll talk about that a little next month while I'm posting regular reminders about the Kickstarter.

And be sure to swing by The Café for a fun new story! Raven at the Cafe is available to read until the end of the month. So don't miss out!

That is the big news for April. Be sure to check back in May when I'll be all about Cary Redmond!

And until then, I hope the world is treating you kindly.

Happy reading!

Happy Late Equinox!

While it was officially a few days ago, it is now officially the change of the seasons, and we are just starting to feel hints of spring here in my neck of the woods.

This month, a new Percy James Mystery is out! And a little update on the Kickstarter and next Dragon Thief story.

First up, Percy and the Azur Regent return with a new mystery to solve. Those of you who enjoy this series and pick up this book, be sure to read the Thank You afterward. I talk about a passing comment in the story that was based on something that really happened. I'll say no more to avoid spoilers.

MATCHES MIGHT MENACE

A Percy James Mystery

AVAILABLE NOW!

Welcome to the Azur Regent

Summer heats up at the Azur Regents. The perfect blend of activity for front desk clerk, Percy James. She loves this time of year. The busy schedule. The myriad interesting guests. The buzz and life. Not so much the heat and humidity of the heat wave sweeping through the New York City streets. But the Azur Regent keeps the air conditioning on high, and the tourists comfortable.

Most of the tourists anyway.

In the hospitality game, difficult guests and troubled travelers pop up daily. Part of the life. Until those troubles bring danger. Then Percy and the staff must confront the heat. Because if things don’t cool down, someone could die.

~~

MATCHES MIGHT MENACE is out everywhere in eBook, and also a print edition is currently available my store and Amazon. I haven't gotten around to releasing them wide yet. HOWEVER, the whole series is in the schedule to make sure they're all available in print from other booksellers. I'll update when they go wide.

***

Quick update on the Kickstarter. Thanks to the usual business of life, I'm moving the launch of the Kickstarter to May. I want to make sure it's fun and fully put together and I'm behind on it because of getting stuck in Ireland after the Olympics in Italy (long story). So the Kickstarter will launch in May now.

For email reminders when it goes live, please follow the prelaunch page and Kickstarter will let you know as soon as it launches. I'll also post about it here.

***

Because I'm moving the Kickstarter around, I will likely be moving the publishing date of the next Dragon Thief story up to the end of April. Originally, it was on the schedule for May 10th, but since I haven't gotten the preorder up yet, it can come out in April without issue. *grin* An early spring surprise.

So! Look out for THE CHAIN JOB, Book 12 in the Dragon Thief series next month! More on that in the next update.

***

Finally, a little reminder to visit the Café at KatSimonsBooks for the latest short story: ANGIE AT THE CAFE! Where we get to see our favorite Demon Witch just hanging out being a witch, solving witchy problems in uniquely witchy ways. Free to read until the end of March!

***

Until next month, happy reading!

~Kat

 

The Dragon Thief is Back!

Oh boy was January a busy month down my way, but things are settling out a little on the home front (even if the world is chaos and weirdness F*CK ICE!).

But now we are into February and February sees the return of the Dragon Thief, which I'm very excited about! I also have the prelaunch page up for the Cary Redmond Kickstarter. More on that below.

~~~

NEW RELEASE

First up, the new Dragon Thief story THE BLACKMAIL JOB is out everywhere now! This is book 11, the penultimate book in Season Two of the series. And things are getting more complicated in the dragon shifter world for Myra and Christopher. Still, there are damsels to save. And the team is ready!

THE BLACKMAIL JOB

A Dragon Thief Story

Dragon Thief Book 11

OUT EVERYWHERE NOW!

Crushing secrets rise to haunt and devastate… 

Grappling with their discovery of a new and deadly foe, Myra and Christopher struggle to untangle the mess. Political machinations. Dragon shifter politics. Secrets buried so deeply to raise them could prove devastating.

Myra never imagined falling in love with a dragon shifter prince would prove so complicated and dangerous. Yet past secrets and dark plans continue to drag them into someone else’s nefarious plot. Uncovering the truth takes time. And distressed damsels still need saving from unscrupulous, murderous villains.

With a job to do, Myra and Christopher must put their private struggles to one side. And hope they can rescue their latest client before everything implodes. Because when those long-buried secrets find the light, Myra knows they’ll change everything.

Don’t miss this dark, twisty urban fantasy romance adventure through the Dragon Thief world, where a magical thief and her dragon prince face enemies old and new. And a future that hangs by a fraying rope.

~~~

THE CAFE AT KATSIMONSBOOKS

As a reminder, the newest Café story is up now! STRANGE THINGS ARE AFOOT AT THE CAFE is free to read until March 1st. And for people of a certain age, you might recognize some of the references to a certain time traveling duo from the late 80s. *grin*

~~~

NEW KICKSTARTER

So far, so good for launching the new Cary Redmond Kickstarter in April. Right now, the prelaunch page is up, and it is currently very basic. But you can follow that page to get notified when the Kickstarter launches.

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

The more followers on this page, the better the launch usually goes, so if you could follow that page, that'd be great. I will be posting a few things to the page over the course of March, too, so keep checking back!

I'm really excited to get this book into the hands of Cary Redmond fans because introducing Cary's very mundane family with no idea that shapeshifters exist to Deacon's entire shapeshifter family while there are also other shenanigans going on the background was an absolute delight. And I hope readers will enjoy the story too!

~~~

LOOK AHEAD

So as a look ahead to next month, there will be more Café stories, more about the upcoming Kickstarter, and, with the usual caveats because life is weird, I will have a new Percy James Mystery out! Look out for all those details next month.

The next Dragon Thief story is working its way through the process now and is scheduled to release in May. That one is the last story for Season Two. And of course, it's fun and you should read it. LOL. I'll have more about that soon.

As a reminder, if you'd like to keep up on all my news and releases and such, you can always join my Reader Newsletter and get the details directly to your inbox. Subscribers get two free, exclusive stories (one Cary Redmond story and one Tiger Shifters story), as well as news, updates, cover reveals, excerpts, and occasional discount coupons to my store. Also occasional pictures of my baking exploits or travel. The newsletter comes out (for the most part) monthly and is a great way to keep up without putting in any effort at all *grin*

Finally, as I mentioned getting my AI statement up on the site a few months back, you might be able to tell, I haven't yet. So for the record, I am still NOT using AI in any of my marketing, cover art, interior art, and certainly not in my writing (I literally just write all the time so I have a backlog of things that need to be published). And I do still intend on having a formal statement on the sight sometime soon.

With the art, because I use stock photos, I'm doing my best to ensure I don't use AI, but some might slip through. If I'm made aware of that, I will change things. But this is just a reminder before I can get a page up that, to the best of my ability, I am not using AI in my publishing in any capacity. This is not a statement about the us of AI by other authors and publishers. This is just my own personal position on the technology within my personal writing and publishing.

~~~

OKAY SO, that's good for Romance Month, in which I have very little in the way of Romance to talk about! LOL. But since the Dragon Thief series is an urban fantasy romance/paranormal romance series, it counts. Until next month, I hope the world is treating you kindly and gently, and that you are finding very good stories to read!

Happy Reading!

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.

Happy October!

It's almost Halloween and it's definitely October and it's absolutely Spooky Season officially! Yay! (Throws skull and spider shaped confetti!)

AND to celebrate spooky season, there are sales going on, there's a wide release for the latest Dragon Thief story. And THERE'S THE DEMON WITCH KICKSTARTER!

Kickstarter first. That officially launches on October 21st. 

I will add updates here when it does launch and I will include the above GIF in those announcements because the little ghost is too cute and I want them on this page for many more days.

The APOCALYPSE WITCH Kickstarter will include all new covers for the series, updated interiors, really nice new hardback editions with dust jackets and some gorgeous box set options. AND for those of you who have already been buying the paperbacks and prefer the original style cover, or just want to complete your set so everything looks the same, there's a level for that!

The current links lead to the prelaunch page. Please follow that, and you'll get an announcement when the Kickstarter goes live. Noon EST on October 21st!

~~~

On that same day (sorry, my weird scheduling mistake!) THE GOLDEN CHALICE JOB, Dragon Thief Book 10 is available everywhere! It's currently only available in my store, and you can get it there now without waiting! But should you want to get it elsewhere, that happens next Tuesday, and there are preorders available now.

THE GOLDEN CHALICE JOB
Dragon Thief Book 10

FIND IT AT YOUR FAVORITE VENDOR

Ancient secrets, mysterious relics, and a terrifying new enemy…

Waking in a stone-walled prison, her memories blank, adrenaline rushing through her battered body, Myra has no idea what got her there. No idea what danger awaits outside her cavern cell. Only knows she has to escape. And she has to unearth her memories.

Because a deadly menace stalks her and Christopher.

A menace linked to artifacts she can’t remember. A job that went horribly wrong?

To escape, Myra and Christopher have to trust in her magical thief skills. Have to dredge up the secrets that brought them to the mysterious cavern prison that smells like dragon. Have to discover the identity of their captor. All before their captor comes back for them.

A new enemy, whose very existence could devastate their future. If they survive long enough to have one…

This latest deadly adventure in the action-packed, romantic urban fantasy Dragon Thief series will leave readers at the edge of their seats as Myra and Christopher fight to survive a brand new enemy, and discover if they have a future together.

~~~

Finally, be sure to check out the sales page at KatSimonsBooks! There's a lot on sale! 

Don't miss the bundle of some of my spookiest books all together for more than HALF OFF! That'll only be available for Halloween. The bundle goes away on November 5th, so if it's got books in it you'd like to get, now's your chance!

There's also a wide FREE sale this month of ROMANCING THE LEOPARD, which is a fun paranormal romance with fated mates, some nasty tiger shifters, a truly hunky nerd of a MMC who's also a leopard shifter, and a genius FMC who is not a shifter but no one minds. There are also some fun surprises at the end. This is a cross over between the Cary Redmond Series and the Tiger Shifter Series and there are guest appearances from both! So if you haven't read this paranormal romance yet, now's the time to pick it up!

~~~

Also a quick reminder, that the latest story from the Cafe is up and this one is a spooky story for spooky season! Don't want to miss FRANCHESCA MILLER AT THE CAFE!

~~~

So I'll be back in a week with the Kickstarter Launch Announcement and probably post a few times with updates here.

Then I'll be back in November with updates about new releases, the Kickstarter finish, and what's happening for the rest of the year. In December, I'll give a look-ahead to 2026, because there will be a few changes that I want everyone to know about.

Until then, please follow the Kickstarter prelaunch page and Happy Reading!

And also HAPPY SPOOKY SEASON!!

Happy May It's My Birthday Month!

Spring is in full swing here in New York and all the allergies are activated. LOL. There's also a lot of rain. Which is lovely except that it puts a damper on baseball season.

BUT! We have books. And reading. So that's good stuff.

I also celebrated a birthday this month! Had a lovely day and got some very sweet presents from my family. My whipped ganache for my brownie cake failed several times, though, so now I'm going to be making chocolate ganache and whipping it up until I cracked the issue and can make gorgeous ganache (I'm really bothered by the fact that it kept failing! LOL). So if anyone is wondering why I'm bouncing off the walls from a chocolate high over the next few weeks, that'll be the reason. Other than the failed ganache, though, I had a lovely birthday and am delighted to have made it one more time around the sun!

In the publishing arena this month, things are relatively quiet--specifically scheduled that way so I'd have plenty of time to do Kickstarter fulfillment. I do have a standalone short story from last year's Haunts and Howls collection out wide today. There is a fun angsty romance short story up at The Cafe now. And I have some look ahead news to let you all know about.

This month's release is THE TROLL AND THE DRESSMAKER, a fantasy fairytale with some unexpected heroes. This was originally published in HAUNTS AND HOWLS AND FAIRY DALES, so for my print readers, that's the way to get the story. But if you just want to read the standalone eBook for THE TROLL AND THE DRESSMAKER, now's the time to get it.

THE TROLL AND THE DRESSMAKER

Buy Direct
All Other eBook Vendors

A story for a stone. A stone to save her people…

The village life of a dressmaker comes with few surprises but a lot of activity. Just the way Erin likes it. She still has time to visit her best friend in the neighboring village, only has to travel to the castle occasionally, and generally enjoys her quiet life. Even when a troll takes up residence under the bridge leading out of the village, the only thing it requires to allow passage is a story. If the troll likes the story, it leaves the teller a stone.

Erin regales the troll with many stories as she crosses the bridge, but never receives a stone. She accepts her tales just don’t please the troll. Not everyone can spin stone-worthy stories. And at least the troll doesn’t otherwise bother her.

But when a mysterious threat starts to stalk the village, Erin learns just how valuable a good story can be. Because one story will be the difference between saving the lives of the people she loves, or the death of everything she holds dear.

Author’s Note: The Troll and the Dressmaker is also published in the contemporary fantasy collection HAUNTS AND HOWLS AND FAIRY DALES.

***

THE CAFE AT KATSIMONSBOOKS

The latest Cafe story is available to read for free now! And SAM AND BECKY AT THE CAFE is a lovely angsty Romance with a "my best friend's sister" trope and a very guilty hero looking to make amends.

And with that, I've officially offered my 11th free short story at the Cafe. After June's two stories release, that will be six months and time for a collection! I've started to put that together. It'll be out in eBook and Print (Trade and Large Print) from KatSimonsBooks on July 23rd, and released everywhere else on the 30th of July.

I'll have the preorders for that up soon, so check back here or keep an eye out at KatSimonsBooks for those details.

***

As I mentioned above, I've spent a lot of time in May working on the fulfillment for the Kickstarter for The Dragon Thief Series Omnibus. And I'd just like to once again say THANK YOU to the people who were able to back the Kickstarter. It's been really fun getting to make fancy editions of this book.

In addition to being able to do the fancy omnibus editions, I was also able to put the individual stories into their own individual print editions! Those books should be populating out now to the various vendors for a wide release on August 5th. The next day, August 6th, is the wide release of THE DRAGON THIEF SERIES, SEASON ONE, Omnibus in eBook and Trade paperback.

The eBook, Trade paperback editions of the individual book and the omnibus, and the fancy paperback, hardback, and slipcases will all be available through KatSimonsBooks in June. so look out for those! I'll have more the details next month, but the eBook is currently up for Preorder if you don't want to miss it.

Next month is actually another all Dragon Thief, all the Time sort of month, because I'll have a new Dragon Thief story releasing at KatSimonsBooks in the Second Season--book 9, THE PAYBACK JOB--and Book 8 in the series, THE GREEN SCROLL JOB releases wide! So more details on that next month as well.

***

Okay, that's all for this month! I'll have all the Dragon Thief release details and links next month, as well as some look ahead news for July and August.

In the meantime, I hope the transition season, be it spring or autumn, is treating you well!

Happy Reading!

~Kat

Thanks for the Successful Kickstarter!

Thanks everyone for the support and backing of the Kickstarter! We've successfully funded and now I just have to get all the surveys out and the rewards sorted. A very fun part of the process! 

Additionally, the eBook for THE DRAGON THIEF SERIES, SEASON ONE omnibus is available everywhere now for preorder. It'll come out at KatSimonsBooks in June and from all other eBook vendors in August.

The regular paperbacks will go on preorder shortly as well. The regular retail paperbacks will publish the same time as the wide eBook distribution.

And once again, Thanks for the Support!!

As a litter reminder, I also have a brand new Dragon Thief story out this month from my store. THE GREEN SCROLL JOB is the 8th book in the series, and the team is having some growing pains. It's also up for preorder wide and will be available wide in June.

THE GREEN SCROLL JOB

A Dragon Thief story,

Dragon Thief, Book 8

BUY DIRECT | OUT NOW!

ALL other eBook vendors | OUT June 10th

Ancient magic, a deadly bargain, and a whole lot of lives on the line…

Teaming up with a crew of people all with the same goal—to save damsels in distress—seemed like a fun idea. At the time. But growing pains and Myra’s lifetime of working alone complicate the delicate balance of the new team. She doesn’t want to give up on it, for Christopher’s sake as much as her own. Her dragon shifter boyfriend has a soft spot for damsels in distress. To ensure his safety, Myra will willingly work with other people, so someone’s there to have their backs.

But trust never came easy for the magic thief, and now Myra has to learn to trust a whole bunch of people when some of them clearly don’t trust her.

When the team’s latest attempt to rescue a damsel in distress goes bad, and their tight timeline pushes the boundaries of calculated risk, trust might be the only thing that saves them. The only thing that can save their client. Because two wealthy, dangerous men after the same ancient artifact, and one conman without a conscious, have trapped an innocent artist in the crossfire. Myra, Christopher, and the others will do whatever it takes to rescue their client.

Even if it means launching themselves into danger. Confronting deadly ancient magic. And putting all their lives on the line.

~~

I'll be back in a few weeks with May updates. Thanks again!

Happy Reading!

November Updates and Sales

Well. There's been a lot of behind the scenes work going on down my way, including some updates for my other pseudonym Isabo Kelly. More on that below. But as a heads up, this is a long post with lots of stuff in it.

SALES

First, the time sensitive information. There are SALES everywhere going on right now. Including for one of the Isabo Kelly books which I think my Kat Simons readers will enjoy. Most of the sales listed below are easiest to get from KatSimonsBooks, but some of them are available at other stores too. And for Amazon, if they don't have one of the books I have listed for free available for free, see if they'll price match! They're sort of slow to do that sometimes.

First up, and to be very blunt, I was one of the people...unhappy with the US election results. There was a lot of anger swirling in my gut directly afterward, as well as fear for the future of this country. I say this bluntly here because I feel like if you disagree with this, you probably won't like my fiction anyway and this is as good a time as any to establish that.

That said, because of the anger I was experiencing right after the election, I put one of my most angry heroines on sale! The aptly titled ANGER MANAGEMENT is free most places and where it isn't see if they'll price match to get it free. You can also just get it directly from KatSimonsBooks and not worry about that price matching stuff.

Frankly, even if you aren't from the US and upset by the election, the opening scene in this story might be cathartic anyway. It sure was for me to write!

The others sales are easiest to see from the store's sales page, including THE TROUBLE WITH BLACK CATS AND DEMONS still free, and the first book in the Demon Witch series, BONE LANTERN WITCH still only $0.99 from my store. There are some other shorter works on sale at the store as well, which aren't available for sale anywhere else. So now's a good time to check those out!

~~

ISABO KELLY

And now the exciting Isabo Kelly news! As I hope most of you know by now, but for those who don't, I started writing under the name Isabo Kelly a very long time ago. She still has quite a bit out available in print and I occasionally commit a new Isabo Kelly book. She doesn't get as much love as the Kat Simons' name, though, BUT she will now be available from KatSimonsBooks! I've even given Isabo her own page there so readers will know specifically which Isabo books are available.

Isabo's fiction will be moving over slowly over the next few months. So watch for more. For now, though, I have moved four of my favorite Isabo books over, AND given them all new covers, new fancy interiors, and there will be semi-fancy print editions rolling out soon (those are already rolling out at Amazon for print and in eBook everywhere).

The FIRE AND TEARS series are very sexy epic fantasy romances, which could fall into the romantasy category for those who like those kind of books. They take place in a fantasy city under siege by invading wizards, the neighboring elven city has claimed neutrality and aren't coming to help the humans, and the humans are losing the war. So dark, but sexy, and chocked full of action as well.

There are a lot of enemies to lovers and second chance romances involved in the three stories. And if that's not enough fun, the third book in the trilogy, DAWN IGNITED, has one of my most favorite redeemed bad guy heroes I've ever written. He was such an ass so it was great fun to put him through the wringer and redeem him.

AND (finally the sales information LOL), through the first week of December, the omnibus edition, which is the entire series in one book, FIRE AND TEARS: Series Collection Books 1-3 is available for only $1.99 in eBook! This sale is going on everywhere, too, so it's a great time to try out an Isabo Kelly romantasy if you've been meaning to give her a try. The collection includes all three books in the series in one file and in a single paperback edition.

~~

NEW RELEASE

With all that sales news and the Isabo Kelly news, I should also mention that there's a new release this month as well. From the 2023 Haunts and Howls Collection, HAUNTS AND HOWLS AND JESTERS BELLS, the last story from that collection is now available in a standalone eBook edition.

SOPHIE SAVES THE WORLD is out everywhere now, and maybe might be a bit of fun for readers looking for both an escape and some humor in their world-saving adventures.

SOPHIE SAVES THE WORLD

Buy Direct
From All Other EBook Vendors

Tending bar couldn’t prepare her for an adventure through the universe. Who knew?

When someone walks through Sophie’s bathroom wall, the hardworking bartender is understandably confused. First, because someone walked through the seemingly solid wall of her bathroom. And second, because that someone is small and green, smells weirdly like peppermint, and says his name is Gerald.

He also claims she needs to save his world.

Sophie does not consider herself the world-saving type. In fact, she would argue she is the least qualified world-saving person to ever be offered the opportunity to save a world. But fate has a twisted sense of humor.

Bravery rises at the strangest times, in the strangest places, though. So maybe a plucky bartender from Las Vegas really can save the world. Or at least not die trying.

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

~~

KAT SIMONS BOOKS

And finally, some news to watch out for for next month! I have a special new section at KatSimonsBooks that will be opening soon. THE CAFE AT KATSIMONSBOOKS!

I'm one of those booky people who loves having a coffee shop or café attached to or right next to my bookstore. I've always had that daydream of owning my own café/bookstore in real life. And I realized that now that I have an online bookstore, there was no reason not to also attach a café! So that's what I'm doing. *grin*

The initial pages are up now, along with the first introductory blog. There's even coffee to buy if you are in the US. There will be more features to this new section rolling out over the course of the new year, but to get us started, the very first features starts in December. 

On the 1st and 15th of every month, I'll have an all new free short story, set in the café, available for readers to enjoy. The details about those stories are in the introductory blog, so you can read that. You can also check back here next month for more details.

My intention for the café is to make it a more interactive place for readers to hang out, get a free story, maybe set up some virtual chats, possible do author readings... There are a lot of possibilities and I'll be playing with those in 2025. I hope you'll join me! It'll be fun.

~~

SO that was a lot of updates and information. I'll be back next month with more about the new Dragon Thief story out in December as well as more details about THE CAFE. 

Until then, I hope you're treating yourself gently and with a great deal of patience. And that you are getting to enjoy some fantastic new books.

Happy reading!

HAPPY OCTOBER!!

Well and truly in the midst of the Halloween season now! And it's even feeling autumnal here in New York at the moment with cooler weather. I hope those of you in the southern hemisphere are getting your warm-up finally! Spring is just as groovy as autumn.

So for October, there's a lot happening. Two releases and a whole lot of sales!

First up, and OUT NOW, and perfect for spooky season, the next Haunts and Howls collection. HAUNTS AND HOWLS AND FAIRY DALES is my ode to, mostly Irish, fairytales. There's also a new Cary Redmond story and a new Friday's Curious Shop story in this collection!

HAUNTS AND HOWLS AND FAIRY DALES

A Haunts and Howls Contemporary Fantasy Collection

Buy Direct

All Other EBook Vendors

Trade Print: Amazon | B&N | Blackwells | Bookshop.org |

Large Print: Amazon | B&N | Blackwells | Bookshop.org |

Tread carefully through haunted dales where fairies dance…

For when the Fae are about, magic and mischief run free. Wild, unpredictable, neither friend nor fiend. Fairies cross the boundaries between light and dark, taking the unwary on rides through the impossible. The deadly.

And here, at the crossroads, in a shop, by a field, the Fae awaken terror and hope. Only the brave, or the luckless, dare tangle with these immortals. Hoping to survive the night.

Hunt the fairies. If you dare.

Myths, legends, and haunting tales dance through this collection of seven all new spooky contemporary fantasy stories from bestselling author Kat Simons. Don’t miss this latest in the Haunts and Howls series, including a brand new Cary Redmond novella.

~~

HAUNTS AND HOWLS AND FAIRY DALES is out everywhere in eBook and Trade paperback and Large Print paperback editions. The paperbacks are, of course, still populating through everywhere, so keep checking on those. You can always swing by my store for paperbacks since I have those there now for some of the series, including Haunts and Howls. But at the moment, it's mostly the Trade paperbacks. I'm still working on moving the Large Print over.

~~

Next up this month, and out today at my store, next week wide, the next Dragon Thief story!

THE FEMME FATALE JOB is a really fun addition to the series. Things are heating up with Maya and Christopher, and an unexpected guest drops in. Not a welcome one. Don't miss this latest in the series!

THE FEMME FATALE JOB

A Dragon Thief Story, Book 5

Buy Direct

All Other eBook Vendors

No one saw her coming…

After the last job for the dragon king, Myra vows never again. No more. But for Christopher, and for whatever these feelings developing between them might be… She can’t say no. Especially if the job involves a damsel in distress. Myra’s dragon shifter prince just can’t resist rescuing people in trouble. And when he needs a thief to do that, Myra happily jumps in. The job might be skirting the line between working for the dragon king and not working for the dragon king, but Myra willingly walks that line for Christopher.

What starts out as a simple case of helping one woman rescue her career, though, quickly turns into something Myra never expected, something no one expected. A foe so deadly, so terrifying, that if they get this wrong, the entire island of Manhattan could burn.

Pitting a magical thief and her dragon shifter prince against one of the most terrifying creatures on the planet… How can they possibly survive?

By stealing something of course.

Before everything goes up in flames.

~~

The sixth book in the series, THE SCAVENGER JOB, will be out in December! December 3rd at my store, up for preorder now, and December 10th wide, preorder most places now. This has a bit of a holiday, Christmas-y theme to it, and romance readers will finally get their payout for this slow burn romance! More details next month.

For my print readers, do not despair! I will have the full collection of this first season of Dragon Thief available in print in 2025. In fact, I am planning a fun Kickstarter for a special edition hardback as well as having some fancy paperbacks and an ordinary paperback edition. So print readers will get all the good stuff! More on that as I start setting things up, but there will be paperbacks, I promise.

~~

SALES!!

This month there are a lot of books on sale at my store, some at deep discounts and some free. Don't miss out!

Also, I have THE TROUBLE WITH BLACK CATS AND DEMONS on sale now. Get this first in series in eBook FREE everywhere.

As is probably obvious, I'm still writing books in the Cary Redmond series, because they are fun for me and I love these characters. In fact, book 9 in the series is written and going to be going into editing soon for a 2025 release! I'll have more information about that when things start moving, but in the meantime, if you'd like to catch up on the series, this is a great time to pick up the first book.

~~

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

As promised I have completely decked out KatSimonsBooks for Halloween and even if you don't buy your books directly there, you really have to see the place. The main page feels like I tossed a bunch of black and orange sprinkles all over the place! LOL. 

Next month, if I get everything lined up the way I'd like, I will have a little surprise launching at the store (which will include free reading!) I've been hinting, I know. But since November 1st is my particular witchy New Year's day, I feel like it's a good time to launch this new venture. Check the site in early November or check back here for more information!

And until next month, may your October treat you well and may there be all the fun and spooky things you might like for this month--costumes, treats, scary movies, and of course, scary reading!

Happy Reading!