What’s Next After Grand Mesa Men? Future Writing Plans

Any author out there knows that finishing a book and publishing it is the hardest part—well, that, and marketing the dang things. But writing? Writing is the fun part, the passion. That’s what we love. So, it’s no surprise that when I’m nearing the end of a project, my brain is already jumping to what’s next.

That’s exactly what happened a few months ago while wrapping up the Grand Mesa Men series.

I’ve worked on these four books for nearly four years, though there were some massive breaks in between. I had my daughter in 2022, and for two years, I barely wrote a word. Would I recommend that? No way. But I wasn’t in the headspace to write, and even though I still struggle with feeling like that time was “wasted,” I know in my logical brain that it wasn’t. I became a mom of two—that was a huge adjustment, and it took time to find my creative rhythm again.

Now, I am beyond ready for these books to be released!

What Comes Next?

As much as I love these characters, I can’t wait to dive into something new. And right now, I have two different series fighting for dominance in my brain.

The Ashenheart Series – My First Dark Romance

This series grabbed me and refused to let go. It’s a dark romance series following four brothers and three of their cousins, each with their own thrilling, high-stakes love story. I already have the first book almost fully drafted and extensive notes for the others.

💀 Organized crime, a ruthless syndicate that thrives in the shadows, and a family tangled in secrets.

🔥 The romances?

  • Opposites attract between the assassin brother and a nerdy editor who has no business getting involved in his world.

  • Missed connection between the hacker brother and the female assassin who has spent her life disappearing.

  • Forbidden romance between the accountant brother and a detective determined to take down his family.

  • Rescue romance between the finder brother and the woman he rescues… and refuses to let go.

And those are just the brothers! The cousins’ stories are equally exciting.

I read a lot of dark romance, but I’ve never written one, and I am beyond excited to dive into this genre from a storytelling perspective.

The Paranormal Romance Series – A World of Shadows & Secrets

This is the other series fighting for my attention, and I think it will end up being three books—but since I’m not a planner or an outliner, we’ll see where the characters take me.

👁️ The setup?

  • A cultural anthropologist investigating a spooky town filled with legends.

  • A guardian of souls who walks the line between worlds.

  • Multiple universes colliding, with paranormal creatures sprinkled throughout.

I had to start drafting this just to get my brain to quiet down, and every time I sit down to work on it, I fall deeper into the world. There’s mystery, magic, and so much eerie beauty—I cannot wait to share more.

Which One Should I Publish First?

These two ideas are keeping me up at night, and I’m counting down the days until I can give them my full focus. But I’d love to hear from you!

Which book are you more excited for? Dark romance with high stakes and dangerous men? Or a paranormal romance filled with secrets and shadowy realms?

Let me know in the comments!

And, as always, stay up to date with everything I’m working on by signing up for my newsletter at shalanabattles.com.

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