It’s the end of the year, and what a year it has been, huh? Lots of stuff happening, lots of it so rough that it felt more like three years instead of one. It was exhausting, and for many folks, it was terrifying. I won’t list all of that, I don’t need to, you already know. But I will say that my sincerest hope for 2026 is a safer, compassionate world. And one way to help that along is by creating and embracing a community of people who want––and try––to make it one. That’s my goal going forward: reaching out, showing up, listening, and accepting that sometimes, yes, it will be uncomfortable being perceived. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it out of the fear of internalizing that discomfort.

Anyway, let’s circle back to “community.” As you may have noticed if you follow me online, I’m struggling with publishing. Being on submission with two books (and getting the loveliest but hardest of passes like: I love this, I just can’t buy romcom from an author with no sales in this category or this is amazing, but I can’t connect), preorder drama (please read why preorders matter), and gearing up for launch of Until the Clock Strikes Midnight, is causing a frenzy of worries. An anxiety, if you will. I posted about the pressure, not being able to hit the moving goalposts…all that, and author friends SHOWED UP to offer support. I’m naming names because they deserve all the love: Terry J. Benton-Walker, Kamillah Cole, Jill Tew, Paula Chase, Veronica Bane, Justina Ireland…and more. It was a wildly unexpected moment; my posts don’t get much engagement, so it has allowed me to be vulnerable and annoying without worrying it’ll find too big of an audience. This wasn’t the case. I cried. The emotions! They gave me and Mysterious Galaxy an idea on how to give back-–more on that next year.

All of this showed me the book community, made me realize that people can see you, and if they can, they want to support you. Not everyone can––but just telling your library, your local indie, and your friends about my books is super helpful and won’t require you to spend a dollar. Anyway, here’s more info about the preorder campaign I told you about last newsletter. Every 20th (had to change this because shipping from Germany is rough) preorder can win their choice of one annotated copy of my books. All preorders will be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card to an independent bookstore of their choosing. You can enter your receipts here: https://bit.ly/PreorderUtCSM ——this is a google form. If you don’t have google, you can write me here and we’ll work it out: https://www.alechiadow.com/contact. One last thing, you can order signed + swagged copies of Until the Clock Strikes Midnight at Mysterious Galaxy and An Unlikely Story. Hopefully more to come!!

Lastly, here’s my sugar cookie recipe. P.S. If you use this recipe, you can add 1/8 - 1/4 cup of rainbow sprinkles, ½ teaspoon of custard cream powder, and ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar, and you’ll get gorgeous confetti cookies. Onto the recipe:

really simple SUGAR COOKIES

Ingredients:

• 227 grams unsalted butter

• 240 grams granulated sugar

• 65 grams cream cheese

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract––I use a glob of vanilla paste (technical term, hehe)

• 1 large egg

• 370 grams of all purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• ¼ teaspoon baking soda

• ¾ teaspoon salt––I use seat salt

For the icing––make this the second day by whipping these ingredients in a mixer for a looooong time, it’ll be fluffy and airy. If it’s runny, add more powdered sugar, if it’s crumbly, add more milk:

• 250 grams powdered sugar

• 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter––easier to use if soft, you can still do it cold

• Milk to loosen––I use oat milk, about 1-2 tablespoon

• Vanilla to taste

Method of Prep:

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, and cream cheese until fluffy.

2. Beat in the vanilla extract and egg; scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.

3. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add to the mixing bowl.

4. Beat until all combined into a cohesive dough.

5. Using a 1 or 2 Tablespoon ice cream scoop, make dough balls until you run out. Put them on a sheet pan or in a box and refrigerate overnight. Is this necessary? You can skip this step, but it improves the texture, flavor, and reduces spreading.

6. Next day, bake at 180 C / 360 F degrees for 9-11 minutes. They will be pale but you should see a little gold around the edges. Cool and then ice to your heart’s content.

Alright, that’s it from me!! I’m signing off for the year and ready to embrace quiet before the storm. Thank you all for going on this journey with me, your kind words, support, and listening. Please let me know if YOU need anything that I can give, after all, we’re a community.

See you in 2026 and sending love from Germany,

Alechia