Hello! It has been a hot minute, hasn’t it? I missed sending out a January newsletter, so here we are, just over the wire. This appears to be the pattern of my life these days.

As I’m writing this, the sun is shining (which is a shock for Washington this time of year), my emotional support familiar is snoring on my lap, and I am staring down the barrel of more edits than I imagined for this month. Oh and my debut is launching next week? I keep forgetting amidst the fog of mind-consuming edits.

I’m afraid this newsletter will be of horrific length—but it’s nearly go time! Things are happening! Lots of things are happening! So I’ve cobbled together the latest news with YAFI (signed preorders!), how Adult Thriller 2 is going, a round-up of what books/shows/etc have been keeping me sane (I mean, my creative well from going completely dry), and also share my take on what newer writers might consider doing while they wait for CPs/beta readers/agents/editors to get feedback to them. Apparently I have a bevy of thoughts on this, so this will be Part I. But hint: it’s not just ‘write the next thing.’

Publishing Update

You Are Fatally Invited comes out next Tuesday. That’s the update. Hard to believe that we’re almost here; the book sold in May of 2023, and waiting until February 2025 seemed like forever. Doesn’t it go by in a blink. So many amazing things have been happening with YAFI, but I’ll keep it to a recent handful:

First things first: SIGNED PREORDERS! The lovely team at Murder by the Book in Houston have partnered with me to do signed and personalized preorders—which means if you, like me, are fans of books with the author’s Johnny Hancock gracing the pages, then now’s your chance. I’ll even sign it to you! Click here to see details on how to claim one.

Second: My author copies from the US and UK have arrived, and they are stunning. Behold:

Third: the full cast audiobook should be finished any day now, and I am desperate to get my mitts on it. With such a perfect cast, it’s going to be incredible. You can preorder the audiobook here.

And fourth: We’re not even to publication date, and YAFI has over 75k adds on Goodreads??? I have no idea who these people are or how they found me—it must be the magic my publishing teams are doing behind the scenes, and all of YOU who have so kindly helped spread the word. Thank you, all of you. 🖤

Fifth: Novel Suspects has shared an excerpt from YAFI—an early scene focusing on The Dinner Party game the authors must play, the first night they arrive on the island. I’m linking it here, in case you want to get a taste for what the book is like!

And sixth: as a fun bit of news—You Are Fatally Invited has officially sold Turkish rights! 🥳 Which makes EIGHT countries. To recap, YAFI releases in the UK, US, and Italy this month. In March, it’ll release in Hungary. Countries with release dates to come are Germany, Romania, Slovakia, and now, Turkey!

Writing Update

Let me tell you, nothing in my writing career has been harder than trying to (re)draft one book while also launching another one. If you’re new here, the book consuming my life is Adult Thriller 2 (coming April 2026), which I’m calling Dark Inheritance Games until I can share more. I’m at 57k words against my goal of 85 or 90k, with a deadline of sending it to my editors in early March. I’m desperately hoping to finish early and commandeer a couple of my beta readers to give it a quick read, but this timeline is incredibly ambitious (delusional?) of me. We shall see where I end up.

But a big win that I’ve discovered through this draft is what the book’s actually about. And it’s about fear.

I didn’t envision that when I started writing this story. The setting, plot, and vibes do veer quite a bit closer to horror than You Are Fatally Invited ever did (👀), but it took four and a half drafts for me to realize that that’s also tied to the central theme of the book (duh).

If YAFI is about want and what you do with it, Adult Thriller 2 is about fear. And what you do with it, of course.

I also know what Adult Thriller 3 is going to be. It’s a shiny fresh, raw and wriggling idea, and the first story I’ve been truly inspired to tell since early 2022. I am busting with excitement and ideas, and the theme—which I already know, rejoice!—is one that’s going to be deeply personal and thus, I hope, be close to home for a lot of people. I’m keeping the story very close to my chest for now, but fingers crossed drafting will start this summer. But if you read and loved YAFI, know I have many more thrillers coming your way*!

*Provided publishers want more books from me! Adult Thriller 2 is contracted and coming your way April 2026, but Thrillers 3 and 4 (yes, there is a 4!) are not bought yet. If you want to see more books from me, the most helpful thing you can do is be loud about it, so my publishers will take note! Preordering the book is huge, but so is telling your friends and family about it, requesting it from the library, leaving good reviews on Goodreads/Amazon/Barnes&Noble, and even just telling my publisher through social media comments/messages or email. Everything about my career hinges on you guys and whether readers want my stories. I hope I get to share many more with you all 🖤

Art I’m Consuming

Most of my reading time has been mandatorily donated to the black hole that is redrafting Adult Thriller 2, so my art consumption has slowed way down—but, I have managed to listen to a few on audio.

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown. One of my new favorite books, and one I am confident about recommending to everyone. It is a story for book lovers and travel junkies, for those who wonder at the ability of story to transport us into a new world. I adored this book, and the whimsical, beautiful way it was told, as well as the pacey, sometimes cutthroat plot.

I also listened to Freida McFadden’s satirical novella The Widow’s Husband’s Secret Lie, which had me cracking up out loud. I instantly ordered a physical copy to force my husband to read it. It affectionately pokes at every trope in domestic thrillers, and I was so here for it.

I am also savoring every minute of M.K. Lobb’s upcoming YA fantasy heist novel To Steal From Thieves, which releases March 25th. And next, I’ll be ready to lose myself in Skyla Arndt’s upcoming fractured-Alice in Wonderland-ish romantic horror novel House of Hearts.

Along with half the planet, my husband and I have also been watching Apple’s Severance. Someone I know described it as by saying, “It’s weird and I wouldn’t say I’m enjoying it, but I can’t stop watching it and it’s so good.” And that’s pretty accurate; I have no idea what the heck is going on, and want ANSWERS goshdarnit, but it’s got me hooked.

And last weekend, we were on a weird sci-fi-ish kick, and watched the movies The Watchers (based off the incredible book by A.M. Shine) and No One Will Save You on Hulu. I adored both in all their glorious weirdness. Highly recommend, and both would be fabulous to watch with a group of friends.

Events and Media

I have been busy with so many wonderful interviews and articles, and most of them will start airing this month! As a preview, I’ve written articles on how I write my mysteries (and hide my antagonists), books with deadly games, the glorious intersection of fear and humor, and what books have made me the writer I currently am. As they go up I’ll post them on my website.

And starting out with a bang, The Sunday Times (similar to the New York Times) in the UK named YAFI as a thriller to look out for in 2025! Cue shock.

I also have a live interview with the fabulous Hank Phillippi Ryan this Tuesday; it will be live-streamed to A Mighty Blaze's FB Page and YouTube Channel, or you can watch it anytime after.

In-person events kick-off with my Seattle launch on Saturday the 15th! I’ll be in conversation with dear friend and fellow thriller author Jessica Payne. I hope to see you there! You don’t need to purchase the book to attend the event (though it is a wonderful way to say thank-you to the store, which is putting on the event!), but all attendees must RSVP ahead of time. Click the picture below to see more details!

My next event is on the 20th, in conversation with the thriller recommendation queen Abby Endler at Murder by the Book in Houston. We’re going to have such a blast, and if you want loads of amazing book recs, come see us! Click the picture below for more details.

I will also be at Hampton’s Whodunnit in April! I’ve followed this festival for a couple years now, and am over the moon to get to go as a debut.

And lastly, I’m thrilled to attend Thrillerfest in June as one of the ITW debuts. If you’re going, give me a shout so I know to look for you!

Stray Heart from Beneath the Floorboards

Aka, random thought that’s been lurking beneath the floorboards of my brain that we get to dig up.

The big question: What do you do while you’re waiting on CPs/betas to read your stuff, or agents to respond to your query, or publishers to read your submitted manuscript?

Most authors will tell you “write the next thing.” That way, when the responses come in for the first thing, you’ve got a second one you’re getting ready to send out after. And that’s a great plan—you should absolutely be thinking about the next thing.

But—I would actually say something else. Now this is for those who have already proven to themselves that they can write a book or two; you’re not just committed to getting a first draft down at all costs. Once you establish that you can write a book start to finish (and hopefully you’ve learned to edit it extensively as well), now what do you do?

My recommendation: work on your craft.

The number one thing I see from newer writers is fantastic ideas—like seriously, amazingly creative and clever plots and characters and worlds—but on the line level, the writing isn’t quite there. I don’t say that to be harsh. Tis just the way. And it’s OKAY—it’s fine and good to be a new writer! And it’s fine to have been writing for years and over multiple books, and still realize you might need to focus on your prose for a bit. I’ve written six books, and am already scheming an upcoming time to solely focus on prose. No words are ever wasted, and there is always, always, always more to learn and work at. But the actual line-level itself is one aspect I see many writers neglecting in favor of churning out their next ideas.

The importance of your craft on the line level cannot be overstated. Personally, if I love the writing, I will finish a book even if I’m not in love with the plot. Conversely, few things make me put down a book like rough writing. You cannot rely on a really cool concept or an extremely layered and deep and magnificent character arc to carry a reader from the first page to the last.

So what is good writing?

Probably every reader and writer would define good writing differently, so we’re not going into reductive preferential specifics like ‘lyrical’ or ‘to the point’ or ‘full of very specific metaphors that make you sit there for a second going Huh, I guess I can see that.’ Good writing, in my mind, is this: intentional writing. It means that the author has sat with every sentence, perhaps even every word, and determined that it should be there. It means that they considered other options for phrasing, and rejected them, landing on this specific one to tell their story.

Whew, every word, Ande? That’s a lot of work.

….yes, yes it is. When you write to entertain, you’re not just telling yourself a story anymore. You’re figuring out how to beam to the best of your ability a story into someone else’s head, and all you have to do that with, is words. Which means every word has the power to say something about your story, and that can help or harm what you’re trying to get across.

Next time, in Part II, I’ll share some examples of what I mean, and some practical ideas for how writers’ can dedicate some time to their line-level craft. In the meantime, just your friendly reminder that I have a great big section on my website dedicated to writers! It has answers to a bunch of FAQ about publishing, my tips for querying, and my biggest advice for beginning writers.

Alright, I think that’s everything (watch me hit ‘send’ and then realize I forgot to say the most important piece of news). I know this was a long one, so if you’ve arrived to the end with me, I toast to you. I often feel like I am running behind everyone else, red-cheeked and wheezing, desperately trying to keep up with sharing all the publishing things. These newsletters have allowed me to catch my breath and compile all the news into one nice, neat package to thrust out into the void. It’s lovely. I hope I’m not the only one enjoying them!

Toward the end of the month, I hope to report how sending You Are Fatally Invited out into the great wide world went, as well as share links to any interviews and articles!

Until next time (when I’m officially a published author and can wave that title around like an overzealous bull fighter’s red cape),

Yours Fatally,
Ande

Author of YOU ARE FATALLY INVITED (Penguin Random House)
www.andepliego.com
IG: @andepliegowrites