Thoughts from an author debuting in 2026.

"Grace & Jo Have Never Solved a Murder" is set to release in October 2026.

This time last year, I was considering the idea of writing a book.

Today, that book is scheduled for release in October 2026, and I’ve written a second book that is waiting in my agent’s inbox.

Never let anyone tell you things can’t change in a year.

While I hope to have a lot more information to share with you in January about my cozy mystery, Grace & Jo Have Never Solved a Murder (for fans of the Finlay Donovan series and anything by Jesse Sutanto), this post is all about my thoughts and feelings as I head into my debut year. I’d planned to make this a super organized listicle; very demure, very quotable. But I hosted Christmas, have been entertaining two kids during the longest holiday break in the history of holiday breaks, had developmental edits to work on, beta reader feedback to incorporate, and a dermatology appointment to make (my ADHD’s least favorite task). So what you’re getting instead is a stream of consciousness that I’m spewing in between lunch and my 2:30 p.m. appointment at a head spa where I plan to become so relaxed, I forget my own name.

I can’t believe I’m here.

I’m part of a really amazing 2026 debut Discord where debut authors of all genres, presses, and advance sizes can chat about their books and the publishing process. It’s been an amazing space to ask questions, get insights and readers, and vent. Some of these writers have already been mentioned by outlets like the New York Times for their early 2026 releases, and I am frequently overcome with the thought that I’m fraternizing with publishing royalty.

Whenever someone brings up accolades like major publishing lists here, I am reminded that, yes, that is a goal that people have. An amazing, incredible goal.

But to be honest, I haven’t thought much about these lists. NOT because it wouldn’t be a dream to be on them, or because I don’t bother myself with something as trivial as a shoutout from GoodReads (I’m bothered, please shout me out), but because I am still processing that I wrote a book.

And that book got me an agent.

And that agent sold that book to a publisher.

And that publisher is putting resources forward to make that book real.

It’s all a very “small-town girl in a big city,” and I’m in awe of how far I’ve come. That being said…

I’m comparing myself to others too much.

Of course, I want my book to have “buzz.” Yes, I want my book to go viral on TikTok. Anyone who says that they don’t care about any of these things is lying to you.

There is this idea that “you only debut once.” And while the sentiment is supposed to be about enjoying the process, it also leads me to compare myself to others. I only debut once, and I’m NOT the lead title at a Big 5 publisher. I only debut once, and my book wasn’t selected for Book of the Month. I only debut once, and Kelly Clarkson hasn’t called, begging me to be on her show.

Part of the issue is that we typically only see people’s highlights on social media, which can make it seem like writers’ exceptional experiences are the norm.

I honestly found it much easier to drop comparison when I was in the querying trenches. From the bottom of my soul, I do believe that everyone has a story to tell, and I want others to succeed. But the shift from querying to selling a book changed the game a bit. When a book is released, you get DATA, like ratings and sales numbers and, yes, lists and rankings.

While I am still cheering for the success of others, I’ve had to remind myself that our journeys are our own, and my success is not going to look like anyone else’s. Heck, even my own success will change as I publish other things.

So if any other writers out there want to be great cheerleaders, but also find themselves dealing with some envy, don’t be too hard on yourself. After all…

It’s difficult to do anything for the first time.

There is no roadmap to publishing. Every publisher is different, and each book by that publisher is unique. Timelines get stretched and pushed and molded into something completely different, and I admit that it’s intimidating to not have my next steps laid out in front of me, leading to release day and beyond. My publishing house has amazing communication, and I’ve never had an email go unanswered, but they also have other clients who are all on their own schedules as well.

I wish that I could know everything that is going to happen in the next year so that I can be prepared, but that unpreparedness is part of being a debut author. I’ve never done this before, which often makes me feel awkward and uninformed. But it’s also kind of magical that I’m able to have this experience, fueled by an excitement that, while I’m sure will be there for every subsequent book, will never quite be the same after the first time.

I’m trying my best to go with the flow and enjoy the experience of the world meeting these characters that I’ve created. Some days I fail at this. But sometimes, I succeed.

And that’s the sort of success I’m focusing on right now.

Here’s to writing a beautiful story in 2026,

Jess