New Year. New Path. Same Goal.

January 2026

Pull Up A Chair ...

2025 was not the publishing year I envisioned.

What started out with joy and excitement turned into a pit in my stomach. It’s really hard when you trust someone and that trust is broken, harder still when the trust is stripped away to reveal manipulation and deception.

In the past few months there have been so many times where I wanted to walk away from telling stories all together.

It reminded me of one summer when my family and I were on vacation. After doing several hikes, we were on yet another hike and one of my kids kept saying “This isn’t worth it.” We had not hiked that particular trail, but the views were the same as what we had seen before. The effort no longer seemed worth it.

This fall/winter, I felt the same.

Publishing is hard. No matter what path you take, Indie, Traditional. All of it is hard. The market is saturated, the void is large and artists and authors alike are left screaming into it trying to let you know they poured their heart into a book.

I might be doing this author thing on my own now, but you know what I’ve learned … I am not alone.

The Indie Author community is filled with individuals who are very willing to help each other out. I’ve asked a lot of questions to a lot of different people and I’ve been met with encouragement and answers. And I have to give special recognition to my husband who has helped me so much with all the tech things - from setting up a store, to helping me read the instructions prior to uploading documents because I am very much a click first, ask questions later sort of person and let me tell you, that is not always for the best!

It has been a whirlwind but I am immensely happy to be standing at the start of 2026 getting ready to launch two books. It is going to be a great year for stories!

I’ve gotten a few questions asking if the Indie version of The Space Between Our Hearts is the same story.

Yes!

It is still the same beautiful YA Contemporary about starting over when plans fall apart (I feel this on a whole new level). It is still a story about found family, gentle love, and learning that belonging does not have to be earned.

A few small details have reverted back to the way I originally wrote them before edits were made by the publisher. And in Hannah’s Version, all eBooks and paperbacks include the bonus chapter I wrote for an exclusive edition.

So ... same book, new look!

And what a new look it is! I mean LOOOOOK at it!

You can preorder a copy here at hannahstonewrites.com I have paperbacks, eBooks, and bundles, and goodies. Go check it out!

Dates to keep in mind:

• February 5th: Publication Day for The Space Between Our Hearts!

• March 6th: I will be revealing the title of my second stand alone YA Contemporary

• March 23rd: I will be revealing the cover + putting up a preorder link for that book

• May 7th: Publication Day!

2026 will likely throw curveballs of its own, but I am very excited to be on this Indie Author path. I have stories to tell, and I hope you stick around for all of them.

Also, if you know of people who are looking for wholesome, non-explicit YA novels for teens and in-betweens, please consider forwarding this newsletter to them so they can find my books for themselves, or the readers in their lives.

Now! Let the countdown begin … THREE weeks until The Space Between Our Hearts is back!

I’m so thankful for you.