Heir to Time | Sarah Reichert Author

Hey y’all.

Did you know there are 5 weeks in April? So I had a little dilemma. Do I put out my hated newsletter this week or next? I decided to get it over with. That way I can bore and/or torture you in different ways for the next two weeks of this Spring-y month.

How are you? How are things? Been practicing your Nuclear War drills under the desk? Watching him unravel at press conferences and drone endlessly about golden drapes? What a fuckin’ circus, huh? I will say, there is a glimmer of hope, after the recent events in Hungary, and as small eruptions of resistance to the madness continue to grow. Any light in the dark will do, when the dark has lasted for this long.

Random Shit:

In, non-writing related news, I’ve been trying to recover from falling on my ass while simultaneously trying to train for my 10K in May. The decent news is that I didn’t break it (its already cracked…badum-bum-ching!) the sad news is it increased my mile time by three minutes. But whatever. I’m not young. I’m lucky to be able to move at all. Let’s see…it was kind of a weird heath month even before the fall. Colonoscopy, check. Pancreatic cyst MRI, check. Yearly physical, check…my hope is by doing all the preventative stuff, I won’t need to do so much later down the road.

What else? Hmm…We’re having our bathroom remodeled. Sort of. Actually it’s been torn up for about two weeks with no progress in sight. So, we’re all sharing one bathroom. And it feels cozy, and slightly annoying. But also, a lesson in how lucky we are to have a bathroom and running water, yes? Yes. In the realm of deconstruction, we’re also tearing out our grass this year in favor of something more useful. Drought resistant, pollinator friendly, vegetable garden, and the hope to conserve what little water is left in Colorado in as much as we can.

So…all in all…it’s just been fucking chaos. But, I feel like this is the way we progress and survive, by tearing down and building back up again.

Reading:

In reading news, I’m finishing up “How We Learn to Be Brave” by Mariann Edgar Budde. I’m really getting into “Night Vision: Seeing Ourselves Through Dark Moods” by Mariana Alessandri. The philosophical reasonings she has, as well as a nod to the fact that the white-male dominated field of philosophy, for years, has been missing out on 80% of human perspective, are a breath of fresh air honestly. I am resonating with the dissonance of having a world that sets the norm as “happy and bright” alienating and missing the importance of these darker, more morose periods we all encounter.

For a bit of something light, I’m reading my good friend Megan Crawford’s book “Dozen Dates“. It’s pretty good and a nice escape. Though I will say, it doesn’t make me want to ever date again. Single folks, seriously, how do you even begin, and once you do, how do you still want to continue. Maybe I’m too old for ‘young people’ romance. All that aside, it’s a great book and I’ll be reviewing it as I’m done.

Writing and Editing:

I’m done with my final round of edits for “Heir to Time”, and thank the great mystery of the universe for that. Now all that remains is the cover design, proofreading and it will be out. Due to the unforeseen and difficult Fall, I’m planning to have a larger book signing (or a couple) for the entire series sometime this summer. I’m in talks with some local bookstores and our local tea house here in Fort Collins. It was a fun series to write, but I’d be lying if I said I wish it would have lasted longer.

Onward and upward.

I’m chugging away at 5 Prince Publishing’s first shared-town anthology due out in the 2026 holiday season. My little derelict of a Hallmark failure is currently sitting around 48,000 words so I’m on track to finish it on time with a few weeks of editing to spare. I thought I’d have a hard time even hitting 50,000, but per usual, I have overwritten this little novella. I can’t help it, shennanegans, banter, and spicy scenes in wood shops just manifested and now this “sweet” romance is wavering over the line to “spicy”. Because of the parameters of the project, I will have to cut some of the more ‘intimate’ scenes. But, because I don’t want a good sex scene to got to waste, I’ll be offering those annexed chapters on my Substack. Follow me for more details on that. AND if you want to check out my idea board for Eight Nights, you can find it here: 8 Nights in Everpine

After this project is complete, I’ll be taking a little time to get my next series prepped and ready for publication. In a complete 180 of historical fiction (why can’t I find a subgenre and just stick to it? Same reason I have multiple degrees and certifications in different fields, because I don’t think life should be about doing the same thing over and over again) this will be a mythology based urban fantasy, set in the Ornkey Islands north of Scotland and south of Scandinavia. If you like demons and fairies, valkyries and björns, witches and merfolk… you’re gonna love this one. I already do.

I’m keeping up with my submissions. Currently I’m at 19. Which has resulted in 17 rejections or no responses, but here we are.

I’m also keeping up with Writing Heights’ Poetry Month Challenge, with a poem a day. Some of them are pretty good. Some of them are defiantly bad. But at the end of the 30 days at least I will have some new material and maybe even a better understanding of my soul.

Events

I had such a lovely time participating in the Fort Collins BookFest last weekend. I had a great panel on Romance with two other amazing authors (check them out here: Jenny Elder Moke and Chelsea Pennington) And the fun continues this next weekend with readings by local authors, poets, and pros in the field. Please take the time to support this wonderful event so that it can continue on for years to come. You can find the full schedule here: FoCo Book Fest.

Finally, if you’re in the area on Friday, April 24th) from 5-7pm, I’ll be at DC Oakes Brewhouse in Fort Collins, hosting a write in with some folks from WHWA. You don’t have to be a member to stop on by and work on your writing, poetry, or anything that needs a little focused time.

Well, that’s about all I have. I’m still helping out the Wyoming Writers Inc, as a board member to put together a killer conference in Casper Wyoming in June. There are so many classes and pitches, and workshops happening in this weekend, I’m telling you it’s worth going. You will get your money’s worth and Casper is a fun little place to visit. Some great hiking trails, and a warm and welcoming community. Check it out here: Wyoming Writers Inc. Conference.

Crying out loud. That was a lot. Life’s a lot. I hope you’re taking time for yourself and your mental health. I will if you will.

Take care of yourselves. Take care of each other.

Hello readers and writers,

Welcome to my monthly update about what’s going on, what’s not, and how I’m navigating the current horrors. First, look at my damn cat. Every damn day, this is what I put up with. If she’s not yelling at me to let her on my shoulders, she’s taking up space on whatever project I’m trying to work on. Pray for me.

Random Shit:

In, non-writing related news, I spent the weekend going outside more for the Great Backyard Bird Count. I think in times which are particularly trying to one’s heart and soul, it’s important to spend more time in nature. Away from the screens, and ground ourselves in something that’s real. It’s a strange sort of joy to sit still in a field, stand next to a marsh, breath quietly beneath the canopy of evergreens and just listen. Not for the loudest, most painful rhetoric, but the simple song of birds in conversation with one another. It resets our nervous system and tells our lizard brain that we are safe. A predator-less moment is much welcome.

Reading:

In reading news, here’s what I’m currently working on. My book club is reading “The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell”. I put it down somewhere around 20%. Why? Well, I don’t know. But I think it’s because I’m really not interested in reading something from the white male perspective right now. Because within a couple of chapters between his youth and adulthood, he both vilified men who were making derogatory comments about his mother’s body, and made similar comments about an assistant in his office. I don’t think I used to notice those things. But they’re glaring now. And I’ve already spent over half of my life being bombarded by this particular viewpoint and I’m bored with it.

So I put it down in favor of: “How We Learn to Be Brave” by Mariann Edgar Budde. While I was raised in a Christian faith, I no longer practice, and I have some deep and justified rifts with the church. However, this book is written by the Episcopalian Bishop who spoke out against Trump’s horrific public policy. It’s a pretty engaging book about how various people throughout our country’s history have been on the precipice of great and difficult choices and chose to be brave, stand for what they believed was right, and up against tyrannical forces. Budde includes examples of her own life and how we, as ordinary individuals can utilize our own inner strength to act when it counts. I’ll let you know how it goes.

I’m also lightly reading “Nettle and Bone” by T. Kingfisher. I’m only about a chapter and a half in, but I like it so far. Beautiful fantasy, and it’s fun to get back into a genre I haven’t read in a while.

Writing and Editing:

I finished up my first deep-dive edits of “Heir to Time”, the last book in the Timekeeper series, and sent them off to my astounding editor. I’ll still have a couple more rounds to go, but I feel like the major issues have been addressed and with any luck, it’ll be ready to go on to cover and publishing in March sometime. I’ll keep you posted and next week I’ll include a blurb. If you liked “The Mummy” and Jane Austen, you’re gonna love this little book with a nod to sapphic romance and all the hours I spent obsessed over Egyptology in middle school.

I’m also participating in 5 Prince Publishing’s first shared-town anthology due out in the 2026 holiday season. 9 authors, of the several, from 5 Prince will all submit a short novella (30-50000 words) based in the same small town over the holidays. It should be an interesting group, from across a wide spectrum. Mine will be, as usual, a little subversive, and a little dark, but it will be a beautiful nod to finding the light on the darkest days, and having someone to share it all with.

I’m participating in a “Postcards for Peace” project where I write a thought, hope or poem on peace and send one out a day to a stranger who has signed up. That’s going well and it’s nice to get some good thoughts in the mail for once.

I recently got a short story accepted at a small press (Rat Bag Lit). It’s a bit horrific and dark, but also strangely romantic. More on that as it gets closer.

Before you think I’m too high up on my horse, also know that I’ve received 4 glorious rejections so far this year as well. Well on my way to the 52 for the year I’m aiming for.

I’ll be attending AWP in March and I’ve never been to a conference this big for any reason. The Association of Writers and Writing Programs annual meeting is chocked full of classes, not just on craft but on how to teach and encourage other writers and inspire your community through your organization. I’m hopeful it will help me be a better organizer and community resource for Writing Heights and the expansive group of writers in the Colorado and Wyoming areas.

Finally, if you’re in the area tomorrow (Friday, February 20th) from 5-7pm, I’ll be a the Loveland Ale Works, hosting a write in with some folks from WHWA. You don’t have to be a member to stop on by and work on your writing, poetry, or anything that needs a little focused time.

Well, that’s about all the news that’s fit to print. I wish you luck on your projects this week, even if all that means is getting out of bed and brushing your teeth. Even the little stuff matters in a world overrun with big stuff.

Take care of yourselves. Take care of each other.