Mia Knight's Blog, page 2

Ready for a sneak peek? James Roth is ruthless, manipulative, deceitful, and a potential sociopath. He may also be the only person standing between her family and ruin.

A series of confessions reveals that Roth isn’t the only one hiding damning secrets. Her family isn’t as innocent as they appear, and Roth may be the only one who can save them.

He’s beginning to show a different side of himself and offer pieces to the puzzle of his past that makes her yearn for more. The lines are beginning to blur. Past, present. Truth, lies. Lust, love.

He leads her back into high society, a place filled with glitz and glamor, but also danger and secrets with deadly consequences. Can she trust her husband or is he still seeking his revenge? Read Chapter 1

We’re almost there, guys! Next week I’ll post chapter 2 and teasers as we begin the final countdown to release on September 30! Add Bitter Confessions on Goodreads.

I really hope you enjoy this book. It’s been a brutal marathon trying to complete this story while my personal life turned upside down. As always when it comes to Roth and Jasmine, they made me stretch emotionally, psychologically and challenged my writing chops. This book has a lot of character development for both Roth and Jasmine. They’re starting to sort through their history and deal with their personal demons. This is a raw exploration that may leave you teary-eyed. I hope you’re ready!

Announcements

If you'd like to order signed copies of my books, this is your chance! I'll be accepting orders throughout October. If you're interested, click on the button below.

Order Form

I have 2 paperbacks of Bitter Heat up for grabs on Goodreads! Giveaway closes on October 15.

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Bitter Heat is currently free but not for long! Please share with other bookish friends! If you want a book buddy to commiserate with, here’s your chance! 

Retailer Links

If you’re interested in book merchandise, check out my pop up shop, Mia Knight Designs, which has merch for the Singed and Crime Lord Series!

Bitter Confessions Cover, Book 3 in the Singed Series

Background on Cover

I am so thrilled with this cover! I had such a hard time nailing down what I wanted. I got 4 completely different covers done with many iterations in between, but I think this one fits the story the best. I’m so relieved it worked out! My cover designer is a saint.

There’s a lot of symbolic jewelry mentioned throughout the story and a dramatic return to high society, which is what the diamonds represent. I love the darkness and light, the seductive gleam of the diamonds, and the subtle burning on the edges and smattering of ash hinting at a darker undertone… Very appropriate not only for this installment of Roth and Jasmine’s story, but the series overall.

I cannot wait for you to read this installment of Roth and Jasmine’s story! We’re almost there!

Blurb

James Roth is ruthless, manipulative, deceitful, and a potential sociopath. He may also be the only person standing between her family and ruin.

A series of confessions reveals that Roth isn’t the only one hiding damning secrets. Her family isn’t as innocent as they appear, and Roth may be the only one who can save them.

He’s beginning to show a different side of himself and offer pieces to the puzzle of his past that makes her yearn for more. The lines are beginning to blur. Past, present. Truth, lies. Lust, love.

He leads her back into high society, a place filled with glitz and glamor, but also danger and secrets with deadly consequences. Can she trust her husband or is he still seeking his revenge?

Pre-order available on all major retailers! Reserve your copy

Release Date: September 30, 2024James Roth is ruthless, manipulative, deceitful, and a potential sociopath. He may also be the only person standing between her family and ruin. A series of confessions reveals that Roth isn’t the only one hiding damning secrets. Her family isn’t as innocent as they appear, and Roth may be the only one who can save them. He’s beginning to show a different side of himself and offer pieces to the puzzle of his past that makes her yearn for more. The lines are beginning to blur. Past, present. Truth, lies. Lust, love. He leads her back into high society, a place filled with glitz and glamor, but also danger and secrets with deadly consequences. Can she trust her husband or is he still seeking his revenge?Pre-Order Retailer Links:Amazon: US, UK, CA, AUiBooks, Barnes&Noble, Eden Books, Smashwords

I am working to get the pre-order up on Google Play, Kobo, and several other retailers. I will post the links when they’re available!

Bitter Confessions

The manuscript is officially with the editor! Word count is 131k words, which is just a few thousand words difference from Bitter Secrets so the paperback will be around the same size. As promised for my Super Patrons on Patreon, they got the raw draft that I sent to the editor and have been cursing me out, which is giving me a preview of what's to come when this book gets released. 😳

I can’t wait for you all to read this installment! In this book, we really start digging into the dynamics in Roth & Jasmine’s relationship and exploring their world (in business and high society). This book sets up the rest of the series (I’m estimating it will be 6 books total).

In the coming weeks, I’ll be dropping snippets, sending chapter previews to my email list, posting sign ups on my blog/socials, cover reveal, and many other things so keep your eyes peeled! Thank you for your patience. We’re almost there!

First in person event!

I tried to go to RARE London as a reader years ago and wasn’t able to make it. When I got an invite to attend as an author, I took it as a sign that I should do it. Soooo, I will be attending RARE 2025! I plan on lightly stalking some of the authors who will be present. I’ll be happy to meet any and everyone who goes! I’ve never been to any reader/author event, so I’m planning to just enjoy the environment, location, and those I come across and bask in the moment!

“Before I found out what made him tick, I thought Lyle had a thing for you.”

She jolted back. “What?”

“The frequent calls and monthly visits to spend time with you… He was too attentive.”

“He’s my brother!”

“Not by blood.”

“He’s my sister’s husband,” she said, voice thick with disgust.

“That doesn’t matter to some people.”

“It matters to me!”

“I realized that, but there was still a chance that it wasn’t just brotherly affection he felt toward you.” The chill in his eyes warmed fractionally as she gawked at him in revolted horror. “But once I learned his secret, it all made sense.”

Bitter Confessions Excerpt

© 2024 Mia Knight. All Rights Reserved.

I’m finishing rewrites on the last chapters! The end of the book is a massive, ongoing scene, which is kicking my butt, but… I’m almost there!! I’m running on fumes at the moment, but I’m hoping I catch a second wind to get through this last chunk!

After I finish rewrites, I’m going to do a final pass/read through and then ship it off to the editor! With something of this size, it’ll take my editor around four weeks (possibly a little longer) since I’m past my due date. She’s fitting me in between other projects, so we'll have to play it by ear. I may set a pre-order for the end of September to be on the safe side, but I’m hoping it’ll release the month before, at the end of August.

Bitter Confessions is currently around 129k words. Bitter Secrets was 135k, so this book is a comparable beast. The first draft of Bitter Confessions was 116k words, which goes to show how much I fleshed out during rewrites.

This book has been incredibly challenging. The characters are constantly shoving me out of my comfort zone. I’ve never experienced so much pushback with a story. It’s like I have to coax the characters to tell me anything. I’ve spent a ludicrous amount of time sorting through their emotions and looking at what they’re dealing with from every angle imaginable. You’d think I’m writing a freaking mystery/thriller with all the notes I have. Hopefully, this will make the reading experience that much more visceral!

In the rough draft, I avoided a lot of sensitive topics. I wasn’t sure I wanted to go there, but in rewrites, I decided to lean into the discomfort. This led to so many revelations that caught me off guard and gave the characters so much more depth and expanded my understanding of them.

This book covers 33 days out of the year they’re supposed to spend together. Bitter Secrets covered 22 days. I’m hoping I can complete the rest of their year in 2 more books and a final conclusion, which would make their series 6 installments without Roth’s POV book (his would be an extra one and not necessary for closure of this series).

People have asked why I keep adding books, and it’s because of the story, not out of a need to have a long ass, never-ending series. I personally wish it was a trilogy or a standalone. But, the story is vast and if I just ended the series for the sake of it with a, “And they lived happily ever after,” without tying up all these loose ends, everyone would be pissed, myself included. I wanted to explore in depth what a marriage of convenience/fake relationship would look like over the span of a year. How sometimes the lines blur and then solidify and blur again… To see if they can keep their promises to one another over weeks and months and also how they handle everything that crops up throughout the year like invitations for future events, birthdays, holidays, etc. It’s so delightfully awkward. LOL.

I would call this series a slow burn relationship??? Even though they fuck—that’s not what the slow burn is. The slow burn is the development of their relationship, which has been sorely tested not just by them, but outside forces. I personally fell so hard for Roth in this book. I think he goes through the biggest character development in this installment.

I don’t know if it’s because it’s the story I’m working on, but this is my favorite book I’ve ever written. This book has taught me so much about myself, writing, and the types of stories I enjoy. I hope you all enjoy Bitter Confessions as much as I have!

On Patreon, more than half of the raw draft has been posted! 1k word snippets will continue to post four times a week until the release! Patrons who are subscribed the month of release will get the ebook before it’s publicly available and get behind the scenes sneak peeks!

I’m so close to the end. I’m mentally drained, but pushing through. I am going to weep with relief once it’s shipped off to the editor. Pray for me. 😭 Thank you all for your patience and support. We’re almost there!

“Every weakness I uncovered, I used to bind you to me. Whatever your family wouldn’t give you, I did. I gave you my time and attention and encouraged your dreams of being a writer. Baldwin was so sure of himself, he didn’t even bother to seduce you, so I did. I always intended for our affair to be discovered.”

“You…” She was so astounded, she couldn’t articulate the question that had plagued her for years.

His face set in uncompromising lines. “I had no intention of letting you keep me a dirty secret.”

Bitter Confessions Excerpt

© 2024 Mia Knight. All Rights Reserved.

In April, I didn’t get as far as I hoped in rewrites. I got bogged down in the beginning, which is a 7 chapter scene that nearly fucking killed me. This is where Roth and Jasmine discuss E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G and is partially responsible for the book’s title.

You would think that after 20+ published books (under various names) that I would know how much time I need for rewrites. But, each book/project is different, and it gets tricky the further you go into a series because of the continuity, and in this case, choosing when to give certain info (and whether you’re giving too much/too little). The beginning required major restructuring, a dialogue overhaul, and more fleshing out. This basically added a chapter’s worth of material where I expanded on some topics I briefly touched on in the first draft… and added a sex scene. 👀

I knew that the beginning of the book would get some reaction considering the “confessions” being spilled, but I had no idea the hubbub it would really cause, with some snippets getting over 100 comments. 😳🫣😬

I, uh, don’t participate in the comments because most of the questions will be answered within the course of the story and since I’m chapters ahead, it would mean constantly circling back to work I’ve already raked over countless times. I’d never make any progress that way so I leave the comment section to the readers to debate, freak out, and curse me to high heaven. 🤣 And, what they’re reading is still the raw draft, so some of the details and lines may not make it to the final so… Read the raw draft at your peril on Patreon. 😁 I post 1k word snippets 4x a week and will continue posting until the book publishes!

Rewriting is insanely tedious, but always worth it. During the first draft, you're laying down intriguing ideas and topics. On the second and third passes, you're nixing unnecessary things or giving more dimension and perspective. It takes so much time, but the difference is massive. Roth and Jasmine took different stances on certain topics in the rewrites that took me by surprise and changed the course of a lot of conversations. At the time, I wondered if I was going off course, but the final result (as usual) was better than the original because it was more complete, thought out, and more realistic (in my opinion). I also leaned into some uncomfortable topics, which I kind of skirted in the original (I hadn’t made a decision whether or not I wanted to go there). These rewrites will affect details and actions in subsequent chapters, so I definitely have my work cut out for me!

I already added so much more than I intended, which makes me wonder if this book will be close to Bitter Secrets 135k word count. I'm over 120k words, and I'm just 1/3 into rewrites! 😬 I know there was a ton to add in the last quarter of the book, so… Yikes! We’ll see what the final word count is!

I’m hoping to pick up the pace in the middle, which isn’t so volatile and emotionally draining. I’m getting there, guys! Hang in there! I still don’t have a release date, but I will keep you updated on my progress. I hope I do insane damage in May! Wish me luck.

Drop book recommendations for books with similar vibes to the Singed Series to pass the time until the release!

Book Update

He clasped her face as he devoured her. Her heart soared as he latched onto her mouth as if her taste was addictive, as if he gained sustenance from what he extracted from her. She closed her eyes and got lost in him. She had no choice. His hunger fed hers. The alluring madness that had tempted her at twenty-three was nothing compared to what consumed her now. She didn’t think their chemistry could get any hotter. She was wrong. Now that they weren’t holding back and using desire as a weapon to best the other, it had morphed into something else. Something more. Something that terrified her with its relentless pull. Her only consolation was that he seemed to be under the same compulsion.

Bitter Confessions Excerpt

© 2024 Mia Knight. All Rights Reserved.

I am still revising Bitter Confessions, which is a pretty big boy. Not as long as Bitter Secrets, but considerably longer than Bitter Heat. Something unexpected came up this month, which led to another unexpected trip that set me back. Hopefully, the drama is behind me and I can finish this book without anymore interruptions or emergencies to deal with! Ahh!

I am seriously enjoying revising this book. It’s so different from the previous ones. We’re finally getting some answers and the reins that I’ve always held on so tight to, I’m able to loosen and divulge as misunderstandings and their complicated history are unraveled and brought into the light. I love their character development in this book, especially Roth’s. I can’t wait for you all to read the domestic scenes in this book!

Since I already started on book 4, I’m able to do a lot more foreshadowing in this book and leave breadcrumbs for the most vigilant readers. 👀 Theories still abound about Roth, his past, and Maximus’ blackmail. There are quite a few startling reveals in this book—one that took me completely by surprise (remind me to tell you what that is after release) and that I’m actually a wee bit nervous about because it may cause a mini uproar. 😬

I don’t have a release date yet. I still have to hand the book off to my editor and it will take her, at minimum, 3 weeks to get through it, so… Please be patient. I’m working on it and will announce updates and will continue to post torturous snippets to piss you all off. 😇

For those who can’t wait, I’m posting the raw draft to Patreon in April in 1k word chunks. I’m still not done with my revisions, so I’ll be posting as I go and sharing image inspiration for certain scenes if I have any. There are still some things I’m undecided about, so I may ask the patrons what they think and add a scene or two based on feedback. I know every author says this about the book they’re working on, but this may be my favorite in the series! ❤️ Can’t wait to share with you all and I will announce any updates ASAP!

German Translation

German translation available for books 1 & 2 in the Singed Series at the following retailers:

Bittere Hitze  

Amazon DE: https://amzn.to/3vH1mIv
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3UbtdKX
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3vMXKF0
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3HmXDCH
Thalia: https://bit.ly/4b2lyEL
Weltbild: https://bit.ly/3tXiB82
Hugendubel: https://bit.ly/3vNeMTc
Ebook.de: https://bit.ly/3S2DOFx
Buecher.de: https://bit.ly/3tYdcNQ

Taschenbuch: https://amzn.to/3unEu0m

Hörbuch: https://adbl.co/49mVHpr

Bittere Geheimnisse 

Amazon DE: https://amzn.to/3HnPjCv
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3S0Ku6Z
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3SuNFWb
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3Sm4J0d
Thalia: https://bit.ly/4aXEh4v
Weltbild: https://bit.ly/48Cjjqi
Hugendubel: https://bit.ly/4aWWnDD
Ebook.de: https://bit.ly/48WHMX1
Buecher.de: https://bit.ly/3tXY4QE

Taschenbuch: https://amzn.to/3OxAzVE

Hörbuch: https://adbl.co/3UvlzLB

Italian Translation

Italian translations available at the following retailers:

Calore amaro 

Amazon IT: https://amzn.to/3SJzRas
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3vTrQ9J
Google Play:https://bit.ly/3SALwXE
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3UssENi

Cartaceo: https://amzn.to/3UPaHsq

Segreti amari 

Amazon IT: https://amzn.to/3OsVBVq
Apple Books: https://apple.co/42lskBT
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3HTkWUQ
Kobo: https://bit.ly/490jgVi

Cartaceo: https://amzn.to/49jqWlK

Bitter Confessions Update

Black eyes pierced hers, narrowed. “I need to work you out of my system, princess.”

“And if you don’t?” She wasn’t sure why she was challenging him, why she was offended and terrified and elated.

His fingers slipped from her hair. “For your sake, I hope I do.”

Bitter Confessions Excerpt

© 2024 Mia Knight. All Rights Reserved.

I had to put rewrites on hold because of an emergency move back to the West Coast. I had to take my mother out of a dangerous and unstable situation and am now taking care of her with my sister’s help in the Pacific Northwest.

It’s been a tumultuous couple of weeks where I completely unplugged and had to live in the moment. I couldn’t think about a week or a month from now. It was day by day. Sometimes, hour to hour. But, we’re finally safe and beginning to recover from our ordeal, though that will be ongoing. We’ll both be going to counseling. Her, to figure out her future and me, to make sure I have no regrets.

It’s taken me a few weeks to settle in. I just got my desk a couple of days ago and am finally ready to dive back into rewrites! I don’t have a release date at the moment. I’ll announce that as soon as I have one!

Thank you for your patience! I’m hoping it won’t be much longer. If you’re dying and can’t wait for publication, I have 130+ snippets on Patreon ready for you to devour! These excerpts aren’t just from Bitter Confessions, but book 4 and Roth’s book, which will be almost exclusively from his POV! This includes a sneak peek of their first time, the blackmail showdown between Roth and Maximus, and dozens of other scenes! Once I finish rewrites, I’ll be posting raw chapters on Patreon while the book is with my editor and getting the patrons take on some things I may want a second opinion on. We also have spontaneous chats and try to meet up at least once a month! I don’t know what I’d do without them! Come join us on Patreon and get a first look at Bitter Confessions before everyone else!

2025 Book Convention??

I never thought I’d do a book convention as an author. I wanted to go just as a reader since I’ve never been to such a thing before, but I got an invite I couldn’t turn down so I may be attending my first in 2025?? I’ll let you know once it’s confirmed! Eek!

Started off the year strong by publishing Bitter Secrets after a 4-year hiatus. I also returned to social media, which was nerve-wracking, but has been such a blessing. Connecting with readers has been so much fun, and witnessing how the book community’s evolved is inspiring. We’ve come a long way from Facebook groups. I actually read more than I have in years due to Instagram book reels!

Image from @gabbylaromantica on Instagram

I did my first special edition/book box with Prettygalpins. This was a great experience and I was thrilled to see a special edition of Bitter Heat! The book boxes sold out within 5 minutes. This has given me so many ideas for future special editions I’d like to do!

Image from @niezwyklezagraniczne on Instagram

The Polish translation of Bitter Heat came out in November. Having Polish readers tag me in images and reviews has been wonderful! Seeing my book in another language is surreal. I can’t wait to get my hand on one of those beautiful paperbacks!

Last but not least, I got my first audiobook done! This process took several months, but it was so worth it! It’s currently on Audible, Amazon & Apple. Audiobook will also be available on retailers like Spotify, Chirp, Google Play, OverDrive, etc soon!

I restarted my Patreon, which has been an absolute blast! I adore my girls! We have monthly meetups, and they’re so encouraging and enthusiastic about what I share. Knowing I have to post several times a week pushes me past my natural tendency to hoard my work because I’m embarrassed that it’s not perfect. I’m getting used to showing imperfect, partially formed ideas, which is the evolution of story writing. Posting frequently keeps me focused and motivated. It’s also nice to have a group of people to bounce ideas off of, ask for name suggestions, and their opinion on all the random things that come up during writing. I also love seeing their comments on scenes and reading the theories. It’s great fun!

Writing in 2023

At the beginning of the year, I was all over the place. I mean, literally. I published Bitter Secrets at an Airbnb in Bullhead City, AZ. Then, I was in Las Vegas, NV from February through April as I got my affairs in order. In April, I also spent a couple of days in Eugene, OR before I ended up in Port Orchard, WA. And I moved back to Hawaii in mid-June.

The first 6 months of 2023 was complete and utter chaos. I was originally going to rewrite the 3 books I wrote 2 years ago from the Crime Lord Series, but I realized with half the year gone, I had to fulfill my contracts for the Singed Series, so I got to work on those.

There is no freaking way I can work on big projects while I’m on the road. So, while I was in transition, I indulged my muse by writing in small bursts. I needed to get back to writing consistently. It didn’t matter what. I allowed myself to come up with wild plots and let my mind unspool. Here are snippets of some of the tales I indulged in:

I thought of a story where a woman becomes entangled with a man that she later realizes is a legit psycho running a cult. She ends up testifying against him. She thinks he died in prison, but…

“Hey, baby.”

She froze with the cold water rushing over her hands. That voice… It couldn’t be.

“You’re dead,” she whispered.

The ghost walked with slow, deliberate steps and came to a stop behind her. Her heart thudded in her ears. It had finally happened. She’d gone crazy. She could even feel the gust of warm breath on her nape. Goosebumps erupted over her arms.

“You think a ghost can do this?”

When a hand splayed over her stomach, she let out an ear-piercing scream and jerked away so hard, she crashed to the ground. She stared up at the apparition, hands planted on the floor on either side of her.

He looked the same. Clean-shaven. Handsome.

“You’re dead,” she whispered, willing herself to believe it, but she could smell him now. That same cologne. Her mind wouldn’t remember to add that detail, would it? And if it didn’t, that meant… Her skin went icy with terror.

“You really thought you could get rid of me? That I’d let death take me without putting up a fight? You should know me better than that, baby.”

Her throat constricted with fear. She couldn’t speak. All she could do was shake her head as she scooted backwards, willing her useless jelly legs to get their strength back to help her flee. Even if her mind was playing tricks on her, his ghost would surely kill her.

“You wouldn’t take my calls. You rejected my letters. You wouldn’t let me explain—“

Rage canceled her fear. “I will never forgive you!”

He stopped in his tracks, smile vanishing. His eyes, always winter cold, became infected with the same rage that sizzled in her veins.

“You can’t let that come between us.”

She surged to her feet and faced the apparition with her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

“You let it come between us. I warned you.” She tugged on her hair. “I fucking told you how I felt, and you still…”

The tear ducts she thought were drier than the Sahara Desert churned to life.

“I was so fucking stupid thinking you cared for me. You’re incapable. You said so yourself. You were conning me, like you do everybody. You manipulated—“

He came at her so fast, her back hit the wall before she registered he’d put his hands on her. The flash of pain as her head hit the wall and then the reality of a hand clapping over her mouth, cutting off her air, snapped off her outrage as quickly as it had come. He wasn’t a figment of her imagination. He was real. She couldn’t replicate the way strands of wet hair drooped over his forehead as he crouched down to put his face directly in front of hers.

“If I didn’t care for you, I wouldn’t have gone to prison for you. I could have had you killed before you testified, or even when you accepted pathetic police protection. I allowed myself to be locked up so you could have your revenge. If anyone’s been manipulated, it’s me. I gave up my mission for you. I allowed myself to be distracted and look where it’s brought us.”

Then I indulged in an idea about a nanny for a billionaire:

“Mr. Carter,” she said and tugged on her arm, but he didn’t release her.

“You called me Drew a second ago.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not.”

She glanced up at him and saw he was looking down at her. Her stomach clenched. Immediately, she looked ahead and dug her heels in when she saw they were approaching his suite.

“I should get back to—“

He ignored her and dragged her the last few feet to his suite and waved the keycard in front of the door.

“Mr. Carter,” she said urgently and gasped when he propelled her into his room. “Mr. Carter, the boys—“

“Are fast asleep. We’re going to talk.”

“Why?”

He eyed her through narrow eyes. “Isn’t it normal for me to want to talk to my son’s nanny?”

“No,” she said bluntly.

His lips curved on one side. “Fair enough.” His eyes moved over her pensively before he said, “What was that?”

“What was what?”

He raised a brow. “Howard approached you.”

“Yes.”

“He propositioned you.” She gave a one-shoulder shrug that made his eyes narrow. “Does that happen often?”

“It happens,” she said shortly and clasped her hands behind her back. “I have duties to attend to, Mr. Carter.”

“Like what?”

And there’s this story I’ve been working on and off on for years called Dirty, Filthy, Web. A twisted relationship with a step-brother:

“Why won’t you look at me? Why do you ignore me and walk away when I’m talking to you? Why do you make it so damn hard for me to feel like I have to do more to be a part of this family?”

“You’re imagining things.”

She gave him a little shake. “Prove it!”

He stared at her for a moment. There was so much swimming in his eyes—emotions and thoughts he would never share. She was tempted to give him another shake, hoping that would shock him into being open and honest for once, but before she could, his gaze lowered to her mouth. The warmth from the fire and her anger was ripped from her and replaced with icy dread. She had seen that look in the eyes of many men, sometimes accompanied by a hint of cruelty. She thought she was safe. She never thought he would… Nathan’s lids came down, an effective shade that concealed the lust swimming in his eyes.

“Breathe, Lana,” he murmured gently and skimmed his broad palm down her rigid back.

When he felt her tremble, he let out a gruff curse and wrapped his arms around her. He rocked her from side to side as he had the day after the hearing while she tried to regain control of her reeling senses.

“I promised you would never have anything to fear,” he said fiercely against her temple. “And that goes for me as well. I would never harm you.”

“I-I know,” she stammered.

A thrill of heat cut through her panic when his fingers tunneled into her hair and gently grasped to tilt her face up to his. Those Web eyes raked over her face. His free hand tilted her face to the firelight and swiped across her cheek, capturing a tear she didn’t realize she’d shed.

“I mean it.”

His voice was so low, she felt his words more than heard them.

“I would never hurt you.”

His eyes tracked another falling tear. The pain on his face began to thaw the invisible block of ice she was encased in.

“Don’t cry,” he begged before he dipped his head down and captured the salty drop with his lips.

Her heart slammed so hard against her ribs, she was surprised the organ didn’t rupture.

“You’ve endured enough pain to last multiple lifetimes,” he breathed fervently against her temple as the hand that had tugged on her hair began to stroke. “No one is worth crying over. Not me and not anyone who tried to hold you down. Whatever you set your mind to, you’ll succeed. You’re going to soar, Lana.”

More tears fell. His thumb swiped over the apple of her cheek.

“You don’t have to prove yourself to anyone, least of all me. You’re a better daughter than I’ve ever been a son. You make them happy in a way neither me or Nicki ever could. Sometimes, you shine so bright, it hurts to look at you.”

A man finds a woman beaten and left for dead in the Alaska wilderness, where he lives a life of solitude. He nurses her back to health, only to discover she has amnesia. With no idea who she is, where she’s from, or why someone would want her dead, she stays on his off-grid compound and learns survival skills. This book would be told almost exclusively from his POV.

“Taylor.”

Immediately, her head swiveled in his direction. It always startled him to have her respond to the name he had given her. It was almost like he had created her. If she remembered who she was before she ended up in the river, she gave no indication of it, responding to Taylor as if it were the only name she’d ever known. No one could be that great of an actress. He cocked his head as he examined her. He didn’t know what life she led before him. He could still remember her painted nails, the soft, unblemished skin, and the tan line indicating that she’d once been married. He assumed she led a privileged life and that she would leave as soon as she was able, but she stayed. Why? Even as the question drifted through his mind, he answered himself. Because she had nowhere else to go. There was no other reason for a woman to stick it out in the wild with him. She learned to hunt and build and work the greenhouse. She worked right alongside him without complaint, never crowding, never pushing for anything. It was almost as if he had molded her into the perfect woman… He ignored the rolling in his gut. But he was aware that if she ever got her memory back, she would leave. He was ashamed to admit that he selfishly hoped she never recovered that part of her identity so he could keep her for his own. But this was no life for a woman. He knew that, but he didn’t care.

Woman moves to the end of the earth and introduces herself to her new, unhinged neighbor:

“It’s not safe for you out here,” he said.

Her brows came together in confusion. “Are you talking about the wildlife?” When he didn’t clarify, she continued, “The weather?”

He shook his head.

Her foot tapped once. She couldn’t help it. Although his eyes didn’t leave hers, she knew he caught it. Those black eyes didn’t miss a damn thing. There was something about them that made her chest feel tight. She thought introducing herself to her nearest neighbor would reassure her, but Ramsey wasn’t reacting the way she hoped. She hadn’t expected a warm welcome, but she also hadn’t expected him to try to run her off.

“Why wouldn’t I be safe out here?” she demanded.

When he took a step toward her, she stiffened to stop herself from backing away. He was massive—wide and tall and built like a damn Viking. She wasn’t sure what race he was when his skin was so dark from the sun and his features dominated by his wild hair. She looked up and squinted against the blast of sun, which threw his features into shadow.

“You aren’t safe out here because I’m here.”

Her heart skipped a beat. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

She obeyed her screaming instincts and took a step back. He didn’t move, he just watched her with those eyes that told her absolutely nothing.

“What game are you playing?”

“No game.”

For the first time, his eyes left hers and moved over her body. She stiffened in alarm and felt the fine hairs on her arm stand up before his eyes came back to hers, narrowed and filled with something that made her stumble back.

“I’m gonna fuck you.”

His calm, matter of fact tone made her heart stop.

“I came here to live the way I want, without the law getting in my way.” His eyes dropped to her chest and his fingertips brushed against one another as he growled, “You stay, I’ll hunt you.”

When her hand went protectively to her throat, he shook his head.

“I won’t kill you, though if anyone was around, they’d hear your screams and think I was. But they’d see you the next day and know exactly what I was doing to you had nothing to do with pain.”

“You…” Her thoughts were whirling. She jabbed a finger at him. “You can’t…”

“I can’t what?”

He reached for her, and she let out an embarrassing squawk and stumbled back into her truck. For the first time, a hint of humor lit his eyes.

“You wanted to live at the edge of the world, baby? You got it. Here, there are no rules, no laws, no help. You need something, you do it yourself or try to bargain with the few who calls the woods their home. We’re all here for a reason, to battle our demons.”

He crowded her against her vehicle. He was so close, she could smell the tang of metal and the scent of cedar. She stared at his chest, frozen in place, as if by being still and silent, he wouldn’t attack.

A hand cupped her chin and forced her head up. Her mind disconnected from the shock of being touched, the bizarre turn this encounter had taken, and the feeling that she was seconds away from being devoured.

“What are you running from?”

A calloused thumb brushed over her bottom lip. She gasped and saw his eyes narrow into slits before his head dipped down, and a hot mouth covered hers. She jerked back, knocking her head against metal and detaching their mouths for a brief second, but a massive hand cradled the back of her head, cushioning her head and imprisioning her as his mouth settled once again on hers. Her hands landed on his chest as she made an urgent sound, desperate for space and air, but he wouldn’t give it to her. Her nipples hardened as his tongue entered her mouth at the same moment that a thick thigh parted her legs.

She staggered back, clutching the halves of her open shirt. Her boob flopped over her bra cup.

His hand brushed over his crotch. “Stay.”

His voice was soft. Taunting, mocking, and daring all at the same time.

She bared her teeth at him. “Touch me again, I’ll shoot you.”

He smiled full out. “Been shot before. Survived.”

I thought these would be fun to share and I can look back on this post in future and maybe act on one of these ideas. I think it’s important to indulge your creativity and play without thinking about the business side of things and worrying if it’s going to be successful or that anyone will read it. I genuinely love to write, so when I have the opportunity, I let my mind travel down all sorts of paths. I love seeing people from different backgrounds and circumstances clash. My more explicit, exploratory stories with such non PC, brutish men will go under Dinah Harper. The psycho cult leader and this last one would def go there.

And once I settled in Hawaii, I wrote first drafts of:

Singed Series:

Book 3: Bitter Confessions (120k words)

Book 4: TBA (66k)

2024 Projects/Projections

German, French, and Italian translations for the Singed Series will come out in early 2024!

Bitter Confessions will publish in early 2024. Once I have a book blurb, I’ll set a pre-order!

After Bitter Confessions is published, I want to finish book 4 and release in late summer/early Fall? I would like to write books 4 & 5 back to back so they’re cohesive. Book 5 would release early 2025?

I don’t know if I’ll take a break from the Singed Series to work on the Crime Lord Series? They’re both long, involved series with tons of characters. It takes a while for me to mentally switch into the rhythm of each series. And once I’m there, I like to luxuriate in that. A big thing about Carmen’s books is I wanted to write a book that came after hers since the timeline overlaps with her story. So that’s another reason why I’d need a big block of time to work on it and why I can’t just dip in, publish, and dip out.

I’m so close to the end of the Singed Series. I wonder if it’s just better to finish that out completely and then dedicate myself to the Crime Lord Series. I’m not sure. It depends on contracts, my mental state, flow—a ton of factors. All I know about 2024 so far is that I’m (hoping) to release 2 more books in the Singed Series. There’s always a chance that I may write something short (hopefully a standalone) in between the Singed Series (maybe one of the stories above?).

This coming year, I’ll be working on getting as many books as I can into audio. That will be done in the background. I’ll also be rebranding the Crime Lord Series (I can’t wait!!).

Personal

I was initially disappointed that I didn’t accomplish as much I wanted to in 2023. But, when I listed what I did, I was pleasantly surprised and gave myself a pat on the back.

I’m honestly shocked that despite the hectic beginning of the year, I managed to write rough drafts for two books, did production on an audiobook, have been trying to be more active on social media, actually send newsletters… I’ve done more than I have in the past, and that’s all while not having a home base.

Anchoring somewhere is one of my main goals in 2024. To find my place and stop wandering around. I need a safe place to create, recuperate, and settle. I’ve been on the run for 15 years, never staying anywhere long, constantly looking at the horizon, wondering what’s beyond… And my productivity has definitely paid the price for my restlessness.

I started owning the “I’m a writer” thing this year. I used to say I was an editor when people asked, since that doesn’t normally lead to more questions. I never gave anyone my pen name, but this year, a novel thing happened. Two of my friends who’ve known me for 15+ years read my books. One of my friends in her late 60s said it wasn’t for her (which is what I predicted). As for my other friend, we’ve known each other since we were kids. I told her my author name, not thinking much of it, only to have her read through every book! I was just as alarmed as Jasmine was when meeting Sarai. LMAO.

Thank you!

Thank you for making 2023 a successful comeback year for me! I almost gave up writing altogether, but I’m grateful I returned to see my series through. I fully plan on completing the Singed Series, Crime Lord Series, and when I can I’ll write a sequel or companion piece for Corrupt Idol. The sequel requires some research, but if I wanted to write something fast, I thought it might be interesting to write from his POV and delve into their childhood… IDK. I have to reel in my wayward imagination or I’ll never get anything done. That’s the main reason I’ve been hyper focused on the Singed Series. Focusing on one thing helps get me to the finish line quicker.

I’ll continue to update my blog, so check here for more in depth news and updates. My preferred social media is Instagram, but I’ve deleted the app recently to concentrate on completing Bitter Confessions. And that will probably hold true with me downloading the app only to upload a pic before promptly deleting again.

Anyway, thanks again! I wouldn’t be able to do this without you all! Thank you to everyone who recommends my books, who take beautiful pictures like those shown above, make reels, starts Reddit discussions, and overall helps get the word out about my stories!

I am so excited for 2024! Here’s to all the good things to come!

Bitter Heat is finally available in audio! It’s currently on Audible, Amazon & Apple. I’m also in the process of getting it on retailers like Spotify, Chirp, Google Play, OverDrive, and many more!

I had a blast making this audiobook! It’s such a strange experience, hearing someone read my story aloud. The different tones and nuances can change the whole context of a passage, and they bring the characters to life. When I heard my narrator, Hannah Altagracia’s voice, I was like “That’s Jasmine!” And while most female narrators don’t do a great male voice, I absolutely love her gravelly tone for Roth.

I've read this book countless times, but the audiobook forced me to slow down and take in every word. Certain things hit me differently when I listened to the audio. I teared up during the flashback when she agreed to marry him, her breakdown in the penthouse, and the dream of her father’s last moments, and her waking up to Roth when he says she always had him. It’s an entirely different experience, one that I’ll take over reading the books in the future.

Future Audiobooks

Once Bitter Confessions is released, I’ll put books 2 & 3 into production.

I’m also hoping to get the Crime Lord Series done in 2024, though that may go into 2025 (we’ll see). The whole series needs to be rebranded before I do the audio.

Editing Bitter Confessions

I’m currently deep in edits. I haven’t come up with a blurb yet, which is the main reason a pre-order isn’t up yet. I’m hoping I can come up with something by January. I’m planning to set the pre-order for April 1, 2024, just in case there are any hiccups. But ultimately, I’m aiming to release in mid-March.

Keep your eyes peeled for the pre-order!

Patreon

When Roth stepped forward to enter the ballroom, she pulled back. He turned, eyes narrowed, expression impatient and angry, but whatever he saw on her face cleared his instantly. She opened her mouth to speak, but her mind was a blank, panicked slate. She blinked rapidly as her eyes filled with tears.

Roth drew her to him, hand gripping her nape as he forced her face against his shoulder. “Don’t panic.”

She twisted her hand in his jacket as she tried to get a grip. She couldn’t have a fucking panic attack in front of hundreds of the most influential people in the world. Roth shuffled her back into a corner. He stood in front of her, blocking everyone’s view, as she took shallow breaths to calm her racing heart.

“Breathe, princess.”

“I-I’m trying,” she gasped.

“Don’t let anyone get in your head.”

He was in her head. So was her father. “You can do this on your own.”

He massaged her nape. “I need you with me.”

She shook her head.

“My princess was born for this. You’re a Hennessy, the heir to a dynasty. No one can make you feel inferior if you don’t let them.”

“Easy for you to say.”

“This is what Maximus groomed you for. You belong here more than me.”

His large hand stroked down her side while his rough fingertips skimmed her clammy skin, distracting her from someone off to the left who was talking about the Baldwins.

“I’ve waited for this moment a long time. To be here in this arena, with these people. The ones that didn’t think I would make it, the ones who tried to stop me. This is my moment. And yours. We’re back where we belong, where we would have been if Maximus hadn’t decided otherwise.”

Bitter Confessions Excerpt

© 2023 Mia Knight. All Rights Reserved.

If you want to read more raw excerpt/snippets like this of the upcoming book, join my Patreon. I have 90+ raw snippets posted, along with glimpses of book 4 and Roth’s POV for his future book. I drop in for spontaneous chats and the girls discuss theories on Patreon and our private Discord group. If you’re interested, you can find me at: https://patreon.com/MiaKnightWrites.

Bitter Confessions Update

I finished the first draft of Bitter Confessions, and I am planning an early 2024 release! Hooray!

I don’t have a preorder date yet. I’m still nailing down the details and juggling some things behind the scenes. As soon as I’m certain of a date, I’ll post it everywhere! I’m estimating a March release?? Will update if anything changes, but that’s what I’m aiming for.

In my last update, I mentioned that the manuscript was at 150k words (far surpassing the length of any novel I’ve written) and I felt like I was just getting started. This story is absolutely massive with tons of subplots, individual character arcs, and deep dives into Roth and Jasmine’s psyche. Because of the excessive word count, I’ve decided to offload portions of the story in more manageable installments, so I’m not overwhelmed. This means I’m adding more books to the series. Maybe two? I won’t know exactly how many until I get through their agreed-upon year.

I’m already writing book 4, so when it’s time to revise Bitter Confessions, I can enhance scenes, add foreshadowing, and keep the timeline and story sharp and cohesive. I can’t wait for you all to read Bitter Confessions!

Audiobook & Translations

The Polish translation of Bitter Heat is coming out: 11/16/23!

German, French, & Italian translations will be coming out in early 2024 as well!

The audiobook for Bitter Heat is going into production in November and should be up on retailers by early 2024. So many wonderful things coming up!

Patreon

“Jasmine.”

She hummed against his skin. “Yes, baby?”

“A man can only take so much,” he growled.

“But you’re not just any man, are you? You can take it, baby, can’t you?”

To fuck with him, she kissed him right over his straining zipper. He bit out a vicious curse before he dropped his head back in wordless surrender.

“Good boy,” she cooed.

He went rigid. “Call me a good boy again, your time’s up, and I’m fucking you on all fours until you scream.”

Not much of a threat when she was dripping, but she wasn’t done torturing him.

Bitter Confessions Excerpt

© 2023 Mia Knight. All Rights Reserved.

If you want to read more raw excerpt/snippets like this of the upcoming book, join my Patreon! I have 50+ raw snippets posted along with glimpses of Roth’s POV for his future book. We do a monthly Q&A, I drop in for spontaneous chats, and show image inspiration for what I’m currently working on. You can find me at: https://patreon.com/MiaKnightWrites