Book Release Fall 2026
WHEN STARS DISAPPEAR
I’m excited to announce that, coming Fall 2026, people will finally be able to meet Bea, Vivian, Taylor, and the rest of Fairview, NY. When Stars Disappear will be hitting bookshelves just in time for the cozy months, so keep an eye out for future announcements and updates about my debut novel.
What It’s About
When Stars Disappear centers around forty-two-year-old Beatrice Carter, who can remember every ingredient for her regionally-famous apple crisp, but not much else. To make matters even more bewildering, her mother doesn’t remember her, either. While trying to uncover who she is, and what’s caused her strange amnesia, Bea goes back to work at her bookshop and bakery, growing a sweet romance with a local artist she meets at the gallery across the street. But when Bea befriends Vivian Sterling, the enigmatic owner of that same art gallery, it complicates her self-discovery. Bea learns she and Vivian share a magical gift for manipulating thoughts and memories, but it’s not as wonderful as she might be tempted to believe, as the gallery owner is hiding something big, and the woman’s obsession with Bea quickly turns toxic.
I’ve told the story in a dual-timeline structure, so while we’re trying to solve this mystery with Bea in the present day, we’re also seeing her grow up—from her formative early years with her beloved grandmother, Gigi, to her mishaps and misuse of her magical gift in adolescence and adulthood. Bea has always relied on self-isolation and emotional avoidance, and it’s seemed to work for her before. But now, she'll need to navigate her long-held grief over her grandmother’s death, and the unsettling darkness of Vivian, as her past and present collide. If she can’t, someone she loves will lose their mind, too… or worse.
Who is it for?
Although I think a lot of people will love it, this one is especially for:
Adults who enjoy cozy-ish reads with higher stakes
Members of marginalized communities who want to see themselves as the main characters (as fully-flawed human beings instead of as inspiration porn or cliches)
People who like morally gray protagonists, and antagonists who make you recoil every time they're on the page
Themes & Personal Connection
Memory
Identity
Generational patterns
Grief & loss
Power
Justice & accountability
I was inspired to write When Stars Disappear during the final years of my grandmother’s life, while watching my parents navigate her progressing dementia. As I was writing it, I found myself wishing I had the ability to clear my grandmother’s mind and lift her out of the fog of dementia, like Bea is able to with Gigi. But it also got me thinking about identity, and who we are when our memories leave. Are we the same, deep down? Do our experiences influence us more than realize, even if we can’t consciously remember them anymore? Or, without our memories, can we become someone new? And are we responsible for our past deeds, even if we have no memory of them now?
Additionally, as my grandmother neared death, I wondered about the impact of generational patterns we pass down to those who come after us. What have we inherited? What responsibility do we have to either carry that torch forward or forge a new path? And when our loved ones die, how do we integrate that profound change into our own lives, as time continues on without them here in the physical world with us? I enjoyed exploring that, and considering how we might remain connected, even after death. At the very least, their influence on us remains, not only in our conscious memories, but in our bodies as well.
My grandmother died in 2025, and it added another layer to everything. The grief of loss became far more tangible, and in many ways, I was able develop Bea more as a character. Specifically, I think I was able to understand how she became the person she did after Gigi’s death, given the way she dealt with that loss—or rather, how she avoided it. I don’t think Bea is the only one to stumble after their deepest human connection is forever altered through death, and my hope is that all of us find our way back to ourselves eventually.
Behind the Scenes of the Book Launch
Because I share a lot of my process here on the blog, and what it’s like behind the scenes as a writer with the goal of publishing a book, I’m going to give some insight into what’s been going on in the background.
I’d initially planned to self-publish When Stars Disappear when I first wrote it, but when my disability flared, I determined that traditional publishing might be the better way to go. I had concerns about managing all the moving parts of publication, and thought it’d be easier to just hand that off to the professionals instead of having to build that team myself. I had moderate success with querying this story, but ultimately never secured representation, and figured I’d try again later with the rest of my list, once my health leveled out.
Besides, I couldn’t publish it on my own—at least, not in the way I would want to.
It is absolutely possible to self-publish a book without spending a lot of money. I want to say that first. However, I wouldn’t want to. Because of my disability, I can’t do it all on my own, and I’d need a team I could really trust. I’d want to hire a cover designer, book formatter, and an artist for character art and fun extra goodies for my readers. I’d want to launch with an audiobook alongside the hardcover and ebook. And I’d want to sell directly through my website, where I could personally put together book packages for everyone, instead of relying on a print-on-demand direct shipping option for distribution. All of that costs money, and that wasn’t something I had at the time.
Spoiler alert: That has changed!
I’ve received funding that allows me to do everything I’d want to for this debut novel launch, so what was once a dream is now a reality! This means that, over the next few months, some really talented people will be helping bring When Stars Disappear to life. I’ve already got the cover designer, artist, and formatter lined up, and I’ve got all the marketing and website stuff covered. Now, I’m just narrowing down audiobook narrators!
So, it’s go time!
How to Get Involved
Launching a book is a group effort, and that’s where you come in! You don’t have to buy or sell anything, don’t worry. But there are a few ways you can help.
Get the word out. Tell people about me, and about this book. This can be in person, at your book club, or on your social media. And if any of your friends join my newsletter as a result of your referral, make sure they note that when they sign up! I may or may not send out little bonus goodies to people from time to time ;)
On that note, join my newsletter, if you haven’t already! I’ll be sending out announcements and updates over the coming months. There will be opportunities to enter contests, win prizes, and maybe even get a cameo appearance in the book when it publishes!
Sign up to be an ARC (advanced reader copy) reader. I’ll have a set number of ARC’s available, and I will select people from that registration form. If you’ve never been an ARC reader before, no worries—sign up anyway! If selected, you’ll get the book completely free, before anyone else, and all you have to do is give a public shout out, leave an honest review, and share with friends.
A Big Thank You
I want to end this by saying a massive thank you to the people in my life who have made this possible. It was a big shift, allowing myself to focus on writing full time these past couple of years, and the only reason it’s been possible is because I have so many people who have believed in me and my work. First, I want to thank my incredible beta readers who have helped develop this story through their feedback. Never underestimate how valuable that input is! When Stars Disappear wouldn’t be what it is today without them. Next, I have to mention the two agents who provided extensive feedback on this project as a result of my querying them. Though I didn’t sign with either in the end, one had some suggestions that ultimately reshaped the entire ending of this story, and the other influenced the characterization of Bea in her various life stages in a way that ultimately made her voice much stronger.
And though there are many people I could name directly, I want to give specific shout outs to my family: Lynn, Kevin, and Katie. Not only have they invested time in reading various versions of this book already, but they’ve contributed in tangible, material ways as well. I would not be able to publish this book without them. So, Lynn, Kevin, and Katie: You are the absolute best, and I love you so much!
And now, I’m going to get back to the work of preparing for publication.
Until next time,
Kyleen
