Looking back and looking ahead

Reflecting on 2025 and planning for the new year

Jan 01, 2026

Dear Readers,

2025 has been a full year for me! Our family has gone on two huge trips (Asia and Hawaii), two of our kids started at a new school, and I returned to dancing on stage for the first time since pre-kids when I joined my daughter performing in The Nutcracker ballet.

Writing-wise, I released one full-length P&P variation in February (The Pleasure of Remembrance), and thanks to my Kickstarter backers, I released the audiobooks of both Not In Want of a Wife and Elizabeth’s Secret Admirer. I also put out a short novella to accompany Not In Want of a Wife (Miss de Bourgh and the Colonel).

In 2026, my goal is to complete the first four books of the Wedding Planners in Love series and release them. I’m currently in the middle of writing book 2, and my plan is to write all 4 before releasing them. To accomplish this, I’m giving myself a deadline until the end of March to finish writing the first drafts, in the hopes of editing and releasing by this summer. 🤞

I’ll also continue writing my P&P story, All The Things a Lady Shouldn’t Do, but it won’t be my main focus until the Wedding Planners series is complete. One thing I learned from the last year is that having a second WIP going helps me to maintain my momentum when writer’s block hits, so if I’m not feeling the creative drive on any given day, I can switch gears to get the juices flowing again. 🧠✍️

Another thing I’ve really enjoyed this year is participating in some of the bi-monthly WIP readings and the readings during the virtual JAFF Con events over Zoom. I realized I love sharing my works face-to-face with my readers (albeit through a screen!) and hearing their reactions and feedback. Since spots at the bi-monthly readings are limited and JAFF Con only rolls around once every year, I’ve decided I might try hosting my own WIP readings over Facebook Live. If it goes well, it may become a monthly occurrence or even more! If you don’t yet follow me on Facebook, come click that “like” button so you won’t miss out.

I hope all my readers have a wonderful New Year and I wish everyone the best today and the coming year.

Happy Reading,

Amanda Kai

Featured Regency Romance

FREE! Slow-burn romance- Cinderella meets Persuasion

Now available in audio

In case you’re wondering, Not In Want of a Wife is available on Audible now! So if you’ve got some credits to use there and want to grab this book, now’s your chance! However, I’ll let you know, Audible is the one retail site that I don’t get to choose the price, they do, so if you were planning on paying for it outright, you’ll pay half as much (and I keep twice as much!) if you buy it directly from me on BookFunnel instead. 😉

Elizabeth’s Secret Admirer is not on Audible…yet. I’ve got some plans in the works, but you’ll have to wait a bit if you want to use your Audible credits for this one. In the meantime, if you’d like to buy it directly from me on BookFunnel or from Kobo or Google Play Books, it’s available to listen there now.

Leaving Kindle Unlimited

Download by January 20 to enjoy with your subscription

Elizabeth Bennet is thriving as VP of Longbourn Rehabilitation Services—until an unexpected insult turns her world upside down. At a club with her sister, she overhears a man dismissively call her “tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt” before swiping left on her Tinder profile.

The rude stranger? None other than Fitzwilliam Darcy, the powerful and arrogant CEO of Pemberley Medical Group—the very company Liz’s firm is hoping to partner with. Forced to work together despite their disastrous first impression, Liz is determined to resist Darcy’s growing allure, especially when his cold treatment of childhood friend George Wickham raises even more red flags.

But as she peels back Darcy’s layers, Liz starts to see a different side of him—one that challenges her assumptions and makes her wonder if she’s misjudged him entirely.

A sparkling, modern Pride and Prejudice retelling filled with wit, swoon-worthy moments, and a love story worth swiping right for!

Grab your free copy while you can!

Miss de Bourgh and the Colonel is out and my subscribers can download a free copy— but only through January 5! If you haven’t picked up your free ebook as a thank-you for being my loyal reader, head here to get it today before it’s gone.

Looking for the paperback? You can buy it from Amazon for only $6.