Michelle Konde

(Psst, can you guess where this is?)🚨 It's official, I started writing again and it's a little scary. I haven't had to map out characters and a story like this in almost 20 years!
While my next project (Operation Iron Curtain) is based on a true story, gathering the story and historical details is a guessing game, mainly because memories fade over time or have been blocked out, or the sources have since passed.
I'm literally starting from scratch. Who are my characters at the core? How will I layer their rich past into the "present day" narrative while remaining true to the history? --I haven't even been able to pull my Oracle cards for story inspo because I'm writing based on facts!
It's scary but good. It's good to return to the basics and get a refresher. There are things I've forgotten along the way that will be key to crafting the best story--even if a textbook structure feels icky right now.
I'm also writing out of order, something that I rarely do because I find it hard to surrender. But because I'm still finding the MC's voice, it has been helpful to start to get a feel. The ideas are slowly trickling in. This story is pushing my creativity to new heights--in a different way than The Order Trilogy did.
Read more about it at the end of the month in my newsletter (The Debrief/January 2026)👈🏻

Happy 2026! The team and I wish you all the best, much love, peace, and health! Just a reminder that January 1st isn't special. You can choose to commit to yourself at any day--and each moment can be a fresh start if you need it to be.🥳🥳

If you want a cool end of year activity to make you feel so GOOD, check out my latest newsletter, The Debrief/December. The link is in the bio. ✌🏻😎

Part 5: To honor of The Bloodline's anniversary (and the trilogy completed), I pulled some Tia moments from the Bloodline. This was particularly tough without spoiling anything. Tia's resolve is tested throughout The Bloodline, even though it's more of a behind-the-scenes type of way. I have to say, the Epilogue is my fave Tia scene, but I can't give away all my secrets.
Swipe to read some moments from Tia.👈🏻
➡️Which one was your favorite? Leave a comment below with the number.✌🏻😎

Merry Christmas, everyone! Hope you get what you want but most importantly the love, peace, and joy you deserve!

--Michelle and the Team

PS you can literally blame for his lateness on this timely post. I had a doozy meshing some of his elements in creating this card. And of course he roped into the mess. Classic James.
What can I say? I'm a perfectionist.

As a European, I celebrate Christmas on December 24th. I'm also not one for gifts but I did receive this gift and I'm speechless. I knew I was getting a book but didn't even consider I'd get 's newest book set in 🥰🥰🥰
I can't wait to read it. It can be hard to surprise me but WOW, what a treat!

Part 3: To honor of The Bloodline's anniversary (and the trilogy completed), I'd compiled some of my favorite moments for each character. Lexa was kind of the underdog in this one in that she had the most to prove to Hunter, to her team—but mainly to herself. She had to learn to trust herself above anyone else, but she was able to put aside that controlling side and let others in, to teach her that she could also trust others when the time came.
Swipe to read some of my fave moments from the Bloodline. I am particularly proud of the dad jokes the pathologists make about death and working at the morgue. Poor Lexa...
Which one was your favorite? Leave a comment below with the number.

I wanted to help people at the same time I was creating an escape into an amazing story.
One year ago today I released The Bloodline. One year ago I finished The Order Trilogy. 12.21.24 or 21.12.24. No matter where in the world you were in, the date was a bit of a palindrome. Happy birthday to these two book babies!
I could not be more proud, even if the months after had led to burnout recovery. Publishing this story was more than I ever dreamed. It forced to grow as a writer, it forced my characters to better versions of themselves, so with that,
My biggest hope for readers is to not only get lost in the adventure, but to also apply the lessons the character learned, even if they aren't obvious at first.
TRUST YOUR INTUITION.
That is the biggest takeaway. Your body, if you know how to listen, will always lead you in the right direction. 🥰