🌑 SHADOW AND SHADE CHRONICLES

Welcome to 2026! As we step into this new year, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude. December brought us the official release of Shadow Awakening, and the response has been nothing short of magical. Thank you for making this dream a reality.

🎙️ INTRODUCING: THE SHADOW AND SHADE CHRONICLES PODCAST

I'm thrilled to announce the launch of my new podcast, Shadow and Shade Chronicles!

Why a podcast? Why now?

Throughout my writing career, I've crafted heroes from imagination—warriors wielding enchanted swords, mages commanding ancient magic, chosen ones battling impossible darkness. But here's what I've learned: the most powerful stories aren't always imagined. They're lived every single day by real people in real communities.

The Shadow and Shade Chronicles podcast celebrates heroes—both fictional and real.

Each episode, I'll explore the worlds I create as an author AND spotlight everyday heroes making extraordinary differences in their communities. These aren't people with magic powers or prophecies. They're neighbors organizing food banks, teachers mentoring struggling students, activists fighting for justice, and volunteers rebuilding after disasters.

Heroes aren't just in fantasy novels. They're the people who provide shade (shelter, protection, legacy) and help others navigate through shadow (struggle, hardship, darkness).

🎧 Listen and subscribe: shadowandshadechronicles.substack.com

📚 SHADOW AND SHADE SERIES: 2026 PUBLISHING SCHEDULE

✨ Shadow Awakening (Book 1) - Released December 2025
Available now on Amazon and www.shadowandshade.com

✨ Shadow Convergence (Book 2) - Coming March 2026
The stakes escalate as alliances fracture and the true scope of the Shadow threat is revealed.

✨ Shadow Requiem (Book 4) - Currently in progress
Yes, Book 4 is already being written! The series continues to expand beyond my original vision.

✨ And more books to come...
This series has so many more stories to tell. Stay tuned! INCLUDING THE ONE WISH SERIES AND THE BLOOD RED STONE - BOOK TWO OF THE KYANDRA SAGA

📚 THE SHADOW AND SHADE SERIES: 2026 ROADMAP

I'm diving into 2026 with ambitious goals, but I'm keeping them realistic because sustainability matters more than burnout.

Here's what you can expect from me this year:

🎙️ Podcast Schedule: Aiming for 4-6 Episodes Monthly I'm committed to releasing at least once a week podcast episodes per month on Shadow and Shade Chronicles. Some months might bring more, others might hit exactly four—but I'm building consistency while honoring the creative process. Each episode takes research, interview coordination (for real-life hero features), editing, and heart. Quality over quantity, always.

📬 Monthly Newsletter You're reading it right now! Every month, I'll deliver a new newsletter packed with writing tips, book updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and community spotlights. Mark your calendar for the first week of each month.

📚 New Releases Every 5 -6 Months Here's my realistic promise: expect a new book or short story every 6 months throughout 2026. This might be the next full novel in the Shadow and Shade series, a standalone novella, a prequel short story, or companion content that expands the world you're falling in love with.

Why 4-6 months? Because rushing a book doesn't serve you or the story. Some releases will come faster when the creative flow is strong. Or in the Shadow and Shade series - it and Kyandra Sage - most books up to three books are pretty much written. Just some replotting and incorporating my new writing skills as the years progress. Others need more time for revision, beta readers, and getting it right. I'd rather give you quality storytelling than meet an arbitrary deadline with half-finished work.

What this means: You'll have something new from me at least 3 - 4 times this year, possibly more. Shadow Convergence drops in March, and the roadmap beyond that is already taking shape. I'm in this for the long haul, and I want every release to be worth your time.

✍️ WRITING TIP: MAKE YOUR CHARACTERS CONTRADICT THEMSELVES

One of the most powerful techniques I've discovered is giving characters internal contradictions. Real people are complex. A warrior can write poetry. A villain can love their family fiercely. A hero can be paralyzed by self-doubt.

Try this exercise:

1. List three defining traits of your protagonist.

2. Give them ONE quality that contradicts or complicates those traits.

3. Explore how this contradiction creates internal conflict.

Examples from Shadow Awakening:

• Sage is destined for greatness but struggles with memory loss and crushing self-doubt.

• Ayden is consumed by darkness but remembers what it meant to love

• Sealtiel is duty-bound and disciplined, but wrestling with the loss of a friend and loved one.

• These contradictions drive character choices and make journeys compelling.

📖 WRITING EXERCISE: FINDING REAL-LIFE HEROES

Inspired by my podcast launch, here's this month's challenge:

THE HERO NEXT DOOR

1. Think of someone in your community you consider a "real-life hero"

2. Write a 300-word scene showing them in an ordinary moment—NOT their heroic act

3. Include one detail that reveals WHY they do what they do

This exercise teaches us that heroes aren't defined only by grand gestures, but by consistent small choices. The teacher staying late. The neighbor checking on the elderly. The activist showing up again and again.

Share your scene on social media with #ShadowShadeHeroes—I'd love to read them!

WRITING EXCERCISE TWO:

💡 WRITING INSIGHT: THE DUALITY OF SHADOW

In my world-building, Shadow represents multiple meanings simultaneously:

• The shelter we provide others

• The legacy we leave behind

• The protection we offer those in need

• But also concealment, secrecy, and hidden danger

When building your fictional worlds, ask: What symbols carry multiple meanings? This duality creates richness and depth. Shadow isn't just darkness—it can be rest, solitude, or isolation. Shadow isn't just protection—it can be manipulation or control.

These layers drive the entire Shadow and Shade series.

🎯 

People often ask what it's like to be a full-time author. Here's the truth:

Time Management Reality:

• Writing time: 4-6 hours daily

• Editing/revision: 2-3 hours

• Marketing/social media: 1-2 hours

• Administrative tasks: 1 hour

• Taking time to revitalize ‘Coffee’, ‘Tea’, or don’t forget to eat. ‘Really”

Physical Health Matters: After sitting for hours writing, I learned the hard way that neglecting your body catches up fast. Now I:

• Take 10-minute stretch breaks every hour

• Exercise 30 minutes daily (walks, yoga, strength training)

• Use a standing desk for part of the day

• Practice eye exercises to reduce screen strain

Mental Health Check:

• Take full days off weekly

• Read for pleasure (not just research)

• Connect with other writers

• Remember: creativity needs rest to flourish

• Retiring from corporate life to write full-time was the best decision I ever made. But it's still work—beautiful, fulfilling, challenging work.

📘 BOOK SPOTLIGHT: SHADOW AWAKENING SUCCESS!

Thank you to everyone who purchased, reviewed, and shared Shadow Awakening! The response has been incredible.

Recent 5-Star Reviews: "Sanders-Williams has crafted a world so vivid you can feel the shadows breathing."

"Finally—a fantasy series with BIPOC protagonists that doesn't feel tokenized. This is authentic, powerful storytelling."

"The magic system is intricate, the romance is swoon-worthy, and I'm obsessed with the Trinity Convergence prophecy!"

Haven't grabbed your copy yet?
👉 www.shadowandshade.com

👉http://www.amazon.com/author/desire4fire

💬 READER QUESTION: "WHY DO YOU WRITE BLACK CHARACTERS IN FANTASY?"

This question comes up often, so let me share my heart:

I write Black characters—and BIPOC protagonists—because we deserve to exist in worlds of magic, prophecy, and adventure. For too long, fantasy has centered whiteness as the default. When people of color appear, we're often sidekicks, magical helpers, or tokens. The old narrative: The first to die. I'm tired of that narrative. But here's something my mentor taught me—a writer I deeply admire who happens to be white, by the way. She reminded me of something extremely important when I was too caught up in "the skin I'm in."What writer doesn't write in the skin they are in? Even though my intentions were directed at the lack of diversity in a genre I loved, the moment I started writing as a Black woman, I already became the "representation" I sought to create. By simply existing as a Black author telling stories, I was challenging the landscape. I didn't have to announce it—it was already happening.My characters aren't defined solely by their Blackness, but their Blackness isn't erased either. They get to be complex, flawed, powerful, vulnerable, heroic, and human. They get to save the world instead of waiting to be saved.I write the fantasy worlds I wanted to see as a young Black girl growing up in San Francisco. I write for every Black and Brown reader who's been told fantasy isn't "for them." I write because representation matters—not just visibility, but authentic, nuanced, fully-realized characters. Yet, I write for every soul—every reader—who just wants to lose themselves in a good story, regardless of race. Isn't that so much better? Isn't that a very good reason to continue? That's #WhyIWrite. That's why I #BleedInk..

📚 WRITER'S CORNER: UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PLOT AND STORY

Many new writers use "plot" and "story" interchangeably, but understanding the distinction can transform your writing.

Plot is what happens. It's the sequence of events—the battles fought, the mysteries solved, the journeys taken. Plot is external action.

A story is what it means. It's the internal journey—how events change your characters, what they learn, what they lose, and who they become. A story is an emotional transformation.

Consider Shadow Awakening: The plot involves Sage, Sealtiel, and Ayden venturing into forbidden territory and triggering an ancient prophecy. The story is about three individuals discovering they're more powerful together than apart, learning to trust when trust has been shattered, and accepting destinies they never wanted.

Here's the key insight: Readers come for the plot but stay for the story. They want to know what happens next, but they care because of what it means to the characters.

When you're stuck in your writing, ask yourself: "What's happening?" (plot) and then "Why does this matter to my character?" (story). If you can answer both questions, you're on the right track.

The most memorable books aren't necessarily the ones with the most exciting plots—they're the ones where the story resonates long after the final page.

Food for thought: Think about your favorite book. Can you remember every plot point? Probably not. But I bet you remember how it made you feel. That's the power of story over plot.

💭 THE POWER OF YOUR VOICE: WHY REVIEWS & FEEDBACK MATTER

Dear Reader,

Whether you're a writer yourself or simply someone who loves getting lost in a good book, I want you to know something important: your voice matters more than you realize.

For Readers: The Gift of an Honest Review

You might think, "I'm just one person—does my review really make a difference?"

The answer is absolutely yes.

Every review you leave—whether on Amazon, Goodreads, social media, or even telling a friend over coffee—helps stories find their audience. Reviews aren't just for the author; they're for other readers trying to decide if a book is right for them. Your honest thoughts, whether it's five stars or three stars with constructive feedback, create a roadmap for fellow book lovers.

Word of mouth remains the most powerful marketing tool in publishing. More powerful than paid ads. More influential than fancy book trailers. When you tell someone, "You have to read this book," they listen because they trust you.

Even a simple "I loved this!" or "Great world-building" takes thirty seconds but can change everything for an independent author like me.

For Writers & Creators: The Two-Way Street

If you're a writer or creative working on your own projects, reach out! I'd love to hear:

• What writing challenges you're facing

• Topics you'd like me to cover in future newsletters

• Questions about craft, publishing, or the indie author journey

• Suggestions for podcast episodes or writing exercises

This community thrives when we share knowledge, lift each other up, and create conversations—not monologues.

The bottom line: Whether you leave a review, share a post, recommend a book to a friend, or send me an email with your thoughts, you're participating in something bigger. You're helping stories reach the people who need them most.

And that? That's powerful.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

Until we meet again in the Shadows.

Gloria Sanders-Williams
aka Desire4Fire

"It has become the fruit of my desire to share as a writer works that intrigue through the world of imagination; I hope that I have succeeded."

© 2026 Gloria Sanders-Williams. All rights reserved.