Making Hay Monday, June 16 ✍🏻
Award news, Wispresso Cafe update, and a book sampler from TK Sheffield
I’m a morning person. If I’m not up by 5 a.m., I’m late. (Lombardi time for authors, you know?) Same for Mondays. Let’s roll up the proverbial sleeves and get writing, planning, and spreading positive vibes, friends. 💖
If we haven’t met, I’m TK Sheffield, and I write clean reads, stories for readers to laugh and escape. There’s a growing market for these books, carving out a unique space in the evolving book-verse. Genres are blending, expanding, and the clean reads category is where this author thrives. My stories aren’t without conflict—there’s plenty—but they’re free of sex, graphic violence, foul language, and politics. They’re for readers craving a break, a chance to rest and entertain their minds, if only for a short time. And LAUGH, too.
Award News (and a Cool Book for Authors Seeking Help with First Pages!)
I’m thrilled to share that Black Spring Press is publishing Crime Bits 2, an anthology of first pages judged by Val McDermid and distributed by Simon & Schuster. The Infinity Thieves (or Horse Story), my novella, was selected as a Finalist! I’m honored to be among the winners. This book is a genre-blending gem: a collection of gripping first pages, puzzles and games tied to those openings, and a reference build for authors honing their craft, a treasure for writers and readers.
Watch this space to win a signed copy! The book releases in August 2025, and I’ll be giving away a copy. Stay tuned for more news about this unique anthology!
The Wispresso Cafe Returns this Fall!
Get ready for a fresh season of The Wispresso Cafe, my talk show about books, writing, coffee, and conversation produced by the Wisconsin Writers Association (WWA). After a three-episode spring pilot, we’re back in full swing this September with an hour of literary goodness on Saturday mornings. The fall lineup features incredible guests like USA Today best-selling author Christina Clancy, Kristin Lenz (author and Wisconsin Northwoods home-decorating maven), and the owner of Thirst, a new romance-only bookstore in Milwaukee. Best of all? The show is open to everyone—not just WWA members. Stay tuned for details, and join us for a morning of coffee, books, and inspiration. First show is 10a CST September 6, 2025. Register for the Zoom link on the WWA website.
Upcoming Release: A Midwest Sampler by TK Sheffield
Exciting News: Horses, Romance, Intrigue … and Cheese is coming your way! A sampler of upcoming books, plus opening chapters of The Backyard Model Mysteries, is coming out June 24, 2025. The ebook will be on Amazon and other major platforms, but Substack subscribers can get a free copy—just reply to this June 16, 2025, newsletter and I’ll send it your way.
This sampler is a treat packed with sneak peeks of my next books, including magical romantic comedies, cozy suspense, and mysteries. Plus, there are recipes to savor! I hope you love this glimpse of what’s galloping toward you in 2026. Happy reading, friends!
Links and Resources
The Midwest Writers Room and Wisconsin Writers Association has a YouTube channel. Subscribe for news about Midwest writers, the Wispresso Cafe, and Book Reviews.
I’m reading from MODEL WAVE this summer. Follow the Saddles & Stories Substack by TK Sheffield for a summer Northwoods mystery. Every Friday, I read an excerpt, which is about twelve minutes, just long enough for a short walk around the neighborhood! #getthestepsin
Need a sunrise boost? See my Instagram for sunrises, backyard scenery, bubble petunias (a rare flower!), and more. 🫧🥂
Happy Monday, Friends. Let’s Make Hay this week! 💪🏻 ✍🏻📚
~TK 😘
I'm smiling just reading your newsletter! Thanks for sharing the fun!
You are an inspiration, T.K., and your clean books are sheer genius!