I’ve been following the Chinese zodiac, and 2026 may be my year—the year of the Fire Horse. January this year gave its regards and goodbyes to the year of the snake (2025), shedding the skin of old ways of being and offering a current quiet intensity. I want to gallop, but the horse hasn’t left the pasture … yet.
The Fire Horse year, beginning February 17, 2026, extends until the same month in 2027. This year will contribute to the personal aspects of innovation, intensity, chaos, disruption, change, rebellion, ambition, momentum, and freedom. If I were to choose, I would prefer innovation, momentum, ambition, and end the year with freedom.
2026 is my year of completion (partially). In 2020, when everything shut down during COVID, I gave myself permission to put my writing interests first. This was huge for me, as I’ve been writing for over four decades, but until then, my writing wasn’t a top priority.
I’ve plotted out a young adult fantasy series with a contemporary component, called Bridge Across Worlds, and wrote the first and second books, Starsun Defiance and Starsun Tempest. After my editor and beta readers finished reading these books, they all said, “There had better be a book three.”
Guess what? My mind is churning and mulling over plotlines for the third book. I don’t know if the series will end there, but I must rein in my (metaphorical) horse and take it one book at a time.
Starsun Defiance (indie-published with Wood Lily Publishers) is launching this spring. The story focuses on events surrounding the summer solstice.
Starsun Tempest will come out later this year.
These books reflect my love of nature and respect for wildlife, and an interest in teen relationships.
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When the year of the Fire Horse begins, I want to saddle up and ride into my future with confidence and grace. I’m excited and hope you will follow me on my journey. May it provide the momentum I seek and show me interesting things along the way.
This is the Bridge Across Worlds Series Logo:
I’ll be doing the Starsun Defiance cover reveal soon, but here’s the story:
Defy tradition. Cross worlds. Survive the teen who won’t free her.
Seventeen-year-old Ahriee, born with the mark of the Guardian Protector Great Bear and an instinctive, loving bond with all animals, promises to partner with Haakon. She witnesses his slaughter of the Starsun people’s sacred great white stag and discovers Haakon’s deep hatred and lack of respect for the Guardian Protector animals she adores.
His dominance becomes frightening. But refusing Haakon means defying the Advisors and their age-old traditions. She’ll disappoint her family and the community she loves. She does it anyway.
The Advisors grant Ahriee until Midsummer’s Eve to choose: bind her life to Haakon … or spend a lifetime in exile.
Ahriee escapes Haakon’s pursuit and crosses a forbidden, legendary bridge that appears. She flees Starstone Isle with Kyle, a stranger whose presence entices her. He takes her across the strait to a modern world veiled from her own.
A new horizon bright with what could be her future is intriguing … until Haakon finds her. Conflicted, Ahriee yearns for her loved ones and fears The Bridge may disappear.
To reshape her future, she must heed the great bear’s message, engaging in a journey of courage and defiance.
I’m grateful to have you here … more news to follow!
Heartfelt hugs, Patricia
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