After writing my first two non-fiction books, Perseverance. Reinvention. and The Top 10 Mistakes I Made My First Year as a Copywriter, I knew I wasn’t done telling stories. If you’ve read Perseverance. Reinvention., you already know it’s deeply personal—a memoir about starting over after divorce, dealing with family trauma, and figuring out who I was after life didn’t go the way I planned. And if you’ve read The Top 10 Mistakes, well, you know that I’ve also poured a lot into my business, Copywriting For You, and learned a lot along the way.

But I wasn’t finished.

Starting Over with Emily’s Next Chapter

The theme of starting over—finding yourself again, or maybe discovering a whole new version of yourself—kept coming up in my life. One of the most meaningful parts of this new chapter has been becoming a stepmom. I have two grown children (and a grandbaby on the way!), but in the last few years, I’ve been blessed with a sweet stepdaughter who is in elementary school. And while our day-to-day looks a little different from when I was raising toddlers and teens, the experience has brought so much joy—and new lessons—into my life.

So when I sat down to write my next book, I knew it had to be inspired by that. But I also knew I wanted to shake things up.

You see, there are so many stories where the stepmom is painted as the villain. The woman who swoops in, tries to take over, and somehow becomes the enemy. That’s not me. That’s not who I want to be, and it’s not the story I wanted to tell. My stepdaughter has a mom—and she doesn’t need another one. What she needs (what I hope I can be) is a positive female role model. Someone who shows up, loves her dad, and helps create a home where she feels safe and supported.

So, I started writing a love story between a stepmother and her stepdaughter.

That was the original plan.

A Plot Change with a Beautiful Outcome

But, as any writer will tell you, sometimes your characters have other ideas. As the story unfolded, the heart of it became something else: a later-in-life romance between two people—Emily and Lucas—both trying to figure out how to move forward after the pain of the past. And yes, the relationship between Emily and her stepdaughter-to-be, Lily, remains a big part of the story. But the story became richer and deeper when I allowed myself to explore the love, grief, and rebuilding happening on all fronts.

And that’s how Emily’s Next Chapter was born.

It’s a story about second chances. About blending families. About finding love again when you’ve already had your heart broken. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about being brave enough to try again.

Heartwarming Feedback from ARC Reviewers

So far, the early feedback has been so heartwarming (and honestly, more than a little emotional for me to read).

Mylissa, a fellow bookstagrammer, said:

“Emily’s Next Chapter is a heartwarming story about second chances, forgiveness, and self-discovery. This novel is told from multiple points of view, which really added depth to the characters and strengthened my emotional connection to their journey as well.

I appreciated the honest and raw conversations Emily and her family had as they navigated this next chapter together. Ann approaches these conversations with grace and care, which, as the reader, I really appreciated.

If you are looking for a second-chance love story that warms your heart, Emily’s Next Chapter is one you should add to your TBR list!”

Laura shared:

“A story about the bonds of family. A heartwarming read and a reminder that when life closes one door on you, another one opens.”

And Margaret said:

“Emily’s Next Chapter is a beautiful journey about life and love after divorce. Emily and Lucas and their families learn to put aside self-doubt and overcome the past, and in doing so understand they too deserve new beginnings, new family, and new love.

Yes, I cried.”

These kinds of reviews remind me why I wrote this story in the first place. It’s not just about romance. It’s about the messy, emotional, funny, and beautiful parts of what happens when people dare to love again. When they let go of what they thought their life would look like and open their hearts to what it could become.

And I can’t wait to share it with you.

Emily’s Next Chapter—Available Soon

Keep checking back here (and follow me on Instagram, if you haven’t already), because the release date for Emily’s Next Chapter will be announced soon!

I promise—it’s coming, and I think it might just speak to your heart.