Today, your correspondent hails from that liminal space between the living world and Beyond— where the tea is always warm, the ghosts are always opinionated, and the dogs are not always what they seem.

My darlings,

You may remember Petit-Ange from Haunting Miss Trentwood — Aunt Durham's lapdog. "Little Angel" in name only, the dog was a menace to shoes, pillows, and human dignity everywhere.

I've felt a small, lingering guilt about never saying what happened to that ankle-biter after everything went sideways at Compton Beauchamp. So when I realized I could bring a dog back into the series, I thought: why settle for ordinary?

Enter the church grim.

Depending on which folklore tradition you're digging through, the church grim runs from heartbreaking to terrifying. In English and Scandinavian tradition, the first soul buried on newly consecrated ground was bound to protect all the souls that followed — essentially standing eternal guard against the Devil. And since no one particularly wanted a human soul stuck on graveyard duty forever, a dog was often sacrificed and buried at the church's foundation instead.

Grim work, in every sense.

On the more dramatic end of the spectrum, you have England's Black Shuck — a hellhound with red eyes, an omen of death or stormy weather, depending on how lucky your day is going.

Edith will encounter a grim in An Uncanny Bargain. I named him Mortimer, and for you Cary Grant fans, you'll appreciate the deep-cut reference.

Whether Mortimer will be the mournful, faithful sort or the red-eyed, harbinger-of-doom sort — or something else altogether — well, I suppose you'll have to read An Uncanny Bargain to find out.

Join the waitlist for the very first edition of An Uncanny Bargain, where a medium, half-ghost, & greedy ghoul clash in this historical fantasy romance with Jane Austen banter & swoons. 💝 Opening May 12, 2026

The latest author particulars

Writing: About 30% through editing An Uncanny Bargain. I need to get on my editor's schedule for final round, but I'm rather pleased and surprised that my draft has been fairly clean so far.

Reading: My library TBR bookshelf is populated with Denise Williams books. I've gobbled up her stories especially since I'm realizing her couples are all interracial (BW/WM). I'm wrapping up First-Time Caller by B.K. Borrison, which is adorable and delightful, but I'm impatient to dig into Denise's books.

Results from February's survey

When given the option between receiving a letter from Mr. Darcy or Captain Wentworth, there was an obvious winner (also, I'm so sorry I forgot to put these results in the March newsletter. Bad Belinda)...

Your commentary was equally delightful...

"Let’s be honest—Elizabeth would never choose the letter that begs. She would choose the one that respects her mind, trusts her judgment, and invites her to reconsider him on equal footing."

Can't argue with that logic!

Administrative desiderata

My events calendar is shaping up! Two book events coming in May, along with the Kickstarter for An Uncanny Bargain. Both events are free to attend, and I'm excited to see an option fort he southern part of Columbus!

• May 9: Grove City, OH book festival
• May 12 - 28: Kickstarter campaign
• May 16: Newark, OH book festival

Are you a Kindred Spirit?

For the price of a cuppa tea each month—or a small teapot, if you’re feeling generous—you can join the Society of Kindred Spirits on Patreon, sponsoring more cozy fantasy romances, illustrations, and gentle magic.

Until next month, may all your mood reads be excellent, your tea perfectly brewed, and your blanket cozy. Don't forget your newsletter gifts. Browse the older issues of Belinda's Broadsheet.