What Deanna Read #113: January 2026

Y'all, I'm sooooo tired. January kicked off with a bang (very grateful) and February piled on top of it. I'm making an effort to get this post done before February runs out of days entirely. Go me! It's Saturday night and I'm supposed to be starting on the design of a cover for one of my author clients, but my brain is not cooperating. My brain can cope with putting this post together though.

Here's what I read in the last month.

First ARCs of 2026 from Deanna's World | Crime Thriller, Dystopian Science Fantasy, Dark Romance Audiobook

Hello team,

A slightly belated Happy New Year! I’ve missed you! I know I missed sending out the January ARCs, but I’ve been working hard behind the scenes with my author clients to make sure the first ARCs for 2026 are worth the wait.

I'd like to take a moment to remind you that there’s something incredibly special about the relationship between an author and an advance reader. You are the launch team author champions—the first ones to breathe life into these stories before they hit the shelves. This month, I’m thrilled to bring you a diverse mix of stories from some of my favorite people, plus a little something extra for the listeners among us. And if you're one to binge read, there's an entire series of ARCs available along with the latest book that's coming soon.

But before we get started, I want to ensure I’m still supporting the broader author community. If you are an author and would like to submit your book for review consideration, click here. While I dedicate my time to my author clients, I am passionate about helping upcoming authors find their audience by presenting their work to the Deanna’s World Advance Reader (ARC) team.

Beyond the Verdict, the Line in the Sand, and Maybe a Cell Door | Lauren Ashley Mastrosa aka Tori Woods

One year ago, a single book set the publishing world on fire, but today, that fire has finally burned the house down. What started as an experiment in taboo erotic romance has officially ended in a criminal conviction that should terrify every author who thinks their imagination is untouchable. The verdict is in: the eighteen-plus disclaimer is dead, and the cell door is swinging open.

Take a Front-Row Seat in the Publishing Process | Join the Deanna’s World Typo Hunter Team

I’ve always believed that for every beautiful story, there is a meticulous set of eyes that helped it get there. Whether you’re the person who can’t help but spot a typo on a restaurant menu or someone who catches a lingering error in a best-seller, I see you—and I cherish that eagle-eyed nature. I built this community on a deep passion for books, and today, I’m inviting you to take a front-row seat in the final stage of the creative process.

Around the World 175 Times with Gill the Literary Nomad

I’ve always said that reading is my ultimate escape, but y’all, I think Reader Gill might have actually figured out how to fold time and space. I was looking over her 2025 reading logs (she sends them to me every month, for which I am very grateful) and I was very suitably impressed. 175 books in a single year!

2025 Reflections and 2026 Roadmap. Navigating the Zigs and Zags of Publishing

Happy New Year!!

Well, it’s the end of 2025 and the start of 2026, and today, as I write this, the end of the year is looming. I plan to post this on January 1st, and hopefully, I am organised enough to get it done in time. 2025 has been a very eventful year, so this is going to be a long one. Hang tight, grab a cup of coffee or your beverage of choice, and kick back. There’s a lot to cover.

What Deanna Read #112: November & December 2025

Today is December 30th and I'm just sneaking in with what I've read for November. And since I'm not likely to read and finish another book till next year (which is only two days away), I thought I'd include December's reading list here as well. And the reality is, since I was trying to get through a lot of end of year work, there wasn't a lot of pleasure reading for me. Plus I struggled to find books that were engaging enough to switch off my editor brain.

Here's what I read in the last month.