A Letter from Caitlyn Paxson

Dear Reader,

It’s been quite a while since we last corresponded, and now we’re in a new year – a very momentous one for me personally, because it’s finally the year that my debut novel, A Widow’s Charm, will make its way out into the world. After two years of feeling like it was all a lovely dream I was having, it’s finally starting to feel real, and I have some very fun updates to share with you.  

This was back in December, at a party celebrating Jane Austen’s 250^th birthday. I was invited to read aloud from my book – and I also took advantage of having an excuse to make myself a regency dress out of a tablecloth!

As you can tell, I relish a chance to play dress-up. When I wrote A Widow’s Charm, I was very inspired by the Shakespearean comedies that I’ve loved since I was a kid. In fact, for most of my youth, I wanted to be a Shakespearean actress when I grew up, and I had my first (tiny) role in a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream when I was four years old! Because of its theatrical inspirations, A Widow’s Charm is divided into acts like a play, and I thought it might be fun to share a little Dramatis Personae to introduce you to some of the main players:

And here are two trade publication reviews that have come in for A Widow's Charm:

"Paxson deftly explores themes of social justice, war, and PTSD while balancing them with the hijinks of a romantic comedy full of witty banter, misunderstandings, and peculiar situations. Paxson’s debut is a cozy and whimsical tale for those who enjoy magical found families and mischievous pet sidekicks.” – The Library Journal

"Debut author Paxson playfully toys with tropes in this heartening and hilarious romantasy set in the Regency England–esque land of Eldmere… The ensuing comedy of errors is almost Shakespearian in scope, with the humor only enhancing Paxson’s thoughtful meditation on Hilde’s desperate circumstances and the lengths she will go to for those she loves. The romance that blooms between Hilde and Erol adds to the charm and the delightfully drawn supporting cast is similarly easy to love. It’s a joy." – Publisher’s Weekly

This Publisher’s Weekly excerpt is from a starred review, which is their highest recommendation and is so exciting to me because a lot of libraries prioritize ordering books with starred reviews! Nothing makes me happier than the idea of my book being on the shelves of libraries across the land. You can find links to pre-order A Widow’s Charm here.

Crafting:

Sewing has dominated my crafting time for the past year and half, and I’m really starting to feel competent making clothing for myself! I think the next step is to figure out how to consistently make things that will fit and suit other people, but in the meantime, I’m having a lot of fun creating my dream she-looks-like-she’s-on-the-run-from-the-Renaissance-faire wardrobe. My first two projects of 2026 were this linen dress and stays.

The dress is a pattern that I made up myself, and the stays are from a pattern by a wonderful artist called Hag and Company. Her Instagram is magical and her Pateron is full of videos about how to turn recycled fabrics into beautiful historically inspired garments.

Reading:

I was saving these two fall 2025 releases to read over the holidays after I’d finished the edits on my second book, and they were everything I wanted them to be.

Ladies in Hating is the latest novel from historical romance queen Alexandra Vasti and the premise is absolutely delicious. Two rival gothic novelists end up trapped together at a dilapidated and (most likely) haunted manor house where they have to untangle the events of their shared pasts, their literary ambitions, and their undeniable chemistry. This book is funny, swoony, and everything I want in a historical romance. The previous two books in the series, N’er Duke Well and Earl Crush, are also delectable and you should read them all! Vasti also has not one but TWO more books coming out in 2026, which is very lucky for all of us.

The Everlasting was one of my most anticipated books of the year, because it’s a romance between a lady knight and a time travelling scholar that examines the intersection of legend and empire and it’s pretty hard to pitch me something that I want to read more than that! It delivered on every front – the romance is bittersweet and subversive, the time travel is very clever and uses a very unique premise, and the commentary on how nationalism plays on our desire to create heroes is painfully timely. I ended up reading this with a headlamp and candles when the power was out one night, and it was perfection.

Musing:

Friends, the state of the world is terrifying and dark. I hope that you are taking care of yourselves and your communities as best you can. My friend Amal shared this list of resources to help people in Minneapolis right now, and I found it to be informative, so I’m resharing it with you.

In closing, I hope that this pile of orange cats will lift your spirits as it does mine.

Until next time, wishing you the best books and the most berry-full brambles,

Caitlyn

I write this from the traditional unceded territory known as Mi’kma’ki, and I am grateful to call Epekwitk my home.