Looking Back on Summer 2026: A Big Thank You

What better time than Thanksgiving weekend to look back and take stock of my summer.

So much has happened since June. Things I wouldn't have dared believe a year ago, when Dans l'ombre de Dubaï was still just a manuscript in the making. So, coffee in hand, come retrace the journey with me, with a heartfelt thank-you at every stop.

Thank you to my beta readers and my reviser, who combed through every line. Without you, there would still be commas on the run.

Late June — Two Weeks of Vacation, One ePub, and Zero Coding Skills

My vacation? I spent it coding my ePub. Starting from absolutely no knowledge whatsoever. None. There was a lot of trial, a lot of error, a few saints called down from heaven (I have names, but I won't list them here), and one day I coded from 2 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a 30-minute break for supper, imposed by my hubby. ☺️ When I get a delivery date stuck in my pig-headed brain (okay, okay, let's call it determination 😅), this is what happens.

July 2 — Approval Copy and ePub Live

D-day arrived. The approval copy got my green light, and Dans l'ombre de Dubaï was officially available as an ePub. After all those hours of code, watching the file finally open on an e-reader, bug-free, was an immense relief (and a little victory I gave myself with pride).

July 8 — The Famous Unboxing

Some moments are a long time coming, and this one is among them: back home with eight boxes... phew!!! Printed copies of my book. The real thing, the kind you can smell, weigh, and flip through. I opened the first box... Then I held my novel in my hands. What a mix of emotions!!!

Thank you to everyone who wrote to tell me you couldn't wait to see this. Your excitement carried me.

July 10 — First Shipments and First Hand-Offs

Two days later, the books started to travel. Mailed copies, hand-offs in person, smiles and slightly shaky inscriptions: my novel was finally leaving my table and landing in real people's hands.

Thank you to my family and loved ones, who were the first to believe in all of this.

July 24 — My Book (Officially) Joins the Mascouche Library

Seeing Dans l'ombre de Dubaï settle onto the shelves of the Mascouche library, as part of its collection, gave me a little thrill I hadn't seen coming. My thriller, right there among real books, available to the whole community. For an author who was writing alone in front of a screen not so long ago, let's just say it does something to you.

On that same day, I made a first $250 donation to La Vigile, an amount coming from a portion of my book sales. 😊

August 19 — A Rather Special Hand-Off

That day, I handed a copy to Guillaume Tremblay, mayor of Mascouche. A handshake, a book, and a little moment I'll treasure. Thank you for the warm welcome and the interest in the work of a local author.

August 24 — The Site Goes English

The website got a new face: it's now bilingual. And on the blog, you got to know each of the characters, and the inspiration behind each one.

September 5 — My Very First Book Fair

Oka. My first book fair. Real people, real questions, and so many wonderful encounters. All that nervousness was worth every second.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, flipped through the book, asked questions, or simply came to say hello. You have no idea what that means to me.

And What's Next?

Meanwhile, in the shadows (quite literally), book two is moving forward. The framework of Panopticon Umbrae is taking shape, and the first act is almost built. I won't say more... for now 😏

So now it's my turn to ask you: what are you grateful for this year? Tell me in the comments. I read everything.

Happy Thanksgiving, and thank you for being here. 🍁

P.S. Haven’t discovered Shadows of Dubai yet? Read the first 3 chapters for free here 📖