Sweet Tea Thoughts: I've been writing quietly

I’ve been a little quiet here. It's not because the stories stopped, but because I’ve been writing quietly.

Recently, a reader reached out to tell me how much she loved Winter Embrace. The book had been a gift, and she asked me a simple question that stayed with me longer than she probably realized:

“Are you writing more?”

The answer is yes. Always yes.

Then, as if the story itself wanted to remind me it’s still alive, Texas gave us one of those rare snowstorms that makes everything outward calm and the cozy moments are given space. My mom retold a memory she was apart of that made it into the book. It was one of those moments where real life and fiction overlap in the best way.

A few days later, I was talking about General Hospital, and my daughter chimed in,

“Josselyn… like the Jossalyn in your book?”

That one stopped me in my tracks.

These moments felt small on the surface, but they landed big. They reminded me that stories don’t just live on pages. They live in conversations, memories, weather, and in the people we love most. They show up when we least expect them—sometimes right when we need the reminder.

So here I am. Still writing. Still dreaming. Still telling Texas stories, one quiet page at a time.

If you’ve ever wondered whether the stories you love matter—this is your sign. They do. They ripple outward in ways we may never fully see.

Sweet tea’s on. 🤍

— Jessica