Blair Bryan's Blog, page 3
April 29, 2025
From Harm to Hope: Creating a Neurodivergent Heroine in Response to Ignorance
Recently, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now appointed as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, made deeply troubling and harmful remarks about autism.
Referring to it as a “preventable disease,” he said, “These are kids who will never pay taxes, they’ll never hold a job, they’ll never play baseball, they’ll never write a poem, they’ll never go on a date, many of them will never use a toilet unassisted.”
Not only are these claims offensive, they are factually and scientifically false.
Autism is a spectrum, not a sentence. While some individuals require more support, many autistic people live fully independent and meaningful lives. They fall in love. They start companies. They raise families. They pay taxes. And yes, some write poems that break your heart with their brilliance. To reduce this community to a list of assumed deficits is dehumanizing and unacceptable, especially from someone tasked with shaping national health policy.
This is why we need characters like Nevermore.
I wrote her to push back against these outdated, damaging narratives. Nevermore is neurodivergent because our stories (and our heroines) need to reflect the beautiful, varied spectrum of human experience. She doesn’t move through the world like everyone else, and that’s not just something we have to accept, it’s something beautiful. Her literal interpretation of the world, combined with her stims and repetitive behaviors, is a rebellion against the way people like Kennedy try to define others by limitation instead of possibility.
Parents of autistic children are rightly outraged. They want the world to know their children are not broken. They are not burdens. What they want from the rest of us is understanding. Patience. Respect. Not pity, and definitely not erasure.
My own encounters with autistic friends, family, and the moving stories in shows like Love on the Spectrum have opened my heart to the incredible depth, humor, and honesty that neurodivergent individuals bring to the world. They often speak with a directness and emotional clarity that neuro-typicals struggle to access. There’s a kind of magic in their presence, a lens that reframes reality in the most unexpected and refreshing ways.
Nevermore exists because representation matters. She is not a token, she is a tribute. A quiet protest. A reminder that the world is not made better by conforming, but by including. We don’t need to fix autism. We need to fix the way we see it.
April 27, 2025
The TMI: April 27, 2025
Nevermore LaRue has spent years on the road, chasing freedom and outrunning her past. But when a violent break-in forces her back to her childhood home in Aura Cove for the first time in decades, she’s confronted with memories and mysteries she’s tried to forget.
A freak lightning strike during Mercury retrograde unlocks her ability to time travel, hurling Neve into the past with only her sharp, neurodivergent instincts and her snarky, feathered companion, Peregrine, to guide her.
As she reconnects with her childhood art mentor and uncovers buried secrets, Neve realizes she’s been given a second chance. The past is calling, and it’s up to her to right the wrongs that shaped her future.
My Side Quest Towards Better Health ContinuesAn update with a plot twist and a couple tried and true recipes.
Currently Writing: Never Lose Hope Book Two in the Aura Cove Temporal Traveler series!Get ready for disco balls, platform shoes, and shag carpeting—Neve and Perry are headed back to the 1970's for another top-secret mercury in retrograde mission. Coming January 2026!
The Weekly Gift Card Winner is: Amy Miller
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P.S. I Need Your Help!
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You can write as much or as little as you want and I would be forever in your debt!
NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s and Teal Butterfly Press’ exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
April 20, 2025
The TMI: April 20, 2025
I'm deep into the final edits of Nevermore, and I have to say I'm loving every moment of this story. I can’t wait to share it with you.
I also made a bold decision recently: I scrapped the original cover design. While it was good, it just didn’t have the wow factor I was hoping for. I’ve been following an incredibly talented artist for a long time, and I finally took the leap to commission a custom cover. I'm so glad I did.
His design completely blew me away. As a former Photoshop artist and professional photographer, my standards are sky high. This was easily one of the best creative decisions I’ve ever made. His ability to collaborate and bring the story to life visually was truly impressive.
All pre-orders and future orders of Nevermore will feature this brand-new cover. I think you're going to love it as much as I do.
READ CHAPTER ONE NOW.
Flash Point Audio RELEASE!You can now enjoy the first four audiobooks in the Midlife in Aura Cove series. Flash Point is officially available, and production has already begun on In A Flash. The final two books in the series are expected to be completed by the end of summer.
CJ Lock's performance is absolutely incredible. Get ready to laugh, cry, and fall in love with Aura Cove all over again.
Praise for Up in the Middle of Nowhere. Top Indie Mother's Day Pick!BIG NEWS! Up in the Middle of Nowhere was just named a Top Indie Mother's Day Picks this week! This story is extra special to me. It's inspired by a real-life treehouse adventure with my youngest, and I poured so much love into every page. I’m thrilled it’s getting this kind of recognition right before Mother's Day! It’s a heartwarming tale that captures the nostalgic ache of a mother’s heart as she navigates the tender transition into the empty nest stage of life. 
Get ready for disco balls, platform shoes, and shag carpeting—Neve and Perry are headed back to the 1970's for another top-secret mercury in retrograde mission. Coming January 2026!
The Weekly Gift Card Winner is: Chandra Morrisey
(Enter for your chance to win at the bottom of this page.)
P.S. I Need Your Help!
More reviews=More visibility.
You can write as much or as little as you want and I would be forever in your debt!
NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s and Teal Butterfly Press’ exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
April 13, 2025
The TMI: April 13, 2025
BIG NEWS! Up in the Middle of Nowhere was just named a Top Indie Mother's Day Picks this week! This story is extra special to me. It's inspired by a real-life treehouse adventure with my youngest, and I poured so much love into every page. I’m thrilled it’s getting this kind of recognition right before Mother's Day! It’s a heartwarming tale that captures the nostalgic ache of a mother’s heart as she navigates the tender transition into the empty nest stage of life.
This is the first book in a brand-new series, and I’ve spent the last seven months creating a story you will LOVE! I know I say this with every book—but truly, this is my best writing yet. READ CHAPTER ONE NOW.
Flash Point Audio First Listen!We are in the final week of production for the Flash Point Audiobook! It is the 4th book in the Midlife in Aura Cove series! Listen to chapter one below, but be warned! It might contain spoilers.
In the meantime, the first three books in the series are already available for your listening pleasure. If you haven't started yet, now’s the perfect time to dive in! Order here. Delivery is sometime in mid to late April.
Currently Reading: Black Candle WomenBlack Candle Women enchants with its cast of warm, complex characters whose bonds feel as rich and layered as the magic they inherit. Set against the charming backdrop of New Orleans, the novel pulses with heart and just the right touch of magic.
Currently Writing: Never Lose Hope Book Two in the Aura Cove Temporal Traveler series!Get ready for disco balls, platform shoes, and shag carpeting—Neve and Perry are headed back to the 1970's for another top-secret mercury in retrograde mission. Coming January 2026!
The Weekly Gift Card Winner is: Andrea Ossian
(Enter for your chance to win at the bottom of this page.)
P.S. I Need Your Help!
More reviews=More visibility.
You can write as much or as little as you want and I would be forever in your debt!
NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s and Teal Butterfly Press’ exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
April 6, 2025
The TMI: April 6, 2025
A Mercury in Retrograde Time-Traveling MysteryNevermore LaRue never expected that coming home would unravel the mystery of her father’s death, or awaken a hidden power she never knew she had. But when Mercury retrograde collides with a rare lightning strike, it fractures time itself, creating a temporal crystal that hurls her and her feisty feathered sidekick, Perry, back to 1989.
Stranded in the past, Neve must navigate a world of buried secrets, and uncover a destiny far greater than she ever imagined.
Full of heart, humor, and mind-bending twists, Nevermore is the electrifying start of a new paranormal women’s fiction series featuring a neurodivergent heroine. READ CHAPTER ONE NOW.
Flash Point Audio is Coming Soon!I am excited to share that we’re almost finished with the production of Flash Point, the 4th book in the Midlife in Aura Cove series!
In the meantime, the first three books in the series are already available for your listening pleasure. If you haven't started yet, now’s the perfect time to dive in! Order here. Delivery is sometime in mid to late April.
Currently Reading: By Any Other Name is classic Jodi Picoult. Thought-provoking, emotional, and seamlessly navigating a dual timeline. She dives deep into questions of race, identity and the sacrifices of women.
Get ready for another wild, time-bending adventure as Nevermore and Peregrine are hurled back to the 1970s!
Featuring relatable neurodivergent characters, unexpected twists, and a delightfully sassy talking parrot, Never Lose Hope will keep you laughing, guessing, and flipping pages late into the night.
The Weekly Gift Card Winner is: Dorothy Weiss
(Enter for your chance to win at the bottom of this page.)
P.S. I Need Your Help!
More reviews=More visibility.
You can write as much or as little as you want and I would be forever in your debt!
NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s and Teal Butterfly Press’ exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
March 30, 2025
The TMI: March 30, 2025
I am excited to share that we’re halfway through the production of the audiobook for Flash Point, the 4th book in the Midlife in Aura Cove series! CJ Locks is truly a talent! Her narration will have you laughing, crying, and fully immersed in the story. I’m so lucky to have her bringing these characters to life.
In the meantime, the first three books in the series are already available for your listening pleasure. If you haven't started yet, now’s the perfect time to dive in! Order here. Delivery is sometime in mid to late April.
NEVERMORE! Coming July 2025! A Mercury in Retrograde Time-Traveling Mystery
Nevermore LaRue never expected that coming home would unravel the mystery of her father’s death, or awaken a hidden power she never knew she had. But when Mercury retrograde collides with a rare lightning strike, it fractures time itself, creating a temporal crystal that hurls her and her feisty feathered sidekick, Perry, back to 1989.
Stranded in the past, Neve must navigate a world of buried secrets, and uncover a destiny far greater than she ever imagined.
Full of heart, humor, and mind-bending twists, Nevermore is the electrifying start of a new paranormal women’s fiction series featuring a neurodivergent heroine. K.F. Breene, Deanna Chase, Jana DeLeon, Christine Gael, Elizabeth Hunter, Darynda Jones, Eve Langlais, Shannon Mayer, Kristen Painter, Robyn Peterman, Michelle M. Pillow, Mandy M. Roth, and Denise Grover Swank.
The Briar Club was the first book I've read by Kate Quinn, and she is truly a master at crafting lovable, relatable characters that you can't help but root for. While the book made several references to an "Iowa drawl," which should have been edited out (as a lifelong Iowa resident, I can assure you...we don’t drawl), it was still an enjoyable read. It was a great experience in a genre I usually don’t gravitate toward, and I will read more of her.
Currently Writing: The Magic of Midlife HealingOne simple shift transformed my energy, reduced anxiety, and even improved my hair. Here’s how it went, and why you might want to try it too. Read the latest installment here.
The Weekly Gift Card Winner is: Teri Glassman
(Enter for your chance to win at the bottom of this page.)
P.S. I Need Your Help!
More reviews=More visibility.
You can write as much or as little as you want and I would be forever in your debt!
NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s and Teal Butterfly Press’ exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
March 23, 2025
The TMI: March 23, 2025
I found out this week, Meta (Facebook) has taken eight of my books without permission or compensation to train their AI. Apparently, respecting authors isn't part of their grand vision for the future. It’s a blatant reminder that these broligarchs believe they can take whatever they want from whomever they want, without consequence.
What's even more infuriating is that they already claim over 50% of my sales through their ad platform. To say I hate this greedy company with every fiber of my being is an understatement.
To my readers: thank you for buying direct, for valuing the work of real creators, and for standing with me instead of the corporations that see our labor as nothing more than data to exploit. Your support means everything.
NEVERMORE! Coming July 2025! A Mercury in Retrograde Time-Traveling MysteryNevermore LaRue never expected that coming home would unravel the mystery of her father’s death, or awaken a hidden power she never knew she had. But when Mercury retrograde collides with a rare lightning strike, it fractures time itself, creating a temporal crystal that hurls her and her feisty feathered sidekick, Perry, back to 1989.
Stranded in the past, Neve must navigate a world of buried secrets, and uncover a destiny far greater than she ever imagined.
Full of heart, humor, and mind-bending twists, Nevermore is the electrifying start of a new paranormal women’s fiction series featuring a neurodivergent heroine. K.F. Breene, Deanna Chase, Jana DeLeon, Christine Gael, Elizabeth Hunter, Darynda Jones, Eve Langlais, Shannon Mayer, Kristen Painter, Robyn Peterman, Michelle M. Pillow, Mandy M. Roth, and Denise Grover Swank.
Edward’s journey as the sole survivor of a plane crash, delicately balances heartbreak with hope, showing how love and human connection can help piece together a shattered life. What happens when you lose everyone you love at the tender age of 12?
Currently Writing: The Magic of Midlife HealingOne simple shift transformed my energy, reduced anxiety, and even improved my hair. Here’s how it went, and why you might want to try it too. Read the latest installment here.
The Weekly Gift Card Winner is: Carolyn Williams
(Enter for your chance to win at the bottom of this page.)
P.S. I Need Your Help!
More reviews=More visibility.
You can write as much or as little as you want and I would be forever in your debt!
NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s and Teal Butterfly Press’ exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
March 16, 2025
The TMI: March 16, 2025
Nevermore never expected that coming home would unravel the mystery of her father’s death, or reveal a hidden power she never knew she had. But when a rare lightning strike creates a temporal crystal, she’s launched back to 1989, along with her feisty feathered sidekick, Perry. There, Neve must navigate a past full of secrets, unexpected allies, and a destiny far bigger than she ever imagined.
Full of heart, humor, and unexpected twists, Nevermore is the start of a thrilling new paranormal women's fiction series featuring a neurodivergent heroine. This series is perfect for fans of Darynda Jones and K.F. Breene. Preorder now and get ready to rewrite history!
The Night We Lost Him is a fast-moving thriller with a smart female protagonist who keeps you engaged without the usual clichés. It has a dual timeline that comes together in an interesting way. Worth a read!
Currently Writing: The Magic of Midlife HealingMy side quest, The Magic of Midlife Healing, is going strong! Check out the latest update on Substack, where I’m diving deep into my wellness journey, and sharing all the messy, magical, and eye-opening lessons along the way. Read the latest installment here.
(Enter for your chance to win at the bottom of this page.)
P.S. I Need Your Help!
More reviews=More visibility.
You can write as much or as little as you want and I would be forever in your debt!
NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s and Teal Butterfly Press’ exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
March 9, 2025
The TMI: March 9, 2025
Dive into the enchanting world of Aura Cove with our exclusive audiobook bundle, featuring the first three books of the 'Midlife in Aura Cove' series. Join Katie Beaumont as she discovers newfound powers at 50, guided by her sassy best friend, a talking dog, and a ball-busting lawyer. Experience 26 hours of humor, adventure, and empowerment, all for a limited-time price of $29.99. Order the 3 Audiobook Bundle here.
Because of Amazon and Audible’s unfair business practices, these audiobooks will only be available exclusively on this website.
"One Day" by David Nicholls is an emotional rollercoaster that perfectly captures the messiness of love, friendship, and growing up. It’s funny, heartbreaking, and so real that you’ll find yourself rooting for Emma and Dexter (even when they drive you crazy).
Currently Wrapping Up: NevermoreThe final week of drafting is in full swing! After that, I’ll let it rest for a week before diving into a binge read and final pass before sending it to my editor. Honestly, this might just be my favorite book I’ve ever written. I can't wait to share it with you this summer!
Pre-order your copy today.
My side quest, The Magic of Midlife Healing, is going strong! Check out the latest update on Substack, where I’m diving deep into my wellness journey, and sharing all the messy, magical, and eye-opening lessons along the way. Read the latest installment here.
(Enter for your chance to win at the bottom of this page.)
P.S. I Need Your Help!
More reviews=More visibility.
You can write as much or as little as you want and I would be forever in your debt!
NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s and Teal Butterfly Press’ exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
March 2, 2025
The TMI: March 2, 2025
Listen to this exclusive sneak peek! (May contain spoilers.) CJ Locks breathes life into Katie, Frankie, Yuli, Zoya, and the rest of the gang with her captivating performances. Immerse yourself in the small town goodness and escape into the world of Aura Cove. Order the 3 Audiobook Bundle here.
Currently Reading: When Women Were DragonsWhen Women Were Dragons is a refreshing and thought-provoking read, packed with compelling characters who challenge 1950s Stepford wife stereotypes. With a unique blend of fantasy and feminist themes, it explores rage, transformation, and the power of women refusing to be tamed.
Currently Wrapping Up: NevermoreThe final draft is coming together perfectly! This is my favorite part—fine-tuning the details and sprinkling in those little foreshadowing hints. I’m so excited for you to dive into a brand new series in the Aura Cove universe!
Pre-order your copy today.
Crafted from durable stainless steel and wrapped in a sleek, spill-proof lid, it's the perfect partner for ANY beverage. Plus, the bold "Karma is a Witch" design? It's not just a statement—it's a whole vibe!
Currently Writing: The Magic of Midlife HealingThe first two weeks was a roller coaster. In this on going series, I promise to be transparent and reveal the good, the bad, and the ugly. If you are a woman of a certain age and are tired of feeling terrible and sick of health care professionals telling you everything is fine, click here to follow my journey on Substack.
The Weekly Gift Card Winner is: Edie Phillips
(Enter for your chance to win at the bottom of this page.)
P.S. I Need Your Help!
More reviews=More visibility.
You can write as much or as little as you want and I would be forever in your debt!
NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s and Teal Butterfly Press’ exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
