Fire & Storm — Coming August 1st, 2025

A spark, a storm, and the beginning of everything.

I’m thrilled to finally share that my upcoming novella, Fire & Storm, will be released on August 1st, 2025. This is a story that’s been simmering just beneath the surface of Echoes of the neXt for a long time—a story of two extraordinary people brought together not by fate, but by fire, collapse, and impossible choices.

Fire & Storm serves as a powerful prequel to Echoes of the neXt, revealing how Caleb “Fahrenheit 451” Smith and Elle “Ellemental” Jarret-Smith first crossed paths. Set in the early days of the system’s breakdown, it shows the raw and human foundation of a bond that would go on to shape the resistance itself. Fans of Echoes will recognize echoes of what’s to come—but this novella is also fully readable on its own, making it a great entry point into the world of the Technomancers.

Now, let’s talk about the part that surprised even me: the romance.

I’ve never really seen myself as someone who writes romance. My comfort zone tends to be philosophical tension, collapsing cities, digital ghosts, and internal conflict tangled in code. But when I set out to explore Fahrenheit and Elle’s origin, I realized something important: their story only works if I write it honestly. And that meant diving into something I’ve always sidestepped—vulnerability, longing, and emotional risk.

This isn’t a “romance story” in the traditional sense. It’s about two broken people trying to do the right thing when the system offers no right answers. It’s about trust forged in fire and tempered by storm. But yes—at its heart, this is also a love story. And writing that pushed me. It challenged my instincts, forced me to slow down, to listen to the quiet moments, and to let my characters truly see each other.

So whether you're here for the technomancy, the world-building, or the emotional stakes—Fire & Storm brings all three.

Can’t wait for you to read it.—KaCee