Dusting Off the Cobwebs: An Update from The Wright Side of Dark

Greetings from my she-shed

It’s been a while since I’ve written here, and if you’ve followed me for any length of time, you probably know why: I’ve been lost somewhere deep in the woods of a story again. I think I just realized, woods are a common theme in my stories.

Stories have a way of doing that to me. They start small—a hint of a character, a flicker of a scene, a strange what-if that won’t leave me alone—and before long, they’re pulling me into a story that I have to write.

Lately, I’ve been hard at work on a new psychological thriller that’s every bit as twisty and unsettling as the ones you’ve read before. The characters are keeping secrets (of course), the timelines are weaving in and out of each other, and a few plot turns have genuinely surprised even me. That’s always my favorite part—when the story starts writing back.

Behind the scenes, my she-shed is a tangle of sticky notes, half-filled notebooks, scribbled timelines, and research articles that make my search history look mildly concerning (but perfectly normal for a thriller author). There are days when the words flow like they’ve been waiting for me. And then there are days when I stare at a single sentence for hours, convinced it holds some hidden flaw I can’t quite name. But I’ve learned to trust the process—even when it feels messy. Especially when it feels messy.

At the same time, I’ve been nurturing the seeds of a sequel to Where Secrets Stay, diving back into that world of long-buried family mysteries and haunting southern woods. Returning to familiar characters is like visiting old friends—but old friends who have new confessions they’re finally ready to share. Or, people from the past who make themselves known in the present.

On a more personal note, I’ve been reflecting lately on how writing mirrors life in ways I didn’t fully appreciate when I first started. The themes I keep circling—memory, identity, the hidden cost of putting my dreams off for too long—feel even more relevant as I navigate my own evolving path as both a teacher and an author. There’s a kind of strange comfort in knowing that even in fiction, the messiness of being human remains universal.

So, as I sit here—drinking way too much coffee, plots unfolding, characters whispering their secrets—I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for reading. For waiting. For being patient while I follow these dark threads to wherever they lead. They always lead somewhere. Eventually.

Until then, stay curious. Stay a little haunted. And be sure to watch your emails if you subscribe to my newsletter--I'll be sending sneak peeks soon into the sequel of Where Secrets Stay.

See you soon, CherAnn