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Brandi Easterling Collins, independent author

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  • Novel cover for Four Hearts by Brandi Easterling Collins
    Novels (my writing updates)

    Four Hearts: Coming soon

    November 19, 2025 /

    After many years in the making (technically), Four Hearts is finally out for preorder on Amazon. The publication date through Luminesce Publishing is December 16, 2025. My sixth novel I’m so excited to share Four Hearts with everyone. I love these characters, Noelle, Austin, and Ashton (as well as all the supporting ones). Here’s the blurb: With Y2K one month away, everyone’s on edge… High school guidance counselor Ashton Spriggs wants nothing more than to support her students. From the overachiever, Noelle, who’s hiding a problem at home, to Austin, the smart, yet failing, boy with a shiner, Ashton is torn between being their friend and the adult they need.…

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    Update During Chaos

    March 28, 2020
    Illustration of a professionally dressed young woman wearing glasses.

    Summer 2025 Writing Update and Sixth Novel First Chapter Teaser

    June 19, 2025

    As I Ponder and Query: Inspiration, Jordan’s Sister Update

    September 10, 2017
  • General Thoughts,  Pop Culture

    2024 in Book Reviews

    December 31, 2024 /

    I read 75 books in 2024 and wrote half of my sixth novel, which is tentatively titled Four Hearts. While I originally planned to set a goal of 100 books, I changed my goal to 75 books early in the year due to unforeseen circumstances. Here are my top reads for the year. Top 10 best reads for 2024 (traditionally published) These are in order, starting with my favorite read of the year. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr This Used to Be Us by Renée Carlino This Impossible Brightness by Jessica Bryant Klagmann Spirit Crossing (Cork O’Connor, #20) by William Kent Krueger Camino Ghosts (Camino Island,…

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    Daydreaming: The lottery

    October 21, 2018
    Cast photo of "My So-Called Life"

    My So-Called Life: What the show meant to me then and now

    October 17, 2023

    Nine months in: Writing Updates and Jordan’s Sister info

    April 29, 2017
  • Woman typing on laptop
    Essays,  General Thoughts

    Self-editing a Story: What it Takes

    January 16, 2021 /

      Independent publishing takes perseverance, time, guts, and high self-esteem. It also takes money if you need to hire people for services such as book file setup, cover creation, and editing. I’m fortunate that I work as a professional editor in my day job and that I have graphic design experience. Because of these skills, I am better equipped than some indie authors when it comes to setting up my own book files and creating my own covers. Editing is a HUGE step in publishing a novel. Reader reviews can be brutal, and nothing spells amateur quite like publishing a book full of grammatical errors and typos. Of course, no…

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    Snoopy thinking he has a pretty good life.

    A Lesson in Gratitude

    February 25, 2024
    Woman apologizing

    Apologies and hurt feelings

    September 16, 2021
    Insurance policy on a clipboard shielded by an umbrella

    And They Didn’t Even Buy Us Dinner First: Property Insurance Woes

    March 24, 2024
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Anxiety Artwork Assignment Book Review Books Broken Heart Caroline's Lighthouse Childhood Children Christmas Covid-19 Dad Dark and Twisty Death Depression Dream Family Fear God Got an "A" Healing Heartache High School Hurt Indie Authors Indie Publishing Inspiration Jordan's Sister kids Loss Love Mom Music New Novel Novels Pain Reading Sadness Sex Stars Suicide Truth Writing writing update

Recent Posts

  • 2025 in Book Reviews
  • Embracing the Holidays
  • Four Hearts: Coming soon
  • My Favorite Holiday Movies and TV Specials (Even the Guilty Pleasures)
  • A Family Road Trip: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

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