When I first introduced Missy Kinkaid in Finding Scarlet, I had no idea she’d resonate with readers the way she did. She was spunky—bold, opinionated, and fiercely loyal. A firebrand, really. The kind of woman who walks into a room and somehow makes everyone feel her presence before she even says a word. Readers loved her energy, and I did too. But even as she lit up the pages, I knew there was more to her than quick wit and bravado. I wanted to know what made her tick. 

That curiosity became the seed for The Unabridged Life of Missy Kinkaid. Because here’s the truth I’ve come to believe, not just as a writer but as a woman: beneath every strong presence is a story—a collection of experiences, heartbreaks, and triumphs that have shaped who we are. Missy was no exception. For all her humor and confidence, there were layers she kept hidden. I wanted to peel those back and see what was underneath. 

This book is my attempt to do that. It’s her turn to stand in the light—not just as a member of Scarlet’s Harlots, but as a fully realized woman navigating the complexities of family, friendship, love, loss, and loyalty. Missy’s life on Sullivan’s Island is far from perfect, but that’s what makes it real. She’s at a crossroads, the kind many of us find ourselves facing at some point—when the roles we’ve played no longer fit and the people we love don’t always show up the way we hope. 

I wanted to explore what happens when a woman starts to reclaim her story piece by piece. When she begins to examine her life, she learns to embrace all the messy, beautiful parts of who she’s become. Writing The Unabridged Life of Missy Kinkaid reminded me that resilience often looks quieter than we expect. It’s not always loud or defiant. Sometimes it’s just the act of showing up again—of choosing to believe in yourself after life has knocked you down a few times. 

Missy isn’t perfect. She’s flawed and funny and sometimes her own worst enemy. But she’s real. She’s the woman you meet at book club or bump into at the grocery store—the one who looks like she has it all together but carries more than she lets on. 

I think that’s why her story matters. Because in the end, we all have an “unabridged” version of ourselves—the parts we edit for the world and the truths we hold close until we’re ready to tell them. For Missy, this is that moment. 

And for me, as her creator, it’s been an emotional juggernaut to give her the voice she deserves. The Unabridged Life of Missy Kinkaid is a standalone novel available everywhere on October 14, 2025. You can meet her in Finding Scarlet, which is available now on Amazon.