October 2026 Author Update
New Books, New Adventures, and a Pack That Won’t Behave
From My Desk
From the desk of Randy M Schilling | October 25, 2026
Hey everyone,
October has been a hell of a month.
Between writing, publishing, keeping the website moving, an October cruise, and trying to explain to fictional men that I can only tell one story at a time, I’m beginning to suspect I misunderstood the word “retirement.”
I thought there would be more sitting around. Technically, there is. I’m just at a keyboard while a growing collection of stubborn men argues inside my head.
And then Pandora and Nemo remind me that none of those men controls the treat supply, so perhaps I should get my priorities straight.
Before we get into the book news, thank you. Every reader who takes a chance on one of my stories helps make this possible. Watching these worlds grow, and realizing that other people care about the characters living in them, still catches me off guard in the best way.
The Line Between Us Is Here!
The Line Between Us released on October 15, and Cole Hartley and Tristan Bennett are finally out in the world.
Cole is an Alpha and captain of the wrestling team. Tristan is an Omega and captain of the swim team. Both are competitive, stubborn, and entirely capable of making my job more complicated than necessary.
They’ve been stepbrothers for about six years. Now they’re college roommates, too.
Because apparently sharing a family wasn’t complicated enough. Let’s add shared living space and feelings neither of them can neatly put away. Excellent decisions all around. 😂
Writing this omegaverse gave me room to explore strength, instinct, vulnerability, and choice in a world without homophobia. Their love doesn’t need that particular obstacle to matter. Trusting another person, being honest with yourself, and deciding what you’re willing to risk can be plenty difficult on their own.
What I love about Cole and Tristan is that neither of them needs to become smaller for the other to be strong. An Omega can be fiercely independent. An Alpha can be vulnerable. And falling in love can ask more courage of both of them than anything happening on the mat or in the pool.
If you haven’t met them yet, you can find The Line Between Us on my Books page. If you’ve already read it, I’d love to hear what stayed with you.
A Personal Request: I Want Your Honest Reviews
I want to give this more than a quick “please leave a review” at the bottom of a newsletter.
I want to become a better writer, and honest feedback is part of how I get there.
I love the stories I’m telling. I also know that loving a story doesn’t mean I’ve gotten every part of telling it right. There’s always more to learn about pacing, dialogue, clarity, character development, and making an emotional moment land the way I hoped it would.
So if you’ve read one of my books, please consider leaving an honest review wherever you read or bought it. A few thoughtful sentences are enough. What worked for you? What didn’t? Did a relationship feel earned? Did something move too quickly, drag on too long, or leave you confused?
I’m not asking you to hand me five stars just because you want to be supportive. You can support me by telling the truth. If you loved something, I’d like to know why. If something needed work, I’d like to understand that, too.
Public reviews help other readers decide whether a book is for them. More detailed feedback can be especially useful to me privately, particularly when it involves spoilers or a specific passage you want to discuss. You’re welcome to send me a private message through my contact page. Tell me which book you read and what you’d like me to know. You don’t have to turn your reading time into an editing assignment, but if you want to share more, I’m listening.
One of my goals as this grows is to be able to hire a professional editor when it becomes financially feasible. I want that experienced set of eyes, those difficult questions, and the chance to learn from someone who can help me strengthen the work. Reader feedback matters enormously, and professional editing is another investment I hope to make in these stories.
In the meantime, I’m going to keep writing, keep learning, and keep trying to make the next book better. Thank you for helping me do that, including when the useful thing to hear isn’t the easiest thing to hear.
The Warborn Pack Isn’t Finished With Me
Apparently, giving these men a home only encouraged them to bring more stories through the door.
The Commander’s Wolf brings Connor and Magnus into the spotlight. Connor’s journey and Magnus’s formidable presence give me plenty to work with, and Magnus’s ancient Viking roots certainly don’t make him any less opinionated. There’s strength here, but also the much harder business of letting someone see what’s underneath it. I’m looking forward to sharing more when the time is right.
Release update: The Commander’s Wolf arrives January 13, 2027.
Preorders are now available on Amazon.
The Alpha’s Foundling takes us into the trouble surrounding neighboring Red Creek. When an injured young wolf named Evan needs shelter, Mac and Melvin’s decision to protect him carries consequences beyond their own front door. For Mac, leadership means more than being the strongest person in the room. Sometimes it means deciding how far you’ll go for someone who has come to you needing a home. I’ll leave the rest for the book. Coming May 12, 2027.
And The Alpha’s Promise, a Mac and Melvin novella, gives us something a little more intimate: a familiar cabin, a promise made years ago, and time with the life these two have built together. There’s tenderness, teasing, and Mac approaching romance with the confidence of a man who believes a properly organized plan should solve everything.
Melvin, naturally, has opinions.
The Commander’s Wolf arrives January 13, 2027, followed by The Alpha’s Foundling on May 12, 2027. There’s more Pack ahead, and I’m very happy to keep spending time with them.
A Little Something Behind the Scenes
There’s also another idea quietly taking shape. I’m keeping the details to myself for now, but I’m excited about it.
Yes, that is the whole teaser. Look at me, practicing restraint.
Life Beyond the Keyboard
October also has a cruise in the mix, which is a useful reminder that there is, in fact, a world beyond my desk.
Whether my imagination understands the concept of taking time off is another matter. I can put the keyboard down. Getting the characters to stop talking is apparently a separate booking.
And through all the writing and travel, Pandora and Nemo remain an excellent reminder to pay attention to the life happening right in front of me. Stories matter. So do the small, ordinary moments with the ones who make a house feel like home.
Even when those moments involve being stared at like I’ve committed a serious offense by taking too long to get up.
Nemo Has Graduated!
Last month, I shared that Nemo was headed off to service dog training. Now I get to share the part I’ve been looking forward to: Nemo has graduated!
I’m so damn proud of him. He’s already doing an amazing job, and watching him put what he’s learned into practice means more to me than I can really explain.
Graduation doesn’t mean the learning stops. He’s continuing to learn, and we’re continuing to grow as a team. There’s more practice ahead, more to discover together, and plenty of reasons to celebrate how far he’s already come.
Thank you again to Dog Training Camp USA in Louisville and USA Cares for helping us reach this point. This is a big milestone for Nemo, and a meaningful new chapter for both of us.
Of course, I suspect he considers the praise very nice but would prefer that all future congratulations come with treats. Fair enough. He’s earned them.
One Last Thing Before I Go…
I’d like to clear up a possible misunderstanding about who runs this household.
It is not the retired Army guy. It is not the author. It is not even whichever fictional Alpha currently thinks he’s in charge.
It’s Pandora and Nemo.
I provide the food, open the doors, and occasionally request permission to use a portion of the furniture. They supervise, judge my response time, and make sure I never become too impressed with myself.
Twenty-seven years in the Army, and I still answer to somebody. These two just accept payment in treats.
Thanks for reading, for caring about these characters, and for being part of this adventure. It means a hell of a lot.
Until next time,
Randy M Schilling
Paranormal worlds. Fierce love. Found family.
