I am so happy to announce that I have signed a two-book deal with the very innovative publishing company Bookouture–an imprint of Hachette!
This was an unexpected but very welcome opportunity for me and I love how quickly things are moving. I’m at a point in my career where it feels like time to become a hybrid author (both self and traditionally-published), but when I was thinking about this at the end of 2025 and the very beginning of January 2026, it seemed to me that there would be a lot of steps I’d have to take in order to get there. Much to my surprise, in the middle of January, I woke up to a wonderful email from Jennifer Hunt, an associate publisher at Bookouture. She shared her idea for a spicy Christmas romantic comedy novel with me, I loved the idea, wrote two chapters in about a week, and very soon after that we had a contract. I had no idea things happened this way in book publishing!
When I was a screenwriter in Hollywood (under a different name), film producers would often pitch me their ideas for screenplays and then I’d go off and write them, so this process felt familiar to me. I just didn’t know it could happen in book world as well!
It is so wonderful to be able to work with Jennifer and to benefit from her expertise in editing, publishing, and marketing, and to have an entire team supporting these books. I get to focus on my favorite thing about being an author–writing! But I also get to continue being a self-published author for other projects. It makes scheduling a little more complicated, but it’s worth it!
I am so happy to be writing more Christmas books and if you know of Holiday Romance or Snowed In by Catherine Walsh, you know that Bookouture has an amazing track record of publishing and marketing Christmas romance. Bookouture has had tremendous success with thrillers (Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid’s series!) and I am excited to be a part of their new venture into spicier romance! The first of the two Christmas books I will be writing for them will be out very early in the holiday season for 2026! Prior to that, I have a hockey romcom project planned for release and will announce that later.
Here is a link to the Bookouture website announcement: https://bookouture.com/bookouture-lands-romance-author-kayley-loring/
Here is the text from the announcement:
Bookouture lands romance author Kayley Loring
Bookouture is delighted to announce the acquisition of two spicy romance books by bestselling self-published author Kayley Loring.
24 February 2026
Associate Publisher Jennifer Hunt acquired World All Language rights in eBook, paperback and audio, plus film and TV rights for two spicy contemporary romances direct from Kayley Loring.
Kayley is a bestselling self-published author, with a significant audio fanbase, whose highest rated titles include Troublemaker and A Very Bossy Christmas. The first forced proximity, enemies to lovers romance will launch for the 2026 festive season, with the second to follow in 2027.
Jennifer said,
‘I snorted with laughter four times in the first two chapters of Kayley’s new book, and I absolutely cannot wait to publish it. She’s incredible at nailing the emotional notes required for a truly unforgettable romance, alongside creating the most likeable, witty, funny heroines, and swoon-worthy male leads. Readers, get your Kindles ready – you’re about to obsess over Merrily Tucker, Grant Moody and the chemistry fuelling their fights this Christmas.’
Kayley said,
‘Anyone who knows me is aware that three things I adore are: writing banter, delicious accents, and listening to Christmas songs many months ahead of December. I have also very recently developed a secret desire to become a hybrid author, so being able to work on spicy Christmas romcoms during the first quarter of the year with a publishing team of lovely Brits is a new dream come true! I’m so happy for the opportunity to work with Jennifer, to make her snort-laugh some more, and to benefit from her expertise as well as that of the entire team.’
