Every novel begins long before the first line appears on the page.
Sometimes it starts with a character whisper. Sometimes with a setting.
And sometimes — if you’re lucky — with a single historical clue that stops you in your tracks.

This summer, that moment happened to me.

A quiet detail in an archive. A footnote in a museum. A thread of Canadian history that tugged just firmly enough to become impossible to ignore.

What began as a simple research day has turned into the early momentum of something much bigger:
I’m writing a new historical mystery series set in Canada.

It’s still early — wonderfully early — the stage where ideas scatter like breadcrumbs and your imagination tries to collect them before they disappear. But I’m sharing this moment with you because it feels like the right place to begin this new chapter in my writing journey: with honesty, curiosity, and the thrill of early discovery.

A Story That’s Been Growing Since Summer

This idea has been nudging at me for months and if I'm being honest, writing a historical mystery novel has been on my wish list for decades.

Back in the summer, when I was about to embark on a visit to Eastern Canada, I had no intention of traveling there with a new project in mind. I was simply planning on looking, wandering, listening — the way writers do when we’re resting between books.

And yet… certain stories have a way of leaning in.

Before we could even begin our trip East, a nugget of a story began to take shape and thus had us altering our travel plans to include a few days of research too.

One question led to another.
A small detail led to a rabbit hole.
A rabbit hole led to a pattern.
And before I knew it, I was opening notebooks I absolutely did not plan to open yet.

By the time we returned home, I knew I had something worth exploring.

A Research Trip That Changed Everything

On my trip back east, I visited museums, libraries, and archives that held collections dating back centuries. I held artifacts, read personal accounts, and stumbled across a few unexpected pieces of history that sent a ripple through my imagination.

These weren’t grand, headline histories.
They were human. Subtle. Intriguing.
Exactly the kind of beginnings that shape a mystery.

I can’t reveal the nature of the central story just yet — that unveiling comes later in January — but I can say this:
The series will blend real Canadian history, untold stories, and the quiet resilience that so often lies beneath the surface of women’s lives in the past.

If you’ve read my novels, you know I’m always drawn to the emotional heartbeat at the center of a character. This series is no exception. The mystery elements are emerging, but so are the themes of identity, loss, connection, and hidden strength.

The Ritual That Tells Me a Story Is About to Begin

One of my long-standing writing rituals is clearing off my research bookcase.
I file away the things that belong to stories already told, and I make room — physical and mental — for what’s coming next.

Last month, I had the burning desire to clear the clutter.
And I felt that familiar flutter:
It’s time.

The story isn’t fully formed.
I don’t know all the twists or where the clues will lead.
But that’s part of the magic.
And this time, I’m going to document more of the journey — the highs, the stalls, the breakthroughs.

You’ll be invited into the messy, beautiful middle.

What Comes Next

In January, I’ll begin sharing the first real building blocks — the character seeds, the historical inspiration, the early research shaping the plot.

For now, consider this the moment the match is struck: the spark of a new story, just beginning to glow.

And if you’d like to see some of the early research clips and hints, you can watch the full Author Notes episode below:

Want to Follow the Story as It Unfolds?

The best way is to subscribe to my newsletter (below) or my YouTube channel so you don’t miss each new step of this behind-the-scenes journey.

FAQ's

What inspired this new historical mystery series?

The inspiration came from a story and a character poking at me from my imagination and then was fueled with an initial archival research day and unexpected historical clues discovered during my recent travels in Eastern Canada.

Will the story be based on true Canadian history?

Yes. The series will blend real historical events, lesser-known accounts, and fictional elements to create an emotionally rich mystery.

How much will Tanya share about the writing process?

Starting in January, I’ll document the journey from idea to finished novel through my Author Notes videos and blog series Stories in the Making.

Is this series connected to the Hotel Hamilton novels?

No — this is a brand-new world. But it will carry familiar themes: resilience, women’s lives, emotional depth, and immersive historical settings.

When will the first book in the series be released?

It’s too early to say, but updates will be shared regularly as the story develops.

Xo,

Tanya

Avid Reader I Tea Drinker I Daydreamer