The Author Next Door

By James Michael

He writes love stories for a living. Living one is a lot harder.

Owen Mercer has everything he once dreamed of. He's a bestselling independent romance author, his readers adore him, and he spends his days creating happily-ever-afters for a living.

The only problem?

His own life doesn't have one.

After an eight-year relationship falls apart, Owen throws himself into his work and heads to New York City for the biggest BookCon of his career, determined to focus on readers, sign books, and avoid complicated emotions.

Then he meets Emma Parker.

Emma is smart, ambitious, funny, and working toward her dream of becoming an editor. What begins as a chance meeting quickly turns into late-night conversations, shared dreams, and a connection neither of them expected.

But real life isn't as simple as the stories Owen writes.

As publishing opportunities, career-changing decisions, long-distance challenges, and old fears threaten to pull them apart, Owen must confront a question he has spent years avoiding:

Is it possible to build a life with someone instead of building one alone?

Set against the backdrop of New York City, the publishing industry, and a community of passionate readers and writers, The Author Next Door is a heartfelt contemporary romance about finding your person, chasing your dreams, and discovering that the greatest love stories aren't written on a page-they're lived.

Perfect for readers who enjoy:

Slow-burn romanceBookish love storiesWitty banter and emotional depthFound family and supportive friendshipsContemporary romance with real-world stakesStories about writers, readers, and the power of books

Sometimes the story you've been searching for is waiting right next door.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1972066331
• ISBN13: 9781972066331
• Release Date: July 2026
• Publisher: James Michael Writes
• Length: 446 Pages
• Weight: 1.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.5" x 8.5"