Tracy Cooper-Posey – Stories Rule Press

Trad vs Indie in 2026, Part II

17 January 2026 / Tracy Cooper-Posey

If Part I was the brutal, unsentimental comparison of trad vs indie — advantages, disadvantages, and the cold math of each — then Part II shifts gears completely. Part II dives into what modern indie publishing actually looks like in 2026, because most writers still imagine the 2013 version: KU gold rushes, cheap ads, write-to-market hamster wheels, and algorithmic rituals. That world is gone. Today’s indie career is a full business model built on direct sales, diversified income, long-tail backlist revenue, platform resilience, and storytelling that can’t be replicated by AI. If you don’t understand this version of indie, you can’t choose your publishing path intelligently — and Part II lays it out without sentimentality, delusion, or nostalgia.

Julie d’Aubigny: The Bisexual Sword-Fighting Opera Singer History Couldn’t Handle

12 January 2026 / Tracy Cooper-Posey

History didn’t know what to do with Julie d’Aubigny—opera singer, duelist, seductress, and unapologetic force of nature. She burned through 17th-century France with a sword in one hand and a scandal in the other, refusing to be anyone but herself. This is the story of a woman who lived louder than history was ready for.

Retconning Is Not a Free Pass: Why Indie Authors Can’t Afford to Rewrite the Past

10 January 2026 / Tracy Cooper-Posey

Hollywood franchises might be able to reset their storylines and expect fans to go along with it—but indie authors don’t get that luxury. Readers trust books to remember what came before. When we break that trust, we lose more than just continuity—we lose our audience. Here’s why honoring your story’s past isn’t a limitation—it’s your greatest creative tool.

Why I Will Never Give Up My Historical Romances

5 January 2026 / Historical, Historical Romance, Historical Suspense, Tracy Cooper-Posey

Why do I cling to historical romance? Maybe it’s the dresses—those gowns that could stop a man dead in his tracks. Maybe it’s the slow-burn tension of a hand brushing a sleeve. Or the sweeping backdrop of revolutions, arranged marriages, and the occasional ghost haunting the manor. Modern love stories don’t usually come with corsets, political chess games, or stolen glances across candlelit ballrooms. Historical romance gives us all that, and then some. Here’s why I’m not giving it up anytime soon.

The Dirty Little High You Get from Skipping Writing (and How to Beat It)

3 January 2026 / Tracy Cooper-Posey

Ever feel that tiny hit of relief when you decide to skip writing for the day? That little dopamine buzz isn’t your friend—it’s a trap. In this post, we unpack why your brain rewards you for avoiding your work, how that conditioning sabotages your writing habit, and how simple rituals can save the day (and your word count).

Emily Warren Roebling: The Woman Who Built a Bridge (Literally)

15 December 2025 / Tracy Cooper-Posey

Emily Warren Roebling wasn’t supposed to build the Brooklyn Bridge—but when fate sidelined her husband, she took over with zero formal training and all the grit in the world. This is the story of the woman who led one of history’s greatest engineering feats…and did it in skirts.

Trad vs Indie in 2026

13 December 2025 / Tracy Cooper-Posey

Traditional publishing and indie publishing aren’t just two different business models — they’re two different belief systems. Trad authors think they’re building a career as an artist. Indie authors know they’re running a business. In 2026, that mindset divide matters more than ever. With AI flooding the marketplace, platforms deep in enshittification, bookstores shrinking, and rights tied up tighter than a banker’s fist, the only way to make good choices is to understand exactly how each system really works — not how you wish it worked. This is the brutal, unsentimental guide to both paths.

Ningaloo: Deadly, Beautiful, and Still Real

8 December 2025 / Contemporary Romance, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Tracy Cooper-Posey

In Ningaloo Nights, the stunning Australian outback isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a character all on its own: beautiful, remote, and deadly if you don’t know what you’re doing. When beta readers questioned whether I’d exaggerated the dangers, I had to assure them—every survival detail in the book is true. Growing up around Ningaloo taught me that nature doesn’t pull punches. But oh, the beauty is worth every ounce of caution.

The Big Kickoff

8 December 2025 / Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Historical, Historical Fantasy, Historical Romance, Romance, Tracy Cooper-Posey

After thirteen books, too many late nights, and a kingdom’s worth of research, the Once and Future Hearts series is finally drawing to a close — and we’re going out with a bang. For the first time ever, we’re releasing a 13-book hardcover collector’s set, exclusive to Kickstarter. If you’ve loved this saga — or are just discovering it — this is your chance to own the entire series in a beautiful, keepsake edition… and get the final book, Camlann, six months ahead of the public release.

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Working Harder Starts with Time Off: Why Downtime Isn’t a Luxury (It’s a Strategy)

6 December 2025 / Tracy Cooper-Posey

We all know downtime matters — but most of us don’t actually build it into our week. After a weekend of enforced “no work, just play,” I relearned the surprising truth: downtime isn’t a luxury, it’s a creative strategy. Even ten-minute breaks can reboot your energy and make you want to work harder. Here’s why you need micro-downtime — and how to make it part of your indie life without guilt.