January is always a time for New Year’s Resolutions.
Is one of your resolutions to become an author and write and publish your first book? Then you can feature on a list like this later in the year.
We’re sure many of the 45+ debut authors releasing new books this month made that resolution last year, and we’re excited and happy to celebrate with them and promote their books.
Featuring:
Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash
Releasing on January 13th, Lost Lambs is receiving a lot of praise for its humour, warmth and style, with Leslie Jamison stating that she can’t remember the last time a novel made her laugh so hard, or feel such a tenderness for the characters.
The Flynn family is fraying as Catherine and Bud’s open marriage hits a breaking point and their three daughters drift into increasingly risky situations, from a troubling older boyfriend to a secret online correspondence that could have serious consequences.
In their small coastal town, billionaire shipping magnate Paul Alabaster casts a long shadow, and Harper’s fixation on a mysterious shipping container pulls the family into a criminal conspiracy that threatens to upend everything they think they know.
A Field Guide to Murder by Michelle L. Cullen
Releasing on January 27th, this is the first novel by anthropologist Michelle L. Cullen, a fan of mysteries and thrillers who is now writing her own. Recommended for fans of Richard Osman and Benjamin Stevenson.
It’s all about writing what you know, and widower and former anthropologist Harry Lancaster is stuck at home with a fractured hip, passing the time watching his condominium neighbors through binoculars. At the same time, his caregiver, Emma, tries to pull him back into the world.
When a neighbour calls for help and turns up dead soon after a break-in, Harry and Emma start asking questions around the building, uncovering plenty of motives and putting themselves in the killer’s path.
The Poet Empress by Shen Tao
January 20th will see the release of The Poet Empress, a fantasy perfect for fans of The Song of Achilles and She Who became the Sun. It’s written by Canadian novelist Shen Tao, who is currently based in Seattle, WA.
As the Azalea Dynasty collapses under famine and a dying emperor, Wei Yin offers herself as a concubine to the heir of the brutal Azalea House to keep her starving family alive.
Trapped in a palace on the verge of civil war, she must learn to survive beside a violent prince by turning herself into something dangerous, including secretly becoming a poet in a world where women are forbidden to read and where verse can shape powerful magic.
How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder by Nina McConigley
Author of the award-winning short story collection Cowboys and East Indians, Nina McConigley releases her debut novel on January 20th, 2026.
In rural Wyoming in the summer of 1986, the Creel sisters take in relatives newly arrived from India, and life in the household shifts in ways that leave them convinced their uncle needs to die.
Told through Georgie’s sharp, teen-inflected narration, the story traces family tensions, her bond with her sister Agatha Krishna, and how history, identity, and buried harm shape what the sisters are willing to do.
Room 706 by Ellie Levenson
There’;s a lot of excitement over this novel by Ellie Levenson, which Sara Jessica Parker of SJP Lit adored, as it made its way onto Bustle’s ‘Most Anticipated Books of Winter’ list.
Kate has built her life around her husband and children, but she’s been secretly seeing another man in stolen hours at a hotel.
After one midday meeting, the hotel is suddenly overtaken by a dangerous group, leaving Kate trapped with her lover and forced to confront what her choices mean if she doesn’t make it out.
Stolen Moments by A.B. Jackson
Stolen Moments is the first book in the A Stolen Romance series by Gay Romance author A.B. Jackson. The follow-up, Stolen Hearts, releases later this year, and if you want to check this author out before buying, A.B. has a prequel novella titled Stolen Nights.
In Stolen Moments, which is my favourite cover of the month, pop superstar Alexander Morgan looks untouchable to the world, but he’s struggling under the weight of secrets and the pressure of constant attention.
When Christopher Foster returns to London for his sister’s wedding and crosses paths with Alexander, their connection becomes intense and private, one that could fall apart the moment the truth becomes public.
A Vow in Vengeance by Jaclyn Rodriguez
With a cover like that, you know you are in for some romantasy! A Vow in Vengeance is the first novel in the Immortal Desires series and is out on January 13th, 2026.
Rune Ryker rigs her way into the annual human selection to enter the Immortal Realms, determined to find what’s left of her family and take revenge on the Immortals who stole everything from her.
At the Forge, a ruthless school for Immortal druids who wield tarot-based magic, her rare power ties her to Prince Draven, forcing an uneasy alliance as enemies close in and a wider conflict threatens to erupt.
Here are all the new books from debut authors this month:
Debut Authors for January 1st, 2026 to January 31st, 2026
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Graeme is the founder of Book Notification. Born in Scotland and now living in Canada, his lifelong love of reading began with Enid Blyton. He enjoys spy thrillers, psychological thrillers, light sci-fi, and anything to do with time travel. His favorite book is Replay by Ken Grimwood.