Hey everyone! I hope you all loved last season and I can’t wait to share the next season with you all. I have so many exciting things to share with you today!
I never announce a release date until I have completed writing it and I am currently just a little more than halfway through writing Season 23. I normally try to keep a pattern of being one season ahead in my writing but these past couple of months have been the biggest juggling act of my entire life.
I always pride myself on being straight forward with everyone so you know the cause for any delays. My kids were on Summer vacation here in New Zealand from mid-December to the first day of February, and my husband opened a fish butchery shop at the exact same time…so my time has been pretty consumed! I’ve also been recording my debut album and heading to the studio one day a week to work on it!
I have 5 singles currently out and I’m so proud of them all. I’ve currently recorded 9 of the 12 songs for my album…so I’m almost there, which is a very bittersweet feeling. I’ve written all of the songs myself and this album means a whole lot to me. The style is pop, although I love venturing into other combinations with it whether it’s throwing in some rock, jazz, blues, etc.
What is My Album About?
My album, âNot Something Adults Should Sayâ, is really about recognizing and admitting to all of the challenges life throws at us, while reestablishing my confidence as a mom, wife, entrepreneur, and most importantly, a woman. We spend our 20s trying to be the âimageâ of what we think being an adult is. Trying to pretend we have the answers when we really have none.
Then we discover by our mid-30s that maybe itâs okay to not have all the answers. That that is what being an adult really is. Everything is always changing and weâre constantly learning and discovering new parts of ourselves, or reclaiming parts we once set aside because we had an image in our heads of who we were supposed to be.
The songs on the album each convey different moods and emotions Iâve felt over the years. I have songs about parenthood, marriage, sex, childhood trauma, insecurities, recapturing dreams, and so much more. No matter what though, I always end my songs with an optimistic take because I believe music should give us the ability to let out our truest emotions but end in a place of empowerment and hope for whatâs to come.
You can stream any of my current singles on your favorite streaming service (just search Justine Thomas!) whether it’s Apple Music, Spotify, Youtube Music, or something else entirely. For the links, lyrics, and stories behind the songs, you can read them all here. I’m also on Instagram sharing clips of my songs!
I’ve also just released a video on Youtube for my latest song, “The Family Archive”.
I’m dropping my title track “Not Something Adults Should Say” below for you all to listen to! This one is very tongue-in-cheek and about all of the people who think they know what they’re doing and are constantly giving unsolicited advice. Basically, it’s for parents everywhere…
A little drop of my favorite lyrics from the song before you listen (full lyrics are here):
Got advice from Mary Sue
Sheâs got one kid, tips for me and you
Got advice from Jenny Jack
Married this year, she knows all the hacks
Please
The real secret is
Weâre all just winging it
I’ve Been Writing a Novel Too!
I know you all love my story â and how it all began was what really got us all hooked (even me when playing the game!). Hannah and Travis’ love story is an absolute favorite of mine.
So what if I told you I’m currently working on a novel about Hannah and Travis’ love story but set in the “real” world instead of The Sims? I’ve been working on it back and forth for the past year, when I have the chance. I’m currently 40,000 words and 17 chapters into it! I don’t know when it will be finished but any time I’m not with the kids, or recording my songs, or writing Sim Life Chronicles, I’m working on this novel.
Today, I’m taking a moment to just share the prologue with you! I hope you enjoy it!
PROLOGUE FROM UNTITLED HANNAH MCCOY NOVEL
The sun shifted behind the trees as the moody clouds of Cape Village rolled in. Drops of rain drizzled down the window pains of a small New England style cottage with blue shingles dangling along its exterior walls. What the old house lacked in glamour, it more than made up for in charm. One bronze rimmed lantern hung next to the door as a long vine of ivy dangled across the archway and swept around the bright white shutters, perfectly framing each window. Along the walkway, marigolds lined the path of stepping stones leading up to the front door.
A petite woman walked up to the front door as her white ballerina flats tried to avoid the puddles emerging between the stones. She twisted her key inside the doorâs cast iron lock. As she stepped inside the empty entryway, she unwrapped her double breasted violet trench coat and folded it over her arm. Trotting in behind her, a sandy colored Maltese appeared, nuzzling the womanâs leg before following her into the kitchen.
Hannah gently laid her jacket and purse down on the counter before setting her keys beside it. âHome sweet home, Buttercup,â she smiled as she looked down at her. Buttercup was happily prancing around the room with her tail wagging high in the air. Her bright yellow bow remained firmly between her ears and her little pink skirt kept flapping about.
Hannahâs honey locks bobbed above her shoulders as she looked around her small and empty new home. This place will be good. A fresh start. A new life. She settled down on the window sill as she scrolled her phone for job postings.
Sometimes she felt like the only person on the planet who had no idea what she wanted to do with her life. How do people just wake up and know? From the moment she was born, she knew she loved art but that dream was quickly dashed by the age of ten. By then, her dream had changed into a never ending desire to just do something worthy of her parentâs attention and affection. While her mother Poppy was busy being a high powered attorney, her father, Charles, spent his days behind a locked office door doing who knows what.
Hannah spent her primary school years dreaming that someday sheâd get their seal of approval.
One spring day, after receiving a report card from her art teacher boasting about how talented and helpful she was, Hannah ran home. She reached into her bag and pulled out the sparkly heart shaped magnet she had made in art class. She beamed with pride while looking at the pink and gold gems glistening on it, each perfectly placed. Placing the report card on the refrigerator under her new magnet, she hollered across the house.
âMom! Youâre going to be so excited! Come and see this!â She didnât know what she was prouder of: all of the kind words her teacher had said or her favorite new art project.
With a tight bun behind her head, Poppy strutted into the kitchen. Her phone remained firmly pressed against her ear as she clutched her pearl earring in her hand. Her black high heels tapped against the tiles as she came to a stop next to Hannah. âNo. My current case load is astronomical. I donât have time for such trivial matters,â she rolled her eyes as Hannah eagerly stood in front of her.
âMom?â she gleefully said pointing at the refrigerator door.
Poppyâs eyes narrowed as she stared at it. âWill you hold on one moment?â she said to the person on the other line.
Hannah grinned as her mom was taking notice of her work and grades. Her cheeks beamed with pride. âDo you see what I did?â
Reaching her finger tips under the corner of the report card, with her earring still sitting in her palm, Poppy turned to Hannah. âHannah, you know the rules. We donât put clutter on the refrigerator door,â she said roughly pulling it down as the magnet slid and dropped to the floor.
The pink and gold gems that she had spent all of art class meticulously placing, laid scattered beside it.
âPlease clean that up,â Poppy said before returning to her phone call. âSorry about that. Kids, right? Now where was I?â She walked off down the hall as her voice faded with talk of lawsuits and other legal stuff Hannah didnât understand.
Hannah kneeled down on the floor as she picked up her cracked heart shaped magnet. The corners of her mouth trembled while she tried to hold back the pools of water forming behind her eyes. Donât cry. That will just make it worse, she thought. With the pieces in her hand, she stood back up and placed it gently into the pocket of her backpack. Maybe next time⌠next time theyâll notice.
But they never did. Art was far from a priority in the McCoy household. As Hannah grew older, her parents continued to trivialize her interests. âBeing an artist isnât a career, Hannah. Itâs a hobby, and not a good one,â Poppy would scoff. Even for the holidays when Hannah would hope for a fabulous art pencil set sheâd be going on and on about, her parents would surprise her with an encyclopedia or rubikâs cube instead.
Drawing in art class felt like her one and only escape throughout her child. Now, as a 23 year old college graduate with a boring degree in a subject she barely understood just to make her parents happy, she was old enough to live on her own and make her own dreams come true. No longer would she be doing whatever her parents decided for her.
Hannah set down her phone as her eyes drifted towards the window. Across from her new home was Maple Grove Park with a row of art easels set up, each of their posts nailed to the ground. It felt refreshing to be living in such an artsy neighborhood.
Picking her phone back up, she scrolled the job postings again and quickly applied for some random retail job. At least it will pay the bills while I work on my art, she shrugged.
Buttercup jumped up into her lap and lifted his paws onto her chest. As she licked Hannahâs face, Hannah smiled. âWhy canât all love be as unconditional as yours, Buttercup?â she said rubbing her fingers against Buttercupâs furry cheeks.
Outside the window, a figure jogging by caught her eye. As the man came to a sudden stop, he lifted his water bottle and took a sip. After closing it, he looked up at the rain and shook his head zealously with a smile, letting the rain drops vigorously fly away from his head. Hannahâs eyes drifted towards his chest as the pearls of water cascaded down his well defined abs, until they soaked into the rim of his athletic shorts.
As Hannah continued to gaze out the window, the man looked up and caught her glance. Flustered, Hannah quickly diverted her eyes away, trying to seem less obvious. Impossibly curious though, she couldnât help but glance back. Looking directly at her, he gave her a quick nod before turning and continuing his jog.
âAnd the realtor said this house didnât have much of a view,â she shook her head at Buttercup as she watched him disappear into the park, fading amongst the maple trees. âMaybe heâll be my new muse,â she teased. She rolled her eyes at herself because, who was she kidding? She didnât know the first thing about dating.
Since high school and throughout college, she had been on plenty of dates, but none with anyone she was actually interested in. Not only did her parents have high hopes for her high powered future, they were also constantly trying to solidify her place in high society, setting her up with only the stuffiest and most pompous boys. Sheâd love to call some of them men but honestly, most of them were just driving fancy McLarenâs, working a CEO job they didnât understand that was given to them by their parents, and all after spending four years of their lives throwing footballs and living in some exclusive fraternity house. As much as Hannah longed to find the love of her life, she knew she wouldnât settle for some loveless marriage.
Unfortunately, her lack of experience also meant she had no idea how a relationship or dating actually worked. Thus far, the two relationships she had experience in college that werenât on her parents approved dating list were with incredibly attractive men who were also completely uninterested in her and her passion for art. Despite all of this, she remained a hopeless romantic at heart. She knew somewhere out there was the right person for her. Someone who she could connect with. Someone who would appreciate her passions and be the first in line at her art exhibition. Whenever that would be. She had to actual get the chance to make her art, after all. But she knew sheâd one day find the person who would turn to her at the end of the day, hold her hand, and say, âIâm so proud of you.â
Hannah stood up and picked up her black leather purse from the counter. As she rustled through it, she pulled out the cracked heart shaped magnet she had held onto since she was a kid and walked across her empty kitchen. As she put it on her refrigerator door, she gently brushed her finger tips against the gems she had re-glued. This was her place and finally her chance at creating her own happiness and finding someone to share it all with. Someone who would love her unconditionally.
Outside, Hannah heard the sound of an engine come to a stop as her furniture had arrived.
More Season 23 Details & Cindy Sour
Season 23 will pick up right where Season 22 left off. For those who aren’t subscribers, Season 22 will be available for everyone on March 9th! If you do want to subscribe and help support the series, the entire season is now available for all members. Along with following the direct aftermath of Don’s actions towards Caiden and Jamie, there will be a whole lot of Casey once again as he deals with the shambles otherwise known as his entire life. There will also be some stories about Cheesy as he will (TINY SPOILER) become a teenager in the next season!
I’m so honored that all of you are still reading my story after all of these years and can’t believe that we’re going to be heading into Season 23. It’s truly something I never imagined in my wildest dreams!
Season 23 will actually catch me up to nearly the last time I was able to play the game, which was December 2025. I’ve barely had the chance to play with the newer packs and I am so excited to not only get to explore them, but to finally get back into playing the Scott family.
I also have some plans for Cindy Sour because there’s nobody in this world who deserves to start a family dynasty more than her, right?! And we all know she’s great at picking favorites…I mean rightful heirs to her Resting Llama Face Throne…so this is going to be an absolute nightmare…and I can’t wait.
Final Thoughts
Again, thank you all so much for being a part of this journey to write and share my story. I love it and can’t wait to see where the story continues to go from here. Please keep sharing your thoughts with me â it helps me know that you’re all still reading and enjoying it just the same â and gives me a major dopamine boost to keep on writing it!
From,
Justine
