Book news, book deals and a new newsletter serial

Feb 26, 2021 9:13 pm

Hello from Wales

Yay! It's Friday. I hope you've had a great week and are looking forward to the weekend! You're getting this email because you've signed up to my newsletter either via my sign-up page of by downloading one of my books.

A Quick Apology

You might have noticed that I have changed my mailing list provider and because of this I owe you a MASSIVE apology. I have just discovered that when I moved everything earlier this month, an automatic welcome email was sent out. I am very sorry for any confusion this caused.

A Word to the Witch is on schedule for release at the end of March. This is the second book in the Eira Snow Cozy Mystery series. Eira's taking a much needed break with her friends whilst one of the in entered into a baking competition. When the head judge, a celebrity chef is murdered, she must use her wits and a little bit of magic to solve the case.

Fun Fact: Eira means snow in Welsh

I thought it would be fun to start a newsletter serial. With every newsletter I send, I will include a link to my website where you can read the chapters as I write them. These will be unedited, so please forgive my mistakes and as with all my work, it will be written in British English.

You might not know this, but I am a huge fan of epic fantasy stories. These are the books I most like to read, but I've never been brave enough to try and write one, until now...

The Fire Within follows Seren, first amongst The Chosen and fated to sacrifice her life to seal the rift between worlds and stop the creatures of the void from destroying both her land and that of the Dreigiau Dragons. There will be plenty of obstacle for her to overcome to seal the rift, but she won't face them alone.

Chapter 1

Light burst from the drac-stone in the centre of the domed chamber. Though dozens of torches lined the walls, Seren had never needed their light to brighten the space. Even when she was a young child and her powers were yet to develop, the stone responded to her presence and flared like the setting sun, enveloping the room in a brilliant sheen of orange and red. It sensed the potential in all the Chosen, but it never shone as brightly for anyone else as it did for Seren, and today it flared brighter still.

She huffed out a breath and moved around the chamber studying the etchings on the surrounding walls as she had countless times before. Monumental dragons sat on powerful haunches, poised with wings spread, ready to take flight. Their horned heads loomed, menacing and repressive, a constant reminder of the magic needed to seal the rift between Seren’s realm and that of the Dreigiau.

Seren shuddered, wondering how she had ever found comfort in them, how she ever imagined them as watchful guardians. As she turned away from the walls, she adjusted the green shawl draped over her shoulders and reached towards the drac-stone. Rays of light danced between her splayed fingers, and a tingling sensation filled her chest with a mixture of dread and awe.

“You, I’ll miss,” she said to the stone. “Even with the beasts circling, ready to pounce, you’ve always made me feel safe.” She gave a wry laugh and pulled her hand away. “Though, just once, I wish you’d allow me to see you the way those not of the Chosen do. I haven’t the faintest idea what you truly look like. Are you grey, like flint, or do you glisten like crystal?”

The shadows shifted and drew her gaze to movement from the left. A figure stood hidden in an alcove, shielded from view by one of the four pillars supporting the vaulted ceiling.

Seren’s heart raced in alarm, quickening her breath, but she stood ready to fight should the need arise.