It is an absolute joy to announce that Queen’s Catacombs is now also translated into French! Editions Lux et Nox are such a treat to work with and they have done such a fabulous job making this novel shine en français!
It extra special, because a lot of the inspiration I took in the creation of the Catacombs was from the Catacombs in Paris! So it really feels like a full circle moment. Here are some images from my trip into the bowels of the city of love…
Author Nook
Welcome to my Author Nook, a monthly podcast I created where I chat with authors about their upcoming releases and we nerd out over their literary brain children. Find it on Spotify here, and Youtube here.
As you know, I release episodes once a month with no set date so the best way to stay in the loop is to follow and subscribe on either Youtube or Spotify.
This month, I had the pleasure of speaking with Carina Finn about her novel, Feast and Famine: The Last Great Heir. We chat about potions, power, and puff pasty all the while solving the world’s problems of prejudice with a sprinkling of understanding.
Who would have thought a simple stroll in someone else’s shoes is what makes all the difference? So pour yourself a cup of tea, serve yourself a tasty treat, and settle in for our November Author Nook – and last Nook of 2025!
I am currently creating my 2026 calendar and have some slots available, so if you’re an author who would like to appear on an episode please jump over to my Contact page and send along: your name, the title of your book, a blurb, its release date, and your favourite thing about it that you can’t wait to share with me.
I have adored the Greek myth of the Teumessian Fox who was fated to never be caught and the magical dog, Lailaps, who was fated to always catch its prey. They both set out on an endless chase which created a logical paradox – if one can never be caught, and the other never fails to catch, who would win? In the myth, Zeus steps in and turns them each to stone or into constellations (depending on which version you read). I’ve always felt that ending to be a real deus ex machina… no offense to the ancients, but the solution to a paradox is such a juicy thing that to simply “nope” it all feels anticlimactic. I prefer the idea that it ended in the choice for each to trust the other and end the chase voluntarily.
So, while stuck in traffic the other day, I jotted this down:
Apace
She, the unobtainable fox, He, the inescapable hound, Locked in a stalemate at last.
His teeth wrap her throat, A squeeze of the jaw and she's caught. Her muscles tense, A leap, a bound, and he's lost.
Both pause, Panting.
In his eyes, recognition. In hers, understanding. Each a child of prophecy: To forever run, as hunter or hunted.
Never to rest.
Her rapid pulse flutters against his cheek. He loosens his grip. She, given an opening, hesitates, calms, the tension bleeds from her limbs.
If one does not flee, If one does not hunt, If - instead - each chose simply to remain, To walk apace, To trust, Then two may share the journey.
There’s also a fabulous song that has been in my heart and mind for well over two years by The Hound + The Fox called The Paradox which you should absolutely listen to.
Corner
Reviews are so helpful in getting word of Contest of Queens, Queen’s Catacombs , and Queendom Comeout there. If you have time, and if you’ve read the book, I would be eternally grateful if you could leave a star rating and/or a written review on Goodreads or Amazon.
Thank you to all the wonderful people who have left a star rating or review!
Welcome to August’s newsletter. If you showed up by accident but want to receive monthly content, please subscribe below:
In this month’s newsletter, scroll down to find:
Podcast: Author Nook with Lauren Magaziner
Captain’s Log
Review Corner
Author Nook
Welcome to my Author Nook, a monthly podcast I created where I chat with authors about their upcoming releases and we nerd out over their literary brain children. Find it on Spotify here, and Youtube here.
As you know, I release episodes once a month with no set date so the best way to stay in the loop is to follow and subscribe on either Youtube or Spotify. Also, if you want to read ahead, here is our next read.
This month I am joined by Lauren Magaziner, an electrifying middle grade author of 12 novels (and counting) to chat about her latest release The Incorruptibles. Today we chat about ensemble casts, what it means when the baddies have all the magic, the importance of resilience and more, so pour yourself a cuppa tea and let’s get stuck in.
The Incorruptibles
A girl joins the human resistance against sorcerer tyranny in this first book in the exciting upper middle grade fantasy series The Incorruptibles that’s Keeper of the Lost Cities meets The Marvellers.
Fiora Barrowling lives in a world where sorcerers rule over humans. After surviving an encounter with The Radiance—the very worst of the sorcerers—she’s whisked away to the incredible Incorruptibles (“Inc”) Academy, a school for resistance fighters in training. But most of the other students think Fiora hasn’t earned her place there, and when things start to go wrong and it seems the sorcerers have a spy in the academy, all eyes are on Fiora. With all odds stacked against her, can Fiora prove that she belongs?
Captain’s Log
What a whirlwind of a month! I definitely packed in the fun which was wonderful and at time felt like I was white-knuckling my way through joy… Here are some highlights.
New Bookshelf
Is this news worthy? Absolutely! I am obsessed with my new bookshelf and the new home my treasures now have to snuggle into. Considering how often I move around, it’s bonkers that I’ve chosen to collect books but… the heart wants what it wants.
Despite the seemingly endless rain, I managed to find a few sunny days to hit the water. Once by canoe in Moraine Lake, and a few times by Kayak. Here are some of my favourite shots out on the water. There’s something so magical about floating through the rivers and lakes in the Rockies, and it really is like Pocahontas said, “What I love most about rivers is, you can’t step in the same river twice – the water’s always changing always flowing…”
Horsing Around
Yup. I fear I’m a horse girl now…
Hiking and Camping
Would you guess that out of all the different ways I slept out of doors, on multi-day hikes, at music festivals, and on the beach on Vancouver Island, no matter where it was, it rained! Who would have thought!
I will say, the sound of rain on a tent while you are cozy and dry is pretty lovely. So, while I’m not complaining, I will say that I built a lot of character this month!
Review Corner
Reviews are so helpful in getting word of Contest of Queens, Queen’s Catacombs , and Queendom Comeout there. If you have time, and if you’ve read the book, I would be eternally grateful if you could leave a star rating and/or a written review on Goodreads or Amazon.
Thank you to all the wonderful people who have left a star rating or review!
RESCHEDULED for October – keep an eye out in the next few months’ Newsletters for more information about dates/times/tickets. This is a ticketed event and crowns and Queen attire is strongly recommended! For more information, click here.
Indie Author Market with Slow Burn Books August 24th, 2025
Come check out the Indie Author Market hosted by Slow Burn Books – support local authors and discover new reads! Get your tickets here.
French translation of Queen’s Catacombs worldwide release: November 26th, 2025
Welcome to my Author Nook, a monthly podcast I created where I chat with authors about their upcoming releases and we nerd out over their literary brain children. Find it on Spotify here, and Youtube here.
As you know, I release episodes once a month with no set date so the best way to stay in the loop is to follow and subscribe on either Youtube or Spotify. Also, if you want to read ahead, here is the lineup for the next few months.
This month I am joined by Zoe Allison, author of The Wedding Engagement and The Ex-Mas Holiday to talk about The Wedding Engagement. So pour yourself a cup of tea and get ready to chat yearning, slow burn build-ups, and how to empower your leading lady.
Planning a wedding is so romantic . . . except when it’s not yours, and you’re planning it with the guy you’re secretly crushing on.
Scottish schoolteacher Liv Holland has a secret. She’s been carrying a torch for Arran Adebayo, her brother’s best friend, for years. A blind date gone wrong cements in Liv’s mind that Arran has no romantic interest in her whatsoever. But then, with her brother set to marry her own best friend, she and Arran are enlisted to help plan the festivities… After being left at the altar by his ex, single father Arran is having trouble managing his growing feelings towards the woman who is both his best friend’s sister and his son’s Liv. Then his mind is blown when fate thrusts them together for an unexpected blind date, but he messes up his chance to tell her how he feels. As the big day approaches and Liv and Arran’s connection intensifies, their chemistry chafes against their checkered romantic histories. Risking everything for love could mean losing each other forever . . . or being the next ones to find their happy ever after.
Do you want to know what’s cooler than watching fireworks on the ground? Watching them from the sky. If you’ve read my series, you’ll know that fireworks make for an unexpected trial by fire for the contestants in the Contest of Queens, and I’ve always had a soft spot for their drama and beauty. Well, seeing them from above was indescribable. Unfortunately, it didn’t make for the best photography…
Bragg Creek Book Store Gem
Second hand book stores are my kryptonite, and I was out in Bragg Creek for the weekend when I stumbled upon The Best Little Wordhouse in the West – but there was nothing little about it! Already it feels like you’ve stepped back in time because the whole block is done up with Old West facades, but inside there were rows and stacks of so many beautiful books! Definitely check it out if you’re in the area.
Review Corner
Reviews are so helpful in getting word of Contest of Queens, Queen’s Catacombs , and Queendom Comeout there. If you have time, and if you’ve read the book, I would be eternally grateful if you could leave a star rating and/or a written review on Goodreads or Amazon.
Thank you to all the wonderful people who have left a star rating or review!
Welcome to my Author Nook, a monthly podcast I created where I chat with authors about their upcoming releases and we nerd out over their literary brain children. Find it on Spotify here, and Youtube here.
As you know, I release episodes once a month with no set date so the best way to stay in the loop is to follow and subscribe on either Youtube or Spotify. Also, if you want to read ahead, here is the lineup for the next few months.
This month we are joined by the glorious Sam Parrish to chat about the first novel in her Anagovia Trilogy: When the World Starts to Fray. So pour the tea and send a prayer to the Seamstress as we strap in to chat about building characters, weaving them into a party, the beauty of not forcing romance, and the perfection of imperfection.
Forty years ago in the midst of war, an Anagovian soldier discovered the incredible ability to manipulate the very fabric of reality. Without thought of the consequences, man-kind used it to every advantage, winning the war and sending Anagovia into an age of peace and prosperity. Weavers grabbed hold of the Threads of reality and shaped them to their will. They are considered by most to be a blessing from the gods themselves. But a darkness is seeping in through the Fabric that none of them anticipated. Scores of men and women are going missing and beasts that normally keep to the dark corners of the world are moving in growing numbers.
Li’or is a mercenary. She takes any job that pays well and keeps her moving- no matter how dangerous. One night while she’s setting up camp, a young Weaver named Hashkan stumbles in and throws her careful plans off course. Before they realize it, they find themselves tangling with armies of monsters and madmen as they try to unravel the schemes of a tyrant. But will their small band of hired swords be enough to save Anagovia?
If you’ve been following along with my newsletters, you are likely aware that I am finalizing my mysteriously titled pirate novel. It is a truth universally acknowledged that if one is finalizing a mysteriously titled pirate novel, one must visit the Caribbean. So we did 🙂
Aruba was such a gorgeous country, and I will never get over the thrill of driving along the coast and seeing a sunken ship just off the beach. The sand was white, the waters blue, and the flamingos as pink as a blush. What a dream, and what a lovely way to kick start Summer!
Review Corner
Reviews are so helpful in getting word of Contest of Queens, Queen’s Catacombs , and Queendom Comeout there. If you have time, and if you’ve read the book, I would be eternally grateful if you could leave a star rating and/or a written review on Goodreads or Amazon.
Thank you to all the wonderful people who have left a star rating or review!
Welcome to May’s newsletter. If you showed up by accident but want to receive monthly content, please subscribe below:
In this month’s newsletter, scroll down to find:
Writing update
Podcast: Author Nook with Derek Borne
Captain’s Log: Van-cool-ver
Review Corner
Writing update
With the Frean Chronicles trilogy completed, all is right with the world. Our story has its ending, and I can rest.
hehe… cute…
I’m excited to say that I just finished second overhaul of the first draft of my Mysteriously Titled Pirate Novel! After learning (very painfully) the age-old author’s lesson of “kill your darlings” I committed lexical murder, wiped the manuscript clean of any damning evidence, and reworked the story into something wonderful. I can’t reveal any more details… but stay tuned!
Next step? Editing…
Author Nook
Welcome to my Author Nook, a monthly podcast I created where I chat with authors about their upcoming releases and we nerd out over their literary brain children. Find it on Spotify here, and Youtube here.
May’s episode kicks off season 4 of this podcast and the first episode of this year! I still can’t believe we’ve been running for four years – and I’m so grateful for all the book chats I’ve had with so many wonderful authors. This year we have an exciting line-up! As you know, I release episodes once a month with no set date so the best way to stay in the loop is to follow and subscribe on either Youtube or Spotify. Also, if you want to read ahead, here is the lineup for the next few months.
Today we are joined by Jurassic Derek Borne, the Canadian author of Dino Rift to chat all things prehistoric. We discuss teen romance, the power of kindness, and how we always have the choice to do the right thing no matter how many teenagers we toss through a portal into the time of dinosaurs.
For years, SauraCorps has kept its existence confidential while touting themselves as a run-of-the-mill dinosaur museum.
For two Utah teens, Kamren and Vivienne, a care-free night to themselves quickly turns into a daunting trek through an exotic, unfamiliar time.
Not only do they stumble upon SauraCorps’ nefarious agenda, they also encounter major discrepancies concerning the past that would rewrite history books as we know them.
Kam and Viv’s reliance on each other through the primeval environment also tests their friendship in unexpected ways.
Pulp Fiction Books in Vancouver is one of my favourite independent bookstores and I was in absolute heaven browsing the shelves on my recent visit there. The shelves are stacked high and full but there is a solid system in place so you’re not just sifting through chaos. And the Heyer! THE HEYER! A whole swack of novels by Georgette Heyer just waiting to be scooped up by yours truly. Needless to say, the trip was a success and I came away with a teetering stack of beauties.
Review Corner
Reviews are so helpful in getting word of Contest of Queens, Queen’s Catacombs , and Queendom Comeout there. If you have time, and if you’ve read the book, I would be eternally grateful if you could leave a star rating and/or a written review on Goodreads or Amazon.
Thank you to all the wonderful people who have left a star rating or review!
Welcome to April’s newsletter. If you showed up by accident but want to receive monthly content, please subscribe below:
In this month’s newsletter, scroll down to find:
School Library Journal Starred Review
Author Spotlight: E.L. Li
Upcoming Podcast announcement
Review Corner
School Library Journal Starred Review
For those who don’t know, School Library Journal is an online resource and monthly magazine that provides review, recommendations, and book lists for school librarians (among other things). If you’ve heard that name before in my newsletters it’s because I’ve appeared as a panelist a few time at their events. Here is one such time:
To be reviewed by their team is huge but to be given a starred review is incredible as it basically tells librarians far and wide that your books has been given a big ol’ thumbs up. And Queendom Come received a starred review!
Check it out!
★Bartlett, Jordan H. Queendom Come. 480p. (The Frean Chronicles: Bk. 3). CamCat. Mar. 2025. Tr. $19.99. ISBN 9780744310764.
Gr 9 Up–After competing for the crown and rooting out corruption in the royal council in book one and two respectively, Queen Jacqueline, or Jacs, has to decide what kind of monarch she wants to be. Jacs and her Royal Advisor Connor must face the threat of the cult-like Sons of Celos while separated in the Upper and Lower Realms. They are also trying to navigate their romantic relationship while Jacs is facing a possible political marriage to someone else. The narrative pulls in a variety of perspectives as those within the Queendom work toward lasting change by forging alliances with the Court of Griffins, bringing men into the all-female military, and moving toward true unity between the Realms. While the flipped power dynamics in this world skew toward the gender binary, much of the supporting cast includes queer women, and characters are depicted with a variety of skin tones. VERDICT A satisfying conclusion to a trilogy that centers progress through equity alongside authentically drawn characters who will resonate with teen readers.
A HUGE thank you to SLJ ❤ this is unreal and so humbling.
This month I am lucky to have author E. L. Li at my virtual table to answer some of my questions about her novel Realm of Hope. So pour yourself a cup of tea and settle in.
Tell us a little about yourself and your novel Realm of Hope
Hi, I’m E. L. Li! I write fantasy books inspired by video games and things that I grew up loving such as anime, action and fantasy shows, and fantasy books! I also am a software engineer in the video game industry, and love playing video games, baking, travelling, trying out new restaurants, and any sort of arts and crafts! Realm of Hope is a video-game inspired fantasy epic about a found family trying to save their world from falling into darkness while also battling inner demons and “levelling up.”
Where did you get the inspiration for this novel?
The biggest inspirations for Realm of Hope are from video games, anime, and DND. I grew up loving games such as Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Fire Emblem and a lot of elements from those games are in my books. I also loved Percy Jackson and Avatar: The Last Airbender so plenty of inspiration comes from there as well!
What is your writing process? Do you have any playlists, special snacks, writing locations that you need for a good writing session?
My writing process is an interesting one. I first wrote Realm of Hope as a screenplay for a video game when I was a teenager. I wrote five more video game screenplays and they all took place in the same universe but different time periods. As an adult, I decided to rewrite the stories all into trilogies, so Realm of Hope is the first one third of the first video game screenplay that I wrote! So I will look at the screenplays for certain plot points and character aspects and other ideas and will create a plotline somewhat based on the original screenplay with adjustments to of course fit the formatting of a book. I do standard drafts and edits and I often have video game playlists blasting in the background or ambient fantasy music. I always sit at my desk in my office with a candle lit, some baked goods, and tea!
Magical and fighting abilities in fantasy novels can often be used to further explore a character’s personality. For example, in the C.S. Lewis’ The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, three of the four children are given weapons by Santa that reflect their characters. How does magical ability/fighting style reflect aspects of your characters in your novel? What can we learn about them through their magic/weapons?
Each character has a unique set of skills and abilities that helps reflect their personalities and which bloodline they are a part of. One of my characters, Zephyr, is the leader of his team and his abilities are less about raw power and more about versatility and using strategies to win a fight. Readers will also see character abilities evolve throughout the series as they “Level Up” which is super fun and adds onto the idea that these books are inspired by video games.
What role would you say legacy and ancestral expectation/pressure have in your novel?
Bloodlines, bloodline abilities, and legacy play a huge role in this universe. Those who have such powers are expected to use them for greatness and to their full potential. Some bloodlines follow a strict moral code. The ensemble cast of Realm of Hope is descended from these bloodlines and there is a lot of societal pressure and there are loads of expectations placed on their shoulders to save the world and that definitely plays into the character arcs.
Who was your favourite character to write and why?
I would say the main female character, Skye. She was the first character I ever created for these stories and went through loads of changes throughout the years. She also is the hardest character to write because of her unique backstory, role, and issues with PTSD and trauma after being a character who was raised as a weapon who is trying to learn how to be human.
You’ve created a detailed and elaborate universe for your novels with gods, realms, planes, magical systems and more. What is your favourite element that you’ve created and why?
Realm of Hope follows an elemental magic system – Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Lightning, Ice, Metal, Light, and Darkness. Out of them all, I’d say Darkness since it’s one of the most powerful elements and super versatile, but comes with a lot of consequences.
What advice would you share with aspiring authors wanting to write rich and detailed worlds?
Definitely keep track of everything you have related to your world – i have a google drive full of worldbuilding information and i follow basic templates for worldbuilding to get started. there are a lot of writing templates for worldbuilding out there, so it’s great to follow at first! Also do as much research as you can!
What is something that you’ve added into your novel that you really geek out about?
I’m ultimately a teenage fangirl at heart, so there are a lot of references to things I loved as a teenager in my books – Marvel, Avatar: The Last Airbender, DND, Video Games as mentioned before, etc. I would love to hear about more readers telling me they got some of the references and easter eggs!
What was a key message or theme you are hoping readers take away from your novel?
Some of the biggest themes in my books are the importance of having hope, determination, and how friendship can help overcome the odds. The characters go through a rollercoaster of highs and lows, experiencing adversity left and right and no matter what, they refuse to give up in their mission to save the world from falling into darkness.
Can you share a favourite quote or passage to tease our readers?
“There is no such thing as being completely good or evil. We all have blood on our hands in the pursuit of doing what we think is right.”
Upcoming Podcast Announcement
The wait is over! May marks the first month back to Author Nook, a monthly podcast I created where I chat with authors about their upcoming releases and we nerd out over their literary brain children. Find it on Spotify here, and Youtube here.
We’re about to have a prehistoric time with Derek Borne, Canadian Author and lovely human, as we discuss his novel Dino Rift.
Although this time I thought we’d do something a little different and give you a heads up so you can read the book before our episode airs May 16th. I’ll be posting on Instagram ahead of time to see if you have any burning questions you’d like to add to our line-up closer to the date, but if you have one already, please send it to me here and I’ll be sure to ask it.
Now, you may be thinking to yourself, “but where do I get my hands on this dino-riffic novel?” to which I reply, here of course:
Reviews are so helpful in getting word of Contest of Queens, Queen’s Catacombs , and Queendom Comeout there. If you have time, and if you’ve read the book, I would be eternally grateful if you could leave a star rating and/or a written review on Goodreads or Amazon.
Thank you to all the wonderful people who have left a star rating and review! Check out these new gems ❤
Jordan H. Bartlett 