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!
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 ❤
In November 2024, the world finally got to see the cover of Queendom Come! It was one of my harder-kept secrets because I am so incredibly proud of this finale, so incredible in awe of its cover, and so incredibly excited for everyone to finally read it!
It hits the shelves March 11, 2025 and pre-orders are available now! I would recommend pre-ordering through your local book store as it helps the world go round, otherwise, here’s a link:
If you would like a personalized signed book plate for your novel, please contact me here and send me your name, what you want written on the plate, a picture of your pre-order proof and I’d love to send one to you free of charge!
In celebration of the upcoming release of Queendom Come, a number of local book stores will be hosting a pre-order event. Anyone who pre-orders their copy at:
Will get an exclusive art print and a signed copy of their book!
Author Event at the Banff Public Library
Save the date for March 8, 2025 at 3:30pm because I will be appearing at an Author event on International Women’s day at the Banff Public Library for an exclusive early release party for QUEENDOM COME!
More information to come, but last year when we held an event for Queen’s Catacombs, it was a lot of fun and a huge success!
This month, in lieu of a podcast episode I am pleased to let Author Madison Lawson take the reins and chat about writing “Point of View.” Madison Lawson is the award-winning author of The Registration and The Registration Rewritten. We’ve chatted about both in the past and if you missed out, here are the links to each:
Without further ado, please welcome Madison to the stage and settle in for some author tips from a woman who’s debut novel is currently being adapted to the silver screen by Miss Sydney Sweeney herself.
Ah, Point of View. An essential part of any story that can change everything and also disappear if done well.
POV dictates the lens through which readers experience the story, understand the characters, and enjoy the plot. There are 3 main types, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, and each one has benefits and drawbacks. Knowing which type to use depends on how you want the audience to perceive the narrative you’re telling.
1st: “I,” “me,” and “we” pronouns. This is typically limited to a single character’s emotions, thoughts, experiences, etc., though there are often dual/multi-POV books where the character speaking changes between chapters/scenes.
2nd: “You” pronouns are used in order to break the fourth wall. This is less common and difficult to do well, but can make an intriguing story. Again, it’s limited to a singular character’s thoughts.
3rd: “He,” “she,” and “they” pronouns. This can be limited, meaning the reader experiences everything through one character’s perspective at a time, or omniscient, in which the narrator of the story can flit between characters so the reader gets to be in several minds at once.
Once a POV is chosen, it’s exceedingly rare for this to change. If a story is being told through the lens of a single character’s experiences, then the reader can’t know anything that this specific character wouldn’t already know. Otherwise, the narrator is intruding into the story (in a negative way, not like when it’s intentionally done in stories such as A Series of Unfortunate Events when the narrator personally addresses the reader).
As both an author and a reader, I enjoy all POVs, though I lean towards limited 3rd person and 1st person, depending on the story and the genre. For fantasy and sci-fi, I tend to prefer 3rd, and for romance or suspense, I lean toward 1st.
1st person POV creates an almost instant connection between the main character and the reader, so it tends to hook the reader emotionally more. You only see from behind the character’s eyes and live in their mind.
3rd person POV allows for a more impartial narrator that creates a bit more distance between reader and character but is often better for world immersion and plot immersion. You’re still in that character’s head, but you get a more neutral, all-encompassing perspective.
Simply put, 1st feels more character-driven, and 3rd feels more plot-driven, in my opinion. My instinct when writing is to go for 3rd person, which I did with both The Registration and The Registration Rewritten. Since there are more POVs in Rewritten, 3rd limited worked even better because it was easier to slip between characters with each chapter.
However, when I sat down to write the bonus chapter included with the special edition of The Registration, I knew I needed to write in 1st person. The chapter is about Zach, a character you get to know throughout The Registration, 5 years before the events of the book. I wanted to get inside his head and explore what his life was truly like.
In other words, I wanted this story to be all about the character, his feelings, experiences, and emotions. I wanted the reader to have no barrier between the words and Zach’s life. Take this part at the beginning of the bonus chapter, for example:
I’ve always known my psyche was a little off. But it’s never more evident than when I’m standing in front of an unconscious man, his blood all over my hands and shirt, and my only thought is that this is a better birthday than last year.
This is Zach’s voice. His thoughts. You see the scene as Zach does, not as it is. He doesn’t notice the blood and what happened first. He thinks first about his own mind and how his life has screwed him up because he’s not thinking about the blood first.
What a character does and doesn’t notice can tell the reader a lot about who they are and what’s important to them. The lack of focus on the violence in the room speaks strongly to Zach’s state of mind.
At the beginning of The Registration, after Lynell hears herself being registered, her focus is much more scattered as her mind is lost to panic.
The phrase repeats itself over and over in her mind. Screaming, whispering, echoing. Promising death. Making use of the gift of the Registration. The gift that doesn’t feel like a gift when you’re on the other side.
As she runs, she dimly notices different sensations, and the scene is flushed out to include small aspects of the world and the Registration that might not be mentioned if the story was told in first person.
Then she stumbles over the legs of a homeless woman and lands hard on her elbows. Pain shoots up her arms, and the world returns to focus, filled with color that she didn’t know had drained away. She blinks. Her ears ring and her mind seems to shake, unable to grasp the enormity of the situation she finds herself in. She smells trash and body odor. The homeless woman next to her is ranting about the Registration taking everything from her after her husband had been Registered, and that the rebels are right and the Elysians are tyrants.
Meanwhile, in the bonus chapter, while Zach is having his own moment of anxiety, about to face something he’s spent years thinking about, his thoughts never touch on his surroundings. He’s spiraling in his head, sucked into his thoughts rather than desperately clinging onto anything else he can see, hear, or smell.
I think about the Registration and how it saved our country and built my family. It’s the foundation of life as I know it. It works, and I believe in it. I have to. Because if I can’t believe in the very thing our family stands for, then how can I know who I am? How can I reconcile the lives lost by my hands? If I can’t believe in the Registration, I can’t believe in my father. And I have to believe in my father. He’s all I have.
Zach and Lynell are incredibly different characters, so they’ll naturally experience things differently. However, the way in which the story is written changes the narrative for the readers as well.
The POV can enhance the story or be a detriment. Ideally, the focus will be on the content and the characters more than the point of view type.
When I decided to write a bonus chapter to include in the special edition, I knew I wanted it to be about Zach. Writing it in a completely different POV than the rest of the book might’ve been risky, but I knew there was no way to honestly tell Zach’s story without getting fully into his head.
It’s a fucked up psyche, but it’s also one of my favorites.
I hope you like it too.
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! Queendom Come has started to gain traction now that the ARCs have been released ahead of it’s world-wide release. Here are some of the early reviews and I am just tickled pink over how much people are loving my baby!
Welcome to October’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:
Release Countdown: Le Tournoi des Reines
Some Lovely Updates
Podcast: Author Nook with Dana Claire
Captain’s Log: Touching the Sky
Review Corner
Release Countdown
In less than one week, Le Tournoi des Reines hits the shelves! November 6th, 2024! I. Am. Buzzing!
You can preorder your copy here, and if you want to purchase a limited edition box set, you can do that here. Along with the novel, the box set includes: writing paper, envelopes, seals to close envelopes, a box-shaped necklace to hide secrets, a reading ring, and a hand-sewn book cover. It’s such a stunning gift set, and it is so perfect for my letter-writing realm-crossing lovers!
I’m beyond excited to see my baby become bilingual, and as a language nerd I adored the process of finding French words to replace some of my Queendom’s vocabulary.
Maïlys, the editor I had the privilege of working with at Lux et Nox, went above and beyond looking into French etymology and historical word usage to make sure we found all the best terms.
Here are some lovely reviews the French edition is already receiving:
Some Lovely Updates
When it rains, it certainly does pour, and I’ve had so many wonderful things happen for this series in my birth month! For starters, my silver IPPY medal arrived for Queen’s Catacombs: Fiction – Best Series.
If that wasn’t warm-fuzzy enducing enough, I was also on the front page of the Waiheke Weekender paper and featured in a three-page spread! Waiheke is where I did most of my growing up and did most of my daydreaming, so it was incredibly special to be interviewed and featured by a home-town local! Also, if you scroll across, you’ll catch a glimpse of little me.
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.
This month’s author nook we are embracing the spook and are well on theme with a talk all about werewolves and loving the monster (hunter). Join me with a cup of tea and some silver bullets as I talk with Dana Claire about her thrilling sequel, Hunterlore – the continuation of Hunterland.
Silver bullets aren’t enough to protect your heart.
For Liam Hunter, monster hunting is a way of life—a family tradition passed down for generations. But when campers are murdered in the woods, their hearts ripped from their chests, Liam finds himself facing his most terrifying adversary yet—his own mother turned monster. Her pack of werewolves will test Liam’s limits, and his connection with the girl who still has too large a claim on his heart.
Olivia Davis is determined to uncover her own place in Hunterland and hone her newfound abilities. But when Olivia has a terrifying vision, she’s faced with a much larger uncertainty: her feelings for the boy she let slip through her fingers.
Together, Olivia and Liam must survive the deadly game of cat and mouse, or else risk becoming victims in a world where the monsters are the hunters. The clock is ticking. The game is on. And the price of failure may be their humanity.
I find myself without words for this one. If you’ve read my books, you know how important hot air balloons are in the series, and I even have one inked on my body.
Hot air balloons are magic made real. Harnessing the concept of “hot air rises” we, as a species, have found a way to float among the clouds on wind currents. With no way to steer, no way to stop, and only the hope that you have enough gas in the tank to boost you out of a pickle. It takes a certain kind of pilot with a nose for thermals to make a flight look easy.
I was in heaven. And in love, but that’s something more wonderful entirely 😉
Island Retreat
Passing through Snug Cove (real place name) on Bowen Island, my mum and I went to Nectar Yoga for a retreat all about reducing stress and avoiding burnout hosted by the wonderful Bryony White of SlowBurn Wellness. In a word: stunning. The highlights included:
time with my mum
outside shower (nothing like going buck in the wild)
the barn owl that supervised our last yoga session
the food
Also, this poem by Mollie Bylett:
And just like the moon You will go through phases of light of dark And everything in between And though you may not always appear with the same brightness You are always Always Whole
Review Corner
Reviews are so helpful in getting word of Contest of Queens and Queen’s Catacombsout 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 September’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:
Release Radar: Le Tournoi des Reines
Podcast: Author Nook with Marcy McCreary
Embracing Autumn – fun recipes to try
Captain’s Log: 1000 Islands and at least 1 Castle
Review Corner
French Translation Release
Mark your calendars for November 6th, 2024: Le Tournoi des Reines hits the shelves! You can preorder your copy here, and if you want to purchase a limited edition box set, you can do that here. Along with the novel, the box set includes: writing paper, envelopes, seals to close envelopes, a box-shaped necklace to hide secrets, a reading ring, and a hand-sewn book cover. It’s such a stunning gift set, and it is so perfect for my letter-writing realm-crossing lovers!
I’m beyond excited to see my baby become bilingual, and as a language nerd I adored the process of finding French words to replace some of my Queendom’s vocabulary.
Maïlys, the editor I had the privilege of working with at Lux et Nox, went above and beyond looking into French etymology and historical word usage to make sure we found all the best terms.
Have a sneaky peek at the first few chapters here:
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.
Join me this month with repeat offender, Marcy McCreary, author of the Ford Family Mysteries series: The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon; The Murder of Madison Garcia, and the latest installment we’ll be chatting about today: The Summer of Love and Death. So don your fringe jackets, hold up a couple peace signs, and get ready to chat all things Woodstock ’69, intergenerational trauma, and writing tips on how to keep your time lines straight (even if they’re groovy).
If you want to hear more from Marcy McCreary, have a look or a listen to our podcast episode from earlier this year with Terry Friedman: Murder She Wrote found here on Youtube, or here on Spotify.
The summer of ’69: memorable for some, murder for others.
Detective Susan Ford and her new partner, Detective Jack Tomelli, are called to a crime scene at the local summer stock theater where they find the director of Murder on the Orient Express gruesomely murdered—naked, face caked in makeup, pillow at his feet, wrists and ankles bound by rope. When Susan describes the murder to her dad, retired detective Will Ford, he recognizes the MO of a 1969 serial killer . . . a case he worked fifty years ago.
Will remembers a lot of things about that summer—the Woodstock Festival, the Apollo 11 moon landing, the Miracle Mets—yet he is fuzzy on the details of the decades-old case. But when Susan and Jack discover the old case files, his memories start trickling back. And with each old and new clue, Susan, Jack, and Will must narrow down the pool of suspects before the killer strikes again.
Who doesn’t love Autumn? Honestly? Cozy sweaters, scarves, ankle boots, tights and skirts, dusk color palates, wrapping your fingers around a steaming mug of tea, watching the trees go through their sunset era, the smell of crisp cold mornings, pumpkin spice everything, baking, knitting, cuddles and heavy duvets. The list is endless and here in Banff, Canada we really only get two solid weeks of it… so we must make the most of it!
Here are some delicious autumnal recipes I’ve discovered that I wanted to share.
Pumpkin Cake from Sally’s Baking Addiction. When I tell you I’m obsessed… I made this into cupcakes and a loaf. It is ridiculously (brace yourself) moist, and the cream cheese frosting really takes the cake.
This Autumn Aperol Spritz from Instagram that I cannot embed for reasons but you can follow their page @cocktails and they have an entire highlight reel dedicated to Fall cocktails.
Actually, flicking through it there are another couple I’d like to try – the pumpkin spice espresso martini almost sounds too good to be true!
Pumpkin butter. I’ve always liked the idea of a PSL more than the thing itself (much too sweet for me), but then I discovered pumpkin butter and I’ve been adding it to my morning lattes and it has changed. the. game. You can put it on bread, mix it into your oatmeal, the whole nine yards, but it is basically an instant Autumn maker.
Enjoy! I’d love to hear if you made any of these, or if you have any recipe recommendations of your own. Let me know here.
Captain’s Log
1000 Islands and at least 1 Castle
This month, my mum and I jumped across to the other side of the country and set out on an island-hopping, castle-exploration quest.
Besides the vineyards in Prince Edward County (and the lavender farm, and the cocktail farms), the highlight of the trip was definitely Boldt Castle:
We stayed in the most beautiful Victorian-style inn:The Trinity House Inn in Gananoque where our host fed us croissants every morning and gave us the low down on the best places to eat, walk, visit and the local characters to look out for. I’m still dreaming about our dinner at Riva (the caprese salad had me in raptures), and the river! The wee islands! It was such a picturesque place to visit.
Mary’s Wedding and the Power of Live Theatre
While staying in Gananoque, we went to the river-side play house (1000 Island Playhouse) to see Mary’s Wedding. I don’t quite have the words to describe just how moving this play was, but what I will say is that I was glad we were sitting behind the mother of the playwright who recommended we had a tissue handy (turns out I needed more than one..).
Set between 1914 and 1920, Mary is balancing on the edge of the tomorrow that will bring her wedding day. However, before she sets her feet on the aisle, she dreams of her first love who went away to war (now do you see where the tissues come in handy?). The writing was absolutely breathtaking. Such beautiful dialogue. There was a scene where Mary was riding a horse, describing the feeling of riding the horse, and I, in the audience, was swept away to the first time I ever rode a horse and it was as though I were right there with her, galloping across the plains. Just stunning.
Review Corner
Reviews are so helpful in getting word of Contest of Queens and Queen’s Catacombsout 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! This one from Lou Kemp is so lovely (and I’m glad she gave us some Connor love!)
I am absolutely blown away with this review from H. J. Reynolds. Read it below or check it out here.
I guess it’s been a while since we did one of these so I thought I’d loop you in. I have two books coming out and one in the works.
The French edition of Contest of Queens (Le Tournoi des Reines) published by Lux et Nox is set to release October 19, 2024 in paperback and ebook. Click here for more information.
Queendom Come, the finale in the Frean Chronicles trilogy is set to release March 11, 2025. Click here for more information.
Mysteriously titled Pirate Novel. Manuscript is complete and I’m in the process of pitching it to publishers.
Author Nook: Putting the Gen Z in Regency with Aamna Qureshi
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.
Welcome to this month’s Author Nook! I am joined by the lovely Aamna Qureshi, author of If I Loved You Less, a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma with a Pakistani twist. So pour yourself a cup of chai and clear your dance card, because we’re going to be talking about retellings, regency, romance, and recipes!
Find out more information about Aamna and her other works here: Website: www.aamnaqureshi.com Instagram: @aamna_qureshi Twitter: @aamnaqureshi_
If I Loved You Less
A joyful romantic comedy retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma!
I know what you’re thinking: poor little rich girl, she has everything, what else could she possibly need? Well, I’m looking for the great love of my life, thank you very much.
For Long Island native Humaira Mirza, it’s always been about love – and she has the matchmaking track record to prove it. Having successfully found ‘the one’ for both her aunt and her sister, the twenty-three-year-old is ready to claim a bit of romance for herself.
The perfect candidate? The gorgeous Rizwan Ali. But as Humaira employs her unique skills to obtain the perfect match with Rizwan, she’s forced to endure the disapproval of family friend Fawad Sheikh who she’s known forever. Fawad and Humaira have long traded barbs but as her romantic meddling leads to unintentional misadventures, she realises something shocking – is she starting to care what Fawad thinks?
The heart and backbone of Contest of Queens is the amazing cast of women who shore up Jacs as she strives to save the Queendom. I have a good imagination, but could never dream up this wonderful group of gals who inspired them. Once a year we (try) to get together for an epic adventure and this year we leaned more into the relaxation side of things and stayed in little barrel cabins on the Sunshine Coast in BC. It was an absolute dream. We sailed, swam, saunaed, hiked, ate delicious food and drank many bottles of rose… all in all, it was one heck of a trip and I’m so fortunate to know these ladies.
Inland Popping
Probably had the best Canada day long weekend to date traveling through Golden to Nelson, BC. We went golfing in Golden and I didn’t do half bad, went ziplining, luging, and see-sawing, and the drive! The drive was stunning. It involved a ferry crossing (which, the only thing that can make a road trip better is to start floating), and so many beautiful waterfalls.
I’d never been to Nelson before and that was a treat and a half. It has a wee streetcar that runs along the water front and the conductor is kind enough to let you ring the bell (if you’re 8years or younger). I would also highly recommend the cocktail bar: The Black Cauldron, it’s got some serious magic vibes and their concoctions were so fun – some even came out in a smoke bowl.
Review Corner
Reviews are so helpful in getting word of Contest of Queens and Queen’s Catacombsout 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!
Queen’s Catacombs won a silver IPPY award in the Best Series: Fiction category. That’s the second silver IPPY this series has won, and the first award won by Queen’s Catacombs! I am ecstatic! Over the moon! And so mumma-bear proud of this series!
Author Nook: Building the Underdog with Brielle D. Porter and Madison Lawson
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.
This month I am joined today by not one, but two fantastic authors: Madison Lawson, author of The Registration and The Registration Rewritten; and Brielle D. Porter, author of Jester. Today we talk all about building the underdog, how to write a believable down-trodden character, how to make the rules of a new world work, and the true meaning of family. So bring your trust issues and settle in to add a few wolves to your lone wolf pack.
Jester
What happens in Oasis, stays in Oasis.
Lisette’s father killed the King. His execution leaves Lisette alone, disgraced, and without the magic he intended to pass on to her. In Oasis, that’s a problem. Glutted with enchanted performers, Oasis is a sin city where courtiers pay in gold to drink, gamble, and above all, be entertained. To survive on its competitive streets, Lisette peddles paltry illusions in place of magic.
Desperate to prove herself, Lisette enters into a deadly competition to be chosen as the highest-ranked magician in the world, the Queen’s Jester. But her rival, the irritatingly handsome Luc, possesses the one thing Lisette does not— real magic. Lisette will do anything to win, but when evidence implicating the Queen in her husband’s murder surfaces, Lisette must choose between redeeming her family name, or seizing the fame she’s hungered for her entire life.
The Registration
You can’t outrun the Registration.
Imagine it’s legal to commit one murder in your lifetime⎯if you Register the victim and accomplish the kill within fourteen days. So when Lynell Mize stands in line to Register the man who abused her as a child, she’s shocked to hear a stranger Register her to be killed. Why would anyone who doesn’t know her squander his one legal murder on her? Desperate to survive the next two weeks, she must find out who wants to kill her⎯and why.
Easier said than done as Lynell soon discovers that multiple strangers have used their Registration on her. Along the way, she reunites with her estranged husband who is determined to dig up a past Lynell prefers to keep buried. With only days left to live, Lynell fights to uncover the truth and survive a destiny not of her choosing.
The Registration Rewritten
When your greatest enemy is your best chance of survival.
Still bearing wounds from barely surviving the Registration, Lynell struggles to fill her new role as the heir and leader of the very system that aimed to kill her. She must convince the Registration committee and the country’s oligarchs that she can fill her uncle’s shoes, while simultaneously proving to the country’s largest rebel group that she is nothing like her uncle—ruthless and greedy . When Sawyer, the leader of the Resurrection, reaches out with proof that they are both on the hitlist of powerful people who wish to destroy the rebels and take over the Registration, the two women form an uneasy alliance.
With mere days until the committee announces a policy change that will increase the Registration’s lethal power, Lynell and Sawyer must find out who wants them dead—and all signs point to someone close.
Critical Hit: Campaign Complete
It’s out! It’s over! What bittersweet news for the world. If you’re new here, allow me to explain, I was fortunate enough to be a part of a four episode Dungeons and Dragons podcast with our incredible MC Smitherman, Alexander James (The Woodkin), Elijah Menchaca (The Glintchasers Series), and Jessica Homami as we play our leading lads and ladies and fight to restore our worlds and be the heroes we wrote about!
It was honestly an absolute blast, I’m so excited that the final episode is out because it’s a goodie! Here is a sneak peek at my favourite moment:
Here are the Spotify links if you’d prefer to listen to the adventure. All episodes as well as audiobooks and exclusive author interviews can be found on CamCat Unwrapped’s channel.
I absolutely adore my kayak, the HMS Flounder, and have been chomping at the bit to get her out on the open waterways once again. I think the stars all decided to align for my first paddle as it was the most surreal/stunning/special trips of my life. I went out to Two Jack lake and discovered that the ice sheets were still floating around. The next two hours were spent in exploration bliss as I navigated the water maze between these giant sheets of ice and realized that the wind kept changing their position so where once was an exit now became a dead end and at one point I had to hack my way through the ice.
It was made extra special when I realized the ice was made up of thin spears that broke apart into these long crystals at the slightest touch. Talk about Elsa’s paradise! It was such a magical day.
I’ve mentioned before than my favourite scenes to write in the Frean Chronicles are the flights with the Griffins- maybe it’s no coincidence that each book includes a weightless, gravity defying scene. There’s something about being level with the clouds, seeing how small we all are from above, and how vast and beautiful this world really is.
My dad has been flying since before I was born, so maybe it’s just in my veins, but whatever it is, any chance I get to dance among the clouds is one I’ll take. Especially with the world’s best pilot at the helm.
Readying for a Swoon
If you’re anyone with a pulse and a love of carriage rides, you were awaiting the Bridgerton season 3 release like I was. While it could never top the Queen Charlotte season, it had just the right amount of fan-fluttering moments to appease this gentle reader. I would highly recommend a high-tea viewing party for when the second half drops in June as it made the experience quite charming, filled the room with gasps and giggles, and involved much debriefing.
Review Corner
Reviews are so helpful in getting word of Contest of Queens and Queen’s Catacombsout 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!
Check out this stunning review! I am so so blown away!
Jordan H. Bartlett 
