Teen Fiction with a Dark Twist
I am delighted to announce that the final two books in The Mirrordom Legends series have been accepted for publication.
Flame and Phoenix will be coming out in Summer 2026.
Quiver and Arrow will follow in Winter 2026.
I am so grateful to Fire and Ice YA for allowing me to tell all these stories and for helping me bring my fantasy world to life. I hope you enjoy reading the books as much as I enjoyed writing them.
Well, I think it’s fair to say I’ve been fairly hopeless at writing these monthly wrap-ups. The idea was to post one at the end of every month, but I can see the last time I actually did that was in April!
However, lots has been happening behind the scenes so here’s the September wrap-up (and an optimistic but vague ambition to keep them coming more frequently!)
I submitted the last two novels in The Mirrordom Legends series to my publishers at Fire and Ice YA. If they are accepted, the series will finally be complete and I have no plans to write any further about the world of Mirrordom – although you never know! The next two books are entitled Flame and Phoenix and Quiver and Arrow – and take the series down an even darker path. I’ll announce any further updates on the blog.
City and Shadow made it to the Bookstagram Awards finals in the Fantasy Of The Year category! While it didn’t win, I was just thrilled it was nominated and want to say a big thank you to everyone who voted for it. Of all the Mirrordom books, I am proudest of this one and I’m so glad quite a few people have enjoyed reading it.
City and Shadow also went on tour with Love Book Tours this month. It was so interesting to hear readers’ opinions. Some of my favourite comments are:
This was a great read, I think it was a really interesting and enjoyable story. I thought the writing style was great and there were some fab plot twists, and I wasn’t expecting that ending.
The overall premise of the book is brilliant and really pulls you right in. I really enjoyed this book.
This book had me in actual tears!! it was dramatic and poetic and deeply satisfying!
I absolutely loved the idea of people in this world being born as a twin, with one being born inherently “good” and not able to lie, kill, steal etc, and their Mirror twin being born immediately afterwards and being “only capable of doing bad things” and where all Mirrors are removed from their families after birth, and sent to live on a remote island. It was such a unique and intriguing concept, so I was instantly hooked right from the start, and it did not disappoint!
I loved how the author created characters which are morally grey, and throughout their self exploration we get to see them challenge the restraints of their ‘black and white world’.
I was delighted to contribute a short story to this glorious anthology. My standalone fantasy story is called The Girl With The Heart Of Glass and you can read more about what inspired it here.
A Wild Run is a gorgeous anthology, showcasing the full range of human creativity in a world increasingly complacent about AI. The concept came from author, Melanie Mar, who gave us all one single prompt.
In September, I also signed another contract with Evernight Teen for my YA standalone sci-fi novel, The Boy With Wings For Hands. The book will be out no later than September 2026 and I can’t wait to share it with you. In the meantime, here’s the blurb:
Seventeen-year-old Sparrow has never known freedom. An alien from the planet Mykzon, she’s caged and forced to perform in Obsidian’s Travelling Show of Rarities and Fascinations.
That is, until Felix crashes into her world. He’s human, reckless and has wings where his hands should be. And when Felix’s arrival attracts powerful enemies, Sparrow’s world is thrown into chaos.
As Sparrow is drawn into a rebellion she never asked for, she must choose between staying hidden or risking everything to fight back.
Because Obsidian doesn’t just want the spotlight.
She wants the world.
Evernight Teen also published my first YA sci-fi novel, January. Why not give it a read while you’re waiting for The Boy With Wings For Hands?
What have you been up to this month? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.
I’m delighted to announce that my sci-fi YA novel, Funeral For A Robot, has been accepted by my publishers at Fire and Ice YA.
Funeral For A Robot is due out in Spring 2026 and I can’t wait for you all to enter the year 3034 and meet Serena, Kristopher, Silver and Scorpio.
Here’s the blurb:
London, in the year 3034.
Seventeen-year-old Serena has just enrolled at a prestigious academy, staffed entirely by robots. When the headteacher is found destroyed, Serena crosses paths with Kristopher, the troubled son of a detective. Can she and Kristopher find out who would destroy a robot – before Serena becomes the prime suspect?
I’m thrilled to announce that my standalone YA sci-fi novel, The Boy With Wings For Hands, has been accepted by Evernight Teen.
The Boy With Wings For Hands is set in London. Our main character, Sparrow, performs in an alien circus that tours the city. But the glitter and glamour hides a multitude of sins; all the performers are essentially prisoners, answering to a cruel alien called Obsidian.
When I was in London for YALC in November, I had lots of fun scouting real life locations for the story. Big Ben and the London Eye make quite a few appearances in ways you might not expect!
The Boy With Wings For Hands is one of the most ambitious novels I’ve attempted and I am really proud of it – and all the characters. I had immense fun inventing cool aliens.
Seventeen-year-old Sparrow has never known freedom. An alien from the planet Mykzon, she’s caged and forced to perform in Obsidian’s Travelling Show of Rarities and Fascinations.
That is, until Felix crashes into her world. He’s human, reckless and has wings where his hands should be. And when Felix’s arrival attracts powerful enemies, Sparrow’s world is thrown into chaos.
As Sparrow is drawn into a rebellion she never asked for, she must choose between staying hidden or risking everything to fight back.
Because Obsidian doesn’t just want the spotlight.
She wants the world.
Evernight Teen will publish the book and it should come out roughly before September 2026. I’ll let you know as soon as it’s available to pre-order.
A Wild Run is out now! It’s currently in the Top 100 Fantasy Anthologies on Amazon Kindle.
The multi-genre anthology was organised by Melanie Mar and brought together fifteen incredible authors in a defiant mission to prove that AI will never replace human creativity.
All stories were inspired by one prompt: your MC is running through the woods – why? Every author produced a completely different twist on this theme.
My short story for the anthology is called The Girl With The Heart Of Glass – a fantasy story about a girl who realises being broken can make her stronger than ever before.
All proceeds from the anthology go to charity.
The reviews are coming in thick and fast:
Every story in this anthology is a treasure and it was amazing to see how the authors each made the prompt their own. Thank you for the ARC!
I’ve never read an anthology before. I love how the authors have come together to write their own stories based on the same setting – the woods.
Each story showcased the author’s individuality while keeping in harmony with the theme. Some had a dash of romance, others focused on thriller elements, and some did not have a happy ending. Surprisingly, I loved those dark ones with the emotional heaviness the most (I’m not sure what that says about me LOL)
An amazing mix of genres. There’s truly something for everyone!
So what are you waiting for? Hop onto Amazon and grab your copy. (Be sure to check the trigger warnings before diving into each story. As usual, my story is quite dark and there are elements that could cause distress.)
City and Shadow is a finalist in the Fantasy Of The Year category in the Bookstagram Awards!
I was delighted (and flabbergasted) to get the news today from the lovely team at Bookstagram Awards.
There are so many amazing authors and books that you can vote for. All you need to do is click the button above, log in with a Google account and cast your vote. It goes without saying that I’d be immensely grateful if you voted for City and Shadow!
You have until 23 September to vote and it would mean the world to me and all the other authors nominated.
Bewitched Blooms is also nominated under Anthology Of The Year – an anthology organised by New York Times Bestseller, Briar Boleyn. (I contributed a short story from the Mirrordom universe to it – so if you wanted to vote for that while you were there, that would be amazing!)
If you’ve not already read City and Shadow, you can snap up a copy on Amazon. Bewitched Blooms will be on Kindle Unlimited until 25 September.
Thank you so much in advance – and congratulations to all the other finalists!
Author, Arini Vlotman, kindly agreed to be interviewed ahead of A Wild Run‘s release date. For those who don’t know, A Wild Run is a multi-genre short story anthology due out in September. Arini’s contribution is a short story entitled Bluebells In The Forest.
Tell me a little about yourself.
I’m a South African author, living my best life in my world of delusion – it’s fun here! I write feel-good contemporary romance, and the bookish community definitely make me feel good about writing lol.
How did you get involved with the anthology?
When I saw the call for submissions I was so intrigued. One prompt, and all our author voices? The possibilities are endless! I couldn’t help myself, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to work alongside out amazing group.
What’s your story about and what inspired you to write it?
[SPOILER ALERT]
I decided to challenge myself, and the prompt by writing outside of my usual comfort zone – and it was definitely tougher than I expected but definitely worth it. My story is an urban fantasy set in two universes, but in the same timeline. I write romance, so of course, my characters running through the woods have a happily-ever-after and in such an unexpected way. My usual readers may be surprised by the writing style I chose, it’s far from my usual voice, and I hope readers will enjoy it.
Does it tie into an existing story you’ve written?
Bluebells in the Forest is completely new, and I think I may have inadvertently given myself yet another full length story idea lol
What sparked your decision to sprint out your first romance novel in just a month and how did that creative explosion shape your journey toward publication?
All I can say is that I didn’t know it was possible until I wrote it. I learnt that the only one holding me back is myself – isn’t that so relatable? But if I could write one novel, I could write more, and so I did. I wrote with intent to publish though, and research along the way. Writing and learning helped me develop and grow while also staying motivated, but whoa – it was a big learning curve!
You’re a self-described panster who thrives on letting your characters lead the way. Can you walk us through how you write, revise, and eventually plot the narrative structure backward?
Since writing Pretty Average, I’ve learnt to become more structured by mapping out a loose plot. The setting, tropes, and plotline makes for easier writing, and prevents me from creating distractions for myself while writing. Once I’m ready, I write the first line, and my characters take over until I write ‘The End’. Then I stew lol I don’t edit (or try not to) as I write, because that’s when the doubts start and I find myself over complicating my WIP.
What was your experience navigating the publishing process, especially when you encountered pressure to tone down BIPOC representation? How did that shape your commitment to keeping your cultural authenticity intact?
There was one thing I knew for certain – I was going to write the type of characters I’d like to read about it so the fact that some people think there’s no space for representation was almost a challenge. I thought to myself “we’ll see about that” and I proved them wrong. It didn’t occur to me change anything, I just decided to find the write spaces for me and my stories and I’m happy to report I was successful!
Transitioning from Pretty Average to Pretty Bossy – and even the festive novella Pretty Unexpected – what led you to explore themes like sports romance, corporate chaos, or holiday magic?
One of the best parts of writing romance is that we can explore worlds we’ve never seen before but can realistically imagine. I like writing fast-paced action, and somehow these themes seemed perfect. A little bit of everything, what’s not to love?
Romance can be delightfully nuanced. Your works are known for being clean and sweet, sometimes fading to black. What draws you to that tone, and how do you balance emotional intimacy with restraint?
I’ve been asked this before, and I don’t have a definitive answer. Perhaps it’s the characters that lead me, or the fact that I’m still always learning how to improve my craft or both. Either way, emotions will always come first, I think that’s the case for most romance writers, but I’m looking forward to exploring physical intimacy in my future works.
Hearing from your readers is a highlight for you – especially when they message you about plot twists or how they relate to your characters. What’s a moment from fan feedback that truly touched you?
Every time a reader tells me they related to a character I do a happy dance and want to shriek at the top of my lungs. I work hard to create layered characters, FMC’s who are real, but also inspirational, fun and dynamic. When readers see a little of themselves in my FMC’s I celebrate, because it means I’ve done something right – we all long to feel seen. Mission accomplished.
What’s next for you? You mentioned you’re working on a three-book standalone series about women in their 30s discovering themselves through love. What excites you most about exploring these new voices and stories?
I’ve just submitted my third full length novel in the Femme Facades series so I’m excited to start sharing more about it in the upcoming months. The release is set for March 2026 and these MMC’s showed me flames lol I tried to flip a few of our beloved romance tropes, and it was challenging, frustrating and incredibly satisfying. ‘Seeing’ the characters evolve and take me to unexpected places is exhilarating.
Pre-order A Wild Run now and don’t miss Arini’s story.
Author, Avery Timmons, kindly agreed to be interviewed ahead of A Wild Run‘s release date. For those who don’t know, A Wild Run is a multi-genre short story anthology due out in September. Avery’s contribution is entitled Out In The Cold.
Tell me a little about yourself.
I’m Avery, an Illinois-based author. I am the author of two upcoming YA fantasy novels, Thicker Than Water (September 2025) and Maimed (April 2026), and I’ve also had short stories and photographs featured in anthologies and literary magazines. While I primarily write YA focused on protagonists figuring out where they belong and who with, I love exploring a variety of genres, from fantasy and mystery to contemporary romance. My work can be found at https://averytimmons.carrd.co!
How did you get involved with the anthology?
I follow Melanie Mar on social media, so when I saw her call for authors for the anthology, I thought it sounded like a great idea and reached out!
What’s your story about and what inspired you to write it?
My story is a flash fantasy piece that follows Aventine, a young Faerie princess, who escapes her home of the Winter Court after being treated like nothing but a trophy by her parents—and she takes their most prized possession with her.
Does it tie into an existing story you’ve written?
Yes! It’s not fully written yet, but it’s a backstory of sorts for a YA fantasy novel in the works.
What inspires you as an author?
Music really inspires me. If I’m in a writing slump, I’ll listen to some songs or make a playlist with the vibes of the story. Soon enough, I’ll find myself imagining scenes that would go with it, which usually gets me eager to get them down on the page.
Can you share how your lifelong love of storytelling has led you to where you are now as a writer?
I think it’s given me a lot of time to improve my craft. I was writing short stories from age eight, which led to my first attempt at writing a novel when I was sixteen. Objectively, none of it was exactly good, but I was having fun, so I consistently kept writing and kept working at it. I’ve also been a voracious reader since childhood, so that also contributed to my love of storytelling and my understanding of story structure and all those other important elements of writing.
You mention using a mix of outlining and spontaneous writing—starting with a clear beginning and end, while letting scenes evolve organically in between. How does that hybrid “plantser” approach benefit your storytelling?
I think it allows for a lot of creative freedom in the moment. Other than the biggest plot points, I like to let those other scenes unravel freely. This can lead to a lot of scenes not making the final draft, because sometimes they’re not really driving the story forward, but as long as I had fun writing them in the moment, that’s what matters to me. I don’t like feeling too tied to an outline, because I’ve found it can kind of kill my motivation.
Pre-order A Wild Run now to read Avery’s story.