Roz MacLaren

Event: Roz MacLaren appearing at YALC 2025

2 May, 2025 by Roz MacLaren Leave a Comment

I’m delighted to announce that I will be back at YALC this year!

The 2025 Young Adult Literature Convention is one of my favourite events of the year. It’s on over Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 November at its usual location in Olympia.

What will I be doing?

I’ll be part of the Inspiring Indies zone for the second year running. I had the honour of being one of the first ever Inspiring Indies authors at YALC. This year, I’m led to understand that the zone will be bigger and better than ever.

Author appearance. You’ll be able to find me at my own dedicated table on Saturday morning for around four hours, so come over, get your books signed, let’s take selfies together and discuss all things books. I’ll be running giveaways and accepting applications to join my Street Team, so don’t be shy.

Panel discussion. I’ll be a guest speaker on one of the daily In Conversation With… events. You can learn more about this on the official YALC programme.

By November, I will have four books out in the world and I plan to bring paperbacks of all of them with me. You’ll be able to snag your own copy and get them signed and personalised.

I think the main question to be asked around my YALC appearance is…

Will the iconic sparkly jumpsuit be making a reappearance? Or will I splurge on a new one? (Joking aside, my sequinned jumpsuit attracted so many lovely remarks that I might just have to wear it again as a YALC tradition!)

Will you be there? Let me know in the comments!

April wrap-up

30 April, 2025 by Roz MacLaren Leave a Comment

As April comes to an end, I thought it would be a nice chance to talk about what’s happened this month. I don’t (yet) have a newsletter (and I’m not sure if I ever will), so this seems like a good place to post what I would put in a newsletter if I had one.

January came out in paperback

My first-ever YA sci-fi novel, January, came out in paperback. My author copies are on the way, so I’ll be bringing those to the various events I’ll be attending this year. You can also use the contact form and purchase a signed copy from me directly.

Bewitched Blooms came out in paperbacks

The extremely limited-edition paperbacks of Bewitched Blooms, our fundraiser anthology were released. Because so many authors contributed, the decision was made to split these into two paperbacks.

Omen and Myth, my story, is in Volume One. I’m still pinching myself that I get to say I was in an anthology with Briar Boleyn!

City and Shadow edits are nearly complete

Along with my lovely editor, Angelique, I have been getting City and Shadow ready for publication this summer! I’m very excited to share the third in the series with you. City and Shadow goes in an even darker direction than its two predecessors – so be prepared!

Venom and Blaze is a best seller!

I already blogged about this, but I was very excited that Kindle edition of Venom and Blaze made it to 55 in the pithily titled Teen & Young Adult Science Fiction and Dystopian Romance eBook section of Amazon. I don’t control what categories the books end up in, but it seems to be doing quite well there!

Current work in progress:

I’m writing a sequel to my fantasy novel set on the Isle of Skye. It’s set in a futuristic world and, though it features many real places, they’re quite different in my story to how they are in real life! Portree Harbour, on the Isle of Skye, is pictured above – the image shows a lovely April sunset about pretty coloured houses and is possibly somewhere my characters may end up visiting.

I’m planning to write a trilogy and I’ve just introduced a new and rather nasty villain who is making my protagonists’ lives quite difficult. Once all three are written, I’ll try to find a home for them – so watch this space (but don’t hold your breath!)

Learning as I go…

I also attended a free workshop entitled Five Things You Can Do Today To Boost Your Readership. The workshop was run by Helen Lewis of LiterallyPR and is available to view on YouTube. Keep an eye out on LiterallyPR’s channels for more free education – it was definitely worth attending.

Books I’ve read and loved

The Hive by Anna February

Chicken House Books were kind enough to give me a proof copy of this – and it’s brilliant! The book is out now and I highly recommend it.

It’s a futuristic dystopian novel, set in a society inspired by bees. Here’s the blurb:

Justice is merciless in the Hive, a monarchy of tomorrow, where young bodyguard Feldspar awaits execution, guilty of being alive when her charge is dead.

The girl has one defender – Niko, a royal maverick. Together they have three days to prove the impossible.

Three days to question everything Feldspar knows about the world that raised her and discover who the real murderer is . . .

I highly recommend it.

Over to you…

What has been the highlight of this month for you? What books do you recommend I read? Let me know in the comments.

Grab your paperback copy of January!

29 April, 2025 by Roz MacLaren Leave a Comment

I’m very excited to announce the paperback version of January is now available to buy!

GET YOURS NOW!

If you’re like me and enjoy having a physical book in your hands, then this is great news. And I’ve just been speaking with the lovely team at Evernight Teen and my author copies are on the way – which means I’ll be able to sign and send paperback copies if you wish to order one directly through me.

This also means I’ll be taking January to the various book festivals I’ll be attending this year, including one in Edinburgh and YALC in London.

So what’s January about?

January is my first YA sci-fi novel. Here’s the blurb:

Leon knows January is trouble. She has magical hair with a mind of its own – and powerful enemies on her trail. When they track her down, Leon is caught up in her fight to survive. But January’s past is unraveling – and it’s threatening to destroy everything. Is she ready for the truth about who she really is? And can she and Leon survive the fallout?

Like all of my books, it’s dark and twisted – so check the content warnings before you shop yours.

January contains:

Violence and death (including depictions of murder, gun use, blood, injury, threat and death of a loved one)
Human experimentation
Parental betrayal
Manipulation and gaslighting
Survival situations
Panic and anxiety
Confinement and captivity
Mild language
Medical trauma
Animal experimentation (but no animal death or injury)

Ready to dive into a fast-paced YA sci-fi? Grab your copy now.

GET JANUARY

Did you know you can order signed books directly from me?

23 April, 2025 by Roz MacLaren Leave a Comment

There’s something special about a signed, personalised book, knowing the author has thought about you when they were autographing it. If I see you in person, at an event or book signing, I’ll be thrilled to sign a book for you. But did you know you can order a signed copy, directly from me?

Snag signed copies

All you need to do is use the contact form. Just let me know:

how many you want
if you want them personalised or made out to a particular person

SNAG THE SWAG

Which books are available to order?

You can order signed copies of Venom and Blaze and Fable and Legend. City and Shadow will be out this summer and the paperback copy of January will be released soon too.

So, whether you’re wanting to treat yourself or gift one to a friend, just let me know.

What people are saying about January

19 April, 2025 by Roz MacLaren Leave a Comment

I’m always so pleased to see what readers think of the worlds and characters I create. It’s always interesting to see something so personal go out into the world for everyone to freely comment on. So I got a lovely surprise to read this amazing review today!

Okay, January by Roz MacLaren absolutely surprised me in the best way. I picked it up thinking I was getting a quirky fantasy with a dash of magic… and what I got was a whirlwind of mystery, danger, slow-burn connection, and the kind of chaotic magic that makes you feel like anything could happen.

From the moment January appeared on the page—with that wild, magical hair and secrets spilling out behind her—I knew she was going to stir up trouble. But it’s the kind of trouble I couldn’t get enough of. She’s stubborn, a little bit broken, and totally fascinating. There’s this haunted feel to her, like she’s trying to outrun more than just the people chasing her—and that hooked me fast.

Then there’s Leon. Oh, Leon. The reluctant hero who just wants to stay out of it but keeps getting dragged deeper. Their dynamic is so compelling—it’s not instant love or easy trust, it’s messy and earned, and I loved that. Watching him unravel her walls while being tangled in a magical mess he never asked for? Chef’s kiss.

The story has this almost surreal rhythm—like it exists half in our world and half in one that’s slipping out of control. Secrets come at you fast. The tension is thick. And when the truth about January’s identity started to crack through the surface, I felt that unraveling right along with her.

There’s something quietly emotional in how this book handles identity, trust, and survival. It’s not just about magic and bad guys (though those are very much present)—it’s about discovering who you are when the truth is dangerous.

If you like mysterious girls with powers they can’t control, morally gray protectors, and stories where you genuinely don’t know what’s coming next—I highly recommend January. I finished it feeling breathless and a little bit raw, and now I need more.

READ NOW

January – coming soon in paperback!

14 April, 2025 by Roz MacLaren Leave a Comment

For those of you who like a physical book to read, I have some exciting news!

January is coming soon in paperback!

I’ve just spoken to my lovely publisher, Evernight Teen, who said that they’ll be working on it this week. So, hopefully, it won’t be long until the paperback version is ready to order!

January

Leon knows January is trouble. She has magical hair with a mind of its own – and powerful enemies on her trail. When they track her down, Leon is caught up in her fight to survive. But January’s past is unraveling – and it’s threatening to destroy everything. Is she ready for the truth about who she really is? And can she and Leon survive the fallout?

The Kindle version is available to buy on Amazon now.

January is my first YA sci-fi novel, written and set in America (so you can expect American English!).

I’ll also be appearing at various book festivals throughout the year – and bringing January. More details to follow, but it would be lovely to see you there.

Venom and Blaze in the Top 100 Best Sellers in Teen & Young Adult Science Fiction & Dystopian Romance eBooks

2 April, 2025 by Roz MacLaren Leave a Comment

Venom and Blaze is currently at No. 55 in Amazon’s Top 100 Best Sellers in Teen & Young Adult Science Fiction & Dystopian Romance eBooks!

I think this is the first time any of my books have made it onto a list like this, so I’m very happy!

Venom and Blaze

Venom and Blaze is my debut novel and the first in my series, The Mirrordom Legends. Set in a world where everyone is born Good and unable to lie, steal or kill – but they all have a Mirror twin that can do all of that and more.

“During a time when unicorns roamed free and dragons cast shadows across the sun, the wise men and women of the land told stories of a troubled future. The legends whispered of a time when every baby born would be blonde, genial and entirely Good. But straight after it would emerge a baby with black hair, dark eyes – and an entirely different nature. They would be called Mirrors, and nobody would know from whence they came or what to do with them once they arrived.”

Venom wants a normal life where no one can tell her what to do, especially her father, King Viper.

Blaze wants to be free, after all, he has been imprisoned in a dungeon since he was a baby.

Thorn wants to get the girl, which is a shame, because the girl has other things on her mind.

At least one of them is going to be disappointed.

GET YOURS

Fable and Legend

Venom and Blaze‘s sequel came out in early 2025. Set in the same universe, it follows the story of Fable, one of my favourite characters and, so far, the only character in every single one of the books!

“The beast is out of the cage. And she thirsts for vengeance.”

In the world of Mirrordom, secrets lurk like shadows. For every child that’s born is entirely Good, unable to kill, steal or lie. But immediately after it appears a Mirror twin, capable of only bad things.

Fable, a Mirror girl with a twisted past, dares the impossible—to find her Good twin. Along the way, she meets Cobalt, a mind-reader with secrets of his own. As alliances shift and betrayal beckons, can Fable protect Cobalt from someone who wants to kill him? Or will the darkness consume them both?

GET YOURS

Omen and Myth

If you don’t want to leave the world of Mirrordom, but you’re tired of waiting for City and Shadow, check out Bewitched Blooms: A Fundraiser Anthology for Zoe. Every penny goes towards helping the family of Zoe, who sadly died from cancer.

I contributed a short story called Omen and Myth, set seventeen years after the events of Fable and Legend and featuring the baby twins, now all grown up! Might there be a cameo from Cobalt? You’ll just have to read it and find out.

GET YOURS

City and Shadow

I’m currently editing City and Shadow with the help of lovely editor, Angelique, and can’t wait for it to come out this year. After letting the book sit for the best part of three years, untouched, I was able to remind myself just how much I love these characters. City and Shadow is possibly my favourite book in the entire series – and it’s the only one not dual-POV, so we get to see the whole world through City’s eyes. She’s one of my favourite characters, never quite knowing what to do with herself or where she fits in. Does she speak her mind? Does she keep quiet to spare everyone else’s feelings? It’s very much the story of a girl forced out of her comfort zone and learning to take back control. I can’t wait to share it with you – and fervently hope it also makes it onto the Amazon Kindle bestseller list!