Roz Maclaren

Teen Fiction with a Dark Twist

Venom and Blaze: coming soon!

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My debut novel, Venom and Blaze, is due out in Summer 2024. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the release date:

What’s the book about?

“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.

Who are the main characters and what are they like?

This is the first book in the Mirrordom Trilogy to have dual perspectives. The story is mostly told through the eyes of two of the main characters in alternating chapters.

Blaze was imprisoned in the castle dungeons along with four other Mirrors when they were just babies. Stone walls and scared faces are all he’s ever known. But he’s determined to get out. And, when he gets out, he’s going to make the man who put him there pay. Unfortunately, the man who put him there is the ruler of the land, King Viper.

Venom is King Viper’s seventeen-year-old daughter, who hates her father almost as much as Blaze does. All she wants is a normal life. All her father wants is to pair her off with a politically-advantageous match. But Venom has never been keen on sticking to the rules. And when she discovers and falls in love with the boy down in the dungeons, everything changes. Oh, and did I mention she can communicate with spiders? Because she absolutely can.

Thorn is a Lawkeeper who looks after and befriends Venom. He quickly falls in love with her – but can he compete with Blaze?

Does the book come with a trigger warning?

Yes – I anticipate that all books in the Mirrordom Trilogy will have trigger warnings. It’s not for the faint of heart.

What ages should read the book?

This book is for older teenagers. There is one intimate, tasteful scene in it (sorry, Mum!) and a few swear words (really sorry, Mum!). There are also quite dark scenes.

Will there be another story in the Mirrordom Trilogy?

Yes. There will be a third. I have a title, a plot and a bunch of cool characters I can’t wait to introduce you to. After that, I have no idea. I do know that none of these characters have let me go. Even once I thought their stories were over, I found there were still more to tell.

Which character from Venom and Blaze is my favourite?

I try not to have favourite characters but I love the character of Queen Saffron. She doesn’t feature hugely, but what she does and says is powerful – and ends up shaping Venom’s character.

Why did you write the trilogy backwards?

Because I’m an idiot.

City and Shadow was written first. And then I wrote a prequel, which subsequently ended up being first in the series. Even though it was written second. If I could go back and do it differently, I would. But I’m not sure I could have done it any differently.

Two of the main characters in Venom and Blaze become the main villains in City and Shadow. But this is far more than just an origin story. You’ll see what I mean when you read it.

Summer 2024 is ages away! What about right now?

It’ll be here before we know it! There’s a lot of work to be done in the meantime, including editing, selecting a cover and book promotion – all of which will be completely new to me.

Exciting news – and a bit of a surprise!

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“Are you sure you don’t want to write more about these characters?” my beta reader asked. “I think they have more stories to tell.”

“No, definitely not. I don’t see what else could possibly be done in this world,” I said, decisively.

Cut to me, less than three months later, starting a prequel. A prequel nobody asked for. A prequel I didn’t think anybody would want to read. But a prequel that simply wouldn’t stop flowing.

A prequel that just got accepted for publication next year!

Which left us all with a conundrum. Because the events in Venom and Blaze definitely take place before City and Shadow and set the stage for a potential third novel too. And, when submitting it to my publisher, I (equally as decisively as when I told my beta teacher I wouldn’t be writing more) declared it definitely wasn’t part of a series and I had no plans for one either. So what should I do? Release City and Shadow as planned and then release the prequel? Being a chronic overthinker, the entanglement I got myself in caused me much consternation. However, my lovely publisher effortlessly solved this conundrum by a simple tweak of the scheduling.

The result? City and Shadow will be coming out in Autumn 2024. Venom and Blaze will be coming out in Summer 2024. And, yes, there will be a third in the trilogy (the clue is kind of in the name, I guess!). Once I get myself in gear and actually write it. Because it turns out I was wrong. There’s an abundance of stories to be told in the world of Good and Mirrors.

So, apologies to everyone (mainly my mother) who was hyped up waiting for City and Shadow but I promise* it’ll be worth the wait.

Venom and Blaze

In a game of power, love is the ultimate weapon.

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.

As soon as I have more details, I’ll let you know. In the meantime, I hope everyone has a wonderful time over the holidays.

Welcome to The Mirrordom Trilogy.

*Disclaimer: I am not to be held responsible if, upon reading City and Shadow, you felt it was not, in fact, worth the wait.

What’s involved in writing a book: the story so far

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When I set up my Instagram page, I did it to document my attempts to get City and Shadow published. I wanted to share the highs and lows, whether that was for myself to look back on later or for other aspiring authors to learn from my (multiple) mistakes.

In a similar vein, I wanted to write a series of blog posts on what’s actually involved in writing a book, from the initial idea to holding the finished copy.

The actual writing

City and Shadow started life off as a couple of notes written on my phone. I’d always loved the word “City” as a name and I thought it would be cool to have a protagonist called that. I was re-reading the old notes for story ideas when I came across that one – and combined it with another one along the lines of “What would happen if everyone had a dark, Mirror-self that was only capable of doing bad things?” Rough, eh?

The writing started in Spring 2023 and didn’t stop until the summer. It seemed to be quite a fast process, and, unusually for me, I didn’t struggle hitting the accepted word count for YA fiction (I’m usually pithier than an orange that’s full of pith). I lost myself in Mirrorworld and even started dreaming of my characters.

The editing process

I let the story sit for a while (okay, not very long) before editing and editing and editing and editing. And editing some more. I asked beta readers for their opinions, sending my work off to strangers in the hopes I’d get some honest feedback (which I did.) I had a wonderful beta reader from across the pond who called out every little inconsistency (of which there were many) and really helped me tighten up the prose.

Agent or publisher?

Then I had to decide whether to look for an agent or try and get it published myself. In the end, I set myself a deadline of September 2023 and, if I didn’t have a publishing offer by that time, I’d go down the agent route.

I kept disgustingly detailed spreadsheets of who I’d submitted to and when, when they’d rejected me and who I would submit to next. This let me see at a glance how many times my baby manuscript had been rejected.

And, much to my delight, by August 2023, I had an offer from a publisher I’d been absolutely dying to work with.

Researching

There are so many amazing resources out there for aspiring authors. I especially found this blog post by Jane Friedman very helpful, along with this one by Lisa Tenor. Both deal with navigating publishing contracts. I also joined the Society of Authors, who have been invaluable and tireless in sharing advice, resources and expertise.

What’s next?

City and Shadow is due to come out in Summer 2024 – and there’s still a mountain of work to be done before then.

The book is yet to go through a detailed edit – and I’ll actually get a team of editors to help me with this, instead of me going through it on my own with a red pen second-guessing myself.

We’ll also be talking covers and picking one that really encapsulates the heart of the book. This means I’ll get to work closely with some amazing and talented designers.

I’m also planning promotional activities as we speak, including getting my book into local book shops, my local library and, maybe (if I overcome my chronic shyness and introversion) doing some kind of book tour.

Stay tuned for Part Two!

Sequels, prequels and unequal struggles

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The logical thing to do when writing a trilogy is start at the beginning, right?

And yet I started the Mirrorworld stories by writing slap, bang in the middle of the planned trilogy (the planned trilogy that my publisher knows nothing about yet. Unless they read this blog. Which is unlikely because I get less than two hits per day.)

You see the characters in City and Shadow, my upcoming debut novel, decided their story didn’t want to end there. And two characters in particularly wouldn’t let me rest until I’d put their stories down on paper. And, unfortunately, those stories took place several years before the events of City and Shadow. Leaving me with the problem: do I call it a sequel? Do I turn it all into a trilogy and pretend that was my plan all along (full disclosure: it wasn’t. In fact, I do recall telling a beta reader with unwavering conviction that I definitely wasn’t writing any more Mirrorworld stories any time soon as, and I quote, “I don’t see what else can be done there.”)?

Fast forward to today… and I’ve just finished the (very rough) first draft of Venom and Blaze. (It’s a working title. But I’m so in love with it. And in love with the story. It’s very dark. I think you’ll like it.)

Venom and Blaze is one of those stories that just wouldn’t let me drop it until I’d finished. I wrote it on holiday with my mother. I wrote it on my lunch break at my day job. I wrote it whenever I could and, whenever I couldn’t, I was thinking about writing it. And now it’s written. And, once I’ve let it sit for a while, I’ll edit it. Then casually tell my publisher about it and see where it goes.

“That’s all very well,” I can hear you thinking. “But you said a sequel. So where does the third one come in?”

Well, turns out I was wrong. There definitely is more to be done in Mirrorworld. I still have no idea if I’m writing a trilogy, or a standalone story that just happens to have sequel and a prequel. But something is happening at Roz MacLaren HQ. And, while I absolutely can’t share any details yet, I can promise you it’s going to be a wild ride. Are you ready for it?

What to read while you’re waiting for City and Shadow to be released

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I write Young Adult novels – but that also means I read a ton of them too! I grew up reading authors like Meg Cabot, Ally Carter, Sarah Dessen and more. And for me to stay up-to-date with popular market trends, it’s important I’m aware of what other YA authors are publishing. So here are a few of my recommendations that I think you’ll enjoy.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins.

10/10.

I find Suzanne Collins’ style exceptionally readable – even when she’s telling the backstory of one of the Hunger Games’ most disliked characters. Here we have the prequel we didn’t know we needed: the story of a young President Snow before he was ever president. The twist at the end wasn’t a huge surprise to me, but the whole story is told in an utterly engaging, riveting way so I will give it top marks. I absolutely can’t wait to see the film next month!

The Death House by Sarah Pinborough.

8/10.

The concept to this book fascinates me. The book is set in a house nicknamed Death House, where children and young adults are taken who are suspected to have a mysterious disease. Symptoms can appear without warning and, without giving too much away, you should expect to shed a few tears over this book. We are introduced to the two main characters, Toby and Clara, who, against all odds, find love in the face of death.

Spoiler (look away now!): I deducted points because the story doesn’t end as happily as I’d have liked.

The List by Siobhan Vivian.

9/10.

Every year, a list is posted naming the “prettiest” and “ugliest” girls in every class. This book follows the story of each of those girls and how being singled out this way affects every one of them. I love the original concept here – and, while having multiple perspectives telling the story could be confusing, Siobhan manages to develop every character really well. The twist at the end feels slightly forced to me, but it’s definitely worth a read.

Airhead by Meg Cabot.

10/10.

Okay, I loved The Princess Diaries. I really did. But somehow I loved the Airhead series even more. I loved the characters, I loved the storyline, I loved the entire trilogy. The story centres around Em Watts, who discovers her brain has been transplanted into the head of New York’s most famous supermodel, Nikki Howard. Filled with fun characters, evil villains and the cutest dog ever, I’d definitely recommend reading this series.

Have you any YA book recommendations? I’d love to hear all about them. Let me know in the comments.

City and Shadow: coming soon!

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UPDATE: As of 28 December, City and Shadow‘s release date has been changed. It was originally due out in Summer 2024. I have not edited the blog to reflect the change.

My debut novel, City and Shadow, is due out in Summer 2024. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the release date:

What’s the book about?

“At first, they tried to co-exist. The Good and their Mirror. The firstborn and the twin that emerged immediately after…”
In a world where every person has a Mirror twin capable of doing only bad things, Quiver is the only one born Mirrorless. Along with his best friend, City, the two must navigate a society ruled by a tyrannical queen and threatened by a dangerous rebel. And, when City’s Mirror escapes from her island prison, a chain of events is set in motion that thrusts Quiver, City and her Mirror into a dangerous struggle for power and survival.

Who are the main characters and what are they like?

My book ended up having three main characters, all of equal importance. It centres around the story of three very different teenagers, who each have their own complexities and problems.

Quiver is a revolutionary. He’s never fitted in and he channels that to create a world of chance. He’s not afraid to make the tough choices, even if that means sacrificing something he cares about.

The story is told through the eyes and from the perspective of his best friend, City. City is a quiet girl who just wants to maintain the status quo. Unfortunately, for her, life has other plans…

Shadow is City’s Mirror – and my favourite character, if I’m allowed to have favourites. Funny, sarcastic, slightly aggressive and never taking no for an answer, Shadow has personality in bucketloads and she’s not afraid to make it known.

What about the villain?

I couldn’t pick one protagonist – so I definitely couldn’t pick one villain either. This book has two.

Queen Venom is a cool, calculating monarch who’s found a way round the fact that she’s Good and unable to kill, lie, steal or do anything particularly bad. At least, not directly. As you’ll find in the book, she can do quite a lot of bad things.

Blaze is the other villain. He pops up later in the book but makes up for it by doing an awful lot of damage in a short space of time.

Villains are my favourite characters to write as you can have such fun describing them, what makes them tick and why they made the choices they did.

Does the book come with a trigger warning?

It’s very dark, so I wouldn’t recommend it for the faint of heart.

What ages should read the book?

Ages 13+ would be able to read my book. There’s one swear word in it (sorry, Mum) but that’s about it, apart from the aforementioned darkness.

What’s with all the spiders?

Early on, I had a vision for a character that wore a dress of live spiders. This morphed into a character that literally just wore spiders. Queen Venom became that character. She’s covered entirely in spiders that reshape themselves, depending on what sort of outfit she needs. I anticipate this will gross a few people out, but I’ve always been very fond of spiders.

Will there be another story in the Mirrordom universe?

I’m already planning a prequel and a sequel. Whether they ever see the light of day or not is another matter. I have working titles and vague plots for both, but the prequel will aim to explore the relationship between Venom and Blaze, while teeing up the City and Shadow sequel. The sequel will explain how Quiver came to be Mirrorless.

Summer 2024 is ages away. What about right now?

Right now, you can take my Which City and Shadow Character Are You? quiz, which will let you know which of my three protagonists you’ll resonate with the most. And I’m planning a blog post on books I’ve loved that you might want to check out.

Welcome to my website!

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Hello! I’m Roz MacLaren, which, if you’re reading this, I presume you already know. Here are some more quick-fire facts.

I’m a YA author based in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. I live with a black and white cat and own far too many notebooks.

I’ve wanted to be an author since I was five. It would have been earlier, but I don’t think I knew what an author was then. The first books I remember reading were Black Beauty and the Famous Five stories (which I still read because they’re awesome).

My stories tend to be on the darker side, but I do plan on writing something mature and light-hearted when I grow up. If that ever happens.

My debut novel was accepted by a really cool publisher – something that made me so excited I gasped out loud. I’ll never forget reading the acceptance email and grinning for the rest of the day. The novel is called Venom and Blaze.

I’ll be updating this blog with a host of different topics, including book recommendations and reviews, updates on my own books, tips* for new or aspiring authors (get me. Not even had a book released yet and I’m already giving out advice!) and a smattering of personal (in case anyone is interested. I’m told people like to know the person behind the pen.) Is there anything you’d particularly like me to write about? Let me know in the comments.

*Disclaimer: all my tips will just be me saying what worked for me. There’s absolutely no guarantee they’ll work for anyone else. It was a miracle they worked for me, in my opinion.