General

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!)

The Mirrordom Legends

The final books

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

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’.

A Wild Run anthology

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.

New deal announcement

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.

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 . . .

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.

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

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.

Our gorgeous cover for Bewitched Blooms: A Fundraiser Anthology for Zoe is revealed! Isn’t it pretty?

I’m finishing up the final edits on Omen and Myth, my short story that’s going to be in the anthology.

My short story will only be available via this anthology. And this anthology will only be available for a limited time (approximately three months) – so be sure to pre-order while you can.

Here’s a reminder of the blurb for Omen and Myth.

In a world where no one can steal, lie or kill, Myth can do all three. She has spent her life hiding from those who would banish her. But when she discovers a letter from the father she never knew, Myth escapes into the outside world. Alongside her reluctant twin, Omen, and a trio of strangers with secrets of their own, Myth plunges headfirst into adventure. But not everyone can be trusted. When Myth’s life is on the line, is discovering where she belongs worth the price of betrayal?

Omen and Myth is perfect if you’re looking for a quick read after finishing Fable and Legend. There are plenty of ‘in-jokes’ and nods to the series. But it’s equally suitable if this is your first trip to Mirrordom, as it’s written to be a standalone too. (If you haven’t read Fable and Legend, you can order the book here.)

All the funds raised from Bewitched Blooms go towards helping Zoe, a friend of author Briar Boleyn, as she battles cancer.

Ready to dive into new worlds and explore uncharted lands? Here are ten indie authors I’ve discovered in 2024 and I think you’ll like them too!

Renée Shantel

Renée is a phenomenal writer and I’m so happy I accidentally stumbled across her work. Her 2024 novel, In The Days Before, was a work of art and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes a twisty, pacy thriller.

Dana Gricken

Dana is the most prolific indie author I know, whose output is incredible. I especially enjoyed her short stories, Whispers In The Woods, as her creativity and original thinking was palpable.

April Grace

April and I met at YALC and quickly hit it off. Where my books are dark and twisted, hers are uplifting and wholesome. April’s book The Steel Princess is on my reading list for 2025.

Jennifer Ascienzo

Jennifer is a gifted indie author, creator of the highly-enjoyable sci-fi trilogy, Foiled Stars. I can’t wait to see what Jennifer comes up with in 2025. I especially love Jennifer’s ability to create flawed, relatable characters.

Roxan Burley

Roxan is a dystopian fantasy indie author. I had a lovely time meeting her at YALC and can’t wait to delve into her work in 2025.

L. S. Delorme

Lexy is an original thinker turned indie author who creates gorgeous books. She is the author of The Limerent Series.

Kiera Nixon

Kiera’s debut novel, The Dream Maker, came out in 2024. I love Kiera’s thoughtful, intelligent writing style and can’t wait for her future releases.

Kerry Law

Like me, Kerry is based in Scotland – so it’s always special to read about places I know (or, at least, could drive to in under a day). I follow Kerry on Instagram and I’m very excited about her current WIP. Kerry kindly agreed to be interviewed for an upcoming blog post, so stay tuned for that!

Amy Woodruff

I got an ARC of Amy Woodruff’s fabulous new book, Of Kingdoms And Curses. It was a magical, engaging tale and I can’t wait to read Amy’s future installments in the series.

Hayley Alderton

Hayley isn’t merely the powerhouse behind Indie Visible, where she helps indie authors promote themselves and frequently runs amazing events: she’s also an indie author in her own right.

Oh, wait, there’s more…

If you’re a reader, let me know in the comments which indie authors I should check out. If you’re an author yourself, I regularly interview indie authors for my blog, so send me a message and we can chat.

You’re reading the latest novel from a new author, who has either been published by a small indie press or gone down the self-publishing route. You’re enjoying the tale when, shock, horror! You find an error.

Before immediately rushing onto Goodreads or Amazon to leave a scathing review, let’s take a look at why you might find errors in indie authors’ works and what you should do about it.

Why are there occasional errors in books?

The author has a smaller team behind them

They haven’t been published by the Big Five* and they don’t have as many eyes on their books. Does this mean they haven’t spent hours combing through it? No, it does not. It means that, despite their best efforts and the best efforts of their team, a few mistakes slipped through the net.

*However, even books that did have a larger team and even books published by the Big Five have errors in them. Unfortunately, it happens.

What should you do about it?

Speak to the author

Notice I say ‘Speak to the author’, not ‘Immediately write a vitriolic email berating the author’. My recommendation would be to approach the author and ask if they would like to know about some errors you may have found. This is particularly useful if you’ve got your hands on an ARC as it may not be too late to fix those mistakes. However, even if the book is published, it might still be reaching out to the author. They may be able to release a second edition… or even explain away some inconsistencies in the book in the series.

Become an ARC or beta reader

If you have an eye for detail, why not put your skills to use? Indie authors will appreciate you signing up for advanced reading copies and letting them know your thoughts on their work. You could even take it a step further and become a developmental editor.

What errors don’t mean

They definitely don’t mean the author hasn’t spent months on this book, giving their very best to it. And they definitely don’t mean the book necessarily warrants a bad review. As an indie author, I can guarantee you every book I write was given huge amounts of care and attention. I created the very best book I could at the time. Are any of them perfect? No. There are definitely typos I wish I’d caught and little details I missed that should have been changed. But did I give it my level best? Absolutely.

If you really feel occasional errors distract from the storyline, perhaps sticking to books published by the Big Five is the way to go for you.

That being said, I would like to one day put together a list of all the errors my editor and my team caught, especially if they’re funny, and have them as a sort of bloopers roll at the end of a book one day. Or perhaps they could make a blog post in their own right!

What are your thoughts on errors in books? Does it put you off reading?

Even though I live in the Inner Hebrides, I don’t really venture to Edinburgh very much. The iconic bookshops of TikTok fame have long been on my list to visit – so when I was in town seeing The National, I lost no time in popping in to them.

As a lifelong Swiftie, I was excited to see The National in concert – with Edinburgh Castle as a stunning backdrop.

The National’s distinctive introspective lyrics and slow, musing pacing is thrown by the wayside when it comes to their live show. Their on-stage performance transforms into a screaming, guitar-ridden, beautifully chaotic cohesion of sounds and nuances.

I also purchased a rather snazzy T-shirt – I do love concert merch!

The following day, I popped into Armchair Books first – and what an epic place it is. Floor to ceiling books in every direction and a great range of genres, authors and subjects.

Armchair Books’ narrow door belies the shop’s size – inside it’s a treasure trove of passages and corridors, all leading to more books. It’s a TARDIS-like expanse of literature.

I also explored Edinburgh Books, a really bright and airy shop also with an extensive book collection.

One could really spend all day browsing. I didn’t get anything in this particular shop, but I very much enjoyed the tour and I’ll make sure to go back if I return to Edinburgh.

Both shops had the smell of old pages and leather bindings – exactly how they should!

I love old architecture and there was plenty to be found in Edinburgh. The last picture features a friendly pigeon.

I also had a peek into the Cat Cafe, filled with gorgeously exotic kitties.

Sadly, I didn’t go in because it was closed when I passed.

What did you get up to this weekend? Are you a cat lover? Let me know in the comments.