Hello everyone!

As we bunker down for the winter I wanted to make sure all my newsletter subscribers got the chance to see my latest email regarding the chance to get a free audiobook and sign up for advance reader copies.  

Hope you are all well! I'm heading back to my writing desk. 

I was on a roll for a while writing a blog post a month.
Then I disappeared. 

Some of you may know but others may not but I write under other pen names. Some of those are: Olivia Oakley and A.R. Bailey (fantasy) but I've also started one for children's books Rosie Bailey. 

In September The Lady's Defiance was actually my third book published that month. 
There was also Keeper's Folly, Welcome to Goblin Hollow, Fred!

Ignoring how tired I was I jumped into another project that I was super passionate about. The Spymaster's Daughter is currently at the editor's and I hope to release it before Christmas. This is a new series set in Elizabethan England and written in first person. It was a wild ride and why I more or less disappeared from social media etc. 

I would like to announce that The Lady's Defiance will be available on Audible soon! After 90 days, it will be available across all other platforms as well. 

Katherine Bristow is back to narrate and I couldn't be happier. 

Thank you to all my readers and I hope to be back soon with all sorts of projects. 

p.s. did I mention a children's book is currently being illustrated?!

My latest addition to the Royal Court Series is going to be available in the next 24 hours or so (depending when you are reading this). 

Here is the summary! 
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The Tudor court is crawling with enemies. She can only hide for so long.
​

“There’s no danger in a bit of poetry.”


Mary Howard is a dutiful daughter of the infamous Duke of Norfolk. Protected by her prestigious family and wealth, she is swept up in Anne Boleyn’s glittering court. Charmed by talented poets and flirtatious knights, it's easy to forget that someone is watching her every move.


The court grows bolder and wilder. Love letters are exchanged in the open, and couples flaunt their affections in public. All Mary can think of is her poetry, but even she gets pulled into the secret trysts of her friends. Then her world of privilege and safety comes crashing down. Mary must scramble to survive.


But she’s not a Howard girl for nothing. She will defy them all.

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Book 5 of the Royal Court Series but can be read as a standalone book.

My lovely newsletter subscribers received the long awaited short story that acts as a sequel to The Lady's Gamble. 

My fifth book in the Royal Court Series is at the editors and will be released soon. When I have a better idea of a date I will let you all know. 

This was the story of Mary Howard, daughter of the Duke of Norfolk. Little is known about her but she was one of the creators and contributors of the Devonshire Manuscript: a collection of poems from the Tudor court that survives to this date. 

Hello!

Just wanted to let you know that I have been working on a short story to act as a companion piece to The Lady's Gamble that takes place a few years after the end of the story. Even if you haven't read The Lady's Gamble I have made it so you can still read and enjoy it although it might spoil some of the events in The Lady's Gamble.

It is coming soon! Thank you for waiting so patiently. 

A huge welcome back to Katherine Bristow who has returned to narrate The Lady's Gamble. 

It shall be available on various retailers soon but I was excited to share with you all a 5-min sample. 

Choosing Him - Book 2 of the Bluehaven series is out now.

On June 1st, 2021 it will be available for free for one day only. I'm really excited to hear what you all think. 

In other news I have been working away at another installment of my Royal Court Series. It's been nice to step away from the Tudors but I have missed them and am happy to be going home. 

By the start of my career the importance of networking had been drilled into my head. But as most people I dreaded doing it. Networking became this thing I would avoid doing at all costs. It was a combination of feeling shy, but also feeling like the whole interaction was insincere. Almost a transaction rather than a conversation between people. Over time it has evolved into this scary monster that I run in fear from.

However, there are times when I push aside my biases and fear and do reach out. And then I am surprised (usually pleasantly). 

Recently, I reached out to a photographer for photos for my book covers and not only did I discover interesting information about the world of photography and those large websites that sell stock photography but also made a meaningful connection. It was a pleasure to work directly with Kathy Servian and the images I purchased from her were equally amazing.

If anyone is looking for stock images for this book covers please consider contacting her through her website. 

In the future I will remember how important reaching out can be (and to not be scared of it).

I couldn't resist. My fingers were itching to have a go at rebranding my royal court series. I also wanted to add more cohesion to the covers. 

So far just the ebook covers have been updated. I will have the paperback and hardcovers updated soon. It also takes a lot longer for the changes to be reflected on that. 

In other news. The fifth book in the series shall come out in Late July/August. Stay tuned!

It must have been at least a few months since I've changed a cover. Maybe less. Regardless, I decided now would be a good - no - a great time to update a cover on a book that's not even that old. 

But c'est la vie. 

At least I'm very happy with how it turned out.

The sequel to this book is currently at the editors. Can't wait to get it back and start working on the cover for that one too. And since you are asking: yes, I am procrastinating other work.

Image copyright Inkblot Press 2021