Swan Maiden Audiobook

It’s always a bit nerve-racking hearing your audiobook for the first time, because for so long the story has been so clear in your head, and now someone else is contributing their perspective to it

  • 2022-books-03-march

A Book A Week – March Reads…

March was full of wonderful books, from Clementine Ford’s brilliant Boys Will Be Boys and Samantha Allen’s touching M to (WT)F and Love & Estrogen, to Felicity Pulman’s Arthurian adventure Shalott 2: Dangerous Magic, Lily

  • Books by First Nations authors

First Nations Voices

Someone asked for some recommendations of books to read by First Nations authors, so I thought I’d update my list from a year ago... I’ve read 45 books by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander authors

  • December Reads 2021

A Book A Week – December Reads…

I keep thinking I’ve almost finished this crazy deadline, and I’ll be able to curl up on the couch with a book, but sadly not quite. But audiobooks have allowed me to keep reading... well,

  • November Reads 2021

A Book A Week – November Reads…

Audiobooks for the win! Plus some wonderful books I reviewed for Explorers magazine or read to interview the authors... I love Mel Robbins, she’s so real and inspiring and down to earth and hilarious, and

  • October Reads 2021

A Book A Week – October Reads…

Funny to think how recently I became an audiobook lover, since three of my four “reads” this month were actually listens, and the fourth was one I had to review for the magazine. My deadline

  • September Reads 2021

A Book A Week – September Reads…

September was a wonderful month for reading - and I was grateful again for audiobooks, which helped me get through a few extra titles in a busy work month... I would never have read Jacqueline

  • Equinox blessings

Blessings of the Equinox

Equinox Blessings To You – September 23 Today is one of the two days each year of harmony and balance, when the sun is directly above the equator and there are twelve hours of light

  • August books

A Book A Week – August Reads…

It’s been a crazy month with work, and not much time to read, but audiobooks have been a joy, helping me add two more to my monthly tally, since I can listen as a I

  • July reads

A Book A Week – July Reads…

In 2019 I challenged myself to read a book a week – and hit 52. In 2020, I managed more than 70. I’m looking forward to trying to match that in 2021! No wonder I

  • Imbolc and Lughnasash

Blessings of Imbolc and Lughnasadh

Imbolc blessings to my friends in the southern hemisphere. Spring has sprung! The wattles are in full bloom in our beautiful park, Signet and Cobie have new swan bubbas, and the light is slowly returning 🌿💐 Walking

  • books june 2021

A Book A Week – June Reads…

In 2019 I challenged myself to read a book a week – and hit 52. In 2020, I managed more than 70. I’m looking forward to trying to match that in 2021! My first June

  • Winter solstice

Wishing You A Merry Winter Solstice

Yule : Winter Solstice : Rebirth The winter solstice falls around June 21 or 22 in the southern hemisphere – this year it is on June 21 – and around December 21 or 22 in

  • Litha blessings

… And A Magical Litha

Litha : Summer Solstice : Fruition The summer solstice falls around June 20 or 21 in the northern hemisphere – this month it occurs on June 20 in the US, and 21 in much of

A Book A Week – May Reads…

In 2019 I challenged myself to read a book a week – and hit 52. In 2020, I managed more than 70. I’m looking forward to trying to match that in 2021! The beautiful, heartbreaking,

  • Swan Maiden audiobook

Swan Maiden on Audio

Update! June 12, 2021 The Swan Maiden audiobook is out! Squeee! The Swan Maiden has been brought to life in a magical new way, as an audiobook narrated by wonderful voice actor Angela Peters, an

  • AFTS Nominations 2021

Australian Fairy Tale Society Award 2021

I’m honoured to have been nominated for the Australian Fairy Tale Society Award this year, for my books, including The Swan Maiden and Faery Magic, and for my work on the AFTS committee, and the

  • Sorry Day

Sorry Day

Today is Sorry Day, and the fourth anniversary of the Uluru Statement. The Uluru Statement is a document Aboriginal people from all over Australia agreed on. In it they express that they are a sovereign people, and what

Meet the Author – Gregg Dreise

Gregg Dreise is an author, artist, songwriter and teacher from south-western Queensland, who is proud of his Kamilaroi and Euahlayi heritage. His books include Silly Birds, Kookoo Kookaburra, Mad Magpie, Cunning Crow, I Open the

  • Books April 21

A Book A Week – April Reads…

In 2019 I challenged myself to read a book a week – and hit 52. In 2020, I managed more than 70. I’m looking forward to trying to match that in 2021! I’m so behind

  • 2021 conference
  • AFTS conference

A Fairy Tale Conference

I'm so looking forward to the Australian Fairy Tale Society Conference on June 12-14. With two days of zoom sessions so everyone can attend, plus a full in-person day in Newtown, Sydney, it will be

A Book A Week – March Reads…

In 2019 I challenged myself to read a book a week – and hit 52. In 2020, I managed more than 70. I'm looking forward to trying to match that in 2021! The Australian Fairy

  • Mabon Autumn Equinox

Autumn Equinox Blessings

Mabon : Autumn Equinox : Harvest The autumn equinox falls around March 20 or 21 in the southern hemisphere – in 2021 it falls on March 20 in Australia and New Zealand – and September

  • Ostara Spring Equinox

Spring Equinox Blessings

Ostara : Spring Equinox : Blossoming The spring equinox is celebrated around March 20 in the northern hemisphere – in 2021 it falls on March 20 for most of the US, Canada and Europe –

A Book A Week – February Reads…

In 2019 I challenged myself to read a book a week – and hit 52. In 2020, I managed more than 70. I'm looking forward to trying to match that in 2021! Wow, February flew

  • Sacred Journey CD

The Magic of Meditation

“Meditation is the discovery that the point of life is always arrived at in the immediate moment.” Alan Watts, American Zen Buddhist I’ve had a few queries about my meditation CD Sacred Journey lately, so

  • Chinese New Year

Happy Chinese New Year

THE CHINESE CALENDAR “In the perception of the smallest is the secret of clear vision; in the guarding of the weakest is the secret of all strength.” Lao Tzu   New Moon Blessings, and Happy

  • Lughnasadh Blessings

Lughnasadh Blessings…

Lughnasadh blessings to my friends in the southern hemisphere (and a magical Imbolc to those in the north)... This cross-quarter day falls on February 4 this year in the eastern part of Australia, and February

  • Imbolc

… and Imbolc Wishes…

I’m wishing my friends in the southern hemisphere a magical Lughnasadh, and to my friends in the north, an enchanted Imbolc to you, as the Wheel turns from the cold and dark and snow of

  • January Reads

A Book A Week – January Reads…

In 2019 I challenged myself to read a book a week – and hit 52. In 2020, I managed more than 70. I'm looking forward to trying to match that in 2021! My first read

  • Kirli Saunders Interview

Meet the Author – Kirli Saunders

Kirli Saunders is a proud Gunai woman, and an author of poetry, plays and books, including Bindi, Kindred and The Incredible Freedom Machines. She is a teacher, cultural consultant and artist, and developed the Poetry

  • Survival Day

Survival Day 2021…

I’ve always felt conflicted about today, “Australia Day”. I am so grateful to have been born in Australia, and to have so many opportunities and blessings that people in many other countries don’t have –

  • Indigenous authors

First Nations Voices

Someone asked for some recommendations of books to read by First Nations authors, so here are some that I read in 2020 and early 2021. There are many many more – let me know if

  • 2020 yearly round up

2020 – A Strange Year

The start of a new year is always a somewhat nostalgic time, as I reflect on the year just gone, and what I’d hoped to achieve – but I don’t think there’s a single person

  • books read december

A Book A Week – December 2020

Hooray! I hit my 52-Books-A-Year, Book-A-Week goal at the end of September, and ended up reading more than 70 books by December 31. So many amazing reads this month, including Tiddas by Anita Heiss, Pages

  • Litha blessings

Litha Blessings

Litha : Summer Solstice : Fruition The summer solstice falls around December 21 or 22 in the southern hemisphere – you can check the timings for where you live here – and June 20 or

  • Winter Solstice

Yule Blessings

Yule : Winter Solstice : Rebirth The winter solstice falls around December 21 or 22 in the northern hemisphere – you can check the timing for you here – and around June 21 or 22

  • November reads

A Book A Week – November 2020

November was NaNoWriMo month, so I didn’t get a chance to read as much as I’d like to, but it was for a good cause (I hope!)... Took the Children Away (60 of 52) by Archie

  • NaNoWriMo 2020

NaNoWriMo 2020

Hooray! On November 30, close to midnight, I “won” my ninth NaNoWriMo. Nothing like leaving it til the very last minute 😂 But I hit just over 50,000 words on my NaNo project, which will

  • October reads

A Book A Week – October 2020

October started and ended with two awesome magical reads, Darkness Unknown, the first book in Selina Fenech’s new paranormal trilogy Beshadowed, and Last Born Daughter, the third book in Kastie Pavlik’s series Children of the

A Fun and Festive Book Launch

Tomorrow is release day for Fairytale Christmas, the box-set of reimagined faery tales that includes 15 brand new stories from some wonderful authors from around the world. Order it here, or read it free in

  • Fairy Tale Boxset

A Fun and Festive Box Set – and my new story!

I’m part of a box set of reimagined faery tales, Fairytale Christmas, alongside K. A. Last and a bunch of American and Canadian writers. It’s on sale November 1, but you can pre-order it here

  • Beltane

Beltane Wishes

Beltane : First Day of Summer : Growth Beltane, the festival of love and fertility that marks the end of spring and the start of the heat and energy of summer, falls in early November

  • Samhain

Samhain Blessings

Samhain : First Day of Winter : Death Samhain, the festival of the ancestors and the dead that marks the beginning of winter, falls in early May in the southern hemisphere and early November in

  • Little Red Riding Hood

Faery Tale of the Month

This month’s Australian Fairy Tale Society faery tale is Little Red Riding Hood – and it’s fascinating just how many versions there are. In some, she and her grandmother are eaten by the wolf, and

  • September books read

A Book A Week – September 2020

In September I had two big deadlines, so I didn’t get to read as much as I would have liked, and three of the four were related to our research/discussion for the Australian Fairy Tale

  • Dark Moon

Dark Moon Blessings

On this day and night of the dark of the moon (Friday October 16 in Australia), I’m wishing you much love, bravery and awareness as you embrace the magic of introspection and what it can

  • August Books Read

A Book A Week – August 2020

August was a wonderful mix of important stories, gorgeous fantasy, a nostalgic hit, and faery tales and faery tale reimaginings. An Enchantment of Ravens (47 of 52) by Margaret Rogerson is a lovely, magical tale of

  • Jasmine-Seymour

Meet the Author – Jasmine Seymour

Jasmine Seymour is a Darug woman from the Hawkesbury area of NSW. A writer, artist and primary school teacher, she is the author of Cooee Mittigar, which introduces us to the plants, animals and seasons

  • July Reads

A Book A Week – July 2020

July was a fascinating month for books, and online book launches. Living On Stolen Land (40 of 52) by Ambelin Kwaymullina is a short, powerful book that *everyone* should read (although sadly those who most

  • Imbolc

Imbolc Wishes…

In the magical Wheel of the Year that charts the dance of the seasons, the next celebration in the southern hemisphere is Imbolc, which marks the turning of the Wheel from the cold and dark

  • Lughnasadh

… and Lughnasadh Blessings

In the magical Wheel of the Year that charts the dance of the seasons, the next celebration in the northern hemisphere is Lughnasadh, which marks the turning of the Wheel from the heat and joy

  • June Books Read

A Book A Week – June 2020

June has been a strange, unsettling month, of high tension, of long overdue attention on black lives mattering, and of educating ourselves to learn more, do more and be better. Award-winning journalist Reni Eddo-Lodge’s book

  • upside down witch

Being An Upside Down Witch

Today, June 21, is the winter solstice in Australia, and I just had an interesting chat with an American friend about the fact that we (and others in the southern hemisphere) celebrate Yule and midwinter

  • Lorena Award

Congratulations Lorena!

Congratulations to the amazing artist and creative Lorena Carrington, such a wonderfully worthy winner of the Award for Inspiration and Contribution to Australian Fairy Tale Culture, announced today at the Australian Fairy Tale Society Conference.

  • Faery Tale presentation

The Fairy Tale Conference Presentation

I’m having a wonderful time at the Australian Fairy Tale Society Conference, listening to wonderful presenters including amazing author Kate Forsyth and wonderful glass artist Spike Deane. I even survived speaking about The Swan Maiden, and was

  • Winter solstice

Wishing You A Merry Winter Solstice

Yule : Winter Solstice : Rebirth The winter solstice falls around June 21 or 22 in the southern hemisphere – this year it is on June 21 – and around December 21 or 22 in

  • Litha blessings

… And A Magical Litha

Litha : Summer Solstice : Fruition The summer solstice falls around June 20 or 21 in the northern hemisphere – this month it occurs on June 20 – and December 21 - 22 in the

  • Fairy Tale Conference

The Fairy Tale Conference Begins

What Is Your Favourite Faery Tale? We will be discussing that and a whole lot more at the Australian Fairy Tale Society Conference, which starts this Friday night, June 5, and runs for three days

  • May reads

A Book A Week – May 2020

Book-A-Week – May books read  May was a month for extraordinary books. Blackbirds Sing by Aiki Flinthart and Phosphorescence by Julia Baird are two of my favourites this year, but the rest were awesome too! I loved

  • AFTS Conference

Faery Tale Conference

Bookings are now open for the 2020 virtual conference of the Australian Fairy Tale Society! This year’s theme is Magic Mirrors: the Seen and the Unseen. Schedule for the conference at the bottom of this post.

  • AFTS Award

A Lovely Surprise

I’m honoured (and, to be honest, a little shocked) to have been nominated for the AFTS Award for Inspiration and Contribution to Australian Fairy Tale Culture for my new book The Swan Maiden, alongside amazing

  • Samhain

Samhain Blessings

Samhain : First Day of Winter : Death Samhain, the festival of the ancestors and the dead that marks the beginning of winter, falls in early May in the southern hemisphere and early November in

  • Beltane

Beltane Wishes

Beltane : First Day of Summer : Growth Beltane, the festival of love and fertility that marks the end of spring and the start of the heat and energy of summer, falls in early November

  • April books

A Book A Week – April 2020

Book-A-Week – April books read  April was a strange month for everyone. Like many I’ve been struggling a little to write, and for a while I was having trouble focusing on books too. But when

  • Guest Menna van Praag

Special Guest Menna van Praag

I can’t even remember how I stumbled across English author Menna van Praag’s first novel, The House At the End of Hope Street, but I bought it in hardback not long after its release in

  • Swan Maiden out now

Order the Swan Maiden

The online launch of The Swan Maiden is on now! You can buy the ebook and paperback from Amazon here. You can buy the ebook from other retailers here. Or you can buy the book from

  • March 2020 books read

A Book A Week – March 2020

Book-A-Week – March books read  As I get ready for the online launch of The Swan Maiden on April 1, it’s no surprise that my March was filled with faery tales, and faery tale-inspired books.

  • Guest Lucy Cavendish

Special Guest Lucy Cavendish

Lucy Cavendish is a writer and a witch and an oracle reader and creator, and a surfer and a nature lover. We first met in the nineties in magazine circles, as we’ve both been journalists

  • Swan Maiden launch

You’re Invited To the Ball

You’re invited to a Faery Tale Launch Party – online of course, in these strange new socially distanced times. It’s all happening HERE – bookmark the link, or click Going to get notifications. K. A.

  • The Selkie

The Selkie

The Selkie A faery tale within the faery tale... From The Swan Maiden: An Australian Faery Tale Once upon a time, there were seven beautiful seal sisters. They loved each other dearly, and lived a

  • Selina Fenech

Special Guest Selina Fenech

Countdown to The Swan Maiden Launch... Selina Fenech is an amazing artist – her stunning paintings grace the covers of the Into the Mists and Into the Storm Trilogies – and also an incredible writer.

  • Swan Maiden out now

A Magical New Book…

I’m about to launch a new book! The Swan Maiden is an original Australian faery tale, inspired by the beautiful black swans in my local park, who I’ve so loved watching as they raise their adorable cygnets

  • Mabon Autumn Equinox

Autumn Equinox Blessings

Mabon : Autumn Equinox : Harvest The autumn equinox falls around March 20 or 21 in the southern hemisphere – in 2020 it falls on March 20 in Australia and New Zealand – and September

  • Ostara Spring Equinox

Spring Equinox Blessings

Ostara : Spring Equinox : Blossoming The spring equinox is celebrated around March 20 in the northern hemisphere – in 2020 it falls on March 19 for most of the US and Canada, and March

  • February Books Read

A Book A Week – February 2020

Book-A-Week – February books read  My first book I read this month was Angela Slatter’s A Feast Of Sorrows (7 of 52), because our Australian Fairy Tale Society story was The Jacaranda Wife, one of

  • January books

A Book A Week – January 2020

Book-A-Week – January books read 💕📚🌟 Last year I challenged myself to read a book a week, and I did! 52 books in 52 weeks. And it was awesome. It’s so easy to not make

  • Lughnasadh Blessings

Lughnasadh Blessings…

Lughnasadh blessings to my friends in the southern hemisphere... This cross-quarter day falls on February 4 this year, but you can check out the time for your region here...  As the Wheel turns from summer

  • Imbolc

… and Imbolc Wishes…

And to my friends in the north, a magical Imbolc to you, as the Wheel turns from the cold and dark and snow of winter to the first signs of spring. This year Imbolc falls

  • Best Books 2019

Favourite Books of 2019

2019 was the year I stopped my feast or famine reading style, where I would either ban myself completely from reading in order to get some writing done, or give in and binge read all

  • Chinese New Year

Happy Chinese New Year

THE CHINESE CALENDAR “In the perception of the smallest is the secret of clear vision; in the guarding of the weakest is the secret of all strength.” Lao Tzu New Moon Blessings, and Happy Chinese

  • December reads

A Book A Week – December 2019

I can’t believe I reached my goal and read 52 books this year. I was always feast or famine in my reading – banning myself on deadline, then bingeing and getting no work done –

Order the Swan Maiden

I’m rushing to get ready for the Mind Body Spirit Festival, and haven’t had a chance to update the Blessed Bee Books store, but if you’d like to buy The Swan Maiden now, you can

  • Litha blessings

Litha Blessings

Litha : Summer Solstice : Fruition The summer solstice falls around December 21 or 22 in the southern hemisphere – you can check the timings for where you live here – and June 20 or

  • Winter Solstice

Yule Blessings

Yule : Winter Solstice : Rebirth The winter solstice falls around December 21 or 22 in the northern hemisphere – you can check the timing for you here – and around June 21 or 22

  • Facing a fear

What Are You Afraid Of?

Face Your Fear Most people say I’m brave – I’ve travelled solo through Brazil, crawled into ancient burial tombs in the dark, broken a publishing contract and returned my advance to go indie, interviewed Guns

  • November reads

A Book A Week – November 2019

November is NaNoWriMo month, where I write feverishly to try to hit 50,000 words in 30 days. I made it, but it did unfortunately limit my reading. I did skim-read Public Speaking for Authors, Creatives

  • Witchcast Offer

Offers for listeners of the Witchcast podcast

Welcome! I had a wonderful time chatting with my sweet friend Lucy Cavendish today on her magical podcast The Witchcast. Thank you for your interest in my books – I hope you enjoy Into the

A Book A Week – October 2019

In October I attended three mini workshops (and some great panels) as part of the HNSA (Historical Novel Society Australasia) Conference – by Kate Forsyth, Meg Keneally and Alison Goodman, so I read the latter’s Lady Helen

  • Into the Air pre-order

Into the Air Is Sooo Close!

I’m so excited that Into the Air is almost ready for release – the proof copy of the paperback is due tomorrow, so I should be hitting print on Monday or Tuesday! If you would

  • Beltane

Beltane Wishes

Beltane : First Day of Summer : Growth Beltane, the festival of love and fertility that marks the end of spring and the start of the heat and energy of summer, falls in early November

  • Samhain

Samhain Blessings

Samhain : First Day of Winter : Death Samhain, the festival of the ancestors and the dead that marks the beginning of winter, falls in early May in the southern hemisphere and early November in

  • September books

A Book A Week – September 2019

My favourite book this year is Harp of Kings (39/52) by my favourite author Juliet Marillier (with her Beautiful novel and Madeline Miller’s Circe very close second). It’s the first in her new Warrior Bards

  • Into the Air pre-order

Into the Air Pre-order

I’m so excited that Into the Air is almost ready for release. To celebrate, every pre-order made by Friday September 27 comes with the ebook free, plus a free gift. It might be a gorgeous

  • Equinox blessings

Blessings of the Equinox

Equinox Blessings To You – September 23 Today is one of the two days each year of harmony and balance, when the sun is directly above the equator and there are twelve hours of light

  • August books

A Book A Week – August 2019

Circe is one of my absolute favourite books I’ve read this year, and author Madeline Miller’s previous book The Song of Achilles (32/52) is as beautifully written and almost as wonderful (it’s just obvious that

  • Book A Week July

A Book A Week – July 2019

July was all about high tea book launches (thanks Kate Forsyth!), and falling for audiobooks, thanks to Juliet Marillier’s audiobook exclusive last month (well played Audible!). I’ve been listening to Michelle Obama’s Becoming when I

  • Imbolc and Lughnasash

Blessings of Imbolc and Lughnasadh

Imbolc blessings to my friends in the southern hemisphere. Spring has sprung! Last night on my walk I saw jonquils, and friends have seen snowdrops 🌿💐 Wishing you all the joy, new energy and awakening

  • Book a Week June

A Book A Week – June 2019

I read some wonderful books in June as part of my Book A Week Challenge – although two have to be kept secret for now (yes, it is killing me – one is by one

  • Solstice Bookfest

Solstice Celebration – You Get the Gifts

When the call went out for authors to take part in a Summer Solstice Fantasy Bookfest, I had to answer. The solstices, equinoxes and cross-quarter days are such a strong magical thread running through all

  • Yule - Winter Solstice

Wishing You A Merry Yule

Yule : Winter Solstice : Rebirth The winter solstice falls around June 21 or 22 in the southern hemisphere – this year it is 2am on the morning of June 22 – and around December

  • Litha blessings

… And A Magical Litha

Litha : Summer Solstice : Fruition The summer solstice falls around June 20 or 21 in the northern hemisphere – this month it occurs on June 21 – and December 21 - 22 in the

  • Books May 2019

A Book A Week – May 2019

May was a little tricky for reading, because I was in England for the month with my beloved, and we spent all our time searching for stone circles, wandering across the moors, climbing tors, and

  • Dark Moon

Dark Moon Blessings

Tonight at the dark of the moon, I’m wishing you much love, bravery and awareness as you embrace the magic of introspection and what it can reveal to you. This is a powerful time to

  • Samhain blessings

Samhain Blessings… and Beltane Wishes

Samhain blessings to everyone in the southern hemisphere, and to those in the north, magical Beltane wishes… Samhain, the festival of the ancestors and the dead that marks the beginning of winter, falls in early

  • April books

A Book A Week – April 2019

I’m still doing well with my Book A Week Challenge, and managed five this month too (although I can’t talk about or show you the cover of one just yet – but it shouldn’t be

  • Samhain recipes

Samhain Recipes

Samhain – First Day of Winter Samhain, the festival of the Ancestors and the dead that marks the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, honours the Wheel of the Year as it turns

  • Beltane recipes

Beltane Recipes

Beltane – First Day of Summer Beltane marks the first day of summer, and is representative of vitality, fertility and the energy of the sun, so its foods include luscious fruits like cherries and strawberries,

  • March 2019 Books

A Book A Week – March 2019

One of my plans for 2019 is to make time to read more books. My post-NaNoWriMo December book binge* got me off to a great start – I devoured five books, which was bliss 💕📚🌟

Insta-Love – Author Kastie Pavlik

One of my Instagram prompts for Camp NaNoWriMo this month is to interview a fellow author. American writer Kastie Pavlik is an avid gamer, artist, techie, and hopeless bibliophile. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2008,

  • Mabon and Ostara

Equinox Blessings March 2019

Wishing everyone much love and magic as the seasonal Wheel of the Year turns again. In the southern hemisphere we’ll be celebrating the enchanted festival of Mabon, the autumn equinox, on March 21, while those

  • Mabon Recipes

Mabon Recipes

Mabon – Autumn Equinox Mabon is the celebration of the autumn equinox and the second harvest. It’s a time of blazing colour in nature and in food – bright orange pumpkins and sweet potatoes, yellow

  • Ostara Recipes

Ostara Recipes

Ostara – Spring Equinox The spring equinox, which falls in the middle of spring, is a time of new growth, where all of nature is sprouting and blossoming – seedlings emerge, birds lay eggs, bees

  • February books

A Book A Week – February 2019

One of my plans for 2019 is to make time to read more books. My post-NaNoWriMo December book binge* got me off to a great start – I devoured five books, which was bliss 💕📚🌟

  • Happy Chinese New Year 2019

Happy Chinese New Year

THE CHINESE CALENDAR “In the perception of the smallest is the secret of clear vision; in the guarding of the weakest is the secret of all strength.” Lao Tzu New Moon Blessings, and Happy Chinese

  • Lughnasadh Imbolc

Lughnasadh Blessings, and an Enchanted Imbolc…

Lughnasadh blessings to my friends in the southern hemisphere... As the Wheel turns from summer to autumn (although it’s taking its sweet time!), what are you grateful for? This is the time of the first

  • January books

A Book A Week – January 2019

One of my plans for 2019 is to make time to read more books. My post-NaNoWriMo December book binge* got me off to a great start – I devoured five books, which was bliss 💕📚🌟

  • The Into the Mists Trilogy

Into the Mists Review

Just got a lovely 5-star review for Into the Mists... Into the Mists is a work of fantasy and magic written for young adults by author Serene Conneeley. Written as the first book in the

  • Winter Solstice

A Merry Yule

Yule : Winter Solstice : Rebirth The winter solstice falls around December 21 or 22 in the northern hemisphere – you can check the timing for you here – and around June 21 or 22

  • Litha blessings

A Magical Litha

Litha : Summer Solstice : Fruition The summer solstice falls around December 21 or 22 in the southern hemisphere – in 2018, it occurs at 8.23am Sydney time on December 22 – and June 20

  • Christmas charities

Blessed Bees

The Spirit of Giving I wasn’t going to mention this in my newsletter, until a stranger from Switzerland said my Instagram post about it inspired her to start doing this with her kids for Christmas,

  • Happy Birthday Seven Sacred Sites

Happy Book Birthday!

Happy Birthday Book Baby! Recently a Facebook memory reminded me that my first book, Seven Sacred Sites: Magical Journeys That Will Change Your Life, is TEN YEARS OLD! Happy Birthday book baby! I’d posted that

  • Dark Moon

Dark Moon Blessings

As the dark moon approaches, I’m wishing you much love, bravery and awareness as you embrace the magic of introspection and what it can reveal to you. This is a powerful time to reflect on

  • NaNoWriMo 2018

Let’s Talk Writing: I Dare You!

This blog was going to be about overcoming fear for the Story Queens site. My greatest fear is public speaking, so I agreed to be part of a YA panel at Book Expo in the

  • Write your book

Let’s Talk Writing: So, You Want to Write a Book. Let’s Do It!

So, you want to write a book. There’s an idea stuck in your head that keeps you up at night, or perhaps it’s a dream you’ve had that you just know will make a gripping

  • The Into the Mists Trilogy

Into the Mists Review

Just got a lovely five-star review for Into the Mists... Into the Mists by Serene Conneeley is the story of Carlie, a young woman who loses her mother and father and is sent from Australia

  • Equinox blessings

Blessings of the Equinox

Equinox Blessings To You! Today is one of the two days each year of harmony and balance, when the sun is directly above the equator and there are twelve hours of light and twelve hours

  • Ebooks and paperbacks

Into the Fire – Overseas Orders

Sadly postage from Australia is ridiculously expensive (like, $25 a book!), which is why I make all my books available from international retailers. If you buy Into the Fire or Into the Storm from Amazon

  • Author Selina Fenech

Selina Fenech’s Beautiful Stories

As we count down to the launch of Into the Fire, I wanted to introduce you to my two awesome guest hosts. Selina Fenech is an amazing artist – her stunning paintings grace the covers

  • K. A. Last

K. A. Last’s Cool New Series

As we count down to the launch of Into the Fire, I wanted to introduce you to my two awesome guest hosts. Australian author K. A. Last is in the middle of releasing her three-part

  • coffee chat

Tea vs Coffee with author DL Richardson

Australian author DL Richardson interviewed me recently for her Coffee Chat series, so I wanted to return the favour. DL writes speculative fiction for anyone who likes a twist in their tale, from the YA

  • coffee chat

Coffee Chat with DL Richardson

I recently had a Coffee Chat with author DL Richardson, which she published on her blog. We hung out at Sydney Supanova this year – but think our paths crossed years ago when she was

  • winter solstice yule

Yule Blessings and Litha Wishes…

Solstice blessings! Wishing all my friends in the south a magical, blessed Yule on this short, chilly, grey-skied midwinter day. As the light returns, may it bathe you in inspiration, passion and joy... And for

  • seven books

Seven Books I Love

I was nominated by a friend to post seven books (one a day), that I really loved reading, so I thought I would share them here too as I go. 1. Juliet Marillier is my

  • Samhain 2018

Samhain Blessings… and Beltane Wishes

Samhain blessings to everyone in the southern hemisphere, and to those in the north, magical Beltane wishes… Samhain, the festival of the ancestors and the dead that marks the beginning of winter, falls in early

  • camp nanowrimo

Camp NaNoWriMo – April 2018

It’s that time again: Camp NaNoWriMo has begun! (Where did the first three months of this year run away to???) As of today, April 1, the site is ready and waiting for you to announce

  • Standing Desk

Is Sitting the New Smoking?

"Sitting is more dangerous than smoking, kills more people than HIV and is more treacherous than parachuting. We are sitting ourselves to death." So says Dr James Levine, director of the Mayo Clinic-Arizona State University

  • Mabon and Ostara

Equinox Blessings March 2018

Wishing everyone much love and magic as the seasonal Wheel of the Year turns again. In the southern hemisphere we’ll be celebrating the enchanted festival of Mabon, the autumn equinox, on March 21, while those

  • Chinese New Year

Happy Chinese New Year

THE CHINESE CALENDAR “In the perception of the smallest is the secret of clear vision; in the guarding of the weakest is the secret of all strength.” Lao Tzu New Moon Blessings, and Happy Chinese

  • Audiobooks

The Rise of Audiobooks

Over the last five years, ebook sales have started to drop – but audiobook sales are steadily climbing. People who are too busy to sit down and read a novel have realised they can still

  • Lughnasadh Imbolc

Lughnasadh and Imbolc Blessings

The next sabbat in the Wheel of the Year – in the southern hemisphere anyway – is Lughnasadh. It marks the first day of autumn and the first harvest festival, and in 2018 it falls

  • Story Queens Update

Update January 2018

Happy New Year, and New Moon Blessings! I can't believe we're already halfway through January, yikes! I'm madly at work finishing Into the Fire, but in the meantime I have a little bit of release

  • Litha blessings

Litha Blessings

Litha : Summer Solstice : Fruition The summer solstice falls around December 21 or 22 in the southern hemisphere – in 2017, it occurs at 2.28am on December 22 – and June 20 or 21

  • Winter Solstice

Yule Blessings

Yule : Winter Solstice : Rebirth The winter solstice falls around December 21 or 22 in the northern hemisphere – you can check the timing for you here – and around June 21 or 22

Story Queens – December 2017

Hello Story Queens subscribers! And everyone else too 🙂 I'm so happy (and relieved) that the Into the Storm paperback is finally available internationally! Although it takes so much more time, I did an international

  • Journalling

The Power of Journalling

The Power of Words First published in Spellcraft – a national spiritual magazine – in 2010... The healing impact, both physically and emotionally, of expressive writing and journalling led Serene Conneeley to create her new

  • November 2017

Catch Up – November 2017

November News... October was all about public events, and getting outside my comfort zone by having to talk a lot (eek!). In contrast, November is all frenzied writing and barely leaving the house – it’s

  • Dark Moon

Dark Moon Blessings

As the dark moon approaches this Friday, November 17 2017, I’m wishing you much love, bravery and awareness as you embrace the magic of introspection and what it can reveal to you. This is a

  • Gabrielle Interview

Interview with voice actor Gabrielle Baker

An interview with acclaimed voice actor Gabrielle Baker People are finally starting to appreciate the convenience and beauty of audiobooks, and understand the incredible skill, training and talent that go into creating them. It’s not

  • Mists Discount

Into the Mists – 99c for a short time

Beltane Blessings to those in the south, and an enchanted Samhain to those in the north! To celebrate the turning of the Wheel of the Year, the Into the Mists ebook has been discounted to

  • Beltane

Beltane Blessings

Beltane : First Day of Summer : Growth Beltane, the festival of love and fertility that marks the end of spring and the start of the heat and energy of summer, falls in early November

  • Samhain

Samhain Blessings

Samhain : First Day of Winter : Death Samhain, the festival of the ancestors and the dead that marks the beginning of winter, falls in early May in the southern hemisphere and early November in

  • Emma Hibbs

Meet the Author – E.C. Hibbs

E.C. Hibbs is a fantasy/paranormal author and artist from north-west England. Her books include Blindsighted Wanderer, The Tragic Silence Series – Tragic Silence, The Libelle Papers and Sepia and Silver – The Sailorman’s Daughters, three

  • October news

Catch Up – October 2017

Wow, where is this year going? Daylight savings has started, and I can feel summer in the air. It’s not long until Beltane! Here’s a little update of what’s going on in my world, and

  • 2018-nano-pledge

NaNoWriMo Pledges

As NaNoWriMo approaches, there are some very sweet pledges doing the rounds. Mine is a simple one: It’s November, which means NaNoWriMo! I’ve committed to writing 50,000 words of Into the Air: Into the Storm

  • Audiobooks out now

The Into the Light Audiobook is here!

Squeee! The Into the Light audiobook is out now, and I'm so excited! This means all three of the Into the Mists Trilogy are available as audiobooks through Audible, iTunes, Amazon etc. All three are

  • Equinox Blessings

Spring Equinox blessings

Ostara : Spring Equinox : Blossoming The spring equinox is celebrated around September 22 or 23 in the southern hemisphere – in 2017 it falls on September 23 – and March 20 or 21 in

  • Mabon Blessings

Autumn Equinox Blessings

Mabon : Autumn Equinox : Harvest The autumn equinox falls around March 20 or 21 – in 2017 it fell on March 20 – in the southern hemisphere and September 22 or 23 in the

  • September Update

Catch Up – September 2017

Oh my god! How is it almost the spring equinox? Where is this year going? Here’s a little update of what’s going on in my world, and what is coming up... I spent the beginning

The Joy of Books

Let’s Talk Reading: The Joy of Books This blog first appeared on the Story Queens website. My idea of bliss is to curl up on the couch with a mug of tea and a good

  • Into the Storm

Into the Storm is here!

Into the Storm: An Into the Mists Chronicle A spell to weave. A life to save. A heart to break. A storm to brave. When Rhiannon’s mother dies, her whole world falls apart, and she

  • Storm Launch

Into the Storm launch

The new book Into the Storm: An Into the Mists Chronicle launches on July 21, with an online party with the Story Queens. Kicking off at 10am Sydney time, it will go for more than

  • Into the Mists audiobook

Audiobook Reviews

Here are the first audiobook reviews... Into the Mists "Beautifully written magical story" 5 stars Where was this book when I was a teen? Perfect for those young adults who find themselves drawn into new

  • Selina Fenech and Serene Conneeley at Mind Body Spirit Festival

Mind Body Spirit Festival…

I've just set up for the Sydney Mind Body Spirit Festival, which kicks off Thursday May 25 at Darling Harbour. I'll be at stand C39 with Selina Fenech, so come and say hello! For the

The Into the Dark Audiobook is here!

Squeee! The Into the Dark audiobook is out now, and I'm so excited! Especially as it went live on the day of the dark moon – I love serendipity! And Into the Light is in

Blessings of Samhain… and Magical Beltane Wishes

Samhain blessings to everyone in the southern hemisphere, and to those in the north, magical Beltane wishes… Samhain, the festival of the ancestors and the dead that marks the beginning of winter, falls in early

Some Old Blogs…

One of my old blogs came up as a memory on Facebook today, so I thought I'd add a few here... They're on everything from breaking contracts to overcoming fear, from blessed bees to exercise...

  • Seasons

The Wheel of the Year

“The festivals of the Wheel of the Year are defined by the cycle of nature, by the dance of the weather gods and spirits of place. They require us to look not to the heavens

Good News For Bees!

I couldn't get a direct link for this story, so I've posted it below. And I very much hope it's true! It's from Cracked.com, part of their article 7 Pieces Of Good News About Huge

  • Into the Mists audiobook

Into the Mists Audiobook is here!

Squeee! The Into the Mists audiobook is out now, and I'm so excited! Even better, Into the Dark is well into production, and Into the Light has just gone into production. All three will be

  • feminism quotes

Why I Am a Feminist…

While I absolutely believe all of this, I didn't write this – a friend on Facebook posted it, and asked that it keep being shared, so here it is... Why I am a feminist: 1.

  • The Into the Mists Trilogy

Exciting News – Audiobooks!

OMG! I have the audition from my narrator for the audiobook of Into the Mists! Just before Christmas I set Into the Mists up as a project, to turn it into an audiobook. This morning

  • full moon wishes

Full Moon Blessings 12/01/17

Wishing everyone an enchanted full moon, and a magical, light-filled month ahead. May the coming lunar phase be filled with love, joy and peace, and the inspiration and dedication to make all your dreams comes

  • Platinum Brunette

Carlie’s Favourite Songs

Here are a few of Carlie's favourite songs... Visit Platinum Brunette here... Visit Mick Thomas here... Visit Platinum Brunette here... Visit Green Day here... Visit Platinum Brunette here... Visit POD here... Visit Platinum Brunette here...

  • Meet Rose Tyler

Meet My Character – Rose

What is her name? Rose Tyler, Carlie’s grandmother. She’s one of the main characters in Into the Mists and its sequels Into the Dark and Into the Light – and she also appears in the Into the Mists chronicle Into

  • Happy New Year

Hello 2017!

All is quiet, on New Year’s Day… I love the quiet of New Year’s Day, the sense of peace as people stay indoors, recovering from their celebrations the night before. This morning dawned grey and

  • 2016 update, book covers

Farewell 2016…

In this magical time, after the summer solstice, Christmas and Boxing Day, but before the new year… In the enchantment of this inbetween time – between celebrations, between years, between moments, between versions of our

Let’s Talk Writing, Reading and Books!

This blog by K. A. Last first appeared on the Story Queens website... The past few weeks have been very busy for us, and we agreed that maybe we should tell you all about what

  • Serene Conneeley, Story Queens

Story Queen Serene Conneeley

Story Queen Serene Conneeley is a Sydney writer who melds myth and magic with the real world, and finds enchantment in the everyday… When did you start writing? I’m shy, so I’ve always been a

Let’s Talk Publishing: Ready… Set… Launch!

This blog by author Rebecca Bosevski first appeared on the Story Queens website… If you are a seasoned self-publisher, today’s blog might trigger memories of the perils of your past, but if like me, you

  • Selina Fenech, Story Queens

Story Queen Selina Fenech

Story Queen Selina Fenech is an amazing artist, and also an incredible writer – she’s the author of the beautiful fantasy series Memory’s Wake, and the intriguing Empath Chronicles. When did you start writing? I

  • L. L. Hunter, Story Queens

Story Queen L. L. Hunter

Story Queen L. L. Hunter is the author of The Legend of the Archangel series, The Eden Chronicles and many more. When did you start writing? I started writing in my teens, primarily song lyrics

  • K. A. Last, Story Queens

Story Queen K. A. Last

Story Queen K. A. Last is the author of the paranormal romance series The Tate Chronicles, and the beautiful Immagica, which has been described as “a little bit Alice in Wonderland, a little bit The

  • Glastonbury, Chalice Well, Tor

The Wales (and England) Adventure – Glastonbury and the Isle of Avalon

This week I am so grateful to be back "home" in Glastonbury, the mystical Isle of Avalon With thanks… Friday November 4… NaNoWriMo day 4 – 628 words… Today I am grateful for coming home

  • Wales, Bath, Jane Austen

The Wales (and England) Adventure – Bath and the Malvern Hills

Travelling from Wales to England, via a few more ancient monuments, to stay in the place where Jane Austen lived – the perfect place to start writing for NaNoWriMo 🙂 With thanks… Tuesday November 1…

  • Brecon Beacons, Wales

The Wales Adventure – Brecon Beacons and the South

Heading down south and into the mists. So much myth and magic in Wales... With thanks… Thursday October 27… Today I am grateful for perseverance (cue Terrorvision song)… I was sad to leave Anglesey this

  • Anglesey, Wales, With Thanks

The Wales Adventure – Anglesey

Beautiful Anglesey, off the north west coast of Wales, aka Ynys Mon, the Druid’s Isle... With thanks… Sunday October 23… Today I am grateful for an awesome day with Juz, exploring the Neolithic monuments of

  • Pembrokeshire

The Wales Adventure – Pembrokeshire

The beautiful Pembrokeshire coastline was gorgeous, and there were a few significant ancient monuments too... With thanks… Tuesday October 18… When we get home we’ll laugh about today, and how awful it was. I hope.

  • London, Wales

The Wales Adventure – The Beginning

After a long plane trip to London, our excellent adventure begins! With thanks… Saturday October 15… Wishing everyone much love, joy and magic on this beautiful full moon night. May its sweet light illuminate you

Happy Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse 19/09/16

Wishing everyone so much love, joy and magic on this beautiful full moon night. May its sweet light illuminate you with inspiration and inner wisdom this month, and inspire you to work towards your dreams

What’s Your Book Style?

Are you obsessed with all the books in a series being the same size, format and style? I used to do different editions of my novels, one for Australia, which was slightly smaller, and one

Happy New Moon and Solar Eclipse 01/09/16

Wishing everyone all the love, energy and inspiration of the new moon, and the solar eclipse, and the passion and power to begin whatever it is you’ve been longing to manifest into the world... May

Winter Solstice Blessings… And an Enchanted Litha

Wishing all my friends in the south a magical, blessed Yule, and those in the north an inspiring, energising summer solstice. The winter solstice is about the re-emergence of light from the dark, so it

Mind Body Spirit Festival

It's been a crazy four days at the Mind Body Spirit Festival – not to mention a crazy night at the online launch I shared with Felicity Pulman – and I'm feeling a little drained.

Meet My Character – Carlie

What is her name? Carlie (named for the goddess Kali) Parker. She’s the main character in Into the Mists and its sequels Into the Dark and Into the Light, and the story is told from

May News

NEW RELEASES Exciting times! Last week the first copy of the Into the Mists Trilogy Hardcover Omnibus arrived, and it’s sooo beautiful And thick, and heavy But I love it! I have an exclusive preorder

Squeeee! The Into the Mists Trilogy

NEWS Today I’m so happy that the first copy of the hardcover omnibus edition of the Into the Mists Trilogy arrived. And I love it! It looks amazing! Even better than I’d hoped! 🙂 And

Samhain Blessings… and Magical Beltane Wishes

Samhain blessings to everyone in the southern hemisphere, and to those in the north, magical Beltane wishes… Samhain, the festival of the ancestors and the dead that marks the beginning of winter, falls in early

Samhain Recipes

Samhain, the festival of the Ancestors and the dead that marks the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, honours the Wheel of the Year as it turns towards the barrenness of the coldest

A Beltane Recipe

Beltane marks the first day of summer, and is representative of vitality, fertility and the energy of the sun, so its foods include luscious fruits like cherries and strawberries, green leaf, herb and flower petal

Thank You!

Thank you so so much to everyone who has sponsored me. Over the last two weeks I’ve undertaken three challenges to raise money for two great causes – and thanks to my lovely friends, I

No Excuses, No Regrets

No Excuses, No Regrets Originally written for inSpirit magazine... You get what you work for, not what you wish for. Are you ready to carve out the mental and emotional space to achieve your dreams?

Camp NaNoWriMo Day Two

Had to laugh at one of our Camp NaNoWriMo pep talks today... “Too intimidated by the blank page? Just sneak up on your story. The first sentence can literally be "I have no idea what

Camp NaNoWriMo Begins

Today Camp NaNoWriMo began. This is the second one I’ve done, and I decided to continue writing Rhiannon’s story, which I began last July during my first Camp NaNoWriMo. Camp is a little less stressful

Blessed Bees

Without bees, we wouldn’t be here – of the 100 crops that provide 90 percent of the world’s food supply, 71 are pollinated by the humble bee – yet many countries still allow the use

Story Queens Competition February 2018

Hello Story Queens subscribers! This month I'm offering the newsletter prize. I have a set of my Magic Series of books – Faery Magic, Mermaid Magic and Witchy Magic – to give away, either the

Lughnasadh Blessings – and An Enchanted Imbolc

Wishing all my friends in the south a magical Lughnasadh, and those in the north an enchanting and enchanted Imbolc… On this day of gratitude and thanksgiving, I am grateful for my love-filled life, and

A Lughnasadh Recipe

Lughnasadh ~ Summer’s End Seasonal foods and herbs play a large part in witchy celebrations, so below are a few of the Lughnasadh recipes I experimented with for Witchy Magic. Lughnasadh marks the end of

An Imbolc Recipe

Seasonal foods and herbs play a large part in witchy celebrations, so below are a few of the Imbolc recipes I experimented with for Witchy Magic. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

What Do You Want – and How Badly?

This is a fascinating article by author Mark Manson, which is definitely worth a read… If I ask you, “What do you want out of life?” and you say something like, “I want to be

Magical Mermaids, Fabulous Faeries and Wonderful Witches

Lucy and I have been chatting, and decided new year, new specials So we’ve cut the prices of our Faery Magic, Mermaid Magic and Witchy Magic ebooks on Amazon… We’ve also added a new option

Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone a magical night tonight, as we farewell the old year, and all the good, bad and strange we’ve been through, and welcome in a new one. I am grateful for a magical 2015

Countdown to Christmas Specials

Buy one, get one free… I thought I’d offer a little special to get in the festive spirit Buy a copy of Mermaid Magic or Witchy Magic from my Etsy store, and receive a free

NaNoWriMo 4 – Done!

Tonight I am grateful that I made it! I wrote 50,789 words in November, for National Novel Writing Month, which is a huge chunk of the first draft of my next book*. It feels so

NaNoWriMo – Halfway

It’s not easy, but it is worth it... I can’t believe day 15 is done, and I’m halfway through NaNoWriMo… I stayed up too late again, and blitzed through two thousand words in a slightly

NaNoWriMo – Day Five

I can’t believe it’s already day 5 of NaNoWriMo*! Four days of writing done, and 7333 words committed to paper, which means I have 665 words up my sleeve for one of those days that

Countdown to NaNoWriMo

It’s only three days until National Novel Writing Month – NaNoWriMo – kicks off, and as usual I’m woefully unprepared. As in, not at all. Each year I think (hope?) that I’ll have some time

Guest Blog – Felicity Pulman

This week’s guest blog comes from Felicity Pulman, author of the wonderful novel I, Morgana and the magical Janna Chronicles, amongst many others. She has recently returned from a three-month writing adventure in the UK,

Countdown to Book Expo 2015

Book Expo kicks off Saturday October 17 in Sydney, and there are lots of fun talks and seminars that will be running both days. And I’m looking forward to hanging out with Selina Fenech again

Book Expo – Free Tickets

It’s almost time for the last festival of the year! Book Expo is a dedicated event for readers to engage with authors and publishers. It includes workshops and talks by writers, illustrators, publishers and more,

September 2015

The previous month passed in a blur of extra work at the magazines, but things got back to (sort of) normal on September 1st Which was the day I started Steptember, a month of walking

August 2015

August made me grateful that Camp NaNoWriMo was in July, because I ended up working six days a week instead of three all month at my day job, which severely affected the time I had

July 2015

This July I decided to sign up for my first Camp NaNoWriMo, a slightly less frantically, frenetically based version of the November project. It was fun to do it with some friends, to encourage each

June 2015

June was a month full of the beauty of Sydney winters, all blue skies and sunshine, with a chill in the air – so pretty and vivid and crisp. It was also a month of

Magical Winter Solstice Blessings

Wishing all my friends in the south an enchanted, enchanting Yule on this Midwinter night, and my friends in the north a magical Litha on this Midsummer day... The winter solstice occurs today, June 22,

The Heart of Brasil

Healing Your Heart This is an article I wrote for InSpirit Magazine, which appeared in their January 2015 issue. Someone was asking me about it the other day, so here it is… I believe the

May 2015

The beginning of this year was a bit of a blur – I was finishing Into the Light, the third book in the Into the Mists Trilogy, and suffering my usual self-doubt over it being

Autumn and Spring Equinox Blessings

Equinox blessings to you! Today is the day of harmony and balance, when the sun is directly above the equator and there are 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark. In the southern

Meet My Character – Guest Blog

I recently took part in the Meet My Character: Book Blog Tour, where I wrote about Carlie from Into the Mists. You can read that here. Then I tagged two other authors to continue the

Dark Moon Blessings

Wishing everyone much love, and blessings of the dark moon, as we approach tomorrow’s new moon and Chinese New Year. Now is a time to reflect, and to be brave and look within, before embracing

Book Review – Into the Mists

Into the Mists Serene Conneeley is an Australian author who has captivated many readers with the first two books of her current ‘Into the Mists’ trilogy series. Work on the third and final book will

Book Review – Into the Dark

Into the Dark Into the Dark Serene Conneeley is an Australian author who has captivated many readers with the first two books of her current ‘Into the Mists’ trilogy series. Work on the

Lughnasadh Blessings

Today is Lughnasadh – in the southern hemisphere anyway – the first day of autumn and the first harvest festival, a day of celebrating the things we have metaphorically harvested, the things we’ve achieved, the

Book Review – Seven Sacred Sites

So touched by a lovely review for Seven Sacred Sites: Magical Journeys That Will Change Your Life in inSpirit magazine. Magical Journeys That Will Change Your Life Serene Conneeley’s book Seven Sacred Sites

Meet My Character Blog Tour

Author Felicity Pulman invited me to take part in the Meet My Character Book Tour Blog – you can read my post about Carlie from Into the Mists further down the page, and enter a

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Wishing everyone a wonderful 2015, full of love, joy, adventure and magic. Make this the year you dare to go after your dreams! Dream big, take chances, risk everything, learn from so-called

New Year’s Blessings

Tonight I am grateful for a beautiful night with my hubby, dreaming a new year into being, celebrating a year just gone, and being happy to just be together and exist in the moment. I’m

Solstice Blessings, of Light and Dark

Today is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year and the shortest night, and the moment that the sun halts its journey southward and stands still, before turning back and heading towards the

Meet My Character Book Blog Tour – Felicity Pulman

Australian author Felicity Pulman’s latest book is I, Morgana, a beautifully written story about King Arthur’s half-sister, a woman loved and loathed in equal measure. Just as exciting for readers, a reworked version of her

Meet My Character Book Blog Tour – Sophie Masson

Author Sophie Masson is the award-winning author of numerous novels for children and adults, on such diverse topics as Ned Kelly, Shakespeare, Marie of France, and other novels set in France and drawing on Sophie’s

November 2014

With thanks... November 2014... I am grateful for a day and a night with Jillian, hanging with my workout buddy, the magic of creating a novel during NaNoWriMo, and all the cups of tea Juz

Author Spotlight – Felicity Pulman

Australian author Felicity Pulman’s latest book is I, Morgana, a beautifully written story about King Arthur’s half-sister, a woman loved and loathed in equal measure. Last night she was awarded a fellowship to spend three

Interviewed about Into the Mists

I was interviewed recently about Into the Mists, about the importance of the mists to the story, as well as the importance of the two black cats, and lots of other interesting questions… Below are

The Upside of Bad Reviews

A fascinating blog post from author Anne R Allen, who not only survived bad reviews from the Amazon bullies – she got a huge sales lift. Thanks Mean Girls! Read the full blog post here.

Interviewed About NaNoWriMo

I was interviewed by Canadian writer Dianna L. Gunn about NaNoWriMo recently, for the first of her Author Spotlight articles to celebrate the upcoming NaNoWriMo. She found me on the NaNoWriMo site on the list

Sad – less than 20 per cent of WA students read books…

A very sad story today – less than 20 per cent of teenagers read books😦 Read the full story here. Margaret Merga, who interviewed the students as part of her PhD studies at Edith Cowan

Best-selling Author Goes Indie

There’s an interesting article about indie publishing at Publishers Weekly. Read the full story here. New York Times bestselling author Eileen Goudge has written 32 novels, sold millions of copies, and been translated into 22

NaNoWriMo Countdown

Less than four weeks til NaNoWriMo starts (yikes – it gave me a bit of a shock writing that!)… Here’s an interesting interview with author Sophie Kinsella from the BBC, about her tips for writing

An Article on Indie Publishing

Reinventing Publishing – PW Talks with Author Claire Cook. Claire Cook, bestselling author of Must Love Dogs, recently made the transition from traditional publishing to self-publishing, choosing to leave her big-five house and agent. Her

Indie Vs Traditional Publishing

Traditional Publishers Have Let Me Down For The Last Time…  Tom Douglas Traditional publishing? Been there, done that, got the heartache! I started my book publishing career a dozen years ago at BookLocker.com, which is

Into the Mists – Book Club Reviews

I was so touched to discover that a book club was reading Into the Mists, and blown away when they sent me their beautiful reviews with their orders for Into the Dark… xx Natasha: We

August 2014

With thanks... August 2014 I am grateful for a weekend with a dear friend, for Pauline Nordin, for all those who sponsored us in the 40 Hour Famine, for fun times at the Festival of

A Magical Interview, and Sacred Sites

When I was in Scotland late last year, an English journalist emailed me to request an interview, and to review Seven Sacred Sites. My mum sent off a copy of the book for me, and

I, Morgana – A Magical Book

I, Morgana by Felicity Pulman I, Morgana is a new interpretation of the King Arthur story, and a rich new addition to the much-loved (and hotly debated) canon. Morgana, the daughter of a king, half

Reviews of Into the Dark

The first few reviews of Into the Dark have been published on Amazon, and I’m so happy that people are loving it… You can see them – or add your own – here… Thank you

Australian Women Writers Challenge Update

Can’t believe it’s already July. I guess I couldn’t really update my Australian Women Writers Challenge because for the first several months of the year I was on a reading-for-pleasure ban while I finished writing Into

Alice’s Real-Life Wonderland

Alice's Real-Life Wonderland Spellcraft – national spiritual magazine It was in and around the English town of Oxford that Lewis Carroll created a magical world for his young friend Alice, and a story that turned