Hello on this wonderfully hot Sunday in the Algarve!
Welcome to all my new subscribers, and thank you for joining Where the Witches Gather. If you’ve arrived here from my other email/ newsletter system and haven’t downloaded the Substack app, you can click the button below. Substack is wonderful!
Over the last couple of days I’ve been pottering in the garden, weeding out some horrible sticky weed, cutting back wild fennel, and tidying up pots to get them ready for new plants. Yes, I’m a little behind, but better late than never. I have to get to a garden centre this week…
Of course June is the month of roses, but I haven’t got a single one, although I love them. It’s so hot and dry here in the summer that I’d need to put a watering system in, and I’d rather grow something more sustainable, but it’s something to think about. On the plus side, we have a pool, and some wonderful aloes and cacti. Plus, it’s sardine season in Portugal, so I’m loving that!
I’ve been very organised this week and have finally got around to signing up with a virtual assistant (VA) to help me with some of my admin jobs. She seems wonderful, so I’m looking forward to handing a few tasks off such as uploading books and audiobooks. I’m also hoping that she can help me with translations. That will leave me more time to work on special edition hardbacks, write blogs and new content, plan new merchandise, and write of course!
In the next week or so I’ll be sharing my updated mid-summer solstice guide for paid subscribers here and on Ream, so I’m looking forward to that.
I’m also excited because I’ve booked a holiday to Granada, Spain, in July to see the Alhambra Palace, somewhere I have always wanted to go, so we’re heading there over my birthday.
Book News
The next Moonfell Witches book, Amber Moon: Secrets, Ink, and Firelight, is moving on well, although I have been wrestling with the muddy middle that I hope I’m over now, and I promise you that it won’t be muddy at all! All being well, I will finish it by the end of June latest, and then have a small break. Early readers are loving it, so that always warms my heart. Don’t forget to pre-order it.
Next on the agenda in the 14th White Haven Witches book, still without a title. I’m also ruminating on a novella before Christmas, so we’ll see how that goes. Series as yet undecided!
Kickstarter
I’m thrilled to share that our Most Wanted Kickstarter is fully funded, and a Project We Love, which is always wonderful as it give us more visibility. We have now achieved a few stretch goals such as character sheets and extra digital short stories, so if you haven’t supported us yet, please take a look at our Most Wanted Campaign:
Audiobooks
Di Croft is preparing to narrate Dark Heart, Storm Moon Shifters Book 2, so I’m looking forward it that.
New on Happenstance Books
I have loaded another signed paperback - Undying Magic with the original cover, and am uploading more over the next few days. Even today if I have a chance. Shipping is included as I post them from Portugal, so the prices vary by country to accommodate for this. I suggest you check in regularly if you’re interested. Once the original covers have gone, they will not restock, although I will have signed books with new covers available. Signed Hunters, Shifters, Moonfell, and Rise of the King books will be there too.
Plus, I have designed a Tarot Journal that you can record your tarot readings in. I am working on a blank Book of Shadows with pretty pages too, if you’re looking for something a little different to record your craft and spells in. I’ll let you know when I release it.
Two books you might enjoy by two awesome urban fantasy authors:
Immortality has its perks. Dealing with vampires is not one of them.
After nine hundred years protecting the balance between magical and mundane, I do my best to avoid squabbles among the fanged variety.
They’re overdramatic, dress better than I do, and never have simple problems.
My oldest friend included.
But when Adrian asks me, his favourite sorceress, to do him a favour and help find a missing vampire queen, what can I do but say yes? Especially when my sort-of protégé has a vision about all the ways the city will go sideways if we don’t get her back on her throne.
The missing person’s case quickly devolves into a free-for-all as a horde of rogue human thralls decides I would better serve the vampires dead. Who’s giving them orders? Because it certainly isn’t the queen. Not helping matters is my ex, a servant of Death, who refuses to stay where he’s supposed to: in my past.
It should have been a simple spell.
Light into heat, heat into flame.
How did it all go so wrong?
Paralyzed … magic drained … Bobbi feels the cold seeping into her bones.
Only the Mistress of the Hidden Coven has the power to unlock her magic. But as head of the coven's security, Quinn doesn’t want to let an unknown witch past their wards. It’s his job to keep strangers out. Especially when a demon is hell-bent on stealing their most precious resource—magic.
The winner of my latest audiobook, Storm Moon Rising, is Linda Knowles. Congratulations! I’ll email you.
I think that’s all for today, but I’d love to read your comments, so please drop them below.
Have a great couple of weeks. I’ll be publishing a new blog about Arthurian witches in Rise of the King very soon.
Cheers,
TJ
Looks like a lovely place and them sardines look very tasty. Have a nice break.
Lots to look forward to!
Is your sticky weed Goose Grass (Cleavers) ? It is rampant this time of year. Our goats eat some.
Shame for roses, anywhere shady for them, with dappled sun?
You work so hard, makes me tired reading all you do!
Bright Blessings,
Jeannie.