Beltane

My first book River’s Heart is the first of The Shadow Coven series. It’s series about a cursed coven who have finally found the goddesses forgiveness and now they’re finding their mates.

Wicca and magic is a major theme of the series and with Beltane upon us, let’s take a look at exactly what it is.

What is Beltane?

There are eight sabbats in the Wiccan religion and Beltane is one of four fire festivals throughout the year. The others are Imbolc, Lammas, and Samhain.

Given that Beltane and Samhain are opposites of each other, with Beltane celebrating life when Samhain honours death, you might be surprised to know that they actually have some things in common. It’s during these two holidays where the veil between life and death are thinnest, and both mark a change in the year.

Beltane, however, takes us from a long winter and into a blooming summer.

We get longer and brighter days and the earth flourishes with blossoms, leaves and natural magic. We see the start of the summer farming season. We celebrate purity and protection. We find new life.

More interesting to an erotic romance writer, though, is this season of fertility and passion. Hell, it’s the season of lust.

You’ll probably be invited to more weddings as we enter this time of year, or if you have Wiccan friends, handfastings. It’s a sabbat full of sensuality and sexual energy.

In fact, some people will encourage you to have a little sexy time in your garden. Just try not to shock the neighbours.

When is Beltane?

Beltane takes place between the spring equinox and the summer solstice, It’s traditionally held on the 1^st of May.

 Decorate Your Altar.

When it comes to decorating your altar, think about the colours of spring. Greens, yellows and blues. You want lush colours. Colours of the flowers, of the grass and of the sky, and you can use them for your altar cloth or your candles.

Frankincense and rose are good choices for your oils or incense, and when choosing gemstones, consider rose quartz, fire agate or aventurine.  

You can add a bouquet of spring flowers to your altar. Daffodils, daisies, tulips, dandelions, lavender. Include peppermint and rosemary too.

Beltane is one of the four fire festivals, but it might not be easy for you to include a bonfire in your ritual. An alternative is to represent the element on your altar. You can do this with candles, with a small caldron filled with yellow and orange items to imitate flames. Even paper will work for this. Another option is to simply use images of fires. Whatever works for you.

Other symbols for your ritual include May baskets, floral crowns, chalices, antlers, honey and oats, and fruits like cherries and pomegranate.

How to Celebrate.

Dance around a bonfire, weave around a maypole: there are many ways to celebrate this festival.

Easiest methods are to make May baskets, or you can wash your face in the morning dew, decorate your garden bush with ribbons, The most simple and natural way to show your appreciation for Beltane is to go outside. Spend some time outdoors. It’s as easy as that.

A Fertile Earth

In wiccan mythology, Beltane is the time of the year when the goddess and god came together to fertilise the earth, and because of this, the world bursts with new life. Celebrate by sharing mead and cake with your family. Make the most of this time of love and passion.

 If witch romance is your thing then River’s Heart is just the beginning of The Shadow Coven series, and if you enjoyed reading this article then you can read more like it on this blog.

 

 

A New World

 I'm currently working on the first book in what will be my third series. This series is a little different to the others because it doesn't include any supernatural elements. This series will be a love story set in London. 

The Three Series

The three series of books I'm writing are The Shadow Coven, Lunar Falls and this, as yet unnamed London love stories compilation, and these are the worlds I will be concentrating on for the foreseeable future. 

As a romance writer I love creating worlds and watching them develop and I can't wait to write the stories of all the characters who are just waiting to fall in love. Read on for a little information about the worlds that are about to grow. 

The Shadow Coven

When love makes its way to a cursed coven...

Years ago the sisters of the Shadow Coven committed an act of evil and for that they were punished. The witches of the coven would no longer find their soul mates, but be destined to live out their eternity alone, without true love and without children. 

The descendants of these witches have lived knowing they only had each other, but centuries after the evil act, a goddess has forgiven the witches and now they're soulmates are finding their way to The Shadow Coven and a world of witchcraft. 

Protecting Their Heart

Home to the Accalia wolf pack.

Lunar Falls is a small town and it's the home of the Accalia pack of wolves. Their land is in this town and though the shifters' and humans' lives are intertwined in town, the territory of the wolves is forbidden to all without an invitation. Trespassers will be killed - not eaten. 

That is until Penny, a human female who lives on the border is chased onto their land and into the arms of two male shifters. Not only is this trespasser spared. They want to keep her. 

Now, with every story, the wolves of the Accalia wolf pack are connected to others outside their pack. 

The London Series

Love and passion in the city of London.

Four roommates living their lives in London are each about to find love in a way they never expected. It's not just one man for these women. In this menage series, it's two men for each woman. 

These four friends are about to be whipped into a world of money, romance and passion. 

Still to Come...

Along with the first instalment of this new series, the next books I'll be releasing will be Martha's story in The Shadow Coven and Rose's story in Lunar Falls, both characters we've already met in River's Story and Protecting Their Heart. 

You can visit my website for book extras, including free short stories, or take a look around this blog and read more here. 

Sneak Peak: Meet Martha

Martha is the female main character of my work in progress. The second book in the Shadow Coven series which is a paranormal romance series about a cursed coven who has just been given forgiveness. The book focuses on the 28-year-old witch who we first met in River's Heart and who is about to have her own story told. 

Who is Martha?

Martha is a vital part of the coven. She's strong but shy and she's as loyal as they come. Nothing is more important to her than her sister witches. She's been seeking her mate, but as the book starts she's tired of looking, and she makes the decision to give up dating. 

She's in a transitional stage of her life, having just lost her job at the library she's worked at for years, but everything is about to change for Martha.

Martha's Story

Martha's book has romance, sex, magic and adventure, not to mention a deeper look into her coven and the witches who are her family. This book-smart, stubborn but naive female is going to find herself in trouble. 

The book is a work in progress. I'm currently making my way through the first draft of this paranormal romance book. If you're looking for something to keep you amused between books though, you can visit my website for free short stories and book extras. 

Or take a look around and read some of my blog posts here. 

Between (Writing) Jobs

 One book finished... Another to start.

Protecting Their Heart is officially released, and I've been on a bit of vaycay before getting back to writing. Even a romance writer needs a break. 

Now, though, the break is over. Time to work. Time to write that book. 

It's been quite a rest period, and I admit that there have been feelings of guilt. So how long is too long when you stop writing? I felt justified when I decided to spend some time on other hobbies, reading books, and binge-watching boxsets, after all, I don't take time off at Christmas. I just keep writing.

Now I'm getting back to it, I feel like I've taken too much time. If I hadn't had that break, think how far through my first draft I would be...

Is It Okay to Rest?

Heck, yeah. When you work a day job, as I do alongside writing, you get annual leave. You get vacation days. Because burnout is a real thing. 

You might still think about your project and that's okay, but it's also okay if you don't.

Take a break because it's been proven that those who take time off are more productive, and happier. 

Warning Signs 

How do you know it's time to take a rest? Look out for these feelings:

Writer's Block

Sure, maybe you can push through writer's block. Maybe you just need to take a walk, read something else, switch to longhand. But maybe it goes deeper. If you're stuck, deeply stuck, then don't be afraid to take some time for yourself. 

Exhaustion

This could be the border of burnout. If you can't face sitting down at the screen and getting words down, if you're looking for a way to avoid it, then it won't benefit you to force yourself. All you're doing is increasing that fatigue. 

If dread accompanies your writing then you're doing something wrong. It doesn't have to be fun every second, and it doesn't have to be easy, but you should want to do it. It should be important in the moment. You should still love being a writer. 

You Just Don't Want To

I love writing. The stories I'm plotting and planning always play in my brain, so if I don't want to do it at all, then that means there's more wrong than a lack of motivation. This isn't the same thing as being stuck on a scene, or a part of your book not being as fun to write as another. This is when there's no will at all. 

Something More Important 

Writing can't always be your first priority. It's not possible. We're adults, and we have other responsibilities. Whether that be a day job, a family, or something else... If you have something in your life that needs to be resolved first or put before your book... Writing will still be there. It will wait for you. 

How to Take a Break

I have a lot of hobbies and many things that I like to do, but most of all, my favourite thing is books books books. After all, it's why I'm a writer. So, if I have time to spare, I'm going to spend a chunk of it reading. 

I'm also going to watch TV. It's the perfect opportunity to catch up on shows you've always wanted to watch but never had the time. Binge-watch, baby. It's what streaming services are for!

There are a thousand things you can do. Go outside, get exercise, eat out, eat lots, see your friends, meditate, go dancing, drink cocktails, paint, draw, skate, ski. There are so many things in the world to do. There's no way that you won't find something you love. 

Romance Writer Clocking In

All vacations must come to an end, and mine has reached that point. That's not a bad thing. As I've already said, I love writing, and the story ideas and scenes don't stop coming because I'm doing something else. 

I've got so many stories I want to tell, and I can't wait to share them. To meet new characters, and find out what happens to them. To develop old characters and learn new things about them. 

Protecting Their Heart is on sale, but I have plenty to be getting on with. After all, the books to be written by a romance writer never ends. There's always writing to be done.  

If you enjoyed reading this blog then feel free to read some of my others, or take a look around my website and learn about my books and book extras. 

Spring Equinox

 

March is the month of the Spring Equinox, an important sabbat in the witch's calendar, and the first day of spring. 

Sabbats are celebrations for a witch to mark the passing of the year. They coincide with the seasons and rhythms of the earth, and when we celebrate them, we follow the footsteps of our ancestors. We connect to the energy of the sun and moon. 

I'm not just a writer of paranormal witch romance. I also celebrate the sabbats, so let's take a look at the spring equinox. 

What is Spring Equinox?

Equinox is a time of equal day and night, and after the spring equinox, the days get longer. For witches spring equinox is also known as Ostara - named after the Germanic lunar goddess, the embodiment of the great goddess, who gave birth to the sun god at winter solstice. 

Throughout spring equinox we get early sunrises and late sunsets, and spring is a time of rebirth, of renewal, and of balance. Honour and ruminate on everything you've achieved since winter solstice. Think of what you would like to achieve over the season, and what you hope will bloom.

Decorate Your Altar

Setting up and decorating your altar doesn't have to be difficult. Cover your altar with a cloth of your choosing, and items that represent the elements. When it comes to choosing flowers look outside at which are in bloom. 

Decorate with nature-themed items, like painted eggs, fallen feathers, flowering bulbs and earthenware with a handful of soil to represent the planting season. Include water to symbolise spring rain and don't forget candles in pastel colours. 

Non Ritual

You don't have to do a full ritual to honour the sabbat. You can do that in your daily living. Immerse yourself in nature by taking a walk outside in whatever weather you can. As a British writer, rain is almost a given for me. 

Another way, is to spring clean and donate clothing to charity. Or you can even just go into your own garden and plant flowers. Don't have a garden? Then plant pots works too. It's about your intent. Your focus. Your honour of this world and its energy. 

A Wiccan Romance Writer

There are so many ways you can celebrate the spring equinox that doesn't have to make you feel witchy if you're not. But if you are, then you can go all the way and honour spring with a ritual. 

Maybe you don't have time on the exact day, maybe your busy life makes taking time out for a ritual challenging, but that's okay too. There are no strict rules when it comes to sabbats, but it's worth taking a little time for yourself and welcoming nature into your life. 

I'm a wiccan writer with a day job, which doesn't give me much spare time, but there are always simple ways to be a part of nature and this world. 

If you liked reading about this then take a look around my blog and read some of the other wiccan posts, including a free short story set after the events of River's Heart. 

Protecting Their Heart Release

 Release day is coming!

Protecting Their Heart is the first instalment of the Lunar Falls series. It's a menage love story between Penny, Adam and Ethan.

In this paranormal romance, Adam and Ethan are wolf shifters, part of the Accalia Pack, and they're out running when their mate is literally chased into their arms. Their new mission is to keep her safe from the stalker determined to have her and to make her fall for them at the same time. 

The Lunar Falls series will be a collection of romance books that follow the shifters and their future mates who live in the small town, as their lives are transformed by love. 

It's a sexy story with lots of passion and lots of romance, and as a romance author, I love writing feisty females who don't let their alpha mates get away with being bossy. 

If you're interested in reading anything else I've written, then River's Heart is a paranormal romance about a witch coven who have their curse lifted and are now free to find love. You can even take a look around my website and get some book extras. 

Protecting Their Heart is out now and you can buy it from Amazon here if you're in the US, or here in the UK. You can also get it from Smashwords here. 

 

Sticking to Resolutions

 We're leaving December 2022...

January 1st is the start of a new adventure, or at least that's what they say. As an introverted romance author who is happiest at home, my adventures will probably happen on the page and in the paranormal romance stories I write. 

I do like to set some New Year Resolutions. 

The flaw with resolutions is that they're tough to stick to long-term. In fact, only 40% manage to maintain their resolutions beyond 6 months.

My New Year's Resolutions tend to be focussed on being less lazy, writing more, and working harder, but I like a refresh, and day one of a new year is a good time to start. The question is, what's the best way to maintain your willpower?

Choose the Best Goals

The place a lot of people go wrong is setting a lot of different goals. Taking on too much can be overwhelming, which means the easiest way is to form new habits. Be specific with what you want and plan the steps to achieve it. 

This leads to the next step...

Plan Plan Plan

Write down your goal and brainstorm how to achieve it. Make lists, prepare for obstacles that might block your path, plan ahead. Know what you want. 

Start Small

Don't jump in at the deep end. That's what your steps are for. You build to the end achievement. You might feel like it's going slowly, but that's what progress is. You're not planning on being an overnight success. You'll have to put the work in. 

Deadlines 

Deadlines can help, but they come with their own downfalls. If you're going to be disheartened when you miss one then they might not be worth it. Give yourself a contingency plan and figure out how you'll proceed even when you feel it's not going as quickly as you want. 

Keep it Fresh

Don't keep trying to achieve the same goal. You're already starting for a low point if it's something you've failed at. Make enough changes to the New Year Resolution that it truly is a fresh start. 

Be Patient

This a process and that means it won't be an instant success. There will be setbacks and missteps. It might not happen as quickly as you want, but keep your spirit, keep planning, prepare for anything, and try your best. 

On Your Way...

Now you have the basic tools to get going. All you need is to figure out what your New Year's Resolution is going to be. I'm making it easy on myself. My first one is to publish my book, which is almost ready to go. 

Keep an eye out for book extras and updates, and if you like what you read here, take a look around and read some of my other articles.