Seasonal and Writing Transitions

my neurodivergent MC, The Wistful Wild update, and lots of free books

Welcome, friends! Thank you for joining me in my first newsletter here at the Purple Vale.

How was your November? Last month felt more like a transitional time than ever, and I loved it. Tiny pumpkins huddled on the mantlepiece. Dried plants gathered from an empty lot in our neighborhood adorned the kitchen windowsill, scattered with acorns like autumnal confetti.

Now we’re slowly transitioning to winter decor in our house, but I’m carrying on with my writing project from last month and continuing to love it.

The Secret Heart of Maeve MacGowan

Two years ago, I started writing a YA fantasy set in a fantasy version of Ireland. It’s been a start-and-stop process for me, as all my novels are. It took over a year for me to be able to start drafting again.

While I’ve been working on it intermittently since the end of June, November is when this draft of The Secret Heart of Maeve MacGowan really took off. It is so much stronger. I feel so much more at ease with taking my time, more comfortable with the fact that I will keep taking my time. That’s what I need to make this story the best it can be.

And just because something is a long way from publishing, it doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the process, or share that process with you.

Here’s a glimpse of Maeve’s life in the village of Quin, on the edge of the wild downs:

all images are public domain.

I look forward to telling you more about this story in the near future. For today, I’m going to share a list of things that have inspired this book:

1. Irish myth and history. Especially Cromwell’s war on/in Ireland. (Wolfwalkers, anyone?)

2. The similarities between Cromwell’s rule and the cult I grew up in.

3. growing up as an undiagnosed autistic girl/woman with ADHD. Maeve is definitely ND, even though the word doesn’t exist in this particular world.

Finally, here’s an unpolished quote:

Maeve had always lived in the present. When the present consisted of hunger or harshness, she simply went to another place: her orchard. If she couldn’t reach it by the usual means, she let her mind take her there instead. Every limb and leaf stood out in lovely, vivid detail. The branches held her in their gentle embrace until the present became bearable again, or she was called back to her physical environment. She always carried her trees, her refuge, within her. It was the one thing Finna couldn’t take away.

The Wistful Wild update

Due to a formatting hiccup, the ebook will be available for preorder on Amazon soon. It was supposed to be available on November 1st with all the other platforms: Barnes and Noble, Apple Books, etc., where you can still preorder a copy for yourself.

When you hear from me next, I’m hoping to have the paperback available for preorder, too.

Thanks to everyone for your enthusiasm, support, and patience as I iron out the wrinkles in this heartfelt experiment! I’m looking forward to The Wistful Wild’s release date of February 1st, 2023!

Book Deals

Today I have a group giveaway and two reader magnets for you. That’s a bunch of free books! Click on the link or the image, where available, to learn more about each of these offerings.

1. Mythology, Fairy Tales, and Folklore: click here to view the group giveaway

2. Wind and Silk by Alice Ivinya

Forced to marry a man she's never met, will he accept her secret?
A clean asian fantasy short story

In a war-torn Empire, where dragons gather in the sky to gorge off human emotions, Fangying has led a sequestered life, so that her stutter and limp do not bring shame upon her family. Now she must marry a man she has never met so that her father doesn’t get sent to war.

It is her desperate hope to hide her condition from her new husband for at least their wedding night. But when her husband unexpectedly steals her away to the battlefront, can she step out of the shadows and learn she is stronger than anyone ever dreamed?

3. Into the Labyrinth by Meadoe Hora

An Ariadne's Crown short story
A prequel short story about ancient Crete - YA mythology, fantasy

Before Ariadne became a legend with Theseus, she was a mischievous princess of ancient Crete. As a girl, she wanted desperately to sneak into the labyrinth and see the deadly Minotaur.

After several failed attempts, she spots something in Daedalus' workshop that just might do the trick. But, if she can make it in, will she be able to get out? Or will she perish in the labyrinth like everybody else who has gone in?

This is a prequel short story to Ariadne's Crown.

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That’s all for now, friends. How do you like the new format? If you desire to/feel comfortable, I would love for you to leave a comment. While I’ll still be on Instagram occasionally, this spot feels like an easier way to connect with you. I hope you feel the same.