Magic in the Shadows is ideal for readers who enjoy immersive cozy fantasy worlds rich with magical creatures, balancing light-hearted whimsy with serious undertones, in an introspective first-person character-driven narrative that explore themes of loyalty and sacrifice – particularly readers interested in identity, self-discovery and redemption.

This first novel of the Fleck Series blends humour, suspense, and mystery revealing the tug-of-war-of-wills between characters, exposing acts of moral ambiguity and ill-conceived sacrifice.  For as long as Fleck can recall, she’s always had an ability to disappear into shadows. When a seemingly simple task releases long-dormant magic into her world, Fleck finds herself caught between duty, destiny, and personal freedom. Given her affinity with shadows, Fleck prefers a quiet life as a silent observer watching from dark corners, rather than an eventful life under the ever-prying eyes of her attentive subjects. Regrettably, a docile life is not Fleck’s fate.

Magic in the Mystic Circle is an enchanting character-driven cozy fantasy blending humour and adventure with political intrigue. Thick with playful banter the narrative balances light-hearted wit and charming mystical characters with the serious undertones of sabotage and political tension.

In this second book of the series, Fleck navigates the delicate nature of power and diplomacy in her pursuit of harmony within the troubled atmosphere of the Mystic Circle. From the treachery of dwarves to the cunning advance of borderland wizards, Fleck strives to safeguard those she loves, in a time of escalating threats, in an atmosphere fraught with hostility.

Magic in the Shale is ideal for readers seeking cross-genre blend of political intrigue and humour in a cozy fantasy storytelling, with a first-person introspective narrative.

This third novel of the Fleck Series knits destiny and sacrifice into the intricacies of alliances, treaties, and power struggles within the Mystic Circle, where magic is both a tool and a weapon. As Fleck strives to forge alliances with fringe kingdoms, she’s compelled into a confrontation with the Shale – a powerful entity feeding off sacrifice and surrender. In yielding to the Shale Fleck ignites the fierce loyalty of the mystic creatures into a fervour that is as shocking as it is revealing.

The Fleck Series is a young adult fantasy series with complex elements of adventure and mystery that will also appeal to mature readers, who enjoy immersive magical worlds and character-driven narratives.

The Fleck Series is ideal for:

1. individuals who enjoy narratives with a blend of humour, suspense, and introspection, set against a backdrop of societal change and magical intrigue;
2. readers who appreciate stories of friendship, loyalty, and personal growth, particularly those interested in themes of identity and self-discovery; and,
3. young adults and mature readers who are fans of fantasy novels with strong female protagonists and magical elements.

 

I’m excited to announce the release of my leaf-lullaby children’s book, Did you see us?

The inspiration for the book began on a driving holiday, with my husband, through the Okanagan in beautiful British Columbia Canada. My husband enjoys discussing English words that sound the same but have different meanings, like there, their and they’re.  I mentioned that it would be inappropriate to confuse the two similar sounding words carnivore and conifer.  That sparked a conversation on the topic of conifer and deciduous trees.  That discussion led to my teasing assertion that it’s easy to remember the word deciduous as a brag – Did you see us? – in the fall, when leaves twirl, flutter and flirt the full glory of their autumn colours.

Initially, the children’s book was a side hustle – something to focus on while I waited for the PeakSpire illustration team to finalize drawings for the Fleck series.  I’m grateful to Siraj – director at PeakSpire – for his persistence in working with his team of illustrators to achieve the best possible original images for the Fleck Series and for the Did you see us? children’s book.

My role was to write the children’s book lullaby and to provide detailed instructions for the creation of the accompanying illustrations. I was keen to have the first illustration (forest in late winter) created in a way that would allow us to zoom in on specific aspects of the forest, for the balance of the illustrations in the book (e.g., the path, a tree, a branch). Two illustrations (the Spring and the Autumn illustrations) are the exact same image shown in fresh greens for spring and in reds-oranges and yellows for autumn. I hope you find a little fun comparing and contrasting the illustrations.

When I first began writing, I fretted that the people I knew would read themselves into my novels asking, “Is that me?” Naturally my experiences, including relationships, influence the stories I tap-tap-tap out on my keyboard. Predominantly, the characters and scenarios in my writing emanate from my imagination and are arguably an indirect reflection of the people, places and events I’ve encountered. I rarely write directly about people I know because that approach engages my thoughts causing the flow process (that I so enjoy) to sputter and falter.

As a flow writer, I tend to follow a characters’ guidance crafting the story around their motivations. If you disagree with something a character says, then please understand that the character said it, I didn’t, we are not the same – even though they spoke through my tapping fingertips. For me, the role of writing is akin to the role of being a silent observer; allowing the character to act and speak freely. This approach, I hope, leads to a narrative that reflects the characters strengths and challenges, ideally guiding the story along a path that is at times unexpected but always true.