New fantasy series announced!
By me! It's by meeee. And it's called The Sleepless.
You know something big has happened when I actually remember to write a newsletter… I have a new duology in the works. Next year will see the publication of The Sleepless, the first in a two-book YA romantasy series from Pan Macmillan’s new imprint, First Ink. You can read all the deets at The Bookseller.
YA and romantasy are both new areas for me - well, new-ish. Back in the days when I was still learning how to write novels, I wrote a couple of things that I vaguely thought of as YA, and anyone who has read my epic fantasy books will know that there tends to be a strong thread of love/lust/yearning or just generally complicated feels. I’m very excited about The Sleepless, where I get to really indulge in some of the things I love - characters who don’t necessarily make the best decisions, those complicated feelings I was just talking about, and a fresh new world to populate with gods and monsters.
I’m also just incredibly grateful and amazed that I continue to be able to do this wonderful job. I’ve said it before in the past but it bears repeating: six year old me, who was stapling pages together to make books about unicorns and dragon eggs, would be utterly thrilled that I’m still essentially messing around with stories as a grown-up.
And while we’re here, I have news about my other fantasy duology - the cover of Titanchild, due to be published this November, was revealed over at Fantasy Hive. It is, I think you’ll agree, ridiculously gorgeous. I can’t wait to see it sitting next to Talonsister on my shelf!
There might be more news incoming about the Talon Duology - watch this space! And of course I’ll be talking more about The Sleepless as we get closer to 2025…
Some event related stuff for June: are you in London? Next Tuesday sees the 10th anniversary of Super Relaxed Fantasy Club, so myself and fellow founder Den Patrick will be popping up to chat all things SRFC, publishing, the relentless passage of time etc, and I’ve heard a rumour there will be cake. If you’ve never been, I highly recommend rocking up, even if you don’t come to this one - SRFC was always designed to be the most welcoming space possible for fantasy fans and fantasy writers, and it’s only gone from strength to strength over the years.
On the 27th of June I’ll be at Waterstones Trafalgar Square to discuss folk horror with Tori Bovalino, Adam S. Leslie and Lucie McKnight Hardy. I’d love to see you there!
