M J Mallon YA Author and Poet

Latest Media Kit: Bloodstone (The Curse of Time Book 1) @NextChapterPB #YA #Fantasy #Release

NEWS FLASH

Currently writing book 3 in The Curse of Time series. So, now is a good time to discover more about my books…

BLOODSTONE, Book 1.

BLURB

Fifteen-year-old Amelina Scott lives in Cambridge with her dysfunctional family, a mysterious black cat, and an unusual girl who is imprisoned within the mirrors located in her house.

When an unexpected message arrives inviting her to visit the Crystal Cottage, she sets off on a forbidden path where she encounters Ryder: a charismatic, perplexing stranger.

With the help of a magical paint set and some crystal wizard stones, can Amelina discover the truth about her family?

A unique, imaginative mystery full of magic-wielding and dark elements, Bloodstone is a riveting adventure for anyone interested in fantasy, mythology or the world of the paranormal.

TRIGGER WARNING: this book contains mention of self-harm, mental health issues and alludes to the potential dangers of sexual attraction, which may trigger younger/sensitive readers.

To read an excerpt: https://www.nextchapter.pub/books/bloodstone

Now available in wide Distribution : Kobo, Scribl, Smashwords, Nook, etc and in paperback & hardback in Barnes & Noble, Amazon, etc:

https://books2read.com/u/bOyrgW

UK Book Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bloodstone-Curse-Time-Book-1-ebook/dp/B097QZBKNY/

US Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/Bloodstone-M-J-Mallon-ebook/dp/B097QZBKNY/

Universal book Link Bloodstone, book 1, The Curse of Time: http://mybook.to/bstmm

Universal book Link Golden Healer, book 2, The Curse of Time: https://books2read.com/u/mgjY67

To request a free copy via Book Sirens click this link: https://booksirens.com/book/H4SI6L4/Q9PZX3A

Publicity/Features:

Finalist International Author Prize and Fantasy Book awarded for 5 star and 5++ stars by N.N. Light Vine Voice reviewer and verified (blue check) influencer on Amazon:

https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/post/2021-book-award-finalists

Bloodstone has also been awarded a red ribbon by Billy Buttons, Wishing Shelf Awards.

I entered the Wishing Shelf awards and my #ya #fantasy Bloodstone was awarded a red ribbon.

Readers’ Comments: “I enjoyed this fantasy adventure. I think Amelina is a good protagonist who’s determined and brave. There’s lots of drama in it – of the teen sort! – so I think that’ll go down well with 13 – 15 year olds.” Girl, aged 14.

“The way the character is trapped in the mirrors is sort of spooky. I liked that part the best as I thought it was original. I also liked the all the characters; I thought they were very different and often memorable. I hope the author will write another book.” Boy, aged 14.

“I liked the story. There’s sort of a curse on the hero’s dad. The girl, Amelina, has to find a way of saving him. This is a fantasy book but there’s a lot of teenager angst in it too. It’s gritty in parts, but silly too. It’s slow at the start when we get to know the family, but it gets better. Just keep on reading.” Girl, aged 15.

“Ryder is the best character in the story. I think the author should focus on him in the next book. He’s not particularly nice, but he IS interesting. I suspect he’s got a lot of secrets.” Girl, aged 14.

“I felt sorry for Amelina as her family is sort of messed up. But can she fix it? There’s a lot going on in this story. There’s magic, fantasy, drama, adventure – even art! It did feel a bit too busy and I got a little overwhelmed. But I enjoyed the second half a lot as the pacing is better. A good novel for YAs.” Boy, aged 15.

To Sum It Up: ‘A smartly plotted YA fantasy adventure with a strong cast of characters. A RED RIBBON WINNER and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

Many thanks to the following authors and bloggers for their kind features, reviews and book alerts

Stephen at Books and Beyond Reviews https://booksandbeyondreviews.com/2021/12/29/bloodstone-the-curse-of-time-book-one-by-m-j-mallon/

Didi Oviatt 5 star Book Review: https://didioviatt.wordpress.com/2021/12/30/review-5stars-bloodstone-the-curse-of-time-book-1-marjorie_mallon-nextchapterpub/

James Cudney Book Alert and Review: https://thisismytruthnow.com/2021/07/11/book-alert-bloodstone-curse-of-time-1-by-m-j-mallon/

Richard Dee Review: https://richarddeescifi.co.uk/new-edition-the-curse-of-time-book-1-bloodstone/

S C Skillman: Blog Tour Excerpt: https://scskillman.com/2021/07/06/blog-tour-bloodstone-the-curse-of-time-book-1-by-mj-mallon/

Sally Cronin New Book On The Shelves: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2021/07/07/smorgasbord-cafe-and-bookstore-new-book-on-the-shelves-ya-magic-mystery-bloodstone-the-curse-of-time-book-1-by-m-j-mallon/

Darlene Foster Blog Tour https://darlenefoster.wordpress.com/2021/07/10/blog-tour-for-bloodstone-the-curse-of-time-book-1/

Ritu Bhathal Blog Tour: https://butismileanyway.com/2021/07/10/bloodstone-the-curse-of-time-book-1-by-marjorie_mallon-blogtour/

Allan Hudson Branching Out: http://allanhudson.blogspot.com/2021/06/branching-out-with-returning-author.html

Feature on Alex Pearl’s blog: https://booksbyalexpearl.weebly.com/m-j-mallon.html

To read the reviews on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58417468-bloodstone

This delightful book will appeal to teens and young adults who love stories filled with magical crystals, dark family curses, and mysteries waiting to be solved around every corner. Each chapter leads you on a journey of discovery where Amelina earns the right to use three wizard stones to reset the balance of time and finally break the curse that holds her family captive. A captivating tale! Author Colleen Chesebro – (Editorial Review of 1st Edition – The Curse of Time Book 1 Bloodstone.)

This is a totally different genre for me, but this year I have been reading books by so many exciting new authors that I wanted to give this book a try. This novel would be great for teenagers, or young adults and it follows the magical story of teenager Amelina as she steps into a world of crystals, magic and wonderment. There are some likeable and not so likeable characters and both are really well written. The book weaves a story of the main character learning new skills and you see her personal growth throughout the story. Nothing is what is seems and you want to find out how Amelia will use her enchanted gifts and learn who she can trust. A book packed full of intrigue, believable characters and poetic verse. Author Lizzie Chantree

This is a brilliant book for young adults interested in magic, supernatural, paranormal, fantasy and myth. I found it highly readable and the author’s imagination is phenomenal, as is the fluency of her language and the dazzling way she describes the curious events and characters in her story. I loved the idea of Esme, the girl trapped in the mirror. Author S C Skillman

An intricate fantasy novel with unique supernatural and magical elements which serves as a highly entertaining read. I had a great time reading this novel and exploring the magical world of Amelina full of magic crystals and enchanted mirrors. Author, Editor and Book Reviewer Heena Rathore P.

At its core, this is an emotional tale about a young girl figuring out her identity, learning who to trust, and discovering there is more to the world than the tangible things she’s experienced in the first one-and-a-half decades of her life. Magic Mirrors? Mysterious appearances? Letters that cannot be destroyed? Puzzling trust? What’s a girl to do when she’s followed by two strange boys in the park, only to realize something darker is beginning to happen? Mallon explores the fears in a young girl who wants to break out of her life but doesn’t know where to turn. She’s unsure about trusting friends and family. Ryder, who saves the day, might actually not be the best thing for her… safety… sanity… security. Can she fight the feelings burgeoning around her? Author James Cudney

This magical young adult story is brimming with fresh imaginative ideas avoiding tropes often associated with fantasy. I was impressed with the unique vivid visual descriptions which brought both the settings and characters to life and the wonderful standard of writing throughout the story. A magical mystery unfolds for the main character Amelina, who makes discoveries during the plot, so we can enjoy seeing her grow in confidence and skill. The story involves complex content which was difficult to follow initially but becomes more understandable as the story develops. The introduction of the antagonist, Ryder, really helps us to root for Amelina. He is well written, and I enjoyed that he wasn’t given the typical look of a baddie but rather slowly and disconcertingly reveals his darker side, inserting himself between Amelina and her friends. I can see this being the start of a fabulous young adult series and hope there are more books to come! Sarah Northwood Poet and Author

Amelina is written so well. There is a part of her that all of us will recognise and emphasise with. At that awkward age where nothing fits and at the same time you feel as if you can conquer the world. Darkness creeps in slowly in the form of Ryder who at first seems the answer to all Amelina desires, or is he? Author Adele Marie Park

The overall world-building creates a wonderful, spiritual atmosphere. There’s a bit of poetry at the start of every chapter, a nice touch which leads us into the action. The story bravely tackles issues of mental health and self-harm, but in such a sensitive way that it can only help improve understanding. Author Richard Dee

Amelina is a teenage girl whose world has been turned upside down by a curse within a world where magic is hidden and most don’t seem to know of its existence. In fact, it seems she’s a descendant of a line of magic-wielding enchanters who have a special relationship with crystals. But with this curse, her father is time-ravaged, a girl is trapped in her mirror, and her family is falling apart. There are a lot of unanswered questions come the end of the book, so be on the lookout for more in the series. There are mentions of delicate issues such as cutting and anorexia, both handled with care, and a séance, but I’d recommend this book for older teens and people who love magical stories that involve power within crystals, curses, and unexplainable happenings. Author Rachael Ritchey

This is a wonderful YA fantasy read. It’s very different from others I’ve read and I say this in the most positive manner. One way or is unique is through the use of original short poetry at the beginning of each chapter providing a clue to the chapter content. It is very well done. I do love originality. The whole work has a magical feel about it which draws the reader in with a yearning to learn more about all of the characters and their plight. My favourite characters are, Esme… The girl trapped in the mirror, and Shadow, the black cat. These two characters alone were enough to keep me rooted. Meanwhile, on the serious side of things, there are so many issues going on in this work in addition to that of dealing with a dysfunctional family. One’s familiarity will be tested and emotions may arise. That aside, when you add magic, a black cat, and a guitar and music into the mix… What is there not to love about this work? Author/Reviewer Kevin Cooper – (Previous edition of Book – The Curse of Time Book 1 Bloodstone. )

Amelina is an indomitable heroine who will not rest until she solves the mystery and sets the world to rights. The device of magic crystals as a source of magic is novel and works well. There are loose ends that are clearly available to be addressed in future episodes of this series. As a precursor story that is relatively complete in itself, … as an introduction to the storyline and invitation to read on. MJ Mallon is not afraid to broach the risks that young girls on the cusp are subject to in these unruly times. Both physical violence and dangerous sexual attraction are broached in this tale. Poet Frank Prem.

Beautifully written and poetic fantasy novel that perfectly sustains mystery and drama throughout the pages. The characters are very vivid and the world is rich in detail and atmosphere. Marjorie is excellent at painting imaginative and believable scenes with words and magic. A fantastic debut! Looking forward to her next book. Author/Illustrator Alina Surnaite

My publisher has added these opportunities to read the first book in the Curse of Time series: Bloodstone for free…

BOOK TITLE: Bloodstone (The Curse Of Time Book 1)

ProlificWorks Giveaway: https://claims.prolificworks.com/free/zamECb9a

Here are a couple of beautiful images from the wonderfully talented Carolina Russo created for me of my characters – Esme – The Mirror Girl… and Eruterac – The Creature.

Images courtesy of Carolina Russo: https://yesterdayafter.com/

AUTHOR BIO

M J Mallon was born in Lion city Singapore, a passionate Scorpio with the Chinese Zodiac sign of a lucky rabbit. She spent her early childhood in Hong Kong. During her teen years, she returned to her father’s childhood home, Edinburgh where she spent many happy years, entertained and enthralled by her parents’ vivid stories of living and working abroad. Perhaps it was during these formative years that her love of writing began inspired by their vivid storytelling. She counts herself lucky to have travelled to many far-flung destinations and this early wanderlust has fuelled her present desire to emigrate abroad. Until that wondrous moment, it’s rumoured that she lives in the UK, in the Venice of Cambridge with her six-foot hunk of a rock god husband. Her two enchanting daughters have flown the nest but often return with a cheery, heart-warming smile to greet her.

MJ’s writing credits also include a multi-genre approach: paranormal, best-selling horror, supernatural short stories, flash fiction, and poetry. She worked with some amazing authors and bloggers compiling an anthology/compilation set during the early stages of COVID-19 entitled This Is Lockdown and she has written a spin off poetry collection, Lockdown Innit.

She’s been blogging for many moons at her blog home Kyrosmagica, (which means Crystal Magic,) where she celebrates the spiritual realm,her love of nature, crystals and all things magical, mystical, and mysterious.

MJ’s motto is…

To always do what you Love, stay true to your heart’s desires, and inspire others to do so too, even if it appears that the odds are stacked against you like black hearted shadows.

Her favourite genre to write is

Fantasy/magical realism because life would be dull unless it is sprinkled with a liberal dash of extraordinarily imaginative magic!

So excited about Bloodstone and happy to say that the sequel Golden Healer is available too.

Author Interview with Kathryn Rossati @NextChapterPB #nextchapterpub #newrelease #poetry #middlegrade #kidsbooks

I’m delighted to welcome fellow Next Chapter author Kathryn Rossati to my blog.

Recently, she offered fellow NC authors the opportunity to be interviewed on her blog. I was delighted to accept her kind offer.

It’s wonderful discovering authors in this way and finding out that we share certain interests… can you guess what they are?

Poetry and writing of course!

Time for this fascinating interview… enjoy!

Author Interview: Kathryn Rossati

Website/Social media: https://linktr.ee/kathrynrossatiwrites

When did you start to write? And what have you learnt about yourself along the way?

I’ve wanted to be a writer from a very young age. I was always jotting down story ideas in primary school, and by secondary school, I had my first novel idea. I wrote two chapters, but due to schoolwork, I never got round to writing any more of it.

After college, I decided to take my writing seriously and took a mini course plus two creative writing modules with the Open University. My intention was to do a degree in English, but after the two modules, I decided that I just wanted to go ahead and start writing books, so I did. By that time, I’d been introduced to National Novel Writing Month, which I ended up completing several years in a row. I don’t do writing challenges like that anymore, as chronic pain and fatigue has forced me to slow down and really pace myself, but it was a good way to kick start my early ideas.

Tell me about your poetry collection Roar/Raw, which I believe is about AuDHD.

Roar/Raw was released in September 2025, but many of the poems I originally wrote in 2019 after I received my autism diagnosis at the age of 28. It was a lot to process, especially as I was extremely burnt out and my mental health was not good, so writing my thoughts down as poems really helped me with that. A few years later, I also got my ADHD diagnosis, and so I rewrote some of the poems and added in a few more to reflect that new knowledge of myself.

Roar/Raw is published by Lemon Jelly Press, who are a small publisher based on the Isle of Wight where I live. They’re wonderful to work with and brought my poems to life beautifully. One of their main aims is to champion diverse voices, which is one of the reasons I submitted to them.

I believe you have several books published with Next Chapter. I spotted a poetry collection, Magic! Hissed The Little Demons, along with Cosmic Witch, a climate crisis witch sci fi, and a children’s book, Wings In A Wounded Sky. Could you share a little about them?

I’ve been with Next Chapter since late 2017 – in fact, they published my debut, Half-Wizard Thordric: Unofficial Detective (published under an old penname, Kathryn Wells). So far, they’ve actually published nine of my novels, a short story collection, and four of my poetry collections (Little Tales: Poems for Kids is my latest book published by them).

Magic! Hissed The Little Demons came out a few years ago, and is a poetry collection based on the idea of personal ‘demons’, and explores some of mine (such as imposter syndrome around writing, and past negative comments having more weight in my mind than they actually did), along with general themes of mental health, determination, and friendship.

Cosmic Witch is a young adult science-fantasy novel involving witches in space. It’s set 400 years in the future, with the premise that Earth got so polluted and overpopulated that the world’s witches came forward and helped clean up the mess and pioneered living in space. It’s told through multi-POV, and follows Tia, a witch with unstable magic, and her two childhood best friends, one who happens to be the captain of the ship she works on (The Merlin), and the other is the ship’s engineer and the person who designed Tia’s prosthetic arm after she lost hers in a terrible accident.

Wings In A Wounded Sky is a quest fantasy for middle grade readers. The story follows Rae, an orphaned Ogg (descendants of ogres), who finds a new family with two humans who have been transported to her world by a great tear in the sky. More tears appear across the land, creating chaos and threatening the existence of everything Rae holds dear, so together with a rag-tag group of friends, she resolves to find out what’s causing the tears and put a stop to it.

I love the sound of your middle grade magical mystery about a neurodivergent girl from the present, Nic, and a boy from the past, Nik. What prompted you to write this?

Naturally Nic/k, published in late February 2025 by The Book Guild, was first drafted in 2019 during burn out and right after my autism diagnosis (much like Roar/Raw). It’s the first book where I’ve had a character identify as autistic on the page (one of my other books, The Curse of Earthias, written before my diagnosis and set in a fantasy world, has an autistic coded character), and this was very deliberate, as I wanted to write a character that my younger self would have loved and identified with. So that’s why Nic, one of the main characters, is autistic like me.

For the plot, though, there are two specific things that inspired Naturally Nic/k. The first is actually my husband, whose hobby is practicing magic tricks. I found his passion for magic really contagious, and though I never wanted to learn any tricks myself, I did think it would be cool for my characters to know some. That’s why both Nic (Nicoletta) and Nikolai, who live in different eras, both love magic tricks.

The second thing that inspired the book, or rather, one of the main settings in the book, was finding out about the Thames Tunnel Fancy Fair. Very briefly, the Thames Tunnel runs under the River Thames between Rotherhithe and Wapping in London, and was completed in the early 1840s. It’s part of the trainline now, but back then, it was for pedestrians, and a few years after it opened, a big fair was held within it, full of performers from all over the world. The idea of an underground fair sounded so interesting that I had to use it in my writing!

What is your writing mantra? Or do you have a muse?

I don’t have a particular mantra; I mostly just try to show up and write when I can. When I’m actively drafting a book, I try to work on it every day, but with chronic illness and life in general, that’s not always possible. Recently, I’ve also had other writing projects take priority over drafting the novel I’m working on (like edits for an upcoming release, or completing my first commission), which has been frustrating at times yet also allowed me time to mull over different ideas I’d like to implement.

In terms of having a muse, I can’t say there’s anyone specific, but I can get inspired by things other people say in passing. I also get a lot of ideas from conversations with my husband where we mishear each other and end up giggling over whatever absurd scenario our imaginations then take us on.

How did you come to write poetry and stories? Do you have a preference for one type of storytelling, and/or poetry style?

Poetry has always been something I’ve done to help organise my thoughts or practice writing. I never really thought about having my poems published in a full collection, though, as my main goal was to be a novelist. However, in 2017, to help support my online presence as an author, I started a blog and ended up writing poems to share on it. After a while, I realised I had quite a body of work, and so approached Next Chapter about the possibility of putting it into a collection. They said yes, and so many of those early poems became A Book For Pandora. Since then, poetry has taken on a more prominent role in my writing career, and I think it compliments my novels very well. I don’t have a preference, either. Both mediums have their merits and work for different things.

Do you have a favourite quote from an author or poet?

I actually have a line tattooed on my arm from Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones. It reads:

Chrestomanci smiled and swept out of the room like a very long procession of one person.

I love it because of how smoothly it displays Chrestomanci’s presence. (Chrestomanci is an enchanter tasked with making sure no one misuses magic in either his world or worlds parallel to it, and is often seen wearing a flamboyant dressing gown.)

Have you any unusual hobbies, or interests?

I don’t know if it’s unusual, but I can play the ocarina, which is a type of vessel flute. I don’t practice much currently, but I used to. I’m also something of an artist, though I’m still refining my technique. I mostly paint with watercolours and gouache.

If you had the opportunity to meet one famous person from either the past or the present, who would that be?

Diana Wynne Jones. I’d love to have a conversation with her about world building and creating such intriguing characters and twisty plots. I’m not sure I’d be confident sharing my books with her though, as I’ve heard she was quite direct and critical when giving feedback.

When I first started querying literary agents (over a decade ago, now), I sent the book I was querying at the time (which went on to become The Door Between Worlds) to her old literary agent, Laura Cecil – who has since retired – and got some lovely feedback on my opening chapters and premise. It was so very encouraging, and is still one of the things that keeps me hopeful when querying new projects with agents.

There’s a wonderful talk that Laura Cecil wrote about working with Diana Wynne Jones, and it’s both fascinating and hilarious. For those curious, it can be found here: https://dwjconference.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Laura-Cecil-Talk-on-Diana-Wynne-Jones-FINAL.pdf

Bonus question! Is there anything else you’d like to add?

As of writing (November 2025), Next Chapter have just published my first poetry collection aimed at younger readers. It’s called Little Tales, and I’ve also illustrated it with sketch style drawings, which I’ve never done with any of my books before.

Here’s the blurb:

LITTLE TALES is a fun, whimsical collection of poetry for younger readers and the young at heart.

LITTLE TALES weaves magic and folklore with slices of school and family life, told with a cosiness and lightness reminiscent of bedtime stories. It also explores the confusion of being not quite a teenager, but not a small child either, and the expectations and challenges that go along with that stage of life.

Some poems play with silliness and humour, while others wield the sharpness of reality. Above all, LITTLE TALES maintains a soft touch of escapism to ignite imaginations and shed the seriousness of intense days.

Congratulations to Kathryn on her new release!

Here it is.

Interview With Author M J Mallon at Kathryn Rossati’s Tree Shallow Musings Blog

Thank you so much to fellow Next Chapter Author Kathryn Rossati for this interview on her blog:

An interview with author M J Mallon

Here’s a short snippet of the content…

Hi everyone, please welcome to the blog M J Mallon, a fellow Next Chapter novelist and poet.

M J Mallon is the author of YA sword and sorcery series, Curse of Time, of which book one, Bloodstone, and book two, Golden Healer, have been published. She has also penned several poetry collections. To find out more about M J Mallon and her work, head to her website: https://mjmallon.com

Alternatively, you can check out her Linktree here: https://linktr.ee/mjmallonauthor

When did you realise you wanted to be a writer?

About ten years ago when I started blogging at my eclectic blog home: https://mjmallon.com. At the time, I was living in Cambridge, England, and had close connections to Edinburgh, Scotland.

For my debut novel, Bloodstone, I developed a fascinating idea for a trilogy, which became The Curse of Time series. It was inspired by two sculptural artworks, the Chronophage clocks designed by esteemed inventor, Dr John C Taylor, OBE, and Jupiter Artland’s crystal grotto, designed by Anya Gallaccio – The Light Pours out of Me – exhibited during August 12 to December 2, 2012. (Jupiter Artland is located in Wilkieston, near Edinburgh, Scotland.)

What’s your latest project about?

I’m currently working on the third book in the Curse of Time series. It’s a young adult fantasy sword and sorcery novel, with the original cast of characters plus a few more. The Dragon Chronophage escarpment – the third of the sculptural clock creatures – comes alive in this trilogy, along with strange beings such as Eruterac’s living dead army, the return of the Grasshopper, the Mythological Fly, (sometimes known as the Midsummer fly) and the creepy coffin fairies. The story partially takes place in the Land of Shadows, and the battle scenes occur in Edinburgh. It’s at about 40,000 words now, still in the development stage.

To read the full interview head over to Kathryn’s blog or read on Substack:

https://substack.com/home/post/p-177203263

The Gift Tree Cafe #community #cafe #Edinburgh

Thank you to Helen for stocking some of my books at her lovely cafe, The Gift Tree in Edinburgh.

Helen stocks many gift ideas in her cafe ❤️ and does so much for the local community.

Here’s a link to the cafe page:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1H3MBsGMJ9/

and a map of the location.

And check out the reviews on tripadvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186525-d23590974-Reviews-The_Gift_Tree-Edinburgh_Scotland.html

Can you spot one of my books in the window above? And lots of lovely gift ideas.

The Faintest of Tickles #cricket #writing #anthology

Thank you to Alex Pearl for inviting me to write a poem for this charity anthology of cricket writing. Here’s me with my copy.

Book overview

“In this beautifully curated anthology, authors and writers who might never normally do so are given free rein to train their gaze on this most full-bodied of sporting muses. What results is a reminder that truly nothing in life cannot be improved with a generous dollop of cricket.”Daniel Norcross

This eclectic collection of short stories, reminiscences, essays, and poems will appeal to anyone with a soft spot for the noblest of summer games. Besides being entertained and amused by this compilation, the reader will discover some interesting and little-known cricketing facts such as Adolf Hitler’s view of the game.

Alongside a Foreword penned by Daniel Norcross, contributors to this attractive addition to the rich canon of cricket writing include:● John Corcut ● Bud Craig ● Judith Cutler ● Jessica Davis ● Geoffrey Dean ● Robert Deighton ● Isabelle Duncan ● Laura E. Goodin ● Pete Langman ● Ben Macintyre ● M. J. Mallon ● Jonathan Margolis ● Sean O’Leary ● Ann Parker ● Alex Pearl ● David Pearl ● Hugh Salmon ● Paul Stewart ● Sarah Traynor ● David Whittle ● Peter Wise ● David Alan Woods

All authors’ royalties are being donated to Surrey County Cricket Club’s charity foundation.

It was a tricky one as I don’t know much about cricket.

So I wrote a cheeky poem entitled Faking it! Jock Strap Blues which seemed to go down well 🤔

Review of the anthology (my poem gets a wee mention!)

https://artyntellybooks.weebly.com/the-faintest-of-tickles.html

I hope all you fans of cricket will enjoy!

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Faintest-Tickles-anthology-cricket-writing-ebook/dp/B0F2T23T3L

Last Day Indie Visible Halloween 🎃 Hauntfest #Sale

Today, is the last day of the sale but several of my books are still on offer for a longer period. These are below in bold.

Here’s the link to discover all the books on sale:

https://indievisibleevents.com

My books: My books:

Shh Purely Poetry (£0.99, 3rd to 10th oct ) kindle unlimited free.)

Do What You Love (free, 3rd to 7th oct, kindle unlimited free.)

The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet (£0.99, 3rd to 10th, kindle unlimited free)

Mr Sagittarius Poetry & Prose (Free, 3rd to 7th, kindle unlimited free)

Bloodstone (permafree, or £0.99, some Amazon Territories.)

Golden Healer, £2.99.

This Is Lockdown (Free, 3rd to 7th Oct,) kindle unlimited

also.)

Lockdown Innit (Free, 3rd to 7th Oct ) Kindle unlimited also.)

Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B074CGNK4L/allbooks

My YA fantasy Bloodstone, Book 1 The Curse of Time: (mental health rep, female protagonist, coming of age, dark elements, curse, crystal wielding magic, mystery, ya, fantasy.)

https://books2read.com/u/bOyrgWMy YA fantasy Golden Healer Book 2, The Curse of Time.

https://books2read.com/u/mgjY67

#indie #books #sale #indievisibleevents #bookstoread #bookstagram #bargains #read #reading #ya

Indie Visible Halloween Hauntfest 🎃#indie #books #sale

All of my books are featured with many fabulous authors in all genres.

Find out more on Instagram

Get yourself many FREE, .99, bargain downloads to fulfill your 🍂 autumn reading needs!

📚 ♥️ 😀 My books:

See the graphic of my books on Instagram

Poetry

Shh Purely Poetry (£0.99, 3rd to 10th oct ) kindle unlimited free.)

Do What You Love (free, 3rd to 7th oct, kindle unlimited free.)

The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet (£0.99, 3rd to 10th, kindle unlimited free)

Mr Sagittarius Poetry & Prose (Free, 3rd to 7th, kindle unlimited free)

YA Fantasy Series

Bloodstone (free, or £0.99, some Amazon Territories.)

Golden Healer, £2.99.

Pandemic Literature

This Is Lockdown (Free, 3rd to 7th Oct,) kindle unlimited also.)

Lockdown Innit (Free, 3rd to 7th Oct ) Kindle unlimited also.)

The Sale is hosted by Hayley @ https://indievisibleevents.com

My Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B074CGNK4L/allbooks

My YA fantasy Bloodstone, Book 1, & Book 2, Golden Healer, The Curse of Time: (mental health rep, female protagonist, coming of age, dark elements, curse, crystal wielding magic, mystery, ya, fantasy.)

Direct Links:

https://books2read.com/u/bOyrgW

My YA fantasy Golden Healer Book 2, The Curse of Time. https://books2read.com/u/mgjY67

Summer Travel #UK #Chester #Wales

Just on my way back from summer travel. I thought I’d put together a visual reminder of all the places I’ve visited!

Llangrannog

The Sweeney Hotel Oswetry

The Devils Bridge Pontarfynach, nr Aberystwyth

Trefechan

Aberaeron

The Three Bridges (below)

The waterfall

Sweeney Hotel – Country house hotel in Oswestry below

Chester

Smashwords Sale: The Curse of Time series #sale #ya #fantasy #series

The Curse of Time series is on offer at Smashwords! Book 1 Bloodstone is free!

Book 2 Golden Healer is currently .99c!

Are you looking for a captivating, imaginative series with a rich and mysterious world that blends fantasy, time, and emotional depth in a way that’s truly unique and compelling for teen and young adult readers?

With a fresh and lyrical storytelling voice the symbolism woven throughout the narrative gives the book a rare literary dimension. Readers are not just entertained, they’re invited to reflect, dream, and connect deeply with characters who face challenges far beyond the ordinary.

Download now for some meaningful magic!

Hurry, sale on until 31st July.

Bloodstone: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/11122419

Golden Healer

https://www.smashwords.com/books/1129312

Also available at multiple stores & in audiobook.

https://books2read.com/u/bOyrgW

My YA fantasy Golden Healer Book 2, The Curse of Time. https://books2read.com/u/mgjY67

Series:

Amazon price comparison – Bloodstone free,

Golden Healer 2.99 Amazon UK, 3.99 Amazon Us.

Indie Visible Charity Event #charity #book #online #event #braintumour #research

I’m taking part in the Indie Visible Events Charity Week Sale organised by Hayley Anderton @ Indie Visible raising money for Brain Tumour Research UK.

My books featured in the sale are:

Bloodstone, (my ya fantasy,) book 1.

my poetry collections:

Mr Sagittarius, The hedge witch, & Do What You Love.

Unfortunately I can’t do a kindle countdown deal as Amazon wouldn’t let me. I’ve already had my days. So, these books will be FREE!

Bloodstone may be .99p some territories, as it is not limited by KU.

My poems are included in the Indie Visible charity anthology, Life In Colour: A Charity Anthology, £5, for Brain Tumour Research with many featured authors. I’ve ordered a copy!

You can order these and many other bookish goodies/books via the website:

https://www.indievisibleevents.com website.

#indievisibleevents #sale #charity #Anthology #indie #books

Please support the charity by raising money for Brain Tumour Research.

Poetic Justice Book Launch – Dan Antion & Willow Willers @willowWillers @NoFacilities

Delighted to welcome Dan Antion & Willow Willers to my blog with their exciting news!

My good friend Willow is co-authoring a book with Dan Antion….Poetic Justice.

It’s a murder thriller, with political undertones spanning forward from the Vietnam war.

It was released, 9th June.

Links:

Kindle – https://relinks.me/B0FBLH5YKB

Paperback – https://relinks.me/B0FBRCQSHQ

Audio – https://relinks.me/B0DP5FR58S

Video Trailer: https://youtu.be/PLUZ9wwyQnA

The Blurb

Trevor Barcroft is convinced that mystery/true crime author Brody Thompson wrote the scene in which Trevor’s father Wilson Barcroft was murdered.

What should be a simple answer to this five-year-old crime is one that neither the police nor the FBI want to uncover; and one Bernie Bouchard doesn’t want his young investigative reporter, Rascal Todd, digging into.

Warned to stay away from the investigation.. Brody and Trevor begin a dangerous quest, led by the musings of a mysterious poet who has been hiding in plain sight for decades.

What does the Poet know that keeps him in hiding? What did Wilson Barcroft know that got him killed? Why can’t Brody walk away from a meaningless and dangerous pursuit?

Q & A with Dan & Willow

You must have been delighted when Dan asked you to be co-author..

Dan: I don’t know if Willow was delighted, but I was thrilled when she replied to my first email and said she’d like to work with me. Reaching out like that was hard for me.

Willow: Marjorie I was absolutely amazed! to be honest I was worried that I would not be good enough to work with someone as established as Dan.

Then I thought I can only do my best.

How did you find writing as a team on this novel? What was the process?

Willow: To be honest it was much easier than I expected…not that I actually had expectations not having ever done this before..

We were on different continents and had a five hour time difference. With the help of Trello, email and Box all of this was new to me, we found we communicated very well and soon we were both on the same page. So to speak.

Where your surprised at how the storyline, etc, developed?

Dan: I was surprised how the plot developed after Willow started contributing the poems. At first, I thought I’d leave a placeholder and ask her to fill it in. But I started telling her where I thought I was going and her poetry often led me down a different path.

Willow: Again as I was new to all this I was so surprised at how the poetry affected where the story went and after a while we started discussing how things might happen. To be honest I thought my part was peripheral but very soon the poet and I were sucked in to the centre.

Is thriller your favourite genre to write/read?

Dan: I’ve been trying to write a true mystery, but the stories end up more complicated than what a mystery lover would expect. I like working with a group of characters and letting them lead the way.

Willow: I love a good thriller, murder mystery but until now I have always favoured sci-fi…I find that easier to write because you can make things up….after this experience I am not so sure.

Why political thriller?

Dan: Vietnam was a difficult time for me. I turned 18 three months before Nixon stopped drafting people for the war, but I knew people who served there, people who died there, and people who came home suffering in various ways. Most of them are dead. So much has been written about the war, so I was looking for a fresh approach.

I love the title Poetic Justice. I love poetry! Did that title come to you quickly?

Dan: I’ll have to let Willow handle this. I was struggling to come up with a title, and she suggested Poetic Justice and I loved it.

Willow: When we started working together the work in progress was called “Not My Job…”after the story grew and we could see what was happening, what the poet was trying to do. Dan asked me if I had any ideas for a title. I can’t remember what the other ideas were but Poetic Justice stood out…our poet was seeking justice and Trevor was too. So eventually Poetic Justice became the favourite. I think it took two emails to decide that.

You’re both active members of the blogging community. I expect this is how the connection developed

Dan: Yes, I’ve been following Willow for a long time. I love poetry. I follow a lot of poets. I thought I needed a poet who could work from prompts and handle dark material.

Willow: Yes I have followed Dan for a good while now, I have enjoyed all his books and I find his blog great fun…He even makes the tools in his workshop look glamorous. I have learnt a lot from Dan.

So when he reached out and asked me to write a few poems I thought yes! Then it grew like Topsy.

How long did the process take?

Dan: I started playing with the idea early in 2024. I reached out to Willow in May and we’ve been at this for a year.

What advice would you give emerging authors?

Dan: I don’t feel qualified to offer advice, but I’d certainly tell people to listen to their characters. I know that sounds silly, but when I’ve tried to stuff my characters into a pattern I think will work, it never does.

Willow: I agree with Dan.

Willow this is your 1st novel! How do you feel? Would you do it again?

Yes I definitely would like to. Also if Dan needs a poet or anything again ….yes I would.

Who’s the pantser & who’s the plotter?

Willow: Dan is definitely the plotter he knows exactly where his Characters and Plots are going.

I write stream of consciousness all the time whether it’s poetry or prose. I do the research, read the plot but then I just write the poetry or story… I hear it in my head.

Excerpt

Trevor parked in the lot behind the restaurant. Inside, one man was seated at the bar. He resembled the headshot on the book jacket, but that was dated.

“Excuse me, are you Brody Thompson?”

“Yes, I am.” Brody tipped his beer to the stranger.

“I’ve been looking for you, Mr. Thompson. I heard I might find you here.”

“You have a reliable source. Mr….”

“Barcroft, Trevor Barcroft. Does that name ring a bell?”

“I can’t say that it does. Mr. Barcroft, I’m self-absorbed enough to think that you’ve read one or more of my books. Am I correct?”

“One of your books, yes. Harlan Springer’s Cash Call.“Brody put his glass down.

“That’s interesting. That was my second novel. Did you find it in a little free library somewhere?”

“No, a friend of mine gave me a copy. He said he thought I might find it interesting.”

“Did you?”Trevor pulled the stool next to Brody away from the bar. He noticed Brody’s near-empty glass. “Can I buy you a beer, Mr. Thompson.”

Brody nodded. Trevor pointed to Brody’s glass and asked the bartender for any good local IPA for himself.

She poured him a taste of Rock River IPA. “How’s this? It’s fairly new,”

“That’s nice.” She filled a chilled glass, and a new glass of Dos Equis for Brody.

“That’s on my tab, Miss.”

“You can call me Joy.”

“Thanks Joy.” Trevor took a sip of his beer.

“Mr. Thompson…”

Tiring of the formality, Brody interrupted. “Please, call me Brody. Do you go by Trevor?”

“My friends call me T-Bar, but Trevor works.”

“Fine Trevor. Please continue.”

“The reason I asked if my name is familiar to you is that your book includes a scene about my father.”

“Barcroft?” Brody looked away in thought. “I’m sorry, Trevor but I’ve written eighteen books, and I ended the Detective Springer series after five. I don’t recall all my characters. Barcroft is an interesting name, I may have used it, but I assure you, my characters are all fictional. I didn’t know your father.”

Trevor took a longer drink of his beer. He wiped his mouth with a small cocktail napkin. “Brody, on page one-hundred-eighty-two of Cash Call, your detective removes a piece of evidence from a crime scene. A piece of evidence that would have linked the murder of a character named Harry Wilson to a mob boss named Carmine Arletti.”

Brody finished his original beer and took a sip of the fresh one. “Your memory of my book is superior to mine, Trevor. Like I said, the book is fiction, and I wrote it ten years ago.”

“Harry Wilson was my father.”

“I don’t follow.”

“My father, Wilson Barcroft was murdered in Pittsburgh by a mobster named Roland Fisch. The police couldn’t prove Fisch did it because a weapon was never found. A witness heard the shots. He told the police that as he was running over to check the body, he saw another man run over from across the street. That man picked up a gun, two shell casings and left. That’s exactly what happens on page one-eighty-two.”

Brody gave Trevor a quizzical look. “I remember the scene, now. My detective wanted the gun to exchange for some information from the mob boss about a different case he was working on.”

“Exactly, and the murder of my father was never solved.”

*********

Bios.

Dan’s Bio

Dan is retired from a 42-year-long career in systems development and other technology and began writing his first book the next day.

He’s married, the father of one child, and although there are no pets around today, he and his wife have had four Irish Setters and a handful of Tuxedo cats over time.

Dan is the author of the Dreamer’s Alliance Series and the Rascal Todd Mysteries.

When Dan isn’t writing, you might find him in his woodshop, working around the house, or walking around with a camera.

He also might be having a beer with friends and some of those encounters have inspired the fictional bar stories on his popular blog—NoFacilities.com

Willows Bio

London born Willow Willers is retired and lives in Berkshire, Southern England.

Along with her husband and a steady stream of foster dogs mainly Guide Dogs for the Blind. Willow is mother to three sons all grown and flown and two fast growing grandsons.

Writing, poetry and prose have always been her passion in fact she wrote her first pieces before she was eight.

After two life changing accidents Willow started writing in earnest and has found it a life saver.

You can find willow at: http://willowdot21.wordpress.com

Places to find us :

Dan:

Author page: http://relinks.me/DanielAntion

Blog:

Https://noFacilities.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:ptjdluuxckfau3dnaihh2sn5

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DAntion

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNHXESp0LosdxjU-7elOu3g

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danantion