Samantha MacLeod's Blog, page 2
December 2, 2019
Happy December!
This month is all about fantasy romance for me.
I’m halfway through the edits for The Flame and the Blade , my slow-burn enemies-to-lovers high fantasy romance, and I’m hoping to send that to my awesome ARC team before the end of the month. (Want in on that action? Click here to join the team.)
And The Trickster’s Song , my dark, sexy re-telling of the Norse myth where Loki steals the apples of immortality (and…yes… *that scene* with the goat) is going on sale for .99.
Just in time for the holidays.
November 25, 2019
Meet the Characters: Lyria
Gods help her, it will never happen again.
[image error]Thanks to the amazing artists and photographers on my Pinterest page
After a crushing betrayal by the man she’d built her life around, Lyria abandons her promising career with the Adventurers’ Guild and returns, humiliated and heartbroken, to work in the venerable Guard’s Guild that her family has run for hundreds of years.
Desperate to prove herself to her five brothers, Lyria is determined to do her very best on whatever assignment she’s given.
Even if that assignment involves dragging a spoiled noble brat through the Demon Forest in search of a mysterious missing contract…
Stay tuned for more updates about The Flame and The Blade, my forthcoming epic fantasy romance under the pen name Meredith Hart
November 23, 2019
Saturday Morning Meltdown
I try to keep my social media feeds pretty positive, but man, this time of year is brutal.
My husband and I get by pretty well as teachers, but November- with all its dark, cold weather, its attendant bills, and the g**damn holidays (click here to read about my deep and abiding hatred for the holidays) – is always the time of year when I start to panic about EVERYTHING.
Am I providing for my family? Should I get a new job? Is that worth giving up My Art? Is smutty paranormal romance even art?!?
Happily, there are acres and acres of woods behind my house. Even in November, there’s a hell of a lot of beauty out there.
[image error]Frost on the fallen oak leaves
Beauty helps.
The woods help.
And, sometimes, venting on social media helps too.
November 19, 2019
Prince Liam and Sir Cerdec Return!
When Prince Liam returns to his kingdom after five years, he fears that Cerdec, the newly-sworn knight who was once Liam’s closest friend, has forgotten the tenderness they once shared.
But Sir Cerdec is prepared to serve as Liam’s personal guard, even if the position torments him with a longing he’s terrified to voice…
All The Prince’s Men, the re-release of my polyamorous fantasy romance novella formerly known as The Night Watch, is now available!
[image error]And isn’t this a fabulous cover? Thanks, Kris Norris!
I have such a soft spot for this story. It’s all about characters choosing love over fear and creating their own happy ending. It was a delight to write, and I was so disappointed when it went out of print earlier this year. (Click here for that full story.)
Now, I’m delighted to welcome Prince Liam and Sir Cerdec back into the world.
And when I get reviews like this?
[image error]
Well, that makes me feel like the whole process — creation, revision, editing, cover design, more editing, panicking about whether the damn thing is even any good, another round of editing, social media promotions — is actually worth it.
November 7, 2019
“An epic tale of love beyond death, rich with Norse mythology.”
This review of Hel’s Lover is giving me ALL THE FEELS today!
Gypsy M. on Amazon writes:
“In part it is a Beauty & the Beast tale with the sexes reversed. I loved how intelligent of a character Hel is, who can best the boys in precision in most sports, and has far more practical knowledge than anyone else, and yet doesn’t feel the need to show it off except when called upon.
I also loved that she valued her throne and her country and didn’t feel the need for a man by her side to justify who she was. I loved that Baldr didn’t feel the need for power and just wanted to be with her.
It feels like a very modern, feminist stance on things, while still allowing Hel her femininity.”
[image error]
Click here to read the entire, happy-tear-inducing review
Like what you’ve read? Click here to join my newsletter and I’ll send you a free copy of Tam Lin, my sexy modern take on the Scottish folktale.
November 5, 2019
Meet the Characters: Vethe
And that plus a couple of coppers will buy him another beer.
[image error]
Vethe has no use for his once-noble family’s dubious legacy. He’s spent his entire life using his illegal wildmage talents to scrape together enough coin to buy his sister admittance into The Citadel before her extraordinary magical gifts can destroy her like they destroyed Vethe’s mother.
When his aunt reveals the existence of a long-lost betrothal agreement buried somewhere the ruins of Lord Valrion’s stronghold in the Demon Forest, Vethe is only interested in how much money the noblewoman betrothed to him would be willing to pay to escape that contract.
He just has to find the contract first.
Stay tuned for more updates about The Flame and The Blade, my forthcoming epic fantasy romance under the pen name Meredith Hart
October 25, 2019
All The Prince’s Men
I know – it’s a great title, isn’t it?
Just wait till you see the cover the fabulous Kris Norris made for it!
[image error]
Like so many other awesome things in my life, the new title for my polyamorous fantasy romance formerly known as The Night Watch came from my business partner. And my everything else partner. (He’s my husband, guys.)
Excited?
Good! Here’s the blurb…
When Prince Liam returns to his kingdom after five years of training at the magical Academy, he’s only missed one person: Cerdec, the boy who had been Liam’s closest childhood friend. But Cerdec is now a knight pledged to protect the kingdom, and Liam fears his one-time friend has forgotten their stolen moments of tenderness.
Newly-sworn knight Cerdec has had no shortage of lovers since Liam left the kingdom, but he’s never felt as close to them as he once felt to the prince. Now that Liam has returned, Cerdec is prepared to serve as his personal guard, even if the position torments him with a longing he’s terrified to voice.
And even if it means he must welcome and protect the foreign princess betrothed to Liam.
Stay tuned for more!
Like what you’ve read? Click here to join my newsletter and I’ll send you a free copy of Tam Lin, my sexy modern take on the Scottish folktale.
October 17, 2019
The Queen of the Dead
He’s the most desirable man in Asgard.
She’s the fearsome queen determined not to fall for his charm.
Together, they make a deal that will shake the Nine Realms…
[image error]
Hel’s Lover, my steamy fantasy romance inspired by Norse mythology, now has a brand new and smokin’ hot cover (thanks to the very talented crew at Paper and Sage).
Not only that, Hel’s Lover is FREE for the entire month of October!
Just think of it as my way of celebrating one of the very finest months of the year. 
October 14, 2019
Who is Meredith Hart?
A bitter, sarcastic fire mage with a dark legacy who’s lived his entire life on the wrong side of the law.
A take-no-crap guard desperate to prove herself after a disastrous love affair nearly ruined her career.
And a new pen name!
[image error]
Stay tuned for more…
Like what you’ve read? Click here to join my newsletter and I’ll send you a free copy of Tam Lin, my sexy modern take on the Scottish folktale.
October 3, 2019
Bump in the Night
Oh, how I love October!
The air is crisp and cool, the leaves are ablaze with autumnal glory, the kids are in school all damn day, and the bugs are dying by the bucket-full.
Yes, it really is the most wonderful time of the year.
And I’ve got a lot of big plans for this fall.
I’m re-releasing my polyamorous fantasy romance previously known as The Night Watch. I’m also planning a big free promotion for Hel’s Lover complete with a very sexy new cover. And… there’s a new pen name in the works!
Just to tide you over until then – and to make sure you get your fill of things that go bump in the night
