Fi Phillips's Blog, page 2

What you can expect from me in 2025

I’m firmly ensconced in the new year and back at my desk, so I thought it was time to tell you about my plan for 2025. And yes, it’s a writerly one, which I’m sure you were expecting. Here’s what I’ll be getting up to over the next twelve months. […]

Looking back over 2024: Writing progress, an autumn book launch, and a sparkling new website

The Winter Solstice, Christmas, and 2025 are beckoning from the horizon so I thought I’d take the opportunity to look back over the last twelve months before the festivities dance me away. Now that I think about everything I’ve packed into the year, 2024 has been busy, productive, memorable for […]

Three Books Down: What’s Next for the Haven Chronicles?

Haven’s Deceit, the third instalment in my YA futuristic fantasy series, was published on 21st November by Burning Chair. There’s something very satisfying about having a trilogy of books out in the big, wide world. Just look at that line-up. Several people have asked if this is the end of the Haven Chronicles. If you’ve …

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Become a part of the magic

There’s only one week to go – that’s seven sleeps – until Haven’s Deceit is published by Burning Chair on 21st November. This past month has gone by in an exciting blur. My author copies have come in. ARC reader copies have gone out. I’ve been talking about Haven’s Deceit all over the online world …

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Say Hello to Haven’s Deceit

It’s not long until Haven’s Deceit joins the Haven Chronicles family as the third instalment in Steve Haven’s journey into magic. Here’s what to expect: *** The magic continues… As Steve Haven and his friends mourn the loss of a companion, they think things can’t get any worse. But then the gates linking Darkacre to …

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The inspiration behind book three of the Haven Chronicles

With the next instalment of my YA futuristic fantasy series about to be launched, I thought it was time to tell you what inspired me to write this third novel. While it’s a continuation of Steve’s adventure in Haven Wakes and Magic Bound, there’s a whole range of other factors that have shaped this book. …

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Why I’m fascinated by magical doors and mysterious thresholds

I’ve always been captivated by doors, staircases, and any kind of threshold. To me, they signify a beginning, the unknown, and taking a chance. They’re the moment when we grip our courage tight and step out into something altogether different. *** “What do we do?” said Steve. “Well, we can’t go back. Can’t go forward. …

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Reintroducing the Haven Chronicles series

With the third instalment of the Haven Chronicles YA fantasy series well on the way, I thought it was time to reintroduce the books so far. Oh, and drop a couple of hints about what you’ll discover in book three too.

Killing my darlings: deleted scene from the third instalment of the Haven Chronicles

One devastating element of editing my novels is having to cut scenes out. Don’t get me wrong: this is no Draconian order from my publisher. Instead, it’s a realisation (by me) that removing that scene or character will improve my novel. It happened with Magic Bound where I had to divert my characters to a …

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The one where I answer reader questions

One of the lovely things about seeing my books in the hands of readers is that the conversation doesn’t end when they turn the last page. So many readers ask me questions about my books and writing process. That might be as part of a book review, in an email, or as a comment on …

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