Lyndsey Hall's Blog, page 6

My Writing & Publishing Plans for 2023

Hello, hello! The first month of the year is almost over, and it won’t be long before the days get longer and the nights are lighter, and snowdrops and daffodils spring up out of the ground. Basically, things will look a lot brighter soon.

I’m not one for New Year’s resolutions, but I do like to think ahead and set a few intentions for the coming year. They’re not hard and fast – I’ve learned that life doesn’t like to stay on a strict schedule and things crop up that knock you off track – but these are the loose, flexible plans I’ve got for writing and publishing in 2023.

My 2023 writing and publishing plans

January

Write The Wyvern and the Woodwitch for Enchanted Flames , coming out June 2023

February/March

Write secret fairytale retelling project! (More about this coming very soon)

April/May

Write and publish A Fair Secret, one of my short Fair Tales novellas

June

Publish Enchanted Flames

July

Write and publish A Fair Bargain

August/September

Write and publish A Fair Descent

October

Publish Fair Tales collection paperback

November

Publish secret fairytale retelling project

December

Rest! I’ve published in December the last couple of years and it’s absolutely broken me, so I will be spending December 2023 enjoying the festive season and spending time with my family.

And that’s about it! What are you looking forward to most? I can’t wait to share more about my secret project with you! I think you’re going to love the entire series, if you’re a fan of sweet romance and fairytale retellings, you’ll love what we’ve got planned for you!

Happy reading, friends.

Lyndsey

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The Solitary King audio book is available now!

If you’ve been waiting for book two in The Fair Chronicles on audio book, then the day has finally arrived! The Solitary King is now available on Audible and iTunes.

Here’s the blurb, in case you need a little reminder:

When Aria returns to the Fair Realm to attend a ball at the Salamander castle, it isn’t long before things take a turn for the deadly.

With her father’s home in ashes and her newfound family reduced to dust, Aria finds herself King Auberon’s captive once more. Deep within the mountains that border the Celeste Kingdom, Aria is powerless to fight back, her newly-discovered abilities suppressed by the weight of the rock that surrounds her. But when a Celeste guard whispers about rebellion and promises to help her escape, Aria is desperate to trust him.

Crown Prince Xander returns home to the Gnome castle, laden with grief for his brother and father, and dreading the day he will be crowned king. Preparations are underway for his marriage and coronation, but thoughts of the girl he betrayed trouble him day and night. Until the morning of his wedding, when a note arrives that Aria has been taken by Auberon once more, and Xander is forced to choose between his life of duty and obedience, and what he believes is right.

Perfect for fans of dark romantic fantasy novels like Holly Black’s Folk of the Air series.

Book three, The Fair War, is out now in ebook, paperback, hardcover and in KU, so you can now read the complete series! The audio book will be coming in late 2023/early 2024.

Happy reading, friends!

Lyndsey

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Yuletide Book Fair

Take a look at this year’s Yuletide book fair and find some new free, 99c and Kindle Unlimited books to read this winter.

End of Year Review 2022

Hello friends, I hope you’re enjoying the festivities and taking the opportunity to look back at everything you’ve achieved this year and feel proud.

Personally, 2022 has been one of the most difficult but rewarding years of my life, and I’m both nervous and excited about what 2023 will bring.

So, here’s an end of year review with (almost) everything I’ve read and written this year (so far, there’s still a few days to go!).

Books I’ve Read in 2022

I read quite a few thrillers this year, as a palate cleanser to all the fantasy I read and write, and because I’m a true crime addict. After I published The Solitary King in January (can you believe that was less than a year ago?!), I was pretty burnt out and just needed a break from fantasy, so I grabbed a few YA thrillers, including One of Us is Next and This Lie Will Kill You, both of which I loved.

I set my Goodreads goal to 36 this year, and so far I’m at 33, with a couple of books and an audio book pretty close to finishing, so I’m hoping to hit my target by 1 January.

If you want to see my full list of books read this year, you can check out my Goodreads Reading Challenge page here. Otherwise, here’s my top five favourite reads of 2022:

Tribe of Midnight by Iris KnoxThe Widow and the Beast by Alice IvinyaAll Good People Here by Ashley Flowers All These Bodies by Kendare BlakeCaraval by Stephanie GarberBooks I’ve Written in 2022

I tracked 162,859 words in 2022, but I probably wrote even more, as I didn’t start tracking my words written on StoryOrigin until about May.

This year, I’ve written One Fair Eve, my short story for Enchanted Forests, A Fair Vendetta, my companion novella set in the Fair Realm, and The Fair War, the third and final book in my Fair Chronicles series.

I’m so proud of everything I’ve achieved this year, publishing two full length novels, one novella and two charity anthologies (Enchanted Forests and ). Plus, the audio book of The Solitary King is currently being quality checked by Audible, so could also be out in 2022 if they pull their socks up!

I’m excited for what 2023 will bring, I’ve been lucky to receive some amazing opportunities that I can’t wait to tell you all about very soon. It’s going to be another really fun and busy year for me, and I hope you’ll all join me for the ride!

What are you proud of achieving this year (or just surviving through – I’m halfway through my husband’s 6 month deployment right now and honestly most days I’m in something even more primal than survival mode, so I feel you)? And what are you most excited for in 2023?

Lyndsey

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Character art and preorder incentive reveal!

I am so excited to share with you the absolutely incredible scene art of Aria and Xander I commissioned from the hugely talented Emily Bowers.

Are you ready?

How flipping gorgeous do they look? I’m obsessed.

If you’d like to get your hands on a free a5 print of this scene from the Festival of the First Fair Queen in Hitherham, in book one, then all you need to do is preorder book three on Kindle here:

https://mybook.to/TheFairWar

And submit your proof of purchase here:

https://forms.gle/k7ia7hVWUoTLYVVk6

And that’s it! You can even claim the preorder goodies from The Solitary King release, including character art cards of Aria and Xander, a bookmark and a signed bookplate, if you missed the chance back in January. The form will close on 30 December at 11.59pm and your goodies will be posted in early January 2023.

I can’t believe there’s just three weeks to go until The Fair War is released and my first ever series is complete! It’s an exciting and terrifying thought. I can’t wait to share the conclusion to Aria’s story with you all, I hope you’ll love it as much as I do.

Lyndsey

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Once Upon a Wicked Heart is out now!

The authors of Once Upon A Wicked Heart are pleased to present this anthology featuring villains of fairy tales and myths out into the world!

Check out the stunning cover and blurb below!

Grab a copy to help an amazing cause, then enter the release giveaway.

How do you break a villain’s heart? The first step is to steal it…

Join the authors of Once Upon A Wicked Heart as they detail the bittersweet, tragic, and sinister love lives of the villains we all love to hate!

These twelve dark retellings of fairy tales and myths will leave you shocked, entertained, and hungry for more!

Featuring:

‣ a Faerie queen with a score to settle

‣ a jilted goddess who starts a bloody war

‣ a heart of ice that will either thaw or shatter

‣ a cursed maiden who finds worth in her affliction

‣ a serial killer who might have just met her match

‣ a nymph who seems to have found true love at last

‣ a mechanical heart that could be a young woman’s undoing

‣ a sister who seeks vengeance against those who wronged her

‣ a betrayed witch who vows retribution for the slights against her

‣ a mistreated queen will take her rightful place, no matter the cost

‣ a sea witch who learns that love cannot be so easily manipulated

‣ a god who takes back what was stolen from him in a gruesome fashion

You can get your copy here: https://books2read.com/onceuponawickedheart
Enter the Giveaway!

Don’t forget to enter the release giveaway for a chance to win these awesome prizes!

Enter here: bit.ly/ouawhreleasegw

Lyndsey

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Enchanted Flames ARC sign ups are open!

Hey friends, how is the penultimate month of the year treating you so far? I hope you’re getting into the festive spirit, whether you’re looking forward to Thanksgiving or beyond to Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year.

If you’ve been around here for a while, you’ll know all about Enchanted Waters and Enchanted Forests, but did you know our next anthology, Enchanted Flames is coming June 2023?

The ARC sign up sheet is already open for applications, so if you loved our past collections, or you’d just really love to read an early review copy of ten fire-magic and mythical creature focused fantasy stories, then click the cover below to apply!

My story in this collection is titled The Wyvern and the Woodwitch, and follows an apothecary in the Salamander Kingdom as she tries to find the cure to a mysterious sickness that has begun to spread across the realm. With the help of a curious wyvern, she journeys into the heart of the forest to find the rare plant she needs to create the cure, but when she crosses paths with an arrogant woodcutter, can she complete her task without getting her fingers burned?

If you’re not already a member of our fan group on Facebook, come and join us for all the latest behind the scenes info on our stories, and updates on how much our anthologies have raised for our chosen charities.

We can’t wait to share these stories with you and raise funds for the World Land Trust’s Wildfire Appeal!

Lyndsey

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The Twice Upon a Name 2023 Reading Planner is here!

Can you believe there’s only two months left of 2022? What is this witchcraft!

With 2023 quickly approaching, it’s time to start thinking about your reading plans for next year. And to make it easier – and more fun – for you to plan out your twelve month TBR, we’ve launched the absolutely stunning Twice Upon a Name 2023 Reading Planner!

Just like the Once Upon a Name planner, all profits will go to Book Aid International to support their program of providing books and building libraries in underprivileged countries.

Scroll through the sample on Amazon or take a look at this video of the different layouts and designs inside, including review pages, weekly and monthly calendars, and TBR planners. Plus you can even colour in it!

Grab your copy now for just $9.99, or order one for a friend as a great bookish Christmas present for your favourite reader!

Lyndsey

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Happy Release Day to Hickory Dickory Death by N.D. Testa

Hello and happy Spooky Season! I’ve got an exciting post for you today, because my friend and Enchanted Anthologies coauthor, N.D. Testa, has published her debut novel!

Hickory Dickory Death is a collection of short, gaslamp, Victorian era, fantasy horror stories, and it’s perfect Autumnal/Halloween reading.

Blurb

A Soul for A Soul

I am a woman
I am a man
I am the one who seeks revenge

In Victorian Era England, five people come face to face with life’s most feared entity: Death.

During their time of mourning, each is approached by a peddler woman who calls herself Persephone. Surrounded in mystery and magic, she gives the grievers advice and hands them a box which contains an article of jewelry. Beneath the beauty and sparkle, lies a secret that is more than the recipients imagined:

An escape from their sorrow…

A chance for revenge…

A bewitching exchange…

A soul for a soul…

The chosen must come to grips with their own quests in order to right the wrongs that have been inflicted on their spirits.

I was lucky enough to interview N.D. Testa for this blog before release day. Here’s what we chatted about:

Hi Nic, welcome back to my blog! Tell us a little about yourself, for those who haven’t had the pleasure yet.

My name is Nicole. I write under the pennames N.D.T. Casale and N.D. Testa. I live on the East Coast of the United States. I am Italian-American. I am trilingual with aspirations to learn more languages (I speak English, Italian, and Spanish). I love to eat, cook, and experience good food. I am an animal lover. I love to travel and go on adventures. Fitness is a big part of my life. In my free time I lift weights, snowboard, and ride horses. I am a fashionista. I love clothes, shoes, makeup, and skincare.   

You’re a multi talented woman! I love how many passions and interests you have, I bet it really helps when it comes to creating characters and fantasy worlds. So, what got you started writing?

I have been writing stories since I was a child. During summer break from school, when I was little, my mom used to give me a notebook to practice my writing. She would give me random topics and challenge me to write stories. My dad and I used to read books together when I was growing up and it drew me into the world of fantasy. When my sister was little, I told my sister stories I created before she went to bed. As I have grown my writing has blossomed into multiple books that I am hoping to publish in the future.  

What a dreamy bookish childhood! My dad also got me into reading when I was a kid, he would pick up new books from the library for me every week, asking the librarians what they recommended for an animal loving ten -year-old. And it was actually his mum, my gran, who got me into fantasy when she bought me the first two Harry Potter books. What genres do you like to write? Are they same ones you like to read?

I write fantasy and mystery books. In the coming year, I plan on publishing a few children’s books I have written. I always like to challenge myself and try to write different genres when the inspiration arises. I like to read fantasy books because they allow me to escape reality. I like to read mystery books because I enjoy solving puzzles. 

My two favourite genres to read are fantasy and crime/mystery novels, I always think about writing a crime thriller and publishing it under a pen name. Maybe one day! Tell us a little about your debut novel, which comes out today.

My novel Hickory Dickory Death will be available October 13, 2022. It is a gaslamp fantasy/mystery novel with twists and turns, heart-stopping action, and bewitching exchanges.

I can absolutely attest to that, having beta read a few of the stories in the collection! Congratulations again on your debut novel, it’s been an honour publishing our short stories side by side in anthologies, but I’m so excited for everything you have coming up. So, how do you create your characters?

I create my characters based on life experiences. The highs, the lows, the joys, the trials, the tribulations, the people, the feelings, all have a big influence on my writing. I love the quote “what we give power has power,” because being a writer gives us power. In many of my stories, the situations my characters partake in mirror experiences I have gone through and what I have felt.

I create characters of different walks of life, nationalities, races, and backgrounds in my novels because I want everyone to feel welcome in my books. I hope that my stories can help people like myself who have gone through challenging times find hope again. I want readers to know they are not alone. No matter how challenging our lives can be, we can persevere. We can overcome, we are warriors, and we can find happiness again. Lastly, many characters I magically create in my head. I wait for them to talk to me and tell me what to write.  

Real life is such a beautiful and rich source of inspiration for characters and stories, you’ll definitely never run out of ideas! Where do you write? Do you plot extensively or are you a pantser?

I write sitting on my bed. Sometimes I write outside when the weather is nice. I am a plotter. I use notebooks to sketch an outline of how I want the story to go and then I elaborate from there. 

I’m a plotter too, I’m in awe of anyone who can pants a whole book and it turns out as a complete story! I need a strict outline that I can veer away from but always come back to. What are you working on as we speak?

I am finalizing my novel Hickory Dickory Death (out now!). I am working on another book titled Sapphora: Shards of Secrecy. It is a fantasy novel that combines Egyptian Mythology and secrecy. I am also working on short stories for the two charity anthologies I am a part of: Enchanted Anthologies Series and What’s in a Name series. 

I’m so excited for your fantasy novel, I love mythology and don’t think I’ve read anything based on Egyptian Myths yet! And I really need to start working on my short stories for the anthologies to, the deadline are creeping up! What would your advice be for aspiring authors?

Truthfully I still consider myself to be in the early stages of authorship. I am learning so much yet I still have a lot to learn. Advice I would give to others is write from your heart, believe in yourself, and believe in your writing. Never let anyone try to change your style. Get involved, join groups on social media, and talk to other authors. Lastly, do your research, there are many steps to publishing a book that I never knew existed. Take your time and go at your own pace. 

Nic, it has been an absolute pleasure catching up with you. Congratulations on publishing your debut novel today, everybody should go and grab it now! How can we find out more about you and your books?

You can follow my author adventures on Instagram and Tik Tok @ndtcasale! 

Newsletter signup: https://gmail.us17.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=07f73c8702d2b351c72884c8b&id=be08135b3e 

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

Facebook:  https://m.facebook.com/NDT-Casale-ND-Testa-101615729259730/?ref=page_internal  

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPdVSM9Xt/ 

Goodreads:

N.D.T. Casale https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21051236.N_D_T_Casale 

N.D. Testa https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/153233523-n-d-testa 

Thank you so much to Nic for chatting with me, and huge congratulations on your debut novel coming out today!

Don’t forget to get your copy of Hickory Dickory Death on Amazon!

Lyndsey

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A Book Lover’s Best Christmas Ever Giveaway!

Hi friends! Have you heard about the huge giveaway Jennifer Kropf, author of A Soul as Cold as Frost, is hosting?

A Book Lover’s Best Christmas Ever is an incredible bookish giveaway with 12 awesome, book-related prizes, one for each month of the year. Jen is putting a new item into the box each month, and at Christmas time she’ll draw a name and post the entire thing to one lucky winner!

Click here to enter the giveaway!

So far, the prizes include:

Paperback copies of the first three books in Jen’s The Winter Souls Series, A Soul as Cold as Frost, A Heart as Red as Paint, and A Crown as Sharp as PinesA cute personal library kitA Booktok tiaraA book-inspired journal (for plotting your own novel!)A ‘Time-Turner’ necklace (like the one Hermione has in Prisoner of Azkaban!)Book notes supplies (for book tabbing fans)A paperback copy of Feathers of Snow by Alice Ivinya

Head over to Jen’s website to enter, or find her on TikTok @jenniferautumnkropf!

Lyndsey

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