Tag: fantasy

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Book Spotlight Thursday: INNISFALLEN ACCURSED by Jenny Simard LaBranche

Starring in the spotlight today is INNISFALLEN ACCURSED, a dark fantasy fae story, which is book 1 in ‘The Innisfallen Prophecies.’  Let’s read on for more!

Innisfallen Accursed (The Innisfallen Prophecies Book 1)

Release Date: September 30th, 2025 (Hard cover)

Genre: Dark Fantasy/ Fae

Features

Dark fantasy
Powerful artifacts
Magical creatures - fae, monsters, shapeshifters
Good vs evil
Heir to the throne
Strong female lead

Some powers are buried. Others refuse to be forgotten. And one wants revenge.

The land of Innisfallen is under attack, besieged by shadow beasts under control of a dark power. For four endless years, winter has gripped the fae world—crops have withered, villages stand silent, and the magic that once thrived has vanished, along with all memory of it.

Reagan, an 18-year-old fae, has spent those years trapped in an elite court training program, forbidden from returning home. When she discovers she may never be allowed to see her little sister again, Reagan makes a desperate escape. But her plan is shattered by the arrival of strangers from another kingdom carrying an ancient artifact tied to a forgotten power. The brothers, each more beautiful than the other, ignite passions in Reagan she has never before experienced.

Drawn into the brothers’ mission to break the curse over their world, Reagan faces an army of dark creatures, willing to do whatever it takes to save her sister and all the kidnapped fae. An artifact stirs something in Reagan, awakening a power she never knew she had—a power that could hold the key to Innisfallen’s salvation. Or destroy everything in her path.

Magic is calling. And it remembers.
AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jenny Simard LaBranche is an award-winning author of supernatural, fantasy, horror, and paranormal thrillers. A former IT Specialist and retired Firefighter/EMT, her path to becoming a full-time writer has been anything but ordinary.

Despite a lifelong struggle with dyslexia, Jenny held onto her dream of writing fiction. On August 26, 2021, she left the IT field for good and became a writer, finally embracing her passion. Her debut novel has already earned two literary awards and marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter in her creative journey.

Jenny has been married to Paul LaBranche for 27 years, and together they share their home with their adorable chihuahua, Mojo. When she’s not conjuring chilling tales and fantastical worlds, she enjoys the outdoors, spending time with family and friends, and getting lost in a great book.

Follow LaBranche and her books on IG: @jennysimardlabranche/ TikTok: jennysimardlabranche 

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Book Spotlight Thursday: UNRAVELED by Abbey Fox

Today, I am spotlighting this gothic Beauty and the Beast retelling in a fantasy setting. UNRAVELED is first in a new series called A Kingdom of Beasts and Ruins! If you like Howl’s Moving Castle and ACOTAR, this new series may be for you!

Unraveled (A Kingdom of Beasts and Ruins #1) 

Release Date: September 9, 2025

Genre: Gothic Romantasy/ Fairy Tale

Featuring

⦁	Enemies to lovers
⦁	Found family
⦁	Forced proximity
⦁	Touch her and 💀
⦁	Female friendships
⦁	A Beauty and the Beast retelling
⦁	Slow burn
⦁	Morally Gray MMC
⦁	His familiar/pet loves her more
⦁	Feisty FMC
⦁	Bookish FMC

Everyone knows to never look a fae in the eyes, yet no one warned me he would hide behind the mask of a beast.

Death awaits those who get caught in the Wild Hunt, and only a magical veil protects the people of Penumbra from the monsters coming for them. So when a beast threatens to destroy the veil, Mia Clementine must break her vows of sorcery and use her magic to fight him, or risk losing everyone she loves.

But the beast isn’t what he seems, and now the fae king owns her soul. Dragged into his mythical land, she must unravel the curse that turned him into a monster in order to regain her freedom—or die trying.

The longer she stays in his world, the more irresistible her feelings for him become. Hate turns into passion, and newly discovered truths test her loyalties, forcing her to choose to save her people or the fae world she’s grown to love.

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Abbey Fox loves to write action packed Fantasy Romance stories, with ass-kicking heroines, swoon-worthy heroes and a healthy dose of spice. Sometimes, when she should be crafting new worlds and putting her characters’ lives in danger, she is tending to her plants and painting her favorite characters.

To connect with Abbey, you can follow her in her Instagram account @abbeyfoxauthor or subscribe to her newsletter for all the latest info.

https://www.abbeyfox.com/newsletter-sign-up

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Beyond the Border Forest by Molly Haniszewski.

Spotlighting today is the upcoming beautiful  Snow White & Rose Red retelling, Beyond the Border Forest: Into the Prawdziwy Las Series: The Immortal Seasons Cycle Book 1 by Molly Haniszewski. Let us now step beyond the border.

Beyond the Border Forest: Into the Prawdziwy Las
Series: The Immortal Seasons Cycle Book 1


Expected Release Date: September 30, 2025


Genre: LGBTQIA+  Snow White & Rose Red Retelling

Features


🍄 Fairytale retelling
🌈 Queer Rep
❤ Plus Size Heroine
🌲 Enchanted Forest
💙 Trans Love Interest
😂 Hilarious Banter
🦌 Slavic Folklore
☕ Studio Ghibli Vibes
💪🏻 Unlikely Heroes
🩷 Sapphic Romance
🌟 Riddles
❄ Seasonal/Elemental Magic


Two kings rule the ancient woods—the Oak King in summer, the Holly King in winter—and no mortal may cross into their realm without leave. But when eighteen-year-old Rowan Gwózdek’s sister vanishes, Rowan defies the old laws and enters the forbidden forest, desperate to find her. She isn’t alone for long. Keziah, a trans (and very handsome) hunter with a shadowy tie to the Oak King, offers his help—and a perilous path to the Bear Maiden, a creature said to grant wishes. Together, Rowan and Keziah face mossmen, a wood dragon, and other servants of the forest kings.


But danger lurks deeper still. Caught between the warring Oak and Holly Kings, Rowan is forced to take sides in a battle far older and fiercer than she ever imagined. Saving her sister could cost her everything—including her way home.

Join the Kickstarter! It is the only place you can buy a hardback of Beyond the Border Forest! And you’ll also be able to get discounted paperbacks, ebooks, and other fun book-related goodies.

KICKSTARTER

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: To Kiss the Sea by C.H. Carter

This cover is so serene! Which is why it got caught in my spotlight! To Kiss the Sea by C.H. Carter is a sapphic fantasy fairy tale. Let’s dive deeper.

To Kiss the Sea


Publication Date: October 31, 2023


Genre: Sapphic Fantasy/ Fairy Tale Fantasy

Features


🌊 Fairytale retelling
🌊 Mermaids, pirates, and spies – Oh my!
🌊 Force proximity
🌊 Enemies-to-friends
🌊 LGBTQ/Queer normative society
🌊 Found family
🌊 Mental health rep
🌊 Multi-POV

In the Birde Isles, there’s a saying: You cannot take what the sea is not willing to give.
Ally Kingfisher never gave it much thought until she experienced the sea’s wrath firsthand. But after a near-drowning leaves her with a deeply ingrained fear of the water, Ally still finds herself inexplicably drawn to its depths. As if something is calling to her from beneath the waves, and it only grows louder each year.
Pasha is being punished for something she didn’t do, sentenced to a life of solitude until her kin return. But mermaids aren’t meant to live alone. Desperate for companionship, Pasha makes a deal that goes spectacularly awry, affecting the lives of everyone on the Isles for years to come.
When a pirate captain kidnaps Ally’s mother and demands Ally deliver the ransom personally, she is forced to leave land for the first time. Turning to Pasha, the one creature whose help she doesn’t want but whose power over the water she needs, Ally strikes a new bargain to get her to her mother. But she’ll have to confront more than her fears along the way…
Because even those in favor are still at the mercy of the sea.


AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

C.H. Carter is a fantasy author with a lifelong love of the genre in all its forms. In middle school, she wrote a fan letter to Tamora Pierce and received the most encouraging reply! That experience cemented her desire to become an author. (She also still holds out the hope they can meet in person one day!)

When not writing, you can find her working on a number of rotating projects (Crochet, anyone?) and obsessing over her two rescue dogs.

TO KISS THE SEA is C.H. Carter’s debut novel.

ALSO DON’T FORGET

Book 2 and Book 2 in the KINGSPORT CHRONICALS

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: The Legacy of Ophelia by Nicole Platania

Caught in my spotlight this Thursday is THE LEGACY OF OPHELIA. The fifth and final book in the epic romantic fantasy series, The Curse of Ophelia. Luckily, you can now read this entire series on Amazon & Kindle Unlimited!

The Legacy of Ophelia

Publication Day: August 7, 2025

Genre:  Epic Romantic Fantasy

Features

🪽 Meddling angels
🏛️ Curses & quests
🪽 Warrior clans
🏛️ Found family
🪽 Multiple slow-burn romances
🏛️ High stakes fantasy

Ophelia and Malakai have been ripped from their loved ones and are at the mercy of a vengeful god.
But they quickly discover that in order to uncover secrets buried among realms, that may be precisely where they need to be. Even if it jeopardizes all they have fought to become.
Meanwhile, their friends receive a surprise visit from a potential ally that spurs them to rekindle partnerships, deny the bounds of power, and push love to the brink of destruction.
With myths resurrected and the very fabric of Ambrisk at risk, can the warriors survive their final battle against the deities? Or are they fated to become the legends stories are written of?

Everything culminates in this high-stakes, realm-shattering conclusion to the ‘Curse of Ophelia’ series.’ With a lovable found family, scorching slow-burn romances, and inspiration from Greek mythology, this series introduces a universe full of twisted lore and ancient battles that is perfect for fans of Chloe C. Penaranda, Sarah J. Maas, and Melissa K. Roehrich.

“Legacy of Ophelia” Is Available Now On AMAZON

The Series Is Now Complete

Available on AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nicole Platania was born and raised in Los Angeles and completed her B.A. in Communications at the University of California, Santa Barbara. After two years of working in social media marketing, she traded Santa Barbara beaches for the rainy magic of London, where she completed her Masters in Creative Writing at Birkbeck, University of London. Nicole harbors a love for broken and twisty characters, stories that feel like puzzles, and all things romance. She can always be found with a cup of coffee or glass of wine in hand, ready to discuss everything from celebrity gossip to your latest book theories.

Connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter as @bynicoleplatania or at www.nicoleplatania.com.

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: All Gods Must Die by Soraya Cole

Romantic fantasy and Irish mythology combine in this week’s spotlight with the stunning ALL GODS MUST DIE by Soraya Cole! Full of mystery, betrayal, a unique magic system, and a prophecy, get ready to be brought on one epic adventure, and this is book 1! Let’s read on!

All Gods Must Die by Soraya Cole (All Gods Must Die #1)

Release Date: September 2024

Genre: Romantasy/ Irish Mythology

Features

✨A strong female lead who can fight
✨Fated mates
✨“Who did this to you?”
✨ Fae. Gods. Monsters.
✨Competition with trials
✨Irish Inspired Mythology
✨Shadow and Light powers
✨Sloooww burn (But definite spice in book 2)
✨A prophecy
✨Action. Adventure. Mystery

ENTER A WORLD OF SHADOWS AND LIGHT…

Seren was born into a world divided by shadows and light. And yet… she can wield both. She fights against the corruption plaguing her kingdom, but when dark creatures breach the shield and begin slaughtering under the cover of night, her world is thrown into chaos. To save her people, she enters the savage guards’ competition. A deadly game of betrayal, bloodshed, and lies with hopes of winning an audience with the royals.
But the competition is only the beginning.

As secrets unravel, Seren discovers a world far larger and more dangerous than she ever imagined.

Gods. Fae. Monsters. And a prophecy that could destroy everything.
In a world of Sidus and Caligo, where fae, humans, and beasts collide, one truth remains:
All Gods Must Die.
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Soraya Cole is a fantasy romance author. All Gods Must Die is her debut fantasy series and is inspired by Irish Mythology.

When she’s isn’t creating fantasy worlds with strong female leads and swoon-worthy heroes, she is spending time with her family in Ireland or trying to chip away at her never-ending tbr that only seems to grow bigger.

Soraya can be found on TIkTok and Instagram @sorayacoleauthor.

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Realm of Silk and Starlight by Ashley J. Vinson

Featured in the spotlight this Thursday is the romantic fantasy REALM OF SILK AND STARLIGHT by Ashley J. Vinson. 

Realm of Silk and Starlight (The Divine Realms) 

Release Date: April 8, 2025

Genre: Romantasy

Features

✨Lovers to Enemies
💙Enemies to lovers
✨Slowburn
💙Morally gray characters
✨He falls first
💙Touch her and ☠️
✨Fated Mates
💙Spice
✨Unlikely Allies
💙Found Family
✨Forced Proximity
💙High Stakes
✨Divine Beings

In a world torn between the mortals and the divine, Aerilyns life took a shocking and unexpected turn. She heard the stories, that those who die the most brutal of deaths can be blessed by the Gods and join the divine in their respective realm, but she never imagined that her own tragic death would unveil a destiny beyond her wildest dreams.
Aerilyn goes from being a slave to the crown to pay off her fathers debt, to a tragically brutal death. Awakening within the realm of the divine, she finds herself the object of affection for a charming high lord, but beneath his alluring surface lies a treacherous tapestry of lies that could dismantle everything she’s come to cherish.

Haunted by guilt and betrayal, Aerilyn must confront her tumultuous past as she fights against encroaching darkness that threatens the balance of the world as they know it. Will she be able to utilize her fiery spirit to help unify the realms of the divine, or will her passion only deepen the rift between her and her fated mate? Dive into the pages of Realm of Silk and Starlight and discover a tale where love and vengeance collide in the most unexpected ways.

Will she harness her inner strength to bridge the worlds as the bringer of peace – or will she be the reason that it all comes crumbling down once and for all?

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ashley J. Vinson writes romantic fantasy inspired by the stories and ideas she fell in love with as a child. Born in Michigan, she studied in Michigan and Florida before beginning to travel the world, as her husband was in the Military. With experience working at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Studios, her love for stories and romance started with the classic tales of happily ever after that we grew up with. After she was introduced to the idea of happily ever after, she began writing stories of her own at the age of five.

Now, she writes stories primarily for an adult audience.

When Ashley is not writing or reading, she enjoys exploring wherever her husband and she are stationed, watching movies, or playing the Nintendo Switch.

Follow Vinson on Instagram @authorashleyjvinson

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Fairy Tale Road by Christina Farley

Those kid-friendly Choose Your Own Adventure books from the past (I loved those books so much growing up) get a grown-up flair in FAIRY TALE ROAD by Christina Farley! Definitely earning a spot in my spotlight. Let’s read on!

Fairy Tale Road (Choose Your Happily Ever After Book 1)

Release Date: June 3, 2025

Genre: Enemies-to-Lovers Romcom

FEATURES
⦁	Enemies-to-lovers
⦁	2nd chance romance
⦁	Celebrity romance
⦁	Modern fairytale retelling
⦁	Slow burn
⦁	Happily Ever After (x3!)
⦁	One bed
⦁	Magical realism
⦁	Traveling
⦁	Fake dating

Your Choice, Your Fairy Tale.

When Scarlett discovers her sister’s heart was broken by the notorious Mr. Wolfe, she travels to Germany to expose this Big Bad Wolf and his Fairy Tale Tours. Disguised as a tourist, she explores the world of the Grimm Brothers’ tales, magical castles, and quaint towns while plotting Wolfe’s downfall. But things are not as they seem, and Scarlett soon finds herself entangled in a web of decisions and unexpected romance.

On this interactive romcom adventure, you will guide Scarlett’s path as she navigates a modern retelling of Red Riding Hood. Will she find her true love with the charming Hunter, mysterious Wolfe, or the dazzling Movie Star? Each choice leads Scarlett closer to a different fairytale ending, filled with twists, laughter, and sizzling romance.

Fairy Tale Road is not just a story, it’s your story. With each decision, you shape Scarlett's destiny. Along the way, you’ll guide her choices and determine which of the three swoon-worthy love interests she ends up with. And yes, each path leads to its own unique happily ever after. Or, if you’re feeling curious, read all three endings to experience every possibility.
Choose your fairytale ending where revenge, romance, and the magic of the unknown beckon at every turn. Explore a world where the path to love is one choice away.

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CHRISTINA FARLEY is the author of the bestselling Gilded series, The Princess and the Page, The Dreamscape Series, The Immortal Bound series, and the Library of Alexandria series. Prior to that, she worked as an international teacher and at a top secret job for Disney where she was known to scatter pixie dust before the sun rose. When not traveling the world or creating imaginary ones, she spends time with her family in Clermont, Florida with her husband and two sons where they are busy preparing for the next World Cup, baking cheesecakes, and raising a pet dragon that’s in disguise as a cat. Visit her at ChristinaFarley dot com.

CONNECT WITH CHRISTINA

Instagram: @ChristinaLFarley

Facebook: @ChristinaFarleyAuthor

YouTube: @ChristinaFarley

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Potions & Prejudice by Tee Harlowe

Okay, witch hates warlock. Warlock hates witch. Warlock falls for witch. . . . Things are about to get very, very complicated in Potions & Prejudice by Tee Harlowe. Let’s see more!

Potions & Prejudice (Moonflower Witches Book #1)

Release Date: June 3, 2025

Genre: Cozy Fantasy

Features
⦁	Enemies to lovers
⦁	He falls first
⦁	Slow burn
⦁	Cottagecore
⦁	Cozy fantasy
⦁	Only one closet

Elspeth Moonflower just wants to cast a spell. Unfortunately, that’s impossible due to a curse her grandmother cast that forces every witch in her family to marry before using magic. As a result, Elspeth and her sisters are outcasts, helping their mother run her traveling apothecary shop—while she complains that her daughters are all magicless spinsters.
When their cart breaks down and strands them in the charming village of Thistlegrove, Elspeth’s older sister meets a handsome warlock who’s smitten. If only the warlock’s best friend wasn’t completely insufferable. Draven Darkstone is broody, arrogant, wealthy—a perfect example of why Elspeth never wants to marry. But for the sake of her sister, she needs to be nice.
Which is hard when all Draven does is glower at her. It’s even harder when the glowering turns to longing glances. It’s downright impossible when he kisses her.
Little does Elspeth know, the line between love and hate just got thinner.

Potions & Prejudice is a low-stakes fantasy of Legends and Lattes meets the romance of Bridgerton, in this spicy cozy fantasy romance with a grumpy sentient cottage, an anxious miniature dragon, and all the cottagecore vibes.

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Shadow of the Yew Tree by Kate Gateley

Teaming with R&RBookTours this week to help celebrate the release of “Shadow of the Yew Tree” by Kate Gately! You must heed our warning and check it out!

Shadow of the Yew Tree (The Mythic Bones Duology #1)

Publication Date: May 27, 2025

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy Romance

Features
⬇️
🌙𝙳𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝙿𝙾𝚅⁠
🌿𝙶𝚛𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚢 / 𝚂𝚞𝚗𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚎⁠
🌙𝙼𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚢⁠
🌿𝙾𝚙𝚎𝚗 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛 𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎⁠
🌙𝙷𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍⁠
🌿𝙰𝙳𝙷𝙳 𝚛𝚎𝚙⁠
🌙𝙼𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚘𝚛 / 𝙼𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚎⁠
🌿𝙰𝚍𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜-𝚝𝚘-𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜⁠
🌙𝚂𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝙱𝚞𝚛𝚗⁠
🌿𝙾𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚍 / 𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚍 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚡𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚢⁠
🌙𝙳𝚛𝚞𝚒𝚍𝚜 & 𝚂𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎⁠
🌿𝙵𝙼𝙲𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 30’𝚜 (& 𝙼𝙼𝙲𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 40’𝚜😉)⁠

Synopsis

It seemed a lifetime ago that Dr. Ronan Gallagher had succumbed to his obsessive need to uncover the deepest secrets of the Codex Druidicus, a grimoire of the very darkest magic. Though he’d tried to protect his closest friends from a threat that had followed them through multiple lifetimes, the choices made by the Druid doctor had been a betrayal of not only his friends but his own sacred oaths—a betrayal he would pay for with his life.
Through the intervention of the Otherworld, he was given a second chance on this earthly realm to set things right. Yet, while the curse of the evil Sorcerer Cassius, ancient Child of Rome, might have been vanquished together with the Codex, the torturous tendrils born of Ronan’s pride and obsessive weakness still thrive in the shadows, their reach extending further every day.
When his fellow Druids learn of a massive explosion that has reduced a secret experimental Wraith facility to ruins, none can understand how Phoebe Ashburn, the sole survivor of the tortured experiments, has survived the blast’s devastation … and evaded their capture. With dark and volatile Wraith magic now trapped inside her—threatening her control and sanity—Phoebe is determined to discover how to rid herself of this inner darkness … even if it means accepting the assistance of the very Druid doctor whose actions had led to her torture in the first place.

GET IT NOW

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Author KATE GATELEY has always been fascinated by history, Celtic Ideology, ancestral memory and generational wounding, and the “Divine Feminine,” and those personal studies continue to influence every aspect of her life, on the pages of her books and off.

When Kate published her first book, Tides of the Sovereign (FriesenPress 2022), Book One of the Lost Wells Trilogy, she knew that it was only the beginning of a story she has always wanted to write—one with heart and meaning that was actually worth sharing. In December, 2022, Tides of the Sovereign was announced as the winning title in the Fantasy/Sci-Fi category of the Canadian Book Club Awards. Continuing now in Book Two, Mantle of the World Ruler, and beyond into the next volume still to come, that story has grown far beyond what she could ever have imagined … into something that she dearly hopes can one day find—and deserve—a cherished spot among those volumes of both contemporary fantasy and historical romance that so inspired her growing up.

Kate currently lives, and writes, on a small farm in the Cowichan Valley on beautiful Vancouver Island, with her amazing husband, two incredible sons, an adorable dog, several barn cats who don’t earn their keep, and some decidedly ungrateful chickens … all of whom are very dearly loved. She is a member of The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC), Federation of BC Writers (BCFW) and Independent Book Publishers Association (IPBA).

To connect with the author, visit:

www.kategateley.com