So, here it is, my end-of-year post, and I didn't expect to be typing this up in a dizzy, exhausted state as I battle a cold virus. So it's going to be a short post. Not sure I'll be awake for new year at this rate!

Nevertheless, I am looking forward to 2019. A lot has happened this year, and a lot of it has been subtle. Friendships have ebbed and flowed to the point where I'm not sure they ever really existed at all; but home has become more 'home' in some ways - I'm slowly falling in love with where I live; and in the midst of it all I've written two novels and one novelette - all of which kick off various new series of books. I'm pretty happy with that.

I tend not to do resolutions as such over the new year, however, it is a time to reflect on the things missing from our lives, as well as all we've achieved. I do miss nature. I used to spend hours every week walking in ancient woodland when I lived near them, many years ago now. So, my 'resolution' for 2019 is to find an area of woodland not too far from where I live and spend some time there every week. I have conditions though: it's got to be magical, and it's got to be wild; it's got to have that "something" about it that makes you feel like you've stepped into Narnia or Rivendell. Some woods are like that - so old and untouched, they breathe for us. The woods I lived near used to be like that. (And if anyone's wondering which woods these were, they were Pewley Down and The Chantries in Surrey - yes, the setting for Eye of the Storm and where Lawrence Gunvald has his home.) I miss conversing with the devas and soaking in the wilderness, and I'd welcome it back.

All publication dates for 2019 are still on target for now, with Autumn's Fall coming out first on 5th March, and of course, Blanket of Snow will be released more imminently on 7th January. And I'm very much looking forward to writing Fathoms Deep.

Have a wonderful New Year, everyone. And may 2019 bring you unconditional love, and the truth of your heart's desire.

Much love,

Dianna.

Have you heard? We'll be getting a little bit more from our favourite werewolves - you can thank my insatiable mind for that because this story came to me in a dream, just when I thought I was done writing books from Lydia, Lawrence, Ryan and Taylor's perspectives. Nope. There's a little bit more...

This is a novelette - a one hour read (just under 20,000 words). More than one novelette will make up the After the Storm series - stories told from each of the main character's points of view in the months immediately after the fatal storm, concentrating on the emotional and mental healing they each need to go through. They stand on their own, and don't have to be read to understand any new series coming next. However, they'll hold little titbits of information for readers who want that little bit more (there is a little plot threaded throughout the novelettes).

Currently available in digital format only.

I'm always in two frames of mind as to whether I should explain inspirations for my books. Some readers like to know and some do not. However, if you spend long enough on my Facebook page, some hints start to seep out. I'm not overly public with my life, but I do, on occasion, share information about those bigger life events that affect me, namely to do with my family and my daughter (and my cats!).

I think first it's important to mention that a story usually develops its own life, and is its own creature in many ways, independent from the mind that created it. I knew a long time ago that there would be a girl called Jasmine and she would weave a tale of her own. I knew it in 2012 when I wrote this sentence in The Demon Bride, from Lucifer to Mary (or Ymari): 

“The jasmine is beautiful, isn’t it? The flower of the revolution. Can you smell it, Ymari? The scent of a new power rising?”

Right there. Jasmine's seed was planted right there.

What I never knew completely was how the tale would unfold, and what part of my soul I'd need to delve into to tell it.

Fantasy is a beautiful medium for an author because you can take any real life situation, and wrap it in a coat of a different style and colour to better explore it; to make truths easier to swallow, and sorrows a little less painful to heal from - for your readers as well as for yourself.

My daughter was diagnosed with ASD in 2016, and a lot of the inspiration for Jasmine's character and responses in Aftershock came from how I have experienced this entity that is autism; from how she tries to manage it and how we, as her parents, try to understand it better. Sometimes, it is a monster - an uncontrollable, destructive beast that sees no logic or reason. And sometimes, it's quite the enlightening lesson that teases it is so much more than we know it to be. What's the opposite of a monster? Perhaps something divine. Perhaps something that can lead us all into a future worth having.

But not without first traversing the darkness and battling all the monsters we hold within, of course.

The Witching Pen and Eye of the Storm series are their own stories separate from my daughter's and separate from mine, so Jasmine's story will take a turn my daughter's simply won't. I'm not writing about my daughter, which is why I was in two frames of mind as to whether to post this article at all. Rather, I am writing through the experiences I have had because of her "monster within" and using them as a tool to weave my hopes, dreams and fears into worlds far greater than the current one can be.

The reason I decided to post this, in the end, was because I think anyone who works closely with, or is a parent of, children with such needs as ASD will see the similarities in the story between the layers of fantasy; they'll see the traits. And at the end of the day, even though we all experience everything, including autism, so individually, we're fighting the same battles, and it's nice to feel a little less alone.

However, this is not a story purposely carrying any message outside of the ones for the characters. I was very conscious that I did not want to impose my own thoughts onto Jasmine's story (or with any book I write - I prefer to stimulate questions and debate because life is multi-faceted and there are at least two sides to all things). The thoughts are Jasmine's, Pete's and Claire's. I had to be a detached creator, writing from my heart, but letting every sentence go because the story does not belong to me - it belongs to readers. What you gain from it is for you alone and that's always the way it should be.

As an author, all I really hope for is that my readers are able to take away something from my books, whatever that something might be. Whichever pools of inspiration and experience I delve into when I write, I hope that in this respect I have succeeded, and continue to succeed.

Here they are! The brand new covers for The Witching Pen series. Scroll down to see them. You can also view the series as a whole HERE. These new covers will be on all eBook platforms from June 1st, and upload will begin store by store, from now. 

The paperback versions will carry the same covers, but they will be uploaded after June 1st. The old paperbacks will go out of print before June.

The books have been re-edited, and new back matter has been inserted. When I say re-edited, what I mean is that one or two typos have been corrected in each book, and I've culled quite a few ellipses (...) because it seems I was ellipses-crazy when writing these books - lord knows why! But all authors' writing changes and improves over time - mine is no different.

However, that is ALL that's been edited. I have not changed the content or story in any way, no words except typos have been altered, nor have I have tampered with the style of writing at all. I wouldn't want to. This series is what it is, the first book written seven years ago without expectation, and the series has since garnered a strong and steady following who love it as it is - I wouldn't change that.

​So, if you've just bought the old cover, don't sweat it, 'cause there's no change to the story. Make sure your Kindle or eReader is set to receive automatic updates to all eBooks, and the book should eventually update once the new covers have been released.

Thank you all so much :)

These are the current covers above. I love them. I think they look sleek and professional, and if you're going to write a London-based PNR / Urban Fantasy set around October time ... well, grey's a great colour!

But it doesn't quite portray the sheer dynamism of the series to new readers who have never heard of it - they'll likely scroll right by - yet this series is just as adventurous as the Eye of the Storm series. So, The Witching Pen series is getting a facelift! The new covers have been designed and will be revealed in the next month. They're brighter; more colourful; still women-centric. They have more of an urban fantasy feel than any of the covers that have come before. I love them and can't wait to show you.

The paperback and the eBooks will share the same covers, and there'll be no light edition vs. dark edition going forward.

If you love the covers above and would like your paperbacks in these covers (whether light edition or dark edition) PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP, because once they're out of print, that's it - they're gone.

​Here are the light editions below:

Boxed Set: The eBook boxed set will remain for sale, but will reflect the new covers.

Omnibus paperback: I'm bringing back the Omnibus Edition of The Witching Pen series, but this time, it will INCLUDE The Last Dragon so you have the whole series in one book, and it will be sold as a special edition hardback. Yes - a hardback! This will be my first hardback, so I'm thrilled to bits. The eBook changes will come first, followed by the paperback cover changes; the hardback will take a bit longer. I'll give you more solid dates once I have them.

This is quite a project in itself, so please bear with me. The back matter in all the books will also be updated, and the single volume paperbacks will go off-sale before the new paperback covers come in.

​Look out for the cover reveal in a few weeks.

Blood Shadow is coming to your eReader in just 11 days! Check out THE BOOK'S PAGE for all pre-order links. And if you haven't been following the countdown on my Facebook page, go have a look - each day's countdown image contains a new three-line teaser.

There will also be a virtual signing for Blood Shadow, which will run from release day for two weeks only. MORE INFO HERE.

That's all for now. I'll see you on release day. The sun is finally out in England - enjoy the spring :)

Love,

​Dianna xxx