Local History and the Next Novel

After a hiatus following my relocation, it’s good to have the time to get back to writing.

One of the several things that drew me to north Wales, many, many years ago and before I’d even visited, was the region’s history.  This is particularly true of the early Dark Ages, which have always fascinated me.  The area is filled with myths and legends that are entwined with the stunning scenery. 

North Wales has lots of places associated with King Arthur and several of the beautiful collection of stories making up the Mabinogion are set here.  There are also a lot of local myths and legends – every hill, valley or lake seems to have its own tale.

There are also colourful characters who definitely lived post-Roman north Wales.  The tyrant Maelgwn, King of Gwynedd; Vortigern, King of the Britons (okay, Vortigern is shadowy historical); and many saints who are credited with bringing Christianity to western Britain all lived around this time.  Maelgwn and Saint Padarn played important roles in one of my north Welsh historical fantasies, ‘The Faerie Handmaiden of Annwyn’.

My own village lies in the middle of region and was (allegedly) founded around this time.  With a degree in history and archaeology specialising in north Wales I hope I know the context and background, and I thought it would be fun to research and then write a novel about our saintly founder and include other local stories for colour.

The reality is that research has been difficult.  I can find nothing early written about the village, and archaeology is sparse – a Roman road and holy well (see photo) are about it.  Stories say we were originally a religious settlement of Saint Gwyddelan who was a follower of the better known Beuno.  Beuno lived in the first half of the seventh century, which gives a tentative date for settlement in our valley.  However, I assume there were already people here to attract an evangelising saint and for the well to have been built up and paved.

I’d hoped to combine Gwyddelan’s story with the tale of Peredur to add some meat.  Peredur was one of King Arthur’s knights who slew a monster (the afanc) in a pool at the end of the valley.  Even if the story’s links with Arthur are ignored and we place the afanc episode after the king’s death, the Welsh Annals say Peredur died in 580 which is too early to combine with Beuno.  I could ignore the ‘facts’ and claim artistic licence, but the historian part of me doesn’t want to.

In my historical fantasies I like to fill in empty spaces by telling a story in the way I want to, which works brilliantly in my chosen period.  In this case, sadly, the canvas is a bit too blank to work with so I’ll have to pass on the idea.

The Well

eTreasures Publishing have decided to change their focus, and as a result have reverted rights for ‘The Well’ to me.  The book has already been removed from Amazon’s listings.

I’d like to thank eTP for taking on the story.

Sunshine & Ice Cream

After going through the editing process, my latest erotic short, ‘Sunshine & Ice Cream’ is now published. 

To be honest, it’s been available for a while.  A delay in its upload at Amazon, and then my house move, both wiped out over a month each, and meant I’ve not been able to write this until now.

The story is about my favourite PhD student, Kerry-Jane, who decides to sunbathe in a quiet area of the local park.

A big thank you to Cobblestone Press for taking on the story, to Angela for a comprehensive editing job and for being great fun to work with, and to Rebecca for a gorgeous cover.  Finally, a massive thank you to Carole for looking at my first draft and helping me turn it into something publishable.

This is my third stand-alone short story.

Here’s the buy link.

Here’s the blurb:

On a hot summer’s day Kerry-Jane is walking home through the park, and dares herself to strip to her pretty underwear to sunbathe in a secluded area. She flirts with two hunks working in the quiet place, and teases them by telling them her plans.

When the men call her bluff and tell her they’ll look after her while she relaxes, Kerry-Jane has to ask herself if she has the nerve to undress. If she does go through with it will she decide to encourage the hunks’ interest and take things to the next level?

Grave Markers Volume 5 – Anthology

As I expected (or to put it another way, it was in the contract), ‘The Bathtub’ has been incorporated into an anthology of three horror novellas published by Grinning Skull Press with the tag of ‘three suspensful tales of murder and mayhem’.

The other stories are ‘The Source’, by W.C. Jones, and ‘BraIn Attack’, A.P. Sessler.  I am delighted to be in such good company.

Here’s the buy link.

As a reminder, here’s the blurb for The Bathtub:

Elizabeth had always fantasized about two of her handsome co-workers, but she knew better than to start anything while she worked side by side with them. Now that she's about to leave the bank for a new job, her wildest, naughtiest fantasies are about to become a reality. But a home invasion wasn't part of what the threesome had planned, and now her wildest dreams are about to become her worst nightmare—in more ways than one.

Dolwyddelan

Many people who know me will be know my wife and I have moved to north Wales.  We now live in the stunningly beautiful village of Dolwyddelan, a few miles from Snowdon (or Yr Wyddfa, as we locals call it), the highest mountain in England and Wales.  The picture shows our valley from its southern flank, with the local mountain (Moel Siabod) rising beyond to the north.  I fell in love with the region while at university nearby, and fortunately my wife shares my passion so many years ago moving to Snowdonia became our long-term ambition.

Preparing for the move, moving, and finally unpacking have taken up all my time for the last month or so and left no time for writing.  In addition, a two-week wait for broadband has successfully stifled my online presence.

Four of my historical novels have been set around around here – Andraste’s Blade, The Doe and the Dragon, The Footholder’s Tale, and The Faerie Handmaiden of Annwyn.

As well as providing a much, much better quality of life, I hope the move will give me more time and ideas for writing.  I already know yomping over upland moor and along valley bottoms gives time for thinking about plots.  There is also inspiration around the village, including a castle associated with Llywelyn the Great and a five-hundred-year-old church dedicated to the dark age Saint Gwyddelan, who the village is named after.  Dolwyddelan also has its own dragon legend.

A few miles east lies the ‘Beaver Pool’ in the river Conwy (picture below).  The pool is associated with a water monster, the afanc, and there are stories about how the beast terrorised the valley.

'Football Fantasy' Released!

If the team wins, the prize will be hers…

After going through the editing process my latest erotic novelette, ‘Football Fantasy’, is now available.  The story is about my favourite PhD student, Kerry-Jane, who is working as a temp at the local football club when she has an adventure with the entire team.

A big thanks to Sharon at The Wild Rose Press for taking the book on, and  another thanks to Dianne for a brilliant editing job, and yet another thanks to Diane for a sparkling cover.

Here’s the blurb:

Pretty temp Kerry-Jane enjoys working part-time in the Football Club's ticket office. She's met—and flirted with—some of the team, and her fantasy is to join them in their bath. One sexy star player has caught her eye, and when he jokingly invites her to join them for a steamy after-game bath, she blurts out a challenge. If they win the championship, she'll accept his invitation. It'll never happen, though. The team is too far behind. But unlikely events conspire to hand Poldenham the league win, and Kerry-Jane has to decide if she's brave enough to claim her ultimate fantasy.
Here’s the buy link.

‘Football Fantasy’ Cover and Buy Link

This is one stunning cover, for my next story ‘starring’ Kerry-Jane, my favourite PhD student.  Big thanks to Diana for getting everything right, including using the football club’s green and black.  Another big thanks to Sharon at The Wild Rose Press for taking the book on, and yet another  to Dianne for a brilliant editing job.

In this novella, Kerry-Jane is working as a temp at the local football club, when she has an adventure with the entire team.  Here’s the blurb:

Pretty temp Kerry-Jane enjoys working part-time in the Football Club's ticket office. She's met—and flirted with—some of the team, and her fantasy is to join them in their bath. One sexy star player has caught her eye, and when he jokingly invites her to join them for a steamy after-game bath, she blurts out a challenge. If they win the championship, she'll accept his invitation. It'll never happen, though. The team is too far behind. But unlikely events conspire to hand Poldenham the league win, and Kerry-Jane has to decide if she's brave enough to claim her ultimate fantasy.

The book is released on 6 May by The Wild Rose Press.  Here’s the pre-release buy link.

‘The Bathtub’ Released

After going through the editing process, my latest horror novella, ‘The Bathtub’ is now available.  The story is one of my rare ventures into pure splatter, being about a woman who is trapped in a bathroom with a couple of colleagues.

I’m grateful to Harrison at Grinning Skull Press for taking on the story and for a cover which brilliantly captures the story’s spirit.  The longer term plan is for ‘The Bathtub’ to appear in an anthology of other Grinning Skull Press novellas.

This is my sixth published novelette or stand alone short story. 

Here’s the buy link.

Here’s the blurb:

Elizabeth had always fantasized about two of her handsome co-workers, but she knew better than to start anything while she worked side by side with them. Now that she's about to leave the bank for a new job, her wildest, naughtiest fantasies are about to become a reality. But a home invasion wasn't part of what the threesome had planned, and now her wildest dreams are about to become her worst nightmare—in more ways than one.