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It’s been eleven years since
we moved from our cottage-turned-lake-house to the burbs of a historic southern
Ontario town on the Detroit River, yet I can still feel the pull of the former
cottage country lifestyle reel me in, especially during the summer months. Why?
It wasn’t because of the blackflies! LOL! The truth is I found that life was
slower up there in retrospect, and getting to live so close to nature was a
privilege and blessing. However, Hubby and I knew the time was ripe to move,
and let someone else enjoy the home we built by the lake. So, we sold the old homestead,
complete with a westerly view to die for, pulled up our stakes, and moved to a
warmer climate to be closer to family, and new opportunities for us.

Do I regret moving? Sometimes.
That’s one of the reasons why I created the fictional tourist town of Fairy
Falls. It was a place where I could set my teen psychic mystery series,
Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls around the beautiful Canadian cottage country
landscape that I left behind. By doing this I was able to share my experiences,
and expand my imagination through my psychically-gifted characters using the
art of storytelling as a means of conveyance. Fairy Falls is now a place where
I can visit anytime I choose, without the need of purchasing a can or two of
bug spray. Wink.

Setting the series was the
easy part. Write what you know, right? So I took in the sights, smells, sounds,
tastes, emotions, and feelings of where I used to live, and added the
challenges and obstacles of what it would be like for an uprooted teenager
possessing a psychic ability to adjust to the day-to-day living in Fairy Falls,
then gave them a mystery to solve. Meagan Walsh, the protagonist from Lost and Found tells us what she thinks
of Fairy Falls right off the bat: “This town sucks!”, and she goes on to
describe it as ‘a small, boring northern tourist town’. If only Meagan knew
what life had planned for her in this magical place!

Speaking of magical, if you’d
like to pay a visit to Fairy Falls during this summer (or winter if you live in
the southern hemisphere), and feed your need to read at the same time, please
consider curling up with one of my books. Here’s a glimpse into my cottage
country mysteries…

Lost & Found, Book One:

Fairy Falls
was bores-ville from the get-go. Then the animals started talking... 

The Fairy
Falls Animal Shelter is in trouble. Money trouble. It’s up to an old calico
cat named Whiskey—a shelter
cat who has mastered the skill of observation—to find a new human pack leader so that their home will
be saved. With the help of Nobel, the leader of the shelter dogs, the animals
set out to use the ancient skill of telepathy to contact any human who bothers
to listen to them. Unfortunately for fifteen-year-old Meagan Walsh, she hears
them, loud and clear.

Forced to
live with her Aunt Izzy in the safe and quiet town of Fairy Falls, Meagan is
caught stealing and is sentenced to do community hours at the animal shelter
where her aunt works. Realizing Meagan can hear her, Whiskey realizes that
Meagan just might have the pack leader qualities necessary to save the animals.
Avoiding Whiskey and the rest of shelter animals becomes impossible for Meagan,
so she finally gives in and promises to help them. Meagan, along with her
newfound friends, Reid Robertson and Natalie Knight, discover that someone in
Fairy Falls is not only out to destroy the shelter, but the animals as well.
Can Meagan convince her aunt and co-workers that the animals are in danger? If
she fails, then all the animals’ voices will be silenced forever.

Lost & Found Buy Links:

PANDAMONIUM
PUBLISHING HOUSE ׀ AMAZON ׀

Blackflies & Blueberries, Book Two:

The only witness left to testify against an unsolved
crime in Fairy Falls isn’t a person…

City born and bred, Hart Stewart possesses the gift of psychometry—the
psychic ability to discover facts about an event or person by touching
inanimate objects associated with them. Since his mother’s death,
seventeen-year-old Hart has endured homelessness, and has learned ways to keep
his illiteracy under wraps. He eventually learns of a great-aunt living in
Fairy Falls, and decides to leave the only life he’s ever known for an
uncertain future.

Diana MacGregor lives in Fairy Falls. Her mother was a victim of a
senseless murder. Only Diana’s unanswered questions and her grief keeps her
going, until Hart finds her mother’s lost ring and becomes a witness to her
murder.

Through Hart’s psychic power, Diana gains hope for justice. Their
investigation leads them into the corrupt world threatening Fairy Falls. To
secure the town’s future, Hart and Diana must join forces to uncover the
shocking truth, or they risk losing the true essence of Fairy Falls forever.

Blackflies & Blueberries Buy Links:

PANDAMONIUM
PUBLISHING HOUSE ׀ AMAZON ׀

Coming Soon
through Pandamonium Publishing House:

Sticks & Stones, Book Three:

The healing needs to leave the circle for
all to be whole.

Fourteen-year-old
Thane Berg never asked to move to Fairy Falls—or to live with the father he
barely knows. But when he starts manifesting
strange powers—bending tools, levitating rocks, and moving objects with his
mind—his world turns upside down. His psychic ability, psychokinesis, grows
stronger and harder to control with every emotional spike. As if navigating a
new school and a strained relationship with his gay father weren’t challenging
enough, Thane must also keep his powers hidden while grappling with secrets
from the past.

With the help of an eccentric
neighbor, Thane begins to understand his paranormal gift. A mysterious
book—tied to an ancient Druid and discovered in the school library—may hold the
key to his powers. But things take a darker turn when he and three new friends
stumble upon an illegal marijuana grow-op on his grandfather’s rural property.
The operation is poisoning the land—and something far older and more magical
than anyone suspects.

Now,
Thane must harness his unstable abilities to protect his friends, heal the
damage done to the forest, and preserve the mystical legacy of Fairy Falls. If
he fails, he risks losing everything—and everyone—he’s come to care about.

There you have it!
Great summer (or winter) reading material at your fingertips. Have you ever visited
a small town while on vacation and felt at home there for some reason? If you
could choose a psychic ability, what would be your choice? I’d love to read
your comments. Cheers, and as always, thank you for spending your time reading
my blog!

Emma Lane is here with a refreshing summer beverage that is sure to beat the heat. Perfect for social summer gatherings, bridal or baby showers, and book clubs. Scroll down to find a couple of Emma’s book suggestions…

Photo by Taylor Grote on Unsplash

Emma Lane’s Every Event Punch
1 pitcher unsweetened iced tea
1 cup pineapple juice
¼ cup maraschino cherry juice
6 cherries, pitted and sliced
1 medium-sized chunk of pineapple
1 orange slice
sprig of spearmint
1 cup ginger ale

Pour tea into a large serving bowl. Add all the ingredients, except ginger ale, to the tea and stir gently. Allow the blend to sit in the refrigerator for several hours.

When you are ready to serve, pour ginger ale over the tea. Fill glasses with ice cubes and top with the tea blend.

Serves four. Having a larger crowd? Simply double or triple the recipe.

Here’s a teaser from one of Emma’s Regency books.

What happens when a strong heroine meets an arrogant, but handsome hero? Sparks fly. It’s a Regency Romance Romp!

Miss Amabel Hawkins acknowledges her unusual upbringing, but she thinks James Langley, the Duke of Westerton, might be a tad unbalanced when he protests her efforts to right his badly managed properties. The duke, who has been away on the king’s business, demonstrates no respect for the beautiful but managing Miss Hawkins. Amabel has taken refuge at Westerton, fleeing from a forced marriage to a man who claims to be her relative in order to gain control of her young brother’s estate.

The Duke arrives home to find his estate under the firm control of a beautiful but managing female. His suspicions are fueled by his recent task of spy-hunting and he wonders if Amabel Hawkins is just who she seems. While a dastardly spy lurks, a wicked man poses as her cousin threatening to take over the guardianship of her young brother. Amabel might be falling in love, but she knows for certain the duke would never approve of a meddlesome woman, and she decides to flee his estate. Will the duke finally realize the true value of the woman he loves or will his prejudice ruin his chances forever?

And a little from her cozy mystery.

Detective Kevin Fowler is baffled by the wall of silence that greets him from the relatives of two septuagenarians whose bodies are discovered in a country cemetery called Blake Hill. Even more upsetting is the unusual rash of vandalism reported nightly by the citizens in his peaceful community. Have the teenagers declared an uprising? Night patrols reveal a totally unexpected and shocking situation. When a poignant secret is revealed, Beverly Hampton weeps over the sadness of a long ago tragedy, but soon wedding bells are heard for the home town princess and the popular detective. At the local diner the alluring fragrance of fresh-baked, cinnamon sticky buns continues to reign over the peaceful citizens of Hubbard, New York.

Emma Lane enjoys leaving her garden for a few hours to dip into the romance genre Regency era of history. Join her for a glimpse of a half selkie fairy as she teases a powerful duke and fights the curse of a lowly, evil warlock. Other Regency romances are available on Amazon and Wild Rose Press. As Janis Lane she writes a series of Cozy Mysteries for Soul Mate Publishing.

Look for information about writing and plants on her new website. Leave a comment or a gardening question and put a smile on Emma’s face.

Stay connected to Emma on Facebook and Twitter.

If there’s one thing we know about wedding cakes today, it’s that they come in a wide variety of style, flavors and sizes. If you look on the internet you can find wedding cakes ranging from simple two or three layers to towering monstrosities or multi-flavored cakes connected with plastic bridges and even individual cupcakes. But nowhere have I seen a wedding cake that resembles the one the groom broke over his bride’s head in Roman times. In ancient history, and even up to Victorian times, the wedding cake bore little resemblance to the sweet confections of today.

Wedding toppers appeared in the 1940s, and by the 1950s, American brides began moving away from the traditional fruitcake of Colonial America. Today, you’ll find wedding cakes in many styles, themes, and flavors. If you can dream it, there will be someone who can make it.

When I was writing the book I hadn’t thought much about what kind of cake my characters would have, but I think it would look a lot like the one on my book cover. And Mama would have been sitting on a layer just as she is in the cover. After all, she was Cupid’s helper.   

 

Second Edition for A Groom for Mama Coming Soon…

 

Multi-award winning author Catherine Castle loves writing. Before beginning her career as a romance writer she worked part-time as a freelance writer. She has over 600 articles and photographs to her credit, under her real name, in the Christian and secular market. She also lays claim to over 300 internet articles written on a variety of subjects and several hundred poems. In addition to writing she loves reading, traveling, singing, theatre, quilting and gardening. She’s a passionate gardener whose garden won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club. She writes sweet and inspirational romances. Follow her on Twitter @AuthorCCastle, FB or her blog.

 

 

 

I’m the type a person
who, once I commit to something, I’m all in. Especially if my heart has
anything to say about it. Let’s talk writing for instance. At the beginning of
2025, I was faced with a dilemma. My publisher was closing at the end of the
year, and I had to take action if I wanted my books to continue to show up in
the world. So, I queried (not fun, but a necessary task) a couple of publishers
based on referrals from my author friends. Within a month, I signed on with two
publishers! The first publisher, Pandamonium
Publishing House for my teen psychic mystery series, Mysterious Tales from
Fairy Falls (read more about that news HERE),
and the second publisher, Next Chapter
for The Last Timekeepers young adult time travel adventures. Once I signed both
contracts, the stress literally rolled off my shoulders. Woohoo!

That said, I know I’m
in it for the long haul. As mentioned, I’ve got two young adult book series on
the go—four done in the time travel series, and three completed in the teen
psychic tales. What you don’t know is that I’ve got nine more to write in
total. Stating this fact shows I know it’s going to take years before each
series is completed. Honestly, what was I thinking?

Keep in mind I’ve had
to learn that patience is my friend, not foe. I removed myself from the hustle culture a few years ago, and feel much calmer, more focused, and less stressed.
If you’re familiar with the Tarot cards, there’s one particular card that I
visualize in my mind to help me keep showing up. It’s the seven of wands, and
the energy this card carries is one of valor, of holding firm, and of having
the advantage in spite of the stiff competition facing you. I’ve embodied this
card’s meaning many times throughout my author and personal life. To have the
courage to work through adversity and all sorts of pressure. It’s
determination, perseverance, and a sense of purpose wrapped up in a gift with a
bow. This card reminds me not to give up the struggle, and that if I make the
effort, I will achieve victory.

As writers, sometimes
obstacles are placed in our path (like losing your publisher) just to enhance
our ability to use our skills and wisdom wisely. Take the amount of times a
writer has been rejected, and you get the gist. It’s a test for us to see if we
can truly handle what we believe we can accomplish. To keep showing up is a
testament to your dreams and goals. I mean, why did you come to the earth plane
anyway? You showed up here for a reason. Figure out what that reason is, and
make things happen in your life.

Sometimes just showing
up means carving out that fifteen minutes a day to write your story or even a
blog post. Do up a few ad blurbs for the books you’ve already written and
published, and do some marketing. Back lists sell new books, right? Plot and
plan that next novel. Meet with other writers and network or brainstorm. Reach
out to your local bookstore, and see if they’ve got any author events planned.
Jump in with both feet, and share your reading wares with the local libraries
or schools. Donate copies of books to charities like Ronald McDonald House
Charities to enhance their libraries and raise spirits. Be courageous and
brave, like the figure on the seven of wands, who takes the bull by the horns,
and soldiers on.

In this writing
business, it’s easy to feel daunted, to retreat, to feel overwhelmed, and not know what the next chapter of your life will bring. I have
at times too. Just take a breath, step back from the action periodically,
reassess your plans and goals, then take back your place, and know you have the
advantage even if you don’t realize it. Because, trust me, you do.

How about you? Have you
ever let the competition get to you? Let me know if you’ve ever felt at a
disadvantage in your writing life. Do you cut your losses and withdraw from
your dreams and goals? Would love to read your comments. Cheers and thanks for
taking the time to read my blog. I appreciate you! 

About Mirror’s Fate:

Balance is Everything

The Mask Tendro picked up after the battle in the Mirror World is more than it seems. When he puts it on he is flooded with all the memories of his previous lives and all the ways his future could play out. Choosing to destroy the Mask instead of giving into the temptation of hiding beneath it, Tendro decides that this time he’s going to do things differently. And that means staying one step ahead of Caralain in his own world and the one that Mirrors it.

Mirena agrees to help Tendro with his plan, even though it will have her facing harsher consequences for her involvement in the attack on the Capital. But in order to break the cycle, they’re both going to have to tread into uncharted territory and face down friends and enemies alike. Alliances shift, fates change, and the past comes back to haunt them as they finally unravel the secrets of the Mirror Worlds and their places in them.

Release Date: 

July 17, 2025

Genres: 

Dark Fantasy, Romance, Fantasy

Meet the Author:

J.A. Dowsett (she/her) writes scifi and fantasy with strong romantic subplots. Her books range from young adult (the Crimson Winter trilogy, Neo Central) to adult fantasy romance (Mirror Worlds, Ismera). She loves superheroes, Dungeons and Dragons, and Star Trek. In her spare time, she owns and operates Mirror World Publishing, an independent Canadian press specializing in Escapism Fiction. She lives in Windsor, Ontario.

Connect with J.A. Dowsett:

Website: 

http://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com

Author Page:
https://www.amazon.com/Justine-Alley-Dowsett/e/B004MNQAUA/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4637105.Justine_Alley_Dowsett