I’m happy to welcome multi-published author R.F. Whong. Today, Ms. Whong shares her new release, Fire Between Two Skies.

Blurb

Across centuries—power and peril—one fire endures.

Two eras. One relentless quest for truth amid desires and temptation. Across the centuries, two men are bound by parallel destinies that echo through time. Book 3 of this dual-time odyssey delves deep into the passions and struggles that connect their worlds.

In 2022 Hong Kong, Jason Guan, after losing his job as an assistant supervisor for wetland conservation, joins his uncle’s real-estate business. A chance meeting with his high school classmate, Vivian Jiang, draws him into a web of secrecy, seduction, and moral compromise. Amid the chaos, he and his wife, Debra, read an unpublished manuscript by her father, a celebrated writer, about the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom (1851–1864) and a man’s futile pursuit of justice and peace on earth.

In nineteenth-century China, Zhang Xin, an orphan saved from the streets by Missionary Issachar Jacox Roberts, is swept into the fiery rebellion of the Taiping movement. Torn between the dream of a just kingdom, his forbidden love for Miao Lan, and his loyalty to his ruthless brother, Xin reckons with doubt, conscience, and the cost of faith.

When greed and exploitation eclipse justice, both men must navigate their respective perils. Will they prevail or be consumed?

At once a political thriller and a historical epic, this novel tracks the embers that survive every age.

Excerpt

Even in October, humidity seeped in. In the sea of pedestrians with face masks, Jason Guan trudged ahead. The city hadn’t been the same since the pandemic. Being a Realtor after he lost his job as an assistant supervisor for the Mai Po wetland conservation turned out to be tougher than he’d anticipated. The property market had become a temple. Some arrived to worship, others to offer sacrifices, while most lingered at the margins. The value of stability spiraled into abstraction.

He ducked into Le Jardin, a French café everyone Instagrammed. It had just reopened. Inside, the scent of baked croissants swirled around.

In the corner window, a woman sat, poised as if she were a sculpture poured into a tailored charcoal suit, all clean angles and an odd, quiet gravity. The hairs along Jason’s arms lifted. Instincts prickled. His mind skidded from face to memory to name while the rest of him stood there like an idiot. He stared too long. Time kinked. “Vivian Jiang?” The name scraped out before he knew it.

She looked up from her phone. Her jaw dropped. “Jason Guan?”

How many years had it been? Ten? Longer? He stepped forward.

Vivian stood, graceful and confident, but a tautness coiled behind that poise, as if she were ready to spring. He touched his chin. An old image from his high school days at the Methodist Academy flashed in his mind. Didn’t she always hide at the back of the class?

Author Bio and Links

From a young age, I cultivated a profound love of reading and writing. I would spend hours at the library, devouring every book on a single shelf before moving on to the next. It seems I have a longing that can’t be satisfied by reality. Immersing myself in literature allows me to escape into worlds where I could become someone graceful, witty, and popular.

Currently, I work for a small biotech company and have published 120+ scientific books and papers. As a latecomer to the world of creative writing, I’ve released several books under different pen names. R. F. Whong is the pen name used for publishing fiction titles, whereas Ruth Wuwong is the chosen name for non-fiction books. I’m delighted to share that I’ve been named a Featured Author by the Minnesota Anoka County Library in 2025 and by the Suffolk Virginia Authors Festival in 2026. One of my books, Echoes over Stormy Sea, won a few awards, including being chosen by readers as a winner in the 2025 HOLT Medallion Contest.

I’m married to my wonderful husband, a retired pastor who encourages me to pursue my dreams. We served together at three different churches from 1987 to 2020. Our adult son works in a nearby city.

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Giveaway

R. F. Whong will be awarding a $25 Amazon/Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Find out more here .
Follow the author on the rest of her Goddess Fish tour here .

I’m happy to welcome back author Gail Koger. Today, Gail shares her new release, Undisciplined Catalyst.

Blurb

I was sixteen when I found out not only am I an alien hybrid, but monsters called the Tai-Kok were getting ready to invade our world. Guess who gets to stop them? Me! How?

My uncle, the mad scientist, created a machine called the portal that instantaneously sends a test subject from one location to another by converting them into energy. His idea is to port me onto a Tai-Kok ship. All I have to do is leave a bomb, hit the retrieval button on my spiffy traveler’s belt and poof! I’m back on Earth before the Tai-Kok ship goes kaboom. Sounds simple, right?

Wrong. Uncle Ben doesn’t have a clue where I’ll actually appear on the ship. It could be the engine room, the crew quarters, or even the bridge. It’s like playing Russian roulette. The Tai-Kok don’t like surprises or uninvited guests.

To make things even more fun, I have an alien battle commander stuck in my head and I’m related to a powerful Coletti warlord. Yippee. The chances of me living to see eighteen aren’t good.

Excerpt

“Give ‘em hell.” A wild look in his eyes, Uncle Ben tapped on the console.

The circles of light surrounded me, but this time it felt like a zillion fire ants were crawling over my body. Holy hell! Something had gone wrong! I appeared in midair and dropped like a rock. Smack! I slammed into someone, and my Glock went flying.

My eyes bugged. I was on the bridge of a futuristic warship, and the viewscreen showed one hell of a space battle going on. To make things even more fun, I was lying across the lap of a huge, muscle-bound male wearing black battle armor. Since he was sitting in the captain’s chair, I was assuming he was the boss.

A very angry-looking boss. I blinked. Holy cow was he good-looking, if you were into the whole merciless predator thing. Huh? The red chains woven into his black warrior’s braids matched the communication device on his left wrist. Who knew aliens accessorized and why did I care? I took a deep breath trying to control the panic streaking through me.

A low growl rumbled in his chest.

One look into his disturbingly hostile amber eyes and I knew I was in big trouble. I reached for my retrieval button.

His arms clamped around me painfully, and he spat a bunch of gobbledygook.

“Sorry, I don’t speak that language,” I replied mentally. Somehow, I knew he was psychic.

A harsh voice sounded in my head, “How did you get through our shields.”

“Dunno. My uncle is the scientific genius, not me. I’m just the delivery girl.”

“What do you deliver?”

Did I look stupid? The minute I told him bombs; he’d kill me. I pasted a friendly smile on my face. “Stuff. I’m Lexi and you are?”

“Battle Commander Kaelen. I serve Zarek the Coletti Overlord.”

Author Bio and Links

I was a 9-1-1 dispatcher for the Glendale Police Department and to keep from going totally bonkers – I mean people have no idea what a real emergency is. Take this for example: I answered, “9-1-1 emergency, what’s your emergency?” And this hysterical woman yelled, “My bird is in a tree.” Sometimes I really couldn’t help myself, so I said, “Birds have a tendency to do that, ma’am.” The woman screeched, “No! You don’t understand. My pet parakeet is in the tree. I’ve just got to get him down.” Like I said, not a clue. “I’m sorry ma’am but we don’t get birds out of trees.” The woman then cried, “But… What about my husband? He’s up there, too.” See what I had to deal with? To keep from hitting myself repeatedly in the head with my phone I took up writing.

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Giveaway

Gail Koger will award a $15 Amazon/Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly selected winner. Find out more here.

Follow Gail on the rest of her Goddess Fish tour here.

I’m happy to welcome bestselling author Joanna Campbell Slan. Today, Joanna shares her new release, Resort, Two, Murder.

Blurb

Kiki Lowenstein heads to Florida for sand, sunshine, and family time—until a shocking death pulls her into a mystery simmering beneath the resort’s perfect surface. With craftiness and heart, she dives into a dangerous tangle of lies that only she can unravel.

Excerpt

The scream ripped through the dawn and straight into my spine. I didn’t breathe until I reached the balcony.

Seven floors below, a housekeeper stood frozen at the pool’s edge, hands over her mouth. The turquoise water rippled around hair the color of fire.

Copper hair.

Floating.

Still.

My blood turned to ice.

“Mom?” Sixteen-year-old Anya whispered behind me. Pale. Too pale. “What happened?”

“I don’t know yet. Stay back. Keep your brothers inside.” My voice didn’t tremble, but everything inside me did.

I yanked the curtains closed, but not before my mind captured every detail: the purple satin gown billowing under the water, the bare feet, the drifting red hair like a drowning sunrise.

Then Brawny — my fierce, loyal Scot nanny — sprinted into the courtyard and dove in, shoes and all. She flipped the girl over, started mouth-to-mouth, refusing to accept what the water already knew.

Could this be real?

Sirens wailed in the distance. And I stood frozen on the balcony, one hand pressed to my heart, silently begging for a miracle.

It didn’t come.

The red-haired model from last night’s fashion show was gone.

Author Bio and Links

Joanna Campbell Slan is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestselling author known for her engaging women’s fiction and mystery novels. With nearly 80 books to her credit, including contributions to the original Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Joanna specializes in stories featuring strong female protagonists and the power of women’s friendships. Her tagline, “Creating a better world one story at a time” perfectly captures the spirit of her work, as she has a keen interest in presenting all sides of social issues. Joanna is best known for her Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series, which spans 19 books and 42 short works, chronicling the growth of a widowed mother who finds new purpose through crafting and sleuthing. Living on a nearly deserted island off the coast of Florida, Joanna draws inspiration from her surroundings and her love for various crafts, including Zentangle®, crochet, and upcycling. Her accomplishments include winning the Daphne du Maurier Award for Literary Excellence for her continuation of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. Contact her at JCSlan@JoannaSlan.com

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Giveaway

Joanna Campbell Slan will be awarding a $25 Amazon/Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Find out more here.

Follow Joanna on the rest of her Goddess Fish tour here.

I’m happy to welcome award-winning author Edward Parr. Today, Edward shares his creative journey and new release, Tamanrasset: Crossroads of the Nomad.

Here’s Edward!

Do you ever wish you were someone else? Who?

When I’m writing, I frequently imagine I am someone else. Since I write primarily from one character’s Point of View at a time, I need, in the same way that the theater guru Konstantin Stanislavski would have required were I performing each part in a play, to imagine what I would feel and say and do if I were that character in that situation. However, while I love to dream up incredible situations and imagine being inside them, that’s a far cry from wishing I was really someone else. On the other hand, I don’t think I’d enjoy writing as much as I do if I did not sometimes feel uncomfortable being myself and find refuge in the imagined lives of others. Maybe that is common to all authors – I don’t know.

Who is the last person you hugged?

I try to hug my wife several times a day, often to her annoyance. On the other hand, our Labrador retriever is always receptive to a quick hug.

What are you reading now?

I’m trying to get a better understanding of the whole modern mystery genre and some of the earliest examples. I’ve been reading through all the works of Agatha Christie and just recently read The Moonstone: A Romance by Wilkie Collins (1868) and E.C. Bentley’s Trent’s Last Case (1913). My next book to read is probably going to be Riders of the Purple Sage, a classic Western novel written by Zane Grey (1912). I’m still trying to figure out if I like Westerns. I’m generally more interested in the camaraderie of soldiers who are bound together than in the heroism of rugged individualists.

How do you come up with the titles to your books?

When I was writing my First World War series, I knew that a major theme of the work was about the collapse of the dynastic monarchies that had ruled the world for centuries. I had actually come up with the title Kingdoms Fall as a sort of short, snappy supra-title for the series and had begun writing the second book when I finally thought to Google the phrase and discovered a biblical except that perfectly fit the title (Psalm 46:6). Ordinarily I like the title to reflect something of the heart of the book; it becomes a key for the reader to understand what the book is “about.” My newest novel, Tamanrasset: Crossroads of the Nomad, is my attempt to tell a story that reflects the amazing place and time of many classic pulp fiction stories – the Sahara desert of Africa at the dawn of the 20th century. In the novel, the lives of four protagonists become entwined, and it is only through the chance intersection of their lives that they become bound together and influence a world that stands on the brink of vanishing. It’s a novel about loss and alienation and the fragile, transitory bonds that tie people together. I came up with the main title Tamanrasset fairly early because I knew that, at the point where the climax of a book would ordinarily be, the action would take place at or near the deep-Saharan city of Tamanrasset. What I later came to understand was the extent to which the city also came to be a metaphor for the main characters, which I chose to emphasize by adding the subtitle Crossroads of the Nomad. The city itself, located in the heart of the Sahara, evolved as a crossroads where desert-crossing caravans would stop to meet and trade before continuing on, and I feel that’s a pretty good analogy for what the main characters do in the story.

Share your dream cast for your book.

I like to have specific people in mind (actors usually) when I am writing a character so that I can better envision them in my mind, but often the specific person changes or it might be an actor who died years ago or is just not available. For the four lead characters today, I would propose a great young actor named Ashton Arbab, who appeared on General Hospital, to play Ahmad al-Haybah – he has the youthful appearance I’d want to see; I don’t know much about Mr. Arbab personally, but I do think a practicing Muslim person should play the role. Julia Ragnarsson is a Swedish actor who looks like she could play the part of Isabel but I’m not very familiar with her work. Callum Turner (Masters of the Air) could be great as the ambitious archeologist Renwick Villere. And I could easily see the great Josh Hartnett (Black Hawk Down, The Trap) playing the unflappable, experienced Sergeant Demoreau.

Blurb

TAMANRASSET is historical fiction set on the edge of the Sahara as the ancient world begins to fade and great empires collide. Four strangers—a mature Foreign Legionnaire, a Sharif’s wrathful son, an ambitious American archaeologist, and an abandoned Swedish widow—become adrift and isolated, but when their paths intersect, the fragile connections between them tell a story of survival and fate on the edge of the abyss. Blending the sweep of classic adventure with the horror of a great historical calamities, Edward Parr’s TAMANRASSET is a saga about the crossroads where nomads meet.

Excerpt

Demoreau knelt beside Lieutenant Claussen. The Sergent had been in plenty of actions during more than twenty years of service in the Legion: The sun beating down, the barrel of his rifle smoking and hot from constant firing, the taste of sand and sulfur in his mouth as he and his comrades fought off their enraged enemy with nerves of steel and cooler heads. “Que voulez-vous? C’est la Legion!” A part of him relished it. He had a calmness of mind gained through years of experience and training. As he raised his rifle to aim at the advancing tribesmen, he recalled to his mind the melody of a fine composition, the death waltz by Saint-Saëns, which unrolled in his inner ear, turning his blood to ice. He hummed the tune as his rifle fired and his deadly accurate shooting dropped one rider after another.

Claussen was a good Lieutenant and had plenty of courage, but that did not mean he couldn’t benefit from Demoreau’s experience. The Sergent turned and faced his commander: “We’re being overwhelmed and losing too many men, Sir: We can’t maintain this position. We must move east onto the ridge where there’s cover among the rocks.”

“I know, but it may be too far, Sergent,” Claussen replied.

“Yes, it might,” the Sergent agreed, “but we still have to go: We’ll certainly all be killed if we stay here.”

Claussen looked distraught, but as he looked Demoreau in the eyes his nerve was hardened. Everything had to be done “par règlement” in the Foreign Legion. He nodded: “Yes, give the order, Sergeant. Withdraw to the ridge; smartly, now.”

Author Bio and Links

Edward (“Ted”) Parr studied playwriting at New York University in the 1980’s, worked with artists Robert Wilson, Anne Bogart, and the Bread and Puppet Theater, and staged his own plays Off-Off-Broadway, including Trask, Mythographia, Jason and Medea, Rising and an original translation of Oedipus Rex before pursuing a lengthy career in the law and public service. He published his Kingdoms Fall trilogy of World War One espionage adventure novels which were collectively awarded Best First Novel and Best Historical Fiction Novel by Literary Classics in 2016. He has always had a strong interest in expanding narrative forms, and in his novel writing, he explores older genres of fiction (like the pulp fiction French Foreign Legion adventures or early espionage fiction) as inspiration to examine historical periods of transformation. His main writing inspirations are Charles Dickens, George Eliot, Bernard Cornwell, Georges Surdez, and Patrick O’Brien.

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Giveaway

One randomly chosen winner via Rafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/Barnes & Noble gift card. Find out more here.

Follow the author on the rest of his Goddess Fish tour here.

I’m happy to welcome back Portuguese-British novelist M G da Mota. Today, she shares her new release, Arabesque.

Blurb

A woman living alone in a coastal Sussex town in 1998 plants a copper beech sapling at 3 a.m. on a dark, cold night. Why?

A ballet dancer in 1960s East Germany is oppressed, longs for escaping with his little daughter but not his wife. Why? Will he make it?

In 2022 Karsten von Stein, widower and principal of the Royal Ballet, with two young children, meets Ivone Benjamim, a Portuguese, newly-arrived principal dancer. They discover a magical chemistry when dancing and soon it transfers to their private lives.

Against the background of ballet and its dancers, a woman called Grace tells her story from a rehab centre. Obsessive, delusional she begins believing Ivone robbed her of the man of her dreams—Karsten. And then a skeleton is found in a garden…What connects all these people and their stories?

You’ll be the audience facing the stage of this balletic novel.

Exclusive Excerpt

Lacey and I took the tube from Sloane Square to Westminster. Lacey’s house was close to the square. She wasn’t happy about it. She employed a chauffeur who normally drove her into the city centre or out of town. Lacey could drive but didn’t like to. Her money allowed her to be driven. But I always felt awkward whenever I arrived somewhere with her in a chauffeured car. People stared. Possibly envious or just wondering who these two women could possibly be. I asked her to take public transport and, as it was my birthday, she agreed. So, from Westminster underground station we walked past Downing Street and the Horse Guards Parade to Trafalgar Square and from there along the Strand, heading to the Savoy where Lacey had booked a champagne afternoon tea for us. One of her treats for my birthday.

The day was cold but clear. Sunny. Well wrapped up in our winter coats, scarves, hats and gloves it was pleasant to walk in the sun though there was an icy bite to the air. The Strand bubbled with people. Crowds moved like waves along the pavements, occasionally surging across the road from one side to the other when the pedestrian lights turned to green and the cars stopped. Accidently I suddenly tripped on a flagstone bulging slightly from the others. It all happened very fast but for me it seemed as if I were acting in a slow motion movie. Abruptly I had no grip. My body was falling. Lacey was screaming. And a huge, enormous red bus approaching. I was in its path and unable to halt my fall. Impossible for the bus to stop in time. I tried desperately to grasp something or someone but failed.

‘Grace. Oh God, oh God.’

Lacey’s voice. She was still screaming. And at that precise moment a strong hand grabbed mine. A firm arm slid around my waist. I felt my body being lifted and pulled through the air. I landed on top of a person, not on the road in front of the bus but on the pavement. The safe side. The bus missed me by a whisker. Sitting on the ground I sensed someone was still holding me and lifting my eyes I looked up into the concerned face of the Stranger from the Strand, Karsten. He had saved my life or at least rescued me from certain injury. I couldn’t speak. Shock and surprise shook me in equal measure. His light brown eyes, speckled with tiny green dots, were warm. I wanted to kiss him. Lacey fell to her knees and hugged me, bringing me back to reality.

Author Bio and Links

M G da Mota is Margarida Mota-Bull’s pen name for fiction. She is a Portuguese-British novelist with a love for classical music, ballet and opera. Under her real name she also writes reviews of live concerts, CDs, DVDs and books for two classical music magazines on the web: MusicWeb International and Seen and Heard International. She is a member of the UK Society of Authors, speaks four languages and lives in Sussex with her husband. Her website, called flowingprose.com, contains photos and information.

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Giveaway

The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Find out more here.

Follow the author on the rest of her Goddess Fish tour here.

I’m happy to welcome author and editor Jeyran Main. Today, Jehran shares her new release, The Radical Realism of Jesus.

Blurb

The Radical Realism of Jesus explores how Christ’s life and teachings confront the assumptions of our modern world. From rationalism and empiricism to pragmatism and nihilism, Jesus’ words intersect with philosophy, science, and contemporary culture—offering a lived, transformative faith that challenges, inspires, and equips readers to live fully in the 21st century

Excerpt

From the beginning, Jesus has consistently defied human expectations. He clashed with religious authorities, challenged societal norms, and even surprised his own disciples. Faith, as Kierkegaard emphasized, is a tension-filled encounter with the unpredictable claim of God. Jesus does not allow us to tame Him with neat definitions; He is the living Word who confronts our assumptions and stretches our understanding of God and the world.

In a modern age defined by scientific revolutions, technological advancements, and rationalist philosophies, many of us search for certainty, meaning, and moral guidance. Yet, the Gospel remains disruptive. Jesus is not an abstract ideal; He is historical, embodied, and relational. He experienced hunger, fatigue, betrayal, and hope. He engaged life fully, showing that realism and spiritual depth are not mutually exclusive. Even in a world governed by measurement, reason, and empiricism, Jesus challenges us to consider ethics, purpose, and human flourishing in ways that transcend material explanation.

This book examines Jesus within contemporary frameworks of thought—from Rationalism and Empiricism to Pragmatism and Scientism—showing that His life and teachings remain radically relevant. The Kingdom of God is not abstract; it demands reflection, engagement, and action. Jesus remains aspirational and transformative, inviting each reader to wrestle with faith, reason, and the meaning of life in a modern context.

Author Bio and Links

Jeyran Main has spent years immersed in the world of books as an editor. She is the author of God’s Surprising Way: The Path to Lasting Joy, Healing, and Love and serves as Editor-in-Chief of Living in the Light of the Cross magazine. Through her platform, HeavenlyHarmonyHub.com, she shares resources that encourage thoughtful engagement with faith. Guided by a passion for seeking truth, Jeyran now turns to the radical teachings of Jesus, exploring how they confront cultural assumptions and invite us into a transformed way of living that endures beyond cultural trends.

Website | Heavenly Harmony Hub | Amazon Buy Link

Giveaway

Jeyran Main will award a $10 Amazon/Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly selected winner. Find out more here.

Follow Jeyran on the rest of her Goddess Fish tour here.

I’m happy to welcome award-winning author Margaret Izard. Today, Margaret shares her creative journey and new release, Highlander’s Holly & Ivy.

Here’s Margaret!

What was your inspiration for this book?

Both of my Scottish Christmas romances were born from a single idea that has always inspired me: tradition. The ones we inherit, the ones we cling to, and the ones we create when life demands something new.

Thistle in the Mistletoe was inspired by Roderick MacDougall and Mary Comyn, two quiet background characters from Stone of Love whose connection stayed with me long after the book ended. I kept wondering what their winter would look like in the Highlands, surrounded by candlelight, feasts, clan customs, and the small comforts that become anchors in difficult times. Their shared morning carrot cake became the emotional symbol of their story—proof that even the simplest ritual can hold an entire love between its layers.

Highlander’s Holly & Ivy came from a very different spark: a tiny wedding announcement I found in an old Scottish newspaper about a Highland solicitor marrying an “English rose.” That single line opened the door to Alex MacDougall and Iris Erskine’s romance, set in the uncertain years after Culloden. Their love became a story about which traditions survive upheaval, which must change, and how two people can build new ones together. The holly and the ivy—evergreen, rooted, resilient—became the perfect metaphor for their bond.

In the end, both books were inspired by the same truth: holiday traditions are stories we pass from one heart to another. And in the Highlands, as in real life, love is always the heart of every tradition worth keeping.

Describe your writing space.

My writing space didn’t start out glamorous.

For years, I tried writing in the main chair in our great room—also known as Grand Central Station in my house. With triplets, pets, and the natural chaos of family life, that experiment didn’t last long.

Everything changed after a vacation when I fell in love with the cozy little study nook in our rental. It inspired us to convert the old wet bar in our game room into a tiny study-and-beverage corner. Now it’s my office. It’s still open to the rest of the home—close enough to life, but tucked away enough for imagination to thrive.

This little corner has become the heart of my romantasy universe.

My outlines sprawl, my books come to life, and my dragons, fae, and Highlanders all find their beginnings right there. It’s warm, practical, creative, and unmistakably mine.

Besides writing and reading, what are some of your hobbies?

Outside of writing and reading, my hobbies are wonderfully eclectic. I collect earrings—far too many—and each pair feels like a tiny piece of wearable art. I’m a huge musical-theatre fan, so there’s usually a soundtrack playing somewhere in the house. I love to cook and can lose entire evenings watching cooking videos before trying new dishes in my kitchen.

I also adore traveling and exploring new places, especially the ones that feed my imagination. And when I’m home, you can usually find me in the garden, tending to plants with the same care I give my characters. Add in my obsession with holiday decorating—Halloween through Christmas is practically a sport in our house—and you’ve got a good picture of my creative life outside writing.

Any advice for aspiring writers?

My advice for aspiring authors is simple: write.

Put the words on the page—even if they’re messy, even if they feel terrible, even if they’re nothing like the story in your head. You can’t edit a blank page, but you can shape and polish something that exists. And you should—re-read, revise, and refine as many times as it takes.

I’m a huge plotter, so outlining is my best friend. Sometimes my outlines run over 200 pages and even include bits of dialogue. Planning gives me direction and lets me fix big problems before I ever start drafting. You don’t have to outline like I do, but find the system that keeps you confident and moving forward.

Remember to read widely, write often, and don’t try to do this alone. Community matters. Other writers matter. Support makes the journey easier.

And finally—give yourself grace. This is a craft, not a sprint. Show up, be consistent (I’m a 9–5 writer myself), and trust that your voice deserves to be heard.

If you start, you’ll finish. If you don’t…your book stays a dream.

What are you working on next?

As the year unfolds, I’m stepping into a bittersweet milestone: the release of Stone of Destiny, book 7, the final book in the Stones of Iona series, on February 9th. This world—its Fae realms, time crossings, fierce Highland warriors, and fragile threads of destiny—has lived in my imagination for years. Saying goodbye to it feels like finishing a long, beloved journey.

Bound by destiny, torn by fate—their love stood unbroken, victorious over all.

In this final installment, Kat MacArthur—still grieving her brother’s loss to another time (Stone of Faith)—finds herself drawn again to Ceallach, the Fae warrior she’s loved from a distance. Their connection has always simmered beneath the surface, but now the Gathering of the Iona Stones threatens to tear them apart.

Ceallach is bound by duty to the Stones, haunted by prophecy, and terrified that loving a mortal could cost Kat her life. When dark forces rise to seize the Stones and their power, he faces an impossible choice: defy destiny or surrender to love.

This is a story of sacrifice, fate, longing—and the kind of love that refuses to die, even when the world demands it.

What Comes After: The Dragons of Tantallon?

As one saga reaches its end, a new one unfurls its wings.

Next, I’ll be turning my focus to my next series, Dragons of Tantallon, a sweeping romantasy series that follows three dragon-shifting brothers cursed by their ruthless father, Balor, the exiled King of the Formoire Fae.

Born of forbidden love between a Fae and a human woman, these brothers defied their father’s darkness. They risked everything to return the Stones of Hope, Faith, and Love to the Good Fae—and Balor repaid them with a curse: immortality without a soul mate… and eternity sealed in crystal if they fail to complete the ancient bonding ritual.

Each book will follow one brother’s journey, as well as their offspring, through magic, temptation, danger, redemption, and fated love. Their choices will determine whether the curse ends—or if the realms fall into shadow.

Magic. Romance. Sacrifice. Soul mates. The fate of two worlds rests in their hands.

2026 brings the end of one epic tale… and the beginning of another.

If you’ve walked the path of the Iona Stones with me, I cannot wait to welcome you into the world of the Dragons of Tantallon. The magic continues—just with wings, fire, and a legacy waiting to be broken.

Blurb

A Christmas Companion book to the Stones of Iona Series.

In a land torn by politics and heritage, Alex MacDougall—Scotland’s Lord Justice Clerk—balances loyalty to the British crown and his secret role in preserving outlawed Scottish traditions. When tasked with retrieving a mystical stone tied to Scotland’s destiny, he crosses paths with Lady Iris Erskine, an Englishwoman captivated by Scottish culture. Disguised as Ivy, Iris masquerades as a highland lassie to be close to the dashing highlander.

Love blossoms between Alex and Ivy as tensions simmer between the English and Scots. While Iris vexes over revealing the truth to her handsome Scot, Alex grapples with his family’s secret duty to protect magic Fae stones. With his beloved targeted and hidden truths emerging, the world he once knew dissolves before his eyes.

Can two hearts bound by fate be enough to stave off an evil Fae intent on destroying the MacDougall Clan, or will Alex lose all he loves?

Excerpt

The man in the blue plaid from last week approached and took Laurel’s hand. “Laurel Comyn, I am happy to see ye this week.” His regard drifted to her. “And yer friend as well.” His eyes went to her arisaid, “A Comyn. She’s ye…?”

Laurel shifted closer to him as she waved to Iris. “John MacArthur, my cousin Ivy Comyn.”

Mabina spoke from beside her. “She’s mute, John. Lost her voice.” Iris nodded and moved her hand to her throat.

A voice deep and rich called out over the crowd. “Welcome all!”

Everyone turned and perched on a box he stood—him, the man in the red plaid from last week. His deep black hair fell to his shoulders loose. As he raised his flask, his muscles undulated under the fabric of his shirt. Her focus traveled down, and today, he didn’t wear trews under his plaid. Bare knees exposed above his woolen socks and boots fit for working on a farm were on his feet. Her knees became weak, and she reached out to Laurel as she stumbled.

Laurel took her hand. “First time ye seen bare knees, lassie? Does the same to me every time.” When Iris’ gaze returned to him, his eyes were on her.

He nodded her way and called out. “To whisky and Scotland!” The crowd repeated his toast, and everyone broke out in conversation.

Laurel turned to speak to John, leaving Iris beside the crowd. Many mingled and spoke lively. Men offered others sips from their flasks as the women huddled together, gossiping about whatnot. Iris picked up a Gaelic word here and there. Taigh for house and bonnach for bannock. She enjoyed the rich brogue of the men’s voices and the rolling of the r’s in the women. Their outspoken banter brought a smile to her face.

A gust of wind blew through the area, clearing the slaughterhouse stench but brought on a chill. Iris went to cover her head, and her arisaid fell on one side.

“Here, lassie, allow me.” His rich baritone voice sent chills down her spine, and as she turned, she came face to face with—him.

He’d caught her plaid and wrapped it around her body, tucking it into the folds so it stayed put in the breeze. “My ma taught me the simple fold to keep her plaid in place.” His hand lingered on the fabric near her face. “Comyn, ye are a Comyn, like my ma.”

She swallowed and shivered again, but not from the cold. The light blue of his eyes lit up the night as they followed hers. She glanced down again, unsure what to do without a voice to converse with.

When her face rose, his eyes crinkled. “Have I scared ye lass?” His hand dropped, and he blew his breath. “I didn’t mean to.” She stared at him, a highlander she craved to be near, her highlander. He cleared his throat. He’d asked her something. Iris shook her head, her hand going to her throat. She opened her mouth, and nothing came out but air, hoping to get her point across.

Her Highlander’s eyebrows rose. “Ye can’t speak?” Iris shook her head.

His smile bent kind of sideways. “I am Alex, Alex MacDougall.” He took her hand in his and caressed it. “What shall I call ye then?”

Iris’s focus went to the greenery décor, and he followed. “Holly?” She shook her head, her gaze never leaving his.

He grinned. “Ivy then?”

Author Bio and Links

Margaret Izard is an award-winning author of historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels. Her latest awards are 2024 Reader’s Favorite Honorable Mention for Stone of Love and 2024 Spring BookFest Silver Award for the same title. She spent her early years through college to adulthood dedicated to dance, theater, and performing. Over the years, she developed a love for great storytelling in different mediums. She does not waste a good story, be it movement, the spoken, or the written word. She discovered historical romance novels in middle school, which combined her desire for romance, drama, and fantasy. She writes exciting plot lines, steamy love scenes and always falls for a strong male with a soft heart. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and adult triplets.

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Giveaway

Margaret Izard will be awarding a Highlander’s Holly & Ivy swag box* ($100 value) to a randomly drawn winner *US Only*. Find out more here.

Follow Margaret on the rest of her Goddess Fish tour here.