I did not think I would be so hyped for this space mission, but I happened upon the launch when I was bored and found it quite exciting and very nostalgic. As a kid we’d watch all the rocket and space shuttle launches, sometimes in school, and it was pretty freaking cool.

Now, as an adult, it just boggles my mind how they can do this sort of thing, and calculate so precisely how to make everything go exactly to plan. I watched the re-entry and splashdown to make sure they did make it back okay, because, again, I was expecting something to go wrong, merely because I couldn’t imagine that everything would possibly work as it was supposed to. 

But it did, and they are safely back home. I’m not sure how practical this kind of space exploration is, considering all the stuff going on on the planet itself, but I did find it gave me some sense of optimism and encouragement that in some things, humanity might actually know what it is doing.

If you have a Kindle Unlimited subscription, you can now read nine of my Pride Publishing titles for FREE.

…to get A Flash of Golden Fire for $2.99 USD.

BLURB:

After joining a pirate crew and falling for the captain, a young man’s strange and frightening powers emerge.

Twenty-two year-old Simon White begs for a place on Captain Dinesh Martin's pirate ship, the Arrow. When he proves hilariously inadequate at most tasks, he finds himself in the captain's quarters as cabin boy, housekeeper, and bed warmer.

Captain Martin used to be a British naval officer, until he became disenchanted with the hypocrisy, racism, and classism of the institution and embarked on a life of piracy. He runs an organized and efficient vessel and prides himself on the men with whom he surrounds himself. He is esteemed and admired, and he gives them as good a life as they've ever known.

But Simon has more than a few surprises up his sleeve, including some frightening powers, and Dinesh learns that sometimes a pretty appearance and amenable disposition can fool even an experienced man of the seas.

MM, hurt/comfort, age gap, witchcraft, rope and bondage, humiliation, sharing, and much, much more.

Our Flag Means Death plus Pirates of the Caribbean and make it kinky!

I was so very excited to see a review from Veronica at Joyfully Jay pop up on Goodreads today! I was thrilled when she gave A Flash of Golden Fire a fantastic 4.25 star review last year and truly hoped she would read and review A Hellish Thing. Well, she did:

I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter Weekend!

Now that my kids are grown, Easter isn’t really a big deal at our place. We are atheist humanists so there isn’t a religious angle. I do tend to enjoy pagan celebrations though, so there is a feeling a rebirth and renewal now that the snow is almost gone and above zero temperatures are a daily occurrence. 

Of course, we are having a big family meal on Sunday (Ham and Scalloped potatoes), but our 21 yo daughter may not make it into town with her girlfriend. She has a life of her own now, about an hour away from us, which is fantastic. At least they were both here over Christmas.

I’ll get the kids each a small bag of Cadbury Mini-eggs and an Easter Creme Egg just for the sake of tradition, but I’m going to buy myself some Charles Dickens books at the bargain books section in Indigo as my Easter treat. I got Great Expectations for Christmas and now I want to read his whole catalogue.

My youngest and I watched the launch of Artemis II yesterday, and it was definitely nostalgic for me, growing up in the seventies and eighties. It’s exciting and all that, but I wish money was being spent on other things. I don’t actually foresee humanity being able to colonize other planets as a realistic or practical goal. So then, what is the use of spending billions of dollars to fly four people around the moon? Because we can? I don’t really get it.

Anyway, I’m trying not to spend too much time contemplating current events because sometimes I look around and wonder if I’m living in some weird other dimension. Still hoping for the best and that things can turn around over the next couple of years.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend with family and friends, and are enjoying the turn of the weather like I am.

Cheers,

Alison

​A huge thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed an ARC of A Hellish Thing. I can see them piling up over at Goodreads and Bookbub and I am super grateful for all the positive words.

Good reviews help sales but do you know what else they do? They give me life! They make me think that perhaps I’m a half decent writer after all. They make all the hard labour of birthing a book absolutely worth it. Every time I have a book releasing I’m tied up in knots wondering if anyone will actually like it. I honestly do get so stressed every time.

So thank you again to all my readers, especially those who have followed me all these years. You guys are the reason I do this.

xo
Alison

Just before book #2, A Hellish Thing, came out last week, I signed book #3, Mist and Snow, with NineStar Press for release some time in early 2027.

Guys, this book was a bit of a slog, I won’t lie. Although, that doesn’t reflect at all in the pacing and content. I’m really, really pleased with how it turned out, and my editor will no doubt help me to make it even better. There is no lurking evil presence in Mist and Snow, but there are two fascinating new characters. Smoke and Fleur are introduced at the very end of A Hellish Thing, and I’m pleased to say they factor in a pretty big way in book #3.

Particularly Smoke, who has the same intensity, confidence, and charisma as Captain Martin. Having them both aboard the same ship presents some interesting dynamics. Dinesh Martin isn’t used to having his authority questioned or to being called out on his behaviour. But Smoke isn’t afraid to tell him what she thinks.

Smoke and her partner, Fleur, bring a fresh perspective to the Arrow and her crew, and challenge both Dinesh and Simon to affirm the life they truly want to live.

This never gets old, especially when the cover, designed by Jaycee DeLorenzo, is this beautiful. Holding in my hand a book I have written is a pretty special thing.

I’ll be taking these with me to the Islands and Ink Book Fair in Gananoque, Ontario, in a few weeks (April 25th), to sell alongside A Flash of Golden Fire.

I am OBSESSED with AMC’s Interview with the Vampire (2022-2024) and the upcoming The Vampire Lestat (June 2026)! I’ve been a fan of Anne Rice’s books since I was in high school and part of the reason I’m a writer today is because of those books, and the accessibility of her writing.

Sam Reid’s performance as Lestat in the two seasons of Interview with the Vampire gave me - on screen - the perfect representation of this iconic character. So I am absolutely thrilled that AMC has now created a show based on the book The Vampire Lestat. I have a dedicated page at my website where you can find all sorts of photos from the show, and teasers/trailers/promo offerings from the folks at AMC. Before I left social media, I ran a Lestat fan account on Instagram. So much fun.

Once the show comes out (June 7th), I’ll be posting my reactions and opinions here.

I will be selling and signing books at the Islands and Ink Book Fair in Gananoque, Ontario, on Saturday April 25th. I’ll have copies of both books in my The Arrow and The Flame series, plus a limited number of backlist titles, with great deals on bundled series. Come and see me and all the other talented authors!