The Northern Witch's Book Blog

The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi 5 out of 5 Synopsis In the first book of a visionary fantasy trilogy with its roots in the mythology of Africa and Arabia, three women band together against a cruel empire that divides people by blood. Red is the blood of the elite, of magic, of control. Blue is the blood of the poor, of workers, of the resistance. Clear is the blood of the slaves, of the crushed, of the invisible . Sylah dreams of days growing up in the resistance, being told she would spark a revolution that would free the empire from the red-blooded ruling classes’ tyranny. That spark was extinguished the day she watched her family murdered before her eyes. Anoor has been told she’s nothing, no one, a disappointment, by the only person who matters: her mother, the most powerful ruler in the empire. But when Sylah and Anoor meet, a fire burns between them that could consume the kingdom—and their hearts. Hassa moves through the world unseen by upper classes, so she knows what it mean...

 How to... survive the Big Day This summer I am sharing some of my tips for attending book events, to hopefully aid new authors, and those stepping out to events for the first time. Blog Posts: How to pick your events Getting ready - what you need to take The big day Today I am going to be sharing my insight into what to expect from attending an event as an author. 1. ARRIVAL & SET-UP 2. THE SELLING BIT 3. WHAT ELSE TO DO 1. ARRIVAL Getting There You need to read the emails that the organisers have sent to you. It will give you details on how to get there and, as a trader, where you have to bring your vehicle; as this can sometimes be different to the main entrance attendees will be using. They will often give you advice on where to park your car - even if you've been to this event before, it's good to check that nothing has changed. They will give you times for unpacking all your gear. If you are going to a comic con, the organisers may mention unloading gear the day befor...

How to... get ready for a Book Event This summer I am sharing some of my tips for attending book events, to hopefully aid new authors, and those stepping out to events for the first time. Blog Posts: How to pick your events Getting ready - what you need to take The big day Today I am going to be sharing my insight into what I take as standard to all of my book events, and where I get everything from. Please keep in mind that I am a Fantasy author, based in the UK; and that I buy from UK suppliers. 1. WHAT BOOKS TO TAKE 2. HOW TO MAKE YOUR TABLE LOOK PRETTY 3. OTHER IMPORTANT BITS 1. WHAT BOOKS TO TAKE The Books The big question for authors - what books to take with you? Once you've been to a few events, you'll get to know how many sales you can expect. Keeping in mind, I've only gone to mid-size one-day events so far. I generally take about 10 copies of each of my books, and sometimes take 12 of my series starters, because they tend to sell a little more. (When I go to the ...

 How to... pick your Book Event This summer I am sharing some of my tips for attending book events, to hopefully aid new authors, and those stepping out to events for the first time. Blog Posts: How to pick your events Getting ready - what you need to take   The big day Today I am going to be sharing my insight into the events that I have attended, and what has worked for me. Please keep in mind that I am a Fantasy author, so other genres might have a different result. 1. TYPE OF EVENTS & RESULTS 2. HOW TO FIND & BOOK EVENTS 3. WHAT TO DO NEXT 1. TYPE OF EVENTS & RESULTS Book/Literary Events                     Let's start with the most obvious one. Clearly, Book and Literary Events are going to be solely focussed on books. I think they're a great place to start, and excellent for meeting and networking with other authors. I always try to go to at least one Lit Event a year, as they are a lot of fun, and...

Take a journey from the mountains into New Orleans in new occult fantasy, complete with magical beings and witches Author draws inspiration from the mystical with modern witchcraft in debut story KNOXVILLE, TN – Straight out of the Appalachian mountains, Mercy’s Quest (June 21, 2022, Auguries and Alchemy) by East. S.M. is inspired by an author’s own encounters with the mystical. As a generational divination artist, East drew inspiration from her small coal mining town to create this rich novel. A perfect blend of fantasy and adventure, Mercy’s Quest will entertain readers who love a supernatural twist.  “Humans. We are all conditioned to think we come to earth to learn to be better, only to return to some origins rooted to a belief system that never stopped evolving. You cannot chase the meaning of a story that never ends.” Mercy Stone comes from a long line of Blood Moon witches and, as such, is no stranger to coexisting alongside life’s great mysteries. Haunted by visions of a pa...

Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter by Lizzie Pook 2 out of 5 Synopsis For readers of The Light Between Oceans and The Island of Sea Women, a feminist adventure story set against the backdrop of the dangerous pearl diving industry in 19th-century Western Australia, about a young English woman who sets off to uncover the truth about the disappearance of her eccentric father. Western Australia, 1886. After months at sea, a slow boat makes its passage from London to the shores of Bannin Bay. From the deck, young Eliza Brightwell and her family eye their strange, new home. Here is an unforgiving land where fortune sits patiently at the bottom of the ocean, waiting to be claimed by those brave enough to venture into its depths. An ocean where pearl shells bloom to the size of soup plates, where men are coaxed into unthinkable places and unspeakable acts by the promise of unimaginable riches. Ten years later, the pearl-diving boat captained by Eliza’s eccentric father returns after mont...

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus 1 out of 5 Synopsis Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing. But it's the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute take a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans, the lonely, brilliant, Nobel-prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with - of all things - her mind. True chemistry results. Like science, life is unpredictable. Which is why a few years later, Elizabeth Zott finds herself not only a single mother, but the reluctant star of America's most beloved cooking show, Supper at Six. Elizabeth's unusual approach to cooking ('combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride') proves revolutionary. But as her following grows, not everyone is happy. Because as it turns out, Elizabeth Zott isn't just teaching women to cook. She's daring them to change the s...