Shiny, Sweaty People - AKA My June Wrap-Up

 

June has been an absolute whirlwind — creatively and weather-wise! While the UK melted under another heatwave (with no air con in sight), I managed to channel that sweaty chaos into some solid writing wins and exciting story developments.

I’ve been deep in revisions for Fractured Loyalties – Act One, working closely with my most trusted (and most handsome) beta reader — Hubby. We’ve been tackling Nola’s arc and refining some of the world-building, especially around the PID, to make things feel even more sinister. It’s been both challenging and energising to revisit this story with fresh eyes after so many versions.

But that’s not all — what started as a short prequel for an anthology has now exploded into two full-length novels! The lore was just too juicy to keep short. I'm calling the series Before the Fracture, and it’s shaping up to be something really special.

June also marked the official relaunch of The Kindred Creativity Club (formerly The Kindred Book Club), with our first event, Creating With Pride, spotlighting amazing LGBTQIA+ indie creatives and raising funds for Stonewall. The response and support were wonderful, and I’ve already made some great new connections.

And then, just when I thought I had enough on my plate, a new plot bunny ambushed me. Imagine a sapphic dark fantasy romance inspired by The Dark Phoenix Saga, Sansa Stark’s arc, the Persephone myth, and the film Labyrinth. That’s Divine Unmaking, and it’s currently consuming my brain in the best possible way.

To keep everything manageable (and my brain from melting), I’ve carved out a flexible weekly schedule where I rotate projects, dedicate time to The KCC, and actually take evenings and weekends off. I’m learning to listen to my ADHD brain and respect its rhythms — whether that means powering through a 6-hour Spotify playlist session or stepping back when I feel blocked or anxious.

If you’d like a more in-depth look at what I worked on this month — including behind-the-scenes updates, word counts, and how I’m balancing multiple projects without burning out — you can read the full post over on my blog:

👉 Click here to read the full June update

Thanks for following along, and wherever you are — stay hydrated, stay creative, and take care of yourself. ❤️

New Release - Over You, by Kyra Lennon

 Happy Release Day Kyra Lennon, on the release of OVER YOU (Oakwood Lane Book Three).

I loved Gaby and Guy from the start, and was so excited to know they were getting their own books. And it didn't disappoint.

It's the perfect blend of cute, sexy, and drama-filled, with plenty of twists you won't expect!
I'll be posting my full review soon, but until then, I suggest everyone check out this amazing book!

About Over You

Falling for each other was easy. But will their pasts make them fall apart?

Gaby has spent years building a life she loves after her ex almost destroyed her—a life that doesn’t rely on anyone else. Dating has been nothing more than an occasional distraction, and that’s exactly how she plans to keep it. But then there’s Guy. He’s sexy, kind, and the pull between them is impossible to ignore.

After walking away from a relationship that left him feeling stifled, the last thing Guy wants is to fall into something complicated. His focus should be on renovating his new bar, not on the woman who makes him believe in happy endings again.

Just as Gaby starts to believe in something real, the ghosts of her past resurface to haunt her, leaving her struggling to commit, and when Guy’s ex drops a bombshell and reveals she wants him back, he's forced to rethink his plans.

With Gaby unsure if she can give her heart and body fully to another man and Guy refusing to be trapped in another relationship where he is the only one making compromises, they reach a stalemate that threatens to break their hearts all over again.

The past is clawing at their future, and unless they find a way to let go, they could lose the one thing they never saw coming—each other.

**

Over You is a friends-to-lovers small-town romance set in England (UK). It's a slow(ish) burn with elements of hurt/comfort, high heat levels, summer fun, and oodles of Kyra Lennon-style angst.

You can get it here: https://books2read.com/u/4jQjgk 

STUFF YOUR ERADER DAY - WITH OVER 1600+ FREE BOOKS

 

We're smack in the middle of a heatwave here in the UK—and honestly? I'm not a fan. 😅

But you know what is the perfect activity when it's too hot to do anything else?

Reading!

Actually, reading is the perfect activity any time of year—and I'm here to help you load up your e-reader with some amazing romance reads. That includes my very own sapphic romance, Truly, Madly, Deeply.

OVER 1600+ FREE BOOKS

---

Rule number one: Don't fall for one of the parents of a kid you coach.

Rule number two: Don't fall for a straight woman.

Rhiannon O'Bryan finds herself breaking both those rules when she meets single-mom Sabrina Thompson on the first day of fourth-grade soccer practice.

Sabrina Thompson has enough complications in her life. Her ex is a nightmare and her boss is a pervert, the last thing she needs is her budding friendship with fellow single-mom Rhia throwing her entire life into confusion.

But as their ten-year-old daughters Teagan and Piper spend more and more time with each other, Rhia and Sabrina become close. Rhia thinks she's deluding herself by lusting after a straight woman, and Sabrina has never considered herself to be anything but straight before.

FREE UNTIL JUNE 23

Reading With Pride: A Celebration of Queer Stories & Voices

 

Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈

I’m incredibly excited to announce the launch of Reading With Pride, the first-ever event hosted by The Kindred Book Club—a joyful, inclusive space dedicated to uplifting indie authors and championing meaningful causes.

Throughout June, we’re spotlighting LGBTQIA+ authors and stories that inspire, challenge, and celebrate. Whether you’re looking to diversify your TBR, support queer creatives, or just discover your next great read, there’s something here for you.

Here’s what you can expect this month:

💖 Six Featured LGBTQIA+ Indie Authors – Each with a unique voice and powerful storytelling
🎁 A Charity Raffle – Win bookish goodies while supporting Stonewall, an incredible charity fighting for LGBTQIA+ rights
🎤 Live Video Chat Event – Join us for a discussion with the featured authors (date TBA!)
📝 Daily Social Media Highlights & Guest Blog Posts – Recommendations, author spotlights, and behind-the-scenes insights from the authors themselves

Whether you're part of the LGBTQIA+ community or an ally, Reading With Pride is all about connection, celebration, and storytelling with heart. I believe stories help us understand one another, and these stories deserve to shine.

👉 Learn more and join the celebration: https://claredugmore.com/reading-with-pride

Let’s read, uplift, and take pride—together.

A New Era for My Creative Journey

 

Hey friends,

If you’ve been following along recently, you might have noticed things shifting around here — from my website’s look to how I talk about my books and goals as an author. It’s not just a fresh coat of paint — it’s part of a deeper evolution.

Reading With Pride - An Indie author Spotlight and Fundraising Event

When I first launched The Kindred Book Club, I envisioned a close-knit space where readers and authors could connect, shine a spotlight on indie creatives, and raise money for meaningful causes. Originally, it was going to be a Patreon-based Discord—but I’ve since realised that’s not the kind of community I want to build.

✨ What I do want is something more open, more values-driven, and more joyful.

From now on, the Kindred Book Club Discord will be free to join—a welcoming space for all. Paid tiers with optional perks may come later, but the heart of this community will always be about uplifting creatives and championing important causes.

The Kindred Book Club's first event is a community spotlight and charity fundraiser for Pride Month—and they'd love for you to be part of it!

This event will celebrate and uplift LGBTQIA+ indie authors while raising money for Stonewall through a series of fun, impactful activities.

Here’s what I’m planning:

📚 Promotional Event
A curated list of queer-authored books, offered at discounted prices, to help boost visibility and support LGBTQIA+ authors.

💖 Charity Tie-In
Authors can choose to donate a portion of their proceeds—or readers can make direct donations via Tiltify . All funds will go to Stonewall.

🎁 Bookish Raffle
Donors who give £1/$1 or more will be entered into a raffle to win prizes like books, merch, or critique slots—donated by the community!

📣 Kindred Book Club Relaunch (Soft Launch)
A special video discussion with participating authors about representation in literature, to be shared with readers and book lovers.

This form is for LGBTQIA+ indie authors who wish to be part of the promotional event, and requires authors to offer their book at a discounted rate for at least one day during June.

There is the additional option to donate a portion of your proceeds to Stonewall. You're still welcome in the promo event even if you don't donate

Your book does not need to be LGBTQIA+ themed, though that is preferred, as long as you're an LGBTQIA+ indie author.

If you're an LGBTQA+ author and you'd like to be featured in the spotlight, please sign up here: https://forms.gle/TVpXCYepahFrKAfD7

And if you'd like to donate a prize to the raffle (i.e. signed book(s), author swag, author services etc.) you can sign up here: https://forms.gle/QRHeh1uLxdz91z2e7

Cover Reveal: Love Without Rules, S Lucas

Happy cover reveal day to author S Lucas, and their cover for 'forbidden romance' short story collection Love Without Rules, which is available for pre-order now, ahead of its release on June 24, 2025.

About:

Love isn’t always safe or easy—but it’s always worth the risk.

Love Without Rules is a collection of short stories. They explore romance in all its raw, unexpected, and forbidden forms—from the shadows of a monster stalking its prey to the passion between two individuals who discover their relationship is more than they thought, to the quiet tenderness of two men falling hard when they least expect it.

 

Each story is filled with heat, and offers moments of escape that defy all the rules. Whether it's a demonic creature that longs for more than just fear, a love that crosses family boundaries, or the spark of something real between two people when they least expect it—these stories dare to ask the question...

What if love isn't supposed to follow the rules?

 

Universal Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/lovewithoutrules

In Search of my Magnum Opus

Greetings Readers!

It feels like ages since I did a proper update, so here it is.

First, I want to thank everyone who supported the release of THE STARLIGHT PRINCE. The book was a long time coming, and as I've previously mentioned, I feel immensely proud of all I achieved by writing it, as much of the process coincided with my autism and ADHD journey.

Even to the last minute, things were hectic, as I pushed back my release by a month to give myself more time to focus on the final developmental edits. And while I was doing that, I had some real-life changes. I won't go into detail, because it's not my story to share, but the TL:DR is my 22-year-old child is back living with us, after almost five years away from home. I hate the circumstances of their return, but I won't lie, it's great having them back!  We're all settling into our new normal now, and my head feels clearer, and I'm more able to focus on writing-related things again.

On the topic of The Starlight Prince, in case you didn't see my previous post, during April, I will be taking part in the A-Z Blogging Challenge. Every day (except Sundays), I'll be sharing excerpts and tidbits about the book. Each day I will choose a commenter at random to receive free digital copies of both The Starlight Prince, and it's prequel novella The Adventures of Josain Jovenne. And there will also be a month-long Rafflecopter giveaway in which you can win a signed paperback copy of The Starlight Prince, and some swag like postcards of the character art I had commissioned.

A New Release and A Free Sale

Greetings readers!

I'm so excited to finally announce that my spicy, fantasy-romance THE STARLIGHT PRINCE is now available in eBook format, with the paperback coming ASAP!

This is the first book I've released in five years (!!) and the first since discovering I have ADHD and autism. The last ~five years have been filled with highs and lows and a lot of self-discovery, and I'm so proud to have overcome various challenges and got another book out in the world!

I want to thank everyone who has supported me in this journey. I couldn't have done it without you, and your support means the world to me. <3

Okay, enough with the mushy stuff, here's the book details...

Review: Son Of The First, by N.S. Armstrong

I'm so excited to share my review of N.S. Armstrong's debut, coming of age, paranormal-fantasy SON OF THE FIRST.

Disclaimer: N.S. Armstrong and I are both part of the WH,WN Community. However, I voluntarily offered to review Son of the First, and all opinions are my own.

With that out of the way… I came in expecting a laugh-out-loud paranormal romp, but got a whole lot more!