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. ❤️

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