When Does Halloween Begin?
When does Halloween really begin? An old Celtic way of measuring the day offers a wonderfully strange answer—and some irresistible possibilities for fantasy writers.
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Magorian and Jones
Not One, But Two Dark Ages
Most people know about the Dark Ages that followed the fall of Rome. Far fewer realise there was another, even earlier collapse that wiped out kingdoms, shattered civilizations, and left historians scratching their heads three thousand years later. Discover how the mysterious Bronze Age Collapse—and the equally mysterious Sea Peoples—inspired the hidden history behind the Magorian & Jones series.
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When a Story Arrives All at Once
Most stories don’t arrive fully formed. They begin as a name, a setting, or the faintest glimmer of an idea, then grow one decision at a time. But every so often, a story appears almost complete. Rainmaker was one of those rare exceptions. Here’s how it came to life—and why, years later, I finally gave it the cover I’d always imagined.
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The Fire Before Summer: Beltane in History and Fantasy
Beltane, the ancient Celtic fire festival marking the beginning of summer, once stood as a powerful turning point in the year—a night of bonfires, fertility rites, and thinning veils between worlds. Though largely forgotten today outside neo-pagan circles, Beltane still echoes through Celtic-inspired fantasy, where it often serves as a moment of magic, transformation, and looming consequence. In this post, we explore the origins of Beltane, how it was celebrated, and why it continues to shape modern fantasy storytelling—including its pivotal role in The Rivers Ran Red and other Celtic-influenced works.
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Rain, Ruins, and Red Dragons: Why I’ll Always Write with a Bit of Wales in My Blood
Wales has been haunting my stories for years — not literally (though that would be on-brand), but mythically. From the Mabinogion to my Welsh grandfather’s voice, the land and legend of Cymru have steeped themselves into my writing. If you’ve read Magorian & Jones, you’ve heard the echoes. And no, I don’t plan to stop.
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Barbie, of All Things
For all the orcs, angels, hobgoblins, and water leapers running around, so much of the tension in Magorian & Jones boils down to this: how easy it is to lose track of what it means to be human—and how hard it is to earn it back.
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