Mythic Alley

So, if you have any knowledge of fantasy romance, or fantasy novels in general, it’s not a well-kept secret that some things are a little more tricky than others to enunciate.

When I was more a reader than a writer, I’d often wondered why writers picked names that were so ambiguous. Is it just to sound more fantastical? Or is there something more behind it?

Now, as an author, I have the joy of being the person that puts those names together, (please picture me rubbing my hands together like Monty Burns while I say excellent,) and I have to say I love naming things.

At first I found it very daunting, like naming one of your kids. Here is a thing that is pretty much going to be following you around for as long as you’re alive, what if you grow to dislike the name? What if the name has been used for another character everyone hates? Or linked to something unpleasant that you’ve never heard of? (NB- This was almost the case with my middle child. Hands up if you knew that Regan was the kid from The Exorcist? Just me who didn’t? Cool.) Once it’s out in the world, it’s a very tricky thing to get back.

Then I thought, you know what? So be it. Everything is subjective and I leaned into it. Then I started to love the process. Opportunities open up to you in so many places. Names I’ve loved but could never use for my kids. Names that interlink to your characters personality. Hidden Easter eggs in why a certain place was named what it is. Funky words that you can tweak and make people laugh when they read them. Giving the villain the same name as that one boss you hated, just for a little therapy.

My take home from this is that you should honestly say the names you’re reading however you feel it should be said. There’s nothing that pulls me from a book more than reading a name in a way that sounds weird to me. You do it the way that feels right.

So, if you pick up my book and aren’t sure whether you pronounce Maxim as Max-EEM or Max-IM, I’m fine with either. I just want you to love him and Nyssa, and to keep enjoying what you read.

Jessica’s book Heart of Stone – starring Maxim – is now available! To read more about it/buy links, check out our Books page.

From next week, the coven at Mythic Alley will be brewing weekly blog posts here for your fantasy romance reading delight.

There will be a pinch of behind-the-scenes, a dollop of genre chat, and – once a month, when we can lure them in – a guest appearance by other indie authors who also write romance with a fantastical twist.

Be sure to subscribe to make get your weekly dose of Mythic Alley chat!

And if you are an indie writer with a book, or fantasy romance topic you’d like to write a guest post about for the blog, hit the email in contact us and get in touch. We’d love to hear from you, and still have some spaces available in our 2024 line up!

Or at anytime of day really! As much as we appreciate eBooks and audiobooks, there is something very special about holding a paperback in your hands or finding a place for it on your shelf – you could even read it, too!

Which is why we are delighted to confirm that Jessica’s Heart of Stone is now available in paperback! You can order a copy here.

We are so excited at Mythic Alley to announce that Heart of Stone, is now available in eBook to buy or borrow through Kindle Unlimited! Look at this gorgeous cover:

This is the first book in Jessica Haines’ trilogy – each following one of three gargoyle brothers from the Grotesque family! It’s available in eBook format right now, this very second! You can read more about the action packed romance below and click on the image above to go buy (or borrow from Kindle Unlimited) a digital copy!

HEART OF STONE

Nyssa is a princess, but she’s never lived the privileged life most would expect. Her mother is dead, her father a tyrant, and her homeland a barren landscape destroyed by the very man who should have been its saviour. Her only salvation is her baby sister, Juniper, who brings her light even in the decaying wasteland they call home.

That’s until her destiny comes to call, in the shape of a Gargoyle king betrothed to her in an unseen contract when they were both just children. He wants blood, and only hers will do. And Nyssa will do anything to keep her sister, and her people safe, even if it means sending the infant away and going to the Gargoyle fortress. She won’t go down easily, but will her heart get in the way when it comes to doing what she must.

Maxim Grotesque has lived through enough suffering to let a simple human wife-to-be get in his way. To avenge his mother’s murder, and his father’s last wish, he’ll take his bride, seal the age-old contract, and get the lands promised to them. But he never thought the feisty female would turn out to be a worthy adversary, and perhaps someone who might help ease the sorrow his homeland has been swathed in, if only he can stop his past ruling his future.

It’s a very special day for Mythic Alley as we have our very first cover reveal!

Look at this beauty for Kate Kenzie’s debut novel:

Click on the image to go straight to pre-order it, if that’s all you needed to be convinced, or pop over to our Books page to read the blurb and find out more about this witchy romance full of mystery and mischief!

Congratulations Katie! We hope you have an amazing day celebrating this milestone moment.

If you think it’s a multitude of the most inspiring words put in the most perfectly formed sentence every time, or a super awesome podcast – you’d be wrong. The first one is a writer’s dream, and the podcast only takes two.

What actually happens is a discussion about how the publishing world, although catching up a little, has a bit of a hole where the more fantastical and magical stories are getting lost.

And when those three writers, who all have enchanted tales by the bucketful, want to publish these stories without the platform to do it? Well, like the books they create, they decide to let their imaginations run wild and create their own imprint – Mythic Alley.

As with most things, there is a leader in the mix, who puts the spring in our steps and our spreadsheet making skills to shame. She has a knack of finding the perfect words and making them fit seamlessly, so imagine how perfect her books are gonna be?

We also have a witchy wordsmith, who can draw you so deeply into the story that you’ll think she’s somehow magically weaved herself inside your head. Don’t worry though, she’ll give you the happily ever after you need and it will be epic.

Lastly we have the monstrous one, who has the attention span of a goldfish but is always ready to give those ready for the darker things a hand/claw.

So, this is the start of our journey. We hope, you’re along for the ride and ready for our little dose of romantasy that will make the world, and your eReader, a much more interesting place to be.

Join us again in September for news!