introducing...The House in the Hedge

the cover, the blurb, the pre-order

This is the first in a series of ‘promotional’ posts about my new book…The House in the Hedge, formerly known as Project Hazel. I wince at the word ‘promotional’ because anything remotely marketing or salesy offends my delicate Four sensibilities, however, I also need to earn a crust. As a compromise, I’m just going to natter on for a bit in an effort to perhaps spark your curiosity and hopefully a sale or two. Or twenty. If you’ve no interest whatsoever, my apologies. Regular service will resume eventually.

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Well, then.

It’s done.

That thing that loomed large and menacing as I started this Substack just about a year ago is over. Done. Finished.

It all feels a bit anti-climatic, to be honest. I finished everything a week or so ago — by which I mean finalizing the uploads to various vendors — and already I’m moving on - mentally, emotionally, creatively — so circling back feels odd and slightly disjointed.

But I made a promise to myself when I decided to give writing novels another go, that I would do my very best to not flake out in the end stages. My Achilles heel has always been in the talking about my books — I literally cringe when prodded to do so — and I need to get better at it. I want to do right by Hazel and the charming (if I may say so) cast of characters around her and so this is me doing just that. Today, though, the cover, the blurb and the details will be enough before I need resuscitation¹

Drum roll….

I know, right?

I love it. I really do. It’s been through a couple of iterations to get it right, by which I mean representative of the genre etc, and I learned so much in the process. This is a new-to-me cover designer and I will definitely use them again.

And now, the blurb….

A failed marriage. A nervous breakdown. And now there’s a faerie at the bottom of the garden.

Forty year old Hazel Price wants a simple, quiet life. Burned-out and broken-hearted, she returns to the village of Winkle, home of idyllic childhood summers and her beloved Nan. Moving into Rookery Cottage after her Nan’s death, Hazel craves solitude to heal and rebuild her life on her own terms.

But life at Rookery Cottage is proving to be far from a hermit’s paradise. Before too long, she’s rescued a dog, blundered into an old flame and become embroiled in a dispute over the pending destruction of the ancient Hedge that borders the village. Not only that, she discovers that the shed at the bottom of her garden is actually a portal to a world of magic and enchantment.

With the safety of residents on both sides of the Hedge at stake, Hazel faces scheming faerie influences, an overbearing mother and her own self-doubt as she struggles to define what the life of her dreams actually looks like.

With time running out to save the Hedge, can Hazel be the person she knows herself to be, or will she let the past destroy everything she’s always wanted?

My lovely writing group gets a lot of credit with helping me to refine the blurb, which is by far the most agonizing part of this whole process. I mean, how to sum up an entire novel in a few short sentences?

So there it is - the final result of months and months of writing, agonizing, self-doubt, confusion, mind-set shifts and existential crises.

Was it smooth-sailing? Absolutely not.

Are there things I’d do differently now that I’m done? Definitely.

Will I ever, ever do this again? *shrug* 🤪

I had initially thought I’d release the book on May 1st…and I could have, but that would’ve meant rushing and I didn’t want to do that. So my next available date² was May 23rd. That means, because I’m done well ahead of time, I’ve put it up for pre-order in the places that I can. As I’m sure you’ve heard from other authors, pre-orders help in various ways. For an indie, it gives a release-day boost to sales and that’s looked upon favourably by the algorithm gods.

I have realistic expectations - I have a tiny platform and do next to no ‘proper’ marketing or advertising — I’m not expecting best-selling-level sales (though it would be lovely and gratefully received) — and, honestly? A pox upon every pain-point-pushing bottom-feeder that sells writers that expectation³ . ) Still, I think it’s important, energetically-speaking, to signal my willingness and do as much as I feel comfortable doing to help Hazel along.

I believe in this book, I believe in its message. I believe we all need comfort and a sense of belonging, as well as a good cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit. And if I can offer a bit of that, sprinkled with a dash of enchantment and humour, then I’m willing to overcome my various neuroses and offer it up to the world.

So, if “a sentient cottage, a portal to the Otherworld and a talking cat” feel like they might interest you…why not have a look?

The pre-order is for e-book only, but the paperback will be available on May 23rd.

My thanks, in advance, are abundant.

more, soonish,

~m. xo

1. Do you know, this is, I’m quite certain, the very first time I’ve ever written that word?! And I had absolutely NO IDEA how to spell it. Amazing.

2. Because I’m that person, I like to release my books on dates with some significance…usually a point in the Celtic Wheel of the Year….but a full moon is just as auspicious.

3. "And if you buy my brand new course for only $2999 USD, I’ll show you how!” 🤬