Category: Haven Chronicles

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Become a part of the magic

Haven's Deceit by Fi Phillips and the words Become a part of the magic

There’s only one week to go – that’s seven sleeps – until Haven’s Deceit is published by Burning Chair on 21st November. This past month has gone by in an exciting blur. My author copies have come in. ARC reader copies have gone out. I’ve been talking about Haven’s Deceit all over the online world to anyone who’ll listen. All I need now is a little support from you, dear reader.

Here’s how you can help me spread the word about Haven’s Deceit and become part of the magic.

Blog about Haven’s Deceit

Some of my readers are bloggers too. If that’s you, please help spread the news about Haven’s Deceit by writing about it. You could blog about the book launch, interview me, or post a book review on your blog. Any mention of Haven’s Deceit would be really appreciated.

Tell your friends about my novels

If you’re reading this blog post, it’s a fair assumption that you like to read fantasy novels. What about your friends? If they, your family, or members of your book club enjoy reading fantasy too, please share the love and tell them about Haven Wakes, Magic Bound, and Haven’s Deceit. Thank you.

Shout about Haven’s Deceit on social media

Everyone and their auntie are on social media these days. Whether it’s on BlueSky, X, Threads, Tumblr, Kofi, Facebook, Instagram, or somewhere else in the social media universe, a like, comment, or share of my posts means that a wider audience will find out about Haven’s Deceit. Even better, a post by you about my novels will massively impact my social media reach. Thank you.

Leave an honest book review of Haven’s Deceit

If you enjoy reading Haven’s Deceit, an honest book review on Amazon, Goodreads, or wherever you bought my book would be fantastic. It spreads the word, tells other readers what to expect, and provides that much needed evidence that Haven’s Deceit is an excellent read.

Your book review doesn’t have to be long, just honest. Thank you.

Haven’s Deceit: All the details

If you want to spread the word about Haven’s Deceit and get the book launch off to a great start, here’s all the information you need.

The blurb

The magic continues…

As Steve Haven and his friends mourn the loss of a companion, they think things can’t get any worse.

But then the gates linking Darkacre to the outside world are sealed shut by the Council. And to make matters worse, Hartley Keg’s magical travelling powers are cruelly taken away, leaving him as trapped as the rest of them.

Steve is determined to find his missing parents, and maybe the mystery of where they have been all this time will be the key to freeing them and Steve’s friends from the Council’s traps.

And so Steve and his friends must embark on their most difficult and perilous journey yet. As they do so, they find themselves drawn into a world much more dangerous than they ever imagined, ending in a place where no-one can be trusted, everyone is controlled, and there can be no secrets.

Will Steve find his parents and the truth behind who he really is?

And who will save him this time, when his friends are powerless, trapped, or both?

The links

Website

Facebook

Instagram

X

BlueSky

Kofi

Goodreads

Amazon author page

Burning Chair Publishing

My newsletter

Email me

Other details

Haven’s Deceit is published on 21st November 2024 by Burning Chair Publishing. It’s the third novel of a YA futuristic fantasy series called the Haven Chronicles. There will be two more books in this series.

If you’d like more information or a range of bookish images, want to interview me for your blog, or just want to say ‘hi’ or ‘good luck’, drop me an email.

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All that’s left to say now is thank you for all your support and roll on book launch day.

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Why I’m fascinated by magical doors and mysterious thresholds

a magical doorway and the words Magical doors and mysterious thresholds

I’ve always been captivated by doors, staircases, and any kind of threshold. To me, they signify a beginning, the unknown, and taking a chance. They’re the moment when we grip our courage tight and step out into something altogether different.

***

“What do we do?” said Steve.

“Well, we can’t go back. Can’t go forward. So it’ll have to be down,” said Hartley as he dropped to his knees.

“Down?” said Steve. The Hidden were almost within reaching distance now.

Hartley levered up the heavy manhole lid that sat in the middle of the cobbled road. “Down!” he shouted.

“But—”

“No time to argue,” said Hartley. “Trust me on this. There’s no other way.”

Taking a last look at the Hidden, Steve mentally crossed his fingers that he wasn’t about to end up in the Darkacre drains, and then he jumped into the manhole.

Steve landed on a threadbare carpet that did nothing helpful to break his fall. The darkling dropped lightly onto her feet at his side, then she reached to catch Blessing as she too fell from a square hatch in the ceiling.

Hartley came last, knees buckling so he landed heavily on his face. The hatch in the ceiling snapped shut and Hartley moaned something into the carpet.

*** 

In the Haven Chronicles, Hartley Keg has the magical ability to join distant doorways together, like a manhole in a cobbled street to the ceiling hatch between an attic and a bedroom. But Hartley’s doorways aren’t the only significant thresholds you’ll find in my novels. There are plenty of hidden and misleading doorways too.

***

“But just this once,” said Frobisher as he opened a door beside the main gateway. “I’ll let you use the official door.”

“Was that…?” Steve was convinced that the door hadn’t been there before. “What do you mean ‘official’?”

“The Council installed it so they can come and go at ease,” said Frobisher. “It opens into the Confluence. Of course, we’ll have to get you through Security.”

“No bother,” said James. “I’ve done it. Even got workadays in there before now.” He elbowed Steve.

“Just behave,” said Frobisher as he led the way through the open door. “Button your lip. Stay calm. That way they’re less likely to detain you.”

“Detain?” said Steve as the darkling pushed him through the door. “What do you mean, detain?”

***

And I’m not the only author to include magical entrances in their novels. There’s also:

  • the wardrobe in C S Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe that leads to the magical world of Narnia
  • the doors in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, cut using the subtle knife to travel between parallel universes
  • the doors in Stephen King’s Dark Tower series that lead to different times and realities
  • the rabbit hole in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and the mirror in Alice Through the Looking Glass

Storytellers seem to have always been entranced by magical doorways and mysterious thresholds. And it’s not just storytellers.

Magical doors also intrigue readers. They represent a divide between the known and unknown, appealing to our curiosity and longing for adventure. They offer an escape from the mundane, embodying our wish for a more exciting reality just beyond our reach. They symbolize choice and transformation, feeding into our desire for personal growth and the power to shape our own destinies.

Magical doorways suggest hidden worlds and secret knowledge. They reconnect us with childhood wonder and imagination, while also reassuring us that there are more possibilities and adventures to be had.

I’m sure my fascination with magical and hidden thresholds won’t end with the Haven Chronicles. In the next book series after that… But that’s another tale – and threshold – altogether.

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Reintroducing the Haven Chronicles series

Haven Wakes and Magic Bound by Fi Phillips on a table against a muted countryside backdrop with the words Reintroducing the Haven Chronicles

With the third instalment of the Haven Chronicles YA fantasy series well on the way, I thought it was time to reintroduce the books so far. Oh, and drop a couple of hints about what you’ll discover in book three too.

Book One: Haven Wakes

Buy Haven Wakes here.

Let’s start off with the blurb:

When his uncle dies, Steve Haven finds himself the guardian of a strange artefact known only as the Reactor. But there are people out there who want the Reactor: dangerous and powerful people who will stop at nothing to get it.

Steve is dragged into a race against time to save two worlds from an evil he could never have imagined, and is forced to rely on people he would never have believed could exist.

If you enjoy fantastical settings, magical powers, and futuristic devices, you’ll love Haven Wakes.

The inspiration behind Haven Wakes.

Book Two: Magic Bound

Buy Magic Bound here.

Here’s the blurb:

When Hartley Keg and Blessing go missing, Steve Haven finds himself dragged back into a world of hidden magic. Teaming up with the darkling, he finds himself on the run from the Council and their enforcers, the Hidden, as he seeks to keep his friends safe.

Things are complicated further when a new player emerges: Parity, the covert organisation that is far too interested in the Haven Robotics Corporation and the magical device which nearly led to its destruction.

What follows is a race against time through a series of futuristic and fantastical settings, each more dangerous than the last, as Steve and his friends try to keep one step ahead of their pursuers.

The inspiration behind Magic Bound.

Book Three

The third book in the series finds Steve in… Well, I can’t tell you that. But I can share what I researched for book three in Lost down a rabbit hole.

The Series

What can I tell you about the series so far? Hm. Well, there’s:

Steve has a long way to go yet, with more discoveries about himself, his family, and his friends. Watch this space for the next instalment of his fantastical adventure.

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A catch up in May

a table laid with pretty cups and saucers and other crockery, flowers, against a pretty countryside setting, and the words A catch up in May

It’s been over a year since I’ve written a catch up post, so I thought it was time to do another. So grab a cup of what you fancy and find a comfy seat. Here’s what’s been happening in the life of Fi.

Book 3 of the Haven Chronicles

The second instalment of the Haven Chronicles, Magic Bound, was released in 2022. Since then I’ve been planning and writing the third novel. A couple of months ago, I emailed off the first draft to Burning Chair. I always find this stage rather nerve-fraying, but thankfully they loved it. Phew!

Right now, I’m editing that version. Nothing major. Just a tweak here and a jiggle around there. The target is to finish those edits by the middle of June and have it back in the hands of Burning Chair for the next stage. Wish me luck.

Books 4 and 5

While I waited for Burning Chair to get back to me, I got on with planning book 4. I made my characters suffer plenty in book 3, but book 4 takes that to the next level and over the horizon. More travels, more peril, and much more heartbreak.

Book 5 will be the last instalment of the Haven Chronicles. I’ve always known how I want to end the series so large chunks of the final book are already planned out. It’s going to be an emotional one, both for the characters and me, but I feel that it’s a fitting and deserved end(?) to Steve’s journey.

Something completely different

Once I’d finished planning out book 4 and was waiting to hear back from Burning Chair, I started on a fresh writing project. It’s a fantasy novel, this time for grown-ups, and the first of two. I already know what I want to call it but I’m not going to share that just yet.

There are links in the novel to a couple of characters who appear in the Haven Chronicles, but other than that it’s a story of its own. What can you expect? Well, there’s:

  • an almost new main character (you met her once in the Haven Chronicles)
  • a brand new, powerful villain unlike anything I’ve written about before
  • an old hotel in a wild, rural setting
  • family ties and romantic challenges
  • long hidden secrets laid bare

Short stories

Or rather two collections of short stories. I’ve already written two short stories set in the same world as my novels, and plenty more fantasy short tales too. The plan is to create two collections: one of stories that relate to the Haven Chronicles, and another of fantasy stories that don’t tie into the series.

The first collection will be a companion book to the Haven Chronicles that reveals more about many of the side characters, their back stories, and adventures.

Who knows what will make it into the second? I’ve lots of tales to choose from. The title of the collection? It has to be Magical Possibilities.

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Do you need to read the Haven Chronicles in order?

Quite a lot of readers have asked me this question, so I thought I’d answer it here on my blog. Just in case you’re new to my writing, the Haven Chronicles series is made up (so far) of two books, Haven Wakes and Magic Bound. The third book is currently with my publisher, Burning Chair. There’ll be two more books in the series after that.

I think the reason that many fiction series can be dipped into wherever you want is that they’re so well known by the reading public, from the characters, to the world where the story takes place, and the overall feel of the books. There’s an element of familiarity that bridges any gaps lost by not reading earlier books in the series.

When it comes to the Haven Chronicles though, I think the greatest reading experience will be gained by starting at book one, Haven Wakes. Here’s why:

Getting to know the characters

In Haven Wakes, the characters are new to the reader and to each other. We get a first impression of them all. For instance, the first time you see Hartley Keg, he’s dressed in an apron and offering breakfast to Steve. That initial impression (if I’ve done my job right) is of someone who is easy to get along with, welcoming, a little comical, and nearly always thinking about food. The reader gets to know Hartley and the other characters as Steve does. And of course, we get to know Steve too.

By the end of Haven Wakes, we know the characters a little better, and we’ve seen a subtle change in Steve too. We know what he’s capable of and how he may act in the future.

In Magic Bound, we learn more about the characters’ back stories, see their interactions evolve, and watch them grow and develop with each new challenge they face. The Steve we know by the end of Magic Bound is more confident, braver, and more decisive than the boy we first meet in Haven Wakes.

World building

Haven Wakes provides a snapshot of Steve’s high-tech world – where most people own a robot (or two) – and the hidden magical underbelly that Steve discovers. We get the chance to run around the city of Caercester and delve into the magical community of Darkacre.

In Magic Bound, that knowledge is the starting point for an adventure that takes Steve and his friends beyond the city limits. We also learn more about the magical community and their history.

In the third novel, our characters venture even further and discover so much more.

Haven Wakes provides the foundation of your understanding of the world, rules, and culture of the Haven Chronicles.

Story arcs

Each novel in the Haven Chronicles has its own individual story, but there’s also an overarching storyline that runs throughout the series. While dipping into the Haven Chronicles at any point will provide you with a treat of an (individual) adventure, you may miss out on the storyline of the entire series. Each novel provides a basis for the next novel and a step further along the overall story arc.

Breadcrumbs

When I say ‘breadcrumbs’, I mean clues. I know how the series will end. There’ll be a massive reveal in the final novel and so far, I’ve scattered a number of breadcrumbs through Haven Wakes, Magic Bound, and book three. There’ll be more in book four too.

So if you jump in at books two or three, you might miss some of those lovely breadcrumbs and the chance to carry out a little deduction.

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You are, dear reader, free to read the Haven Chronicles in whatever order you like but I hope I’ve proved my point that starting at Haven Wakes is a good idea before moving on to the second book and beyond.

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The rewards of writing a fiction series

I’ve blogged before about the challenges of writing book two and those challenges haven’t diminished as I work on the third book of the Haven Chronicles. What I haven’t written about is the rewards of writing a fiction series.

Writing a series isn’t easy, but it can be incredibly satisfying. It’s certainly given me a sense of accomplishment, but it’s also helped me to grow as a writer.

So in this blog post, I want to share with you some of the rewards that I’ve enjoyed while writing my series. These aren’t the only rewards, of course, but they are some of the most important ones for me.

Exploring the world of the Haven Chronicles

When I wrote Haven Wakes, I fell in love with both the futuristic and magical aspects of Caercester and Darkacre. In Magic Bound, I got the chance to extend that world beyond the city limits and dive deeper into the magical culture.

 Building a world that has elements of both fantasy and sci fi is an absolute joy. I have the chance to play with robots and technology that is being developed in our world right now or is only theorised about at the moment. I can also indulge my love of all things folklore and magic, including characters from the mythological tales I devoured as a child.

Writing a series allows me to wend my way through that world, further and further afield with each book, and explore the intricacies of both the magical and workaday** cultures. With each new instalment, I can return there and share those locations with my readers.

Revisiting the characters of the Haven Chronicles

It’s not only the world of the Haven Chronicles that I can revisit; there’s the characters too. Writing a series allows me to follow the journeys of Steve, Hartley, Blessing, and the darkling, plus some well-loved side characters like James and Frobisher too. With each new book, I can explore their development, their relationships with each other, and how their views of the world change over time.

What’s more, I can create companion stories that feature those characters too. Hartley Keg and Frobisher turn up in my short stories, The Hidden Knowing and A Shadow Falls in Darkacre. And I’ve plans to write a novel about Hartley’s adventures long before he meets Steve in Haven Wakes.

Serving the readers of the Haven Chronicles

Before my novels were published, I always worried about how they’d be received. Would readers like them and want more? Or would they post horrendous 1* reviews and my books die a literary death? Thankfully, the feedback I’ve received from beta and ARC readers, bloggers, and book reviewers has been encouraging.

And instead of simply accepting the praise, I’ve done my best to listen to what readers want to see in future books too. More action. More future tech. The most common question from readers has been ‘where are Steve’s parents?’. I’ll answer that in the third book in the series.

Challenging myself as a writer

Writing a series has meant continuing an overarching storyline and making sure that my characters are consistent but also develop with each new adventure. It’s also meant:

  • planning ahead for the entire series, not just one novel
  • learning how to keep my characters acting like themselves but changing over time too
  • planting seeds that will reach fruition in future books
  • keeping the plot of each novel relevant to the overall story arc of the series
  • making each book bigger than the one before
  • keeping track of what’s happened in previous books so I don’t make continuity mistakes

It’s a completely different skillset to writing one stand-alone story but it’s a challenge I’m enjoying immensely.

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Writing a series has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life as a writer. I’ve loved exploring the world and the characters of the Haven Chronicles, serving my readers and listening to their feedback, and challenging myself to grow and improve as a writer. I can’t wait to share the third book in the series with you.

** a term used to describe non magical people in my novels

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Writing a book: solo project or team effort?

As book two of my fantasy series, the Haven Chronicles, moves closer to its ‘fly – be free’ moment, I’ve been thinking a lot about whether writing and creating a book is a lone process or not. Can it be done by an author in isolation or does it require the input of others?

Solo project?

There’s no denying that an author writes a book on their own. Or maybe it might be more accurate to say that they write that first draft on their own. I certainly did, in a whirl-wind of brain dump, imagine, choreograph – scribble, scribble, delete, delete, scribble some more – as I penned/typed the next leg of Steve’s journey into magic.

Once that first draft was done and dusted and polished to what I thought was a shine, I handed it over to my publisher for their response.

Team effort?

The next few months went something like this:

  • publisher feedback
  • create draft 2
  • publisher feedback
  • create draft 3
  • publisher feedback…

You get the gist. There were several rounds of publisher feedback and draft revision before we landed on the final version. Somewhere in among that exchange, a number of beta readers were asked for their thoughts too.

The next stage was to hand over the concept to a book cover designer and while their design won’t change the words written down in my novel, they will add to the online and on-shelf presence of the story. Readers will come to recognise that book cover as much as they recognise my writing and Steve’s story.

Finally, dear reader, there’s you. Once published, a book’s text may be complete and set in ink, but your response will tell me how you’d like me to handle the story’s next stage in book three.

Answer to my question?

Book two in its original form was definitely a solo project. I knew where I wanted to take Steve, Hartley, and the darkling and the perils they would face. I think that’s probably the case for any writer. After that first draft was written, however, it turned into a team effort and book two is all the better for it. Eyes other than my own pointed out the weaknesses I had missed and directed me to solutions I would never have dreamt up on my own.

It’s like that phrase, ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. It takes a community of book-lovers and book-experts to create a book in its final form.

So I’d like to thank a few of those people for their undeniable help and support. I couldn’t have got this far without you:

Thank you for being my village.

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The Summer Life of Fi

summer life of fi

Summer time, and the living is ea-zee… ♫♪

Or at least it is if you don’t have to write a blog post when you’ve nothing much to say. You see, while I wait for my publisher to get back to me on Book 2 of the Haven Chronicles, life is just normal and un-writerly. Well, kind of. Let me explain.

Writing something else

Okay, the summer life of Fi isn’t totally un-writerly because I am working on another book, a non fiction offering that brings together my author and copywriter hats. Having said that, it’s almost finished and will be flying off into the inbox of my publisher by the end of July.

Copywriting, as usual

Ok, so my normal working life is reasonably writerly. I create articles and blog posts for clients under my copywriter hat. Articles like this – How To Find Profitable Work From Home Jobs and my own blog posts too. This one is for authors – How Authors Can Find Out Where Their Readers Are Online.

Cutting down my TBR list

I’m desperately behind with my TBR list so I’m tackling that over the summer. Expect lots of book reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and on my social media too. My current read is the chilling, ghostly, and very theatrical I Am Dust by Louise Beech.

Thinking about the next book to write

While my publisher has the second book in the Haven Chronicles series, I’m planning out where I will take Steve next, who will accompany him, and how much more danger I can throw at the poor lad. It’s looking good so far.

Walking the hound and making memories

My morning walks with Bailey are a brilliant way to gently wake up my brain before the day’s work begins. Early evening dog-walks mark clocking-off time.

The summer weather and my teens being off over the holidays gives me the perfect excuse to drag us all out for a trek or two. Yesterday I took them to the zoo. We saw alpacas, and snakes, and an owl called Bovril.

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So there you go, the summer life of Fi. What about you? What are you doing over the holidays?

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Book 2 of the Haven Chronicles is on the way

book 2 of the haven chronicles is on the way

I can officially announce that Burning Chair Publishing have offered me a publishing contract for the second book in my YA fantasy series.

On 14th September, I happily emailed my signed publishing contract back to Burning Chair and began the process of editing my manuscript after receiving feedback from Pete and Si.

So what’s the process and the plan for Book 2 from here?

  • What I’m doing at the moment is editing my novel in response to Pete and Si’s feedback. Once finished, I’ll email that off to Burning Chair (version 2).
  • As you can see, my novel is still known as Book 2. I need to come up with a book title.
  • Burning Chair will create a developmental edit document and email it back to me.
  • I’ll then edit my manuscript and email it back to them (version 3).
  • Burning Chair will carry out a copy edit to check for inconsistencies.
  • More editing on my part, then back to Burning Chair (version 4).
  • In discussion with Burning Chair, the book cover design process will begin.
  • Once the content of the manuscript is agreed on and we have a book cover, Book 2 will be sent out to beta readers.
  • With the feedback from the beta readers, I’ll make final changes to my novel (version 5).

The plan is to publish Book 2 at the start of 2021, unless we can get through the whole process above in time for publication in mid November (who knows?).

What can you expect from Book 2?

Steve and his friends will be forced to face the consequences of their actions in Haven Wakes. The world of the Haven Chronicles series – both magical and work-a-day – will be expanded beyond the city of Caercester. A new threat will raise its head, dragging Steve and the others back into danger.

If you want to know the inspiration behind the first book in the series, have a look at this article from last year.

Follow my writing journey of Book 2 on my Twitter account.

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5 facts about the Magic System in the Haven Chronicles

5 facts about the magic system in the Haven Chronicles

“So it’s more like super-hero powers than wands and spells then?”

“Super-hero. I like that,” said Hartley. “It’s actually a little of each.”

Haven Wakes, and the other books in the Haven Chronicles series, are filled with magic.

I knew from the outset that I didn’t want to copy what magic is assumed to be in the real world or use the magic system of any other fictional works (although I’m sure there may be a little overlap). What I did instead is create a magic system from sources that I love and which serve my story.

So here are 5 facts about that magic system.

Magic has a consequence

“Using magic has a cost. It weighs on us in the same way that physical exertion does.”

Hartley Keg in Haven Wakes

The idea of magic use without consequence has always been problematic for me. if there are no consequences, then what’s to stop a magic user doing whatever they want to do? They could become so powerful that nobody could stop them, which is no fun at all when you’re writing a novel. Either the heroes or the villains can’t be defeated: that kind of set up can only run your story into a literary cul-de-sac. The End.

So in the Haven Chronicles, magic is so tightly sewn to the magic user’s physical form, that using magic is like using any muscle. It takes effort and is limited by the individual’s health and strength.

Cast too much magic and you’re likely to pass out, or at the very worst, die.

Birth magic

Each magic user is born with an innate talent for a particular kind of magic. This is their birth magic.

Earth-smiths have a talent for dealing with plants and the earth. That’s what makes them the best gardeners.

Enchanters have a way of influencing people, but not just persuading them to do things. An enchanter can also affect the way you see them, making them look younger or more beautiful than they really are.

Birth magic is generally inherited from a parent, but sometimes it skips generations and a magic user inherits the birth magic of their grandparent.

Charms and Spells

Beyond birth magic, charms and spells can also be learnt by magic users.

In my books, both charms and spells can have a physical effect on something or someone, but are created in very different ways.

Charms are a collection of items, for instance:

  • crystals
  • herbs
  • straw, string or ribbon

that are bundled together, and then imbued with the intent of the magic user. A charm might be used to contain something, reveal the truth, or find a missing person.

Spells are altogether different. Some are spoken, while others are written down. Some of the most basic but powerful spells, such as casting a light orb, are simply down to gesture and force of will.

No Magic School

In my books, magic is taught at home in a family setting. This works especially well for birth magic because there is likely to be at least one living relative who has the same magical skills and can pass their knowledge on.

The basic charms and spells are also taught at home:

  • casting a light orb
  • short-range finding spell
  • protection of an area

but these will vary from family to family.

Sources of the magic system in my books

The magic system in my books is based on all kind of sources. You’ll find nods to folklore and mythology, crystal craft, herbology and various forms of witchcraft too.

If you’re interested, the books I regularly go back to include:

along with many more and so much online research too.

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What kind of magic do you like to read about?