Mythic Alley

February Round Up!

March 5th, 2026

What were the Coven up to last month?

We might be a few days late in terms of giving a monthly wrap up, but there has been lots happening with the Mythic Alley team and World Book Day seems a fitting time to let everyone know about it!

Jessica has been busy working on the edits for her demon Why Choose, and she is happy to say, it’s coming on better than she hoped. (We never doubted it would!) She has also been tweaking the plot on the second novella in her Goddess series while looking at cover ideas for the first book, which she wrote last year.

Both Jess and Emma have been getting lots of recording underway for Season Twelve of the SFFRomCast, and the first two have been released already. There are interviews, trope chats, and deep dives into fantasy romance topics heading listeners way!

Emma has been working on revisions for her second contemporary romance. Ideas have made that take a little longer than originally planned but hopefully it will bring more to the story! She has also been working on the cover for it!

As mentioned above, podcast recording has featured heavily too, and she spent some time putting together a proposal for her Mythic Alley coven members about an Idea she had. The Coven have now been consulted and there may be some exciting news coming soon! She also made a concerted effort to post regularly as part of #RomFicFeb26 – organised by the Romantic Novelists’ Association – and found lots of lovely new writers in the online romance community.

Katie took part in some of the #RomFicFeb26 too, around being very busy getting the first draft of her Cackleshore Academy novel sent off to her publisher and receiving her edit notes back. Not only that, she handed in a short story assignment to uni and discovered a new coffee shop with amazing hot chocolate and dinosaur infested plants!

And Emma-Louise wrote a whopping 25341 words and hosted an at home 3 day retreat for herself which was fun! She also finalised all projects for 2026 and started branching out more with her design work.

And last but not least, we are delighted to announce that Crestwood Falls won first place in the Indie Author Awards for Best Young Adult Fantasy! Well done Emma-Louise – massive congratulations!

What a month! If you’d like to hear more updates from the Mythic Alley Coven and be first to find out our exciting news for the imprint, be sure to subscribe!
Our Stance on AI

February 11th, 2026

In light of the most recent article giving airtime to the idea of a “writer” using generative AI to produce a book in a day, and 200 books a year — the Coven would like to make our readers a promise.

Our books do not, and will not, use AI to generate the words, story or cover.

We do not believe that art is a race. We do not create because we are heading for some mammoth goal of “most work produced” (with work being a dubious descriptor). We are writers because we want to spend time writing our stories — writing is the goal, not an inconvenience.

We may joke about it being a curse sometimes because the process of writing can be stressful or frustrating, but that is only because we care. If the precise direction of our stories, the words we used, the images they create and the emotions they evoke, did not matter to us, writing would certainly be a whip-fast business, with or without the use of AI. But it is precisely because we do care, because we want to tell our stories in our own words, that it is hard. As many worthwhile human experiences are. Because ultimately, at it’s heart, that is what art is all about.

Humans communicating about being human with other humans.

Between this fundamental truth, the knowledge that AI language and art generators have been built from the stolen work of writers and artists, and the detriment to the environment, it is a big, fat “no, thanks” from us here at Mythic Alley.

The same applies to AI artwork. We will never knowingly use AI generated images on our covers or as character art or in our marketing. It is getting harder to tell whether or not resources in stock libraries have been generated by AI but we will do our utmost and beg your forgiveness if we slip up in that regard, and the chance to rectify it — after all, we are only human!
What do the Coven have brewing?

January 15th, 2026
Last week we did an introduction to each of the Coven members of Mythic Alley and a wrap up of their 2025. This week, we’d love to share the projects everyone has brewing in their cauldrons of creativity!

First up Jessica Haines:
- Jess is aiming to complete her demon why choose novel and get it to the editing stage.
- The third book in the Grotesque Brothers series is on her radar, with the intention to dive back into planning and drafting.
- Publication of the as yet unnamed but complete novella in the Goddess romance series is the hope for 2026, along with planning for book two.
- Outside of writing and publishing (sort of) Jess will be returning to the Meet Cute Book Fest again with Emma, to record more flash interviews for the SFFRomCast and meet lots of awesome readers and writers!
Next up Emma Jackson:
- Those waiting on the second book in The Devil’s Bride series, will be happy to know that Forest of Souls and Starlight, the follow up to the gothic paranormal romance, House of Secrets and Shadow, is high on Emma’s list of priorities, with hopes to release it in Autumn.
- Outside of fantasy and paranormal romance, Emma also plans to re-release two of her contemporary romances, Summer in the City (May 2026) and One Kiss Before Christmas (September 2026).
- As mentioned above, she will be off to the Meet Cute Book Fest with Jess, and they will be recording more of the SFFRomCast from January onwards. She is also hoping to dip her toe into the waters of appearing at local craft fairs to sell signed books. We’ll be sure to let you know where and when incase you live near and want to pop by!
Now for Kate Kenzie:

Once again we are sharing Kate’s post which has some teasers of news for 2026!

And last, but by no means least, Emma-Louise Smith:
- Emma-Louise is aiming to publish the second Crestwood Falls book in the early part of 2026. Watch this space for more news!
- Another publication will be Tiding of Terror, a YA horror, and Emma-Louise has plans to write for two different anthologies, as well as three full length novels! A witchy revenge tale, dark paranormal romantasy and a romance!
- Emma-Louise will also be launching the Noctuary: Notes from the Long Dark – a study in folklore, horror, macabre, gothic and paranormal.
So many exciting projects on the bubble! Are there any in particular you’d love to hear more about? Let us know and subscribe now not to miss more of Mythic Alley’s book news!
Happy New Year from the Mythic Alley Coven!

January 8th, 2026

We hope 2026 is treating you well so far!

To start off the year we thought we’d do a little round-up of what happened with each of the Coven during 2025, as well as announce our new Substack! (If you are on the platform, you can subscribe to follow us here for free.)

If you prefer getting our latest news here though, that’s all good too! We’ll continue to update our blog. Read on for our 2025 round up!

What did Jessica get up to in 2025?

The start of the year saw the release of Jess’s second book in the Grotesque Brothers series, Body of Stone.

As well as completing the first novella in a planned series relating to various Gods/Goddesses, Jess began writing a Why Choose romance with demons. This is almost finished and will run into early 2026 plans.

Jess also a massive year with the SFFRomCast podcast co-hosted with fellow coven member Emma. They branched out and started inviting other authors on to chat with them and held several panels towards the end of the year. Not only that, they ventured out into the real world to attend the Meet Cute Romance Fest. It was a blast and they met many lovely people – some of whom contributed to the special summer season of podcasts recorded at the festival! And finally, The SFFRomCocktail Book was released. Drinks were had, books were read, all was delicious! Would recommend it to your friends and family.

What did Emma get up to in 2025?

First of all, see the above paragraph of podcast fun in Jessica’s section!

October saw the release of House of Secrets and Shadow with Mythic Alley, which was quickly followed by her festive contemporary romance, A Mistletoe Miracle in December.

Behind the scenes, Emma has been doing her best to learn more about self-publishing and working on a variety of projects, including some short stories and a brand new contemporary romance featuring a marriage of convenience – one of Emma’s absolutely favourite tropes! Outside of writing – but not too far outside – she also completed developmental edits for a number of clients!

What did Kate get up to in 2025?

We’ll let Kate tell you in her own words in her latest Substack post which is well worth a follow – and she’ll give a sneak peek of what’s in store for her in 2026!

What did Emma-Louise get up to in 2025?

2025 saw the publication of Emma-Louise’s debut novel, Crestwood Falls, which has been nominated for two awards across eighteen categories! (You can vote in the latest round here.)

She wrote two more books and three short stories!

Emma-Louise also graduated with her Masters and launched a Crime Writing Course!

2025 was definitely an exciting and productive year for the Mythic Alley team and we have big plans for 2026! Follow us here, on Substack or on social media to find out next week what the Coven has brewing!
Indie Awards Nominations!

November 27th, 2025

All the Mythic Alley crew are sending a massive CONGRATULATIONS to the newest member of our coven because we are extremely excited to share that Emma-Louise has been nominated for not one, not two, not three…but SEVEN Indie Author Awards!

Emma-Louise and her debut novel Crestwood Falls have been nominated in the following categories:

Best Young Adult

Best YA Fantasy

Best Fantasy

Best Paranormal

Best Paranormal Romance

Best New Indie Author

Best Cover

You can show some love to indie authors and Emma-Louise’s book by voting here! And if you haven’t read Crestwood Falls yet, click on the cover below!
Welcoming Emma-Louise Smith!

October 24th, 2025

The newest member of our coven!

We are very excited to officially have a new member in our Mythic Alley author coven!

Emma-Louise lives on the wonderful North-East coast. With a passion for reading and writing she can often be found sat scribbling away at her desk or curled up in her favourite reading corner. Emma-Louise re-discovered her love for writing after a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease which caused severe health issues. Her hobbies include beach-combing with her children, going on walks, swimming and watercolour painting.

Emma’s first magical release was Crestwood Falls, with a sequel planned for 2026 with Mythic Alley, as well as numerous other exciting projects in the pipeline! Watch this space!

You can follow Emma-Louise by delving into her link.tree here.
Deal Alert!

October 21st, 2025

House of Secrets and Shadow is currently just 99p for the eBook in the UK!

Grab your copy before the end of the week to take advantage of the deal and get this spooky gothic paranormal romance on your Halloween TBR!
It’s Publication Day!

October 2nd, 2025

House of Secrets and Shadow is now available to buy in eBook and paperback format – or borrow with Kindle Unlimited!

Check out some of the tropes in the image below or read on to the blurb beneath to find out more about the spooky events that take place in Emma’s paranormal romance!

“They took her. His new bride. Dragged her screaming out to a carriage with skeleton horses and carried her off into the night.”

Disguised as a man, Jamie has infiltrated a gang of highwaymen, her every move bringing her one step closer to the vengeance she’s sworn against their brutal ringleader. Until the latest plan to use the abandoned Edburton Manor as a safehouse runs up against a problem. Despite the ghost stories the locals tell, it isn’t empty…

It seems their new hostage, Matthew, has been living there alone; no form of company save the sinister presence in the woods. Who he really is, and why he hasn’t left, shouldn’t matter to Jamie but something about Matthew is tempting her to make dangerous mistakes. Not least the way he looks at her as though he can see every truth she’s spent so many years burying.

Nothing stays hidden forever, even in the darkness…

The perfect Halloween read for fans of The Cruel Prince and One Dark Window.

Grab a copy here!
Want to see a shiny new cover?

September 18th, 2025

We’re not going to make you wait any longer!

Here is the cover and blurb for House of Secrets and Shadow!

“They took her. His new bride. Dragged her screaming out to a carriage with skeleton horses and carried her off into the night.”

Disguised as a man, Jamie has infiltrated a gang of highwaymen, her every move bringing her one step closer to the vengeance she’s sworn against their brutal ringleader. Until the latest plan to use the abandoned Edburton Manor as a safehouse runs up against a problem. Despite the ghost stories the locals tell, it isn’t empty…

It seems their new hostage, Matthew, has been living there alone; no form of company save the sinister presence in the woods. Who he really is, and why he hasn’t left, shouldn’t matter to Jamie but something about Matthew is tempting her to make dangerous mistakes. Not least the way he looks at her as though he can see every truth she’s spent so many years burying.

Nothing stays hidden forever, even in the darkness…

Fans of The Cruel Prince and One Dark Window looking for a spooky paranormal romance with all the creepy gothic vibes can pre-order the eBook now!

Paperback and Kindle Unlimited versions will be available when it’s released on 2nd October – just in time for your Halloween TBR!

If you want to hear more about the cover design or publishing process, be sure to follow Emma at her Substack or on TikTok!
New book announcement!

September 12th, 2025

The Mythic Alley coven has a new paranormal romance heading your way and with its spooky, gothic vibes it will be the perfect read this Halloween!

Emma Jackson has revised and extended her historical paranormal romance, formerly published by another small indie press, and is ready to release the new edition, now titled:

House of Secrets and Shadow

coming 2nd October 2025.

If you like a cursed hero and a knife-wielding morally grey heroine, check back here on Thursday 18th September when pre-ordering will go live and the cover will be revealed.

In the meantime, if you’d like a few more teasers, check out this TikTok Emma has posted and a few of her posts on social media and Substack, where she’s been talking about it!