Hey Reader.
August arrives with that particular quality of light that belongs only to itself — golden and thick, slanting longer and lower each evening as though the sun is reluctant to let go of summer. Here in the Welsh Pagan calendar, the first of August is Gŵyl Awst, the festival that marks the turning of the harvest tide. The wheel hasn't tipped into autumn yet, not quite, but there's a knowing in the air all the same. Blackberries are beginning to blush on the brambles. The mornings are just a little cooler around the edges. It's that liminal sweetness, the season holding both ripeness and the first whisper of release at once.
Anyway, what else has happened since last we spoke, and what's coming up? Let me tell you... 💙
There's something I've been waiting to say, and I'm very pleased I can finally say it: I've written THE END on Only in Fairy Tales.
I've spent the past weeks thoroughly lost in Monmouth — which, I can confirm, is an excellent place in which to lose oneself — and I've emerged the other side with a complete first draft in hand. It needs to rest for a week before I look at it again with fresh eyes, and then I'll begin the read-through and self-edit. My copy partner and editor are booked in to receive it on the 6th of August, and I'm giving everyone (myself very much included) plenty of breathing room for edits. As things stand, the release date is the 9th of December. Fingers firmly crossed that holds.
In other news, I've been doing something slightly absurd and entirely wonderful with my multitude of book royalties. Now, let's be honest, 'multitude' is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence, but I've been quietly saving what I could, and I've finally spent it on things I've wanted to do for ages. I found a digital illustrator on Fiverr whose work I absolutely love, and What a Latte Books has a brand new cover that I'm genuinely thrilled with. They're also redesigning my moon logo and Facebook header, plus putting together bits and pieces for a proper media kit, all with the aim of making everything feel a bit more me. That's the hope, anyway, and so far it's looking very promising.
I've also been pottering around on Discord — it's still a quietly growing space, which suits me well. And a little reminder that all of my books are now available on Payhip as both ebooks and paperbacks. The prices there are discounted compared to Amazon, and since orders come directly from me, paperback orders may well come with a little something extra tucked in. You can also pick up gift cards if you're hunting for a present for the reader in your life.
🎂 1st August — Fire in the Rain (2018)
🎂 19th August — Feathers and Foxes (2024)
August arrives with a calendar as full and ripe as the season itself, from ancient festivals rooted in the Welsh earth to good reasons to raise a glass along the way. Here's what's worth marking this month, each one deserving its own moment.
🌿 1st August — Gŵyl Awst — The Welsh harvest festival, marking the first turn toward autumn. A time of communal gathering and giving thanks for what the land has given.
🎂 1st August — Fire in the Rain Birthday — Eight years old this month!
📖 1st–8th August — National Eisteddfod of Wales, Pembrokeshire — The largest festival of Welsh language and culture in Europe, and this year marks its remarkable 850th anniversary. A true celebration of everything that makes Wales, Wales.
🎷 6th–9th August — Brecon Jazz Festival — The historic market town of Brecon fills with live music across stages both ticketed and free, with international artists and homegrown talent bringing jazz to the streets and halls of the Beacons.
🌰 5th August — Celtic Tree Month of Hazel (Coll) and Salmon (Eog) begins — Hazel is the tree of wisdom and inspiration in the Celtic tradition, and it's paired with the salmon, who swam to the bottom of the sacred pool to eat the hazelnuts of knowledge. A month for seeking clarity and trusting intuition.
🎂 19th August — Feathers and Foxes Birthday — Two years old!
🌿 20th–23rd August — Green Man Festival, Brecon Beacons — One of Wales' most beloved independent festivals, set against the wild beauty of the Brecon Beacons. Music, arts, and a spirit that feels genuinely rooted in the land.
FREE BOOKS
August is the season of the in-between — too warm for the hearth, too golden to stay indoors, and exactly right for stories that pull you somewhere else entirely. This month's free book fairs are steeped in the genres that do that best: paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and romance, all wrapped up in the long late light of summer. Whether you like your magic dark and strange, your romance tangled up in secrets, or your worlds built entirely from scratch, there's something here with your name on it.
Grab yours before they are gone!
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The harvest is beginning, slowly and softly, and there's something quietly hopeful about that. Whether you're writing your own endings or reading someone else's, I hope August is generous to you. Take the long way home. Eat the blackberries straight off the bramble. Stay out until the stars appear.
I'll be in my editing cave, but thinking of you.
Until September, take care of yourselves. Take care and happy reading! 💙
Come and Join the Conversation — The Story Hearth
If you're not already in The Story Hearth on Discord, I'd love to see you there. It's a warm little space for readers and story lovers, where we talk books, folklore, writing, and whatever else the month decides to bring. I'm working on building it into something really lovely, and every new voice makes a difference.
Come and pull up a chair: https://discord.gg/gQfzqBRNns
Find More on Payhip
If you're looking for more to read while the evenings stretch out, my Payhip store has you covered. From novellas to short stories, it's the best place to find the corners of my worlds that don't always make it onto the main shelves.
Buy Direct: https://payhip.com/MorganSheppard
Come and Say Hello — Morgan's Musings
You're always warmly welcome in Morgan's Musings, my Facebook community, where readers and writers come together for sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes updates, story conversations, and all things bookish. It's a cosy, friendly space, and there's always plenty of room for anyone who fancies joining in.
Join in: https://www.facebook.com/groups/morgansmusings
