Hey Reader.
October has properly arrived here. The mornings are cold enough to see your breath, the leaves are coming down in wet heaps along the lanes, and I've seen the smoke from my neighbour's chimneys as they light the first fires of the season. It's the month I find myself most settled in, with the clocks about to change, the evenings pulling in, and a good excuse to stay home with a pot of tea and a book that's been waiting patiently on the pile.
It's also the month when the old stories feel closest. Throughout October my Folklore Friday posts will be walking the Unseen Border, looking at the ghosts and spirits of Welsh tradition and the belief that the veil between worlds wears thin as winter approaches. Corpse candles, the Cŵn Annwn, the tailless black sow of Nos Galan Gaeaf; they were told as warnings and as entertainment by people who knew how dark a Welsh lane could get once the light failed, which is probably why they've lasted so well.
Anyway, what else has happened since last we spoke, and what's coming up? Let me tell you... 💙
There's not much to report on the manuscript front, I'm afraid, because it's still with my editor and critique partner. I'm trying very hard to be patient about it, which mostly means checking my inbox a little less often than I'd like to admit. In the meantime I've been working on the first draft of AMONG WHISPER FLAMES, the second book in the Between Hill and Sea series. It's at the stage where everything is scribbled notes and half-built scenes, but it's coming along, and it's lovely to be back with Ariandwyn's red thread.
There are two book birthdays this month as well. RAVENS AND RUIN turns one on the 7th, which has gone far faster than I expected. WATER WEAVER then turns eleven on the 31st, so it shares its birthday with Nos Galan Gaeaf, something I'm still rather fond of.
🎂 7th October — Ravens and Ruin (Brodyr Alarch #5) (2025)
🎂 31st October — Water Weaver (Wraidd Elfennol #2) (2015)
October's calendar feels as settled as the season itself, with the clocks going back, the Hunter's Moon rising over the fields, and Nos Galan Gaeaf waiting at the very end of the month. Here's what's worth marking before the dark half of the year begins..
All month - Black History Month ✊🏾
7th - RAVENS AND RUIN (2025) 🪶
10th - New Moon 🌑
12th to 18th - Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival, Cardiff 🏳️🌈
16th - World Food Day 🍎
24th - United Nations Day 🌍
25th - British Summer Time ends, clocks go back 🕰️
26th - Hunter's Moon (full moon, 04:12 GMT) 🌕
27th - Dylan Thomas's birthday (born 1914 in Swansea), with the Dylan Thomas Festival following 📖
31st - Nos Galan Gaeaf (Halloween) 🕯️🎃
31st - WATER WEAVER (2015) 💧
FREE BOOKS
The evenings are drawing in and the kettle's rarely cold, which makes October ideal for gentle reading. This month's free books are all sweet romance, clean fiction, and heartwarming stories, the kind with kind characters and satisfying endings. They're good company for a wet afternoon or a quiet night by the fire, so do grab a few while they're free. |
If you love a story where it's never too late for friendship, romance or a fresh start, this one's for you. Perfect for the season of second chances, when the evenings draw in and a little comfort goes a long way.
If it's a story that lets you slip away for a few hours without a worry in the world that you're looking for, this one's for you. Perfect for the season of blankets and rainy afternoons, when the best plan is a comfy chair and a book you can lose yourself in.
And lastly, if you love your romance warm, gentle, and full of heart, this one's for you. Perfect for the season of woodsmoke and lamplight, when a happily ever after is exactly what the evening calls for.
A big, generous armful of sweet romance — the kind of reading that leaves you smiling. Autumn evenings were made for exactly this.
That's October's newsletter done. Wherever the nights are drawing in, I hope there's a warm kitchen, a decent cup of tea, and a good book close to hand. If anyone's out and about on Nos Galan Gaeaf, take a torch and mind the stiles, just in case the hwch ddu gwta is about.
Tan y tro nesaf (until next time), 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
