Hello Reader.
January arrives like a quiet promise. The year is new, the days are slowly stretching toward the light again, and even the coldest mornings carry a sense of possibility. After a long winter’s night, this month feels less like a demand to begin again and more like an invitation—to breathe, to rest, and to choose what we want to nurture in the months ahead.
I’m stepping into January with cautious hope and open hands. There’s no rush here—just space to set intentions softly, to listen for the stories waiting to be told, and to trust that brighter days are already on their way. If last year was heavy for you, as you all know it was for me, know that this is a fresh page, and you’re allowed to turn it gently.
Please be kind — to others, and just as importantly, to yourself.
Anyway, what else has happened since last we spoke? Let me tell you... 💙
I’m so excited to share that Whispers and Wings, the final story in the Brodyr Alarch series, released yesterday, the 3rd of January. Bringing this series to a close has been both emotional and deeply satisfying. These stories have been a labour of love—where fairy tales are rewritten, legends come alive, and love is tested against fate and magic—and saying goodbye to the Alarch brothers feels a little like closing the door on old friends.
|
At the same time, I’m already looking ahead. I’ve begun work on my next book, a contemporary fantasy romance with touches of magical realism, and it’s been quietly weaving its way into my days. While it’s still early, the story is already taking shape, and I’m excited to explore a new world where magic slips into the everyday and love finds its way in unexpected places. I can’t wait to share more with you as it unfolds.
|
January has long been seen as a threshold month in old folk calendars—a quiet doorway between what has been and what is yet to come. In many traditions, it wasn’t a time for bold beginnings, but for listening, reckoning, and setting intentions slowly. The land lay fallow, the nights were still long, and people marked time by firelight and story rather than speed. January belonged to planning, prophecy, and the tending of what would one day grow.
In Celtic and Welsh folklore, this was a month of omens and renewal, when the year’s fortune could be glimpsed in small signs: the weather, the behaviour of animals, or the way the first day unfolded. The new year didn’t arrive everywhere at once—old calendars held onto it carefully, honouring both the turning of the sun and the rhythms of tradition. January reminds us that beginnings don’t need to be loud to be powerful.
Here are some notable dates to keep in mind this month:
1st January – New Year’s Day / Calennig
In Wales, Calennig marks the New Year with gifts, songs, and visits for good luck. Traditionally, evergreen sprigs, apples, or coins were exchanged to bless households for the year ahead.
3rd January – Whispers and Wings Release Day ✨ & Full Moon
The final story in the Brodyr Alarch series takes flight, bringing these fairy-tale retellings and living legends to their close.
4th January – World Braille Day
Celebrating accessibility and inclusion.
6th January – Twelfth Night / Epiphany
Traditionally marks the end of Yule and Christmas festivities. In folklore, it’s a night of mischief, wassailing, and setting things right before returning to ordinary time.
7th January – Orthodox Christmas
Observed by Eastern Orthodox churches following the Julian calendar.
12th January – Day of Arianrhod
A day honouring the Welsh goddess of the moon, stars, and fate—associated with cycles, destiny, and the weaving of lives and stories beneath the heavens.
14th January – Hen Galan (Old New Year)
Celebrated in parts of Wales, Hen Galan follows the old Julian calendar. Children once went door to door singing for gifts, and the day carried strong associations with luck and renewal.
21st January – International Hug Day
Warm, comforting, and very January-appropriate.
23rd January – National Handwriting Day
A lovely nod to letters, journaling, and the tactile magic of words.
25th January – Dydd Santes Dwynwen (St Dwynwen’s Day)
Wales’ day of love, dedicated to the patron saint of lovers. It’s a gentler, more reflective counterpart to Valentine’s Day, rooted in compassion, devotion, and heartfelt connection.
25th January – Burns Night (Scotland)
A celebration of poet Robert Burns, storytelling, song, and cultural heritage.
FREE BOOKS
As January opens the year with quiet promise and pale winter light, I’m delighted to share a fresh selection of free reads to begin the season gently. These collections span fantasy romance, historical fiction, sweet romance, cosy mystery, and small-town romance — stories rooted in love, community, and the magic of fresh starts.
Bringing together wonderful authors, these books are perfect for slow mornings, early nights, and that in-between winter hush when a good story feels like a warm blanket. They’re free for a limited time, so be sure to explore and claim your next comforting escape while the new year is still unfolding. ✨📚
|
As we step into this new year, I’d love to know what January is bringing for you. Are there small intentions you’re setting, stories you’re excited to read, or gentle moments you’re hoping to make space for? And yes, AUTHORS — I’d especially love to hear what’s stirring on your creative horizons.
If you haven’t already, you’re warmly invited to join my Facebook group, Morgan’s Musings — a welcoming little hearth where we share bookish joys, creative thoughts, and a touch of everyday magic.
Wherever this month finds you, I hope January offers you softness rather than pressure — time to breathe, to dream, and to begin again in your own way. May your days grow lighter, your nights feel peaceful, and the year ahead unfold with kindness and possibility.
Thank you, as always, for being here. Your support means the world to me. Keep an eye on your inbox for more updates, and never hesitate to hit reply — whether to share news, ask a question, or simply say hello.
Until next month, take care and happy reading! 💙
