Hey Reader.
A Midsummer Welcome
June arrived the way it always does in the old stories, not with a knock, but with a slow, golden seep of light that stretched the evenings long and turned the hedgerows heavy with bloom. The ancients called this time Alban Hefin, the Light of the Shore, and marked the Solstice as a hinge between worlds, when the veil thinned just enough for magic to slip through the cracks. Bonfires were lit on hilltops. Flowers were scattered on water. The sun stood still, and for one breathless moment, anything felt possible. It still does.
Welcome to Midsummer & Manuscripts, your June letter from my little corner of the folkloric world. Pull up a chair, pour something cold, and let's catch up.
Anyway, what else has happened since last we spoke, and what's coming up? Let me tell you... 💙
I have a confession to make. I am no longer a monogamous writer.
I know, I know. I used to be so faithful — one story, one world, one set of characters demanding all my attention at once. But somewhere between winter and this long midsummer light, three projects crept in and made themselves entirely at home, and I find I haven't the heart to turn any of them out.
The first is the second in my Between Hill and Sea series, and is an historical folklore romance set in the 1880s, steeped in the kind of Welsh myth and rural magic that tends to follow me everywhere I go. The second is a fantasy romance with a Welsh and Norse blend — two mythologies that have no business being as compatible as they are, and yet here we are. And the third is a later-in-life contemporary romance, which is proving to be quietly and unexpectedly one of my favourite things I've ever written.
Three worlds. Three sets of voices. One very full writing desk.
I won't pretend it isn't occasionally chaotic. But there's something rather wonderful about having so many stories alive at once, each one pulling at a different thread in me. I'll keep you posted on how they're all coming along, and which one decided to be difficult this month.
June brings not one but two book birthdays, and both deserve a little celebration.
Daffodils and Dreams and To Catch a Dream are both marking another year in the world this month, and I'm so grateful for every reader who has picked them up, loved them, and passed them on. If you haven't met them yet, perhaps this is the month.
🎂 Happy birthday to you both.
There's rather a lot to mark this month, so here's your June calendar of things worth pausing for.
- 5th June — World Environment Day. Step outside. Notice something green. 🌸
- 8th June — World Oceans Day. A day that feels personally relevant given a certain series set between hill and sea. 🌊
- 11th June — The FIFA World Cup kicks off! Hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, it's set to be quite a summer. ⚽
- 12th June — National Red Rose Day. The most romantic of flowers, and conveniently on-brand. 🌹
- 14th June — Germany's first World Cup match. Come on, Germany! 🇩🇪
- 21st June — The Summer Solstice, the longest day, when the sun stands still. ☀
- 30th June — Social Media Day. Come and find me on Bluesky and in the Facebook community — I'll be around. 😁
All month long, it's also Pride Month — a time to celebrate love in all its forms, which feels entirely at home in a newsletter about romance and folklore.
FREE BOOKS
This month I have three wonderful sweet romance giveaways to share with you, running throughout June, so you've got plenty of time to browse and enter at your own pace!
Featuring a lovely mix of heartfelt and comforting stories, these collections are the perfect companion for long midsummer evenings. Whether you're curled up as the light finally fades or sneaking in a few pages over your morning coffee, there should be something here to carry you away for a while.
Grab yours before they are gone!
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That's about it for this month. The bonfires are lit. The sun is standing still. The manuscripts are, well, they're moving, which is the important thing.
Thank you for being here, for reading, and for caring about the stories. It means more than I can say.
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
Until next month, may your June be long and golden. Take care and happy reading! 💙
