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Nice to meet you!
My name is Heather. I live in the cold, beautiful north of Alaska, and I'm an indie author. I write cozy, truthful stories straight from my heart about love, perseverance, and magic. You've made it to my little spot on the wide internet. Sit down at my table for a cup of tea, and we'll talk about our stories together.
Winter Heart is my debut novel! I've been working on this story for about ten years, but only decided to sit down and write it in the midst of 2020. I'm so glad I did. My hope is that it inspires and comforts, and that readers see themselves in my characters, and know that their stories, too, will have a happy ending.
Winter
My books
A Prince in hiding.
An apprentice Mage Healer.
In a land of snow and ice, called Eira, the Aridian prince Fane Stagrunner finds himself running from the only life he has ever known. He's thrown into a world of magicians, relics, healers, and a mystery that may mean the end of everything he loves.
Niamh Sagesinger, apprentice to the Head Mage of Eira, has always known she would be set on a path to replace her master and become the Head Mage one day. That is, until a powerful rival appears. Niamh must learn how to untangle the mass of lies that comes against her, and win the position she's thought she’s always wanted.
As soon as Fane and Niamh's paths cross, they are thrust into solving a dark mystery that neither of them are equipped to understand. With the help of new friends and rivals, the two of them must work together to find answers. Each of them have secrets of their own, however, and some secrets cannot stay hidden for long.
Winter Heart is the first novel in the Relics of Light quartet, inspired by the magical, snowy atmosphere of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, with the sweeping scope and large cast of characters like the Throne of Glass series.
It’s perfect for fantasy readers who enjoy slow-burn romance, complex character dynamics, and unique magic systems.
Full of wholesome, warm characters, steeped in mystery and suspense, and infused with timeless truth, Winter Heart has something for every fan of cozy fantasy stories who want a clean, exciting read.
faq
When is the second book coming out? And what's it called?
The first book took nearly 3 years to get it from first draft to its polished, published version. I'm hoping the second book, since I know a little bit more of how the process goes now, will take much less time than that. I'm hoping to have it published by January 2025. The title is Tender Heart.
There is something else in the works, though. So keep your eye out for something in between books 1 and 2.
How many books will there be in the series?
The Relics of Light series is set to be a quartet - that means four books following one narrative. And then I'm planning on two novellas in between. It could be more depending on how much of these characters' stories I want to tell!
What inspired Winter Heart?
I have lots of inspiration spanning my whole life! This story actually started as a little fanfiction backstory for Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles by CLAMP. After a while, though, I realized that none of the characters from that series were actually present in my story, and it became something all its own. Other than that, I've always loved the Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis, so there are a lot of elements from that. Among some other inspirations are: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, DragonSpell by Donita K. Paul, and the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. The story as a whole incorporates my love of Irish names and culture, and there's even a scene that is heavily inspired by my years as an Irish dancer!
I've always loved healers in stories - those characters that aren't the strongest, or even the smartest, but the kindest and most resourceful. Niamh emerged as someone I want to strive to be, and I hope her journey is relatable to all those who share her heart.
How old are the characters in Winter Heart?
I'm one of those people that enjoys knowing little things like this. It makes the story richer. If you're like me, you're welcome!
Niamh: 24
Fane: 25 (the book starts out on his 25th birthday, actually.)
King Airem: 32
Queen Maire: 29
Maewyn: 21
Rohyr: 29
Hael: 109 (ish?)
Elise: 15
Kjellfrid: 26
King Friedhelm (Fane's older brother): 35
Are there any easter eggs in the book?
Almost every name means something! I was really intentional in this, since it's something important to me. Take a moment to look up the meanings of everyone's names, and see if you can guess the significance. ;)
