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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.
Maire Cygnet was once the daughter of a noble family, but when tragedy strikes, she is forced to survive the harsh streets of Corseils. Her life changes forever when she saves a young man from pirates, never knowing the true identity of the stranger she helped.
Airem Wulfkalt, the prince of Eira, never forgets the girl who showed him kindness. Years later, he returns to Corseils, and assumes an old alias to protect his identity in a foreign land. He’s ever driven by the hope of finding the woman whose face he can’t forget – the woman with hair the color of swan feathers.
Now, Maire has a life she never wanted—caught in the clutches of an aunt who seeks to marry her off to the highest bidder. The last thing on her mind is the boy she once saved, but when a stranger bearing the same eyes as the man from her past appears, Maire is torn between him and the pressures of her situation.
Years pass, and when Breindal’s letters stop arriving, Maire is forced to make her own plans— she must marry a foreign king or face destitution.
As her future hangs in the balance and love’s call grows impossible to ignore, Maire must decide if love can truly defy titles, expectations, and the weight of duty. Will she risk it all to be with the man who still holds her heart, or will she embrace a life of safety?
A Prince returns.
The Grand Healer in a new world.
Fane Stagrunner, the lost Prince of Aridia, is forced home after his brother declares war on Eira, where Fane has been hiding for several months. When he returns home, he finds that not all is as he left it, and there are dark mysteries beneath the golden veil of his old life.
Niamh Sagesinger, now the Grand Healer of Eira, learns that her brother, Nythaniel, has been in Aridia without her knowledge. No one has received any word of his whereabouts, and tensions are high. Niamh takes it upon herself to heal the King of Aridia, and hopefully find her brother in the process. The longer she stays in this new place, the weaker she grows, and when something important is stolen from her, Niamh must face betrayal and her own fear to get it back.
With the help of new and returning friends, Fane and Niamh must each heal from their weaknesses and wounds, if their budding relationship will survive. Secrets cannot stay hidden for long, and some things hurt more the longer they are kept in darkness.
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 2027. The title is Tender Heart.
In the meantime, my newest novella is out and available on Amazon! Swan Feathers takes place before Winter Heart, but I recommend reading it after so you can fully appreciate all the easter eggs in it.
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 three 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!
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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.
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. ;)
