I hope you’ve been enjoying the early May bank holiday. We’ve spent the weekend being typically British and started on the garden with a reward afterwards of a cool glass (or two) of Pimms.
I’ve also joined up with other sci-fi and fantasy authors to offer free books and giveaways during the month of May. Are you ready to find some new authors to follow?
These books, both in fantasy and sci-fi, are available on bookcave here.
There are 18 novellas and books to choose from including my own Fantasy Short Stories.
I’ve recently been trying a few new authors this way, the free no risk option is appealing – especially after my recent BookBub ad and the credit card statement that followed! I’m well on the way to making back the money though, so I’m very happy with the result. Last week I shared more stats of the recent sale on bookbub, if you’re interested in the sale from a writer’s perspective.
Anyway, enjoy the rest of your holiday if you’re lucky enough to have another day off work. I hope you have lots of reading planned.
Last week I had a BookBub deal for The Lost Sentinel. Sales were not as high as I expected, but still more than I could ever have reached alone.
If you’re thinking of BookBub as a viable marketing strategy, here are my results. Please note – this is book 1 in a completed trilogy. I reduced books 1 and 2 down to 99p each and left book 3 at full price.
I’ve sold over 500 books in April. This is a BIG deal to me! That equates to 349 new readers for The Lost Sentinel, 96 picked up book 2 at the discounted rate and 55 bought book 3 at full price. Plus a couple of other books were sold not relating to the Silent Sea Chronicles series. 11 Audiobooks were also purchased, which is a nice little bonus that I forgot about.
My pages read figure in KENP is higher than its been in a long time, and is rising every day. I hope these readers find book 1 compelling enough to move straight onto later books in the series.
I have only gained 3 new ratings on GR and no new reviews. That is a disappointment but maybe more will trickle in over time. It did only run last week so I can’t expect too much too soon.
I was excited to reach number #7 in the kindle chart in Canada, though it would have been great to reach the No. 1 bestseller slot as I did with the previous BookBub deal.
My final thoughts;
I would recommend Bookbub deals to authors if they can afford to run them, and are lucky enough to be selected (which is very hard!). I will try again when I release a new series, but only once I have several books that the readers can pick up to really make the most of the promo. Other email subscription sites like Book Barbarian seem to have run their course for The Lost Sentinel – I think the readers have all seen it before, or these email ad sites are just not as effective as they used to be.
What are your experiences with running ads like Book Barbarian and Book Cave? Do you still buy books this way? Have you run the email subscription ads and seen good results, or no real change in your sales?
Please share you thoughts on reaching new readers. Or if you’re a reader rather than an author how do you discover new books?
Yesterday I was lucky enough to bag a BookBub deal for the UK, US, Canada and Australia.
The link to the ad will still be live for a few days, and you can follow me on bookbub too. The Lost Sentinel bookbub deal. They ran with the hook line;
“On an island where those with magic are exiled, a tailor’s daughter must hide her abilities — and find the one who will help save their home. This spellbinding novel kicks off an action-packed fantasy trilogy!”
At my last check this morning I’ve sold in the US, UK, Canada and Australia
The Lost Sentinel sold 244 KENP 450
The Sentinel’s Reign Sold 73
The Sentinel’s Alliance Sold 44
Book rankings 7 in CA store for Sword and Sorcery
45 in US store for Action and Adventure fantasy.
And in the top 100 in the UK ,US and Canada.
I’ll keep you posted on the stats at the end of the month. It’s good to have a written record of how these ads perform as a way to judge whether they still have an impact. And maybe my data will help you decide if it’s worth paying the big money for ads in the future. It all depends on your goals – mine is to re-spark an interest in an older series and show off the new cover and blurb.
Let’s keep our fingers crossed and wait to see what has happened by the end of April.
If you’d like to help, the book will be on sale until 28th April. Any shares of my posts and sales will help give the rankings a boost.
And with book 2 also at 99p, the complete series is available for under £6.00.
Thanks for reading and following my author journey. If you have any advice or wisdom to share please do. Or if you are just starting out and want to talk things through, don’t be shy in asking for help.
You’ll have to be quick to pick up some bargains in the Indie Book Sale as it ends today – 13th April 2026.
I’ve picked up a few books and look forward to reading them.
Death’s Disciple by Emma L Adams.
Seven years ago, Captain Yala Palathar was a hero. She and her squad of close-knit dragon-riding warriors were Laria’s elite, fighting for their nation alongside the monarch and his magic-wielding Disciples. Seizing control of an unmanned island should have been a simple mission, but Yala’s squad was little prepared for the horror and tragedy that awaited. Instead of triumph, all Yala and her allies found was death.
Years on, Yala lives in seclusion in the deep jungle, ignoring the rumours of unrest in the capital following the end of the war. She little expects assassins to find her hideout – nor does she anticipate the mission that ended her career to have given rise to rumours that see her targeted by mercenaries vying to claim a price on her head. With the other survivors from her squad being picked off one by one, she has little choice but to return to the capital in the hopes of finding answers.
Whether the truth lies with the Disciples of the Flame – who refused to believe her stories of the monstrous beasts that haunted the island – or with the long-dead king who sent her squad to their doom, one thing is clear. Yala must finish the battle she started all those years ago… even if it brings her face to face with the god of death Himself.
Hall of Bones by Tim Hardie
If you like Robin Hobb, Giles Kristian or John Gwynne you will love this Viking-inspired dark epic fantasy series. When a new enemy comes to power Rothgar’s ruling family and friends are forced to ally with old rivals. Faced with betrayal from within their own clan Rothgar’s survival is by no means certain, as an ancient and malevolent magic grows in strength and threatens all he holds dear.
In the remote land of Laskar the seven ruling clans have vied with each other for power for over a century. The son of the Reavesburg Clan Chief, Rothgar, has been groomed all his life for a role supporting his elder brother, Jorik, in leading their kingdom when their father’s time finally comes to an end.
However, the rulers of their greatest rivals, the Vorund Clan, are in the grip of something older and far darker. They have been conquered by evil, a remnant from the time when the gods warred with one another and the world of Amuran collapsed into the Fallen Age.
Everything is about to change …
The first book in The Brotherhood of the Eagle series, Hall of Bones begins a tale of epic fantasy, magic and intrigue.
Platinum Tinted Darkness book 1 and book 2 Tears of the Maelstrom by Timothy Wollf (both books are free at present)
When the gods send their harbingers, the Guardians are all who stand in the way. But who protects these defenders when the gods seek to sway them?
Crystal mage Serenna Morgan struggles to maintain the neutrality of the Guardian Pact when a neighboring kingdom invades her own. The God of Death offers his divine power to stop the invasion. For a price. As the conflict escalates, the remaining Guardians fall prey to the other meddling deities, and the choice given to Serenna might be the only thing that keeps them together. Or results in their doom.
Not all gods love their people, but the ones that do may end up the most dangerous.
No Heart For A Thief by James Lloyd Dulin (I actually forgot that I bought this book a few years ago in the sale. So I’m looking forward to reading it.)
We are the stories we tell ourselves…even the lies.
The Thief, a great spirit, and her descendants have abused their ability to steal magic for centuries. When Kaylo starts to hear the song of other people’s magic, he must learn to hide from his people as well as the invaders. A gift or a curse, Kaylo may be able to save his people from the Gousht Empire that claimed their land with this stolen magic.
Eighteen years later, Kaylo still prays to the spirits, but not out of loyalty or love. He knows better than to rely on those selfish bastards for anything. While hiding in the forest from his foolish acts of rebellion, he encounters a girl, Tayen, being pursued by two soldiers of the empire. Against his better judgment, he risks facing the consequences of his past to intervene.
When Tayen attempts to run off seeking vengeance for her family, he offers to train her to wield her magic and a blade. If he can’t convince her to relinquish her need for vengeance and stave off the demons of his past, he’s going to get them both killed.
Another free book to download direct from the author – That which Follows you home by Josiah D Blizzard
The Long Dream by C.M.Debell (a bargain boxset for only 99p)
In Andeira, the dragons vanished 3,000 years ago, their magic lost and forgotten. But without humankind’s ancient partners in magic, the world is slowing dying. One young mage dreams of fulfilling his father’s dying wish and returning the dragons to the world, but in his way stand the powers that have filled the vacuum of their absence – and the ancient enemy from which they fled millennia ago.
The Crimson Court by Brendan Noble (the longest book on my list at 580 pages)
Game of Thrones meets the industrial revolution in this revenge-filled epic where secret societies pull the hidden threads of power, ravenous spirits haunt the skies, and magic comes at a heavy cost.
To find her father’s killers, she must join their shadowy order… then shatter it from within.
An upstart noblewoman from a fallen house, Kasia Niezik has sworn to destroy the elusive Crimson Court who assassinated her father. She is a Reacher of the forbidden realm of Death, able to kill with ease, but her near immortal foes scheme behind the veils of power.
So she will tear their veil to shreds.
Kasia travels to her nation’s heart, seeking allies either brave or foolish enough to help her infiltrate the Crimson elites. Whether spirit hunter, politician, princess, or thief, though, everyone has a hidden agenda. And those with the widest smiles hold daggers behind their backs.
Dive with a diverse and inclusive cast into this world of fantasy intrigue where flintlock guns, risky magic, crystalline dragons, and dangerous spirits clash amid shadowy bids for power. Revenge is sweet, but at what cost?
***
And don’t forget, The Lost Sentinel is in the sale (and book 2 is also discounted)
The magical island of Kalaya is dying, and it falls to Tei, an exiled mystic, to save it. But with Kalaya’s corrupt Assembly attempting to eradicate magic, can Tei help the exiles restore the island’s power before it’s too late?
When her father is murdered by the Assembly’s Masked Riders, Tei flees to the hidden mountain sanctuary of Turrak. Welcomed by the exiles, she is tasked with finding the realm’s next Sentinel before the old one dies. Tei must navigate the monster-ridden Astral Plane, while being pursued by the Soul Eater, a dark entity that devours lost spirits.
As Tei risks everything to find the hidden Sentinel, a lone Assemblyman attempts to dismantle the Assembly from within and prevent its persecution of magic. While across the Silent Sea, a reluctant naval commander, who is being manipulated by telepathic visions, readies an invasion fleet, pulling all their destinies towards a devastating war for the island’s survival.
To save Kalaya, Tei must learn that true power isn’t just about wielding magic – it’s about surviving the devastating sacrifices required to protect it.
If you like multi-dimensional characters in intricate worlds, then you’ll love The Lost Sentinel – the spellbinding novel that kicks off the action-packed fantasy trilogy Silent Sea Chronicles.
I’m really excited to share the facelift book 1 in the Silent Sea Chronicles has gone through, which includes a new cover and blurb.
I’ve always loved the cover which depicts a figure walking through the astral plane, but it’s never stood out as much as the covers for books 2 and 3. I’m really pleased with the transformation. What do you think?
I especially love the look of them all together and feel the series looks like it belongs together now.
The blurb is also updated to focus on the three main storylines that run through the series.
New Blurb
The magical island of Kalaya is dying, and it falls to Tei, an exiled mystic, to save it. But with Kalaya’s corrupt Assembly attempting to eradicate magic, can Tei help the exiles restore the island’s power before it’s too late?
When her father is murdered by the Assembly’s Masked Riders, Tei flees to the hidden mountain sanctuary of Turrak. Welcomed by the exiles, she is tasked with finding the realm’s next Sentinel before the old one dies. Tei must navigate the monster-ridden Astral Plane, while being pursued by the Soul Eater, a dark entity that devours lost spirits.
As Tei risks everything to find the hidden Sentinel, a lone Assemblyman attempts to dismantle the Assembly from within and prevent its persecution of magic. While across the Silent Sea, a reluctant naval commander, who is being manipulated by telepathic visions, readies an invasion fleet, pulling all their destinies towards a devastating war for the island’s survival.
To save Kalaya, Tei must learn that true power isn’t just about wielding magic – it’s about surviving the devastating sacrifices required to protect it.
If you like multi-dimensional characters in intricate worlds, then you’ll love The Lost Sentinel – the spellbinding novel that kicks off the action-packed fantasy trilogy Silent Sea Chronicles.
***
The audiobook, paperback and box set have also got their new covers.
I’ve also opted to have a slightly different blurb for the box set.
Box Set Blurb
What if the only hope of saving a magically starved island lies in the hands of an untrained mystic and an assemblyman fighting the corruption from within?
Kalaya is a magical island dying from the inside out. As the corrupt Assembly of Newington systematically outlaws magic and slaughters mystics in the streets, the island’s ancient life force withers.
When her father is murdered by the Assembly’s Masked Riders, nineteen-year-old Tei flees to the mountain sanctuary of Turrak. Thrust into the hidden world of the exiles, Tei learns her destiny is to find their missing Sentinel. But to do so, she must search the monster-ridden Astral Plane and avoid the deadly clutches of the Soul Eater who devours lost spirits.
In Newington, a farmer secretly harbouring a magically gifted child inherits his father’s seat on the Assembly. He engages in a dangerous political battle against the Assembly’s ruthless leader and attempts to stop the murders.
Across the Silent Sea, on the barren island of Stone Haven, Commander Farrell receives telepathic visions from a Kalayan contact who’s manipulating his latent magic. Desperate to save his starving people, Farrell prepares his powerful naval fleet to invade Kalaya.
All their destines are pulled towards a devastating war for the island’s survival.
With ancient prophecies, dark sorcery, and magic-hating invading forces at large, nowhere in the Silent Sea is safe. This epic fantasy series is perfect for readers who love political intrigue, perilous journeys, and heroic deeds.
***
What do you think of the overall look and feel of the cover and blurbs now? Would it entice you to read the book or series? Maybe you have a suggestion you would like to share?
Today I’m celebrating the wonderful narrators I’ve worked with on my books. As AI attempts to take over so many parts of our lives, I want to advocate using humans. A narrator brings something special to a book that is impossible to replicate. I can’t imagine these books done any other way than with these wonderful voice actors.
My first adventure into Audiobook narration was with my debut Visions of Zarua. Guy Barnes was amazing, really getting into the fantasy vibe and he made each character sound unique. He handled the whole process wonderfully and made my debut fantasy shine.
Then came my Silent Sea Chronicles trilogy which George Ellington smashed. His Scottish accent worked perfectly for the island setting and he even used some sound effects that listeners have loved. It was wonderful to work with George through the whole trilogy and I was so sad when we reached the end, though excited to see each book brought to life.
Love, Loss and Life In Between is next and Sandie Keane tackled a variety of different genre short stories, while keeping true to the theme of the book. Her voice suited these stories perfectly be it romance, supernatural or thriller.
Then I have my two Winter Warmers festive collections.
A Christmas Wish saw Emily Lynn narrate 8 short stories and bring to life my first foray into festive fiction. It was great to hear the stories brought to life and hear Emily handle male, female and children’s voices.
A Little Christmas Magic was narrated by Colette Davies-Kerwin who has a calm and relaxed style that I love. I knew she was the narrator for this book within a few seconds of hearing her audition. Listeners have loved her style as well, so I know she was the right choice to get people in the festive spirit.
In summary – Having books narrated is quite a unique experience for an author. You get to hear your work as someone else interprets it, bringing a new dimension to the stories and the characters. They come alive in a way that wouldn’t be possible without that narrator’s uniqueness. I’m so glad I entrusted my books to these narrators and I can’t wait to see what will happen when my romance series is ready for narration.
The Struggle – I’ve found it’s harder to find readers / listeners of audiobooks and even harder to get reviews. I don’t know what the magic formula is, so if you have any answers let me know, as I really feel all these narrators hard work should get recognition.
Free Reviewers Codes – I do have free codes available for all of the above books, which I’d be happy to share in exchange for an honest review on the usual platforms. Just use my contact form or reply to this post.
You can listen to samples of these books on Soundcloud via the links above. Each books is available on Amazon, Audible and iTunes.
It has become a ritual to look back at the year and check in on my achievements.
It doesn’t feel as if much happened in 2024 as I didn’t meet many of the goals for the year that I set rather optimistically in 2023. However, plenty of other things did happen, so it’s important to focus on the positive.
Writing
I published a new short story collection called A Little Christmas Magic on 28th November 2024.
I also made the decision to make a series of Christmas stories – Winter Warmers. This now includes my previous Christmas collection – A Christmas Wish.
Both books had a book tour on Instagram in December which I enjoyed immensely. There’s nothing better than seeing what reviewers think of the heart-warming stories I’ve created. And it was great to be able to share so many review snippets and posts on Instagram throughout the month. Both were run by Love Books Tours and went very smoothly. Highly recommended service if you are wanting a book tour next year.
Aside from writing, I attended several writing events in 2024. There was a weekend event just outside of Stratford Upon Avon hosted by Alison May and Janet Gover. A whole weekend of food, writing workshops and talking writing with fellow writers. Plus some excellent 1-2-1’s that helped me move my ideas forward. I would recommend both Janet and Alison for the services they offer to writers, and they also run the Debut Author Club together.
The Romantic Novelist Association conference was held 10 minutes for my home at The Royal Holloway College, so I couldn’t resist attending the whole weekend event. At times I found it a struggle socially as I didn’t know anyone, but it was a wonderful opportunity to mix with both aspiring and published writers. The workshops were great as well.
I kept up with my monthly writing sessions at my local library, and attended several author events in libraries and Waterstones.
The not so successful side of 2024….
Fantasy genre
I made the decision to park my new fantasy series Starlight Prophecy for a while. I need to go back to the planning stage and really get to know the world and the history before I commit to working on the half completed trilogy.
I also toyed with the idea of writing a collection of short stories in the world of my Silent Sea Chronicles, but I think it’s a hard one to pull off. I want to provide extra content for readers who’ve enjoyed the series and also entice new readers without giving too much of the various storylines away. Maybe I will revisit this idea in 2025.
Romance genre
I’ve made great headway with The Mermaid Hotel Series (news I will share in a New Year’s post). However, 2024 has seen a lot of work editing and re-editing the story, reshaping major points of the character arcs etc. I’m almost happy with the way it is now, so I’ll share more about that very soon.
Reading
I met my Goodreads goal of 24 books. That seems like a sensible amount, though of course I’d love the time to read more. I did not however get around to reviewing many books, which I am not pleased about. I enjoying reviewing books on my blog and see it as a way to score some good karma points! Hopefully people will review my books more in 2025. Fingers crossed!
I would love to put a post together celebrating my favourite reads of 2024, but will have to see if time allows.
Other
I love the little graphic I made to show off my books. It will need to be changed soon because it is very festive, but I will enjoy it for now.
And that is about it for 2024. It’s had its ups and downs, but I’m confident 2025 will be a bigger and better year!
Yesterday I received a 5 star review from a reviewer on Readers’ Favourite, and earned this shiny badge to show off!
It’s been a while since I finished publishing the Silent Sea Chronicles trilogy, so its wonderful to revisit the book and characters and see what reviewers think. Here is the review posted on the Readers’ Favourite website…
Reviewed by Ronél Steyn for Readers’ Favorite
Suzanne Rogerson brings us epic fantasy in the first book of the Silent Sea Chronicles: The Lost Sentinel. In Kalaya, the Assembly aims to eradicate anyone with even a hint of magic. New laws are passed almost weekly. So, when Tei’s father makes them leave their home in Seatown to reach the sanctuary of the Turrak mountains, she knows her life will change. Tei is now an exile. With her special talents, Tei is tasked with finding the next Sentinel, the one person who can save Kalaya from total decay. Danger lurks in every town and even in the Astral Plains, the only place Tei has ever contacted the Sentinel. Will Tei be able to accept the help of her new friends and complete her mission before the Masked Riders find the new Sentinel first?
Author Suzanne Rogerson has created a world with magic at its core. Written in the third-person narrative mostly from the perspective of the protagonist, readers are privy to her inner thoughts, desires, and fears. With epic journeys filled with sensory stimulation, readers are easily transported to a world where good and evil are constantly at war. The fight scenes are honed with precision. The characters are likable and undeniably relatable. With a steady pace and a magnificent plot, readers won’t want to put this book down. The Lost Sentinel is suitable for younger readers as well as avid fans of fantasy. The end of this book leaves ample opportunity to continue the next adventure in the new life of this mystic.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy of this debut by Georgia Summers.
The Blurb
Curses are made to be broken.
‘ENTHRALLING TO THE LAST PAGE’ SHELLEY PARKER-CHAN
Filled with magic, stardust, and a shockingly dark heart, this is a stunning standalone fantasy perfect for fans of The Ten Thousand Doors of January, The Starless Sea and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.
For centuries, Everlys have seen their brightest and best disappear, taken as punishment for a crime no one remembers, for a purpose no one understands. Their tormentor is a woman named Penelope, who never ages, never grows sick – and never forgives a debt.
Ten years ago, Violet Everly’s mother left to break the curse, and never returned. Now Violet must find her mother, or she will be taken in her place.
Her hunt leads her into a seductive magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods, and monsters bent on revenge. And into the path of Penelope’s quiet assistant, Aleksander, who she knows cannot be trusted – and yet to whom she finds herself undeniably drawn.
Tied to a very literal deadline, Violet will travel to the edges of the world to find her mother and the key to the city of stardust, where the Everly story began . . .
My Review
This was a very enjoyable read from a debut author. The blurb drew my interest straight away and I really liked the simplistic beauty of the cover, which fits the story perfectly.
From the first page, I knew I would like the story and it didn’t disappoint. There’s plenty of intrigue at the beginning when you have to keep reading to uncover the mystery along with Violet. As she grows up and the story develops secrets are revealed, trust is broken and Violet must face up to her fate or do all in her power to change it. Her journey of discovery drags you along and the final confrontation is satisfying.
There is a certain strangeness to the world Georgia Summers has created which reminds me of Neil Gaiman.
I’m looking forward to more books by this author.
I’m especially looking forward to meeting her at my local Waterstones later this month! I’ll have to try and think of some questions for the Q&A and will hopefully post more about the night here.
You can pick up a copy of The City of Stardust on Amazon and add to your Goodreads shelf.
***
Suzanne Rogerson – Author of epic fantasy, heart-warming romance and short stories
I love to read reviews and it seems to be much harder to get reviews on audiobooks. These reviews on Audible made my day.
Book 1 – The Lost Sentinel
‘Everything about it was awesome. From the narrator to the sound effects. The storyline was very intriguing. I would definitely recommend this book’
Book 2 – The Sentinel’s Reign
‘What did I like? I liked everything about this book. Yes, there is some hardships, and friends lost. There is also strong ties as well. Trust me when I say. These books make you want to see them on a big screen’
The idea of seeing my books on the big scene has always been a dream of mine. I’m film obsessed and in more recent years I’ve fallen in love with binge watching series on Netflix and Prime, in particular fantasy. There just aren’t enough fantasy programmes made.
These are comments from audiobook reviewer Tess, who received a reviewer’s copy of each book and choose to share her honest review. I’m hoping the last book in the trilogy is as well received.
Perhaps these reviews have inspired you to check out the books for yourself.
For a look at all my book offerings here the link to my Amazon author page
Blurb
Tei has magic in a world where people like her are persecuted and forced into exile. Whilst fleeing their home, her father is attacked and his deathbed confession reveals a dangerous secret that will change Tei’s life forever.
Tei’s homeland, the magical island of Kalaya, is dying and without a Sentinel to restore the magic, it’s only a matter of time before all life is wiped out.
She must join the exiles in the search for the lost Sentinel, but they are not the only ones after the missing guardian. Sinister Masked Riders are on their trail and time is running out.
Tei must risk everything she loves to save Kalaya, but is she ready to make that sacrifice?
1396 pages of magic, adventure and intrigue.
***
Whether you prefer reading or listening, I hope you enjoy the trilogy.
Books, games, music, and life — filtered through the mind of a writer, drummer, and philosopher who thinks too deeply about all of it. If it moves something in your chest, I'm interested.
Suzanne Rogerson Author 