Facets of the Bench Archives

Upon A Summer's Day displayed on a tablet in a sunset scene looking out across water to fields beyond, all of it glowing golden and sparkling with magic. The cover of Upon A Summer's Day shows a man in a suit silhouetted over a map of northern Wales in a muted green. He is gesturing, holding his cane in one hand, a cap on his head. Behind him is an astrological chart, with Jupiter and Saturn highlighted in the sign of Taurus.

Demesne Estates

April 29, 2025 / Albion

The demesne estates are the heart of Albion’s land magic. Take a tour of what this means and a few of the key estates.

Ancient Trust, Facets of the Bench, Grown Wise, Illusion of a Boar, Mari Lwyd 1927, Upon A Summer's Day

Cover of Facets of the Bench: two people in 1920s clothing silhouetted, the man in a wheelchair with forearm crutches visible. She's handing him a necklace, with a jet pendant inset in the top right corner.

Idea to Book: Facets of the Bench

March 18, 2025 / Ideas to books

The ideas behind Facets of the Bench: Whitby jet, building a good life as an ambulatory wheelchair user, and Griffin’s love of Trellech.

Facets of the Bench

Cover of Perfect Accord: a man and woman in 1920s dress silhouetted on the cover: she is testing perfume he just handed her on her wrist.

2024 in review

December 18, 2024 / Writing and publishing

It’s the end of the calendar year, and that means it’s time for a roundup of the year. Read on for what was published, what I’ve written, the extras shared this year, and what’s on the Patreon!

12 Seconds in 1927, Elemental Truth, Enchanted Net, Facets of the Bench, Friend? Friend., Grown Wise, Harmonic Pleasure, Necessary Conversations, Perfect Accord, Ritual Time, Schola Tales, Silent Circuit, The Magic of Four, Weaving Hope

A copy of Complementary lies on a table with various kitchen herbs and tools.

In Character: Elizabeth Mason

August 14, 2024 / In Character

Elizabeth Mason is a woman of many talents – investigation, art, a spot of forgery, and more. Here’s a look at her life and skills.

Complementary, Facets of the Bench, Pastiche, Perfect Accord, Wards of the Roses

Cover of Weaving Hope on a tablet: A man and woman in 1920s informal clothing are silhouetted on a bright pink background shading to purple. She is holding out a length of cloth to him, showing him something, with phlox flowers inset in the upper right corner. The tablet is lying on a garden path with greenery and small flowers.

Cover design : Mysterious Arts

June 26, 2024 / Writing and publishing

The cover design for the Mysterious Arts books (through Facets of the Bench).

Bound for Perdition, Facets of the Bench, Perfect Accord, Shoemaker's Wife

Shoemaker's Wife against a purple twilight sky with stars and silhouetted grass. The cover of Shoemaker's Wife has a man and woman in silhouette on a vibrant background of green shading through blue to purple. The woman is standing on one foot with one hand in the air, lifting the other and looking over her shoulder at the shoe while the man looks on. A purple 1920s shoe with a big blue ribbon bow is inset in the top right corner.

Plans for 2024

January 3, 2024 / Announcements, Land Mysteries, Mysterious Arts

My plans for 2024! Releases for six novels and an extra, the writing for the year, and what’s up with the Patreon.

Elemental Truth, Enchanted Net, Facets of the Bench, Perfect Accord, Silent Circuit, The Magic of Four

Copy of Best Foot Forward lying on a bed of sand, covered by an enamelled Horus medallion. The cover has a deep red background with map markings in a dull purple. Two men in silhouette stand, looking up at a point in the top left. An astrology chart with different symbols picked out takes up the left side of the image, with glowing stars curving up to the title.

Up for a 2024 reading challenge?

December 18, 2023 / Reading

Ideas for 2024 reading challenges (with some help about which of my books fit some prompts.)

Best Foot Forward, Carry On, Chasing Legends, Facets of the Bench, Fool's Gold, Forged in Combat, Four Walls and a Heart, Illusion of a Boar, In The Cards, Magician's Hoard, Mistress Of Birds, Nocturnal Quarry, Outcrossing, Pastiche, Sailor's Jewel, Shoemaker's Wife, The Fossil Door, The Magic of Four, Three Graces, Upon A Summer's Day, Wards of the Roses