Category Archives: About my Romance Series

Posted on 2nd May 2009 by Felicity Heaton

I have finally got around to making the covers for my upcoming Daughters of Lyra series. I’m quite pleased with them so I thought that I would share them with everyone and hopefully get you all a little excited about the series. The first book will be out in June, and then there’ll be one release a month until September. All of the stories are novella length this time, varying from around 19000 to 28000 words.

Released: 7th June 2009

Released: 5th July 2009

Released: 2nd August 2009

Released: 30th August 2009

Released: 27th September 2009

So, what do you all think of them?

I’m still working hard on Arcadian. I’m almost done with the second draft and then I’m going to be sending out paperback versions to a few lucky folk in the hope that their feedback will help me figure out if anything else needs to be changed, or whether it’s almost ready for sending out to agents.

I’ll leave you to look at the pretty covers…

Posted in daughters of lyra | Comments Off

Winter’s Kiss & Heart of Winter – Vampire Romance Novels

Posted on 28th March 2009 by Felicity Heaton

Last week, I finally finally finished the second draft of Winter’s Kiss, the next Vampires Realm series novel. It’s a paranormal romance novel about a vampire of the Validus bloodline and a young newly turned female werewolf, who happens to be a girl he wanted for himself. I had a bit of trouble with the hero and his jumbled motivations, but I think we’re seeing things eye to eye now.

Winter, the hero, has his head on straight at last and it’s all stations go. It wasn’t as difficult as I thought it was going to be and I didn’t actually have to change too much to get the story working how I wanted it. I had put off going through it for a few months because I thought it was going to be really difficult and painstaking, but in the end it was pretty painless!

Of course, it will need a good polish before it’s ready for releasing into the wild. I’m planning on releasing it this autumn along with another novel of mine that has been sitting around waiting for my attention to finally fall on it.

Heart of Winter, which was originally a free serial by the name of Of Blood & Snow, has gone through a second draft as well as the name change. I’m quite pleased with it and nothing substantial needs to change. This is probably because it was edited on the go while I was posting a chapter a week. I’m planning on releasing this one around the same time as Winter’s Kiss.

All this editing and writing Daughters of Lyra 5 has given me a good gap between finishing my first draft of Arcadian and starting the second draft. I’m printing it out right now and I’m finding it almost impossible to resist taking a peek at the odd chapter as I put more paper in or collect the sheets. I only have a little printer, so it only manages to print around 40 pages before I have to get under the desk and give it some more paper, as well as taking away the printed sheets. Poor printer. I hope it doesn’t run out of ink before it’s worked its way through the 350 a4 pages of Arcadian!

Oops… out of paper.

All fixed. Read another little bit. Terrible of me because I’ll spoil the effect of reading it through for the first time since writing it, but relieving too as the parts I have read are better than I had thought they would be.

I’ve spent the past few days preparing myself for this second draft – going through my books on editing, revision, etc, and even reading a new one called “How Not To Write a Novel” which was hilarious and I thank the gods that I haven’t made any of the mistakes in it. At least, I don’t think I have. I think I’m definitely guilty of some of them in my past stories though. Writing is a constant learning process but one that I’m happy to go through.

back to work for me. It’s never ending!

Posted in daughters of lyra, Of Blood and Snow, paranormal romance, science fiction romance, urban fantasy, vampire romance, vampires, Vampires Realm, werewolf romance | Comments Off

Daughters of Lyra 5 – Sci Fi romance ebook – first draft complete!

Posted on 15th March 2009 by Felicity Heaton

This week I completed the first draft of the fifth Daughters of Lyra story. Daughters of Lyra is a science fiction romance ebook series that I’m writing as a follow up to my best selling sci fi romance series Sons of Lyra. I expect to be ready to start releasing the ebooks in this series in May, which will be good as I began release the Sons of Lyra short stories in May last year.

I really like the story in this one, which is why I just had to write it and up the series from the original four books to five. I think everyone will like it and I’m really excited about releasing it later this year. I have to edit it now, but there’s other stories that will take precedence over it for now – such as the second draft of Winter’s Kiss and Arcadian. It’s always best to leave stories for around a month before attempting the second draft anyway.

Daughters of Lyra 5
25,179 / 25,179
[100%]

There’s my tally. Quite a respectable one and about the length that I expected. All of the Daughters of Lyra stories are bettern 25000 and 30000 words. It’s a nice length to write. The Sons of Lyra series were all shorter, between 12000 and 18000. I wish I had made those longer now. Live and Learn!

I’ll post an update about Winter’s Kiss soon. I’m beginning the second draft of it tomorrow… looong editing days ahead of me to get the story right.

Posted in daughters of lyra, science fiction romance, sons of lyra, Vampires Realm | Comments Off

new sci-fi romance ebook series – Daughters of Lyra

Posted on 7th March 2009 by Felicity Heaton

I’m currently writing the fifth story in my new sci-fi romance ebook series, Daughters of Lyra. The series is set after my science-fiction romance series, Sons of Lyra, and follows the daughters of those four princes of Lyra.

Originally there were going to be four stories in the Daughters of Lyra series of ebook novellas but I had an idea for a fifth story and loved it so much that I just had to write it too. I’m only 8000 words into the writing the first draft of the fifth story, but the other four stories are pretty much ready to go.

I’ll be releasing all five novellas in this sci-fi romance series this year, probably starting in May like I did with the Sons of Lyra stories, and ending September.

To celebrate the new series and to give you all a taste, I’m going to give you a brief run down of the stories and then ask you to comment with the name of the story you want an excerpt of most! (excuse any typos… in a rush!)

Daughters of Lyra 1
The first story in the series follows Sophia, daughter of the now King of Lyra, Sebastian (from Sons of Lyra: Runaway Hearts) and Terea, and her struggle against the never-ending row of suitors that her father has lined up for her. When the latest suitor turns out to be the emperor of Varka, a species known for their heartlessness and bloodlust, Sophia wants little to do with him… but his first attendant, Regis, Count of Sagres, makes her heart beat like no other man before him.

Daughters of Lyra 2
Miali, daughter of the now captain, Remi (from Sons of Lyra: Fight For Love) and Emmanuelle, is an ambassador of Lyra. Her true heritage is kept secret, but her beauty places her in danger when slavers attack her ship when she’s in cryo-sleep. When she comes around she finds herself a prisoner and bound for the markets, and her only company is the young Minervan doctor on the slaver vessel, Kosen. As they get to know each other, Kosen realises Miali’s secret and agrees to help her escape so they can rescue his two sisters who had been sold into slavery years before.

Daughters of Lyra 3
Renie, daughter of the now General Lyra II, Balt (from Sons of Lyra: Slave Princess) and Kayla, loves to explore space with her twin brother, Rezic. When they venture too close to the Black Zone, the barrier between Vegan space and the rest of the galaxy, things turn from exploration to adventure. Rezic is injured in a meteorite shower and Renie has no choice to accept help from a vessel in the Black Zone, even when it turns out to be Vegan. The commander immediately recognises her and her brother and they’re taken hostage, to be held for ransom. In the cells of the ship, Renie meets the most unsual looking man she’s ever seen… a man who seems willing to do anything to protect her… a man who makes her heart pound.

Daughters of Lyra 4
Lieutenant Amerii, daughter of the illustrious Captain Lyra III, Acer (from Sons of Lyra: Stranded) and Stella, wants nothing more than to prove herself to her captain and the imperial army without her father’s help… except for one thing. Van, Count of Aeris and commander of the first fleet of Varka. He’s been on her mind since she met him at her cousin Sophia’s wedding. Charged with the duty of meeting the Varkans at Varka Two, Amerii is pleasantly surprised when the commander of the Varkan vessel turns out to be Van, and he insists that she be the one to sign the contract between Varka and Lyra. When she meets him on his vessel, he’s more handsome than she remembered and she resolves to risk the violence of his bloodlust to make him hers.

Now just comment and scream for the excerpt you want most! The one with the most votes will win… and I’ll post it tomorrow night. You have until then to make yourself heard!!!

Anyone can comment so get going!

Posted in daughters of lyra, science fiction romance, sons of lyra | Comments Off

My WIP romance novel is finished in first draft!

Posted on 4th March 2009 by Felicity Heaton

This morning, barely 15 minutes ago, in a Starbucks in London, I finished writing the first draft of my romance novel, code named Arcadian. I’m so excited!!! I had thought that it would be finished yesterday but the final chapter became two final chapters as it worked better that way. In total it’s currently 135,000 words which is a bit long but it’s the kind of story that you would have difficulty compressing into 100,000 words. There’s a lot of plot as well as romance, which is what I think makes a good romance novel.

I only started writing this on the 27th January 2009, and I had a week’s holiday around the middle of February in which I only wrote 6000 words, so I’m really happy that it’s finished so soon. I’m not one for meddling as I write. I’m of the “get it written, then get it right” school of thinking. Still, 135,000 words in only 5 weeks (less a good chunk for my off week) isn’t bad at all. It’s probably fairly close to a record for me and really helps me figure out my timings as I had allowed 8 weeks to write this story. I have a seven book series which I want to write and all the stories in that will likely be 100,000 words so seeing the timings on this one will help me figure out how long it’s going to take me to write those ones.

Now all I have to do is leave it for a few weeks and get on with other writing work. I can’t edit it straight away as the story is too firmly set in my mind and I won’t do a good job on the second draft. The plan is to leave it for 4 weeks while I write another novella (the fifth Daughters of Lyra story – a science fiction romance ebook series which I’m releasing this year) and do some editing on much-neglected stories such as Winter’s Kiss.

I think that I’ll have this story ready to send out to publishers in October, which is exciting. I’m determined to go through with it since I chickened out and didn’t send Seventh Circle out as I had planned to (I think the Harlequin Nocturne Bites rejections threw me a little, but look at how well those two short stories did for me as ebooks!). Both my husband and my friend have said that I’ll find an excuse not to send it and say I’ll send the next novel I write, so I’m going to prove them wrong. I truly believe that this romance novel is highly publishable and the kind of story that readers love, so I want to give it my best shot. I really do have faith in it and that this will be my first paperback published novel (since I’ve already been e-published).

Some of you lovely readers have been asking me about Winter’s Kiss and what stories I’ll be releasing this year. I’m going to write a big post, or a few smaller posts, about those this weekend and give you some tasters and dates so you can see what I have up my sleeve. I’m really excited about the Daughters of Lyra stories as I’m sure you’ll all love them. Don’t worry, Winter’s Kiss might have been delayed because of a need for a major second draft, but I’ll be working on it soon so you won’t have too long wait!

Posted in daughters of lyra, paranormal romance, science fiction romance, urban fantasy, vampire romance, vampires, Vampires Realm, werewolf romance | Comments Off

update on my latest romance novel

Posted on 10th February 2009 by Felicity Heaton

Arcadian is well under way now and while I had found my flow last week, reaching the 60,000 word mark, I am now in that dreaded middle section and things are going slower. I don’t mind though as I’ve written so many stories now that I’m quite accustomed to this point in writing the story and always continue to push on, regardless of how tempting it is to take a break when it seems like a struggle to write.

A few kind readers have asked what the story is about this time. I’m going to write about that in my next post as I don’t have enough time right now. Rest assured that it’s my usual complex romance with a twisting plot and plenty of paranormal action. Think Prophecy Trilogy or Seventh Circle and you’ll be in the right ballpark for the type of story that I’m writing with Arcadian.

Thankfully, the story is now feeling more like a 120,000 to 140,000 word romance novel that I could trim down and tighten to bring nearer to the 100,000 word mark. A few of the scenes that I had plotted out were shorter than expected. Also, because I only have scenes scribbled down for the first half of the story, I have a lot of plot outline for the later chapters, so I’ll probably find a lot of them aren’t as long as I am imagining.

At least I hope that will be the case.

I’ve already figured out parts in the first few chapters that need changing or tightening, so I’ll probably cut at least 2000 from there.

Of course, I’ll probably add that back in elsewhere!

I’m not used to writing to a limit, especially with a romance novel this in depth and complicated. I don’t want to skimp on things as that will only take away from the readers experience of the story. I would rather it be too long and get rejected by some publishing houses and agents than have readers dissatisfied with it.

I don’t have my little tally thing today, but I’ll update you all again this weekend and include it then. For now, it’s roughly 60,000 words long and still going. We’re roughly at the halfway mark. The heroine and hero are working things out and taking steps towards each other now. We’re heading for a big upheaval.

Can’t wait to write that bit!

For now, I have to settle with some neck biting action!!

Posted in paranormal romance, Prophecy Trilogy, urban fantasy, vampire romance, vampires, Vampires Realm | Comments Off

It’s a new year!

Posted on 1st January 2009 by Felicity Heaton

Well, it’s a new year which means it’s time to sit down and have a good think about what I want to get out of the next 12 months. There’s many things on my list–life stuff like achievement at work, fitness, learning new things, improving my Japanese–and then there’s writing stuff, which is the stuff I’ll talk about here.

I was working hard in the last quarter of 2008 to write stories for this year so I can work on a new novel of my. At the moment, it’s just called Project Arcadian, or Arcadian for short. I will be making posts following my work on this novel but won’t be revealing too much about it. I’m sure the suspense will just make the wait more worthwhile!

I have plenty of success to be thankful for in 2008. A lot of my releases were best sellers in the romance list at Fictionwise.com, which was amazing to see story after story make it into the top ten. All 4 of the Sons of Lyra stories made the top ten in romance, along with Seventh Circle, and two other short paranormal stories of mine.

It’s those two that really have meant the world to me because I wrote A Promise of Passion and Embracing the Wolf for the Harlequin Nocturne Bites short romance ebook line, and both were rejected. The Nocturne Bites stories barely break into the top 25 in romance on Fictionwise, so having my two rejected stories sitting pretty in the top 10, was heartwarming to say the very least! A Promise of Passion reached number 9, and Embracing the Wolf has reached number 3 (and also number 8 in the overall best seller list on Fictionwise). It just goes to show that just because someone rejects a story, it doesn’t mean it won’t sell or people won’t want to read it. If someone rejects a story of yours, try someone else, or try self-publishing.

Thanks to all the wonderful readers who bought a story by me last year, and to my faithful who buy all my stories and help me walk on clouds by emailing me about them.

In 2009 I hope to bring you more wonderful stories that you’ll enjoy reading. I have another Vampires Realm novel coming out (when it behaves itself and I finally finish edits!) called Winter’s Kiss, and I have the Daughters of Lyra series. Originally there were four novellas in this series, to match the Sons of Lyra series, but now there’ll be five.

I wish you all a happy new year, and good luck with all your resolutions. If you want to, share them with me on this blog and we can work towards completing them together!

Felicity

Posted in daughters of lyra, paranormal romance, science fiction romance, sons of lyra, vampire romance, vampires, Vampires Realm, werewolf romance | Comments Off

Latest Romance Ebook Reviews

Posted on 1st January 2009 by Felicity Heaton

It’s been a while since I posted reviews for my stories… I’m so behind! So here’s the latest reviews that I’ve received.

Seventh Circle
Dark, sensual and fast-paced, Seventh Circle is a story of forbidden love so strong that it will save the world.

Born with strange powers similar to a vampireâ€™s, Lilith has spent her life hunting demons for Section Seven. Now, on the very same night that she watches a vampire kill her best friend, sheâ€™s faced with her worse nightmare.

A client who is not only attractive, but a vampire.

Lincoln, a powerful pure blood vampire, has a problem. The prophecy heâ€™s caught up in is coming to pass and his only chance of survival is relying on those he hates mostâ€”vampire hunters. It has been foretold that one will save him, a female hunter, and when he meets her, the attraction he feels is both instantaneous and forbidden.

Their mutual attraction becomes difficult to deny as they work to unravel the mystery of a contract between Lincolnâ€™s lord and the Devil. The barriers around their hearts fall, but is there only pain ahead of them? With Lincolnâ€™s life on the line, can Lilith find the strength to protect him and embrace a side of herself that she wished didnâ€™t exist? Can Lincoln overcome his fear in order to save Lilith even if it means parting from her forever? What price will they pay to be together?

Reviews:

“Seventh Circle was the first book of Heatonâ€™s that I have read, I went in not knowing what to expect and came out finding a great new author. This story moved quickly and never had a slow moment to place the bookmark. Lilith had a hard time separating the man from the vampire when it came to Lincoln. Lincoln sees being attracted to Lilith as just one more sin to add to his ever growing list. You have so many elements in one book. Looking past appearances and seeing the real person inside. Finding out that you are stronger than you think you are and that love is worth sacrificing for. It is a Romeo and Juliet story with fangs and stakes.” — Megan, Bitten by Books — 5 out of 5 (read the whole review)

“Seventh Circle is a fabulous read. Once you start you’ll find yourself sneaking time in when you should be doing other things to read that next scene, then the next chapter. The interaction between the two characters is strong and well defined. Lilith is a fabulous character who goes through emotional torture in order to save the man she loves. And Lincoln, well, let’s just say he’s every woman’s idea of a dark, super sexy vampire. I will most certainly be awaiting the next Vampires Realm novel.” — Alyson J, We Write Romance — 4 out of 4 (read the whole review)

“Lincoln and Lilith have great chemistry as they are thrust into battle after battle, saving each other’s lives while each fight the compelling attraction between them. I won’t give away the plot, but I will tell you that it’s chock full of demons, hell-bound contracts, angels, even Cerberus, with Lincoln’s marked soul the suitable exchange for the contract to be fulfilled. The action is fast-paced, the romance tender, and the characters’ personalities sharp. You’ll be glad you read this one.” — Clover Autrey, ParaNormal Romance — December 08 Reviewer’s Pick (read the whole review)

“Seventh Circle is a fast moving read, full of action and powerful drama. I love the strong trait that transcends in Lilith. She is vibrant and feisty, able to stand on her own next to Lincoln. I could practically see her expressions when she told him to clean up after himself, and not to get blood on her sheets or couch. Lincoln is an enigma whose charisma swoons through the pages. When you put the two in the same room, it is like an electric current when they connect. F.E. Heaton gives her readers a spellbound of a story that pulls the reader into the pages like a magnet. She instills a well-developed cast that delivers a splendid tale.” — Cherokee, Coffee Time Romance — 4 out of 5 (read the whole review)

A Promise of Passion
A dark, sensual and action packed story of two hearts, united in their passion and desire, but divided by their blood, A Promise of Passion is guaranteed to get your heart racing.

Alicia is a vampire hunter, unable to find a man strong enough to love and accept her for who she is. When Kassian, a tall and seductively handsome vampire walks into her life and vows to protect her, she doesnâ€™t know what to think or feel. His eyes make promises that his searing touch backs up, but she canâ€™t get past the fact that heâ€™s a vampire and the fact that he thinks sheâ€™s someone else.

Kassian is certain from the moment he sets eyes on Alicia that sheâ€™s the reincarnation of his lost love and sire, and heâ€™ll stop at nothing to convince her and make her his again. A taste of her blood makes him realise his mistake but doesnâ€™t change his feelings or his resolve to have her.

Their mutual attraction is impossible to resist but a moment of passion places Alicia in the path of danger when Seth, the vampire responsible for murdering Kassianâ€™s sire, sets his sights on her. When Alicia is dragged into a game of human sport, how far will Kassian go to protect his love? Can he save her or will history repeat itself?

Reviews:

“Alicia is a strong but lonely character craving a loving relationship. It was interesting to watch as she battled herself and her feelings for Kassian. He is as strong as ever and has practiced and perfected his skills and strengths. I loved his quiet strength and surety in his own abilities. As a pair, they make an unbeatable wall loyal to each other to the end. Ms Heaton has written a vibrant tale of true love beating even natural enemies.” — Hollie, Coffee Time Romance — 4 out of 5 (read the whole review)

“I was amazed at the amount of description, action, and passion that was packed into such a short book. Felicity Heaton has a talent with words, describing everything in such detail; I could feel myself there with her characters. I can only imagine the power of a longer book written by this amazing author.” — Melissa C, Fallen Angel Reviews — 5 out of 5 (read the whole review)

Posted in paranormal romance, reviews, urban fantasy, vampire romance, vampires, Vampires Realm | Comments Off

Seventh Circle by F E Heaton – vampire romance ebook – new release!

Posted on 17th November 2008 by Felicity Heaton

Out Now! New vampire romance ebook by F E Heaton…

Seventh Circle
Dark, sensual and fast-paced, Seventh Circle is a story of forbidden love so strong that it will save the world.

A client who is not only attractive, but a vampire.

Save 15% this week at Fictionwise! Only $4.24

Buy now or read an excerpt

Posted in new release, paranormal romance, urban fantasy, vampire romance, vampires, Vampires Realm | Comments Off

Seventh Circle is coming soon!

Posted on 13th November 2008 by Felicity Heaton

Some very kind and lovely person made me a widget for the countdown to the release of Seventh Circle, and I love it!

I’ve added it to the side bar of my blog for all to see… Not long now to go!

Seventh Circle will be out on November 16th on Alinar Publishing and November 17th on Fictionwise. You’ll get a 15% discount for the first week at Fictionwise so I recommend waiting for it to come out there!

If you want to read more about Seventh Circle, visit the website:
http://www.vampiresrealm.com/novel_seventh_circle.php