You may or may not be aware that I've got two new series out at the moment. Yes that's right - two. One is my Wyntersleap series, set (oddly enough) in the tiny village of Wyntersleap. The other is my Merriment Bay series, set (yep, you guessed it) in the seaside village of Merriment Bay.
'But why bring out two new series at the same time?' I hear you ask.
Believe me, I've been asking myself that question recently too. Trying to spread the word about one new book is hard enough these days; trying to spread it about one book, a four-part serial and then more books coming soon, is the stuff of madness. Probably just as well I'm a little bit crazy then, eh?
Let me try to explain why I've done this.
Basically, having finished my Lily Pond Lane series, I started writing the Merriment Bay serial and the Wyntersleap series at the end of last year (I always have separate books on the go. Don't ask me why) and intended to bring them out during 2019. But readers loved my Lily Pond Lane series so much that they asked for more books in that series. Now I could have ignored their requests and said, 'Nope. Sorry. That series ends with the Christmas 2018 book.' and simply got on with Merriment Bay. Instead, I listened to them and wrote another three books in the Lily Pond Lane series. That meant everything else I'd been working on, was delayed.
The problem was, the publication date for the first book in my new, Wyntersleap series, Christmas at Wynter House was already set for the 25th September 2019, so I had to bring that book out before the Merriment Bay four-part serial, Coming Home to Merriment Bay. And this is where it gets just a teensy bit complicated, so please bear with me.
Each book in my Wyntersleap series can be read as a standalone book - which means you can pick up any of them (only book 1 is out as I type this; book 2 will be out at the end of the year/early next year) and read and enjoy it without having to read any of the other books in the series. Although, as it is a series, if you are planning to read them, you might want to read them in order. That seems pretty clear, right?
Er ... yes ... but ... several of the characters in my Wyntersleap series also appear in my Merriment Bay series (which starts with a four-part serial.) Still with me? Don't worry it'll all become clear (I hope!)
Right then. Coming Home to Merriment Bay is a four-part serial and the four parts are listed below:
Coming Home to Merriment Bay - Part One: A Reunion
Coming Home to Merriment Bay - Part Two: Sparks Fly
Coming Home to Merriment Bay - Part Three: Christmas
Coming Home to Merriment Bay - Part Four: Starry Skies
Parts One and Two are available right now and parts three and four will be available for pre-order in the next few days, once the covers for those have been revealed.
As I said, this four-part serial (which will eventually form Book One is the series) and the following books in this series, is/are set in the seaside village of Merriment Bay. Now it just so happens that Merriment Bay and Wyntersleap are a mere five miles apart and as Wyntersleap only has one bijou pub and an even smaller shop, the Wynter family and the villagers and visitors alike, often nip into Merriment Bay. Some of them are friends and know each other well; some of them ... are not. Take a look at the interactive map of both villages. You'll find it on this website under the tab 'Maps'.
My Wyntersleap series revolves around the lives, heartache, secrets and loves of the Wynters of Wynter House, the villagers of Wyntersleap and visitors to the rental cottages owned by the Wynters - especially Neva Grey and her family.
My Merriment Bay series revolves around the lives, heartache, secrets, family rifts, loss and loves of Cat Devon and the Devon family, Amias Wells and the Wells family and many more charaters, all of whom have parts to play in the telling of the stories.
Now, without giving anything away, one or two things happen in both series that link them to one another. But as I said, you don't have to read both series. However, if you intend to, then I'd recommend you read the books in this order:
Coming Home to Merriment Bay - Part One: A Reunion
Coming Home to Merriment Bay - Part Two: Sparks Fly
Coming Home to Merriment Bay - Part Three: Christmas
Coming Home to Merriment Bay - Part Four: Starry Skies
You could read Christmas at Wynter House after you've read Parts One and Two of Coming Home to Merriment Bay, because that's where both series 'connect' time-wise, but that's entirely up to you.
Anyway, I hope this has explained things. If it's still as clear as mud, come and say 'Hi' on social media and I'll do what I can to clarify the position and to answer any questions. I will add this though. I think you're going to love all the characters in both series .... apart from the ones I want you to hate ...
Happy reading!