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Status Update on My First Novel

Summer of 2021, I made the decision to start writing my first novel. When I started on that journey all I had was my love of the written word. I’ve had no formal writing training. I want to create something that makes others feel the same way I do when I read something fantastic, and it changes my life.

Here we are now, Summer of 2022, and I have learned so much about the intricacies of writing. There is far more involved than I ever thought possible, and I have such profound respect and admiration for all authors.

I have had the opportunity to join a community of writers via The Write Practice and while I still have so much to learn and many skills that need honing, I am well on my way.

And now, my update…

I have officially completed the first draft of my first novel!! I feel so incredibly accomplished and proud!

I still have several steps between a finished first draft and a published book, but I have finally reached the top of this first mountain and the view from here looks great!

My next step is going to be a break from the keyboard, and a headlong dive into some books I have been meaning to read.

Once my brain has a well-deserved break, I will start my initial self-editing with a read-through from start to finish followed by the nit-picking and painstaking process that is editing 😜

When the initial editing is done, I hope to be left with a solid second draft and I will be looking for Beta readers to read the manuscript, answer some questions and provide invaluable feedback! My guess is that will be sometime in early 2023!

Stay tuned if you are interested in being a Beta reader when the time comes and thank you again, from the bottom of my heart, for taking this journey with me ❤

Don’t Stop Writing

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Daily writing prompt
What advice would you give to your teenage self?
View all responses

My love of the written word started when I was very young. Elementary school book fairs were my idea of heaven at the time. My two favorite places in the school: the library and the reading pit — an odd little offshoot from the hallway with a sunken floor, 3 walls made of ceiling-to-floor glass windows, where the teacher would take us to read stories. I never stopped reading.

But it was my teenage years when I discovered my love of writing. Somewhere along the way, after high school, I stopped writing for enjoyment. Sure, if I had an essay for university or something (I wrote other people’s essays for them too, on occasion 🙃), I would write it, but the love of writing had dwindled.

Re-discovering my love of writing, in my 30’s, means I missed out on more than a decade of honing the craft and telling stories only I can tell.

The advice I would give my teenage self would be: DON’T STOP WRITING!

2026

Photo by Ann H on Pexels.com

Hello all! Happy New Year, and sorry for ghosting you😥 I realize we are nearly two months into 2026, but I still feel as though I’m recovering from last year.

2025 was a challenging year, to put it mildly. Maybe it’s just me (although social media would indicate otherwise), but I really felt something significant change in 2025. Whatever it was had a pretty large influence on my writing, and I probably spent only half of the year making any progress on book 2 in my series I am writing. Having said that, I have passed the 70,000-word mark, and I am expecting to write another 15,000-20,000 words before I finish the first draft, so we are getting there.

In the meantime, I’ve been reading a ton (sorry I haven’t been posting any reviews) and trying to find the creative spark that I’ve been missing.  Slowly but surely, I am getting there.

Book 1- Magic in Her Blood will have been out for a year in March, so as a promotion, my publisher and I have listed the eBook for .99 with all retailers. I have included the links below if you’re interested.  I’d love for you to read and leave a review!

Thanks again for sticking with me. I will post again soon!

Alicia ❤️

Amazon Canada (Kindle) – https://a.co/d/07O9xnMk

Amazon USA ((Kindle) – https://a.co/d/02QJc93h

Amazon UK (Kindle) – https://amzn.eu/d/0boP7lyM

Amazon AUS   (Kindle) – https://amzn.asia/d/00s83JVe

Barnes & Noble (Nook) – Magic In Her Blood by ATL Doyle | eBook | Barnes & Noble®

Indigo/Chapters (Kobo) – Magic In Her Blood Book By Atl Doyle, (Kobo eBook) | Indigo

Book Review: Phantasma by Kaylie Smith

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I decided to read this book after seeing it pop up in several book-related posts on FaceBook and BookTok. If you’ve been following my reviews for a while, you know I gravitate toward the Fantasy genre, often, so this book piqued my interest.

I knew nothing about the book other than it was a dark fantasy romance (I have gone down a dark romance of all genres rabbit hole recently, and whoa!).

The story takes place in what I am guessing is early in the 1900s in New Orleans, though the author doesn’t outrightly specify the year. After the death of their mother (this isn’t really a spoiler because the book opens with her death), The FMC, Ophelia, inherits the family business, but before she can get a grip on her new reality,  she and her sister find themselves in a difficult situation that threatens completely upend their lives.

In their desperation, they find themselves as participants in a diabolical competition where there can only be one winner. Many who participate find death waiting for them, but the lucky winner gets a favor from the devil himself.

In addition to some dark romance, this story explores themes like mental illness, facing one’s deepest fears, and risking everything to help the ones you love. Filled with paranormal entities that would keep many up at night (including ghosts, demons, and oversized arachnids, to name a few), Phantasma will delight those who enjoy fantasy mixed with the real world.

For me, the story started slower than I would have liked. I usually don’t mind a slow burn, but I found myself getting impatient in the beginning. I wasn’t “hooked” right away like I prefer to be. The premise of the story was entertaining though, and I fell in love with the characters. The author’s writing style made it easy for me to picture everything in my mind’s eye and immerse myself in the story.

As far as the romance goes, I was a little uncertain at first. To be honest, when the author first introduced the MMC, I had to pause and question what I was getting myself into, but there was enough intrigue to keep me reading and I’m so glad I did. As a reader, the connection between the FMC and MMC was tangible and the banter between the two was excellent.

Overall, the romance was milder compared to some of the books I’ve read lately, but I enjoyed it all the same. I am so looking forward to reading the next book in this series!

Oh hey, it’s been a minute.

Spring is here and Magic in Her Blood (MIHB) has been unleashed into the world for a little over two months now, I couldn’t be happier with its reception so far.

For those of you who have been with me since the beginning, I am forever grateful that you have stayed with me on this amazing journey. Your support, however small you feel it may have been, is the reason I was able to accomplish this dream of mine.

For those who’ve been here for a while, I hope you are still enjoying yourself, and I wanted to thank you for your patience. I know I haven’t been reviewing books much lately. My focus has been entirely on the release of Magic in Her Blood. I will get back into reviewing books soon. I have been reading lots and can’t wait to share some of the gems I’ve found.

For those who are new, whether you signed up to my mailing list in exchange for a copy of Magic in Her Blood, or maybe you purchased a copy and wanted to stay updated on Book 2, or just stumbled upon me, thank you for joining me and I hope I can add value to your life in some way or another.

If you don’t fit into one of those groups, I am so happy you are here. If there is something you want to know, a book you’d like me to review, or anything at all really, ask and be welcome.

Before I go, I have nearly 75% finished the first draft of book 2, titled Shadows in Her Heart. The first chapter is available to read at the end of Magic in Her Blood.

If you’ve read MIHB, I would greatly appreciate it if you would leave a review (even just a star review, without comment) either where you purchased it from, or on goodreads.com (or any other book review site). Authors like me, who are not represented by one of the major publishing houses in the biz, really rely on reviews from readers to draw attention to our books. Thank you in advance for taking the time to do so!

Also, in case you don’t have a copy of MIHB and would like to purchase one, I have included the links below.

In Libris, Libertas

Alicia❤️

Amazon UK: https://amzn.eu/d/cwo8mX1

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/magic-in-her-blood-atl-doyle/1146704506?ean=9781998555062

Amazon USA:   https://a.co/d/aoq61QY

Amazon Canada: https://a.co/d/gHIpVan

Indigo/Chapters: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/magic-in-her-blood/9781998555062.html

Somewhat Grumpy Press: https://somewhat-grumpy-press.square.site/product/magic-in-her-blood/17?cs=true&cst=custom

Get Your Copy of Magic In Her Blood Today!

TODAY IS LAUNCH DAY!!

Magic In Her Blood, my debut novel is finally available to share with the world!

I have enormous gratitude for everyone who has helped make this dream come true. It truly doesn’t feel real. Even as I hold the finished novel in my hands, I can’t quite get my head around the enormity of it all.

There are so many “working parts” when it comes to publishing a novel, that sometimes, it feels overwhelming. You start with an idea, and if you are a pantser, like me, it can be shocking where the characters and the story take you. Writing the novel isn’t as simple as I thought it would be. It was a humbling experience. It is so much more than just words on a page.

I have immense respect and appreciation for my fellow authors. I don’t think I ever could have truly understood how incredible writing a book could be without doing it.

If you’ve been on this journey with me for any length of time, thank you for sticking with me.

Here are the links for anyone interested in reading Magic In Her Blood:

Physical Copies Direct from the publisher (shipping available in Canada only): Magic In Her Blood | Somewhat Grumpy Press Inc.

E-Books:

Amazon Canada a.co/d/6nvEDCp

Amazon USA a.co/d/52M3is6

Amazon UK amzn.eu/d/9kxdjCb

Barne and Noble Magic In Her Blood by ATL Doyle | eBook | Barnes & Noble®

Indigo/Chapters Magic In Her Blood Book By Atl Doyle, (Kobo eBook) | Indigo

**We are hoping physical copies will be available from more than just the publisher soon**

If you decide to read Magic in Her Blood, it will mean the world to me if you could review it on whatever platform you buy it from, or on Goodreads which you can find here:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222637341-magic-in-her-blood

Talk soon ❤️

Alicia

Is it too late for Happy New Year?!

Is February 12th too late to say Happy New Year?!

Even so, Happy New Year! I hope January wasn’t too harsh for you and look on the bright side, February is nearly half over.

I appreciate the grace you’ve extended me by not being too upset that I’ve taken so long between posts. This time of year gives me the winter saddies, which inevitably affects my motivation…

BUT!

I have been reading a ton, and I plan to have a few book reviews posted shortly.

In writing news, I made a few tweaks to the cover of Magic In Her Blood. Thankfully, between my brilliant editor and my awesome publisher, I feel like the cover more closely fits my initial vision.

However, with those changes (and some internal formatting updates) the release date has been pushed back a bit. So, if you pre-ordered (or were planning to pre-order) the eBook, there will be a tiny delay.

I know, I’m as excited as you all to get this book out into the world, but alas, we continue to wait.

In the meantime, I have been desperately trying to climb the hill that is the last third or so of the first draft of book 2. I know what needs to happen, and what I want to happen, but finding that writing groove has been challenging in 2025.

I will get there.

Anyhow, I have included the pre-order link to Magic in Her Blood here:

Canada: https://a.co/d/89Qb9mV

USA: https://a.co/d/8iC2y0M

Take care and talk soon!

Exciting Announcement!!!

Writing a novel is an enormous undertaking. I couldn’t have imagined how much I would learn in the process. Sure, I learned about the more technical aspects of writing and the ins and outs of the daunting beast that is the publishing industry.

More importantly, I learned about myself.


Writing became a therapeutic outlet that I didn’t know I needed for my mental health, and it challenged me to push myself in ways I never could have imagined. I’ve met some amazing people, like my editor, Raya P. Morrison, my publisher Tim at Somewhat Grumpy Press, and many fellow writers, for whom I have immense gratitude and admiration.

I began this crazy journey in 2020, and I am thrilled to share with you that all my time, money, and soul investments have finally paid off.

Finally, after long last, I would like to present to you the cover of my debut novel, Magic in Her Blood, Book One of the Enaid Chronicles.

9781998555062-magic-print-cover-dec14

This novel is the first in a series and will be available in both print and eBook formats. While I don’t currently have a publication date for the print version, I am ecstatic to share the link to pre-order the eBook version (if that is your preferred format) with you today!

Magic In Her Blood (The Enaid Chronicles Book 1) eBook : Doyle, ATL: Amazon.ca: Books

Thank you all for sharing this journey with me. Have a safe and Merry Christmas!

Book Review: Scotland by History Brought Alive

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History Brought Alive does a great job of summarizing Scotland’s history with this book. It was interesting to see how the nation grew and developed over the past two millennia. As someone with Scottish heritage, I appreciate the time and effort of History Brought Alive and their team in researching, compiling the facts, and presenting them to the world.

What I found disappointing was the misleading title. The book speaks nothing of the myths or legends of Scotland’s rich history, so if that is what you hope to find, you will need to look elsewhere.

Overall, from a purely historical perspective, this book is a lovely introduction for those who find the study of history daunting but wish to learn a bit more about the nation of Scotland and her people.

What I’ve Been Reading…

Photo taken by ATL Doyle 26 October 2024

Crisp nights, colorful leaves, and magical sunsets! I love Autumn. It’s my favorite time of year. Perfect for snuggling up and reading!

I said I would post about the dark romance books I’ve been reading lately. Below are some snack-sized reviews that you will hopefully find intriguing enough for you to read the books yourself (if that’s your cup of tea 😉)

Haunting & Hunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton –⭐⭐⭐⭐for both. This duology is very dark and not for the faint of heart, but I loved what the author was doing here. MMC is trying to fight human trafficking but also stalks the FMC who gets turned on by being afraid. When their worlds collide, things get crazy!

Den of Vipers by K.A. Knight –⭐⭐⭐⭐ This book was hyped up on BookTok and in many dark romance groups on FB. It has a mafia-type vibe and is a reverse harem. Our MMCs are varying shades of messed up, but when our FMC is kidnapped by them, they soon realize they may have bit off more than they can chew.   I liked this book, but I’m not the biggest fan of the reverse harem. Call me old-fashioned.

The Mind F*ck Series by S.T. Abby – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ First off, a great pen name. Secondly, I like that this is a completed 5-book series. Our FMC is a serial killer out for revenge against the people from her hometown who committed horrific acts against her and covered it up. As she murders her way through the guilty, she crosses paths with our MMC, the FBI agent investigating her case. Need I say more!

**Tragically, the author of this series was murdered in real life by her husband during a domestic situation. This is heart-breaking for many reasons the least of which is I adore her writing style and will never get to read anything new by this author.**

So there you have it. The books I’ve been reading.

Stay tuned in mid-November! I’m hoping to have some exciting news to share 😉

LONGLISTED!

I am thrilled to report Magic in Her Blood has made it through another round of judging in the Page Turner Awards (eek!). Being longlisted alongside such talented authors is humbling and I am truly honored.

While I am still wading through the writer’s block swamp I’ve been stuck in for several months, I have used the lull to read as much as possible. I’ve been on a bit of a dark romance kick. I have found it increasingly difficult to do lengthy written reviews of these books because they can be very subjective.

I plan to make a post shortly listing my recent reads with a star rating and a few details to classify the type of dark romance. Hopefully, it will prompt you to read them.