The sun rises on the longest day, the year peaking and the first anniversary of The Winter Passing being published.
Over that year the book has found its way to hundreds of readers and there have been many kind words said about it, a few deep fans of the world, the characters and their story emerging. As a writer you’d hope I could explain how it feels to know something that existed only in your head for so long now belongs to others as well, but I can’t: simply wonderful will have to suffice. Thank you to every single one of you that has spent time with Centaury Morrigan and turned the pages of The Winter Passing.
From the moment I started writing The Winter Passing in earnest Centaury’s world was always very real to me. She noticed every detail of what was around her and so I did too. I can conjure the musty smell of the museum, and see the dust motes dancing in the sunlight cutting across its lonely galleries. I can sit uncomfortably prim and neat in the kitchen she shares with Pete, or sprawl across the wooden floor of the living room surrounded by the age-softened sleeves of her second-hand records. I can feel the sea spray on my face, the sand and rock beneath my toes, the scratch of dry heather across my shins as I think about walking the paths of her home.
It wasn’t just the setting which was real to me though – the other details of Taury’s life shone bright. They were little way marked routes through this story – especially true of her music and the books which appear within the book. Synchronicity too; there are moments which may seem inconsequential on first reading but for those who immerse themselves become sign-posts to things still to come, the connected nature of everyone and everything.
The music though – I’ve written before about the music the characters listen to, shared this playlist which goes along with the book, and talked to Circularity podcast a little about it all too. Not only is music one of the ways Centaury knows she is different but it’s also the main way she tries to connect with the memories she has lost. Her record collection is really about her – subconsciously – trying to trigger memories through sound, but to comfort herself too. Music can be transportive – taking you back to a time, a place, and a feeling – and in The Winter Passing music is one of the keys to unlocking what has been taken.
Stories too – I’ve said less about this but there are several books described within The Winter Passing. Rune’s book on the train, the stories Ciaran reads to Centaury when they are younger, the library in her childhood home. If music is about the return to something past and the evocation of what has already been felt, stories are the escape from that and the chance to be someone beyond who you are.
I deliberately didn’t name songs, include lyrics, or book titles, or quotes but left the references full enough that those who wanted to dig deep could piece the puzzle together and those who wanted to just read the story could do so without distraction or missing out. So too the other pieces which may missed: the repeat of symbols, the importance of colour, a couple of the ‘extras’ passing by in the back of scenes may turn out not to be strangers at all.
For some The Winter Passing may seem unnecessarily wordy but for me the detail is the essence not only of the book, but of Centaury’s story. Thank you again to all who have joined this journey and delved into the story – it’s been an absolute joy to share it with you and be able to geek out with a few of you, and I absolutely can’t wait for more (not least because it’s increasingly hard to remember what you know and what is still unpublished!).
House of Morrigan Book 2 – coming 2019
The second book in the House of Morrigan series is due later in 2019 and, as you might expect, I’m really excited to share the next part of Centaury’s story with you as well as more about the world in which the Morrigan live.
Keep an eye out here, and follow on Twitter or Facebook, or my author profile on Amazon or Goodreads to get the news first when pre-orders open.
Get your free copy of The Winter Passing
To mark the first anniversary of The Winter Passing being published the eBook is free over on Amazon. Usually priced at £1.99 you can get your copy (or even gift a copy!) totally free today. Head over here and hit the Kindle Edition button.
If you’d rather hold the paperback the last few copies of the limited first edition are available here and will ship this weekend and into next week.
Please leave a review
If you’ve already read The Winter Passing – thank you! – please take a couple of minutes to leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads. As independent author reviews are probably the most important way I can help the story find its way to new readers.