(For a fellow author’s book, not mine. Maybe one day!)
Celestial whirlpools.
That was my answer to my friend and fellow author Colleen Brown’s question, what is the first word or feeling that comes to mind when you see this cover?
Now, I’ll let you consider it:
Isn’t that gorgeous?!
Drop your responses in the comments, and I’ll pass them on to Colleen.
Her teaser for this slow-burn dark pirate romantasy, releasing October 2026, is just as good:
Maeve was made to obey a goddess.
Callum was made into a weapon by a boy who refused to grow up.
And the sea?
The sea remembers everything.
Check out the complete blurb in Colleen’s latest Substack post.
Not only am I a sucker for a fresh fairytale retelling, I also already adore Colleen’s short fiction. She is a master of gorgeous, immersive settings and rich characterizations; her dialogue is exceptional. Of her stories I’ve read so far, my favorite is “A Potion for Forever,” which you can read for free in the e-version of the magic and fantasy anthology Spellbound.
Colleen is also a lovely, supportive, uber-creative, and incredibly-hardworking human being. No one deserves success like she does.
Naturally, I’m stoked for this book, her first published novel! Adds Colleen,
Think Peter Pan, but darker.
Think Captain Hook, but morally gray.
Think Neverland, but it wants blood.
And apparently, there is “touch her and die energy” with “plenty of spice.”
Sign me up!
On that note, I’m following Colleen’s Kickstarter campaign before launch and will pledge my support in the hope I’ll get my hands on some beautiful special editions to sit beside my other print copies of her work. If you’re interested too, you can find this Kickstarter link in Colleen’s latest newsletter. You can also find her author website here.
Truly, one of my favorite things about being in the book world (however peripheral and tenuous that existence might be) is connecting with fellow creatives. I love learning from and supporting them, and I only recommend authors I whole-heartedly believe in.
Here’s one final tease from Colleen (she made this so easy!):
Welcome aboard the Jolly Roger.
The tides are cursed.
The captain is worse.
And Neverland is waiting.
Thanks for reading!
I’ll be back soon with some fun end-of-summer updates–never have I loved checklists and bingo cards more! ‘Til then,
XOXO,
Jenn
Jennifer Shaw 