Welcome to my Autumn newsletter.

Whether you’re here because you came across my work many, many years ago, back when I published The Mother magazine, hosted family camps, and home-educated our girls, or from my days editing The Celebrant magazine, or because you’ve been to one of my workshops, or heard me speak at a conference, or I’ve officiated a ceremony for you, or you’ve had an astrology reading with me, saw a post on social media, or perhaps trained with me as a celebrant, or maybe you read my books, you’re most welcome here.

This post is a seasonal catch-up about my writerly life. Thank you for being here. May your Autumn (or Spring, to those Down Under!) bring you colour, creativity and comfort. Veronika x

The Dark Months: A Writer’s Creative Incubator

No doubt one of the main reasons I have a moment to write this newsletter is because it’s no longer balmy weather. I’m such a 35C-in-the-sunshine sort of girl, but the longer I live in England, the more I get used to the dark of each year. I’m now in my 27^th year of living here, so I should be an expert. I’m not!

 

 

What I do love about the darker months, though, is that more than anything, it’s dedicated writing time. Of course, I write year-round, especially in my work as a celebrant. The big difference is that at this time of the year I’m not sidetracked by basking in sunshine or pottering in the garden. During the warmer months, I spend a lot of my writing time under the porch. It’s my favourite place to pass away the hours.

 

 

As storm season approaches, I’ll be tucked up by the crackling wood stove. This Autumn and Winter, I intend to finish writing two novels, both in the genre of magical feminism. (I’ve been writing a series of blogs on the topic of magical feminism if you want to learn more about the genre: https://veronikarobinson.com/blog/) One of the books is The Irish Dollmaker, which is a critique of the systemic abuse in the Irish Mother and Baby Homes. I can tell you, that it’s been quite the challenge balancing the heaviness of the topic, including factual accuracy, alongside lighter elements of the story. I’m getting there, though!

 

The other book, A Change To Remember, actually started off as non-fiction about the impact of menopause on marriage (or is that the impact of marriage on menopause ha-ha!). This manuscript was a psycho-biological spiritual reflection on menopause. And then, lo and behold, one day I woke up and thought, “No, no, no, no, missy, you’re not destined to be non-fiction. You’re a novel!” I could almost feel my shoulders drop with relief. I can’t tell you why, other than something feels right about taking it in a fiction direction. I’m excited to finish this novel now. There are several interesting characters in the story who are all going through their own version of ‘the change’.

If I manage to finish those two before Spring (once it’s warm again, I want to be outside pottering in the garden!), I’ll have some time to start writing my next novel: Daughters of the Ancient Bloom. This is set here in the Eden Valley, Cumbria, and is a critique of society’s surveillance of women’s bodies, primarily their wombs. I’ve pencilled out the draft, and so all that remains is some undisturbed writing time to get all those thoughts and storylines in one place.

My books have a naughty habit of choosing their own timelines. I like to think I’m in charge and know the chronology of writing and publication, but I’ve been caught out several times by an incoming book dominating everything. Honestly, they can be so darned bossy! “Me, me, me! I’m your favourite. Choose me NOW!” Think of it like an ‘unplanned’ baby. Although that’s a whole other topic, because I don’t believe any baby is unplanned/an accident. I believe books already exist, fully formed, somewhere (who knows where) and my job (any author’s job) is simply to take dictation.

As a working celebrant, when I’m called to officiate a funeral I pretty much have to drop everything I’m working on so that I can make arrangements to visit the bereaved, spend a couple of hours with them, come home and write the ceremony, spend hours rehearsing the approved script, and officiate. Some weeks are busier than others, but it can make my writerly life (in relation to books) a bit all over the place.

By nature, I’m disciplined and can be quite prolific when left on my own. 🙂

Wanted: Advanced Readers and Reviewers

Thank you to those who’ve already reviewed some of my books or are currently reviewing one. If you’re interested in reviewing any of my upcoming titles, simply drop me an email and let me know your genre preference.

There’s a full list of my books, arranged by genre, at the end of this newsletter to give you a sense of what I write. (veronikarobinson@hotmail.com).

Amazon Bestseller in Three Categories

Despite having published over forty books (a handful of celebrant-training books are not for public distribution; and my first two books [an anthology of verse, and a history of the RSPCA in New Zealand] from the early 90s are out of print), to my great surprise one of my titles recently became an Amazon Bestseller in three categories.

Under The Starflower: A Book of Blessings – Word Medicine for Cremations, Traditional and Woodland Burials, Interments, and Grieving Hearts is a collection of original verses for use by bereavement celebrants, and for those needing comfort during their time of grief. This anthology has been beautiful illustrated by Philippa Mulvany.

 

2026 Starflower Press Publications

There are countless benefits to being an indie author and publisher. Two of those are:

1.) no two-year waiting list for a publication date

2.) full creative authority over your work.

Here’s what I’ve published (and will publish) this year through my publishing house, Starflower Press.  www.starflowerpress.com is where you can order signed copies.

 

Write That Love Story: A Wedding Celebrant’s Guide To Creating Compelling Narrative   Kindle and pbk

Grandmother’s Button Tin (magical feminism novel) Kindle and pbk

Under The Starflower: A Book of Blessings – Word Medicine for Cremations, Traditional and Woodland Burials, Interments, and Grieving Hearts  Kindle and pbk

Measure Your Life By Creativity: The Five Elements of Everyday Inspiration (Kindle only)

Little Black Apples: A Whimsical Witch’s Wisdom for Creating a Beautiful Life Through Dark Storms and Wild Healing (publishing this week!) A non-fiction women’s book with full colour illustrations by Laura Whalen. Kindle and pbk

Write That Wedding Script: A Masterclass in Crafting Ceremonies (publishing September)

Starflowers at Sunset. This is a companion volume to Under The Starflower. Prose pieces for bereavement. (publishing December) Kindle and pbk

 

Choosing Publication Dates

While Write That Love Story was timed to coincide with St. Valentine’s Day, most of my books’ publication dates are astrologically themed. They might even have a bit of literary magic thrown in, too.

For example:

Little Black Apples is publishing under the Witch-Apple Moon (New Moon Virgo, September 2026)

Measure Your Creativity was published under the Cosmic Inkwell Moon.

Under The Starflower was published on August 25^th (my husband’s and granddaughter’s birthday, and my maternal grandmother was born on the 26^th)

Write That Wedding Script is being published on the Hearts-in-Balance Equinox (Sept. 26)

Starflowers at Sunset is publishing on the Silver-dew Solstice (December 2026)

 

Grandmother’s Button Tin featured on The Book Rex

To my delight, my novel Grandmother’s Button Tin has been featured this week on The Book Rex.

If you’re not familiar with The Book Rex, it’s a wonderful, dedicated platform that helps readers discover books based on the exact moods, tropes, and subgenres they’re craving. As an indie author, finding platforms that genuinely champion unique stories is a breath of fresh air.

 

And finally, in case you’re new here, here’s a current list of my publicly available titles. Happy reading!

 

Non-Fiction Books

The Celebrant Collection

Write That Eulogy

Write That Love Story

Write That Wedding Script

Funerals for Children

Under The Starflower: A Book of Blessings. Word Medicine for Cremations, Traditional and Woodland Burials, Interments, and Grieving Hearts.

Funeral Celebrant Ceremony Planner

Wedding Celebrant Ceremony Planner

The Five Elements: A celebrant’s guide to creating beautiful ceremonies and rituals

The Discrimination-free Celebrant

The Successful Celebrant

Starflower Parenting

The Birthkeepers: Reclaiming an Ancient Tradition

Life Without School: The Quiet Revolution

The Drinks Are On Me: Everything your mother never told you about breastfeeding
Stretch Marks (Selected articles from The Mother magazine)

The Nurtured Family

Baby Names Inspired by Mother Nature

The Blessingway: Creating a beautiful Blessingway ceremony

 

Driftwood Bay Books (imprint)

Little Black Apples: A Whimsical Witch’s Wisdom For Creating a Beautiful Life Through Dark Storms and Wild Healing (Illustrated women’s book)

Measure Your Creativity: The Five Elements of Inspiration for Everyday Living

 

Health and Wellbeing

Cycle to the Moon: Celebrating the Menstrual Trinity

Healing from Adrenal Fatigue

I Create My Day: Simple Ways to Create a Beautiful and Nourishing Life

 

The Mystic Cookfire: The Sacred Art of Creating Food for Friends and Family

Love From My Kitchen: Gluten-free Vegan Recipes From The Heart

Fiction Books

Moonlight and Motif (magical feminism imprint)

The Soapmaker (magical feminism novel)

Grandmother’s Button Tin (magical feminism novel)

 

Starflower Press Stories

Sisters of the Silver Moon (Book One, The Gypsy Moon Trilogy)

Behind Closed Doors (Book Two, The Gypsy Moon Trilogy)

Flowers in Her Hair (Book Three, The Gypsy Moon Trilogy)

Mosaic

Bluey’s Café

Sweet Cinnamon Romances

Contemporary romance novels, cosy with medium spice 😉 

 

Love At The Treble Clef Café

Love In A Scottish Storm

On The Wings of Love

Recipe for Love

House of Hearts

 

Purple Tricycle

(children’s imprint)

Forever in Blue Jeans (Illustrated children’s book)

 

 

Fields of Lavender (poetry) and The Compassionate Years are out of print.

You can find my books on Amazon and other online retailers, as well as good bricks-and-mortar bookshops and libraries around the world. Signed copies from Starflower Press. (Postage to UK addresses only) Happy reading!

 

Do You Have A Moment?

As an indie author and publisher, it would be a beautiful gift if you would be kind enough to leave a review, whether on Amazon, Good Reads, or elsewhere. Thank you.