Check it out on Kickstarter HERE.

Thank you so much to everyone who has pledged toward the campaign, and I hope you love reading this chonky new book as much as I enjoyed writing it.

What if that hot flash just unlocked your magical powers?

On the eve of her 44th birthday, Nat’s “menopause” unleashes more than a hot flash.

She may have burnt a house down.

Fortunately it was her ex-husband’s—and he kind of deserved it.

Blinding magic surges in her veins, awakening a power she never knew she had. So it turns out she’s a … pyromancer? That was never on her bingo card.

And then she discovers that NO-ONE in her life is who they’ve been pretending to be.

Only one man will tell her the truth.

Draven—a smouldering vampire, all fangs and bad intentions — feels it’s the least he can do before he finishes the job his clan gave him. They’re secretly siphoning the magic that fuels the Realm, and Nat’s potent power is a big, bright spanner in their works.

For the vampires to seize ultimate power, Nat has to die.

Their collision sparks hatred. And then forbidden attraction.

In a gritty Johannesburg buzzing with hidden magic, orcs, goblins and werewolves, Nat has to master her power before the vampires drain the Realm dry...

... and the only man she can trust is the vampire sent to kill her.

Tropes

Who will like this book?

Fans of K.F. Breene, Ilona Andrews, Charlaine Harris and Patricia Briggs will devour this series.

If you love:

• a flawed main character with courage and heart

• a rollercoaster urban fantasy ride with twists, chaos, and banter

• a deliciously dark brooding vampire who is absolutely OFF LIMITS

• found families of quirky supernatural creatures, sassy roller derby goblins, mafia orc families, and genius dwarf godmothers

• all banding together to fight the forces of evil

... you’re in the right realm!

Check it out on Kickstarter HERE.

Join our cult!

*Ahem* I mean, follow this awesome Kickstarter and you’ll meet Nat, our warm, witty MC who has had ENOUGH of being a doormat.

All the Genre Vibes

You Are Here

The Realm of Magic & Mayhem

NB: You don’t need to have read anything else first.

HOT SPELL is Book One of a brand new series. No prior knowledge is necessary, but I obviously won’t talk you out of adding the other books to your pledge! They’re available as add-ons in paperback and audio bundles at a discounted rate.

Reviews

Tempted to add the existing Realm of Magic & Mayhem books to your pledge?

Here are some reviews to help you decide if this magical world is for you.

What Amazon readers have said about previous books set in this magical world:

“Amazing read. I couldn’t put it down. I have laughed and cried. It captured me heart, body, and soul.” - SuzieQ

“Absolutely loved the whole series. I whipped through every book and loved them all. Getting to know all the characters building a family and strong bonds from all creatures was fantastic.” - Kindle Customer

“A six book rollercoaster of magic adventures which once you pop you just can’t stop - I couldn’t, anyway! Plenty of personalities and humour to engage the reader.” - T Edges

“I find this series so hard to put down. The romance, suspense, the friendships and the love just keep you wanting to find out what happens next.” - Froggy

If you are interested in learning more, check out the discounted bundles in the add-on section.

Deluxe Limited Edition Specs

What will make this exclusive Deluxe Edition Hardcover special?

This Deluxe Limited edition will never be sold at retail and won’t be reprinted after this campaign closes unless ordered as a second edition, second printing add-on in a follow-up Kickstarter SpellStorm campaign.

Check it out on Kickstarter HERE.

Which Format Will You Choose?

Is there a paperback or ebook version of HOT SPELL available?

Yes! I know not everyone drools over special editions. Some readers don’t mind reading on a paper serviette as long as the story is good. (Okay, that’s me. I was talking about me.)

Scroll down for the comparison table of the three available editions.

Whichever format you ultimately decide on, Kickstarter backers will be getting the book early.

This Kickstarter campaign launches this brand new book, and you’ll get it before anyone else, including all store pre-orders worldwide. All formats include your name in the backer acknowledgements and a huge virtual hug.

The werewolf’s facial hair was on point.

Stretch Goals

First stretch goal unlocked in 24 hours! What a ride. Thank you so much to my backers!

Character Artwork

I’m painting the main character, Natalie, during this campaign, and you can watch it happen. I’ll update you on the progress as the canvas develops.

PS. When it’s finished at the end of the campaign, the original painting will be available as a reward.

“MAIN CHARACTER ENERGY”: Portrait of SpellStorm MC Natalie, acrylic on canvas panel (A2). Medium grain cotton surface, triple primed 100% cotton canvas. WIP.

AUTHOR SKETCHES and Frosty’s “YOLO” portrait to follow!

The Sketch-Stretch reward has been UNLOCKED! 💃🏼

Delivery Timing

Estimated Shipping Fees

All books will be shipped from BookVault UK after I have visited the warehouse to hand-finish the deluxe limited editions and sign the paperbacks.

When you meet Ferra, you’ll understand.

Why Kickstarter?

I’m obsessed with this story! It’s been YEARS since I enjoyed writing a book this much and I’d really like to see it get into the right readers’ hands.

Usually once I’ve finished writing a novel, I throw it up on Amazon, hurl Facebook ads at it, and hope for the best, but after my author friends raved about the readers on Kickstarter I knew I had to try it.

It even inspired me to break out my paintbrushes after twenty years of not painting!

Kickstarter is right up my alley as I love design, art, and special editions. I really love the community and “Let’s go!” mindset of the folks here, and I have a feeling I’ll be releasing all future books on this platform, so I hope you’ll come along for the ride!

This is the first of three campaigns — Witchfire and Nightshade will follow — and I’d like you here from the start.

Even if you decide to not pledge, I’d love to have you here to just to be part of the community.

Read a Sample

🚨 WARNING: If you enjoy reading this even half as much as I enjoyed writing it, you may as well reach for your wallet RIGHT NOW. 😉

The Team

Huge thanks to:

• INKfluence for designing the Deluxe Limited Edition Hardcover.

• Roshina Ratnam, my favourite audiobook narrator, for her hours and hours of beautiful voice work that went into the twelve audiobooks.

• Audioshelf for their top notch audio production services.

• My fellow Kickstarter authors who helped me tweak my first ever campaign! I hope to pay it forward to the authors who join after me.

• Christian Bentulan for designing the cover of the prequel short story, ‘Witches Get Stitches’.

• My family, for cheering me on and shaking their proverbial pom-poms.

• My alpha readers Beba Andric, Lynne Lester, Elize van Heerden and Robin Lawrence.

• My ever-loyal proofreaders, Dad and Gilly.

• My husband Mike, who has to put up with a wife who is not only obsessed with writing and publishing, but now also painting and Kickstarter.

• My readers, because NONE OF THIS would be possible without you. x

Follow Along!

I’ll be posting updates about the project, stretch goal unlocks, and flash rewards.

I’d love it if you’d join me! No pressure to back this or any other campaign of mine.

Wishing you loads of magic (but not too much mayhem)

Janita

(JT Lawrence)

About Me

PS. A reminder that you can read the sample here: HOT SPELL sample ✨🧙🏻‍♀️⚡️

FOLLOW JT'S KICKSTARTER

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jtlawrence/spellstorm-deluxe

» WHAT ON EARTH IS KICKSTARTER?? «

So, apologies for not explaining it. I’ve been backing some creative projects over there and just assumed people knew about it! I was wrong.

Kickstarter is a crowdfunding platform for bringing creative projects to life with the support of the people who believe in them most.

Instead of just putting a book up for sale and hoping people find it, Kickstarter lets my most loyal readers reserve their Kickstarter-exclusive copy in advance and be part of the launch in a really special way.

You browse the reward options (think: special ebook, signed paperback, a gorgeous deluxe hardback), choose what you’d like, and pledge that amount. Your card only gets charged if the campaign reaches its goal — so there’s no risk to you.

(I’m still in pre-launch phase and building out these reward options.)

If enough readers back the campaign, it funds, your copy gets made and sent to you before it hits any retailer, and we all get to celebrate together. 🎉

If it doesn’t reach the goal, you pay nothing.

If you follow but decide not to back the campaign, you pay nothing, but you’re still in the loop.

That’s it.

Why am I doing it this way?

Because it means I get to create something truly special — a beautiful, Kickstarter-exclusive limited-edition version of Hot Spell that I couldn’t afford to make without knowing readers wanted it first. And it means you get to be part of making this book exist in the world, not just a buyer at the end of the line.

There will be some gorgeous options to choose from — I can’t wait to show you.

The campaign goes live as soon as I hit 100 followers. I’ll send you all the details then!

For now, all I need you to do (pretty please) is:

Follow the campaign page

so you get notified the moment it launches. Early backers get the best experience, so you won’t want to miss it.

If you decide not to back it, no problem! I still want you as part of the fam!

→ [Follow the campaign here]

Thank you for being the best readers an author could wish for!

With love and magic,
JT x

HOT SPELL is the first book in my brand-new urban fantasy series, SPELLSTORM. It’s part of the Realm of Magic & Mayhem.

It was SO MUCH FUN TO WRITE!

I’m releasing it on Kickstarter in JULY 2026

It’s my first Kickstarter ever and I’m so excited / nervous. It’s a bit like having a party and wondering if anyone will come. 😳

I’d love it if you’d join the team over there — absolutely no obligation to buy!

No obligation to do anything if you just want to come over and be part of my Kickstarter urban fantasy family. I’ll be updating it regularly with final design and copy as soon as I get the book artwork back from the cover designers over at INKfluence (no AI, ever).

So even if you don’t want to get the ebook (or super deluxe special edition!) you can come for the cover reveal, take a peek at the stretch rewards, etc.

I’m thinking of painting some character art for the campaign — watch that space!

I haven’t told many people about it yet so there are only a few followers… I’d love to get up to 100 before I launch the campaign.

If you’re not yet sure, here’s the blurb (still to be updated!)

On the eve of her 44th birthday, Nat’s “menopause” unleashes more than just a hot flash.

She may have even burnt a house down…

Fortunately it was her ex-husband’s — and he kind of deserved it.

Blinding neon magic surges in her veins, awakening a power she never knew existed. So it turns out she’s a … neon warrior witch. WTF? That was never on her bingo card.

And then things get even wilder.

It turns out that no-one in her life is who they are pretending to be.

No-one.

Not her therapist, not her ex, not even her boozing BBFs at book club. Even the rather entertaining supernatural creatures who keep arriving at her door to help seem to be hiding something.

Only one man is willing to tell her the truth.

Draven, a smoldering vampire who is all fangs and bad intentions, feels it’s the least he can do before he finishes the job he was tasked with by his ruthless clan, who are secretly siphoning the magic that fuels the Realm.

Nat’s potent neon magic is a big, bright spanner in their carefully orchestrated works. In order for the vampires to seize ultimate power, Nat needs to die.

Their collision sparks intense hatred … and then forbidden attraction.

As more devastating secrets emerge, Nat realizes that the only man she can trust is the vampire sent to kill her.

In a gritty city buzzing with hidden magic, orcs, goblins, witches, and werewolves, Nat discovers her life-changing mission.

Can she uncover the truth and master her power before the vampires destroy the Realm’s magic forever?

***

Thanks for being here 🤓

PS. Here’s the link again, I hope you join us, it’s going to be fun!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jtlawrence/spellstorm-deluxe

I didn’t mean to burn down my ex-husband’s house.

It was a really nice house, and he’d just finished furnishing it. You know: designer sofas, an impossibly thin, mile-long flatscreen, fresh cut flowers in every room. He’d installed a shiny new luxe fridge and a matching trophy wife. The custom-designed kitchen had been especially lovely—far nicer than mine—which irked me a bit because for twenty years I had been the one doing the cooking. And laundry. And cleaning. And… ugh, not that it mattered anymore.

The acrid tang of smoke that clung to my hair and clothes was the bitter reminder of everything I had lost. Was I sorry that I had started the fire? Yes. Did a small part of me get a kick out of the idea that Ben now felt a portion of my loss? Also yes.

What I was beginning to learn was that you can only stomp on a doormat so many times before it crumbles—or, in this case, spontaneously combusts. I’d also learned how quickly flames can consume an entire building; how fast they go from tentative licks to full-blown incineration mode, exploding appliances, shattering windows, making everything hiss and bubble and spew lethal fumes. One hot flash later and the world is on fire.

Standing on the pavement, ash in hair, empty coffee mug in hand, gazing at the collapsing bonfire of a house to the soundtrack of manic sirens, I could still feel the sparks in my veins.

Just before the authorities arrived, I thought I saw someone watching me from a few houses down. I got a flash of pale skin and a long black coat, and eyes that burned into me as if I didn’t already have a pyrotechnic display on my hands. A figment of my newly vivid imagination, no doubt: an illusion to distract from the real catastrophe playing out before me, by my own hand. When I looked again, he had disappeared. I stood still as a statue on the newly-planted verge, soon to be trampled by firefighters’ boots, watching the hungry blaze and waiting to be handcuffed. There was a strange shimmer to the air. I hoped they’d let me keep my mug.

When the flurry of emergency activity arrived, they didn’t pay much attention to me. Why would they? I’d reached the age of invisibility. Despite the sunshine, I pulled my cardigan tightly around me, hugging myself.

When the policeman finally got around to me, there were no handcuffs involved. He could see I wasn’t an immediate threat—not anymore. I ducked into the back seat of the police vehicle, feeling an odd combination of relief to be getting away from the flames and fluttering snow-like ash, and brand new bright anxiety for what would happen next. The interior smelled slightly canine. Had they picked me up in a police dog carrier? I supposed I’d need a lawyer—another lawyer—and another kidney to pawn to pay for it. Is this what midlife is like, I wondered, complaining about night sweats and meno-brain and collecting lawyers for every element of your life you’ve failed at? As the SUV pulled away from the curb I sent a WhatsApp message to the girls—my three best friends who comprised our BBF—Best B*tches Forever—book club.

Nat

Hi guys! Don’t freak out, but I need a lawyer. One who practices criminal law. Any leads, please? Will tell you everything on Friday

All three jumped online immediately.

Roxy

I knew it! You finally killed the bastard, didn’t you?

Morris

WTAF Nat?? Are you okay?

Catherine

It’s not like he didn’t have it coming

Morris

Hope you got the mistress, too

Catherine

Good point! Two for the price of one life sentence

Roxy

I’m not sure it works like that, Cath

Nat

I didn’t kill anyone!

Morris

Your life choices are disappointing, but we can fix this. Favorite murder weapon?

Roxy

I can see Nat wielding a glowing samurai sword. Something like a K-Pop Demon Hunter

Morris

Pssh. Ben doesn’t deserve to die by a samurai sword and catchy lyrics. That’s way too cool. A quick back-stab in a stinky alley would be more fitting

Catherine

I personally vote for a long and drawn-out salmonella poisoning

Roxy

Or shark bait. We can wear flattering wetsuits and be in the cage while they dangle Ben above the white sharks

Morris

Well, Cape Town is beautiful and also very sharky this time of year

I chuckled, despite my rather desperate situation. The cop lodged a concerned look in the rearview mirror. He hadn’t thought I was psychotic until now. I felt the car speed up.

Nat

You guys are awful

And by that I mean you’re wonderful

I think you may actually hate Ben more than I do

Catherine

That’s our job! But he does make it easy. Dumbest man in the entire world

Roxy

The entire galaxy

Morris

The multiverse

Life was about to get a whole lot harder, but when you have the warmest, sharpest, most loyal friends, you know it’ll somehow be okay. They’d visit me in prison. Cath would schedule meetups and send me the latest book club pick, Morris would smuggle me cannabis cookies, meditation books, and chardonnay, and Roxy would be judging the cut of my prison overalls and hatching plans to break me out.

Roxy

He didn’t deserve you. We love you. And it’s your birthday soon! Can’t wait to see you on Friday. My turn to host and I’m theming Mexican so bring your Sombreros & Spice vibes

Morris

Tequila!!

Catherine

@Nat do you think you’ll be out of the slammer by then?

Nat

Not if you don’t have a fantastic lawyer for me who’ll agree to work for peanuts.

Catherine

Okay this chat is fun but I am a bit worried. What actually happened?? Are we cancelling our meetings to come get you? You know I have everyone’s P.A. on speed dial precisely for situations like this.

Morris

I love that you think I have a P.A.

Roxy

We live in hope!

Nat

Not necessary. Not yet, anyway! I’ll explain over tacos and tequila. Right now I rather urgently need an estrogen patch and a lawyer.

Roxy

I know a guy, actually.

Morris

An HRT guy? I need an HRT guy! My doctor is so tightfisted with his prescription pad.

Catherine

Let’s focus please. Rox, your guy? A lawyer?

Roxy

A hot lawyer.

This was wholly unsurprising. Reckless Rox always knows a guy. Usually, it’s the wrong guy.

Catherine

A hot lawyer? Do you mean a *hot-shot* lawyer?

Roxy

Nope, he has a six-pack. Let me hit him up, I’ll get back to you ASAP. Best case scenario he’ll offer to represent you. Worst case scenario I’ll have a date this weekend and you’ll be in jail for your 44^th birthday

Catherine

Ugh Rox you’re so datey. And at our age! How? I don’t even have the energy to shave my legs and the apps are the worst

Morris

Um, Cath, apps? Aren’t you happily married?

Catherine

Okay got to run catch up soon at book club on Friday! Byeee!

The cop’s eye was twitching. I couldn’t blame him—his passenger was A) not handcuffed, and B) clearly unhinged. Outside, incongruous pretty sunny suburbia blurred past.

This used to be my life.

Living in a bubble: perfectly irrigated lawns, pretty flowerbeds, electric fences and patrolling security vehicles.

Me in an apron, wielding a meat thermometer and roasting perfect potatoes (goose fat) and a leg of lamb with red wine and rosemary. Me, ironing Ben’s work shirts and taking his suits to the dry cleaners. It’s not like I was a full-on Stepford Wife—even though the girls would sometimes call me that—I had a part-time job, but not a career, which I was regretting rather acutely now. I hadn’t realized that quiet Sunday mornings in my sunny kitchen were something I could lose.

I swallowed the ache in my throat that had been a near-constant companion over the last three months—along with hot flashes, dry mouth, foggy brain and murderous impulses. A few months, Ben’s affair, and a little perimenopause was all it took to completely unravel the life I thought was mine.

For two decades I had made my marriage and home my top priority, and now I had neither. It was a devastating rug-pull I hadn’t seen coming. Hating myself for my humiliating naïvety just added to my festering pile of regrets. Excessive thirst suddenly plagued me; I looked into my empty mug, then closed my eyes and fantasized about drinking one of Morris’s famous margaritas. Hopefully, in forty-eight hours, on my birthday, I would be.

I took a deep breath, hoping to stop the tears I felt stinging my sinuses, but all I smelled was smoke. Gimlet-eyed Esmé, my therapist, says that humiliation is not a constructive emotion. She doesn’t believe in guilt, either, says it wastes emotional energy—and with that kind of attitude, I wished she could be my legal representative instead of some dodgy dude-bro with a part-time college certificate and a six-pack.

I closed my eyes and leaned my head back, blocking out this new harsh and unfamiliar world. With an embarrassingly loud involuntary gasp, the tears came all at once in the ugliest of ugly cries. I let them flow, breath shuddering, wondering what guilt-shunning Esmé would have to say about the still-smoldering carcass of Ben’s newly-furnished house, and the fact that I could still feel the flames in my fingers.

🔥✨HOT SPELL🔥✨

🔥✨Now available to pre-order! 🔥✨

HOT SPELL will be a staggered multi-channel release to ensure it’s inclusive of all readers and their format and retailer preferences:

Channel rollout:

Paid Subscribers > Kickstarter > Shopify > Retailers > Kindle Unlimited 🚀

Formats:

ebook / paperback / hardcover / audiobook / limited special edition deluxe hardcover

Paid Patreon and Substack subscribers will receive the book first.

Retailer rollout:

1 » KICKSTARTER (EARLY RELEASE in Q2; limited time, limited edition) 🎉

If you would like to read HOT SPELL before it goes live on any other retailer there will be an early release on Kickstarter (ebook, paperback, hardcover, audiobook and limited edition deluxe special edition — all available soon)

The campaign is currently in pre-launch. Final cover will be released over there.

Follow to join the fun! No commitment necessary.

Follow here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jtlawrence/spellstorm-deluxe

2 » SHOPIFY (Q2) 🛒

HOT SPELL formats: ebook, paperback, hardcover, audiobook

(ebook will be removed in Q3 due to KU exclusivity rules.)

ebook available to pre-order NOW:

www.jt-lawrence.com

3 » ALL BOOK RETAILERS INCL. AMAZON (Q2, limited time) 🌍

HOT SPELL pre-orders available now for a limited time

(ebook will be removed in Q3 due to KU exclusivity rules.)

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0FPRJCY5Y

OTHER RETAILERS: https://books2read.com/u/38aLQd

4 » KINDLE UNLIMITED (Q3, ebook exclusive to Amazon due to KU rules) 📱

HOT SPELL is available for pre-order on Amazon now for a Q2 release and will be enrolled in the Kindle Unlimited program later in the year.

ebook available to pre-order NOW:

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FPSM7QPL

Thank you as always for your support!!

X

Janita

(JT Lawrence)

I wrote 5,367 words today (I usually top out at 2k), finishing my brand new book in my BRAND NEW SERIES.

I haven’t been this excited for a book in YEARS.

I am so excited to get it to you! Of course, it will need some editing and some proofreading, and after that a little bit of formatting. But the most difficult part is done and it feels so good.

I thought it would be done at 80,000 words, but it kept growing and it’s now officially finished at 105,000 words. 😅

Read the blurb here » https://www.amazon.com/Hot-Spell-Fantasy-Adventure-SpellStorm-ebook/dp/B0FPRJCY5Y

Oooooh I hope you LOVE IT! And I’m so excited to write book 2. I have so many things I couldn’t fit in the first one. Will this be a trilogy? Will it be 6 books like BLOOD MAGIC and CURSEBREAKER? Who knows? I guess time will tell.

One more thing before you go!

My dear friend, Melissa Delport, has a 99c deal on at the moment for book 1 in her super cool urban fantasy action adventure.

Keen to check it out? Here it is!

THE WITCHBORN CURSE.

Half-witch. Half-vampire. One hundred percent badass.

Tired of the same old urban fantasy story? Welcome to your new addiction.

***

Seattle isn't just sleepless, it's a ticking time bomb as a conflict between witches and vampires escalates to all-new heights.

For Grayer Morgan, a half-witch, half-vampire, the conflict becomes all too real when she discovers that her own grandmother has worked to create a weapon to destroy all vampires - forever.

Torn between her love of family and the fires that burn inside, she enlists the help of a motley crew to find and destroy the weapon before it can be used.

Unfortunately, not all those who smile are friends... and some will stop at nothing to seize power for themselves.

***

Shadow Magic, written by Melissa Delport, and is a dark magic fantasy filled with humor, heartfelt characters, charisma and adventure that’s guaranteed to keep you breathless from beginning to end.

Get book 1 now for 99c!

Stay safe my fellow humans

Lots of love

Janita x

www.jt-lawrence.com

I lost my good friend Sally, and a few months after that, I lost my mom. My dad survived an awful time in critical care and is now getting stronger.

On the other hand, I took some crazy risks in my business and it paid off, 20x-ing the revenue and allowing me to join higher-level author groups.

I reached 140 million pages reads and my books are now available in seven different languages. Still poor tho

Paying back what I needed to build to this point will take a while, but I’m confident that I’ll get there.

I was able to travel to Seville, London and Sardinia which I LOVED.

Solo travel is my new favourite thing, and meeting new author friends is the best. This year I’m heading to Ireland, New Zealand and London for author conferences.

And a family holiday in Portugal if we’re lucky.

We got a kitten! So our little rental feels more homely. I’m so grateful for this house but I’d love a bigger place because the kids are growing like weeds and James (13) is now my height! Little punk. I’d also love to own a home again ‘cos renting feels weird and I want to garden and paint walls and put art and photographs up.

It wasn’t on my bingo card to start an indie author podcast but that happened too, and it’s been so lovely to chat to a fellow SA author every week about my obsessions of writing and publishing. 50 episodes in and it feels like we’re just getting started.

Despite doing loads of self-development this year, I let the stress of Q4 get the better of me and was pretty much boiling in my own cortisol, so I had to take a step back, re-prioritize and reschedule.

The new schedule is amazing with solid writing session blocks, more yoga, beach walks, weightlifting and saunas. Maybe a spa day every now and then when I finish writing a book -- I have 4 planned this year. Now I just need to stick to it.

The highs were high and the lows were low! But 2025 made me a stronger person and I’m grateful for all of it, not just the good parts.

I wish you the very best in 2026. Take care of yourselves and your loved ones, and don’t wait for an invitation to make your dreams come true.

Thank you so much for your positive feedback on my interview with Jim Butcher, I really appreciate the love, it means so much to me! <3

[If you missed it, here’s the link to watch it on YouTube: Jim Butcher 2025]

Things are heating up with SPELLSTORM, the third urban fantasy series in the Realm of Magic and Mayhem.

I’m currently click-testing three cover concepts for the new series via Facebook ads. They seem to be neck-and-neck right now, but I don’t yet have enough data to choose a winner.

I’d love to have your input in addition to the FB ad data!

If you’d like to have your say, please choose the cover concept you prefer.

I know which I love the most, but I won’t say yet (or show poll results while it’s still live) as I don’t want to skew the data. Once we have the results of both tests, I’ll share it next week.

Feel free to leave additional feedback in the comments!

Here is the blurb, in case that helps you choose your favourite:

On the eve of her 44th birthday, Nat’s “menopause” unleashes more than just a hot flash.

Blinding neon magic surges in her veins, awakening a power she never knew existed.

She may have even burnt a house down…

Fortunately it was her ex-husband’s — and he kind of deserved it.

So it turns out she’s a … neon warrior witch. WTF? That was never on her bingo card.

And then things get even weirder.

It turns out that no-one in her life is who they are pretending to be.

No-one.

Not her therapist, not her ex, not even her boozing BBFs at book club. Even the rather entertaining supernatural creatures who keep arriving at her door to help are hiding something.

Only one man is willing to tell her the truth.

Draven, a smoldering vampire who is all fangs and bad intentions, feels it’s the least he can do before he finishes the job he was tasked with by his ruthless clan, who are secretly siphoning the magic that fuels the Realm.

Nat’s potent neon magic is a big, bright spanner in their carefully orchestrated works. In order for the vampires to seize ultimate power, Nat needs to die.

Their collision sparks intense hatred … and then forbidden attraction.

As more devastating secrets emerge, Nat realizes that the only man she can trust is the vampire sent to kill her.

In a gritty city buzzing with hidden magic, orcs, goblins, witches, and werewolves, Nat discovers her life-changing mission.

Can she uncover the truth and master her power before the vampires destroy the Realm’s magic forever?

Thank you in advance, and I will post the winner next week!

Janita x

Summary

In this engaging conversation with JT Lawrence, Jim Butcher, the renowned author of the Dresden Files, shares insights into his writing process, personal growth, and the emotional connections that drive his storytelling. He discusses the influence of his writing teachers, the evolution of his series, and the importance of feedback from beta readers. Butcher also reflects on the role of life experiences in shaping his narratives and offers parenting advice that resonates with his own journey as a writer. The discussion culminates in a quickfire round of questions, revealing Butcher’s thoughts on various topics, including his favorite movies and writing advice.

Takeaways

• His new book, ‘12 Months’, explores personal recovery.

• Writers often process their own trauma through their characters.

• The influence of writing teachers can shape an author’s career.

• Butcher’s series has evolved from 20 to 22 books.

• He emphasizes the importance of emotional connection in storytelling.

• Feedback from beta readers is crucial to his writing process.

• Life experiences serve as fuel for his writing.

• Butcher believes in the power of escapism in literature.

• He encourages aspiring writers to take action and write.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Jim Butcher and the Dresden Files

02:45 Exploring Personal Themes in Writing

05:49 The Impact of Writing on Personal Growth

08:34 The Journey of the Dresden Files Series

11:37 The Role of Mentorship in Writing

14:19 The Evolution of the Series Arc

17:00 The Essence of Escapism in Fantasy

19:50 Writing Process and Story Questions

22:17 Parenting and Writing Influence

25:10 Advice for Aspiring Writers

29:59 The Writing Process Unveiled

36:45 Emotional Connection in Storytelling

43:18 Influences and Inspirations

49:04 Reader Questions and Insights

SPELLSTORM PRE-ORDERS

First of all, thank you so much for your pre-orders of my brand new book 1 in series 3 of Magic & Mayhem, Hot Spell. It’s so motivating when I know there are readers waiting for the book I’m writing! I’m looking at a November edit and early 2026 release, with book 2 hot on its heels. This book is so much fun so far!

POLL RESULTS

According to the poll, the majority of you only want to hear from me when I have a new urban fantasy book out on Amazon.

The poll results were so helpful because now I know exactly when to contact you.

1. urban fantasy

2. new release

3. Amazon

   This is SO helpful!

   So, instead of sending personal news via this newsletter, I’ll use the words in my manuscript instead! If anyone will miss the (admittedly infrequent) personal news, please check out my Facebook profile which I always keep up to date with pics and memes.

   THEN for those who said they’d prefer to avoid buying from Amazon, I will publish on my direct store and wide (all other retailers) for a week or so before pulling it for Kindle Unlimited, which is an exclusive program.

   I haven’t yet managed to reply to every email I received, but I will do.

   Thank you again!

   Janita x

   
   

It’s book 1 in the new REALM OF MAGIC AND MAYEM series (joining BLOOD MAGIC and CURSEBREAKER — same world, same overlapping characters, new MC).

You can read more about SPELLSTORM here! (Amazon pre-order link)

POLL TIME!

In the interest of streamlining my email list and making sure you only get the emails you WANT to get, please help me by filling in these poll questions.

This data will help me to understand why you are subscribed and what you want from my emails.

Once I have the data and a plan, I’ll be able to segment you accordingly when I create separate lists.

Only interested in my urban fantasy? Then I won’t contact you about my short stories.

Here for my dystopian sci-fi? You’re in the minority, but I’ve got you.

Thank you in advance for helping me come up with a plan!

Thank you so much, I’m looking forward to reading these results!

Janita x

Later, some bright lights shone through—hospital ceilings I guess—and doctors' terse commands. I piece together the clues I overhear. The crash, the rocks, the fire. Agony like I've never experienced before burns my every organ and bone. Pipes and palpations. Needles, catheters, and a heart monitor that sounds like a ticking time bomb.

Sticky Fingers Complete Collection

Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/Sticky-Fingers-Complete-Collection-Stories-ebook/dp/B0D3BLSTWW

Sticky Fingers Complete Collection

Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/Sticky-Fingers-Complete-Collection-Stories-ebook/dp/B0D3BLSTWW

Sticky Fingers Complete Collection

Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/Sticky-Fingers-Complete-Collection-Stories-ebook/dp/B0D3BLSTWW

Andrew guffaws. “A cocktail bar? At a nursing home? What’s next? Happy Hour?”

"It's not a ‘nursing home,' Andrew, dear. It's a ‘Retirement Destination.'"

“A what?”

“It’s all about marketing, you see? Kids don’t feel half as bad sending their decrepit parents off to a ‘holiday club’.”

“Still. A cocktail bar?”

“Judy, do you see now why I can’t live with you two? I’m 86 bloody years old—”

“Language!” scolds Andrew.

"As I was saying, I'm 86 BLOODY years old, and if I want to spend the days swearing and drinking Pimm's and playing bloody strip poker, then I will do it WITHOUT the disapproving glare from the very boy whose bare bottom I used to smack for stealing my menthol cigarettes."

"That does sound quite lovely, Marge. If Andrew gets too strict with me, I shall come and spend a few days with you. We can drink cocktails together. Although I’m not sure about the strip poker …”

Margaret pats Judy on the shoulder. “We all have our boundaries, dear.”

“Some fewer than others,” Andrew murmurs.

Sticky Fingers Complete Collection

Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/Sticky-Fingers-Complete-Collection-Stories-ebook/dp/B0D3BLSTWW

Sticky Fingers Complete Collection

Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/Sticky-Fingers-Complete-Collection-Stories-ebook/dp/B0D3BLSTWW

There is also blood. Old, black blood that has leaked into the soil for centuries, fertilising the land with the life it has recycled. There is thick brown blood that coats the pebbled roads, sticky enough to provide the traction needed for progress. And there is violet blood. New, gushing violet blood that is pumped by love and lust and excitement through the peoples’ veins by their purple piston hearts.

Sticky Fingers Complete Collection

Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/Sticky-Fingers-Complete-Collection-Stories-ebook/dp/B0D3BLSTWW

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Sticky Fingers Complete Collection

Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/Sticky-Fingers-Complete-Collection-Stories-ebook/dp/B0D3BLSTWW

Sticky Fingers Complete Collection

Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/Sticky-Fingers-Complete-Collection-Stories-ebook/dp/B0D3BLSTWW

I was at a conference in Seville last week and had such a great time.

I didn’t have time to edit it properly — I’m on deadline! — but I hope you like the pics.

Lots of love!

x

Janita