Blood of the Delphi (The Harmatia Cycle Book 2)
Page 53
It is with a tremendous rush of exhilaration (and, admittedly, trepidation) that I release this book, the second instalment of The Harmatia Cycle. If I thought publishing the first was both terrific and terrifying, it’s nothing in comparison to publishing the second. Blood of the Delphi is an amalgamation of love and effort not only from me, but from a number of passionate individuals who have graphed and shaped it into what it is today. The book contains within it a fraction of my very soul, and I send it out into the world now with the hopes that it will be met with kindness, love, and excitement.
First and foremost, I have to thank my family, who are, and have always been, an inspiration to me. My gratitude to you for the depth of your love and support is indescribable. I am proud of us, and I hope that you are all proud of me.
To Alex, whose prompts and demands are the only reason Mag Mell and all of the gods – yes, you can blame him for that – even exist. You insinuated that I was being lazy, so I created an entire world—I hope you're happy. Harmatia would never have been born without you, and you are thus responsible for its conception, for better or worse. May it bring you as much pleasure and pain as it did me.
Thanks must go to my extended family and to the friends who worked so hard to promote The Sons of Thestian when it came out. Hamish, Gareth, Mo, Charlotte and Ashleigh, Rebecca, Alexander, Bryony, Tom and Liam are just a few among the many who have done so much for me, and to whom I am immensely grateful. This extends to all my online friends as well, from Kinga, to S.C. Parris, and to all you amazing book bloggers who got the word out and lifted my spirits day after day!
In particular among that group, I want to thank two very special women, and extraordinary writers. These are, of course, Amelia Mackenzie and J.A. Ironside, both of whom I have the privilege to call friends. Your passion and your collaborative suggestions, editing and encouragement made Blood of the Delphi bloom with a life and colour that I didn’t know it had. The hours you poured into my book—and into me— have marked me forever and I am honoured and humbled to know you and to have worked with you.
Next, it is only prudent that I thank my wonderful editor Olga Murillo, whose continued patience and infectious enthusiasm saw me through each edit, and who helped me really bring my characters’ voices to life. Equal thanks, in this regard, must also go to Stef Tastan, who designed the front cover of this book so beautifully and whom I am both awed by, and deeply envious of.
There are many more who deserve to be acknowledged, who haven’t been listed here. If you’ve picked up this book up and are reading it right now, than you are among the long list of people I wish to thank. Every reader, and every reviewer keep my work alive. None of this would be possible without you. So thank you.
So now, before I start to get mushy, I think it’s time to draw these acknowledgements to a close. I will, however, add one more personal thanks before I close.
Séan, my sweetheart, being a writer is hard. Living with one is harder. There are no words of substance to describe the magnitude of what you have done for me, so I can only say—I love you, and thank you. You make my every day brighter.
Madeleine E. Vaughan is an Anglo-French author from the United Kingdom. Head writer and founding member of the Hampshire-based gaming studio Enigmatic Studios, she lectures in Creative Writing at the University of Winchester, where she is currently undertaking a PhD into the varied representations of faeries across the British Isles.
A keen lover of mythology, Madeleine’s nomadic upbringing has brought her in contact with a wide collection of cultures and folklore, which have strongly influenced her music, art and writing. Her particular interest in faeries was incited by her mother who, one day, unwittingly implored Madeleine to ‘write something nice for a change, with faeries’. This request birthed the first draft of The Sons of Thestian, and the subsequent start of Madeleine’s career. Faeries, as it turned out—to Madeleine’s delight—are utterly horrible.
When Madeleine isn’t writing or teaching, she enjoys composing music, drawing, and practising Washinkai Karate, for which she is a 1st Dan Black Belt. She currently splits her time between Winchester and her family’s home in Horsham, where she lives in the middle of a dragon forest.
Find out more at:
www.madeleinevaughan.com
www.harmatiacycle.com
Or find me on:
Facebook: Madeleine.E.Vaughan
Tumblr: mevaughan
Twitter: @M_E_Vaughan
FOR MORE INFORMATION, EXCLUSIVE EXTRAS AND UPDATES
SIGN UP TO MY NEWSLETTER HERE.