Author: Joanna van der Hoeven

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Lammas/Lughnasadh Update!

It’s the 1st August: Lammas, Lughnasadh. The first harvest festival, it comes as a welcome respite for me. I’ve been away in Canada visiting family, and the 35 to 38C temperatures were horrendous. To come back to the UK and step outside Heathrow airport to feel the cool, rainy air on my skin was pure bliss, despite the jet fumes and cigarette smoke that floated on it.

Now home in Suffolk, I can look out over my garden and see that the grass that had burned in the hot summer sunshine is now coming back to green. We’ve had rain since I’ve been away, and the drought has abated. But still the crops were being taken in even as I drove to the airport, the fields of wheat being cut on the 6th July, for they had grown to their stunted height and already dried out in the blazing sun. Now the scent of onions is in the air, as the first root vegetable crops are being taken in. Everything is a month ahead of schedule because of the lack of rain this winter, spring, and early summer.

What this harvest will bring for local farmers I can’t really say, but I’m pretty certain the yield will be much less than usual, or rather, we are reaching a new normal. If climate change continues, what is grown in this region of East Anglia will most likely need to change. The plants in my garden survived, thanks to vigorous watering, even as the water butts ran out at the end of May. We have saved as much water as we could, whenever we could, to give back to the parched land. My neighbour and I have been taking turns watering the deer, as on one side of the heath where there is a large herd they are fenced in and the little ones aren’t able to jump over to reach water. To see the ground on the heath cracked and dry already in May was heartbreaking.

But we carry on, because there is nothing else we can do. The sunshine has kept our batteries for the home topped up nicely over the summer via our solar panels, and all our electricity as well as water heating has been taken care of with ease. We’ve sold a bunch of electricity back to the grid, and made a decent profit. At one point we were even paid to take energy from the grid to top up our batteries, as for a few days with the wind there was a surplus of energy in the grid, and in the wee hours of the morning we were being paid to take electricity from the energy providers, as they do not have enough storage. What a strange world we are living in!

The harvest continues in the land around me, and I ponder my own harvest, both materialistically and spiritually. It’s been a wonderful year for me with the release of my new fiction series, Witches of the New Forest. The books have been a great success, and at the moment are providing me with an actual living wage; the first time my writing has ever done so! The dream of a 13-year old girl in her bedroom, pounding away at a manual typewriter in the hope of becoming a fantasy fiction author have been realised.

Spiritually, things have been incredibly busy, and so I’ve had to adapt my routines, daily prayers, and offerings. There was a bit of disconnection this summer, as everything in my life seemed to ramp up, but now things have settled and I am finding a new home in my own practice, dedicated to the goddess, Freya, and working with the spirits of this land where I live.

As such, today I will take some time out to do some baking: to offer it back to the land, the gods, the spirits. Even as the thunderclouds roll in from the north, I will honour the gifts of sunshine and rain, of earth and sky, of nourishment and sustenance. For this is what Lammas is all about: giving back. For many Pagans, they might feel a bit adrift during this festival, not entirely sure what it’s all about, especially if one is living in an urban environment. The wheat and barley harvest seems so very far away, as do other harvests. But the food that we eat still reaches our tables (hopefully) and to this cycle of growing, reaping, and transformation we pay homage at this time of year with a celebration of the first harvests. It was important to our ancestors, and even if we are not ourselves out in the fields cutting down the golden stalks under the sun, we can still honour where it is that we came from, and what had great meaning to those who have gone before.

Being thankful for what we have received is a large part of all the harvest festivals. Early this morning, before sunrise, I gave thanks to Freya in her aspect of Gefn, The Giver, for all the bounty that I have received. In the giving of thanks, we come to truly know and feel gratitude, and in feeling gratitude, we understand the nature of blessings, and of being blessed. We no longer take so many things for granted and instead, see the gifts that lie all around us, if we only open our eyes to see them.

In deep relationship, we weave our way through our lives, becoming part of the tapestry of life that flows in and out of time, one thread upon the other, bringing beauty, inspiration, and love.

May your Lammas and harvest be plentiful, and may you know the joy and blessings of gratitude. As a beautiful friend just messaged me on WhatsApp, As the grain turns golden in the fields, may the moments of your life turn into golden memories.

Visiting Mont Tremblant

I did manage to visit an old friend, Mont Trembant National Park, while I was back in Quebec, Canada, where we had a three-day respite from the heat throughout the month of July. Some of these photos are taken on the trails just outside the park, and some within.

It does my heart good to return to this sacred land, and the mountain that was once known as Manitonga Soutana, the mountain of the spirits, which designates the highest summit in the region and an important place of passage where ceremonies were held. According to legend, the Algonquians (Anishinabe) believed that the Spirit made the mountain tremble when people disturbed nature. It might also refer to the water coursing down the slopes of the mountain which caused this impression of trembling for the people lying on the ground. The name Mont Tremblant reflects this legend.

A six-hour hike took us to the top of Nez d’Indian (Indian’s nose – this mountain desperately needs to be renamed or given its original Indigenous toponym. There is also Chutes Diables (Devil’s Falls, again, let’s rename this, please!)

To see more short videos from my stay in Quebec, head on over to my YouTube channel HERE!

As I mentioned previously, my fiction series, Witches of the New Forest, is doing really well, and I had just finished writing the manuscript for Book 4 before heading out to Quebec. We are now in full editing mode, and we are on schedule for a 31st October release date! This will be Ryder’s story, whose adventures will certainly match those of her sister in the first three books!

In other news, I’ve had to cancel my appearance at this year’s Witchfest, as upon my return to the UK I received the dates for some surgery that I need (it’s not anything bad, just something that needs to be done before things deteriorate further). I will be in and out of appointments until the end of December, and so I’ve had to wipe my calendar of most things for the rest of this year. I hope that the new venue for Witchfest is a success, and I can’t wait to attend next year!

That’s it for the moment! I wish you all a blessed Lammas/Lughnasadh!

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The Binge Culture

So, one thing I’ve discovered when writing a series is that people like to binge. Whether it’s books, television, food – you name it – binging is a thing right now. And now I am dealing with the added pressure of getting the next book out as soon as possible, because some people have read the third book and instantly want the fourth. Wait, they have to wait six months for the next book to come out?

Yes; yes they certainly do.

I know that most of you know that writing is a process. That if you want a book created instantly, you’d use a nasty AI programme to rip off other people’s works and then sell it as your own. But that’s not what us authors do; no, most certainly not. We think up stories (which takes time) and write them down (which takes even more time), researching and editing (which takes up SO MUCH TIME), pouring hour after hour each and every day to get that book done. And for me, so far the process requires six months to write, edit, and then release a work of fiction. And I think that’s a pretty good time frame.

I could have spent a few years just writing the series and then releasing it all at once, but hey, a girl’s gotta eat. And right now the first three books in my fiction series, Witches of the New Forest, are paying the bills. This is actually the first time I’ve made a living wage off of my writing! (More on that later.) So, I will be writing two books a year, release dates around May and October, or thereabouts (possibly even June and December, depending on the book). If the story is set at Yule, for instance, I’ll release it in December. I want readers to get into the vibe and mood of the books as much as they can, and timing the release really does help in that regard.

With my non-fiction writing, it took me two years to release a book. One year was spent reading, researching, and gathering all the material I needed before I started writing. The following year was a writing year, followed by six months usually of editing, going back and forth with the publishers. It was a long process.

I never even considered the pressure that readers would place on an author to get a book out as soon as possible, until I experienced it myself. But I refuse to rush my books, because I want the best book possible for my readers. Romantasy author Rebecca Yarros (Fourth Wing, etc.) rushed her last book, Onyx Storm, and she made the decision to take as long as it needed for the next book to come out, which might be over a year, maybe even two. Some fans were angry, they wanted it right away.

Well, tough!

Our culture of instant gratification is running rampant. We can have entire series downloaded in one go onto our devices. But what we often forget is that those series took years to create, even if it takes us a week or two to binge and watch them all. Remember the days before you could record television shows? No? That’s my GenX background speaking. You had to wait a whole week for the next episode, and then wait three months during the summer while the reruns of the less than popular shows were on before you could watch the next season in September. And those seasons were long, back in the 80’s and 90’s. I remember when a television series was 24 episodes or more! Of course, that was all dependent upon the show. Comedies ran more episodes and for a longer span than dramas, because they took less time to create. Now, you are lucky if a season gets ten episodes. But you can binge the series, wherever and whenever you want!

I think we all need to take a deep breath, slow down, and smell the books. Give authors the time to write without the added pressure. They are likely doing the best that they can. In fact, most authors have other jobs, and so can only write in their spare time. I’m one of the lucky few right now, and that’s only because I’ve persisted for over a decade with writing and earning a meager salary that afforded me to fly back to Canada twice a year and that’s about it. Now, even after I pay for all the advertising campaigns that I run to promote my work, I can also buy groceries!

Let’s support our human authors, and give them the time that they need to tell a good story, without adding extra pressure on them. A rushed story is not the best story. And if you don’t believe me, just ask Rebecca Yarros.

No, don’t ask Rebecca Yarros. She’s probably on a much deserved holiday right now.

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June Already!?!

Is it June already???

Sorry I’ve been so quiet here on my blog site, but it’s been a crazy few months. The launch of the third book, The Witch’s Compass in my Witches of the New Forest fiction and paranormal romance series happened at the beginning of May. It went very well, and I am so thankful to everyone who has bought a copy and left a review, for this book and all the others in the series! The feedback has been amazing, and I’m so happy to create a world of magickal people, for magickal people 😊

On a sadder note, my sweet cat, Barnabus, passed away of old age just a few days later. He had already been winding down since January, and we had a feeling that it was coming. I prayed to my lady Freya that when his time came, that it would be quick and painless, and it certainly was. In the span of four days, he went from walking in the garden with me to his body shutting down completely. He died peacefully at home in my arms, loved and cherished for every single day that we had together. I am so blessed to have had this little guy in my life, and I will always, always love him. You and me forever, my little Bobo man.

Ever since that day, the neighbour’s cat from three doors down has been visiting and spending all day outside on our patio, giving us cuddles and snuggles in our period of adjustment. She has been a beautiful gift of love and comfort, and we are so happy to see her each and every day.

In the meantime, I have already begun Book 4, Smugglers and Secrets, and am over halfway through the writing process. This book comes from Ryder’s perspective, and is chock-full of adventure. I had  no idea how much would happen to her in a week, but so far it’s been crazy! There is so much that is unfurling as I write this book, that I’m sure it will be at least two, if not three books to fully tell her story. I might even have to have a word with the characters of the book, and tell them to slow it down a bit. But in all honesty, it’s not up to me – they are the ones who write the book for me! I’m just along for the ride 😉

Today we finally have rain, which is much needed. Here in the East of England we haven’t had a good rainfall for months now, and so a dark, dreary, wet day like today is a true blessing. The land is dry and cracked on the heath, my beech tree hasn’t got its large leaves, and everything is a bit stunted in growth except for the birch trees. The grass on the lawn has already been burned yellow by the sun, and our water butts have been dry for months. Thank you, global warming and climate change (yes, I am being sarcastic). Thank goodness we have mostly drought-resistant plants in the garden, living here on the edge of heathland, near to the sea.

And so I am quietly sitting here at my desk, writing away each and every day, doing marketing and promoting my work. It’s a nice life, where I am finally starting to make a living wage from my writing. It only took 11 years! But I am so enjoying writing fiction,;it really is where my passion has been since I was a young teenager, writing my first book.

I hope that wherever you are in the world, that you are enjoying the summer, or winter for my antipodean friends, and that nature’s blessing is upon you.

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A great video about Burley!

I just came across this recently posted video about Burley, in the New Forest National Park. If you love my new fiction series, set in the Witchy village of Burley, this might interest you!

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Book Launch!

The Witch’s Compass, Book 3 of my new fiction series, Witches of the New Forest, is now out and available for Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Kobo ebook editions will be available very soon!

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The Witch’s Compass is Out Today!

Today is the day! The Witch’s Compass, Book 3 of my new fiction series, Witches of the New Forest, is out now!

Everything you do, everything you think, is a spell.

Hunter Williams is coming into her own power, despite having lost her way. Hunter’s past has dictated her future for many, many years. This is beginning to affect her not only as a person, but also as Witch. Her magick starts to change, and sometimes not for the better. As she steps into the Witch’s Compass, she finds a return to her authentic self, and under the protection of a goddess, she begins the final stages of her quest to cross the veil between the worlds to reunite her family. The adventure continues with Hunter, Jack, Ryder, Elspeth and Abigail!

Can Hunter and Jack reconcile, after everything that has happened? Will their love see them through the many hardships that still await them? Will Hunter be able to get a better grasp on her pride, her emotions and her powers? Only the Witch’s Compass can guide her…

Don’t forget, Hunter still has the daunting task of trying to free Aedon, if she can find him. And what will the sisters do with their legacy ? Will they stay in in the New Forest, becoming fully-fledged members of the magickal community, or will they return back to Canada? Where does that leave the magickal community of Burley, now possibly embroiled in a Witch War that could threaten their very existence?

The Witch’s Compass finishes Hunter’s trilogy, before we move on to her sister, Ryder’s story in Smugglers and Secrets, Book 4 of the Witches of the New Forest (out at the end of 2025). 

Thank you to everyone for your kind words and support for this project. It is so good to be writing fiction again, and I sincerely hope that you enjoy this series!

P.S. Head on over to my website for links to free bonus material for each book!

Blessings,
Joanna

Witches of the New Forest series, by Joanna van der Hoeven
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It’s Beltane!

Beltane is, for me, a season, which started last week when the earth warmed up, the hawthorn came out and the house martins returned. The cuckoo is singing in the wood, the swallows are hunting in the horse paddocks, the bluebells are in full force and the bucks are about to drop their antlers. It’s Beltane here in Suffolk!

And so, with that, I’d like to wish each and every one of you a blessed Beltane season.

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Intuitively Wild Podcast

I was on the Intuitively Wild Podcast, and you can have a listen here!

https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/healing-our-relationships-with-nature-technology/id1705090935?i=1000702830922