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I’ve been thinking a great deal about the elements lately. This is hardly surprising when you spend your days with witches.With Daughters of Time, I’ve had the lovely challenge of writing four women whose magic is tied to very different elements. And while I knew from the beginning that their powers would distinguish them, I’m discovering just how much those elements influence the women themselves.
With Eilis in The Witch and the Gatekeeper, I began with air. Air suited her from the start. Eilis is a healer. She is compassionate and thoughtful, and there is a gentleness to her that should never be mistaken for weakness. Air can be soft enough to barely stir your hair. It can carry a whisper. It can fill your lungs and give life, but it can also become a storm and I loved that contradiction for Eilis. She doesn't need to charge into every room announcing what she's capable of. Much of her power comes from restraint, compassion, and knowing when to act. Writing the man who could love her required much the same consideration. Cian couldn't simply be strong enough to protect Eilis. He needed to understand her beyond just her magic. As her gatekeeper, he of course carries formidable abilities of his own (along with a rather stubborn instinct to keep her safe). But Eilis isn't a woman who needs a man to take over her battles. She needs one strong enough to fight beside her, respect what she's capable of, and perhaps learn that protecting someone doesn't always mean deciding what's best for them. That balance between protection and independence fascinates me in romance. Then I moved on to Darian and GOOD HEAVENS, fire has absolutely no interest in behaving like air. Writing Darian after Eilis has been rather like leaving a room and discovering someone has lit the curtains on fire. Figuratively speaking, of course. Although with Darian, perhaps I shouldn't make promises! She is a fire witch in every sense. Feisty, passionate, hot-tempered, fiercely independent, and intensely loyal to the people she loves. She lives in colonial Massachusetts, works as a carpenter and part-time blacksmith, and is not terribly interested in anyone telling her what a woman should or shouldn't be doing; especially Magnus Munro, which presents an entirely different romantic challenge. You cannot put a man beside Darian who wilts when she burns hot. But I also don't want a hero who simply tries to overpower her. Where would be the fun in that? Magnus has to be strong enough to withstand the fire without extinguishing it. He's a Scottish time traveler from the modern world, dropped into Darian's century without the conveniences he's accustomed to and tasked with watching over a woman who most certainly did not request a guardian. He can meet her temper. He can challenge her. And he has enough strength and confidence of his own that Darian doesn't have to become less for him to become more. Naturally, they irritate each other. Quite a lot, actually. But I do enjoy that part and I know my readers will, too! Moving from Eilis and Cian to Darian and Magnus has made me think more deeply about what makes two characters complementary. I don't mean that they must be opposites. Sometimes they are. But I think a satisfying romance needs two people whose strengths can meet each other without one swallowing the other whole. Air moves around obstacles while fire meets them head-on. So the romantic dynamics surrounding those women can't possibly feel the same. Cian's steadiness gives Eilis room to discover the full force of what she can do. Magnus needs to be made of sterner stuff because Darian is quite capable of producing enough sparks for the both of them. Eilis heals while Darian burns. Eilis considers while Darian would probably prefer we stop considering and get on with it. BOTH are powerful. BOTH are stubborn in their own ways. BOTH love deeply. BOTH will fight ferociously for the people who matter to them. And BOTH deserve a love interest who recognizes all of that and possesses enough strength of his own to stand at their side. Add supernatural abilities, time travel, dark magic, family expectations, and the occasional murderous entity, and relationships become even more interesting. And I still have earth and water waiting for me. Which means I have two more wonderfully complicated women to explore and two more men who will need to prove they're capable of keeping up with them. Magically yours, Leigh Ann
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I don't know about you, but this summer seems to have developed a mind of its own.
One minute I was celebrating the release of The Witch and the Gatekeeper, and the next I looked at the calendar and wondered where all those weeks had gone. Some days have been filled with the usual summer happenings: spending time outside, tending to the flowers and the dogs (who are convinced every trip outdoors is an adventure worthy of great fanfare), trying to enjoy the warmer weather while it lasts, and stealing quiet moments with a cup of tea whenever I can. There have also been some unusual, not remotely enjoyable happenings. For those who subscribe to my newsletter, you will have heard some of this already. I’ll just give everyone the condensed version: Steady rainfall for weeks, flooded basement, disturbed wasps nest––three nasty, inflamed stings, ravenous mosquitoes––numerous bites–– allergic reaction––trip to emergency, brakes failed on my car, air conditioner dying during extremely hot humid weather, having to say goodbye to our seventeen-year-old cat whose health had rapidly declined. Of course, no matter what is happening in my life–– happy, stressful, or sad––my mind has never been good at taking a holiday or even a short break. While I'm driving, out walking, puttering around the house, or using a wet vac, stories have a habit of finding me. Characters start talking. A conversation works itself out. Someone (usually everyone) decides to ignore the outline I'd carefully planned. It's all part of the process, and after more than twenty-five books, I've learned it's far easier to listen than argue. Lately, my thoughts have belonged almost entirely to the daughters. When I first imagined The Daughters of Time, I knew each of these women deserved her own story. They're connected by blood, by magic, and by an extraordinary friendship that stretches across centuries, but each one has a distinct personality and a path she must walk herself. Getting to spend more time with them has been one of the greatest joys of writing this series. Readers have already met gentle, compassionate Eilis. She leads with her heart, even when it puts her in danger. She sees the good in people, believes healing is worth every sacrifice, and quietly discovers there's far more strength inside her than she ever imagined. Next came Darian; and let me tell you, Darian has opinions. Where Eilis pauses to think, Darian acts. She's fiery in every sense of the word. Independent, stubborn, fiercely loyal, and absolutely unwilling to let anyone decide her future for her. She keeps me on my toes, which probably explains why I smile so much while writing her scenes. I loved creating her story. I can’t wait for readers to get to know her better. Now, I find myself spending much more time with Fiona (Fi.) She just might be the most complicated of all four witches. She’s a people pleaser, a rule-follower, who the others tease about being a prude. I am eager for readers to learn more about Fiona…the real Fi. Her complex backstory surprised even me. All the while Trista, the carefree, easy-going, accept and love-everyone witch, has become restless waiting for her turn in the spotlight. She’s been unusually persistent. I’ve had to gently push her into the background, while of course still including her in Fiona’s story. One of my favorite things about this series is watching these women discover one another. They come from different centuries, different lives, and different experiences, yet they understand each other almost instantly. They encourage one another, challenge one another, good-naturedly tease one another, and remind each other that they never have to face darkness alone. Perhaps that's why I've found myself moving through this series a little faster than I originally planned. These stories are eager to be told, and I don't like keeping impatient witches waiting any longer than necessary. The world keeps growing every time I sit down to write, revealing new corners, new dangers, and new friendships I hadn't expected when I first began. Don't worry. There will still be romance! There will certainly be magic, of course. There will be heroes who think they're in charge until they meet the remarkable women destined to change their lives. And yes, there will be villains, both human and supernatural. I still firmly believe they deserve their comeuppance. Some traditions are simply worth keeping. As summer continues, I'll be writing, plotting, making notes that only I can decipher, and enjoying these precious weeks while they last. Before long, the leaves will begin to turn, another season will arrive, and with it, more adventures for the daughters. Until then, thank you for reading, for sharing these stories with fellow book lovers, and for welcoming Eilis, Cian, and this new generation of witches so warmly. Book two, The Witch and the Time Traveler will release August 21, 2026 and I’m excited for readers to get to know Darian better and to meet Magnus. And soon the other guardians. I have a feeling the best is still to come. Magical wishes, Leigh Ann When I first began writing The Witches of Time, I knew I was stepping into something layered with magic, history, and the kind of love that refuses to fade. What I didn’t know then was how far that world would grow, or how many stories would still be waiting for me on the other side!
The Daughters of Time begins exactly there. This new series follows the next generation — the daughters of the original witches — young women born into power, legacy, and expectations they didn’t choose, but cannot escape. Each of them lives in a different century. Each of them faces her own challenges, her own dangers, and her own questions about what it means to carry magic that runs through the blood. One of my favorite elements in this series is the connection between these women. Through a magical mirror hidden deep within castle walls, they are able to see one another, speak to one another, and eventually stand together across time. That bond, that understanding of what it means to live with magic, to inherit something powerful and sometimes frightening, becomes a kind of lifeline, because power always draws attention. The daughters quickly learn that magic does not exist without consequence. There are forces that hunt it, bend it, and would happily destroy anyone who stands in their way. Demons, dark entities, and enemies who have waited far too long for their moment. And of course, there are the men who stand beside them. I have always loved writing heroes who are strong, capable, and fiercely devoted. Men who don’t need to overshadow the women they love, but instead meet them as equals. In this series, each witch has a guardian. Each guardian carries his own past and his own burden. Cian Rafferty, the hero of The Witch and the Gatekeeper, is no exception. He is a man who has spent his life fighting what he is, believing that his destiny has already cost him too much. He has no intention of embracing it. No intention of risking more...until Eilis is taken. Eilis herself is a healer, a woman who has always put others first, even at the expense of her own heart. She knows her place in the world. She understands what is expected of her. What she does not expect is to become the center of something far larger than herself. Their story is one of restraint, of longing, of two people who believe they cannot have one another and who are forced to confront what they are willing to sacrifice when everything is at stake. At its core, this series is about legacy. About what we inherit and what we protect. Bust mostly, it's about what we choose to become in those moments that define us, wholly. There will always be danger in these worlds. There will always be enemies to face and battles to fight. But there will also always be love; fierce, unyielding, and worth every risk. I hope you fall into this new generation as deeply as I did while writing it. The magic is waiting. xoxo, Leigh Ann |
