In hindsight, I wasted a huge amount of time sending out manuscripts that I now know, were wholly unsuitable. No real grasp of agents, what they wanted, or how best to approach them. I was probably writing seriously for around 10 years before I had a breakthrough (so hang in there if you’re in the query trenches)! I had no idea what I was doing most of time. It was very long and frustrating, yet also enjoyable in many respects. What was your journey to being a published author like?

The Bewitching of Aveline Jones is published on September 16th, 2021 in the UK. UK only, closes September 20th 2021 at midnight (GMT). Phil’s publisher, Usborne, has kindly given me three copies to give away here – all you have to do is leave a comment to enter the giveaway. I’m a huge fan of Phil Hickes’ writing and was thrilled that he agreed to answer my questions about the book and all the kind of nonsense I like to know about other writers. I loved the summery vibe, the beautiful, immersive writing, the witchiness (anything with a witch bottle and standing stones and I’m there)! It’s an eerie, exciting adventure – I was definitely bewitched! If you enjoyed A Tangle of Spells then this is definitely a book for you. This is the sort of series childhood me would have been obsessed with. Will Aveline discover the truth about Hazel, before it’s too late? The second in a deliciously spine-tingling, spooky series, where mysteries are always solved, spirits are always laid to rest, and everybody gets to bed on time. In fact, Hazel is quite unlike anyone Aveline has ever met before, but she can’t work out why. Impossibly cool, mysterious yet friendly, Aveline soon falls under Hazel’s spell.

Thousands of years old, the local villagers refer to the ancient structure as the Witch Stones, and Aveline cannot wait to learn more about them.

Turn on your torches and join Aveline Jones! Aveline is thrilled when she discovers that the holiday cottage her mum has rented for the summer is beside a stone circle. I was a big fan of the first Aveline Jones book: The Haunting of Aveline Jones, but her second adventure is possibly even better. If you’re looking for a creepy, magical and atmospheric read, then you won’t do much better than this. Oi! Widdershins fans! You’ll love this one – I did.

The haunting of aveline jones book 2