Andrew McDowell

Tag: Novels

Interview with Melissa Lemay
Many thanks to Melissa for this opportunity to talk about my books and my writing!

Telling a Story Well: An Interview with Andrew McDowell
Share this:
Facebook
Bluesky
LinkedIn
More
Reddit
Tumblr
Pinterest
Telegram
Nextdoor
WhatsApp
Threads
X
Email
Mastodon
Print
Like Loading…
July 13, 2025
Merry Writer Podcast II
This is my second time appearing on the Merry Writer Podcast, which is hosted by authors Ari Meghlen and Rachel Poli. Many thanks to both of you!

You can also listen to it on Podbean. There are many other places you can choose from to listen to it as well.

I wish all my fellow Americans a Happy Independence Day tomorrow.
Share this:
Facebook
Bluesky
LinkedIn
More
Reddit
Tumblr
Pinterest
Telegram
Nextdoor
WhatsApp
Threads
X
Email
Mastodon
Print
Like Loading…
July 3, 2025
Maryland Renaissance Festival Multi-Day Passes
My signing will be on August 30th, a month away! I’ll be there alongside fantasy authors Anna Bright and Daniel M. Ford. It will be done with MDRF’s bookstore Page after Page. Tickets are required for entrance to MDRF and must be bought in advance, online only.

Multi-day passes will be available soon, on July 7th 10am Eastern Time, and can cover any specific range of days depending on which pass you choose. Individual day tickets will go on sale August 4th at 10am Eastern Time. These tickets will likely go fast, so make sure to plan on buying them right away if you want to come.

I will have copies of Mystical Greenwood and Beneath the Deep Wave as well as three anthologies featuring my poetry and/or short stories: Faery Footprints, Fae Dreams, and Into the Glen: Into the Light. The novels will be on sale at $20 each, and the anthologies $10 each. So, plan accordingly.

The event is on Facebook if you would like to join there or invite anyone you think would be interested.
Share this:
Facebook
Bluesky
LinkedIn
More
Reddit
Tumblr
Pinterest
Telegram
Nextdoor
WhatsApp
Threads
X
Email
Mastodon
Print
Like Loading…
June 30, 2025
The Hero’s Journey: Initiation
Years ago, I talked about the influence of Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces (one of my recommended resources), and how I saw Mystical Greenwood as the Departure phase in the hero’s journey. Thus, I planned for Beneath the Deep Wave to be the next phase, known as the Initiation. Likewise, I sought to look for little ways to stand out from the traditional storyline.

The “Road of Trials” is most prevalent in this phase, so I knew there would be a lot of traveling like in the first book. However, when I look at both books together, in terms of plots spelled out in another resource I recommend, 20 Master Plots and How to Build Them, I see Mystical Greenwood more of as an actual “Quest” story whereas Beneath the Deep Wave is much more an “Adventure.” The seeking more aligns with what the book refers to as the MacGuffin (made famous by Hitchcock). It makes sense, I suppose, since the Trials are meant to prove the hero’s worth.

I knew going in also that Beneath the Deep Wave was going to include romance, so this would tie in more with the “Woman as Temptress” rather than “Meeting the Goddess,” as I’d imagined Dermot might be faced with a dilemma: would his love compromise his vows to his magical order? Then, of course, there’s the “Atonement with the Father.” By the end, I don’t know whether this is a combination of “Apotheosis” and “Ultimate Boon,” but in some ways, akin to Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, I thought about physical vs. symbolic treasures, in this case tying them in with the elements and the natural world. I shouldn’t say any more, for fear of spoilers.

I’ll end this post by saying that the last phase, the Return, will be and is an inspiration for the plot in last book in One with Nature. Happy Father’s Day!
Share this:
Facebook
Bluesky
LinkedIn
More
Reddit
Tumblr
Pinterest
Telegram
Nextdoor
WhatsApp
Threads
X
Email
Mastodon
Print
Like Loading…
June 15, 2025
Upcoming Events Updates
I have a few author appearances coming up in the next few months. Mark your calendars!

In a few weeks, I’ll be participating in Balticon 59. This will be my second time at Balticon. I had a good time last year and hope I will have a good time this year as well. Here is my schedule:

Friday 5/23
- From Concept to Final Draft, Guilford Room, 4-5pm.
Sunday 5/23
- Lightbulb Moments: How Authors Develop Ideas, James Room, 11:30-12:30pm.
- What’s in a Name? Kent Room, 1-2pm.
- Autographs, 5th Floor Lobby, 4-5pm.
I will be the moderator on the Name panel, a subject I was eager to contribute to, having done a presentation on it. And my autograph session will be alongside one of the guests of honor this year, Sebastian de Castell!

I also have an update on tickets for the Maryland Renaissance Festival, where I will be doing another author signing on August 30th, Labor Day Weekend, from 11-5pm. Tickets are required for entrance to MDRF and must be bought in advance, online only. Daily tickets will go on sale August 4th 10am Eastern Time, and multi-day passes will be available July 7th 10am Eastern Time. Also, the event is on Facebook.

On a last note, the Maryland Writers’ Association is accepting presentation submissions for their annual conference in October. The deadline to submit is at the end of the month. I hope to present myself, but I’ll have to wait and see whether that’ll happen.
Share this:
Facebook
Bluesky
LinkedIn
More
Reddit
Tumblr
Pinterest
Telegram
Nextdoor
WhatsApp
Threads
X
Email
Mastodon
Print
Like Loading…
May 13, 2025
Kelpies and Selkies (Guest Appearance)
Many thanks to Esther Chilton for giving me a guest writer spot opportunity to talk about the two mythical creatures I introduced in Beneath the Deep Wave.

Guest Writer Spot
Share this:
Facebook
Bluesky
LinkedIn
More
Reddit
Tumblr
Pinterest
Telegram
Nextdoor
WhatsApp
Threads
X
Email
Mastodon
Print
Like Loading…
May 10, 2025
Guest Appearance with Angela G. Williams
I would like to thank author and blogger Angela G. Williams for this wonderful guest appearance:

Author Spotlight: Andrew McDowell – Weaving Worlds of Fantasy and Wonder

Happy St. Patrick’s Day.
Share this:
Facebook
Bluesky
LinkedIn
More
Reddit
Tumblr
Pinterest
Telegram
Nextdoor
WhatsApp
Threads
X
Email
Mastodon
Print
Like Loading…
March 17, 2025
Coffee with…
Here I am again on author Sally Cronin’s blog, this time promoting another writer, one who has offered encouragement and kindness for years, Canadian author Sharon Ledwith.

Smorgasbord Coffee Morning – Author Andrew McDowell with Canadian Author Sharon Ledwith

I would also like to acknowledge that Sharon is one of the top six commenters on my blog. Here are the other five, all authors and/or poets in their own right:
Thank you all for your feedback!
Share this:
Facebook
Bluesky
LinkedIn
More
Reddit
Tumblr
Pinterest
Telegram
Nextdoor
WhatsApp
Threads
X
Email
Mastodon
Print
Like Loading…
March 13, 2025
Poet of the Week
Many thanks to author and blogger Sally Cronin for another guest appearance. I’ve already shared blog posts, as well as book promotions and excerpts, with Sally, and now I’ve had a chance to share the poet side of me.

Smorgasbord Poet of the Week 2025 – #Chess Eight Pawns by Andrew McDowell

If you’re a poet looking to promote your poetry, or an author looking for opportunities to promote your book(s), I highly recommend you get in touch with Sally.
Share this:
Facebook
Bluesky
LinkedIn
More
Reddit
Tumblr
Pinterest
Telegram
Nextdoor
WhatsApp
Threads
X
Email
Mastodon
Print
Like Loading…
March 5, 2025
Read an eBook Week
As today is the start of Read an eBook Week, here’s all of my work available digitally, whether in Kindle, Nook, or another eBook vendor. If you’re an eBook lover looking for your next read, I hope you find something that piques your interest. If you prefer print, they are available in print, too.

These are my novels, which feature magic, adventure, good vs. evil, forests gryphons, dragons, unicorns, and much more:

Amazon | Goodreads | B&N | BAM! | Books2Read | IngramSpark

Waterstones | Foyles

Amazon | Goodreads | B&N | BAM! | Books2Read | IngramSpark

Waterstones | Foyles

And here are all anthologies available digitally and in hard copy that feature my poetry and/or short stories. This one includes my poem inspired by a real black cat:

Amazon | Goodreads | B&N | Books2Read | IngramSpark

This one includes four of my haiku poems:

Amazon | Goodreads

This one includes six of my poems as well as six pencil drawings of mine:

Amazon | Goodreads | B&N | Books2Read

This one includes my short story about a monster-sized hammerhead shark:

Amazon | Goodreads | B&N | Books2Read

This one includes a poem I wrote inspired by the COVID pandemic:

Amazon | Goodreads

Waterstones

This one includes two of my poems and my fable about a mouse and a frog:

Amazon | Goodreads | B&N | BAM! | Books2Read

Waterstones | Foyles

These two include a psychological horror story involving knives and two of my poems, one of which is in the style of “The Raven.”

Amazon | Goodreads | B&N | BAM! | Books2Read

Waterstones | Foyles

Amazon | Goodreads | B&N | Books2Read

This one includes five of my poems:

Amazon | Goodreads | B&N | BAM! | Books2Read | IngramSpark

Waterstones | Foyles

This anthology features six of my poems:

Amazon | Goodreads | B&N | Books2Read | IngramSpark

And this anthology features one poem of mine:

Amazon | Goodreads | B&N | Books2Read

Ratings/reviews are always appreciated. Mystical Greenwood reached 50 ratings on Amazon US last month! If you already have read and reviewed one of my works, and enjoyed it, please recommend it to a friend!

As it’s also Read Across America Day, I encourage all, not just my fellow Americans, to find the joy in reading and share it with as many people as you can, especially the young.

P.S. If you’re interested in opportunities for giving a writing presentation or workshop, submissions are open for the Maryland Writers’ Conference 2025.
Share this:
Facebook
Bluesky
LinkedIn
More
Reddit
Tumblr
Pinterest
Telegram
Nextdoor
WhatsApp
Threads
X
Email
Mastodon
Print
Like Loading…
March 2, 2025