Magic Thursday: Juggling three pen names with Tracy Brenton. And Ruby St. George. And Tess Mackay!

 

This is my debut year for Ruby St. George, and after writing hard for two years (I’m a fast writer, but I always take loooong breaks between books!) I rapid released the first three books in my new paranormal romance series in late 2025. I started a mailing list for Ruby about a year ago with a reader magnet that I gave away on Book Funnel and it’s built to around 800 subscribers, which helped hugely with the launch.

Why would I do this? Why start a third pen name- three websites, three social media handles, three mailing lists, three brands? To be honest, it wasn’t a thought out decision, it’s just how it’s evolved.

I’ve been writing since 2013, when I realised I never did anything just for me. I had an accounting business, a husband, and a couple of kids and was involved in the Chamber of Commerce, the Business Women’s Network, Rotary, and the school P&C, with Board / Committee positions on all of them including both president and treasurer roles over the years. So I stepped back a little from all those positions and started trying different things that I had always wanted to do but never had time for. Writing was the one that stuck – I started with a course with the Australian Writers' Centre and joined an online writing group from there. 

I started writing my first book and got stuck halfway through, which led me to dive deeper into story structure. As an aside, I got to share some of those learnings with other writers last weekend at the Writers for Writers event run by the Port Macquarie Writers Group. I was so nervous! But it was good, we had some great conversations and people actually did the exercise I gave them! And read their work out afterwards! It was fabulous.

I finished writing that first book and pitched it at my first Romance Writers of Australia conference in 2017 (in Brisbane), got three yes’s and was very excited. But when I thought about it, I decided I didn’t want the kind of pressure that came with traditional publishing. I wanted to set my own deadlines. I didn’t want any more stress than I already had. And so began my indie publishing journey.

I published my first small town romantic suspense in 2018 under my real name (hi, I’m Tracy Brenton). It was an experiment – first person, one point of view. It was fun. And it was a little spicy. I think we called it steamy back then. Or maybe it was the days of ‘open door’. In any case, when I segued into sweet contemporary young adult books, after being inspired by a conversation with one of my kids, I decided I better use a pen name (Tess Mackay) in case one of those impressionable teenage readers accidentally picked up the other genre and got more than they bargained for. 

After my husband passed away in October 2019 I wasn’t sure if I wanted to keep writing. But I’d already started my third YA book, The Full Story, and eventually I decided to finish it.

Then I got an idea for a paranormal romance. But would my contemporary adult and YA readers follow me across genres? I decided to start another pen name, and Ruby St. George was born!

I wrote the novella Shadow Magic in a whirlwind, put it up in an anthology, then promptly went back to write my second small town romantic suspense book. Hearts Sing is also written in first person, but this one has both his and her points of view. Another experiment, and heaps of fun. There’s still more books in that series planned (and I’ve got a short story and a freebie novella already out too), but they’re on the back burner for the moment as I focus on Ruby’s books. 

For now, I’m loving writing paranormal. I’ve published four Ruby St. George books, including the prequel novella. The Touch of Magic series is a continuing series, and I did that thing I never wanted to do – I set myself a deadline. Book four is up for pre-order! It will be a six book series once complete, plus the novella, and I’m brimming with shiny new paranormal ideas for Ruby and can’t wait to bring them to life!

This year I will publish my tenth full length book. Three different pen names, three different genres (maybe four if you count the zombie-vampire short story) and so many writing friends! Writing has given me a reason to travel-to book signings, to conferences, to retreats-and awesome friends to travel with.  

I love being indie. I love all the moving parts, that I get to play with covers, and formatting, and Canva, and all the myriad of other things we do. I hire my own editors, do my own covers (or pay a cover designer in the Ruby’s case), and the next thing I want to do is audio books. And shiny pretty paperbacks. And the discreet cover hardback too 😊 There’s always something new to learn. But the most fun part is that I get to create worlds and characters, and bring the stories in my head to life. 

So how do I juggle three pen names?

For now, Ruby is for readers, as I’m focussing on writing paranormal. Tracy is for me, and it’s a hodge podge of writing stuff and life stuff. Tess is on the back burner. Those books exist, but I probably won’t be writing the fourth Wholesome Hearts book for a while. 

It’s not a secret that I write under different names, but I don’t really talk about the others on my Ruby pages, apart from my email welcome sequence. Meanwhile, Tracy is over there talking about everyone!

At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter how many pen names I use, it’s still just me. And I’m having so much fun!

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If you want to read Shadow Magic for free you can find a link on my website. 

My latest Release is True Magic, book three in the Touch of Magic series, and book four, Midnight Magic, will be released on 30 June 2026!

Latest release

True Magic

Book 3, Touch of Magic

Bonding with a cranky wolf shifter might have been my biggest mistake, but leaving him could mean war.

After a disaster with her strange magic Darcy realizes she is never going to get the help she needs with the wolves, so when someone close to her is threatened by the clan leader she does the only thing she can– she returns to the clan compound to save them, hoping to also find out the truth about her magic.

But returning was a mistake and with the clan pushing its own agenda she might never get free. Her bond with her wolf shifter, Jones, is growing and he will do anything to bring her home, even if it means war.

Then her mother reveals the truth about her heritage and her world is turned upside down. Now she can no longer trust anything she thought was true.

Caught between the clan and her bonded wolf, there's one chance to save them all, even if it means sacrificing herself, and Darcy has to make the toughest choice she’s ever made.

Her family or her heart.

Fans of Ilona Andrews, Faith Hunter and Keri Arthur will love this slow burn paranormal romance.

Buy

Upcoming release

Midnight Magic

Book 4, Touch of Magic

My cranky wolf shifter Familiar has broken our bond, and my heart, in order to save my life. I’m getting him back, but first I need to survive my trip to Faery land.

Pre-Order

Ruby St. George

Ruby St. George writes action packed urban fantasy and paranormal romance. She lives on the Mid North Coast of NSW with her feline companions, who rule her world. Ruby loves good coffee and lives by the motto ‘experiences, not things’. She’s always looking for her next fabulous book boyfriend. 

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You can find Ruby at rubystgeorge.com.

DarkLight On... Melanie Pickering!

Welcome Melanie!

You write urban gothic romance. What attracted you to this genre?

I've always loved mysteries that were a little bit spooky and once I was old enough to appreciate romance, I went looking for stories that blended the two. From Scooby-Doo to Scream, we know that feeling scared can intensify romantic feelings!

Writing gothic romance allows me to indulge both these loves while producing the sorts of stories I always wanted to read, but could never find.

You also have YA stories. Can you tell us about them? How is the market for them?

I cut my teeth writing YA. Adrift (part of the Mermaid Kisses anthology) was my very first publication and based on a nightmare I had about a mermaid couple who lured humans into the sea, so they could drown them and use their bodies on land.

My debut novel, Spill, was a homage to everything I loved - ghosts, teenage first love, and an ambiguous timeline. It's angsty, gritty and doesn't shy away from bad language or hard-hitting themes - one of which was self-harm. It was difficult to market and I still don't think it's found its audience.

Then came Ghosted, a purely-indulgent Holiday romance. It's light and sweet but with a whimsically dark edge. A Christmas Carol / Groundhog Day mashup set during a typical Aussie summer - it is illustrated by my daughter, Hannah, so will always have a special place in my heart.

While I've parked writing YA for the time being to focus on regular adult stories, I still have a couple to write.

Are you a plotter? Panster? Or somewhere in-between?

I started out as a meticulous plotter, but suffered paralysis-by-analysis when I didn't know what came next or if I veered off track. Now I am about 90% Pantser. I still need to write out everything I know about the idea of a story - this usually ends up being my synopsis or blurb - and I always do this first. Just don't ask me about GMC, or beats, etc. as I tend to figure these out organically, in my head, and having to think about them will have me running from the room (and you)!

Do you have advice for aspiring writers?

Write your own way - and don't be afraid to try a multitude of ways before you find "your" way. Trust your instincts - you'll know when something's right for you or not.

How do you fill the creative well?

I love to make things, but working full-time has run the well a bit dry. When I need inspiration, I like to head outside for a walk. The shower is also a good substitute. It's ridiculous the amount of ideas that come to me when I'm showering! I also read every single night before bed - without exception.

What is next in the future for you?

I'm currently working on a 6-part workplace-romance-psychic-mystery series, called Deadly Possessions, about a collection of ill-fated antiques and their secret histories.

Tell us about your latest release and your inspiration behind it. 

I've just released Book 1 in the Deadly Possessions series: Hounding the Truth. The whole series was inspired by the idea that our possessions - be they ordinary objects or heirlooms - carry stories that refuse to fade, intertwining with the lives of those who uncover them. If your antiques could talk, what stories would they tell?

Melanie Pickering

Hounding the Truth

Book 1, Deadly Possessions

Like your cozy mysteries a little dark, with bite, and slow burn sizzling romance?

When Emily Sloane starts her new job at Jared Bell’s prestigious auction house, she’s thrilled to prove herself with a high-profile assignment: cataloging the life-sized bronze statue of a hellhound once owned by notorious gothic horror writer, Victor Barrow. But as Emily delves into the statue’s history and taps into her uncanny ability to sense its past, she uncovers dark secrets linked to Barrow’s untimely death.

As the auction draws near, Emily and Jared are drawn into a dangerous game involving a ruthless publisher and a ghostwriter with a grudge. Amidst the gothic gloom of Barrow’s legacy and the growing attraction between them, Emily and Jared find themselves entangled in a web of danger that threatens their very safety.

Will they unravel the dark secrets of the Barrow estate in time, or will they become the latest victims trapped within their own gothic nightmare?

Hounding the Truth is the thrilling first addition to the Deadly Possessions series, where each antique hides a dangerous secret, and revealing the truth comes with its own distinct price.

Buy

Melanie Pickering

Melanie Pickering writes urban gothic thrillers with mystery, romance, and a supernatural twist. Her new dark cozy series, Deadly Possessions, follows psychic art historian Emily Sloane and her dangerously charming boss as they uncover the cursed secrets behind a trail of deadly antiques.

If you like your mysteries with bite, your romance slow but sultry, and your heirlooms haunted, Book One: Hounding the Truth is out now!


Visit Melanie at: melaniepickering.com

 

Magic Thursday: Why I Write for Young Adults with Melanie Pickering!

Ask any YA author why they write for a teenage audience, and more than likely their first answer is they are creating the kind of books they would have wanted to read when they were that age. You see, for the majority of us, there was a void in literature between middle-grade and adult fiction when we were younger, making it difficult to find age-appropriate books. 

Nowadays, the young adult shelves in bookstores and libraries are overflowing. Though not a genre within itself, young adult books have one of the largest followings on social media, and this is due to one thing. Emotion. 

We all joke about teenagers being drama queens, but it’s true. Young people are recording themselves reacting in over-the-top manners to the way the books they read have made them feel.

As a library assistant in a large secondary college, I’ve seen the influence that having access to different genres and authors can have on teenagers. Literature has always been an essential part of human culture, providing a means of education, entertainment, and inspiration. But for young adults, literature also plays a critical role in shaping their lives and values. 

Reading can help young adults to understand their own thoughts, feelings, and motivations. Not only can this help them navigate the challenges of adolescence and beyond, but it also provides a sense of comfort and understanding to young adults who are struggling with emotional challenges. By reading books with characters that are dealing with similar problems, they can gain a sense of perspective and realise that they are not alone in their struggles.

As I was writing my debut novel, Spill, I didn’t set out intending to tackle mental health issues. They just sort of happened organically as the story progressed. I had a blood-letting ghost and a protagonist who could see him whenever she drew blood. This first happens by accident, but then she starts bleeding herself on purpose. Add in a boyfriend who was a former cutter, and you’ve got some heavy issues. 

However, drawing on personal experience and having teenagers of my own, I could see a clear theme beyond the mental illness—something that affects nearly every young person at some point—not being understood, believed, or truly seen. My character, Amy, spends most of the book feeling invisible to everyone who isn’t a ghost. A very small number of my early readers challenged this idea, citing that she had a great friend group and people who loved her—how could she claim to not be seen? As adults, we might find this hard to understand, but for any young person going through this tumultuous phase of life, these seemingly irrational feelings are completely valid. It’s not up to us to tell anyone else how they should feel. But there are ways we can help.

As parents, mentors and educators, our role is to encourage young adults to seek literature that helps them explore the world from a safe place. This is also the time when they begin to develop their reading habits and interests, and the books they read can have a profound impact. If I can help just one young person feel validated, while providing entertainment and the promise of hope for the future beyond the last page, then I couldn’t ask for anything more. 

That’s why I write for young adults.

Spill

If you’d always felt invisible, how far would you go to be seen?

When seventeen-year-old Amy Shipley crosses the threshold of the abandoned house on Flinders Lane, she unwittingly unleashes the curse of a nineteenth-century bloodletter. Haunted by a charming ghost with a dark obsession, she is pushed down a path that leads to blood and pain.

But it’s a path where she is finally seen. Where she no longer feels alone.

Unable to ignore Amy’s descent into self-destruction, former boy-next-door Flynn Powell embarks on a mission to save the girl he’s fallen for. But walking that path opens old wounds, forcing him to question whether he’s the hero she really needs.

While Flynn battles his troubled past, Amy is thrust deeper into a seductive world of secrets and lies. In the fight to save their love, more than blood is going to be spilled, and it might just cost Amy her life.

If you like captivating mystery, characters with real issues and a tender romance that will melt your heart, you’ll love Amy and Flynn’s story.

Buy

Melanie Pickering

Melanie Pickering is an Australian author of genre-blending young adult novels that deal with love, loss, beauty and madness.

She has always had a vivid imagination and has been penning stories for as long as she can remember. Never satisfied when her favourite books were over, she continued the stories herself (often in cramped and messy handwriting) on the inside of the front and back covers.

Lewis Carroll’s timeless classic, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, fed her early hunger for twisted reality stories, and she has been obsessed ever since. 

She lives with her husband, two teenagers - plus their rescue pets - in beautiful sunny Brisbane, which is in stark contrast to the dark worlds that inhabit her stories. She loves dressing up, and thinks Halloween is terribly underrated.

You can find Melanie at her website.

Enchanted Orb with Stacey Nash

Today we have YA author, Stacey Nash, sharing her inspiration behind the first two books in her Collective Series.

Inspiration is a funny thing. A bit like motivation; sometimes it’s there just waiting for us to grab hold of it and others it’s not and as a writer we find we have to drag it from deep inside of us. I’ve experienced both of these. I recently wrote a story that had been close to my heart for years, but when I sat down to start drafting there was no inspiration for the plot or the characters. Sure I had a great concept, but all the pieces didn’t fall together and for a little while it kind of felt like I was forcing them. Needless to say the story wound up in my bottom drawer where it will stay until inspiration strikes. Other times, like with my recently published series, not only did the idea for the concept, and plot arrive at once, but so too did the characters. Because I love the type of science fiction seen in the TV shows like Fringe and Agents S.H.E.I.L.D I drew a lot of inspiration from there, which I combined with my love of urban fantasy. This made the series a real mix of advanced tech sci-fi in a setting secluded from public knowledge, just like must urban fantasy stories. I’m pretty sure it’s not a genre, but I like to call my books urban sci-fi.

This wasn’t the only inspiration or its main source. I’ve spent many years not only fascinated by conspiracy theories, but debating about them with my father.

Is the Da Vinci code real? What about crop circles? Big Foot a hoax? Maybe Nessie exists.

My favourite conspiracy theory is the illuminate and this is where I drew my inspiration for the secret society in the Collective Series, called the Collective. In my books the Collective are a secret organization who not only suppress the knowledge of highly advanced technology from the general populace, but they use it to shape world events in a way they believe is best for all mankind. This also is done behind closed doors, without society realizing that they are not only the puppets, but also play things of the Collective. Yes, I essentially wrote a conspiracy theory YA. Forget Me Not has a lot of adventure, a good dose of danger, and a bucket load of romance, because everyone loves a little love!

I find stories like this that have plenty of inspiration easier to write. What about you, where does your inspiration come from and has lack of inspiration ever stopped you from writing?

About the Collective Series -
Anamae is drawn into a world which shatters everything she knew to be true.

Since her mother vanished nine years ago, Anamae and her father have shared a quiet life. But when Anamae discovers a brooch identical to her mother's favorite pendant, she unknowingly invites a slew of trouble into their world. They're not just jewellery, they're part of a highly developed technology capable of cloaking the human form. Triggering the jewellery's power attracts the attention of a secret society determined to confiscate the device - and silence everyone who is aware of its existence. Anamae knows too much, and now she's Enemy Number One. She's forced to leave her father behind when she's taken in by a group determined to keep her safe. Here Anamae searches for answers about this hidden world. With her father kidnapped and her own life on the line, Anamae must decide if saving her dad is worth risking her new friends' lives. No matter what she does, somebody is going to get hurt.

Buy links for Forget Me Not, Collective Series, book 1

HarperCollins || Amazon || Amazon Au || iBooks || GooglePlay || Barnes & Noble || Kobo

Buy links for Remember Me, Collective Series, book 2

HarperCollins || Amazon || Amazon Au || iBooks || Googleplay || Barnes & Noble || Kobo


About Stacey Nash

Stacey Nash writes adventure filled stories for Young Adults in the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres. She loves to read and write books that have a lot of adventure, a good dose of danger, a smattering of romance, and KISSING! Hailing from the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, she loves nothing more than immersing herself in the beauty and culture of the local area.

Author of the Collective Series; Forget Me Not and Remember Me.

Connect with Stacey:

Author Website || Twitter || Facebook || Pinterest