PRESS RELEASE: Publication day for our first fiction title: ‘Jude’ by Elin Heron

Lucent Dreaming has been operating as a creative writing magazine since April 2018 from Cardiff. In 2023, we began our single-author trade publishing venture, launching Dominoes and Miracles by former Wales Children’s Laureate, Connor Allen.

This autumn, financially supported by Books Council Wales, we launch our first fiction title. Jude by Elin Heron is a young adult novel that explores identity and our connection to nature through a character-driven story, perfect for fans of Manon Steffan Ros or Elen Caldecott.

Samiha Meah, Acquiring Editor, said:

‘Acquiring our first official novel as a new publisher was a daunting task, but when I first read the manuscript for Jude I just knew that this was what we were looking for. Elin Heron has such a wonderful style of writing, the perfect blend of dreamy descriptions that transfix you and just the right amount of tension to keep you at the edge of your seat! This will be Elin Heron’s debut novel, as well as ours, and it has been a pleasure to work on it. I cannot wait to see it out in the world!’

Debut author Elin Heron said:

‘Living online and indoors, so many of us feel disembodied and disconnected and with no real sense of belonging. Jude explores what it feels like to reconnect with the earth, with another person, and, through the character of an ambiguous wood spirit, imagines what the natural world, ambivalent as it may be to our existence, requires from humans. The blossoming of love comes from the same place in us as our sense of awe and wonder at the natural world. Both draw us out of ourselves, both make us profoundly aware that we cannot exist wrapped up only in our own concerns.’

Early praise includes:

‘Darkly beautiful, creepy and atmospheric, JUDE is also an achingly tender love story. I was completely bewitched. Loved it!’ Eloise Williams

‘New love and ancient darkness clash in a wonderfully compelling mystery. Brimming over with rich, atmospheric storytelling, this powerful debut is not to be missed.’ Keith Gray

The book launch for Jude will take place at Oat & Bean in Cardiff at 6.30pm on 30 September 2024. Tickets are free, and available through Eventbrite. The book is available to order in store and online.

Any press or publisher queries can be addressed to admin@lucentdreaming.com