Enter the International Launch Giveaway for Bound by Scale and Blossom

Starts: Monday November 2nd, 2026 at 1am GMT
Closes: Friday December 4th 2026 11.45pm GMT
Winner announced December 5th 2026 on my Author Instagram account
Open Internationally, One winner, Over 18 only. No cash alternative.

Join me as I celebrate the forthcoming launch of Bound by Scale and Blossom with many of my friends in the writing community. Thank you to these generous authors for donating their books to the grand prize. Enter the launch giveaway by following the authors on social media or by signing up to their newsletter. The more authors you follow, the more entries you receive.

One randomly drawn reader will win a signed print copy of Bound by Scale and Blossom, five more fantasy paperbacks and seven fantasy eBooks. That’s thirteen books in total for one lucky winner!

Prize list:

Signed Paperback:

Bound by Scale and Blossom by Helen Garraway

Paperbacks:

Sundering (or choice of book in series) by R.M. Krogman

Shadow of Legends: Dragonforged #1 by J.D.L Rosell

Buried Heroes by Beth Ball

Night of the Black Dragon by Melanie Ansley

Fairy Harvest by Justin Rose

Ebooks

Forged by Betrayal and Blood by Helen Garraway

Og-Grim-Dog by Jamie Edmundson

A Dance of Scales by Evelyn Grimald Stone

Prince of the Fallen by M.H. Woodscourt

Gate Keeper by R.M. Krogman

Spark by Krystal Maravilla

The Verity by M.J. Laurie

Even the truth looks like madness when your mind is fractured.

Despite the shattering revelations uncovered within the Sanctuary, Vael remains convinced that the voices whispering in his mind are nothing more than the hallucinations of a traumatised man, and no matter how upset they get with him, it did not mean they were real.

But his grip on reality is the least of his worries. Exhausted and starving after a gruelling trek through a seemingly endless tunnel, Vael and his exhausted soldiers finally stumble into the foreign realm of Kintsber. Yet, survival offers no reprieve.

The enigmatic Kints are fiercely unwelcoming, and tensions escalate when their eminent seer unexpectedly names Vael as her chosen consort. As his men watch him slip deeper into strange, inexplicable behaviours, they fear their commander is completely losing his mind.

With Farsolian aggression worsening, and Kint politics barring their way, will Vael and his men ever survive to return home and face the emperor and his generals?

Bound by Scale and Blossom is the gripping second installment in the Celestial Throne epic fantasy series by Helen Garraway. Perfect for fans of complex characters, rich mythological lore, and gritty, high-stakes conflict.

If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and also Sentinals Discovery, the first few chapters of Sentinals Awaken from Birlerion’s POV and get notified when my next books are published.

By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator

Author Event – MCM Comic Con, London is a wrap!

MCM Comic Con London

When: Friday-Sunday, 23-25 October, 2026

Where: Writers Block, South Hall, Excel, London

Once again the MCM Comic con weekend flew by. Although the conference was heaving, the Writer’s Block was a bit quieter, and many people came to take refuge from the chaos. I didn’t have time to explore far, but we saw all the amazing cosplay.

One of the enjoyable aspects of these comic cons is meeting up with other authors. Here I am with EL Williams on the left and Fanny Garstang in the centre. I was also fortunate to be opposite C.K Andersson and L.L Macrae, with M.J Lawrie behind me and Phil Oddy my neighbour buddy.

Both the Sentinal series and Forged by Betrayal and Blood drew quite a bit of attention, the cover artwork is amazing and very eye catching. I was thrilled when one reader bought the whole Sentinal series. I do hope they enjoy all eleven books!

As was the Reign of Dragons which sold out by Saturday. The foiled hard cover and sprayed edges catch the eye and then you still have 18 stories and all the interior artwork to enjoy. I am hoping to have more stock in by the end of the year!

If you had tickets, then I hope you enjoyed the day. Hope to see you all again in May 2027.

If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.

By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator

Author Event – Come and meet me at the Wycombe Indie Book Fair

Wycombe Indie Book Fair

When: Saturday 7th November, 2026, 10am-3pm

Where: Patch, Old Library Building, Queen Victoria Road, High Wycombe, HP11 1BG

FREE Entry

Screenshot

Have a booklover in the family? Eager to find a new book to read? Signed by the author?

I’ll have my latest release, Forged By Betrayal and Blood, in paperback, and in a beautiful hardback.

Come and meet local indie authors, all with tales to share and books to talk about. Everyone welcome.

Already bought my book and want it signed? Then I’m happy to sign your book for you.

If there is a specific book you want, then please let me know, so I make sure I bring enough copies and can reserve one for you, as now I have 16 books, I am limited by the number of books I can fit in my car!

Hope to see you there.

If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.

By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator

Author Event – Come and meet me at MCM Comicon London

MCM Comicon London

When: Friday 23rd – 25th October, 2026

Where: Writer’s Block, Excel, London

MCM is back at ExCeL London this October for another 3-day celebration of all things gaming, anime and pop culture!

MCM London Comic Con takes place at excel London twice a year. Join us for your chance to meet some of the biggest actors across all media from TV & Film, to anime, to gaming. Our independent artists, creators and brands exhibiting on the show floor also grows every year. We can’t wait to welcome you back to the next MCM London!

Have a booklover in the family? Eager to find a new book to read? Signed by the author?

I’ll have my latest release, Forged By Betrayal and Blood, in paperback, and in a beautiful hardback.

Do your booklovers love dragons? Then I will have a limited number of the most amazing fantasy anthology with foiled cover, sprayed edges, beautiful artwork and 18 dragon-themed stories. The ideal present for your bookdragon hoarder!

Come and meet over twenty indie authors, all with tales to share and books to talk about. Everyone welcome.

Already bought my book and want it signed? Then I’m happy to sign your book for you.

If there is a specific book you want, then please let me know, so I make sure I bring enough copies and can reserve one for you, as now I have 16 books, I am limited by the number of books I can fit in my car!

Hope to see you there.

If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series, Celestial Throne series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and also Oathsworn, a prequel novella set in the SoulMist world and get notified when my next books are published.

By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator

Ta daa! Cover reveal for Bound By Scale and Blossom, Book Two in the Celestial Throne series.

‘A gripping epic fantasy filled with betrayal, dangerous secrets, assassins, dragons and a disgraced soldier forced to decide whether saving the empire is worth forgiving the man who destroyed his life.’ The Wishing Shelf

Book Two: Bound by Scale and Blossom releases December 5th, 2026.

Do you love classic epic fantasy sagas? Want to immerse yourself in a new world rife with legends, myths, and dragons? Looking for new characters to tug at your heartstrings? Then Forged by Betrayal and Blood, the first book in my new epic fantasy Celestial Throne series is now available and here is the gorgeous cover for book two designed by Jeff Brown. Isn’t the artwork amazing?

Betrayal comes in all shapes and sizes. It’s how you let them affect you that will forge your path in life.

Artwork by Jeff Brown Graphics

Even the truth looks like madness when your mind is fractured.

Despite the shattering revelations uncovered within the Sanctuary, Vael remains convinced that the voices whispering in his mind are nothing more than the hallucinations of a traumatised man, and no matter how upset they get with him, it did not mean they were real.

But his grip on reality is the least of his worries. Exhausted and starving after a gruelling trek through a seemingly endless tunnel, Vael and his exhausted soldiers finally stumble into the foreign realm of Kintsber. Yet, survival offers no reprieve.

The enigmatic Kints are fiercely unwelcoming, and tensions escalate when their eminent seer unexpectedly names Vael as her chosen consort. As his men watch him slip deeper into strange, inexplicable behaviours, they fear their commander is completely losing his mind.

With Farsolian aggression worsening, and Kint politics barring their way, will Vael and his men ever survive to return home and face the emperor and his generals?

Bound by Scale and Blossom is the gripping second instalment in the Celestial Throne epic fantasy series by Helen Garraway. Perfect for fans of complex characters, rich mythological lore, and gritty, high-stakes conflict.

Book One: Forged By Betrayal and Blood

‘I was enraptured from the first page all the way to the last word. There is a lot of action, adventure, found family, betrayal, magic, A little romance and dragons! The characters are all well written, they all have depth and they are all very engaging. Helen’s world building is stunning and she weaves and blends it brilliantly and beautifully throughout the story. I absolutely loved this book and I highly recommend reading it!!! And I can’t wait for the second book to come out!!!’ Raelene, ARC Reader

Available on Kindle Unlimited.

‘Another excellent book by master story teller Helen Garraway. I was quickly hooked and then reeled in to immerse myself in the story. I had to force myself to stop reading at 1 am so I could go to sleep. I kept telling myself: I’ll read just one more chapter.’ Bob, ARC Reader

Vael Tor Arne, commonly known as the Butcher of Leif, has spent the last ten years roaming the wilds of Surosha. Disgraced and outcast, he is not welcome anywhere, not even in his own home.

Never managing to rise above the rank of lieutenant in the Emperor’s army, Vael does his best to protect his men against the taint that follows him. Should the opportunity ever arise, he would gladly kill Emperor Talon Shaleri the Deranged, the man who ruined his life.

The Celestial Throne lacks its dragon, its protector, and the empire is suffering as the new emperor struggles to retain control. The emperor is weak, in power and in health. He needs to right a wrong, now he has the power to do so, before he can focus on saving his empire. But righting that wrong may not be so simple, and the man he needs to forgive him is the one man who hates him.

Dogged by persistent Farsolian warriors, who can’t decide if they want to capture or kill them, Vael and his men battle to survive. With no hope of help, Vael must avoid the war bands and the emperor’s generals long enough to choose a side. Will the Farsolian uprising be his salvation or will the Emperor finally sign his death warrant?

If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and also a prequel novella from the SoulMist world, Oathsworn and get notified when my next books are published.

By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator

Watch this space for the forthcoming cover reveal for Bound By Scale and Blossom, Book Two in the Celestial Throne series.

‘A gripping epic fantasy filled with betrayal, dangerous secrets, assassins, dragons and a disgraced soldier forced to decide whether saving the empire is worth forgiving the man who destroyed his life.’ The Wishing Shelf

Book Two: Bound by Scale and Blossom releases December 5th, 2026.

Do you love classic epic fantasy sagas? Want to immerse yourself in a new world rife with legends, myths, and dragons? Looking for new characters to tug at your heartstrings? Then Forged by Betrayal and Blood, the first book in my new epic fantasy Celestial Throne series is now available.

Betrayal comes in all shapes and sizes. It’s how you let them affect you that will forge your path in life.

‘I was enraptured from the first page all the way to the last word. There is a lot of action, adventure, found family, betrayal, magic, A little romance and dragons! The characters are all well written, they all have depth and they are all very engaging. Helen’s world building is stunning and she weaves and blends it brilliantly and beautifully throughout the story. I absolutely loved this book and I highly recommend reading it!!! And I can’t wait for the second book to come out!!!’ Raelene, ARC Reader

‘Another excellent book by master story teller Helen Garraway. I was quickly hooked and then reeled in to immerse myself in the story. I had to force myself to stop reading at 1 am so I could go to sleep. I kept telling myself: I’ll read just one more chapter.’ Bob, ARC Reader

Vael Tor Arne, commonly known as the Butcher of Leif, has spent the last ten years roaming the wilds of Surosha. Disgraced and outcast, he is not welcome anywhere, not even in his own home.

Never managing to rise above the rank of lieutenant in the Emperor’s army, Vael does his best to protect his men against the taint that follows him. Should the opportunity ever arise, he would gladly kill Emperor Talon Shaleri the Deranged, the man who ruined his life.

The Celestial Throne lacks its dragon, its protector, and the empire is suffering as the new emperor struggles to retain control. The emperor is weak, in power and in health. He needs to right a wrong, now he has the power to do so, before he can focus on saving his empire. But righting that wrong may not be so simple, and the man he needs to forgive him is the one man who hates him.

Dogged by persistent Farsolian warriors, who can’t decide if they want to capture or kill them, Vael and his men battle to survive. With no hope of help, Vael must avoid the war bands and the emperor’s generals long enough to choose a side. Will the Farsolian uprising be his salvation or will the Emperor finally sign his death warrant?

If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and also Sentinals Discovery, the first few chapters of Sentinals Awaken from Birlerion’s POV and get notified when my next books are published.

By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator

Author Event – Come and meet me at Questival

Questival

When: Saturday 3rd October, 2026, 09.45am-4pm

Where: Hulme hall, Port Sunlight, Wirral

Questival is your journey to loot, lore, and legends; a one day festival for the whole family celebrating the infinite worlds of fantasy fiction, comic books, and roleplaying games.

Join us for a day of limitless imagination and engagement meeting authors and artists, discovering new games and adventures, and getting creative with crafts and activities!

Have a booklover in the family? Eager to find a new book to read? Signed by the author?

I’ll have my latest release, Forged By Betrayal and Blood, in paperback, and in a beautiful hardback.

Do your booklovers love dragons? Then I will have a limited number of the most amazing fantasy anthology with foiled cover, sprayed edges, beautiful artwork and 18 dragon-themed stories. The ideal present for your bookdragon hoarder!

Come and meet over twenty indie authors, all with tales to share and books to talk about. Everyone welcome.

Already bought my book and want it signed? Then I’m happy to sign your book for you.

If there is a specific book you want, then please let me know, so I make sure I bring enough copies and can reserve one for you, as now I have 16 books, I am limited by the number of books I can fit in my car!

Hope to see you there.

If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and also Sentinals Discovery, the first few chapters of Sentinals Awaken from Birlerion’s POV and get notified when my next books are published.

By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator

Author Event – Come and meet me at the Marlow Indie Book Fair

Marlow Indie Book Fair

When: Sunday 6th September, 2026, 10am-3pm

Where: Liston Hall, Liston Road, Marlow, SL1 1DD

FREE Entry

Have a booklover in the family? Eager to find a new book to read? Signed by the author?

I’ll have my latest release, Forged By Betrayal and Blood, in paperback, and in a beautiful hardback.

Do your booklovers love dragons? Then I will have a limited number of the most amazing fantasy anthology with foiled cover, sprayed edges, beautiful artwork and 18 dragon-themed stories. The ideal present for your bookdragon hoarder!

Come and meet over twenty indie authors, all with tales to share and books to talk about. Everyone welcome.

Already bought my book and want it signed? Then I’m happy to sign your book for you.

If there is a specific book you want, then please let me know, so I make sure I bring enough copies and can reserve one for you, as now I have 16 books, I am limited by the number of books I can fit in my car!

Hope to see you there.

If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and also Sentinals Discovery, the first few chapters of Sentinals Awaken from Birlerion’s POV and get notified when my next books are published.

By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator

Forged By Betrayal and Blood won a Silver Medal in the Global Book Awards

I am so thrilled to announce that Forged By Betrayal and Blood, the first book in the dark epic fantasy Celestial Throne Series won a SILVER MEDAL in the 2026 Global Book Awards.

If you are looking for a gritty, dark fantasy with themes of betrayal and how that shapes you, then join Vael and Disari on their journey to overcome every obstacle put in their way. Is it worth forgiving the one man who destroyed your life to save the world. Would you?

The 2026 Global Book Awards for Self-Published Authors.

The Global Awards aim to discover new talent as well as recognize fine examples of self-published books. As such, we hope they will give self-published authors the recognition they deserve, whether that is in their writing creativity, or in the way they have marketed their books to attract new readers.

In this modern age of self-publishing, books need to be appraised not only by their content and writing style, but also by the way they present and market themselves to the prospective buyer, whether that is in the good ratings it has on important stores like Amazon, its book cover and description, or the number of reviews it has collected. They must also appeal to new readers so part of the evaluation included a survey asking avid readers to select the top 5 books they enjoyed the most.

The awards are grouped by category (or genre) and divided into Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Award Finalists.

Grab your copy today!


Vael Tor Arne, commonly known as the Butcher of Leif, has spent the last ten years roaming the wilds of Surosha. Disgraced and outcast, he is not welcome anywhere, not even in his own home.

Never managing to rise above the rank of lieutenant in the Emperor’s army, Vael does his best to protect his men against the taint that follows him. Should the opportunity ever arise, he would gladly kill Emperor Talon Shaleri the Deranged, the man who ruined his life.

The Celestial Throne lacks its dragon, its protector, and the empire is suffering as the new emperor struggles to retain control. The emperor is weak, in power and in health. He needs to right a wrong, now he has the power to do so, before he can focus on saving his empire. But righting that wrong may not be so simple, and the man he needs to forgive him is the one man who hates him.

Dogged by persistent Farsolian warriors, who can’t decide if they want to capture or kill them, Vael and his men battle to survive. With no hope of help, Vael must avoid the war bands and the emperor’s generals long enough to choose a side. Will the Farsolian uprising be his salvation or will the Emperor finally sign his death warrant?

If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. As a new threat against Remargaren is discovered, only one man can wake the ancient guards who can protect them, only he doesn’t know how. Start the adventure and stay for the journey. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.

By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator). You can withdraw your consent at any time. The data will be processed until the consent is withdrawn.

Forged By Betrayal and Blood is a Finalist in the Global Book Awards

I am so thrilled to announce that Forged By Betrayal and Blood, the first book in the dark epic fantasy Celestial Throne Series is a finalist in the 2026 Global Book Awards.

The 2026 Global Book Awards for Self-Published Authors.

The Global Awards aim to discover new talent as well as recognize fine examples of self-published books. As such, we hope they will give self-published authors the recognition they deserve, whether that is in their writing creativity, or in the way they have marketed their books to attract new readers.

In this modern age of self-publishing, books need to be appraised not only by their content and writing style, but also by the way they present and market themselves to the prospective buyer, whether that is in the good ratings it has on important stores like Amazon, its book cover and description, or the number of reviews it has collected. They must also appeal to new readers so part of the evaluation included a survey asking avid readers to select the top 5 books they enjoyed the most.

The awards are grouped by category (or genre) and divided into Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Award Finalists.

Grab your copy today!


Vael Tor Arne, commonly known as the Butcher of Leif, has spent the last ten years roaming the wilds of Surosha. Disgraced and outcast, he is not welcome anywhere, not even in his own home.

Never managing to rise above the rank of lieutenant in the Emperor’s army, Vael does his best to protect his men against the taint that follows him. Should the opportunity ever arise, he would gladly kill Emperor Talon Shaleri the Deranged, the man who ruined his life.

The Celestial Throne lacks its dragon, its protector, and the empire is suffering as the new emperor struggles to retain control. The emperor is weak, in power and in health. He needs to right a wrong, now he has the power to do so, before he can focus on saving his empire. But righting that wrong may not be so simple, and the man he needs to forgive him is the one man who hates him.

Dogged by persistent Farsolian warriors, who can’t decide if they want to capture or kill them, Vael and his men battle to survive. With no hope of help, Vael must avoid the war bands and the emperor’s generals long enough to choose a side. Will the Farsolian uprising be his salvation or will the Emperor finally sign his death warrant?

If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. As a new threat against Remargaren is discovered, only one man can wake the ancient guards who can protect them, only he doesn’t know how. Start the adventure and stay for the journey. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.

By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator). You can withdraw your consent at any time. The data will be processed until the consent is withdrawn.