🏞️ Somerset Scenes

In my last regular newsletter, I promised I’d tell you about the ashes scattering ceremony for my lovely parents, so here goes. It feels strange to be writing this now, in the middle of a ferocious heatwave, but it was terrible weather – rainy and windy all day. It was such a shame as we’d put so much effort into making the garden look beautiful. But it didn’t stop us from having a laugh and raising a toast to our much-missed parents.

We scattered their ashes in the special memorial garden we’d created here in Somerset. We put candles around the little fountain and stones engraved with their names. My brother brought Dad’s cricket bat and ball and his favourite Arthur C Clarke novels to put on it, too.

There was much hilarity during the scattering because it’s not as easy as you might think. Dad always told us to throw him out with the rubbish, so we saved a few to honour his wishes!

My nephew’s little girl was a highlight, full of energy and insisting on swimming despite the weather. She and Coco became fast friends – I think they share the same soul – full of fun and energy. Coco adored her. Indy did not! He hid in the greenhouse while she scoured the garden for him. Until, in the end, I told her he’d gone through the magic portal as he always did at that time of day, and she wouldn’t find him. So then she tried to find the magic portal…

We ate heartily, which Mum would have approved of, and later played our traditional family-favourite games, Tippit and Pit, which Dad would have approved of.

My niece made meringues – Mum’s party piece – no family occasion is complete without them! And I provided a gazillion different flavours of home-made ice cream, and my exciting new Soft Serve, which I’m very proud of.

It wasn’t a solemn occasion – neither of them would have wanted that. We had a lovely, fun time, with many reminiscences. My parents would have loved it.

Piccies – honouring Dad’s wishes, the memorial fountain complete with his cricket bat, a glorious cake, and a beautiful memory of the day.

Poll Time

Who is your favourite character from all the Dark Water book series?

PICK HERE

“Ask Alex Anything” Replies

Wow, Alex had so many great questions in response to the “Ask Alex Anything” challenge in the last newsletter!

Here is a selection of the best of them, complete with his replies.

Jo and Dea both asked similar questions – if Alex could go back in time and change one thing what would it be? But the reply is too spoilery to post, sadly! 

Val had a lovely question:

What would be the most Romantic destination you would like to visit?

ALEX:

That’s not something people ask me often. Mostly, they want me to dish some kind of dirt!

Romance isn’t something I think about a lot – Joe loves me, and that’s enough for me.

But… I’ve always wanted to go to Lastkahn Ghetto with Joe. He tells such amazing stories about it. We could explore all the boats and rafts, dance the night away at the Blue Rooster, then barge-hop back to our boat and make love until dawn. Best of all – nobody would recognise us. We wouldn’t come with all that baggage we have back home. And to me, that kind of freedom is the most romantic thing of all.

And Kari asked this: Knowing what you know now, would you do it all again?

ALEX:

Good question!

Honestly? I don’t know. It led me to where I am now, and I’m so bloody happy it’d make my 19-year-old self puke. But it was a hell of a lot to go through to get here. I wish I could turn the clock back so my mum didn’t die. I miss her. All the time. But I’m in a much better place now, and I can’t change the past. I guess everything worked out in the end. 

I think Beth sneakily wanted a whole new novel from me! But what a great question!

Hi Alex!

I think of you and Joe often. How are you doing? How many years have you been married now? Can you tell me some of your recent adventures?

ALEX:

Hi Beth!

I’m doing fine, thanks. Better than fine – life is good. Joe and I have been married for three years – he’s in his forties now – I make sure to remind him of that on a daily basis. He loves it when I do that.

As for adventures – we’ve both had more than enough adventures to last a lifetime. My aim is to lead as boring a life as possible. I can’t say the same for Joe – he still loves chasing after bad guys, so there’s often some drama there. But I spend all day in my workshop designing stuff – not always ducks, but mostly. And playing with Penny and the kitties. Then Joe comes home, and that’s the best time of the day – for all of us.

And that’s it. The quiet life. No adventures. Just me and the man I love – and all our fur babies. Bliss.

Thanks for your question!

Alex

cHania

not a question, just some stupid motherly urge to hug and comfort him

😉

ALEX:

Thank you. I miss my mum a lot, so I’m happy to take all the motherly hugs that get sent my way.

Alex

🎁 Walter’s World Gifts

• Free Stories: Bonus novellas and short stories including Safe Harbour, A Willing Lad, and more.
• Extras & World-Building: Spotify playlists, character photo stashes, Rising Radio shows, a London flood map, and The Daily Lowdown news site.

📣 Previous Poll Results

The winner of the Who is your favourite Dark Water character? poll is…(drumroll) JOSIAH!

Alex was just three votes behind, and I’ll admit I’d expected him to take it. But much as I love Alex, Josiah deserves all the love too — not least for what he did for Alex in The Quarterlands. I’m delighted to learn he has so many fans 💖.

In third place, a long way behind, was Solange with five votes. A big shout out to Hattie who received four votes – and it’s not hard to see why! I was surprised that Gideon mustered three votes though. Peter had two, and Cam had one. I’m not surprised that George didn’t get a single vote, although I remain very fond of that monster!

 📊 Poll Time

Which Xanthe Walter world would you most like to live in?

🎧 Audiobook Rec

 This is an occasional series, but I haven’t done one for quite some time. I’m doing this one because I came across something SPECIAL.

CF White brought her audiobook narrator, Piers Ryman, to ShiMMer. He gave a reading of a chapter from her To Love a Psycho series at the after-party, and I was hooked! I immediately downloaded Book One, Dream a Little Dream, and have listened to it, and it’s superb. I’m on Book Two now. If you like dark, plotty MM romantic thrillers with broken boys (and if you don’t, why are you here!), then you’ll love her work. She’s also a UK author, like me, and her stories have a distinctive British tone. 

Piers Ryman has a gorgeous, sexy voice and does brilliant character work.

Dream a Little Dream by CF White. Go check it out. You won’t regret it! 

🏆 The Winning Captions

Thank you to everyone who joined in and shared your hilarious ideas. You had me laughing from start to finish, and choosing the winners was no easy task.

Here are the best captions that had me laughing the most. Congratulations to the winner, Dea, and the fabulous runners-up, Ilona and Debbie D.

The runners-up first:

“Who are you calling a pussy? I’ll have you know I’m the fiercest Kitty alive.” – Ilona

“Leave me alone hooman! Can’t u c I’m napping. Grrr!!!” – Debbie D

Dea’s winning captions (I can’t choose between them!):

📚 Book Promotions

Discover these MM romance box sets packed with unforgettable love stories. Many are free or available through Kindle Unlimited. Please check availability before downloading. Your next favorite read is just a click away. 

🧑🏻‍🤝‍🧑🏻 Featured Author

Christie Gordon

I sing to survive, and he’s never been with a man. When he looks at me, it’s everything.

DEVIN

I hadn’t planned on falling for anyone, especially him.

After escaping a suffocating Mormon past, I built a new life—working at a queer-owned bakery,

singing in a band, embracing skirts and eyeliner like armor.

Then Brandon walks into my world with his shy smiles and stammered compliments.

I can’t look away.

He says he’s never been with a guy. But every time his eyes linger, every time our fingers brush, I wonder…is he just curious, or as lost as I am?

I want him. But I’m not sure where to start.

All I know is, my heart races when he’s around.

BRANDON

I was just trying to get through college.

Keep my head down, finish my degree, and figure out the rest later.

Then Devin appears—in eyeliner and combat boots, belting out lyrics with a voice that cracks something open in me.

He takes my breath away.

I’ve never let myself act on an attraction to a man.

But Devin? He’s different. He makes me want to push past the doubt and fear.

And even though I’m fumbling through every new feeling, I can’t stay away.

I just hope I’m strong enough to be the man he deserves.

🐈‍⬛Caption This!

Not his best look, but it made me laugh! He was just finishing a yawn. Let me know if you have any funny captions for this pic. Best ones published in the next newsletter!

💬 Xanthology

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👋 That’s All, Folks!

Until next time, my lovelies!

XOXO
Xanthe
P.S. Did you vote in the poll?!