From the author.
Dear readers,
I’m so thrilled to introduce the new historical/ timeslip novels I’m writing under the name of Elena Collins. The choice of pseudonym is a tribute to my grandmother, Nell Collins, who was my father’s mother. She was a teller of stories and fortunes, she had healing hands and the most amazing laugh.
Theis genre of books is so exciting to write. They are dual timelines, exploring the history of women’s lives and making a parallel with modern experiences. They bring together three things I love: delving into history, exploring stunning locations and evoking the possibility of the supernatural.
My first novel in this genre, The Witch’s Tree, is set in the beautiful Somerset countryside, moving between now and 1682/3. The second is set in Scotland in 1306, The Lady of the Loch. The third, The Daughter of the Mists, takes place in the beautiful fenlands of East Anglia in the present day and in AD 61.
My fifth novel is one I’m so excited about. It is the story of Katherine Ferrers who, in the seventeenth century, was married at thirteen to a man who used her money for the Royalist cause. But years later, resouceful Kate turns to another life to make ends meet. Meanwhile in the present day, Charlie, newly alone and rootless, hears the sound of hoofbeats late at night from his bedroom window…
I hope my readers will enjoy the stories of people’s lives then and now, and the chance to experience some spine-tingling moments.
I love writing, travelling and researching. When I’m away from my desk, my home and my two black cats, you’ll find me researching my next novel in my camper van in some of this country’s most beautiful locations, and beyond.
I hope you will enjoy my novels. If you’ve had a good time reading, please leave a review. You’ve no idea how nice it is for authors to get feedback from someone who’s enjoyed their books.
With love,
EC. x
The Witch’s Tree. Boldwood Books. May 17th, 2022.
A tale as old as time. A spirit that has never rested.
Present day
As a love affair comes to an end, and with it her dreams for her future, artist Selena needs a retreat. The picture-postcard Sloe Cottage in the Somerset village of Ashcombe promises to be the perfect place to forget her problems, and Selena settles into her new home as spring arrives. But it isn’t long before Selena hears the past whispering to her. Sloe Cottage is keeping secrets which refuse to stay hidden.
1682
Grace Cotter longs for nothing more than a husband and family of her own. Content enough with her work on the farm, looking after her father, and learning the secrets of her grandmother Bett’s healing hands, nevertheless Grace still hopes for love. But these are dangerous times for dreamers, and rumours and gossip can be deadly. One mis-move and Grace’s fate looks set…
Separated by three hundred years, two women are drawn together by a home bathed in blood and magic. Grace Cotter’s spirit needs to rest, and only Selena can help her now.
Boldwood Books February 23rd, 2023.
Ravenscraig Castle, Scotland. 1307
When the castle she works in is sacked by the army of Prince Edward of England, kitchen maid Agnes Fitzgerald manages to escape north of Inverness to throw herself at the mercy of the Lord and Lady at Ravenscraig Castle. Although safe for now, the people of Scotland are fighting hard for their independence, and the threat of the English hangs heavy over the land. But when Agnes spies Cam Buchanan swimming in the loch, her mind turns away from war and towards love. Agnes even dares to dream of a happy future, until she learns that Cam must go and fight alongside Robert de Brus.
Present day
Twins Leah and Zoe need a change, so caretaking at Ravenscraig Castle is the perfect opportunity to get away from it all. Surrounded by rugged Highland countryside, and bordered by a loch, the picturesque setting is everything they dreamed of. But the locals are reluctant to visit Ravenscraig, and there are whispers of ghosts and lost souls. The sisters quickly dismiss such superstition, but soon the overwhelming sadness they feel coming from tower grows too hard to ignore.
Can the sisters finally right the wrongs of seven hundred years of heartbreak, seven hundred years of betrayal…?
(Boldwood Books, October 2nd, 2023.)
AD 61
Brittania is in the hands of the Romans but when the conquering army betray the dead King Prasutagus by defiling his daughters, his Queen, Boudicca, is determined to regain her land.
Iceni slave Brea remembers little of the time before the Romans, and has grown used to their louche and indulgent customs. She diligently goes about her duties looking after the artless Aurelia, wife-to-be of the handsome war hero Marcellus, but her longing for freedom and her desire to find her lost father, are never far from her mind.
Present Day
When Hanna returns to Norfolk from years working abroad, the strange dreams of her adolescence return: indistinct figures in tunics, mighty soldiers in armour, gladiators, temples, an Iceni warrior woman leading her people. Gradually Hanna’s dreams begin to slip into the present as visions in the famous mists rolling across the fens, and as shocks of recognition when a new face moves to her childhood home.
As Hanna realises that she has a connection with a tragedy that occurred many years before, so Brea has to understand that her fate is bound up with her Roman master. And as the drumbeat of rebellion gets ever closer Brea must make the fatal choice between love and loyalty while Hanna has to find a way to make peace with the past.
USA Today bestselling author Judy Leigh writing as Elena Collins, brings you this heart-breaking and unforgettable timeslip novel, perfect for fans of Barbara Erskine, Diana Gabaldon and Louise Douglas.
1648 – Hertfordshire
Thirteen-year-old Katherine Ferrers is in despair at being betrothed to arch-Royalist Thomas Fanshawe whose family are hellbent on plundering her family’s fortune to champion the exiled Charles. As her unhappy marriage stretches before her, her only comfort is her beloved childhood home The Cell. But as the years pass and Kate grows restless, a new passion, a new love and a dangerous calling threaten to upend everything she’s ever known.
Present Day – Hertfordshire
Charlie Wolfe jumps at the chance to help his uncle renovate a tumbledown cottage overlooking Nomansland Common. Number One Constable’s Cottages was once the home of the man charged with ridding the common of the highwaymen who terrorised travellers. But it’s the story of The Wicked Lady, the notorious female highway robber, that captures Charlie’s imagination, and some long winters’ nights he’s sure he can the hoofbeats of her horse echoing across time.
What drove this mystery woman to risk everything for a life of crime, and why is she still restless, wandering the common in grief? It seems only Charlie can finally uncover the secret Katherine Ferrers has kept for hundreds of years; a secret of a terrible betrayal and a tragic love that was never meant to end this way…
(Boldwood Books August 2024)
Now: When Megan’s father gets a letter containing a secret from the past, he asks her to go to the Cornish village of St Mawgen Cove to get to the bottom of the mystery. Megan is happy to take a holiday after a challenging year but as soon as she checks into The Ship Inn something feels amiss. There are noises in the room above, the locals tell tales of smugglers and shipwrecks and she can’t escape the story of the witch who waits and watches, weeping on the top of the cliff.
1625: Susanna and her daughter Katel live a contented life, but without the protection of a husband and father, Susanna fears for Katel’s future as she blossoms into womanhood. The fishing community of St Mawgen Cove is close knit but when misfortune arrives in the cove, it’s not long before villagers are looking for someone to blame. And when talk turns to witches, Susanna knows she and Katel are no longer safe.
Can Megan bring peace to St Mawgen and to two women who have been broken-hearted for centuries?
(Boldwood Books April 2025)
USA Today bestselling author Judy Leigh writing as Elena Collins, brings you this spellbinding and heartbreaking timeslip novel, uncovering the intriguing story of another brave woman that history forgot. Perfect for fans of Barbara Erskine, Nicola Cornick, Diana Gabaldon and Louise Douglas.
Praise for Elena Collins:
‘The emotionally powerful story of Katherine Ferrers really gripped me and the spooky sightings of her ghost were spine-tingling. Elena writes so beautifully and weaves the threads of the stories together so masterfully. Both heartbreaking and hopeful, it’s a brilliant read.’ Nicola Cornick
‘A wonderful book by a fabulous author. Very highly recommended.’ Louise Douglas
‘The Lady of The Loch held me spellbound from the first page to the last. With two storylines beautifully woven together to create a seamless tale of love, loss, betrayal and, above all, hope, it’s a must-read. Collins’s detailed knowledge of the period trickles through the tale wrapping the reader in a vivid shifting world as it moves between the 14th century and present day. Cleverly researched and exquisitely written, The Lady of The Loch is a timeless story of hope, family and love. I loved it.’ Alexandra Walsh
What readers are saying about Elena Collins:
‘Amazing book, couldn’t put it down. Beautiful story, held me focused from the very start. A must read if you are a lover of history, romance and spirits. Perfect!!!’
‘Beautifully written, totally believable, an historical eye opener and love story. What more could you ask for?’
‘I adore how this author weaves the past and present. All three of her books have familiar settings for me, and so, it was easy for me to picture the places; that said, she’s described them so beautifully, I can see everything just as a picture. Great writing in my “book”. I tend to always enjoy the past timeline rather than the present, but get bored with historical novels?! I’d recommend Elena Collins until I’m blue in the face.’
‘This time slip novel is totally believable and beautifully crafted. The emotions from another time are strong enough to resonate in today’s world. You just want to read and read and not put it down. This author’s books are always delightful.’
‘Another beautifully written book from this author. Her writing really draws you in and you can feel the atmosphere oozing out of every page. Loved this story and can’t wait for more books by Elena Collins.’
That quintessence of dust 