Annabel Campbell
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annabelcwrites.bsky.social
Annabel Campbell
@annabelcwrites.bsky.social
1.9K followers 230 following 530 posts
(she/her) SFF writer based in Lanark, Scotland. Her first novel, THE OUTCAST MAGE, combines a coming-of-age narrative with thrilling magic and found family. Out now from Orbit UK/US in hardback, paperback, ebook and audiobook.
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annabelcwrites.bsky.social
Had a fabulous time at the Toppings Edinburgh event last night. Such a pleasure to chat fantasy books with Andrew from Toppings, @stephenaryan.bsky.social and Gareth Hanrahan. Thanks so much to everyone who came, and a special thank you to anyone who came to speak to me about The Outcast Mage. 🧡
A picture of the Toppings Edinburgh author event at Pilrig Church. Three authors and the chair of the event are on a raised stage with Toppings banners behind them and tables with books in front. Left to right: Andrew, the chair of the event, me sitting behind a copy of The Outcast Mage, Stephen Aryan sitting behind a copy of The Sorrow of the Sea and Gareth Hanrahan sitting behind a copy of The Sword Triumphant. A stack of books on a table with a blue table cloth. At the front is a stack of The Outcast Mage with the other authors’ books behind them.
May 18, 2025 at 8:18 AM
annabelcwrites.bsky.social
FRIENDS! I am in lovely Belfast for #EasterCon2025 #Reconnect2025. I have pins, bookmarks, bookplates and FREE BOOKS! Come chat to me if you want a free copy of THE OUTCAST MAGE. I am around for chat all weekend, but if you want to see me on a panel, deets of panels are below:
An EasterCon Reconnect pass with my name on it and a red ‘programme participant’ ribbon. A bookmark of a blond man in robes raising a glass of wine, some gold pins and a bookplate with a red and yellow design on it. A picture of me, a blonde, white woman. Short wavy hair, large red glasses, blue and green dress. My programme slots: Annabel Campbell Fri 2:00 PM : Hilton - Lagan B. Morally Grey Mothers. Mon 2:00 PM : ICC - Hall 1 A: Flying With Dragons
April 18, 2025 at 11:38 AM
annabelcwrites.bsky.social
I have had, in many ways, a terrible day. But I am on my way to this, and I am surrounded by wonderful people. So! Edinburgh folks! Let’s do this! Come and have a laugh. Then come to the pub and watch me tank a bottle of wine. Ahem. I mean drink a totally normal and reasonable amount.
Marianne Gordon and Annabel Campbell in conversation at Waterstones Edinburgh West End. Tuesday 25 February, 7pm. A photo of Marianne Gordon and her book cover, The Gilded Crown. A photo of me and a cover of my book, The Outcast Mage. Waterstones. Visit Waterstones.com/events
February 25, 2025 at 4:36 PM
annabelcwrites.bsky.social
It’s a writing desk day. Only not my actual desk because the roof blew off in the storm (damn you, Éowyn) and so my study is out of action. Lovely release-day chocolates from @georgiasummers.bsky.social are giving me a very literal ‘little treat’ every time I do something though…
A tray of hotel chocolat chocolates stretching away from the camera with some very noticeable gaps in the tray.
February 6, 2025 at 11:29 AM
annabelcwrites.bsky.social
Aaaaaa! THE OUTCAST MAGE is one of Amazon’s top SFF books of the month!

www.amazon.com/b/ref=amb_li...
Screenshot of Amazon.com Text reads: Science fiction & fantasy Editors’ picks: best science fiction and fantasy books of February Below that, an image of the cover of The Outcast Mage by Annabel Campbell The Black Orb by Ewhan Kim And the edge of Grave Empire by Richard Swan.
February 3, 2025 at 10:26 PM
annabelcwrites.bsky.social
Okay!! The AMA is live!
Here's the link: shorturl.at/RHuEU

Come and ask me anything!
#fantasy #books #AMA #fantasybooks #epicfantasy #TheOutcastMage 💙📚

@orbitbooks.bsky.social
Text on a red and white background. Text reads: Ask Annabel Campbell anything! r/fantasy Thursday, January 30th In the centre of the image is my author photo: a headshot of a white woman, short blonde wavy hair, pink glasses, smiling at the camera.
January 30, 2025 at 1:10 PM
annabelcwrites.bsky.social
Friends! I am doing an AMA on Reddit today on /r/fantasy. I’ll be posting the link around 1pm GMT (8am EST) and I’ll be answering questions throughout the day. Come ask me anything!

@orbitbooks.bsky.social #theoutcastmage #fantasy #books #reading 💙📚
Text on a white and red background. Text reads - Ask Annabel Campbell anything. R/fantasy. Thursday, January 30th In the centre is a picture of my face - white woman in her 30s, short blonde wavy hair, pink glasses.
January 30, 2025 at 9:38 AM
annabelcwrites.bsky.social
I had a wonderful day yesterday signing books at Toppings in Edinburgh (bookseller Andrew made sure to stack the books taller than me 😂) and Waterstones Princes Street. It was such a fun and totally surreal experience. #books #fantasy #theoutcastmage #reading 📚💙
@orbitbooks.bsky.social
Me (a woman with short wavy blonde hair, pink glasses, a big oversized beige cardigan, black t-shirt, patterned blue skirt and green boots) sitting in the window of Toppings next to a table with two stacks of THE OUTCAST MAGE. I’m in the middle of signing an open copy. There’s a blue stamp, an orange stamp pad and a pile of bookmarks on the table. Me (a woman with short wavy blonde hair, pink glasses, a big oversized beige cardigan, black t-shirt, patterned blue skirt and green boots) standing next to stacks of THE OUTCAST MAGE, one of them stacked higher than me. Behind them is Andrew, the lovely bookseller who helped me (tall man, ginger hair and beard, black glasses, check shirt). An open copy of THE OUTCAST MAGE with my hand midsigning, holding a black pen, signing over an orange stamp. Next to the book is an orange ink pad. A picture of me (a woman with short wavy blonde hair, pink glasses, black t-shirt, and patterned blue skirt) in Waterstones Princes street. I’m standing in front a counter with a stack of four copies of THE OUTCAST MAGE and holding one up in front of me.
January 27, 2025 at 1:42 PM
annabelcwrites.bsky.social
Had the most wonderful time at an event organised by Lanark Library yesterday, where I talked about my publication journey, books I love, and a bit about The Outcast Mage 😉. I even got to sign a couple of books (and bring out my shiny new stamp from Sombras blancas art! Isn’t it gorgeous!).
Me sitting holding my proof copy of my book. I have short blonde hair, pink glasses and coral pattern dress on. Behind and to my left is a table with hardback copies of THE OUTCAST MAGE on it. Me preparing to stamp a title page of THE OUTCAST MAGE. An orange ink pad is next to the book, with a black pen and a blue stamp. There’s a spread of art cards next to it. The title page with ‘thank you for coming to my first event’ in black ink, with the orange stamp beneath it. The stamp has the alchemical symbols for the elements and a mandala type design. The title page of THE OUTCAST MAGE with the orange stamp and my signature over it in black.
January 24, 2025 at 1:41 PM
annabelcwrites.bsky.social
Did I forget about #BlookBlurbMonday the week before my book comes out? Maybe. Today I have a really wonderful blurb from @ianthegreen.bsky.social (text in alt in case there's too much to read). Ian Green is the talented author of the Rotstorm Trilogy and Extremophile, both of which are fantastic.
An array of magical symbols surrounds the bottom half of flaming sun in red, orange and yellow. Below it stands the silhouette of a girl with long hair and flowing cloak standing on the silhouette of a sand dune. On the background are more dunes. In the sun, the text reads: ’Campbell manages to capture the wonder of classic epic fantasy with thoughtful and modern prose and characterisation that draws the reader inexorably in. Utterly transporting, it made me feel like a child reading their first fantasy book again... There is a thoughtfulness to the world-building and a commitment to story and character rather than violence or action for its own sake that is reminiscent of Robin Hobb at her most dazzling. Come for the impossible glass cities and mysterious mages, stay for the disaster-mages and the worlds sexiest priest. The Outcast Mage is pure joy. Ian Green, author of The Rotstorm Trilogy and Extremophile A copy of the book is in the foreground - the same magical array and girl on the cover. Text reads ‘Truly enchanting’ - Trudi Canavan, bestselling author THE OUTCAST MAGE Annabel Campbell Out 28 January 2025 Available for pre-order now
January 23, 2025 at 2:35 PM
annabelcwrites.bsky.social
ONE WEEK TO GO! The Outcast Mage is out next Tuesday (28th of January) in hardback (UK) paperback (US), ebook and audiobook! How has this come so fast?? 😱 A glass city on the brink of shattering, a mysterious power, disastrous choices, mystery, found family, and just a hint of dragonfire! 🔥
THE OUTCAST MAGE pictured on a bronze background with black designs in the corners. The book is white with a red and yellow sun design at the centre, surrounded by alchemical symbols in a circle. Beneath is the silhouette of a girl on a sand dune, with more dunes behind her. THE OUTCAST MAGE is printed in black across the sun and ANNABEL CAMPBELL printed in white at the bottom. ‘Truly enchanting’ - Trudi Canavan is printed at the top. Above the book in yellow: One week to go! Below the book in white: An unmissable epic fantasy debut with adventure, intrigue and dragonfire…
January 21, 2025 at 1:41 PM
annabelcwrites.bsky.social
GUYS!! It is TWO WEEKS until THE OUTCAST MAGE comes out. Two weeks until my debut novel is in bookshops!

Continuing debut month, here’s another character bio, with accompanying art by Chris Simmonds Illustration. Haelius Akana, my very own disaster wizard.

@orbitbooks.bsky.social
💙📚 #fantasy
A digital image of the wizard, Haelius Akana. He has light brown skin, untidy brown hair and green eyes. He is narrow framed, with a thin face and prominent cheekbones. There are burn scars on the lower left side of his face and on his neck. He is wearing green robes edged in gold and red with a high collar and wide sleeves. He has the white gold light of a spell curling between his fingers. Text reads: “As soon as he appeared, she felt his power like a beacon, as if he were a creature made more of magic than of flesh. The energies in the room were tugged towards him, and Naila had the sensation she was falling, sucked down towards the centre of the room.” There was never any hope of an ordinary life for Haelius Akana. Haelius is the most powerful living mage, his gift so great that he could level buildings or crack open the earth with a wave of his hand. But what is he supposed to do with all this power? Tension is building in Amoria between mages and those without magic. With his father a prominent member of the non-mage council, Haelius has always found himself on the edge of mage society. Many are petitioning for Haelius to pick a side, while some are simply waiting for him to fail. The wrong choice could have catastrophic consequences - and Haelius already carries the scars of his past mistakes. Soon Haelius will have to choose where he stands and decide what it means to be the most powerful man in a city of mages. Text is on the red and yellow sun design from the book cover, with alchemical symbols around the outside in a circle. THE OUTCAST MAGE Out January 28th
January 14, 2025 at 3:03 PM
annabelcwrites.bsky.social
Late today, but it’s #BookBlurbMonday!

This time, a wonderful quote from the incredible Catriona Silvey.

Silvey’s books are wonderful - MEET ME IN ANOTHER LIFE is clever and heart rending, and LOVE AND OTHER PARADOXES is a TREAT. It’s gorgeous, witty and full of heart.

@orbitbooks.bsky.social
An array of magical symbols surrounds the bottom half of flaming sun in red, orange and yellow. Below it stands the silhouette of a girl with long hair and flowing cloak standing on the silhouette of a sand dune. On the background are more dunes. In the sun, the text reads: ’The Outcast Mage made me fall in love with fantasy again. Tightly plotted and propulsive, full of characters as vivid, flawed, and beautiful as their world, this is a book to curl up with and get lost in.’ Catriona Silvey, author of Meet Me in Another Life and Love and Other Paradoxes A copy of the book is in the foreground - the same magical array and girl on the cover. Text reads ‘Truly enchanting’ - Trudi Canavan, bestselling author THE OUTCAST MAGE Annabel Campbell Out 28 January 2025 Available for pre-order now
January 13, 2025 at 7:41 PM
annabelcwrites.bsky.social
We are less than 3 weeks from the release of THE OUTCAST MAGE! In the lead up, I’m going to be sharing some character bios of the main cast! The first one is of the main protagonist, Naila, with art by the amazing Chris Simmonds!

#books #fantasy #reading 💙📚
@orbitbooks.bsky.social
A digital illustration of Naila, a young woman with raven black hair and black eyes. Her hair is falling forward in front of her face and her expression is apprehensive. She is wearing blue robes with white trim and a pattern like frost on the sleeves. She is clutching two hardback books to her chest. Naila “Naila had only ever heard rumours, but these stories were written into the very bones of the city. If a mage didn’t learn to control their gift, it would grow wild, a seething storm caught within the fragile casing of a human body.” Naila is a young mage at Amoria’s prestigious Academy of magic. Or at least she’s supposed to be. The only problem is Naila has never been able to use magic, and now time is running out to prove she can control it. If she can’t, she could be exiled - or worse, consumed by her own power. Naila has spent too long failing at everything. When the book begins, she is frightened and alone, slow to trust and troubled by the growing political unrest in Amoria. However, when Haelius Akana, the most powerful living mage, offers her a chance to earn her place in the magical city, Naila leaps at it. The only problem is, the more she learns about her power, the more dangerous it seems to be. Is there a connection between her magic and the disasters threatening Amoria? And could the journey to discover who - or what - she is destroy everything she holds dear?
January 9, 2025 at 2:41 PM
annabelcwrites.bsky.social
#bookblurbmonday!

This week’s blurb comes from the talented @shaunalawless.bsky.social. Her series, The Gael Song, is Irish mythology and history intertwined. Viking kings, immortal beings, fire magic, gorgeous characters and heartbreaking drama. Seriously, check it out.

@orbitbooks.bsky.social
An array of magical symbols surrounds the bottom half of flaming sun in red, orange and yellow. Below it stands the silhouette of a girl with long hair and flowing cloak standing on the silhouette of a sand dune. On the background are more dunes. In the sun, the text reads: ’The Outcast Mage is beautifully crafted epic fantasy that is full of all the things I love - powerful magic, political intrigue and vivid worldbuilding. Shauna Lawless, author of The Gael Song series’ A copy of the book is in the foreground - the same magical array and girl on the cover. Text reads ‘Truly enchanting’ - Trudi Canavan, bestselling author THE OUTCAST MAGE Annabel Campbell Out 28 January 2025 Available for pre-order now
January 6, 2025 at 4:36 PM
annabelcwrites.bsky.social
First day back at the writing desk and it’s debut month promo time (prepare to be sick of me). Today begins with coffee and the last piece of Christmas cake (😭) and strategically arranging pretty books behind my desk.

#fantasy #debut2025 #reading 💙📚
A to do list listing promo things on notepaper from Illumicrate, an Illumicrate mug in the background with a silhouette castle and a mage in the foreground, a white plate with an end piece of Christmas cake on it, all on a green desk. A shelf with a line of books. They have either red or white spines with THE OUTCAST MAGE written in black letters and the silhouette of a girl with flowing hair and cloak. There’s a front facing copy of THE OUTCAST MAGE by Annabel Campbell. It has a white background, and a red and yellow sun design at the centre with the title printed over it. Around the sun are alchemical symbols in a ring like a magical array. Below it are sand dunes, with the black silhouette of a girl standing on the silhouette of a dune with her hair and cloak billowing in the wind. Annabel Campbell is printed below in white letters. Next to the copies of the Outcast Mage is a copy of Gallus edited by EM Faulds, Brian M Milton and Neil Williamson. The spine is patterned with white, pink and blue, and the title is in turquoise. To the right of the books is a mouse bookend and behind that a decorative plate with Minas Tirith on it.
January 6, 2025 at 10:54 AM
annabelcwrites.bsky.social
HOLY SHIT IT’S DEBUT MONTH?!?! And this baby author’s mug is in @sfxmagazine.bsky.social, along with a short interview about The Outcast Mage. (HOW am I in SFX?! Dude!) What a fantastic start to January 💚💚
A picture of a page of SFX Magazine, showing my face (a white woman with short, wavy blonde hair and pink glasses, wearing teal, purple and white) next to a banner saying ‘new author.’ Below is the start of the interview, with ‘tell us about your protagonist’ and ‘did anything in particular spark the idea’ as the first two questions.
January 1, 2025 at 4:50 PM
annabelcwrites.bsky.social
Hi friends! Happy Friday! And here’s a wee sample of THE OUTCAST MAGE for FREE! Read the first 3 chapters and meet Naila, a young woman unable to master her powers, and Larinne, a respected member of the mage senate, who is beginning to question the future of her city.

#fantasy 💙📚

bit.ly/49IEXL2
A picture of Naila, a young woman dressed in blue robes with white patterning. She has black eyes and black hair with a raven sheen, which hangs loose about her face. She is clutching two hardback books to her chest and looks nervous. Art by Chris Simmonds illustration. A picture of Larinne. A woman in her thirties wearing pale blue robes edged in gold. She has brown skin, dark brown hair and a severe expression. He hair is tied back from her face in a high bun. In her hand she’s holding an open book with a pen in the other hand. Art by Chris Simmonds illustration.
December 20, 2024 at 5:29 PM
annabelcwrites.bsky.social
Just recorded pronunciations for The Outcast Mage audiobook. This is the stupidest way to share an audio clip (a video of an audio clip…. But I couldn’t be arsed finding a better way), but here’s an outtake where my son thought he’d help us out.
December 9, 2024 at 6:24 PM
annabelcwrites.bsky.social
It’s #BookBlurbMonday (totally making this A Thing). This time with a quote from the lovely and talented @rainewilson.bsky.social. Her book, WE ARE ALL GHOSTS IN THE FOREST is beautiful and will blow you away, so if you haven’t read it, you should sort that ASAP.

@orbitbooks.bsky.social
An array of magical symbols surrounds the bottom half of flaming sun in red, orange and yellow. Below it stands the silhouette of a girl with long hair and flowing cloak standing on the silhouette of a sand dune. On the background are more dunes. In the sun, the text reads: ’The Outcast Mage is a shining joy of a book. In a deft twist on epic fantasy, Campbell spins a captivating world out of glass and sand, and populates it with people who are brave and flawed and truly human.’ Lorraine Wilson, award winning author of We Are All Ghosts in the Forest, Mother Sea, The Way the Light Bends, and This is Our Undoing A copy of the book is in the foreground - the same magical array and girl on the cover. Text reads ‘Truly enchanting’ - Trudi Canavan, bestselling author THE OUTCAST MAGE Annabel Campbell Out 28 January 2025 Available for pre-order now
December 9, 2024 at 4:30 PM
annabelcwrites.bsky.social
It’s book blurb Monday! Today I’m sharing a quote from the absolutely lovely @julieleong.bsky.social, author of the NOW BESTSELLING The Teller of Small Fortunes, because I had the opportunity to meet her on Saturday and get her to sign my copy of her gorgeous book (thank you!)
An array of magical symbols surrounds the bottom half of flaming sun in red, orange and yellow. Below it stands the silhouette of a girl with long hair and flowing cloak standing on the silhouette of a sand dune. On the background are more dunes. In the sun, the text reads: ’With stakes as high as the glittering glass towers of Amoria, The Outcast Mage is a strong, pathos-filled start to an epic new fantasy series. Fans of political maneuvering, powerful magic and found family will find much to love.’ Julie Leong, bestselling author of THE TELLER OF SMALL FORTUNES A copy of the book is in the foreground - the same magical array and girl on the cover. Text reads ‘Truly enchanting’ - Trudi Canavan, bestselling author THE OUTCAST MAGE Annabel Campbell
November 25, 2024 at 2:58 PM
annabelcwrites.bsky.social
I’ve been quiet this week cause me and the bub have been hit with a nasty bug, so I will just steal @orbitbooks.bsky.social post of a quote for THE OUTCAST MAGE. Not going to lie, I squealed when I got a quote from THE Trudi Canavan. Her books were formative for me, and I am a HUGE fan! 💙📚
A an array of magical symbols surrounds the bottom half of flaming sun in red, orange and yellow. Below it stands the silhouette of a girl with long hair and flowing cloak standing on the silhouette of a sand dune. On the background are more dunes. In the sun, the text reads: ’Truly enchanting' Trudi Canavan, bestselling author of THE BLACK MAGICIAN A copy of the book is in the foreground - the same magical array and girl on the cover. Text reads ‘Truly enchanting’ - Trudi Canavan, bestselling author THE OUTCAST MAGE Annabel Campbell
November 20, 2024 at 6:26 PM
annabelcwrites.bsky.social
🚨 NETGALLEY KLAXON 🚨

THE OUTCAST MAGE is now available to request on Netgalley, both in the UK and the US! (Links below)

So if magic, coming of age, found family, political intrigue, disaster wizards and dragons are your kind of thing, then get requesting! ✨🔮🧙🐉

💙📚
Text: Now available to request on Netgalley “Truly enchanting’ - Trudi Canavan bestselling author of The Black Magician UK: https://www.netgalley.co.uk/catalog/book/509115 US: https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/435918 Image: an orange background with the silhouette of a girl standing on a sand dune with her hair and cloak blowing in the wind. To the right is an image of the book: a white cover with the same silhouette and above her is a magic circle in orange and red, like the sun. The words: THE OUTCAST MAGE is printed in black across the circle.
November 15, 2024 at 12:48 PM
annabelcwrites.bsky.social
Okay, countdown to launch is here! I’m sharing some blurbs I’ve had from lovely people. The first is from the wonderful @georgiasummers.bsky.social, bestselling author of THE CITY OF STARDUST.

THE OUTCAST MAGE is out 28 January 2025 - available for pre-order now! (And on Netgalley in the US!) 💙📚
A an array of magical symbols surrounds the bottom half of flaming sun in red, orange and yellow. Below it stands the silhouette of a girl with long hair and flowing cloak standing on the silhouette of a sand dune. On the background are more dunes. In the sun, the text reads: ’Disaster wizards galore, rich political intrigue, and a hint of dragonfire, The Outcast Mage reminds me why I love epic fantasy so much. If you like Trudi Canavan and Garth Nix, you’re going to adore this' Georgia Summers, bestselling author of THE CITY OF STARDUST Out 28 January 2025 Available for pre-order now A copy of the book is in the foreground - the same magical array and girl on the cover. Text reads ‘Truly enchanting’ - Trudi Canavan, bestselling author THE OUTCAST MAGE Annabel Campbell
November 11, 2024 at 6:12 PM
annabelcwrites.bsky.social
Chocolate biscuits, check. Bucket of coffee, check. Tidy study, done last week. And now I’m getting stuck into my first proper writing session since my son was born. It feels wonderful and deeply weird.

Yes, I took a biscuit out for the photo, and oh no now I have to eat it.
My green and dark wood desk (recently dusted!) with a black and gold to do notebook with a brass bee at the top and a chocolate biscuit on it. On the right is a red Page One notebook with a blue fountain pen on it. In the background is an Illumicrate mug with a red dragon on it, filled with coffee.
November 11, 2024 at 11:49 AM