{"version":"https://jsonfeed.org/version/1","title":"Heather M. Dakin","home_page_url":"https://heathermdakin.co.uk","description":"Heather M. Dakin","author":{"name":"Heather M. Dakin"},"items":[{"id":"every-storm-runs-out-of-rain","html_content":"<p>In my first book, Observations of a Blind Magician, I’d dedicated a chapter to my own struggles with mental health. There is plenty out there written about disability and the correlation between it and various mental hea...</p>","url":"https://heathermdakin.co.uk/news/f/every-storm-runs-out-of-rain","title":"EVERY STORM RUNS OUT OF RAIN","date_modified":"2026-04-10T06:00:00Z"},{"id":"pre-order-your-kindle-edition","html_content":"<img src=\"https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/b1b4691d-8a4c-461a-bbef-2e38bf67b865/Notes%20from%20the%20Shadowland%20Cover%20Full%20Size.jpg\"/><p>Pre-orders for the Kindle Edition of Notes from the Shadowland are now live! Follow the link below to order your copy today! Both the paperback and Kindle versions will be released on 03 May 2026.</p>","url":"https://heathermdakin.co.uk/news/f/pre-order-your-kindle-edition","title":"PRE-ORDER YOUR KINDLE EDITION!","date_modified":"2026-04-08T06:30:00Z"},{"id":"announcement-%E2%80%93-official-book-release-date","html_content":"<img src=\"https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/b1b4691d-8a4c-461a-bbef-2e38bf67b865/Release%20Date%20Image.jpg\"/><p>I’m pleased to announce that the official release date for Notes from the Shadowland will be 03 May 2026!</p>","url":"https://heathermdakin.co.uk/news/f/announcement-%E2%80%93-official-book-release-date","title":"ANNOUNCEMENT – OFFICIAL BOOK RELEASE DATE!","date_modified":"2026-04-04T07:30:00Z"},{"id":"book-update-%E2%80%93-first-proof-is-in","html_content":"<img src=\"https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/b1b4691d-8a4c-461a-bbef-2e38bf67b865/Proof%20Copy%20Cover.jpg\"/><p>This came much faster than I’d expected, and I’m pleased to announce that the first proof copy of Notes from the Shadowland has arrived!</p>","url":"https://heathermdakin.co.uk/news/f/book-update-%E2%80%93-first-proof-is-in","title":"BOOK UPDATE – FIRST PROOF IS IN!","date_modified":"2026-03-29T06:00:00Z"},{"id":"asking-for-help","html_content":"<img src=\"https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/b1b4691d-8a4c-461a-bbef-2e38bf67b865/Asking%20for%20Help%20Image.jpg\"/><p>You’d think, that as someone who is blind, I’d be adept at asking for assistance when it’s needed, right? Well, not quite. I’ll be the first to admit that even now, I struggle to ask for help with tasks, and while it’s g...</p>","url":"https://heathermdakin.co.uk/news/f/asking-for-help","title":"ASKING FOR HELP","date_modified":"2026-03-23T07:33:00Z"},{"id":"book-update-%E2%80%93-cover-art-progress","html_content":"<img src=\"https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/b1b4691d-8a4c-461a-bbef-2e38bf67b865/Cover%20Update%2003.03.2026.jpg\"/><p>The cover art for Notes from the Shadowland is really coming along! This fantastic piece is being created by the talented Storm Anderson from Art on You in New York. If you like what you see, then jump over to his websit...</p>","url":"https://heathermdakin.co.uk/news/f/book-update-%E2%80%93-cover-art-progress","title":"BOOK UPDATE – COVER ART PROGRESS","date_modified":"2026-03-11T08:00:00Z"},{"id":"audio-description-ad","html_content":"<p>“So, how do you watch tv or films if you can’t see?”</p>","url":"https://heathermdakin.co.uk/news/f/audio-description-ad","title":"AUDIO DESCRIPTION (AD)","date_modified":"2026-02-23T20:00:00Z"},{"id":"small-heros-the-liquid-level-indicator","html_content":"<img src=\"https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/b1b4691d-8a4c-461a-bbef-2e38bf67b865/Liquid%20Level%20Indicator%202.jpg\"/><p>In a nation that runs on tea (and in more recent years, coffee, too), the Liquid Level Indicator allows those who are blind or visually impaired to make both hot and cold drinks without fear of overfilling the cup.</p>","url":"https://heathermdakin.co.uk/news/f/small-heros-the-liquid-level-indicator","title":"SMALL HEROS: THE LIQUID LEVEL INDICATOR","date_modified":"2026-02-11T14:00:00Z"},{"id":"book-update---formatting-in-progress","html_content":"<p>With the majority of the heavy editing done (there may still be minor rewrites/tweaks here and there as I go along…) I’m currently in the formatting stage of this book project.</p>","url":"https://heathermdakin.co.uk/news/f/book-update---formatting-in-progress","title":"BOOK UPDATE - FORMATTING IN PROGRESS","date_modified":"2026-01-29T15:00:00Z"},{"id":"the-importance-of-alt-text","html_content":"<img src=\"https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/b1b4691d-8a4c-461a-bbef-2e38bf67b865/Alt%20Text%20image.jpg\"/><p>Alternative Text (also known as Alt Text ) provides a description of an image using words which is useful for those who are blind or visually impaired and/or those using assistive technology. There’s no single correct wa...</p>","url":"https://heathermdakin.co.uk/news/f/the-importance-of-alt-text","title":"THE IMPORTANCE OF ALT TEXT","date_modified":"2026-01-16T18:00:00Z"},{"id":"sneak-peak-of-cover-design","html_content":"<img src=\"https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/b1b4691d-8a4c-461a-bbef-2e38bf67b865/Sneak%20Peak%20Image.jpg\"/><p> A very Happy New Year to you all!</p>","url":"https://heathermdakin.co.uk/news/f/sneak-peak-of-cover-design","title":"SNEAK PEAK OF COVER DESIGN!","date_modified":"2026-01-01T11:00:00Z"},{"id":"happy-holidays","html_content":"<img src=\"https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/b1b4691d-8a4c-461a-bbef-2e38bf67b865/House%20and%20Christmas%20Tree.jpeg\"/><p>Confession: I’m a total sucker for fairy lights, so the Winter Light trails in our area are a real treat at this time of year.</p>","url":"https://heathermdakin.co.uk/news/f/happy-holidays","title":"HAPPY HOLIDAYS!","date_modified":"2025-12-22T15:00:00Z"},{"id":"the-importance-of-small-gestures","html_content":"<p> There is a small tearoom near to our home, and my husband and I recently paid them a visit. Not only do they have freshly made food and a variety of tea and cakes (as is customary for any self-respecting tearoom) but wh...</p>","url":"https://heathermdakin.co.uk/news/f/the-importance-of-small-gestures","title":"THE IMPORTANCE OF SMALL GESTURES","date_modified":"2025-12-08T16:00:00Z"},{"id":"happy-thanksgiving","html_content":"<img src=\"https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/b1b4691d-8a4c-461a-bbef-2e38bf67b865/Thanksgiving%20Image.jpg\"/><p> As I’m from the U.S., it only seemed fitting to give a shout out to my friends and family back home who are celebrating the wonderful indulgence that is Thanksgiving. </p>","url":"https://heathermdakin.co.uk/news/f/happy-thanksgiving","title":"HAPPY THANKSGIVING!","date_modified":"2025-11-27T13:00:00Z"},{"id":"im-halfway-there","html_content":"<img src=\"https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/b1b4691d-8a4c-461a-bbef-2e38bf67b865/Halfway%20There%20Image.jpg\"/><p> I’ve now reached the halfway point in the revisions of my next book, and I wanted to take a moment to celebrate that. Thanks to the feedback from my reviewers, the work continues to improve with every editing session.</p>","url":"https://heathermdakin.co.uk/news/f/im-halfway-there","title":"I'M HALFWAY THERE!","date_modified":"2025-11-15T13:00:00Z"},{"id":"happy-halloween","html_content":"<img src=\"https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/b1b4691d-8a4c-461a-bbef-2e38bf67b865/Halloween%20Image.jpg\"/><p>  I looked forward to Halloween as a child, and it’s still a holiday I enjoy to this day, though, I have to buy my own Halloween candy rather than traipsing through the neighbourhood in costume. Don’t get me wrong, I sti...</p>","url":"https://heathermdakin.co.uk/news/f/happy-halloween","title":"HAPPY HALLOWEEN!","date_modified":"2025-10-31T16:00:00Z"},{"id":"new-book-project","html_content":"<p>Okay, so it's time to let the cat out of the bag...</p>","url":"https://heathermdakin.co.uk/news/f/new-book-project","title":"NEW BOOK PROJECT ","date_modified":"2025-10-03T12:00:00Z"}]}