The Merblood Saga, Book 2
YA Fantasy
Date Published: 02-25-2025
Publisher: Spider Web Press
Something strange is going down in the sleepy seaside village of Madderly
Bay. Best friends Selena and Chloe are stuck in the most boring summer
ever—until food starts coming to life and running wild in the
streets.
But that’s just the beginning. Earthquakes start shaking the village,
and creepy claw marks show up, hinting at something dark stirring beneath
the waves. Only Selena and Chloe know the real story about the zombie
mermaids they faced before—and now they’re worried the threat
they thought was gone might be back.
As the tremors get worse and the water turns a scary green, the girls have
to figure out what’s awakening in the depths before it’s too
late. With their friend Zelda and her magical squid, Glowella, by their
side, they’ll risk everything to save both the human and magical
worlds from a danger that could destroy them all.
In this thrilling adventure, Selena and her friends have to face their
fears and dig up some serious secrets between the human and magical worlds.
With their village and the ocean in danger, the stakes couldn’t be
higher. Can they figure out what’s messing with the sea before
it’s too late? Or will they realize that saving their town—and
both worlds—might be way harder than they thought?
Interview
What is the hardest part of writing your books?
Honestly? The middle. I always start a book with a ton of excitement, and I usually have a strong idea of how it’s going to end. But the middle is where things can get messy. Suddenly, I’m questioning everything—is this subplot necessary? Should I raise the stakes here? Why did I think this was a good idea?!
Also, sequels are their own special challenge. With Selena Flowers and the Phantom Tides, I had to balance continuing Selena’s story, expanding the world, and making sure the stakes felt bigger without losing the heart of the first book. It’s like writing a second album—people loved the first one, so now you have to deliver something even better. No pressure or anything!
What are your most played songs?
When I need energy, I go full disco mode. Nothing gets me moving (or snapping out of writer’s block) like ’70s disco hits. Some of my most played are:
"Don’t Leave Me This Way" – Thelma Houston (Powerful and dramatic—perfect for writing intense scenes.)
"I Will Survive" – Gloria Gaynor (If Selena had a theme song, this would be it.)
"Le Freak" – Chic (Because sometimes you just need a funky bassline.)
"Knock on Wood" – Amii Stewart (Great for those moments when I need to hype myself up.)
"Bad Girls" – Donna Summer (Because Donna Summer makes everything better.)
And when I need something atmospheric for writing magical, eerie scenes, I switch to Florence + The Machine or Lana Del Rey.
Do you have critique partners or beta readers?
Yes. Writing is such a solitary thing, so having beta readers and critique partners is essential. When you’ve spent months (or years) inside a story, it’s hard to step back and see it clearly. A good critique partner will tell you what’s working, what’s confusing, and when you’ve gone a little too wild with the zombie mermaids.
I also love reader feedback. There’s something magical about seeing how readers react to twists and turns—it’s like experiencing the book again for the first time.
What book are you reading now?
Right now, I’m reading The Stolen Heir by Holly Black. I love anything with dark fairy tale vibes, trickster characters, and morally complicated magic, and Holly Black does all of that so well.
I also have a habit of reading multiple books at once, so I’ve also got Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree on my nightstand. It’s about an orc warrior who retires to open a coffee shop—which is just such a cozy, feel-good concept.
How did you start your writing career?
I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. Judy Blume was my absolute favorite author as a kid, and at 10 years old, I wrote a book inspired by her. It was about a girl in America (even though I lived in the UK) who was the eldest of six siblings, constantly cleaning up their messes.
I was born in the UK and used to holiday on the Kent coast, where the rough waves crashing against the sea wall always made me wonder what creatures might live beneath them. That’s where the first spark of The Merblood Saga came from—I started imagining an underwater zombie mermaid kingdom and it grew from there.
That’s when Selena Flowers and the Cursed Ruby was born (Book 1 in The Merblood Saga), and I haven’t looked back since!
Tell us about your next release.
Right now, I’m working on a YA novel about a teenage witch who discovers her powers on her 15th birthday. At first, it’s total chaos—her magic is out of control, weird things keep happening, and school is turning into a disaster.
But things get worse when she finds out that a group of evil witches have been waiting for her to awaken her powers. And if she can’t control her magic in 30 days, they’ll drain it from her forever.
It’s got spells gone wrong, a magical countdown, and a main character who is absolutely not prepared for any of this. Think Sabrina the Teenage Witch meets a high-stakes magical deadline.
I’m also plotting Book 3 in The Merblood Saga, which will take Selena on a whole new adventure—shipwrecks, lost magic, and an ocean secret that’s been waiting for her all along.
The Merblood Saga
About the Author
Ella English grew up in the heart of London, where the hustle and bustle of
city life met summer adventures at her grandma’s house on the Kent
coast. Exploring tide pools and collecting seashells, she developed a love
for the ocean and a knack for creating imaginative worlds that she now
brings to life through her writing.
Now living in Baltimore, Maryland, Ella is the author of The Merblood Saga,
a dark fantasy YA series that plunges readers into a haunting underwater
realm filled with cursed mermaids, ancient magic, and buried secrets. The
first book, Selena Flowers and the Cursed Ruby, has been a hit with young
readers, drawing them into its mysterious and dangerous world.
Ella also writes and illustrates Kitty in the City, a whimsical series
about a singing cat named Katy who takes New York City by storm. The latest
installment, Katy in Central Park, will be released in June 2025.
When she’s not weaving dark magic or drawing cats, Ella is kept busy
by her two mischievous felines who make sure she stays entertained and
grounded. Follow her adventures (and plenty of cat cameos) on Instagram
@EllaEnglishAuthor or visit www.ellaenglish.com for more.
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