British Author, Cunning Woman & chronic overthinker. Lives in the wild between.
Very into: great cups of tea, good stories, and Welsh weather. Avoiding small talk & green veg since 1975.
hello, I’m Toria
I’ve always been the kind of person who sees too much, asks too many questions, and wonders what people aren’t saying. Writing has always been a way to make sense of that—sometimes by telling the truth, and sometimes by lying about it with intent. I think the best fiction does both.
I’ve been writing stories since I was a child, but it’s only recently that I’ve given myself permission to take it seriously. I want my books to feel like a rainy Sunday: a warm drink, a blanket, and a bit of gossip you can’t stop thinking about. Like comfort with teeth.
On the days that I’m not working my butt off on the business or writing about bad ass characters, I’m probably drinking strong tea, reading in the bath, or giving side-eye to a suspiciously quiet cat (or teenager). Or swearing up a storm in the kitchen. They’re all equally common.
A NOTE ON OLEWYDD
I named my company Olewydd after my grandmother, whose name was Olive. I’m told I take after her in looks and temperament and Olewydd (Ol-eh-with) is Welsh for olive. Plus the publishing branch (Olewydd Press) tickles me every time I write it — yes, I have a toddler’s sense of humour.
Life as an author.
It all begins with an idea that won’t leave you alone. Something that plays on your mind and into your dreams. Or maybe it’s a character that won’t shut up speaks to you. Whatever it is, the way you tell your stories can make all the difference to the quality of your sleep. That’s how my stories begin—just one idea or character that won’t let go, turning into a novel I can’t wait to share with you.
The Quiz
FOREVER ON Repeat
Shadow (Livingstone)
Spending my paycheque on
Cute Homewares
starsign
☉ Sagittarius
Favourite book
The Unmaking of June Farrow
My Happy Place Is
In the woods
Favourite Hobby
Reading
My favourite Person
The kid
I can’t live without
Chocolate Crisps
Frequently Asked Questions
-
The Saltmere Chronicles starts with Salt & Bone. A six-book series set in Cornwall, each books is written as a standalone but as each subsequent builds on the mythologies and location, they’re best read in order. You can check out The Saltmere Chronicles series page for that. As new series’ in the Hidden Isles universe are added, each will have its own page confirming reader order.
-
I grew up reading stories about folklore from all over the British Isles, Europe, Africa, and beyond. The myths here, especially here in Wales, are woefully under-represented in the publishing world and I wanted to share my love for these stories with readers across the world. If I can also share my love of the wild places of Britain, engcourage a little armchair tourism, even better!
-
You can reach me anytime via my contact page. I aim to respond quickly—usually within three business days but if I’m in the middle of a writing project, it may take a little longer.
-
I’m an old school practitioner of magic. For me, it’s not a spiritual or religious practice like most modern pagans or witches, it’s simply a tool I use as and when I need it—no ritual, no herbs, no crystals, no candles. I use it most often to change the weather for me, my friends, and my family’s needs. I’m good at energy manipulation, and what is magic if not energy?
-
I split my time between Wales and England. My heart (and my house) is in Wales, where the weather and landscape heavily influence my writing, but family commitments mean I'm often in England too. Regardless of where I'm physically located, my stories are rooted in British folklore and landscapes across the UK.
Official Bio & Headshots
Official Short Bio
Toria Howell weaves British folklore into contemporary paranormal romances. A practicing cunning woman and slow living enthusiast, she writes the kind of magic she works—practical, integrated, and rooted in the land. The Saltmere Chronicles is her debut series. When she’s not dreaming up curses, selkies, and seaside storms, she’s somewhere in Britain pretending the myths might still be real.
Official Long Bio
Toria Howell weaves British folklore into contemporary paranormal romances — love stories inspired by folklore, sea-magic, and the wild landscapes of the British Isles. A practicing cunning woman and slow living enthusiast, she writes the kind of magic she works—practical, integrated, and rooted in the land. Her debut series, The Saltmere Chronicles, weaves coastal paranormal romance and Cornish mythology with heartfelt storytelling.
Born in the UK but shaped by life in several countries, Toria writes with British spelling and a slightly confused accent. She finds inspiration in mist-covered hills, crumbling castles, local gossip, and the peculiarities of rural life—some of which find their way into her books if she’s not paying attention.
When she’s not writing, Toria’s most likely reading in a patch of sunlight, manipulating the weather for spectacular sunsets, or losing horrendously at tri-doms to her family. She lives with a teenager, two cats, and a plethora of books, most of which she’s owned since she was a child.
-
My bestie gave me two kittens for Christmas a few years ago—she has a key to my house so I didn’t get a choice. Now, Nyx and Salem are my faithful companions (and also home destroyers in their spare time). I wouldn’t know what to do without them.
-
Which a lot of people find hilarious because I’m often barefoot, even in public. I love shoes, I’m just not much of a fan of wearing them, no matter the season.
-
Ironically, I work hard to slow down and appreciate the turning of the seasons. My favourite thing about my house in Wales is the bay window, where I can watch the weather and the landscape interact.
Approved photos
You’re welcome to use these photos digitally — consider this my permission! Just send a link to admin@toriahowell.com to where they’re being used so I can see them in the wild. Please note, they’re AI generated — a teenager, a full time writing career, and single parenting don’t leave time for photoshoots. Rest assured, they are me — it’s the only way I could keep a pair of white jeans clean long enough to get a photo.
