M.C. Dulac's Blog

The second book in the Regency Alchemists series is now available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.
The Perfumer's Trials
Follow Violet as she enters the next stage of the mysterious Perfumer's Challenge, and escape into the world of Elysium and Hespero Hall for some Regency intrigue with a dash of magic and a hint of romance and danger.
Three new rounds. Two contenders. Secrets revealed!

Happy reading!

You may have noticed I've been reviewing a lot of books on perfume and gardens lately on Goodreads. This has been research for my new novel, The Perfumer's Challenge, which is now available as an ebook, paperback, and free to read on KDP.

The Perfumer's Challenge



If you are looking for some escapism, mystery and light fantasy, you will enjoy this first book in a new series.

Here is the blurb:
For hundreds of years, the owners of Elysium House and Hespero Hall have held a challenge to create a mysterious perfume. No one knows when the contest will be held, and no one knows the prize. Nor can anyone say what happened to the previous contenders.
In the year 1812, London is abuzz with rumours the challenge is being held again. All England’s perfumers are desperate to receive an invitation.
Violet Langford has arrived at Elysium House to assist Lady Eleanor Harcourt and hopes to find clues to her father’s past.
But when Violet receives a scented letter, she realises Eleanor has other intentions. Violet has been chosen to compete.
The Perfumer’s Challenge is about to begin.

Think Jane Austen crossed with Night Circus with some Gothic chills!

Happy reading.

Hello all, The sixth book in The Alchemist's Passage, The Alchemist of Provence is now available as an ebook, paperback and free to read on Kindle Unlimited!



Join Ellie in 1999 as she discovers a perfume mystery which leads her from Paris to Provence.

Here is a review from Red Adept Editing.

“This intriguing tale alternates between 1999 and the early 1800s, weaving together a story of a fallen family dynasty and the magic of alchemy. The De Clere brothers lose everything in search of the perfect perfume, but nearly two centuries later, can Ellie unravel the mystery of what happened and protect the future?” Susie D., Line Editor, Red Adept Editing

Also for avid readers of the series, the mystery will also reveal the fate of the survivors of the Orpheus from The Alchemist of the Sea.

I hope you enjoy the story!

The paperback edition of The Alchemist of the Sea is now available. The Alchemist of the Sea is the fifth book in The Alchemist's Passage and follows Ellie in 1984 as she investigates the mystery of a long-lost sailing ship. Familiar characters appear in this story and twists and turns will keep you guessing until the very last page!



Here is a lovely review from Red Adept Editing:

Dulac beautifully blends the stories of two lives lived centuries apart. Merchant sea captain Matthew Barrett finds himself the keeper of a mysterious and troublesome package bound for the British royalty. Decades later, mystery, intrigue, and magic lead Ellie along Captain Barrett's path to find a shipwreck that holds something more sinister--and miraculous--than sunken treasure. Stefanie B., Line Editor, Red Adept Editing

The ebook will be available at a special launch price of 99 cents for a few more days.

There will also be a treat for readers this Christmas, so be sure to keep up-to-date with the series and the characters (more on this soon!)

Hello all,

Join my free newsletter for updates on my writing, exclusive content, free ebooks and surprises. When you sign up you'll also receive a free copy of The Alchemist's Passage Companion.

Click here to get your free copy when you sign up



The Alchemist’s Passage Companion is a behind-the-scenes look at the characters, settings, and historical snippets that inspired The Alchemist of Paris and the series. Learn about the world of The Alchemist's Passage, alternative storylines, and the surprising facts and fiction.

You will also get a sneak peek at the fifth book in the series, which is coming later this year!

Hello everyone, The fourth book of The Alchemist's Passage is now available as an ebook and paperback on Amazon.

Here's a teaser of the plot: In 1938, acclaimed scientist and secret alchemist Jean-Louis Champillon is haunted by one wish, to be reunited with Elise, the girl he lost over a century before. When a newspaper article reveals she may have been in Sydney, Australia, he embarks on a journey across the world, but with another alchemist and Nazi double agents watching, Champillon will find himself in the middle of a thrilling adventure.

I hope you enjoy reading!

The Alchemist of Sydney

Here is a map of the key places in The Alchemist of Paris. Creating a book map has been on my to-do list for ages and I'm excited at how it has turned out!
The map posed the challenge of portraying a city in an earlier time period, and also a city which many people know so well. I drew the pictures separately in the digital illustration app Procreate and then assembled the map in photoshop (a great help when placing the real-life buildings in the right spot, which is harder than I thought).
When I was writing the book I walked through all these areas, ensuring that Elise’s journeys across Paris were possible. But Elise’s Paris of 1820 was a medieval city, before the grand boulevards and street widening projects of the late 19th century, so much had to be imagined. I compared a historical map with current maps to show the general street pattern and used the place names of the time. If you’d like to know more about what was there in 1820 and what was not, you can read this post.
While I was drawing from my photographs, I realised how nostalgic I am for exploring new places with a map. I hope this map both inspires you to read or re-read The Alchemist of Paris and start dreaming of a time when we can all travel again!

While tidying up my website, I came across this story I wrote in 2014. In this strange and unsettling year, and with 2021 just around the corner, I hope you enjoy this light-hearted little piece.

Time Travel

“Do you want a seat?” the guy sitting by the bus window asked.
“Sure,” Janey had been happy to stand, but now she saw the seat was free.
The guy moved over and she perched next to him.
He had a slide phone. Janey hadn’t seen one of those for years.
“Can I ask you a favour?” he said.
Janey raised an eyebrow. The guy looked normal. He was a little preppy, with an over-the-shoulder sling bag she hadn’t seen for years either.
“I know it sounds weird,” he said, “But there’s something special about this bus seat. What if I told you, that if you sit near the window you can see what it’s like seven years into the future?”
Janey raised her eyebrows higher, though her heart was sinking.
In his lap was a iPod Shuffle.
“Don’t you want to see what it’s like in 2021?” he said, “I wanted to see 2014. The problem is, I think I like 2007 better.”
“2007?”
“Yes, and if you took this seat, I could go back home.”
“Home?”
“To 2007.”
Janey thought about all those warnings about talking to crazy people on the bus.
“You see, I can’t go back unless you agree,” the guy went on earnestly, “That’s what the guy who gave me this seat told me.”
“That’s crazy. You can’t have a time-traveling bus seat,” Janey shook her head at the absurdity.
“This is my stop!” the guy said, “Can I get off here?”
Janey swiveled her legs so the guy could get past. He winked at her, “Thank heaps.”
Janey twisted her hair in her fingers. She looked at the seat near the window. Time travel to 2021. That was crazy.
Would 2021 be better than now?
Then she moved across, and smiled.

First published on mcdulac.wordpress.com 2014

© 2014 M. C. Dulac

It’s been quite a year already, but I am pleased to say
The Alchemist of London is now available for pre-order on Amazon - (release date 17 April 2020). Add to your want-to-read list today!

The Alchemist of London follows the story of Elise’s years in London, following the events in The Alchemist of Paris.

Here is a tiny plot reveal:

In Victorian London a young woman hides a book in a library, hoping it will never be found...

In modern day London the same book appears at an international auction...

The pages contain priceless secrets which will obsess and transform all those who read them.

Haunted by the fire in Paris, Elise has at last found peace in the English countryside.
But her idyll is broken when a ruthless gentleman learns of a book by the elusive Albert Price - and uncovers Elise’s secret.
The book is hidden somewhere in Victorian London. Elise must not only find it before her enemies, but also face her own destiny - in a world where the secrets of alchemy are in greater danger than ever before.
Meanwhile as auction day approaches in modern London, and the book is in peril again, can Ellie unravel the Victorian mystery in time?

The Alchemist of London, the next book in The Alchemist of Paris series is coming soon! The Alchemist of London follows the story of Elise’s years in England.

In Victorian London, a young woman hides a book in a library, hoping it will never be found…

… in modern day London the same book appears at an international auction.

The book contains priceless secrets which will obsess, inspire and transform all those who read it.

As ruthless adversaries pursue the book across the centuries, can Elise unravel the mystery in time and keep the secrets of alchemy safe?

More updates coming soon!