C.M. Rosens's Blog, page 11
February 12, 2025
Author Interview: Chris Cole
Born and raised in Southeast Idaho, Chris Cole (ze/zim/zis) has always loved stories: reading them, watching them, or telling them. Throughout school, ze always found time to write and be creative in multiple endeavors. From yearbook to choir to English assignments, Chris always found joy in creating.
First published in 2020, Chris has multiple books on the market, with many more in the works. These include three planned series in addition to the science-fiction series Fragments already published, several plays and screenplays, and sequels to books already and yet-to-be-published. In May 2023, Chris graduated with a master’s degree in counseling. Currently working as a full-time licensed professional counselor, ze continues to write in whatever spare time comes along. Chris also enjoys advocacy and outreach in the LGBTQ+ population, as well as participating in local theater.
Author Links:
Website: chriscolebooks.com
Books: Amazon US
Find zim on TikTok, Insta, Facebook, Threads: @chriscolebooks
What was the inspiration behind your queer Sci-Fi series, Fragments?
So, Fragments was initially quite different when I first officially wrote it in 2015. It started when I was in high school in 2004, and it started out with me conceptualizing all my friends as mutants after we all survived a nuclear blast in a dream.
So, a dream, I guess, is where it all started. From there, it evolved into something much more as I worked through my own issues surrounding the ‘big’ questions, like if there’s a God, or how we came to be on this planet.
Then, I just filled in some cool ideas about aliens, what powers they might have, incorporated their presence into world history, and boom: Fragments.
How did you interweave religion and history into the series, and what research rabbit holes did you find yourself falling into?
Over the years I wrote, rewrote, and re-rewrote the series. At each point, I was in a different spot in my religious education and journey.
I went from being raised without religion in my home but surrounded by it in my area. As I tried on the Episcopal church to see if it fit. As I delved deeper, finding out more about religion and how it intertwined with history, I found it more fascinating from a research standpoint than a spiritual standpoint.
Finally, when I started my master’s degree, I stepped away entirely as I realized just how harmful religion in general has been, and how so often it’s been utilized throughout history in some of the bloodiest and longest-standing feuds, wars, and campaigns. So, all of that came into play as I readied my series for publication.
Including current conflicts, setting the story in the slight future, and continuing on the path set before us all, it was difficult to fathom just how much has been done in the sake a creator we don’t even know for certain exists!
So, I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the world, exploring via maps, images, and even reading blog posts about specific destinations my characters go. I learned more about deep sea diving than I ever thought I’d need to know, as well as creatures living that deep.
I researched wild animals found in Zimbabwe, along with learning about cultures there, and I did more math than I thought I’d ever have to do to calculate speed and distance.
What Action Adventure tropes do you most enjoy writing, and were there any scenes you especially enjoyed in the series? (If you can say without spoilers!)
I really like incorporating intense situations in conjunction with everyday life, so a few car chases made more interesting with the use of powers, some big explosions to really keep you on your toes, and, because I like to laugh, sometimes incorporating funny dialogue as the characters navigate the pulse-pounding ordeal.
I definitely wasn’t afraid to put my characters through it, and Jake sustains more than his fair share of ‘owies’ throughout the series. I think so often we see main characters come out of an action scene with a few bloody scratches and some minor injuries, but not often does the main character get so close to death, toeing the line more times than he’d ever wanted or expected.
What is your process of character development, and how did you build up a picture of Jake West and his arc for the four-book series?
Jake’s story is one of change being forced on you, and having to deal with the consequences of that change and your decisions therein. Do you adapt to change, adjusting your sails with the new direction the wind is blowing, or do you fight hard against it, knowing if you don’t, humanity’s very future hangs in the balance?
My goal for Jake was to make him as relatable as possible, even if he does end up with superpowers. He’s still afraid of heights, for example, so any time he’s not on the ground he’s supremely uncomfortable. I also tried to make him relatable in terms of stress.
All the things he goes through have an effect on his mental health, and we see that as the series progresses. Going from everyday college student to having to help save the planet isn’t something many people could really adjust to easily, and Jake demonstrates that by being vulnerable, making mistakes, and having to learn to work through the hard things, rather than stuff them down.
What is/are your favourite reader response(s) so far? (Use this space to quote some of the best reviews and blurbs)
I was honored to receive a few reviews, one of which said:
“One of my favorite aspects of the story was the honest sense of “overwhelmed yet trying my best” coming from Jake. Anyone thrown into such a jarring new reality would likely behave the same way. The dialogue amongst characters was witty and humerus and the development of interrelationship dynamics felt like a natural unhurried progression.” I also received this feedback on book two: “Chris write faster to complete the series, I am a voracious reader and need it all now!
”
Reviews like that make writing that much more rewarding!
Do you have any future publication plans, anything we can look out for?
I have a lot of plans, as I have finished my sci-fi series, while still maintaining the queer action-adventure romance side of things.
I’m working on a new series called Ancient Wonders, of which the first book was released in May 2024. I’m hoping to release at least one book every year of that series for the next several years.
I have a sequel to my romance Avoiding Aiden planned.
I’m also branching out a little from novels and working on screenwriting! So, with any luck and hard work, you may see something from me on the screen at some point!
Like This? Try These!
February 5, 2025
Author Spotlight: David W. Adams
David W. Adams (he/him) was born in Wolverhampton in the West Midlands, but currently resides on the Isle of Portland, UK with his wife and fellow author C.L. Adams, and their little girl. His first published work was The Dark Corner in January of 2021. That series expanded from short stories into full blown novels across a shared universe which currently stands at 11 books, and is due to finish with a two-part finale next year.
He has since launched into sci-fi horror with the Frozen Planet Saga, where he has had the most fun and received the most praise, winning an award in December 2023 for Horizon. He also recently launched DWA Reviews, offering free reviews and a select number of free book trailers for indie authors needing a boost. You can find him primarily on TikTok and Threads.
Author Links:
TikTok: @davidwadams.author
Insta: @dwadamsauthor
Threads: @dwadamsauthor
What attracted you to Sci-Fi Horror, and the blending of these genres?
Honestly? I was inspired by other authors. I read a book called Dead Silence by SA Barnes, and it chilled me to the bone with its isolation aspect, and the whole ‘no-one can hear you scream’ aspect.
Then I read the novelisation of the movie Titan Find by Christian Francis, and fell in love with it. I’ve always been a fan of sci-fi movies and horror books, and so I wanted to write something that I could visualise in my head as an actual movie.
That’s usually how I approach my books when I’m writing them – how would they look on screen?
Tell us more about your Dark Corners universe and how that came about – what was the inspiration behind it, and how has the idea developed over time?
This series was supposed to die after 3 books! I had written short stories since I was a kid, but when Covid hit in 2020, I needed an escape more than ever. And so I took all of the ideas I’d had over the years and expanded them into short stories.
It wasn’t until the end of the book that I realised, however subtle it was, that they were all linked. The idea was to write a second volume of short stories and then a novel featuring the characters to conclude the series. But the characters wouldn’t go away, and the MCU was still going, and I thought well if they can do it, why can’t I?
I am now at 11 published books with 2 more to go, which I keep saying I’ll write soon, but other books keep getting in the way!
With some help from Christian Francis, the Dark Corner books were rebranded, reformatted and extended with new content and for the first time I was able to take my books wide. Although my attention has gone elsewhere lately, I guess this is still my flagship series.
Your work has won several awards – congratulations! What other highlights of your author journey can you share with us (including these if you like!)
Well, just one so far, but it was an incredible boost. Being an indie author is incredibly tough and on more than one occasion, you feel like throwing in the towel.
I was very grateful to win Best Dystopian Sci-fi for Horizon in December, and if anything it has pushed me to keep going with what I love, which is telling stories.
This was the first year I managed to hit £1000 in sales (not profit I hasten to add!), and I never thought that would happen. So now, I’m in the mindset where I will write what I want to and someone somewhere will find it.
Another huge highlight for me was getting my wife into writing. She now has 3 books out to rave reviews and I couldn’t be prouder of her!
But I think the main thing that has meant the most to me as an author, has been meeting some simply wonderful people in the Bookish community. I have so many wonderful author friends who I can bounce ideas off, and we exchange books as gifts, and Christian has been an incredible friend and resource for me. So advice for me would be to embrace the community and you’ll be fine.
What came first for you, telling stories in short form, or long form? How does your short form writing process differ from your long form process (or does it)?
As I mentioned earlier, short-form came first, mostly because I didn’t think I had it in me to write a novel. When I realised after writing The Dark Corner that I had in fact written an episodic novel of sorts, my attitude started to change.
Within a matter of months, I had flipped completely and was getting impatient to write my first novel, Wealdstone. I am 100% a pantster when it comes to writing anything, but definitely novels.
The starting point is different but only slightly. When I’m going to write a collection of shorts, I come up with all of the titles first and then formulate an idea for each one. With the novels, I get the idea, then the title, then write the book.
As I’ve progressed through the journey, I have started to adapt my techniques slightly. For example, when writing Horizon, as I was going along, I was making notes of unresolved plot points or potential plot points for the next book. I mean I haven’t done that since, but it worked a treat for that one!
Do you have a favourite from among your work, either a story, or a character, or a setting? If you can’t choose a favourite, is there something you’ve already written that you’d like to spend more time exploring in future work?
I’m so bad at this. I have said for the last 12-18 months that Horizon is my best work, only for my readers to tell me that it’s either of the sequels. Then there’s people who prefer my bloodier horror novels like Ingledene.
Personally, though, I stick by Horizon as my favourite. It was my first what I would call passion project. I was obsessed with writing it, loved every second, and revelled in the creature feature aspect of it.
But in terms of characters, my favourite comes from Resurrection, the fourth Dark Corner book, and his name is Jaxx. Imagine a cross between Jack Sparrow and Dean Winchester. But seven feet tall with orange skin and glowing white eyes. Always getting into trouble, witty one liners, that sort of vibe. I have a potential idea for revisiting him in the distant future at some point.
I’m trying to close down my series work and focus more on standalones going forward, or duologies because in truth The Dark Corner Series remaining unfinished is beginning to feel more of a burden and I don’t want that to happen. So more standalones in the future.
Do you have any future publication plans, anything we can look out for?
I have three confirmed books for 2025.
I have a horror novel out in March called Cornelia, which tells the story of when a little girl’s imaginary friend isn’t so imaginary and has a taste for blood and vengeance.
The second is the final book in the Frozen Planet Saga, called Vengeance, which is out in the late Summer.
And then I’m trying (and struggling) to complete a dark fantasy pirate epic called Dragonfly, which I keep delaying and delaying, but am now aiming for a Christmas 2025 release.
And I will finish the Dark Corner Series… at some point!
Like This? Try These!January 29, 2025
Back on the Clock with Bookshelf Tours
When I deleted my Twitter, I also managed to lock myself out of my TikTok (cmrosens). So I’ve started again with the same handle as Insta and Threads (cm.rosens), for a bit of consistency.
I’m currently posting:
Snippets of the Author Spotlight Interviews to boost the authors a bit moreTours of our bookshelves and introducing you to some of my favourite fiction and non-fiction booksMy own booksI may also post normal life TikToks – walks through my small medieval city, for example. I want to keep it chill, and a safe bookish space.
@cm.rosensWho are these #indieauthors ? check out the Author Spotlight series. @Celeste Harte – Author is living in Spain
♬ Who are you? – Saga Faye@S.R. Severn
is in the UK
and Victoria Audley is another UK
I’ve got a few Author Interview photo slides up, mixing and matching interviews, but I’ve just started showing off some great poetry, folklore, and non-fiction books we have.
Bookshelf Tour highlights so far:
War Songs, by ‘Antarah Ibn Shaddad (The Library of Arabic Literature) – this is a bilingual 6th-century Arabic/English facing translation poetry book, hardcover.
From the sixth-century highlands of Najd in the Arabian peninsula, on the eve of the advent of Islam, come the strident cries of a legendary warrior and poet. The black outcast son of an Arab father and an Ethiopian slave mother, ‘Antarah ibn Shaddad struggled to win the recognition of his father and tribe. He defied social norms and, despite his outcast status, loyally defended his people.
‘Antarah captured his tumultuous life in uncompromising poetry that combines flashes of tenderness with blood-curdling violence. His war songs are testaments to his life-long battle to win the recognition of his people and the hand of ‘Ablah, the free-born woman he loved but who was denied him by her family.
Amazon blurb of the English-only edition, https://www.amazon.co.uk/War-Songs-Library-Arabic-Literature/dp/147985879X
@cm.rosensTikTok Tour of the Bookshelves — come and find some poetry with me! Featuring The Library of Arabic Literature – facing page translations. one of my favourites.
♬ original sound – Eldritch Girl
Te Wehenga: The Separation of Ranginui and Papatūānuku, by/nā Mat Tait(Allen & Unwin) – this is an absolutely gorgeous retelling of the Māori creation story, about the separation of Ranginui, sky-father, and Papatūānuku, earth-mother, by the children trapped between them in their eternal embrace.
Award-winning illustrator Mat Tait has written and illustrated this stunning retelling of the Māori creation story for a new generation.
Te reo Māori and English are woven together in a seamless bilingual approach to the text, with the visceral illustrations powerfully underlining the mana of the story.
Goodreads blurb, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61756543-te-wehenga
@cm.rosensWelcome to our Bookshelves! we love books and languages– linguistics is my husband’s special interest! Have you got Te Wehenga: The Separation of Ranginui and Papatūānuku by/nā Mat Tait? published by A&U (Allen & Unwin) @allenandunwin — absolutely gorgeous hardcover. #aotereoa #newzealand #newzealandtiktok #commonwealthtok #globaltok #worldtok #booktok
♬ Explore The World 2.0 – Brainheart & Sis
The Hole in the Stone / Men-at-Tol, by Joana Varanda & Tania A. Cardoso – this is a bilingual Kernewek/Cornish and English comic, with the legend of Men-at-Tol told in the same style in both languages.
It is absolutely gorgeous and you can get a copy here: https://cornish-language.org/product/the-hole-in-the-stone/ to support the work of Kowethas an Yeth Kernewek, which promotes this minority language.
@cm.rosensExplore our bookshelves with me! This is a bilingual comic that @The Goblin Queen might really enjoy (I think you’ve got this one?) The hole in the stone/ men-an-tol by Joana Varanda and Tânia A. Cardoso. Kernow/Cornish + English, made by Portuguese creators. #cornwall #eutok #worldtok #booktok #ukbooktok
♬ Explore The World 2.0 – Brainheart & Sis
The Life and Struggles of Our Mother Walatta Petros: A Seventeenth-Century African Biography of an Ethiopian Woman, by Galawdewos, trans. and ed. by Wendy Laura Belcher & Michael Kleiner (Princeton) – The first English translation of the earliest book-length biography of an African woman, from the 17th Century.
This is the hardcover scholarly edition of the award-winning English translation of the earliest-known book-length biography of an African woman, and one of the few lives of an African woman written by Africans before the nineteenth century. As such, it provides an exceedingly rare and valuable picture of the experiences and thoughts of Africans, especially women, before the modern era. It is also an extraordinary account of a remarkable life—full of vivid dialogue, heartbreak, and triumph.
The Life and Struggles of Our Mother Walatta Petros (1672) tells the story of an Ethiopian saint who led a successful nonviolent movement to preserve African Christian beliefs in the face of European protocolonialism. When the Jesuits tried to convert the Ethiopians from their ancient form of Christianity, Walatta Petros (1592–1642), a noblewoman and the wife of one of the emperor’s counselors, risked her life by leaving her husband, who supported the conversion effort, and leading the struggle against the Jesuits. After her death, her disciples wrote this book, praising her as a friend of women, a devoted reader, a skilled preacher, and a radical leader. One of the earliest stories of African resistance to European influence, this biography also provides a picture of domestic life, including Walatta Petros’s life-long relationship with a female companion.
Richly illustrated with dozens of color illustrations from early manuscripts, this groundbreaking volume provides an authoritative and highly readable translation along with an extensive introduction. Other features include a chronology of Walatta Petros’s life, maps, a comprehensive glossary, and detailed notes on textual variants.
Princeton University Press, https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691164212/the-life-and-struggles-of-our-mother-walatta-petros?srsltid=AfmBOoo_vP3nyuWLDpFW332Q6egRXOI44XGW2Iv6SrjlLyJkjUboKPfM
@cm.rosensLast one for tonight… this is a lot of fun though. The Life and Struggles of Our Mother, Walatta Petros- a 17thC biography of an Ethiopian leader and Saint, written by Galawdewos and translated into English. #BookTok #worldtok #eutok
♬ Explore the World – Galea Iustin-Silviu
This is really fun, so I might do a couple more. I’m stuck in 200 views jail but that’s ok. If you like them, give me a follow and a repost!
I will be doing some fiction books and talking-to-the-camera videos as well – and some medieval city walks if anyone’s interested in that! I can take you to the post office with me or something
Anyway – if you’re on TikTok, come and say hello to me @cm.rosens! I repost stuff like Norwegians taking their reindeer for walks, Europeans talking about self-regulation, Indians talking about Hindu Temple architecture, medieval British church doors, Germans going for walks through the Black Forest, Chinese ladies making tea, Icelanders showing off the scenery, South African comedy and a range of creators from across Africa I never found before on my old account, Australian comedy, Aotearoan creators, social justice things from around the world, and crochet. Also book stuff.
WorldTok is where it’s at, folks.
TikTokJanuary 25, 2025
Queer Your eReader Event – ON NOW
Grab your free eBooks: https://divinationhollow.com/queer-your-ereader50 free eBooks up for grabs, including 1000 copies of Yelen & Yelena in eARC format. This is not the final form of the eBook – an ARC may still have some minor edits and formatting issues that will be fixed prior to publication.
This is your last chance to grab a copy before 14th Feb if they run out today!
Please leave a review on Goodreads and/or Storygraph, and if you can, please copy & paste your review on an eBook platform once it’s published!
Sign up to my newsletter for monthly updates, or my book alerts only for one-time alerts to new releases.
YELEN & YELENA releases in print and eBook on 14 Feb 2025: books2read.com/u/47evYL
Audio released serially on the Eldritch Girl Podcast from 19 Feb 2025: rss.com/podcasts/eldritch-girl
January 22, 2025
Author Spotlight: Vy Starlit
Vy Starlit (she/her) is the author of fantasy books spanning from progressive fantasy and Litrpg to Gaslamp Fantasy with horror and mystery undertones. She loves building magic systems and staring into the abyss. You can visit her website at vystarlit.com where you can sign-up for her newsletter, find free stories, and discover the latest news and releases.
Author Links:
Website: vystarlit.com
Links to Vy’s books are here – vystarlit.com/books
Individual Book Links:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
Apple
Google Play
Social Media:
Instagram – @vystarlit
Threads – @vystarlit
Blue Sky – @vystarlit.bsky.social
Facebook – /vystarlit
What was the inspiration behind your main character Ember in Don’t Destroy the World?
Originally, I was inspired to make Ember because I wanted to make a character who fought back and didn’t just take things and had the power to back it up. But as I was developing the story I thought what if she really did that? Wouldn’t she eventually end up a tyrant? Then a series of ‘what ifs’ happened, and Ember became the character of “I had bad things happen to me and, I got revenge and became a tyrant, now I have to do it all over again and what would I change?”
I figure, in Ember’s place, reliving those things, I would still be pretty angry but also would want to do better, so I wanted to show her as a character with that same vengeful streak, but she’s trying to be better, and how that isn’t an easy process.
I wanted her to make mistakes and learn from them, but she also does things that are bad and doesn’t really regret them. I definitely wanted to show a gray character with dark tendency that is trying to be better when in all honesty she could just scorch the earth and call it a day.
What research did you do into past lives, regression and reincarnation for this novel, and what about this drew you to make it a central plot point?
I’ve always thought reincarnation was a idea that brought up lots of question so always sought out those type of stories but they weren’t easy to find. Then regression stories became popular, and suddenly I had tons of stories to read.
At first it was a feast I couldn’t get enough of but eventually I realized that all the ones involving female characters were romances. I wanted one focused more on the fantasy aspects that starred a female character.
I still like romance and certainly don’t mind it in stories but I wanted the fantasy to be the main focus. It was hard to find so I decided to make one myself.
How did you go about worldbuilding for Don’t Destroy the World? What was your favourite part of the worldbuilding process?
I love worldbuilding! It’s just so much fun creating a world and seeing how it came to be and building the history. For Don’t Destroy the World, Ember came first. I knew I wanted her to be strong and just keep getting stronger which brought me to my magic system with the Akashic Tree.
Since the story is progressive fantasy, the magic system had to be measurable, but I also wanted it to be flexible so I don’t lock myself out of elements of the story I might want to add later.
Making the magic system surrounding the Akashic system was probably the best part for me. It’s basically the world tree of knowledge, knowing everything that has ever happened.
What are the main themes in Don’t Destroy the World, and how did you interweave them through the narrative?
Probably the main theme of Don’t Destroy the World is recognizing that despite all the horrible things that happen, the world it can still be beautiful.
Ember spends a lot of time being angry and her anger is completely justified, but I think it tends to consume her, and she forgets there are good things in the world.
In her tyrant life, she lost her family and many of the people she cared about. In her new life, she’s trying to not lose those things but her need for revenge and power tends to get in the way.
A lot of her journey is being able to see the good despite all the bad around her. I think it’s a theme that many people can relate to with how difficult life has been these last few years.
Can you tell us about a side or background character in the novel that surprised you, or that you particularly enjoyed writing?
Priest Beslen! The character was supposed to be a character that came and went but instead he has become an important character in the story. He’s playful, mischievous, always has something clever to say and you never know if you can trust him or not. When I dug into his past, I realized he had a story that was just as important to tell and he grew to now be an intricate part of the books and future books I have planned.
Do you have any future publication plans, anything we can look out for?
Yes! Besides working on the second book in the Tyrant Reborn series, I’ll be putting out a gaslamp fantasy series later this year.
It’s Victorian fantasy meets Sherlock Holmes with a touch of Eldritch horror. I was inspired by Lord of the Mysteries and had an idea that just wouldn’t let go. So definitely look forward to that.
Like This? Try These!
January 17, 2025
Twitch Stream Live Reading of The Reluctant Husband!
Dr Rehaminator reads my novelette in this stream, and I’m so thrilled. Have a listen.
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2356174436?tt_content=vod&tt_medium=mobile_web_share
The Reluctant Husband doesn’t yet have audio on Eldritch Girl so this is a good audio version of it. Get it below to read along.
Universal Book Link:
https://books2read.com/u/boqXLZ
Get it now
January 15, 2025
Author Spotlight: Ruth Easterling
Based in Michigan, forty- year old Ruth Easterling (she/her) has been writing for most of her life and has always dreamed of publishing a book of her own. Ruth leads a quiet life by reading and working day shifts. She is married to a wonderful man who plays a positive role in her life.
Ruth is a cat lover and owns several cats. She’s an introverted and quiet person who would love to travel the world someday.
Author Links:
Bluesky: @rutheasterling.bsky.social
Beneath Two Worlds: The Key Collector’s Saga – Books2Read, Amazon
Journey to Excalibur (The Key Collector’s Saga Book 2) – Books2Read, Amazon
In the aftermath of losing her baby girl at 25 weeks, Sloane Warwick’s world shatters further when her husband is murdered by the sinister Claude. A mysterious note and key thrust her into a new realm, where allies Grayson and Ella guide her in unlocking hidden powers. With Claude’s relentless pursuit to open a portal to Hell, Sloane must confront her grief and depression to stand against him. Joined by a dragon, she fights for her world’s freedom against Claude’s malevolent grasp.
What was the inspiration behind your series, The Key Collector Saga?
I am not sure, I just wanted a character that was grieving and had to save the worlds. I wanted someone who was suffering from depression to be a hero.
Can you tell us a little about Sloane, your MC? You have given her some heavy and difficult things to go through at the start (the loss of her baby at 25 weeks pregnant) for example, which may resonate with a few readers. Can you tell us how this character developed, and why you felt it was important to have her go through these experiences?
I myself suffered from early delivery and thought I could do something with my experience. I’m sure they’re are women out there who feel powerless and hopeless when they’ve lost their baby and it’s the worst feeling in the world. So I wanted someone to come out strong in the end. And grow to have hope.
What drew you to Arthurian myth as the crux of your fantasy series?
I’ve always been fascinated by king Arthur and the round table. But I have something different in store for my third book!
What is your favourite part of the worldbuilding in this fantasy world, and why?
Just growing the world and exploring what could be and what is! Sloane hasn’t been everywhere yet!
What is/are your favourite reader response(s) so far?
“The depth of emotion and the development of Sloane’s character make this a captivating read, with each page leaving readers eager to uncover what lies ahead in Sloane’s quest for redemption and freedom” was what one Reviewer has left and it tugged at my heart because that was what I was going for!
Do you have any future publication plans, anything we can look out for?
My third book which will conclude the trilogy will be out sometime next year. I’m also working on a witch/vampire book but not sure if it’ll be a standalone or not yet.
Like This? Try These!
All she has to do is get the legendary sword, Excalibur. It can’t be that hard, can it?
After the narrow escape from Claude and Jacob, Grayson and Sloane are back with their friends along with some familiar faces.
Now it is a race against time to get the last key. Sloane and her friends must get it from the fae. Only the fae request one last quest from Sloane before they hand over the key– she must get the legendary sword Excalibur.
With no leads but a vague idea, Sloane and her friends head out on a journey of a lifetime to retrieve Excalibur.
January 11, 2025
2025: A Look Ahead
Hello! This is not my first post of the year, but 2025 is still very new. This is what you can expect from this site going forward; I’ve broken it down into 10 major things to look out for!
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" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con..." data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con..." src="https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con..." alt="white and black weekly planner on gray surface" class="wp-image-17127" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con... 1880w, https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con... 300w, https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con... 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con... 768w, https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con... 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con... 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con... 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" />Photo by Bich Tran on Pexels.comSchedule of Posts – 2025The schedule for regular posts will be Wednesdays and Fridays from the end of February onwards, with Mondays for alerts to the bonus episodes on my podcast.
Additional posts will be few and far between, but will slot in on Mondays also for consistency.
Up to February, Author Spotlight Interviews will go live on Wednesdays.
Once the podcast starts, alerts for the main episodes will go live on Wednesdays and the Author Spotlights will shift over to Fridays.
[image error]Pexels.com","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"typewriter beside table lamp","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="pexels-photo-1432516" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="Photo by Min An on Pexels.com
" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con..." data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con..." src="https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con..." alt="typewriter beside table lamp" class="wp-image-17120" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con... 1880w, https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con... 300w, https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con... 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con... 768w, https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con... 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con... 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con... 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" />Photo by Min An on Pexels.comTop 10 Updates for 2025Website updates – you may have noticed this, but cmrosens.com has had a makeover! I like this a lot better and I hope you do too. I’ve also got a new website: visitpaghamonsea.co.uk . This is a pretend Council website I set up for Pagham-on-Sea, as I got the domain name for Christmas. I’ll be posting infrequently there, but you can go and comment on the different pages with pretend “reviews” for its cafes, bars, events, and more. Go check out the comments it’s already got, because they are hilarious! Feel free to do this anonymously and/or under your account, so you can leave more than one.Author Spotlight Series – this took off more than I expected last year, and due to its success, I’m going to continue it through 2025. It gets its own page on my menu with the list of 2024 and 2025 authors respectively, so it’s easy to find. Please note that I’m always open for BIPOC indie authors, and especially would like to uplift your work, as well as queer and disabled and neurodivergent authors. I already have a lovely group of diverse authors, and would encourage you to check them out and share the pages on your socials, so people can find these interviews and get to know more authors! Especially share interview links if I’ve spotlighted you! Let’s get eyes on your work, and the others in the series!
. . . Yelen & Yelena eARCs – you have 2 chances to grab an eARC through January!One option is via the Dark Fantasy Freebies promo, running until 31st January. The second option is via the Queer Your eReader event on 25th Jan, where you’ll have one day to get a ton of free fiction. If you get your ARC from these events, please leave an honest review on Goodreads/Storygraph, and then after release, if you can, please copy & paste your ARC review to the eBook/print platform of your choice (the more the better!)
. . .Yelen & Yelena Print and eBook Release – my Hope-punk Dark Gothic Fantasy comes out 14th Feb 2025. You can check out its main page here.
. . . Yelen & Yelena Audio Release – 19th Feb 2025 on the Eldritch Girl podcast. I’ll be serialising this one weekly on Wednesdays, with Bonus Episodes on Mondays, so the Author Spotlight Series will move to Fridays as soon as this starts.
. . .Yelen & Yelena Audio: Early Access and Audiobook Files (mp3) – Currently available as free to all, you can access Chapters 01 and 02 on my Ko-Fi and get your sneak peek at the first 2 chapters. All the other early access episodes are member-only, but also available to the Tip Jar members (patrons of the podcast, a new tier donating £1.50 a month, and getting a free eBook and mp3 downloads as a thank you).
. . .THE DAY WE ATE GRANDAD – This book is hopefully getting a makeover this year too, with a new cover commissioned. Watch this space for the reveal later in 2025.
. . .Monthly Fiction (Pagham-on-Sea) – Join my Ko-Fi for monthly fiction from Pagham-on-Sea, including flash fiction, short stories, and letters to you from the characters! Check out my masterlist page for all the fiction you could access already as a member, including all the eBook files you can download.
. . . New Releases – More on these later, but I’m working on a lot of different stories. You can definitely expect a Ricky Porter anthology of short stories and The Sussex Fretsaw Massacre novella coming later in 2025. This is going to be available in print as well as via eBook, and I’ll do the audio for it too. This may not be on the podcast, but the mp3 files will be available on my Ko-Fi.
. . . Birds of a Feather – My Ko-Fi exclusive contemporary (a)romantic thriller has gained a bit more traction, so I will be adding the mp3 audio file to this so people can have both the eBook file and the audio to download, and I’ll also make the mp3 available to buy separately for anyone who has already bought the eBook. The price of this book will go up to £5.99 to reflect the additional files. [image error]Pexels.com","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"pile of books","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="books-book-pages-read-literature-159866" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con..." data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con..." src="https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con..." alt="pile of books" class="wp-image-17136" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con... 1880w, https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con... 300w, https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con... 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con... 768w, https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con... 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con... 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/cmrosens.com/wp-con... 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" />Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.comA Final Plea:If you’ve read and liked anything of mine, please drop into a Reddit thread, a Goodreads forum, a Facebook group, or any social media platform you’re on, and rec it there! Word of mouth is THE best way for books to gain traction.
If you want to post a review on your blog or just say you’ve read something of mine and liked it, that would be amazing too (no need to tag me).
I would deeply, deeply appreciate it.
January 8, 2025
Author Spotlight: Lem McMillan
As a kid I loved telling stories through cartoons and drawings, heavily inspired by movies Return of the Jedi, Tron, and the animated Lord of the Rings. It wasn’t until High School that I took up reading in any recreational sense. That’s when I realized that I enjoyed the telling of the tale more then the drawing of it.
I started a few projects, but didn’t have the confidence of drive to follow them to completion. For years I dabbled through short stories and running TTRPGs. I didn’t take writing seriously until 2015 when I finished my first manuscript and realized with confidence, I could finish a story. I committed to writing everyday and took a Creative Writing Course. All to improve. Now here we are, nearly 10 years later.
Taking inspiration from every thing I see and hear, I write tales that interest me, sprinkled with bits of my lived experiences and what I see in the world around me. I prefer Speculative Fiction and Paranormal stories, but I’m always trying my hand at other genres. I love writing stories about marginalized people living lives not defined by that which would make them targets in the real world, I love feedback.
Author Links:
Wattpad: LemuelMcMillan
TikTok: @author.lem.mcmillan
Instagram: @author.lem.mcmillan
Threads: @author.lem.mcmillan
You are a prolific writer with 23 works available for people to read for free at the moment, but we’re going to be talking specifically about 3 of them – Raving Moon, Demon Hunters: Last Class, and Light, Glorious Light. First of all, tell us about these stories, where to read them, and a little bit about why the Wattpad route was/is a good fit for you and your work.
Oh, I like this question a lot! Raving Moon was born of a vampire story I started when I was Freshman in High School. Inspired by The Anita Blake series by Laurel K. Hamilton, the story was all about vampires and werewolves in a darker version of our world. Even then, it was important to me that the main character be a black man. Years later, I tried to rewrite it and the idea of the black vampire in a world reluctant to accept him grew even greater as did my vision for the world.
In November of 2018, I revisited my idea and it flowed out of me as if it had always been waiting for that moment. Vampires, werewolves, magic, and social commentary smothered in a murder mystery, dear to my heart.
Demon Hunters: Last Class is a novelization by a TTRPG I created and ran for my wife and sister years ago. It was a great adventure that brought us together and meant a lot to me as a game runner and as a storyteller. This story is a love story to those women and the time we had. It follows two young ladies as they discover that the world they live in is far larger than they grew up to believe. It’s a coming of age tale that is a prelude to a grand adventure that spans time and space.
Light, Glorious Light was the capstone project for my Creative Writing Course. The story started out as just the first three chapters, but I loved the story I’d started and could not leave it as it was. Over the course of the next couple of months, I lived in the land of The Bright Waste where roving bands of bandits kill and plunder to survive and Phalanx stands as the last bastion of peace and civilization.
Somehow, this story has become my most popular. Female protagonists fighting mutants, a harsh landscape, and bandit queens. It’s quite a rife. As I said before, I love feedback and Wattpad creates a space where readers can comment on your work in-line as soon as you post.
The community is strong and for me the experience has been rewarding. Book Clubs have helped me grow as a writer and reader feedback has inspired more than a few of the other stories I’ve written.
What sort of representation can readers expect to find in these 3 stories, and can you tell us anything about the reception of these characters with readers?
My protagonists are always people of color, usually black or green! Most of my many characters are women and more than half are queer. I just find a certain kinship with characters who love who they want and stand strong and secure in their differentness. People seem to resonate with my characters and the stories they tell.
Light, Glorious Light had very few reads for a long time, but when it blew up I received so much positive feedback from women who loved my characters that I was quite surprised. I didn’t expect the same sex relationship within to received the fanfare it did.
Let’s talk about the settings of these books – Light, Glorious Light is a dystopian future, Demon Hunters: Last Class is set in a contemporary USA where angels and demons are real, and Raving Moon takes place in an alternate universe in the fictional Gorgon City. What inspired the settings for each one, and how do you go about worldbuilding?
Once the idea starts to take root, I ask myself questions that will constantly make me think of the the story’s world. What inspires this world, why is it different from this one? Why is it the same?
Light, Glorious Light was an extreme vision of a world ravaged by climate change and science unchecked. If the world burned, what would grow from the ashes.
Demon Hunters: Last Class took inspiration from post-apocalyptic games where demons and angels fight over the remnants of humanity. How would a world destined for that fate have looked before the ‘end’?
Raving Moon has lived in my head for so long, it’s become kind of a default contemporary world for me. if I have a dark fantasy idea, my first thought is how does this fit into Gorgon City? I have to say the Anita Blake series and underworld have definitely shaped this world, but so have things like Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere and Vampire: The Masquerade. In a modern world where monsters rule, what would a day in the life for said monsters look like?
What are the central themes of each of these books, and how do the settings and worlds of each book work to bring them out and help you explore them?
Light, Glorious Light: Love in a world where weakness will get you killed.
The Bright Waste is harsh and unforgiving so I attack the love between the two MCs from every angle. Forcing them to fight for their love constantly.
Raving Moon: Faith in one’s self and fighting the ghosts of the past. The man character is a vampire who believes in the Christian God and the power of his salvation. yet this very faith is a weapon against him, harming him as well as it helps him. How do memories and family secrets affect a man who’s centuries old?
Demon Hunters- Last Class: Found family and self-discovery. The ladies in this story have lost everything and are learning about the world with fresh eyes as newborns. Both are dealing with loss and betrayal, so I constantly asked myself how would they find each other or how did they find each other. This story was unique in it was based on characters played by people and so I had to reconcile my questions with how the characters behaved in the game they came from. This one was surprisingly difficult.
Do you find yourself revisiting the same/similar themes in your work, and if so, which ones?
A recurring theme in all of my work is faith and what does it look like to different people. There are always themes of acceptance, from self and from society. Learning to love one’s self is also a prominent element. The settings directly shape how these themes are approached. Whether in a desert wasteland or a school for misfits or a city ruled by vampire, the way the characters seek acceptance from themselves is very different and part of the protagonists’ tale is finding it in their own way.
What are you most looking forward to writing in the future, and are you/do you think you would consider other publishing routes?
Light, Glorious Light has a ‘Sidequel’, Roar, Lioness, Roar, which follows the antagonist of the first book. I loved writing it so much that I’ve been toying with the idea of writing another ‘Sidequel’ following the villain introduced in the second book.
Raving Moon and Demon Hunters: First Class were both always intended to be the first books in their own series. I look forward to returning to those worlds one day. I have the outlines finished or near completion and it’s just a matter of finding the inspiration and time. It truly feels like I have dozens of stories in my head and no time to write them down.
I want to pursue self-publishing, but I have to admit, I don’t know what needs to be done. People have pointed me towards videos and articles, but they confuse me more than help me. I’ll get it eventually, but I do sometimes become disheartened. Lol. The traditional publishing route is also an option, but I don’t write to market and it feels like that’s all the big publisher’s want. Wattpad gives me platform to post what I want, but what I really want is to hold my books in physical form.
Read Lem’s books for free online while you can!https://www.wattpad.com/user/LemuelMcMillanLike This? Try These!
January 1, 2025
Dark Fantasy Freebies for the New Year!
Happy new year everyone! January is all about the Dark Fantasy – how better to anticipate the sun’s return than by huddling in the dark, reading stories of fantastical worlds and wintry Gothic mansions full of magic and sinister secrets?
I’ve entered the ARC of YELEN & YELENA and the novelette THE RELUCTANT HUSBAND into a Dark Fantasy & Horror promo with Bookfunnel, in an attempt to get some new readers and build my newsletter subscribers.
If you’ve signed up for the blog, thank you so much, I hope you’re enjoying the posts! In case you didn’t know, I do ALSO have a monthly newsletter that summarises my month, and gives you updates I don’t always post about on here to the general public…
It gives you insights into the ADHD graveyard of lost ideas and shelved projects, as well as highlights to look out for, discount codes and promo news, and what I’m reading, watching and listening to.
SIGN UP FOR CMR’S NEWSLETTER: cmrosens.com/newsletter
Here is the link to the Dark Fantasy Freebies Promo:
Get Your Free Books!
