E.S. Barrison's Blog, page 27
July 22, 2020
A Grim Affair – Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5 stars)
Imagine that for two months that you had the same dream over and over again. It’s a simple dream: a dark man standing in the corner of the room, watching you. Nothing happens, he’s just there. But it turns out these “dreams” aren’t dreams; no, this man is actually there…and you’re able to control him.
By the way, he is also the Grim Reaper.
Sorry. Keeper of Souls.
This is exactly what happens to Emma. After having these dreams for months, fueling her constant anxiety over a potential stalker, she discovers she has the power to summon Blake, the Grim Reaper (err…Keeper of Souls) at will. Her soul is drawn to him, and he is drawn to her. But Blake isn’t familiar with being human. He only just learned what garlic tastes like and how to sit properly on a chair. As their romance buds, both Emma and Blake need to learn how to adapt. Or spend most of their time bickering.
Personally, I am a sucker for any story that focuses on a “Grim Reaper” like being (or Keeper of Souls, Gatekeeper to the Afterlife, Death, or whatever this being wants to be called). Blake is unintentionally hilarious, attempting to adapt to his new “corporeal” abilities while under Emma’s sphere of influence. The concept of the Keeper of Souls in A Grim Affair, coupled with the way Emma and Blake’s souls are bound, makes for a unique story not told before.
That being said, I have never been one for “dream romances/connections” or “literal soulmate” story lines. This is a personal preference, but I felt that using these mechanisms as a cop out allowed for Emma and Blake’s romance to move at a very fast pace. Emma’s own skepticism over Blake didn’t last long, and without much to back it up at first, the fact that he was the Grim Reaper seemed like a second thought. I would have loved to spend more time seeing Emma’s feelings and inner-conflicts about this revelation. The narrative also repeats itself quite often, recanting about events that took place a few chapters earlier. I’d rather spend that time examining more of Emma and Blake’s relationship and possibly building out some of the revelations around their soul connection.
Nevertheless, A Grim Affair is a fun read, and I found myself giggling as Blake learns to navigate the corporeal world. “I am sat” Blake tells Emma with pride as he learns to sit in a chair. It is almost impossible to not find that amusing and adorable!
So if you want a quick fun read, definitely check out A Grim Affair.
What’s it about?
Wait! What? The Grim Reaper’s real?
I most definitely did not believe in the supernatural. Until the Grim Reaper showed up in my bedroom demanding to know why I’ve been controlling him. Which, of course, I haven’t. He also said that I am the only one who’s seen him in around about a thousand years. Which, of course, can’t possibly be true. Something peculiar is most definitely going on…
Emma lives a normal life, so normal that her own mother has been known to accuse her of being boring. But then she sees a mysterious stranger, one that no-one else admits to seeing, and her life changes forever. Emma becomes convinced she is being stalked but the Grim Reaper says it’s not him. And if it isn’t him, who is it?
Unbeknownst to Emma her life is in danger. Can she find the answers she so desperately needs before it is too late?
A Grim Affair on Goodreads
July 20, 2020
Like Falling Stars – Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5 stars)
Imagine waking up with no recollection of yourself. This is exactly what happens to Ann. She wakes up in a magic forest, which frankly isn’t the worst place for her to end up, and is sent on her way by an odd woman named Tanya to the house of Nicolas Rasmussen, Prince of the Frost Faeries, Ruler of the Season of Winter, Second Eldest Ruler of the Northern Realm. But you can just call him “Your Highness.” Nicolas would rather be left alone though, and is thrown aback by this sudden curious, loud spoken, and happy young woman arriving on his doorstep.
Like Falling Stars is a lighthearted tale about found-family and self discovery. In a quest to discover who she is, Ann builds friendships between others and herself, finding the softness in a curmudgeon of a faerie, and bringing light to winter once again. Avalon Roselin does a beautiful job creating this fairy tale world, bringing these characters to life with distinct personalities that bounce off pages. Immediately, I was drawn into their personalities, and loved watching their friendship buzz.
As with many stories this length, my biggest complaint is that there wasn’t more. I would have liked to see more of the early stages of Ann and Nicolas’s friendship while she was meandering around his palace as an annoyance rather than a welcome guest. There was also a much heavier focus on Nicolas’s development than Ann’s, and while we do get answers about Ann’s past it comes very late in the game after many other issues have been resolved.
That being said, the ending will make your heart melt. Ann chooses her destiny in the end. She decides where home is, even if it isn’t where she was supposed to end up.
So if you want a lighthearted tale with elements of your favorite fairy tales, like Little Red Riding Hood and Alice in Wonderland, I recommend you check out Like Falling Stars. If you have a bitter heart, perhaps Ann can warm it up for you as well.
What’s it about?
Once Upon a Time, there was an Amnesiac and a Faerie Prince…
All Ann wanted was to go home; all Nicolas wanted was to be left alone. However, when Ann woke up in the woods with no memory of her past, fate brought them together–and friendship soon bound them to each other.
Facing their uncertainties about the future side-by-side, their desires become less clear. There is no guarantee that Ann will like the person she used to be, and Nicolas may never see her again if he lets her go. Even in fairy tales, happy endings are not easy to come by. Ann and Nicolas will have to decide how much their friendship is worth if they want a true Happily Ever After.
Like Falling Stars on Goodreads
July 18, 2020
The Color Plague – Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★★★ (4.75/5 stars)
Iria finally has the life she was destined: at last, she is living in the palace with her sister, Helena, and is finally a true princess. But that doesn’t make her happy. She feels alone, misunderstood, and like a stain on the palace culture. On top of that, an impending plague is threatening witches across the kingdom…and her life could be on the line.
In a compelling adventure, Iria sets sail with Princess Oen, Commander Elias of the Guard, and a barrage of others including Vima, Luce, and Kaed, to find the source of this plague. But along the way, the real victory is the confidence Iria builds and the friendships she forms.
Emily Poirier is a master at analyzing these relationships. With Iria, the reader grows; we learn more about each of the characters, grow into each of the relationships, and feel our hearts break over loss. I woke up at 4 AM, and unable to sleep decided to read a couple chapters…only to stay awake and completely finish the book, unable to put it down. By the end, I was crying over the losses Iria went through, but also smiling over her successes. I became connected with this crew, and I was so sad to see their voyage end. I can only hope they’ll go on an adventure again! Although, Iria would need a lot of persuading from Oen for that to happen.
While I loved everything about this book, the only place I thought it fell short was the overall conflict between the cause of the plague and Iria, Oen, and Elias. Poirier does an amazing job touching on the magic elements, something that wasn’t as prominent in the The Color Thief, and developing the key relationships between characters, she neglected focusing on this central conflict that resolved a bit too quickly in my opinion. But, that did not take away from my overall enthusiasm over the story! The world building was absolutely phenomenal, with beautiful descriptions and analysis of color, that in the end the small nature of the “main conflict” did not feel that small at all.
This book is everything I was hoping The Color Thief would be, and more! I cried, I smiled, and I fell in love with the motley crew. Without a doubt, I would recommend that you pick up The Color Thief Duology! You will not be disappointed.
Read my review for The Color Thief here.
What’s it about?
Iria should have been a Princess. Instead, she spent twenty-seven years struggling to survive in the Wasteland beyond her kingdom’s borders. Now, thanks to the love and bravery of her sister, Iria finally has the life she was born to. She never has to worry or struggle again.
So why is she still unhappy?
When her magic finds the source of the plague that has been killing witches, it becomes clear that Iria is the only person with a chance of stopping it. Iria hopes that this quest will allow her to avenge a fallen friend, but doing so would require her to stop grieving and move on, and she’s not sure how to do that yet. She’s not sure how to be part of a team, either, and she’ll be forced onto one that doesn’t know her but fears her anyway, and she’ll have to battle their distrust as well as the plague.
The Color Thief on Goodreads
July 17, 2020
Extant – Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5/5 Stars)
Question everything.
Life is hard enough after you’ve just graduated high school. You’re trying to choose a college, you’re saying goodbye to good friends, and the world is at your finger tips. But for Natalie Morrigan and her close friends – Tawny, Leo, Brant, and Owen – there world is turned upside down by a series of bombings. Suddenly, their lives are turned upside down, their homes destroyed with their parents missing. At first, they think they’re mere pawns in the game…until they discover a mysterious ability granted to them at birth.
Extant is the fast paced first novel of The Coelcanth Project by Sarah Newland. In a gripping YA Sci-Fi novel, the readers embark on a journey that is filled with questions about morality, eugenics, and the definition of peace. Who can be trusted? And are Natalie and her friends making the right decision?
This story definitely hooked me right from the first page. Newland has a remarkable ability to write fast paced scenes while keeping the science fun and easy to understand. Natalie serves as a wonderful character to learn this through; her inner monologue is exactly what you would expect of an over-analytical teenager who is more interested in reading, mathematics and theories than being surrounded by the action. Her friends serve as good foils to her overall character too: Leo the protector, Tawny the feisty, Brant the “comic”, and Owen the “nerd”. Each one provides a valuable part of the team.
Yet, while Newland writes compelling action and fast paced scenes, some of this severely hindered the plot. I would have liked to see a bit more places where the character “breathe”. The story doesn’t take long to jump into the action, so the reader has to learn about the characters in these high adrenaline instances, rather than taking a bit of time to get to know them in calmer circumstances. That, coupled with the back and forth between past and present (which might have served as foreshadowing a discovery towards the end of the book), made me feel like I was constantly on the run. This, of course, is a testament to Newland’s writing ability, that the reader feels the anxiety pulsing through the pages. I personally would have liked a bit more time to get to really know Natalie and her friends though.
Still, if you want a fast paced novel filled with action and friendship, plus a little bit of science, Extant is definitely for you. I personally look forward to the next installment…since this is just a mere taste of what is to come.
What’s it about?
Every family has secrets, and Natalie Morrigan was used to being kept in the dark. But when her childhood home is destroyed following her parents mysterious disappearance, Natalie discovers her secrets are darker than most. With no where else to turn, Natalie and her four lifelong friends seek out their estranged Uncle for guidance, and he cannot wait to tell her the truth.
Her entire life has been a lie.
Burdened with a power that will change the world, Natalie is hunted by Nautilus: an organization that claims it will use her power to achieve an everlasting peace. But if Natalie has learned anything, it’s that things aren’t always what they seem.
Question everything.
Extant on Goodreads
July 10, 2020
Feature Friday: Emily Poirier
Today I am excited to feature author Emily Poirier, author of Vampires Don’t Need an Invitation & The Color Thief! I read her book, The Color Thief, a month ago and it was a wonderful story I encourage you to check out! I’ll be providing a review for the sequel, The Color Plague, sometime later this month.
Emily graduated from Hampshire College in 2017 where she studied Creative Writing and Literature. She spent her final year working on my Division III project, “No More Lions and Lambs: Examining and Re-Writing the Vampire Romance Novel,” which went on to become Vampires Don’t Need an Invitation. She enjoys cats, dragons, and magic. Her goal is to tell important and inclusive stories that also have magic and dragons. Girl power is a good start, but more than that is a better start. She loves Strong Women, but champions the Soft Boys. Apart from writing, she spends her days drawing, consuming media, and playing videogames – all those alone-in-your-room hobbies perfect for hermits. She likes salt and vinegar chips, pineapple on pizza, and loves tea but hates coffee.
Why did you choose indie publishing?
I indie published because my first book was a vampire romance novel. It was good, well-researched, and clever, and I stand by it, but I knew that no agent in their right mind would take a chance on a vampire romance novel from an unknown author at this stage of the game. Then, the more I wrote the more I realized my books aren’t marketable. No one is going to look at any of the books I’ve written or the ones I have planned and think, “Yes, this is perfect for the market as it stands.” These books are still worth writing, so I’ve got to do it all myself if I want them done.
What inspired you to write?
Generally: I’m an introverted only child and books and other media provided me a sense of companionship that didn’t drain my introvert batteries. I’ve dedicated so much of my heart to the fictional worlds of other people that I feel compelled to give some back.
Specifically: Vampires Don’t Need an Invitation is inspired first and foremost by Twilight, but also the vampire romance subgenre on a larger scale. I wanted to take it and bend it so that it retained the good and got rid of the bad. The Color Thief was inspired by a class I took my freshman year called The Philosophy of Color. We looked at color from every which angle, and I wanted to take those ideas and craft a magic system based on color. The Color Plague was inspired by me falling in love with my own characters and from a dissatisfaction by how much fantasy is set in pseudo-England and how little takes place on tropical archipelagos.
Are you working on any projects at the moment?
I’m writing a Beauty and the Beast retelling called Beauty and Beast. It’s morally grayer than the original, and I have unceremoniously described it as: Beauty and the Beast but Beast doesn’t give a shit and also Beauty doesn’t give a shit. I’m on the second draft now.
What is your writing routine like?
When I’m working on a project, I write every day. I have a daily minimum wordcount, but it’s only 500 words. Most days, I write more than that, but having such a low daily goal means that I still get something done on the hard days. I don’t always, but when I feel like I’m having trouble focusing, I set a 25 minute timer for writing. Another small burst that means I can chip away at my goals without overwhelming myself. If I hit the daily goal, great. If I don’t, I haven’t wasted too much time on a session that isn’t working. I re-calibrate and try again in an hour or so. I work until I finish a draft, then I take a few weeks to a month off to get distance, then I go back in and work every day on the next draft. I try to think ahead to my next project, but I don’t do any real work on it, just note taking and idea jotting so that I have something to start from when I’m ready.
C an you give us an out of context spoiler?
There is no Supreme Vampire Council, so Grayson calls his mom.
If you could give one piece of advise to your past -self about writing, what would it be?
Figure out what you’re trying to say. You can write through Writer’s Block, as long as you have something in the future to write toward; transitions are always weird. Revision is good, actually, and you should never sweat your first draft. Nothing about a first draft has to be good except for its ability to propel you into a second one.
Follow Emily Poirier
Books
Vampires Don’t Need an InvitationThe last thing Grayson thought he’d have to worry about his freshman year of college was vampires. Making friends, getting his work done on time, the freshman fifteen? Sure. Vampires? Definitely not. Yet, here he is, the survivor of a vampire attack, nursing a huge crush on the vampire who rescued him.
Leah hasn’t been close with a human since she was one, twenty years ago. She hadn’t realized how much she missed it, missed being around someone with eighteen years worth of baggage instead of a hundred. When a dangerous group of vampires moves into town, she decides to fight for Grayson’s humanity since no one fought for hers.
In this clever reimagining of the vampire romance novel, Leah and Grayson come to question the pervasive tropes that keep influencing how their relationship forms and must decide for themselves which literary precedents they’ll allow to color their own feelings.
[image error]The Color Thief
The King and Queen of Teqell have kept a terrible secret for twenty-seven years. Now, it’s killing them. Magic is draining them of their color, and they are dying. Princess Helena is obligated to marry and ascend to the throne, told to ignore what she has learned and accept their fate, but she cannot.
Instead, she hatches a flimsy plan with Dresden, one of her Royal Guards, to right this wrong. They must help each other travel across the kingdom that she helps rule but has largely never seen while evading other Guards who would bring them back to the castle and stop short their quest. On the way, Helena must also struggle with her changing and complicated feelings about her own family, keep her first and only friend, and reevaluate magic’s role in her kingdom.
The Color Plague Iria should have been a Princess. Instead, she spent twenty-seven years struggling to survive in the Wasteland beyond her kingdom’s borders. Now, thanks to the love and bravery of her sister, Iria finally has the life she was born to. She never has to worry or struggle again.
So why is she still unhappy?
When her magic finds the source of the plague that has been killing witches, it becomes clear that Iria is the only person with a chance of stopping it. Iria hopes that this quest will allow her to avenge a fallen friend, but doing so would require her to stop grieving and move on, and she’s not sure how to do that yet. She’s not sure how to be part of a team, either, and she’ll be forced onto one that doesn’t know her but fears her anyway, and she’ll have to battle their distrust as well as the plague.
Currently, I am not accepting any more applications for Feature Friday. Follow me for updates regarding when I will be reopening the application. Until then, signing off.
E.S. Barrison
July 9, 2020
The Silent Patient – Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 Stars)
Audio Book Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 Stars)
Total Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 Stars)
The murder seemed cut-and-dry, as pristine as a realistic portrait on a canvas: Alicia Berenson murdered her husband Gabriel. But then, she went silent. Six-years later, psychotherapist Theo Faber is determined to get her to speak in an obsessive fixation that seems to consume him. But what could Alicia be hiding?
And when she reveals the truth, can she be trusted?
In a striking narrative, the reader builds a trust with Theo, and grows just as consumed as he does in what happened with Alicia and her husband? Why won’t she speak? Is it an act? Or is she a deeply disturbed individual that influences those around her? Alicia has almost a supernatural-like quality to her, and you become connected to her story from the get-go.
Or at least, that’s what the story wants you to believe.
Filled with red herrings, surprising twists, and a truthful examination of human nature, The Silent Patient asks you to question not just Alicia but yourself. What experiences have shaped your life? Is everything really what it seems? Alex Michaelades does an amazing job wrapping the audience in the twists and turns.
It took me a week to put together this review, as I reconciled my thoughts and tried to decide what made this book great. It’s one of my top reads of the year so far, and I think it has to do with the humanity of the story. The world is just far more complex than it lets on, and sometimes when you think you know something, life throws a curve ball. It leaves you with this unrelenting sense of paranoia, and any good thriller makes you look over your shoulder once or twice.
That being said, this novel would not be recommended though to those who are made uneasy by psychiatric wards, suicide attempts, toxic relationships, and murder. But, if you are one to dive into a psychological thriller, you’ll be on the edge of your seat throughout the whole narrative.
It’s really quite a phenomenal story…that is, if you choose to believe it.
What’s it about?
Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. One evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word.
Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London.
Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations—a search for the truth that threatens to consume him…
The Silent Patient on Goodreads
July 3, 2020
Now Accepting: Submissions for August Book Reviews
As an Indie Author, I know how crucial it is for readers to obtain book reviews. That’s why I am opening myself up to reviewing books regularly by independent authors.
If you are interested, please check out my review policy below. I am currently accepting submissions for books to review in August 2020 and beyond.
If you are interested, please check out my review policy here.
Thanks,
E.S. Barrison
Starlight – Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5 stars)
What do a delivery boy, a seamstress, and a princess all have in common?
This isn’t the start of a joke. This is where paths cross in Starlight by P.S. Malcolm. When running his daily errands, Julian meets Adrina, a seamstress’s daughter. It’s a brief encounter, one that might not have meant anything, until their paths cross again in the Starlight Court in preparation for the Princess’s inauguration. This might have been a pure coincidence, if there weren’t secrets underlying the upcoming event that sends both Julian and Adrina’s lives spiraling.
This wonderful novella introduces you to the world of the Starlight Chronicles, and in a few short pages the author’s world building guides sets up a fantasy world stuck at the brink of a tenuous revolt. As a prequel, this book sets up elements for the Starlight chronicles’ first book, Lanterns in the Sky, which I cannot wait to pick up after reading this one!
I had two primary qualms with the book, the first one being a personal taste more than anything else. The story is told from multiple 1st-person points-of-view. While each voice was unique enough, and with the indicators at the top of the chapter I never got confused, I’ve never been a fan of multiple 1st person POVs. But this is purely a personal taste than anything else. The primary qualm I had was the length. Everything in the story happens so fast, and while it didn’t take away from the world building, I felt like it would have benefited being a tiny bit longer to under the characters’ motivations and internal conflict, especially around Julian who seems to switch his opinions pretty regularly.
That being said though, Starlight served as an amazing introduction to the series…and as soon as I finished, I ordered a copy of Lanterns in the Sky!
So if you want a quick read with a love story, magic, betrayal, and secrets…check out Starlight! I definitely recommend it.
What’s it about?
A treaty upholds the peaceful lands of Ersarence— who have suffered from the spilt blood of their humble goddess, Titania, which stains the hands of the ruthless Urenphians.
Julian Rancewood— a small town delivery boy— wishes he could afford to save his dying mother. He never imagined a larger life for himself until he meets Adrina Hesfetter, the village seamstress’s daughter.
After striking a deal with the elusive King’s advisor and joining the royal army, he finds himself helping to search for a missing, unknown heir. Against all odds, Adrina and Julian soon meet again within the palace walls.
When Julian discovers Adrina’s fire magic— an impossibility among non-royals— they uncover a scandalous secret that will cause whispers of a Urenphian rebellion to travel through the kingdom. A thirst for revenge and a passionate romance causes the two villagers to set the events in motion which will bring down the entire Starlight Kingdom.
A Starlight Chronicles Novella.
Starlight on Goodreads
June 27, 2020
The Songbird’s Refrain – Book Review
Book Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5 stars)
You are important.
After Elizabeth is lured to a magical performance in town, she gets trapped by a nefarious woman called the Mistress. Her life changes right then, becoming obsolete in her old life, and sprouting feathers across her skin that itch with the promise of death. Her only solace is in her dreams…which provide more than just entertainment, but answers of how to escape the Mistress’s clutches.
The story is beautifully written, with a wonderful W|W romance and an endearing message: you are important. No one can take that away from you.
I’ll be honest, I had trouble with this book despite its endearing message and beautiful prose. I wanted to love it, and while I enjoyed the overall story, there were some hang ups that prevented me from giving it more than three-stars.
I think the primary issue I had was how long it took me to finish the story. I started The Songbird’s Refrain back in late 2019. The first 30% of the book went by quickly, but I didn’t really connect with the main character, Elizabeth. She felt like a sleeve, and honestly other than the fact that she sang, I didn’t know a lot about her. Granted, this is also a testament to the Mistress’s power…and the author’s writing. I was left feeling exactly how Elizabeth felt: she wasn’t important.
Once Elizabeth reaches a revelation about who the Mistress is and the magic behind it, the book does pick up, and I finished the last half of the book pretty quickly once I reached that point. Elizabeth learns to tap into her ability, and as much as I would have loved to learn more about the magic and the world the Mistress came from, the author does a good job wrapping the story up.
My major hang up, I think, is the romance aspect in the story. While the tale is beautiful, and the love is strong, the fact that two people fall in love because they “saw each other in the other’s dream” feels a bit…off? While some people will definitely love this element, with the idea of star crossed lovers inflicted by both fate and choice, it left me feeling uncertain. In some circumstances, dreaming of someone you never met and falling in love would almost be creepy. While it does work for this story, it did leave me with mixed feelings.
Overall though, the story is wonderful and definitely one to give a chance. It’s beautifully written, enchanting, and will make your heart flutter as you root for Elizabeth.
And remember: you are important.
What’s it about?
When a mysterious show arrives in town, seventeen-year-old Elizabeth Brighton is both intrigued and unsettled. But none of the acts capture her attention quite like the blue-eyed woman. Locked in a birdcage and covered in feathers, the anguish in her voice sounds just a little too real to be an act—because it isn’t. The show’s owner, a sadistic witch known only as the Mistress, is holding her captive.
And she’s chosen Elizabeth as her next victim.
After watching the blue-eyed woman die, Elizabeth is placed under the same curse. She clings to what little hope she can find in the words of a fortune teller and in her own strange dreams. The more she learns, the more she suspects that the Mistress isn’t as invulnerable as she appears. But time is against her, and every feather that sprouts brings her closer to meeting the blue-eyed woman’s fate. Can Elizabeth unlock the secret to flying free, or will the Mistress’s curse kill her and cage its next victim?
The Songbird’s Refrain on Goodreads
June 19, 2020
Feature Friday: Nikki Mitchell
Today I am excited to feature middle-grade author Nikki Mitchell, author of Nightshade Forest! Her book releases TOMORROW, June 20th. You can read my ARC review here! Definitely worth the read…and kids will love it!
Meet Nikki. She is a stay-at-home homeschooling mama of Evelyn (6) and Everett (4) and married to her college sweetheart. She is from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (a yooper, born and raised!). She has freelanced for my local weekly newspaper for the last 7 years, and is a Northern Michigan University alum with a degree in English Writing and journalism. She is a theater nerd, and loves musicals. She even used to owned a used-bookstore. She collects copies of Fahrenheit 451, and her most treasured book is the copy of the 4th Harry Potter book that she received in 8th grade.
Why did you choose indie publishing?
Honestly, I wanted complete control over my books, especially the cover and the illustrations. And I wanted to get my book into the hands of children as soon as possible.
What inspired you to write?
When I was a kid, I was bullied a lot and didn’t have a whole lot of friends. When I discovered Harry Potter in middle school, reading was a game-changer for me. I realized that I could disappear into books and the kids didn’t bother with me too much anymore because I always had my face in a book. I want to offer that escape to other middle-grade readers, and if I can reach just one, it will be worth it. Eleanor is much like I was, and so she disappears into this magical fairytale books and finds friendship and adventure.
Are you working on any projects at the moment?
Yes! I am currently editing book 2 of the series and writing book 3!
Who is your favorite author and/or book?
I have three. Harry Potter because those are the books that started everything for me. Fahrenheit 451 because Ray Bradbury taught me that writing books make you live forever and that they are key for the society to thrive. To Kill a Mockingbird because it is a lovely read.
If you could apologize to one of your characters, what would you say?
Sorry about the gargoyles.
What is your writing routine like?
Haha. I have two kids at my heels every day. I try to have one, but it is hard.
C an you give us an out of context spoiler?
Ooh this is a tough one! A strong force of magic that had been banished from the kingdom for years comes back to aid the thief.
Who do you hope to inspire with your writing, if anyone?
I really hope to show kids that books can take you on magical adventures just by opening and reading that first line.
If you could give one piece of advise to your past -self about writing, what would it be?
Self-publishing does not mean your book won’t be loved or successful.
Any shout outs?
Yes! My editor, Jennifer Navarre was absolutely amazing and she really brought Nightshade Forest into it’s best version. And everyone else that has helped it come alive. It really takes a village to publish a book!
Follow Nikki Mitchell
Books
[image error]Nightshade Forest
When eleven-year-old Eleanor receives a gift from her father, she never imagines it will open a portal to a fairytale world. Upon reading the first sentence of chapter one, she finds herself standing in the middle of Nightshade Forest—a dark woods with glowing blue and purple trees. She soon learns that the magic in the kingdom is out of control, and it is up to Eleanor to restore what has gone missing.
Join Eleanor and her newfound friends, Elfie and Milo in a search for a magic crystal as they fight off creatures Eleanor has only dreamed about. Can she make it to the happily-ever-after and rejoin her family, or will she be stuck in the Nightshade Forest forever?
Currently, I am not accepting any more applications for Feature Friday. Follow me for updates regarding when I will be reopening the application. Until then, signing off.
E.S. Barrison
