Helen Garraway's Blog, page 17
December 21, 2023
Collecting the Readers’ Favorite Gold medal for Sentinals Justice!!
Last month, I travelled to Miami, to attend the 2023 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards to collect my gold medal, which I won for Sentinals Justice, in the Epic Fantasy category.
Sentinals Justice is the third book in the Sentinals series which is now complete.
Lost guardians. Tensions brewing in the frozen north. Can a goddess-appointed champion prevent a looming war?
Jerrol Haven’s last run-in with evil has left deep scars. Recovering from the torture that damaged him mentally and physically, the guilt-ridden commander searches for the whereabouts of one of his captured allies. But he feels the chance to rescue the awakened sentinal slipping away when his king requests his aid in peace negotiations at a remote and unstable border.
Accompanied by his beloved, Jerrol arrives at his destination only to discover the enemy’s corruption running rife. And after he’s cut down by a shocking betrayal, the skilled soldier’s destiny plunges into bloody chaos.
Can he overcome his failures to forge a desperate victory?
Sentinals Justice is the thrilling third book in the Sentinal epic fantasy series. If you like courageous characters, action-packed suspense, and gritty battles, then you’ll love Helen Garraway’s emotional rollercoaster ride.
SoulBreather, the first book in the SoulMist sereis was a finalist in the Fantasy/Sci Fi category.
The event, held at the Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon hotel, offered the chance to meet other award winning authors, and to be presented with your award up on stage.
I was fortunate to be joined by my daughter who flew in from Canada to join in the celebrations.
Readers’ Favorite also had a stall at the Miami Book Fair where all the award winninig books were available for purchase. All proceeds went to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
You can find the complete Sentinal Series in ebook or on Kindle Unlimited or purchase the print copies from a vendor of choice:
Book One: Sentinals Awaken
Book Two: Sentinals Rising
Book Three: Sentinals Justice
Book 3.5: Sentinals Recovery
Boook Four: Sentinals Across Time
Book Five: Sentinals Banished
Book Six: Sentinals Destiny
If you would like to read an ARC for my future novels, then sign up to my ARC team via the link in my linktr.ee. All I ask is that you leave an honest review on the week of the launch to as many platforms as you can!! (Amazon/Goodreads/Bookbub)
If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. As a new threat against Remargaren is discovered, only one man can wake the ancient guards who can protect them, only he doesn’t know how. Start the adventure and stay for the journey. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
Sign up to my newsletter and download Sentinals Stirring for free
By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator
December 16, 2023
Vote for my books in the Indie Ink Book Awards
Voting is now open for the next two weeks!
Full details can be found on my blog: here
Check out the nominated books:
Sentinals Awaken
Sentinals Justice
Sentinals Recovery
Sentinals Across Time
Sentinals Banished
Check out my books and please vote!
Indie Ink Award Voting now open!!
Voting open for two weeks only from December 15th, 2023.
Books by marginalized authors, self-published books, and books by small presses often get overlooked. The Indie Ink Awards is a unique event that brings together the writing community to celebrate books that have made an impact on us. This is our way of highlighting the future we want to see in books–by uplifting those that shine.
We have two categories: the “Best In” awards and the “Writing The Future We Need” awards. The “Best In” awards should exemplify the chosen category. We are looking for exceptional inclusion and diversity in works nominated for “Writing the Future We Need” awards.
You can vote for one of my books in the following categories which readers nominated my books for. You have one vote per category:
Sentinals Across TimeBest book cover and cover artist, Best friendship, Best mentor character, Best setting, This Book Made Me Hungry/ThirstySentinals AwakenBest book cover and cover artist, Best friendship, Best mentor character, Best setting, This Book Made Me Hungry/ThirstySentinals BanishedBest book cover and cover artist, Best friendship, Best mentor character, Best setting, This Book Made Me Hungry/ThirstySentinals JusticeBest audio narration, Best book cover and cover artist, Best friendship, Best setting, Side Character MVPSentinals RecoveryBest book cover and cover artist, Best friendship, Best mentor character, Best setting, Side Character MVPI hope you vote today! You need an Indie Story Geek account to vote.
Find out how to create an account and vote here.
Once you have an account you may click on the book image to go to the book page to vote.
The ten books from each award with the most votes at the end of the year will move on to the finalist stage, where our reader judges will read and score them from February until August.
You can find the complete Sentinal Series in ebook or on Kindle Unlimited or purchase the print copies from a vendor of choice:
Book One: Sentinals Awaken
Book Two: Sentinals Rising
Book Three: Sentinals Justice
Book 3.5: Sentinals Recovery
Boook Four: Sentinals Across Time
Book Five: Sentinals Banished
Book Six: Sentinals Destiny
If you would like to read an ARC for my future novels, then sign up to my ARC team via the link in my linktr.ee. All I ask is that you leave an honest review on the week of the launch to as many platforms as you can!! (Amazon/Goodreads/Bookbub)
If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. As a new threat against Remargaren is discovered, only one man can wake the ancient guards who can protect them, only he doesn’t know how. Start the adventure and stay for the journey. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
Sign up to my newsletter and download Sentinals Stirring for free
By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator
Book Review Alert: Of Stormlarks and Silence by Constance Lopez
Reviewed: December 16th, 2023
Released: August 30th, 2022
Genre: Fantasy Romance
To kill the prince, she must first kill her heart.
Princess Riona was eight when the Revonian king murdered her family and conquered her kingdom with a mysterious magic. She has spent the last decade training—and waiting for her moment to avenge them all and reclaim her rightful title.
Now that the king is ailing, Riona secures a position within the Revonian royal palace. Her goals? Get close to the prince. Kill him. Uncover Revon’s secret magic. Make the king suffer. Only then can she take back her country.
But the closer she gets to the prince, the more he surprises her with kindness, honor, and wit. He is nothing like his cruel father. Worse yet, he sees right through to her heart. When she planned this assassination, her heart didn’t factor in.
And now it’s about to ruin all her plans. Read my Thoughts…
December 15, 2023
Book Review Alert: Marked By Magic by Lindsay Buroker
Reviewed: December 15th, 2023
Released: November 9th, 2023
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Arwen Forester may be a socially awkward introvert, but she’s an expert tracker, archer, and forager who has a pickling recipe for every vegetable in the garden. Unfortunately, none of these skills earn her a lot of money. And when the taxes go up on her father’s farm, she’s not sure how to help him keep the property.
Then someone offers her a lucrative new gig:
Hunt down a haughty half-dragon criminal with the power to incinerate those who irritate him.
Normally, Arwen would reject such a suicidal mission, but with the farm at stake, she’s desperate. Besides, all she has to do is tag the half-dragon with a tracking device. How hard could it be? Read My Thoughts…
December 13, 2023
Book Review Alert: Twisted Pretty Things by Ariana Nash
Reviewed: December 13th, 2023
Released: August 5th, 2021
Genre: MM Urban Fantasy
Something wicked is moving in the shadows of London…
In the underground world of glitzy illegal auctions, fast cars, and stolen magical artifacts, John “Dom” Domenici knows he’s out of his depth. But he needs the job at Kempthorne & Co like he needs to breathe. The alternative—going back to the organized crime gangs of London’s East End—is unthinkable.
So when Alexander Kempthorne, boss of Kempthorne & Co Artifact Retrieval Agency, wants him on a special case to track down an illegal artifact dealer, Dom can’t say no.
It shouldn’t matter that Kempthorne’s world is full of deadly secrets. It shouldn’t matter that the billionaire is sexy as sin, and it really shouldn’t matter how there’s an American agent stalking Dom, an American who knows more than he should about Dom’s case, including the real reason Alexander Kempthorne hired Dom. Read My Thoughts …
December 2, 2023
Author Interview – Suzanna C. Grose
Helen: Welcome Suzannah. Congratulations on publishing your first book. Tell us about your book, Turned Into Gold.
Suzannah: Turned Into Gold, A handsome but insane scientist with a tortured soul is in love with a beautiful young woman who is brutally raped and murdered. He wants to bring her back to life and avenge her murder. Can he bring her back to life? And if so, will she love him as much as he loves her? Will he discover who committed the murder and how will he get his revenge? This story illustrates the transformative power of love and the inner strength needed to rise above horrific circumstances.
Helen: That is quite a tough subject to write about, and gives me Frankenstein vibes with the man’s efforts to bring her back to life. Why did you write this particular book?
Suzannah: It was for a contest that I wanted to enter, but my husband told me to publish it myself.
Helen: Your cover is quite simple, but I love the splash of gold. Tell us how you decided on the design.
Suzannah: I kept going back and forth between different book covers. Nothing seemed to fit the story. I had an idea what I wanted to look like, and one of my best friends made it for me. I love it!
Helen: Who is your favourite character from your book?
Suzannah: Theodore Black, he’s a morally grey character that you can’t help but to love him. He’s a dark and mysterious character, but he absolutely would do anything for Elizabeth. I would love anyone that would love me the way that Theodore loves Elizabeth.
Helen: When did you realise you had a passion for writing?
Suzannah: When I was in third grade, I won a writing contest. I used to write fan fiction and stories on Wattpad. So, I have always loved writing since a young age.
Helen: It’s so great that your love of writing has stayed with you. Which genre do you prefer to write?
Suzannah: I write dark romance, romance, thriller… Mostly dark romance and romance novels. I love writing novels in the dark romance genre because I like more of a realistic story. In real life, love is not just rainbows and butterflies. Sometimes it’s hard, dark, but you come out of it with a beautiful love story.
Helen: What is the best thing that has happened to you since you began writing?
Suzannah: I published my book in 2022.
Helen: Publishing a book is pretty special, and such an accomplishment. If your Main Character could answer, why would they say we should read your book?
Suzannah: I think Theodore Black would say, “People would love to read mine and Elizabeth’s story because it shows the power of love.”
Helen: What is the most useful piece of writing advice you’ve received, and by whom?
Suzannah : I would have to say, “Show not tell.” I have to remind myself that when I’m editing and making sure, I’m showing what is going on in the story and not just telling the reader what is happening.
Helen: Every writer experiences self-doubt. How do you overcome the fear and the little voice in your head to keep writing?
Suzannah: When I read a review on my book or even a rating, it pushes the negative thoughts away.
Helen: Are you a pantser or a planner? Do you write free form, or do you have a framework you stick to?
Suzannah: Free form mix with planner, I have bullet points that I used to help write. It helps me remember what I have to write in a chapter or keep track of something.
Helen: Thank you for joining me today. It’s been great chatting to you. Just to finish, what are some of the books you read recently that you would recommend to others?
Suzannah: Four Treasures of the Sky. I love the book, I will definitely recommend it to anyone. I did not see the ending coming, I was very shocked.
About the Author
Suzanne C. GroseSuzannah Grose is a writer and poet. She loves to write and she loves to read. Her first book came out in 2022, it’s called Turned Into Gold. You can find it on Amazon.
Follow on Instagram
Purchase Turned Into Gold via Amazon:
Link to book on Amazon UK: eBook | Paperback
Link to book on Amazon US: eBook | Paperback
As an Amazon Associate I may benefit from purchases made using these links.
If you enjoy fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love SoulBreather, or my epic fantasy Sentinal series. As a new threat against Remargaren is discovered, only one man can wake the ancient guards who can protect them, only he doesn’t know how. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.
Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
Sign up to my newsletter and download a free copy of Sentinals Stirring
By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator). You can withdraw your consent at any time. The data will be processed until the consent is withdrawn.
November 29, 2023
Book Review Alert: Saving Rafe by Jocelynn Drake
Reviewed: November 29th, 2023
Released: March 6th, 2020
Genre: MM Paranormal Fantasy
Rafe Varik: The troublemaker. The risk taker. The sexy club owner full of wicked promises.Rafe has devoted his immortal existence to pleasure and causing mischief.
The only ones who can depend on him are his brothers. Of course, that’s very much a Varik thing.
But when the leader of the Arsenault clan specifically requests Rafe’s help in tracking down a killer, he can’t say no.
Sure, Rafe claims he’s doing it for his family. They’ve attracted too many enemies and could use a few allies.
That’s not the whole truth, though.
There’s something about Philippe Arsenault that draws Rafe in. He wants more of Philippe. The vampire leaves him longing for another second in his presence, another taste of his lips, another caress of those perfect fingers.
Yet when it’s all over, what will become of Philippe and Rafe? Because Philippe will always be an Arsenault, and Rafe will always be a Varik. Read My Thoughts…
November 25, 2023
Author Interview – Amy Marie Ayres
Helen: Welcome Amy. Tell us about your book Star Sick.
Amy: So, STAR SICK was released back in April, partly as a joke to myself that I could get it ready for release on that day (4/20) but also because I felt it was the only one of my ongoing projects that was finally ready to be out in the world.
It was a bit of a nerve-wracking decision, but the overall response has been great. Not everyone gets it, but I expected that as I was writing it. It’s kind of a niche genre wherein it embraces its tropes, but its parodic so it makes fun of itself. It’s a book that doesn’t take itself too seriously, if that makes sense- from a writer who very much does from time to time.
Helen: I thoroughly enjoyed reading Star Sick, and loved the nod to the Wizard of Oz. (You can find my review here.) Your cover contains many elements. Could you tell us a little about it?
Amy: I love this cover by Miblart, they were recommended to me by other indie authors, and I still use them. They really understood what I was going for. Luccee really is the center of the story, but reluctantly so, and this image is the part of the story where she really starts to embrace her true nature-I could go on.
Without too many spoilers, the color on her face is the result of her encounter with an alien species in the distant celestial city where she ends up. Her hair was short at the beginning, but has since grown out, showing the passage of time. And she is hiding in the brush watching something- it’s a scene right out of the book.
The images around her represent her world and her relationship to it.
Helen: Miblart did a great job! The cover is very distinctive. Why did you give your book the title Star Sick? Is there a special meaning, or back story about the title?
Amy: I love this question because I have such a fun answer. All the books in this eventual series will have the word Star in the title. So, the other titles I was throwing around for this one will eventually be used. One day someone on twitter said: “replace one of the words in the current title of your WIP with the word sick.” I did that, and they commented and said it would make amazing title and that she would read it. Thus, STAR SICK was born.
Helen: Your books sounds very intriguing, understanding your thoughts behind the cover and title is so interesting. What made you write this particular book?
Amy: When people ask me this question, I try to nail down the exact reason, as to not ramble on and waste their time, but there are just so many reasons.
First, the initial idea for Luccee honestly came out of some unfortunate pre-pandemic depression I wasn’t even fully aware of. I had concluded a few years before that some of my familial relationships were unhealthy and I was carrying some unhealthy baggage as a result. I started channelling some of that into the writing of this character who I felt was deeply misunderstood. I wasn’t sure how far I would take that, I think I took it to levels beyond even what I was experiencing, for some comedic effect.
With some therapy, and some improvement to my daily life, I was starting to feel better, but this was ironically just before Covid hit and the lockdowns happened. The lockdowns terrified me to be honest, as did Covid at the time. But I had this odd feeling of like, I didn’t really miss socializing (at first). I just wanted to keep me, my family, and others safe.
But I started taking a closer look at society during that time, why we do what we do, how we are influenced by each other and the media-it’s all in there. A large part of the premise of the book is that sometimes what people tell us about the world and ourselves isn’t always true, but it’s what they need us to think now so that the status quo can be maintained and there isn’t mass panic-especially in a dystopian world, where people are always grasping for normalcy.
There always seems to be a convenient scapegoat for society’s problems, and Luccee fit the bill. I began to think of how invasive it would be for it to be illegal to want to stay inside and avoid socializing because of your introversion, trauma, neurodiversity, or whatever reason.
I thought about how some aspects of society are very much predicated on our abilities to socialize and network and expand our circles beyond our comfort zone. I started asking myself questions: When it is good to do that? When is it not good? I wanted to explore and pick it all apart. But I’ve rambled long enough!
Helen: I think every author can ramble on about their books. I know I can! It is part of the joy of being an author and being so proud of our creations. Tell us about your protagonist in Star Sick and why you wrote them.
Amy: Luccee is the FMC in STAR SICK, like I said she sort of represents who I would be if I ever really went off my rocker and if I was put in a similar position of having to choose between assimilation and freedom. Luccee has a lot to learn about herself, and I hope I accurately depicted that kind of emotional transitional arc of still having to grow as a person even when you fight it tooth and nail.
Helen: If Luccee could answer the question: Why should we read your book? What would she say?
Amy: A true answer would give away the ending, but I’ll just say that Luccee would want people to know all the things she learned about the universe and herself. She would want this book to exist purely because it is an historical account of everything she and her friends went/go through. And people in our time as well as the future beyond her future could stand to learn from their journey.
Helen: What are you working on next?
Amy: So true to form I always have more than one going, they are usually just at different stages. I am currently writing a prequel to STAR SICK, that I hope will be just a fun little novella teaser for the series. My big fancy project still in the editing stages, is Five Doors. It has some similarities to STAR SICK, but it’s a contemporary/paranormal fantasy novel about a different woman named Marilyn with different problems in a much different world. She’s friends with the devil, but that’s all I’ll say!
Helen: Intriguing! Let’s move onto your writing process. How do you fit writing into your normal day?
Amy: For me, the only way this was possible was by moving my writing beyond a hobby and doing my best to exist within the writing sphere daily. So, I work in the publishing industry, I have groups of writing friends and critique partners, I consistently market myself and network in the industry, etc. But of course, like anything else since the birth of my daughter I tend to give her all the time and attention I used to give my writing. Schedules and calendars keep me honest! NaNoWriMo ensures that I make myself write a good chunk at least two months out of the year.
Helen: It can be tough to juggle so many responsibilities and fit in writing as well. When you do get a chance to write, do you prefer silence when you are writing or do you have a favorite playlist?
Amy: I find music incredibly inspiring. I tend to like to listen to anything that feels cinematically immersive, where my mind can paint pictures of what is happening in the song either musically or lyrically. It can happen with my favourites or even a random Spotify song I’ve never heard before.
Singer/Songwriters (especially rock and folk) are fantastic storytellers. When I started writing Five Doors, I almost exclusively listened to the album Once I was an Eagle by Laura Marling. If you’ve never heard of her, I highly recommend going back through her discography, there’s something for everybody.
You know who is incredibly inspiring is Twenty One Pilots, lyrically they are just all over the place, but I love it and the music itself does lend itself to sci-fi. They tell stories too.
Funny enough, Steve Miller (of Steve Miller Band) is an incredible storyteller, so was Elliott Smith. You can listen to those guys, they have incredibly different vibes of course, but you can sort of build a universe within the music. Those are just two random examples.
I recommend listening to a song called Beg, Steal, or Borrow by Ray LaMontagne it’s a great example of what I’m talking about. Songs that move you emotionally-happy or sad, I really think they get those neurons firing.
Helen: Writer’s can take inspiration from almost anywhere! Have you had any trouble with writer’s block and any tips to overcome it?
Amy: I hope I don’t come across as a jerk saying this, but I’m one of those people who doesn’t believe in writer’s block. I believe in the things that cause it: grief, self-doubt, or even happy times when we are just too busy with our wonderful lives to write (it happens!)
The way that we overcome it by whittling down to our reasoning to what is holding us back. Because each time we experience “writer’s block”- it could be for a different reason, so we get frustrated because our previous methods to overcome it stop working.
I think I would recommend to anyone who frequently experiences writers block to have a separate journal just for pouring out some angst that isn’t tied to our writing. I suggest writing a few pages before you attempt your current project again, and getting down to the bones of why you feel stuck, that often helps get us unstuck. I also have some great suggestions here.
Helen: Thank you for sharing such great advice. Do you have to do much research when you are writing a book?
Amy: The research for STAR SICK sort of did itself, as the news and internet were in our faces every day. I find I do tend to do a lot of research for this universe from daily hot button topics to broken societal ills, to even specific things about our planets and universe and space travel. For this type of book even memes are great research. People channel a lot of hostility toward society into memes these days.
Helen: Thank you so much for spending time with me today, it’s been great chatting with you. Just to finish, do you have any advice for new or aspiring writers?
Amy: You have an amazing, fun skill/craft, so don’t waste it or throw it away when people doubt you. Find some writing friends, they will help carry you through to the next stage beyond “new writer”. But also know you won’t be “good at this” for a long time. The process takes decades to perfect, and years to even get close to slightly better, so you need to embrace that now.
Know that the first few things you write are not going to land at all, and they will be terribly written. But keep at it and you’ll get better. Also, the people with the most confidence are usually faking, so don’t be intimidated by them. And yes, doll, you do need an editor. It’ll be the best money you ever spent.
About the Author
Amy Marie AyresAmy is an author who writes a variety of genres including comic dark romance, women’s fiction, speculative dystopian science fiction, and magical realism based on Irish folklore. She has a background in poetry and was previously an academic. Amy has experience with voice acting, theater, podcasts, and comedy writing. She lives outside Philadelphia with her husband, stepson, daughter, and cat. Amy’s debut novel Star Sick, a humorous science fiction novel with talking robot dogs, is now available on Amazon.
Follow on Instagram
Purchase Star Sick via Amazon:
Link to book on Amazon UK: eBook | Paperback
Link to book on Amazon US: eBook | Paperback
As an Amazon Associate I may benefit from purchases made using these links.
If you enjoy fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love SoulBreather, or my epic fantasy Sentinal series. As a new threat against Remargaren is discovered, only one man can wake the ancient guards who can protect them, only he doesn’t know how. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.
Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
Sign up to my newsletter and download a free copy of Sentinals Stirring
By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator). You can withdraw your consent at any time. The data will be processed until the consent is withdrawn.
November 24, 2023
Book Review Alert: Legends & Latte by Travis Baldree
Reviewed: November 24th, 2023
Released: June 16th, 2022
Genre: Cozy Fantasy
High fantasy, low stakes – with a double-shot of coffee.
After decades of adventuring, Viv the orc barbarian is finally hanging up her sword for good. Now she sets her sights on a new dream – for she plans to open the first coffee shop in the city of Thune. Even though no one there knows what coffee actually is.
If Viv wants to put the past behind her, she can’t go it alone. And help might arrive from unexpected quarters. Yet old rivals and new stand in the way of success. And Thune’s shady underbelly could make it all too easy for Viv to take up the blade once more.
But the true reward of the uncharted path is the travellers you meet along the way. Whether bound by ancient magic, delicious pastries or a freshly brewed cup, they may become something deeper than Viv ever could have imagined . . .Read My Thoughts…
