Helen Garraway's Blog, page 21
September 3, 2023
Sentinals Justice wins Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal award.
Gold Medal award from Readers’ FavoriteFor immediate release:
Readers’ Favorite recognizes “Sentinals Justice” by Helen Garraway in its annual international book award contest, currently available at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0976K67DK.
The Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Contest featured thousands of contestants from over a dozen countries, ranging from new independent authors to NYT best-sellers and celebrities.
Readers’ Favorite is one of the largest book review and award contest sites on the Internet. They have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins, and have received the “Best Websites for Authors” and “Honoring Excellence” awards from the Association of Independent Authors. They are also fully accredited by the BBB (A+ rating), which is a rarity among Book Review and Book Award Contest companies.
We receive thousands of entries from all over the world. Because of these large submission numbers, we are able to break down our contest into 140+ genres, and each genre is judged separately, ensuring that books only compete against books of their same genre for a fairer and more accurate competition. We receive submissions from independent authors, small publishers, and publishing giants such as Random House, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster, with contestants that range from the first-time, self-published author to New York Times bestsellers like J.A. Jance, James Rollins, and #1 best-selling author Daniel Silva, as well as celebrity authors like Jim Carrey (Bruce Almighty), Henry Winkler (Happy Days), and Eriq La Salle (E.R., Coming to America).
“When the right books are picked as winners we pay attention. We will be spreading the word about Readers’ Favorite.” –Karen A., Editor for Penguin Random House
Readers’ Favorite is proud to announce that “Sentinals Justice” by Helen Garraway won the Gold Medal in the Fiction – Fantasy – Epic category.
You can learn more about Helen Garraway and “Sentinals Justice” at https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/sentinals-justice where you can read reviews and the author’s biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through their website and social media pages.
Readers’ Favorite LLC
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800-RF-REVIEW
support@readersfavorite.com
https://readersfavorite.com
Book Three of the Sentinal SeriesBooks in the Sentinal Series:
Novella o.5: Sentinals Stirring (Free if you sign up to my newsletter.)
Book One: Sentinals Awaken
Novella 1.5: Sentinals Discovery – Available for FREE as part of the Creatures of Magic and Myth Anthology
Book Two: Sentinals Rising
Book Three: Sentinals Justice
Novella 3.5: Sentinals Recovery
Book Four: Sentinals Across Time
Book Five: Sentinals Banished
Book Six: Sentinals Destiny
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 commBy 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.
September 2, 2023
Author Interview – R.M. Krogman
Today, I’m chatting with epic fantasy author, R.M Krogman, about her debut book Liberation which is currently on preorder and releases September 5th, 2023.
Helen: Welcome Rebecca, and thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. Congratulations on the release of your debut novel. Such an accomplishment! Tell us a little about your book.
Rebecca: LIBERATION is the first book of the epic fantasy trilogy “The Keepers of Midgate,” a story of friendship and love, the search for understanding and acceptance, and the heartbreak of loss, set in a world pulsing with magic, violence, and a spreading plague of madness. Dragons, once a common ally, have retreated to the dark recesses of the world, rejected by fickle humanity. As Midgate falls into chaos, only the Keepers and their companions have the power to set the world right.
LIBERATION is above all about freedom—freedom from the bonds of societal expectations, suffocating control, and physical binds. Konan, one of the main characters, is an inmate in the prison mines of the Tahayi Desert. He has little to live for until an innocent woman, Lyra, is tossed into his brutal home. With the help of another ruthless inmate, he tries to protect her and help her escape, but discovers she has far more strength than he could have imagined. Another main character is Prince Reylin, miraculous survivor of a tragic fire that destroyed the royal castle. Although no longer a boy, he chafes against the confines of his Regent Council of lords. As he battles border attacks and tensions with his own lords, a terrifying madness appears, driving people to violence without explanation or cure.
The world of Midgate in a vast and diverse world of powerful elemental magic, sentient dragons, fierce myrpeople and winged warriors, and conflicting cultures. If that sounds interesting to you, you should check out the first book LIBERATION.
Helen: That sounds amazing. I love epic adventures and your characters certainly have plenty to overcome. I’m loving the earthy tones of your cover. What was the idea behind the cover design?
Rebecca: The cover of LIBERATION is a scene from the book that highlights several main characters in the midst of a key moment. I chose it because it not only shows them, but also reveals some of the powerful magic in the world, as well as the presence of war action in the story. I think it’s an important scene in terms of making choices of violence and justice, making and accepting mistakes, enduring hardships, overcoming trauma from the past, and developing new relationships of trust.
Helen: I love asking that question because we always discover more detail in the cover than we did at first glance. What made you write this specifc book?
Rebecca: This epic has been in my head since I was 14, rolling around and making noise. I was slowly going mad and also depressed NOT writing it down. But if you want the long version, here’s the real story. This is actually the Foreword to LIBERATION:
This novel exists because my husband told me to give up.
It’s what I needed to hear.
I have talked about writing this book for over twenty years. The world of Midgate blossomed into existence in early high school, a vast world with its own history, cultures, and peoples. I sketched maps and animals and plants; I jotted notes on color symbolism and languages. I identified industries, located master training halls, and established an apprenticeship structure. I described religions and traditions and superstitions. I modeled wind and ocean currents, then determined climate patterns and resultant major biomes.
I did everything but write.
The story smoldered in my mind. At first, I thought it was about a man wrongfully kept from his crown, who overcame his circumstances and became the savior in a battle of good and evil. Then a girl appeared, and the story transformed. Then another man and woman appeared, shouting that they needed their fair share of attention, and my story exploded to an epic of people overcoming their past and freeing themselves from rigid destiny. Told through multiple points of view, this book is about freedom—freedom from the bonds of societal expectations, suffocating control, and physical binds. The next is about choice, allowing the pain and madness of the world to mold you and drive you, or not. The last is about love, about who we are when we choose others over ourselves or vice versa.
And after hearing about it day after day, year after year, for over a decade straight and still having no book in his hand, my dearly beloved said, “Either start writing, or admit that you’re not going to do it and give up.”
That had exactly the effect it was meant to, and I buckled down to put my thoughts into tangible form. I spent a month documenting the plot and establishing point-of-view characters, then about a year drafting this book and months upon months garnering feedback and revising.
So here we are.
I present to you “Liberation,” the first in series of an epic story about freedom, choice, and love, embedded in a magic-filled world of violence, madness, and loss. I hope you come to love the world of Midgate as much as I do, that your heart breaks and mends with the characters, and that you forget where you are for at least a little while.
Helen: Well done for capturing all those ideas and corralling them into a book. It truly is a major achievment. Congratulations! When did you first realise you had a passion for writing?
Rebecca: My mom had me keep a journal, one page for every year of my life starting in Pre-school. Along with my lists of favorites and horrifyingly embarrassing school pictures, this journal included what I wanted to be when I grew up. I started saying “Author” when I was 5.
I have always loved reading and writing, and I wrote a number of shorter stories and McCaffrey fan fiction when I was younger. I paused during college because LIFE, but realized when I entered the workforce that something essential was missing: a creative outlet through which I could express myself. I started writing again, and it brought me such joy that I know I’ll never stop again.
Helen: Your mum must have known! She started you early capturing your ideas. What made you write high fantasy?
Rebecca: I write high fantasy because I enjoy immersing myself in a different world, one in which magic is tangible and real. I love imagining how different the world could be in terms of technology, foods, peoples, and ecology, but also applying certain laws of nature to make it believable. In addition to the fact that I just want dragons to be real, I think fantasy gives us a way to explore difficult topics without the raw, depressing awfulness of the real world, perhaps topics that we otherwise would have a hard time thinking about. It can also give us hope, showing us what humanity could be, during times when we might otherwise feel hopeless.
Helen: You and me both! I love writing immersive worlds for a reader to escape into. With Liberation about to release, what are you working on next?
Rebecca: My current WIP is SUNDERING, the second book in the epic fantasy trilogy. Whereas LIBERATION is about freedom, SUNDERING is about choice, about allowing the pain and madness of the world to mold you and drive you, or not. SUNDERING continues the saga of “The Keepers of Midgate” as characters join and divide. The madness grows, but it is not the only terror in the world, for the commonplace brutality and senseless hurt inflicted by others continues as it always has. SUNDERING is fully drafted already and now in the midst of a developmental edit. I’ll be looking for ARC readers late this fall, probably around September or October. It will likely be released in early 2024.
At the same time, I am plotting the last book in the trilogy, SCHISM, to ensure that I do wrap everything up with a pretty bow. SCHISM is about love, who we are when we choose others over ourselves or vice versa. The final installment of “The Keepers of Midgate,” SCHISM shows a world divided by the madness and all it wrought: religious extremism, blind hatred and racism, and the pursuit of power at any cost. SCHISM will be drafted next year.
Helen: Plenty to keep you busy then! I always have multiple ideas bubbling, it’s having time to capture them all. When you write, do you listen to music, or do you prefer silence as you work?
Rebecca: I do listen to music because it helps to immerse me not only in the fantasy environment, but in a particular character’s head. I have separate playlists for each POV character, each with a different mood. They are all instrumental, featuring artists like Two Steps from Hell, Trevor Morris, Epic North, Audiomachine, Erik Ekholm, Jeremy Soule, Ramin Djawadi, and Michael Salvatori.
Helen: Thank you so much for joining me today, and congratulations once again on your forthcoming release. Final question. As a newly published author what advice would you give other aspiring writers?
Rebecca: Give yourself grace and patience. Writing is a skill that develops with time, practice, and intentional study. Even if you are naturally a strong writer, you will still have areas that could improve. Give yourself the time to garner feedback, the humility to accept criticism, the grace to forgive yourself for not being perfect, and the patience to soldier onward. I’ve heard the first million words written are considered a writer’s apprenticeship, and I can certainly agree that it takes at least a few hundred thousand to find your own voice and settle into a style. All the while, you should study the craft of storytelling and strive to develop good habits that keep you on track and productive.
About the Author
R.M KrogmanRebecca M. Krogman is an epic and dark adult fantasy author from the central U.S.
Her debut novel LIBERATION is the first volume of a larger story set in Midgate, a medieval-inspired world of magic, mermaids, and wyverns. She has been developing the Keepers of Midgate epic since she was in high school. The main story line has changed little since then, only gaining more clarity and detail as the characters take on a life of their own. The world has grown in its depth of history, culture, and geography, spawning numerous side stories and prequels.
She loves nature, art, and food, which all funnel into her world-building. Her story’s settings span two continents and the sea between, encompassing a diversity of peoples, cultures, and creatures. She is working on a collection of recipes from Midgate, and she loves drawing scenes and characters from the books (although those sketches may never see the light of day).
When she’s not writing about Midgate, she’s penning fairy tale retellings.
Follow Rebecca:
Purchase Liberation via Amazon
Link to book on Amazon UK: eBook
Link to book on Amazon US: eBook
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.
August 31, 2023
Book Review Alert: Mosiac by R.A Harrison
Reviewed: August 31st, 2023
Released: September 1st, 2023 (Launch day!!)
Genre: Science Fantasy
Format: ARC- Paperback
Declared a renegade
The life you knew in shatters
How do you pick up the pieces?
Bekah and Lan are young professionals, at the beginnings of their careers, but have fallen foul of the Consortium, the huge mining and industrial conglomeration with its stranglehold on the colonies. Into their lives comes the enigmatic Zandra, with a secret so well hidden not even she knows of it, but which will change all of their lives. But an invitation from Captain Pendryl, to join him aboard the Caladrius, may provide the solution they are all searching for.
Crewed almost entirely by the Gifted, the Caladrius will be the flagship of a taskforce protecting telepaths and telekinetics in the colonies. But the mission is not without danger … too many of the colonies have become isolationist and regressive, and see the Gift as witchcraft.
August 28, 2023
SoulBreather FINALIST in the Global Book Awards
Even more excitement is in the air! Double the celebration! Can you feel it? Not only has Sentinals Justice reached the finals, but so has SoulBreather, the first book in the Fantasy Romance/Paranormal Romance SoulMist Series, which has made it through to the Finals for the 2023 Global Book Awards in the Paranormal Fantasy category.
Now we wait for the final placements to be announced by September 7th, 2023.
The 2023 Global Book Awards for Self-Published Authors.
The Global Awards aim to discover new talent as well as recognize fine examples of self-published books. As such, we hope they will give self-published authors the recognition they deserve, whether that is in their writing creativity, or in the way they have marketed their books to attract new readers.
In this modern age of self-publishing, books need to be appraised not only by their content and writing style, but also by the way they present and market themselves to the prospective buyer, whether that is in the good ratings it has on important stores like Amazon, its book cover and description, or the number of reviews it has collected. They must also appeal to new readers so part of the evaluation included a survey asking avid readers to select the top 5 books they enjoyed the most.
The awards are grouped by category (or genre) and divided into Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Award Finalists.
If you fall in love with the shadows, does that mean you are fallen too?
A dying angel. A fractured realm. The mortal who might be able to save them both.
Solanji has a secret. One that is becoming increasingly difficult to keep. She can touch souls and see into a person’s inner thoughts. Soulbreathing is exhilarating and addictive, until the day Solanji caresses the wrong person’s soulmist.
Dragged into a long forgotten angelic mystery, she is forced to venture into Eidolon, the godforsaken last resort for those without souls. In order to save her brother, she must rescue a broken and tortured man. Can she save him from the shadows? Does he even want to be saved? And can she find a way to return to the light before the darkness engulfs them both?
SoulBreather is the first book in the fantasy romance SoulMist series.
Originally published as part of the USA Today Bestselling Realm of Darkness anthology.
Receipient of a Reader’s Favorite Five Star Review
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). You can withdraw your consent at any time. The data will be processed until the consent is withdrawn.
August 27, 2023
Sentinals Justice FINALIST in the Global Book Awards
Excitement is in the air! Can you feel it? Sentinals Justice, the third book in the epic fantasy Sentinal Series has made it through to the Finals for the 2023 Global Book Awards in the Epic Fantasy category.
Now we wait for the final placements to be announced by September 7th, 2023.
The 2023 Global Book Awards for Self-Published Authors.
The Global Awards aim to discover new talent as well as recognize fine examples of self-published books. As such, we hope they will give self-published authors the recognition they deserve, whether that is in their writing creativity, or in the way they have marketed their books to attract new readers.
In this modern age of self-publishing, books need to be appraised not only by their content and writing style, but also by the way they present and market themselves to the prospective buyer, whether that is in the good ratings it has on important stores like Amazon, its book cover and description, or the number of reviews it has collected. They must also appeal to new readers so part of the evaluation included a survey asking avid readers to select the top 5 books they enjoyed the most.
The awards are grouped by category (or genre) and divided into Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Award Finalists.
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.
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). You can withdraw your consent at any time. The data will be processed until the consent is withdrawn.
August 26, 2023
Author Interview – R.A Harrison
Today, I’m thrilled to be chatting to an author who is releasing her first novel in one week, on September 1st, 2023. R.A Harrison writes Science Fantasy novels and you can find Mosaic, the first book in her Caldrius Chronicles series on preorder now. I am happily reading an ARC at the moment, so look out for my book review soon.
Helen: Welcome Rachel, and thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. Tell us a little about your debut novel, Mosiac.
Rachel: Thanks for inviting me onto your blog Helen, and for the opportunity to talk about my debut novel which releases on 1st September. Mosaic is a science fantasy, set aboard the Caladrius, a spaceship crewed by the Gifted — telepaths, empaths and telekinetics. It’s also a mending-broken-lives story, which is where the title comes from … the idea of taking the shards of a former life and creating something new and beautiful from them.
I began writing Mosaic during the 2020 lockdowns when, unable to see my friends, I began inventing new ones! The first few chapters grew out of an idea I had many years ago (more than I’m willing to count or admit), although they’re almost unrecognisable now. But, as I’m sure you know all too well, writing is addictive — what I intended almost as a stand-alone, hobby-write is now book one of The Caladrius Chronicles.
Helen: The premise sounds great, I love the idea of creating something new from the shards of the past. Almost like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Your cover is really vibrant, tell us how you chose the design.
Rachel: I didn’t choose my cover, it chose me! It’s a Shutterstock image, by Amanda Carden, which was too perfect and too appropriate not to use. Although I’m writing science fiction, I prefer to steer away from the conventional illustrations of starships, space battles and explosions. To me, this image carries a feeling of hope and expectation, especially combined with the slightly whimsical font.
Helen: What’s your next project? Will you be staying with science fantasy, or branching out?
Rachel: I have several books on the go at the moment! Two more of the Chronicles: a prequel, Crusader, and a sequel, Tapestry. But I’m also planning a series of cosy mysteries, set in a fictional Dorset market town. Unfortunately these have had to take a bit of a back seat in the push to get Mosaic ready for publication, but I’m looking forward to seeing where they take me … and if that includes research trips to the coast, I wouldn’t say no!
In addition to fiction, I also write text books. My day job is teaching piano and music theory, and the new books are a rewrite and update of a summer school course I taught for twenty-six years. It’s an exciting project involving blended learning — a mix of traditional and online resources — and producing it will be a steep learning curve! There’s a piece of advice often given to new authors: write about what you know. Whilst I’m definitely doing that, I do think it could be rather limiting and that a bit of research never goes amiss! I have plenty of ideas to keep me busy for years, but who knows?
Photo by Marius Masalar on Unsplash
Helen: That is quite a range of topics and genres to write about. Who inspired you to start writing? Were you influenced by your favourite book or author?
Rachel: I don’t have a favourite book, but I do have favourite authors and they, probably more than anyone, inspired me to write. I grew up reading a lot of science fiction and fantasy, especially Anne McCaffrey, CS Lewis, Ursula Le Guin, David Eddings, Susan Dexter and, of course, Tolkien, and that has definitely influenced my writing. But I also have a serious addiction to cosy mysteries — is there a support group available? Preferably one run jointly by a strong, independent, small business owning woman, and a long-suffering local Sheriff or Chief of Police?
Aside from authors, the two people who encouraged me the most were a couple of my teachers. Miss Galley, a tutor whom my parents engaged to teach me to read when I was nine (I had a hearing loss and an undiagnosed learning difficulty) and who turned me into a bookworm. And Mrs Curtis, my ‘A’ Level English Literature and Language teacher, who was the first person to believe in me as a writer.
Helen: That is so wonderful that your love of books and writing was discovered early. I can also say your favourite authors are some of mine! How do you fit writing into your daily life?
Rachel: I’m fortunate that my teaching practice (I’m self-employed) allows me to work part-time. But even so, I’m excited when the school holidays roll round and I can concentrate on my writing … or, as I’m doing at the moment, learning how the self-publishing process works.
Because of my dyspraxia, I have to be hyper-organised … but sadly that doesn’t always extend to my writing! I tend to have flashes of inspiration, often at silly-o’clock in the morning — sometimes even resulting in entire scenes, complete with dialogue, materialising in my imagination. The planning comes in assigning a purpose to that scene, in manipulating it, making it work hard for its place in the narrative … and that’s when the fun really starts!
Helen: Thank you so much for joining me today, Rachel. Just to close us out, what is the best thing that has happened to you since you began writing?
Rachel: Probably two things … the unbelievable satisfaction of knowing that I’ve written and published a book. Every time I hit another milestone in the process, I can’t stop giggling with excitement! But also, being welcomed by the amazing community of writers and authors on Instagram, without whom this would have been a very lonely journey.
Helen: I am so thrilled you have completed your first book and launch day is only around the corner. I wish you every sucess with Mosaic. Book lovers can find Rachel signing copies of her brand new book at the Marlow Indie Book Fair. Make sure you visit and grab a copy.
About the Author
R.A HarrisonR A Harrison is the pen name used by Rachel A Harrison for her science fiction and fantasy novels. Rachel began writing during the 2020 lockdown when, unable to meet up with her real friends, she began inventing new ones. Mosaic is the first of The Caladrius Chronicles, with prequels and sequels to follow.
When she’s not glued to her computer screen, Rachel is a singer, pianist and music teacher, with an honours degree in Music from the Open University. She’s also a bookworm – devouring mostly science fiction, fantasy and cosy mysteries – and a crafter, and occasional poet. Rachel was delighted to be an award winner at the Chiltern Arts Festival 2022 with her poem ‘Wordsmith’.
In addition to further books in The Caladrius Chronicles, Rachel is planning a series of cosy seaside mysteries under the pen name Raquel Harris. You can find out more at http://www.unendingsky.uk.
Follow Rachel:
Purchase Mosaic via Amazon
Link to book on Amazon UK: eBook
Link to book on Amazon US: eBook
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.
August 25, 2023
Book Review Alert: Sea of Souls by N.C Scrimgeour
Reviewed: August 25th, 2023
Released: August 4th, 2023
Genre: Folklore Fantasy
Dark be the water, and darker still the creatures that lurk within…
Free-spirited Isla Blackwood has never accepted the shackles of her family’s nobility. Instead, she sails the open waters, searching for belonging on the waves.
But when tragedy calls Isla home, she realises she can no longer escape the duty she’s been running from. Selkie raiders have been terrorising the island’s coasts, and when they strike at Blackwood Estate, Isla is forced to flee with her hot-headed brother and brooding swordmaster.
To avenge her family and reclaim her home, Isla will have to set aside old grudges and join forces with an exiled selkie searching for a lost pelt. The heirloom might be the key to stopping the bloody conflict—but only if they can steal it from the island’s most notorious selkie hunter, the Grand Admiral himself.
Caught between a promise to the brother she once left behind and an unlikely friendship with the selkie who should have been her enemy, Isla soon realises the open seas aren’t the only treacherous waters she’ll need to navigate.
As enemies close in on all sides, she must decide once and for all where her loyalties lie if she wants to save what’s left of her family—and find the belonging she’s been searching for.
Sea of Souls is a dark fantasy filled with selkie folklore, ancient magic and high-seas adventure. Perfect for fans of Scottish-inspired settings and dark mythological creatures. Read My Thoughts …
August 20, 2023
Book Review Alert: Recruitment by K.A Riley
Reviewed: August 20th, 2023
Released: November 28th, 2018
Genre: Dystopian Fantasy
In the Valta, no matter what month you were born, everyone is assigned the same birthday. November 1st. It’s the anniversary of the day when the government declared war on the Eastern Order.
The day you turn seventeen, the Recruiters come to take you away. And no one ever hears from you again.
It’s October 31st. Today, Kress is sixteen years old.
Tomorrow, she’ll be taken.
The good news? So will her best friend Cardyn, and Brohn, the handsome, enigmatic boy she’s avoided all her life.
The bad news?
Recruitment isn’t what any of them expected.
Weeks of training await. Military and psychological tests, escape rooms, hand-to-hand combat. The Recruits are told they’re the key to winning the war. But with each day that passes, things begin to make less sense.
If only Kress had been able to bring her trained raven, Render, with her.
If only none of them had ever had to come to this place. Read my thoughts…
August 19, 2023
Author Interview – T.L. Brown
Today my blog guest is fantasy author, T.L Brown, who is chatting to us about Crossing the Witchline, her latest book in her adult dark fantasy Bellerose Witchline series.
Helen: Welcome Tracy, and thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. Tell us a little about your latest book, Crossing the Witchline.
Tracy: Crossing the Witchline is the second book in my adult dark fantasy Bellerose Witchline series. It picks up three months after the first installment (A Thin Witchline Between Love & Hate) which ended in a devasting battle.
In Crossing the Witchline, main character Lucie Bellerose – a natural witch – finds herself alone, with her best friend missing, her membership at the Congress of Empire Witches suspended, and her magical soulmate lost to another dimension. She doesn’t know if he’s dead or alive. When her magical plans to mount a rescue backfire, she conjures a demon – a man from her past – for help. The two have a complicated history, and in some of the darkest moments, the demon is the only one to stand by her side.
In Crossing the Witchline, I explore themes of light and dark, and how much lives in the gray space between the two. A recent reviewer wrote, “[we] find out what a courageous, strong willed, open-minded witch Lucie is.” I love that. Lucie doesn’t see the world in black and white. Her heart is big; so is her love. There’s even room for a bad man who gets a second chance to “do life right.” Crossing the Witchline is the best book I’ve written.
Helen: Lucie is an amazing character and has much to contend with. I think the Witches’ Congress you created are the real antagonist, allowing Lucie to be treated in such a manner. They ought to be ashamed of themselves! Tell us about your covers. They are so vibrant. What were your thoughts behind the design?
Tracy: The cover of Crossing the Witchline shows Lucie from behind. She’s stepping over a line of fire into the darkness. Lucie’s primary power works with fire and light, so that’s why I chose a line of fire. Also, I intentionally do not show Lucie’s face so that readers can form their own image – although I purposely picked a model with some curves. She’s no waif. The red shoes are also intentional. It’s a nod to Dorothy Gales’ ruby slippers (The Wizard of Oz movie). Lucie wears red sneakers when she travels through the Sixth Door and into the darkness. Maybe they will help bring her home…
Helen: I love the play on words in your titles, how did you came up with them?
Tracy: In some opinions, Lucie “crossed the line” by not sticking with her “own kind.” Witches in the Empire are typically bigoted. She also refused to submit to her former teacher, conjured a particular demon, and eventually, journeyed to a desolate world where she could end up trapped. Also, natural witches in my series have a special vein of power running through them – it feeds their energy and magic. Almost every witchline in the Empire is thinning (atrophying). Lucie is the only witch to have strengthened hers after a brutal year studying under a powerful, but sadistic, witch.
Helen: Tell us more about your protagonist, Lucie Bellerose. It was nice to see one of your Door to Door side characters (and others) in this series.
Tracy: Lucie Bellerose is a natural witch (born one) who lives in the Salesman Empire, a world that was actually introduced in my first series, the Door to Door Paranormal Mysteries. Lucie first appeared as a secondary character in Through the Door (book 2 in the mystery series). She returns in book 3 of that same series, Doors Wide Open, playing a significant role. In fact, Doors Wide Open sets the stage for Lucie’s own fantasy series: Bellerose Witchline.
Lucie is 38, single (never married), a city girl (lives in Matar), and like other natural witches in the Empire, she has a thinning witchline. She likes to study and is an adept witch. She reads Tarot, senses energies, and has blended her magic more than once with legendary Salesman John Templeton. Templeton, the antagonist from the Door to Door series, moves seamlessly into Lucie’s world. The two have a tempestuous relationship. She can toss “fireballs” and balls of energy, shatter glass, slam doors, etc. – several of those magical workings are a direct result of dealing with Templeton. Fan favorite Rabbit also made the move from the Door to Door series and joins Lucie as her best friend in the Bellerose Witchline books. He is her rock.
Helen: Having written the Door to Door series, what made you choose to write a darker fantasy tale?
Tracy: The first series I wrote, the Door to Door Paranormal Mysteries, was quite light-hearted. It’s a fun trilogy with a bit of slapstick. When it came to an end, I was ready to write something more emotional. And as I mentioned above, Lucie Bellerose is introduced as a secondary character in the last two Door to Door books.
I wanted to learn more about Lucie. She’s a deep well, with a strong mix of heart-wrenching sadness, big love, and unyielding hope. She’s confident and fragile. By the time we get to Crossing the Witchline, we learn just how strong and determined she is. But she’s no superhero, and she needs help sometimes – just like the rest of us. She’s flawed but will do the right thing – even if it costs her what she desires. I want good things for Lucie.
Helen: Lucie is an amazing character, and I hope things start to improve for her in book three. You’ve certainly put her through the ringer! Who is your favourite character from your books?
Tracy: It’s difficult to choose just one, of course. I’ve established a core group around two main characters (Emily Swift and Lucie Bellerose) spanning two series. The core group in the second series, Bellerose Witchline, started as secondary characters in the Door to Door Paranormal Mysteries.
I also pulled a villain along from the first into the second series, Sebastian St. Michel. I have to admit, I love writing him. He’s darker than morally gray, arrogant, runs at the mouth, violent, and doesn’t apologize for his criminal past. He only has one regret – which is a spoiler revealed in the Bellerose Witchline – and quite honestly, I shouldn’t like him as much as I do. He’s a bit of an a$$hole, but he’s fun to write. I joke that Sebastian says all the things I’m thinking. Regardless of the bad things he’s done, Sebastian has picked up fans. I’m happy for him. Off-page, I let him run loose on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/SebastianStMichel/ where he playfully trolls my author friends.
Helen: I love that you gave your characters instagram accounts, though I don’t know how you have the time to manage them all! Which genres do you typically write in?
Tracy: I started out in paranormal mysteries that tended more to the “cozy” side – that is, sex and violence (for the most part) happened off-page. I switched to adult dark fantasy to work some different writing muscles. Amazon put my first fantasy book into an occult horror category, too. While I don’t envision myself ever switching to full-on horror, it’s interesting to explore things that make people afraid. Reading something scary is a safe way to experience darker emotions.
Helen: Who inspired you to start writing?
Tracy: All those amazing authors who wrote the books I read over and over as a young girl: Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume, James and Deborah Howe, E.L. Konigsburg, Carolyn Keene, Madeleine L’Engle, Roald Dahl, and Carolyn Haywood to name a few. I loved the “choose your own adventure” books, too.
Helen: I think it is a given that all authors are also great readers! What is your favoutite book?
Tracy: This was a hard question for me. I’ve read so many books that fit a “favorite” category, and I can’t just pick one. I will tell you that I believe every woman should read: The House at the End of Hope Street, by Menna van Praag. It has one of my very favorite quotes which comes from a character named Stella: “If you wait until you’re ready, you’ll be dead. And, as a life strategy, I don’t really recommend it.”
I think I took that one to heart.
Helen: It always amazes me, how we all write such different books. Just shows how flexible words are! Where do you get the ideas for your books from?
Tracy: Conversations, snippets of thoughts – like a shadow moving across the yard – can spawn scene ideas, which I’ll then thread together and create a plotline.
Music, however, is my greatest source of inspiration. While sometimes it’s lyrics, more often than not it’s the sonicality (yes, I made that word up) of the music that creates a scene in my head. The music will serve as the soundtrack, and I’ll write what happens. I might have an end goal in mind, but honestly, scenes just pop into my brain. If I don’t write them down, I’ll lose them.
Helen: Talking about ideas, what are you currently working on?
Tracy: My current WIP is book three in my Bellerose Witchline series, Walking a Fine Witchline. Main character Lucie Bellerose needs to navigate the fallout from the end of Crossing the Witchline. The Congress of Empire Witches wants her to submit to them and reject her non-witch friends/love interest. There is also a new character I’m bringing in who reveals a separate fully “witch world” versus the Empire where Lucie lives. (In the Empire, there is a diversity of magical and non-magical beings.) This new character, Seth, comes to the Empire because the authorities in his world have identified an issue that’s affecting witches who hail from the Empire.
Also, Lucie needs to make some choices in her personal life. There are two men dividing her heart. She’s going to have to decide at some point – something I’m dreading. And then there’s the demon…he’s still bound to her. So, Lucie is “walking a fine (witch)line” in many areas of her life. There are a few items I can’t share because they are spoilers and significant to the plot.
Helen: I am so glad you are working on book three. And oh my, are you going to have fun writing that book! I’m glad it’s your decision, though I have a feeling your readers are going to be just as torn over your choice! Let’s switch gears for a while and talk about your writing process. Do you plan your novels or let your characters take you where they choose?
Tracy: Oh, I’m definitely a planner. I plot out my storyline from start to finish. I leave room for characters to run with a scene, however. And that happens. Sometimes I feel more like a narrator than a writer – even though all the big or pivotal scenes have been plotted out and assigned to chapters. For me, having a blend of preparation and spontaneity produces the right story I want to tell
Helen: I agree. The more I write, the more I plan, but characters do have a way of leading you astray. What about your writing environment, do you have a playlist when you write or do you prefer silence?
Tracy: Music plays an enormous role in my writing. Songs inspire scenes. For some stories, a particular musical artist’s work will make a huge impact on the characters I develop or serve as the background soundtrack for the book.
Each character has a theme song which varies from book to book. And each book typically has an overall theme song. For example, in the Bellerose Witchline series, the main theme song for A Thin Witchline Between Love & Hate is “Can’t Find My Way Home” by Blind Faith. For Crossing the Witchline, it was tough to choose a main theme song. If I had to pick, it would be “The Last Remaining Light,” by Audioslave. For my current WIP, Walking a Fine Witchline, I’m not sure yet. I have about 25 songs on my WIP playlist ranging from Leonard Cohen to ELO to Pearl Jam to Soundgarden to Norah Jones.
When I finish each book, I share my “fantasy soundtrack” for it complete with suggestions on which chapters to play certain songs. Those fantasy soundtracks can be found on Spotify.
Helen: That is such a great way to enhance your books, especially as the songs had such meaning when you were writing the chapters. I hope everyone is scurrying off to find it – once they’ve finished reading your interview though, of course! Now one of the worst things we writers go though is self doubt or imposter syndrome. How do you overcome such negative feelings when they hit?
Tracy: I think I have a fairly strong core of confidence. And frankly, with age comes a better sense of self, and you care less about what others think. Of course, there are times when some obnoxious doubt creeps in, and at least for a moment, you feel like a fraud or a joke. That’s when I start telling myself truths: I’ve worked hard and produced five books I’m proud of publishing. My books have sold internationally. My writing has improved with each book. Readers have featured my books in videos and told other people about them. People love my characters – they’ve said so in reviews. Even my “bad guy” has fans. Some of the truths I can list might be silly, but they are still true. Focus on what is true, and not what fear or doubt would have you believe.
Helen: Great advice. What is one of the best things that has happened to you since you began writing?
Tracy: I joined Instagram soon after publishing my first book and the writing community there is wonderful. I have made some really good friends – writing colleagues who understand the ups and downs of being an independent author.
Helen: Having a writing support network is key, and the instagram writing community is amazing. Which books have you recently read?
Tracy: I just finished Resonance (The Orpheus Files Book 1), by Alice Ewens and it was amazing! Totally unique and captivating. Ewens’ writing is flawless. I’d categorize it as new adult/sci-fi/urban fantasy. I’ve also just completed a few beta- and advanced-reading commitments for authors Jennifer Brasington-Crowley (unconventional romance) and Shari T. Mitchell (paranormal mystery/thriller), and I can’t wait until others have the chance to dive into the latest installments in their series.
Helen: Thank you so much for spending time with me to today, Tracy. I wish you every success with your books. Just to close us out, what advice woud you offer aspiring writers?
Tracy: Be wary of advice! Know when to take “expert” writing advice with a grain of salt. Not everything is a pearl of wisdom. Vet sources. I’ve seen some pretty big opinions out there. Most of it is simply ego driven.
Walk away from any author or writer who makes you feel bad. Criticism can be helpful, but it should come from an open mind and a kind heart. Avoid writers who slam someone else’s writing, the genre others prefer to write in, or the “tropes” others use. You don’t want to be associated with their bad behavior or snide comments anyway.
And finally, write the story you want to tell. Write what’s in your heart and gut. Write honestly. You are an artist.
I’d like to say thank you so very much! I’m thrilled to participate in a Q&A with you, Helen. I wish you and your readers great story experiences!
About the Author
TL BrownWriter Tracy Brown lives in the beautiful Finger Lakes of New York State dreaming up epic stories and quirky characters who make life much more interesting. She believes magic still exists; you just need to look in the right places.
Tracy is the author of the Door to Door Paranormal Mystery Series, three books penned under the name T.L. Brown.
She is also the author of the adult dark fantasy Bellerose Witchline books. Although this is a standalone series, it shares some of the author’s most popular characters found in the “Door to Door books.” The second book in the series, Crossing the Witchline, was released in fall 2022. She’s working on the third installment now, Walking a Fine Witchline, due out in 2023.
Tracy’s married to one damn amazing man. Together they talk about music for hours, cook up fabulous meals, and raise clever chickens.
Follow Tracy:
Website: https://writertracybrown.comAmazon page: https://www.amazon.com/T.L.-Brown/e/B08LR3T5KM Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writertracybrown/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/tlbrown Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WriterTracyBrown/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTi0FOdlYxM8UCeS_rXp2mPybLtFpeYC4Fantasy Soundtrack for Crossing the Witchline: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2C10AdZX1KzF0dvStF7hWP Podcast: 12 Minutes (or less!) with the Author: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/DlCqVdgubAbPurchase Thin Line Between Love and Hate via Amazon for only 99c (Price at date of blog posted.)
Link to book on Amazon UK: eBook | Paperback
Link to book on Amazon US: eBook | Paperback
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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.
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August 15, 2023
Book Review Alert: A Descent of Dragons by Jasmine Young
Reviewed: August 15th, 2023
Released: July 31st, 2023
Genre: Epic Fantasy
One hatchling’s fall will break a continent.
A hatchling will descend from the skies.
It will forever change the fate of one rider.
But this is far from a dragon. Better that it had never come at all.
This is the portentous truth about what caused it to fall into the world of men…
An event that will precede the breaking of a continent.
Only available by subscribing to Jasmine Young’s Epic Legends mailing list.
