Helen Garraway's Blog, page 23
July 22, 2023
Author Interview – Barbara Lally
I’m very happy to be meeting poet, Barbara Lally, to chat about her poetry collection called Vicissitudes.
Helen: Welcome Barbara, and thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. Tell us a little about your book.
Barbara: My current book is a poetry collection called Vicissitudes. The word itself means the quality or state of being changeable/the natural change or mutation visible in nature or in human affairs. Vicissitudes is an intense and personal collection of poetry about love; the ups and downs, the beautiful and ugly.
Vicissitudes has 97 poems and ten one-of-a-kind pieces of art by artist, Jessica Carballo.
Helen: How wonderful. It sounds like a very personal collection. What can you tell us about your thoughts behind your cover?
Barbara: The cover of Vicissitudes features an outline of me that was inspired by a photograph taken of me by Mina and Enza Photography. In the photo I have my arms around myself in a hugging gesture. This perfectly represents the feeling the poems give you in Vicissitudes – being vulnerable, feeling comfortable in your own skin, loving yourself as you grow. Jessica Carballo designed the cover.
Helen: The cover is very elegant. Why did you use Vicissitudes as the title of the collection?
Barbara: Vicissitudes is a word that completely encapsulated how I felt when I was a young adult. So many ups and downs and changes that I couldn’t possibly prepare for. It was beautiful and ugly and a complete mess but worth every moment! While you read Vicissitudes you can feel that rollercoaster.
Helen: What inspired you write this collection of poetry?
Barbara: I wrote Vicissitudes because it healed my heart. Love and heartbreak are things that everyone experiences yet is unique to everyone. I believed my story would resonate with others while also being a completely new experience for those who read it. I loved being able to put all of my different feelings and experiences into poetry form.
I wrote The Trichster Diaries because it healed my soul. I have had trichotillomania, the hair-pulling disorder, since I was 10 years old. I never knew anyone else who had it and so for many years I hid in shame. One day I felt the courage to openly share my story and write this book in hopes to make others feel less alone and to spread awareness.
I wrote My Trichster Diaries: A Guided Journal because I wanted to heal others. It is a wonderfully interactive journal for those who have trichotillomania and want to let some of the shame they feel go. It focuses on self-love and self-acceptance.
Helen: I have said many times that I believe writing is carthartic and writing your collections sound like that has been the case for you, too. What is the best thing that has happened to you since you began writing?
Barbara: The best thing that ever happened to me since I began writing is becoming part of a community. My first book, The Trichster Diaries, is about my life with trichotillomania, the hair-pulling disorder. I have connected with many others who too have trichotillomania. I have been able to share my story without shame. It has changed my entire life.
I have a podcast called Trich Talks! where I interview others with trichotillomania. I also have a life coaching business where I work with people with trichotillomania in a course called “Sharing Our Stories.”
Helen: I’m so glad you found your community and that you are able to share your experiences to help others. It is so important to know that you are not alone. From a writing perspective, every writer experiences self-doubt. How do you overcome the fear and the little voice in your head to keep writing?
Barbara: I had to remind myself that this story needed telling. Not only was writing The Trichster Diaries incredibly healing for me, it was healing for others. People could see themselves in the photographs in the book, they could relate to the moments of insecurity and shame. It lets them see that you can learn to love the thing you once hated about yourself.
Helen: Congratulations once again on publishing your collection this year. Just to finish, what advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Barbara: My best advice for new writers is to just get it all out there! Don’t worry about being perfect on the first go. Get all of your thoughts and ideas out on the page and then worry about the rest of it. Writing can be healing and wonderful. Let it all out!
About the Author
Barbara LallyI was teaching for nearly a decade before I changed careers and began life coaching.
In 2020, I published my memoir, The Trichster Diaries, detailing my life with trichotillomania. Since that moment, my goal was to spread awareness of a disorder that is rarely spoken about but affects many.
In 2021, I started a podcast, published a guided journal, began a trichotillomania online course, and left my teaching job. My podcast, Trich Talks, is an interview style podcast where guests share about their life with trichotillomania. In my guided journal, My Trichster Diaries, the reader is able to reflect on and write about their own trichotillomania and journey to self-acceptance. But that’s not all. I weave in handwritten notes, trichster tips, poetry, and much more. My trichotillomania online course, Sharing Our Stories, SOS is a 25-week interactive course that does a deep dive into your journey with trichotillomania. Each week we discuss different prompts from the guided journal, My Trichster Diaries, complete meaningful activities, have empowering conversations, and build a strong sense of community between the members of the course.
Since 2023, I’ve been working as a certified Life Coach who specializes in helping people learn to understand, love, and accept their trichotillomania. I coach my clients in a way that utilizes both their heads and their hearts. If you have any questions about my methods, or would like to schedule a consultation, please get in touch today.
Follow Barbara:
Website: www.barbaralally.com
Instagram: @thetrichsterdiaries
Purchase Vicissitudes via Amazon
Link to book on Amazon UK: eBook | Paperback | Hardcover
Link to book on Amazon US: eBook | Paperback | Hardcover
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
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July 19, 2023
Author Interview – Shari T. Mitchell
I’m very excited to chat to Indie Author Shari T. Mitchell who has just released the third book in her Marnie Reilly series, Fatal Vow, and she has made time to talk to us about her new release. Join me as we celebrate her new release and chat about her books.
Helen: Welcome Shari. Congratulations on releasing your latest book this week, and thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. Tell us a little about your new release.
Shari: Fatal Vow, Marnie Reilly Mysteries Book 3, is a mystery thriller with a paranormal twist. Marnie Reilly’s last year has been an absolute shitstorm. She fought off her fair share of psychopaths and dealt with a rash of murders over the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. She desperately wants to protect the people she loves, so she removes the danger catalyst from the equation—herself. Fatal Vow opens on the first day of summer. She’s returned home to Creekwood after 4 months holed up with a friend in Northern New York to find trouble has followed her.
When a long-held truth hides a sick, twisted lie, will the psychic psychologist’s greatest enemy save her from a fate worse than death?
The last year has been an absolute shitstorm for psychic psychologist Marnie Reilly. Desperate to protect her loved ones from the evil stalking her, she fled her hometown of Creekwood, New York.
It’s the first day of Summer and she’s back in town to make amends and take control of the chaos of her past. But her greatest enemy is hot on her heels with an axe to grind. Or is that just an illusion created by a madman?
Helen: It sounds like Marnie finds trouble wherever she goes. What can you tell us about your thoughts behind the cover?
Shari: My MC Marnie Reilly has purchased a new home! There was nothing wrong with her previous house, unless you consider her abusive ex’s body being dumped in her shed and two police officers being murdered on her doorstep worrisome. Marnie is settling into an old homestead on a 550-acre ranch where troughs and crops receive their watery nourishment from a windmill that has stood for over 100 years. It is hit by lightning often, dispelling the old wives’ tale that lightning doesn’t strike the same spot twice. It’s a theme in Marnie’s life as bad things happen – A LOT.
Helen: The lightening strike is effective! How about the title? How did you choose the title?
Shari: Cross my heart and hope to die may be a harmless childhood promise, but could it be a deadly, self-fulfilling prophecy?
Helen: Oh, clever. I like the tie into something that seems harmless. Fatal Vow is the third book in the series, what drove you to write this story?
Shari: Fatal Vow is the third book in the Marnie Reilly Mysteries series. As a fiction writer, my characters are very real to me. They natter at me when I am not writing. Anyway, I have a character (an antagonist) who needed me to tell their truth, so I obliged.
Helen: Tell us more about your protagonist, Marnie.
Shari: Marnie Reilly is the psychic psychologist with a tragic past, a quick temper, and a huge heart. Because I use writing to heal from trauma, I created Marnie following a difficult situation I was processing. I was feeling beaten (literally) so I developed a character who was strong yet vulnerable and who had the fortitude to withstand controversial and emotionally difficult experiences. It’s cathartic to kill off an ex in a story. [smirking]
Helen: I’m glad you were able to find a release through writing. I find writing very cathartic as well. If I were to ask Marnie why we should read her books, what would she say?
Shari: Ha-ha! Marnie is an animal lover, so she would tell you to read the series to meet her Border Collies Tater and Dickens.
Helen: A very good reason! Who is your favourite character to write?
Shari: Easy! Detective Tom Keller! He’s funny, kind, handsome, a scaredy cat, but he’s also brave when he needs to be. He’s not comfortable with the paranormal and squirms at the thought of ghosts being in his proximity. Tom is a prankster and my comic relief. When things get too serious, he does or says something to cut the mood. Like me, he doesn’t have a filter.
Helen: He sounds like a terrific character. When did you realise you had a passion for writing?
Shari: From a young age. I’m a storyteller and was one long before I even knew the alphabet. My sisters went to school before I did, so I entertained myself with make believe and would share my stories with my mother while we had lunch. And I come from a long line of bullsh*tters, so that helps.
Helen: Was there anyone in particular who inspired you to write?
Shari: Gosh! Heaps of people, starting with my mother and two lovely English teachers who encouraged me. But a life event made me dive into writing. My father died when I was seventeen. Notebooks and pens became my best friends, and writing was the perfect escape for teen angst and grief.
Helen: How do you come up with ideas for your books?
Shari: I wish I could say there is an elaborate process, but I can’t. Stories simply pop into my head.
Helen: Most of my ideas arrive when I’m trying to go to sleep! Are you working on a book now?
Shari: I am currently writing Marnie Reilly Mysteries Book 4. I have a macabre Halloween short story on the go, too. It is outside of the series and allows me to stretch my writing chops.
Helen: That will please your fans. They are always looking for the next book as soon as you finish the last one. Let’s talk about your writing process. Which part of the writing process to you find most challenging?
Shari: Editing is the bane of my existence.
Helen: I actually quite like it, until I get to the twentieth time I’m reading my book, then maybe not so much! What is the most useful tool you use when writing?
Shari: Gosh. That’s tough. There are so many. Probably the internet. No matter what time of the day, you can always find something related to the area of query. And you can always back check findings via a trip to the library or a bookstore.
Helen: We are very fortunate to have such a comprehensive research tool at our fingertips 24/7. Having said that, do you do much research for your books?
Shari: Loads! I have a library of resource books, and I spend a lot of time on the internet or in the library ensuring that my “methods” are accurate.
Helen: When writing, do you plot the whole book or are you a pantser?
Shari: Well, I start with an outline and then forget about it by the end of the third chapter. Free form works for me. But I always write my last chapter first. The end of the story is always in sight and helps to set up the next book in the series.
Helen: When do you write? Are you a night owl or an early bird?
Shari: I write early in the morning (5:30 to 7:30). Weekends are usually jampacked with household errands and chores, but there are always a few hours when hubby is practicing his guitar or watching one of his shows where I slip up to my home office and write.
Helen: I am not an early morning person! What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve received and how do you deal with imposter syndrome?
Shari: Don’t give up. That advice has come from my mother, my friends, teachers, and writing friends. I do suffer from imposter syndrome often, but I’m stubborn and I don’t quit. It really is that simple.
Helen: Do you ever suffer from writer’s block, and if so how do you deal with it?
Shari: Gardening, a long walk or playing with my four dogs (the Pawsome Foursome) usually does the trick. If that doesn’t work, wine.
Helen: Lol! Wine sounds like the perfect remedy. Which genre do you typicaly write in?
Shari: Mystery thrillers. I have always been a huge fan of mysteries. I started out reading Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys, then moved on to Agatha Christie, Ruth Rendell and Mary Higgins Clark. My mother was a voracious reader of mysteries. She got me hooked. I love the challenge of figuring it out before the middle of the book.
Helen: My mother got me into reading as well. We are very lucky. Which books have you read recently?
Shari: Jennifer Brasington Crowley’s Raven Song was fantastic. It’s not my usual genre, but I loved it! The Bellerose Witchline series and the Door to Door series by T.L. Brown are wonderful. Helen Aitchison’s Dinner Club is also a favorite. Again, outside of the norm for me, but it is a breathtaking novel about found friendships and acceptance. And over the past six months I have indulged in Sue Grafton’s Alphabet Series. I am up to P is for Peril. My TBR stack is about ready to topple over. There are so many good books to read. Unfortunately, time doesn’t always permit a book a week. I try to read two a month.
Helen: Thank you so much for spending time with me today. Is there anything else you would like add?
Shari: Marnie Reilly is not me. Many people assume she is because we share similar qualities—a love of animals, hair color, eye color, build, clairvoyance… But she has more tact and patience than I do, and she is a lot younger, too. My characters all have bits and pieces of my quirks, but none of them are me. Detective Danny Gregg’s irrational fear of dolls is all me! Marnie has a fear of closed places—also me. And Tom’s smart mouth and unfiltered responses are somewhat me.
Helen: It’s interesting how bits of us do end up in our characters. Thankyou, Shari, for chatting with me today. I wish you all the best with your latest release.
About the Author
Shari T. MitchellShari T. Mitchell is the author of the Marnie Reilly Mysteries thriller series, which includes Divine Guidance, Torn Veil, and Fatal Vow (coming July 2023).
Raised in Northern New York State, Shari’s hometown and surrounds are the inspiration for her series’ fictional town of Creekwood, New York—which is located somewhere in the Adirondack Mountains.
While Shari loves developing multidimensional characters with whom her readers can relate, her passion is plotting the twists and turns of a mystery. It feeds her analytical and creative mind.
She lives in North Carolina and shares her home with her partner in crime, Harper, and their crazy rescue dogs, Dougal, Callee, Midget, and Mags.
A thirty-plus year marketer, Shari loves spending time with her family, cooking, hiking, traveling, gardening, and reading. She is often heard chatting with her characters because they natter at her constantly!
Mystery is her favorite genre, having cut her teeth on Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys and Trixie Belden. Her favorite authors include Robert Frost, Agatha Christie, Mary Higgins Clark, Ruth Rendell, Michael Connelly, Jonathan Kellerman, David Baldacci, Louise Penny, Kathy Reichs, Patricia Cornwell and Michael Koryta.
Website
Purchase Fatal Vow 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.
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July 16, 2023
Cover Reveal – Sentinals Destiny
Book Six of the Sentinal Series – Final book in the series completing the set!
Preorder the eBook now: Sentinals Destiny for the special preorder price $2.99/£2.49.
Release Day: October 11th, 2023
Sentinals Destiny
Birlerion’s leave of absence is up and it’s time for him to return to work. Before he has time to sit behind his desk, or discover the source of the brooding threat that is hovering over him, he is sent off to Terolia to negotiate with the families for a bride. The succession must be protected and it’s time for Anders to marry.
As he travels through the deserts, he realises that it is the Veil that is hunting him, and it wants his blood. But no one will listen to his concerns about the Veil. The healers believe he is struggling to adjust after his recent traumas. Their arguments are persuasive and overrule saner minds.
Betrayed by those he loves, driven by an oath invoked by the king, and with only Jaredion and Leyarille to protect him, Birlerion goes on the run across Vespiri, Terolia and into the islands of Birtoli, the home of the Oath. If he doesn’t discover a way to stop the Veil from killing him, it will not only be his life that is lost, it will be all of Remargaren that is destroyed.
Book six of the Sentinals Series, Sentinals Destiny, is the final book in the saga of Remargaren, a vibrant, ancient world of high fantasy suffused with magic and adventure.
Get ready for the final book of the series – Purchase the first book Sentinals Awaken now:
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 (eBook Preorder price $2.99/£2.49 until launch October 11th, 2023.)
If you would like to read an ARC for my latest novel, 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)
July 14, 2023
Author Interview – Erika Leigh Agnew
It’s launch day for Fantasy author Erika Leigh Agnew, and she has made time to talk to us about her new release, The Besieged Unicorn Army of Ryk. Join me as we celebrate her new release and chat about her books.
Helen: Congratulations on your new release, and thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today, your release day! Tell us a little about your new release.
Erika: My current book is The Besieged Unicorn Army of Ryk which is scheduled to release on Amazon July 14, 2023. It is the prequel to Dragonsown, a Young Adult Fantasy I published in 2020. The premise is primarily about a territory conflict between dragons and unicorns but when unforeseen danger threatens them both, they find they need to join forces to survive.
Helen: What an interesting premise, the thought of two magical creatures, unicorns and Dragons at odds is so intriguing. What can you tell us about your thoughts behind your cover?
Erika: The prequel’s cover evolved from the first book. My plan is to keep the dragon but change who it faces with each new story. I can’t draw but sketched out an awful stick figure draft and gave it to a designer who saw my vision under the flaws.
Helen: The cover is beautiful, I love the dragon bearing down on the unicorns, I hope they are nice dragons!! Tell us why you chose this title.
Erika: I am aware the title is a mouthful and I put a lot of thought into different variations but kept coming back to this. Nothing else fit so I just went with it. This is truly the most besieged unicorn army ever and I needed a title to capture that.
Helen: You have set the prequel one thousand years before your first book, what made you write this particular book?
Erika: I actually started writing the sequel first. I was 7,000 words in when the idea for a unicorn army popped into my head and wouldn’t go away. I was obsessed with unicorns as a kid and the thought of writing about them was very appealing. I went with my instinct and put the sequel on the back burner.
Helen: If your main charcter had to tell us why we should read your book, what would he say?
Erika: Because the story is about him, of course! Ember is a rare black unicorn and the First Captain of the Unicorn Army. He is adored by his herd who love him regardless of his actions, right or wrong. Ember even manages to charm my female dragons and he avoids getting eaten on many occasions. He will experience much personal growth in this story.
Helen: He does sound adorable. I look forward to meeting him some day soon! Changing topics to how you write, which element of the writing process do you find the most challenging?
Erika: Finding the time to write and then edit my work. I have a full-time career, a part-time job, and help manage a horse farm. It amazes me I was able to write and publish this prequel in only 2 years.
Helen: I have no idea how you find time to write! You must be a night owl or an early riser! Whilst writing, which writing tool do kep to hand at all times?
Erika: Thesaurus- I just keep it open because I refer to it constantly.
Helen: Congratulations once again on your new release. Just to finish, what advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Erika: Learn some techniques before writing your book. I wrote my first book, self-published it, then realized I needed to implement some writing techniques. I pulled it down, did a full edit and republished. So basically, I had to write a book to learn how to write a book. Kind of backwards so don’t do what I did. It wasted a lot of time. Read up on ‘Show, don’t tell’, how to show action through dialogue and using key elements of plot development- emphasis on conflict and suspense.
Helen: Great advice! For anyone publishing, you want to have your best work out there, so make sure you engage a good editor. Once your book is out, people will critique it, you want to ensure you have the best version possible. Thankyou, Erika, I wish you all the best with your latest release.
About the Author
Erika Leigh AgnewErika Leigh Agnew is the Indie Author of Dragonsown, a Young Adult Adventure Fantasy Series. She has completed the prequel, The Besieged Unicorn Army of Ryk, publishing in July 2023. Erika appreciates follows on Amazon & GoodReads!
She writes a blog and updates her website regularly:
Subscribers to her email list receive a Dragonsown: Surface “Added Scene”.
Erika grew up in Toronto, ON. She is passionate about the environment and wildlife conservation. She loves to scuba dive, spend time in nature and ride horses.
Thank you for reading!
https://linktr.ee/ErikaLeighAgnew
Facebook: Erika Leigh Agnew
Pinterest: agnewerika
Purchase Book one, The Besieged Army of Ryk via Amazon
Grab your copy for 99c until July 17th, 2023.
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.
Subscribe to my Newsletter
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Book Review Alert: The Blood Crystal by Matt Twinley
Reviewed: July 12th, 2023
Released: April 26th, 2021
Genre: YA Fantasy
Some secrets run deeper than blood…
Long ago, a battle was fought against the dark Etheria, creatures who wanted control of the world. Now, Etheria are kept hidden by Trucekeepers. They’re just myths… or are they?
Hannah is a frustrated sixteen-year-old—fed up with school, her diabetes and desperate to find somewhere she belongs.
Daegan is a Trucekeeper—a fearless warrior with a dark past, sworn to keep the existence of mythical creatures a secret.
Their lives couldn’t be more different… But everything changes when a magical blood crystal brings them together.
After Daegan saves Hannah from a vicious zburător, Hannah discovers the existence of Etheria, mythical creatures from all around the world, hidden by the Trucekeepers for centuries.
As Daegan trains her to become a Trucekeeper, Hannah rubs shoulders with Etheria, learns how to cast magic and finds somewhere she can finally call home… until she discovers that her mysterious past is the key to a war that could destroy the Trucekeepers and her new home forever. Read My Thoughts…
July 5, 2023
Author Interview – Neil Bullock
Today, I am pleased to welcome Science Fantasy author Neil Bullock to talk to us about his metaphysical Primordial series. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series, Off Track, and you can find my review here.
Helen: Welcome Neil. I’m excited to chat with you about your primordial series, which you have now released two books and working on the third, Nexus. Tell us a little about it.
Neil: My current book is titled Nexus, and it’s the third in my Primordials series. I’m planning on having 9 books split into three trilogies with a time gap between each. Nexus sets out to answer most of the questions posed in book 1 (Off Track) and book 2 (Earth Twelve) while also setting up the next batch of three books. It also provides some background for a few related series I have planned. I’m currently planning for a July or August release for Nexus!
Helen: You have a grand plan, can’t wait to see where your series goes. What can you tell us about your thoughts behind your cover?
Neil: My cover is an abstract view from the Nexus, which is a location in the eponymous book. We’re looking through a doorway from our position behind my main character, Eden Lucas. In front of her is a scene that was described in the epilogue of Earth Twelve.
Helen: I love the idea of looking though a keyhole at a new version of the world. Why did you call the book Nexus?
Neil: Naming books is a horrible thing to have to do! Book titles are so hard! For Off Track, it took me weeks to decide on the name. For Earth Twelve and Nexus, I named them both for locations in the book. Much easier that way. It could also mean a nexus between my various planned stories.
Helen: I agree, I’m always dithering between names and often end up asking my newlsetter subscribers ot vote because I can’t decide! Who is your protagonist and why did you write her/him?
Neil: My protagonist is Eden Lucas, a 30-something woman from Portland, Oregon. I am, of course, not a woman, not in my 30s and not American, so it is perhaps a strange choice. The reason I wrote her is Buffy the Vampire Slayer, at its core. Female protagonists of that type have always been my go-to. The musical Wicked is another. The role of Elphaba speaks to me. Clare Abshire in The Time Traveler’s Wife. Alicia in Justin Cronin’s The Passage trilogy. Naomi and Bobbie in The Expanse. Any number of others. As for why I write Americans, it’s because it feels more “exotic” than writing British. I think I might struggle to imagine British characters going through what my characters go through.
Helen: I know this is one of those questions, but who is your favourite character?
Neil: Probably Megan Young. She joins the cast in Nexus, and she has quite the tragic backstory that I’m looking forward to working with in subsequent books! She also has some unique abilities which were fun to play with while writing Nexus!
Helen: Thank you so much for spending time with me today. Just to finish, who inspired you to write?
Neil: To some extent, it’s just who I am. Whenever I encounter something I enjoy, I want to emulate it in my own way. That could be a film, television show, book, piece of software (I’m a programmer in my other life), whatever. Specifically, I credit Stephen King, Peter Clines, Jeff VanderMeer, James S. A. Corey, Audrey Niffenegger, N.K Jemisin and Justin Cronin. Whenever I read anything by any of them, it’s like a well of inspiration inside me gets refilled. All books fill it a little bit, but those authors are definite favourites.
About the Author
Neil BullockI am a fan of fantasy, science fiction and magic realism, which I tend to combine into my somewhat speculative sci-fi novels. I particularly enjoy the kind of mind-bending stories told by Blake Crouch, N. K. Jemisin, Peter Clines, and Jeff VanderMeer, among others. I love putting normal people in weird situations and seeing how they cope. In my writing, that is. I try not to do it so much in real life.
Purchase Book one, Off Track via Amazon
Link to book on Amazon UK: eBook | Paperback | Audio
Link to book on Amazon US: eBook | Paperback | Audio
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.
Subscribe to my Newsletter
By clicking submit, 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.
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July 1, 2023
Author Interview – Eve Koguce
Today, I am pleased to welcome multi-genre author Eve Koguce to talk to us about her books and how she brings her home country of Latvia into her writing.
Helen: Welcome Eve. I’m intrigued about how you came to write in so many genres, but before we get into that, tell us a little about your books.
Eve: All my books have a certain share of controversy, but “The Accidental Cop” is probably the most controversial of them.
The Neglected Merge trilogy doesn’t fit neatly into any fantasy category. Besides, the protagonist is thirty-two in book one and fifty-one in book three. While a coming-of-age novel “Finding Your Way” is set in Latvia and has a slight touch of magical realism.
“The Accidental Cop” is also a cross-genre book. It isn’t a purely crime fiction novel since it doesn’t start with finding a dead body and end with unmasking the murderer. It also doesn’t tick all the boxes of a noir crime genre. It is a blend of noir crime and police procedural with psychological suspense elements.
Set in Latvia at the end of the first post-Soviet decade, “The Accidental Cop” tells the story of Roberts Bergs. At twenty-one, he struggles to find his place within the corrupted police system without betraying his principles. To succeed you must play by the rules. Roberts learns the rules quickly. The system run by the Soviet-era ex-militia officers is a good teacher. Who you know counts for more than your abilities, qualifications, and knowledge. The system also doesn’t tolerate disobedience. Still, Roberts keeps climbing up the career ladder. The contrast between those who play by the rules and those who believe in honesty and justice becomes starker. Luxury and self-indulgence for the first, and dragging out a miserable existence for the latter. Roberts has to make more difficult choices. Is it worth it to remain true to his principles? Or is succumbing to the corrupted and merciless system the only way to survive?
Writing “The Accidental Cop” was a unique experience. It was inspired by countless stories I’ve heard from different people over two decades. Readers say that it was interesting for them to find out about the period of time in Latvia they didn’t know anything about. “Savage 90s” were a time of great turbulence for Latvia. It was challenging to try to portray this grim page of my country’s history without slipping either into the rose-tinted glasses outlook or utter disillusionment.
Helen: I imagine it was a challenge to give such a tumultuous period justice. It is so interesting to hear that your novel is based on real events. What can you tell us about your thoughts behind your cover?
Eve: It was important to me that the cover of “The Accidental Cop” would convey the essence of the book. I didn’t want it to delude the reader into thinking that they are about to read a thriller with a classic “superman” hero who saves everyone and puts all the bad guys in jail. Single-handedly, of course.
I wanted the cover to display the stark difference between Roberts’s world – grim and full of shadows – and the world of those who aren’t averse to corruption and crime. Roberts sees that there is a different life out there. He sees that it is possible to live without suffering from hunger, cold, and despair. But to change his life he has to betray everything he believes in.
Helen: It is so interesting to hear about the ideas behind the cover, there is always a lot more thought put in than you realise. Now, what made you write books in so many different genres?
Eve: I have written five books so far, and all of them are in different genres. Even the books within the same trilogy.
The Neglected Merge fantasy trilogy opens with a fantasy romance, followed by the fantasy drama “Tangle of Choices”, and wraps up with “Shifting Directions” which comprises coming-of-age, drama, and even thriller elements.
“Finding Your Way” is a coming-of-age novel with magical realism elements.
It is a great question why I do not stick to one genre. To be honest, I started asking it myself only when I was already deep in the promotion and marketing jungle. Learning more about the indie publishing universe, I realised the risks a multi-genre author has to face. Still, I do not regret having written books in different genres. These are the stories I wanted to share with the world.
Helen: I think that is what it comes down to, what is the story you want to tell? I know this is a difficult question, but out of all your books, who is your favourite character.
Eve: It is not easy to choose one, but my heart belongs to Alfred Greeks from the Neglected Merge trilogy. He is Tauria’s (Tauria is the main character of the trilogy) boss, mentor, and later, her trusted friend who understands her better than anyone. He is the one who supports her even when everyone else in her life can’t accept her choices. Alfred’s character is loosely based on someone who played a similar role in my life.
Alfred is almost one hundred years old in book one. But his mind is sharp and his interest in current affairs is acute. Despite his outstanding mind – or maybe because of it – Alfred chooses not to climb to the very top of the career ladder. His boss thinks he is a dreamer. While Alfred himself claims that it is dreamers who make the biggest changes happen.
If I ever return to the Neglected Merge universe, it is Alfred’s story that I will write. It warms my heart that when readers ask about my plans for sequels or prequels of the trilogy, they mention that they would want to read Alfred Greeks’s story.
Helen: What is your work in progress (WIP)?
Eve: The story is set in beautiful Dorset, on the fictional island of Southbay. I spent a couple of years living in the region. My lack of knowledge of local customs got me into some awkward situations. So, writing this book is a great chance to share these funny stories. I met many wonderful people while living in Dorset. Besides, my work let me travel all around the country, and I got a glimpse of the differences between North and South.
I’m working on a story of a young woman from Latvia who married an Englishman and moved to England. She realises she doesn’t really know the man she has married. At the same time, she falls deeper in love with the island she now calls home.
Helen: Dorset is beautiful. That is so neat that you can include your real life experiences in your story. When it comes to writing, which part do you find most challenging?
Eve: Personally, for me, the most challenging element of the writing process is finding the time to write. Or, more precisely, finding the balance between writing and other obligations. I guess, considering the dynamic lifestyle of the times we live in, it is a common problem for most writers.
At times, I feel guilty that I “steal” time from my family, concentrating on writing yet another book. I am also often distracted when I spend time with my son and my husband. The scenes that play on repeat and voices that talk in my head when I am working on a story aren’t easy to switch off. I am sure many writers can relate to that.
Helen: It can be a delicate work-life balance, and yes I agree, authors are easily distracted as we muse on plot knots and story lines. Thank you so much for spending time with me today. Just to close us out, could you share some of the books you have recently enjoyed reading?
Eve: I’ve been reading a lot of books by indie authors recently. And I can honestly say that discovering indie books has completely changed my reading experience.
I was always an avid reader. A few years ago, it became complicated to find a book that I couldn’t put down. Stories felt like ‘messages’ rather than immersive worlds as it was for me before. Then, I published “Neglected Merge”, and when searching for useful resources for indie authors, I discovered the Writing Community on Twitter with its incredibly talented authors.
I am not only a multi-genre author, I am also a multi-genre reader. Some of my favourite authors are Kelly Miller, Helena M. Craggs, Helen Aitchison, R.A. Hutchins, P.L. Stuart, R.P. Lauer, and Kat Kinney. I also loved books by Anne M. Smith-Nochasak and A-M Mawhiney.
I highly recommend Kelly Miller’s Austenesque novels to all Jane Austen fans. My first experience with reading a Jane Austen variation wasn’t especially good, and after that, I was sceptical about this genre. But Kelly Miller changed that. I especially recommend “Captive Hearts”; it’s a variation of “Persuasion”. “Persuasion” is my second favourite Jane Austen novel. I’ve always liked it more than the more popular “Sense and Sensibility” or “Emma”. “Captive Hearts” offers a more complete story of how Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth broke up and then reunited again. It also draws more nuanced portraits of secondary characters.
For all fans of Tolkien, I heartily recommend the epic fantasy series by P.L. Stuart, the Drowned Kingdom. Othrun, once the Second Prince of the mightiest kingdom, and then King of Eastrealm of Acremia, is probably the most extraordinary main character a reader will encounter in modern literature.
Helena M. Craggs and Kat Kinney write immersive, imaginative, and action-packed fantasy. New releases from them are always on the top of my reading list.
Helen Aitchison and Anne M. Smith-Nochasak write heartfelt stories that could happen to any of us. It has always been my favourite genre. For everyone who appreciates stories about people’s lives, I recommend checking Helen’s book “The Dinner Club” and Anne M. Smith-Nochasak’s novel “A Canoer of Shorelines”.
R.A. Hutchins has helped me to discover love for cosy mysteries. I was never a crime fiction fan, but her Baker’s Rise series is a pure delight to read.
R.P. Lauer and A-M Mawhiney bend all fantasy genre rules. I am proud to have “The Scars of Gaia” by R.P. Lauer on my bookshelf with a precious autograph of the author.
Helen: That is an amazing list of Indie authors! I will certinly check some of them out. Anything anecdotal you’d like to add?
Eve: Since I can’t remember any funny story worth sharing with a wider public, I’ll share a few funny pictures of my cats. Peach and Honey are half-siblings, and their relationship proves the truth about the relationship between brothers and sisters. They always seem to fight, with Honey trying not to let her brother have anything she wasn’t given first. Still, they are fiercely loyal to each other. Once, when we took Honey to the vet, Peach hasn’t eaten a single bite before his feisty sister returned home.
About the Author
Eve KoguceEve has been in love with books for as long as she remembers herself. The typewriter her first attempts at writing had been made at still sits proudly on its shelf in the basement, and when she goes down there, she always has the urge to save it from its exile.
Eve has always been writing something. Diaries, letters, poems, short stories. She had even attempted to write a novel a couple of times when she was about thirteen. Still, there was always something more important than her writing. There was always “real life” reminding me of its undeniable claims. “You have to study, you have to work, there is no place for fruitless dreaming,” it whispered. And she moved forward as if running on rails she couldn’t step down from.
Eve had spent fifteen years, trying to fit into the office work pattern. Do you remember Kevin Kline in the “In & Out” movie – “men do not dance”? Well, that used to be her philosophy – real people don’t write books. They work, they build careers, they travel through the corporate jungle. And despite she was feeling miserable and out of place every day of that climbing-the-ladder process, she managed to build a relatively successful career after an ambitious shift from the private to the public sector. The job she had wasn’t boring. It was actually pretty exciting. She worked with internationally funded projects and met people from all over the world every day. But it failed to ignite a spark in her heart.
After her son was born, she had a unique chance to stop and rethink not only what she’d achieved so far, but what she really wanted from life. She made a decision to leave her old life behind, and she has never regretted it.
Amazon Author page USA
You can purchase the Accidental Cop here:
Link to book on Amazon UK: eBook | Paperback
Linkt ot 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.
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June 30, 2023
Book Review Alert: DarkBlade: Assassin by Andy Peloquin
Reviewed: June 30th, 2023
Released: July 6th, 2021
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Relentless. Immortal. Death walking. The greatest assassin who ever lived.
Pay the master killer his due and the Hunter will execute any target, carry out any contract, no matter how impossible.
But when the Bloody Hand crime syndicate harms the innocents under his protection, they foolishly make an enemy of the one man they can’t afford to anger. The price of the Hunter’s vengeance is high—paid in blood and eternal damnation. Not even an army of crooks, cutthroats, and demonic creatures of nightmare can stand in his way.
He’s far more than just one man…he’s the Keeper-damned Hunter of Voramis. Read my Thoughts…
June 28, 2023
Author Interview – Bruce Spydar
Today, I am pleased to welcome author Bruce Spyder to talk to us about his latest book, Unboxing, The ART of Happiness which released on May 29th, 2023.
Helen: Welcome Bruce. I’m intrigued about your new book. A departure from your romcom books which I am more familiar with. Tell us a little about it.
Bruce: Re-shape your thinking, transform your life!
Simple, practical, and positive, Unboxing: The Art of Happiness combines life experience, logic, and basic psychology to show how we can feel happier and more resilient in everyday life.
At times, many of us have our struggles with health, money, work, relationships, self-acceptance, and so on. Becoming happier is not about ignoring our problems and limitations, nor about pursuing the fantasy world of our dreams. It’s about making everyday choices that are right for us.
As youngsters, we discover instinctively how to solve simple puzzles. At school, we are taught to unpack questions to clarify our understanding, and to identify any constraints before working towards the solutions. Unboxing takes the same approach to issues we face in everyday life.
We discover clarity when we UNBOX our issues. We find direction when we ACCEPT what we cannot change, when we are REALISTIC with our expectations, and when we remain TRUE to ourselves. The path towards happiness is indeed an ART.
Unboxing is for anyone seeking to re-boot their positivity. It’s about ordinary life and everyday issues. The ART of Happiness is the tool of a positive mind, and Unboxing reveals how to use it.
Helen: What a great concept and so practical to use. I love the cover. It is very clean and simple, and yet I am sure there is more behind the imagery. What were your thoughts behind it?
Bruce: I designed the cover to be strikingly different, aiming to portray a simplicity in thinking while aligning with the title and content of the book.
There are three primary components:
1) the gift boxes, which underpin the UNBOXING idea and title;
2) the child’s face filled with joy, wonder, excitement … at such a young age, our minds are free from the troubles of the world;
3) the butterflies, which are the subject of several inspiring quotations on happiness, and which also convey the inspiration and freedom I find in nature.
The choice of light blue was primarily because it’s a calming and natural colour. However, during the time spent writing and designing, the war in Ukraine was also frequently in my mind … so blue and yellow became my colour choices, and I think it works well.
Helen: It is so interesting to hear about the ideas behind the cover, there is always a lot more thought put in than you realise. How about the title, why did you use that title?
Bruce: I’ll illustrate why by giving a couple of quotes from the book.
“Before opening a box, all it contains is our imagination. It’s only when we remove the lid that we see the reality”
UNBOXING is about revealing and understanding our situation, while the ART of Happiness are the steps we take towards greater contentment … being ACCEPTING where we must, being REALISTIC about our expectations, and being TRUE to ourselves.
“Throughout life we face a constant battle to control what we can’t accept, while having to accept what we can’t control. We become happier when we find the right equilibrium.”
I had also toyed with BOXING HAPPY as a title, representing the control versus acceptance battles we face in daily life, but felt UNBOXING was a better fit overall. However, readers will also find the boxing analogies at certain places in the book.
Helen: This book is quite different to your other romcom books. What made you write this particular book?
Bruce: My mother died late in 2021, and I wanted to dedicate a book to her memory. The book I was writing back then (Refining My Dining) was a naughty romcom, and not of the type that would have met her approval.
One of the first books I wrote was a self-help model, Spydar’s Web: How to capture happiness, released in 2019. Since then, my thinking has evolved during my four more years of life experience, including witnessing my mother’s decline. The methodology behind Unboxing: The ART of Happiness has helped me through some tough times, and I believe a similar approach to life may be beneficial to others.
Helen: I can understand why you wrote a book in the self-help genre. What genres do you typically write in?
Bruce: I write from personal experience, with a desire to help and/or inspire others. I started in the self-help arena when I was at low point in my life after losing my job. I found the thinking and creative process rather cathartic. Once I discovered that other people appeared to think I could write, I began writing a naughty rom-com series (Diary of a Shy Backpacker) because it’s the type of humour that I enjoy reading. I figure that if I can write material that helps promote happiness and laughter, I’m probably using my time well.
Helen: I also write what I enjoy to read. Where did your inspiration to write come from?
Bruce: I could either say I was ‘self-inspired’ or that I simply fell into it. After decades working in international nature conservation, I lost my job, and needed a fresh start. In the lead up to turning 50, I felt the urge to try something completely different, so I began writing … and a few books later, I’m still going.
Helen: Congratulations on publishing your books. I always say it is never to late to start write as there is a time and a place for everything. Like yourself, I started wtiting later in life, and I love it! What is the best thing that has happened to you since you began writing?
Bruce: I’d have to say finding the indie author community on Instagram. I started writing as an anonymous pen-name, without any network and with precious few expectations. Finding so many mutually supportive authors amongst the Instagram community has been great, and it’s been wonderful to discover some great writing talent out there.
Also, I must admit, although I’m not yet a bona fide best-selling author, on the occasions I have seen my books high up the Amazon category charts, they have been moments of great satisfaction … perhaps that comes a close second.
Helen: It is a wonderful feeling to see your books being appreciated. And I agree the Indie author community on Instagram is amazingly supportive. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Bruce: While I may be too unconventional to give sensible writing advice, I do have decades of varied life experience. If you feel like writing, just write … but do it because you want to, and write primarily for yourself. The chances are that if you like it, others will too.
Helen: Great advice. It’s been lovely chatting with you today. Thank you so much for joining me. One last question. Most authors suffer from self-doubt. How do you overcome the fear and the little voice of self doubt in your head so you can keep writing?
Bruce: I’ve experienced self-doubt throughout my life, and in many more contexts than writing. In fact, self-doubt is a significant aspect of what I’ve come to write about: it can detract from our personal happiness and is something that so many of us have to overcome, or adapt to. Also, the main character in my Shy Backpacker rom-com series has many such issues (BJ’s character stems from my own). Self-doubt can arise for different reasons and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. However, in many cases, the route through it may be found in taking small steps, and simply pushing yourself to take the next one.
About the Author
Bruce SpydarBruce Spydar used to wear a suit, work in an office, and get paid to lead teams of staff working for international nature conservation. Today he possesses no suit that fits, has no office nor staff, and he doesn’t get paid … although he still volunteers in support of nature.
For the last few years, Bruce has thrown himself into writing. Perhaps it’s a last-ditch attempt to harness his creativity, before his brain turns to mush. On many an afternoon he can be spotted gazing out of an upstairs window of his house near Cambridge, searching for inspiration.
Bruce describes himself as writing with a kind heart and a naughty mind. Personal experience has taught him that everyday life is rather full of struggles, and that happiness and laughter are too often in short supply. It’s why he now chooses to focus his creativity towards sharing his humour and positivity.
You can purchase Unboxing. The ART of Happiness here:
Link to book on Amazon UK: eBook | Paperback
Linkt ot 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.
Subscribe to my Newsletter
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June 25, 2023
Author Interview – Angela Cairns
Today, I am pleased to welcome contemporary romance author Angela Cairns to talk to us about A Song for Kitty, her latest novel which will release in August 2023.
Helen: Welcome Angela. I love your Ellie Rose series so I can’t wait to chat to you about your next release, A Song for Kitty. Could you tell us a little about it?
Angela: I’m incredibly excited about my next book A Song for Kitty. It’s a historical fiction set in the years before the First World War – against the backdrop of a tumultuous time where suffragettes fought for the vote, trade unions challenged employers for better pay and conditions and political unrest and war stalked the carefree Edwardian lifestyle.
Lily Matthews, an apprentice seamstress and her neighbour Aiden Donnelly, a talented pianist, are in love. They dream of careers in the Music Hall in London. At a suffragette meeting they encounter London Music Hall star Kitty Marion. Will the charismatic Kitty help them to achieve their dreams or destroy their relationship and put their well-being at risk?
Helen: This sounds so good. I look forward to reading it. Now I know you don’t have your cover yet, but what can you tell us about it?
Angela: I’ve been doing a lot of cover research as historical fiction is a new genre for me. I like the idea of a young woman in Edwardian dress, backed by a music hall scene or London skyline theme – but I will have to wait and see what my cover designer comes up with. I am also delighted with the interior art around the chapter headings.
Helen: I love lilies. This is such a pretty chapter heading and I love the way it resonates with the name of your protagonist. How about the book title, how did you come up with that?
Angela: I wrote the drafts of a Song for Kitty under the title Moonlight on the Water, and only changed the title after a dark night of the soul the evening before I sent my brief to the cover designer. Moonlight on water was a motif that ran through the book and set an ambience, however, a pivotal point in the story is when Aiden writes a song in honour of Kitty Marion, which Lily sings at a suffragette meeting. I ran both titles past my writing group as a mini poll and they unanimously voted for A Song for Kitty which confirmed the change for me.
Helen: I love asking my readers for help. I am a terrible ditherer when it comes to making decisions on covers and titles! So they are a good sanity check. You said historical fiction was a new genre for you. Who inspired you to write this book?
Angela: I wrote A Song for Kitty because my grandmother was born in 1896, she was 106 when she died and so I talked to her a lot about her life growing up. I also have some amazing archives in the form of her photos and some of her beautiful needlework too. This book is not her personal story at all, but the stories she told me, along with my research, gave me the setting and the voice of some of the characters. She was an amazing lady and I wanted to write something in her memory.
Helen: That is so lovely, and it is so wonderful that you were able to talk to your grandmother about her life and experiences. The best kind of research. If I was to ask your main character, Lily, why someone should read your book, what would she say?
Angela: If Lily Matthews could tell you why you should read A Song for Kitty she would say “We made mistakes, Aiden and I, but we were young and had brave, restless hearts. We wanted to be part of the changes that were going on around us and most of all we wanted to be together. But life isn’t always simple, we say things we don’t mean with powerful consequences. This is my story, but more than that it’s the story of how women found their voice.”
Helen: If that doesn’t make you want to read A Song for Kitty, I don’t know what will! Readers- Make sure you sign up to Angela’s newsletter here to find out first when A Song for Kitty releases. As a writer, we all experience self doubt at some point. How do you overcome the imposter syndrome?
Angela: When I’m experiencing doubts about my writing, I hold a lovely quote in my head, “You don’t have to be a Guru to contribute.” I may not be a literary prize winner or a punctuation guru, but someone out there needs to read what I write, so I write anyway.
I also go back to my yoga breathing to centre myself and accept that all is well. It’s alright to be a little scared, scary means we are pushing the boundaries to be our best self.
I’m a writing coach as well as an author so I use lots of techniques to help with imposter syndrome – it’s always good to remember that no-one else has your unique voice and experience to contribute. Your readers might like to download my free eBook – Overcome Your Writing Roadblocks, which is packed with information to make the writing process easier. https://launchmoxie.com/cairns-writing-roadblocks/
Helen: Thank you so much for sharing this writer resource, I think all writers will appreciate the advice. How about Writer’s block? How do you deal with that?
Angela: The dreaded writer’s block! If I’m struggling to get words on the page, then I change up my routine. I write somewhere different like the library or local coffee shop. I change from my laptop to pen and paper, or I dictate. Sometimes I change medium, and dance or paint instead of writing to stimulate creativity in a different way. Failing that, I give myself a break, take some time off and go out to engage my senses looking, listening, touching, and smelling in a detailed, mindful way to get the creative juices flowing.
Helen: Great advice! Most writers are great readers. What is your favourite book?
Angela: My favourite book – well I suppose there are a number, but if I must choose one – I love Joanne Harris’ Chocolat series. I lived in France for six years and she effortlessly takes me back there. I love the sprinkle of magic in all her books too and that the main character Vianne Rocher lives from her generous heart.
Helen: Great choice! It’s been lovely having you on my blog, Angela. Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me. Just to finish could share some of your recent reads with us?
Angela: As a writer, I love to read and have read some excellent indie books recently. In women’s fiction, I thoroughly enjoyed Julia Blake’s Perennials trilogy and laughed and cried along with the characters. The books tell the story of how a lonely ugly duckling girl created her style, gathered a found family and weathered all the storms that life can throw. I also love a good crime thriller and enjoyed Wendy H. Jones’ The Killer’s Countdown, set in Dundee, if you love Rebus you’ll enjoy DI Shona McKenzie too. I loved your SoulBreather and DragonBound too, the themes of corruption and political powerbroking in heaven are intriguing and who doesn’t love a wounded hero.
Happy reading, thank you for asking me to talk to your readers, Helen, It’s always fun to chat about books. If your readers would like to sign up to my newsletter then they can download Paradise, prequel novella to the Ellie Rose Series as a gift from me. www.angelacairnsauthor.co.uk/sign-up. A Song for Kitty is due for release in August this year.
About the Author
Angela CairnsHi,
I’m Angela Cairns, Amazon bestselling women’s fiction author of the Ellie Rose Series and historical fiction, A Song for Kitty. I’m a holistic physiotherapist and acupuncturist, author, writing coach and BBC guest broadcaster.
I write stories and books because I can’t help myself. I’m lucky, because at this stage in my Physio career, I can give time to writing fiction.
I write about things that matter to me, everyday life, amazing people, interesting times, and emotions. What could be more exciting and challenging than to convey all that to someone reading a story you’ve created. Recently someone wrote to me to say they had re-read Touch, my first novel, because it moved them, and warmed their heart. It’s humbling, priceless and makes all the hard work worthwhile.
If life is a boat in which we sail – then our stories are the waves which carry us.
Angela
If you’d like to find out more about Angela’s Ellie Rose series then see the interview we did back in February 2022.
You can purchase Touch first book in the Ellie Rose series here:
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.
Subscribe to my Newsletter
By clicking submit, 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.
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