Helen Garraway's Blog, page 6
January 27, 2025
Cover Reveal: Sentinals Origins | Part One
Very excited to reveal the cover for Sentinals Origins | Part One.
Sentinals Origins is the first part of the prequel to the award winning epic fantasy Sentinals series. We go back three thousand years and meet Lady Leyandrii and her captain, Guerlaire, and find out how Birlerion, Serillion and Tagerill first met.
If you love finding out the history and back story of a series, then it’s time to preorder Sentinals Origins | Part One.
Release Date: May 5th, 2025.
Click HERE to Preorder Your Copy Today!
Wild magic is rife in the world of Remargaren and a shadowy group of dissidents have discovered how to exploit the power for their own purposes.
The goddess, Leyandrii, and her Captain, Guerlaire, must face down this new threat and protect the people from unseen dangers. As Guerlaire learns to wield his own power, three new cadets with the potential to change the world are beginning their journey to become Lady’s Rangers.
Drawn from the back streets of Vespers, a young boy is thrust into a world beyond his comprehension. Battling bigotry and violence, Birler will need to navigate the Rangers’ Academy while grappling with unexpected ties of friendship, a tantalising found family, and embrace ancient magical powers.
A heartwarming tale of friendship and family is set against a backdrop of bigotry and violence in a world where wild magic can precariously tip the balance. Birler and his new friends will have to fight their own battles, not only to earn the right to become rangers, but to help Leyandrii and Guerlaire restore the natural balance and defend their world.
If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and also Sentinals Discovery, the first few chapters of Sentinals Awaken from Birlerion’s POV 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)
January 24, 2025
Sentinals Banished receives The Book Revue Five Star review!
Have you read Sentinals Banished yet? The fifth book in the award winning Sentinal Series.
The Book Revue has given it a Five Star review.
Click HERE to Purchase Your Copy Today!
Editorial Book Review:
By Marcos Buttler
Right away in the opening chapter, the complex universe in which this story takes place caught me. The route of the protagonist is anything but straightforward in a society where political intrigue, power struggles, and difficult moral conundrums control. Most in this book was the author’s skill to mix the protagonist’s inner struggle with the exterior tension of the surrounds. The story seemed rich and profoundly absorbing because of the balance between intimate ties and the more broad conflict.
The author doesn’t shy away from exploring difficult themes. The notion of loyalty versus duty is a recurring thread, and it’s handled with such nuance that I found myself constantly questioning what I would do in the protagonist’s shoes. The stakes are great for the protagonist as well as for the planet they live on. The author does a great job of showing the personal cost the larger political and military decisions cause for people engaged. Sometimes I found myself really engaged in the result of their actions since the weight of every decision had actual emotional impact.
The dreary alleyways and dark corners of Old Vespers are brought to life to the point where they feel like they belong in the plot. The city is shrouded in mystery and danger, and the suspense just grew as I read. The descriptions of the surroundings and the mood around it are so realistic that they have left an indelible effect on me.
I was also impressed by how the author intertwined the personal growth of the protagonist with the growing external threats. With each chapter exposing a fresh layer of depth to the individuals and the planet they live in, it seemed like a delicate ballet between the internal and external fights. The timing was perfect; enough action had me on the tip of my seat and allowed time to develop relationships and character.
Overall, this book kept me interested from beginning to end. It’s a highly moving and thought-provoking narrative set in a dangerous and mysterious environment. If you appreciate books with complex character development and a high-stakes plot, this is the one for you.
If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and also Sentinals Discovery, the first few chapters of Sentinals Awaken from Birlerion’s POV 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
January 13, 2025
Author Interview – Patrick Weill
Author of the Park and Walker Action Thriller series.
I am very pleased to welcome Patrick Weill to my blog to talk about his book Double Threat.
Helen: Welcome Patrick. I’m excited to talk to you about Double Threat
Patrick: My latest book is entitled Double Threat. It is the third book in what will either be a completed trilogy or an expanded action thriller series. Set in sunny San Diego, California, and also on the Pacific Ocean, this novel features police detectives Tony Park and Jeff Walker, who split up for the first time as they star in alternating chapters until their stories intertwine in a twist that readers won’t see coming.
Park drives up to Los Angeles, where he joins forces with the FBI, working undercover on a cruise ship in pursuit of an unidentified serial killer. Walker becomes a member of MARTAC, the Harbor Police’s SWAT team, and in this capacity tackles a case of his own involving political assassination, white supremacy, and narcotics trafficking, facing powerful enemies both old and new.
Helen: Sounds like quite the adventure. How did you choose the cover design?
Patrick: The cover is from a scene that takes place late in the book, when a bomb surgically placed inside a bad guy’s abdominal cavity explodes aboard a crooked politician’s superyacht. But the image is also intended to evoke a general sense of danger aboard a massive ship on the ocean because much of the action is set on a cruise ship, giving new meaning to the term ‘rough seas’!
Helen: It is a powerful image. Why did you call your book Double Threat? Is there a special meaning or back story about the title?
Patrick: Yes, there IS a special meaning to Double Threat. Who will be the real double threat? Detectives Park and Walker, who are up against long odds as usual? Or the twin forces of evil they are facing, which turn out to be connected. ‘Double’ also refers to the book being two stories in one.
Helen: I love the insights behind your title. Who inspired you to start writing?
Patrick: Lee Child and my grandmother. Child because he found himself out of work/in need of money and, having been a reader all his life, picked up a pencil and a legal pad and set to work. Just like me. My grandmother because when I was twelve years old, she encouraged me to write a book review in a local newspaper and helped me publish it.
Helen: With the third book of your series complete, what are you working on next?
Patrick: I am currently writing a different kind of novel, a legal thriller featuring both male and female protagonists. It’s a major challenge, but I am doing heaps of research, and, with three action thrillers under my belt, I feel ready for it.
Helen: It’s always exciting to venture into a different area for your next book. Wishing you plenty of writing inspiration. Let’s talk a little about your writing process. When writing, do you listen to music or do you prefer silence?
Patrick: I used to, but now I find that I focus better with earplugs instead. I am able to devote all of my attention to writing instead of splitting it between cognitive tasks.
Helen: Are you a pantser or a planner? Do you write free form, or do you have a framework you stick to?
Patrick: Both. Writing is an art as well as a science; a hospital can’t be built without a blueprint, yet inspiration only comes through the imagination, which must be allowed to freely flow.
Helen: That is so true! Earlier you mentioned you’ve been doing research for your new book. How much research do you do for each book?
Patrick: Plenty. For example, in the case of the legal thriller, I will have read at least seven books, two of which were non-fiction and quite dry (but informative). And I’ll have spent hours and hours reading on the internet. Possibly contacting legal and/or law enforcement professionals, etc.
Helen: Thank you for joining me today. Just to finish, what is the most useful piece of writing advice you’ve received, and by whom?
Patrick: ‘Truckers don’t get trucker’s block, nor nurses nurse’s block.’
-Lee Child
About the Author
Patrick WeillPatrick Weill is an award-winning translator and author who resides in central Mexico with his family along with four dogs and an aquarium full of fish. You can visit his website to download a FREE Park and Walker short story!
Author WebsiteFacebookLinkedInGoodreadsBookBubInstagramFree prequel short story: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/9apf2tbqi1Free legal thriller prequel: https://patrickweill.com/wp-content/uploads/Relentless.pdfPurchase Patrick’s book, Double Threat
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 epic fantasy then check out my award winning Sentinal series, which is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love my SoulMist series, start with SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fantasy? Then try Harmony. 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.
January 10, 2025
Book Review Alert: Soul Cage by L.R. Schulz
Reviewed: January 10th, 2025
Released: May 25th, 2013
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Murder Breeds Magic
All power comes with a price. In a world where magic is transferred by the act of killing another, Myddrin stands above the rest. Having accidentally killed the most powerful mage in all of existence, Myddrin now lives a peaceful life in isolation. But there is no such thing as peace in the land of Otor. War calls. The voices of the dead haunt him, and there is nowhere to hide.
Cursed with the deathly taint of magic, young Will must seek acceptance among the Knights of Aen. There, he must learn to touch the otherside, control his abilities, and decide for himself what is right, and what is wrong.
Tvora’s soul is broken. The price of vengeance was her sanity. Her companions help her keep a tenuous grasp on herself, but with the urgent need to absorb enough magic to sustain them, she is pushed to choose a side in the upcoming war. The question remains, will she choose the right one? Read My Thoughts…
January 7, 2025
Thank you for all your support in 2024!
Another year has passed, and it’s that time of year when you look back at what you achieved last year and plan for the next. It is still quite amazing that I have been published for four years and have 12 books published and three short stories released to Patreon/Newsletter subscribers.
I hope you downloaded the bonus free novella set in the world of the SoulMist series which I wrote as thankyou to all my newsletter subscribers. Your support makes writing so fulfilling, and your enthusiam for my characters makes me want to write more! My newsletter subscribers voted for a short story on how Felather and Adriz met.
Anyhow, back to what I achieved in 2024, and what’s in store for 2025?
I published two books, one novella and two audiobooks.
1st April: Harmony 15th April: Sentinals Across Time on Audio30th May: DragonBound on Audio1st July: OblivionGate 23rd December: Oathsworn, Novella 0.5 SoulMist series (Free for Newsletter subscribers)I launched my Online shop – making it easier to buy ebook and audio direct from me!
My books won Awards!!
Sentinals Justice2024 BookFest Awards: Gold Medal for Epic FantasySentinals Across Time: Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal for Epic FantasyGlobal Book Awards Spring 2024: Finalist/GOLD Epic FantasyHarmony: Global Book Awards Spring 2024: Finalist/SILVER for Dystopian Science FictionSentinals BanishedGlobal Book Awards Winter 2024 Finalist/GOLD medal for Epic FantasySemi-Finalist for the 2024 CIBA OZMA Book Awards for Fantasy FictionSoulBreather2024 BookFest Awards: Gold MedalDragonBoundGlobal Book Awards Winter 2024 Finalist/BronzeIt has been a busy year, a highlight of which was seeing my BookFest Gold Medalists, Sentinals Justice and SoulBreather up in lights on the Nasdaq board in Times Square in New York. A real bucket list moment!
So what’s in store for 2025? Well I have plans for more books!
Sentinals Origins-Part I. Release date May 5th, 2025Sentinals Origins-Part II. Release date TBCBook One: Celestial Throne series. Release date TBC 2H25Kickstarter: My contribution: Secret Alliance Reign of Dragons Anthology. Kickstarter go live: March 2025Other goals:
Revitalise my Patreon and gain some supportersMore formal Marketing planAudio for OblivionGateCreate a Sentinals Wiki site (stretch goal!!)So plenty to keep me busy outside of the day job!
2024 was a busy year, lots of writing, though I was distracted by work as it was quite a tumultous year as the company I work for was acquired and so we’ve had lots of changes, but a year full of opportunity all the same. I am very excited for 2025 and the new opportunities it will bring. I look forward to sharing the results with you throughout the year. Once again – Thank you for all your support, I hope you stay with me as we continue this amazing journey.
If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and also Sentinals Discovery, the first few chapters of Sentinals Awaken from Birlerion’s POV 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
January 6, 2025
DragonBound wins Bronze in the Global Book Awards
I am so thrilled to announce that DragonBound, the second book in the Fantasy Romance SoulMist Series won the bronze medal in the 2024 Global Book Awards in the Fantasy Romance /PNR Fantasy category.
The 2024 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.
DragonBound is the second enthralling book in the Fantasy Romance SoulMist series full of vibrant characters, political intrigue and betrayal.
How could so much go awry in so short a time? Crossing the divide between gloomy Eidolon and sunny Puronia was the least of their problems.
Solanji
Her brother is still soulless and lost in Eidolon. Having exchanged tantalising promises of love with the mesmerising fallen angel, Demavrian, she led him straight into a trap, and he is running out of time to prove his innocence. She has no idea how to use her SoulBreathing skills or to control the dragon that comes with it, and to top it all, the Heavenly Host kicked in her door. They had better repair it!
Demavrian
Ageing isn’t fun. If he didn’t reconnect to the citadel fast, he may even die of it, if the queue of angels wanting him dead didn’t get to him first. Unexpected enemies and surprising allies surface as he navigates the dark web of corrupted politics in the angel’s assembly. Let’s hope his newly independent oathsworn can keep him alive long enough to unravel his memories of what really happened the day he was cast out – and his beautiful SoulBreather, Solanji, may be the key.
Solanji and Mav may be immortal, but they are running out of time to discover who is behind all the scheming and how to redeem the soulless. When the timepiece makes it last turn, they will not be the only ones to suffer if they fail.
If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. 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.
Sentinals Banished wins GOLD in the Global Book Awards
I am so thrilled to announce that Sentinals Banished, the fifth book in the epic fantasy Sentinal Series won the gold medal in the 2024 Global Book Awards in the Epic Fantasy category.
The 2024 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.
Sentinal Birlerion has watched from the shadows for so long he doesn’t know how to stop. Always there when the Lady’s Captain needed him. He did what was necessary to keep those he loved from harm.
When the king banishes the Lady’s Captain, Jerrol Haven, from Vespiri and disbands the Sentinal guard, the Sentinals are at a loss, some bitter, some eager to retire, all angry at the king’s decision.
Birlerion moves to Old Vespers to watch over Jerrol’s daughter as she begins her journey to become a King’s Ranger.
Old Vespers is in turmoil, the king unpredictable, and the Sentinals are unwelcome. Unexplained deaths are occurring, and bodies begin to appear in the city streets. As Birlerion continues his search for the place he can call home, he has to step out of the shadows as he is drawn into a tangled web of deceit and lies. He must hunt down those responsible and clear the Sentinals name before anyone else goes missing.
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.
December 18, 2024
Author Interview – Matthew Hillsdon
Author of the fantasy novel, Alidor The Expedition of Multiple Distractions.
I am very pleased to welcome Matthew Hilsdon to my blog this week, and we’re chatting about his latest novel, Alidor The Expedition of Multiple Distractions, which released on December 17th, 2024.
Helen: Welcome Matt. I’m excited to talk to you about your newest release. Tell us all about your latest book.
Matthew: My current book will be released on the 17th Dec and is called Alidor The Expedition of Multiple Distractions. The involves a character from the last series in the events after the end of the Unlikely Allies trilogy. It follows Professor Leonardo Wileby as he sets out to complete a compendium of Alidor and is written in a first person account in the guise of his personal journal. As the title suggests the expedition he aims to set out on is thwarted with near constant distractions or diversions from runaway mages, irate Kings and beavers with a nasty case of the sniffles.
Helen: Sounds like quite the adventure. How did you choose the cover design?
Matthew: As for all of the covers of my main novels in the Alidor Series I like to choose a scene from the book. This scene depicts all of the main characters within the book as they are on their expedition. I like to put a lot of thought into the cover as I like the reader to have a good visual and put an image of the world into the reader’s mind along with the added thrill of trying to find the scene as you read through.
Helen: What a great idea. Who is your protagonist and why did you write them?
Matthew: Professor Leonardo Wileby. He came into the Alidor series in the Unlikely Allies and became more prominent as the books went on. I felt he would be the perfect character to use to round off the series. His life up until now has hardly been a quiet or relaxing one. Whether that was down to rangers setting traps that left his home in ruins, severely injured wolves needing a new mechanical leg, or being kidnapped by the greatest villain of the age as he was forced to construct war machines with incredible destructive capabilities for the very enemy they were fighting against. He has scarcely had a moment free before war’s end.
Helen: If your Main Character could answer, why would they say we should read your book?
Matthew: If he could answer he’d tell you to read it as it’s the most important scientific journal ever to be created and you should listen to him as he is the smartest elf ever to have lived.
Helen: What made you write this book?
Matthew: I hadn’t planned on writing this one but I really enjoyed the Professor Leonardo Wileby character I’d created. He’s quite eccentric and I felt that he deserved his own title and I’m sure he’d say the same. He was kind of a side character in the Unlikely Allies but accidentally became more prominent as the story went on.
Helen: Who is your favourite character in your Alidor series?
Matthew: That’s a hard choice as I have so many characters I am fond of but I’d probably choose Billy the Fang Lord because he’s everyone’s best friend, providing you’re not a parrot as you’ll find out in Alidor The Unlikely Allies.
Helen: Now you’ve written the professor’s book, what are you working on next?
Matthew: Following on The Expedition of Multiple Distractions which will act as an epilogue to the Unlikely Allies series I’ll be working on a couple of stand alone titles that will still relate to the world of Alidor, only from a few different perspectives. Such as a currently unnamed novel about Audrey Fennel who is a pensioner from Bloomly on Thames who somehow ends up waist deep in a teeming Alidorian forest. I’m also working with the incredible artist Norm Chung to create our first graphic novel The Forbidden Friend. It takes us back to the first days of the human race and explores their bond with the wolves. Part 1 is nearly complete and the artwork really brings this quite moving story to life.
Helen: With all the books you have written and released, when did you realise you had a passion for writing.
Matthew: I’ve always a passion for creating stories but it wasn’t until my wife, Emma came along and I began to start writing stuff down that I created Alidor. Without her I don’t think I’d be where I am now.
Helen: How do you find the time to fit writing into your daily schedule?
Matthew: I wouldn’t say I try to fit it in more like it takes over.
Helen: I know the feeling. Writing does tend to consume you. Do you plan your books, or are you more of a pantser?
Matthew: My books are loosely planned out given there’s a few mysteries and secrets that run throughout the novels but other than that I largely write free form. I just like to throw down whatever comes to me and then go from there.
Helen: How about your writing environment? Silence or do you have a favourite playlist to inspire you?
Matthew: Yes it’s normally heavy metal rock because it helps zone everything else out.
Helen: Do you suffer from writer’s block, and if so, what do you do to overcome it?
Matthew: I tend to take a break and will end up sitting on a video game for far too long. Having animals to bounce ideas off also helps.
Helen: If you didn’t write in Fantasy then which genre would you like to try and write in next?
Matthew: I’d write in crime/ mystery I like the idea of doing a crime novel with another author where one writes from the perspective of a detective and one a killer he’s trying to catch.
Helen: Oh, that sounds like fun! Author collaborations produce some amazing stories. Most authors are great readers, what is your favourite book?
Matthew: I know it’s cliche but I am a massive fan of Lord of the Rings. I’ve recently gotten into more Sci Fi thanks to Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and Three Body Problem. A lot of the books I read come from indie book fairs where I’ve found some fantastic authors too.
Helen: I second supporting Indie authors. There are so many great stories out there. Thank you so much for joining me today, and good luck with your launch. Just to finish, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Matthew: As well as a range of novels and short stories I’m also in the process of releasing all of our audiobooks and currently have Forgotten Hero and Stolen Tales for Cunning Thieves Part 1. I am also starting to organise Marlow Indie Book Fair 2025 which will be back bigger and better than ever!
About the Author
Matthew HillsdonMatthew Hillsdon is know for his fantasy series set in the world of Alidor. A fantastical world filled with unique tales and characters. His first novel Alidor: The Unlikely Allies, introduces readers to this expansive realm. His storytelling often weaves themes of adventures, mystical creatures and epic quests.
Instagram: @alidorbooks
Facebook: Alidor Books
Website: alidorbooks.co.uk
Purchase Matthew’s book, Alidor
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 epic fantasy then check out my award winning Sentinal series, which is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love my SoulMist series, start with SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fantasy? Then try Harmony. 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.
December 14, 2024
Book Review Alert: The Crown Tower by Michael J. Sullivan
Reviewed: December 14th, 2024
Released: August 16th, 2013
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Two men who hate each other. One impossible mission. A legend in the making.
Hadrian Blackwater, a warrior with nothing to fight for is paired with Royce Melborn, a thieving assassin with nothing to lose. Together they must steal a treasure that no one can reach. The Crown Tower is the impregnable remains of the grandest fortress ever built and home to the realm’s most prized possessions. But it isn’t gold or jewels that the old wizard is after, and if he can keep them from killing each other they become a legendary team.
This is the first book in the new series, The Riyria Chronicles, from best-selling author Michael J. Sullivan. It takes place twelve years before the events of The Riyria Revelations and no prior knowledge of those books is required. You can read in either chronological order or order of publication, although the author suggests reading in publication order. Read more…
December 3, 2024
Author Interview – Jeff Kerr
Author of the murder mystery novel, Murder creek
I am very pleased to welcome Jeff Kerr to my blog this week, and we’re chatting about his crime fiction novel, Murder Creek, the third book in his Adam Cash series.
Helen: Welcome Jeff. Welcome to my blog. It’s not often we get crime fiction authors on my blog, so I’m excited to chat about your books. Tell us about the latest book you’ve released.
Jeff: My latest book Murder Creek, is book 3 in the Adam Cash mystery series. The plot concerns a modern Texas sheriff’s deputy, Adam Cash, investigating the theft of a secret stash of cash from a local ranch. The investigation takes a dark turn when Cash finds the body of one of the thieves in the woods. As he uncovers clues, other bodies turn up, and Cash knows he is on the trail of a ruthless killer. An attempt on his life makes it clear that his survival depends on solving the crimes.
Helen: I am very happy to say that I’ve read Murder Creek, and you can find my review here. I thoroughly enjoyed your novel and the twists and turns you take the reader through. As with any book, the cover needs to reflect the genre. How did you choose this design?
Jeff: The cover is intended to convey both genre and place. My designer, Cheynne Edmonston, worked hard to create an image that instantly lets readers know the plot involves danger in the Texas Hill Country. I hired Cheynne beginning with book 2 in the series and asked him to look for inspiration to the covers of C.J. Box, Jeff Carson, and Craig Johnson. Down the road, I’ll ask him to design a new cover for book 1 as well.
Helen: It absolutely works. What made you choose to write crime fiction?
Jeff: I write crime fiction because it’s one of my favorite genres to read. Plots allow for character development, intrigue, and sharp twists. My goal is to keep the reader guessing while presenting enough clues for everything to make sense in the end. Twists must be satisfying and, of course, Cash must get the baddie.
I set the series in the Texas Hill Country because of my close ties to the region’s culture, geography, and people. Although I live in Austin, I spend much time at a weekend retreat near a small town, Blanco, that inspired Cash’s hometown of Pinyon.
Helen: Tell us about your protagonist, Adam Cash.
Jeff: Good crime fiction protagonists must be smart, brave, and persistent. They must also have a chink in their armor. Deputy Adam Cash confronts danger without flinching, yet shrivels in the face of emotional turmoil. That tendency drives Edie, the love of his life, crazy.
Helen: I think your portrayal of Adam works really well, and I sympathise with Edie, because he doesn’t have a clue, even though he knows he’s messing up. Where do you get your plot ideas from? It must be difficult coming up with new murder scenaries and enough twist and turns to throw the reader of the scent.
Jeff: Everyone wants to know where authors get their ideas! In my case, there is no easy answer. Usually, I find myself asking, what if? For Blunt Force Trauma, I asked myself what would happen if a man who wanted to be a deputy was framed for the sheriff’s murder. Second Death came from mulling over what would happen if an unusual item was found on an accident victim. For Murder Creek, I wondered what would happen if someone kept a large sum of cash in their home. And for the next book, Roadkill, yet to be written, I want to create a story about modern cattle rustling.
Helen: Do you find you need to plan your books to get the flow right? Or do you prefer to let the writing take you where it will.
Jeff: I’m a bit of both, which I believe is true for most authors. Before writing the first page, I create a rough outline of plot and characters. Once I start writing, I’m apt to deviate substantially from that. And once my editor has a say, look out!
Helen: Have you read any books recently that you would recommend to other readers?
Jeff: My wife and I recently listened to the audio versions of Adrian McKinty’s Sean Duffy series. In my view, these books are as close to perfection as a crime fiction author can get. I’d stack them up against anything else in the genre.
Helen: Thank you so much for joining me today. Just to close us out, what’s the best piece writing advice you’ve recieved?
Jeff: Jeff Carson, an author I admire, has been kind enough to offer advice and encouragement when I’ve bugged him with questions. He told me to remember I’m playing the long game. In other words, success comes only with time and hard work. I must be patient.
I also keep in mind a quote I’ve seen attributed to Jodi Picoult: “You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.”
Jeff KerrJeff Kerr wasn’t born in Texas but says “y’all” like a native. He wrote a poem in the third grade that earned him a school prize, a book about the American flag. You’d think that would have inspired him to become a writer but that came later.
Jeff wrote and published his first book twenty years ago. He hadn’t planned on doing so until one night at the supper table his son interrupted a discourse about local history by saying, “Enough, Dad! Write a book.” Choosing to interpret a teenager’s flip remark as sage advice, he did. Six books later, he calls himself an author. So there.
When Jeff isn’t writing you can find him floating a Texas river or battling cedar on his small slice of Hill Country land. When he is writing, he stays busy by creating pulse-pounding crime thrillers that, according to one reader, “move along like a runaway locomotive.” Thank you for spurring me to action, son.
Purchase Jeff’s book, Murder Creek
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 epic fantasy then check out my award winning Sentinal series, which is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love my SoulMist series, start with SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fantasy? Then try Harmony. 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.
