Helen Garraway's Blog, page 8
October 19, 2024
And the Winner is…
Congratulations to Kimberley for winning the Sentinals Birthday Book Bonanza Giveaway!
Kimberley wins a signed copy of the first and last book in the Sentinal series and lots of bookish swag! I will be in contact shortly to arrange for your bookish prize to be posted off to you.
Signed paperback of Sentinals AwakenSigned Paperback of Sentinals DestinySentinal TotebagStickerspostcardsBookmarks
Looking for a complete epic fantasy series, immersing you in a magical world filled with myth, legend and engaging charcters? Then the Sentinal series is for you.
Sentinals Awaken – Book One
When a long-forgotten threat starts to reemerge, one man stands as the last defense against darkness…
Jerrol Haven serves his king without question. When he finds evidence of corruption and is attacked, the loyal soldier’s mind spins after his touch of a sacred tree awakens the dormant spirit of a three-thousand-year-old protector. But he fears he has failed after the crown prince accuses him of treason and orders his execution…
Fleeing the city, Jerrol is stunned when the goddess appears to him, appoints him captain of her warriors, and charges him with a quest to find artifacts that can save the realm. And as he runs into danger and more betrayals, the steadfast hero discovers a rare gift that may be the world’s only hope…
Can Jerrol rally the forces of good to stop a rising evil?
Sentinals Awaken is the first book in the Sentinal epic fantasy series. If you love endearing characters, immersive world-building, and gritty conflict, then you’ll love Helen Garraway’s award-winning tale.
Sentinals Destiny – Book Six
THE EPIC CONCLUSION TO THE SENTINAL SERIES
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 King 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.
Want to know more and follow my journey? Then make sure you sign up to my newsletter below.
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.
October 11, 2024
Happy Birthday to Sentinals Awaken and Sentinals Destiny
My debut novel Sentinals Awaken was published four years ago today, and the final book in the series, Sentinals Destiny was published one year ago, both released on October 11th. It seemed right to close the series on the same day it started.
So Happy Fourth Birthday to Sentinals Awaken and Happy First birthday to Sentinals Destiny.
Join me as we celebrate these bookish milestones!
Enter the draw, no purchase necessary, but if you want to know more about my books, please do sign up to my newsletter, or follow me on social media. More places you follow me, more entries you get!
Enter Sentinals Birthday Bonanza drawEnter the draw for a chance to win a signed copy of the first and last book in the Sentinal series and lots of bookish swag!
Signed paperback of Sentinals AwakenSigned Paperback of Sentinals DestinySentinal TotebagStickerspostcardsBookmarks
Looking for a complete epic fantasy series, immersing you in a magical world filled with myth, legend and engaging charcters? Then the Sentinal series is for you.
Sentinals Awaken – Book One
When a long-forgotten threat starts to reemerge, one man stands as the last defense against darkness…
Jerrol Haven serves his king without question. When he finds evidence of corruption and is attacked, the loyal soldier’s mind spins after his touch of a sacred tree awakens the dormant spirit of a three-thousand-year-old protector. But he fears he has failed after the crown prince accuses him of treason and orders his execution…
Fleeing the city, Jerrol is stunned when the goddess appears to him, appoints him captain of her warriors, and charges him with a quest to find artifacts that can save the realm. And as he runs into danger and more betrayals, the steadfast hero discovers a rare gift that may be the world’s only hope…
Can Jerrol rally the forces of good to stop a rising evil?
Sentinals Awaken is the first book in the Sentinal epic fantasy series. If you love endearing characters, immersive world-building, and gritty conflict, then you’ll love Helen Garraway’s award-winning tale.
Sentinals Destiny – Book Six
THE EPIC CONCLUSION TO THE SENTINAL SERIES
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 King 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.
Want to know more and follow my journey? Then make sure you sign up to my newsletter below.
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.
October 10, 2024
Book Review Alert: Quicksilver by Callie Hart
Reviewed: October 10th, 2024
Released: September 10th, 2024
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Do not touch the sword. Do not turn the key. Do not open the gate.
In the land of the unforgiving desert, there isn’t much a girl wouldn’t do for a glass of water.
Twenty-four-year-old Saeris Fane is good at keeping secrets. No one knows about the strange powers she possesses, or the fact that she has been picking pockets and stealing from the Undying Queen’s reservoirs for as long as she can remember.
But a secret is like a knot. Sooner or later, it is bound to come undone.
When Saeris comes face-to-face with Death himself, she inadvertently re-opens a gateway between realms and is transported to a land of ice and snow. The Fae have always been the stuff of myth, of legend, of nightmares… but it turns out they’re real, and Saeris has landed herself in the middle of a centuries-long conflict that might just get her killed.
The first of her kind to tread the frozen mountains of Yvelia in over a thousand years, Saeris mistakenly binds herself to Kingfisher, a handsome Fae warrior, who has secrets and nefarious agendas of his own. He will use her Alchemist’s magic to protect his people, no matter what it costs him . . . or her.
Death has a name. It is Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate. His past is murky. His attitude stinks. And he’s the only way Saeris is going to make it home. Read My Thoughts…
October 2, 2024
Author Interview – Samuel Lawson
Helen: Welcome Samuel. I am very excited to learn more about your series. Tell us a little about your latest book.
Samuel: High school is a battleground, but for Tommy, it’s where his true destiny awaits. Born beneath a sky where fate is written in the stars, Tommy Archer is anything but ordinary. Bullied and overlooked, Tommy’s life takes a cosmic turn when new students arrive at school.
Suddenly thrust into a world of magic and mayhem, Tommy discovers his true purpose—to save the world from impending doom. With his newfound friends by his side, Tommy embarks on an electrifying adventure where courage is tested and alliances forged. Can they defy the odds and protect humanity from its darkest hour?
Helen: I am assuming your main characters are on the cover. What were your thoughts behind the cover design?
Samuel: I chose the cover because it visually encapsulates the essence of my characters and the challenges they face. It portrays their journey and the looming threat to Earth, which is central to the plot. The mysterious and adventurous feel of the design symbolizes the balance between their ordinary teenage lives and the extraordinary destiny that awaits them.
Helen: It definitley gives an adventurous vibe. How about the title? How did you come up with it?
Samuel: The title Earth Protectors came naturally because it perfectly reflects the core of the story: a group of teenagers tasked with the monumental responsibility of saving Earth. The title captures the gravity of their mission, and I felt it was the best fit for the story’s theme of protecting the planet from total annihilation.
Helen: What made you write this particular book?
Samuel: A part of me wanted to see myself in the story, so I created a character who reflects bits of my own life’s experiences. Writing Earth Protectors was a way to channel those reflections into an imaginative adventure, incorporating themes that resonate with me personally, like friendship, courage, and self-discovery.
Helen: They say we all write from experience. If your main character could answer this question, why would they say we should read your book?
Samuel: Tommy would probably say you should read the book because it’s not just about saving the world but about discovering the hero within yourself. Everyone has fears and insecurities, but it’s about facing them head-on. He’d tell you that this is a story of friendship, courage, and standing up for what’s right—even when the odds are stacked against you.
Helen: Love it! Which genre do you prefer to write?
Samuel: I write primarily in fantasy because it allows me to explore the boundaries of imagination without restrictions. Fantasy lets me create entire worlds, characters, and realities that wouldn’t exist otherwise, giving me the freedom to weave complex stories with magical elements and universal themes.
Helen: It is freeing when you don’t have to abide by known facts and you can make up your rules. Where do you get your ideas from?
Samuel: Ideas can come from anywhere—books, movies, conversations with friends, or even observing what’s happening in society. I get a lot of inspiration from movies because they provide a vivid backdrop of action, drama, and suspense that I try to replicate in my own storytelling.
Helen: Tough question next. Who is your favourite character?
Samuel: All my characters are my favorites, but if I had to choose one, it would be Tommy. He’s the heart of the story, and his journey from a shy high school nerd to a courageous Earth Protector is something I’m really proud of.
Helen: Writing is addictive. When did you realise you had a passion and you had to share your stories?
Samuel: My passion for writing began in high school when I was inspired by a writing competition I never entered but always wished I had. That unfulfilled desire to participate pushed me to create my own stories. Over time, that spark turned into a passion, leading me to write two books, starting with what I call “drawer plays”—unpublished works that were, in hindsight, pretty terrible! But the positive feedback from friends and adults helped encourage me to pursue writing seriously.
Helen: The more you write, the more you learn. Writing is a craft like any other skill. Which part of the writing process do you find most challenging?
Samuel: For me, the most challenging part is maintaining consistency in pacing and structure. Sometimes I find myself getting carried away with certain scenes, which can disrupt the balance of the story. It’s a continuous learning process, finding that sweet spot between action, character development, and plot progression.
Helen: Who inspired you to write?
Samuel: While I don’t read as much as I should, watching movies sparked my imagination and gave me ideas for my stories. Films provide that visual and cinematic atmosphere that I try to bring into my writing. In terms of specific influences, Hades from Percy Jackson and the Olympians and General Zod from Man of Steel were inspirations for creating my antagonist. J.K. Rowling and Rick Riordan, in particular, motivated me to keep writing and not give up.
Helen: Every writer experiences self-doubt. How do you overcome the fear and the little voice in your head to keep writing?
Samuel: I remind myself that self-doubt is part of the process and that no writer is perfect. Whenever the little voice in my head gets too loud, I take a break, watch a movie, or read something that inspires me. I also look back at what I’ve accomplished so far, which helps to push me forward.
When I hit writer’s block, I stop and take a break. Watching a movie often helps clear my mind, and before I know it, new ideas start flowing. Sometimes, stepping away from the project for a bit can make all the difference.Stop what I’m working on for a while to see a movie then get back to it after some ideas pops back to head.
Helen: Great advice. A change in environment often helps to break a certain chain of thought. Do you find you plan your books or are you more of a pantser?
Samuel: I’m more of a pantser. While I like having a general outline of where the story is going, I prefer to let the characters and plot develop organically. I enjoy the freedom that comes with writing in the moment and seeing where the story takes me.
Helen: If you didn’t write fantasy, then which genre would you like to try and write next?
Samuel: Thriller. In fact, I’m currently working on a thriller, and I’m excited about the direction it’s taking. I hope to release it soon!
Helen: Most writers also read a lot. What is your favourite book, and are there any other books you would you recommend?
Samuel: One of my all-time favorites is Percy Jackson and the Olympians. I love the blend of mythology with modern-day adventure. The characters are relatable, and the humor makes it a fun read, while still maintaining a sense of epicness. I would recommend The Hunger Games series for its fast-paced, gripping plot and the way it tackles societal issues through a dystopian lens. The Maze Runner is also a great read for fans of intense, action-driven stories.
Helen: Some great recomendations. What advice would you give new writers?
Samuel: Take a chill pill. You have everything it takes to write a novel. Mistakes will happen, but they’ll make you better over time. Don’t let fear or doubt hold you back, because you never know which book will resonate with readers. Keep writing, keep improving, and enjoy the journey.
Helen: Thank you so much for joining me today, Samuel. It has been great meeting you. Just to finish, what is the best thing that has happened since you started writing?
Samuel: The best thing has been connecting with readers who enjoy my genre. The positive feedback I’ve received, not just locally but from international readers as well, has been incredibly fulfilling. Knowing that my stories resonate with people around the world is a reward in itself.
About the Author
Samual LawsonMy name is Samuel Lawson. I am the author of two books out of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, and I am also a twin, so heads up, you might mistake my brother for me like most people do…. lol.
My writing blends emotion and adventure, aiming to inspire young adult readers to conquer their fears. In my books, you will find life lessons delivered with love and laughter are the hallmarks of my world. When not crafting stories or reading, you will find me playing the piano, listening to music, seeing a movie, or scrolling through my socials.
Follow Samuel:
Amazon Author PageFacebookInstagramTiktokLinkedInPurchase Samuel’s book, Earth Protectors:
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.
September 23, 2024
Book Review Alert: May Day by Josie Jaffrey
Reviewed: September 23rd, 2024
Released: July 9th, 2020
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
If the murderer you’re tracking is a vampire, then you want a vampire detective. Just maybe not this one. It’s not that Jack Valentine is bad at her job. The youngest member of Oxford’s Seekers has an impressive track record, but she also has an impressive grudge against the local baron, Killian Drake.
When a human turns up dead on May Morning, she’s determined to pin the murder on Drake. The problem is that none of the evidence points to him. Instead, it leads Jack into a web of conspiracy involving the most powerful people in the country, people to whom Jack has no access. But she knows someone who does.
To get to the truth, Jack will have to partner up with her worst enemy. As long as she can keep her cool, Drake will point her to the ringleaders, she’ll find the murderer and no one else will have to die.
Body bags on standby.
May Day is the first book in Josie Jaffrey’s Seekers series, an urban fantasy series set in Oxford, England. Read My Thoughts…
September 22, 2024
Book Review Alert: Shards of Hope by BL Jones
Reviewed: September 22nd, 2024
Released: January 19th, 2023
Genre: Superhero Fantasy
Hope can be a prism of scars from which light shines.
Twenty years ago, an infamous scientist created Liquid Onyx, a world-changing chemical which led to the rise of superheroes and supervillains.
Jack Roth is not a superhero. He’s an assassin, a killer, a lethal weapon forged and controlled by the evil organisation Obsidian Inc.
Leo Snow isn’t a superhero either. He’s a British secret agent who spends his life protecting the world and saving everyone he can.
When these two men’s lives collide on the streets of Danger City just as Obsidian Inc is gearing up for another cataclysmic scientific discovery, they’ll both need to reckon with their dark past, messy present and potentially hopeful future. Read My Thoughts…
September 15, 2024
Sentinals Across Time wins GOLD in the Readers’ Favorite 2024 Book Awards
I am so thrilled to announce that Sentinals Across Time, the fourth book in the epic fantasy Sentinal Series not only recieved a Five star Review but has also won the gold medal in the 2024 Readers’ Favorite book Awards in the Epic Fantasy category.
I am extremely proud to achieve this award; there are some amazing books in this category, and to recieve the Gold Medal is wonderful validation for my Sentinal series.
To see all award winners for 2024, see the winners here.
Grab your copy of Sentinals Across Time today!
Sentinals Across Time is the fourth book in the saga of Remargaren, a vibrant, ancient world of high fantasy suffused with magic and adventure.
Jerrol’s fragile balance between duty and family life took two years to refine and one brief moment to tear apart as the Lady Leyandrii and the Oath conspire in a desperate bid to protect the Birtolian Empire. As a result, Jerrol finds himself stranded in the middle of an ocean, lost across land and time and seas.
Unsure what is expected of him, Jerrol learns to appreciate the idyllic life of the Birtolians, the vibrant people and the beautiful coastline. To his growing horror, he realises the devastation which lies in their future.
Can Jerrol prevent the destruction of the gentle people he has grown to love? Is he meant to? Desperate to find a way home, he begins to leave clues in anything he thinks will survive the test of time. Taelia and the Sentinals are his only chance of ever returning to his own life but can they find him before the Lady sunders the Bloodstone and changes the Birtolian Empire forever?
The fourth installment of the Sentinal Series takes us to the beautiful Island Empire of Birtoli. Only once, it wasn’t an archipelago of islands, it was a land of majestic mountain ridges, mystical forests and exquisite sandy bays joined as one to the southern Vespiri borders.
If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series or my dystopian fantasy, Harmony.
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.
Book Review Alert: The Others by Evette Davis
Reviewed: September 15th, 2024
Released: September 17th, 2024
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
True Blood meets Supernatural in the kickoff of this urban paranormal fantasy series from an acclaimed author. Readers enter a dystopian San Francisco filled with empaths and vampires embroiled in political unrest—and Book 1 is just the beginning.
Much as she wishes otherwise, superstar political consultant Olivia Shepherd was born a powerful empath. It’s a legacy she walked away from long ago—but when she wakes up one morning to find Elsa, a tenacious time-walker, standing in her kitchen, she realizes she can no longer ignore her gifts. She is quickly plunged into the hidden world of powerful “Others” and drafted to work for the Council, a shadowy organization that summons the fog to San Francisco to obscure their involvement in human affairs.
Complicating matters further is Olivia’s new love interest, William. A centuries-old vampire, William is far too jaded to take an interest in human affairs—but Olivia no longer has the luxury of remaining impartial. As shocking details from Olivia’s own past emerge and her role in the Council begins to take shape, will she rise to the challenge of her destiny? Read My Thoughts…
September 10, 2024
Book Review Alert: The Haunted Hotel by Vawn Cassidy
Reviewed: September 10th, 2024
Released: August 24th, 2024
Genre: Contemporary Paranormal Fantasy
Have a frightfully good stay…Morgan Ashton-Drake hasn’t given his ancestral home in Yorkshire a second thought in decades. He has a great life in the States, running his stepfathers hotel empire with his brother. So what if he’s all work and no play. He’s not missing out on anything important.
But when a suspicious death and rather public scandal at his childhood home forces Morgan to return to England for the first time in years, he’s not keen to confront his past. What he didn’t count on was the seriously cute little blonde disaster who seems to be single-handedly running his eccentric grandfather’s hotel.
Ellis Sparks has worked at the Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel since he was sixteen and he loves it from the bottom of his soul. Always the eternal optimist, he’s never met a frown he can’t turn upside down; that is, until he meets Morgan Ashton-Drake, the grumpy grandson of his employer.
With the hotel in danger of closing, and convinced Morgan is the only one who can help to save it, the resident ghosts decide to try their ghostly hand at a little matchmaking as an incentive to get him to stay. After all, how hard can it be to get a grumpy workaholic to fall in love with a twinky ray of sunshine? Read My Thoughts…
September 8, 2024
Book Review Alert: The First Ethereal by E.L. Williams
Reviewed: September 7th, 2024
Released: October 29th, 2020
Genre: Contemporaray Fantasy
Lost magic, buried secrets, love, and found family. Can Lilly and Storm find the First Ethereal before all is lost?
Super empath Lilly is almost relieved to be living her last human life. With only her spirit guide, Jack, for company and the world unravelling around them, she longs for the peace of the Eternal Forest.
When catastrophic floods force Lilly from her home, fate intervenes, and she finds refuge with Storm, a widowed ex-witch who has mysteriously lost her magic.
As Lilly falls in love with life and finally finds the family and community she has always dreamed of, the two become entwined in a desperate mission to find the First Ethereal – the one being prophesied to save the world from imminent destruction.
But they’re not the only ones seeking this mythical being. Dark forces, driven by fear and greed, are closing in, determined to seize the Ethereal’s power at any cost – and they’ll destroy anyone who stands in their way.
As the clock ticks down, Storm must unlock the secret of her missing magic, while Lilly confronts the devastating truth about who Jack really is. Are some truths better left buried?Read My Thoughts…
