A.L. Butcher's Blog, page 49

Character Interview with Vampwitch Alice Quinn, Hunted (Vampwitch Novel, Book #1), by Kathleen Harryman

Character Interview with Vampwitch Alice Quinn

Bio: Alice Quinn lives in York, England. After watching a fire demon kill her mother, she moved in with her aunt, half-brother Julian, and super-hot alpha werewolf, Ethan Jefferies. Before the death of her mother, Sophie Quinn, Alice was your average human, working in a deli and dreaming of a better life. Things have changed, if supernatural creatures aren’t trying to kill her, they’re determined to control her—in the name of keeping her safe.

Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Alice Quin, and I am a Vampwitch— half witch and half vampire. Vampwitch—it sounds cool, unless, of course, you’re the one who is the Vampwitch. Life is complicated when you are half of something. An anomaly that shouldn’t exist.

Up until Mum died at the hands of a fire demon, named Arison, I thought I was a regular human. But then I didn’t know monsters of the supernatural kind really existed either. Now I’m stuck with a dad, Nathaniel Quinn, who I wish had stayed dead, not undead, a half-brother, and master vampire, Julian Quinn, who thinks he knows what is best for me, and an aunt, Mum’s sister Dorothy, I disappoint on a regular basis.

My best friend, Polly Palmer, is the only one of us celebrating my new supernatural powers. But then she thinks I can go around zapping people like superwoman and fly through the sky on a broomstick. Superwoman had it a lot easier, I can tell you.

There is this group of supernatural beings called MAMS (Magic Against Mixed Species – kind of a dumb unoriginal name if you ask me) that want to kill me. They don’t like the fact that Mum and Dad did the nasty and produced me. Apparently, I weaken the whole supernatural species.

Is your life now as you envisioned it? If not – then why?

Before Mum died, I was between jobs. I’m not sure how I envisioned my life to be before I became a Vampwitch. Something regular, I guess. A dog, a house, doing a spot of painting—I like to paint, not that I get the chance now. Maybe having a bit of fun before I got old. I’ve always wanted to travel. Visit far out places. Take a trip to the Amazon, or travel to the North Pole.

Now, with MAMS out there, and having to cram twenty-five years of supernatural knowledge in less than a few weeks, all I want is to make it to twenty-six.

Do you believe in monsters?

I never used to. Before my Vampwitch status, monsters were bad people who got locked up in prison. Now I know monsters exist because I’m one of them.

Do you believe in magic? How do you feel about it?

Even before Mum died, I believed in magic. Maybe not the kind of magic that supernatural’s have, but yeah, I believed. Earth is a magical place, if we open our eyes, and let it sweep through to our very core it can make us whole, removing our woes for a while.

I’ve always had a fascination with folklore. We seemed to appreciate the earth so much more when we believed in the Fae, creatures like the Selkie and Demi Gods then we do now. My Granddad is the Seelie King, so maybe my fascination with folklore stems from him. Not that we get on. For me, he’s just another relative that has come out the woodwork.

Would you die for those you love?

In a beat. There isn’t a day that goes by that I wish Arison had killed me, not Mum. We might not always get along, but Dorothy, Nathaniel, Julian, Oliver, Seberg, Polly, Ethan, Arthur, and Jack, are my family now. I’m not about to let them die because of me. So, if it comes to it, yes, I will die for those I love.

Who is your greatest enemy?

If you had asked me that question when I first learnt about my supernatural heritage, I would have said MAMS. Now, I’d tell you, my greatest enemy is me.

Tell us about your family?

Before, when Mum was alive, there was just the two of us. Now I’ve an aunt, Dorothy, mum’s sister, a Master Vampire for a dad, and half-brother, oh, and a granddad who doesn’t like me. But you know, I’ve also learnt recently, that family isn’t just about blood ties. Jack, who is a ghost, Arthur, an annoying, biscuit stealing gnome, my best friend Polly, and Ethan, who is an alpha werewolf, they are all my family. We don’t always like each other, but I know they’d do anything for me, and I’d do the same for them. But that’s family for you, life is filled with grey areas when it comes to family.

What is your greatest fear?

Being dead. I’m the first of my kind. No one knows if I’ll survive the transition to full vampire, or if I’ll become some crazy killing monster with no conscience. Then they’ll have to kill me for real, and there’s no more Alice Quinn.

I’m twenty-five, I don’t fancy ripping people’s hearts out and calling it fun. I’m not a violent person. When my brother, Julian asked me if I knew any fighting moves, I showed him my warrior two pose, he didn’t find it funny. But that’s as violent as I like to get, so turning into a monster, brings me out in hives. Not literally.

Do you believe you will be successful in your quest?

I hope so. Since embracing my inner Vampwitch I’ve learnt a few tricks. Of course, there is the fact that I’m unpredictable. Supernatural creatures don’t like that. They think magic gives them the ultimate power. A bit of cunning can out whit magic. Well, that’s what I’m hoping.

If I survive the death threat from MAMS, and don’t turn into a blood craving monster, my next quest is for everyone to stop calling me a Vampwitch and start seeing Alice Quinn again. It’s like I’ve lost my own identity. Everyone keeps saying I’m special, I’m not, I’m just a woman who wants to be able to make her own choices and live as normal a life as possible, without it being a big deal.

Hunted – A Vampwitch Novel (Book 1)

Link: http://mybook.to/HUNTED-BK1 Author Bio: https://www.kathleenharryman.com/author  

Book Spotlight – Kingdom of Men

Basic Book Spotlight

Title: Kingdom of Men: Sister Worlds Book 1

Author: Tiffany Nicole Terry

Genre: YA Fantasy

Main character description (short). KaLeah is happy being a recluse alongside her stoic father, even if both seem out-of-place in their village. Awkward and masculine, she is rejected by both girls and boys. Forced to protect a hyper-girly child, she is thrust outside of her comfort zone in more ways than one.

Synopsis: KaLeah’s adventure doesn’t begin when a phantom dragon shows her a mysterious object in the woods. It all begins when this news upsets her father. He takes off from their village and doesn’t return. She journeys out to find him, only to find danger and imprisonment instead. The mysteries she unravels is bigger than anything she could have imagined.

Brief Excerpt 250 words: KaLeah took a slow, silent breath and docked her arrow, pointing her nose in the direction of the sound.  After a long day of hunting for big game without luck, she was glad to have finally locked onto an easy shot. 

She could tell from the grunting and shuffling sounds that it was big, but she didn’t care.  KaLeah had carried home large forest beasts before, and she wasn’t afraid of a little exercise.

KaLeah stalked closer to the sounds coming from a clearing up ahead.  She knew the woods well and could picture the grassy clearing.  She moved carefully through the thick forest foliage, using only her hearing to guide her to her target. 

It was rare for animals to make so much noise, but she assumed it was most likely injured.  Since it was in the clearing, it would be a quick shot straight to the heart, wrap it up with some vines, and then home before dark.

She readied her bow, took one step toward the edge of the trees, and froze.  Crouched in the clearing beyond her was a monster with glistening emerald scales.  It gracefully lifted its long, slender neck, and turned its jet-black eyes to hers.

Why should readers buy this book (50 words max)? Three young women, two planets once inhabited by dragons who want the girls to finish the war they started centuries before. With their newfound sisterhood save them from the men, machines, and monsters determined to kill them?

 

Links etc.

https://www.tiffanynicoleterry.com/

https://www.tiktok.com/@tntauthor

https://www.facebook.com/tiffanynicoleterryauthor

https://www.instagram.com/tiffanynicoleterry/

Dirty Dozen Author Interview – Kathleen Harryman #Suspense #Thriller #HistoricalRomance #ParanormalRomance #CrimeFiction

Kathleen Harryman

Links to book:

Website: https://www.kathleenharryman.com

Kathleen was first published in 2015 and has gone on to win several awards for her books. Developing a unique writing style, Kathleen Harryman grips the reader holding their attention until they become part of the story.

Kathleen Harryman is a talented multi-genre author of suspense, psychological thrillers, crime fiction, romantic suspense, historical romance, and paranormal romance.

Please tell us about your publications/work.

The Other Side of the Looking Glass was my first novel to be published back in 2015. It is a romantic suspense set in York. The Other Side of the Looking Glass Since is written over several POVs, allowing each main character to provide their own thoughts, desires, and fears.

Since 2015, I have gone on to write and publish three psychological thrillers, When Darkness Falls, Darkness Rising (Part of the Darkness Series), and Hidden Danger. There is something about thrillers that allow my creative juices to run. The main character in The Darkness Series is deadly, but also conveys a humorous side. This is something I like to do to break up the suspense, especially as these books are written from the killers’ perspective. Hidden Danger is similar, in that the reader gets a Birdseye view into the killers’ thoughts, but with Hidden Danger it is the relationship between daughter and father that gives it a sense of twisted horror.

In 2019 along with my co-author, and friend, Lucy Marshall, I published my first historical romance, The Promise. This book is based around stories my great uncles have told over the years, and my grandfather, James Chappell, who died during the D-Landings. Though the story differs from my grandfather’s life, it reflects the lives of those left behind at home and who fought on the frontline during World War II. The Promise is written from multiple POV’s and therefore has the intimacy of reading a personnel diary.

Hunted was the first book I ever wrote, even though it was never released until 2021. As an author I felt there was an element missing from the story. Hunted has grown from its first draft. One of the main changes I made, was the introduction of Arthur, a gnome and spy for the Saelee King, and Seberg, a magical staff which causes a lot of trouble for Vampwitch, Alice Quinn. Hunted is the first book in the Vampwitch series and is a paranormal romance.

Life’s Echoes, is a book of poetry, echoing life’s peculiarities, and the personal strength we carry within us.

When I started writing I was determined to become a multi genre author. I have always enjoyed reading a cross reference of genres and it feels wrong to limit my love of writing and storytelling to just one genre.

Do you think the written word (or art) bring power and freedom?

There is always a sense of freedom to be found in the written word. Words themselves are powerful instruments that can bring enlightenment and inspiration. Unfortunately, words can also wound. I like to feel that when we read, we travel with the characters. We live their lives, laugh when they laugh, cry when they cry, and become one with the suspense. What better freedom from life is there than to take that journey into a different world from our own.

Many authors use the power that writing brings. I believe that if I write something, and can feel what the characters feel, then there is no greater power an author can convey to the reader.

What’s your greatest networking tip?

Support others. We all need a helping hand; supporting our fellow authors or businessperson is key to building good relationships.

If you could have dinner with any literary character or author who would you choose, and what would you eat.

If I were to have dinner with a literary author, I would choose Agatha Christie. We would dine on the Orient Express, with afternoon tea. Cucumber sandwiches, scones, jam, clotted cream and tiny pastries.

How much research do you do for your work? What’s the wildest subject you’ve looked at?

Research is key to making any story credible. Behind every book I write, a wealth of research has gone into it.

The wildest subject I’ve researched would be when I was writing Hidden Danger. I was in Glasgow at the time with a colleague from the gas industry and we were looking how to blow up a house using gas. The catch is that the gas needed to be released over time, the occupants unaware of what was happening. We looked at all the components required, how to get the gas buildup without the smell alerting the occupants of the house, etc. It was one of the most hands-on research I have done. If anyone overheard our plotting, I’m sure they would have found us to be quite mad, and very scary.

What’s the best advice you’ve received about writing/publishing?

Never write like anyone else. You are unique and your writing should be too. I recall a journalist confessing how they had spent years looking for the perfect formula to get them the next bestseller. Writing in many other author styles, believing that this was sure to gain him that unattainable bestseller and movie deal. The thing is, he spent so long researching how to write like others, he never got round to writing. This was years ago, but I never forgot—be yourself, write like you, and feel everything you write.

Which authors have influenced you the most?

Enid Blyton

Agatha Christie

Sharon Kay Penman

What is your writing space like?

Cosy. I’m a neat freak, so everything has a place. There are shelves lined with reference books across a multitude of genres, from serial killers to ancient Egypt. And space for my dog, and writing companion, Reilly Roo to sleep.

Tell us about your latest piece?

I am currently writing another World War II romance due for release mid 2023.

What are your hopes for the coming year?

To keep being creative and to find something in each day that makes me smile.

Tell us a silly fact about yourself?

I still have my teddy bear that Mum and Dad had made for me and my sister when we were born. His red paws are no longer in tacked and his white fur is grey, his head wobbles from side to side, but he still brings me comfort.

What did you want to be when you ‘grew up’?

When I wasn’t pretending to be a writer, I wanted to be a dancer, not that I can dance, but I have always loved the freedom that dancing brings.

The Other Side of the Looking Glass (Romantic Suspense): http://getbook.at/TOSOTLGWhen Darkness Falls – Book One in the Darkness Series (Psychological Thriller): http://getbook.at/WDF Darkness Rising – Book Two in the Darkness Series (Psychological Thriller): http://mybook.to/DR-BK2Hidden Danger (Psychological Thriller): http://getbook.at/hiddendangerHunted – A Vampwitch Novel – Book One (Paranormal Romance): http://mybook.to/HUNTED-BK1The Promise (Historical Romance): http://getbook.at/thepromiseLife’s Echoes (Poetry): http://getbook.at/lifesechoes

Swift Six Character Interview – KaLeah Trapper #Fantasy

Swift Six Character Interview

Character Name: KaLeah (Kah-Lee-Ah) Trapper

Which book/world do you live in? I live in Belarone Kingdom on Planet Naldash, that was once inhabited by dragons.

Tell us about yourself: My father taught me to fight and hunt, although none of the other village girls can do these things. I am happiest in my single, undisturbed, and routine life. All I want is to get back to the life I have always known.

What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses? I am very stubborn and determined in my focus to fight and be generally unladylike. I’m very protective, much to my surprise, and end up saving a very important person multiple times (even though this person annoys the spirits out of me).

Name three important people/creatures/institutions in your world (such as lovers, pets, government institutions, leaders, gods etc). I grew up on the far edges of Belarone Kingdom, ruled by the king, his sons, and daughter. I never thought much about the royal family until they enslaved me in their castle. All I want is to find my father and go back to our small village. Our world was once inhabited by dragons, and they have annoyingly started speaking to me. Growling, more like.

What does ‘heroism’ mean to you? I used to only see the king’s men as heroes, but now… my view has changed. I didn’t feel like a hero, at least, I didn’t volunteer to be one. I guess it just means seeing someone as worth saving and making decisions to keep them out of danger.

What do you think of your ‘creator’? The dragons came first, but I didn’t believe in them until they started haunting me. I was more frustrated than frightened. I know I should be afraid of the creators, like everyone else is.

Give us your favourite piece of advice: If you stop fighting, you die. So, for dragon’s sake, keep fighting.

Links to book

https://amzn.to/3BTMN4z – Book 1

https://amzn.to/3BPVfBI – Trilogy

Swift Six Author Interview – Tiffany Nicole Terry – #YA #Fantasy

Name: Tiffany Nicole Terry

Please introduce yourself (250 words or so):

I am a mother of two girls and a new stepmother to two additional girls. I am a new wife and am learning to share again after many years of being single. I spent my career in corporate America writing for executives, and I finally made time to write and publish three children’s books and three young adult fantasy books.

Tell us about your book(s) – title, genre etc (short)

My young adult fantasy trilogy Sister Worlds is available now. Kingdom of Men, Kingdom of Machines, and Kingdom of Monsters.

When did you start your writing adventure? What was the inspiration for it?

I had the idea in high school, fantasizing about a boy who moved away. I wrote the first draft in college, where my professor told me not to kill him in the end. Years later I married the boy who had inspired my story, and the daughters we had together ended up looking like and acting like the two girl characters in my first book. After my divorce, I took the time to heal and wrote my trilogy as part of that process.

What writing plans do you have for the future?

I want to write about girls discovering the magic within, and using that magic to save others. I have started on a new urban fantasy series.

What do you like to read?

I have actually read a lot of non-fiction over the years. Parenting books, books about being a new stepparent, relationship books, and spiritual guidance books.

What piece of advice do you wish you’d had when you’d started your writing adventure?

I just wish I would have known about self-publishing earlier, when I was younger, instead of years of rejection through traditional publishing.

Author bio and book synopsis

KaLeah’s adventure doesn’t begin when a phantom dragon shows her a mysterious object in the woods. It all begins when this news upsets her father. He takes off from their village and doesn’t return. She journeys out to find him, only to find danger and imprisonment instead. The mysteries she unravels is bigger than anything she could have imagined.

Tiffany Nicole Terry (TNT to her friends) is a corporate communications manager by day, a novelist by night, and a mother to two daughters, two stepdaughters, and two dogs every moment in between. A bit of a bohemian nomad, she has lived in every time zone in the continental United States but prefers to live where she can see mountains on the horizon. She is passionate about equality, diversity, and inclusion and believes that the world can be a kinder and more sustainable place. Her books are full of positive empowerment messaging for girls, especially those raised through trauma, neglect, and abuse.

Links/Social media

https://www.tiffanynicoleterry.com/

https://www.tiktok.com/@tntauthor

https://www.facebook.com/tiffanynicoleterryauthor

https://www.instagram.com/tiffanynicoleterry/

Servant of The Gods – Guest Post and Spotlight #HistoricalFantasy

Search For the Golden Serpent

Servant of the Gods Book 1

by Luciana Cavallaro

Genre: Historical Fantasy Fiction

A true page-turner, in a similar vein to Wilbur Smith and David Gemmell, is an action-packed adventure story catapulting a reluctant hero from one dangerous encounter to another.

Evan has been having some very strange dreams.

The Perth-based architect dismissed an unexpected phone call from an entrepreneur in Greece, asking him to restore his family home, as the ravings of a crank. Until, that is, the dreams begin, each more vivid than the last. A dream encounter with a mysterious character called Zeus sees him catapulted back in time to 500 years before the birth of Christ.

Evan finds himself quickly embroiled in a plot to prevent the birth of Christianity, an unwilling player in an epic struggle between the old gods and the new, fighting for his life.

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Smashwords * Books2Read * Bookbub * Goodreads

The Labyrinthine Journey

Servant of the Gods Book 2

A mysterious message. A mission from the gods. Can he turn back the clock to prevent his family’s extinction?

Evan’s new life is in ancient Greece, and he fears he’ll never see his home again. Ripped from his 21st century world, his only way to return to the present is to collect god-saving sacred relics for his father Zeus. But to locate them means braving perilous seas and staring down death in search of a legendary oracle.

During their voyage, Evan and his companions come face-to-face with mythical creatures, fabled warriors, and treacherous sorcery. But despite the dangers all around them, Evan’s deadliest threat may be bound to him by blood…

Can Evan complete his quest before he and the gods are lost to history?

The Labyrinthine Journey is the second book in the fast-paced Servant of the Gods historical fiction series. If you like well-researched landscapes, suspenseful twists and turns, and mythic battles, then you’ll love Luciana Cavallaro’s heroic odyssey.

Buy The Labyrinthine Journey to sail into a Greek legend today! Categories
*Gods and goddesses
*Greek Mythology
*Time travel history
*Greek folktales
*Greek heroes
*Shield and sword
*Mythical creatures

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Minotaur’s Lair

Servant of the Gods Book 3

The Minotaur stirs. Evan is drugged to forget the gods’ quest.

Evan and his companions are entrapped by the Amazon Queen Antioche and her warriors. Memories and allegiances are tested. The Dark Master’s victorious revenge over the gods is almost complete. The plight of the High Priestess is precarious, her health ailing, and unable to rescue her brother and fellow Atlanteans.

The last sacred relic, secreted in the lair of the Minotaur, must be recovered or the Dark Master’s succession plans of a new god are complete. The mystical lands of Krete, the final stage of Evan’s journey, are within his grasp. He must succeed so his father, Zeus, fulfills his promise. Then there is Queen Antioche, and the precious gifts she presents him.
Will Evan return home, and what will become of his future?

Minotaur’s Lair is the third and final book in the action-packed Servant of the Gods historical fiction series. If you enjoy well-researched landscapes, historic characters, excitement, mythical creatures and unique settings, then you’ll love Luciana Cavallaro’s heroic odyssey.

**Releases on Dece 13th! PreOrder Now for Only $1.99!**

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Luciana Cavallaro

*Award-winning author of The Labyrinthine Journey
*Nominated for book awards in the Action/Adventure and Historical Fiction genres*Drove her first car at the age of three

Luciana Cavallaro’s alter ego is a high school teacher where she plugs away educating teenagers the merits of reading and ancient history. She often looks for a brick wall to bang her head when faced with disinterested looks from her students. She’s also a historical fantasy and thriller/suspense author, who creates fast-paced, action-packed series for her readers.

Born and raised in Western Australia, residing in Perth, Luciana loves to travel and since getting her passport at the ripe old age of twenty-four has toured parts of Europe, a legacy of her Italian heritage. She enjoys being active, going out with friends, reading and tries to grow her own vegetables. She dreams of travelling again and visiting the ancient sites that inspired her stories, that is when she’s not spending time being an unofficial stunt person and knocking herself out in the process. Visit her website at https://luccav.me/

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

The author is currently offering a giveaway of a signed ARC and bookmark plus deleted scene in exchange for screenshot of a receipt for pre-ordering a copy of The Minotaur’s Lair!

More details in the following video:

Enter to win a $10 Amazon giftcrd here!

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Interview with the author

What are your top 10 favorite books/authors?

My top 10 favourite authors in no particular order:

Robert HarrisHomerDavid GemmellValerio Massimo ManfrediMichael ConnellyDonna TarttTerry GoodkindPaul DohertyJames Rollin and Rebecca Cantrell co-writers of The Blood Gospel seriesJoan Lindsay

I would have liked to included my favourite non-fiction authors but kept it to fiction authors only.

What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book?

As my books are set in the ancient world, I do a lot of research on the civilisations featured in my novels, their culture, what the geography was like, transportation, weaponry, languages, etc. I use books, websites and documentaries to collate the information, which I then make notes to use in my stories. I aim to make the worlds of the past as accurate as I can. Of course, there is creative license and a little time bending, but mostly I try to make the setting and characters as authentic as possible to the era. In describing locations, buildings and all the sensory elements of what the character is experiencing, I hope to engage the reader and enable them to feel as if they are part of the story.

Throughout the writing process, I go back and forth to my research checking the details and how best to include into the story. The most helpful resources I have found are texts written by archaeologists and historians, primary sources such as Homer, Pausanias, Herodotos, and playrights of the time. Artist’s rendition of places, clothing, transport, food, is also very helpful in visualisation.

Do you see writing as a career?

I do see writing as a career, however I’m not there just yet. I am working on it! It takes me longer to complete a book as I teach full-time and can only write in the evenings, on the weekends and on the holidays. That is when I don’t have marking or planning to do, and fitting in time with family and friends. It would be nice to focus only on writing and publishing books.

What do you think about the current publishing market?

There are a lot of books been published every year and not just the ‘traditional’ authors giving readers lots of choices. It’s hard to get your book noticed amongst the volumes of books, however I am grateful that there is help out there for the indie author trying to get their work seen and read. Building networks is perhaps the way forward, something I am working towards, though it is difficult as most of my fellow writing friends live in different time zones! It is a great time to be an indie author, with so many options and paths to be published.

Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?

I have found when I write at night after a day at school, I prefer to write in silence. I need peace and calm after teaching teenagers! On the weekend I play a variety of music when writing. I listened to the soundtracks from Gladiator and Troy when I wrote the Servant of the Gods series. I found the albums helped to centre my thoughts for the period in which my books were set. For my Coin of Time series, I listen to albums by Tame Impala, Sash, Bond, Robert Miles, Enigma, Enya and the Temples. The series is set in the present and the location starts in my home city of Perth, Australia before jetting off to Europe. These artists, a mix of Indie Rock, Electronica/Dance, Classical and New Age I play when writing certain scenes. It’s rather interesting what genre of music works to be productive when I write and if I choose something different such as Jazz or Hip Hop for example, I can’t write, so I stick to the same artists. If it works, why change it?

Pen or type writer or computer?

I use a computer for all my writing. I purchased Scrivener some years back and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. I wrote Search for the golden serpent and The labyrinthine journey on Word, and while that application has merits, but when I needed to move chapters or scenes, it was not easy. I kept every version and had to go back and forth to see what I had deleted, inserted or moved. With Scrivener, I can drag and drop chapters where I need them, and when I delete a chapter, it goes into a folder and remains there. It’s handy too for if I decide to use some sections of the deleted chapter in another scene or in the next book, it’s easy to locate.

Working on the computer also allows me to jump from my manuscript to checking information I have researched. I have two monitors; one has the Scrivener application open and the other has the research open such as websites I’ve bookmarked. I also have a lot of text books that I refer to, much easier to scan an index or contents page for the information I’m after. I tend to go down the ‘rabbit hole’ if I search the internet and get distracted by what I’ve found.

I prefer to save my work on an external drive rather than on a cloud option. I’m a bit old school in that regard and a little protective of my work. I’d rather have lots of external drives than saving onto the cloud.

What is your writing process? For instance do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first?

When I get ideas for a story, the first thing I do is brainstorm. This helps me decide whether the idea has any potential, and if I fill the page, then I proceed to the next stage otherwise I put the concept aside and may go back to it another time. I currently have a notepad with ideas that I’ve yet to brainstorm!

From my brainstorm, I create scenes, mainly dot points. I try not to be too prescriptive in the planning process as I prefer to let the writing flow, and this is when the characters insist on taking over. The scenes are a guide for the storyline and as long as I hit those markers, how many chapters it takes doesn’t matter. As to the chapters, they evolve from the scenes. For example, one scene in Minotaur’s Lair had seven dot points, which became nineteen chapters. I’ve used this method for all my stories, and it works for me. I have tried different strategies but didn’t find them as effective for my style of writing.

Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

Definitely original. My work refers to Greek myths and legends, historical figures and events, and I try to remain true to the origins of the story and characters, however the narrative is original. Well, I hope it is, I haven’t read anything similar to my books, though I had one reviewer recommend my books to those who had grown up reading Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series. For the record, I had the idea for my trilogy back in 2000 with Search for the golden serpent published in 2015. With teaching full-time and family commitments, it took a number of years to write and rewrite the books.

I’m not one for following trends or writing to the ‘market’, I prefer to write stories that I am invested in and passionate about. I know a number of authors who do write generified books that are in the top 100, and that’s their journey, I’d rather write books with characters that resonates and hopefully strikes a chord in readers who enjoy historical fantasy.

What are the unique challenges for a writer in blending history, mythology and fiction? How do you balance fact and fiction in your stories; and what type of research do you conduct to aid the development of your characters and the worlds they inhabit? Are there any particular works or references you would say have aided or inspired your own writings?

The hardest part is putting it all together and making it sound plausible. It’s like testing a new recipe you’re not sure how it’s going to turn out. I have files of information about places, people, what buildings looked like and people’s names which I refer to constantly. Depending on the scene I am writing, I always have a number of websites open and non-fiction books on hand. You can’t see the top of my desk some days. The places and culture are based on fact, with a little creative license and the story is purely fictional. My characters are taken from various myths but with my trilogy they are new characters with traits taken from legendary heroes like Akhilles, Hektor, Theseus, Herakles and others. I do refer to Homer’s Iliad, just to get the tone of the gods, and to Pausanias’ Guide to Greece books. I’m always reading and checking sources. I find morsels of information all the time and store it away. I find a use for it later on. If I can’t use in my current works in progress, then it will be considered for my next writing piece. I have a pad where I keep my ideas for stories. I think I need another life-time to write all the stories I have in my head.

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RT @libraryoferana: Naughty imps, missing socks, cunning thieves and baffled gods feature in this collection of short #fantasy fiction.
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The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles Series – A sizzling #fantasy series.

Join the mages as they fight to survive in a land where their existence is illegal, elves are slaves and monsters come in many forms. An adult dark #fantasy series – 18 rated for violence and adult scenes. #LightBeyondtheStorm #IARTG #ASMSG #Sexnsorcery https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MXWV936