Author Interview – Michael Thomas Perone

Author of Déjà View

I am excited to chat with fellow BookFest award winner, Michael Thomas Perone, about his YA Science fiction novel, Déjà View.

Helen: Many congratulations, Michael, on your gold medal and getting your book up in lights in Times Square. It is so exciting! Tell us about your award winning book, Déjà View.

Michael: Déjà View is about a 12-year-old boy named Bobby Dalton who doesn’t want to grow up. All his life, he has relied on the imaginary games of childhood with his best friends Joe and Max to get him through the tough times. But this all changes when his Seventh-Grade class buries a time capsule to commemorate the end of the 1980s. Now Bobby is being haunted by visions: ghostly doppelgangers of himself, his friends, and others. He calls them “déjà view.” Are these visions real, or has his imagination finally gotten away from him? And if they’re real, what do they want? Bobby needs to figure this all out to survive his childhood…and his life.

Helen: You have chosen quite an atmospheric cover design. What were your thoughts behind the design?

Michael: The cover is a slightly spooky image of my three main characters burying something under the cover of moonlight. I wanted readers who first glanced at the cover to become intrigued and ask themselves, “What are these kids burying?” and hope that this inspired them to read the back cover copy to get some clues. I wanted the boys to be in shadow because this reinforces the book’s theme of ghostly doppelgangers. (Bobby calls them “shadows.”) Also, I wanted to have the title superimposed so that it would appear it had its own shadow (again, emphasizing the theme of doubles in the book). I gave these ideas to my publisher, and I think they did a great job. Since I’m a writer and not an artist, though I originally wanted to be a cartoonist when I was a kid, one thing I hadn’t thought of was the color of the cover, and I was very pleased when it came back. I think the dark blues and purples really make the cover pop and help convey the overall spooky vibe of the book.

Helen: It works!! I love finding out the detail behind the cover design, because their is a lot of thought put into it than many readers realise and understanding the thought process makes the cover even more meaningful. How did you come up with the book title?

Michael: The original title was just Déjà Vu, but after a quick Amazon search, I discovered only about a million books already have that title. (That’s just a slight exaggeration.) So I changed it to Déjà View and had Bobby come up with this name since these repeated visions of his are things that he’s actually seeing, not just feeling. (There’s also a running gag in the book that he keeps misspelling and mispronouncing things; he is a kid after all.) There are still a few books out there with this title, so to differentiate it even further, I gave the book a subtitle: A Kid Nightmare, since I consider this a companion book to my debut novel Danger Peak, which also had a subtitle, A Kid Adventure, though I should say Déjà View isn’t a sequel to that book. There is, however, a very brief cameo from the kids of Danger Peak, but it’s so short, if you blink while reading the sentence, you might miss it.

Helen: You know, I hadn’t even noticed the change in spelling until you said!! The mind just reads it as Vue as that is what you expect! Why did you write this particular book?

Michael: My first book was more or less about the death of my brother, and I wanted to write about another kind of death, the death of childhood. I knew the book would be more ambitious, cover more ground, be longer, and take place over a longer period of time than Danger Peak, but I also wanted to answer a question: “How exactly does childhood die?” We know the broad brushstrokes, but I’m a very detail-oriented person, and I wanted to know, just for myself, how precisely does it happen? To answer the question, I searched through old diaries of mine, and I also just have a really good memory of this time in my life. Almost everything that happens in the first half of the book happened to me in real life (with exaggerations of course to make it more entertaining for the reader). The second half, what I jokingly call “the crazy half,” is when Bobby starts seeing his visions, so the story is a slow burn, but I hope it’s worth it. And I did discover the answer to my question, but I think I’ll keep it to myself for now. Or you can just read my book!

Helen: They always say write from experience. Though I write epic fantasy, so I can’t say that I’ve experienced epic battles!! When did you realise you had a passion for writing?

Michael: I’ve been writing stories basically since I was taught the alphabet. I used to bring my stories into school in third and fourth grade and read them in front of the class. At the time, I thought everyone was doing this. I would ask my friends what stories they were working on, and they assumed I was talking about homework. Despite this, I never considered myself seriously as a writer until the mid-2000s when my whole life imploded. In less than a year, I lost my girlfriend, my roommate, my apartment, and my job and was forced to move back home. I was wondering what to do with my life, and my Mom suggested I write. I blew her off, but she reminded me that when I was a kid, I would write story after story in my bedroom. “No one told you to do that, Michael,” she said. “You did that yourself.” The rest, as they say, is history, though I should say my writing doesn’t pay the bills. I’m not Stephen King…yet!

Helen: Life changes do seem to be a catalyst for putting pen to paper. Which genre do you write and why?

Michael: I write young adult for several reasons. I’m never going to be a genius author who can write a 1,000-page book with over a hundred characters; my books are a little over 200 pages each and have six or seven main characters. That’s about as much as my brain can handle per book, and young adult tends to be shorter with fewer characters. The other reason is that I tend to think like someone in junior high; I have a very child-like sensibility, much to the consternation of my family, but that helps me identify with my characters more.

As for the genre of action-adventure, in the case of Danger Peak, or sci-fi, for Déjà View, those genres just generally interest me as a reader and film lover. I was a child of the ‘80s raised by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas after all.

Finally, I love the genre of magical realism for a similar reason of why I write young adult. It’s too much for my brain to handle a world where everything is magical, like Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. I can only handle one magical thing per book, like the supernatural mountain in Danger Peak or the ghostly visions in Déjà View. I like playing with that one magical idea and seeing how it affects my characters and their more-or-less real world.

Helen: Your books do sound intriguing. Who is your favourite character?

Michael: By far, my favorite character is Bobby’s therapist Dr. Pann. Without giving too much away, he’s more complex than at first glance, and he was a lot of fun to write, especially playing with the different shades of his personality. I also gave him some of the best lines in the book.

Helen: Let’s switch to your writing process. Which part of the writing process do you find most challenging?

Michael: I think most writers would probably say sitting down and doing the actual writing, but, not to sound obnoxious, I don’t usually get writer’s block. The hardest part for me is structuring the story, so I guess, in a way, you can say I get “story structure block,” to coin a phrase. I can come up with a good idea to sustain a novel-length story and have no problem developing the characters. Also, as writer-director John Hughes once said, “I can write dialogue as fast as I can say it,” but putting all that together into a good beginning, middle, and unexpected yet satisfying end is the hardest part for me. For example, it took me almost a year thinking about Déjà View to come up with the ending, and even then, it came to me in a dream. Once I figure out the story though, I’m off and running and usually finish the first draft within 3 to 4 months.

Helen: So do you plan out your story in advance, or do you find you write better on the fly, so to speak?

Michael: This goes hand in hand with my last answer. I used to write “by the seat of my pants” when I was a kid and just make it up as I went along. That worked with a few stories but not with most. They usually ended with a conclusion that may have been unexpected but definitely wasn’t inevitable or satisfying to read. As an adult, I learned to outline my stories, something I used to hate doing in English class but is something I’ve learned is necessary if you want to write a truly memorable story that doesn’t cheat the reader. There’s no, as they say, deus ex machina that comes in to save the day at the end of my stories. The characters either naturally solve the problem on their own or they face the consequences of the decisions they’ve made all throughout the story (or both). That said, this doesn’t necessarily mean I have everything figured out in the story when I begin writing, especially the dialogue. That part I like making up as I go along, and I think that also helps it sound more natural, like how real people talk.

Helen: I’ve found that the more I write, the more I plan the framework in advance. Now whether I follow the plan is another matter! Having completed and published Déjà View, what else are you working on?

Michael: I’m working on a collection of my favorite short stories I’ve written over the years. When I was putting it together, I was afraid the reader would ping-pong between different themes (if you read Déjà View, you’ll know theme is a big deal for me), but either by coincidence or sheer luck, the stories I chose have pretty much the same theme: a sane person trying to live in an insane world. It’s definitely the craziest thing I’ve ever written, and that’s saying something after my last book. The best part for readers is that if they don’t like one story, they can just skip to the next one.

Helen: Thank you so much for spending time with me today. Congratulations again on your BookFest award. Just to close us out, what piece of writing advice to find most useful and would share with aspiring authors?

Michael: My real, full-time job is a Senior Editor in Manhattan, so it’s very difficult for me to take off my editing hat when I’m writing, but a college professor once told me to just concentrate on the writing first. Then, after you’re finished, you can put on that editing hat and get to work. But it still remains a struggle, at least for me, switching between both worlds. Sometimes I try to edit a sentence as I’m writing it, and I have to remind myself to stop.

About the Author

Michael Thomas Perone

Michael Thomas Perone is an award-winning author who has written for The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore City Paper, Long Island Voice (a spinoff of The Village Voice), and others. Online, he has written for Yahoo!, WhatCulture!, and other websites that don’t end with an exclamation mark. His debut novel Danger Peak was called “the perfect teenage boy crusade” by Publishers Weekly and “a compelling bildungsroman about grief and finding wisdom” by Kirkus Reviews. If nothing else, he learned the word “bildungsroman” from the experience. His follow-up, the coming-of-age/sci-fi mindbender Déjà View, won First Place at The Spring 2024 BookFest Awards in the category of Young Adult – Literary and Coming of Age. It was also a finalist of The 2024 Eric Hoffer Book Award. He works as a Senior Editor in Manhattan and lives on Long Island with his wife and two daughters.

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Link to book on Amazon UK: eBook | Paperback

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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.

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Author Interview – Kimberly Muka Powers

Author of A Mind Restored

I recenty had the opportunity to find out more about fellow 2024 BookFest Award winner, Kimberly Muka Powers, who won a bronze medal for her book A Mind Restored.

Helen: Many congratulations to Kim on her medal and getting her book up in lights in Times Square. Tell us about her award winning book, A Mind Restored.

A: “A Mind Restored: Finding Freedom from the Shame & Stigma of Mental Illness” by Kimberly Muka Powers is a global award-winning creative non-fiction Christian self-help book.

Powers’ book is a must-read for those with mental illness, their loved ones, providers, and those seeking to gain more insight and understanding into the world of someone living with symptoms of mental illness.

This compelling read is Kim’s unique and inspiring story of how she has successfully learned to live with bipolar disorder, type 1, with psychotic features since the year 2000. With her illness primarily in remission since 2010, now as a Licensed professional counselor she equips and empowers others to do the same.

Kim emphasizes you are not alone in your illness, and you are not defined by it. Her inspirational writing style ties in educational components about mental illness and holistic health, passionately spreading awareness and encouraging individuals to cultivate wellness, pursue their dreams, and find freedom, hope, and healing.

Helen: Kim chose a simple cover, what were her thoughts behind the design?

A: Kim kept her illness hidden, in a dark, lonely place for over two decades. Due to the overwhelming sense of humiliation and shame she carried from receiving a diagnosis at 16 years old, living with severe and profound mental illness and being hospitalized in a psychiatric inpatient facility amidst four different manic, depressive, and psychotic episodes, Kim felt alone and ostracized by what she had to endure.

Kim’s cover highlights the serenity and peace she has found, now two decades later, within herself, with God, and with others. As an adult who has done the hard work of healing and found the tools to functional independence and freedom. Kim’s cover portrays that reconciliation and acceptance she now embodies.

Helen: It is a calming scene and I believe evokes the feeling Kim intended. How did she come up with the book title?

A: Through receiving mental health therapy throughout her adult life, specifically EMDR therapy (See EMDR.org) to treat the wounds of trauma, Kim has finally found freedom from the shame and stigma of mental illness, and her mind is now restored. By the grace of God, her illness has been in remission since 2010. With the freedom she has found from the heavy weight of shame, she now more confidently can help others find their freedom too.

Helen: I know Kim writes from personal experience, but why did she decide to share her story and write this particular book?

A: Kim found the transition in keeping her story hidden and trying to hide the truth of what she went through, to now publicly speaking about her illness, to be the most challenging part of writing her memoir. The act of bravery and steps of courage she had to embrace and the challenge she needed to overcome and grow. Now fully healed, she can better help others.

In college, Kim learned that vulnerability breeds vulnerability. This step of vulnerability seems counter intuitive that it would help free her from the shame she carried. However, with the action of bringing her shameful past into the light, the heavy chains and shackles were unlocked, removed, and destroyed. With supernatural help, intensive therapy and healing, medical and therapeutic intervention, support and love from others, medication, and many answered prayers, she found the key, she opened the lock-she was set free.

Helen: I’m glad Kim found her voice and shared her experiences to help others. Why should people read Kim’s book?

A: Reading “A Mind Restored” provides hope and insight to the reader. Do you or someone you know live with mental health challenges? Maybe it is not bipolar disorder, maybe it is depression. Maybe anxiety, maybe schizo-affective disorder, or ADHD. Have you learned to effectively manage the symptoms of your illness? Have you found freedom from the stigma associated with these symptoms? Have you found effective coping skills and strategies to be empowered and pursue the abundant life God has called you to?

If not, or if you want more help, this book is for you. Do you need encouragement that you are not alone in your battle? Do you struggle with being defined by your illness, but want to know your true identity apart from your symptoms? Do you need encouragement to find safe circles of belonging? Do you need better insight into how to identify your triggers and warning signs of when your health is at risk? You too can rise above, conquer your problems with courage and health, maintain your health, and pursue your God-given calling in education, career, relationship, and ministry goals. Kim’s story is one of encouragement, resilience, success, and victory. Find hope today.

Helen: Thank you for sharing a little about Kim’s journey. What advice would Kim give to aspiring authors?

A: If you are on the writing journey, whether as a beginner, working on your work in progress for a while now, or a seasoned writer, in order to be successful completing your next writing project, Kim recommends dedicating a recurring date on your calendar, time of day, and ideal place and setting which is conducive to concentrating on your next piece of art.

Kim has found this approach extremely helpful as she developed and perfected each of the ten drafts she wrote- in two years- to create her finished published multi-award-winning book. In addition, she found it extremely supportive to choose a willing writing partner to work with, which happened to be her father, who is also on his writing journey. With the presence of another committed individual in the writing process, Kim found the ongoing accountability, and mental and emotional safety, to write, process, explore, and express her thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a cohesive and a profound finished product.

About the Author

Kimberley Muka Powers

Kim Powers is a fully licensed professional counselor, author, and entrepreneur- owning and operating her private practice in the state of Michigan, where she resides with her husband. Kim is honored to be featured in Voyage Magazine in their Hidden Gem Series: (“Hidden Gems: local businesses and creatives you should know.”) Kim was thrilled to be a guest on Fox News Morning Mix, Kalamazoo’s local National Public Radio- NPR, and featured as a Global Book Fest award winner on the NASDAQ board in New York City Times Square. Kim’s book “A Mind Restored: Finding Freedom from the Shame & Stigma of Mental Illness” won first place in the Oasis Awards in Grand Rapids, Michigan. While studying psychology and mental health therapy,

Kim speaks not only as a trained professional in the mental health field, but also one who has successfully navigated the trials of living with bipolar disorder type one with psychotic features. While her illness has been primarily in remission since 2010, she now educates and provides support to those seeking freedom and functional independence. Counseling is not only Kim’s career, it is her passion and her calling.

Follow Kim:

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Website or www.HeartSoulMindStrengthLLC.com

Twitter: @KMukaPowers

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Link to book on Amazon UK: eBook | Paperback

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Author Interview – Sara Jane Triglia

Author of Souls in the Stars

Today, I am excited to chat with Sara Jane Triglia about her debut Sci-fi book, Souls in the Stars which launches today, June 4th, 2024.

Helen: Welcome, Sara Jane. Congratulations on the release of your book. I am so excited that today is your launch day! Tell us a little about Souls in the Stars.

Sara Jane: Souls in the Stars is my debut novel. It’s a thought-provoking sci-fi adventure that explores spiritually in a unique and nuanced way for young, sensitive souls who are seeking depth and meaning. It’s essentially about a teenage girl who has to rescue her little brother after he dies and becomes trapped as an orb of light. But, really, there’s a lot more to the story.

It has some of your favorite YA tropes: chosen one, dystopia/utopia (yes, both), jungle adventure, mystical island, love triangle romance, telekinesis, magical systems, reincarnation, reluctant hero. (Think Hunger Games meets Avatar.)

Helen: Your cover is beautiful, what were your thoughts behind the design?

Sara Jane: The cover began as a simple image of a ball of light—a soul orb—in the dark. For the second version, we tried to make it more interesting, so we created a scene from the novel where Bay is marveling at the soul orb in the jungle. It was a great cover, but we were told to follow cover trends, so we made another cover option that looked more “2024”. Yet, it felt like something essential was missing. So we combined the two covers and got our final cover which I LOVE. I think it’s perfect. My designer did a spectacular job.

(I made a video showing my audience the process of this on my Instagram.)

Helen: It was worth all the effort. How did you come up with the book title?

Sara Jane: The stand-in title during my first draft was “Infinite” but I thought it sounded too amorphous and unspecific. After changing the title three or four more times I landed on Souls in the Stars because it best represented the story while also being a never before used title. The book takes on both spirituality and science in a nuanced way, so the title reflects that. Souls/Stars. At the end of the book there’s a bit of dialogue that explains this more in-depth. What I’m saying is that, yes, there’s definitely a special meaning behind the title but I don’t want to spoil it.

Helen: Book titles can be difficult to nail down! Tell us what made you write this particular book?

Sara Jane: The idea of reincarnation has always been interesting to me and I wanted to explore that more. The stars and outer space have always fascinated me as well. So, I think this novel was born out of those two curiosities.

I dreamt it up back in 2011, but only wrote the first chapter before my inner critic got the best of me. I was only twenty three years old back then. For years, I thought about the story and the characters, jotting down notes and subplot ideas.

It wasn’t until December 2018, when I was thirty, that I got re-inspired and decided it was time to finish the story.

This is my “hard” novel, and I think only writers’ know what I’m talking about when I say that. Basically, writers have no shortage of ideas and some of them we know are easier to execute than others. I once wrote a rough draft of a fluffy romance in a month because it was just that kind of story.

Souls in the Stars was not that. This novel required major research, world-building, and character development. I knew that tackling this story was going to be a rough climb and that was terrifying. I honestly didn’t know if I could pull it off.

There was a time, maybe in my third or forth draft, where I truly doubted myself. But, I worked at this thing for five years, perfecting each word, each line. Getting beta readers and editors feedback. Rechecking my facts. Reorganizing the scenes. Making sure the characters all went deep and were properly fleshed out. Killing all my darlings. Agonizing over word choices. Implementing agent and publisher suggestions. Making sure it had all the elements of a great book as well as being commercially viable.

At this point, I believe I made a great quality novel and did the story justice. I’m proud of what I created.

Helen: Congratulations on persevering and publishing your debut novel. That is an amazing acheivement and one you should be proud of. Who is your protagonist and why did you write them?

Sara Jane: Bay Lilly. I wrote her has a role model that I wished I had as a twelve-year-old.

I grew up watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and it meant everything to me that she was a blonde girl who could kick ass while also being a capable leader. I’m not sure how it is today, but as a blonde girl, I heard nothing but “dumb blonde” jokes everywhere I went. I never felt capable or smart and I struggled with that most of my adolescence.

I wanted Bay to be someone that teenage girls could look up to and in more ways than one. In that she is strong and capable, but also sensitive and empathetic (two traits that are often looked at as a weakness). Her biggest strength of all doesn’t end up coming from her ability to beat people up, but in her emotional intelligence and compassion. Most of all I want girls to know they can be pretty (and blonde) but also capable and valuable as a sensitive, empathic person. And not just valuable, but needed in this world.

The irony is that it took me so long to finish this novel that I now have an eleven-year-old blonde daughter who reminds me a lot of Bay. So, in many ways, Bay is for her.

Helen: Having reached this milestone and released a novel, and after the well deserved celebrations, are you working on anything else?

Sara Jane: My husband is begging me to take a break. This debut novel has been more than a part-time job and I need my next project to be myself. I have a lot of self-care I need catching up on.

With that said, I have an old (finished) manuscript I want to tweak for my next release. It’s a young adult magical realism romance and I love it.

Helen: You have a young family, and you said it was quite hard to write Souls in the Stars. How do you fit writing into your daily life?

Sara Jane: I stay up way too late. I have young kids who I homeschool, so that’s basically my only choice. What’s crazy is that I don’t drink coffee. So, on those long writing days I basically run on the high of creativity.

Helen: Thank you so much for talking to us today. Just to close us out, could you share your favourite book that you would recommend to others?

Sara Jane: The Giver by Lois Lowery. It’s the book that made me want to be a writer. I’ve loved it since sixth grade. It’s so clever and emotional and tragic.

Thinking about it now, I think it has some of the same undertones as Souls in the Stars. A sci-fi dystopian/utopian society that is trying to be so perfect that they lose their humanity—their empathy—and they need someone to remind them how to feel.

About the Author

Sara Jane Trigalia

SARA JANE TRIGLIA is a young adult sci-fi, fantasy, and mindfulness author writing from the slopes of a volcano. As a sensitive person who craves depth and meaning, she loves to bring these elements to her stories for young readers. From children’s books to young adult novels, Sara’s stories are often emotional, adventurous, and thought-provoking. Sara has published short story eBooks, including, Jumping Caspian and The Origins of Raine.

In 2021, she published her mindfulness children’s book The Littlest Magnolia which she wrote and illustrated when her daughter was diagnosed with epilepsy. As a former YouTube vlogger, Sara loves to share her passion for writing on social media. When she is not writing, you can find her homeschooling her kids, practicing mindfulness, or folding a massive pile of laundry.

Follow Sara Jane:

Purchase Sara Jane’s book: Souls in the Stars

Link to book on Amazon UK: eBook | Paperback

Link to book on Amazon US: eBook | Paperback

As an Amazon Associate I may benefit from purchases made using these links.

If you enjoy fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love SoulBreather, or my epic fantasy Sentinal series. As a new threat against Remargaren is discovered, only one man can wake the ancient guards who can protect them, only he doesn’t know how. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.

Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.

Author Interview – Barb Jones

Author of Rise of the Hunter

Today, I am excited to invite Dark Fantasy author, Barb Jones, to join me as we talk about her book, Rise of the Hunter.

Helen: Welcome Barb. Tell us a little about Rise of the Hunter which released last year.

Barb: Rise of the Hunter is the latest book I released. It is the first in a second trilogy in the world of The Blood Prophecy (Dark Prophecy Series). This book continues the storyline but is told from the villain’s perspective and ties nicely with my tag line: Evil Does Not Die…It Seeks Revenge. Rise of the Hunter is darker than the first trilogy and has a lot more of the witches, Hawaiian Legends, and basically, all around evil concepts due to his perspective. My villain is called The Tall Dark Man and has a sinister purpose for getting his revenge.

Helen: How interesting to write a book from the villains perspective. My assumption is that is your villain on the cover? What were your thoughts behind your design?

Barb: I hired a graphic artist to set my cover with black and red tones, inspired by The Tall Dark Man in the series. He is overlooking the city of Seattle before the book transitions to Hawaii as he contemplates his revenge. I hired a graphic artist to design my cover. In fact, he will design the whole trilogy.

Helen: I love that you are able to continue your series and yet twist it aorund completely. How did you come up with the book title?

Barb: Rise of the Hunter has a special meaning because in the third book of the series, The Tall Dark Man was thought to have been destroyed and we all know evil doesn’t die. This was a perfect way to bring back the villain, this time as the Main Character to his own trilogy!

Helen: What made you write this particular book?

Barb: I love Villains. I also wrote this book because of my readers. Originally, I planned to complete the Blood Prophecy Series with Queen’s Ascension (Book 3) and wrap that up so I can begin a new series. However, when over 150 readers sent emails wanting more – I continued the series while working on other brand new series, a movie project and other standalone books.

Helen: Isn’t that rewarding? When your readers are so invested in your characters that they want more. When did you realise you had a passion for writing?

Barb: I’ve always been a storyteller as a child. I loved to scare people with stories. It took my fourth-grade teacher to convince me to try putting these scary stories on paper and see what would happen. I did with my first story and about a month later; she had entered me in a newspaper contest for students and my short story won! I didn’t stop writing since then.

Helen: Congratulations! Thank goodness your teacher was so encouraging! Who is your favourite character from your book?

Barb: I love the villains in all my books. But, The Tall Dark Man is my favourite character.

Helen: Somehow, I am not surprised seeing as you are giving him his own trilogy of books! Which genre do you love writing?

Barb: I write Supernatural Thrillers/Horror/Dark Fantasy. I absolutely love the genre and can’t get enough.

Helen: When writing, what is one of the most useful resources you use?

Barb: Because my books take place in different locations, research is key. I don’t just rely on books and the internet to research locations and history; I travel a lot. If I can’t travel, I hire someone from the location to provide me the information I need.

Helen: Oh, lucky you. That’s so cool you get to go on research trips and explore the settings for your books. When writing do you plan every chapter or do your free write?

Barb: A pantser. I never know how a book starts or ends but I know the middle. Sounds strange I know, but I just write. Once I have my characters, I let them “talk” to me to tell me how the story will go. My mind is very overactive at times.

Helen: I tend to know the start and finish, but the middle can be torturous! What are you currently working on?

Barb: I have about 4 new books in progress right now. I write 3 or 4 at a time because that’s the only way my brain can function with this genre. I have the Curse of Mary, Devil Inside Me, Fate of an Angel and Hellhounds in progress. Curse of Mary is about a young woman who discovers that she is the long-lost daughter in a line of gypsies that sold their souls for wealth and power to a demon. Devil Inside Me is about a young woman who learns that not only was she adopted, but she is a descendant of one of H.H.Holmes’ first victims. H.H.Holmes is America’s first serial killer, known for Murder Castle. Fate of an Angel is the second book in the second trilogy of Dark Prophecy Series in the Blood Prophecy world. Hellhounds is the second book in the Heaven and Hell Series.

Helen: Plenty to keep you busy then. Thank you so much for talking to us today. Just to close us out, could you share the best thing is that has happened to you since you began writing.

Barb: I am both self-published and traditionally published. Because of that, I have unique experiences that allowed me to launch Immortal Cravings with 10 other authors to help other authors succeed. Besides having my books out there, I think the best thing is really to help other authors and engaging with my readers at in person events. I do about 24 in person events a year, which includes bookstore signings, and through that, I really engage with my readers. I meet with them for coffee, go on trips. Some have asked to be my PA at events. It’s just a wonderful part of writing that gives me a thrill.

About the Author

Barb Jones

I was born in Hawaii, a place rich with culture and storytellers. As a little girl, scary tales about vampires, werewolves, angels, demons, and witches were my favorite kind — much to my mother’s dismay.

The scarier, the better.

My love for the supernatural never went away, even after moving to Seattle, far from Hawaii’s majestic beaches with unusual colors. Nothing compares to the landscapes of Maui, Lanai, or Oahu. But somehow, Seattle stole my heart anyway. It became the place where my love for stories took on a new form, in a book of my own: The Adventures of Little Arthur and Merlin the Magnificent. This book is for kids who love stories, just like I did.

Then I had an idea while sleeping.

One night, my mind began to work overtime. In a dream, I saw a unique storyline involving all the races and an epic battle of good versus evil. It was a modern day plot with a three thousand year old prophecy, The Blood Prophecy. I finished the first book in 2014, The Queen’s Destiny. Two years later, I released The Queen’s Enemy. The last book in the series, The Queen’s Ascension, arrives this year, 2020.

Today, I live in Florida with its beaches and sunshine. But I’m still a Seattle girl at heart. And so all my stories take place in the Northwest.

I always keep to my roots when I write.

Follow Barb:

Website

Purchase Barb’s book: Rise of the Hunter via Amazon

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 would like to find out about my books then sign up to my newsletter. If you enjoy epic fantasy then the award winning Sentinal series is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love 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.

Author Interview – Lisa Haden

Author of Unprecedented Times

Today, I am thrilled to be spending time with Science Fiction author Lisa Haden. She is joining me to talk to us about her debut book, Unprecedented Times.

Helen: Welcome Lisa. Thank you for joining me today. Tell us all about your book.

Lisa: My current (and debut) novel is called Unprecedented Times and it is the first book in the “Alternative History Trilogy”.

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

The world is changed

The pandemic spread, the death toll rose and nations banded together to combat the biggest biological threat since the Black Plague. Now, a fragile balance holds further tragedy at bay.

In this alternative history, follow the spread of the virus through the eyes of four characters, as they desperately seek a path towards a better future. At the World Health Organisation, Clara, a would-be scientist and faithful assistant to Dr Vicente, the Director-General, work tirelessly to alter humanity’s course. Meanwhile, Clara’s twin sister Rosa, along with her police officer fiancé Ben, fight to survive in a world far darker than it once was.

How far will people go to survive? Will we risk losing our humanity for the sake of humanity? Either way, millions will die in these Unprecedented Times…

A science fiction-dystopian story, containing elements of comedy and romance.

Unprecedented Times blends genuine data and statistics from the COVID-19 pandemic into fiction.

BOOK TROPES:

What-If
Alternative History
Dystopian
High Stakes
Lethal Virus
Ticking Clock
Multiple Points of View
Threat to Humanity
Second Chance Love

Helen: Your cover has two scenes on it, what were your thoughts behind the design and why did you choose this cover?

Lisa: The cover of Unprecedented Times is a reflection of the story itself. It is designed to echo a world torn in two, a world consisting of complete devastation and total isolation. These two worlds run in parallel to one another in the novel and it was important to me that this be mirrored in the cover. Without giving too much of the story away, in the book, the virus mutates and we have to decide what to do. Our choices are to do nothing and risk losing up to 70% of the world’s population, extract the infected to avoid further infection, or to eradicate the infected entirely to kill off the virus. This decision is made by the world leaders and it divides the world as we know it, this cover is a reflection of that division.

Helen: It an effective image. Why did you give your book that title? Is there a special meaning or back story about the title?

Lisa: The title Unprecedented Times came from the term that was overused during the pandemic by the media. Everyone called our experience of the pandemic unprecedented, telling us we were living in “unprecedented times”… it seemed to fit my story perfectly. I started writing this story when the virus very first broke out in China, I had a feeling it was going to be something big so when real life started following my story and people began terming it as an unprecedented time, it struck me that this was the perfect title. However, I didn’t expect the pandemic to have quite the impact it did, or go on for as long, in hindsight, everyone is sick of hearing this term now (myself included), if I could go back, I might choose to call it something different.

Helen: I think everyone was surprised by the impact and duration of the pandemic. Why did you decide to write this particular story?

Lisa: When the virus first broke out in China, I followed it closely, I had a feeling it was going to have a global impact. Meanwhile everyone around me was saying it wasn’t anything to worry about and wasn’t going to affect us at all. I remember thinking what if it does? What if the virus spreads? Or heaven forbid, what if the virus mutates into a more lethal strand? My over-active imagination took over and my story idea was formed in January, just a couple of weeks after the virus first broke out.
So I wrote this particular book because I had a story idea that was so vivid in my mind, I just had to put it down, but also because I was going through a difficult time in my personal life. I’d wanted to be an author since childhood and had many story ideas over the years, but I lacked confidence and never believed I was good enough to write and release a story people would actually enjoy.
At the time of writing this I was in a relationship that knocked what little confidence I did have out of me. For more than a decade, I was made to believe I was completely worthless and I wanted out of this unhappy relationship. However, due to the pandemic and being in lockdown with three young children, I was stuck in it. I saw my lack of confidence rubbing off onto my children and I felt like needed an escape from my miserable reality, so I decided to push myself out of my comfort zone and try to gain some confidence back by writing my first novel, if only to lead by example for my children’s sake.

Helen: There are so many hidden impacts from the pandemic, I am glad you found writing as a way to cope with a difficult situation. When did you realise you had a passion for writing?

Lisa: As a child, I would often write poems and short stories. I loved creating new worlds and expressing emotions through creative prose, just as I enjoyed reading and escaping into other people’s realities. I won my first award for writing when I was about 12 years of age, I wrote a poem for an anti-drugs campaign and it was selected as the winning poem in a competition running across all the schools in my region. Hundreds (if not thousands) of children submitted poems and mine was selected and it was a thrill for me, not to win, but to have my poem enjoyed by so many people.

Helen: Who inspired you to write? Was there someone specific in your life who set you on the writing path?

Lisa: The authors I read growing up who created worlds I would get lost in for hours at a time. Starting with children’s authors such as Roald Dahl and Beatrix Potter, leading into classic authors such as Shakespeare, the Bronte Sisters and George Orwell, and then an abundance of other authors, including Stephen King and Anne Rice.

Helen: Unprecedented Times is science fiction. Is this your prefered genre to write in?

Lisa: I have only released one book so far, a science fiction-dystopian novel. The genre was determined by the story idea I had. However, other story ideas I have had fall into other genres, mainly in the fantasy, science fiction and comedy genres, because these are the genres I prefer to read in.

Helen: Tell us a little about the protagnist of your book, and why you wrote them.

Lisa: I actually have four main characters in my book. When I first drafted the story idea I had one main character, but in reality, the virus impacted so many people in so many different ways, it made more sense to have the story written from different viewpoints. Writing the book this way allowed me to open up the story line even more, making it more personal, more touching and more dramatic. Having a leading scientist in the story gave me the opportunity to explain the science involved, to make the story more realistic. Having sisters in the story allowed me the chance to explore family values and the impact of the pandemic on families. While having a couple in the story enabled me to add romance into the story and explore romantic love, this couple work as a nurse and a police officer and this gave me the chance to show the impact of the virus on those working on the frontline. Writing the story from four viewpoints means that future generations (who didn’t live through the pandemic themselves) will have a better understanding what it was like to experience the pandemic first-hand.

Helen: That is so interesting, and must have been a challenge to keep all those POV’s straight. If one of your protagonists could answer this question, what would they say is the reason we hsoudl read your book?

Lisa: You should read this book because you need to know how bad the pandemic could have been. Yes, the pandemic was devastating, it impacted every person in the world and we lost millions of lives as a result… but it could have been so much worse. This book will make you question what you know, question your own morals and make you reflect on what you would do in what feels like an impossible situation. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will make you think, but most importantly, it will make you more appreciative of what you have and the people you have in your life.

Helen: Nice answer! Who is your favourite character in your book?

Lisa: Next question please… this is like asking me which of my children is my favourite (answer: whichever child is being the best behaved that day). Hmmm, if I had to choose my favourite character, it would probably be Ben. He is funny and loyal, caring and big-hearted, he has similar tastes in music and books as I do, and he’s kind of cute in a scruffy kind of way. I think in Ben I created the kind of man I could easily fall in love with, so this would probably make him my favourite, but I love all my characters in different ways, even the characters I’ve created that readers love to hate.

Helen: It is a bit of an unfair questions, and gets more difficult as you write more books! Are you working on anything else at the moment?

Lisa: My current WIP is called “New Normal” and it is the second book in the “Alternative History Trilogy”. It picks up where the last book finished, following the journey of the same four characters, answering questions from the first book, while raising more questions which will be answered in the final installation in the trilogy.

Helen: What is the most difficult part of writing for you?

Lisa: With the trilogy I am writing now, the hardest part (apart from finding the time to write) is research. My readers have all remarked that my story is scary because it could have been real, my story could actually have happened. To make the story believable I had to research and understand things like disease control, immunisations, viruses, pandemic spreads and responses to such events. I am not a natural scientist, so all of this was a massive learning curve for me. My story includes genuine facts and statistics, it was important to me that it feel as real as possible, so writing it involved hours upon hours of heavy research and a great deal of planning. The research and planning time took just as much time as writing the novel did, but I firmly believe it was worth it based on the feedback I’ve received from readers so far. The research for book two in the trilogy has taken just as much time, if not more (for reasons I can’t explain without giving away the story), so this has definitely been the most challenging part for me.

Helen: Research can be a veritable rabbit hole. One question leading to another. We writers’ learn a lot of useful and even more useless information! Let’s switch to talking about your writing process. You mentioned just know how much time research takes. How do you fit your writing into your everyday life?

Lisa: With great difficulty (insert crying laughing face here). I am a single mom of three (my children are 12, 8 and 4), my youngest (my son) is autistic and demands a lot of my attention. I am also a self-employed content writer and digital marketer (because I have to pay the bills).

On top of this I have an auto-immune disease (coeliac) and hypothyroidism, so when I do have a spare five minutes to myself, I am completely exhausted (I don’t often get more than 3 hours of undisturbed sleep). So I literally write when I get time.

My children spend time with their father on the weekends, so I catch up on my paid work and house jobs as quickly as I can and steal time for my creative work as and when I can. I would love to write creatively daily, but unfortunately, I have to prioritise real life. However, even when I am not able to sit and write, I still work on the story in my mind, developing the story and the characters, so that the story is like a movie playing in my mind and when I do find the time to write, it all just flows out of me.

Helen: The balance for writers can be difficult. We juggle so many things all at once. WIth such a busy life, do you find you have to plan everything you write, or do you let your writing take you where it will?

Lisa: I am a full-on planner, I have summaries and detailed plans for each of the three books. I have spreadsheets and character profiles, timelines for things character relationships… every detail of my book is planned out so that when it comes to writing the story, it’s a case of filling in the blanks. I do have to do some research along the way, if questions come up or I decide to include a quote for example, but for the most part, everything is planned.

Helen: Do you listen to music while you write?

Lisa: I can’t… I’ve tried this as I know this works for lots of other authors, but it just distracts me. I play keyboard, drums and I’m self-learning guitar, I also had years of singing lessons, so I can’t tune the music out, I instinctively listen to it… and end up typing out the lyrics I am hearing instead of my story, which isn’t great. If I do choose to listen to music (for example if I’m trying to drown out the noisy neighbours), it has to be something classical or instrumental, nothing with lyrics.

Helen: I’m the same, it has to be classical with no lyrics, though on rare occations I will play a cd on loop, and I do tune out the lyrics after a while. For you, already immersed in music I can believe it would be more difficult to tune it out. Do you suffer from writer’s block? And if so, do you have any tips on overcoming it?

Lisa: Play my drums, practice the vocals for my next song, make a cup of tea or a snack, or revisit my story plans. Basically I try to take a small break from writing the actually story itself and focus my mind on something else.

Helen: I love that you play drums. Must also be a way to relieve excess frustration. What is the best thing that has happened to you since you began writing?

Lisa: The feedback and love and support I have received from my readers and followers on social media and the boost in my confidence has been the best thing that has happened. After being told I was worthless and useless for so many years by someone who claimed to love me, I genuinely expected to be mocked and put down for my creative work (I was told I’m a f***ing idiot for thinking I can do it). I expected nothing but negative feedback, but in reality, I’ve received the exact opposite, I’ve received praise and accolades. This has massively boosted my confidence and both encouraged and inspired me to not just continue writing the next book in the trilogy, but to do achieve another dream even further out of my comfort zone, the dream of becoming a singer-songwriter. Since releasing my first book and receiving this support, I have released a number of songs (available on all major music streaming platform), I have been played on BBC radio, my vocals have featured on another musician’s songs, and I have even released my own GIF range which has almost 80 million views. I don’t think I would have had the confidence to do any of this if I hadn’t had so much support from my followers and readers.

Helen: Congratulations! It is so wonderful to hear about other writers successes, and that you are going from strength to strength. It is also an inspiration to others that writing started and encouraged you on your journey. We are coming to the end of time together and I really appreciate the time you spent chatting with us. Just to finish, what advice would you give aspiring writers?

Lisa: The only limits you have are the limits you impose on yourself. There will always be someone telling you that you can’t do something, that you shouldn’t even bother trying. But actually, they don’t know what you’re capable of, you don’t know what you’re capable of, unless you try! The only way you know for sure that you can’t achieve something is if you don’t try, so follow your dreams, dream big… hater’s gonna hate right? Prove those haters wrong!

About the Author

Lisa Haden

Lisa Haden, author of “Unprecedented Times” a sci-fi story, dystopian book and the first installment in the Alternative History Trilogy.

A singer/songwriter and lyricist, available to stream on all major music streaming platforms, played on BBC Radio Introducing Show and added to a BBC Sounds playlist.

Also an accidental GIF maker… in addition to being a self-employed content writer/digital marketer and most importantly, a single mom of three, plus two cats.

Follow Lisa:

Author Website

Instagram

Purchase Lisa’s book: Unprecedented Times via Amazon

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 would like to find out about my books then sign up to my newsletter. If you enjoy epic fantasy then the award winning Sentinal series is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love 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.

Author Interview – Amber Gabriel

Author of I & the Scaredy Cat

Today, I am thrilled to be spending time with Fantasy and Children’s book author Amber Gabriel. She is joining me to talk to us about her children’s book, I & The Scaredy Cat whihc relesed May 11th, 2024.

Helen: Welcome Amber. Congratulations on your new release. I love the title of your book, I & the Scaredy Cat. Tell us all about your book.

Amber: I & the Scaredy Cat is my second children’s book. Before I began this series, I had published five books in my low-heat medieval romance/ kingdom adventure series The Edge of the Sword. When my 4th grade students kept pestering me to write a book for them, I decided to write a first-person story that would appeal to all my students regardless of race or gender. In each installment, the MC uses a magical device to help solve a problem. In this case, a stray cat ends up in the garage needing food and shelter. Magical earbuds enable the MC to hear the cat’s thoughts. This leads to the MC having to make a difficult decision in a crisis that could affect the outcome of an important school tournament.

Helen: How wonderful that your students’ were eager for you to write for them. I hope they all enjoy it. What were your thoughts behind the cover?

Amber: Since this book is for my students, I asked a former student to design the cover. The MC’s parents are deployed, and boxes of the family’s belongings are stored in Aunt Mysti’s garage. The cover shows a cat’s eyes peering through a cardboard box with the title and author written in sharpie. The cover of I & the Magic Pen, the first book in the series, shows ink drawings on a sheet of notebook paper.

Helen: What a great idea and a clever cover. Why did you give your book that title? Is there a special meaning or back story about the title?

Amber: First off, the incorrect grammar is intentional. The protagonist is anonymous and never referred to by name or gender. By structuring the title this way, it draws attention to the fact that the main character is unnamed. It also lends itself easily to serialization. Although there is a magical item in this book like there was in the previous one, I & the Scaredy Cat aligns better with the themes than I & the Magic Earbuds

Helen: I have also been asked about the spelling of my book titles. I deliberately changed the spelling of Sentinel to Sentinal. I wanted the idea of a guardian, but not the reference to technology, so we writer’s adapt! Why did you decide to write this particular story?

Amber: Actually, it was inspired by a real life incident. We live out in the country, and a feral cat took up residence in our garage for about a month. During that time, I fed it and provided a litter box and water dish. I saw it three times, barely. It was orange and tailless. When the weather warmed up, it disappeared. The themes from the book arise from years of interactions with students and children of military families. Parents are a child’s primary role model, and children can be very heroic as they attempt to live up to their parents’ examples.

Helen: When did you realise you had a passion for writing?

Amber: I’ve been writing stories in my head for as long as I can remember. As a child, I told myself stories to fall asleep once I had to turn the lights out and stop reading. My family would make storytelling into a game on long car rides. However, I didn’t start writing these stories down until a few years ago. I’d been having trouble with insomnia and started typing out my ideas during bouts of sleeplessness. I eventually discovered I had narcolepsy, but in the meantime, I finished a complete novel and decided I loved writing.

Helen: Who inspired you to write? Was there someone specific in your life who set you on the writing path?

Amber: I was homeschooled for most of my elementary years, and my mom modeled the writing process for me. She wrote stories for me and my siblings and bound them together for us to read. Then she would make my stories into a “book.” I still have one I must have written when I was six or seven. My dad self-published a book, and I helped him bind them on a mechanical binder. My grandmother wrote books and drove her motorhome all over the United States selling them. I come from a family of avid readers and writers, so I suppose it was inevitable.

Helen: Congratulations on picking up that pen and writing your own stories and on the release of your latest book. It’s been wonderful chatting with you. Just to finish, could you share with us what the best thing that has happened to you since you began writing?

Amber: The absolutely best thing that has happened since I started writing is that my students have become inspired to write. Getting students to read and write can be difficult, but when I read to them from my children’s book and explained my process, they couldn’t wait to write their own stories. In the beginning, their work emulated mine, but by the end of the year, they had found their own voices. One of my nine-year-old students wrote a ten thousand word book called If a Zombie Apocalypse Happened at School. I “published” it for her and gave all my students a copy. Then everyone’s stories started to sound like hers. It was so great.

About the Author

Amber Gabriel

Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved to read. One of the first books I remember reading was a Wonder Book version of Cinderella. It was in the reading station in my kindergarten class, and I loved the illustrations. I would pick that book out every time, so my teacher finally removed it from the shelf to force me to expand my horizons. Now I have my own copy.

Another book that influenced me very early on was Richard Scarry’s Busy, Busy World. It told a story of two creative painters who painted a mural of a large sun inside someone’s house. I thought the idea was genius, so I drew a large sunshine on my wall with crayon. It was scrubbed off, but I continued to have a desire to express myself artistically.

In middle school, I enjoyed writing, and my English teacher told me I would write a book someday. I loved to read, sometimes reading late into the night. When I was not reading, I was making up stories in my head for my own amusement, but I never wrote them down. I was more interested in drawing and painting than writing. I have since painted numerous works of art, including some very large outdoor murals. You can see some of them if you do an internet search of Paint by Amber.

Over the years, I have had a lot of trouble with insomnia. I had heard that if you write down your ideas, it will help you to be able to go to sleep. That didn’t help, but I did end up writing some complete novels. Recently, I was diagnosed with narcolepsy, and understanding my sleep patterns, along with scheduling at least one nap during the day, has greatly improved my quality of life. The line between dreaming and wakefulness for me is sometimes blurred, and some of my ideas come straight from my dreams. Others are worked out while I’m lying in bed unable to sleep. It was fun to type them out, and I am planning to continue writing. My goal as an author is to write the type of books that I would like to read. My favorite genre is fantasy fiction, and I read and write books that tackle difficult issues but resolve themselves into a happy ending. I hope you enjoy my stories and characters as much as I do. If you search my name and the word ‘author,’ you should be able to find my social media site. I look forward to hearing from you!

Follow Amber:

Author Website

Purchase Amber’s book: I & the Scaredy Cat via Amazon

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.

Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.

Author Interview – Christina Consolino

Author of The Weight We Carry

Today, I am thrilled to be spending time with contemporary fiction author Christina Consolino. She is joining me to talk to us about her book, The Weight We Carry.

Helen: Welcome Christina. Tell us all about your book.

Lyndi: The Weight We Carry is a work of contemporary fiction that focuses on family dynamics, sibling relationships, and aging parents. Set in summer 2015, it tells the story of the Raffaelo family as they navigate multiple health crises. Marissa, the only daughter, feels overwhelmed about the unwanted responsibility of maintaining her Dad’s health while juggling work and her own family. When she takes time to listen to and observe both her parents, she recognizes that not everything is as it seems with respect to their health: her Dad’s weak legs are a problem, but her mother’s memory loss might be even more pressing to address.

The book centers on the timeframe before a dementia diagnosis and gives an inside look at what adult children who are part of the sandwich generation grapple with in terms of balancing responsibilities for their parents with responsibilities for their own families. It also serves to paint a portrait of what one family’s caregiving journey looks like.

Helen: An important topic which impacts everyone in the family. What were your thoughts behind the cover?

Christina: I worked with trusted cover designer Kim Wilson of Kiwi Cover Design Co. for the cover. Red is important to the story, as is the butterfly, and I wanted some sort of fade effect because the book deals with dementia and the fading of memories. Other than those criteria, I went ahead and trusted Kim to do a fabulous job, and her cover really captures the essence of the book. It has weight without feeling too heavy.

Helen: Why did you give your book that title? Is there a special meaning or back story about the title?

Christina: From the moment of the book’s inception, I referred to it as The Chocolate Garden. That title referenced the candy that one of the characters makes (she’s a confectioner by trade). However, the book deals with multiple health crises, including dementia, as well as parent and sibling dynamics. It’s a story of love, loss, and grief. That title did not serve the story well.

At some point before I queried my publisher I looked toward one of my favorite poets, Mary Oliver. Her poetry always speaks to me, and I knew that one of her poems about grief might inspire me. Well, I did. One of her poems–“Heavy”–deals with grief and how one carries it. The Weight We Carry encompasses the themes of the book and the feelings of the characters very well.

Helen: It is facinating understanding the reasoning and thought that goes behind a cover and title. Dementia and the dealing with the fallout can be quite difficult and it is also a ‘weighty’ topic. Why did you decide to write this particular story?

Christina: The Weight We Carry is based on my experiences with my family during the summer of 2015, when my parents faced multiple major health crises. Though the crises mainly involved my father, a series of events eventually led to a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s for my mother. As a fiction writer, I like to entertain, but as a teacher, education is always at the back of my mind. With this book, much like my others, I wanted to do both. So much is written about what comes after a diagnosis, the trials and tribulations families need to face, the hurdles they must jump. I wanted to show how challenging, and quite frankly, disheartening, the prediagnosis stage can be. I also wanted to let readers know that denial can be an enormous part of the dementia journey, and to take heart—if we got through it, they could too.

Despite how difficult it was, at times, to imagine sharing that story, I’m glad I did. Readers have mentioned how much they relate to the characters or how heartbreaking the story is. That they’ve been through something similar or can see the same things happening in their families. It means a lot to me that my work can help someone else.

Helen: That must have been quite difficult to write at times, but also I believe writing is a form of release. Are you working on anything else?

Chrisina: I often work on multiple projects simultaneously. My third novel of contemporary fiction is titled The Marriage Debt. I usually take on some mental or physical health issue, and this time, it’s menopause. The main character, Nika Stewart, is finding menopause more than she bargained for, especially in terms of her lack of libido, and she’s on a quest to find some balance there while reestablishing a connection to her husband. I also write romance under a pen name (Keely Stephens), and I’m revising the third book in my first series.

Helen: Goodness, that must keep you busy! How do you fit all that writing into your everyday life?

Christina: With four kids, an aging dad I visit every day, and a day job that doesn’t involve writing novels, I have to schedule time to write. I’m an early bird, so getting up at 5:00 has become standard practice for me. I usually get in a good 30-minute session right away in the morning, and then I try to get in at least another before I move onto teaching. I also set aside Tuesday mornings for writing, and I meet with a friend—sometimes in person, sometimes remotely—and we push each other to get as much accomplished as we can in our allotted time. Having said that, I find that sometimes, I only have 15 minutes to spend on writing at a time, and that’s okay. Over the course of a day, 15-minute chunks can and do add up. The main thing to remember is that if you want to write, you will make the time to do so.

Helen: You are an inspiration to all writers, and just shows if you are determined, you will find a way. What is the most useful tool you’ve found when writing?

Christina: Other people! I have two writing groups, each of which serve different purposes. The Plot Sisters swap pages and give feedback, which is integral to the writing process. My books would not come together without their feedback. The constructive critique they give shapes the narrative and helps me see things I miss. The Cute City Bitches (there’s a story behind the name there, but that’s for another day) meet to write, sometimes in short bursts of an hour or two and sometimes for entire weekends. The positive energy there allows my books to grow from a kernel of an idea to a full-fledged novel.

Both groups serve as means of support too. If I need a brainstorming session, help with a plot point, or advice on the best color for a cover, these ladies step up. Finding people who can help you navigate the muddy waters of publishing is crucial!

Helen: I think having others as a sounding board helps to crystallize thoughts. Just as a fresh set of editing eyes find errors our eyes just flow over. When writing do you ever experience self-doubt, or think your writing isn’t good enough? and if so, how do you overcome it?

Christina: For me, this is where the readers make a huge difference. It doesn’t matter how long it took to see my book come to fruition, how many revision passes I had to do, or how many agents skipped over the opportunity to help find the story a home. When a reader says that my work resonates with them and they’ve recommended it to their friends and family, my heart sings, which helps push away the self-doubt. At the end of the day, I want my story to connect with readers, and if it does that, then I know I need to keep writing.

Helen: When writing, do you listen to music?

Christina: When I first started out, I did not listen to music. I thought it would distract me from the words that needed to flow. As I’ve evolved as a writer, so has my practice, and now, I listen to an instrumental (piano only) version of Taylor Swift’s Red when I write. Swift is an incredible writer, and that album is my favorite of hers. Since there are no lyrics, I don’t focus on her words, only mine, and I find that the rhythm of the music helps me enter whatever world I’m writing about that day.

Helen: Have you come across any good writing advice you’d like to share with aspiring writers?

Christina: Not all advice will resonate with everyone, but I’ll give you my two cents. Read widely. Take notes. Heed the advice of the people who came before. Don’t be afraid to experiment. Understand that first drafts will always seem shitty—the magic will come in revision. Make time for writing. Don’t just talk about writing; do it. Find yourself a good support system. Take advantage of resources. Have confidence in yourself and your abilities. Have fun.

Helen: Such great advice, thank you for sharing. It’s been so such fun chatting with you and learning about your writing journey. Was there anything else you’d like to add?

Christina: My mother always wanted to be a writer. She never shared that dream with anyone, and I didn’t find out until I was cleaning out her house after we moved her into a memory care facility. She didn’t have the support, confidence, or courage to fulfill her dream, and I often reflect on all the unrealized potential that was lost, first with her dementia diagnosis and then with her passing. I don’t mention this to be maudlin or gain sympathy. I want people to understand that personal dreams are important, and working toward those dreams is something to strive for. It may take months, years, or even decades to get where you want to be, but hard work, determination, and perseverance often pay off. Define your dream and go for it!

About the Author

Christina Consolino

A graduate of the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) with a BA in French and PhD in physiology, Christina taught college-level anatomy and physiology for close to twenty years before concentrating her passion on writing and editing. She’s the author of Rewrite the Stars and The Weight We Carry, and she’s co-author of Historic Photos of University of Michigan. She lives in Kettering,Ohio, with her husband, four children, and a rotating cast of pets.

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Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.

Author Interview – Lyndi Allison

Author of The Winter Hexagon trilogy

Today, I am thrilled to be spending time with YA Science fantasy author Lyndi Allison. She is joining me to talk to us about her latest book, the third book in The Winter Hexagon trilogy, Our Journeys Among the Stars.

Helen: Welcome Lyndi. Congratulations on completing the Winter Hexagon trilogy. Tell us all about Our Journeys Among the Stars.

Lyndi: Our Journeys Among the Stars completes The Winter Hexagon Trilogy, the second part of a double trilogy that makes a six book series. Teleporting one more time to a planet light years away, astronomy geek, Jas, and artsy, Gloria, find themselves with growing feelings for one another as they continue to search for the seeds to save his mom’s life. On their journey, the they encounter a mystic healer, a crazed inventor, and an angry Poseidon, all with their own plans for Jas and Gloria. With the help of street kids, the teens and their robot sidekick enter a labyrinth where they battle monsters and a bull-headed Minotaur. Can they defeat their enemies, find the last seeds, and make it home in time to save Jas’ mom?

Helen: It sounds like an action packed tale and plenty for Jas and Gloria to contend with. What were your thoughts behind the cover?

Lyndi: Since young adult readers like a picture of the main characters, this cover features both of my protagonists. I also wanted to share the Acropolis where a good part of the story occurs. I used transportation as characters in this trilogy and in Our Journey Among the Stars, Jas and Gloria consider taking a hot air balloon from Athens to Crete where they hope to enter the labyrinth and fight the Minotaur. Due to the unstableness of a crazed inventor and his hot air balloon contraption he wants the teens to test, they have second thoughts and end up in trouble with the inventor.

Helen: Why did you give your book that title? Is there a special meaning or back story about the title?

Lyndi: Jas and Gloria start out as rivals with competing points of view but over the course of six books, they teleport to six different planets and become friends with a possible love interest. In the first trilogy, The Summer Triangle Trilogy, they rescue alien children from formidable foes. In the second trilogy, The Winter Hexagon Trilogy, they search for the seeds to heal Jas’ mom’s cancer. The stars, the constellations they give shape to, and the Greek mythological stories they tell all play into the story. In book one, Gloria asks if artists stay behind to draw the lines between the stars and by the last book they have travelled into their galaxy to new planets where they see many new stars with new stories.

Helen: What made you write this particular series of books for YA audiences?

Lyndi: While stargazing and storytelling around a campfire, something made the children and teens share the grief they carried. I was struck by how challenging it is to help youth who grieve and how sharing stories gave them a chance to see themselves and express their losses. I was inspired to write The Summer Triangle Trilogy and The Winter Hexagon Trilogy in which Jas grieves the loss of a baby sister and Gloria her father as a starting point for discussion about processing grief. I also wanted to share the challenges adults face as they try to help their kids grieve while grieving themselves.

Helen: What a great inspiration for your books. Congratulations on completing this double trilogy. Having completed your YA Science Fantasy series, would you consider writing in a diffferent genre?

Lyndi: While my six-book series (two trilogies), The Summer Triangle Trilogy and The Winter Hexagon Trilogy are young adult science fantasy, I felt compelled to write an adult psychological thriller on a sensitive subject matter. Although this is a new genre for me , I have a middle-grade point of view character so there is a little bit of a carry over.

Helen: Oh, tell us more about your WIP. It must be difficult to leave behind characters and a series you have been writing for period of time and start something new?

Lyndi: My current work is a big switch for me. Instead of writing young adult fantasy, I am writing an adult psychological thriller on the sensitive subject matter of trafficking young girls. Part of my writing process involves listening to workshops to improve my writing craft in this genre and reading psychological thrillers. My story is told mostly from three women’s alternating points of view, one of whom is middle-grade. The story is a little heavy to carry at times and when I need a break I walk or hike in nature.

Helen: My goodness that is a heavy topic, and one you need to be careful to get right. Very different from your previous books. Do you find you have to plan your books, or do you prefer to write where the charcaters take you?

Lyndi: I consider myself a plantser (part panster, part planner) in that I both write from the seat of my pants and also fill in the action points in a three-act structure chart so my story follows a cohesive structure. I didn’t pause to fill in this chart while writing my first book and I went off on too many tangents. My book became unwieldy and challenging to edit. How much I freefall write and how much I plan depends on the book. I see it as a scale that I slide back and forth along as needed for each book.

Helen: Do you ever experience writer’s block, and if so, how do you overcome it?

Lyndi: Typically, I don’t experience writer’s block. Since I host two online writing sessions a week and one in-person in which I also write, I am constantly surprised by what appears on the page. The prompts in these workshops and the creative energy of writing together keep me writing. Sometimes I write something new or other times I write a scene from my work in progress. Not that I don’t rest or take a break, but when I am ready to begin again, these workshops are my vehicles for doing so. My other passion is walking and hiking in nature.

Helen: What is your favourite book and why do you like it so much?

Lyndi: I am a huge fan of Contact by Carl Sagan. I appreciate how he gives time to both science and spirituality and how he opens up the possibility and likelihood that there may be ideas bigger than ourselves that we don’t yet understand.

Helen: Thank you so much for joining me today. It’s been lovely learning about your books. Just to finish, could you share with us the best part of your writing journey?

Lyndi: In addition to writing my books, I offer writing workshops and retreats in natural spaces in Panama. My writing passion, combined with the writing passion of others, creates a rich community of writers who inspire, encourage and educate one another on all things writing, editing, publishing, and marketing. We celebrate book launches together as well as critique and beta read each other’s reads.

About the Author

Lyndi Allison

As a tween, Lyndi walked miles to borrow books from the bookmobile and found quiet places to read them. Now she writes stories for young readers and helps other writers with their writing projects.

A retired high school teacher, mother of three adult children, and community youth volunteer, Lyndi moved with her husband to Panama where she hosts writing workshops, tours and retreats in nature and at Tranquilo Retreat. Many of her ideas come to her as she walks the beach and hikes in the mountains.

While stargazing around a campfire, many children and teens shared the grief they carried. Lyndi was struck by how challenging it is to help youth who grieve and was inspired to write the Summer Triangle Trilogy.

Follow Lyndi:

Author Website.

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Purchase Lyndi’s book: Our Journeys Among the Stars via Amazon

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.

Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.

Author Interview – Sonja F. Blanco

Author of Witch of Ware Woods trilogy

Today, I am thrilled to be spending time with paranormal fantasy author Sonja F. Blanco. She is joining me to talk to us about her latest book, the third in the Witch of Ware Woods series, Spells and Shadows, which released on the April 16th, 2024.

Helen: Welcome Sonja. Congratulations on the release of your latest book. Tell us all about Spells and Shadows.

Sonja: My latest book is Spells & Shadows, book 3 in the Witch of Ware Woods trilogy. It just released on April 16^th, 2024, and I am SO excited for readers to fall in love with this final installment! It’s an action-packed, magical ride with huge revelations and all the feels.

To give context to this latest book and the trilogy as a whole, here’s a brief overview:

The WoWW trilogy is an upper YA, contemporary paranormal story with coming-of-age and hero’s journey elements. There is a B-story romance that is palpable, on page, and nongraphic.

The Main Character is Sara, and the narration is third person CLOSE, single POV.

Witch of Ware Woods (book 1) is about Sara finding herself and who she really is. It is about CHOICE.

Death & Dragons (book 2) is about Sara coming into her role. It is about TRUST in yourself and others.

Spells & Shadows (book 3) is about Sara embracing what she is capable of. It is about BELIEVING in yourself.

Ahhhh! Can you tell how excited I am?! Bwahaha!

Here’s the blurb for Spells & Shadows:

A forbidden spell.
An evil forged by shadows.
And a defiance that will bring the magical world to its knees.

Sara is reeling from a twisted betrayal and her unexpected part in increasing the Shadow Mother’s strength. Now she is forced to trust the secretive Global Council to vanquish the wicked entity. Except Sara isn’t one to place her fate in the hands of others.

When her intentions go horribly awry and dissent fractures the Global Council, Sara scrambles to convince the individual sacred sites of witches, shifters, and vampires to set aside centuries of deep-rooted distrust and join Ware Woods against the growing darkness. But not everyone believes in Sara.

Needing to stop the Shadow Mother before she claims Thomas, Sara risks everything on a bloody spell for knowledge—and discovers a fiery revelation.

As Ware Woods shatters around her and the safety of everyone she loves hangs in the balance, Sara must do the inconceivable. Become the sacrifice.

Helen: Ohhh, High stakes from the off! I can see why you are excited. What were your thoughts behind the cover?

Sonja: Each book in the Witch of Ware Woods trilogy features a different tree on its cover – a tree whose presence is woven into the story. For Spells & Shadows, it is the cherry tree.
Like falling sand in an hourglass, the tumbling blossoms symbolize the running-out-of-time tension as Sara races to defeat the Shadow Mother and save Thomas (her bonded mate) and the magical world. No pressure!
Although cherry blossoms are usually pink or white, I’m not a pinky kinda person and neither is Sara. Hence, the tree on Spells & Shadows is purple – a pinky compromise AND a symbol of nobility, power, peace, and magic.
The wispy “shadows” in the background signify the villains and are the same blues as on the book 1 cover, signifying the story coming full circle. The white speckles, consistent on all the covers, are glimmerings of magic.
On the paperback and hardcover versions, there is a “special” blue dragon. *non-spoilery, wink wink*

Helen: It is really interesting to find out about the details behind the cover design. I love the range of trees you’ve used and the reason behind them, and we’ll be looking out for that dragon! Who is your protagonist and why did you write them?

Sonja: The Witch of Ware Woods trilogy’s protagonist is Sara, an eighteen-year-old witch who is a hot mess of self-doubt, recklessness, kickassery, humor, and fierce independence. Her inner dialogue is relatable, and her growth is inspiring. She is a reflection of all of Ware Woods (and I do mean ALL) and her voice was the loudest in telling this story. It has always been Sara’s story to tell.

Helen: She sounds amazing. Which genre do you write in?

Sonja: I write fantasy because I love the wonder, the escape, the “what if” imagined worlds were real, and the freedom that comes with writing whatever fantastical story comes to my mind. And because I believe magic is real. It is hope, it is laughter, it is enjoying a delightful book, and so much more. I love being able to provide this escape to readers.

Helen: From what you’ve said, this Witch of Ware Woods is a trilogy, so if this series is complete, tell us about what are you working on next?

Sonja: Sure! My current WIP is a rivals-to-lovers story set in a multi-layered world with a rich mix of gritty and lush elements. Inspirations for this work include Dante’s Inferno, the Day of the Dead, and the Tree of Life.

Helen: That sounds a very interesting mixture. Can’t wait to see what you write! When writing do you listen to music? Create playlist for your books?

Sonja: Listening to music is a big part of my writing. I like to mentally write while taking long walks and listening to my playlist. This way, my monkey brain is occupied on not tripping while my creative brain takes the story in a number of directions before deciding on which is best for the story. My playlist is mostly a mix of rock, metal, and some alternative. For particular scenes or moods, I may listen to a specific song (usually on repeat) to immerse myself in the vibe.

Once I have a scene mentally written, I prefer to type it up in silence or with non-verbal white noise in the background. For the WoWW trilogy, I listened to a lot of ambient forest sounds.

Helen: I tend to write with clasisc music in the background, though sometimes silence works too. When you look back over your writing career, what is the best thing to happen you?

Sonja: The best thing that happened to me since I began writing was finding this incredible bookish community. Just – wow. I am truly grateful for all the amazing readers and writers I have connected with – online, in social media, and in real life. To gush over the same books and characters and scenes, to share recommendations and resources, and to genuinely connect through a love of story is priceless.

Helen: Thank you so much for joining me today. It’s been lovely learning about your books. Was there anything else you’d like to share before we finish?

Sonja: While the WoWW trilogy is fantasy, there are many real-world influences on the story. For example, the setting of Ware, Massachusetts does exist. I spent a portion of my childhood traipsing the woods near this town. More on this and other real-life influences on the trilogy are addressed in an Author’s Note at the end of Spells & Shadows.

About the Author

Sonja F. Blanco

Sonja F. Blanco grew up in New England where she ran barefoot through the woods, chased lightning bugs, and tapped maple trees for syrup.

Having an ancestor who was hung as a witch, Sonja is naturally drawn to all things magical and fantastical—trees and cemeteries in particular.

At 5’2” she is often caught climbing tables, chairs, and small children to reach the upper shelves. She likes coffee and tea equally, both of which most certainly contributed to her diminutive stature.

Witty comics easily amuse her, as do heavily jowled Hell Hounds that talk in their sleep.

She writes fantasy as if it were real, because believing makes it so.

Follow Sonja:

Author Website.

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Purchase Sonja’s book: Spells and Shadows via Amazon

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 would like to find out about my books then sign up to my newsletter. If you enjoy epic fantasy then the award winning Sentinal series is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fiction? 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.

Author Interview – C.T Moshage

Author of November’s Dawn

I am excited to be chatting with debut YA fantasy author C.T Moshage about his new book, November’s Dawn which releases today April 9th, 2024. Congratulations, Chris, on releasing your debut novel. Such a great achievement.

Helen: Welcome Chris. I am so excited to talk to you about your debut book. Tell us all about it!

Chris: November’s Dawn is a YA speculative fiction novel that centres around a young engineer, Josie Owens, as she tries to find her place in a chaotic and desperate world where humanity has been forced to abandon the surface and live aboard a massive underwater ark.

The setting as well as the plot allowed for several themes to become entangled throughout the novel. The duality and burden of leadership is something I have always been fascinated by and in the novel, one of the characters spends a lot of time exploring what leadership means to him and the weight he carries knowing that the fate of humanity rests on his shoulders. Later in the novel, Josie must wrestle and come to terms with some of the same concepts while also trying desperately to stay true to herself and her values.

That reality and the conflicts that created it start to blur the line between right and wrong, provoking a deeper look into what it means to lead.

Synopsis: Years after the mysterious death of her father, sixteen-year-old Josie Owens wants nothing more than to carry on his legacy as an engineer aboard November’s Dawn. This colossal walking ark has travelled the bottom of the oceans carrying the last remnants of humanity after an all-consuming flood. But Josie’s dreams drown when she discovers the secret her father died for: the ark was never meant to stay submerged.

This knowledge makes Josie, and those she loves, an instant target to those who would sacrifice anything to keep the status quo from changing and to those who want nothing more than to upend the firm hierarchy. At the same time, a glitch in the navigation system sends November’s Dawn directly toward a miles deep trench.

Faced with a multitude of challenges, Josie wonders if pursuing her father’s last wishes is worth the cost. Corruption and injustice permeate the last vestiges of humanity, but what if the great unknown of the world above is worse than their fragile existence below? If she follows her father’s vision, the ark could be destroyed on the surface. If she follows the rebels, revolution could tear the ark apart from within.

One way or another, Josie is the only one with the knowledge to make the final decision. If she makes the wrong one, not only will the ark fail, but the last spark of humanity will fade into darkness.

Helen: Sounds like a really intriguing premise, and I love that you have a young woman as your protagonist, struggling with the complexities of leadership. How did you translate this struggle for the book into the cover?

Chris: The cover of November’s Dawn conveys a couple messages. The dark theme and tone immediately place the viewer in the setting of the novel, aboard an ark that walks along the bottom of the ocean. There is no light at the bottom of the ocean, no air to breathe, no room for even the smallest mistake. It is an existence that clings to the edge of a cliff in the best of times and that reflects the dire situation that humanity is in when the novel begins. The crack in the viewing port adds suspense and a sense of urgency to Josie’s mission. The problems and issues that have plagued the ark for decades can’t be ignored any longer. The only choice left is to face them head on or risk the end of humanity.

Helen: I’m so glad you drew our attention to the crack in the glass! It does suggest an immediate threat and increases the tension! What is the meaning behind the book title?

Chris: The title, November’s Dawn, which is the name of the ark humanity resides on, comes from certain plot points from within the universe of the story itself. A global catastrophe struck earth and made the surface uninhabitable. The eleventh hour came in the month of November and the ark was constructed as a new dawn and salvation for the human race.

Helen: With November’s Dawn being your debut novel, what made you write this particular book?

Chris: I have always been intrigued by the constructs and engineering feats capable when the best and brightest minds come together to create something incredible. November’s Dawn was born out of that fascination and the lengths people would go to save themselves in the face of certain destruction. Also, as mentioned above, the plot and setting allowed me to explore themes of duty, family, loyalty, and finding one’s place in the world in a really interesting and satisfying way.

Helen: Who was your favourite character to write in November’s Dawn?

Chris: My favourite character from November’s Dawn would have to be Adrian Frost. He is the leader of the current government aboard the ark and without giving up too much, comes to odds with Josie Owens in a few different ways. Adrian is a troubled character. He feels a great weight and burden to his people but struggles with finding the right balance between what we might call a good leader, and one who resorts to authoritarian means, even if in his mind it is all for a noble purpose.

Helen: When did you realise you had a passion for writing?

Chris: For a long time, I was caught up in the idea of writing a book or becoming a writer, but I never put any work towards it or always convinced myself that being an author was something I could see in others, but I would never or didn’t have the right “stuff”. I always had other projects and creative outlets going on so coupled with my own self-doubt, I just never seriously tried to write. That was until the pandemic struck which freed more time for me to explore hobbies and interests. It was in that moment I decided I was going to put my mind to it and complete a story. And I did – a 100,000-word YA fantasy novel that will likely never see the light of day unless some major revisions take place. But that was my first foray into the writing world, and I value it for the lessons it taught me about story creation, plot, action, and all the other little bits that go into making a story worthwhile.

Helen: Let’s change topics slightly and chat about your writing process. Which element of the writing process do you find the most challenging?

Chris: I find I have some trouble writing under deadlines. Inspiration has to strike me. I have to be ready and open to it. And if I’m at a point in time where life and other factors aren’t allowing that to happen, it becomes very difficult for me to overcome that. It’s a process, and one I’m still working on.

Helen: Sometimes we put ourselves under unnecessary pressure and that does tend to stifle creativity. With this being your debut book, did you plan every part of the novel, or did you make it up as you went? Are you a Pantser or a plotter?

Chris: My process centres very much around having a core concept and plot and like the spokes of a wheel, everything else radiates out from that. In that way, I’m a pantser. I’ve often found I don’t know the direction the plot will go or what a particular character will do until I’m in the moment with them and they dictate the outcome.

Helen: If you didn’t write YA Fantasy is there another genre you would be tempted to write in?

Chris: I grew up reading young adult novels and feel the most comfortable and at home within the genre. However, I’ve often toyed with the idea of writing a detective thriller novel, even if I have no experience in the genre. Here’s the premise: A returning war veteran-turned private eye navigates the tumultuous and ever-changing post-war streets of 1950’s Los Angeles and uncovers a tangled web of secrets and the macabre within the chilling halls of the Cecil Hotel.

Helen: Oh, you have an idea already! We’ll be looking out for it, but if you are not writing a detective novel, what is your current WIP?

Chris: My current work in progress is actually the second novel in the November’s Dawn Chronicles. This is the first time I’ve worked on a story that was the continuation of another, so it has been a learning experience so far, but still fun. The characters in November’s Dawn have so much more life to give, all that’s left is for me to convince them to share it with the world.

Helen: Most authors are massive readers. What are some of the books you recently read and would recommned?

Chris: I did not read this book recently but within the last few years, but Project Hail Mary is a novel I’d recommend to any fan of the science fiction genre. Andy Weir creates a perspective of space travel and finding life in the universe unlike anything I had experienced before. In my opinion, the novel creates a paradigm shift in how humans perceive extraterrestrial life while keeping a sense of thoughtfulness that keeps the reader grounded. It’s that sort of thinking that I believe all writers should aspire to.

Helen: Thank you so much for joining me today, Chris. Just to close us out, do you have any advice for all those aspiring authors out there?

Chris: When I first started writing, I sought out all the resources I could. A lot of that came in the form of podcasts and author interviews. Something I heard time and time again in those interviews was how that specific author had written a couple books or so before the one that got them a publishing deal. Those authors would often talk about how bad their first book ended up being even if they couldn’t see it at the time. Those comments always bugged me. As a new writer with just the bones of a single story, I felt attacked by the idea that an author’s first or second manuscript would not be the greatest. I thought, “maybe for them, but not my story. My manuscript is awesome.” There was no doubt in my mind at the time that my first manuscript would get an agent and get published. It never did. It took me a long time to realize but I think the reason why I felt so personally victimized by those statements was because some part of me was scared that I was wasting my time. Or that if the world didn’t like my manuscript now, I might never have another story worth telling.

My advice is this: don’t fall into that same trap I did. You will have another story, even if your first one doesn’t pan out. The process and what you learn along the way is what will make you a sustained writer.

Helen: Great advice. Thank you for sharing that with us. It has been a lot of fun learning about you and your book. Congratulations again on releasing your debut YA fantasy novel.

About the Author

C.T Moshage

Chris Moshage is a Chicago based author of science fiction & fantasy. His debut Young Adult science fiction novel, November’s Dawn, will release April 9^th, 2024 and is the first instalment of a planned trilogy.

The short story, Chasing the Dawn, explores the origins of the trilogy’s world and is available now to download for free. Chris didn’t start writing seriously until his early 20’s, but when he finally did, he eagerly embraced it and hasn’t turned away since. When he’s not immersed in reading or writing, two vital elements of his life as an author, Chris enjoys playing tennis, exploring the many worlds of video games, and navigating the skies flying drones, even if his aerial footage is mostly appreciated by himself

Follow Chris:

Author Website Discover the origins of the November’s Dawn universe in my short story, Chasing the Dawn, available for free download on my website when you subscribe to my newsletter.

Instagram

Purchase Chris’s book: November’s Dawn via Amazon – also available on Kindle Unlimited.

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 the award winning Sentinal series is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fiction? 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.