Goodness, July has been a busy month for my writing journey. A month of firsts! I was a guest on BBC Radio Berkshire on July 17th, talking about my books and attended the Bracknell Book Fair at the Easthampstead Works on July 20th, where I gave my first ever formal live Author talk.
I was up early on wednesday, though not as early as Paul Coia the host of the BBC Radio Berkshire Breakfast show, thank goodness. I am typically a night owl, and early mornings and I do not mesh!
I met the Bracknell Book Fair organiser and fellow Fantasy author, Emma Williams, at the radio studio in Reading, and we were live guests on the breakfast show. It was a great experience and the team were very welcoming.
We talked about the Book Fair and my writing journey, and you can find the recording on my press and events page.
I then went on to the Bracknell book fair at the Easthampstead works, which was a great venue and spent all day chatting about books. There were 20+ plus authors in attendence and it was a really well organised.
At 1pm I was off to the Bracknell Library to give my first ever live author talk which went really well, and I had lots of wonderful questions, and I must admit I could have talked for an hour instead of my allotted 30 minutes.
And then back to my table to meet more readers and talk books, books, books! Such fun, and the day flew by!
And then, home to soak in a bath and early bedtime! I was exhausted. But it was well worth it.
I was also a guest on two blogs in July, you can find my interviews here:
Want to know more and follow my journey? Then make sure you sign up to my newsletter below.
If you enjoy epic fantasy then check out my award winning Sentinal series, which is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love my SoulMist series, start with SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fantasy? Then try Harmony. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.
Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator). You can withdraw your consent at any time. The data will be processed until the consent is withdrawn.
This week I am chatting to Ben Schenkman about his latest release in the The Devil You Know series, Dueling Shoulder Angels.
Helen: Welcome Ben. Congratulations on your new release. I am very excited to learn more about your series. Tell us a little about it.
Ben: My current books are the first two in my series, The Devil You Know.
The first, My Boss is the Devil, focuses on a barista named Nick who is stuck in a dead-end job and dissatisfied with his life. He goes to work for the Devil and has to grapple with the concepts of good and evil. It subverts expectations, because the Devil isn’t what you expect in this story. He has to decide if the ends justify the means, and if it’s worth his soul to make a difference in the world.
The second, Dueling Shoulder Angels, which is just being released now, is a continuation of the story. No spoilers on the first book, but where the first book focused on the Devil, the second introduces God. It also expands the role of Amy, the goth witch/love interest from the first book, and has a redemption arc for another.
Helen: Your covers are very distinct. What were your thoughts behind the cover design?
Ben: I adore my cover(s)! The first book focuses on Lucifer, so has a devilish silhouette behind a faceless man in a suit. I always intended for the main character to be a bit of a mirror for the reader and let them put themselves in his shoes. The cover is a bit of a play on that, with the lack of physical details. There are also coffee icons throughout, which is one of the through-threads of the story. The color is perfect, it was always going to be red and fits with the Devil motif.
The second, introducing a secondary main character and God Themself, adds similar figures for those characters. We add occult symbols to the icons floating around, and change the imagery a bit. The green color is a nod to the “millennial green velvet couch” that appears in the book. My partner, in real life, has that couch.
Helen: You have chosen unusual book titles. Is there a special meaning behind the title?
Ben: My Boss is the Devil is a double entendre. It’s a colloquialism, but in this case it’s also literal. I started writing this book back in 2006, finished the first draft during NaNoWriMo in 2014, and shelved it until 2023. It’s always had the same title, I was very fond of it. I’ve had to reassure bosses of mine that the book is fiction, and not about them.
The second book, Dueling Shoulder Angels, is a play on the trope of the angel and the devil sitting on someone’s shoulders, whispering in their ears. Except Lucifer is a fallen angel, right? So it’s actually two angels, dueling for influence and control.
Helen: Sometimes the title just leaps out at you, and others it is hard work trying to find the right name. I have a new series and I am struggling to find the right titles! What made you write this particular book?
Ben: I was Nick, to an extent, when I started writing the first book. I was working a job with little prospects, and wasn’t sure about my future. I took some of that inspiration and asked, “What if someone like that got a chance to work for the Devil? What would happen?”
Helen: Writers are such curious folk. We are always asking question, which is why we come up with such great stories! When did you first realise that you had a passion for writing?
Ben: I’ve been writing off and on since I was a child. I remember writing stories in elementary school instead of playing outside with the other kids. I even won an award for a short story I wrote in middle school. I wrote poetry all through high school and into college, but then it sort of faded as a hobby with time. Getting back into writing in the past year has really been eye opening, reminding me that I still have stories to tell.
Helen: I’m glad you rediscovered your love of writing. Which genre do you typically write?
Ben: I write primarily contemporary/urban fantasy. I love the genre because there are so many interesting and magical things about the real world. It’s a way to blend mythology and magic with the intricacies of city life. All of my stories, so far, are set in New Haven, Connecticut. I went to college there, and it’s still one of my favorite stomping grounds. Urban fantasy is also one of my favorite genres to read, so I’ve read a lot of work in the genre.
Helen: How do you find the ideas behind your stories?
Ben: A lot of ideas just come to me when I’m not paying attention to anything in particular. I’ve got two new concepts in the background to work on that just came out of nowhere. I had a big document that I keep my ideas in, because otherwise I’d forget them just as quickly as they came. I love talking these things through with my partner, and my friends, and the best way to get ideas for stories is to just talk about them sometimes.
Helen: I agree, a friend of mine is my sounding board. She always gets to hear about my ideas first. Now you have caught the writing bug, what are you working on next?
Ben: My current WIP is the third book in my series. The current working title has been “The Devil’s in the Details” but I’m expecting to rename it before publication. It’s another continuation of the story, but adding in even more mythology. It’s the last book in the current series, but it leaves it open enough that I could write more in the same world later.
Helen: So you are busy writing, how do you fit it in to your daily routine?
Ben: I have a full-time job, a son at home (my eldest is engaged and lives with his fiance), a partner, a fire performance troupe, and other hobbies. The best thing I can do is to carve out a little time most days to write, even if it’s just thirty minutes. I mostly write when my son is asleep, after I’ve done all my other chores and exercise. But I also carve out time where I can. My partner and I do “coffee shop time” where we each bring a hobby (she’s an artist, knits, and is an avid reader) to a coffee shop and use that time for our creative pursuits. It’s a delight.
Helen: It sounds wonderful. Do you find you have to do much research for your books?
Ben: It really depends on the book, but I tend to do research in the moment. There are some things I need to work out ahead of time, but a lot of my research ends up being open Chrome tabs while I’m writing. If I’m hitting a part of a scene that I’m not sure of, that’s the time I’m going to take a quick break and do just enough research to make sure I’ve got it going in the right direction. My next book concept is going to take more up front research, though, and I’ve got a couple books on the specific culture/mythology I’m going to be working with.
Helen: It’s funny how we are constantly learning new things in order to write our books. Do you plan your books in advance?
Ben: I call myself a pantser with an outline, so I don’t know if that’s called a plantser? I tend to write linearly, with the story evolving in my head and making its way onto the page. The outline is ever-evolving, and I make notes throughout the writing of the book. But I don’t do a lot of pre-plotting, other than trying to map out rough word count beats. I like the “save the cat” story beats, and use at least a rough version of that in my writing process.
Helen: I think you have to use the method that works for you. Everyone is different, and as long as you are writing, that is all that matters. If you didn’t write urban fantasy is there another genre you would like to try?
Ben: If I didn’t write urban fantasy, I think I’d try and write epic fantasy or speculative fiction. My books would be much shorter than the chonks that a lot of authors seem to be putting out though. I’ve got an idea brewing in the back of my mind for a more epic style fantasy, but it’s going to be a minute before I get to that one.
Helen: I love world building so I tend to write epic fanatsy. Like you, I write what I love to read. What books have you read recently?
Ben: I’m currently reading the Debt Collection series by Andrew Givler, starting with Soul Fraud. He’s another contemporary/urban fantasy indie author. I would definitely recommend them, and it’s been really great seeing another author’s take on similar subject matter as my own books. I listen to a lot of audiobooks, and the narrator he has is very good.
Helen: Hmmm … More books to add to the tbr list! Thank you so much for joining me today. It has been lovely learning about you and your books. Just to close us out, do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
Ben: First, just keep writing. Words on the page are what matter. Second, decide why you want to write. If it’s about getting your story out there, and you don’t care about making money doing it, then your strategy is going to be different than if you’re trying to be a full-time author. You have to make a lot of choices in this business. Do you pursue traditional publishing vs self publishing? What genre you write in matters if you want to write books that “sell.” Considerations like these are important. You’ll save yourself some disappointment if you figure out what you want, to help guide you on how to do it.
About the Author
Ben Schenkman
Ben Schenkman likes many things in life: his 20-pound Maine coon cat, his family, his coffee, and his eclectic hobbies—not necessarily in that order.
Ben also likes to play devil’s advocate in his urban fantasy books by exploring the gray areas of good and evil with questions like, “Does the end really justify the means? Or is it all simply black and white?” Ben leaves these questions lingering in the ether to challenge readers’ conventional thinking and delve into the complexities of moral dilemmas.
As a native of Connecticut, Ben draws inspiration from his upbringing and college years in New Haven, where his novels take place. When he wants to escape being a writer, he’s a massive foodie who goes on gastronomic adventures, an overachiever who collects degrees in Theater, Nuclear Engineering, and an MBA, or the manager/performer of the fire dance troupe, HVBRIS—you know, the basics. No big deal.
Learn more about his work, or talk about coffee and cats, at his website.
As an Amazon Associate I may benefit from purchases made using these links.
If you enjoy epic fantasy then check out my award winning Sentinal series, which is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love my SoulMist series, start with SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fantasy? Then try Harmony. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.
Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator). You can withdraw your consent at any time. The data will be processed until the consent is withdrawn.
Very excited to be a guest on both the Tranquilo Retreat book blog on July 7th, 2024 and also Christina Consolini’s blog on July 15th, 2004. I had such fun talking about my writing journey, my latest books, and what’s coming next.
Also very excited to be a guest on BBC Radio Berkshire on July 17th, talking about my books and attending the Bracknell Book Fair at the Easthampstead Works where I am giving an Author Talk about my writing journey and creating magical worlds at 1pm in Bracknell Library on July 20th. Hope to see you there.
When? Saturday 20 July, 2024. Where? Easthampstead Works, Town Square, Bracknell, Berkshire, UK. RG12 1BH Where’s that? Go past Fenwicks and it’s the big brutalist building right ahead. But don’t judge this ‘book’ by its cover! It may be old but it’s got a big heart (and a fab coffee shop!) What time? 10am – 4pm. How much? Entry is FREE!
Author Helen Garraway and I might write in different genres, but we certainly have (at least) two things in common: both of us inherited our love of reading from our mothers, and we started writing somewhat late in the game. Despite her delayed start, Helen is doing something exactly right: she’s an award-winning and USA Today and Amazon bestselling author whose books are called “intelligent,” “compelling,” and “amazing.” Read more …
My latest book:
OblivionGate
Having survived Apologia and faced down the Angelic Assembly, Demavrian has every right to be feeling triumphant, but the threat hanging over his head from the vengeful god, Kaenera, is enough to snuff out any celebrations.
His fledglings are distraught and in disarray, Solanji’s brother is still without a soul and Solanji has no idea how her SoulBreathing works. He has no idea how to manage the Oblivion Gate and even with his Gate Wraith’s help, the burden of the soulless banging on the door may be his undoing.
Kaenera is poised to strike back and if Demavrian doesn’t learn the secrets of the Oblivion Gate fast enough, he may be the shortest lived Gate Keeper in history.
OblivionGate is the third enthralling book in the Fantasy Romance SoulMist series full of vibrant characters, political intrigue and betrayal.
While you are here, check out my epic fantasy Sentinal Series.
If you would like to read an ARC for my future novels, then sign up to my ARC team via the link in my linktr.ee. All I ask is that you leave an honest review on the week of the launch to as many platforms as you can!! (Amazon/Goodreads/Bookbub)
This week I am chatting to fellow BookFest Gold medal winner Kimly Hoang-Nakata, about her children’s picture book, Bringing in the Tết.
Helen: Welcome Kimly. Congratulations on your gold medal. I am very excited to learn more about your book. Tell us a little about it.
Kimly: My current book is an award-winning bilingual children’s book written in English and Vietnamese. The book describes a cultural experience through a narration with beautiful illustrations that bring joy to our young readers while helping them understand the traditional meanings of Tết, the festive Vietnamese Lunar New Year. The book received two awards within two months of release in 2024! It won First Place Award at the BookFest Awards for children’s picture books and it was featured on the Nasdaq billboard at Times Square, New York City. The other award is the “International Impact Book Awards” for children’s education.
Helen: It was so exciting to see our books up in Times Square. One of those special moments. What were your thoughts behind the cover design?
Kimly: The cover of this book uniquely captures the essence of the story and highlights the festive symbols of the Tết holiday with the happy characters from two generations.
Helen: It is a happy cover and looks great up in Times Square. Is there a special meaning behind the title?
Kimly: It’s my intention to call this book “Bringing in Tết” because I hope it brings in the festive joy and feeling to every reader who reads the book.
Helen: What made you write this particular book?
Kimly: I was born in Central Vietnam and lived there for 9 years prior to immigrating to the U.S. with my family. Despite the economic challenges throughout my childhood, Tết is a time when everyone in the family paused their work to come together to celebrate. When I was a little girl, I remember getting really excited because it was the only time in the year that I got to wear new clothes and new shoes! Through this experience, I learned to appreciate the hard work and the value of family bonding more than anything. After moving to the U.S, my parents continue to keep the tradition of celebrating Tết every year. Now I want to share this cultural experience with children through a children’s picture book. When I was a newcomer in the U.S., I didn’t have culturally relevant books at school to support my learning. Now as an educator, I teach kids from all walks of life and it’s important to have multicultural books to educate them about different cultures. I also hope to inspire others to embrace their own cultures. I believe that sharing cultural experiences can foster compassion, appreciation, empathy, and joy that can enrich our lives.
Helen: That is such a lovely sentiment. I hope your book helps others experience your joy of Tết. When did you first realise that you wanted to write a children’s book?
Kimly: Writing allows me to unwind and reflect on my day so it became an important part in my daily routine since I was a teenager, but I never thought I could publish a book until I took the courage to do it. While in quarantine mode during the pandemic, I thought of my story ideas and that was how my first children’s picture book called “Mama Get Well Soon” was published. It was based on a true personal experience depicting a family life that shows support to one another during a challenging time. Writing brings a sense of clarity and comfort to me. My first set of ten children’s picture books were published because I wanted to inspire my students to write. Having their teacher as a published author really got them to lift up their pencils and started writing. Seeing my students enjoy writing and doing their best work brought me a lot of joy!
Helen: Sharing the joy of writing is so fulfilling. I am glad your students are inspired by your writing success. How do you come up with the ideas for your books?
Kimly: My work and life involve around my children and my students at school, so my ideas and inspirations came from my daily interactions with them. I enjoy capturing life’s moments through writing.
Screenshot
Helen: Being an educator, when do you find the time to fit in your writing?
Kimly: I try to fit writing into my everyday life as much as I can, but I find the most productive time for me to write is when the night calms down, I enjoy the quiet atmosphere to relax, reflect, and write.
Helen: What is the best thing that has happened to you since you began writing?
Kimly: Besides the recognitions and awards, I got to know more wonderful people beyond my social circle. It’s the joy that increased in volume for the opportunity to share my stories with others. Thank you for the support.
Helen: It’s been lovely to meet you. Kimly. Thank you so much for chatting with me today. Last question! What advice would you give to aspiriing authors?
Kimly: For new writers out there, I encourage you to make writing part of your daily routine and write about everything and anything that you are passionate about. Just let your thoughts flow out without worrying about the grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. because all that can be edited once you finish your drafts.
About the Author
Kimly Hoang-Nakata
Kimly Hoang-Nakata is passionate about educating children and inspiring them to love learning. Kimly is the founder of Achieve Education, an exceptional coaching service specializing in holistic learning success for K-12 students. Together with her husband (who is an award-winning pediatrician), Achieve Education empowers growth and confidence by providing personalized learning to help students reach their full potential. For a free consultation and a 45-minute lesson, please e-mail support@achieve.education or visit website https://www.achieve.education. Kimly’s work earned her the recognitions on NBC 7 News, SBTN (Saigon Broadcasting Network), and Global Thought Leaders Network air on ABC15.
As an Amazon Associate I may benefit from purchases made using these links.
If you enjoy epic fantasy then check out my award winning Sentinal series, which is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love my SoulMist series, start with SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fantasy? Then try Harmony. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.
Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator). You can withdraw your consent at any time. The data will be processed until the consent is withdrawn.
This week I am chatting to Fantasy author David Niemitz, about his novel, The Faerie Knight which released on June 3rd, 2024.
Helen: Welcome David. Congratulations on the release of your latest book. I am very excited to learn more about The Faerie Knight. Tell us a little about it.
David: The Faerie Knight is the first novel in a fantasy trilogy, inspired by Arthurian and other medieval romances, as well as the British Romantic poets – among other things! I’m very excited about this project, for one thing because it’s an experiment for me, in a lot of ways. To being with, I’m Beta-releasing the trilogy in serial format on Royal Road, and that process has gotten me tons of great feedback. It’s been a great writing excercise to practice crafting chapters to a specific length, on a regular time table, and structured in such a way as to (hopefully) keep people coming back for the next chapter each time they get to the end of the current one. I’ve had readers tell me they stayed up until 5am finishing volume one in ebook format, and then immediately go to Royal Road to keep going on the first fifteen chapters of volume two, so I’m quite pleased.
Helen: That is great writing habit to get into. I imagine your book grows quite fast writing by chapter. Though I tend to jump around, I’m not sure I could write in a linear fashion! What were your thoughts behind the cover design?
David: The cover of The Faerie Knight features our protagonist, Trist, and the Faerie Acrasia, from whom he draws power. The art is by my wonderful wife, Sarah Murphy, and she’s hard at work on covers for books two and three. She also did the map inside!
We talked about quite a few options for this cover, and went to the MET in New York to look at art for inspiration. I’m really happy with what we ended up with, and we’re already talking about options for volume two, which will be in the same visual style.
Helen: An excellent excuse for a trip to the museum, and how lucky for you to have an amazing artist in-house! I’m glad you found inspiration. Why did you write this particular book?
David: This book came from a couple pieces of inspiration – Keats’ La Belle Dame Sans Merci, Byron’s Darkness, Mallory, Spenser, all things that I love. But then I also read a wonderful metaphor for understanding theoretical five dimensional creatures, and it gave me this idea: what if faeries were essentially 5th dimensional angler fish? That’s the fish that dangles a glowing lure out in front of its mouth to attract its pray. In this world, the majority of a Faerie exists in the 5th dimension, where humans can’t perceive it. But they can perceive the beautiful, shiny lure that brings them right up to the gaping maw. Humans are food.
Helen: What an intriguing premise. Who knows what is behind the next bright light! Which genre do you typically write?
David: Various flavors of science fiction and fantasy. Sci Fi tends toward the harder end of the spectrum, while my fantasy tends more toward traditional/epic, and I would say in either case it’s very character driven.
It was sci-fi and fantasy that I found immersive when I was a young reader, and I loved to lose myself in worlds that were both wonderful and terrifying. That’s the kind of experience I want to craft for other people, now. And I also think both genres provide space to tackle the kinds of questions I find interesting: how would such and such a technology affect the way people live and interact with each other? How would immortal creatures regard humans?
Helen: I think that is what is such fun for writers. We have endless questions and buckets of imagination. Together that drives some amazing stories. I find writing the most enjoyable part, though I find it difficult to put myself out there, so I have to make the effort to put my hand up, and do that author talk or book event. Which part of the writing process do you find most challenging?
David: Marketing. Is that a cop out? I love the process of writing itself, and it’s an escape from the pressures of my career. I find it fulfilling and I’m excited to dive into each new project. Some people can’t stand doing revisions, but I even enjoy that, and the reception I’ve gotten from the Royal Road community has been overwhelmingly positive, even when people had critique or suggestions. I actually recently added an entire chapter to volume two based on reader feedback – they wanted more development on Ismet, a supporting character, when I had been a bit afraid of spending too long with anyone but the Protagonist.
But yeah, Marketing is very daunting. I credit my sister quite a bit with pushing me to challenge myself and work harder in that aspect, and members of my writing group for turning me on to various opportunities. I’ve gotten plenty of advice along the way: anything I do right is probably a credit to someone who has helped me out, and anything I do wrong is my own fault!
Helen: Marketing is difficult. Finding your perfect reader is an ongoing process. Thank you so much for joining me today. It’s been great meeting you. Just to finish, what do we have to look forward to next?
David: I’m currently revising volume two of The Faerie Knight, which will be entitled The GraalKnight, while also drafting volume three: Knight of Doors. The third volume will conclude this project, though I do potentially see room for a spin off featuring the protagonist’s squire, some years later.
At the same time, I’m taking notes and developing characters/settings for my next series, which I intend to begin on November first. I’ve never done a National Novel Month – last year I was already deep into revising Faerie Knight at that time. Royal Road also runs a contest that lines up with that in November, but of course to qualify you can’t have anything pre-written. So, I’m doing as much development and prep as I can, and then we’ll see how it goes.
I haven’t made every decision, but I think I have a very interesting protagonist shaping up. In Faerie Knight, of course, I had a male knight as a Protagonist, very traditional for the genre inspirations. In my first science fiction novel, A Sea Cold and Deep, I had a pair of lovers who shared equal screentime, Kaito and Annie. Liv – there’s still time for me to change my mind on her name, but I think I’m 90% settled – is occupying more and more of my mind as I draw closer to the end of Trist’s journey. I want to really play with some permutations of this sort of traditional fantasy idea of the half elf with her. For instance, what if elves have certain nutritional requirements that humans don’t, and that manifests as physical problems for her in childhood, because she’s raised by a human mother who just doesn’t know what to do? If Elves live a long time, longer than humans, do they develop more slowly? Is that interpreted as something being wrong with her? What’s it like for her mother to grow into middle age while Liv still isn’t really even an adult? What’s it like for her when her first crush grows up and moves on and gets married and is an adult, and she isn’t really? I think there’s some really interesting stuff to play with there, and I want to start with Liv as a child and cover decades.
About the Author
David Niemitz
Dave Niemitz is a writer and teacher; he lives with his wife, son, a black cat named Charlie, and a Pug named Duncan. He holds a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
As an Amazon Associate I may benefit from purchases made using these links.
If you enjoy epic fantasy then check out my award winning Sentinal series, which is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love my SoulMist series, start with SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fantasy? Then try Harmony. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.
Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator). You can withdraw your consent at any time. The data will be processed until the consent is withdrawn.
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.
As an Amazon Associate I may benefit from purchases made using these links.
If you enjoy epic fantasy then check out my award winning Sentinal series, which is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love my SoulMist series, start with SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fantasy? Then try Harmony. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.
Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
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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.
As an Amazon Associate I may benefit from purchases made using these links.
If you enjoy epic fantasy then check out my award winning Sentinal series, which is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love my SoulMist series, start with SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fantasy? Then try Harmony. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.
Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator). You can withdraw your consent at any time. The data will be processed until the consent is withdrawn.
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.
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.
By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator). You can withdraw your consent at any time. The data will be processed until the consent is withdrawn.
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.
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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.
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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.
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 winningSentinal 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.
By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator). You can withdraw your consent at any time. The data will be processed until the consent is withdrawn.
Helen Garraway 