Author Interview – Philip J Dennis

Author of Behind the Curtain

Today, I am excited to invite Philip J Dennis back for a return visit to talk to us about his latest book, Behind the Curtain. You can check out his interview back in 2021 here.

Helen: Welcome back, Philip. I’m thrilled to see you have released more books since we last spoke. Congratulations on the release of Behind the Curtain. Tell us a little about it.

Philip: My newest novel, full novel, is Behind the Curtain. I released it last May on Amazon.

It follows the life – partial life – of Jason Scott, from starting off as a child, becoming a child actor, and then, as an adult, returning to the movie business.

The story, though, is told partly as a retrospective. It starts with Jason at a wellbeing centre. Sort of like a rehab centre. As part of his treatment, he has agreed to work on a biography with a journalist friend. There’s a little back and forth between timelines, but I know that can get confusing in books, so I would switch between third-person and first-person tense. It really helps to allow Jason to be the one telling his story.

I do have a short stories collection on Amazon. All Hope is Gone, and other short stories, if people want to have a look at that too.

Helen: I love the cover. You’ve continued with the theme of silhouettes which give it a touch of mystery. What were your thoughts behind your design?

Philip: I’d mentioned this in our last interview. The style of the cover originated back to my first book, Isaac’s Fall. I had an image in mind, but did not want to spend large amounts of money for a cover artist to put together. At the time, I was only starting out. It was a hobby that I was hoping would lead somewhere.

So, my next books in the trilogy followed the same style – a silhouette of the main character against an appropriate background. When I was designing the cover for The Wrong Apocalypse – which you read and gave a very generous review for – I kind of felt that the silhouette-thing was now sort of my style.

With Behind the Curtain – a silhouette of a man on a stage, a curtain behind him, spotlights and lens flares all around, it fit the story. I can see hidden meaning in that, which is funny, because it is pure fluke. Not intentional at all. I wonder how many writers do something that people read deep meaning into and it was completely unintentional. Just a fluke. Haha.

Helen: Your title also suggests hidden meanings. How did you come up with the book title?

Philip: Behind the Curtain was a working title. It was not intended to be the final one. It was a simple title that gave a hint at what the story was about. But I would start to refer to the story by that title, and then on later drafts, I ended up working the title into the story and part of the dialogue. It was already part of the theme, and the ending – hint, hint – so it just stuck.

Helen: I had a feeling there was a connection to the story somewhere! Which element of the writing process do you find most challenging and why?

Philip: Funnily enough, this book I started writing about ten years or more before it was released. It was actually the second book I started to write. Isaac’s Fall being the first. When I started it, I knew nearly all the major plot points, and I got about ninety percent of the way through it on the first draft. But I was struggling with the tone and the flow of the story. I felt that the story was too big for me to be able to do it justice. I might have mentioned this in our last interview. I have definitely mentioned it somewhere before.

When the Pandemic hit, I wanted to revisit it. I read over the first draft, refreshing myself on simple story points, and started again. This time I got about a third of the way through and hit a wall. It was a hard time and I didn’t have it in me to do a book so serious. That’s when I started to write The Wrong Apocalypse. That was light and fun, and it just flowed out of me. Very cathartic, given that we were at the end of Lockdown.

After that, I went back to it.

I was also spurred on by the book Daisy Jones and The Six – this was before the TV series, of course – completely different in regards to story and style, but it reminded me of the film Almost Famous, which was something of an inspiration for Behind the Curtain anyway.

So, to get back to your question, a major challenge for my writing is being in the right headspace to be able to write the story, and knowing what you can accomplish at that time. It’s perfectly fine to leave a work-in-progress and move on to something else for a while. You’ll circle back to it eventually. If you try to force the story, if you aren’t feeling it, then that could work against you.

Helen: Who inspired you to first start writing?

Philip: Easy. My wife. Jan. I first started writing following a really weird and vivid dream I had. This is going back about fifteen years now. I told Jan about it the next day and she thought it was such a weird, detailed dream, but that it would make a great story. So, secretly, I started writing down what I knew from the dream, putting it into a narrative.

A week or two later, we were talking about it. Jan said that she had started to write it down. I didn’t know this, at the time, and told her that I had too. She said she had written about three or four pages, then asked me what I’d done. It was about forty.

Anyway, it was her that spurred me on to keep writing. I wrote about seven drafts of that story – which is not one that I released. I will come back to it though. It is a really interesting premise. Seven drafts, though, was a lot of time. But, it was practice.

Jan would read over what I had done, give me notes, tell me what worked and what didn’t, which she does for all my writing. She is the first person I write for, the first person to hear my ideas, that I talk them over with, who reads the chapters as and when they are done, and then the finished story.

She has also stopped me deleting everything in a fit of frustration on a number of occasions. Thank God!

Helen: That is so funny that you both started writing the same story. I’m glad you took your pages and turned them into a book! What are you currently working on?

Philip: At the moment, I am jumping between a couple of WIPs. I’m focusing on a second book to Somewhere Else. That was a kid’s book I wrote for my son, Jacob, with him as the main character. It is a fun, adventure, fantasy/fairytale book that pokes fun at some of the tropes of fairytales and their characters, or archetypes. I don’t have a name yet, but I will think of something.

The other one was a paranormal-thriller. Not a horror, I should state. I won’t go into the premise of it, only because it is early in the first draft, and I don’t know how long it will take to complete.

I also want to do a sequel to The Wrong Apocalypse – got some notes and chapters on that. And then I’ve got a couple of other new stories running through my mind too. Do you ever find you have ideas but not the time to work on them all?

Helen: I have so many ideas and not enough time to write them! I have three epic fantasy series started, and the challenge for me is which series to focus on, because I love the characters in all of them, and they are so different! Enough about us. Which books have you been reading and would recommend to others?

Philip: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. Such a good book. Short, but that’s not a negative. If you can, get the illustrated paperback. The artwork is great.

Been reading a lot of Blake Crouch over the last year or so. Wayward Pines series. Dark Matter, Recursion, and Upgrade.

And I’ve started Mantis by Kotaro Isaka. It’s the third in a trilogy. You’ve probably heard of the film Bullet Train. That was the second book in his trilogy. They are fun, action-packed and an easy read.

Helen: And which is your favourite book?

Philip: Still American Gods by Neil Gaiman. And Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. If you want something whimsical, then go for Good Omens. If you want something that plays around with religion, myth and folklore and makes them its own, go for American Gods. That might be due another re-read soon, I think.

Helen: Thank you so much for joining me today. Just to finish, what advice would you give new writers?

Philip: Keep writing for you. You are the first person you should be writing for. I know that I said that my wife was the first person I write for, but I meant that as externally. It’s like that saying, “Charity begins at home,” well, writing begins with you.

I think Neil Gaiman said something, to butcher his saying, “The first draft is for you. The second is for the reader.”

And, keep writing. Get the first draft done. Even if it is full of holes. Get it done. The holes can be filled in later drafts. They call it a Vomit Draft, I believe. Get it all out, no matter how bad. You can clean it up later. Bit of a gross analogy but I like it.

About the Author

Philip J Dennis

Philip J Dennis, born and raised in Liverpool, England, is the author of several books spanning different genres, from paranormal and crime thriller, to a children’s book he had written for his son, a comedy horror, and a fictional biography.

His novels include the …and all that’s in between trilogy. Isaac’s Fall, Harmony’s Choice, and Faith’s Rise. As well as Somewhere Else, The Wrong Apocalypse, and the newly released Behind The Curtain.

He currently lives in Liverpool, with his wife and son, and continues to write. He can be followed on Instagram @Philip_J_Dennis as well as on Goodreads, where he welcomes questions and queries.

Follow Philip:

Amazon Author page

Instagram

Purchase Philip’s book: Behind the Curtain 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 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.

Author Interview – Carole Wolfe

Author of My Best Mistake

Today, I am joined by chick lit author Carole Wolfe to talk about her My Best Series.

Helen: Welcome Carole. It was great meeting you in Miami at the Readers Favorite Book Awards. Congratulations on winning an award for your book My Best Mistake. Tell us a little about your book.

Carole: My Best Mistake – Tasha’s Story won the bronze medal in the 2023 Reader’s Favorite Fiction – Chick Lit category. It is book one in the five book My Best Series. My Best Mistake – Tasha’s Story follows single mother Tasha Gerome as she struggles to become her own person. Everyone wants something from her while she’s looking for a little peace and quiet.

Helen: Congratulations again on your medal. What were your thoughts behind your cover?

Carole: The current cover is the third cover for the book. Originally, the book cover had a pair of legs (mine) posing in pink pig slippers. It was cute, but confused readers. It also made it difficult to create the covers for the rest of the books in the series. The new cover is pink and represents the small town where Tasha lives. The rest of the books in the series have similar covers with images that represent something important to the story or main character. It makes it easy for readers to know that these five books are in the same series.

Helen: Covers can be quite diffficult to get right, but your My Best Series covers look great together. How did you come up with the series titles?

Carole: The word mistake usually has a bad connotation, but we don’t learn unless we make mistakes. The best mistake you can make is the one that changes your life. That’s what Tasha has to discover in this book. The series is called My Best Series because each character must make their best attempt at something to grow and evolve.

Helen: I love finding out the reasoning beind covers and titles! When did you realise you had a passion for writing?

Carole: I’ve been writing since I was a kid. In the third grade, my friend and I “published” a book on typing paper and bound it with blue yarn. I still have that book, and I look at it to remind me where I started and why I still write. And the friend that I published with is one of my biggest supporters!

Helen: How wonderful. That is a great reminder of where it all started. What are you working on now?

Carole: I’m writing a new Women’s Friendship Fiction series about four friends in their fifties. They are in a running group together and are supporting each other through life’s twists and turns. The new series introduces some new characters but includes characters from the My Best Series as well. Readers don’t need to read the first series to enjoy the second one. But anyone who has read the first series might discover some fun references to past adventures.

Helen: It’s nice when you can link series! How do you come up with your ideas for your books?

Carole: Everywhere! I’ve gotten some great ideas while being in line at the grocery store, at a movie theatre and on an airplane. Plus, people are always talking on their phones, and I routinely make up the side of the conversation I can’t hear. That can be funny! I also get lots of ideas from my family. For example, one time when we went to the airport, my son announced he didn’t wear any shoes. While that didn’t make it into a book directly, it got me thinking about what happens if you forget to put on shoes. And that’s how pink pig slippers ended up on my first book cover.

Helen: Love it! Authors are always thinking ‘What if…” If we were all given the same prompt, everyone of us would come up with something different! What genre you do you typically write and why?

Carole: I write Women’s Fiction and Chick Lit. I want readers to finish my books and feel. It doesn’t necessarily matter what emotion is felt, as long as the reader finishes the story feeling different than before she or he read the book. (And I say she and he because men read Women’s Fiction as well! I have several male readers who have finished the entire series.)

Helen: Who inspired you write?

Carole : As I mentioned before, I’ve been writing since I was a kid, but two teachers fueled my writing inspirations as I grew up. My high school yearbook advisor encouraged me to apply to journalism school, and as a result, I received a scholarship. Once in college, my journalism professor told me, “Someday I’m going to read a novel you wrote.” Those two teachers encouraged me to pursue my dream of being an author.

Helen: It is so important for teachers to encourage young people to express their creatvity. I am so glad you had that support. What is the best thing that’s happened to you since you began writing?

Carole: I’ve met some incredible people and made wonderful friends. Writing is a solitary practice, so it’s great to have a group of people who understand what I’m doing and why I might not be immediately available to chat. Other writers are also great for bouncing ideas off of and asking questions about how they are handling new technology or practices in the industry.

Helen: Let’s talk a little about the writing process. Which element of the writing process do you find most challenging and why?

Carole: Character development is an ongoing challenge for me. Creating engaging characters is essential. Readers don’t always have to like the characters. But if the story’s characters aren’t interesting, readers (including myself) don’t finish the story. Making a character too likeable or too mean is problematic as well. I spend a lot of time thinking about what my characters are doing and why.

Helen: How do you fit your writing into your everyday life?

Carole: This is a great question, and the answer changes as my life changes. When my kids were younger and we were always on the go, I wrote while I waited in the carpool line, watching at soccer practice and sitting in the dentist’s office. I fit in time even if it was only for ten minutes. As the kids got older, I scheduled my writing time into two hours blocks. That worked for a while as I was writing my first series, but now that I am also marketing and promoting my books, I’ve had to change things up again. I do recommend keeping an open mind. If something isn’t working, then change it. Don’t try to keep the same schedule you’ve always had if it isn’t working.

Helen: Do you listen to music when you write, if so, what do you listen to and why?

Carole: I listen to the same music all the time. I have the soundtracks of several movies that instantly tell my brain it’s time to write. None of the songs have words, though. Otherwise, I’d be singing too much to write!

Helen: I’m the same. I listen to a lot of classical music, so I have the noise in the background, and yet sometimes, I don’t even notice when the TV goes to sleep and I’m surrounded in silence. I’m so immersed in the world I am writing about that my surroundings disappear. So far, I have been fortunate not to hit writer’s block. Have you encounter writer’s block, and if so, what do you do to overcome it?

Carole: I take a walk outside. It’s good to get away from the computer for a bit and get some exercise in. The change of scenery helps my brain. I usually come up with a solution to whatever has been bothering me. It’s like the characters need to get outside and stretch their legs as well.

Helen: I agree, I thnk sometimes you have to let the back brain noodle on a plot knot and the solution will come to you. You can try too hard sometimes. What advice would you give new writers?

Carole: Do what works for you. There is no one way to write. Feel free to read craft books, listen to podcasts about writing and go to conferences, but you don’t have to do everything in the exact way someone else does it. It’s great to get advice, but what’s important is to do what works for you.

Helen: Great advice. Thank you so much for chatting with me today. Just to close us out, what is the best thing that has happened to you since you began writing?

Carole: I’ve met some incredible people and made wonderful friends. Writing is a solitary practice, so it’s great to have a group of people who understand what I’m doing and why I might not be immediately available to chat. Other writers are also great for bouncing ideas off of and asking questions about how they are handling new technology or practices in the industry.

About the Author

Carole Wolfe

Carole Wolfe writes women’s fiction that makes you smile. She enjoys running at a leisurely pace, crocheting baby blankets for others and drinking wine when she can find the time. After moving nine times in twenty years, Carole and her family have settled in Texas.

Follow on:

Author website (Sign up to newsletter via website)
Instagram
Facebook

Purchase My Best Mistake via Amazon:

Link to book on Amazon UK: eBook | Paperback | Audiobook

Link to book on Amazon US: eBook | Paperback | Audiobook

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.

Thank you for all your support in 2023!

It’s that time of year when you look back at what you achieved last year and plan for the new year.

But before I do that I just want to say thank you to everyone who has read my books and left a rating/review. Your support makes writing so fulfilling, and your enthusiam for my characters makes me want to write more! I hope you signed up to my newsletter (If you haven’t scroll down!) and downloaded the bonus novella I wrote in the world of Remargaren as my Christmas gift to you.

I also want to thank the kind person who gifted me a subscription for my annual website fees. I am so happy you enjoy the content I post to my blog and on my website and I am thrilled that you chose to support my writing journey. I don’t know who you are, but I thank you so very much for your support.

If anyone is interested in supporting my writing efforts, I do have a Patreon, which is limping along without any subscribers, so I haven’t been posting much lately, but once someone subscribes, and peeks at all the content I posted last year, I will be much more active in 2024, I promise! Patreon levels start from £2 per month, so you can choose how much you donate.

Anyhow, back to what I achieved in 2023, and what’s in store for 2024?

I published four books! Yes four!! and two novellas and one audiobook.

23rd January: SoulBreather
23rd February: Sentinals Banished
7th June: Men of Magic and Myth (MM Anthology- Novella: Familiar Troubles)
10th June: SoulBreather-Audiobook
15th June: DragonBound
11th October: Sentinals Destiny
23rd December: Sentinals and Guardians, Novella 2.5 (Free for Newsletter subscribers)

My books won Awards!!

Sentinals Justice: Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal – Epic Fantasy
Sentinals Justice: Global Book Awards: Gold Medal – Sword and Sorcery
SoulBreather: Global Book Award Silver Medal – Fantays Myth & Legend
SoulBreather: Readers’ Favorite Finalist Medal– Fantasy/Sci-Fi
SoulBreather: Readers’ Favorite Five star Review
Sentinals Across Time: Finalist for the 2022 CIBA OZMA Book Awards for Fantasy Fiction
Sentinals Across Time: Readers’ Favorite Five star Review

It has been a busy year, a highlight of which was going to Miami to be presented with the Gold medal for Sentinals Justice.

So what’s in store for 2024? Well I have plans for four more books!

A standalone dystopian fantasy. Cover reveal to follow soon! Planned release Spring 2024
OblivonGate – Book three of the SoulMist series. On preorder. Planned release date July 1, 2024.
Sentinals prequel-Part I. Release date TBC
Sentinals Prequel-Part II. Release date TBC

Other goals:

I am planning out a new epic fantasy series.
Online shop on website – make it easier to buy signed paperback and audio direct from me!
Create a Booktok store
Develop plan to crack wide sales
Audio for Dragonbound

So plenty to keep me busy outside of the day job!

2024 is a year full of opportunity and a lot more writing. I look forward to sharing the results with you throughout the year. Once again – Thank you for all your support, I hope you stay with me as we continue this amazing journey.

If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. 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.

Sentinals Across Time receives Readers’ Favorite Five Star Review

For immediate release:

Author’s new book receives a warm literary welcome.

Readers’ Favorite announces the review of the Fiction – Fantasy – Epic book “Sentinals Across Time” by Helen Garraway, currently available at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/173993444X.

Readers’ Favorite is one of the largest book review and award contest sites on the Internet. They have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins, and have received the “Best Websites for Authors” and “Honoring Excellence” awards from the Association of Independent Authors. They are also fully accredited by the BBB (A+ rating), which is a rarity among Book Review and Book Award Contest companies.

“Reviewed By K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite

Sentinals Across Time is a work of fiction penned by author Helen Garraway in the epic fantasy, action, and adventure subgenres, and it forms the fourth novel in the Sentinal Series. The work is best suited to the general adult reading audience. We find ourselves immersed in the vibrant, ancient world of Remargaren, a realm saturated with magic and filled with high-fantasy adventures. Jerrol, torn between duty and family, becomes stranded across land and time due to a conspiracy involving Lady Leyandrii and the Oath, threatening the Birtolian Empire. As he navigates the unfamiliar landscapes and cultures, Jerrol is faced with the challenge of preventing the impending devastation of the gentle Birtolian people.

Author Helen Garraway has crafted a captivating fantasy experience, immersing me in a richly detailed world filled with intricate characters and a finely woven tapestry of magic and lore. Garraway’s storytelling is tender and emotive in all the right places, allowing the reader to empathize with Jerrol’s predicament and root for the preservation of the Birtolian Empire. I was impressed by the different angles of culture, lore, politics, and social structures, which allowed Jerrol to tackle themes like duty, sacrifice, and the consequences of wielding magic, creating a compelling and immersive read. The pacing was also well crafted to intersperse these explorations with lots of actions and interesting twists, which leaves plenty of space for these poignant moments to shine but keeps us captivated for the next big action shift. Overall, for an intricate and imaginative novel that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish, I would highly recommend Sentinals Across Time and the series in general to fantasy readers everywhere.”

You can learn more about Helen Garraway and “Sentinals Across Time” at https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/sentinals-across-time where you can read reviews and the author’s biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through their website and social media pages.

Readers’ Favorite LLC
Media Relations
Louisville, KY 40202
800-RF-REVIEW
support@readersfavorite.com
https://readersfavorite.com

Download Press Release

You can find the complete Sentinal Series in ebook or on Kindle Unlimited or purchase the print copies from a vendor of choice:

Book One: Sentinals Awaken

Book Two: Sentinals Rising

Book Three: Sentinals Justice

Book 3.5: Sentinals Recovery

Boook Four: Sentinals Across Time

Book Five: Sentinals Banished

Book Six: Sentinals Destiny

Collecting the Readers’ Favorite Gold medal for Sentinals Justice!!

Last month, I travelled to Miami, to attend the 2023 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards to collect my gold medal, which I won for Sentinals Justice, in the Epic Fantasy category.

Sentinals Justice is the third book in the Sentinals series which is now complete.

Lost guardians. Tensions brewing in the frozen north. Can a goddess-appointed champion prevent a looming war?

Jerrol Haven’s last run-in with evil has left deep scars. Recovering from the torture that damaged him mentally and physically, the guilt-ridden commander searches for the whereabouts of one of his captured allies. But he feels the chance to rescue the awakened sentinal slipping away when his king requests his aid in peace negotiations at a remote and unstable border.

Accompanied by his beloved, Jerrol arrives at his destination only to discover the enemy’s corruption running rife. And after he’s cut down by a shocking betrayal, the skilled soldier’s destiny plunges into bloody chaos.

Can he overcome his failures to forge a desperate victory?

Sentinals Justice is the thrilling third book in the Sentinal epic fantasy series. If you like courageous characters, action-packed suspense, and gritty battles, then you’ll love Helen Garraway’s emotional rollercoaster ride.

SoulBreather, the first book in the SoulMist sereis was a finalist in the Fantasy/Sci Fi category.

The event, held at the Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon hotel, offered the chance to meet other award winning authors, and to be presented with your award up on stage.

I was fortunate to be joined by my daughter who flew in from Canada to join in the celebrations.

Readers’ Favorite also had a stall at the Miami Book Fair where all the award winninig books were available for purchase. All proceeds went to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

You can find the complete Sentinal Series in ebook or on Kindle Unlimited or purchase the print copies from a vendor of choice:

Book One: Sentinals Awaken

Book Two: Sentinals Rising

Book Three: Sentinals Justice

Book 3.5: Sentinals Recovery

Boook Four: Sentinals Across Time

Book Five: Sentinals Banished

Book Six: Sentinals Destiny

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)

Indie Ink Award Voting now open!!

Voting open for two weeks only from December 15th, 2023.

Books by marginalized authors, self-published books, and books by small presses often get overlooked. The Indie Ink Awards is a unique event that brings together the writing community to celebrate books that have made an impact on us. This is our way of highlighting the future we want to see in books–by uplifting those that shine.

We have two categories: the “Best In” awards and the “Writing The Future We Need” awards. The “Best In” awards should exemplify the chosen category. We are looking for exceptional inclusion and diversity in works nominated for “Writing the Future We Need” awards.

You can vote for one of my books in the following categories which readers nominated my books for. You have one vote per category:

Sentinals Across Time	Best book cover and cover artist, Best friendship, Best mentor character, Best setting, This Book Made Me Hungry/Thirsty
Sentinals Awaken	Best book cover and cover artist, Best friendship, Best mentor character, Best setting, This Book Made Me Hungry/Thirsty
Sentinals Banished	Best book cover and cover artist, Best friendship, Best mentor character, Best setting, This Book Made Me Hungry/Thirsty
Sentinals Justice	Best audio narration, Best book cover and cover artist, Best friendship, Best setting, Side Character MVP
Sentinals Recovery	Best book cover and cover artist, Best friendship, Best mentor character, Best setting, Side Character MVP

I hope you vote today! You need an Indie Story Geek account to vote.

Find out how to create an account and vote here.

Once you have an account you may click on the book image to go to the book page to vote.

The ten books from each award with the most votes at the end of the year will move on to the finalist stage, where our reader judges will read and score them from February until August.

You can find the complete Sentinal Series in ebook or on Kindle Unlimited or purchase the print copies from a vendor of choice:

Book One: Sentinals Awaken

Book Two: Sentinals Rising

Book Three: Sentinals Justice

Book 3.5: Sentinals Recovery

Boook Four: Sentinals Across Time

Book Five: Sentinals Banished

Book Six: Sentinals Destiny

Author Interview – Suzanna C. Grose

Author of Turned into Gold

Today, I am joined by dark romance author Suzannah C. Grose to talk about her debut novel Turned Into Gold.

Helen: Welcome Suzannah. Congratulations on publishing your first book. Tell us about your book, Turned Into Gold.

Suzannah: Turned Into Gold, A handsome but insane scientist with a tortured soul is in love with a beautiful young woman who is brutally raped and murdered. He wants to bring her back to life and avenge her murder. Can he bring her back to life? And if so, will she love him as much as he loves her? Will he discover who committed the murder and how will he get his revenge? This story illustrates the transformative power of love and the inner strength needed to rise above horrific circumstances.

Helen: That is quite a tough subject to write about, and gives me Frankenstein vibes with the man’s efforts to bring her back to life. Why did you write this particular book?

Suzannah: It was for a contest that I wanted to enter, but my husband told me to publish it myself.

Helen: Your cover is quite simple, but I love the splash of gold. Tell us how you decided on the design.

Suzannah: I kept going back and forth between different book covers. Nothing seemed to fit the story. I had an idea what I wanted to look like, and one of my best friends made it for me. I love it!

Helen: Who is your favourite character from your book?

Suzannah: Theodore Black, he’s a morally grey character that you can’t help but to love him. He’s a dark and mysterious character, but he absolutely would do anything for Elizabeth. I would love anyone that would love me the way that Theodore loves Elizabeth.

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

Suzannah: When I was in third grade, I won a writing contest. I used to write fan fiction and stories on Wattpad. So, I have always loved writing since a young age.

Helen: It’s so great that your love of writing has stayed with you. Which genre do you prefer to write?

Suzannah: I write dark romance, romance, thriller… Mostly dark romance and romance novels. I love writing novels in the dark romance genre because I like more of a realistic story. In real life, love is not just rainbows and butterflies. Sometimes it’s hard, dark, but you come out of it with a beautiful love story.

Helen: What is the best thing that has happened to you since you began writing?

Suzannah: I published my book in 2022.

Helen: Publishing a book is pretty special, and such an accomplishment. If your Main Character could answer, why would they say we should read your book?

Suzannah: I think Theodore Black would say, “People would love to read mine and Elizabeth’s story because it shows the power of love.”

Helen: What is the most useful piece of writing advice you’ve received, and by whom?

Suzannah : I would have to say, “Show not tell.” I have to remind myself that when I’m editing and making sure, I’m showing what is going on in the story and not just telling the reader what is happening.

Helen: Every writer experiences self-doubt. How do you overcome the fear and the little voice in your head to keep writing?

Suzannah: When I read a review on my book or even a rating, it pushes the negative thoughts away.

Helen: Are you a pantser or a planner? Do you write free form, or do you have a framework you stick to?

Suzannah: Free form mix with planner, I have bullet points that I used to help write. It helps me remember what I have to write in a chapter or keep track of something.

Helen: Thank you for joining me today. It’s been great chatting to you. Just to finish, what are some of the books you read recently that you would recommend to others?

Suzannah: Four Treasures of the Sky. I love the book, I will definitely recommend it to anyone. I did not see the ending coming, I was very shocked.

About the Author

Suzanne C. Grose

Suzannah Grose is a writer and poet. She loves to write and she loves to read. Her first book came out in 2022, it’s called Turned Into Gold. You can find it on Amazon.

Follow on Instagram

Purchase Turned Into Gold 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 – Amy Marie Ayres

Author of Star Sick.

Today, I am thrilled to be chatting to indie science fantasy author Amy Marie Ayres about her debut novel Star Sick.

Helen: Welcome Amy. Tell us about your book Star Sick.

Amy: So, STAR SICK was released back in April, partly as a joke to myself that I could get it ready for release on that day (4/20) but also because I felt it was the only one of my ongoing projects that was finally ready to be out in the world.

It was a bit of a nerve-wracking decision, but the overall response has been great. Not everyone gets it, but I expected that as I was writing it. It’s kind of a niche genre wherein it embraces its tropes, but its parodic so it makes fun of itself. It’s a book that doesn’t take itself too seriously, if that makes sense- from a writer who very much does from time to time.

Helen: I thoroughly enjoyed reading Star Sick, and loved the nod to the Wizard of Oz. (You can find my review here.) Your cover contains many elements. Could you tell us a little about it?

Amy: I love this cover by Miblart, they were recommended to me by other indie authors, and I still use them. They really understood what I was going for. Luccee really is the center of the story, but reluctantly so, and this image is the part of the story where she really starts to embrace her true nature-I could go on.

Without too many spoilers, the color on her face is the result of her encounter with an alien species in the distant celestial city where she ends up. Her hair was short at the beginning, but has since grown out, showing the passage of time. And she is hiding in the brush watching something- it’s a scene right out of the book.

The images around her represent her world and her relationship to it.

Helen: Miblart did a great job! The cover is very distinctive. Why did you give your book the title Star Sick? Is there a special meaning, or back story about the title?

Amy: I love this question because I have such a fun answer. All the books in this eventual series will have the word Star in the title. So, the other titles I was throwing around for this one will eventually be used. One day someone on twitter said: “replace one of the words in the current title of your WIP with the word sick.” I did that, and they commented and said it would make amazing title and that she would read it. Thus, STAR SICK was born.

Helen: Your books sounds very intriguing, understanding your thoughts behind the cover and title is so interesting. What made you write this particular book?

Amy: When people ask me this question, I try to nail down the exact reason, as to not ramble on and waste their time, but there are just so many reasons.

First, the initial idea for Luccee honestly came out of some unfortunate pre-pandemic depression I wasn’t even fully aware of. I had concluded a few years before that some of my familial relationships were unhealthy and I was carrying some unhealthy baggage as a result. I started channelling some of that into the writing of this character who I felt was deeply misunderstood. I wasn’t sure how far I would take that, I think I took it to levels beyond even what I was experiencing, for some comedic effect.

With some therapy, and some improvement to my daily life, I was starting to feel better, but this was ironically just before Covid hit and the lockdowns happened. The lockdowns terrified me to be honest, as did Covid at the time. But I had this odd feeling of like, I didn’t really miss socializing (at first). I just wanted to keep me, my family, and others safe.

But I started taking a closer look at society during that time, why we do what we do, how we are influenced by each other and the media-it’s all in there. A large part of the premise of the book is that sometimes what people tell us about the world and ourselves isn’t always true, but it’s what they need us to think now so that the status quo can be maintained and there isn’t mass panic-especially in a dystopian world, where people are always grasping for normalcy.

There always seems to be a convenient scapegoat for society’s problems, and Luccee fit the bill. I began to think of how invasive it would be for it to be illegal to want to stay inside and avoid socializing because of your introversion, trauma, neurodiversity, or whatever reason.

I thought about how some aspects of society are very much predicated on our abilities to socialize and network and expand our circles beyond our comfort zone. I started asking myself questions: When it is good to do that? When is it not good? I wanted to explore and pick it all apart. But I’ve rambled long enough!

Helen: I think every author can ramble on about their books. I know I can! It is part of the joy of being an author and being so proud of our creations. Tell us about your protagonist in Star Sick and why you wrote them.

Amy: Luccee is the FMC in STAR SICK, like I said she sort of represents who I would be if I ever really went off my rocker and if I was put in a similar position of having to choose between assimilation and freedom. Luccee has a lot to learn about herself, and I hope I accurately depicted that kind of emotional transitional arc of still having to grow as a person even when you fight it tooth and nail.

Helen: If Luccee could answer the question: Why should we read your book? What would she say?

Amy: A true answer would give away the ending, but I’ll just say that Luccee would want people to know all the things she learned about the universe and herself. She would want this book to exist purely because it is an historical account of everything she and her friends went/go through. And people in our time as well as the future beyond her future could stand to learn from their journey.

Helen: What are you working on next?

Amy: So true to form I always have more than one going, they are usually just at different stages. I am currently writing a prequel to STAR SICK, that I hope will be just a fun little novella teaser for the series. My big fancy project still in the editing stages, is Five Doors. It has some similarities to STAR SICK, but it’s a contemporary/paranormal fantasy novel about a different woman named Marilyn with different problems in a much different world. She’s friends with the devil, but that’s all I’ll say!

Helen: Intriguing! Let’s move onto your writing process. How do you fit writing into your normal day?

Amy: For me, the only way this was possible was by moving my writing beyond a hobby and doing my best to exist within the writing sphere daily. So, I work in the publishing industry, I have groups of writing friends and critique partners, I consistently market myself and network in the industry, etc. But of course, like anything else since the birth of my daughter I tend to give her all the time and attention I used to give my writing. Schedules and calendars keep me honest! NaNoWriMo ensures that I make myself write a good chunk at least two months out of the year.

Helen: It can be tough to juggle so many responsibilities and fit in writing as well. When you do get a chance to write, do you prefer silence when you are writing or do you have a favorite playlist?

Amy: I find music incredibly inspiring. I tend to like to listen to anything that feels cinematically immersive, where my mind can paint pictures of what is happening in the song either musically or lyrically. It can happen with my favourites or even a random Spotify song I’ve never heard before.

Singer/Songwriters (especially rock and folk) are fantastic storytellers. When I started writing Five Doors, I almost exclusively listened to the album Once I was an Eagle by Laura Marling. If you’ve never heard of her, I highly recommend going back through her discography, there’s something for everybody.

You know who is incredibly inspiring is Twenty One Pilots, lyrically they are just all over the place, but I love it and the music itself does lend itself to sci-fi. They tell stories too.

Funny enough, Steve Miller (of Steve Miller Band) is an incredible storyteller, so was Elliott Smith. You can listen to those guys, they have incredibly different vibes of course, but you can sort of build a universe within the music. Those are just two random examples.

I recommend listening to a song called Beg, Steal, or Borrow by Ray LaMontagne it’s a great example of what I’m talking about. Songs that move you emotionally-happy or sad, I really think they get those neurons firing.

Helen: Writer’s can take inspiration from almost anywhere! Have you had any trouble with writer’s block and any tips to overcome it?

Amy: I hope I don’t come across as a jerk saying this, but I’m one of those people who doesn’t believe in writer’s block. I believe in the things that cause it: grief, self-doubt, or even happy times when we are just too busy with our wonderful lives to write (it happens!)

The way that we overcome it by whittling down to our reasoning to what is holding us back. Because each time we experience “writer’s block”- it could be for a different reason, so we get frustrated because our previous methods to overcome it stop working.

I think I would recommend to anyone who frequently experiences writers block to have a separate journal just for pouring out some angst that isn’t tied to our writing. I suggest writing a few pages before you attempt your current project again, and getting down to the bones of why you feel stuck, that often helps get us unstuck. I also have some great suggestions here.

Helen: Thank you for sharing such great advice. Do you have to do much research when you are writing a book?

Amy: The research for STAR SICK sort of did itself, as the news and internet were in our faces every day. I find I do tend to do a lot of research for this universe from daily hot button topics to broken societal ills, to even specific things about our planets and universe and space travel. For this type of book even memes are great research. People channel a lot of hostility toward society into memes these days.

Helen: Thank you so much for spending time with me today, it’s been great chatting with you. Just to finish, do you have any advice for new or aspiring writers?

Amy: You have an amazing, fun skill/craft, so don’t waste it or throw it away when people doubt you. Find some writing friends, they will help carry you through to the next stage beyond “new writer”. But also know you won’t be “good at this” for a long time. The process takes decades to perfect, and years to even get close to slightly better, so you need to embrace that now.

Know that the first few things you write are not going to land at all, and they will be terribly written. But keep at it and you’ll get better. Also, the people with the most confidence are usually faking, so don’t be intimidated by them. And yes, doll, you do need an editor. It’ll be the best money you ever spent.

About the Author

Amy Marie Ayres

Amy is an author who writes a variety of genres including comic dark romance, women’s fiction, speculative dystopian science fiction, and magical realism based on Irish folklore. She has a background in poetry and was previously an academic. Amy has experience with voice acting, theater, podcasts, and comedy writing. She lives outside Philadelphia with her husband, stepson, daughter, and cat. Amy’s debut novel Star Sick, a humorous science fiction novel with talking robot dogs, is now available on Amazon.

Follow on Instagram

Author Website

Purchase Star Sick 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.

Book Review Alert: Moonstone and Mugwort and by Julie Embleton

Reviewed: November 21st, 2023
Released: October 31st, 2023
Genre: Paranormal Romance

When the past sabotages your present, is it ever possible to salvage your future?

A cursed heirloom, a looming eclipse, and a gifted witch.

Manacled by her family’s curse, Ava O’Keefe is no stranger to contending with paranormal beings, craving the power she protects. But when an enigmatic vampire draws her into his business, the grave consequences should she fail to harness her magick for his demands, promise devastating supernatural chaos.

Moonstone & Mugwort launches the compelling dark fantasy Oath & Legacy series, simmering with supernatural characters challenged by duty and shaped by heritage. As the past sabotages the present, what will become of the future? Read My Thoughts…

Book Review Alert: The Shriker by D K Girl

Reviewed: November 12th, 2023
Released: October 20th, 2021
Genre: MM Historical Fantasy
Format: ebook (KU)

Silas Mercer has faced wily boggarts, mad faerie queens and enraged forest spirits.
But can he withstand a daemon who is losing his mind?

Pitch and Sickle are left bruised, battered and reeling after their confrontation with the Verderer.
They have learned a startling truth behind the arrowhead that wounded Silas, a truth that must be taken to the Lady Satine and the Order without delay.
But his encounters in the Forest of Dean have effected Pitch in alarming ways. The daemon’s body may have healed but his erratic behaviour and wildly unpredictable temper grow ever more concerning.
Silas owes his life to Pitch. Their experience in the forest has brought them a closeness he could not have imagined possible.

But what can he do for a daemon who is losing his way?

And how long will Silas survive, if he must ride alone? Read My Thoughts…