I was invited to be on The Wandering Scribe podcast by host Gabriel Garcia, a historical fantasy author who supports Indie authors, to talk about my author journey, my books, how AI impacts writers and much more! There were some tough questions! Check out the interview to find out how I answered!
We talked about my author journey, my books, how AI impact writers, when did I first see myself as an author? questions from the the audience. Advice for aspiring writers and much more!
If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and also Sentinals Discovery, the first few chapters of Sentinals Awaken from Birlerion’s POV 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.
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It’s time to meet author, Ligia de Wit and find out about her writing journey and her book Seven Hundred Beachfront.
Helen: Welcome, Ligia. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m really intersted to hear about your book, Seven Hundred Beachfront.
Ligia: Seven Hundred Beachfront is a contemporary magical realism story set on the beach. Because we all need some beach in our lives, don’t we? It follows a young woman who’s used to being alone and doing everything by herself. She believes she doesn’t need anyone, so she pushes people away. But life has a funny way of placing the right people in your path, even if they come in unexpected forms: a five-year-old kid, a grumpy neighbor, and a sentient house who is even grumpier. So, three grumpy souls and one beam of sunshine. At its core, the story is about abandonment. About forgiving those who don’t deserve it. About letting go of pain—the kind that lingers right behind you, even when you pretend not to see it. It’s also about love. Not just romantic love (though that’s there), but brotherly love and self-love. About giving yourself permission to face that darkness and decide enough is enough. To tell yourself you are worthy of love. And yes, there’s grumpiness. And laughter. And moments of levity that stretch like a tarp over heavier things. Because sometimes, that’s just how life works.
Helen: You had me at Sentinent house. I love inanimate objects having an opinion. What were your thoughts behind you cover?
Ligia: Setting can be a strong part of a story. In Seven Hundred Beachfront, it is the story. Most of it takes place inside a dilapidated house, so the house is integral to everything. Did I mention the house is sentient? It even has a name. I always knew I wanted the yellow house right at the front. It’s stormy because it reflects the pain and hardship. There are seagulls to echo the sound of the beach. And of course, a touch of green lightning—something that’s part of the story and hints at the magical realism woven throughout.
Helen: There is always more than meets the idea behind book cover designs. I love the attention to detail you had when designing this cover. What made you writte this particular book?
Ligia: This might be my most personal book, one that reflects part of the hurt I carried growing up. Bev, the FMC, embodies that in many ways. But it also offers hope. That no matter how dark your life might feel, no matter that some things may never be fixed, you can still make magic happen in your own life. I wrote this when I was just starting to write again after a 20+ year hiatus, at a time when I didn’t think I was good enough. And because of that, I wrote this story non-stop.
Helen: I’m glad you found your way backing to writing. For me it is a passion, I just love writing. Do you listen to music when you write, if so, what do you listen to and why?
Ligia: Music has always been part of my life, so yes—I listen to it when I write. But it’s a complement, a minor character, not the main one. It has to blend with my mood as I work. I usually go for a chill playlist, something that stays in the background and lets the story take center stage. Right now, as I’m working on a very important part of my WIP, I’ve been listening to Ludovico Einaudi.
Helen: I love Einaudi! I listen to a lot of classical music when I write. How do you get the ideas for a new book?
Ligia: Great question! I pull them from the air, mold them with sand, and infuse them with a little pixie dust—and voilà, a book. Okay, kidding… but not really. It can feel that way. I get inspired by movies or books that move me deeply, and my brain immediately starts chanting what if… That’s usually where it begins but it’s only a small piece of it. I dream stories while I’m awake. They come to me (hence the “pulling them from the air”), and I shape them until I have no choice but to pour them onto the keyboard. The real spark happens then. I usually don’t have much at the start, but as I write, the scenes unfold, the characters come alive with vivid clarity: their struggles, their passions…And I get so excited I can’t stop typing. It’s beautiful.
Helen: I think ‘what if’ are two of the most important words for writers. If we didn’t ask these questions our stories would never happen. What are you working on now?
Ligia: Redemption of Faete is book four—and the final installment—in my Bradaís Pledge series. It’s a contemporary-to–second-world adventure filled with danger, immortal pirates (definitely not your typical ones), fae mentors shaped more in the Tolkien vein, and a human who begins the series naïve and a bit immature (lovely so—I’m in my 50s and still immature in some areas, so I wanted to represent that!). What I love most about this series is how both main characters grow—the immortal pirate and the young seer—and how the stakes rise with each book. This final installment is intense. It’s the end, after all. There’s found family, love lost (and found again; this is a HEA series), dragons meddling, and powerful gods trying to destroy their reality. It’s absolute chaos. Wonderful chaos.I’m currently in the middle of a major revision after receiving developmental edits, and it’s been so exciting to create new scenes and find even more ways for my heroes to complicate their lives.
Helen: Oh that sounds wonderful, chaos and dragons, what more can you ask for? Tell us a little about the protagonist in your story.
Ligia: This is a dual-POV series. I first wrote it from Ryanne’s perspective. Unlike many heroines, she starts with no real power—just some silly visions. At the beginning of book one, she’s a bit absorbed in her own world and hasn’t quite realized what it means to have a fae mentor and a brave pixie as her guardian. I wrote her because she—and the pixie—came to me one Sunday morning at 6 a.m. and demanded I write her story. I swear it’s true. I relented at 7 a.m. and wrote her first chapter, where she told me everything. I fell in love with her silliness (I’m pretty goofy too) and her personality. Then came Titus—a bloodthirsty pirate who can’t find peace because he’s controlled by his creator. Oh man, do I love Titus. It’s been an absolute pleasure to be in his head and watch his growth, especially in this last book. Why did I write him? In my first draft, he went out for coffee while Ryanne was trying to avoid the pixie—and drink far too much coffee (he’s addicted). I saw him there—worried, determined—and I knew I needed to understand him better. His story flowed from my fingers so easily.
Helen: What is the best thing that has happened to you since you began writing?
Ligia: Readers. Hands down. When I first started writing, I did it simply because I couldn’t stop (I have several drafts from that time that will never see the light of day as proof!). I loved creating stories, building worlds, and bringing characters to life. But then those characters made their way out into the world. Readers found them—and fell in love with them and their stories. And honestly, that’s more than enough reason to keep going.
Helen: I’m glad enthusiatic readers found your books. Thank you so much for joining me today. It’s been great learning more about your books. Most authors are also great readers. Just to close us out do you have any book recommendations for us?
Ligia: Reading is part of the writing life. Honestly, like most people, it’s been part of mine since I was seven years old. I can’t imagine a life without reading (please tell me heaven has a library… I need that). For epic fantasy, I’d recommend Khyven the Unkillable by Todd Fahnestock. It’s book one in a five-book series, and I recently finished the final installment—which is actually influencing the writing of my own last book. For a debut author—also epic fantasy, with wolves (not fantasy romance, very important!)—A Bird Among Wolves by Tracy Leonard Nakatani. Amazing. And for fantasy romance: Soulfire Blue by Jesse Sprague. It’s currently on Kickstarter as a gorgeous special edition, with art illustrated by the author herself.
Helen: Oh these sound really interesting. More for the TBR pile! Thank you for sharing.
About the Author – Ligia de Wit
Ligia de Wit writes fantasy romance adventures with heart, humor, and just the right dose of magic. A lifelong romantic with a soft spot for fairy tales and found family tropes, Ligia writes characters who are strong in more than just a physical sense. Her characters face fears, fight for themselves, and find love in the most unexpected places.
When she’s not writing (or rewriting) her imaginary worlds, she works for a global distribution company and dreams up stories during lunch breaks. You’ll often find her with her nose in a book, exploring a new city, hiking through forests, or acting like a total goof at theme parks. She’s a proud kid at heart—and owns it.
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.
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I am so thrilled to announce that Sentinals Origins Part One has been awarded FIRST PLACE Best in Category in the Chanticleer International Book Award’s (CIBA) 2025 for OZMA Fantasy.
The Ozma Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Magic, Steampunk and Fantasy Fiction. The Ozma Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs). These titles have moved forward from all 2025 OZMA Fantasy Fiction entries to the 2025 Ozma Book Awards Finalist List.
These titles have moved forward from the 2025 OZMA Fantasy Fiction Finalists to the 2025 Ozma Book Awards 1st Place Best in Category winners.
CIBA announced the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday April 18th, 2026 in beautiful Bellingham, WA.
So excited to be on this prestigious list. Congratulations to all the First Place Winners:
Abigail O’Bryan – Iron Rose
Helen Garraway – Sentinals Origins, Part One
J.A. Nielsen – The Winter Heir (Fractured Kingdoms, Book 2)
Wild magic is rife in the world of Remargaren and a shadowy group of dissidents have discovered how to exploit the power for their own purposes.
The goddess, Leyandrii, and her Captain, Guerlaire, must face down this new threat and protect the people from unseen dangers. As Guerlaire learns to wield his own power, three new cadets with the potential to change the world are beginning their journey to become Lady’s Rangers.
Drawn from the back streets of Vespers, a young boy is thrust into a world beyond his comprehension. Battling bigotry and violence, Birler will need to navigate the Rangers’ Academy while grappling with unexpected ties of friendship, a tantalising found family, and embrace ancient magical powers.
A heartwarming tale of friendship and family is set against a backdrop of bigotry and violence in a world where wild magic can precariously tip the balance. Birler and his new friends will have to fight their own battles, not only to earn the right to become rangers but to help Leyandrii and Guerlaire restore the natural balance and defend their world.
This is the first part of the prequel to the award winning Sentinal series.
If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and also Sentinals Discovery, the first few chapters of Sentinals Awaken from Birlerion’s POV 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.
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Starts: Monday May 4th, 2026 at Midnight GMT Closes: Sunday May 31st, 2026 11.45pm GMT Winner announced June 1st, 2026 Open Internationally, One winner, Over 18 only. No cash alternative.
Join me as I celebrate the forthcoming launch of Forged By Betrayal and Blood with many of my friends in the writing community. Thank you to these generous authors for donating their books to the grand prize. Enter the launch giveaway by following the authors on social media or by signing up to their newsletter. The more authors you follow, the more entries you recieve.
One randomly drawn reader will win a signed print copy of Forged by Betrayal and Blood, three more fantasy paperbacks and 10 fantasy ebooks. That’s fourteen books in total for one lucky winner!
Vael Tor Arne, commonly known as the Butcher of Leif, has spent the last ten years roaming the wilds of Surosha. Disgraced and outcast, he is not welcome anywhere, not even in his own home.
Never managing to rise above the rank of lieutenant in the Emperor’s army, Vael does his best to protect his men against the taint that follows him. Should the opportunity ever arise, he would gladly kill Emperor Talon Shaleri the Deranged, the man who ruined his life.
The Celestial Throne lacks its dragon, its protector, and the empire is suffering as the new emperor struggles to retain control. The emperor is weak, in power and in health. He needs to right a wrong, now he has the power to do so, before he can focus on saving his empire. But righting that wrong may not be so simple, and the man he needs to forgive him is the one man who hates him.
Dogged by persistent Farsolian warriors, who can’t decide if they want to capture or kill them, Vael and his men battle to survive. With no hope of help, Vael must avoid the war bands and the emperor’s generals long enough to choose a side. Will the Farsolian uprising be his salvation or will the Emperor finally sign his death warrant?
If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and also Sentinals Discovery, the first few chapters of Sentinals Awaken from Birlerion’s POV 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
It’s time to meet YA Fantasy author, Suzanne Furness and find out about her books.
Helen: Welcome, Suzanne. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Tell us about your latest book.
Suzanne: Storm of Clocks is a middle grade fantasy set on the stunning North Cornish Coast around Tintagel Castle.
It is perfect for readers of 8 and upwards. I know of at least one 96-year-old lady who loved it!
Eleven-year-old Livvy’s life is torn apart the night her dad dies in an accident and her brother stops talking. A tiny piskie with BIG secrets bursts into her world warning a storm will cause massive destruction to her town. However, the storm could reverse an ancient curse that will herald the return of giants. Livvy must follow her new piskie friend, Patsy, into a hidden world of folklore and legend to discover dangerous creatures lurking in the bushes and magical birds that soar overhead. It’s a story of loss, friendship and hope.
The clocks are ticking . . . The skies are darkening . . . The storm is approaching . . .
Storm of Clocks was short listed in 2025 for the Holyer an Gof Award. An annual award for the best books promoting Cornwall, set in Cornwall or written in the Cornish language.
Helen: Such a beautiful coastline. With all the myths and legends in Cornwall, I bet you had great fun writing this book. What were your thoughts behind you cover?
Suzanne: I simply LOVE this cover. Big thanks to my fabulous illustrator, Alexandra Fowler. Alex and I were able to meet up and discuss my vision as she lives very close to me in Cornwall. I wanted to have Livvy and Patsy (the piskie) standing on the cliff top as the storm began. The lighthouse was Alex’s idea as we thought it would add a highlight. I think it works really well with the waves crashing over it. I then suggested the lightning streaks which Alex was able to incorporate into the title. The frame of the cover is a tree which features in the story (no spoilers here you will have to read the book!). Alex has cleverly hidden other clues to things in the story amongst the tree and other plants. Look closely for a pocket watch, a book, and the birds. Flip the book over to find a deer and a pair of eyes lurking in the bushes!
Helen: There so much detail in your cover, I love learning what all the images mean! I assume Livvy is on the cover, tell us more about her.
Suzanne: The main protagonist is an eleven-year-old girl called, Livvy. Short for Olivia. We learn she lost her father in a car accident which resulted in her younger brother, Ed stopping talking. Obviously a very tricky time for Livvy. The story is set several months after the accident as Livvy is learning to manage some of her feelings. Then she finds Patsy Scribble a Cornish Piskie in the compost heap and her life changes again. Livvy grows through the story and starts to see that her life can move forward but she can still keep a piece of her dad in her heart. This might seem a sad story but in fact it is uplifting and contains lots of hope. It’s an adventure that changes her forever.
I experienced the loss of my dad at a young age too. Different circumstances but the feelings and heartbreak were the same. I hope some of that first-hand knowledge comes through in the story. I started writing Livvy’s story shortly after my mum died after a long illness 13 years ago. I think it was cathartic in many ways. The image of meeting a piskie at the bottom of the garden was very strong and the story grew from there. It’s been through lots of editing and rewrites to get it to where it is.
Helen: I also found writing cathartic. I started writing after my mum passed away. Much later in life, but the time was obviously right. My greatest regret is that she never got to read any of my books. Is Livvy your favourite character or is there anyone else you found interesting to write?
Suzanne: Hmm, this is an interesting question because as I have explained above, Livvy is a special character to me. However, I love the feisty piskie, Patsy Scribble. She is definitely not a stereotypical piskie. (In case anyone was wondering a piskie is a Cornish word for a type of pixie.) She comes out with some funny sayings and quite often is a little rude about humans and their world.
There are also three birds in the story. One is the very clever and slightly superior Cornish Chough called Merlin. (Yes, it is an Arthurian reference). He was fun to write too. He doesn’t speak as such but he I tried to portray his character through his behaviour and actions.
Helen: Your characters sound like fun. When did you realise you had a passion for writing?
Suzanne: I think it’s always been there but maybe I didn’t fully understand it till a lot later on. As a teenager I wrote lots of poetry, which was one of the ways I tried to cope with the loss of my dad and other life events. It was years later that I actually started to think about writing a story. My first attempts were short stories for adults. I entered a few into competitions. One even got published in an anthology. I then tried writing an adult novel. Looking back, I can fully see it wasn’t great but I learnt a lot from those 80K words! I moved onto writing for children shortly after that. I have worked with children for many years as well as bringing up two of my own so it seemed a natural progression for me.
Helen: I think the more you write, the more you practice, the better you get! If you don’t write then there’s nothing to edit or improve. When writing, do you plan in advance or make it up as you go?
Suzanne: I have to admit I am a pantser through and through! It’s a slightly strange concept for me as in most areas of my life I plan things carefully and I am not a person who enjoys chaos or just going with the flow. Perhaps that’s exactly why I have to let my creative juices do their own thing when writing. I usually start either with a line of writing or a character name and go from there. I might do mind maps and character description cards as I get into the story a bit but other than that it’s just open the laptop and see what happens! Not the most efficient way as it means lots of editing and rewriting but so far it has worked for me.
Helen: I think what works for you is best. Do you find you need to do much research for your books?
Suzanne: Ah, well this is where I might spend a bit of planning time and like many writers, sometimes I find myself down the proverbial rabbit hole of research! But I do enjoy that side of things. With Storm of Clocks I researched Cornish folklore in depth and decided which aspects I could incorporate into the story. Quite often the research helped move the story forward when I got a bit stuck. It was fun to see how lots of things entwined. It’s such a big part of this story I have added a glossary at the back to explain a few things a little more. I have sprinkled the story with a few Cornish words and phrases too which all add to the feel of the book.
Helen: Writers tend to end up knowing so much trivia! What else are you working on?
Suzanne: I have a fun and slightly quirky story about a young boy, Jack Potts, who finds a door at the back of his shed which leads to a world known as Underbed Storage! A place where rubbish is treasure and nothing is wasted. He meets a clumsy dragon, a sort of wizard and some rather strange robots. It’s a very different story to Storm of Clocks but The Accidental Adventures of Jack Potts is a fun adventure for readers 7 plus. It’s got lots of fun illustrations too so is ideal for the more reluctant reader or new to chapter book readers. Check out Ink Bookshop or Amazon
I am hoping to be able to share news very soon about a new middle grade story that will hopefully be published later this year. Watch this space or follow my socials for the latest information on that exciting project.
Helen: Thank you so much for joining me today. It’s been great learning more about your books. Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Suzanne: My website is here and I’m always happy to chat so give me a follow or get in touch. I can sell signed books direct and will include bookmarks and stickers so if that is something you would be interested in just get in touch to arrange.
About the Author – Suzanne Furness
Suzanne lives in Cornwall with her husband and a cat with a moustache! She can often be found walking the coastal footpath on the lookout for pirate ships and lost mermaids or exploring woodlands and moors on the hunt for fae. Sadly, she hasn’t found a piskie at the bottom of the garden but she will never stop looking.
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.
Do you love audiobooks? Then the first five books of the Sentinal series are now in audio! You can find them on a platform of your choice.
Senitnals Banished is now on Audible, Amazon and Apple, and will be on other platforms shortly.
Narrated by the wonderful Matt Coles, it’s time to immerse yourself in the world of Remargaren one more time.
Artwork design by Jeff Brown
Book Description
Sentinal Birlerion has watched from the shadows for so long he doesn’t know how to stop. Always there when the Lady’s Captain needed him. He did what was necessary to keep those he loved from harm.
When the king banishes the Lady’s Captain, Jerrol Haven, from Vespiri and disbands the Sentinal guard, the Sentinals are at a loss, some bitter, some eager to retire, all angry at the king’s decision.
Birlerion moves to Old Vespers to watch over Jerrol’s daughter as she begins her journey to become a King’s Ranger.
Old Vespers is in turmoil, the king unpredictable, and the Sentinals are unwelcome. Unexplained deaths are occurring, and bodies begin to appear in the city streets. As Birlerion continues his search for the place he can call home, he has to step out of the shadows as he is drawn into a tangled web of deceit and lies. He must hunt down those responsible and clear the Sentinals name before anyone else goes missing.
Sentinals Banished is the fifth book in the saga of Remargaren, a vibrant, ancient world of high fantasy suffused with magic and adventure.
If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring (Sentinal series) and also Oathsworn (SoulMist series) and to follow Helen’s writing journey and be notified when her 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).
Have a booklover in the family? Eager to find a new book to read? Signed by the author?
I’ll have my latest release, Sentinals Origins Part Two, in paperback, and you can get the Sentinals Origins duology at a special show offer price.
Do your booklovers love dragons? Then I will have a limited number of the most amazing fantasy anthology with foiled cover, sprayed edges, beautiful artwork and 18 dragon-themed stories. The ideal present for your bookdragon hoarder!
Come and meet over twenty indie authors, all with tales to share and books to talk about. Everyone welcome.
Already bought my book and want it signed? Then I’m happy to sign your book for you.
If there is a specific book you want, then please let me know, so I make sure I bring enough copies and can reserve one for you, as now I have 15 books, I am limited by the number of books I can fit in my car!
Hope to see you there.
If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and also Sentinals Discovery, the first few chapters of Sentinals Awaken from Birlerion’s POV 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
Forged by Betrayal and Blood is the first book in Helen Garraway’s new epic fantasy Celestial Throne series. The gorgeous artwork and cover was designed by Jeff Brown Graphics as are the Sentinal book covers.
Forged by Betrayal and Blood is currenlty on preorder and will release on June 1st, 2026.
Vael Tor Arne, commonly known as the Butcher of Leif, has spent the last ten years roaming the wilds of Surosha. Disgraced and outcast, he is not welcome anywhere, not even in his own home.
Never managing to rise above the rank of lieutenant in the Emperor’s army, Vael does his best to protect his men against the taint that follows him. Should the opportunity ever arise, he would gladly kill Emperor Talon Shaleri the Deranged, the man who ruined his life.
The Celestial Throne lacks its dragon, its protector, and the empire is suffering as the new emperor struggles to retain control. The emperor is weak, in power and in health. He needs to right a wrong, now he has the power to do so, before he can focus on saving his empire. But righting that wrong may not be so simple, and the man he needs to forgive him is the one man who hates him.
Dogged by persistent Farsolian warriors, who can’t decide if they want to capture or kill them, Vael and his men battle to survive. With no hope of help, Vael must avoid the war bands and the emperor’s generals long enough to choose a side. Will the Farsolian uprising be his salvation or will the Emperor finally sign his death warrant?
If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring (Sentinal series) and also Oathsworn (SoulMist series) and to follow Helen’s writing journey and be notified when her 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).
It’s time to meet literary fiction author, Debalina Haldar, and find out more about her book: The Daughters of Shantiniketan, a tale of forbidden love and generational struggles that released in September 2025.
Helen: Welcome, Debalina. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Tell us about your latest book.
Debalina: The Daughters of Shantiniketan is a work of fiction and largely revolves around an aristocratic and orthodox Rabindranath Tagore-worshiping family in their ancestral mansion called Shantiniketan situated in the heart of Kolkata. Charulata, also called Charu, is the protagonist of this novel. She is the ideal progeny of the aristocratic family. The novel gradually reveals how her individual honesty and virtue, coupled with the hard-hitting questions about her beliefs raised by a carefree boy, enable her to rise above the pre-set notions that she has lived by all her life. The novel explores the troughs and crests of the sea of human emotions and as Charu sails through each of them, the readers discover how Tagore has weaved a song on every human emotion.
Helen: It sounds like an interesting tale set against the musical and literary backdrop of Tagore. Is there a story behind the cover?
Debalina: The cover shows the family mansion called Shantiniketan, which is also the name of the learning abode established by Rabindranath Tagore decades ago. It is symbolic of the extent of Tagore-worship. The family mansion, the very many Tagore portraits around the house, and of course the name – all of that is an outwardly attempt to show the world how the family has been a generational connoisseur of Tagore. However, the mansion fails at retaining the essence of being Shantiniketan, which translates to ‘abode of peace’. As we read the book, we find the mansion is anything but that… as the portraits on the walls witness the lies, secrets, conflicts, and silent tears.
Helen: There are always secrets hidden behind the walls! What made you write this particular book?
Debalina: Growing up in the 90s and early 2000s in Calcutta, we were beginning to witness a slow change in the kind of music that were being made. These new, free-spirited music was commonly called Jibonmukhi Gaan or Life-ward Music. I still remember, we had an essay topic for our exam in school – If we are now listening to life-ward music, were we listening to death-ward music for so long? And these so-called life-ward music compositions had begun to spread their reach to the songs by Tagore as well. In my impressionable young mind, this conflict had settled deeply and I’m happy to have liberated it so many years later. There exists an undeniable anxiety in the Bengali intelligentsia over the “purity” of Rabindrasangeet (songs written by Tagore) in the various renditions by artists. This gives them an entitlement to guard this “purity”. This tug of war between traditional and modern renditions of his music is explored in this novel.
Helen: An environment of many experiences certainly supports creativity. When did you realise you had a passion for writing?
Debalina: When I was a child, I grew up surrounded by books. Week by week, month by month, their numbers multiplied until they felt less like objects and more like companions. My father’s frequent job transfers meant I attended five different schools, but in all that moving, it was the books that stayed. They shielded me from the ache of losing friends to distance, from the fragility of belonging. By the time I was seven, I had already learned that love and loss are constants of life, and perhaps that was when writing began to draw me in.
Helen: I’m glad you had your books around you, and I can see why they would be important to you when you were constantly on the move. The Daughters of Shantiniketan was your third novel. Tell us what you are working on next.
Debalina: I am wrapping up my next literary novel. While this work also has strong women characters who must support each other in adversity, it focuses on motherhood and its many forms.
Helen: Thank you so much for joining me today. Just to finish, with your books containing a lot of history, and references to real artists and their works, how much research do you do for each book?
Debalina: I spend a significant amount of time researching for my books. I explored contemporary musicians who reinterpret Tagore’s works as part of my research for the latest novel. It is refreshing to see musicians reimagining classical music written by Tagore (Rabindrasangeet) with a contemporary resonance, bridging the past and the present. They certainly gave me vivid ideas about Bolai’s free flowing songs in the novel. I also explored the complex relationship between Rabindrasangeet and the tradition of Carnatic music on one hand and local folk music on the other. How the usage of technology and modern instruments strengthens and sometimes weakens traditional compositions!
Around the time that I was writing this novel, I was also reading a lot about the women in Tagore’s life, some of whom might have influenced him to write songs. I read Jorasanko and The Daughters of Jorasanko by Aruna Chakravarty, Kadambari Debi’s Suicide Note by Ranjan Bandyopadhyay – amongst many others. I found women and their silent rebellions in these books – women from Tagore’s own family. How brave of these women to have stood against the looming patriarchy in every brick of the house and yet, create a place of their own! That moved me deeply.
About the Author – Debalina Haldar
Debalina Haldar writes in the literary fiction genre. Her novel, The Female Ward, was published in October 2012, by Thames River Press (UK). Her second book, Wrinkles in Memory, is a collection of 22 short stories. It was published in August 2016 by Lifi Publications. Wrinkles in Memory was shortlisted for the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar for books in English in 2020. Recently, in 2025, her third book, The Daughters of Shantiniketan, was published by Readomania Publishing.
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I was fortunate to be invited onto to TL Browns podcast, 12 Minutes (or Less) with the Author. We did a quick question rapid fire round. So difficult to keep it to a short answer. I had to bite my tongue many times not to say more!!
Let’s jump straight into the Rapid Fire Round. In this clip, Helen answers:
1 – What is the last book you read? 2 – Name an author you admire. 3 – What character from a book (any book) would you like as a friend in real life? 4 – Which of your novels is your favorite? 5 – What genre would you like to write in next? 6 – What’s your favorite book to recommend to others? 7 – In five words or less, why will readers fall in love with your novels?
Find out about my writing journey, my books, and my thoughts behind my next book Forged in Betrayal and Blood, the first book in my new epic fantasy Celestial Throne series.
Vael Tor Arne, commonly known as the Butcher of Leif, has spent the last ten years roaming the wilds of Surosha. Disgraced and outcast, he is not welcome anywhere, not even in his own home.
Never managing to rise above the rank of lieutenant in the Emperor’s army, Vael does his best to protect his men against the taint that follows him. Should the opportunity ever arise, he would gladly kill Emperor Talon Shaleri the Deranged, the man who ruined his life.
The Celestial Throne lacks its dragon, its protector, and the empire is suffering as the new emperor struggles to retain control. The emperor is weak, in power and in health. He needs to right a wrong, now he has the power to do so, before he can focus on saving his empire. But righting that wrong may not be so simple, and the man he needs to forgive him is the one man who hates him.
Dogged by persistent Farsolian warriors, who can’t decide if they want to capture or kill them, Vael and his men battle to survive. With no hope of help, Vael must avoid the war bands and the emperor’s generals long enough to choose a side. Will the Farsolian uprising be his salvation or will the Emperor finally sign his death warrant?
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