Celebrating the first bookaversary for SentinalsAwaken, the first book in my epic fantasy Sentinal series, I am offering you the chance to be listed in the book dedication of the first novel in a new series I am writing.
The book is called SoulBreather, and it is part of the Realm of Darkness Anthology, an anthology of paranornal romance books.
All you have to do is to enter the competition here, and follow me on Bookbub and/or Goodreads, and while you are there add my books to your tbr list! And that is it!
One lucky winner will be listed on the dedication page of SoulBreather, the first book in the SoulMist series.
***Give@way closes on Oct 30th, 2021 @2pm UTC. One winner will be chosen at random to receive their prize and announced on my Instagram account on October 31st, 2021. Winner has 48 hours to claim their prize; if they do not claim their prize within that time, they forfeit their prize and another winner will be randomly selected.***
When darkness falls, beware of the creatures that come out to play… Fall under their spell over and over again in this ultimate paranormal and fantasy romance boxset! Over 40 full-length novels with heart melting heroes and devastating anti-heroes, full of romance, magic, mystery, and adventure can be yours for an insanely low price.
Ready to be swept away? Your book boyfriends are waiting… Enemies-to-lovers, alphas, fae, werewolves, dragons, shapeshifters, vampires, gods, angels, demons, and more: with novels ranging from sweet to spicy, there’s a flavor to sate your every craving.
You won’t find these exclusive novels anywhere else, so don’t miss your chance. Over ten thousand pages by New York Times, USA Today, and International bestselling authors and at less than three cents per book, this collection is a steal, but only for a limited time. Grab it today before it’s gone forever…
If you order on Barnes and Noble for your nook – you can claim a free copy of the Realm Of Darkness Shorts, a selection of short stories form some of the participating authors including me!
Release Day: October 4th, 2022
The Sentinal Series
Remargaren is a vibrant, ancient world. With Goddesses, Sentinals, Rangers and Ascendants all trying to protect or attain that which is important to them.
Join me on the journey, as we meet Jerrol Haven, a King’s Ranger, who is destined to become Lady Leyandrii’s Captain. A role lost in the mists of time after her last Captain spectacularly disappeared with her when she sundered the Bloodstone and banished all magic from the world.
Throw into the mix some magical creatures, magic seeping back in, an insidious disease affecting the countries of Remargaren and the mysterious Sentinals trees, the only reminder of the Lady’s Guards, her faithful Sentinals, and we have the Sentinals Series.
Get ready for Book 3.5 – Purchase the first book Sentinals Awaken now:
Blood of an Alpha, by Forest Wells releases today, October 10th, and I am excited to be chatting with the author about his books and all things writing. Welcome Forest. Let’s start with you introducing your new novel.
Forest: My new release is a novella called “Blood of an Alpha”. In this one, Toltan’s pack faces serious trials when they lose their alpha, and the new one is an arrogant fool. As things get worse, Toltan will find himself facing hard choices that could decide the fate of the entire pack. This one is actually a prequel to my first novel, “Luna, The Lone Wolf”, and has two other short stories that dig deeper into events we hear about, but never get much detail on. I had hoped to have it out by June or sooner, but it took a little longer than expected.
I am also working on a sci-fi called “Fog of War” that follows the one human and two holdren (alien foxes basically) crew of a Scorn heavy starfighter. If it helps, think of it as a fighter bomber with better weapons and armor. Anyway, just as 40 years of war with the alien nation of Marcalla looks to be ending, a new threat that may not be new at all looms over the horizon. The crew of Gold 1 will charge back into the flames of war as they always have to defend their homes and loved ones, but they may not come out unscathed this time. That one I didn’t expect to have out before September, and that was if things went perfectly. FYI; things NEVER go perfectly for me.
Helen: That was one of the lessons I learnt when publishing my first book. Things always take a lot longer than you expect, and you should give yourself plenty of time to get everything done. Setting unrealistic deadlines just puts unnecessary pressure on yourself. Congratulations on publishing your book, you did it! Was there a special meaning behind the title you chose?
Forest: Not really. In the first novel, Toltan talks to Luna about “Your blood. My blood. The blood of all wolves. The blood of an alpha.” When I look at the three journeys we follow, that theme felt central to all three. The characters all have “the blood of an alpha”, and their journeys touch that blood in different ways. As for the sci-fi, it just feels right, though it took me a while to find it. There’s a fair amount of doubt, or “fog” if you will, hanging around the characters. The title tells people that combat is a part of the story, but there’s more to it than just war and space battles, which is why despite what it looks like, it’s actually not a military sci-fi.
Helen: Who is your favourite character from your novels so far?
Forest: That would be the holdren Sundale from the sci-fi, but I still don’t know why. I only know that I love spending time with him any time I can. Especially when I get to dig deep into his mentality and emotions. I don’t know what else to say about that really.
Helen: You have two books out now, which genre do you prefer to write?
Forest: I tend toward sci-fi and fantasy because… I enjoy it? I’m not sure what else to say. I’ve always enjoyed Star Trek, Babylon 5, Starcraft, Narnia, Dragon Age, Dragon Heart, and so it’s fun for me to create my own worlds. I will say that I have an eaiser time creating worlds rather than playing in the real one, so that too is a factor. I get to set my own rules, and then play within them to tell the story I want to tell.
Helen: Creating new worlds is what I love about writing fantasy. Have you always wanted to write?
Forest: I was always writing, even as a kid in elementary school, but I didn’t realize what it was. Then 9/11 happened, the muse woke up, and I’ve been writing ever since. The stories won’t leave me alone, so I write them as best I can.
Helen: Strong emotional reactions tend to be a catalyst for many writers. Having awoken the need to write, how did you come up with the ideas for your books?
Forest: In the case of “Blood of an Alpha”, the two side stories are, well, side stories that couldn’t be told in the original novel because they weren’t part of Luna’s journey. One of them was in an original draft of “Luna” actually, but I realized that because it left Luna’s perspective, it damaged the story too much so it had to go. Similarly, the original draft showed us how Luna’s pack came to be where they are before he was born, but it was too slow and took too much time to develop before he ever got to meet Luna, much less begin his journey. But I didn’t want to just shelve those pages never to use them again. So I expanded those set-up page into its own story that is now “Blood of an Alpha.” But the last half or third of it is actually the original start of “Luna, The Lone Wolf”.
In general though, my ideas mostly come from random thoughts or feelings. My sci-fi was born because I was tired of the “heroes” we were getting. They were always misfits, downtrodded, broken (one way or another), worn-down, unrespected, unlikable, arrogant, or straight up criminals. I wanted a hero like that line from the original “Duck Tales” TV show; “Real heroes just do their job.” I couldn’t find one, so I set out to make one. Not sure if he stayed true to that as he evolved, but that’s how it started.
But it tends to be purely random. A writing contest makes me think of a different angle on werewolves, my desire to see wolves protected gave birth to a story about a wolf who learned how to face and evade hunters (it evolved into what became “Luna, The Lone Wolf”, but that’s how it started), looking at dusty Zoid models made me think of some long forgotten weapon depot that someone finds, things like that. My personal is how a line from Shrek gave me an idea. “You’re a GIRL dragon. I mean… of COURSE you’re a girl dragon.” Suddenly, the old fairy tales of a princess locked in castle guarded by a dragon made sense. From that came a story about a dragon with her own journey to take. And that’s all you’re getting on that one for now. Sorry. 😉
Helen: I love that you are interested in wolves for themselves and that interest drove you to write the book, and of course, any book with dragons has to be good! How does writing fit into your daily life?
Forest: I write when I can, think when I can, and be perfectly fine with not doing a thing for a protracted period of time. Experience has taught me that I do worse when I force things, not better. So I’ve learned to use distractions to center myself so I can write at will more often, but I’ve also learned to let things be. Thus far, sooner or later, the words come back to me.
Helen: Are you a writer who prefers back ground noise or silence? Do you have a playlist you use when writing?
Forest: Heh heh, that’s a VERY long list. But sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. Music can help me get into a scene better sometimes, and other times I need the silence to really process the, “okay, how does this NEED to go?” thoughts that make it all work. As for the music itself, it’s a long mish-mash of tunes, soundtracks from games/movies/TV shows, and other instramentals that fit the feeling I need to conjure at any given moment. Whether it’s League of Legends, Assassin’s Creed, Mass Effect, Ace Combat, Rambo, Star Trek, Babylon 5, Fox Amoore, or Two Steps From Hell, if it fits a mood I need, it will be played at some point.
Helen: How much research do you need to do for your books?
Forest: As much as I need. That sound like a cop-out, but it really isn’t. Mostly because I’m not sure how to exactly quantify it. I look up what I need for the needs of the story. My first novel just needed some research into wolves, most of which I knew because wolves have always been a passion of mine. The sci-fi… whew. That thing has sent me digging into technology, science, and tactics like nothing else. But I never dug more than I needed, and I think it’s served me pretty well so far. I have enough to tell the story and build the world enough for the reader to enjoy. Now for “Luna”, my written notes were pretty minimal. For the sci-fi, I have 30 pages of notes JUST about my alien foxes. So it depends on the needs of the story a bit too.
Helen: That’s not a cop out at all, each book is different. The trick is not to get lost in the research, but it sounds like you have that under control. Talking of control, do you find yourself planning your books, or letting them evolve as they will?
Forest: Oh total panster. There is no plan. I have at most a general idea of how a story will end (though that doesn’t always remain in tact) and a few highlights along the way, but zero idea how I’ll get there. So in many ways, it’s more like I’m reading my work that writing it. It can be fun in that way, but also annoying when it’s clear the story knew things but didn’t bother to tell me. The story knew the real back-bone to “Luna, The Lone Wolf”, I could see it in the evolution of the story, but it didn’t let me see it until a few months before publication. Similarly, the uniforms for my sci-fi military always had a sash sewn into them. For years I thought it was purely decorative. Then the story finally admitted that it’s also an emergencty air supply. May not last long, but even five minutes can be enough to get to an air tank or be rescued. It always knew, but it didn’t tell me. Panster.
Helen: What is your favourite book and why do you like it so much?
Forest: It’s not so much one as a series. Jane Lindskold’s Firekeeper series really got me energized about writing canine characters, as well as fantasy in general. But the main thing is that she is an expert at weaving intricate and detailed plot lines that are totally separate, only to have them crash together for the climax. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to do that, but that doesn’t keep me from enjoying the read.
Helen: If you didn’t write in sci-fi or fantasy, then which genre would you like to try and write in next?
Forest: Oddly enough, I actually have an idea for a murder mystery. I’ve loved shows like NCIS, The Rookie, Columbo, and others, and I wouldn’t mind giving it a try someday. No idea if I ever will, but still. It would be a fun challenge to write.
Helen: That sounds intriguing, I hope you get the chance to write it. We’re nearing the end of our chat now, tell us something anecdotal about yourself..
Forest: I got the chance to do a reading at a VERY small bookstore up in Joshua tree. There weren’t many people there, and I only sold one book, bit it still felt like a worthwhile trip. To this day I don’t know why, but I do know that it was one of the first times I really felt like a published author. Kind of like being on the other side of the signature table. It’s also been a reminder for me to not be too proud about my appearences. Especially as a new author, but even if I ever do “make it big”, I hope I never get so proud as to say no to such a venue. After all, it’s where I came from. I hope I never forget that.
Helen: I bet that was the best feeling ever! Thank you so much for joining me today. Just to close us out, what advice would you give to new writers?
Forest: Well that could take an hour. Lol. You’re going to hear A LOT of “do this, don’t do that” as you develop. At least 50% of it won’t apply to you or your story. But as you get better, you’ll learn which ones to heed and which to ignore. Like the popular GIF says, “The code is what you call guidelines than actual rules.” Until then, be a sponge. Absorb any little tib-bit and fragment you can into your ball of clay that you use to create. Don’t be afraid to stash freelancers and other resources for future reference. I’ve sat on a few for years until it was time to call on them. It was worth the stash. Also; you DO NOT have to write every day, but I recommend you try it first. Even if you turn out to be one of the many who can’t write like that (despite what you’ll hear, there are plenty of highly successful writers who don’t), the attempt will help you develop your own tricks and ways to help your write more often than you normally would. Writer’s block IS a thing for some, but it can also be an excuse for others, so be wary of which it is for you. There is no such thing as an “aspiring author”. You write. You’re an author/writer. Own it. The terms are inerchangable and do not need a quantified beyond, at most, “published or unpublished”. And finally; I don’t care how Steven King or any author you name writes. You will NEVER be them, and they will NEVER be you. Write like YOU, and you’ll be fine.
About the Author:
Forest Wells is an author with dysgraphia, but those things don’t go together, which is why he did it anyway. He specializes in stories that focus on the emotions and personal journeys characters face regardless of the genre he’s writing. All of which is fueled by his deep passions for all things wild canine, sci-fi and fantasy, and really any well told story. When he’s not writing, or helping with his parent’s Girl Scout troops, you’ll find him watching his favorite NFL and NHL teams, watching E-sports, or gaming himself. Assuming he’s not caught up in the biggest of all procrastinating tools: Twitter. His first novel Luna, The lone Wolf was released in April of 2019, but he had a few short stories and poems published in anthologies before that. He currently lives in his home town of Thermal, California.
Today I have the pleasure of meeting Adam Perry, who released his latest novel All Possible Orbits yesterday. Welcome Adam! Tell us about your new book.
Adam: Of all the books I’ve had rattling around in my head over the years, ALL POSSIBLE ORBITS is the one I’ve always wanted to write. A lot of people have dysfunctional families, but I’ve always noticed the surprise and laughter from telling close friends about mine. Theirs is that sort of laughter that floats just above their underlying shock and horror that these people really exist. From telling stories about my family for most of my life, I knew the good bits, so to speak. What I needed was a framework. Luckily, it fell onto the page one day while I was stuck in another story. I thought about my cousin who my relatives, for a moment, thought had tried to commit suicide by shooting himself in the shoulder with a rifle.
As it turned out, he had been cleaning the gun, gotten into a fight with his girlfriend who snatched the gun away from him, and accidentally fired a round through his right shoulder. As terrible as that was, what struck me is that the lie was concocted on the spot and that anyone in their right mind would believe someone would shoot themselves in the shoulder with a rifle as a means of committing suicide. Just the sheer mechanics of pulling it off versus the better than average chance of survival make this a ridiculous idea.
While I was thinking about this, the first sentences of the first draft hit the page. Once they did, the flood gate opened and all the stories I had wanted to tell seemed to pour out and create their own framework around the suicide of the protagonist’s brother. He did not choose to shoot himself in the shoulder as he was 100% committed to not surviving the act.
The novel is very personal for me. Even though the characters are only partially based on some real people, I found it very cathartic to write the piece. It was great, remarkably cheap therapy.
Helen: It is amazing where ideas come from. The art is recognizing the story within the spark and being able to capture it on paper. I love the colour combination used on your cover, tell us how you came up with the design.
Adam: My cover art was created by Mississippi artist, Drew McKercher, who also designed my website. We’ve known each other a while having played in lots of bands around the same handful of venues in town. A painting of Miles Davis that he put on his Instagram really caught my eye and I asked him to create the cover. The four elements I asked for were the camouflage shotgun, the skinning tree, the skinning rack, and a bucket with either a deer hoof or antler sticking out.
In the story, this tree is where the protagonists brother commits suicide which is the act that sets the story in motion. Its also representative of a traumatic moment in the protagonist’s childhood where he shoots and kills his first deer. In my own life, the camouflage shotgun belongs to my father and the skinning tree is behind is house in Roxie, Mississippi.
Helen: The frame hanging from the tree isquite a desolate image, suggesting this story is addressing some deep emotional issues. How does the title fit with the book?
Adam: The title inspired the work. I was taking a nap one afternoon and had the tv on low playing some Discovery show on Black Holes. I was sort of floating in and out of consciousness and heard Physicist, Michio Kaku, say the words “All Possible Orbits.” It turned over in my brain a couple of times and I liked the way it flowed. I wrote down the title on a piece of paper and went back to sleep. A few days later, the germ of the story started coming together and I wrote the first three chapters very quickly. After that, I knew I was onto something.
Helen: I often hear song lyrics which spark ideas. What made you write this book? It sounds like it wasn’t an easy story to write.
Adam: Like most artists, I created it as way to channel pain and trauma. My childhood was not that great and like the protagonist, Tucker Merril, I was sort of the odd man out. I didn’t like to hunt or fish. I didn’t particularly care for sports. I wanted to be good at something but none of the things I found interesting were valued by my father. Luckily, I had a supportive mother and stepfather who encouraged me to do what made me happy. Over the years, my father and I had our ups and downs but we’ve ben in a good place for the last several years. When I started writing ALL POSSIBLE ORBITS, I was writing it with the idea of what that relationship might have devolved into had we not put in some work to right the ship.
Helen: I’m so glad you were able to resolve your differences. Any relationship worthwhile takes effort and time. Who was your favourite character to write?
Adam: Tucker’s Aunt Puddin’ is my favourite. She has not one redeemable quality which makes her a lot of fun to write.
Helen: She sounds like one formidable lady! What genre would you classify your book as?
Adam: Well, it seems that I work in Literary Fiction which, as I understand it, is the same as Commercial Fiction without the high sales figures. I prefer to classify my work as “Southern Gonzo Fiction.” Southern because that’s the world I’m most familiar with. Fiction because I feel called to work in the field of escapism. And, finally, there’s Gonzo. Obviously, the link to Hunter S. Thompson is undeniable. Certainly, the drugs, guns, and violence figure prominently in my work. What I love most about Hunter’s work and, what I try to bring to mine, is that feeling of speed. Reading Thompson gives me a rush and I want to give my reader that feeling of a near out-of-control downhill run where any grain of sand might send you skidding over the rail to a terrible death.
Helen: This is your third novel. What made you first start writing?
Adam: Reading. Simple as that. Some of my earliest memories are being read to by my grandmother. I loved that feeling of having words create a world inside my mind.
Helen: I couldn’t agree more. Who or what inspired you to start writing?
Adam: I’ve read so many great authors but the stories that inspired me first were Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Those were my first adventures. They spawned a need to create adventures for my toys so that it gave them a purpose.
Helen: They were both amazing movies for their time. It is quite sad that they seem so dated now, but when you think how old they are, much has changed since they first graced the big screen. How do you get new ideas for your books?
Adam: They come to me in all different ways. However, one of my closest friends is convinced that I have to get angry about something and let it stir up my brain before I get down to work. There’s probably some truth to that.
Helen: Emotions are important in being creative, so I’m not surprised. Tell us a little about your writing process. Do you plan you books, or let them evolve as they will?
Adam: I’m a pantser when I start a project. I tried to write to an outline once and it made my writing feel the way a paint-by-numbers painting looks. That being said, once I’ve finished my first draft, I build a loose outline just to keep my thoughts in order.
Helen: Do you prefer writing or editing?
Adam: I love writing. That free- flowing feeling doesn’t always happen but when it does it’s just the best. It feels the same as group improvisation in music where everyone is keyed into the same channel; an open conduit to something outside of ourselves. Editing is a whole different animal. I enjoy it as well because it allows me to indulge myself in rounding out all those rough edges. I spend a lot of time in the editorial process. Some people find it tedious but I’m a tinkerer by nature, so I sort of perversely enjoy it.
Helen: Tell us about a typical day of writing. Do you find it hard to fit it in your daily life?
Adam: I schedule myself a few hours in the morning to write before work. I’m lucky that my job is flexible, so I have a lot of room to get my words in for the day. I don’t write on the weekends or on vacation. Those are times for living and recharging.
Helen: It is nice you can separate the two, sometimes writing can just take over. Do you have a special writing nook which helps the creativity flow?
Adam: I have an office, but I rarely write there. Most of my writing is done at a coffee table in the living room. It’s closest to the tv so I have access to You Tube if music becomes necessary.
Helen: Do you find music helps you write or do you prefer silence?
Adam: I only listen to jazz while I’m writing, if I listen to anything. I prefer the fifties and sixties Blue Note stuff. I love lots of different styles of music but, if there are lyrics, I’ll get pulled into that instead of writing.
Helen: I must admit I have a similar problem, I can’t listen to the radio, because all the talking, the adverts or news are distracting. Most writers read, do you have a favorite book?
Adam: That’s always a tricky question and it changes all the time. Probably the most influential book for me was Flashman by George MacDonald Fraser. It’s still one of my all-time favourites. The novel revolves around Harry Flashman who I would nominate as the top anti-hero in the English language. I was made to read this book as punishment while grounded in ninth grade for throwing a party. The grounding worked out about as well as the “reading as punishment” idea.
Helen: What a great punishment! Having embraced books from an early age, what was the last book you read?
Adam: I’ve been reading Joe Hill lately. I fell in love with his novel, Horns. When I read it, I called a friend and told him I’d run across the next Stephen King which is when he informed me that Joe Hill was King’s son. That apple certainly did not fall far from the tree. His book, 20th Century Ghosts, is on my nightstand right now and has been a lot of fun so far. Also, I’d recommend another book of his short stories called, Strange Weather.
Helen: I didn’t know he was Stephen King’s son either! Who is your favourite author?
Adam: Hunter S. Thompson. Hands down.
Helen: If you didn’t write literary fiction, what genre would you like to try?
Adam: I’d love to take a swing at writing a real horror novel. My novella, SALIGIA, was sort of horror but more dark comedy. I think it would be a real challenge to feel like I broke any new ground in that genre, but if I did, I’d be as pleasantly surprised as anyone.
Helen: I have had such fun chatting with you. It has been great meeting you. As we draw to a close tell us something random about about yourself.
Adam: One of the best jobs I ever had was working as a repairman for Gibson Guitars Warranty Repair Division in Nashville. I did everything from simple adjustments to major restorations. During that time, I restored a Les Paul for myself that was going to be scrapped. Down the road, I had to sell it when I owed money to the IRS. Ten years later, my wife and I located the guitar in South Florida. She managed to talk the gentleman into selling it to her and she gave it back to me as a Christmas present. Needless to say, it’s here to stay.
Helen: What a lovely story. Thank you so much for joining me today. Just to close us out, what is the best piece of writing advice you’ve received and what would say to new writers?
Adam: Elmore Leonard said it best when he said, “If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.” Sage words.
My advice would be: Write as often as you can. Read as much as you can. Enjoy the process and don’t get consumed by the tasks of handling all the other bits and pieces of making writing your life. Certainly, all those moving parts and pieces are important, but your main job is to write. Do that with joy and enthusiasm because that’s really the pay off.
About the Author:
Born in 1974, Adam Perry is an American novelist who describes his work as ‘Southern Gonzo Fiction.” He was raised in the rural south and became the first member of his family to graduate from college with a Bachelor’s Degree in History in 1998. While attending college, he worked as a professional musician performing across the Southeast. He moved to Nashville in 2001 where he was a luthier for Gibson Guitars Warranty Repair Division. Since 2010, he has written in his spare time self-publishing the novel, BOXING GORILLAS and a novella entitled, SALIGIA. His latest work, ALL POSSIBLE ORBITS, is set for release on October 4, 2021. He lives in Brandon, Mississippi, with his wife, Rebecca, and can be found most days arguing plot points with his bearded dragon, Gonzo.
Reviewed: October 3rd 2021 Released: January 31st, 2020 Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
He has days to live.
Dragon shifter Reive is dying. After a fight with a gargoyle to save his clan, his poisoned body is painfully turning to stone. His only hope: an ancient book that promises a cure.
And the librarian who can help him find it.
She’s a monster.
All her life Jess has feared and hated her gargoyle shifter form. She would give anything to be fully human.
Now she might have a way.
If she can fight her attraction for a dying man long enough to help him find the book that will save or doom them both.
But they’re not the only ones looking for it …Read More…
Sentinals Recovery is a novella set in the world of Remargaren, though at 55k words it is technically a book! I hadn’t intended writing this book, but I couldn’t physically fit this piece of the story into the third book, and if you’ve read the second book Sentinals Rising, you’ll know how important it is that Birlerion meets his Darian.
Sentinals Recovery releases on December 2nd just in time for Christmas!
If you would like to read an ARC for my latest novel, 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, December 2nd.
Blurb
Sentinals Recovery is a novella set in the world of Remargaren. It occurs immediately after the battle at Oprimere. Although this is a complete story, the reader would benefit from reading the first three books in the series.
Birlerion is recovering from the near fatal injuries he received in his second, epic battle with the Ascendants. He returns home to Greenswatch to recuperate and finally meet his Darian stallion, Kin’arol, who has been waiting, somewhat impatiently, to bond with him.
Only Kin’arol is not there. Someone has stolen him. For such a distinctive horse, he has vanished into thin air.
Though not fully recovered, and still hampered by his injuries, Birlerion sets off, accompanied by his brother Versillion, to recover his horse. Not even Assassins, belligerent Terolians or the harsh Terolian desert will stop him from bonding with Kin’arol, though his failing body might
Get ready for Book 3.5 – Purchase the first book Sentinals Awaken now:
Reviewed: October 2nd 2021 Released: December 1st, 2020 Genre: YA Fantasy
Kaz Brekker and his crew of deadly outcasts have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn’t think they’d survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they’re right back to fighting for their lives.
Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz’s cunning and test the team’s fragile loyalties.
A war will be waged on the city’s dark and twisting streets – a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world. Read More…
Reviewed: September 30th 2021 Released: September 25th, 2020 Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy
“This was a war between monsters. And I was caught in the middle.”
Shapeshifters exist. Monsters are real. And no good deed goes unpunished.
Nursing student Ellie St. James didn’t mean to get involved in a war between rival gangs of shifters, but saving the life of a local mob boss’s child has dragged her into one. When Ellie’s life is threatened because of her involvement, she’s forced to go on the run, protected by Carter Ballis, head of security for the mobster’s family, and a lethal shifter himself.
Blood, fire, and warfare weren’t part of Ellie’s plans, but even if she survives, her life will never be the same. The world is more than she knew, and she’s seen too much. People capable of morphing into deadly creatures from legends and folklore around the globe are coming for her.
The cost of staying alive means trusting Carter to defend her, and he’s every bit as frightening as the creatures that want her dead… Read More…
Reviewed: September 26th 2021 Released: September 25th, 2021 Genre: Contemporary MM Fantasy
A broken mage. A penitent vampire. Can they put aside the horrors of the past to save each other?
Plagued with erratic, volatile magic, Nicodemus Green focuses his entire life to stop an evil sorcerer who brainwashes or kills anyone in his path to domination. Ten years into this crusade, Nick stumbles upon his former Academy instructor in the Austrian Alps. The strict and pious Byron Domitius has cloistered himself in an isolated manor. Alone and starving, he hates the twisted, damned creature he has become.
A prophecy calls for Nick and Byron to bond by blood to finally bring an end to the sorcerer’s hidden agenda. The two are forced to see beyond their shared past, and Nick finds himself desiring more from his old instructor than just his magic. But are these emotions real, or do they come from the heat of their bond? Read More…
Today I have the pleasure of meeting R.L McIntyre, the author of the recently released Curse of the Gods; the first book in her new YA historical fantasy series. Welcome Rachel! Tell us about your new series.
Rachel: My latest book is a YA historical Fantasy that releases September 21st, 2021. This series spurred out of me researching my heritage. As you can guess from the last name McIntyre my family is American Irish. I wanted to learn more about Irish culture and the history of the land. This spurred many late nights reading various myths and eventually I fell in love with the myth of Cu Chulainn. He was like an Irish Hercules in a lot of ways. My research led me to seeing the history of the time which is where the legendary warrior Calagus was pulled from. He was another warrior that led this grand battle against Romans in Scotland. Reading all this spurred the premise for Curse of the Gods.
Curse of the Gods is a genderbent retelling of Cu Chulainn mixed with real history of Scotland and Ireland at the time historians believe Cu Chulainn would’ve lived if he was real. My story follows Seanait, my Cu Chulainn, and her journey to return to Ulster before her prophecy to save the land starts during her seventeenth year. With her best friend Eion at her side, she fights Romans, Gods, and meets a mysterious fae Prince who changes her world.
Cillian, my fae prince, is modelled after Cu Chulainn’s fae lover. Cillian is the seventh Prince in the first Kingdom of the Faelands, Amanthia. As a member of the Royal family he is supposed to fight for the crown against his siblings, but he has other plans. He dissents and disappears into the human realm where he meets Seanait. But as the title suggests both characters have destinies ‘cursed’ on them by the Gods. This first book in the series explores the beginning of their tales leading into the next book Echoes of Destiny which should release November/December 2021. Echoes of Destiny follows even closer to the myth of Cu Chulainn so there is even more coming in this mythical world of ancient Scotland and Ireland.
Helen: Sounds like an exciting adventure with plenty going on. You never know what is going to happen when the gods have their fingers in the pie! Tell us about your cover, it is very striking.
Rachel: I have two covers! One is for my paperback version on Amazon and the second is for my hardback version on Barnes & Nobles. My paperback cover came first. It was inspired by Seanait herself. She is by far one of my favorite characters and it’s not just me. My beta readers and editor also loved her. So, she had to be the focus of the cover. This cover is Seanait with her power, a riastrad, activated. Her hair is ablaze, and she has her Gae Bolg (spear like weapon) in hand ready to fight the world and the Gods. I love this cover because it brings to life Seanait in all her powerful glory. She is a warrior and I really wanted that to come across but even more than just being a fighter, she is also feminine. I love mixing the feminine and masculine in characters because we’re all a mix of both.
My second cover follows the same flow and idea as the first, but it has a more artistic flare to it which I love. I love black covers. It makes the images pop off the page and I wanted to emulate that idea. This cover still features Seanait and her Gae Bolg but it also shows a detached version of her. You only see her red hair.
Helen: Curse of the Gods in the first in your YA historical fantasy series, but you have written other books, are they all fantasy?
Rachel: I write mostly fantasy. It’s what I loved to read as a kid and I still read the genre today. Anything with magic, dragons, prophecies always pulls me in. I’m also partial to anything in medieval or ancient times so I often write a lot in this time period. Although, I’ve dabbled in some more modern-age fantasy. I was and am still a huge fan of Lord of the Rings and Tolkien. He probably inspired me the most and helped me fall in love with the genre. I’m also a big believer that reading should be a form of escapism. It always has been for me and fantasy worlds help me to escape so I enjoy being able to create my own worlds and share them with readers.
Helen: I agree, I love new worlds, and the sheer escapism of fantasy and how you can let your imagination run riot. Speaking of ideas, how do you come up with new ideas for your books?
Rachel: It depends. Some ideas have come from dreams while others have come from history or what if ideas. There are other ideas that come from music. There are tons of songs that I’ve listened to and wondered what the story of the characters would be. It often leads me to some free writing of ideas. Some of them get turned into full length books while others are just fun pieces I work on from time to time.
Helen: What are you currently working on?
Rachel: My current WIP is the second book to Curse of the Gods. I’m hoping to finish it soon so I can start the revision process and beta reading. However, I also tend to hop between WIPs when I write. The world of Curse of the Gods is going to widen in book two and the spin-off series that come after. So, I’m currently jumping between these books at the moment. But my main focus is still book two.
Book two takes Seanait on the journey to fulfil her destiny. This book follows more closely to the well-known parts of the Cu Chulainn myth so there is epic battles, more faeland politics, and of course Seanait and Cillian need to reconcile. There’s a lot that is going to happen so I’m super excited to share it with the world. The two spin-off series will follow Cillian in the aftermath of the second book and the second series will catch up with Evander, the Roman with powers similar to Seanait. I’m super excited for both but they both have a long way to go.
Helen: That sounds amazing, and I’m sure your readers will love the fact there are more spin-off series to come. You have some rich and powerful characters in your books. Do you prefer to write heroes or villains?
Rachel: I love morally grey characters! They could be villains or heroes, but these characters always speak to me. The world isn’t black or white, so I enjoy characters that imbue that sense of reality. Although, if I had to choose it might be villains. Understanding why people might do something terrible is fulfilling. I like having those answers. Also, I have a background in psychology so I enjoy being able to use that to really understand my villains.
Helen: With all the history and rearch you had to do for Curse of Gods, did you find yourself sticking to a plan, or did your characters try and take over?
Rachel: Oh I am a plantser. I generally have a rough idea of some scenes and the order I want them in but how characters get there and the events in-between come to me when I write. I’ve tried writing intricate outlines and always end up tossing out half of it. For me it stifles my creativity so I like having a rough idea of the plot but the rest comes as I go. It makes it a surprise for even me and allows my characters to write themselves.
Helen: When not writing about your amazing characters, what hobbies do you have? That is if you have time!
Rachel: I’m a huge fan of volleyball. I used to play and now I get the awesome job of coaching high schoolers. The fall season is definitely a highlight of my year.
Helen: Thank you so much Rachel, for joining me to chat about your books. It has been lovely meeting you. Just to finish, one more question: If you didn’t write fantasy, what genre would you like to write?
Rachel: I write mostly fantasy with romance subplots. I’ve never considered myself a romance writer, but I’ve been considering Paranormal Romance recently. Not sure when I’ll give it a try as I have a couple of other projects I want to get done first. But I’ve gotten great feedback from my editor that makes me think I can write romance better than I think. It’s something I’ll like to try at some point.
About the Author:
R. L. McIntyre is a fantasy writer of books for teens and adults. She was born outside of Philadelphia and lived there for most of her life. When not writing she spends most of her time coaching volleyball or playing with her adorable writing buddies four rambunctious cats. You can find out more about her and her cats on her website rlmcintyreauthor.com.
Helen Garraway 