Author Interview – Barb Jones

Author of Rise of the Hunter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Helen: What made you write this particular book?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About the Author

Barb Jones

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

The scarier, the better.

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

Then I had an idea while sleeping.

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

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

I always keep to my roots when I write.

Follow Barb:

Website

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

Link to book on Amazon UK: eBook | Paperback

Link to book on Amazon US: eBook | Paperback

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

If you would like to find out about my books then sign up to my newsletter. If you enjoy epic fantasy then the award winning Sentinal series is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fantasy? Then try Harmony. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.

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

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Author Interview – Christina Consolino

Author of The Weight We Carry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Helen: When writing, do you listen to music?

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

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

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

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

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

About the Author

Christina Consolino

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

Follow Christina:

Purchase Christina’s book: The Weight We Carry via Amazon

Link to book on Amazon UK: eBook | Paperback

Link to book on Amazon US: eBook | Paperback

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

If you would like to find out about my books then sign up to my newsletter. If you enjoy epic fantasy then the award winning Sentinal series is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fantasy? Then try Harmony. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.

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

Author Interview – 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.

Book Review Alert: Divine Guidance by Shari T. Mitchell

Reviewed: January 25th, 2024
Released: October 10th, 2014
Genre: Paranormal Murder Mystery

Psychic psychologist Marnie Reilly battles inner demons every day. But when the “demon” is flesh and blood, will the final analysis be murder?

Marnie Reilly is a hot-headed counselor with a difficult past; a dead mother, father, brother and an abusive ex-boyfriend. She has publicly taken on “The Collective,” a group of psychics and charlatans who sell hope at top dollar to troubled people looking for answers. They have threatened her, but she hasn’t taken their “hoodoo voodoo” nonsense seriously – until now.

When the police find Marnie’s ex-boyfriend’s dead body in her shed, she finds herself in the middle of a murder inquiry. Serious questions arise about her involvement in the murder and Marnie is certain The Collective has framed her.
Marnie, her Border Collie, a childhood friend and a cranky detective battle thunder, rain, ice and blizzards to end a rash of murders in the sleepy city of Creekwood. Will the ghosts of her past help too? Read My Thoughts…

Read my Thoughts…

Book Review Alert: Followers of the Owl by M.G Hernandez

Reviewed: January 21st, 2024
Released: August 18th, 2022
Genre: Mystery Suspense

A girl and a boy, haunted by their past, must battle their personal demons to fight the evil hiding in plain sight.

Eighteen-year-old Dee Bailey works hard on her personal brand. She’s intelligent and passionate about her community. To her peers, she’s a great friend and everyone’s favorite social butterfly.

But when alone, she’s terrorized by a secret that leaves her cowering to the floor. Until one night, a mysterious girl in white appears on the manicured lawn of her family’s vacation home. She follows the robed figure into the woods with no clue that she’s about to change the course of her future.

Meanwhile, Brandon Cuenca is drowning in the weight of his self-sabotage. Mourning the death of his girlfriend, he throws himself deep into a world of drug binges and questionable life choices—until the news of another disappearance of a Wakefield teenager forces him to set his problems aside. The victim was the third girl abducted in their social circle.

But when a chance encounter lands him in her path, he learns that bringing her home is more complicated than finding her. What happens when the missing doesn’t want to be found?

Followers of the Owl explores greed, avarice and the human need to find light in the darkness.

Trigger Warnings: Use of profanity, drug use/alcohol use, no sex but brief sexual interactions, dysfunctional relationships, brief discussions of triggering topics: sexual/physical abuse.

Read my Thoughts…

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.

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Book Review Alert: The Mid Witch by DJ Bowman-Smith

Reviewed: December 30th, 2023
Released: August 20th, 2023
Genre: Paranormal Women’s fiction

One Woman’s Struggle with Midlife and Magic

Lilly is facing the fact that her husband is a philandering bastard, and she needs to move on now her children have flown the nest. Losing her job has not helped her dire financial straits, and her almost ex-husband wants to sell her ancient family home against her wishes. As she grapples with rude estate agents, stray dogs and hot flushes, a new problem emerges – she’s becoming a witch.

This paranormal women’s fiction is a funny and poignant take on midlife with a pinch of spice, a touch of magic and a relatable older heroine you can root for.

Read My Thoughts …

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.

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Book Review Alert: Trodaiche, My Fighter by Lousie Murchie

Reviewed: November 3rd, 2023
Released: March 28th, 2022
Genre: Spicy Scottish Romance
Format: ebook (KU)

My past was soul-destroying.

Annie Holmes: I’ve spent the last eight years in survival mode, living on a vow I made to myself: Never allow those with money to make me powerless ever again.

I’m a warrior.

I don’t need an unsupportive, uncaring, low-life in my world. I’m better than that. I tackle every challenge thrown at me head-on. My daughter and I are doing just fine, thank you very much.

I’m a Trodaiche; a fighter. I protect those who can’t defend themselves and bring corrupt politicians, sex traffickers, and criminals to justice. They fall to their knees at my feet and tremble at my power.

Called to rescue a runaway becomes far from business as usual: I encounter him.

Will Tony be my salvation, or will he leave us both in ruins? Read My Thoughts…

Author Interview – Michelle Angelle

Authors of the romantic comedy, Dear Pink series

Today, I am thrilled to be chatting to the writing duo Michelle Gaunt and Angelle Gremillion, who write behind the pen name Michelle Angelle.

Helen: Welcome Michelle and Angelle. Tell us a little about the latest book in your romantic comedy series.

Michelle Angelle: Dear Roomie is another standalone novel in the Dear Pink series, teaming with forced proximity and forbidden love. We had a great time writing it and revisiting old friends.

Ghita Russo’s dating history is dire. Men kick her cat, demand full frontal photos, and can’t let her win at a simple game of mini golf. Determined to protect her heart, Ghita lives by a strict set of dating rules. Rule Number One: Never date your best friend’s brother, no matter how insanely hot he is. But some rules are meant to be broken.

When Ghita needs to save money and her bestie suggests renting a room to her brother, she finds herself dancing dangerously close to the edge of disaster.

Logan Scott, recently free from a toxic relationship, moves to Dallas for his dream job. After meeting his insanely brilliant roomie, he can’t deny his attraction, especially as the chemistry ratchets up between them.

Helen: Now, that does sound like a fun premise. Plenty of opportuinty for mayhem and mishaps! What were your thoughts behind your cover?

Michelle Angelle: Ghita is an intense and ambitious business woman, so she uses puzzles to unwind and calm her brain. When Logan moves in, he finds puzzling equally relaxing. Soon, the sexual chemistry igniting between them makes it impossible for Ghita to concentrate on anything other than Logan. Logan is against her rules, but he might just be her perfect match.

Helen: What a great connection to the story. The cover makes even more sense now! How did you decide on the title?

Michell Angelle: Dear Roomie is part of our Dear Pink series, so some of the titles will have a play on “Dear…” In Dear Pink, we introduce the loud, fun, supportive Russo family. Gabe Russo gets the girl in Dear Pink, but the rest of his six sisters have their own love story to tell. Dear Roomie is Ghita Russo’s story. We also wrote a holiday romance featuring Gloria Russo, Until Next Year. We purposefully didn’t choose “Dear” in the title to set it apart from the others as a special holiday edition that features a new year in every chapter..

Helen: Nice, and that title works beautifully. What made you write this particular book?

MIchelle Angelle: Readers often ask us how we dream up our stories. We are inspired by everyday life and have a running list of ideas. For Dear Roomie, the idea occurred to both of us at the exact same time…like kismet.

A friend of ours told us about this utopian coffee place, La La Land Kind Cafe, where they mentor foster youth aging out of the system. There, kindness is the priority. We visited and were not disappointed by the sunshiny joy that filled the space.

As we were sipping their signature lavender bloom matcha latte, two college-aged girls sat at the table next to us. Pink sweater said, “I’m dying. I’m in love with Jeremy.” Plaid shirt said, “So? What’s the problem?” Pink sweater answered with the three words that would launch the plot of this book: “He’s my roommate.”

Yes, we are “people watchers” and “coffee shop eavesdroppers.” Don’t judge, we can’t help ourselves!

We won’t recount the rest of their conversation because that’s private. But we knew immediately how to complicate this already complicated love story. It’s all thanks to La La Land Kind Cafe and those great drinks for the inspiration.

Helen: That is such a great way to find new book ideas. I hope you dropped off a copy at the cafe once you finished it! Now Dear Roomie is out what are you working on next?

Michelle Angelle: Our next project is a trilogy featuring a strong female protagonist who knows what she wants but discovers more than she bargained for after meeting three very different men.

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

Michelle Angelle: Twenty years ago, we started a book club and fell in love with the contemporary romance novels our group read. Inspired to write, and wanting to work together, we immediately started dreaming up characters. Unlike traditional rom-coms on the market, we wanted side characters that had agency and strong voices. Together, we imagined scenarios involving two lost loves forced together in impossible situations. We all have a “WHAT IF” person from our past, and it’s fun to fantasize about various scenarios. We started a running document of story ideas to dip into for our future books. Luckily, we both have a lot of ideas and quickly the pen name Michelle Angelle was born.

Helen: How do you plan when to write? Co-ordinating yourselves must be quite difficult.

Michelle Angelle: Between juggling kids, husbands, and part-time jobs, the writing time happens amidst the chaos. Our biggest challenge is trying to do it all. Luckily, we have each other on speed dial and can dive into work the moment we answer the phone. Since we write together, we share docs and emails constantly. Because we don’t have a consistent writing schedule, our superb mind-reading powers come in handy.

Helen: What advice would you give to new writers?

Michelle Angelle: We often get asked questions from new writers. Our advice is to read a lot and write constantly. You can’t sell a book if you haven’t written one, and the best place to find writing inspiration is in a book.

Helen: Great advice! What have you found has been the most challening part about the writing and publishing process?

Michelle Angelle: Being a writer is inviting strangers to judge you. Every book has a piece of you in it, and when a reader doesn’t like your book, it can feel personal. Writers need to be vulnerable and take risks, but they also need to prepare for some hurt feelings and rejections. It’s a great exercise in letting go of the ego.

Helen: It’s been a pleasure chatting to you both. Thak you so much for spending time with me today. Just to finish, every writer experiences self-doubt. How do you overcome the fear and the little voice in your head to keep writing?

Michelle Angelle: Writing together is our favorite part of the writing process! Many authors describe their writing process as solitary, but we are lucky to have each other. When we write, we inhabit a separate plane of reality where only our story and characters exist. It’s our happy place. We love our work.

About the Authors

Michelle Angelle

Michelle Angelle is the pen name of two good friends. Our love of clever romances, great breakfast diners, and late-night wine tastings led to many sassy stories. One day, we started writing them down.

Contact Michelle Angelle via their Website or on social:

Purchase Dear Roomie via Amazon:

Amazon UK ebook | paperback

Amazon US ebook | paperback

Also available in Kindle Unlimited at time of posting.

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.