I am so excited to share that Sentinals Banished, the fifth book in the epic fantasy Sentinal Series has made it through to the Long list for the 2024 Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBA) OZMA Book Awards for Fantasy Fiction!
The Ozma Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in Fantasy Fiction. The Ozma Book Awards is a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs).
Chanticleer International Book Awards discovers the best books in the Ozma Awards featuring magic, the supernatural, imaginary worlds, fantastical creatures, legendary beasts, mythical beings, or inventions of fancy that author imaginations dream up without a basis in science as we know it. Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery, Dragons, Unicorns, Steampunk, Dieselpunk, Gaslight Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, or other out-of-this-world fiction. These books have advanced to the Long List in the 2024 CIBAs OZMA division.
Sentinals Banished has moved forward in the judging rounds from all 2024 Ozma Fantasy Fiction entries to the 2024 Ozma Book Awards LONG LIST. Entries are now in competition for 2024 Ozma Short List. The Short Listers will compete for the FINALIST positions. Finalists will be selected from the Short List. All FINALISTS will be announced and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference (CAC25) on April 3rd, 2025.
Sentinals Banished is the fifth book in the saga of Remargaren, a vibrant, ancient world of high fantasy suffused with magic and adventure.
Sentinals Banished is set seventeen years after the fourth book, Sentinals Across Time.
Sentinal Birlerion has watched from the shadows for so long he doesn’t know how to stop. Always there when the Lady’s Captain needed him. He did what was necessary to keep those he loved from harm.
When the king banishes the Lady’s Captain, Jerrol Haven, from Vespiri and disbands the Sentinal guard, the Sentinals are at a loss, some bitter, some eager to retire, all angry at the king’s decision.
Birlerion moves to Old Vespers to watch over Jerrol’s daughter as she begins her journey to become a King’s Ranger.
Old Vespers is in turmoil, the king unpredictable, and the Sentinals are unwelcome. Unexplained deaths are occurring, and bodies begin to appear in the city streets. As Birlerion continues his search for the place he can call home, he has to step out of the shadows as he is drawn into a tangled web of deceit and lies. He must hunt down those responsible and clear the Sentinals name before anyone else goes missing.
Want to know more and follow my journey? Then make sure you sign up to my newsletter below.
If you enjoy epic fantasy then check out my award winning Sentinal series, which is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love my SoulMist series, start with SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fantasy? Then try Harmony. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.
Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator). You can withdraw your consent at any time. The data will be processed until the consent is withdrawn.
I am very pleased to welcome Erica Sebree to my blog this week, and we’re chatting about her fantasy Wild Heart series.
Helen: Welcome Erica. I am very excited to learn more about your series. I saw your latest book, Wild Heart of the Magic released on May 1st, 2024 and you’re working on book four. Tell us a little about it.
Erica: I’m currently working on the fourth book in the Wild Heart fantasy series. Because it’s a series, I’ll tell you a little about books 1-3. Wild Heart of the Storm is the first in the series, and follows the classic fantasy quest trope. The main character comes into her magic unexpectedly when she brings a dead wolf back to life. Not long after, assassins track her down, and she’s forced to flee with the mysterious town metalsmith. Book one features secret identity, found family, untamed magic, and confronting the past. Book two, Wild Heart of the Crown, dives into court intrigue, ancient secrets, and a desperate attempt to heal a barren landscape. Court members continue their scheming in book three, Wild Heart of the Magic, which grows to include hordes of prospective noblemen. With the alarming truths revealed in book two and the barrenness continuing to spread, hidden objects imbued with dark magic must be found (and destroyed) before it’s too late. Book four, Wild Heart of the Darkness, tackles the fallout of the events at the end of book three, and includes a journey back across the sea.
Helen: I love the colours of your covers. What were your thoughts behind the cover design?
Erica:Wild Heart of the Storm features a vast landscape that represents both the starting and ending points of the main character’s journey. It also features her strongest magical ability, wielding storms.
Wild Heart of the Crown takes place mostly in the capital city, so I wanted to feature a portion of the palace—particularly the glass dome of the throne room—and the magical lights (a reflection of magic in the land) in the night sky.
Wild Heart of the Magic revolves around…magic! The unordained priestesses also become more central in book three, so illustrating the opulent temple from the beginning of the book seemed like the perfect setting.
Helen: I love learning the detail behind the covers. I think titles are sometimes even harder to think up! How did you come up with your titles?
Erica: The title for Wild Heart of the Storm came about in a couple of different ways. When I first started compiling a list of all the keywords that described the book, I kept coming back to “wild heart” and was reminded of the movie I saw when I was a kid, Wild Hearts Can’t be Broken. It’s a story about a woman who performs high-dives into tiny pools…on a horse! How incredible is that? So I knew I wanted to include “wild heart” in the title. More specifically, the title highlights all of the main character’s magical abilities: wild represents her ability to grow and direct plants, heart represents her life-giving power, and storm represents her storm magic. But wait, there’s more! “Wild heart” also represents the main character’s independence, and “heart of the storm” illustrates the final battle in book one. As for the series, I wanted to carry that naming structure through to each book. Wild Heart of the Crown focuses a lot on the main character’s new role as queen, and Wild Heart of the Magic brings the magic of their world to the forefront.
Helen: Writing a series is such fun, beacuse you can really dig into the characters and thier backstories. Who was your favourite character to write?
Erica: Both Hazel and Cadwyn are my favorites! I just love fiercely loyal friends. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of the love interests too (I read a lot of romance), but the unwavering friendships are where the heart of the story is.
Helen: If your main character could answer this question, why would they say we should read your book?
Erica: She would tell you that strength is always inside you, even when it feels out of reach. She’d tell you to find small moments of joy, and to laugh even when things feel beyond overwhelming. She’d tell you to take care of the people, animals, and land under your protection—though the author argues that self-sacrificing isn’t the only way to do this. And finally, she’d tell you that family can be found anywhere, and those who seem prickly at first might end up being your fiercest allies.
Helen: Lovely answer! Which genre do you prefer to write?
Erica: I love writing fantasy because I have the privilege of creating the world. It’s incredibly freeing. There’s a lot that goes into it—geography, history, government, social structures, magic systems—but it also means I get to create a space that’s more equitable and inclusive. And just like reading fantasy offers an escape from the stresses of our lives and the chaos of the world, writing fantasy does too. I feel like I’m able to correct some of the injustices I’ve experienced or witnessed. It’s far from perfect, but it’s a small way I can take action—even if only for my own peace of mind.
Helen: I love world building as well. I sometimes think the new world is almost another character with its own quirks and foibles. If world building frees you, which element of the writing process do you find most challenging and why?
Erica: I have such a hard time with transitions! I’m a very organized writer, so I know all the plot points and character arcs. I find inspirational images for locations, structures, weapons, clothing…you name it! But when it comes time to flow from one scene to the next, I get stuck. I don’t always feel like a scene break is appropriate, especially if only a short amount of time passes between the two scenes. I also want the transition to contribute something to the story. Even if those couple of lines don’t move the plot forward, I hope they offer a glimpse into the fantasy world or the dynamics between characters.
Helen: Most indie authors work as well write. How do you fit writing into your everyday life?
Erica: I’ve tried a lot of things over the years (while working a full-time job), and I’ve found that writing for about an hour most evenings is ideal. When I attempted to write in the mornings before work, my mind was free from distractions, but my creativity was lacking. By waiting until the evening to write or outline, I find that ideas and words come to me more easily. And with all my tasks completed for the day, my mind doesn’t wander much.
Helen: Do you plan your books, or are you more of a pantser, making it up as you go?
Erica: I’m a bigtime planner! I had over one-hundred pages of outlines and character descriptions before I started writing the first book in this series. My planning technique of choice is the Snowflake Method. It’s about starting small, then expanding. Over and over. For example, you start with one sentence that describes your story, then expand it to two sentences, then a paragraph, then a page, then four pages. By that point in the process, the plot is pretty clear. Next comes the character summaries. Along with their own sub-plots, each character needs a backstory, motivations, goals, conflicts, and an epiphany (or two). Finally, you outline every scene in the book. I use a spreadsheet so I can reorganize as needed. Others might prefer a text document or a program like Scrivener. The thing I love most about this process (aside from all the organization) is that it’s difficult to run into writer’s block with everything planned out so well. I highly recommend it for anyone that prefers planning or needs guidance with building out their characters.
Helen: There are a lot of methods out there, I think it is key to find the one that works for you. Every writer experiences self-doubt. How do you overcome the fear and the little voice in your head to keep writing?
Erica: Before I wrote my very first chapter, I listed all the things that scared me about taking on this huge project. I worried my writing wouldn’t be any good. I worried I wouldn’t finish the book, let alone five. I worried no one would read my books, or if they did, that they wouldn’t like them. That small exercise took away a lot of my anxiety about writing and publishing. When I need a confidence boost, I go back and read that list. Then I remind myself that I did write a book (three so far), that people do actually read them, and most seem to like them!
Helen: What is the most useful piece of writing advice you’ve received, and by whom?
Erica: Owen and Jodi Egerton spoke at a writing conference that I attended several years ago, and they were delightful! I felt so inspired that I immediately bought their book, This Word Now. There’s a lot of wonderful advice in that short book, but the part that really stuck with me was about writing for yourself and no one else. I have to remind myself of that whenever I start thinking about the audience or doubting my work.
Helen: Great advice. I write for the joy of it. I am fortunate that when I decided to self-publish, my books were well recieved. You have to enjoy your writing in the first place. When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to overcome it?
Erica: Luckily, writer’s block doesn’t happen too much for me (except with those pesky transitions), but when it does creep up, I step away from my computer. Going for a walk is ideal, depending on the time of day. But any mundane tasks—cooking, folding laundry, or watering the plants—really help to reset my creativity. And the adage that great ideas come to you in the shower is one-hundred percent true!
Helen: Thank you so much for joining me today, Erica. It has been great meeting you. Just to finish, what advice would you share with aspiring writers?
Erica: Find what works best for you! When I first started writing, I heard a lot of the write-every-day advice, and that simply didn’t work for me. I had to figure out what my own process looked like, as I think every writer should. If writing is—or becomes—a struggle, try something different. Does writing in the morning or the evening work better for you? How long can you write and still feel like your creativity is flowing—one hour, four hours, 20 minutes? Where do you write best, at home or at a coffee shop? Do you need absolute silence or does music help? Experiment with different methods of writing. If plotting and outlining isn’t working, try stream of consciousness writing. Does your story flow better when you write in a linear fashion or should you jump around to different scenes? And if a particular scene isn’t coming out the way you’d intended, try writing it from a different character’s point-of-view.
About the Author
Erica Sebree
Erica Sebree lives in Austin, Texas, where she works in public service as a graphic designer. She reads too much romance and drinks too much tea—usually at the same time. She makes frequent attempts at gardening, and will happily talk to any animal who crosses her path. She believes lists should be written in colorful ink, and dreams of one day having a farm sanctuary with many adorable cows. When she escapes into fantasy worlds, it’s to places where magic is vital, animals are guardians, and a stubborn bodyguard’s only weakness is the fierce, reluctant heroine he’s sworn to protect.
As an Amazon Associate I may benefit from purchases made using these links.
If you enjoy epic fantasy then check out my award winning Sentinal series, which is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love my SoulMist series, start with SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fantasy? Then try Harmony. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.
Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator). You can withdraw your consent at any time. The data will be processed until the consent is withdrawn.
Very excited to announce that both Harmony, my standalone dystopian fantasy and Sentinals Across Time, Book Four of the Epic Fantasy Sentinals series won awards in the 2024 Global Book Awards.
Sentinals Across Time won the first place GOLD MEDAL in the Epic Fantasy category.
Sentinals Across Time is the fourth book in the saga of Remargaren, a vibrant, ancient world of high fantasy suffused with magic and adventure.
Jerrol’s fragile balance between duty and family life took two years to refine and one brief moment to tear apart as the Lady Leyandrii and the Oath conspire in a desperate bid to protect the Birtolian Empire. As a result, Jerrol finds himself stranded in the middle of an ocean, lost across land and time and seas.
Unsure what is expected of him, Jerrol learns to appreciate the idyllic life of the Birtolians, the vibrant people and the beautiful coastline. To his growing horror, he realises the devastation which lies in their future.
Can Jerrol prevent the destruction of the gentle people he has grown to love? Is he meant to? Desperate to find a way home, he begins to leave clues in anything he thinks will survive the test of time. Taelia and the Sentinals are his only chance of ever returning to his own life but can they find him before the Lady sunders the Bloodstone and changes the Birtolian Empire forever?
The fourth installment of the Sentinal Series takes us to the beautiful Island Empire of Birtoli. Only once, it wasn’t an archipelago of islands, it was a land of majestic mountain ridges, mystical forests and exquisite sandy bays joined as one to the southern Vespiri borders.
Harmony won the second place SILVER MEDAL in the Dystopian Science Fiction/Fantasy category.
He’s always tried to do what’s right. When ugly truths surface on their sentient planet, will he have the courage to vindicate the wronged?
Kiefer Gallante yearns to prove his worth. Son of two prominent scientists, the dedicated soldier is determined to ensure their legacy and protect their new home’s caring native sentience. So when a power sabotage by rebels leaves a destitute population vulnerable, the heroic young man throws himself into the conflict.
Shocked to discover much of what he’s been taught is a lie, Kiefer reels after learning how his superiors are exploiting the world. But when the revolutionaries plead with him to join their cause, the thoughtful idealist is torn between the life he loves… and fighting for justice for the people.
With the fate of millions at stake and enemies in his inner circle, can Kiefer restore hope for humanity?
Harmony is a page-turning, standalone dystopian science fiction novel. If you like compassionate heroes, awakening to the truth, and immersive world-building, then you’ll love Helen Garraway’s gripping adventure.
Want to know more and follow my journey? Then make sure you sign up to my newsletter below.
If you enjoy epic fantasy then check out my award winning Sentinal series, which is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love my SoulMist series, start with SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fantasy? Then try Harmony. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.
Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator). You can withdraw your consent at any time. The data will be processed until the consent is withdrawn.
This week I am chatting to Christine Priestly about her debut novel, Ella’s Dominion, which released on April 1st, 2024.
Helen: Welcome Christine. Congratulations on your new series. I am very excited to learn more about your books. That cover. It’s absolutely gorgeous!! Tell us a little about your book.
Christine: Book One of The Lost Warriors, Ella’s Dominion, is a dark mediaeval fantasy about forbidden magic, dark desires, and a woman’s struggle for power.
Born into a world that hates and fears what she is, Princess Ella of Erldan’s life has never been her own. A mere pawn in her family’s political machinations, she’s forced to hide her magic at the risk of enslavement—or worse. Against a backdrop of political intrigue and heresy, Ella finds herself torn between two brothers—lust for one and love for the other—and must confront the unintended consequences of using her powers to navigate the dangerous world she inhabits, lest she burn for it.
Helen: Your cover is gorgeous. What were your thoughts behind the cover design?
Christine: JV Arts (https://www.justventurearts.com/) did an incredible job representing the story’s iconography with this cover. The sword in the centre holds the Sacred Stone, once the source of magic (represented by blue mist), while the Sun and Moon (opposing religions) struggle for dominion.
Helen: It is always great to understand the author’s thoughts behind the cover design. Is there any special meaning behind the title?
Christine: The book explores various kinds of power, including magical, political, religious, sexual, and interpersonal, and the myriad ways people use, control, and suppress power. Navigating this world, the central character, Ella, born with powerful magic, yet rendered powerless, struggles for dominion over herself and her life.
Helen: What a great theme and plenty of content for you to work with. What made you write this particular book?
Christine: I didn’t intend to explore a particular idea or theme, but one emerged as the characters interacted with each other and their world. I studied mediaeval history at university and became fascinated with the various ways power and religion intersect. The story explores what it might be like to navigate a world where something you are born with and can’t change defies religious rule. The story follows several main characters, navigating power and privilege which sometimes conflicts with their own beliefs (themes very present in today’s world).
Helen: Who is the protagonist in Ella’s Domninon, and why did you write them?
Christine: Ella of Erldan was originally a minor character in a prequel for a book I wrote while in my teens. I became immersed in her story and started the series with her, a generation earlier, instead. She doesn’t follow the ‘chosen one’ archetype or trope of the ‘hero’s journey’ but is born into power and privilege. Yet, her situation renders her powerless, and she must navigate using the tools she has available—with some unintended and tragic consequences. While she starts out quite young and naïve, we see her grow across the series in a very adult world.
Helen: Which character was your favourite to write?
Christine: This is hard to answer. I enjoy writing so many characters. I love writing the villain, Gohran. He’s complex and broken, riddled with self-loathing and internalised hatred, and it’s fascinating to get inside his head, but he’s not someone I would ever want to meet.
My most likeable character would be Amber, Ella’s magic tutor, and my most fun character is Lynden, who becomes Ella’s friend and confidante. She’s someone I’d love to hang out with.
Helen: Congratulations again on publishing your book, such a great acheivement. When did you realise you had a passion for writing?
Christine: I can’t recall a time when I didn’t. I wrote stories in primary school, loved any class involving reading or writing, and studied writing and literature at university. I’m always immersed in stories.
My parents told me to ‘get a real job’ so I kept my writing as a hobby, with long hiatuses of ‘real life’ in between. Now, in my late 40s, I have found my way back to my passion.
When I reflect on my earlier work, I don’t begrudge the delay, because my writing benefited. My characters are stronger, more complex and fully realised now, and my stories are more mature and believable.
Helen: I agree, I think there is a time to write and a time to publish, and they are not necessarily the same. I started writing very late in life, though I have always been a huge reader. Who inspired you to write?
Christine: We always had books in our house growing up. My grandparents read to us, we read books in school, and I just loved immersing myself in different worlds. My sister and I read stories aloud to fall asleep to, and I remember loving any chance to write something creative in school.
Helen: Having now published your first novel, which part of the writing process did you find most difficult?
Christine: Writing the logistical elements of a story, whether that’s action in a scene, or larger plot elements involving lots of moving parts (in real life, I need to rotate maps to know which direction I’m facing!).
Helen: What are you working on next?
Christine: I’m currently working on Book Two in my debut series, Ella’s Curse. Ella’s Curse explores the consequences of the choices and actions that occurred in Ella’s Dominion.
Ella’s Dominion started relatively slowly, and built up with the sense, as one reader described, of ‘running towards the edge of a cliff’. That tension continues in Ella’s Curse, and shares heartbreaking and darker moments.
While Ella’s Dominion involved a love story, the series is definitely not a romance, so don’t go into it expecting a happy-ever-after!
As in Ella’s Dominion, Ella’s Curse follows multiple third person points of view, so we get to know the characters intimately, through the twists of their tangled webs.
I’m in the editing process now and can’t wait to deliver the final version to my readers!
Helen: So exciting that you have another book in the works! It has been wonderful chatting to you. Thank you so much for joining me today. Just before we finish, what advice do you have for aspiring authors.
Christine: Block out the noise of the ‘shoulds’ and enjoy your journey. Allow the story to evolve, hone your skills, and make the story as strong as it can be. If it connects with readers, and makes them feel invested, you’re doing a great job.
Thank you for having me.
About the Author
Christine Priestly
Christine Priestly is an Australian author with a penchant for sipping tea, cuddling cats, and spinning stories (and poles!) in her spare time. By day, she’s unravelling the mysteries of human desire as a sexologist and hypnotherapist, but by night, she’s weaving tales that will leave you breathless and entertained. Her work has appeared in magazines and anthologies over the years, adding a dash of darkness and a pinch of spice to the literary world. So, grab a cuppa, pet your feline friend, and get ready to dive into Christine’s world of words—it’s one wild ride!
As an Amazon Associate I may benefit from purchases made using these links.
If you enjoy epic fantasy then check out my award winning Sentinal series, which is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love my SoulMist series, start with SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fantasy? Then try Harmony. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.
Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator). You can withdraw your consent at any time. The data will be processed until the consent is withdrawn.
For a limited period (one week from August 8th, 2024) you can get the audiobook of Sentinals Awaken via CHIRP for $1.99.
Start my award winning epic fantasy series in audio! The first four books are now available in audiobook from a platform of your choice, via my online store and via Chirp in the USA.
Looking for a complete epic fantasy series, immersing you in a magical world filled with myth, legend and engaging charcters? Then the Sentinal series is for you.
When a long-forgotten threat starts to reemerge, one man stands as the last defense against darkness…
Jerrol Haven serves his king without question. When he finds evidence of corruption and is attacked, the loyal soldier’s mind spins after his touch of a sacred tree awakens the dormant spirit of a three-thousand-year-old protector. But he fears he has failed after the crown prince accuses him of treason and orders his execution…
Fleeing the city, Jerrol is stunned when the goddess appears to him, appoints him captain of her warriors, and charges him with a quest to find artifacts that can save the realm. And as he runs into danger and more betrayals, the steadfast hero discovers a rare gift that may be the world’s only hope…
Can Jerrol rally the forces of good to stop a rising evil?
Sentinals Awaken is the first book in the Sentinal epic fantasy series. If you like endearing characters, immersive world-building, and gritty conflict, then you’ll love Helen Garraway’s award-winning tale.
Want to know more and follow my journey? Then make sure you sign up to my newsletter below.
If you enjoy epic fantasy then check out my award winning Sentinal series, which is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love my SoulMist series, start with SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fantasy? Then try Harmony. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.
Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator). You can withdraw your consent at any time. The data will be processed until the consent is withdrawn.
Very excited to announce that both Harmony, my standalone dystopian fantasy and Sentinals Across Time, Book Four of the Epic Fantasy Sentinals series are finalists in the 2024 Global Book Awards.
Medal placements are announced on August 15th, 2024.
Sentinals Across Time is a finalist in the Epic Fantasy category.
Sentinals Across Time is the fourth book in the saga of Remargaren, a vibrant, ancient world of high fantasy suffused with magic and adventure.
Jerrol’s fragile balance between duty and family life took two years to refine and one brief moment to tear apart as the Lady Leyandrii and the Oath conspire in a desperate bid to protect the Birtolian Empire. As a result, Jerrol finds himself stranded in the middle of an ocean, lost across land and time and seas.
Unsure what is expected of him, Jerrol learns to appreciate the idyllic life of the Birtolians, the vibrant people and the beautiful coastline. To his growing horror, he realises the devastation which lies in their future.
Can Jerrol prevent the destruction of the gentle people he has grown to love? Is he meant to? Desperate to find a way home, he begins to leave clues in anything he thinks will survive the test of time. Taelia and the Sentinals are his only chance of ever returning to his own life but can they find him before the Lady sunders the Bloodstone and changes the Birtolian Empire forever?
The fourth installment of the Sentinal Series takes us to the beautiful Island Empire of Birtoli. Only once, it wasn’t an archipelago of islands, it was a land of majestic mountain ridges, mystical forests and exquisite sandy bays joined as one to the southern Vespiri borders.
Harmony is a finalist in the Dystopian Science Fiction/Fantasy category.
He’s always tried to do what’s right. When ugly truths surface on their sentient planet, will he have the courage to vindicate the wronged?
Kiefer Gallante yearns to prove his worth. Son of two prominent scientists, the dedicated soldier is determined to ensure their legacy and protect their new home’s caring native sentience. So when a power sabotage by rebels leaves a destitute population vulnerable, the heroic young man throws himself into the conflict.
Shocked to discover much of what he’s been taught is a lie, Kiefer reels after learning how his superiors are exploiting the world. But when the revolutionaries plead with him to join their cause, the thoughtful idealist is torn between the life he loves… and fighting for justice for the people.
With the fate of millions at stake and enemies in his inner circle, can Kiefer restore hope for humanity?
Harmony is a page-turning, standalone dystopian science fiction novel. If you like compassionate heroes, awakening to the truth, and immersive world-building, then you’ll love Helen Garraway’s gripping adventure.
Want to know more and follow my journey? Then make sure you sign up to my newsletter below.
If you enjoy epic fantasy then check out my award winning Sentinal series, which is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love my SoulMist series, start with SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fantasy? Then try Harmony. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.
Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator). You can withdraw your consent at any time. The data will be processed until the consent is withdrawn.
Goodness, July has been a busy month for my writing journey. A month of firsts! I was a guest on BBC Radio Berkshire on July 17th, talking about my books and attended the Bracknell Book Fair at the Easthampstead Works on July 20th, where I gave my first ever formal live Author talk.
I was up early on wednesday, though not as early as Paul Coia the host of the BBC Radio Berkshire Breakfast show, thank goodness. I am typically a night owl, and early mornings and I do not mesh!
I met the Bracknell Book Fair organiser and fellow Fantasy author, Emma Williams, at the radio studio in Reading, and we were live guests on the breakfast show. It was a great experience and the team were very welcoming.
We talked about the Book Fair and my writing journey, and you can find the recording on my press and events page.
I then went on to the Bracknell book fair at the Easthampstead works, which was a great venue and spent all day chatting about books. There were 20+ plus authors in attendence and it was a really well organised.
At 1pm I was off to the Bracknell Library to give my first ever live author talk which went really well, and I had lots of wonderful questions, and I must admit I could have talked for an hour instead of my allotted 30 minutes.
And then back to my table to meet more readers and talk books, books, books! Such fun, and the day flew by!
And then, home to soak in a bath and early bedtime! I was exhausted. But it was well worth it.
I was also a guest on two blogs in July, you can find my interviews here:
Want to know more and follow my journey? Then make sure you sign up to my newsletter below.
If you enjoy epic fantasy then check out my award winning Sentinal series, which is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love my SoulMist series, start with SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fantasy? Then try Harmony. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.
Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
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Very excited to be a guest on both the Tranquilo Retreat book blog on July 7th, 2024 and also Christina Consolini’s blog on July 15th, 2004. I had such fun talking about my writing journey, my latest books, and what’s coming next.
Also very excited to be a guest on BBC Radio Berkshire on July 17th, talking about my books and attending the Bracknell Book Fair at the Easthampstead Works where I am giving an Author Talk about my writing journey and creating magical worlds at 1pm in Bracknell Library on July 20th. Hope to see you there.
When? Saturday 20 July, 2024. Where? Easthampstead Works, Town Square, Bracknell, Berkshire, UK. RG12 1BH Where’s that? Go past Fenwicks and it’s the big brutalist building right ahead. But don’t judge this ‘book’ by its cover! It may be old but it’s got a big heart (and a fab coffee shop!) What time? 10am – 4pm. How much? Entry is FREE!
Author Helen Garraway and I might write in different genres, but we certainly have (at least) two things in common: both of us inherited our love of reading from our mothers, and we started writing somewhat late in the game. Despite her delayed start, Helen is doing something exactly right: she’s an award-winning and USA Today and Amazon bestselling author whose books are called “intelligent,” “compelling,” and “amazing.” Read more …
My latest book:
OblivionGate
Having survived Apologia and faced down the Angelic Assembly, Demavrian has every right to be feeling triumphant, but the threat hanging over his head from the vengeful god, Kaenera, is enough to snuff out any celebrations.
His fledglings are distraught and in disarray, Solanji’s brother is still without a soul and Solanji has no idea how her SoulBreathing works. He has no idea how to manage the Oblivion Gate and even with his Gate Wraith’s help, the burden of the soulless banging on the door may be his undoing.
Kaenera is poised to strike back and if Demavrian doesn’t learn the secrets of the Oblivion Gate fast enough, he may be the shortest lived Gate Keeper in history.
OblivionGate is the third enthralling book in the Fantasy Romance SoulMist series full of vibrant characters, political intrigue and betrayal.
While you are here, check out my epic fantasy Sentinal Series.
If you would like to read an ARC for my future novels, then sign up to my ARC team via the link in my linktr.ee. All I ask is that you leave an honest review on the week of the launch to as many platforms as you can!! (Amazon/Goodreads/Bookbub)
This week I am chatting to Fantasy author David Niemitz, about his novel, The Faerie Knight which released on June 3rd, 2024.
Helen: Welcome David. Congratulations on the release of your latest book. I am very excited to learn more about The Faerie Knight. Tell us a little about it.
David: The Faerie Knight is the first novel in a fantasy trilogy, inspired by Arthurian and other medieval romances, as well as the British Romantic poets – among other things! I’m very excited about this project, for one thing because it’s an experiment for me, in a lot of ways. To being with, I’m Beta-releasing the trilogy in serial format on Royal Road, and that process has gotten me tons of great feedback. It’s been a great writing excercise to practice crafting chapters to a specific length, on a regular time table, and structured in such a way as to (hopefully) keep people coming back for the next chapter each time they get to the end of the current one. I’ve had readers tell me they stayed up until 5am finishing volume one in ebook format, and then immediately go to Royal Road to keep going on the first fifteen chapters of volume two, so I’m quite pleased.
Helen: That is great writing habit to get into. I imagine your book grows quite fast writing by chapter. Though I tend to jump around, I’m not sure I could write in a linear fashion! What were your thoughts behind the cover design?
David: The cover of The Faerie Knight features our protagonist, Trist, and the Faerie Acrasia, from whom he draws power. The art is by my wonderful wife, Sarah Murphy, and she’s hard at work on covers for books two and three. She also did the map inside!
We talked about quite a few options for this cover, and went to the MET in New York to look at art for inspiration. I’m really happy with what we ended up with, and we’re already talking about options for volume two, which will be in the same visual style.
Helen: An excellent excuse for a trip to the museum, and how lucky for you to have an amazing artist in-house! I’m glad you found inspiration. Why did you write this particular book?
David: This book came from a couple pieces of inspiration – Keats’ La Belle Dame Sans Merci, Byron’s Darkness, Mallory, Spenser, all things that I love. But then I also read a wonderful metaphor for understanding theoretical five dimensional creatures, and it gave me this idea: what if faeries were essentially 5th dimensional angler fish? That’s the fish that dangles a glowing lure out in front of its mouth to attract its pray. In this world, the majority of a Faerie exists in the 5th dimension, where humans can’t perceive it. But they can perceive the beautiful, shiny lure that brings them right up to the gaping maw. Humans are food.
Helen: What an intriguing premise. Who knows what is behind the next bright light! Which genre do you typically write?
David: Various flavors of science fiction and fantasy. Sci Fi tends toward the harder end of the spectrum, while my fantasy tends more toward traditional/epic, and I would say in either case it’s very character driven.
It was sci-fi and fantasy that I found immersive when I was a young reader, and I loved to lose myself in worlds that were both wonderful and terrifying. That’s the kind of experience I want to craft for other people, now. And I also think both genres provide space to tackle the kinds of questions I find interesting: how would such and such a technology affect the way people live and interact with each other? How would immortal creatures regard humans?
Helen: I think that is what is such fun for writers. We have endless questions and buckets of imagination. Together that drives some amazing stories. I find writing the most enjoyable part, though I find it difficult to put myself out there, so I have to make the effort to put my hand up, and do that author talk or book event. Which part of the writing process do you find most challenging?
David: Marketing. Is that a cop out? I love the process of writing itself, and it’s an escape from the pressures of my career. I find it fulfilling and I’m excited to dive into each new project. Some people can’t stand doing revisions, but I even enjoy that, and the reception I’ve gotten from the Royal Road community has been overwhelmingly positive, even when people had critique or suggestions. I actually recently added an entire chapter to volume two based on reader feedback – they wanted more development on Ismet, a supporting character, when I had been a bit afraid of spending too long with anyone but the Protagonist.
But yeah, Marketing is very daunting. I credit my sister quite a bit with pushing me to challenge myself and work harder in that aspect, and members of my writing group for turning me on to various opportunities. I’ve gotten plenty of advice along the way: anything I do right is probably a credit to someone who has helped me out, and anything I do wrong is my own fault!
Helen: Marketing is difficult. Finding your perfect reader is an ongoing process. Thank you so much for joining me today. It’s been great meeting you. Just to finish, what do we have to look forward to next?
David: I’m currently revising volume two of The Faerie Knight, which will be entitled The GraalKnight, while also drafting volume three: Knight of Doors. The third volume will conclude this project, though I do potentially see room for a spin off featuring the protagonist’s squire, some years later.
At the same time, I’m taking notes and developing characters/settings for my next series, which I intend to begin on November first. I’ve never done a National Novel Month – last year I was already deep into revising Faerie Knight at that time. Royal Road also runs a contest that lines up with that in November, but of course to qualify you can’t have anything pre-written. So, I’m doing as much development and prep as I can, and then we’ll see how it goes.
I haven’t made every decision, but I think I have a very interesting protagonist shaping up. In Faerie Knight, of course, I had a male knight as a Protagonist, very traditional for the genre inspirations. In my first science fiction novel, A Sea Cold and Deep, I had a pair of lovers who shared equal screentime, Kaito and Annie. Liv – there’s still time for me to change my mind on her name, but I think I’m 90% settled – is occupying more and more of my mind as I draw closer to the end of Trist’s journey. I want to really play with some permutations of this sort of traditional fantasy idea of the half elf with her. For instance, what if elves have certain nutritional requirements that humans don’t, and that manifests as physical problems for her in childhood, because she’s raised by a human mother who just doesn’t know what to do? If Elves live a long time, longer than humans, do they develop more slowly? Is that interpreted as something being wrong with her? What’s it like for her mother to grow into middle age while Liv still isn’t really even an adult? What’s it like for her when her first crush grows up and moves on and gets married and is an adult, and she isn’t really? I think there’s some really interesting stuff to play with there, and I want to start with Liv as a child and cover decades.
About the Author
David Niemitz
Dave Niemitz is a writer and teacher; he lives with his wife, son, a black cat named Charlie, and a Pug named Duncan. He holds a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
As an Amazon Associate I may benefit from purchases made using these links.
If you enjoy epic fantasy then check out my award winning Sentinal series, which is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love my SoulMist series, start with SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fantasy? Then try Harmony. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.
Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator). You can withdraw your consent at any time. The data will be processed until the consent is withdrawn.
It’s Launch day! OblivionGate is live! The SoulMist series is now complete, and I am so excited to share the third book of the SoulMist series.
This is the perfect trilogy for your Summer reading:
a new world to immerse yourself in,
some great characters to fall in love with,
a rollercoaster of a ride,
plenty of action and adventure,
along with all the emotional feels.
The SoulMist series is a series that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.
OblivionGate
Having survived Apologia and faced down the Angelic Assembly, Demavrian has every right to be feeling triumphant, but the threat hanging over his head from the vengeful god, Kaenera, is enough to snuff out any celebrations.
His fledglings are distraught and in disarray, Solanji’s brother is still without a soul and Solanji has no idea how her SoulBreathing works. He has no idea how to manage the Oblivion Gate and even with his Gate Wraith’s help, the burden of the soulless banging on the door may be his undoing.
Kaenera is poised to strike back and if Demavrian doesn’t learn the secrets of the Oblivion Gate fast enough, he may be the shortest lived Gate Keeper in history.
OblivionGate is the third enthralling book in the Fantasy Romance SoulMist series full of vibrant characters, political intrigue and betrayal.
While you are here, check out my epic fantasy Sentinal Series.
If you would like to read an ARC for my future novels, then sign up to my ARC team via the link in my linktr.ee. All I ask is that you leave an honest review on the week of the launch to as many platforms as you can!! (Amazon/Goodreads/Bookbub)
Helen Garraway 