I am very pleased to welcome Dante Terese to my blog this week, and we’re chatting about her novel, The Base, which is now availabe in audiobook.
Helen: Welcome Dante. I am very excited to learn more about your series.
Dante: “The Base – Book 1” is the first in a series that is being converted to a screenplay and marketed for film and television. The story follows the most top-secret military base and the military research scientists who work there. The Base is where the military sends scientists when they notice exceptional talent or profound expertise to work on the newest most top secret classified inventions. As new scientists arrive, the military issues futuristic assignments to the group, then spies and thieves try to steal it. It is a crazy cycle that repeats with many dynamic variations.
Helen: How did deciding to write a series instead of a single novel impact your cover design?
Dante: We just finished a photo shoot for the new cover. I had a lot of feedback from readers who didn’t want the story to end and wanted a sequel, they especially liked The Bug Man, a military research scientist who is an expert on insects. So, I made the decision to write the sequel which is copyrighted, and ready.
Since “The Base” is now a series, I needed the books to have similar covers – so lights, camera, action! The photoshoot on a small farm in Butler, PA the birthplace of the Jeep began. I was fortunate to get two vintage military Jeeps and three actors to portray the lead scientist characters in the book for book covers photoshoot.
Helen: I bet that was fun, actually directing a real photo shoot for your vision of the cover. How did you come up with your titles?
Dante: I had the privilege of visiting a few military bases in my lifetime and was very struck by the strong sense of community and the families I met there. I did not copy the people I met or the actual settings they lived in but I did want show the strong bonds some of the workers and their families had. While the residents were sometimes formal when they spoke to a person of a higher rank by addressing them by their title, everyone called their place The Base.
Helen: Sounds very fitting. Who is the protagonist in your novel, and why did you decide to write them?
Dante: I am the daughter of a research scientist and for much of the book we see the story from the eyes of Macie, the young daughter of Cullen the military research scientist. I found it helpful and sometimes very humorous to explain the story from the perspective of a young child. Macie gives a clean unfiltered view of some of the events and in other instances paints a picture that leaves some room for the reader’s imagination to supply the missing details. I was afraid to show this book to my father because I knew he would research it and critique my research, but I am happy to report he found my research to be sound.
Helen: Oh my, how nerve wracking. That have been quite a relief to pass muster! Who were your favourite characters to write?
Dante: The most challenging part for me was writing the villains who are tremendously successful from a financial standpoint but really evil people. It was a difficult balance to show their lifestyle but not glorify what they do but I believe it was worth the effort.
Helen: Getting the balance right and making them believable can be quite challenging. Did you have to do a lot of research for The Base?
Dante: I do tons of research because I want the book to be challenging and plausible for the audience. It was amazing how many times when I set out to study a topic how I was proven wrong and pointed into a completely different direction, I am very thankful for that because I didn’t want the readers to feel cheated or serve them something that was a thin piece of pure fantasy.
Helen: Research can take you down a rabbit hole! I think all writers have a head full of useless trivia from all the weird things we look up. What is the most useful resource you use in your writing?
Dante: I can’t say enough good stuff about libraries! They are an absolute gold mine of information and the best part is it is all FREE. I am so thankful to my parents for introducing me to this before I started school. I have always had a library card; I continue to go there frequently for my research and reading. They are an absolute treasure.
Helen: Thank you so much for joining me today, congratulations on the release of your audiobook version.
About the Author
Dante Terese
Dante Terese is a dynamic new voice in fiction, blending deep themes with compelling narratives in her work. Her debut novel, Sex, Death, & Diane, celebrates the courage of those who dare to think independently and speak their truths, exploring the quiet power within each of us. Her recent science fiction release, The Base- Book 1, takes readers into the high-stakes world of military research, where ethical dilemmas and espionage intertwine in a suspenseful tale of innovation and integrity. This is the first book in a series. She is also a baker, pastry chef and gardener who does volunteer work in the many communities where she has lived.
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.
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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.
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.
Reviewed: July 18th, 2024 Released: February 28th, 2021 Genre: Science Fiction
When a high-ranking businessman and two clones are murdered, Marshal Onima Gwok of the Confederation Bureau of Investigation (CBI) gets assigned the case. But nothing quite adds up. Is there something more insidious going on? There is just one witness – a clone. When the war ended ten years ago, the clones who had fought it were discarded, forgotten, and became second-class citizens of the new confederation. Jace Rojas, designated AC J7-2247, is an infantry clone. When he proves to be more helpful than just being a witness to a murder, Onima decides to bring Jace along to join her team as they look for answers across multiple solar systems. But every question seems to produce no answers – only more questions. Will this be the start of a new war – or something worse? Read My Thoughts…
Reviewed: July 8th, 2024 Released: June 17th, 2024 Genre: Space Opera
On a world where cake is a necessity, it takes the Grid to protect the civilized and the deaf from the dire influences of the ambient and to keep the chaotic Haosa at bay.
Having arrived at recently Dust-bound Colemeno, Trader Padi yos’Galan is essential to Master Trader Shan yos’Galan’s plan to recoup Clan Korval’s fortunes by establishing new routes for the clan’s tradeship. Shan’s inner Healer insists Padi come to terms with her as-yet unplumbed psychic abilities, which might place her in the top tier of dramliz, if she can learn control.
Padi yearns to concentrate on trade, but Colemeno’s fey ambient and deadly long-term politics combine to bring her face-to-face with the Haosa, and in particular with the mysterious and untouchable Tekelia, as Korval’s trade mission’s necessity of a port audit collide with a cruel history of murder, deception, and brutality. Amid the dangers, Padi unexpectedly finds herself eagerly exploring her dramliz side when faced with the unspoken powers of the ambient, the sky-filling energy of the ribbon dance, and Tekelia’s mutable eyes. Read My Thoughts…
I am excited to chat with fellow BookFest award winner, Michael Thomas Perone, about his YA Science fiction novel, Déjà View.
Helen: Many congratulations, Michael, on your gold medal and getting your book up in lights in Times Square. It is so exciting! Tell us about your award winning book, Déjà View.
Michael:Déjà View is about a 12-year-old boy named Bobby Dalton who doesn’t want to grow up. All his life, he has relied on the imaginary games of childhood with his best friends Joe and Max to get him through the tough times. But this all changes when his Seventh-Grade class buries a time capsule to commemorate the end of the 1980s. Now Bobby is being haunted by visions: ghostly doppelgangers of himself, his friends, and others. He calls them “déjà view.” Are these visions real, or has his imagination finally gotten away from him? And if they’re real, what do they want? Bobby needs to figure this all out to survive his childhood…and his life.
Helen: You have chosen quite an atmospheric cover design. What were your thoughts behind the design?
Michael: The cover is a slightly spooky image of my three main characters burying something under the cover of moonlight. I wanted readers who first glanced at the cover to become intrigued and ask themselves, “What are these kids burying?” and hope that this inspired them to read the back cover copy to get some clues. I wanted the boys to be in shadow because this reinforces the book’s theme of ghostly doppelgangers. (Bobby calls them “shadows.”) Also, I wanted to have the title superimposed so that it would appear it had its own shadow (again, emphasizing the theme of doubles in the book). I gave these ideas to my publisher, and I think they did a great job. Since I’m a writer and not an artist, though I originally wanted to be a cartoonist when I was a kid, one thing I hadn’t thought of was the color of the cover, and I was very pleased when it came back. I think the dark blues and purples really make the cover pop and help convey the overall spooky vibe of the book.
Helen: It works!! I love finding out the detail behind the cover design, because their is a lot of thought put into it than many readers realise and understanding the thought process makes the cover even more meaningful. How did you come up with the book title?
Michael: The original title was just Déjà Vu, but after a quick Amazon search, I discovered only about a million books already have that title. (That’s just a slight exaggeration.) So I changed it to Déjà View and had Bobby come up with this name since these repeated visions of his are things that he’s actually seeing, not just feeling. (There’s also a running gag in the book that he keeps misspelling and mispronouncing things; he is a kid after all.) There are still a few books out there with this title, so to differentiate it even further, I gave the book a subtitle: A Kid Nightmare, since I consider this a companion book to my debut novel Danger Peak, which also had a subtitle, A Kid Adventure, though I should say Déjà View isn’t a sequel to that book. There is, however, a very brief cameo from the kids of Danger Peak, but it’s so short, if you blink while reading the sentence, you might miss it.
Helen: You know, I hadn’t even noticed the change in spelling until you said!! The mind just reads it as Vue as that is what you expect! Why did you write this particular book?
Michael: My first book was more or less about the death of my brother, and I wanted to write about another kind of death, the death of childhood. I knew the book would be more ambitious, cover more ground, be longer, and take place over a longer period of time than Danger Peak, but I also wanted to answer a question: “How exactly does childhood die?” We know the broad brushstrokes, but I’m a very detail-oriented person, and I wanted to know, just for myself, how precisely does it happen? To answer the question, I searched through old diaries of mine, and I also just have a really good memory of this time in my life. Almost everything that happens in the first half of the book happened to me in real life (with exaggerations of course to make it more entertaining for the reader). The second half, what I jokingly call “the crazy half,” is when Bobby starts seeing his visions, so the story is a slow burn, but I hope it’s worth it. And I did discover the answer to my question, but I think I’ll keep it to myself for now. Or you can just read my book!
Helen: They always say write from experience. Though I write epic fantasy, so I can’t say that I’ve experienced epic battles!! When did you realise you had a passion for writing?
Michael: I’ve been writing stories basically since I was taught the alphabet. I used to bring my stories into school in third and fourth grade and read them in front of the class. At the time, I thought everyone was doing this. I would ask my friends what stories they were working on, and they assumed I was talking about homework. Despite this, I never considered myself seriously as a writer until the mid-2000s when my whole life imploded. In less than a year, I lost my girlfriend, my roommate, my apartment, and my job and was forced to move back home. I was wondering what to do with my life, and my Mom suggested I write. I blew her off, but she reminded me that when I was a kid, I would write story after story in my bedroom. “No one told you to do that, Michael,” she said. “You did that yourself.” The rest, as they say, is history, though I should say my writing doesn’t pay the bills. I’m not Stephen King…yet!
Helen: Life changes do seem to be a catalyst for putting pen to paper. Which genre do you write and why?
Michael: I write young adult for several reasons. I’m never going to be a genius author who can write a 1,000-page book with over a hundred characters; my books are a little over 200 pages each and have six or seven main characters. That’s about as much as my brain can handle per book, and young adult tends to be shorter with fewer characters. The other reason is that I tend to think like someone in junior high; I have a very child-like sensibility, much to the consternation of my family, but that helps me identify with my characters more.
As for the genre of action-adventure, in the case of Danger Peak, or sci-fi, for Déjà View, those genres just generally interest me as a reader and film lover. I was a child of the ‘80s raised by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas after all.
Finally, I love the genre of magical realism for a similar reason of why I write young adult. It’s too much for my brain to handle a world where everything is magical, like Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. I can only handle one magical thing per book, like the supernatural mountain in Danger Peak or the ghostly visions in Déjà View. I like playing with that one magical idea and seeing how it affects my characters and their more-or-less real world.
Helen: Your books do sound intriguing. Who is your favourite character?
Michael: By far, my favorite character is Bobby’s therapist Dr. Pann. Without giving too much away, he’s more complex than at first glance, and he was a lot of fun to write, especially playing with the different shades of his personality. I also gave him some of the best lines in the book.
Helen: Let’s switch to your writing process. Which part of the writing process do you find most challenging?
Michael: I think most writers would probably say sitting down and doing the actual writing, but, not to sound obnoxious, I don’t usually get writer’s block. The hardest part for me is structuring the story, so I guess, in a way, you can say I get “story structure block,” to coin a phrase. I can come up with a good idea to sustain a novel-length story and have no problem developing the characters. Also, as writer-director John Hughes once said, “I can write dialogue as fast as I can say it,” but putting all that together into a good beginning, middle, and unexpected yet satisfying end is the hardest part for me. For example, it took me almost a year thinking about Déjà View to come up with the ending, and even then, it came to me in a dream. Once I figure out the story though, I’m off and running and usually finish the first draft within 3 to 4 months.
Helen: So do you plan out your story in advance, or do you find you write better on the fly, so to speak?
Michael: This goes hand in hand with my last answer. I used to write “by the seat of my pants” when I was a kid and just make it up as I went along. That worked with a few stories but not with most. They usually ended with a conclusion that may have been unexpected but definitely wasn’t inevitable or satisfying to read. As an adult, I learned to outline my stories, something I used to hate doing in English class but is something I’ve learned is necessary if you want to write a truly memorable story that doesn’t cheat the reader. There’s no, as they say, deus ex machina that comes in to save the day at the end of my stories. The characters either naturally solve the problem on their own or they face the consequences of the decisions they’ve made all throughout the story (or both). That said, this doesn’t necessarily mean I have everything figured out in the story when I begin writing, especially the dialogue. That part I like making up as I go along, and I think that also helps it sound more natural, like how real people talk.
Helen: I’ve found that the more I write, the more I plan the framework in advance. Now whether I follow the plan is another matter! Having completed and published Déjà View, what else are you working on?
Michael: I’m working on a collection of my favorite short stories I’ve written over the years. When I was putting it together, I was afraid the reader would ping-pong between different themes (if you read Déjà View, you’ll know theme is a big deal for me), but either by coincidence or sheer luck, the stories I chose have pretty much the same theme: a sane person trying to live in an insane world. It’s definitely the craziest thing I’ve ever written, and that’s saying something after my last book. The best part for readers is that if they don’t like one story, they can just skip to the next one.
Helen: Thank you so much for spending time with me today. Congratulations again on your BookFest award. Just to close us out, what piece of writing advice to find most useful and would share with aspiring authors?
Michael: My real, full-time job is a Senior Editor in Manhattan, so it’s very difficult for me to take off my editing hat when I’m writing, but a college professor once told me to just concentrate on the writing first. Then, after you’re finished, you can put on that editing hat and get to work. But it still remains a struggle, at least for me, switching between both worlds. Sometimes I try to edit a sentence as I’m writing it, and I have to remind myself to stop.
About the Author
Michael Thomas Perone
Michael Thomas Perone is an award-winning author who has written for The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore City Paper, Long Island Voice (a spinoff of The Village Voice), and others. Online, he has written for Yahoo!, WhatCulture!, and other websites that don’t end with an exclamation mark. His debut novel Danger Peak was called “the perfect teenage boy crusade” by Publishers Weekly and “a compelling bildungsroman about grief and finding wisdom” by Kirkus Reviews. If nothing else, he learned the word “bildungsroman” from the experience. His follow-up, the coming-of-age/sci-fi mindbender Déjà View, won First Place at The Spring 2024 BookFest Awards in the category of Young Adult – Literary and Coming of Age. It was also a finalist of The 2024 Eric Hoffer Book Award. He works as a Senior Editor in Manhattan and lives on Long Island with his wife and two daughters.
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.
Today, I am excited to chat with Sara Jane Triglia about her debut Sci-fi book, Souls in the Stars which launches today, June 4th, 2024.
Helen: Welcome, Sara Jane. Congratulations on the release of your book. I am so excited that today is your launch day! Tell us a little about Souls in the Stars.
Sara Jane:Souls in the Stars is my debut novel. It’s a thought-provoking sci-fi adventure that explores spiritually in a unique and nuanced way for young, sensitive souls who are seeking depth and meaning. It’s essentially about a teenage girl who has to rescue her little brother after he dies and becomes trapped as an orb of light. But, really, there’s a lot more to the story.
It has some of your favorite YA tropes: chosen one, dystopia/utopia (yes, both), jungle adventure, mystical island, love triangle romance, telekinesis, magical systems, reincarnation, reluctant hero. (Think Hunger Games meets Avatar.)
Helen: Your cover is beautiful, what were your thoughts behind the design?
Sara Jane: The cover began as a simple image of a ball of light—a soul orb—in the dark. For the second version, we tried to make it more interesting, so we created a scene from the novel where Bay is marveling at the soul orb in the jungle. It was a great cover, but we were told to follow cover trends, so we made another cover option that looked more “2024”. Yet, it felt like something essential was missing. So we combined the two covers and got our final cover which I LOVE. I think it’s perfect. My designer did a spectacular job.
(I made a video showing my audience the process of this on my Instagram.)
Helen: It was worth all the effort. How did you come up with the book title?
Sara Jane: The stand-in title during my first draft was “Infinite” but I thought it sounded too amorphous and unspecific. After changing the title three or four more times I landed on Souls in the Stars because it best represented the story while also being a never before used title. The book takes on both spirituality and science in a nuanced way, so the title reflects that. Souls/Stars. At the end of the book there’s a bit of dialogue that explains this more in-depth. What I’m saying is that, yes, there’s definitely a special meaning behind the title but I don’t want to spoil it.
Helen: Book titles can be difficult to nail down! Tell us what made you write this particular book?
Sara Jane: The idea of reincarnation has always been interesting to me and I wanted to explore that more. The stars and outer space have always fascinated me as well. So, I think this novel was born out of those two curiosities.
I dreamt it up back in 2011, but only wrote the first chapter before my inner critic got the best of me. I was only twenty three years old back then. For years, I thought about the story and the characters, jotting down notes and subplot ideas.
It wasn’t until December 2018, when I was thirty, that I got re-inspired and decided it was time to finish the story.
This is my “hard” novel, and I think only writers’ know what I’m talking about when I say that. Basically, writers have no shortage of ideas and some of them we know are easier to execute than others. I once wrote a rough draft of a fluffy romance in a month because it was just that kind of story.
Souls in the Stars was not that. This novel required major research, world-building, and character development. I knew that tackling this story was going to be a rough climb and that was terrifying. I honestly didn’t know if I could pull it off.
There was a time, maybe in my third or forth draft, where I truly doubted myself. But, I worked at this thing for five years, perfecting each word, each line. Getting beta readers and editors feedback. Rechecking my facts. Reorganizing the scenes. Making sure the characters all went deep and were properly fleshed out. Killing all my darlings. Agonizing over word choices. Implementing agent and publisher suggestions. Making sure it had all the elements of a great book as well as being commercially viable.
At this point, I believe I made a great quality novel and did the story justice. I’m proud of what I created.
Helen: Congratulations on persevering and publishing your debut novel. That is an amazing acheivement and one you should be proud of. Who is your protagonist and why did you write them?
Sara Jane: Bay Lilly. I wrote her has a role model that I wished I had as a twelve-year-old.
I grew up watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and it meant everything to me that she was a blonde girl who could kick ass while also being a capable leader. I’m not sure how it is today, but as a blonde girl, I heard nothing but “dumb blonde” jokes everywhere I went. I never felt capable or smart and I struggled with that most of my adolescence.
I wanted Bay to be someone that teenage girls could look up to and in more ways than one. In that she is strong and capable, but also sensitive and empathetic (two traits that are often looked at as a weakness). Her biggest strength of all doesn’t end up coming from her ability to beat people up, but in her emotional intelligence and compassion. Most of all I want girls to know they can be pretty (and blonde) but also capable and valuable as a sensitive, empathic person. And not just valuable, but needed in this world.
The irony is that it took me so long to finish this novel that I now have an eleven-year-old blonde daughter who reminds me a lot of Bay. So, in many ways, Bay is for her.
Helen: Having reached this milestone and released a novel, and after the well deserved celebrations, are you working on anything else?
Sara Jane: My husband is begging me to take a break. This debut novel has been more than a part-time job and I need my next project to be myself. I have a lot of self-care I need catching up on.
With that said, I have an old (finished) manuscript I want to tweak for my next release. It’s a young adult magical realism romance and I love it.
Helen: You have a young family, and you said it was quite hard to write Souls in the Stars. How do you fit writing into your daily life?
Sara Jane: I stay up way too late. I have young kids who I homeschool, so that’s basically my only choice. What’s crazy is that I don’t drink coffee. So, on those long writing days I basically run on the high of creativity.
Helen: Thank you so much for talking to us today. Just to close us out, could you share your favourite book that you would recommend to others?
Sara Jane: The Giver by Lois Lowery. It’s the book that made me want to be a writer. I’ve loved it since sixth grade. It’s so clever and emotional and tragic.
Thinking about it now, I think it has some of the same undertones as Souls in the Stars. A sci-fi dystopian/utopian society that is trying to be so perfect that they lose their humanity—their empathy—and they need someone to remind them how to feel.
About the Author
Sara Jane Trigalia
SARA JANE TRIGLIA is a young adult sci-fi, fantasy, and mindfulness author writing from the slopes of a volcano. As a sensitive person who craves depth and meaning, she loves to bring these elements to her stories for young readers. From children’s books to young adult novels, Sara’s stories are often emotional, adventurous, and thought-provoking. Sara has published short story eBooks, including, Jumping Caspian and The Origins of Raine.
In 2021, she published her mindfulness children’s book The Littlest Magnolia which she wrote and illustrated when her daughter was diagnosed with epilepsy. As a former YouTube vlogger, Sara loves to share her passion for writing on social media. When she is not writing, you can find her homeschooling her kids, practicing mindfulness, or folding a massive pile of laundry.
As an Amazon Associate I may benefit from purchases made using these links.
If you enjoy fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love SoulBreather, or my epic fantasy Sentinal series. As a new threat against Remargaren is discovered, only one man can wake the ancient guards who can protect them, only he doesn’t know how. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.
Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator). You can withdraw your consent at any time. The data will be processed until the consent is withdrawn.
Today, I am thrilled to be spending time with Science Fiction author Lisa Haden. She is joining me to talk to us about her debut book, Unprecedented Times.
Helen: Welcome Lisa. Thank you for joining me today. Tell us all about your book.
Lisa: My current (and debut) novel is called Unprecedented Times and it is the first book in the “Alternative History Trilogy”.
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
The world is changed
The pandemic spread, the death toll rose and nations banded together to combat the biggest biological threat since the Black Plague. Now, a fragile balance holds further tragedy at bay.
In this alternative history, follow the spread of the virus through the eyes of four characters, as they desperately seek a path towards a better future. At the World Health Organisation, Clara, a would-be scientist and faithful assistant to Dr Vicente, the Director-General, work tirelessly to alter humanity’s course. Meanwhile, Clara’s twin sister Rosa, along with her police officer fiancé Ben, fight to survive in a world far darker than it once was.
How far will people go to survive? Will we risk losing our humanity for the sake of humanity? Either way, millions will die in these Unprecedented Times…
A science fiction-dystopian story, containing elements of comedy and romance.
Unprecedented Times blends genuine data and statistics from the COVID-19 pandemic into fiction.
BOOK TROPES:
What-If
Alternative History
Dystopian
High Stakes
Lethal Virus
Ticking Clock
Multiple Points of View
Threat to Humanity
Second Chance Love
Helen: Your cover has two scenes on it, what were your thoughts behind the design and why did you choose this cover?
Lisa: The cover of Unprecedented Times is a reflection of the story itself. It is designed to echo a world torn in two, a world consisting of complete devastation and total isolation. These two worlds run in parallel to one another in the novel and it was important to me that this be mirrored in the cover. Without giving too much of the story away, in the book, the virus mutates and we have to decide what to do. Our choices are to do nothing and risk losing up to 70% of the world’s population, extract the infected to avoid further infection, or to eradicate the infected entirely to kill off the virus. This decision is made by the world leaders and it divides the world as we know it, this cover is a reflection of that division.
Helen: It an effective image. Why did you give your book that title? Is there a special meaning or back story about the title?
Lisa: The title Unprecedented Times came from the term that was overused during the pandemic by the media. Everyone called our experience of the pandemic unprecedented, telling us we were living in “unprecedented times”… it seemed to fit my story perfectly. I started writing this story when the virus very first broke out in China, I had a feeling it was going to be something big so when real life started following my story and people began terming it as an unprecedented time, it struck me that this was the perfect title. However, I didn’t expect the pandemic to have quite the impact it did, or go on for as long, in hindsight, everyone is sick of hearing this term now (myself included), if I could go back, I might choose to call it something different.
Helen: I think everyone was surprised by the impact and duration of the pandemic. Why did you decide to write this particular story?
Lisa: When the virus first broke out in China, I followed it closely, I had a feeling it was going to have a global impact. Meanwhile everyone around me was saying it wasn’t anything to worry about and wasn’t going to affect us at all. I remember thinking what if it does? What if the virus spreads? Or heaven forbid, what if the virus mutates into a more lethal strand? My over-active imagination took over and my story idea was formed in January, just a couple of weeks after the virus first broke out. So I wrote this particular book because I had a story idea that was so vivid in my mind, I just had to put it down, but also because I was going through a difficult time in my personal life. I’d wanted to be an author since childhood and had many story ideas over the years, but I lacked confidence and never believed I was good enough to write and release a story people would actually enjoy. At the time of writing this I was in a relationship that knocked what little confidence I did have out of me. For more than a decade, I was made to believe I was completely worthless and I wanted out of this unhappy relationship. However, due to the pandemic and being in lockdown with three young children, I was stuck in it. I saw my lack of confidence rubbing off onto my children and I felt like needed an escape from my miserable reality, so I decided to push myself out of my comfort zone and try to gain some confidence back by writing my first novel, if only to lead by example for my children’s sake.
Helen: There are so many hidden impacts from the pandemic, I am glad you found writing as a way to cope with a difficult situation. When did you realise you had a passion for writing?
Lisa: As a child, I would often write poems and short stories. I loved creating new worlds and expressing emotions through creative prose, just as I enjoyed reading and escaping into other people’s realities. I won my first award for writing when I was about 12 years of age, I wrote a poem for an anti-drugs campaign and it was selected as the winning poem in a competition running across all the schools in my region. Hundreds (if not thousands) of children submitted poems and mine was selected and it was a thrill for me, not to win, but to have my poem enjoyed by so many people.
Helen: Who inspired you to write? Was there someone specific in your life who set you on the writing path?
Lisa: The authors I read growing up who created worlds I would get lost in for hours at a time. Starting with children’s authors such as Roald Dahl and Beatrix Potter, leading into classic authors such as Shakespeare, the Bronte Sisters and George Orwell, and then an abundance of other authors, including Stephen King and Anne Rice.
Helen:Unprecedented Times is science fiction. Is this your prefered genre to write in?
Lisa: I have only released one book so far, a science fiction-dystopian novel. The genre was determined by the story idea I had. However, other story ideas I have had fall into other genres, mainly in the fantasy, science fiction and comedy genres, because these are the genres I prefer to read in.
Helen: Tell us a little about the protagnist of your book, and why you wrote them.
Lisa: I actually have four main characters in my book. When I first drafted the story idea I had one main character, but in reality, the virus impacted so many people in so many different ways, it made more sense to have the story written from different viewpoints. Writing the book this way allowed me to open up the story line even more, making it more personal, more touching and more dramatic. Having a leading scientist in the story gave me the opportunity to explain the science involved, to make the story more realistic. Having sisters in the story allowed me the chance to explore family values and the impact of the pandemic on families. While having a couple in the story enabled me to add romance into the story and explore romantic love, this couple work as a nurse and a police officer and this gave me the chance to show the impact of the virus on those working on the frontline. Writing the story from four viewpoints means that future generations (who didn’t live through the pandemic themselves) will have a better understanding what it was like to experience the pandemic first-hand.
Helen: That is so interesting, and must have been a challenge to keep all those POV’s straight. If one of your protagonists could answer this question, what would they say is the reason we hsoudl read your book?
Lisa: You should read this book because you need to know how bad the pandemic could have been. Yes, the pandemic was devastating, it impacted every person in the world and we lost millions of lives as a result… but it could have been so much worse. This book will make you question what you know, question your own morals and make you reflect on what you would do in what feels like an impossible situation. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will make you think, but most importantly, it will make you more appreciative of what you have and the people you have in your life.
Helen: Nice answer! Who is your favourite character in your book?
Lisa: Next question please… this is like asking me which of my children is my favourite (answer: whichever child is being the best behaved that day). Hmmm, if I had to choose my favourite character, it would probably be Ben. He is funny and loyal, caring and big-hearted, he has similar tastes in music and books as I do, and he’s kind of cute in a scruffy kind of way. I think in Ben I created the kind of man I could easily fall in love with, so this would probably make him my favourite, but I love all my characters in different ways, even the characters I’ve created that readers love to hate.
Helen: It is a bit of an unfair questions, and gets more difficult as you write more books! Are you working on anything else at the moment?
Lisa: My current WIP is called “New Normal” and it is the second book in the “Alternative History Trilogy”. It picks up where the last book finished, following the journey of the same four characters, answering questions from the first book, while raising more questions which will be answered in the final installation in the trilogy.
Helen: What is the most difficult part of writing for you?
Lisa: With the trilogy I am writing now, the hardest part (apart from finding the time to write) is research. My readers have all remarked that my story is scary because it could have been real, my story could actually have happened. To make the story believable I had to research and understand things like disease control, immunisations, viruses, pandemic spreads and responses to such events. I am not a natural scientist, so all of this was a massive learning curve for me. My story includes genuine facts and statistics, it was important to me that it feel as real as possible, so writing it involved hours upon hours of heavy research and a great deal of planning. The research and planning time took just as much time as writing the novel did, but I firmly believe it was worth it based on the feedback I’ve received from readers so far. The research for book two in the trilogy has taken just as much time, if not more (for reasons I can’t explain without giving away the story), so this has definitely been the most challenging part for me.
Helen: Research can be a veritable rabbit hole. One question leading to another. We writers’ learn a lot of useful and even more useless information! Let’s switch to talking about your writing process. You mentioned just know how much time research takes. How do you fit your writing into your everyday life?
Lisa: With great difficulty (insert crying laughing face here). I am a single mom of three (my children are 12, 8 and 4), my youngest (my son) is autistic and demands a lot of my attention. I am also a self-employed content writer and digital marketer (because I have to pay the bills).
On top of this I have an auto-immune disease (coeliac) and hypothyroidism, so when I do have a spare five minutes to myself, I am completely exhausted (I don’t often get more than 3 hours of undisturbed sleep). So I literally write when I get time.
My children spend time with their father on the weekends, so I catch up on my paid work and house jobs as quickly as I can and steal time for my creative work as and when I can. I would love to write creatively daily, but unfortunately, I have to prioritise real life. However, even when I am not able to sit and write, I still work on the story in my mind, developing the story and the characters, so that the story is like a movie playing in my mind and when I do find the time to write, it all just flows out of me.
Helen: The balance for writers can be difficult. We juggle so many things all at once. WIth such a busy life, do you find you have to plan everything you write, or do you let your writing take you where it will?
Lisa: I am a full-on planner, I have summaries and detailed plans for each of the three books. I have spreadsheets and character profiles, timelines for things character relationships… every detail of my book is planned out so that when it comes to writing the story, it’s a case of filling in the blanks. I do have to do some research along the way, if questions come up or I decide to include a quote for example, but for the most part, everything is planned.
Helen: Do you listen to music while you write?
Lisa: I can’t… I’ve tried this as I know this works for lots of other authors, but it just distracts me. I play keyboard, drums and I’m self-learning guitar, I also had years of singing lessons, so I can’t tune the music out, I instinctively listen to it… and end up typing out the lyrics I am hearing instead of my story, which isn’t great. If I do choose to listen to music (for example if I’m trying to drown out the noisy neighbours), it has to be something classical or instrumental, nothing with lyrics.
Helen: I’m the same, it has to be classical with no lyrics, though on rare occations I will play a cd on loop, and I do tune out the lyrics after a while. For you, already immersed in music I can believe it would be more difficult to tune it out. Do you suffer from writer’s block? And if so, do you have any tips on overcoming it?
Lisa: Play my drums, practice the vocals for my next song, make a cup of tea or a snack, or revisit my story plans. Basically I try to take a small break from writing the actually story itself and focus my mind on something else.
Helen: I love that you play drums. Must also be a way to relieve excess frustration. What is the best thing that has happened to you since you began writing?
Lisa: The feedback and love and support I have received from my readers and followers on social media and the boost in my confidence has been the best thing that has happened. After being told I was worthless and useless for so many years by someone who claimed to love me, I genuinely expected to be mocked and put down for my creative work (I was told I’m a f***ing idiot for thinking I can do it). I expected nothing but negative feedback, but in reality, I’ve received the exact opposite, I’ve received praise and accolades. This has massively boosted my confidence and both encouraged and inspired me to not just continue writing the next book in the trilogy, but to do achieve another dream even further out of my comfort zone, the dream of becoming a singer-songwriter. Since releasing my first book and receiving this support, I have released a number of songs (available on all major music streaming platform), I have been played on BBC radio, my vocals have featured on another musician’s songs, and I have even released my own GIF range which has almost 80 million views. I don’t think I would have had the confidence to do any of this if I hadn’t had so much support from my followers and readers.
Helen: Congratulations! It is so wonderful to hear about other writers successes, and that you are going from strength to strength. It is also an inspiration to others that writing started and encouraged you on your journey. We are coming to the end of time together and I really appreciate the time you spent chatting with us. Just to finish, what advice would you give aspiring writers?
Lisa: The only limits you have are the limits you impose on yourself. There will always be someone telling you that you can’t do something, that you shouldn’t even bother trying. But actually, they don’t know what you’re capable of, you don’t know what you’re capable of, unless you try! The only way you know for sure that you can’t achieve something is if you don’t try, so follow your dreams, dream big… hater’s gonna hate right? Prove those haters wrong!
About the Author
Lisa Haden
Lisa Haden, author of “Unprecedented Times” a sci-fi story, dystopian book and the first installment in the Alternative History Trilogy.
A singer/songwriter and lyricist, available to stream on all major music streaming platforms, played on BBC Radio Introducing Show and added to a BBC Sounds playlist.
Also an accidental GIF maker… in addition to being a self-employed content writer/digital marketer and most importantly, a single mom of three, plus two cats.
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 winningSentinal 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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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.
OblivionGate will release on July 1st, 2024 and is currently on preorder.
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.
If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series or Harmony, a standalone Dystopian Science Fantasy. As a new threat against Remargaren is discovered, only one man can wake the ancient guards who can protect them, only he doesn’t know how. Start the adventure and stay for the journey. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator). You can withdraw your consent at any time. The data will be processed until the consent is withdrawn.
Even Alfie makes a brief appearance and steals the show as always!
If you love:
Immersive worlds
Engaging characters
A worthy cause
Dystopian Science Fantasy
Oppressive regimes
A touch of the future
Then grab your copy today!
Harmony
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.
Buy Harmony to break the chains of oppression today!
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 