Starts: Monday May 4th, 2026 at Midnight GMT Closes: Sunday May 31st, 2026 11.45pm GMT Winner announced June 1st, 2026 Open Internationally, One winner, Over 18 only. No cash alternative.
Join me as I celebrate the forthcoming launch of Forged By Betrayal and Blood with many of my friends in the writing community. Thank you to these generous authors for donating their books to the grand prize. Enter the launch giveaway by following the authors on social media or by signing up to their newsletter. The more authors you follow, the more entries you recieve.
One randomly drawn reader will win a signed print copy of Forged by Betrayal and Blood, three more fantasy paperbacks and 10 fantasy ebooks. That’s fourteen books in total for one lucky winner!
Vael Tor Arne, commonly known as the Butcher of Leif, has spent the last ten years roaming the wilds of Surosha. Disgraced and outcast, he is not welcome anywhere, not even in his own home.
Never managing to rise above the rank of lieutenant in the Emperor’s army, Vael does his best to protect his men against the taint that follows him. Should the opportunity ever arise, he would gladly kill Emperor Talon Shaleri the Deranged, the man who ruined his life.
The Celestial Throne lacks its dragon, its protector, and the empire is suffering as the new emperor struggles to retain control. The emperor is weak, in power and in health. He needs to right a wrong, now he has the power to do so, before he can focus on saving his empire. But righting that wrong may not be so simple, and the man he needs to forgive him is the one man who hates him.
Dogged by persistent Farsolian warriors, who can’t decide if they want to capture or kill them, Vael and his men battle to survive. With no hope of help, Vael must avoid the war bands and the emperor’s generals long enough to choose a side. Will the Farsolian uprising be his salvation or will the Emperor finally sign his death warrant?
If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and also Sentinals Discovery, the first few chapters of Sentinals Awaken from Birlerion’s POV and get notified when my next books are published.
By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator
Reviewed: March 27th, 2026 Released: July 5th, 2021 Genre: YA Epic Fantasy
Her key to freedom is also her torment.
Mina is an outcast. A childhood accident left her scarred and with a curse that her master exploits to hunt dragons for sport.
She wants freedom, from both her master and the curse, but unless the right dragon is killed, she’ll be a bondservant for the rest of her days.
With Mina’s uncanny ability and her master’s magical strength, the beast responsible for her misery will fall … even if she has to take matters into her own hands.
It’s time to meet Indie author, Estelle Tudor and find out more about her book, The Vein Severed, a historical fantasy that released in August 2025.
Helen: Welcome, Estelle. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I actually checked out your book, and I read it in Kindle Unlimited. You took me away from my editing, but I enjoyed the tragic story of Rosella and Lorcan and the dark world of vampires. You can read my review here. But on with the interview. Tell us about your latest book.
Estelle: My most recent book is called The Vein Severed and is a tragic yet hopeful love story featuring Lady Roselle Lamont and her husband Lorcan from whom she has been separated for a century.
It is a story of betrayal, secrets, and loss but their love still remains. When the century of punishment and enforced separation comes to an end, the pair must try to reconcile with the past all while yearning for a future together. It is an ensemble cast of vampires and witches and takes place at the turn of the century 1899/1900.
Helen: It is a great premise and tempted me to read it. I must admit I am enjoying it, even though you are not being very kind to Roselle! How did you come up with the cover? It gives me a vintage vibe, which goes with the passage of time.
Estelle: I had a vision for the cover in colours of deep red and gold and gave my cover designer – Juniper at Red Fox Creative – free rein to add elements that resonated. She incorporated a beautiful rose (for Lady Roselle) and the locket which plays an important role in the story. It came together beautifully and embodies the gothic vampire love story feel.
Helen: The cover works really well. Why did you give it that title? Is there a special meaning or back story about the title?
Estelle: The title is so important to me as I wanted this tale to be told in a lyrical and haunting way. The Vein Severed represents the cutting of Roselle’s lifeforce, the separation from her family, and then subsequently her new husband, all while enforcing her abstinence. Her life was severed, and now she must pay the price in blood.
Helen: It’s so interesting finding out the meanings behind the title. What made you want to write this particular book?
Estelle: I wanted to indulge myself in a truly lyrical haunting piece of writing. I wrote the first line and the rest just came. It decided it was to be a vampire story, but one that centred on love and the hope of release. I took my time with it, pouring so much of myself into it and giving myself free rein to indulge in my sometimes purple prose-y heart, that I was emotionally drained afterwards. I am so proud of it and love how it turned out.
Helen: It is beautifully written. Even though it is a dark subject, it feels light and fluid and reminds me of Mary Stewart and her wonderful prose. When did you realise you had a passion for writing?
Estelle: At a young age actually. Books were always an escape for me, and when I discovered I could create my own tales and leave the worries of this world behind for a while it was so freeing and cathartic. I wrote from childhood until my early twenties, then had a long break to raise my four children. Returning to it seven years ago was like a homecoming. I picked up the pen again… and haven’t stopped. I now have 14 published novels under my belt, with many more sat on my computer.
Helen: Congratulations, that truly is a great achievement. The Vein Severed is dark fantasy. You mentioned you have fourteen books now, are they all fantasy?
Estelle: My brain is like a butterfly flitting from one idea to another, and so I write in multi-genres. My first publications were a five-book fantasy series for middle grade readers. My debut, Octavia Bloom and the Missing Key, won an award and saw it reaching the top ten of the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Awards! I then progressed to YA Romantasy and then on to various genres in the adult market. I have returned to my roots this year and will have a children’s short novel published in the autumn with American publishing house, Watchful Wizard Publishing.
Helen: How exciting! Is there an author who inspired you write?
Estelle: C. S. Lewis was my first inspiration. His Chronicles of Narnia books changed my life as a child and made me believe in the impossible and fantastic. Later on, Terry Pratchett and his sublimely witty Discworld series, gripped my teenage heart, then I fell into the romance genre and discovered the prolific Nora Roberts, who still inspires me to this day.
Helen: Some great inspiration. How do you get the ideas for your books?
Estelle: They come to me, often with a one-liner or an image, and then if it continues to shout loudly at me, then I will write it. I have a queue in my mind of characters and whichever one is most demanding wins haha.
Helen: Now you have a few books under your belt. What advice would you give new writers?
Estelle: I always say to write with your heart, but edit with your head. That first draft—that beautiful landscape of potential—is for you and you alone. Be brave, daring even, and say the words that swirl around your mind. Later on, you can be a tad more ruthless and prune back the brambles to reveal the true core of the story as you would want it to be seen by others.
Helen: Nice. Lets chat a little about how you write. Do you listen to music when you write, if so, what do you listen to and why?
Estelle: I adore listening to music while I write. I am an immersive writer, so epic cinematic soundtracks such as The Pirates of the Caribbean scores or The Lord of the Rings really helps me get into the feel of my worlds. I also like haunting artists such as Loreen, Fleurie, Amy Lee, and Enya too.
Helen: Oh We have similar tastes. I prefer instrumental music as well. What about research? That can be a bit of of a rabbit hole. How much research do you do for each book?
Estelle: Gah! I love research, and have multiple, multiple tabs open on my computer while writing. My most recent WIP is based on Welsh myth, legend, and folklore, so you can imagine the deep dives I have being doing on that! It has been a joy to celebrate my country Wales, and incorporate the history I fell in love with while I worked at Cardiff Castle before having my children.
Helen: I wish we had time to chat about Cardiff Castle, but we we’re here to talk about your writing, so… Are you a pantser or a planner? Do you write free form, or do you have a framework you stick to?
Estelle: I believe I am a Pantser in that I don’t write down a formal plan, however, I ‘plot’ in my head. I can see my scenes like movies inside my mind and let them percolate for a while just before sleeping or awakening. Once they have seeded in my mind, I then write and let it flow organically.
Helen: I know authors read a lot, so I am always looking for more recommnedations. What are some of the books you read recently that you would recommend to others?
Estelle: Recently, I have been immersed in Emma Bradley’s Faerie multi-series, while beta reading for writing friend Aerin Apeltun. Both have an immersive way of writing and drawing you in with witty side characters and romantic plots. I also loved The Wycherleys by Annaliese Avery and have the second one on hold at the library – looking forward to diving in to that!
Helen: Those are some great recommendations. Thank you so much for joining me today, it’s been lovely chatting to you. Just to finish, one last question: Every writer experiences self-doubt. How do you overcome the fear and the little voice in your head to keep writing?
Estelle: This is such a tough one to answer, but I feel very important. It doesn’t matter how many books I write, or how many awards or 5-star reviews, there will still be that niggling voice inside my head that taunts ‘you are not good enough’. But still I write… why? Because I have to. Writing chooses you, I believe. It is a drumbeat inside your heart that won’t be sated until you put pen to paper or open up that new draft. As a creative, it is an outlet to freedom, and while I am inside my worlds, that voice is drowned out. Just for a little while…
Helen: Thank you so much for all your great advice. You are inspirational. I wish you lots of success with your books.
Estelle: Thank you so much for having me – this was a lot of fun!
About the Author – Estelle Tudor
When not searching the backs of wardrobes for Narnia, the bottom of the garden for fairies or exploring yet another Castle, Estelle can be found with her nose in a book or a pen in her hand.
Having previously worked at Cardiff Castle, she now writes full time while looking after her four children.
She lives on the beautiful South Wales coast with her husband, children and crazy dog.
She loves to connect with her readers and can be contacted on http://www.estellegracetudor.com or via her Instagram page @through_the_fairy_door_books
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.
Reviewed: January 5th, 2026 Released: April 13th, 2021 Genre: YA/Epic Fantasy
Aletheia was born a heresy: a girl with a man’s magic, in a city where monks and witches are mortal enemies. Training in her powers only under her father’s protection, head of the monastery, she shocks everyone by becoming the best seer in generations.
Until her father is murdered. A suicide, they call it, but she knows the truth: he was murdered for his heresy. For her. Now she must make a harrowing choice: disown everything her father stood for to stay alive, or flee the temple and seek to expose his killers, even as they hunt her down.
Reviewed: Novemebr 23rd, 2025 Released: January 26th, 2026 Genre: Fantasy ARC
War has reached her doorstep. She will answer with a sword.
When her little sister dies during an enemy raid, Jenai prays to Holy Afallon seeking protection for her village. What she doesn’t expect is to hear a Voice telling her that she must personally lead the armies of Fraelin against the growing threat.
Joined by a gentle unicorn and a few brave allies, Jenai sets out to liberate Fraelin—even at the risk of her own freedom.
However, the road to war isn’t straightforward. Jenai must first gain the trust of the Crane Prince by convincing him she’s not a fraud. Will the Church of Afallon accept her calling or will they condemn her as a heretic?
I am very fortunate to be the Booktopia SFF December Author of the month, and I was invited to answer the ten terrifying questions on the Booktopia blog. Thank you so much to Mark Timmony for the opportunity to share some of my writing journey.
Booktopia Direct Pty Ltd is an Australian online bookseller. The company also owns Angus & Robertson, a major Australian online bookseller, publisher, and printer.
Interested in finding out my answers? The you can find the Booktopia blog post here.
My fantasy journey starts with Sentinals Awaken, and Booktopia stock the paperback if you’d like to read it. The Sentinals series is now complete with eight books, two novellas and if you sign up to my newsletter, a plethora of short stories and novellas to fill out even more of the story. Enjoy!
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.
If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and also Sentinals Discovery, the first few chapters of Sentinals Awaken from Birlerion’s POV and get notified when my next books are published.
By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator
Starts: Sunday November 9th, 2025 Closes: Sunday November 30th, 2025 100 ebooks awarded December 1st, 2025 US only.
Join me as I celebrate the forthcoming launch of Sentinals Origins Part Two. I am so excited to share the final part of the prequel, and the last full length book in the Sentinal series. If you love the majestic worldbuilding of Lord Of The Rings and the excitement and adventure of The Witcher but without as many monsters then you’ll love my Sentinal series. You can find the complete series in Kindle Unlimited.
For a chance to win one of one hundred ebooks enter the Sentinals Origins Goodreads Giveaway. Avalable in the US only.
Are you ready to travel back three thousand years and meet the Goddess Leyandrii, her Captain, Guerlaire, and find out how the Sentinals came to be and what happened to them?
Set three thousand years prior to Sentinals Awaken, Part Two of Sentinals Origins concludes the prequel to the Sentinals series.
Birler, Tagerill and Serill have accepted the Lady’s invitation to become her personal guards, her Sentinals. They roam the territories of Remargaren in the name of the Lady, protecting those who can’t protect themselves.
But the threat against Lady Leyandrii is growing and Captain Guerlaire is in the Ascendants sights. He has been too successful in disrupting their plans and now time is running out, for him and the Sentinals. The Ascendants are determined to kill them all and show Leyandrii, once and for all, that they hold the power in Remargaren.
Birlerion’s discovery of his innate magic, offers Leyandrii an alternate path, but it’s a last resort and as Leyandrii teaches him how to control it, she is desperate to find another solution.
As the final confrontation looms and the natural world buckles under the backlash from the reckless use of magic, Leyandrii has one last throw to try and save their world from ruin and destruction, but will any of them live to tell the tale?
If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and also Sentinals Discovery, the first few chapters of Sentinals Awaken from Birlerion’s POV and get notified when my next books are published.
By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator
Starts: Saturday November 1st, 2025 at 8am GMT Closes: Sunday November 30th, 2025 11.45pm GMT Winner announced December 1st, 2025 Open Internationally, One winner, Over 18 only. No cash alternative.
Join me as I celebrate the forthcoming launch of Sentinals Origins Part Two with many of my friends in the writing community. Thank you to these generous authors for donating their books to the grand prize. Enter the launch giveaway by following the authors on social media or by signing up to their newsletter. The more authors you follow, the more entries you recieve.
One randomly drawn reader will win a signed paperback of Sentinals Origins and SEVENTEEN amazing fantasy ebooks.
Are you ready to travel back three thousand years and meet the Goddess Leyandrii, her Captain, Guerlaire, and find out how the Sentinals came to be and what happened to them?
Set three thousand years prior to Sentinals Awaken, Part Two of Sentinals Origins concludes the prequel to the Sentinals series.
Birler, Tagerill and Serill have accepted the Lady’s invitation to become her personal guards, her Sentinals. They roam the territories of Remargaren in the name of the Lady, protecting those who can’t protect themselves.
But the threat against Lady Leyandrii is growing and Captain Guerlaire is in the Ascendants sights. He has been too successful in disrupting their plans and now time is running out, for him and the Sentinals. The Ascendants are determined to kill them all and show Leyandrii, once and for all, that they hold the power in Remargaren.
Birlerion’s discovery of his innate magic, offers Leyandrii an alternate path, but it’s a last resort and as Leyandrii teaches him how to control it, she is desperate to find another solution.
As the final confrontation looms and the natural world buckles under the backlash from the reckless use of magic, Leyandrii has one last throw to try and save their world from ruin and destruction, but will any of them live to tell the tale?
If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and also Sentinals Discovery, the first few chapters of Sentinals Awaken from Birlerion’s POV and get notified when my next books are published.
By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator
Reviewed: October 6th, 2025 Released: October 28th, 2025 Genre: YA Fantasy
The Mother. The Sister. The Daughter of the Forest.
When Ebony wakes in the realm of the Fae, she learns she’s the final link in a bloodline bound by prophecy. But with the Shadow’s mark burned into her skin, darkness creeps into her mind and threatens everything she loves.
With the help of her long-lost aunt, Ebony must confront a haunting legacy and face the fears she’s spent a lifetime running from – because the fight is no longer about her own survival. It’s about saving a world on the brink of falling into shadow.
I was fortunate to meet fantasy author J.M. Tibbott at a writing group I attended, and I am very pleased to welcome her to my blog.
Helen: Welcome, JM. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Could you tell us about your Pridden Saga series, and the first book, The Arrival?
JM:The Arrival is the first book in My Pridden Saga series, and introduces Kat, my protagonist. She’s a rather feisty young woman, who hates to be controlled.
Kat, a brilliant video game designer with a desperate desire to control her own life is faced with the option of losing a job she adores. Sent on a forced vacation to adjust her attitude she is stunned to find herself in a strange tech-free world. Confused and lost all she wants is a fervent desire is to return home.
Promised aid by the local ruler she is horrified to be tasked with an assignment to aid in preventing a devastating war, but without clear instructions on how to achieve this.
Amid vicious creatures and enemies lurking around every corner she must defend against a villain with sinister plans to seize the power she has no idea she possesses.
Can Kat survive in a land hurtling towards destruction?
Helen: That sounds like a great adventure, and for a gamer to be stuck in a world without technology, I am sure that gave you plenty of opportunity for conflict! What were your thoughts behind the cover design?
JM: Although I have designed covers for other authors, when I sat down to do this for my first novel, I simply couldn’t come up with anything that pleased me, so I contacted a UK designer (Deranged Doctor Designs) and after answering a lot of questions about how I envisioned the appearance of my protagonist, they suggested the woman on the cover. I loved the picture they chose – the red hair, and the rather stubborn look to her face. I think in this first series I rather tended to see how I would act in the situation the book suggested.
Helen: The story behind the cover is always so interesting. What about the title? How did you decide what to call your book?
JM: I spent a lot of time on the titles of the books and since this is the one where Kat is thrust into a strange new world, “The Arrival” just seemed to make the most sense, because this was the first time Kat found herself on Pridden.
Helen: What made you write this particular book?
JM: I had been writing many short stories, and I knew I was ready to attempt a novel, so when I woke one day with an idea for a story, I was captivated, and although I only planned a single novel at the beginning, the ideas for expanding it, began to drench me with ideas, and so it turned into seven novels.
Helen: That is so wonderful when the ideas begin to flow. Congratulations on writing seven novels. When did you realise you had a passion for writing?
JM: I cannot remember a time when I didn’t love writing. At about the age of ten, I wrote strange plays, which I forced my sister to act in, and demanded my parents watch and pay a penny admission to view my efforts.
Helen: It’s nice that your creativity started young and you never lost it. What is the main genre you write, and who inspired you to start writing?
JM: I love writing high fantasy. My mother inspired me to read Sci-fi, and when I began to read Isaac Asimov, I was so entranced, I figured I could also do what he did.
Helen: If your main character, Kat, could tell us why to read your book, what would she say?
JM: I think Kat would say that we all have the opportunity to change, and even though she resists change, even she has managed to learn things from the odd life she is having to live on Pridden. Each book has changed her and made her a better person.
Helen: Are you a pantser or a planner? Do you write free form, or do you have a framework you stick to?
JM: I am definitely a planner, I have a very specific way of planning my books, something I was privileged to learn from john Truby
Helen: Do you need to do much research as part of your writing process?
JM: I initially began Book one, and stopped because my characters needed challenges, and I then spent two years designing the world. I spent enough time on it, and did enough research, that it was sufficient to help me with all the subsequent books in the Saga.
Helen: What is the best thing that have happened to you since you started writing?
JM: I actually like reading my own books.
Helen: I first wrote my books for me read, and I decided to publish them so I could read them as a book, instead of on my laptop! Thank you so much for joining me today. One last question. If you didn’t write in High Fantasy, then which genre would you like to try and write in next?
JM: I believe I would like to attempt to write a cosy fantasy.
About the Author – J.M Tibbott
J. M Tibbott
JM Tibbott has been writing since childhood, but The Pridden Saga is her first series of published novels. As a writer of magazine and newspaper articles, being an editor for an online news-letter, and a writing instructor, JM belongs to a community of local writers, all of whom are continually upgrading their own skills.
JM has been teaching writing skills for over ten years.
She is in the process of combining a collection of her short stories, which she expects to publish later in the year.
JM welcomes comments from her readers, and encourages them to visit her website, to which she will be shortly a blog, showing illustrations and information about the various creatures populating the world of Pridden.
JM declares — “If I could not write, I could not breathe,” which is similar to how her favorite author, Isaac Asimov, felt about his writing.
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.
Helen Garraway 