Author Interview – Dex Greenbright

Author of Tales of Automazombs – Dreams of Eysan

Joining me today is steampunk author, Dex Greenbright.

Helen: Welcome Dex, and thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. Tell us a little about your book, Dreams of Eysan.

Dex: Tales of the Automazombs wrapped up last year (2022) with Dreams of Eysan, the fourth in the series. It’s a short story series with steampunk cyborg zombies (Yep! You heard that right!). The new book collects stories from the newsletter and website that never made it into the main storyline, as well as the piece from the bookmark postcard I give out at conventions. I also added a couple of mini comics, religious myths, and worldbuilding tidbits. Dreams of Eysan exists because I love the world my co-authors and I made and I wanted to play in it a little longer.

Helen: I must admit Steampunk cyborg zombies does sound interesting! What were your thoughts behind the cover?

Dex: So, to preface this, I’m also the cover artist! I like to tell folks I do my own stunts. Every book in the series has the look of a leather hardcover book, each with a unique color. A Desperate Plan is green, for the plague. A Darker Road is red, for blood. Downfall is black, for ash. And now Dreams of Eysan is blue, for connectedness (regardless of what happens to the characters, they share the same sky). With the newest book, it’s told through the lens of one of the characters, Liridon, who collects the world’s stories for the Grand Library. I wanted to give a little peek into his world. I imagine he’s doing research here in the stacks of ancient books, his green jacket laid on a ladder for safekeeping, while a beam of light streams in from above. I made a rainbow overlay for the scene to give it an extra dreamlike quality. It’s funny, when I finished, I asked my co-authors if it was “too gay?” To which they responded “impossible!”

Helen: I love the insights behind the cover. When did you first realise you had a passion for writing?

Dex: Oh man. I did NaNoWriMo on a whim (with my Tales of the Automazombs co-authors, actually!) in 2009 or so. A couple weeks into writing my first novel, I had this moment of wishing I could keep going like this forever. So one novel turned into two and three and on and on. I guess I’ve always been a storyteller, though. As a kid I made picture books constantly. Even when I’m making art or comics, it’s all to entertain and inform and share stories with those around me.

Helen: That is so inspiring to many writers and demonstrates how Nanowrimo can help you focus on your writing. So glad you found the bug to continue writing. Out of your series, who is your favourite character?

Dex: My favorite character in Tales of the Automazombs has to be Liridon. I didn’t realize at first when I was writing his stories, but he’s got a lot of me in him. Neurodivergent as all heck, queer (asexual in his case), and generally just an odd little nerd trying his best.

Helen: Which genre do you prefer to write in?

Dex: I write science fiction and fantasy. Those are the stories that spoke to me as a kid and continue to capture my heart as an adult. Plus, writing about dragons and aliens and magic and wayward undead cyborgs is just plain fun!

Helen: I agree, writing fantasy is such fun, you can let your imagine loose! Now this series is complete, what are you currently working on?

Dex: I have a few that I’m really excited about. Honestly, I could talk WIPs all day, don’t tempt me! There’s the genderbent rescue quest with pansexual monsters and plots of regicide. Another has three friends who have to save Earth from interdimensional warlocks, who in turn are trying to save the multiverse from evil aliens. That one’s wild, but nowhere near the insanity of the one I’m most excited about, where a trans man foolishly says that he will worship any god that helps with his bottom surgery. Forgotten deities start showing up to answer his prayer, usually to apocalyptic effect. I’m trans myself, so writing this one has been one of the ways I work through my dysphoria.

Helen: Oh my, that sounds hilarious! I can imagine you chuckling away to yourself while writing. I look forward to the opportunity to see what outlandish situations you came up with! Which element of the writing process do you find most challenging and why?

Dex: There are things I struggle to write (I’ll occasionally forget to delve into the characters’ emotions) but I think the most challenging part of the process is turning off new ideas long enough to get one thing done. Every shiny new idea demands to be heard and refuses to leave me alone until I’ve at least gotten the outline down.

Helen: I know the feeling, sometime ideas just keep bubbling and you’re afraid to lose them. Do you plan your novels or are you more of a pantser?

Dex: Both! I tend to make a rough outline and some basic worldbuilding before I begin a story. Then when I sit down to actually write, pantsing takes over. I also enjoy another term for it, discovery writing, because sometimes it isn’t until halfway through a chapter that I’ll discover an idea that would be amazing to include but has massive implications for the outline. Every few chapters, I’ll go back and revise the outline, because knowing the overall plan is still helpful.

Helen: Many writers experience self doubt or Imposter Syndrome, how do you deal with it?

Dex: Imposter syndrome is the worst, that little voice that tells me I’m never going to “make it” as a writer and to just give up. When I’m feeling like that, I can go back and read maybe the last chapter I wrote, or something older that I loved writing. It’s never as bad as our brains would have us believe. If that doesn’t work, I call on my writer friends. Everyone’s ready to tell a rude brain to go sit in the corner and think about what it’s done.

Helen: What are some of the books you read recently that you would recommend to others?

Dex: Some recent books I’ve loved are The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal, the Singing Hills Cycle series by Nghi Vo, and the Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi.

Helen: Thank you so much for chatting with me today, just to close us out, what advice to have your dealing with writer’s block?

Dex: Sometimes a story needs time to settle in my brain. I can’t move forward with it, so I switch over to one of my other projects. That way I’m still writing, still creating. Other times, I get stuck in place and feel this nebulous wrongness. I used to think this was part of imposter syndrome, that I was the thing that was wrong. It took me a long time to realize this is just my brain’s way of letting me know something in the plot or character needs to be fixed. I listen to that internal voice more carefully these days. It’s a wise little thing.

About the Author

Dex Greenbright

Dex Greenbright is a writer of monsters both kind and cruel, a Capricon Best In Show winning artist, and the editor, illustrator, and a contributing author for Tales of the Automazombs, a book series with steampunk cyborg zombies. He is a creative whirlwind, a magical master of dungeons, and always, always available for hire.

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Twitter: @dexthewriter

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Link to book on Amazon UK: Paperback

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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.

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Book Review Alert: Star Sick by Amy Marie Myers

Reviewed: October 1st, 2023
Released: April 20th, 2023
Genre: Science Fiction
Format: ebook

Introversion is illegal in 2084.

But the lovely people at Friendlee.Face.s, a front for the SUPER.V1S.1ON corporation, insist this is for the betterment of Earth.
All those deemed introverted are lazier and less productive than the most recent incarnation of artificial intelligence.
And with the latest wave of brainwashing, most have accepted this reality.

But Luccee Winterscott refuses to comply. Her only hope is to escape Earth on her terms and find a planet with different rules. Or even better, a distant, uncharted star with no rules at all. She will find such a place.

And with the help of the alien race Coodaura, and a group of forgotten misfits, she will find her tribe. She will find love. She will take on the SUPER.V1S.1ON. Read My Thoughts…

Author Interview – Saz Vora

Author of Where We Have Come

Today, I am thrilled to be chatting to contemporary fiction author, Saz Vora.

Helen: Welcome Saz, and thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. Tell us a little about your book, Where We Have Come.

Saz: Where Have We Come, is a retelling of our experience at the birth of our profoundly disabled son and how grief and child loss is a stigma in the South Asian community. It looks at the cultural clashes faced by a young Gujarati couple as they embrace their Britishness and their heritage. The book is the second book in the university series Reena & Nikesh.

Helen: A difficult topic, though I am sure it must have been cathartic to write. What were your thoughts behind your cover?

Saz: The inspiration for the covers is a rose, and I love the scent of old-fashioned roses. In this cover, the rose is nearly at the end of its life cycle, representing the transient nature of life. The flower holds significance as we had white and yellow roses at our son’s funeral. The white background represents innocence, the red of the typeface shows sorrow. I asked my designer to look at the book cover designs for women’s fiction at the time of publishing.

Helen: There is always so much more meaning behind cover designs. Understanding the authors intent, makes it much richer. Why did you choose this title?

Saz: The title Where Have We Come, is a loosely translated lyrics for a Hindi film song. The title has several connotations. It was the song that came on the radio as my husband twiddle the dial when we brought our son from the hospital. They released the film that the song features in the year we started dating. And the title explains that no matter how many curveballs life throws at you, you can choose a different path.

Helen: Such a special song for you, ideal to use for your book title. Your book is obviously very special to you, but why did you choose to write it.

Saz: Where Have We Come is my first ever full book. I wrote it in 2006, on a writing course, and put it away, as I was told by some early readers that it was too niche a subject and wouldn’t appeal to publishing houses. After suffering from a full-blown panic attack and the anxiety that followed. I realised that sharing my story would help my mental health and might even help many other mothers who had lost their baby or had a sick child. I want to tell women they are not alone. If one woman feels that my story helps her cope with baby loss then I have done what I set out to do. To raise awareness.

Helen: That is such a great sentiment. Well done for sharing your story. If I asked your main character why we should read your book what would they say?

Saz: I recommend Where Have We Come: It helps you heal, feel seen and learn of life in multicultural Britain. It has helped me learn to live and love again after losing our son and coping with the grief of losing my mother at an early age.

Helen: When did you first realise that you wanted to write?

Saz: I’ve always had a passion for storytelling, usually versions of fairy tales to my much younger cousins and later to my children. I used to adapt stories from Hindu scriptures.

In 2017, after a panic attack and therapy, I went back to my book to process my feelings. Writing was my place of succour, a place to escape into the world of my characters and through them a way to raise my voice. Had I known earlier when I’d abandoned writing, that those stories would bring me respite from the grief. I wouldn’t have listened to the advice.

In hindsight, I feel that there is a time for everything, and now is the time for me to grow and find my happy space and my passion to write stories about people like me.

Helen: There is so much advice available, it can be difficult to know when to listen and when to ignore. I think keeping your reason for writing front and centre helps you decide whether it is applicable or not. Which genre do you write, and is there any genre you would like to try and write in next?

Saz: I write women’s fiction with romance at its heart. I also believe my books are suitable as book club reads as I tackle many subjects that are taboo. If I didn’t write Women’s fiction/romance I’d like to write a cosy mystery with a trio of South Asian women in their 60s set in England. An idea that has been brewing for some time.

Helen: How do you get the ideas for a new book?

Saz: I often get a song in my head and then a character forms. I usually read the lyrics and make a note of these and then write a monologue from the character and see where that leads me.

Helen: What are you currently working on?

Saz: I’m currently writing the story of Sonali and Deepak for the second duet of my university series.

As with the other books in this series, the first of the duet is a university romance set in ‘80s England. Neither Sonali nor Deepak can resist the magnetic pull to be with each other. Only Deepak mistrusts people with money and Sonali is secretly engaged to Anil.

In the sequel, we meet Sonali and Deepak, who are successful in their professional life but are struggling with their marriage. After many failed attempts at IVF, a miscarriage and growing pressure from family and the community to conceive, Sonali becomes secretive and Deepak feels isolated. Can they stay together, or will the stigma of a childless marriage pull them apart?

Helen: Plenty of emotions to play with! When it comes to the craft of writing, which element of the writing process do you find most challenging and why?

Saz: I find editing the hardest part of my writing process. I write above the normal word count that recent book lengths have become and find it difficult to delete my chapters. I’m learning to save these chapters for another story. I would love to send my rambling chapters to someone to read who’d slash and delete for me. But‌ I know I need to learn this myself as it will make me a better writer.

Helen: Do you listen to music when you write, if so, what do you listen to and why?

Saz: I often have a song come into my head and listen to music when I’m mulling over ideas. When I write I prefer silence as the lyrics in songs make lead me astray and I usually end up writing them in my work. I feature songs in my books too and have a playlist or two for each book I’ve written.

Helen: Do you find you have to do much research for your books?

Saz: I fact check a lot once I write my first draft and create a Pinterest board for fashion, food and places for my story ideas. As I set my books in places, I know I don’t need to research the area. The most important thing I research are the songs and film dates to keep it authentic to the time period.

Helen: Are you a pantser or a planner? Do you write free form, or do you have a framework you stick to?

Saz: I’m a planster, (planner and a pantster) and if any of my characters are persistent, I write scenes in my notebook. I mind map afterwards and then I plan where the scenes might fit. I use Save the Cat by Blake Synder as my planning process only because I used to teach film studies. I recommend using Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody’s book is superb for all genres. She shares many examples and provides useful beat sheets.

Helen: What are some of the books you read recently that you would recommend to others?

Saz: My reading list is mostly women’s fiction and romance. Me Before You, Jojo Moyes; PS I Love You, Cecelia Ahern; It Ends with Us, Colleen Hoover; Grown Ups, Marian Keyes. I read all genres, except horror. Recently I’ve been reading South Asian writers like me, not recent migrant stories, but those who struggle with belonging and identity.

Helen: When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to overcome it?

Saz: I don’t beat myself up with unattainable word counts. There will be days when words flow out of me and others when there’s a dam that blocks them. I try doing something else even if its reading books, watching films or TV programmes.

Helen: Thank you so much, Saz, for sharing your work with us. Just to close us out, what advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Saz: Find a cheerleader, or many cheerleaders through writing prompts on social media and the writing community. Read everything, especially books in your genre but wider too to understand what people like and dislike.

About the Author

Saz Vora

Saz Vora is a wife, mother and writer. She was born in East Africa and migrated with her family in the ‘60s to Coventry, Midlands, where she grew up straddling British and Gujarati Indian culture. Her debut novels, My Heart Sings Your Song and Where Have We Come, is a story in two parts of love, life, family, conflict, and two young people striving to remain together throughout.

Where Have We Come, Finalist – The Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2020, is based on true events that have shaped her outlook on life’s trials and tribulations. Her short story, Broad Street Library, was long listed in Spread the Word, Life Writing Prize 2020.

Before she started writing South Asian melodrama, she had a successful career in Television Production and Teaching… But her need to write stories has led to what she is doing now—writing stories about people like her in multi-cultural Britain.

She gets inspiration from listening to music, cooking and watching Bollywood, Hollywood and Independent films, hence the references to songs, food and films in all her books.

Please visit her website, where you can read her blog and sign up to newsletter where she will share, missing scenes, recipes, playlists and all things book related. Please also follow her on social media, where she will post her comments.

Pinterest: Saz Vora

Youtube: Saz Vora

Purchase Where Have We Come from Amazon

Link to book on Amazon UK: eBook | Paperback

Link to book on Amazon US: eBook | Paperback

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

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

Book Review Alert: A Song of Mange and Poison by Caroline Noe

Reviewed: September 22nd, 2023
Released: September 19th, 2023
Genre: Humourous Fantasy
Format: Paperback

It was all going so well…
But I might have guessed a dark side sequel was on the horizon.

No sooner had this Menopausal Madam nabbed her Mangy Wolf, and the jumbled pack of wolves, bears, snakes and an eagle howled their way to a Happy Ever After, than up pops the Messenger of the Alpha of Alphas, announcing the imminent arrival of the stinky Southern Pack.

A shed load of furry trouble descends, chief of whom being Curt’s Auntie Yelena, known as Yellfire to her enemies.
I’m one of them, apparently.
Before you can say ruffle my fur, we’re paw deep in backstabbing, arson, poison and attempted murder.
Everyone’s heart is in danger, especially mine.

Don’t turn your back. Don’t turn tail. Read my thoughts…

Book Review Alert: Dragon’s Fear by Sloane McClain

Reviewed: September 17th, 2023
Released: June 29th, 2023
Genre: Arthurian Fantasy
Format: ebook

When the man who raised Roane Pendragon as a son sends a woman in need of protection, what is Roane to do? Well, one thing he shouldn’t do is sleep with her.

Caitlin McGregor is the latest in a long line of Sword Maidens. As the latest Keeper of Roane’s sword, it means both she and Roane are now targets on the radar of the evil sorceress, Morgause.

Morgause needs to stop Roane from using his sword to turn his key. The easiest way is to stop Cait from giving it to him in the first place. If Morgause can get her hands on it before Roane, not only will her lover, Mordred be released, but so will a creature powerful enough to subjugate multiple universes.

Will Cait give Roane the sword before Morgause stops her? Will Roane be able to use it to do his part to lock away the evil creature? Will Cait and Roane have any chance for a happy-ever-after? Read My Thoughts…

Author Interview – A.M Vivian

Author of The Family Care

Today, I am thrilled to be chatting to contemporary fiction author, A.M Vivian.

Helen: Welcome, and thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. Tell us a little about your book, The Family Care.

A.M Vivian: The Family Care is my homage to Virginia Andrews. As a teen, I loved the drama and darkness of her early books, particularly the Flowers in the Attic series and My Sweet Audrina. There was something dangerous and transgressive about them that was thrilling. I always wanted to write one, putting a modern spin on her themes of forbidden love and family trauma.

In my book, Milton discovers her biological mother abandoned her by overhearing her adopted siblings arguing about whether to reveal this secret. Cameron may have orchestrated this reveal. He’s her favourite brother. Her best friend. Her prince in every story they created as children. Does he not want to be related to her anymore? Why? When they accidentally kiss she’s not too sure if it is actually an accident. At a party, she discovers alcohol and retreats further into a fantasy world where she has no problems, where she’s wanted, and where people don’t lie to her. She’s terrified her family will get rid of her if she doesn’t behave, leading to her hiding her drinking. But of course, we know alcohol is never a solution and one lie leads to another. As the story progresses, we learn more about the family trauma and explore their struggle to maintain the façade of a perfect family. Add to this the changing nature of her relationship with Cameron and eventually things snap.

Helen: Sounds extrememly emotional, with lots of dark secrets to be revealed. What were your thoughts behind your cover?

A.M Vivian: I had great fun creating the concept for this. I wanted the cover to resemble an art house DVD cover because Milton is a film buff and particularly enamoured with French new wave cinema. The picture resembles a movie reel with the frames splitting up this picture of a happy couple to reflect the dislocation between them and to show that this isn’t a happy-ever-after love story. Blue is her favourite colour and the colour of Cameron’s eyes. It also suggests heartbreak, hinting that this is a tragic love story. The title falling off the cover makes me think of a film unspooling, mirroring Milton’s life becoming messy and uncontrollable.

Helen: What made you write such a dark and tragic romance novel?

A.M Vivian: The idea came to me when I was a teen and had run out of Virginia Andrew’s books to read. This was before they started releasing the new V.C Andrew’s series with ghostwriters. I couldn’t find anything else like her, so I decided I’d write my own. I must have been about 14 or 15. I didn’t finish writing it but I had the main events, the end scene, and the title. 10 years later, I returned to the idea, writing sections as part of my degree course. Again, I didn’t get that far with it. Something was missing. I couldn’t quite capture Cameron. It was like a memory of something you tasted as a child that vanishes as soon as you try to focus on it and describe the flavour. I put aside the story and wrote The Waiting Usurper instead. Then, while travelling, the oddest thing happened. I met someone who was the perfect physical embodiment of Cameron. The way his hands moved. The way he held a group’s attention with his quiet confidence. His walk. It was so surreal. I’d been trying and trying to capture this character and there he was looking right at me, sitting beside me, talking to me. It was the strangest experience. How could I not fall ridiculously in love with him? We had a ‘situationship’, short-lived and a thing that ended messily for me, but for him, it’s probably an inconsequential footnote in his life. I thought writing this story would help get him out of my mind. A cleanse and clean if you will—better than burning old love letters. In retrospect, maybe I also wanted something good and productive to have come out of that whole painful experience.

Helen: That is such an amazing answer, that you actually met the embodiment of your character and then also had to suffer though a messy and painful ending. I’m glad you found writing him into your book, cathartic. Writing is such a good way to express yourself. When did you first realise you had a passion for writing?

A.M Vivian: I was very young, about 11 years old. At school our English teacher asked us to write a story. I don’t remember the prompt but I remember the feeling I had while writing it. It was that feeling of exhilaration you get when an aeroplane accelerates and then takes off. I remember everything else faded: the classroom, me, spelling, and grammar. I wrote reams and reams of this story, even during my lunch breaks. A whole epic series was planned out in my head, one that challenged Tolkien for word count. I was at that age where you weren’t supposed to be playing with Barbies anymore and I resented being made to grow up, wanted no part of it. Writing was a way to get around that schoolyard rule.

Helen: After such a dark and emotional novel, what are you working on next?

A.M Vivian: Depending on when this interview is published, it might be available to buy and download because I’m at the checking the proof copy stage. It’s called At 4 AM, A Shop Window. It’s an eclectic collection of short stories and poems. Some are available on my blog (publishordietrying.wordpress.com) and have been published in various small presses over the years. I also wrote some new pieces especially for this book. The collection is full of outsiders wishing for more from their monotonous lives but unable to grab the opportunities that present themselves. Instead, they find temporary solutions in devilish temptations, illusions of control, and disappointing romantic connections. There are touches of dark humour in there too, such as Barry who’s pondering why he’s been reincarnated as a battery hen. This collection shows the breadth of my writing, both in style and topic. I think it encapsulates who I am as a writer. A friend recently called me a cynical romantic and I think this collection illustrates this.

Helen: How do you write your novels? Do you plan them in detail, or let your characters take charge?

A.M Vivian: I am a pantser. That’s part of the fun for me—figuring out what the book wants to be and what the characters want to say. I don’t really know what the story is until I spend time with the characters, writing and exploring. That’s when their voices appear and I find out what their hopes and fears are. I want to disappear into their world and a plan is too much of an anchor, keeping me tethered to reality. It does mean that I write a lot that never makes it into the book. This is quite freeing because I’m not focusing on the end product and I don’t have that pressure to get it right when writing my first draft. I get to experiment. The more I play and go on meandering trails, the more excited I get about a project which helps push me through those painful slogs of editing and rewriting. However, being a pantser means that the editing and rewriting process takes longer. Much longer. I write a first draft pretty quickly but I need to let it marinate for at least 6 months so I can look at it with fresh eyes. After that, I’m doing extensive re-writes and edits. I wish I could publish my books quicker but I’m too scared my muse will desert me for someone more worthy if I force her to work in ways she doesn’t like.

Helen: We all spend a lot of time on our own, writing and editing. Do you listen to music while you write?

A.M Vivian: I love music. It’s one of my biggest weaknesses so I always listen to music when I write and edit. What I’m listening to depends on what I’m writing and what emotion or mood I’m trying to access. I try to listen to the same few albums and/or musicians when I’m working on a novel so that my brain associates these sounds with the story. This helps me get into that world quicker. It’s a shorthand way of telling my brain what we’re going to do. Sometimes, if I need a bit of an aural hug to boast my confidence and remind me why I write, then I’ll listen to Pearl Jam.

Music is such a big part of The Family Care. Cameron plays the guitar and is a music geek. It’s one of the loves they share. Within the story, I mention musicians they like and are listening to, such as Bowie, Crows, and Idles. The Maccabee’s Given To The Wild album cover makes an appearance, as does Milton’s impression of the singer’s voice. I had fun adding in these little details. It grounded the story in reality and I like to think the reader might seek out some of these songs.

Helen: Music can inspire all sorts of emotions, and it is weird how you end up listening to certain music when writing. Different albums end up on my playlist for different books. What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve recieved?

A.M Vivian: A teacher relayed this piece of advice to me during the degree programme at Bath Spa University. I didn’t catch the name of the writer or the book my teacher was referencing, unfortunately. They recommended creating separate identities for writing and editing, wearing different clothes and sitting in different places for different tasks. The writer us might be in tracksuit bottoms on the couch, dirty hair, and a food-spotted t-shirt. The Editor us will be in chinos and a crisply ironed shirt, hair tied back and sitting on a hard-backed chair at a desk. Doing this makes it easier to access the different sides of the brain. I do kind of follow a version of this—not to such an extreme level. For one thing, I’m rubbish at ironing. I do write and edit in different spaces where possible. I’ve found my kitchen a great place for editing. I think it’s important to make a clear distinction between these two tasks. Otherwise, I’d never get beyond writing that first paragraph. I like how this advice encourages me to consider and change those things I do have control over because so much about writing is out of our control and mysterious. I mean, who knows why some writing sessions are like flying and others are like wading through shitty mud?

Helen: I’ve not heard that advice before, thank you for sharing! How about writer’s block. Do you have any tricks for overcoming that obstacle?

A.M Vivian: I hate writer’s block. It’s like someone’s got hold of your arms when you’re trying to take off into a run. I need to trick my brain a little to get out of that slump. Distractions can help. (‘Look here’s an interesting documentary,’ and then bam! I’m scribbling pages in response to it.) Changing things up helps, too. For example, I sit on the floor in my front room to write because sitting at my desk feels too much like working on a report. I’m writing by hand because that feels more like playing and personal. It’s easier to switch off the critical brain away from the computer. Maybe because it’s less tempting to delete things and edit as you go along. I find the physical act of putting pen to paper quite meditative too, especially if I have a nice pen and the gods have blessed me with pretty looking writing that day. I can focus more on the act than whether what I’m writing is any good.

If I get really stuck with a novel I might decide to write something that I know won’t go into the book but is related to the story. For example, I might write about a character’s favourite toy. It’s just a way to take the pressure off, get the creative mind going, and break the curse of writer’s block. Anything is better than nothing and if I can remind myself how fun writing it is then that’s usually enough to defeat those horrible thoughts that lead to writer’s block.

Helen: Thank you so much for sharing all your great hints and tips. Hopefully they will help other writers to overcome these challenges. Just to finish, how do you address that little voice of self doubt that drags us all down?

A.M Vivian: I think the advice I mentioned before helps with this to a certain extent. When I feel this fear I go back to writing in bed where I can forget that the outside world exists. It’s just me, my pen, and my imagination, the same as it was when I first started writing. I have to switch off thinking about the market or readers, especially when writing a first draft. A lot of authors write to the market, working out what sells and hitting those tropes but I can’t because it feels too much like a bunch of people are looking over my shoulder. Annoyingly, the less I write the louder the fear becomes.

I’ve found meditation a useful way of dealing with counteracting this doubt and fear. There are some great ones on Youtube. I listen to one in the morning and then go straight into writing. Starting early in the day is another way I bypass the critic in my head, mainly because he takes longer to wake up so I can sneak in a few sentences before he’s up and pestering me. Sometimes though, I think we have to accept that we’re having a down day and give in to it. Forcing yourself to write can be counterproductive. There’s a quote from Nietzsche that I often return to when I’m in a bad mood. He wrote, ‘When we are tired, we are attacked by ideas we conquered long ago.’ Maybe I need to relax. Read a book. Watch a film. Maybe I need to eat something and get a decent sleep. Sometimes, it’s the lovely PMT saying I’m a useless piece of shit and no one will ever want to read anything I’ve written. There’s nothing wrong with taking a day off and indulging in misery. If you need permission, here it is. The danger is in letting it drag on beyond a day because then it can tip into writer’s block. If it lingers a nice bit of boxing helps—imagining I’m punching and drop-kicking my critical thoughts is a great way to release that negative energy and make me feel like a badass who can conquer anything.

About the Author

A.M Vivian

A.M Vivian is a British writer. She holds a degree in Creative Writing and English Literature from Bath Spa University, a masters in the Therapeutic Uses of Creative Writing from Sussex University, and another masters in Creative Writing from Cardiff University. A member of the Alliance of Independent Authors, she is passionate about self-publishing. She splits her time between writing, running a successful beta reading business (Walter’s Writing Emporium), and working in a library. If she’s not lost in fiction, then she’s at a gig, sweating and singing away her worries. You can follow her on Instagram @a_m_vivian & learn more about her books at http://www.amvivian.com

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SoulBreather wins a SILVER medal in the Global Book Awards

Even more celebrations! Not only has Sentinals Justice acheived a gold medal, but SoulBreather, the first book in the Fantasy Romance/Paranormal Romance SoulMist Series, has achieved a silver medal in the 2023 Global Book Awards in the Fantasy Myth & Legend category.

The 2023 Global Book Awards for Self-Published Authors.

The Global Awards aim to discover new talent as well as recognize fine examples of self-published books. As such, we hope they will give self-published authors the recognition they deserve, whether that is in their writing creativity, or in the way they have marketed their books to attract new readers.

In this modern age of self-publishing, books need to be appraised not only by their content and writing style, but also by the way they present and market themselves to the prospective buyer, whether that is in the good ratings it has on important stores like Amazon, its book cover and description, or the number of reviews it has collected. They must also appeal to new readers so part of the evaluation included a survey asking avid readers to select the top 5 books they enjoyed the most.

The awards are grouped by category (or genre) and divided into Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Award Finalists.

Grab your copy today!

If you fall in love with the shadows, does that mean you are fallen too?

A dying angel. A fractured realm. The mortal who might be able to save them both.

Solanji has a secret. One that is becoming increasingly difficult to keep. She can touch souls and see into a person’s inner thoughts. Soulbreathing is exhilarating and addictive, until the day Solanji caresses the wrong person’s soulmist.

Dragged into a long forgotten angelic mystery, she is forced to venture into Eidolon, the godforsaken last resort for those without souls. In order to save her brother, she must rescue a broken and tortured man. Can she save him from the shadows? Does he even want to be saved? And can she find a way to return to the light before the darkness engulfs them both?

SoulBreather is the first book in the fantasy romance SoulMist series.

Originally published as part of the USA Today Bestselling Realm of Darkness anthology.
Receipient of a Reader’s Favorite Five Star Review

If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist 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.

Sentinals Justice wins GOLD in the Global Book Awards

I am so thrilled to announce that Sentinals Justice, the third book in the epic fantasy Sentinal Series won the gold medal in the 2023 Global Book Awards in the Sword & Sorcery category.

The 2023 Global Book Awards for Self-Published Authors.

The awards are grouped by category (or genre) and divided into Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Award Finalists.

Grab your copy today!

Lost guardians. Tensions brewing in the frozen north. Can a goddess-appointed champion prevent a looming war?

Jerrol Haven’s last run-in with evil has left deep scars. Recovering from the torture that damaged him mentally and physically, the guilt-ridden commander searches for the whereabouts of one of his captured allies. But he feels the chance to rescue the awakened sentinal slipping away when his king requests his aid in peace negotiations at a remote and unstable border.

Accompanied by his beloved, Jerrol arrives at his destination only to discover the enemy’s corruption running rife. And after he’s cut down by a shocking betrayal, the skilled soldier’s destiny plunges into bloody chaos.

Can he overcome his failures to forge a desperate victory?

Sentinals Justice is the thrilling third book in the Sentinal epic fantasy series. If you like courageous characters, action-packed suspense, and gritty battles, then you’ll love Helen Garraway’s emotional rollercoaster ride.

Book Review Alert: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Reviewed: September 12th, 2023
Released: May 2nd, 2023
Genre: YA Fantasy
Format: Hardcover

Welcome to the brutal and elite world of Basgiath War College, where everyone has an agenda, and every night could be your last . . .

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general – also known as her tough-as-talons mother – has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away . . . because dragons don’t bond to ‘fragile’ humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter – like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Alliances will be forged. Lives will be lost. Traitors will become allies . . . or even lovers. But sleep with one eye open because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die. Read my thoughts…

Author Interview – Nat Kennedy

Author of Blooded

Today, I am excited to welcome fantasy author, Nat Kennedy, to my blog. Nat is chatting to us about her book Blooded. I read Blooded when it first released, I thoroughly enjoyed it and you can find my review here.

Helen: Welcome Nat, and thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. Tell us a little about your book, Blooded.

Nat: Hi Helen! Thanks for having me. I must say it’s a delight to be here to talk about my writing. I’m Nat Kennedy and I write heroic fantasy with a gay romance bent. The heroics are very important to me. My main characters want to fight the good fight, protect the weak, embrace nobility and honor. My current book is called Blooded.

Blooded is contemporary fantasy where those who can use magic are blooded, descended from a Pure magical being. Nick, a blooded sorcerer, has been on a decade long hunt for an evil megalomanic sorcerer and is burned out on life. Through the words of a prophet, he is led to a dilapidated manor house in the Alps, where he meets his old, hated professor, Byron, who has been turned into a vampire. Byron has given up on life and has tried to starve himself. When Nick arrives, he thinks he is there to kill him. More prophecy leads them to have to create a blood bond to take down the evil sorcerer. Lots of redemption, adventure, love, magic, and heroics.

Helen: I thoroughly enjoyed Blooded when I read it. Nick and Byron are wonderful characters. What were your thoughts behind the cover design?

Nat: My cover artist was amazing! Silvana Sanchez – Selfpub Designs kept tweaking to make sure I was happy with the scene it created. My two many heroes, Nick and Byron, stand side by side. Byron is wearing his cross, because he’s a religious man, Nick has his magical stone – the conduit for any sorcerer’s power. Behind them is the manor house in which they meet and much of the book unfolds.

Helen: Titles are just as important as covers. Why did you choose the title Blooded?

Nat: Blooded fit on many levels. First, the sorcerers are blooded if they have the blood of a Pure in their veins. This gives them the ability to use magic. Pure can be angels, devils, celestials, immortals, elementals, fae, or other types of mystical/magical beings.

Then there is the vampire aspect. Byron must drink blood and he doesn’t for so long, trying to end his misery. When the prophecy demands him to drink Nick’s blood, it takes on another level of meaning of bring him back to health and how the bond of blood has power over their magic.

Helen: The title is perfect for your story. What made you first start writing?

Nat: This is a story you’ve heard before. I always liked making up stories as a kid. I think I discovered I had a passion for it about twenty years ago when I started roleplaying games. I wanted more to happen other than what happened in the game so I wrote stories about my characters. Of course they were heroic and won the day! But I realized that when I couldn’t find stories I wanted, I would just have to create my own. In the era of grimdark and anti-heroes, I really wanted to find more solid men and women who wanted to do the right thing. Sure, not every character starts out as heroic, but I like to see nobility shine through. So, I write more noble characters because, for a while, I wasn’t finding them. That is my passion.

Helen: Blooded is Heroic Fantasy, which genre do you typically write?

Nat: Fantasy, mainly, though other kinds of speculative fiction such as science fiction and horror. And I like romantic elements or subplots as well.

Helen: It’s been a while since Blooded released. What are you working on now?

Nat: I’m currently writing a romantic adventure fantasy. My hero is a mercenary with a dark past and he’s trying to right a wrong that sent the area into war. He meets up with three hermaphroditic cat people, who hate humans but need him as a guide, and they go on this grand adventure, become friends, romance ensues, heroics are enacted, the day is saved. I’m almost done with this novel. It’s gone through 5 drafting stages, but I know it needs at least two more. Writing for me takes a long time. It’s the first in a series.

Helen: Everyone writes at their own pace. As long as you enjoy writing, that’s all that matters. Which element of the writing process do you find the most challenging?

Nat: The middle. I can draft fairly easily and I love the final word-smithing polish, but sometimes I write myself in a hole and I have problems coming out in a reasonable way. I want actions and reactions to be intelligent and make sense. So, the middle where I’m having to assure all plot holes are plugged, all actions make sense, and the pay out is worth it all, that slows me down at times. Writing is hard.

Helen: Every writer experiences self-doubt. How do you overcome the fear and the little voice in your head to keep writing?

Nat: Honestly, I stall out for long periods of time. I have a day job, so when I’m stressed or tired, I don’t tend to write much. I just don’t have the time or energy. I don’t think it’s doubt for me, it’s just lack of ‘success’ that tires me out. I have to remind myself that I love writing and I’m loving what I’m writing and to keep on it. “I write good stories. Keep going.”

Helen: It can be tough to have the energy to write after a long day at work. I’m afraid I am not an early riser, so writing first thing is not for me! Thank you so much, Nat, for spending time with me today. Just to finish, what advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Nat: Write what you love. Keep writing. Hone your skills. There’s a lot more I would say, but for a newbie I think those are key.

About the Author

Nat Kennedy

Nat Kennedy writes romantic fantasy of all kinds. She prides herself in delivering engaging, plotty romantic stories. In her worlds, Heroes abound. Here you’ll find good men taking positive actions in rough places. Come along to lands of magic and enchantment—from epic, fantastical worlds to contemporary America, she’ll take you on a journey you won’t soon forget.

She lives in the Pacific Northwest where the rain keeps the world green.

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Thanks for having me! It was great to meet your readers. If anyone is interested in keeping abreast of my current happenings, please find me, reach out and say hi!

Website – https://natkennedy.com/ – Heroes, Magic, Amore

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Purchase Blooded from Amazon

Link to book on Amazon UK: eBook | Paperback

Link to book on Amazon US: eBook | Paperback

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

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