Reviewed: August 9th, 2023 Released: July 4th, 2023 Genre: Space Opera
A door never closes, but a window opens . . .
With origins in the Old Universe, the malevolent, acquisitive intelligence of Tinsori Light sought to infect others with itself and send those agents out into the wide new universe to infect even more.
For centuries, two heroes stood between Tinsori Light and the vulnerable universe—Light Keepers Jen Sin yos’Phelium and Lorith of the Sanderat.
Just when it seemed that they—merely human—must fail, Tinsori Light, enfeebled by aged systems, succumbed to the stress of a unique spatial event—and died, leaving the station a shell.
Luckily, the light keepers have back-up. A mismatched team of arcane specialists are on-station, working nonstop to preserve the Light, build trustworthy systems, and open the refurbished station for business.
In fact, ships are already incoming, and it becomes a matter of urgency to sort friend from foe. In particular, the Lyre Institute wishes to acquire Tinsori Light, and will do anything, spend anyone, to achieve that goal. Read My Thoughts…
Reviewed: August 6th, 2023 Released: January 12th, 2023 Genre: Science Fiction
Princesses are born to defend their people.
Being the best Imperial Air Force cadet, spending time with her friends and maybe meeting a cute boy is all Princess Astrid Zainab Korsning better known as Izzy wants.
If only Yanar, her country, was not at war with Petra.
If only she wasn’t forced to become regent while her mother was fighting on the front lines.
If only she had not come face to face with the unknown enemies while investigating signs of infiltration on earth by dark forces.
If only she was not in danger of falling in love with the wrong boy during her first trip to London.
Princesses are born to die for their people
The kingdom of Petra: once upon a time the best place in the galaxy for art, literature and music. That was until the war against The Alliance, a federation of planets led by the Yan empire.
Their last hope for victory, travelling to a planet of savages named Earth and attacking from the inside, their most powerful country, Yanar.
The Hendus: survivors of a dead world, desperate for a new home.
Their last hope for survival, finalising the colonisation of Earth from the shadows which they started 200 years ago.
The Backhand : Marginalised group of nature lovers, forbidden from practicing their religion by Yanar.
Their last hope for revenge, the alienation of the Members of the Tens, Yanar’s aristocracy and the imperial family.
Petra, Hendu and The Backhand agree, the empire must fall.
And it starts with the death of a 17-year-old princess. The only problem, Izzy is not just a princess, she is also an Omni, a human who possesses five supernatural powers. Read My Thoughts….
Today, I’m chatting with YA contemporary author, Samantha Hughes, about her debut book Limitless Roads Cafe which was released in May 2023.
Helen: Welcome Samantha, and thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. Tell us a little about your novel.
Samantha: My YA Contemporary is called LIMITLESS ROADS CAFE and follows a teen named Kinsey Fontana who aspires to be an event planner. She works at a cafe hiring teens with any type of disability – she is autistic – and she plans a fundraiser when it threatens to close. However, she needs help from her former best friend Melissa Castillo, whose parents own the hotel where the fundraiser will take place, and the place that rejected Kinsey for an event planning internship.
Helen: Congratulations on releasing your novel. It is great to see an inclusive main character who is dealing with a disability as well as external issues. What was the idea behind the cover?
Samantha: I told my cover designer to show the cafe and include disability symbols in the window so someone seeing the cover would realize that this is a cafe hiring teens with disabilities. I had Kinsey holding a notepad and coffee to show her organized, hardworking personality.
Helen: I love asking that question because we always discover more detail in the cover than we did at first glance. Similarly with the name. I’m sure the reason you Limitless Roads Cafe wasn’t just because it was the name of the cafe.
Samantha: Limitless Roads Cafe is the name of the fictional cafe in the book. It may be too obvious but I chose it as the title not just because it is the physical main setting in the book but for other reasons. It not only hires teens with disabilities but provides a safe place for them and for patrons with disabilities. The cafe is a place that these characters don’t often find in other public places, thus increasing their determination to save it.
Helen: Which genre do you typically write?
Samantha: I write YA because everyone enjoys it no matter their age, and some concepts don’t change across age, like self-discovery or the desire to fit in. In fact, I read YA books to remind myself to remain optimistic and hold on to at least some of my idealism. I’m hoping my books can do the same for other adults as well as teens.
Helen: If you didn’t write YA books what genre woudl you like to try?
Samantha: I would love to try writing in fantasy but not the usual medieval-like setting.
Helen: Who is your protagonist and why did you write him/her?
Samantha: Kinsey Fontana is the protagonist, a teenage aspiring event planner. I wrote her because I didn’t see many autistic girls as a main character – or even as a side character – growing up. I wrote her because event planning is not a career that most people would assume someone autistic and/or with anxiety would want to pursue due to stereotypes in the media. But I, like my character, chose a career nobody would have guessed I would pursue and I’ve defied expectations. So can Kinsey, other fictional characters, and people in real life.
Helen: That is one of the great things about writing, you can choose to write about someone you wouldn’t typicllay find in novels. How do you come up with the ideas for your books?
Samantha: Inspiration can come from anywhere, and I mean ANYWHERE. They could come to me while running errands and I find an interesting story in a magazine. An idea can come when I think of ways a movie or a book could have been written better (basically what I would have done if I had been the writer. Sometimes I imagine writing a successful movie, something the audience and I don’t see enough of.
Helen: Now your book is released, what are you working on next?
Samantha: I won’t say too much other than that the next book will involve lots of cupcakes and cakes and will focus on the concept of success.
Helen: Intrguing! When you write, do you listen to music or do you prefer silence?
Samantha: Music is a must when I write. It has to have a beat so I maintain the energy, so I listen to mostly pop or electronic.
Helen: And when you write, are you a planner or a pantser?
Samantha: A planner all the way. I create an outline for each book and try to stick to it.
Helen: That’s good seeing as you wrote about an event planner! Thank you so much for chatting with me today. Just to close us out, could you share how you overcome the dreaded self-doubt?
Samantha: I read social media posts are articles by other writers who talk about self-doubt. This reminds me that self-doubt is natural, and that I can’t let it win. I remind myself of what I’ve accomplished rather than what I didn’t accomplish.
About the Author
Samantha Picaro
Samantha Picaro is the author of Limitless Roads Cafe. Her identity as #ActuallyAutistic informs her writing, where the heroines are determined, and comedy is balanced with drama. She has a B.A. in Psychology and a Master’s in Social Work, and she has put those degrees to use in the nonprofit sector. When not writing or at her non-writing job, you can find her trying new coffee flavors, reading (of course), and volunteering for various causes. She lives in New Jersey.
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.
Reviewed: August 1st, 2023 Released: April 21st, 2021 Genre: Paranormal Romance
Nothing happens in Wakefield…
But Josephine “Jo” Ligaya wakes up to find Alexa Ocampo, standing next to her window, black hair illuminated by the moonlight, gazing out of the frosted glass. No reason exists in Jo’s solitary world for the cheerleader to be in her room—except for two. She died and found her way to the young medium. The missing girl. Dead at eighteen.
Forced to join forces with Julian Taylor, the town’s celebrated athlete and a former friend, she must traverse the land mines of the spiritual realm and the equally intense halls of Wakefield High. This unlikely pair—a high school loner and a popular jock—must learn to work together to find the remains of a murdered teen with only communications from the dead as their guide.
Night Orchid is a coming-of-age tale of severed friendships, broken promises and the enduring powers of love. It’s Ghost Whisperer, but with hot-tempered teenagers and a strong female lead. Get ready for a wild ride.
*Strong language, sexual innuendos and violence. Night Orchid touches on mental health issues and unhealthy coping mechanisms (ie: alcohol abuse, drugs, a habit that resembles cutting). Please take caution if any of these themes trigger you. Read My Thoughts…
I’m very happy to be chatting to middle grade/YA author, Danielle Hughes, about her YA fantasy Mystica trilogy.
Helen: Welcome Danielle, and thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. Tell us a little about Mystica.
Danielle: I’m really proud to have my completed Mystica Trilogy out in the world now. I began writing the first book many, many years ago, always knowing it would be a trilogy. And it’s been quite a journey to have all three books complete and published.
Mystica is a fast-paced, fantasy adventure series full of magic and mystery. When Adelle and her foster brother, Jack, are stranded on a mysterious island they have no idea of the secrets they will uncover. When Jack is kidnapped by the tyrant ruler, Adelle must unlock the hidden magic and secrets to reawaken the lost power of the island and rescue him, discovering much about her unknown past.
Helen: Congratulations on completing the trilogy. Your covers are so vibrant. What can you tell us about your thoughts when designing them?
Danielle: I love my covers. I had a really clear vision of how I wanted them to look. Each one depicts the main character, Adelle, and indicates where she is on her journey as the Empress of Mystica. The first shows her looking apprehensively at the castle in the distance. The second shows her inside the castle, looking out from a balcony. The third cover shows her ready to use her power and looking more like a warrior ready to defend her title.
I chose to have her back to the reader so its almost as though we are seeing what Adelle is seeing, and also so the reader can imagine her face the way they envisage her.
Helen: The covers are gorgeous. I love the colours! Tell us about your protagonist, Adelle, and how you came to write her.
Danielle: In Mystica, the protagonist is Adelle, a fourteen-year-old foster child who finds herself trapped on a mysterious magical island. She needs to rescue her foster brother who is kidnapped by the tyrant ruler of Mystica. Adelle is someone who struggles with relinquishing control and has very little belief in what she is capable of. I wrote her to highlight how important it is to believe in yourself, because we are always capable of more than what we think. I hope she inspires young people to dig deep when needed, and rise above whatever they thing is holding them down.
Helen: Now that you have finished the Mystica trilogy, what are you working on next?
Danielle: I’m currently working on a young adult fantasy which is a retelling of a Grimm’s Brothers fairy tale. It’s a lesser-known, very short Grimms tale called the Brother and Sister, but I’ve elaborated into a complete story. I’m still in the writing phase so I don’t want to give too many details away, but I’m really happy with how it’s progressing. It promises to be full of intrigue, complete with an evil step-mother, a fight for the Kingdom, dark magic and a dash of romance.
Helen: Let’s talk about your writing process. Do you listen to music while you write?
Danielle: Not while I’m writing, but as a way to get in the mood for what I’m working on. I have different playlists for each book and listen to them in the car or around the house before I sit down to write. Here is a sample of one of my Mystica playlists: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5cEJOYsc71ZxxZKX7AYsNq?si=XTai0TA0Rh-rau-lz_-00g
Helen: That is such a great idea. Music is very inspirational. I tend to listen to classical, as there typically aren’t any words! Are you a full time writer? How do you fit writing into your daily life?
Danielle: It’s a struggle! I have four kids in primary school who all do different activities, plus I work part-time. I write on the few afternoons I have at home before pick up and try to be disciplined to make sure I use that free time to write and not do other things like housework etc.
Helen: Goodness, you have your hands full. Well done for being disciplined enough to carve out your writing time. How do you manage those seeds of self doubt that always creep in.
Danielle: I go back and read things I’ve written in the past. It helps me to realise that I can write, that I love writing and I love the stories I write. It helps me remember its important to do the things we love, if for no one else, but for ourselves.
Helen: Great advice. Thank you so much for spending time with me today. Just to finish, could you share the best piece of writing advice you have received?
Danielle: I was lucky enough to attend a writing retreat where John Marsden was presenting. He was brilliant and full of excellent advice. But the best thing he told me is how important it is to just get the story down, in draft form, no matter how terrible it seems. Just write it out from start to finish before you even consider going back and editing or changing anything. Just get that first draft written!
About the Author
Danielle Hughes
Busy mum of four, Danielle loves writing fantasy, adventure and supernatural stories for middle-grade and young adult readers. Danielle is the author of The Mystica Trilogy and The Lost Unicorn, brought to life by Four Moons Publishing. She also has several short-stories published in various anthologies. The complete Mystica trilogy is now available in all formats. To keep up to date on new projects, see website and sign up to the newsletter: http://www.fourmoonspublishing.com
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.
Reviewed: July 25th, 2023 Released: June 1st, 2023 Genre: Epic Fantasy
Eleven paladins walk into a monastery. Only one knows it’s a trap.
When Victoriana Greenmantle is summoned to represent her paladin order in an unusual quest, the timing couldn’t be worse.
Having just witnessed the horrific death of her mentor, she is barely a paladin at all. Worse, she has a trapped demon on her hands and if anyone discovers she hasn’t quite managed to cast it out, she will be made to suffer consequences worse than death.
The summoning requires Victoriana to journey to the newly revealed Aching Monastery and there to search for and recover the fabled Cup of Tears on behalf of her order.
But her order is not the only one seeking this relic. And her rivals are stronger, smarter, more experienced and just as motivated as she is. Will this cynical paladin have the faith to find the truth?
When Adalbrand Von Menticure is summoned to the Aching Monastery he is unamused. Far from his holy work healing the sick and injured, this quest seems a waste of his time. But when the murders start and he’s thrown together unwittingly with a young female paladin who keeps breaking all the rules and drawing everyone’s ire, he is forced to confront ghosts of his past. Can he push past his guilt to accept this tempting ally?
Together, these two holy paladins may be the only ones who can discover what or who is killing their compatriots and whether the Cup of Tears is really worth the bloodshed and danger within the monastery walls before time runs out and they are trapped forever.
A complicated mission, you say? Oh, but it gets worse, because forbidden love is slowly stalking them both, complicating everything, and leaving them each more vulnerable than they can afford to be in the face of a danger worse than either of them ever imagined.
Will this pair find strength in their strict discipline and holy orders in time to escape, or will they fall before the twin dangers of a rogue killer and an attraction more deadly than the simple risk of death? Read My Thoughts …
Reviewed: July 23rd, 2023 Released: March 29th, 2022 Genre: Dark Fantasy
Witch politics, maddening men, a desperate demon, and monsters from above blow apart Lucie Bellerose’s world. Can she still save her thinning witchline?
The confident witch next door? She’s a hot mess. The reliable, level-headed friend you know you can count on? She’s broken and hiding big lies. The powerful woman who finds herself at the center of an old prophecy? She’s overwhelmed.
Witches hide things.
Lucie Bellerose holds secrets in her heart, fear in her belly, and her Tarot cards close to her chest. She’s a witch among too many men, with too many problems, and one thinning witchline.
A tyrannical former teacher who likes to inflict pain? Check. A loyal friend she keeps dragging through hell? Check. A mysterious man who excites her and infuriates her – often in the same 60 seconds? Check. Then there are the expectations of the Congress of Empire Witches, danger lurking behind doors to other worlds, and one psychotic demon who needs to possess her.
And this is only the beginning of Lucie’s problems.
Join Lucie Bellerose as she navigates infuriating men, witch politics, controlling her growing power, a fiery temper, a crazed demon… and ‘monsters and beasties’ when doors to other worlds begin to open. Read my Thoughts …
I’m very happy to be meeting poet, Barbara Lally, to chat about her poetry collection called Vicissitudes.
Helen: Welcome Barbara, and thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. Tell us a little about your book.
Barbara: My current book is a poetry collection called Vicissitudes. The word itself means the quality or state of being changeable/the natural change or mutation visible in nature or in human affairs. Vicissitudes is an intense and personal collection of poetry about love; the ups and downs, the beautiful and ugly.
Vicissitudes has 97 poems and ten one-of-a-kind pieces of art by artist, Jessica Carballo.
Helen: How wonderful. It sounds like a very personal collection. What can you tell us about your thoughts behind your cover?
Barbara: The cover of Vicissitudes features an outline of me that was inspired by a photograph taken of me by Mina and Enza Photography. In the photo I have my arms around myself in a hugging gesture. This perfectly represents the feeling the poems give you in Vicissitudes – being vulnerable, feeling comfortable in your own skin, loving yourself as you grow. Jessica Carballo designed the cover.
Helen: The cover is very elegant. Why did you use Vicissitudes as the title of the collection?
Barbara: Vicissitudes is a word that completely encapsulated how I felt when I was a young adult. So many ups and downs and changes that I couldn’t possibly prepare for. It was beautiful and ugly and a complete mess but worth every moment! While you read Vicissitudes you can feel that rollercoaster.
Helen: What inspired you write this collection of poetry?
Barbara: I wrote Vicissitudes because it healed my heart. Love and heartbreak are things that everyone experiences yet is unique to everyone. I believed my story would resonate with others while also being a completely new experience for those who read it. I loved being able to put all of my different feelings and experiences into poetry form.
I wrote The Trichster Diaries because it healed my soul. I have had trichotillomania, the hair-pulling disorder, since I was 10 years old. I never knew anyone else who had it and so for many years I hid in shame. One day I felt the courage to openly share my story and write this book in hopes to make others feel less alone and to spread awareness.
I wrote My Trichster Diaries: A Guided Journal because I wanted to heal others. It is a wonderfully interactive journal for those who have trichotillomania and want to let some of the shame they feel go. It focuses on self-love and self-acceptance.
Helen: I have said many times that I believe writing is carthartic and writing your collections sound like that has been the case for you, too. What is the best thing that has happened to you since you began writing?
Barbara: The best thing that ever happened to me since I began writing is becoming part of a community. My first book, The Trichster Diaries, is about my life with trichotillomania, the hair-pulling disorder. I have connected with many others who too have trichotillomania. I have been able to share my story without shame. It has changed my entire life.
I have a podcast called Trich Talks! where I interview others with trichotillomania. I also have a life coaching business where I work with people with trichotillomania in a course called “Sharing Our Stories.”
Helen: I’m so glad you found your community and that you are able to share your experiences to help others. It is so important to know that you are not alone. From a writing perspective, every writer experiences self-doubt. How do you overcome the fear and the little voice in your head to keep writing?
Barbara: I had to remind myself that this story needed telling. Not only was writing The Trichster Diaries incredibly healing for me, it was healing for others. People could see themselves in the photographs in the book, they could relate to the moments of insecurity and shame. It lets them see that you can learn to love the thing you once hated about yourself.
Helen: Congratulations once again on publishing your collection this year. Just to finish, what advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Barbara: My best advice for new writers is to just get it all out there! Don’t worry about being perfect on the first go. Get all of your thoughts and ideas out on the page and then worry about the rest of it. Writing can be healing and wonderful. Let it all out!
About the Author
Barbara Lally
I was teaching for nearly a decade before I changed careers and began life coaching.
In 2020, I published my memoir, The Trichster Diaries, detailing my life with trichotillomania. Since that moment, my goal was to spread awareness of a disorder that is rarely spoken about but affects many.
In 2021, I started a podcast, published a guided journal, began a trichotillomania online course, and left my teaching job. My podcast, Trich Talks, is an interview style podcast where guests share about their life with trichotillomania. In my guided journal, My Trichster Diaries, the reader is able to reflect on and write about their own trichotillomania and journey to self-acceptance. But that’s not all. I weave in handwritten notes, trichster tips, poetry, and much more. My trichotillomania online course, Sharing Our Stories, SOS is a 25-week interactive course that does a deep dive into your journey with trichotillomania. Each week we discuss different prompts from the guided journal, My Trichster Diaries, complete meaningful activities, have empowering conversations, and build a strong sense of community between the members of the course.
Since 2023, I’ve been working as a certified Life Coach who specializes in helping people learn to understand, love, and accept their trichotillomania. I coach my clients in a way that utilizes both their heads and their hearts. If you have any questions about my methods, or would like to schedule a consultation, please get in touch today.
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.
I’m very excited to chat to Indie Author Shari T. Mitchell who has just released the third book in her Marnie Reilly series, Fatal Vow, and she has made time to talk to us about her new release. Join me as we celebrate her new release and chat about her books.
Helen: Welcome Shari. Congratulations on releasing your latest book this week, and thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. Tell us a little about your new release.
Shari: Fatal Vow, Marnie Reilly Mysteries Book 3, is a mystery thriller with a paranormal twist. Marnie Reilly’s last year has been an absolute shitstorm. She fought off her fair share of psychopaths and dealt with a rash of murders over the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. She desperately wants to protect the people she loves, so she removes the danger catalyst from the equation—herself. Fatal Vow opens on the first day of summer. She’s returned home to Creekwood after 4 months holed up with a friend in Northern New York to find trouble has followed her.
When a long-held truth hides a sick, twisted lie, will the psychic psychologist’s greatest enemy save her from a fate worse than death?
The last year has been an absolute shitstorm for psychic psychologist Marnie Reilly. Desperate to protect her loved ones from the evil stalking her, she fled her hometown of Creekwood, New York.
It’s the first day of Summer and she’s back in town to make amends and take control of the chaos of her past. But her greatest enemy is hot on her heels with an axe to grind. Or is that just an illusion created by a madman?
Helen: It sounds like Marnie finds trouble wherever she goes. What can you tell us about your thoughts behind the cover?
Shari: My MC Marnie Reilly has purchased a new home! There was nothing wrong with her previous house, unless you consider her abusive ex’s body being dumped in her shed and two police officers being murdered on her doorstep worrisome. Marnie is settling into an old homestead on a 550-acre ranch where troughs and crops receive their watery nourishment from a windmill that has stood for over 100 years. It is hit by lightning often, dispelling the old wives’ tale that lightning doesn’t strike the same spot twice. It’s a theme in Marnie’s life as bad things happen – A LOT.
Helen: The lightening strike is effective! How about the title? How did you choose the title?
Shari: Cross my heart and hope to die may be a harmless childhood promise, but could it be a deadly, self-fulfilling prophecy?
Helen: Oh, clever. I like the tie into something that seems harmless. Fatal Vow is the third book in the series, what drove you to write this story?
Shari:Fatal Vow is the third book in the Marnie Reilly Mysteries series. As a fiction writer, my characters are very real to me. They natter at me when I am not writing. Anyway, I have a character (an antagonist) who needed me to tell their truth, so I obliged.
Helen: Tell us more about your protagonist, Marnie.
Shari: Marnie Reilly is the psychic psychologist with a tragic past, a quick temper, and a huge heart. Because I use writing to heal from trauma, I created Marnie following a difficult situation I was processing. I was feeling beaten (literally) so I developed a character who was strong yet vulnerable and who had the fortitude to withstand controversial and emotionally difficult experiences. It’s cathartic to kill off an ex in a story. [smirking]
Helen: I’m glad you were able to find a release through writing. I find writing very cathartic as well. If I were to ask Marnie why we should read her books, what would she say?
Shari: Ha-ha! Marnie is an animal lover, so she would tell you to read the series to meet her Border Collies Tater and Dickens.
Helen: A very good reason! Who is your favourite character to write?
Shari: Easy! Detective Tom Keller! He’s funny, kind, handsome, a scaredy cat, but he’s also brave when he needs to be. He’s not comfortable with the paranormal and squirms at the thought of ghosts being in his proximity. Tom is a prankster and my comic relief. When things get too serious, he does or says something to cut the mood. Like me, he doesn’t have a filter.
Helen: He sounds like a terrific character. When did you realise you had a passion for writing?
Shari: From a young age. I’m a storyteller and was one long before I even knew the alphabet. My sisters went to school before I did, so I entertained myself with make believe and would share my stories with my mother while we had lunch. And I come from a long line of bullsh*tters, so that helps.
Helen: Was there anyone in particular who inspired you to write?
Shari: Gosh! Heaps of people, starting with my mother and two lovely English teachers who encouraged me. But a life event made me dive into writing. My father died when I was seventeen. Notebooks and pens became my best friends, and writing was the perfect escape for teen angst and grief.
Helen: How do you come up with ideas for your books?
Shari: I wish I could say there is an elaborate process, but I can’t. Stories simply pop into my head.
Helen: Most of my ideas arrive when I’m trying to go to sleep! Are you working on a book now?
Shari: I am currently writing Marnie Reilly Mysteries Book 4. I have a macabre Halloween short story on the go, too. It is outside of the series and allows me to stretch my writing chops.
Helen: That will please your fans. They are always looking for the next book as soon as you finish the last one. Let’s talk about your writing process. Which part of the writing process to you find most challenging?
Shari: Editing is the bane of my existence.
Helen: I actually quite like it, until I get to the twentieth time I’m reading my book, then maybe not so much! What is the most useful tool you use when writing?
Shari: Gosh. That’s tough. There are so many. Probably the internet. No matter what time of the day, you can always find something related to the area of query. And you can always back check findings via a trip to the library or a bookstore.
Helen: We are very fortunate to have such a comprehensive research tool at our fingertips 24/7. Having said that, do you do much research for your books?
Shari: Loads! I have a library of resource books, and I spend a lot of time on the internet or in the library ensuring that my “methods” are accurate.
Helen: When writing, do you plot the whole book or are you a pantser?
Shari: Well, I start with an outline and then forget about it by the end of the third chapter. Free form works for me. But I always write my last chapter first. The end of the story is always in sight and helps to set up the next book in the series.
Helen: When do you write? Are you a night owl or an early bird?
Shari: I write early in the morning (5:30 to 7:30). Weekends are usually jampacked with household errands and chores, but there are always a few hours when hubby is practicing his guitar or watching one of his shows where I slip up to my home office and write.
Helen: I am not an early morning person! What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve received and how do you deal with imposter syndrome?
Shari: Don’t give up. That advice has come from my mother, my friends, teachers, and writing friends. I do suffer from imposter syndrome often, but I’m stubborn and I don’t quit. It really is that simple.
Helen: Do you ever suffer from writer’s block, and if so how do you deal with it?
Shari: Gardening, a long walk or playing with my four dogs (the Pawsome Foursome) usually does the trick. If that doesn’t work, wine.
Helen: Lol! Wine sounds like the perfect remedy. Which genre do you typicaly write in?
Shari: Mystery thrillers. I have always been a huge fan of mysteries. I started out reading Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys, then moved on to Agatha Christie, Ruth Rendell and Mary Higgins Clark. My mother was a voracious reader of mysteries. She got me hooked. I love the challenge of figuring it out before the middle of the book.
Helen: My mother got me into reading as well. We are very lucky. Which books have you read recently?
Shari: Jennifer Brasington Crowley’s Raven Song was fantastic. It’s not my usual genre, but I loved it! The Bellerose Witchline series and the Door to Door series by T.L. Brown are wonderful. Helen Aitchison’s Dinner Club is also a favorite. Again, outside of the norm for me, but it is a breathtaking novel about found friendships and acceptance. And over the past six months I have indulged in Sue Grafton’s Alphabet Series. I am up to P is for Peril. My TBR stack is about ready to topple over. There are so many good books to read. Unfortunately, time doesn’t always permit a book a week. I try to read two a month.
Helen: Thank you so much for spending time with me today. Is there anything else you would like add?
Shari: Marnie Reilly is not me. Many people assume she is because we share similar qualities—a love of animals, hair color, eye color, build, clairvoyance… But she has more tact and patience than I do, and she is a lot younger, too. My characters all have bits and pieces of my quirks, but none of them are me. Detective Danny Gregg’s irrational fear of dolls is all me! Marnie has a fear of closed places—also me. And Tom’s smart mouth and unfiltered responses are somewhat me.
Helen: It’s interesting how bits of us do end up in our characters. Thankyou, Shari, for chatting with me today. I wish you all the best with your latest release.
About the Author
Shari T. Mitchell
Shari T. Mitchell is the author of the Marnie Reilly Mysteries thriller series, which includes Divine Guidance, Torn Veil, and Fatal Vow (coming July 2023).
Raised in Northern New York State, Shari’s hometown and surrounds are the inspiration for her series’ fictional town of Creekwood, New York—which is located somewhere in the Adirondack Mountains.
While Shari loves developing multidimensional characters with whom her readers can relate, her passion is plotting the twists and turns of a mystery. It feeds her analytical and creative mind.
She lives in North Carolina and shares her home with her partner in crime, Harper, and their crazy rescue dogs, Dougal, Callee, Midget, and Mags.
A thirty-plus year marketer, Shari loves spending time with her family, cooking, hiking, traveling, gardening, and reading. She is often heard chatting with her characters because they natter at her constantly!
Mystery is her favorite genre, having cut her teeth on Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys and Trixie Belden. Her favorite authors include Robert Frost, Agatha Christie, Mary Higgins Clark, Ruth Rendell, Michael Connelly, Jonathan Kellerman, David Baldacci, Louise Penny, Kathy Reichs, Patricia Cornwell and Michael Koryta.
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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It’s launch day for Fantasy author Erika Leigh Agnew, and she has made time to talk to us about her new release, The Besieged Unicorn Army of Ryk. Join me as we celebrate her new release and chat about her books.
Helen: Congratulations on your new release, and thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today, your release day! Tell us a little about your new release.
Erika: My current book is The Besieged Unicorn Army of Ryk which is scheduled to release on Amazon July 14, 2023. It is the prequel to Dragonsown, a Young Adult Fantasy I published in 2020. The premise is primarily about a territory conflict between dragons and unicorns but when unforeseen danger threatens them both, they find they need to join forces to survive.
Helen: What an interesting premise, the thought of two magical creatures, unicorns and Dragons at odds is so intriguing. What can you tell us about your thoughts behind your cover?
Erika: The prequel’s cover evolved from the first book. My plan is to keep the dragon but change who it faces with each new story. I can’t draw but sketched out an awful stick figure draft and gave it to a designer who saw my vision under the flaws.
Helen: The cover is beautiful, I love the dragon bearing down on the unicorns, I hope they are nice dragons!! Tell us why you chose this title.
Erika: I am aware the title is a mouthful and I put a lot of thought into different variations but kept coming back to this. Nothing else fit so I just went with it. This is truly the most besieged unicorn army ever and I needed a title to capture that.
Helen: You have set the prequel one thousand years before your first book, what made you write this particular book?
Erika: I actually started writing the sequel first. I was 7,000 words in when the idea for a unicorn army popped into my head and wouldn’t go away. I was obsessed with unicorns as a kid and the thought of writing about them was very appealing. I went with my instinct and put the sequel on the back burner.
Helen: If your main charcter had to tell us why we should read your book, what would he say?
Erika: Because the story is about him, of course! Ember is a rare black unicorn and the First Captain of the Unicorn Army. He is adored by his herd who love him regardless of his actions, right or wrong. Ember even manages to charm my female dragons and he avoids getting eaten on many occasions. He will experience much personal growth in this story.
Helen: He does sound adorable. I look forward to meeting him some day soon! Changing topics to how you write, which element of the writing process do you find the most challenging?
Erika: Finding the time to write and then edit my work. I have a full-time career, a part-time job, and help manage a horse farm. It amazes me I was able to write and publish this prequel in only 2 years.
Helen: I have no idea how you find time to write! You must be a night owl or an early riser! Whilst writing, which writing tool do kep to hand at all times?
Erika: Thesaurus- I just keep it open because I refer to it constantly.
Helen: Congratulations once again on your new release. Just to finish, what advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Erika: Learn some techniques before writing your book. I wrote my first book, self-published it, then realized I needed to implement some writing techniques. I pulled it down, did a full edit and republished. So basically, I had to write a book to learn how to write a book. Kind of backwards so don’t do what I did. It wasted a lot of time. Read up on ‘Show, don’t tell’, how to show action through dialogue and using key elements of plot development- emphasis on conflict and suspense.
Helen: Great advice! For anyone publishing, you want to have your best work out there, so make sure you engage a good editor. Once your book is out, people will critique it, you want to ensure you have the best version possible. Thankyou, Erika, I wish you all the best with your latest release.
About the Author
Erika Leigh Agnew
Erika Leigh Agnew is the Indie Author of Dragonsown, a Young Adult Adventure Fantasy Series. She has completed the prequel, The Besieged Unicorn Army of Ryk, publishing in July 2023. Erika appreciates follows on Amazon & GoodReads!
She writes a blog and updates her website regularly:
Subscribers to her email list receive a Dragonsown: Surface “Added Scene”.
Erika grew up in Toronto, ON. She is passionate about the environment and wildlife conservation. She loves to scuba dive, spend time in nature and ride horses.
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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Helen Garraway 