And the Winner is…

…Kimberley

Congratulations to Kimberley for winning the Sentinals Birthday Book Bonanza Giveaway!

Kimberley wins a signed copy of the first and last book in the Sentinal series and lots of bookish swag! I will be in contact shortly to arrange for your bookish prize to be posted off to you.

Signed paperback of Sentinals Awaken
Signed Paperback of Sentinals Destiny
Sentinal Totebag
Stickers
postcards
Bookmarks

Looking for a complete epic fantasy series, immersing you in a magical world filled with myth, legend and engaging charcters? Then the Sentinal series is for you.

Sentinals Awaken – Book One

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 love endearing characters, immersive world-building, and gritty conflict, then you’ll love Helen Garraway’s award-winning tale.

Sentinals Destiny – Book Six

THE EPIC CONCLUSION TO THE SENTINAL SERIES

Birlerion’s leave of absence is up and it’s time for him to return to work. Before he has time to sit behind his desk, or discover the source of the brooding threat that is hovering over him, he is sent off to Terolia to negotiate with the Families for a bride. The succession must be protected and it’s time for King Anders to marry.

As he travels through the deserts, he realises that it is the Veil that is hunting him, and it wants his blood. But no one will listen to his concerns about the Veil. The healers believe he is struggling to adjust after his recent traumas. Their arguments are persuasive and overrule saner minds.

Betrayed by those he loves, driven by an oath invoked by the king, and with only Jaredion and Leyarille to protect him, Birlerion goes on the run across Vespiri, Terolia and into the islands of Birtoli, the home of the Oath. If he doesn’t discover a way to stop the Veil from killing him, it will not only be his life that is lost, it will be all of Remargaren that is destroyed.

Book six of the Sentinals Series, Sentinals Destiny, is the final book in the saga of Remargaren, a vibrant, ancient world of high fantasy suffused with magic and adventure.

Want to know more and follow my journey? Then make sure you sign up to my newsletter below.

If you enjoy epic fantasy then check out my award winning Sentinal series, which is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love my SoulMist series, start with SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fantasy? Then try Harmony. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.

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

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Happy Birthday to Sentinals Awaken and Sentinals Destiny

My debut novel Sentinals Awaken was published four years ago today, and the final book in the series, Sentinals Destiny was published one year ago, both released on October 11th. It seemed right to close the series on the same day it started.

So Happy Fourth Birthday to Sentinals Awaken and Happy First birthday to Sentinals Destiny.

Join me as we celebrate these bookish milestones!

Enter the draw, no purchase necessary, but if you want to know more about my books, please do sign up to my newsletter, or follow me on social media. More places you follow me, more entries you get!

Enter Sentinals Birthday Bonanza draw

Enter the draw for a chance to win a signed copy of the first and last book in the Sentinal series and lots of bookish swag!

Signed paperback of Sentinals Awaken
Signed Paperback of Sentinals Destiny
Sentinal Totebag
Stickers
postcards
Bookmarks

Looking for a complete epic fantasy series, immersing you in a magical world filled with myth, legend and engaging charcters? Then the Sentinal series is for you.

Sentinals Awaken – Book One

When a long-forgotten threat starts to reemerge, one man stands as the last defense against darkness…

Can Jerrol rally the forces of good to stop a rising evil?

Sentinals Destiny – Book Six

Book six of the Sentinals Series, Sentinals Destiny, is the final book in the saga of Remargaren, a vibrant, ancient world of high fantasy suffused with magic and adventure.

Want to know more and follow my journey? Then make sure you sign up to my newsletter below.

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

Sentinals Banished makes the 2024 CIBA OZMA Book Awards for Fantasy Fiction Short List

I am so excited to share that Sentinals Banished, the fifth book in the epic fantasy Sentinal Series has made it through to the Short list for the 2024 Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBA) OZMA Book Awards for Fantasy Fiction!

The Ozma Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in Fantasy Fiction. The Ozma Book Awards is a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs).

Chanticleer International Book Awards discovers the best books in the Ozma Awards featuring magic, the supernatural, imaginary worlds, fantastical creatures, legendary beasts, mythical beings, or inventions of fancy that author imaginations dream up without a basis in science as we know it. Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery, Dragons, Unicorns, Steampunk, Dieselpunk, Gaslight Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, or other out-of-this-world fiction. These books have advanced to the Long List in the 2024 CIBAs OZMA division.

Sentinal Banished has moved forward in the first look rounds from the 2024 OZMA Book Awards long list to the SHORT LIST. These entries are now in competition for the 2024 Ozma Semi-Finalists List. FINALISTS will be chosen from the Semi-Finalists and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference, CAC25.

Sentinals Banished is the fifth book in the saga of Remargaren, a vibrant, ancient world of high fantasy suffused with magic and adventure.

Sentinals Banished is set seventeen years after the fourth book, Sentinals Across Time.

Sentinal Birlerion has watched from the shadows for so long he doesn’t know how to stop. Always there when the Lady’s Captain needed him. He did what was necessary to keep those he loved from harm.

When the king banishes the Lady’s Captain, Jerrol Haven, from Vespiri and disbands the Sentinal guard, the Sentinals are at a loss, some bitter, some eager to retire, all angry at the king’s decision.

Birlerion moves to Old Vespers to watch over Jerrol’s daughter as she begins her journey to become a King’s Ranger.

Old Vespers is in turmoil, the king unpredictable, and the Sentinals are unwelcome. Unexplained deaths are occurring, and bodies begin to appear in the city streets. As Birlerion continues his search for the place he can call home, he has to step out of the shadows as he is drawn into a tangled web of deceit and lies. He must hunt down those responsible and clear the Sentinals name before anyone else goes missing.

Want to know more and follow my journey? Then make sure you sign up to my newsletter below.

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

Celebrating World Book Day!

I wish every day was World Book Day!! I suppose if we want it to be we could make it so. After all who doesn’t love curling up with a good book, a favourite beverage of choice and plenty of snacks.

Then we get to spend hours chatting about our favourite books, authors, characters, quotes, sayings, worlds, the list is endless.

I think that is what so wonderful about books, it draws like-minded people together, it grows communities, it gives people an outlet to express their frustration at a plot point, a character’s behaviour or when an author doesn’t write it how we want them to, and time to express our sheer love and enjoyment when they do!

Image: Canva

Do you have auto buy authors? I do. When I fall in love with the characters or a world, and I love the way an author writes, then I want more. I devour everything they have written. I love Space Opera, and one of my favourite authors is in fact a duo, Steve Miller and Sharon Lee. They have created an intricate universe full of amazing characters and complex cultures, and their way of writing is very distinctive as a result. If you’ve read them, I’m happy to chat about them! Who’s your favourite character? My favourite’s change every time they introduce new people, because they are all so engaging, though Pricilla Mendoza and Shan yos’Galan were the first characters I met and loved, so I guess they are my ultimate favourites. I can’t wait for their next book which is focussed on the Master Trader. Yes! she says, with a fist pump.

It brings me great joy when I hear my readers say the same of my books, characters, worlds or the way I write. There is no greater compliment to an author to be told you are a reader’s auto buy! Even the thought of it just makes me smile, because those readers get me and my worlds. We are on the same wavelength. We are our own book community.

I hope you spend this World Book day finding new authors to love, new worlds to escape into, and maybe a few like-minded folks who love the same books you do. Happy Reading!

***

It is with great sadness that I write these words. One of my favourite authors died since I wrote this blog. Steve Miller passed away suddenly on February 20th, and having been a Patreon follower of Steve and Sharon for many years, you get to know them vicariously through the shenanigans of their home and author life, and although you may never have met them, they are there. As a result it is all the more shocking when suddenly they are not. My heartfelt sympathies go out to Sharon, as we mourn the loss of such a wonderful man, partner and author.

If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. Or try my standalone Dystopian Science Fantasy, Harmony. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.

Thank you for all your support in 2023!

It’s that time of year when you look back at what you achieved last year and plan for the new year.

But before I do that I just want to say thank you to everyone who has read my books and left a rating/review. Your support makes writing so fulfilling, and your enthusiam for my characters makes me want to write more! I hope you signed up to my newsletter (If you haven’t scroll down!) and downloaded the bonus novella I wrote in the world of Remargaren as my Christmas gift to you.

I also want to thank the kind person who gifted me a subscription for my annual website fees. I am so happy you enjoy the content I post to my blog and on my website and I am thrilled that you chose to support my writing journey. I don’t know who you are, but I thank you so very much for your support.

If anyone is interested in supporting my writing efforts, I do have a Patreon, which is limping along without any subscribers, so I haven’t been posting much lately, but once someone subscribes, and peeks at all the content I posted last year, I will be much more active in 2024, I promise! Patreon levels start from £2 per month, so you can choose how much you donate.

Anyhow, back to what I achieved in 2023, and what’s in store for 2024?

I published four books! Yes four!! and two novellas and one audiobook.

23rd January: SoulBreather
23rd February: Sentinals Banished
7th June: Men of Magic and Myth (MM Anthology- Novella: Familiar Troubles)
10th June: SoulBreather-Audiobook
15th June: DragonBound
11th October: Sentinals Destiny
23rd December: Sentinals and Guardians, Novella 2.5 (Free for Newsletter subscribers)

My books won Awards!!

Sentinals Justice: Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal – Epic Fantasy
Sentinals Justice: Global Book Awards: Gold Medal – Sword and Sorcery
SoulBreather: Global Book Award Silver Medal – Fantays Myth & Legend
SoulBreather: Readers’ Favorite Finalist Medal– Fantasy/Sci-Fi
SoulBreather: Readers’ Favorite Five star Review
Sentinals Across Time: Finalist for the 2022 CIBA OZMA Book Awards for Fantasy Fiction
Sentinals Across Time: Readers’ Favorite Five star Review

It has been a busy year, a highlight of which was going to Miami to be presented with the Gold medal for Sentinals Justice.

So what’s in store for 2024? Well I have plans for four more books!

A standalone dystopian fantasy. Cover reveal to follow soon! Planned release Spring 2024
OblivonGate – Book three of the SoulMist series. On preorder. Planned release date July 1, 2024.
Sentinals prequel-Part I. Release date TBC
Sentinals Prequel-Part II. Release date TBC

Other goals:

I am planning out a new epic fantasy series.
Online shop on website – make it easier to buy signed paperback and audio direct from me!
Create a Booktok store
Develop plan to crack wide sales
Audio for Dragonbound

So plenty to keep me busy outside of the day job!

2024 is a year full of opportunity and a lot more writing. I look forward to sharing the results with you throughout the year. Once again – Thank you for all your support, I hope you stay with me as we continue this amazing journey.

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 Across Time receives Readers’ Favorite Five Star Review

For immediate release:

Author’s new book receives a warm literary welcome.

Readers’ Favorite announces the review of the Fiction – Fantasy – Epic book “Sentinals Across Time” by Helen Garraway, currently available at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/173993444X.

Readers’ Favorite is one of the largest book review and award contest sites on the Internet. They have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins, and have received the “Best Websites for Authors” and “Honoring Excellence” awards from the Association of Independent Authors. They are also fully accredited by the BBB (A+ rating), which is a rarity among Book Review and Book Award Contest companies.

“Reviewed By K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite

Sentinals Across Time is a work of fiction penned by author Helen Garraway in the epic fantasy, action, and adventure subgenres, and it forms the fourth novel in the Sentinal Series. The work is best suited to the general adult reading audience. We find ourselves immersed in the vibrant, ancient world of Remargaren, a realm saturated with magic and filled with high-fantasy adventures. Jerrol, torn between duty and family, becomes stranded across land and time due to a conspiracy involving Lady Leyandrii and the Oath, threatening the Birtolian Empire. As he navigates the unfamiliar landscapes and cultures, Jerrol is faced with the challenge of preventing the impending devastation of the gentle Birtolian people.

Author Helen Garraway has crafted a captivating fantasy experience, immersing me in a richly detailed world filled with intricate characters and a finely woven tapestry of magic and lore. Garraway’s storytelling is tender and emotive in all the right places, allowing the reader to empathize with Jerrol’s predicament and root for the preservation of the Birtolian Empire. I was impressed by the different angles of culture, lore, politics, and social structures, which allowed Jerrol to tackle themes like duty, sacrifice, and the consequences of wielding magic, creating a compelling and immersive read. The pacing was also well crafted to intersperse these explorations with lots of actions and interesting twists, which leaves plenty of space for these poignant moments to shine but keeps us captivated for the next big action shift. Overall, for an intricate and imaginative novel that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish, I would highly recommend Sentinals Across Time and the series in general to fantasy readers everywhere.”

You can learn more about Helen Garraway and “Sentinals Across Time” at https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/sentinals-across-time where you can read reviews and the author’s biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through their website and social media pages.

Readers’ Favorite LLC
Media Relations
Louisville, KY 40202
800-RF-REVIEW
support@readersfavorite.com
https://readersfavorite.com

Download Press Release

You can find the complete Sentinal Series in ebook or on Kindle Unlimited or purchase the print copies from a vendor of choice:

Book One: Sentinals Awaken

Book Two: Sentinals Rising

Book Three: Sentinals Justice

Book 3.5: Sentinals Recovery

Boook Four: Sentinals Across Time

Book Five: Sentinals Banished

Book Six: Sentinals Destiny

Collecting the Readers’ Favorite Gold medal for Sentinals Justice!!

Last month, I travelled to Miami, to attend the 2023 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards to collect my gold medal, which I won for Sentinals Justice, in the Epic Fantasy category.

Sentinals Justice is the third book in the Sentinals series which is now complete.

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.

SoulBreather, the first book in the SoulMist sereis was a finalist in the Fantasy/Sci Fi category.

The event, held at the Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon hotel, offered the chance to meet other award winning authors, and to be presented with your award up on stage.

I was fortunate to be joined by my daughter who flew in from Canada to join in the celebrations.

Readers’ Favorite also had a stall at the Miami Book Fair where all the award winninig books were available for purchase. All proceeds went to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

You can find the complete Sentinal Series in ebook or on Kindle Unlimited or purchase the print copies from a vendor of choice:

Book One: Sentinals Awaken

Book Two: Sentinals Rising

Book Three: Sentinals Justice

Book 3.5: Sentinals Recovery

Boook Four: Sentinals Across Time

Book Five: Sentinals Banished

Book Six: Sentinals Destiny

If you would like to read an ARC for my future novels, then sign up to my ARC team via the link in my linktr.ee. All I ask is that you leave an honest review on the week of the launch to as many platforms as you can!! (Amazon/Goodreads/Bookbub)

Indie Ink Award Voting now open!!

Voting open for two weeks only from December 15th, 2023.

Books by marginalized authors, self-published books, and books by small presses often get overlooked. The Indie Ink Awards is a unique event that brings together the writing community to celebrate books that have made an impact on us. This is our way of highlighting the future we want to see in books–by uplifting those that shine.

We have two categories: the “Best In” awards and the “Writing The Future We Need” awards. The “Best In” awards should exemplify the chosen category. We are looking for exceptional inclusion and diversity in works nominated for “Writing the Future We Need” awards.

You can vote for one of my books in the following categories which readers nominated my books for. You have one vote per category:

Sentinals Across Time	Best book cover and cover artist, Best friendship, Best mentor character, Best setting, This Book Made Me Hungry/Thirsty
Sentinals Awaken	Best book cover and cover artist, Best friendship, Best mentor character, Best setting, This Book Made Me Hungry/Thirsty
Sentinals Banished	Best book cover and cover artist, Best friendship, Best mentor character, Best setting, This Book Made Me Hungry/Thirsty
Sentinals Justice	Best audio narration, Best book cover and cover artist, Best friendship, Best setting, Side Character MVP
Sentinals Recovery	Best book cover and cover artist, Best friendship, Best mentor character, Best setting, Side Character MVP

I hope you vote today! You need an Indie Story Geek account to vote.

Find out how to create an account and vote here.

Once you have an account you may click on the book image to go to the book page to vote.

The ten books from each award with the most votes at the end of the year will move on to the finalist stage, where our reader judges will read and score them from February until August.

You can find the complete Sentinal Series in ebook or on Kindle Unlimited or purchase the print copies from a vendor of choice:

Book One: Sentinals Awaken

Book Two: Sentinals Rising

Book Three: Sentinals Justice

Book 3.5: Sentinals Recovery

Boook Four: Sentinals Across Time

Book Five: Sentinals Banished

Book Six: Sentinals Destiny

Sentinals Destiny is Live!!

Book Six of the Sentinal Series – Final book in the series completing the set!

Release Day: October 11th, 2023

It’s Launch day! Sentinals Destiny is live! I am so excited to share the last installment of the Sentinal series, the sixth book. It seems unreal that in three years I have released a complete Epic Fantasy series! And another beautiful cover from Jeff Brown Graphics.

Sentinals Destiny

Birlerion’s leave of absence is up and it’s time for him to return to work. Before he has time to sit behind his desk, or discover the source of the brooding threat that is hovering over him, he is sent off to Terolia to negotiate with the families for a bride. The succession must be protected and it’s time for Anders to marry.

Book six of the Sentinals Series, Sentinals Destiny, is the final book in the saga of Remargaren, a vibrant, ancient world of high fantasy suffused with magic and adventure.

The Complete Sentinal Series:

Book One: Sentinals Awaken

Book Two: Sentinals Rising

Book Three: Sentinals Justice

Book 3.5: Sentinals Recovery

Boook Four: Sentinals Across Time

Book Five: Sentinals Banished

Book Six: Sentinals Destiny

Live Reading – Sentinals Destiny

Book Six of the Sentinal Series – Final book in the series completing the set!

Preorder the eBook now: Sentinals Destiny for the special preorder price $2.99/£2.49.

Release Day: October 11th, 2023

Watch the Live Reading

Sentinals Destiny

Book six of the Sentinals Series, Sentinals Destiny, is the final book in the saga of Remargaren, a vibrant, ancient world of high fantasy suffused with magic and adventure.

Get ready for the final book of the series – Purchase the first book Sentinals Awaken now:

Book One: Sentinals Awaken

Book Two: Sentinals Rising

Book Three: Sentinals Justice

Book 3.5: Sentinals Recovery

Boook Four: Sentinals Across Time

Book Five: Sentinals Banished

Book Six: Sentinals Destiny (eBook Preorder price $2.99/£2.49 until launch October 11th, 2023.)

If you would like to read an ARC for my latest novel, then sign up to my ARC team via the link in my linktr.ee. All I ask is that you leave an honest review on the week of the launch to as many platforms as you can!! (Amazon/Goodreads/Bookbub)