Sustainability Matters

As Earth Day approaches, my thoughts turn to what we are doing to our planet, our home. For some time I’ve wanted to help with reforestation projects and help plant more trees. Return parts of our amazing country back to its leafy origins. To help protect those ancients forests that sustain so much natural life and can teach us so much.

I have always had a love of trees. Walking through forests, copses, elm trees lining a road, Pine firs bordering a moor, the horse chestnut tree in my backgarden (even through all its seasons!), a single oak tree in all it magnificent glory! Even the local cemetary which has many ebautirul specimens.

It’s so peaceful walking through nature, listening to the swish of leaves, the odd woodpecker or some energetic birdsong! That blackbird certainly has some lungs. But if we don’t protect our forests, nurture the trees, our children won’t get to enjoy the natural world in the way we do.

Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash

With my Sentinal series books being based around a magical sentinal tree which protected the Lady’s guards for thousand of years, it seems only right that these books should should also protect and give back to the environment.

So I’ve decided to donate 20p for every ebook or print book I sell. This includes all my books, both the Epic Fantasy Sentinal series and the Fantasy Romance SoulMist series.

In the UK it costs £5.00 to plant a tree so for every twenty-five books I sell, we’ll plant a tree between us.

You can follow our progress on my sustainability page and see how many trees we’ve planted. Share the word, buy a book and help plant a tree!

How Many Trees Have We Planted?

And don’t forget…

If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.

Processing…

Success! You're on the list.

Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.

Sentinals Banished is live!

It’s Launch day! Sentinals Banished is live! I am so excited to share the next installment of the Sentinal series, the fifth book. It seems unreal that I have released five books in the series so far and still more to come! And another beautiful cover from Jeff Brown Graphics.

Sentinals Banished

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. Although you could start the series here, it is recommended that you read the previous books in the series first.

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.

I hope you enjoy my latest book and once you’ve read Sentinals Banished it would be really great if you could leave a review and let other readers know what you liked about it. You can find Sentinals Banished on Amazon, Goodreads or Bookbub.

Processing…

Success! You're on the list.

Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.

And that’s a wrap!

What a year 2022 was! I’m not sure where it went, it flashed by so fast and yet I managed to pack an amazing amount of writing into it, for which I am very thankful.

🌟 Sentinals Across Time released in March 2022, and it has just been announced that it made the Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBA) OZMA Fantasy long list.

🌟 Sentinals Discovery, a short story set in the world of Remargaren, released as part of the FREE Creatures Magic and Myth Anthology.

🌟 SoulBreather launched with the Realm of Darkness Anthology, and hit the USA Today Bestseller list on October 13th, 2022. So excited to have launched the first book in a new Fantasy Romance series and to achieve the USAT letters!

🌟 Sentinals Awaken and Sentinals Rising are now available on Audiobook, via Audible, Apple or Amazon.

🌟 Both Sentinals Rising and Sentinals Justice received a Readers’ Favorite Five Star Review, and Sentinals Rising won the Readers’ Favorite Honorable Mention Award for Epic Fantasy for 2022.

🌟 I was selected to become an Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) Ambassador, supporting independent authors to maximise their opportunities.

So what’s next? What does 2023 hold for me?

🌟 Sentinals Banished, Book Five of the Sentinals series is on preorder and launches February 23rd, 2023. Make sure you enter the launch giveaway running until release day.

🌟 SoulBreather releases as an individual ebook on January 23rd, currently on preorder, once the Limited Edition Realm of Darkness anthology is no longer available.

🌟 Narration on the Sentinals Justice audiobook by the amazing Matt Coles has begun and should be complete by March.

🌟 Narration for SoulBreather, book one of the SoulMist series will commence in April.

🌟 Book two of the SoulMist series is 60% complete and will release in the summer of 2023.

🌟 I have a standalone dystopian fantasy ready for editing and I am determined to release it in 2023!

🌟 A new series is on the drawing board, and I am excited to be writing more diverse characters in my next epic fantasy romance series. Look out for a short story coming in the summer as part of a free MM fantasy anthology introducing some of the characters. Sign up to my newsletter to keep informed as to when it will be available.

🌟 And finally, I am pleased to share that Book Six of the Sentinals series has now moved into editing! I can’t believe I’ve reached the final book of the Sentinals series. I’m not sure I want the Sentinal adventure to ever end. I love writing these characters, but at some point the story has to reach it’s conclusion.

Thank you once again for your interest in my books and for joining me on this journey. Welcome to the wonderful world of Remargaren and many others I can’t wait to introduce you to. I hope you stay for all the exciting adventures that are surely coming your way.

And don’t forget…

Processing…

Success! You're on the list.

Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.

Readers’ Favorite awards Five Star Review to Sentinals Justice.

Readers’ Favorite recognizes “Sentinals Justice” by Helen Garraway with a Five Star Review

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite

Sentinals Justice is a work of fiction in the epic fantasy and adventure sub-genres and it serves as the third installment of the Sentinal Series. The work is best suited to the general adult reading audience for its mature themes and moderate sexual and violent content and was penned by author Helen Garraway. Continuing the epic action-packed adventures of the high fantasy world of Remargaren, we follow the events of this particular novel into the intricacies of the court of King Benedict. Diplomatic tensions result in a meeting between Commander Jerrol Haven and Grand Duke Randolf, with an unexpected guest along the way.

Author Helen Garraway holds a lot of information together in this massive fantasy world, and it makes for a truly thrilling setting filled with political and royal intrigue, interpersonal drama, and dangerous games of secrets, warmongering, and missing persons. I really enjoyed getting to know Jerrol and exploring the various pressures he was under in such a tense situation, but the character selection is so large that everyone will find someone they can relate to in the wider ensemble cast. The dialogue was also a big part of the engagement factor in this novel for me, as I felt like I got a lot of plot-relevant information from it which kept the novel pacey and interesting despite the epic nature of the overall story arcs. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend Sentinals Justice to fans of epic fantasy and the series so far; you won’t be disappointed.

You can read the five star review for Sentinals Justice at https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/sentinals-justice where you can also read reviews and the author’s biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through their website and social media pages.

Books in the Sentinals Series:

Novella o.5: Sentinals Stirring (Free if you sign up to my newsletter.)

Book One: Sentinals Awaken

Novella 1.5: Sentinals Discovery – Available for FREE as part of the Creatures of Magic and Myth Anthology

Book Two: Sentinals Rising

Book Three: Sentinals Justice

Novella 3.5: Sentinals Recovery

Book Four: Sentinals Across Time

Book Five: Sentinals Banished (Spring 2023)

Change is a constant.

The phrase, ‘Change is a constant’ feels like a contradiction, but it isn’t, it’s reality. Change happens all around us, constantly. In the UK it seems that everything has changed, from the monarch to prime minister and now the company I work for. Yesterday was the first day of a new reality for me. The company I work for was acquired and Tuesday was ‘Day One’. We are now the new company.

The last week has been a series of goodbyes from people I have worked with for years. Another well known saying is that ‘change begets change’. And massive changes like an acquisition makes people think about where they want to be. Some choose to leave, others don’t have the choice. Uplifting for those making positive changes in their lives, lowering for those leaving and also for those left behind and feeling depressed at the loss of valued colleagues.

Photo by Håkon Grimstad on Unsplash

I am a writer who also works full time. I am also one of those who stays put. I have been at my company for over seventeen years, not in the same job, nor the same department, but I have moved around, learnt new skills, met new people, all within the same company, and I take my knowledge with me.

For me, I would love to be a full time writer, but very few independent authors reach those starry heights, and so we have to work in a full time job to make the ends meet, and pay to publish our books. There is no big publishing house sitting behind us funding the expenses. They come out of of the independent author’s pocket.

So, be impressed at the rate some of these independent authors release books. One book a year is an an amazing accomplishment, more than that, we shoud be praising their dedication. It is a major achievement. Sometimes it is difficult to remember that. Support those independent authors for following their dreams, that drive to create and share the results. Appreciate and recognise their bravery, because it is not easy putting your work out there for others to critique.

Back to day one, the start of a new adventure, part scary, part exciting, but still change. As an author every emotion is a learning experience. Something to be captured and used at a later date. Nothing in life goes to waste! So onwards, ride the change, embrace the new opportunity and lets write!

Thank you once again for your interest in my books, and for joining me on this journey. Welcome to the wonderful world of Remargaren and many others I can’t wait to introduce you to. I hope you stay for all the exciting adventures that are surely coming your way.

And don’t forget…

Processing…

Success! You're on the list.

Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.

Come and join the Realm of Darkness Launch Party.

Oct 3rd-9th on Dark Book Boyfriend facebook group

The Realm of Darkness authors are here and ready to party for the Realm of Darkness launch. Everyone is invited! Come join us over on the Dark Book Boyfriends Facebook Group.

Find us partying here all week!!

Check out all of the prizes (in the banner) we have on offer this week and that’s only the start. As our sales increase so do the prizes- so share the word!!
- 6000 sales: $150 Amazon Giftcard
- 7000 sales: Kindle
- 8000 sales: $250 Amazon Giftcard
- 9000 sales: Nook
- 10000 sales: iPad
- 12000 sales: $500 Amazon Giftcard
The more you interact on the posts and invite people to join the party, the more chances you have of winning! We’ll be unlocking prizes as our sales go up and we hit our targets.
We (the authors) will also be handing out prizes too!
Join my Sentinals Readers Group on FB and complete the online jigsaw puzzle faster than me for a chance to win an ebook of your choice from my catalogue!
Join the scavenger hunt and collect the keywords to enter a competition to win a $50 Amazon giftcard. Find the instructions in my Sentinals Readers Group from Oct 4th.

If that’s not enough fun, we’ll be hosting a live FB party where you can win a Pizza delivered right to your house (US only – I am really sorry we can’t deliver outside the US.) But even if you are not in the US, you can still join in the fun.

We’ll be asking the authors questions about their books (and you can ask them questions too)
We’ll be playing a game to see who will get the most drunk 🙂
The live pizza party is Friday 7th Oct at 8pm EDT in the Dark Book Boyfriend FB Group. So mark your calendars!!

Keep checking back daily for more fun! and don’t forget to pick up your copy of Realm of Darkness (35 full length paranormal and Fanatsy Romance novels for 99c! Including my contribution SoulBreather.)
www.books2read.com/realmofdarknessset

Processing…

Success! You're on the list.

Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.

Sentinal series hits top twenty of Amazon Bestseller Top 100 lists.

A man searching for his purpose. Another determimed to redeem past failures.

The Sentinal series is a rich and complex story of two men walking the convoluted path set them by Lady Leyandrii, the Goddess of the world of Remargaren.

Jerrol is a King’s Ranger, quiet and tenacious. Birlerion is a Lady’s Sentinal, silent and deadly. Together they will change the history of Remargaren.

This week, the first book in the series, Sentinals Awaken, hit number 13 on the Amazon Top 100 Bestseller list for Classic Fantasy ebooks, having consistently been in the top 30 for the past three months. The second book, Sentinals Rising, hit number 10 on the Amazon Top 100 Bestseller list for Religious and inspirational Fantasy ebooks.

It is so rewarding to know your books are being enjoyed by many readers and garnering the recognition they deserve. Sentinals Rising also recieved a Readers’ Favorite Five Star Review, you can check it out here!

I am excited to share that I am working on the next book in the Sentinal series, the title of which my Patreon and newsletter subscribers are currently voting on. Want to get involved? Then sign up to my newsletter or Patreon at the link via linktr.ee/HelenGarraway.

There is a lot more happening:

Sentinals Rising narration is almost finished and releases on audiobook in September.
The first book of my new SoulMist series, SoulBreather, releases in paperback in September, you can add it to your TBR shelf on Goodreads here.
Hardcover of SoulBreather will also release in September.
SoulBreather ebooks releases as part of the Realm of Darkness Boxset on October 4th. Preorder for 99c now!

I am excited about the release of my new SoulMist series, which is a fantasy romance series about Solanji, a young woman with a secret and Mav, a tortured fallen angel.

SoulBreather is the first book I have written to an extenal deadline and in a new world. So that was a bit scary as well as exciting!

Initial ARC review have beeen positive, in fact, I could say they have been downright enthusiastic, along with demands for book two, which is very reassuring. You can find them on Goodreads!

Interested in learning more about SoulBreather?

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

A dying angel. A fractured realm. The SoulBreather 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?

Follow me on Amazon, Goodreads or Bookbub to get notified when SoulBreather releases. I hope you pick up my new book, and enjoy the new world I’m building. There is plenty more to come.

Thank you for joining me on the journey, hope you stay for the aventure!

Processing…

Success! You're on the list.

Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.

Realm of Darkness: 3-Month Countdown Blitz and giveaway.

When darkness falls, beware of the creatures that come out to play…

There are only THREE months remaining to preorder your copy of the limited edition Realm of Darkness boxset. The authors of Realm of Darkness have come together to offer this three amazing bookish boxes. In these boxes, you’ll receive $120-worth of books and bookish swag. Details & entry options below.

What you’ll get for your 99¢ in Realm of Darkness

All these fantasy, romantic fantasy, fantasy romance, or paranormal romance novels…

And more… more than 40 full-length novels in total. The authors in this set are hosting a giveaway with focus on Apple and B&N sales. Freebie options for entry too when you help the team spread the word.

Preorder on iBooks here: Apple Books Store

Preorder on Barnes Noble here: Nook Store

Other stores: https://books2read.com/hellodarkness

Here’s how to enter…

Realm of Darkness Book Box Giveaway

And don’t forget…

If you love fantasy then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and find out when my next books are published.

Processing…

Success! You're on the list.

Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.

Sentinals Discovery now exclusively available as part of a free anthology.

A novella set in the world of Remargaren.

It’s finally here! A free- yes FREE fantasy anthology with 12 novellas/short stories. Available for a limited time!!

If you loved Sentinals Awaken, or haven’t read it yet but would like to try a sample! then Sentinals Discovery is the first few chapters of Sentinals Awaken from the Sentinal, Birlerion’s, POV, when he is woken after three thousand years, and you get 11 other fantasy stories as well for free!

“Within this short story Helen paves the way for the beautiful epic Fantasy…that will transport you to another time, another world, where you will re-live everything that takes place and I cannot praise these books enough.”
5* Amazon review for Sentinals Discovery.

Creatures of Magic and Myth

A tantalizing taste of this summers most anticipated fantasy collection. This carefully curated collection of novels, novellas and short stories has everything you could want:

Magic and wonder
Drama and intrigue
Fantastic creatures
Myths and legends …and so much more!

Featuring stories from USA Today, International and award winning bestselling authors. Creatures of Magic and Myth will entrap your senses in a magical realm of impossibilities. From Dragon Realm press this Limited edition anthology will amaze!

Grab your FREE copy now!!!

And don’t forget…

If you loved Sentinals Discovery then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and find out when my next books are published.

Processing…

Success! You're on the list.

Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.

The Book Dragon bookshop now stocking the Sentinal series.

I am so pleased to announce that a brand new bookshop for books published by Independent or self-published authors like myself is opening on July 4th, 2022 and will be stocking all the published books in my epic fantasy Sentinal series.

The Book Dragon book shop is located in Teeside, in the UK, and will have physical paperback copies in store and on their brand new ecommerce platform.

Treat yourself and go and peruse the shelves of books from amazing independent authors, from all genres of fiction, to non fiction, to poetry. And let your kids embrace the wonders of reading in the kids section. Isn’t the dragon mural gorgeous?

FInd out more about the launch activities on July 4th at www.thebookdragon.co.uk

SHOP ADDRESS: 6 West Row, Stockton on Tees, TS18 1BT, United Kingdom

And don’t forget…

If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and find out when my next books are published.