Author Interview – Sonja F. Blanco

Author of Witch of Ware Woods trilogy

Today, I am thrilled to be spending time with paranormal fantasy author Sonja F. Blanco. She is joining me to talk to us about her latest book, the third in the Witch of Ware Woods series, Spells and Shadows, which released on the April 16th, 2024.

Helen: Welcome Sonja. Congratulations on the release of your latest book. Tell us all about Spells and Shadows.

Sonja: My latest book is Spells & Shadows, book 3 in the Witch of Ware Woods trilogy. It just released on April 16^th, 2024, and I am SO excited for readers to fall in love with this final installment! It’s an action-packed, magical ride with huge revelations and all the feels.

To give context to this latest book and the trilogy as a whole, here’s a brief overview:

The WoWW trilogy is an upper YA, contemporary paranormal story with coming-of-age and hero’s journey elements. There is a B-story romance that is palpable, on page, and nongraphic.

The Main Character is Sara, and the narration is third person CLOSE, single POV.

Witch of Ware Woods (book 1) is about Sara finding herself and who she really is. It is about CHOICE.

Death & Dragons (book 2) is about Sara coming into her role. It is about TRUST in yourself and others.

Spells & Shadows (book 3) is about Sara embracing what she is capable of. It is about BELIEVING in yourself.

Ahhhh! Can you tell how excited I am?! Bwahaha!

Here’s the blurb for Spells & Shadows:

A forbidden spell.
An evil forged by shadows.
And a defiance that will bring the magical world to its knees.

Sara is reeling from a twisted betrayal and her unexpected part in increasing the Shadow Mother’s strength. Now she is forced to trust the secretive Global Council to vanquish the wicked entity. Except Sara isn’t one to place her fate in the hands of others.

When her intentions go horribly awry and dissent fractures the Global Council, Sara scrambles to convince the individual sacred sites of witches, shifters, and vampires to set aside centuries of deep-rooted distrust and join Ware Woods against the growing darkness. But not everyone believes in Sara.

Needing to stop the Shadow Mother before she claims Thomas, Sara risks everything on a bloody spell for knowledge—and discovers a fiery revelation.

As Ware Woods shatters around her and the safety of everyone she loves hangs in the balance, Sara must do the inconceivable. Become the sacrifice.

Helen: Ohhh, High stakes from the off! I can see why you are excited. What were your thoughts behind the cover?

Sonja: Each book in the Witch of Ware Woods trilogy features a different tree on its cover – a tree whose presence is woven into the story. For Spells & Shadows, it is the cherry tree.
Like falling sand in an hourglass, the tumbling blossoms symbolize the running-out-of-time tension as Sara races to defeat the Shadow Mother and save Thomas (her bonded mate) and the magical world. No pressure!
Although cherry blossoms are usually pink or white, I’m not a pinky kinda person and neither is Sara. Hence, the tree on Spells & Shadows is purple – a pinky compromise AND a symbol of nobility, power, peace, and magic.
The wispy “shadows” in the background signify the villains and are the same blues as on the book 1 cover, signifying the story coming full circle. The white speckles, consistent on all the covers, are glimmerings of magic.
On the paperback and hardcover versions, there is a “special” blue dragon. *non-spoilery, wink wink*

Helen: It is really interesting to find out about the details behind the cover design. I love the range of trees you’ve used and the reason behind them, and we’ll be looking out for that dragon! Who is your protagonist and why did you write them?

Sonja: The Witch of Ware Woods trilogy’s protagonist is Sara, an eighteen-year-old witch who is a hot mess of self-doubt, recklessness, kickassery, humor, and fierce independence. Her inner dialogue is relatable, and her growth is inspiring. She is a reflection of all of Ware Woods (and I do mean ALL) and her voice was the loudest in telling this story. It has always been Sara’s story to tell.

Helen: She sounds amazing. Which genre do you write in?

Sonja: I write fantasy because I love the wonder, the escape, the “what if” imagined worlds were real, and the freedom that comes with writing whatever fantastical story comes to my mind. And because I believe magic is real. It is hope, it is laughter, it is enjoying a delightful book, and so much more. I love being able to provide this escape to readers.

Helen: From what you’ve said, this Witch of Ware Woods is a trilogy, so if this series is complete, tell us about what are you working on next?

Sonja: Sure! My current WIP is a rivals-to-lovers story set in a multi-layered world with a rich mix of gritty and lush elements. Inspirations for this work include Dante’s Inferno, the Day of the Dead, and the Tree of Life.

Helen: That sounds a very interesting mixture. Can’t wait to see what you write! When writing do you listen to music? Create playlist for your books?

Sonja: Listening to music is a big part of my writing. I like to mentally write while taking long walks and listening to my playlist. This way, my monkey brain is occupied on not tripping while my creative brain takes the story in a number of directions before deciding on which is best for the story. My playlist is mostly a mix of rock, metal, and some alternative. For particular scenes or moods, I may listen to a specific song (usually on repeat) to immerse myself in the vibe.

Once I have a scene mentally written, I prefer to type it up in silence or with non-verbal white noise in the background. For the WoWW trilogy, I listened to a lot of ambient forest sounds.

Helen: I tend to write with clasisc music in the background, though sometimes silence works too. When you look back over your writing career, what is the best thing to happen you?

Sonja: The best thing that happened to me since I began writing was finding this incredible bookish community. Just – wow. I am truly grateful for all the amazing readers and writers I have connected with – online, in social media, and in real life. To gush over the same books and characters and scenes, to share recommendations and resources, and to genuinely connect through a love of story is priceless.

Helen: Thank you so much for joining me today. It’s been lovely learning about your books. Was there anything else you’d like to share before we finish?

Sonja: While the WoWW trilogy is fantasy, there are many real-world influences on the story. For example, the setting of Ware, Massachusetts does exist. I spent a portion of my childhood traipsing the woods near this town. More on this and other real-life influences on the trilogy are addressed in an Author’s Note at the end of Spells & Shadows.

About the Author

Sonja F. Blanco

Sonja F. Blanco grew up in New England where she ran barefoot through the woods, chased lightning bugs, and tapped maple trees for syrup.

Having an ancestor who was hung as a witch, Sonja is naturally drawn to all things magical and fantastical—trees and cemeteries in particular.

At 5’2” she is often caught climbing tables, chairs, and small children to reach the upper shelves. She likes coffee and tea equally, both of which most certainly contributed to her diminutive stature.

Witty comics easily amuse her, as do heavily jowled Hell Hounds that talk in their sleep.

She writes fantasy as if it were real, because believing makes it so.

Follow Sonja:

Author Website.

Instagram

Purchase Sonja’s book: Spells and Shadows via 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.

If you would like to find out about my books then sign up to my newsletter. If you enjoy epic fantasy then the award winning Sentinal series is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fiction? Then try Harmony. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.

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

By clicking the sign up button above, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and the newsletter platform provider to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

By signing up to my newsletter, you agree to receive commercial information from Helen Garraway, located at 61 Bridge St, Kingston, Hertfordshire, UK (Data Administrator). You can withdraw your consent at any time. The data will be processed until the consent is withdrawn.

Author Interview – C.T Moshage

Author of November’s Dawn

I am excited to be chatting with debut YA fantasy author C.T Moshage about his new book, November’s Dawn which releases today April 9th, 2024. Congratulations, Chris, on releasing your debut novel. Such a great achievement.

Helen: Welcome Chris. I am so excited to talk to you about your debut book. Tell us all about it!

Chris: November’s Dawn is a YA speculative fiction novel that centres around a young engineer, Josie Owens, as she tries to find her place in a chaotic and desperate world where humanity has been forced to abandon the surface and live aboard a massive underwater ark.

The setting as well as the plot allowed for several themes to become entangled throughout the novel. The duality and burden of leadership is something I have always been fascinated by and in the novel, one of the characters spends a lot of time exploring what leadership means to him and the weight he carries knowing that the fate of humanity rests on his shoulders. Later in the novel, Josie must wrestle and come to terms with some of the same concepts while also trying desperately to stay true to herself and her values.

That reality and the conflicts that created it start to blur the line between right and wrong, provoking a deeper look into what it means to lead.

Synopsis: Years after the mysterious death of her father, sixteen-year-old Josie Owens wants nothing more than to carry on his legacy as an engineer aboard November’s Dawn. This colossal walking ark has travelled the bottom of the oceans carrying the last remnants of humanity after an all-consuming flood. But Josie’s dreams drown when she discovers the secret her father died for: the ark was never meant to stay submerged.

This knowledge makes Josie, and those she loves, an instant target to those who would sacrifice anything to keep the status quo from changing and to those who want nothing more than to upend the firm hierarchy. At the same time, a glitch in the navigation system sends November’s Dawn directly toward a miles deep trench.

Faced with a multitude of challenges, Josie wonders if pursuing her father’s last wishes is worth the cost. Corruption and injustice permeate the last vestiges of humanity, but what if the great unknown of the world above is worse than their fragile existence below? If she follows her father’s vision, the ark could be destroyed on the surface. If she follows the rebels, revolution could tear the ark apart from within.

One way or another, Josie is the only one with the knowledge to make the final decision. If she makes the wrong one, not only will the ark fail, but the last spark of humanity will fade into darkness.

Helen: Sounds like a really intriguing premise, and I love that you have a young woman as your protagonist, struggling with the complexities of leadership. How did you translate this struggle for the book into the cover?

Chris: The cover of November’s Dawn conveys a couple messages. The dark theme and tone immediately place the viewer in the setting of the novel, aboard an ark that walks along the bottom of the ocean. There is no light at the bottom of the ocean, no air to breathe, no room for even the smallest mistake. It is an existence that clings to the edge of a cliff in the best of times and that reflects the dire situation that humanity is in when the novel begins. The crack in the viewing port adds suspense and a sense of urgency to Josie’s mission. The problems and issues that have plagued the ark for decades can’t be ignored any longer. The only choice left is to face them head on or risk the end of humanity.

Helen: I’m so glad you drew our attention to the crack in the glass! It does suggest an immediate threat and increases the tension! What is the meaning behind the book title?

Chris: The title, November’s Dawn, which is the name of the ark humanity resides on, comes from certain plot points from within the universe of the story itself. A global catastrophe struck earth and made the surface uninhabitable. The eleventh hour came in the month of November and the ark was constructed as a new dawn and salvation for the human race.

Helen: With November’s Dawn being your debut novel, what made you write this particular book?

Chris: I have always been intrigued by the constructs and engineering feats capable when the best and brightest minds come together to create something incredible. November’s Dawn was born out of that fascination and the lengths people would go to save themselves in the face of certain destruction. Also, as mentioned above, the plot and setting allowed me to explore themes of duty, family, loyalty, and finding one’s place in the world in a really interesting and satisfying way.

Helen: Who was your favourite character to write in November’s Dawn?

Chris: My favourite character from November’s Dawn would have to be Adrian Frost. He is the leader of the current government aboard the ark and without giving up too much, comes to odds with Josie Owens in a few different ways. Adrian is a troubled character. He feels a great weight and burden to his people but struggles with finding the right balance between what we might call a good leader, and one who resorts to authoritarian means, even if in his mind it is all for a noble purpose.

Helen: When did you realise you had a passion for writing?

Chris: For a long time, I was caught up in the idea of writing a book or becoming a writer, but I never put any work towards it or always convinced myself that being an author was something I could see in others, but I would never or didn’t have the right “stuff”. I always had other projects and creative outlets going on so coupled with my own self-doubt, I just never seriously tried to write. That was until the pandemic struck which freed more time for me to explore hobbies and interests. It was in that moment I decided I was going to put my mind to it and complete a story. And I did – a 100,000-word YA fantasy novel that will likely never see the light of day unless some major revisions take place. But that was my first foray into the writing world, and I value it for the lessons it taught me about story creation, plot, action, and all the other little bits that go into making a story worthwhile.

Helen: Let’s change topics slightly and chat about your writing process. Which element of the writing process do you find the most challenging?

Chris: I find I have some trouble writing under deadlines. Inspiration has to strike me. I have to be ready and open to it. And if I’m at a point in time where life and other factors aren’t allowing that to happen, it becomes very difficult for me to overcome that. It’s a process, and one I’m still working on.

Helen: Sometimes we put ourselves under unnecessary pressure and that does tend to stifle creativity. With this being your debut book, did you plan every part of the novel, or did you make it up as you went? Are you a Pantser or a plotter?

Chris: My process centres very much around having a core concept and plot and like the spokes of a wheel, everything else radiates out from that. In that way, I’m a pantser. I’ve often found I don’t know the direction the plot will go or what a particular character will do until I’m in the moment with them and they dictate the outcome.

Helen: If you didn’t write YA Fantasy is there another genre you would be tempted to write in?

Chris: I grew up reading young adult novels and feel the most comfortable and at home within the genre. However, I’ve often toyed with the idea of writing a detective thriller novel, even if I have no experience in the genre. Here’s the premise: A returning war veteran-turned private eye navigates the tumultuous and ever-changing post-war streets of 1950’s Los Angeles and uncovers a tangled web of secrets and the macabre within the chilling halls of the Cecil Hotel.

Helen: Oh, you have an idea already! We’ll be looking out for it, but if you are not writing a detective novel, what is your current WIP?

Chris: My current work in progress is actually the second novel in the November’s Dawn Chronicles. This is the first time I’ve worked on a story that was the continuation of another, so it has been a learning experience so far, but still fun. The characters in November’s Dawn have so much more life to give, all that’s left is for me to convince them to share it with the world.

Helen: Most authors are massive readers. What are some of the books you recently read and would recommned?

Chris: I did not read this book recently but within the last few years, but Project Hail Mary is a novel I’d recommend to any fan of the science fiction genre. Andy Weir creates a perspective of space travel and finding life in the universe unlike anything I had experienced before. In my opinion, the novel creates a paradigm shift in how humans perceive extraterrestrial life while keeping a sense of thoughtfulness that keeps the reader grounded. It’s that sort of thinking that I believe all writers should aspire to.

Helen: Thank you so much for joining me today, Chris. Just to close us out, do you have any advice for all those aspiring authors out there?

Chris: When I first started writing, I sought out all the resources I could. A lot of that came in the form of podcasts and author interviews. Something I heard time and time again in those interviews was how that specific author had written a couple books or so before the one that got them a publishing deal. Those authors would often talk about how bad their first book ended up being even if they couldn’t see it at the time. Those comments always bugged me. As a new writer with just the bones of a single story, I felt attacked by the idea that an author’s first or second manuscript would not be the greatest. I thought, “maybe for them, but not my story. My manuscript is awesome.” There was no doubt in my mind at the time that my first manuscript would get an agent and get published. It never did. It took me a long time to realize but I think the reason why I felt so personally victimized by those statements was because some part of me was scared that I was wasting my time. Or that if the world didn’t like my manuscript now, I might never have another story worth telling.

My advice is this: don’t fall into that same trap I did. You will have another story, even if your first one doesn’t pan out. The process and what you learn along the way is what will make you a sustained writer.

Helen: Great advice. Thank you for sharing that with us. It has been a lot of fun learning about you and your book. Congratulations again on releasing your debut YA fantasy novel.

About the Author

C.T Moshage

Chris Moshage is a Chicago based author of science fiction & fantasy. His debut Young Adult science fiction novel, November’s Dawn, will release April 9^th, 2024 and is the first instalment of a planned trilogy.

The short story, Chasing the Dawn, explores the origins of the trilogy’s world and is available now to download for free. Chris didn’t start writing seriously until his early 20’s, but when he finally did, he eagerly embraced it and hasn’t turned away since. When he’s not immersed in reading or writing, two vital elements of his life as an author, Chris enjoys playing tennis, exploring the many worlds of video games, and navigating the skies flying drones, even if his aerial footage is mostly appreciated by himself

Follow Chris:

Author Website Discover the origins of the November’s Dawn universe in my short story, Chasing the Dawn, available for free download on my website when you subscribe to my newsletter.

Instagram

Purchase Chris’s book: November’s Dawn via Amazon – also available on Kindle Unlimited.

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.

If you enjoy epic fantasy then the award winning Sentinal series is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fiction? 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.

Author Interview – Brooke Martin

Author of Seregn

Today, I am excited to be chatting with debut fantasy author Brooke Martin to talk to us about her new book, Seregn. Congratulations, Brooke, on releasing your debut novel. Such a great achievement.

Helen: Welcome Brooke. I am so excited to talk to you about your debut book. Tell us all about it!

Brooke: Seregn is a portal fantasy novel for adults that takes readers on an exhilarating emotional journey, challenging the core of big concepts like love, loyalty, and sacrifice. My main character, Ada, is a young woman thrown into a strange world against her will. She is forced to embark on a perilous quest to save a cursed, dying king – by attempting to steal a fabled weapon from a cruel tyrant, and journeying deep into enemy territory to shoot a star from the sky. In so doing, Ada will not only confront a dangerous, cruel world around her, but also confront herself. She is joined on her quest by four of the king’s bodyguards – one of whom is terminally ill, and another is a traitor with purposes of their own. The consequences of their quest will shake their entire world – literally – and leave Ada questioning everything. I wrote Seregn with a goal to sound beautiful as it’s read, capture imaginations with lush worldbuilding, and encourage readers to ponder deep matters of character and identity. I wanted to write a story that considered what the cost of love is, whether it’s worth it, and what might ultimately break it. But also, I simply wanted to write a fantastic, engaging, adventurous story full of action and drama that leaves you feeling changed at the end of it. The book is intended for adults due to some mature content – moments of strong violence occur in the novel, and in one section in particular.

Helen: I love immersive fantasy books, where you can lose yourself in a new world. It sound like a wonderful premise. How did you translate your vision for the book into the cover?

Brooke: It was hard to imagine the cover for Seregn when I set out on this journey, because I really struggled to know what it ought to be. But I love what the cover designer came up with (with my feedback/input). To explain the cover, starry skies are a massive part of Seregn and one of the only things I was sure on – I knew stars needed to be incorporated, somehow. Beyond that, as I played with ideas, I thought stars over the sea would work nicely, as there are a few sailing journeys in the novel. Seregn is all about a quest to shoot down a star, and the dark starburst behind the title was an inspired idea by the designer– representing the stars, but also almost looking like a stylised gunshot shattering the sky (how’s that for a sneaky hint at what is to come?). The hardest part for me was actually choosing the font, I had a very specific idea in my mind, and we went through a fair few options before settling on the final choice.

Helen: I always find designing the covers the hardest part of the formatting. All my ideas for the Sentinal series wouldn’t work for an epic fantasy. Fortunately my designer had some great ideas, and I love the final result. What about the book title, Seregn. What is Seregn?

Brooke: The book is titled Seregn, and it wasn’t originally my first choice. In the story, Seregn is a fabled weapon, a powerful steampunk gun that can break the barrier between earth and sky. I made up the word by playing around with the words ‘star’ and ‘reign’, and was also influenced by the Welsh word for star – ‘seren’. Originally, I had other ideas for the title, but over time I realised that the whole story really revolves around this devastatingly powerful weapon – what it means to possess it, use it, and carry those repercussions with you. While I was a bit hesitant to go with a made-up word for the title, I decided it would at least stand out, and went with it!

Helen: Made up words work for me, I think we have to create new words in fantasy worlds, otherwise how do we differentiate from the normal world around us? What made you write this particular book?

Brooke: I have always wanted to write a fantasy book, and when I reached the point where I felt I could really try to accomplish it, I threw everything I had at it – all my favourite ideas, characters, themes – you name it. I suppose, then, that I wrote this particular book, because it had all the things I loved in it, all the parts of a story that I myself wanted to read. I wanted to write a story with heart and soul, a story about what it means to love, to sacrifice, to be a hero (for better and for worse), to experience the tension between conflicting loyalties, to be willingly vulnerable – and what can happen if/when you do. All these ideas were swirling in my mind as I came up with the story of Seregn, and adding to them my love for the night sky, for candles, for the seas and the mountains and adventure and romance… out came Seregn.

Helen: I’m so glad you managed to encapsulate all that you love into your novel. Congratulations again on releasing your debut book. When did you realise you had a passion for writing?

Brooke: For as long as I can really remember I’ve loved books. I remember reading The Chronicles of Narnia for the first time in primary school, gobbling up The Ranger’s Apprentice, being handed The Hobbit at age 10, and The Lord of the Rings at age 11. That kicked off a love for Middle-earth that remains to this day. I wanted nothing more than to write my own great tome with such depth and richness as Tolkien’s works. That love for writing and for story was always with me, but it wasn’t until university though I managed to complete my first manuscript – Seregn!

Helen: Who is your protagonist and why did you write her/him?

Brooke: My protagonist is Ada Wrembeck, a historical consultant in her 20s with a bit of a tragic backstory (because she’s the lead in a fantasy novel of course). I wrote Ada for a couple of reasons. For my first novel, I thought it wise to create a protagonist who, while she was different to me, had enough elements of myself (or that I could easily relate to) to make her a compelling central character. As a new author I really wanted Ada to be believable, well rounded, and complex. The easiest way to do that was to take elements of myself (a real person!) and reimagine them into her, along with adding plenty of other traits of course! As an example, Ada has a couple of panic attacks in the book, which I describe from personal experience. Secondly, I wrote Ada the way I did as part of my overall plan for the theme of the story. Ada is emotionally closed off, and fairly selfish, but as the reader we know over time that she does actually care deep down (or would if she’d let herself). This provides so much opportunity for character development as Ada begins to open up in multiple ways. Even her job (historical consultant) I chose for a reason – she is always looking back.

Helen: Ada sounds like a really well thought out character. Let’s move to your writing process. Are you a Pantser or a plotter?

Brooke: I believe these things are very much on a spectrum, but I’m very far into the planner side. Whenever I had tried to write books in the past (when I was in school for instance) I never got farther than a few chapters, which I came to realise was because I hadn’t had the story planned out properly beforehand. It was only once I’d started following a writer’s blog and read a couple of craft books – all from the plotting side of the spectrum, that I was finally able to write Seregn. Just knowing what came next made all the difference for me! That said, I believe that there is the freeform expression of ‘pantsing’ and the planning of ‘plotting’ on both sides of the spectrum, they just occur at different times. For plotters, that freeform creativity is concentrated right at the start of the process, when the brainstorming and ideation occurs. For pantsers, the ‘planning’ aspect, to me at least, is in the editing after the fact. The framework I’ve used for Seregn (and will continue to use until it doesn’t work for me) is that outlined in C.S. Lakin’s ‘The Twelve Key Pillars of Novel Construction’ and ‘Layer Your Novel’ and (for the editing process) Charlotte Nash’s ‘How to edit at novel’. I’ve found these all incredibly useful in every aspect of novel writing. It also means that I haven’t had writers block while writing the story itself.

Helen: Which element of the writing process do you find most challenging and why?

Brooke: I would say probably the initial brainstorming. Because I am a ‘plotter’ the bulk of the creative work (in the sense of coming up with the story) happens at the outset. For me, I really just cannot start writing without knowing what comes next. I’ve found, now that Seregn is finished and I’m starting to think of other ideas, I put pressure on myself in the early brainstorming phase to come up with the next great idea, instead of letting the ideas come naturally as they did for Seregn. I suppose this could also be my equivalent of ‘writer’s block’ – but instead of occurring while I write the novel, it occurs while I plan it! Now that I’m a wife and mother (I was neither when I first wrote Seregn) it seems even more challenging to try to find not only the time, but the mental capacity to put towards cultivating creativity. But I won’t give up!

Helen: I’m glad to hear that you are now addicted to writing. I am too! I can’t stop. There is always something I need to be capturing. I usually ask which genre you write, but with one book released, tell us about what you did choose to write.

Brooke: I write fantasy. Having only written one book, I suppose I could say, specifically, portal fantasy. Which, to be honest, is almost a surprise to me, because I’m actually not that much of a portal fantasy fan. In general, I tend to prefer stories that are wholly set in a fantasy world – without being ‘tainted’ by association to ours. But, somehow, that’s not the story I wrote! I have ideas for short stories or novellas that are a mix of epic fantasy and portal fantasy as offshoots of Seregn, along with full novel ideas set completely in the world of Seregn. But definitely a fantasy writer – I’m also a fantasy reader, so it works!

Helen: When you are in the throes of writing, do you listen to music or do you prefer silence?

Brooke: I do listen to music when I write, but it’s only ever instrumental music – usually orchestral or movie scores and soundtracks. I find songs with lyrics really tend to crowd out my own words in my head, but instrumental music can help set the tone and get me into a groove when writing. I listened to all sorts of soundtracks while writing Seregn, from The Lord of the Rings to Stardust to Guardians of the Galaxy. At times there were very specific songs I’d play on repeat while writing certain scenes, because they fit the scene (and sometimes the action) exactly!

Helen: If you didn’t write fantasy, is there another genre you would be tempted to try?

Brooke: I would probably try history – when I’m not reading straight fantasy, I enjoy historical fantasy and even a time travel or two. I love a wide mix of history but particularly medieval and ancient, there’s so much that can be done in various historical timeframes, it’s similar to fantasy in that it transports you to another world – in a way.

Helen: Do you have any advice you would like to share with new writers?

Brooke: Don’t try to chase trends or fads or what you think the industry, the agents, or the publishers want. Write the story that YOU want to write, that YOU’RE passionate about. Writing a book is a massive task, so it’s important to do it for yourself. And if you’re passionate about your story, someone else will be too! As a new mum I also want to encourage others who juggle multiple responsibilities that you can work on your own timeline. Of course, sometimes you need to push to achieve a dream, but you’re not failing by doing what you can as you can!

Helen: Great advice. Thank you for sharing that with us. Thank you so much for joining me today. It has been a lot of fun learning about you and your book. Just to finish, could you share some of the books you’ve been reading recently?

Brooke: I really enjoyed A Crack in the Rock by Amber Gabriel – if you like Seregn there’s a good chance you’d like it too – even though they’re quite different in some ways. I found it to be so well written and I was so invested in the characters – the romance is compelling without too much ‘spice’, the dark moments perfectly depicted, the rising conflict and sense of doom at the right moments of the story were so well realised. Another would be Liberation by RM Krogman, this one is more brutal in some ways, but so well done. Liberation is the first of a trilogy – with multiple novellas – and it’s shaping up to be a brilliant one. Some other books I’ve read recently are Taliesin by Stephen Lawhead (a spin on King Arthur mashed up with Atlantis), Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson (and instant classic), and Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor (I’m so keen to read the next one).

About the Author

Brooke Martin

Brooke has always loved reading – from the days of sturdy baby books to the day she picked up The Lord of the Rings at age 11, she’s never looked back. Her desire to be an author is nearly as old, and in those early years she spent afternoons and weekends at her computer, tapping away on her novel ideas. Since then she’s grown up, studied, and worked in radio, print, and online journalism. These days, Brooke spends her days as a stay-at-home mum, and studying a professional development course to start working as a copy editor and proofreader. All the while, her stories have been bubbling away – tales of adventure, fantasy, romance, struggle, sacrifice, and emotion – all infused with her faith and homeland. As a Christian, Brooke aims to craft stories that are accessible to everyone, whilst imbuing the tales with courage, compassion, sacrifice, faith, perseverance, and personal growth. She’s utterly thrilled to bring her first novel, Seregn, to publication.

Follow Brooke:

Author Website

Facebook

Instagram

Purchase Brooke’s book: Seregn via Amazon – also available on other platforms

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.

Time to celebrate Book Birthdays – International Book Giveaway!

Giveaway running March 23rd – April 1st, 2024
Open Internationally
1 signed Paperback up for grabs – winner chooses one book from my catalogue.

Terms and conditons for giveaway in entry form.

Enter today for a chance to win one a signed copy of one my books.

Enter today

Harmony will release on April 1st, 2024 and is currently on preorder.

Blurb for Harmony which releases April 1st, 2024.

He’s always tried to do what’s right. When ugly truths surface on their sentient planet, will he have the courage to vidicato vindicate the wronged?

Kiefer Gallante yearns to prove his worth. Son of two prominent scientists, the dedicated soldier is determined to ensure their legacy and protect their new home’s caringnative sentience. So when a power sabotage by rebels leaves a destitute population vulnerable, the heroic young man throws himself into the conflict.

Shocked to discover much of what he’s been taught is a lie, Kiefer reels after learning how his superiors are exploiting the world. But when the revolutionaries plead with him to join their cause, the thoughtful idealist is torn between the life he loves… and fighting for justice for the people. With the fate of millions at stake and enemies in his inner circle, can Kiefer restore hope for humanity?

Harmony is a page-turning, standalone dystopian science fiction novel. If you like compassionate heroes, awakening to the truth, and immersive world-building, then you’ll love Helen Garraway’s gripping adventure.

Buy Harmony to break the chains of oppression today!

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.

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.

Harmony – Goodreads Giveaway!

Giveaway running March 22nd – March 31st, 2024
USA Only
100 ebook copies up for grabs

Enter today for a chance to win one of one hundred ebooks copies.

Enter today

Harmony will release on April 1st, 2024 and is currently on preorder.

He’s always tried to do what’s right. When ugly truths surface on their sentient planet, will he have the courage to vidicato vindicate the wronged?

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.

Author Interview – Helen Pugh

Author of Unsung Women in Somerset

Today, I am excited to be chatting with Historical author Helen Pugh to talk to us about her latest book, Unsung Women in Somerset. She is also a writer of children’s historical books.

HG: I can see this getting confusing, so I’ll use my initials (HG) for me in this interview! Welcome, Helen. I am so excited to talk to you about your book. Especially as we have just been celebrating International Women’s Day. Tell us a little about your book.

Helen: Unsung Women in Somerset is a book of real-life and legendary women who lived, loved, worked and made a difference in the county of Somerset, England. Often, these women were erased from the narrative, both when they were alive and after they died in terms of how their stories were overlooked.

Starting in pre-Roman times, we go right through to the mid-20^th century. The book is made up of 23 chapters that generally consist of a short story followed by historical notes, a chapter bibliography and shorter sections on other women of note from the same era.

As well as gender discrimination, some of the women encountered discrimination due to ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, social standing and so on.

Examples of the women in the book include an African princess who survived and thrived despite the odds, a woman who had two funerals and an enslaved Roman woman who married a priest.

HG: I think it is so interesting that you chose a variety of women through the ages who lived in Somerset. Who are the women on the cover of the book?

Helen: The cover represents women in different eras and undertaking different tasks. The woman at the top represents the book’s Medieval women, who included a translator, various queens, churchwardens, a witch and a baroness. The woman in the middle represents the women who took holy orders, such as an abbess, a prioress, a hermitess and a vowess. The woman at the bottom represents the women in the world wars, for instance a doctor, a tram driver and a member of the French Resistance. Behind the words are sections of a 17^th-century map of Somerset.

HG: I hadn’t even noticed the maps behind the words until you mentioned it. This is why I Iove asking that question, you always see more when you understand the author’s intent. What about the title, what were your thoughts behind that?

Helen: The title, Unsung Women in Somerset, refers to how many of these women have been marginalised in the past. They have not often been celebrated, mainly because most people nowadays have not heard of most of them. And I chose “in Somerset” rather than “of Somerset” because not all the women were born or raised in Somerset. Some of them came into the county later in life and so I felt the word “in” conveyed this idea better.

HG: What made you write this particular book? And why women in Somerset in particular?

Helen: I chose to write a book that focused on historical women because in general, women have been overlooked in the study of history. There are so many books, news articles etc that focus almost exclusively on men. An old saying goes: “Geography is about maps. History is about chaps.” This mindset of focusing on men when studying history has meant that amazing women who lived in Somerset have often remained obscure. Problems with the records themselves have also kept women marginalised, such as simply not documenting women’s achievements and contributions, documenting those achievements using the passive voice rather than naming the woman or women involved, not bothering to preserve documents relating to women and unforeseen circumstances like archives going up in flames. Some women’s stories may never be known. Alice atte Castle is possibly an example of this. She is listed as a tenant of Fenny Castle, near Wells, in 1354, but I can’t find any other information about her.

Countless women, imperfect and human just like us, have pushed boundaries, in big or small ways, so that future women could lead better lives– entering male-dominated spheres, demanding their rights, breaking gender norms, taking on positions of power… The list goes on. At times, these women’s obscurity is just due to their gender but can also be because of multiple forms of discrimination, including social standing, race and disability.

And I chose to write about Somerset because I wanted to write a book that would explore the place I live in now, whereas my previous books were about where I used to live (Ecuador and so my books were based on South American history, with a particular focus on women).

I’m one of those people who used to think local history is boring but it definitely isn’t, not always. If you look in the right places, you can find incredible things, sometimes even things that happened in the tiniest hamlets. Another reason for picking Somerset is that bigger cities do get more focus in terms of history and things going on now. Bristol gets talked about a lot.

It’s exciting to get to know the spaces we visit day to day, that we look at the same hills people in years gone by looked at, walked the same paths, even if a lot has changed over time.

HG: History is full of amazing facts, you just have to dig a little to find them. I think it is wonderful that you found these unsung heroines to write about. I imagine that you have to do a lot research for each story you include?

Helen: Tons! Most of the time I spend on my books is researching. Sometimes it can take an hour of research just to write one or two sentences! It can be very tricky to pinpoint information about the women and/or tricky to find a consensus in the sources being looked at.

HG: When did you first realise you had a passion for writing?

Helen: I’ve been writing since I was really little, about 7 or 8. I wrote stories as a child, starting off with things about my teddies, then as a teenager I wrote science fiction for a while. Now I’m writing about history.

HG: Thank you so much for joining me today. It is so interesting to learn more about these amazing women. Just one more question for you. What are you working on next?

Helen: One fascinating aspect that I’ve come across in researching historical women in Somerset is the global nature of Somerset’s residents. For instance, the Roman Empire was culturally diverse, many Medieval queens were from mainland Europe and I mentioned before an African princess who came to Somerset. With that in mind, my next research project will look at cultural diversity in Somerset and I’m also working on a junior edition of Unsung Women in Somerset, aimed at ages 9 and above.

About the Author

Helen Pugh

Helen Pugh is the author of Unsung Women in Somerset, a collection of short stories focussing on real-life and legendary women in Somerset.

Her other works include Jungle-tastic Tales and Inca-tastic Tales, short story anthologies for children based on extensive research into the rainforest and Inca history, respectively, as well as Cuentos incatásticos for Spanish speakers.

Helen studied Spanish and Italian at university and has a lifelong passion for history, especially that of women who made history but have been edited out of history.

Follow Helen:

Social links

Amazon Author Page

Purchase Helen’s book: Unsung Women in Somerset via 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.

Author Interview – A. S Norris

Author of The Wayward Apprentice

Today, I am excited to be chatting with fantasy author A.S Norris to talk to us about his latest book, The Wayward Apprentice.

Helen: Welcome, Andrew. I see you already have three books published in the Jack Wartnose series (Love the name!) and now we go back to the beginnings in The Wayward Apprentice. Tell us a little about it.

Andrew: It’s a novella titled “The Wayward Apprentice: A Jack Wartnose Prequel.” It serves as an origin story for my series’ main character, Jack Wartnose, covering his rise from starving wretch and pariah to entering the mage academy. Along the way, he faces heartache, triumph, and the weight of his actions as he begins his path to redemption in the series’ main books.

Helen: There are some specifc items on the cover. Can you tell us how you what your thoughts were behind the design?

Andrew: Without giving too much away to spoil the novella, the room and table are from a certain room in the story where Jack Wartnose is confronted with a life-altering decision. The items on the table each represent certain key moments within the story. Kudos to my lovely wife for crafting this cover for me.

Helen: Typically I ask how you came up with your title, but as this is the prequel to the Wayward Mage series, I see the logic.

Andrew: The first book in my series, “The Adventures of Jack Wartnose,” is entitled “The Wayward Mage.” The story of Jack Wartnose begins when he is already a mage apprentice and on his fateful quest for the elusive Tome of Time. So, it seemed natural to title my novella “The Wayward Apprentice” as he begins his journey into mage apprenticeship and while also being called to become an apprentice of sorts by his benefactor in the story. There’s more about this benefactor I can’t wait to reveal, but that will all be told within the books of the series.

Helen: What made you write The Wayward Apprentice?

Andrew: From a pragmatic viewpoint, I needed a short story I could offer for free as a reader magnet to get sign ups for my newsletter. Yet, as with my other books in the series, I took great care to not half-ass it. Rather than tell a one-off story, I carefully put in plot points that would tie into other plot points in books 1 through 4 of my series. As a result, the story took on a life of its own until, before I realized it, I cracked 30,000 words. I am rather proud of what I wrote, given the limitations to keep this tale short and readable.

To get this free prequel novella, Sign up to Andrew’s newsletter here.

Helen: Tell us more about your protagnist, Jack Wartnose. He sounds quite the character!

Andrew: Jack Wartnose, he’s a mage apprentice in his mid-30s on a quest for an item that may have caused the last world ending cataclysm. Along the way, he comes across his childhood love and finds out he fathered a son with her when they were teenagers. Reunited, he fulfils his promise to her to marry her and ends up taking his new family along on what he believes will be a simple journey. Only, it becomes at times a life-and-death struggle as Wartnose has to overcome his wayward past in protecting his growing family and get them safely to the tome before his growing list of enemies kill him or find it first.

I wrote him because I wanted an adult protagonist. I was tired of YA and coming-of-age stories, and I wanted a character with some life experience that required a redemption arc. Then, as the ideas flowed in, I was struck with the idea of instead of the “wise, old mentor” character with the young hero, why not have that mentor be the “young hero’s” actual father. From there, the story just wrote itself as Jack Wartnose is confronted not only with his one young adult son from his now-wife, but with other children he discovers from previous lovers during his wayward past.

Helen: If Jack could answer this next question, what would he say? Why should we read your book?

Andrew: “Come for the award-winning epic fantasy adventure, stay for the humour, excitement, heart, and fun, relatable characters.”

Helen: And what are you working on next? Are there more Jack Wartnose stories?

Andrew: Book 4 of my series, “The Adventures of Jack Wartnose,” titled “The Condemned Mage.” Now that my novella is finished, I’m full steam ahead on finishing the edits for this book to release later this year. It continues the adventure of Jack Wartnose and his growing family, having just narrowly escaped mage assassins in Book 3, “The Hunted Mage.” While fleeing for safety, he encounters one of the assassins, and realizes they shared an “intimate” history together.

Helen: Sounds intriguing! When did you realise you had a passion for writing?

Andrew: I’ve dabbled with writing since senior year in high school. Actually, I finished a novel about a mercenary on his death bed telling his story to his protégé and started a few others, along with a great many poems. Unfortunately, after accumulating a number of drafts and such, my laptop’s hard drive suddenly died. And in that same week, I physically lost my other back up hard drive, so everything I wrote then is lost to time. However, it may have been a blessing in disguise because I took a hiatus for several years as a result, lived life, had many adventures of my own, got married, and suffered setbacks and experienced triumphs to where, when I started writing again in earnest in 2021, everything clicked for me in a way my earlier writing didn’t. I haven’t looked back since.

Helen: It is so great that you went back to writing. Sometimes I think there is just a ‘right’ time to start writing. Which part of the writing process do you find most challenging and why?

Andrew: If we’re talking just writing, the editing process. I’m currently editing Book 4 in my series. I’m on my fourth read through and I’m still finding little plot holes and grammatical errors. But my absolute bane is marketing. I struggle wrapping my head around it. Someday I hope to crack it.

Helen: I have to agree that marketing is the challenge. I enjoy the writing and editing process as a whole. It is such an amazing feeling when everything clicks. Who inspired you to write?

Andrew: Primarily, God. Seriously, the whole beginning of this started from a funny and heartwarming vivid dream I had back in mid-2021 and the ideas that keep coming to drive this story I believe are truly inspired. Certainly didn’t come from me alone. As far as authors go, my big three would be Tolkien, Brian Jacques with his “Redwall” series, and Terry Pratchett with his “Discworld” series.

Helen: Which genre do you typically write in?

Andrew: Fantasy, because I believe it offers me the most creative freedom, and because I think fantasy helps us the most in real life. By giving readers heroes who bravely fight and defeat the dragons, metaphorically speaking, I believe it helps others to bravely face their own dragons in life.

Helen: Let’s move on to your writing process. Most independent authors also have a day job. How do you fit your writing into your everyday life?

Andrew: With difficulty. I have to wake at 5AM to get a couple of hours in before my normal job. Then I have a short time during my lunch break to crank out as much as I can. Evenings are devoted to family and winding down so I can sleep at night.

Helen: I wish I could do that, I am not an early morning person, I am a definitely a night owl. Do you listen to music while you write?

Andrew: Yes, and depends on my mood and what I’m writing. If I really need to concentrate, then classical, synthwave, or instrumental metal are my go-tos.

Helen: Do you plan out your novels or are you a pantser?

Andrew: I plan out the major plot points for my story. But how I get from A to B is anyone’s guess. I let the characters guide me between those points.

Helen: All authors experience moments of self doubt or writer’s block. What do you do to cope with this?

Andrew: I recognize that not everyone will enjoy my stories. But for those that do, they keep me going. I manage writer’s block by walking away for a short time. I find that if I can’t find a solution, I go and work on something else and eventually the solution finds me.

Helen: How do you find new ideas for your books?

Andrew: They just come to me. That’s why I made the comment about God being my primary inspiration because it’s not as though I’m actively thinking about these all the time. I have a day job and family responsibilities that take up 90% of my day’s activities and thought processes. So, when I get ideas, it usually comes in my dreams or just out of the blue.

Helen: Thank you so much for joining me today, it’s been great chatting with you. Just to finish, what advice would you give new writers?

Andrew: Writing is a marathon. It will require great discipline to constantly write and keep learning the business of writing (marketing, building relationships, etc). I’m still learning and improving every day. Don’t assume quick success

Helen: Anything else you’d like to add?

Andrew: I am writing my books for adults, but I didn’t want them to be chocked full of inappropriate material. I have challenging material in my books, but never done in an exploitive or pornographic manner that parents would be embarrassed to have their children read or to be caught reading in front of the children. So, I tell people my books are “written for adults, but teen safe.”

Also, my first two books have won a combined seven book awards, with many other accolades to their name. So, if anyone thinks that by not making my books overly “spicy” that they’re boring or unreadable, I ask you reconsider. Good literature should be like cooking: use spices in the appropriate amounts to give your work interesting flavours yet not so much that it overpowers the meal. That’s what I strive to do (and have done) with my books.

I hope you will give my books a read. I believe you will find them full of charm and excitement you get from the best fantasies! You can find them on Amazon, search “The Adventures of Jack Wartnose,” or click here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C1KTK13M. And, for those who want to test drive my writing, sign up for my newsletter to get my free novella, “The Wayward Apprentice:” https://www.asnauthor.com/. It’s a free sign up, you can leave anytime, and you can unsubscribe any time. So what do you have to lose, except a few hours of a good, free read?

About the Author

A.S Norris

Telling fun, exciting and Godly adventures with timeless values, low spice romance, and a pinch of humor that any parent can read alongside their teenagers without embarrassment.

Subscribers to my newsletter get a FREE novella prequel, “The Wayward Apprentice,” as well as a FREE map of the world of Aemilia. Sign up at my website (Search “asnauthor”).

A.S. Norris is a bit of an adventurer himself. He has traveled to Asia and the western Pacific Ocean, Europe, and the Caribbean. Additionally, he has traveled over half of the United States and backpacked or camped in many of its national parks. Now his life consists of adventures as a family man with his lovely wife and spirited baby daughter. THE ADVENTURES OF JACK WARTNOSE is his first novel series with more coming in the near future!

Follow Andrew:

Author website

Amazon Author page

Instagram

Purchase Andrew’s book: The Wayward Mage via 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.

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.

Author Interview – Philip J Dennis

Author of Behind the Curtain

Today, I am excited to invite Philip J Dennis back for a return visit to talk to us about his latest book, Behind the Curtain. You can check out his interview back in 2021 here.

Helen: Welcome back, Philip. I’m thrilled to see you have released more books since we last spoke. Congratulations on the release of Behind the Curtain. Tell us a little about it.

Philip: My newest novel, full novel, is Behind the Curtain. I released it last May on Amazon.

It follows the life – partial life – of Jason Scott, from starting off as a child, becoming a child actor, and then, as an adult, returning to the movie business.

The story, though, is told partly as a retrospective. It starts with Jason at a wellbeing centre. Sort of like a rehab centre. As part of his treatment, he has agreed to work on a biography with a journalist friend. There’s a little back and forth between timelines, but I know that can get confusing in books, so I would switch between third-person and first-person tense. It really helps to allow Jason to be the one telling his story.

I do have a short stories collection on Amazon. All Hope is Gone, and other short stories, if people want to have a look at that too.

Helen: I love the cover. You’ve continued with the theme of silhouettes which give it a touch of mystery. What were your thoughts behind your design?

Philip: I’d mentioned this in our last interview. The style of the cover originated back to my first book, Isaac’s Fall. I had an image in mind, but did not want to spend large amounts of money for a cover artist to put together. At the time, I was only starting out. It was a hobby that I was hoping would lead somewhere.

So, my next books in the trilogy followed the same style – a silhouette of the main character against an appropriate background. When I was designing the cover for The Wrong Apocalypse – which you read and gave a very generous review for – I kind of felt that the silhouette-thing was now sort of my style.

With Behind the Curtain – a silhouette of a man on a stage, a curtain behind him, spotlights and lens flares all around, it fit the story. I can see hidden meaning in that, which is funny, because it is pure fluke. Not intentional at all. I wonder how many writers do something that people read deep meaning into and it was completely unintentional. Just a fluke. Haha.

Helen: Your title also suggests hidden meanings. How did you come up with the book title?

Philip: Behind the Curtain was a working title. It was not intended to be the final one. It was a simple title that gave a hint at what the story was about. But I would start to refer to the story by that title, and then on later drafts, I ended up working the title into the story and part of the dialogue. It was already part of the theme, and the ending – hint, hint – so it just stuck.

Helen: I had a feeling there was a connection to the story somewhere! Which element of the writing process do you find most challenging and why?

Philip: Funnily enough, this book I started writing about ten years or more before it was released. It was actually the second book I started to write. Isaac’s Fall being the first. When I started it, I knew nearly all the major plot points, and I got about ninety percent of the way through it on the first draft. But I was struggling with the tone and the flow of the story. I felt that the story was too big for me to be able to do it justice. I might have mentioned this in our last interview. I have definitely mentioned it somewhere before.

When the Pandemic hit, I wanted to revisit it. I read over the first draft, refreshing myself on simple story points, and started again. This time I got about a third of the way through and hit a wall. It was a hard time and I didn’t have it in me to do a book so serious. That’s when I started to write The Wrong Apocalypse. That was light and fun, and it just flowed out of me. Very cathartic, given that we were at the end of Lockdown.

After that, I went back to it.

I was also spurred on by the book Daisy Jones and The Six – this was before the TV series, of course – completely different in regards to story and style, but it reminded me of the film Almost Famous, which was something of an inspiration for Behind the Curtain anyway.

So, to get back to your question, a major challenge for my writing is being in the right headspace to be able to write the story, and knowing what you can accomplish at that time. It’s perfectly fine to leave a work-in-progress and move on to something else for a while. You’ll circle back to it eventually. If you try to force the story, if you aren’t feeling it, then that could work against you.

Helen: Who inspired you to first start writing?

Philip: Easy. My wife. Jan. I first started writing following a really weird and vivid dream I had. This is going back about fifteen years now. I told Jan about it the next day and she thought it was such a weird, detailed dream, but that it would make a great story. So, secretly, I started writing down what I knew from the dream, putting it into a narrative.

A week or two later, we were talking about it. Jan said that she had started to write it down. I didn’t know this, at the time, and told her that I had too. She said she had written about three or four pages, then asked me what I’d done. It was about forty.

Anyway, it was her that spurred me on to keep writing. I wrote about seven drafts of that story – which is not one that I released. I will come back to it though. It is a really interesting premise. Seven drafts, though, was a lot of time. But, it was practice.

Jan would read over what I had done, give me notes, tell me what worked and what didn’t, which she does for all my writing. She is the first person I write for, the first person to hear my ideas, that I talk them over with, who reads the chapters as and when they are done, and then the finished story.

She has also stopped me deleting everything in a fit of frustration on a number of occasions. Thank God!

Helen: That is so funny that you both started writing the same story. I’m glad you took your pages and turned them into a book! What are you currently working on?

Philip: At the moment, I am jumping between a couple of WIPs. I’m focusing on a second book to Somewhere Else. That was a kid’s book I wrote for my son, Jacob, with him as the main character. It is a fun, adventure, fantasy/fairytale book that pokes fun at some of the tropes of fairytales and their characters, or archetypes. I don’t have a name yet, but I will think of something.

The other one was a paranormal-thriller. Not a horror, I should state. I won’t go into the premise of it, only because it is early in the first draft, and I don’t know how long it will take to complete.

I also want to do a sequel to The Wrong Apocalypse – got some notes and chapters on that. And then I’ve got a couple of other new stories running through my mind too. Do you ever find you have ideas but not the time to work on them all?

Helen: I have so many ideas and not enough time to write them! I have three epic fantasy series started, and the challenge for me is which series to focus on, because I love the characters in all of them, and they are so different! Enough about us. Which books have you been reading and would recommend to others?

Philip: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. Such a good book. Short, but that’s not a negative. If you can, get the illustrated paperback. The artwork is great.

Been reading a lot of Blake Crouch over the last year or so. Wayward Pines series. Dark Matter, Recursion, and Upgrade.

And I’ve started Mantis by Kotaro Isaka. It’s the third in a trilogy. You’ve probably heard of the film Bullet Train. That was the second book in his trilogy. They are fun, action-packed and an easy read.

Helen: And which is your favourite book?

Philip: Still American Gods by Neil Gaiman. And Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. If you want something whimsical, then go for Good Omens. If you want something that plays around with religion, myth and folklore and makes them its own, go for American Gods. That might be due another re-read soon, I think.

Helen: Thank you so much for joining me today. Just to finish, what advice would you give new writers?

Philip: Keep writing for you. You are the first person you should be writing for. I know that I said that my wife was the first person I write for, but I meant that as externally. It’s like that saying, “Charity begins at home,” well, writing begins with you.

I think Neil Gaiman said something, to butcher his saying, “The first draft is for you. The second is for the reader.”

And, keep writing. Get the first draft done. Even if it is full of holes. Get it done. The holes can be filled in later drafts. They call it a Vomit Draft, I believe. Get it all out, no matter how bad. You can clean it up later. Bit of a gross analogy but I like it.

About the Author

Philip J Dennis

Philip J Dennis, born and raised in Liverpool, England, is the author of several books spanning different genres, from paranormal and crime thriller, to a children’s book he had written for his son, a comedy horror, and a fictional biography.

His novels include the …and all that’s in between trilogy. Isaac’s Fall, Harmony’s Choice, and Faith’s Rise. As well as Somewhere Else, The Wrong Apocalypse, and the newly released Behind The Curtain.

He currently lives in Liverpool, with his wife and son, and continues to write. He can be followed on Instagram @Philip_J_Dennis as well as on Goodreads, where he welcomes questions and queries.

Follow Philip:

Amazon Author page

Instagram

Purchase Philip’s book: Behind the Curtain via 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.

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.

Author Interview – Carole Wolfe

Author of My Best Mistake

Today, I am joined by chick lit author Carole Wolfe to talk about her My Best Series.

Helen: Welcome Carole. It was great meeting you in Miami at the Readers Favorite Book Awards. Congratulations on winning an award for your book My Best Mistake. Tell us a little about your book.

Carole: My Best Mistake – Tasha’s Story won the bronze medal in the 2023 Reader’s Favorite Fiction – Chick Lit category. It is book one in the five book My Best Series. My Best Mistake – Tasha’s Story follows single mother Tasha Gerome as she struggles to become her own person. Everyone wants something from her while she’s looking for a little peace and quiet.

Helen: Congratulations again on your medal. What were your thoughts behind your cover?

Carole: The current cover is the third cover for the book. Originally, the book cover had a pair of legs (mine) posing in pink pig slippers. It was cute, but confused readers. It also made it difficult to create the covers for the rest of the books in the series. The new cover is pink and represents the small town where Tasha lives. The rest of the books in the series have similar covers with images that represent something important to the story or main character. It makes it easy for readers to know that these five books are in the same series.

Helen: Covers can be quite diffficult to get right, but your My Best Series covers look great together. How did you come up with the series titles?

Carole: The word mistake usually has a bad connotation, but we don’t learn unless we make mistakes. The best mistake you can make is the one that changes your life. That’s what Tasha has to discover in this book. The series is called My Best Series because each character must make their best attempt at something to grow and evolve.

Helen: I love finding out the reasoning beind covers and titles! When did you realise you had a passion for writing?

Carole: I’ve been writing since I was a kid. In the third grade, my friend and I “published” a book on typing paper and bound it with blue yarn. I still have that book, and I look at it to remind me where I started and why I still write. And the friend that I published with is one of my biggest supporters!

Helen: How wonderful. That is a great reminder of where it all started. What are you working on now?

Carole: I’m writing a new Women’s Friendship Fiction series about four friends in their fifties. They are in a running group together and are supporting each other through life’s twists and turns. The new series introduces some new characters but includes characters from the My Best Series as well. Readers don’t need to read the first series to enjoy the second one. But anyone who has read the first series might discover some fun references to past adventures.

Helen: It’s nice when you can link series! How do you come up with your ideas for your books?

Carole: Everywhere! I’ve gotten some great ideas while being in line at the grocery store, at a movie theatre and on an airplane. Plus, people are always talking on their phones, and I routinely make up the side of the conversation I can’t hear. That can be funny! I also get lots of ideas from my family. For example, one time when we went to the airport, my son announced he didn’t wear any shoes. While that didn’t make it into a book directly, it got me thinking about what happens if you forget to put on shoes. And that’s how pink pig slippers ended up on my first book cover.

Helen: Love it! Authors are always thinking ‘What if…” If we were all given the same prompt, everyone of us would come up with something different! What genre you do you typically write and why?

Carole: I write Women’s Fiction and Chick Lit. I want readers to finish my books and feel. It doesn’t necessarily matter what emotion is felt, as long as the reader finishes the story feeling different than before she or he read the book. (And I say she and he because men read Women’s Fiction as well! I have several male readers who have finished the entire series.)

Helen: Who inspired you write?

Carole : As I mentioned before, I’ve been writing since I was a kid, but two teachers fueled my writing inspirations as I grew up. My high school yearbook advisor encouraged me to apply to journalism school, and as a result, I received a scholarship. Once in college, my journalism professor told me, “Someday I’m going to read a novel you wrote.” Those two teachers encouraged me to pursue my dream of being an author.

Helen: It is so important for teachers to encourage young people to express their creatvity. I am so glad you had that support. What is the best thing that’s happened to you since you began writing?

Carole: I’ve met some incredible people and made wonderful friends. Writing is a solitary practice, so it’s great to have a group of people who understand what I’m doing and why I might not be immediately available to chat. Other writers are also great for bouncing ideas off of and asking questions about how they are handling new technology or practices in the industry.

Helen: Let’s talk a little about the writing process. Which element of the writing process do you find most challenging and why?

Carole: Character development is an ongoing challenge for me. Creating engaging characters is essential. Readers don’t always have to like the characters. But if the story’s characters aren’t interesting, readers (including myself) don’t finish the story. Making a character too likeable or too mean is problematic as well. I spend a lot of time thinking about what my characters are doing and why.

Helen: How do you fit your writing into your everyday life?

Carole: This is a great question, and the answer changes as my life changes. When my kids were younger and we were always on the go, I wrote while I waited in the carpool line, watching at soccer practice and sitting in the dentist’s office. I fit in time even if it was only for ten minutes. As the kids got older, I scheduled my writing time into two hours blocks. That worked for a while as I was writing my first series, but now that I am also marketing and promoting my books, I’ve had to change things up again. I do recommend keeping an open mind. If something isn’t working, then change it. Don’t try to keep the same schedule you’ve always had if it isn’t working.

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

Carole: I listen to the same music all the time. I have the soundtracks of several movies that instantly tell my brain it’s time to write. None of the songs have words, though. Otherwise, I’d be singing too much to write!

Helen: I’m the same. I listen to a lot of classical music, so I have the noise in the background, and yet sometimes, I don’t even notice when the TV goes to sleep and I’m surrounded in silence. I’m so immersed in the world I am writing about that my surroundings disappear. So far, I have been fortunate not to hit writer’s block. Have you encounter writer’s block, and if so, what do you do to overcome it?

Carole: I take a walk outside. It’s good to get away from the computer for a bit and get some exercise in. The change of scenery helps my brain. I usually come up with a solution to whatever has been bothering me. It’s like the characters need to get outside and stretch their legs as well.

Helen: I agree, I thnk sometimes you have to let the back brain noodle on a plot knot and the solution will come to you. You can try too hard sometimes. What advice would you give new writers?

Carole: Do what works for you. There is no one way to write. Feel free to read craft books, listen to podcasts about writing and go to conferences, but you don’t have to do everything in the exact way someone else does it. It’s great to get advice, but what’s important is to do what works for you.

Helen: Great advice. Thank you so much for chatting with me today. Just to close us out, what is the best thing that has happened to you since you began writing?

Carole: I’ve met some incredible people and made wonderful friends. Writing is a solitary practice, so it’s great to have a group of people who understand what I’m doing and why I might not be immediately available to chat. Other writers are also great for bouncing ideas off of and asking questions about how they are handling new technology or practices in the industry.

About the Author

Carole Wolfe

Carole Wolfe writes women’s fiction that makes you smile. She enjoys running at a leisurely pace, crocheting baby blankets for others and drinking wine when she can find the time. After moving nine times in twenty years, Carole and her family have settled in Texas.

Follow on:

Author website (Sign up to newsletter via website)
Instagram
Facebook

Purchase My Best Mistake via Amazon:

Link to book on Amazon UK: eBook | Paperback | Audiobook

Link to book on Amazon US: eBook | Paperback | Audiobook

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.