Category Archives: Guest Post

Shadow of Justice 1 & 2 by Jules MacLeod-reviews & guest post

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Shadow of Justice: The Fall and Rise  & Moving On by Jules MacLeod-reviews & guest post

SHADOW OF JUSTICE: The Fall and Rise #1
by Jules MacLeod
Genre: adult, contemporary, paranormal, police, thriller

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date: August 5, 2024

In Shadow of Justice—The Fall and Rise—someone guns down Detective Robert Cooper outside his apartment, leaving his partner, Detective Josh Watson, devastated. A strange, unsettling occurrence soon makes him question his own sanity. Ignoring his captain’s orders to stay away from the case, he is driven to seek justice. His investigation uncovers a web of deceit stretching beyond the city, leading him to dangerous places, putting his life at risk. As time runs out and the stakes rise, he must piece together the clues to bring the shooter to justice, all while facing unseen dangers and mounting threats.

Who committed this cold-blooded crime, and will they ever pay for their actions?

Shadow of Justice is a suspense-filled mystery, packed with unexpected twists, as Watson navigates the shadows of deceit and danger in his relentless pursuit of the truth.

Prepare for a gripping journey of suspense, mystery, and twists in this thrilling whodunnit.

•••••••

REVIEW:SHADOW OF JUSTICE : THE FALL AND RISE is the first instalment in Jules Macleod’s contemporary, adult, paranormal, police thrillers focusing on thirty three year old NYPD Detective Josh Watson, and his partner Detective Robert Cooper.

Told from several omniscient third person POVs including Josh Watson, and numerous and limited perspectives SHADOW OF JUSTICE: THE FALL AND RISE follows NYPD Detective Josh Watson as he hunts for the killer of his NYPD partner. Detective Robert ‘Bobby’ Cooper was gunned downed, and in the aftermath, Detective Josh Watson begins to spiral out of control. On a leave of absence then suspended for disobeying orders, Josh goes in search of a killer, aided by the ghosts from the past. Meanwhile, the Colombian Cartel is at work in New York, and Josh finds himself at the center of another investigation wherein a journey to South America forces Josh to reconsider everything he left behind.

The world building follows several paths, two investigations, and an action packed search for the truth. Although Detective Robert Cooper’s murder is quickly resolved, Josh Watson, with the help of his ‘spirit guide’ finds himself at a crossroads going forward but saying that the jump between points of view is often frenetic as is the bounce between limited and omniscient perspectives.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, powerful, dangerous and questionable secondary and supporting characters including several NYPD law enforcement; staff psychiatrist Dr. Jacqueline Bradshaw ; Colombian police and special forces COPES; and several members of the Colombian Cartel.

SHADOW OF JUSTICE is a slow building, intriguing and engaging story of murder and vengeance, secrets and the supernatural; acceptance and decisions. The premise is captivating but there is more telling than showing, and once again the jump between characters and perspectives can be disconcerting. There is a mix of written narrative, contemplation and reflection. SHADOW OF JUSTICE ends on a bit of a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Copy supplied for review

_______

SHADOW OF JUSTICE: Moving On #2
by Jules MacLeod
Genre: adult, contemporary, paranormal, police, thriller

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 30, 2024

NYPD Detective Josh Watson returns from a transformative trip, haunted by the memory of a woman he left behind. As he tries to move on, a new drug lord rises in the syndicate he previously investigated, only to be overthrown by a ruthless South American rival, plunging the city into chaos. Josh picks up the investigation into the murder of a cop, but his passion for justice fades, leaving him disillusioned.

Seeking solace in a new relationship, Josh dives deeper into investigating a mysterious crime organization that threatens his life. As the stakes rise, someone close to Josh faces mortal danger, forcing him to act. Teaming up with trusted NYPD colleagues and the elite COPES unit, he races to uncover the criminals and stop the threat. In a final, deadly showdown, Josh must protect the person he cares about and fight for his own survival, as both face the very real possibility of death

•••••

REVIEW:SHADOW OF JUSTICE: MOVING ON by Jules Macleod is the second instalment in the author’s contemporary, adult, paranormal, police thriller focusing on thirty three year old NYPD Detective Josh Watson, and his partner Detective Robert Cooper. MOVING ON should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up after the events of book one THE FALL AND RISE.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from several omniscient third person POVs including Josh Watson and numerous limited perspectives SHADOW OF JUSTICE: MOVING ON follows Detective Josh Watson as he reconsiders his future. Having left the police force to start anew as a private investigator, Josh finds himself working alongside his former colleagues as his latest assignment continues to focus on the Colombian Cartel. Believing someone new is now in control of the Cartel, Josh, his girlfriend Dr. Jacqueline Bradshaw, and the late detective Bobby Cooper begin to unravel a trail of destruction, destruction that is closer than they could have ever imagined. A new start, a new life, a new love and a prosperous future working alongside the NYPD finds Josh a target of the Cartel, and a man who will stop at nothing to get his revenge.

Once again, there is a large ensemble cast of energetic and charismatic secondary and supporting characters including NYPD law enforcement, Captain Sam Granger and Colombian Special Forces aka COPES.

SHADOW OF JUSTICE: MOVING ON is another dramatic and engaging story of secrets and the supernatural, power and control, acceptance and moving on. The premise is intriguing and entertaining but like the first instalment the jump between characters and perspectives (often between paragraphs) can be disconcerting

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Unveil the Shadow of Justice!

A heinous act shatters the early morning silence in New York City. NYPD Detective Robert Cooper is gunned down in cold blood, leaving his colleagues desperate for answers. Detective Josh Watson, shaken and determined, defies orders to uncover the truth behind his partner’s murder. Is he suffering from PTDS or hallucinating? Who or what is the Shadow of Justice?

Will Josh piece together the clues and bring the criminal to justice?

As he delves deeper, he uncovers a tangled web of deception that extends beyond the city limits. Every shadow hides a secret, and every revelation brings Josh closer to the truth—and danger. This fast-paced, thrilling crime and mystery novel is packed with explosive action sequences that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Ready to join the adventure?

Get your copy now and dive into the gripping world of Shadow of Justice!

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Green Bank by Kyle Conroy-a review & guest post

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Green Bank by Kyle Conroy-a review & guest post

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /B&N Paper/

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 27, 2024

Catching lightning will make you. Its thunder may break you.

Colin Brook exists in a life of contrived solitude, especially for a man in his late twenties. He leaves little wake as he meanders between school and a quiet home life in Virginia with his father and sister. However, during a trip to the heart of the National Radio Quiet Zone in Green Bank, West Virginia, he becomes the epicenter for a quake that ripples beyond comprehension. In a matter of days, Colin goes from unremarkable to the opaque target of powerful players in the defense industry. As dire as this attention is, Colin has also caught the interest of two Green Bank residents who may possess far more powerful and destructive capabilities.

Green Bank is a sci-fi thriller that explores the boundaries and vulnerabilities of consciousness. With captivating but often conflicted characters, the story navigates the consequences of imbalanced relationships, the foundations of the cosmos, and how altruism can go severely wrong even with the best of intentions.

••••

REVIEW:GREEN BANK by Kyle Conroy is an adult sci-fi, dystopian stand alone story line focusing on soon to be thirty year old, reclusive college student Colin Brook, and an ensemble cast of doctors, professionals, specialists and otherworldly beings.

Approximately ten years earlier, Navy corpsman Aidan and John disappeared through a black hole in a secret government facility in Hawaii. Fast forward to present day, thirty year old college student Colin Brook, while on a bike ride in Green Bank, West Virginia finds himself in the National Radio Quiet Zone where his life will alter into something more but Colin’s journey into the forests of Green Bank did not go unnoticed- the US military and a defense company contracted by the government vie for control of Colin Brook.

The world building is detailed, complex and comprehensive. From the physical and the metaphysical, sociological, philosophical, and psychological constructs of the here and now; to the understanding of the consciousness, all based in theory and conjecture, as to the vulnerability of a weakened or susceptible mind. Explanations defy the justifications; reality and fact give way to illusions and imagination, where the mind may or may not conceive of the impossible.

There is a large ensemble cast of questionable and colorful characters including brother and sister Colin and Vera Brook, and their adopted father Mike; Dr. Claudia Bessel, CTO of Valence Dr. Hetuwa Fernandez; Dieter Randolph, Rainer Cameron, lady in the woods Faiza, and former Navy corpsmen Aidan and John. Not everyone is who they appear to be.

GREEN BANK is a science fiction story of power and control, secrets and lies, imagination and determination, acceptance and assent. The premise is twisted, haunting and edgy; the characters are dynamic, tragic, animated and startling. Kyle Conroy pulls the reader into a story of what if? Or how?

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

For more on Kyle and Green Bank: https://bio.site/kyleconroy

From Black Holes to Broken Hearts: The Journey of Writing My Debut Sci-Fi Novel

Over ten years ago, I had the inkling to write a book—sci-fi, specifically. This inkling was melded together with push and pull factors. The push factors were 1) nurturing a drive to finish what I start and 2) getting out of my 9-to-5 headspace, finding a creative outlet. The pull factors were 1) deep interests in black holes, dark matter, and consciousness and 2) wonder with the complexity of relationships.

Push Factor 1: Finish What You Start

Whether it is a book, a house project, marathon, or some other goal, we often confront milestones that we truly want—or need—to achieve. As with many things in life, it’s easier said than done. Well, writing a sci-fi novel was my milestone. I thought of the idea of this book over a decade ago and started actually writing it eight years ago. Several times I thought of abandoning it, fearing it was not worthwhile. But with each page completed, that path became clearer. Anytime I needed a boost, I just looked back at what I had done thus far. You can always assure yourself that you are that much closer once you’ve made the slightest progress.

Push Factor 2: Get out of Your Headspace

I may never be able to support myself purely as an author, and that is perfectly fine. I enjoy my career, but there are times when I just need a blank slate upon which I can just create. In my orderly, time-bound jobs, I rarely get the opportunity to just create art. But it is an extremely important outlet for anyone. Music, sculpting, woodworking, and more all provide an outlet for people, sharing their views of and experiences in our collective world. Given how impactful storytelling has been for me as a reader, I felt a certain level of obligation to return the favor in the best way possible.

Pull Factor 1: Black Holes, Dark Matter, and Consciousness

Sci-fi begins right where our current understanding of the universe ends. That’s why it is my favorite genre—you get to take that step into the unknown, letting creativity grow from theories and accepted truths. Black holes and dark matter arguably fascinate (perhaps terrify, too) anyone that really dwells on them. And they have appeared heavily throughout books and movies, but I wanted to take a different approach to them both. Weaving in consciousness allowed me to explore another opaque field of science and create a delicate bridge between the deep mysteries of the universe and everyday people.

Pull Factor 2: Complexity of Relationships

The core of any good story is the impact of the characters. Regardless of wild, exotic concepts, action, themes, etc., the characters usher the story along. I wanted Green Bank to fascinate a reader while keeping them grounded with plausible characters navigating life in fathomable ways. Specifically, I wanted to explore relations amongst the characters, showing how the experiences that they have with one another readily impact decisions they make in the future. And as complex as relationships may be, you can distill them down to basic drivers. These drivers also serve as key inputs to surveillance technology present in Green Bank.

I hope this post serves not just as a catalyst to read Green Bank but also as motivation for anything you have been seeking to do in your life. At one point in time, my story was just neurons firing off in my head. But with patience and consistency, it became a published book. Never has holding a book in my hand felt so meaningful, let alone people actually reading it and, hopefully, liking it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Stay curious. Keep exploring the magic you still have to share with the world.

All the best,

Kyle

SOCIAL MEDIA: Amazon Author / Goodreads/ 

Kyle Conroy is an exciting new voice in the world of science fiction, blending real-world expertise with vivid imagination. With a background in space exploration, defense, cybersecurity, and research, Kyle brings an authentic and technical edge to the stories he crafts. His passion for astrophysics—particularly the mysteries of black holes and dark matter—shapes the thrilling and mind-bending worlds he creates.

When not delving into cosmic wonders, Kyle enjoys spending time in national parks, visiting/supporting animal sanctuaries, and unwinding with a good thriller novel. His unique combination of scientific knowledge and love for storytelling promises to captivate and inspire readers on a journey beyond the stars.

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Jade Strings(Gemstones of Fate 1)by Elen Gait-review & guest post

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Jade Strings (Gemstones of Fate Trilogy Book 1) by Elen Gait -review & guest post

 Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 15, 2024

Azriel is a talented guitarist with a rebellious streak, often the source of tension within his struggling band. Meanwhile, Seraphina, a university student haunted by the loss of her parents, is trying to move forward while holding on to their memory. When their paths unexpectedly cross, an undeniable connection forms, one that feels both new and strangely familiar, as if from a shared dream.

Falling for Azriel wasn’t in Seraphina’s plans. She’s always found it difficult to open up, afraid of the heartache that comes with loss. But as their bond deepens, Seraphina starts to believe in a future with him, something she never thought she’d be ready for. Yet with each step toward that future, she’s reminded of how easily life can change.

Can she risk her heart for a chance at real love, or will fate have a different plan, one that could change everything?

••••••

REVIEW: A debut author/book for me. The cover drew my eye, and the blurb had me one-clicking it.

Azriel

Ryder/Asher/Cade are members of the band with Azriel. They’ve been friends for a while. They dream of making it big. But fortune has not been kind lately, down on their luck, they just want a break….

Seraphina

“Sera” works in a bar, she’s also in her last year at University studying an option that wasn’t her first choice! (Sera and her best friend Mia lodge/work together) She was a singer/songwriter, until parents died 5 years ago. After they died she just couldn’t face all those memories that her music brought back to her! 😞

Meeting at the bar where Sera works was just electric ⚡️ sparks flew…. And they both realised their lives had changed…. But for the better? You need to read on 😉

It’s very much one step forward, two steps back… I understand where Sera was scared, but it did get just a little tedious 🙄 I kept shouting at my kindle (which for me usually signals I’m immersed in the world that’s being created) for her to seize the day. Azriel also made mistakes, but was willing to try and make this new connection that they had work.

It’s almost a small town romance vibe, with a splash of angst, well until the end…. Then I’d say it became a deluge!

Loved the banter within the boys on the band, and how they had each other’s backs. And the friendship between Sera and Mia was just so close, a true friendship/sisterhood.

We also have a mystery to solve….. who’s sending the flowers? And why are Azriel and Sera dreaming of one another? And there may or may not be another budding romance 🥰 could that be the next book? 🤞

OMG!!! The cliffhanger….. my kindle nearly went out the window!!! That second book had better be released soon 😱

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B🦋

From Dream to Reality: Crafting Seraphina and Azriel in Jade Strings

Every story starts somewhere, and for me, Jade Strings began with a dream, twice, in fact. I found myself dreaming of a moment so vivid that it stayed with me long after I woke up, a guy with light green eyes approached me and offered his hand. The dream felt so real, and it left me wondering: What if? When I didn’t meet that person in real life, I realized I had a choice: hold on to the lingering “what if,” or explore it through writing. Instead of letting it fade, I chose to turn it into a story.

Seraphina: A Journey of Fear and Impulse

I began to imagine Seraphina as a young woman navigating the loss of her parents, which left her reserved and uncertain about letting new people in. She’s cautious, but when emotions run high, her impulsive side takes over. Her fear of loss makes her hesitant to trust others and risk the heartache of losing someone again.

Before the tragedy, music was a significant part of her life, but now, those talents lie hidden beneath the weight of her past. Her journey isn’t just about confronting her pain, but also about rediscovering the pieces of herself she once lost.

Azriel: A Rebel with a Passion for Music

Azriel came to life as a rebellious spirit with a deep connection to music. Growing up in a challenging environment, he learned to rely on himself, which shaped his defiance and desire to break free from limitations.

His journey is marked by setbacks and a relentless drive to prove his worth, which built walls around him higher than even Seraphina’s. At first, success was his only goal, but meeting Seraphina changed his perspective, making him question what it means to be worthy, not just of achievement, but of someone who believes in him.

Side Characters: Adding Depth and Real Connections

While Seraphina and Azriel’s connection is at the heart of Jade Strings, the story wouldn’t be complete without the presence of the side characters who bring warmth and tension to their world.

Seraphina’s best friend, Mia, isn’t just a confidant; she’s like family. The two have faced so much together that their bond feels unbreakable. Mia is the bold risk-taker who pushes Seraphina to step outside of her comfort zone and embrace what life has to offer, encouraging her to follow her heart instead of letting fear hold her back.

On Azriel’s side, his bandmates, Ryder, Asher, and Cade, create a lively dynamic that contrasts with the emotional intensity of the main story. Ryder is more rebellious than Azriel, unafraid of anyone or anything, with a fierce personality that often leads the group. Asher is the grounded “good boy” who balances out the group’s energy. Then there’s Cade, the ultimate romantic with a sense of humor, who lightens the mood but often finds himself on the receiving end of teasing. Despite the teasing, the bandmates’ loyalty runs deep. They push each other’s buttons, but when things get tough, they show up for each other without hesitation.

Embracing the Role of Fate and Luck

In Jade Strings, I wanted to show how life, fate, and luck often intersect in unexpected ways. Seraphina once had everything, stability, family, and a clear path, only to have it all taken away in an instant. Meanwhile, Azriel, who had nothing, faced constant struggles and rejection until he found success. Their stories are a reminder that sometimes, no matter how hard we hold on, what isn’t meant to be will slip away, and at other times, fate and luck can offer us something we never expected.

Finding Inspiration in Unanswered Questions

Writing Jade Strings allowed me to explore the idea of unexpected connections and the courage it takes to open up to new possibilities. Seraphina’s journey isn’t just about facing her past, and Azriel’s isn’t only about breaking through his struggles, it’s about finding someone who understands you in a way that feels almost destined. And with side characters like Mia and the bandmates, I wanted to create a world that feels rich with real-life dynamics and lasting bonds.

Thank you for letting me share this journey with you. I hope that in Jade Strings, you find something that resonates with your own experiences and a reminder that every “what if” can be a doorway to something new.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Amazon Author/ Goodreads/ Website/ Facebook/

How It All Began

Ever since I was young, I’ve been captivated by the power of words. I started my writing journey in high school, crafting poems and short, humorous stories for fun. It was a way for me to express my thoughts and emotions, and I loved seeing how stories could make people laugh, think, and feel. Later, with some unexpected spare time on my hands, I decided to dive deeper into my love for storytelling and began writing full-length novels.

What Fuels My Creativity

I draw inspiration from countless books and literary works, and when I’m not writing, you’ll often find me reading, listening to music, or watching my favorite TV series. These moments of relaxation and inspiration help me recharge and often spark new ideas for my stories.

My Big Debut: Jade Strings

My debut novel has a rather interesting origin, it all began with a dream. I had this recurring, mysterious dream about a guy I didn’t know, and it left me curious. When I didn’t encounter this person in real life, I thought, what if? That simple question sparked an idea: what if two people dream about each other and then meet in real life? How would their lives unfold from there? This thought became the foundation of my first book, and I’ve been excited to bring this story to life ever since.

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Hera’s Curse (American Noir Trilogy 1) by Shaun Griffin-review

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Hera’s Curse (American Noir Trilogy 1) by Shaun Griffin-review & guest post

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 27, 2024

A cell phone number triggers a deadly chain of events which pits assassins Matt and John against the enigmatic Anastasiya. She is a vampire who has lived in the shadows for two hundred years and is not about to allow the extermination of her kind by mere mortals.

When a desperate young woman named Faith joins the men, she becomes the key to Anastasiya finding them. The vigilante priest, the ruthless crime boss, the disillusioned PI, the unfaithful trophy wife — each has their part to play as Anastasiya’s hunt moves towards the inevitable deadly showdown.

Hera’s Curse is a blend of crime noir and deconstructed vampire myth unlike anything you will read.

••••

REVIEW:This is definitely not your typical vampire story. A pretty good plot. Good characters and twists that will keep you reading until the last page.

Matt and John are assassins, guns for hire. On the lookout for a target they’ve been assigned. One looks forward to the chase and killing, the other not so much. They’ve been friends for a while, but a rift is beginning to form…..

Faith made one bad choice and now she’s paying for it! But when a lifeline is thrown to her, Faith has to quickly decide to stay where she is (if she does then she won’t be around for much longer 💀) or to go with Matt and John her new heroes and help them find the guy she’s with. (I personally would go with option two.) Deciding on the second option, Faith hopes it doesn’t lead her down an even more dangerous path!!

And Anastasiya our villain of the story, but is she? Being persecuted by humans who feel threatened by her has Anastasiya on edge. Being hunted because of one silly mistake made by one of her progeny, Anastasiya will hunt them. And Faith maybe the key to finding the two killers…..

It has stories coming together from all the different characters, we get to see how they come to this point in their lives, why they are here, and how it’s all going to end!

The ending, although I vaguely saw coming, still surprised me.

But I’m going to be honest, I really struggled getting into the book and it keeping my attention. I usually inhale vampire stories. But this one…. I can’t put my finger on it, it just didn’t flow like the books I usually read.

But that’s not to say it’s a bad book, no it’s not. It’s written well, thought out pretty good, and executed nicely.

The characters felt just a little out of sync with each other and the book. But I could easily distinguish one from another.

A good read if you like a thriller with a noir feeling.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B 🦋

 

EVOLUTION OF A STORY
By Shaun Griffin

How does an author come up with an idea? How does it evolve? Is there some secret formula? Could a simple algorithm be designed to create our stories? Input some values and, hey presto, your story is done. I suppose to some degree this is happening.
All hail the AI tech wizards of creative oblivion.

The extent to which the art of weaving stories will be successfully mimicked by AI is much debated. There are times I grow despondent at the idea human beings would even think to relinquish their creativity to an algorithm. But then the muse wakes me at three in the morning with an idea and it is something magical. A magic I think AI will never be able to replicate.

This brings me to how I came up with my novel, Hera’s Curse. Although it was not called that in the beginning. It began as a short story called, Compound Vision.

It was 1998. I was driving to work one morning when I passed an old Ford Cortina (for American readers the equivalent would be a 1980s Chevy sedan) travelling well below the speed limit. Two young men, obviously closely related, sat upfront. They stared blankly ahead, blithely unaware of the world around them. The word ‘Hick’ immediately came to mind. Then it occurred to me—what if there was more to these two than met the eye? Rather than the slow-witted individuals they appeared to be, what if they were hitmen? I had this mental image of two brothers in dungarees and hobnailed boots sporting Magnum revolvers.

A few weeks later I was filling up at a gas station when a white minivan pulled up alongside. Seated inside were two prim rows of high school girls. What struck me was that they looked identical—from their immaculate private school uniforms to the blonde hair pulled back in a regulation ponytail. Every school principal’s dream. But what if that conformity hid something far more sinister?

That weekend I wrote a short story about two country bumpkin hitmen hunting a thug named Manny, who has been lured to a boarding house by some young women with the promise of sex. In the men’s search they meet Faith, a runaway who has been forced to work for Manny. She leads them to the boarding house where they discover the vampire women feeding on Manny. The story was told in a tongue-in-cheek style from the perspective of a fly-on-the-wall, hence the title. Everyone who read it remarked that I should expand it into a full-length story.

Work commitments got in the way and the story was shelved. Fifteen years later, I finally sat down to write. I thought about the original story. The characters in it were just caricatures and would not sustain the interest of anyone reading a novel. But where to start?

The first to change were the hitmen. They evolved into Matthew and John, two young men waging a war against drug dealers, though each for different reasons. Next were the young vampire women. Who were they? How did they become? For this story I felt things should be grounded in a plausible reality. Out went the usual tropes. These vampires would be a product of a virus and though enhanced in strength, agility, longevity and so forth, they could be killed like any human.

An infectious disease needs an origin and so the character of Anastasiya was born. Her noble origins and her motivation for creating her cult fell into place easily. It was then that I saw that the main conflict would be between Anastasiya and Faith, the last of my original trio. Mother and Maiden but who to be the Crone? Tammy is my interpretation of this aspect of the Goddess. All that was left was a way of connecting these protagonists. Enter Don Stone, the quintessential PI.

Once I’d completed my first draft, I realised I had the makings of a trilogy. I called it, American Noir. I hope you find the first part, Hera’s Curse, as enjoyable to read as I did to write it.

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CENTAURI’S SHADOW by Ross Garner-Review & Guest Post

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CENTAURI’S SHADOW by Ross Garner-Review and Guest Post

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 8, 2024

‘Eight years ago they sent a single ship to test our defences. Now they’re building an armada.’

Cole grew up in the shadow of grief. Kyoko grew up in the shadow of war. Two pilots, separated by time, set out on parallel journeys to Proxima Centauri. What they find could be the start of something new. What they bring with them could be the end of all we know.

In this sweeping science fiction debut from Ross Garner, readers will find an Earth that is transformed by fear of an imminent invasion; a space station in orbit that acts as a gateway to other worlds; a Martian colony with all of the threat and violence of the Old West; and a distant star where answers can be found.

What is ‘the signal’? A greeting, or a threat?

••••

REVIEW: CENTAURI’S SHADOW by Ross Garner is an adult, science fiction thriller focusing on a potential war on the horizon with an alien race.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Cole and Kyoko), focusing on two timelines, CENTAURI’S SHADOW follows in the wake of a message from space possibly signifying a senscient lifeform from beyond the sun but the UNSA’s (United Nations Space Agency) first attempt to circumnavigate the sun, ends in disaster, and years later, the sole remaining survivor, volunteers to set a plan into motion, to reach the Centauri system, in an effort to complete the original mission.

Meanwhile, several decades into the future, Earth and its’ colony on Mars have been attacked by an unknown enemy, and Kyoko and her crew of fighter pilots is tasked with ending all future attacks but Kyoko will quickly discover that all is not well on her voyage towards the end.

The characters are numerous, determined, dynamic and often lost. Mars is not so much a respite from Earth, but a virtual imprisonment for those who have been forgotten or have no direction home.

CENTAURI’S SHADOW is a detailed, complex and intriguing story of what ifs and whys. Humans have not learned from the past, and the past is gearing to repeat itself over and over again. Every generation or two fights for power and control, and in this, vengeance and greed lead to another war that no one will win.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Click HERE to read the first chapter of CENTAURI’S SHADOW by Ross Garner

The Wright Flyer to Apollo 11

By Ross Garner

In 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made history as the inventors and pilots of the Wright Flyer: the first airplane. Of the first four test flights, the most successful was the last: covering a distance of 260 metres.  

Just 66 years later, astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins flew Apollo 11 a distance of 953,054 miles. They landed on the moon, and returned safely.

There aren’t many people who lived through both events. A person born in the United States in the 1880s had a life expectancy of just 40 years. But there were some: a miraculous few who experienced first hand the transition from the Old West to the Space Age.

What was their reaction to this dramatic change in our technological capability? Did they feel like time travellers, leaving the world of the horse and wagon behind in favour of rockets and satellites?

It was this idea that led to the writing of Centauri’s Shadow, my first novel.

I imagined an astronaut, setting out alone to visit our closest star: Proxima Centauri. The journey would take him 40 trillion kilometres away from Earth. With today’s technology, it would take 70,000 years.

He would need to be frozen somehow, waiting to be reawakened on arrival.

And how might his home planet have changed while he slept?

If humankind’s technology could shift from a flimsy biplane to a rocket-fuelled spaceship in just 66 years, how might it evolve over 70,000 years?

It seemed reasonable to conclude that our technology would continue to improve. That the journey time would shrink from 70,000 years, to something more manageable.

By the time our astronaut arrived, Proxima Centauri could be home to millions of people: living in spaceships, space stations, and on other worlds.

I thought about this astronaut: sacrificing his life on Earth to be the first great explorer to visit another star, only to find that the journey had been pointless. The time, wasted. The sacrifice, meaningless.

And I decided to turn this idea into a book.

The story of Centauri’s Shadow evolved in the writing. The astronaut in question became Cole Anderson, and he journeys to Proxima Centauri not with a traditional rocket but with the use of solar sails: a method of propulsion that already exists and uses the pressure from solar radiation to gain speed.

With a bit of science fiction fudgery, the journey time was reduced to 30 years: allowing for a stronger emotional tie to Cole’s life and relationships back home. But the core concept remained, including the themes of time and sacrifice.

And the original idea lingers in the novel in another major way: the notion of the Old West, complete with saloons, brothels, missionaries and violence, re-emerged in the form of the first martian colony.

It took me 10 years in total to finish the story. A rather damning reflection of my ability to get things done when compared to the accomplishments of those who followed in the steps of the Wright brothers.

But I came to have sympathy for Cole, with all his faults. He did his best to find his way, as we all do.

Readers can make up their own minds whether it was worth it.

Centauri’s Shadow is available now on Amazon (US / UK / Canada)

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BLACK HEARTED by Julie Ann Walker-review, excerpt, guest post

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BLACK HEARTED (Black Knights Inc: Reloaded 2) by Julie Ann Walker-review, excerpt & guest post

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play / Apple /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 26, 2023

He’s everything she ever wanted. She’s everything he never knew he needed. Can she convince him she’s the one?

The Black Knights are back and better than ever!

Samuel Harwood has spent his entire career working in the black and gray areas of international intrigue. Living in the shadows for so long has made him forget who he was and where he came from. Then a blast from the past, in the form of his ex-girlfriend’s kid sister, arrives on the front steps of Black Knights Inc, reminding him of everything he left behind. Except, she’s no longer a kid. And she’s in serious trouble.

Hannah Blue has been in love with Sam Harwood since she was in braces. When someone sabotages her entire life, he’s the first person she turns to. She has critical information about a potential cyber-attack on the U.S. power grid that could end in catastrophic financial damage and loss of life. But the FBI thinks she’s a traitor. And now she’s on the run to save herself and the fate of the entire nation.

Who does Samuel trust? The smart, sexy woman he’s known since he was a teenager? Or the government authorities who give him his orders and cut his paychecks? He’ll make one desperate play to find out. A play that could cost him everything…including his heart.

•••••

REVIEW:BLACK HEARTS is the second instalment in Julie Ann Walker’s contemporary, adult BLACK KNIGHTS INC: RELOADED romantic suspense series-a spin off from the author’s BLACK KNIGHTS INC. This is thirty-four year old, former US Marine Raider turned BKI agent Samuel Harwood, and twenty-nine year old, DOD IT specialist / hacker Hannah Blue’s story line. BLACK HEARTED can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line or series is revealed where necessary. Several characters cross over from the original series for cohesion.

Told from several omniscient third person perspectives including Hannah and Sam BLACK HEARTED follows in the wake of the arrest of our story line heroine. Hannah Blue uncovered a possible threat to the US power grid but someone has placed the blame squarely on our story line heroine. Arrested by the FBI and held on terrorism charges, Hannah’s one call to her best friend Cesar results in the escape and rescue of our story line heroine. Enter thirty-four year old, former US Marine Raider turned BKI agent Samuel Harwood, the man Hannah has love most of her life. What ensues is the search for the truth, and the building relationship between our story line couple.

The world building continues to focus on a new crew of Black Ops agents working for Black Knights Inc. Hannah Blue has lusted after Samuel Harwood since the first time her older sister brought Samuel home but Samuel sees Hannah as a younger sister, and as such is desperate to keep their relationship as friends but when the FBI comes looking for our story line couple, Samuel becomes guardian and protector of our story line heroine.

The relationship between Sam and Hannah is one of unrequited love. Sam has kept his distance from the woman that stirs something deep but it is only a matter of time, and a suspicion that Hannah has been set up to take a fall, that Sam will realize Hannah is the woman he loves. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Several of the original Black Knights Inc team return a secondary and supporting characters. We are re-introduced to Eliza Meadows, Fisher Wakefield as well as Grace Beacham and Hunter Jackson (Back in Black 1). The requisite evil has many faces. There is something developing between Fisher and Eliza.

BLACK HEARTED is a story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, espionage and terrorism, family, friendships, relationships and love. The fast paced premise is intriguing, captivating and dramatic; the romance is seductive and fated; the characters are powerful, determined and dynamic. BLACK HEARTED ends on a happily ever after for now-the main conflict and the people involved has yet to be resolved.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one BACK IN BLACK

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

 

She didn’t have the strength—or the will—to lift her hands to brush her tears away. Which meant they ran down her face, dripped off her chin, and plopped onto her shirt.
“I’m s-so sorry,” Sam said as he gingerly removed the last boot from the five-toed iceberg that was her foot. His hands were shaking so hard he dropped the boot the instant it came free. And she wondered why she wasn’t shivering. She was absolutely frozen. Shouldn’t she be quaking like him? “I kn-know you’re hurting, ’cause I feel like s-someone’s shoving f-frozen pokers into me, and you were more exposed than I was. B-but hang on a little bit l-longer, okay?”
“That’s not why I’m crying,” she whispered.
“No?” He cocked his head.
“I’m just…” She sniffed. “Thank you, Sam.” She hiccupped as a new sob shook her entire body. “You saved me.”
“You mostly s-saved yourself. I just d-did the d-driving.”
“No.” She shook her head, wanting to tell him how much she appreciated the risk he’d taken in coming for her. Wanting to explain how much it meant to her. But no matter how hard she tried, the words wouldn’t form. What came out of her mouth was, “I feel like I only have two brain cells functioning, and they seem to be fighting each other for third place.”
One corner of his mouth twitched. “There sh-she is, the funny, flippant H-Hurricane Hannah I know and l-love.”
The instant the word love left his lips, fresh tears welled. She’d waited her whole life to hear him say that. And now he had.
But he hadn’t meant it.
Not the way she wanted him to.
“C-come here.” He gathered her close and she thought he was going to hug her. She was more than a little disappointed when instead he scooped her into his arms so he could quickly transfer her into the tub, T-shirt, pajama bottoms, and all.
“No!” she yelped. Her brain went from slow and sluggish to blaring danger, Will Robinson! Danger! The water was burning tongues of fire licking over her skin. “It’s too hot!”
He kept her in the tub with a firm hand on her shoulder. “It only f-feels that way ’cause your sk-skin is f-frozen.”
Every instinct told her to jump from the lava bath lest her flesh melt right off her bones. But she trusted him. Gritting her teeth, she stayed put. And then watched, dumbfounded, as he peeled his White Sox sweatshirt over his head before tackling the zipper on his jeans.
Once he was down to black, thermal long johns that hugged his muscular body like a second skin, he stepped into the tub.
“S-scoot forward,” he instructed.
When he lowered himself into the tub behind her, his big body made the water rise. Every new inch of skin it touched burned like blue flames. She only managed to keep from hissing her pain by biting the inside of her cheek.
“Now l-lean b-back.” He patted the place over his heart and she gingerly reclined until her back was pressed against his chest.


 

Old world. New Characters. Who dis?

When I first considered jumping back into the world of motorcycles and mayhem—a world I left behind almost 5 years ago—I was worried. You see, I closed the door on the series when I penned the final Black Knights Inc. book. But…knowing me and knowing how much I loved the characters and their world, I did have enough forethought to leave open a window. My concern was the readers wouldn’t be willing to crawl through it. Not now. Not after so much time had passed.

Imagine my surprise and delight when the first book was met with hand-flapping excitement and rave reviews. Turns out, the fans were willing to crawl through, jump into, and throw rocks to break the glass of the window in order to get back to Black Knights Inc. And I am both humbled and so incredibly happy to be able to continue to write stories in a setting the feels like home to so many.

(Author’s note: You don’t have to read the original 12-book series to enjoy the new Black Knights Inc: Reloaded stories. All books can be read as standalones. Although, I would suggest starting at the beginning of the spin-off, with Back in Black.)

FOLLOW Julie: Facebook / Goodreads / Website /   Bookbub | Instagram | Newsletter

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Julie grew up in a house full of women – she has three older sisters. As you can imagine, there was no lack of drama… or romance. Her mother enrolled her in a book club as soon as she began to read and it was the small spark that ignited her voracious appetite for the written word.

Because of Julie’s early immersion in literature, she found writing came quite naturally. In high school, she won multiple writing contests and was the proud senior editor of The Tiger’s Tale – her school newspaper.

During her college years, however, she longed for a challenge. “Reading and writing felt like second nature to me, so I looked for a way to flex my mental muscles,” she recalls. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree, Julie began teaching advanced high school mathematics.
“I loved working with the students and facing the challenges of the classroom, but I longed for the occasional snow day when I could race to the local book store, buy two or three new novels, and curl up in front of the fire to read.”

It wasn’t until a fortuitous move to Chicago that Julie once more returned to her first passion.

Now Julie loves to travel the world looking for views to compete with her deadlines. When she’s not writing, she enjoys camping, hiking, cycling, cooking, petting every dog that walks by her, and… reading, of course

Be sure to sign up for Julie’s occasional newsletter at: http://julieannwalker.com

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Of Thieves and Shadows by BSH Garcia-review & guest post

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Of Thieves and Shadows (The Heart of Quinaria) by BSH Garcia-review & guest post

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 1, 2023

Some secrets are best left to the shadows. But shadows have a mind of their own.

The ancient land of Quinaria teeters on the brink of war, as its most precious resource is unearthed and exploited. Three nations have maintained tenuous peace for centuries, but as the life-giving nevethium dwindles, rumors of an ancient evil long thought dead spread like wildfire.

Elaysia never wanted to lead. As the high chieftain’s only surviving heir, she’s thrust into a role that jeopardizes the already fragile peace. A deadly attack on the day of her induction strengthens her resolve—and her suspicion that her parents’ murders and these disturbing rumors are connected.

With newfound companions, she embarks on a journey to uncover the truth. But as they unravel layers of secrets, they find themselves in the clutches of a dictator whose unethical nevethium experimentation threatens to bring about a new world of terror and violence.

Elaysia and her allies could be all that stands between war and a dying world—if their conflicting ambitions don’t destroy them first.

•••••••

REVIEW:Elaysia is the Main Female Character(FMC) and I found her a joy to read. Her journey is a hazardous one, and at times she definitely has to step up and be the leader, through the book she grows up and I can’t wait to see her again in book two.

Secondary characters are interesting and they all get a say on this book, there is a little confusion as the characters multiply and split off into adventures of their own, but it soon settles back down.

The descriptions in this book captivate and transport to this new world with ease, you immerse yourself in the lives of the characters, you feel their pain, you hold your breath as each story unfolds.The smallest of detail wasn’t missed, gods had names, weather and villages were described, the journey to stop the chaos was tough going, you actually felt every step they took.

It is a little political and topical for what’s going on on the world at the moment, but it doesn’t detract from the story at all (I never got that the author was on a political podium).

The battle scenes are intense, the action doesn’t stop until the last page. If this were a rollercoaster, it would have left you breathless with the twists and turns…..

I’d call this a dystopian adventure with a murder/mystery vibe.
I throughly enjoyed this book, and although this author is a new one for me, I’m definitely going to be reading the next book.

It doesn’t leave a cliffhanger ending, the story is wrapped up pretty well. But it does leave a few questions that I’m hoping book two will clear up.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B ?

The Role of Setting in Storytelling: Creating Vivid Worlds
Close your eyes. Imagine your favorite story, recall a cherished fable from childhood, or replay a scene from a top-five film in your mind.
Chances are high that the setting or world-building of that story was one of the first things to take shape in your memory, if not the very first thing. Not only does setting make up the building blocks of any great story or character, it is also what shapes them, sets the tone, and often what makes them unique. Imagine Star Wars without the desert waste of Tatooine, or Lord of the Rings without the enchanting paradise that is Rivendell. How could we properly appreciate the stakes in Dune or Game of Thrones without the historical implications driving the narrative?
The world-building of a story shapes its characters, the plot, and conveys the culture intertwined through it all. It’s as subtle as a meal, and as glaringly obvious as a mythological being spewing prophecies. A story without a clearly defined setting is like a crew without a ship. All the players are there (the crew) ready to sail the ocean (the plot), but without a vessel (the world-building), they are going to flounder, and many will drown. But if your ship is too big and flashy, if it dwarfs the ocean and swallows your characters, that’s not much of a story either. Like most things, crafting a solid setting and weaving the right amount of it into the story is a precarious process. But when done right, it yields excellent results.
Now, I wouldn’t dare compare myself to Tolkien or one of my modern-day favorites, N.K. Jemisin, but I spent a great deal of time crafting the land of Quinaria until I could taste the Beridian Moonlight and dip my toes in the Khitamic Ocean off the northwestern coast of Neharem. I then spent even more time dropping in bits of it here in there, allowing it to shape the narrative, the characters, all while avoiding info-dump mode (or so I hope). What follows is a brief overview of my process and how it shaped my narrative and characters.
The world-building comes first. Now, this is partially a lie because, ultimately, the story idea itself comes first, doesn’t it? That burning question, that spark of a conflict, that character that just won’t leave you alone. However, once I embraced my story idea and sat down to work through it, the first thing I tackled was the world. Without knowing the societal norms and expectations, I couldn’t assess my characters’ dreams and fears. Without understanding the world’s history, I couldn’t determine sources of conflict. Without mapping out the terrain, I couldn’t understand what people ate, how they dressed, how they acted.
I began my process with simple questionnaires I found online, cherry-picking my favorites and throwing them together in a giant Word Doc. Some were as simple as, “are all the inhabitants in your world human?”, while others delved into matters of religion and history. From there, I expanded my brief answers, turning them into essay-style responses that eventually grew into a document the size of a novella. I spent nearly two months world-building alone, and only once I felt comfortable with the world I created did I dare to delve into the story itself. Everyone uses their own approach, but for me, I would’ve never done my story justice without this step.
What I found fascinating, however, is how my world-building continues to grow and change throughout drafts. Even now, as I work on book two, I find myself learning even more about the world. It drives the narrative, and the narrative enriches the world-building. The setting helps me better understand my characters, and my characters teach me more about their world. In a way, world-building is fluid for me. While I must strive to ensure it never contradicts itself, everything within those boundaries is fair game. Every question from a beta reader, every interesting tidbit I read in a non-fiction book or catch in a documentary, adds more depth and more believability. It’s a never-ending process, at least until the series ends. And by doing it organically and allowing it to play off the other storytelling aspects, I believe it inserts itself organically. I didn’t need a prologue dedicated to the history or setting because the story itself is those things, woven into the tapestry of the tale.
But you be the judge. Take a stroll through Quinaria sometime and let me know if you find yourself lost in her. If, for even a moment, I can transport you to an alternative reality, then I’ve done my job. I’ve given you escape from this world so you can better process it through the lens of another.
Until then, farewell.

B. S. H. Garcia is the author of the epic fantasy series, The Heart of Quinaria. A household manager by day, writer by night, she graduated with honors from The University of Colorado with a bachelor’s degree in English Writing. To get into character for her stories, she trudges through the woods in cosplay with a mead-filled drinking horn and has traveled from Oregon to New Zealand seeking inspiration. Visit her online at www.bshgarcia.com. There, you can get your hands on a FREE copy of The Heart of Quinaria prequel novelette, From the Ashes. All she asks for in exchange is your soul.

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The Shadow of Theron by Kathryn Troy-Review & Guest Post

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The Shadow of Theron (Age of Shadows 1) by Kathryn Troy-Review & Guest Post

ebook only 99¢Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.UK /B&N / KOBO /

The powers of old are fading. A new Age is dawning.

Holy relics are all that remain of Theron’s sacred legend.

Now those relics, the enchanted weapons forged by the Three-Faced Goddess to help Theron defeat the wicked Sorcerer Argoss, are disappearing.

Lysandro knows the village magistrate Marek is responsible, and he searches for proof disguised as the masked protector the Shadow of Theron.

But when Marek wounds him with an accursed sword that shouldn’t exist, Lysandro must find a way to stop Marek from gaining any more artifacts created by the Goddess or her nemesis.

The arrival of the beautiful newcomer Seraphine, with secrets of her own, only escalates their rivalry.

As the feud between Lysandro and Marek throws Lighura into chaos, a pair of priestesses seeks to recover the relics and return them to safekeeping. But the stones warn that Argoss is returning, and they must race to retrieve Theron’s most powerful weapon.

While they risk their lives for a legend, only one thing is certain. The three temples to the Goddess have been keeping secrets: not just from the faithful, but from each other.

•••••••••

REVIEW: Another magical read for me. And I loved it. Although a little slow and confusing in the beginning, it’s worth continuing as it’s a really good read. Written really well, plenty of descriptions and feelings put into this book.

A little Zorro in places, he fights for justice wearing a mask, Lysandro wants answers and thinks Marek knows the answers to his questions.

Seraphine becomes entangled in the two’s world, she’s not a pushover by any means. She’s not impressed with Marek (who really is a nasty person) but with Lysandro that’s a whole different story, how she didn’t guess Lysandro wasn’t Theron I’ll never know (but look at the weak guise superman/Clark Kent used!) and her reaction when she finally knows the truth was a little overboard.

Both Lysandro and Marek make a play for Seraphine, but it’s Lysandro that wins her heart, but it’s not an easy task, it might be love at first sight for Lysandro, but it took a little time to convince her ?

There are triggers in this book, it’s a dark fantasy with a splash of romance. There is mentioning a of rape (not the MFC) there is a hanging scene, and scenes of torture! But the violence is kept to a minimum, and for those who don’t like bad language, that’s hardly used.

Can Lysandro find the missing relics that will help him overcome evil? Can he convince Sera to give them a chance, and if she does, then will they be able to stay together? Will he ever find the mystical items to help him beat the evil Sorcerer?

I really enjoyed the book. So I’d recommend this one to those who enjoy action and adventure with a little romance.

Copy supplied for review

? Reviewed by Julie B

Lysandro moved along the edges of the room, circumnavigating the central space occupied by countless dancing couples. Then he saw her. At the far end of the hall, the normal view out over the coast had been replaced by a painted backdrop of the Maghreve Desert, at the very farthest border of Mirêne. With her arms wrapped around herself, Seraphine looked out over the artificial horizon. She wore a sleek ivory dress covered in gold and copper crystals that left her shoulders daringly bare. That now familiar ache that hadn’t left him since this morning grew more pronounced.
As he observed the faraway, wistful look in her eyes, he realized he recognized it—homesickness. He took a deep breath and called on well-used skills to smooth his nerves and keep them tightly tucked away under a charming façade.
He inhaled the hypnotic scent of her hair again as he stood close to her, and almost lost his nerve. He agonized over what to say, knowing he might have only one shot to get her attention.
“Is the city of stars as beautiful as they say?”
She turned to face him, and he saw the truth in her eyes.

Guest Post: The Act of Creation by Kathryn Troy

So many writers are so often asked by avid readers and aspiring writers alike: “Where do you get your ideas?”

It’s a natural question to ask, but it can be just as hard for some authors to answer this as it is to come up with the “elevator speech.” Which got me to thinking what it is about this query that bothers everybody so much.

The simple, semi-redundant answer to “where I get my ideas” is: I get them from my head. Because I’m creative. It’s in my nature to be observant, thoughtful, and reflective. I also have a knack for stringing words together because I’ve been doing it so long and make it a regular habit. To read the question in an unkind way, asking someone where they get their ideas is another way of saying “I have no ideas of my own, and I don’t know why.” Some people are creative. Some people are not. It’s wiring in the brain that causes this, and it’s not a personal affront to people who can’t imagine or tell stories, the same way it’s not an affront to the large majority of people who can’t draw beyond a kindergartner’s level, or those who become nauseous at the sight of the formulae of an astrophysicist. It takes a certain kind of brain function, coupled with practice, instruction, and discipline.

The same is true of writing. There are multiple skill sets at work here: the ability to research (possibly), deep reading (to understand themes of other authors and engage with them in your own work), understanding narrative (plot, narrative tension, setting, character, etc. etc. etc.) the actual writing (technicalities like grammar and sentence construction, poetic ability, vocabulary, mood), an imagination, an understanding of tropes and how to bend them, just enough to be new but not totally out there…and the list goes on and on.

So again: Where do I get my ideas?

1. From what I read: I see divergent storylines, or ways to fulfill my anticipation if the actual writing did not. I also absorb character types, environmental description, the setting of mood, and dialogue patterns. In the case of my latest book, The Shadow of Theron, its influences were, for starters: Zorro, Wheel of Time, Pyrdain, Indiana Jones, The Legend of Zelda, Xena: Warrior Princess, regency romance, the Spanish Inquisition, Italian principalities, Chinese mystery novels, The Odyssey, Berserk…I could go on. And on.

2. From what I see and hear: my stories are shot in full trillion-dollar color in my head-then I find the words to describe what I see in my mind’s eye. A collection of movie aesthetics, sounds, actor mannerisms, lighting, framing, perspective. Inspiration has come from tense strains in music-like the theatrical accompaniment of a musical movement. It promotes mood production and emotion.

3. From what I’ve experienced: Places I’ve been have given me plenty of inspiration- places that speak of the past, or promise the future. Where I’ve traveled. The activities I participate in. Everyday circumstances and practicalities.

4. From daydreaming: experimenting with my characters, allowing them multiple possibilities to understand behavior, predictability, authenticity.

To summarize: if you’re looking for inspiration, some things you can do that might help you: Reading, Writing, Observing, Living, and Dreaming.
There. I’ve given you the keys to the universe. Use wisely.

I’m a history professor by day, a novelist by night. I like to write what I read – fantasy, romantic fantasy, gothic fiction, historical fiction,  paranormal, horror, and weird fiction. Horror cinema and horticulture are my other passions.

When I’m not reading or writing or teaching, I’m gaming, traveling, baking, or adding some new weird creepy cool thing to my art collection. I’m a Long Island native with one husband, two children, and three rats.

Blog/  Facebook/ Instagram/ Amazon Author Page/ Goodreads

 

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