Dangerous games. Kill or be killed. Can she
survive a king’s ruthless arena?
Clarissa craves an escape. An orphan forced
into criminal acts with other kids by their caretaker, she longs to break free
and become a healer. But when an archenemy provokes a deadly confrontation, the
seventeen-year-old awakens hidden powers in an explosive and fiery defense.
Seized by soldiers and taken to the capital
along with her only friend, Clarissa trains alongside other slaves to fight in
the royal army. But surrounded by mysterious strangers and running low on
trust, the desperate captive fears graduation day will be her last.
Is Clarissa destined to die in chains?
Rising Ember
is the thrilling first book in the Forbidden Chronicles YA dystopian fantasy
series. If you like strong-willed heroines, nail-biting drama, and clean
slow-burn romance, then you’ll love Sara Wright’s action-packed adventure.
Buy Rising Ember to ignite destiny
today!
**Get signed
& special editions with maps, bookmarks & sprayed edges at Sara’s Store!**
The Heart of the Story: Why Flawed Characters Make the Best Heroes
I used to believe worldbuilding made a great story—until I realized the emotional journey of flawed characters is what truly hooks readers and makes dystopian fantasy unforgettable.
Every good story starts with an interesting premise—the “what if” statement. Then, it gradually integrates character development, emotional arcs, and familiar genre tropes. It feels like constructing a living, breathing entity.
For me, story premises are sometimes clear, sometimes not. But without an interesting idea, you may struggle to write an interesting story.
If you don’t know what a premise is, here are a few examples of worlds I’ve built so far:
What if a giant spaceship crashed and introduced alien technology to a planet and some people developed the ability to wield the elements while others didn’t?–Forbidden Chronicles
What if there was a perfect society of space-faring elemental wielders, descendants of the architects of the universe, whose sole mission was to protect people from calamity but faced an ancient evil that was unleashed?–The Progenitor Chronicles
But these ideas aren’t enough to make a great story. Ideas are only the starting point, the skeleton of the story, if you will. It’s pure world building which is vastly important for science fiction and fantasy stories, but it’s not the main component to be good. And what you’re really missing is the heart.
The heart of the story is your main characters. They will drive the emotions of your readers. If you really want to connect with them, the main characters’ problems must mirror our world. There is nothing more important than giving your characters’ flaws. This is something I didn’t fully grasp with my debut novel, The Progenitor. What was even more difficult is that I created a perfect world with flawless fairytale like royals who didn’t have problems. So I broke utopia.
Quickly my main character became a shy princess who hated being in the spotlight, which reflects how I’ve lived my whole life. But that wasn’t enough for the story. She had a single flaw, but she didn’t have a problem to fix.
So, I broke it further by taking away the very person who made her feel secure. How would she react when she found out after that person died he had lied to her? Who could she trust now? How would she face the rising darkness that was overtaking her people? And every time I wrote another book in the series, my goal was to break the utopia so that she could rise to fix it.
What was my lesson? Never make a perfect character or world ever again. If I had learned that lesson earlier, I wouldn’t have had a ton of drafts for The Progenitor.
When I sat down to write my next series (Forbidden Chronicles) I did it with intention. My main character would still be a morally good character, but her past would color her with flaws. Her flaws would become emotional arcs that the main side characters would help her overcome.
For example, in the first book of the Forbidden Chronicles, Clarissa wants nothing more than to leave her current life behind. She studies hard to get into medical school, but it’s also her weakness. Her caretaker exploits it to control her, but she doesn’t see how to get out of it.
Consider this situation from Rising Ember: Clarissa is being put in an impossible situation where she could lose everything she’s working for:
“I really hate asking for help, but given the time frame, I don’t have much of a choice. ‘I have to steal something from the town’s selectman’s office.’”–Clarissa, Rising Ember
We learn a lot with this one line. Clarissa doesn’t enjoy asking for help, but she’s desperate, so she’s asking for it anyway. What do desperate people forget to do? Think. And often they become impulsive or rash.
After a little back and forth where her friend learns why she’s been asked to do this, Luna pushes back on her:
“You know you have other options, right?”–Luna, Rising Ember
Her friend is basically pointing out that she doesn’t have to obey her guardian if she doesn’t want to, but it never occurred to Clarissa. She’s been groomed from a young age to fear the consequences of her caretaker, which shapes her identity—a common theme within dystopian literature. And this is a major flaw that she must overcome if she’s going to become the hero her people need.
These interplays between characters that fully flesh them out, building them into real human-like figures that make us want to care about them. It makes us want to fight alongside them. It helps us explore ourselves through their struggles.
However, people are complex. We often have more than one flaw and so should our characters. And to help them overcome those flaws, we have to use the antagonists in our stories to pull on our character’s emotions.
One of the most powerful emotional arcs is love. It’s also an emotion that can easily be exploited by the villain. Every great antagonist places a hero’s loved ones in danger, maybe even making an impossible choice.
While I don’t believe a romantic arc has to be at the heart of every story to make it good, love is often the driving force of many stories. Just think of Katniss’s driving force. It wasn’t Peeta or Gale—it was Prim, a sisterly bond. The love story was just a bonus, or a path to a life that she had to choose.
However, if the romantic plot is a driving force for the main character, the focus should be on the relationship rather than the physical aspect. Having that deeper relationship actually makes the almost touches and kisses more intense.
I think it’s much more entertaining reading about two characters sitting side-by-side crushing on each other. Their heart rate speeds up, and they become hyperaware of the other person. That their hands are only a few inches away from each other is their sole focus. Their pinks slide across the distance and just when they’re about to touch, the teacher asks them a question. It just makes you want to scream, doesn’t it?
I adore stories that adapt racy romance clichés into a clean, family-friendly format. Rising Ember utilizes forced proximity, a favorite trope of mine. It creates banter and tension between the characters that would not otherwise be there if they could stay apart. It forces them to be together in a way that deepens their relationship as the story goes on and creates conflicting emotions within the main character. When small moments like this happen:
“Gabriel’s presence looms over me as he inches closer, close enough for his breath to tickle my neck, causing goosebumps to rise all over my body.” -Clarissa, Rising Ember
Hopefully, you’ll feel those goosebumps too!
Once you have your heart in place, the rest of the body will form into a story your readers will love. And of course, when they’re hooked, fully focused on the love story, that’s when you throw in the plot twists, cliffhangers, and rip it all away. Which will likely leave your readers screaming for more.
Want to explore more about Clarissa’s journey in Rising Ember? The spark of this alliance starts right here.
Sara Wright
YA dystopian fantasy High-stakes—elemental powers—no-spice
Sarawrightbooks.com
Sara Wright is
the author of The Progenitor Chronicles and Forbidden Chronicles,
a YA dystopian fantasy series packed with rebellion, elemental powers, and
clean slow-burn romance.
She currently
lives on Earth, her favorite vacation planet, with her husband and their very
opinionated fur baby. But most days, she’s off exploring shattered kingdoms,
star-spanning civilizations, and the occasional multiverse with her lifelong
companions: Imagination and Creativity.
Raised on bedtime
stories and fueled by a steady diet of fantasy, sci-fi, and a sweet topping of
romance, Sara now writes tales for readers who crave action, heart, and hope.
When she’s not writing, you’ll find her cycling, hiking, or singing dramatically
to songs she swears are soundtracks to her books.
A relentless thriller that explores the unbreakable bonds
that transcend time.
What Goes Around
by Michael Wendroff
Genre: Thriller
‘Relentless and gritty, Wendroff expertly weaves a narrative
that begs, “just one more page”.’ J.D.
Barker, New York Times bestselling author
EVIL HAS MANY FACESChilling murders terrorize a town and bring together two detectives to face
the hardest tasks of their lives. Jack Ludlum, who relies on his brawn to get
things done, is now paired with his archenemy, Jill Jarred, a brilliant
investigator with keen intuition. As they delve into the secret world of incels
and white supremacists, and conflict between local authorities and the FBI
rages, a media frenzy further complicates the mission.
Is there a serial killer on the loose? Or something entirely different? Will
the detectives’ clashing personalities be their undoing, or can they unite to
stop the killer before they kill each other?
What Goes Around is a
dynamic thriller that examines the intricacies of love, loss, and the
unbreakable bonds that transcend time. With its pulse-pounding pace,
captivating characters, and a revelatory twist that challenges the boundaries
of life and death, this novel will keep you hooked from the first page to the
last, and thinking long afterwards.‘Starts off at a breakneck pace and doesn’t let up until it reaches its
unexpected conclusion.’ Lisa Black, New
York Times bestselling author of the Locard Institute thrillers‘An adrenaline-fueled novel, the action breathlessly driven by two
detectives relentlessly pursuing the bloody trails left by a serial killer with
a dark sense of justice, deadly groups of white supremacists, and one lonely,
alienated boy caught up in the violence.’ Kathleen Kent, New York Times bestselling author‘Fast-paced propulsive thriller that doesn’t let up – highly
recommended!’ Lori Brand, author
Michael Wendroff is the author of What Goes Around, a
debut thriller published by Bloomsbury, which bestselling author Eric Rickstad
calls a “brilliant debut,” and bestselling author Lisa Black says, “starts off
at a breakneck pace and doesn’t let up until it reaches its unexpected
conclusion.” Plus, #1 bestselling author J.D. Black says, “Relentless and
gritty, Wendroff expertly weaves a narrative that begs, ‘just one more page…’”
The book was inspired by what his mother said to him the second he was born: “Oh! How nice to see you–Again!”
Michael has an MBA in marketing from NYU, and was inducted into their Hall of Fame. He is a global marketing consultant. He shares his time between New York City, Sarasota,
Florida, and Lake Garda, Italy. He is married and has three wonderful children.
His mother was an editor (watching his mother scribbling in red ink on manuscript pages at home on weekends prepared him for his own editor’s comments!). She remarried a
literary agent, so Michael was friendly with many authors, and even spent a
vacation with Robert Ludlum. Watching Ludlum hand-write his 450 page novels on
yellow legal pads didn’t dissuade Michael from trying to write a novel (though
he’s thankful for his PC).
What Goes Around was launched in the USA, UK, and Australia,
and foreign language rights have been sold in Italian, Japanese, and Hungarian.
The hardcover went through 3 printings, and now the trade paperback is
available (along with audio book and e-book).
Fun fact:
Michael’s great-grandfather was brought over by Thomas Edison from the
University of Copenhagen to work with him. He holds a number of patents,
including for plastic buttons. Michael proudly wears button- down shirts
whenever he can.
She’s just the witch to finish what her
ancestors started.
Scare Thee Well
Laurel Haven Witches Book 2
by ReGina Welling
Genre: Paranormal Women’s Fiction
Three hundred
years ago, one witch had to live with her mistakes. Today, another might have
to die for them.
Tansy Shackleton has spent her entire life carrying the
guilt of her family’s legacy. If not for her ancestor’s mistake, good witches
might not be trapped in the coastal town of Laurel Haven, Maine. But no matter
how hard she tries to make amends, she can’t stop seeing the stain on her soul.
Not even at the cost of her marriage.
Connor Shackleton has tried everything he can think of to
get his wife to see that she’s not to blame for the unwitting actions of a
long-dead witch. At his wit’s end and unable to watch Tansy work herself into
the ground for something that wasn’t even her fault, he proposes they take a
break for a few days, just to get some perspective.
He should have known Tansy would martyr both their happiness
on the alter of guilt, but he didn’t. He wanted her back almost from the minute
he walked away, but she’s shut him out of her life as firmly as the door she
closed behind him.
The problem is, life and death in Laurel Haven go hand in
hand for witches of the blood, and just like Tansy, Connor’s one of them. The
only way to move forward is to turn and face the past head-on. Together with
her new coven, Tansy will have to put all of Laurel Haven’s ghosts to rest or
die trying.
Three hundred
years ago, four witches went into the forest to cast a spell of protection
against the evil creeping into their town but they were too late.
Today, Rue Channing never sees it
coming, and she should because seeing is her special power. Still, who would
have expected to be kidnapped and hauled off to a small coastal town in Maine?
But that is exactly what happened. Now, Rue, a lover of order and strict
routines, is dragged out of her comfort zone and into a new life in the small,
coastal town of Laurel Haven.
Things could not be worse, she thinks, until she meets the man next door and
decides they could. Ry McFadden is the most infuriating man on the planet. He’s
a study in contrasts; grumpy yet generous, intensely private, but somehow open.
Rue can’t think what to do with him, except she can, and that just makes things
worse.
The problem is, Ry McFadden just might be part of Rue’s destiny as she learns
she’s been brought to Laurel Haven to finish what her ancestors started.
“Excuse me. I don’t think that area’s for paying customers.”
The man’s voice sounded like Alan Rickman and Benedict Cumberbatch had a baby but without the British accent. He could read me a bedtime story, Rue thought as the deep tones shivered across the air.
“No worries. I’m not planning to pay for anything.”
“Get back here,” he called out when she took another step.
Dismissing that, Rue waggled her fingers over one shoulder but kept going and caught Tansy pulling another sheet of cookies out of a professional oven that Rue knew damn well she couldn’t afford. How much debt had Tansy racked up in a single morning?
Still, the scents of sugar and butter set Rue’s stomach grumbling. “You’re hired if you want the job. I have no idea how to run a bookstore, but if you stay on, I guess we’ll figure it out between us, so I’d like to make it official. Providing we don’t go out of business in a week because I can’t afford the stock or that stove. Or the ingredients in those cookies come to that.”
Grinning—did the woman ever not smile?—Tansy did a little two-step, bobbled the cookie sheet, then set it on the stainless worktable. “Not to worry. We’ll talk about the finances later.” With practiced speed, she transferred warm cookies to a lined display tray. “I have a customer waiting for these.” Picking up the tray, Tansy headed out, leaving Rue to follow.
“You mean Mr. Grumpy?” She kept her voice low since Tansy was nearly out of hearing distance anyway. The woman moved like lightning.
“They’re still warm,” Tansy was saying when Rue came up behind her. “You came in at just the right time.”
Mr. Grumpy turned a million-watt smile on her and accepted the cookie Tansy offered, but his expression hardened when he turned toward Rue. “I’m not sure how they do things where you’re from, but in Laurel Haven, customers know enough to stay on this side of the counter.”
“Oh, but—“
Rue cut Tansy off. “I’m glad to hear it, but I believe I’ve already mentioned I’m not a customer. My name is Rue, and this is my shop, so if it’s okay with you, I’ll go anywhere I please.”
“You’re one of…them.” He nodded toward Tansy. “That explains some things.” His hazel eyes searched her face as if looking for validation of something she didn’t quite understand. He offered his hand when she came out from behind the pastry case. Steeling herself for what she might see, Rue took it. It wouldn’t bode well for her business if she ran off potential customers. Even ones like him.
The vision of him armed with a sword, his eyes blazing black, and riding a dark horse through misty woods slid across Rue’s mind, bringing with it a bone-deep sense of recognition. Here was the figure that had haunted her most romantic dreams come to life.
“I suppose I am,” she said.
“Then, I guess I’m your new neighbor. I live upstairs.”
“You have more than that in common.” After popping two cookies in a bag, Tansy joined them.
“I can’t imagine what,” Rue muttered. This man was clearly an outlaw of some sort. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have seen what she’d seen. He certainly looked the part with dark hair falling recklessly over his furrowed brow, eyes narrowed, and lips that might have been kissable if they weren’t set in a stern line. Even annoyed, Rue had to admit, he packed a hell of a punch.
He wasn’t Rue’s type at all. Not one little bit.
Grinning, Tansy made the introductions by pointing and naming them in turn. “Ry. Rue.”
Okay, now Rue understood. They lived in the same building and had names that sounded sort of similar. As far as common ground went, she figured theirs was roughly the size of a postage stamp. The man put her hackles up even when he wasn’t talking.
“Ry?” she said, unable to help herself. “What’s that short for? Wait, let me guess. It’s Ryder, right?” A wicked smile tugged at her lips. “Ryder…Storm. That’s it, isn’t it? Or maybe it’s Ryder Strong. Either one sounds like the perfect name for an urban cowboy with a hero complex.”
Where had that come from? Rue considered herself a circumspect woman, but everything about this day brought out the worst side of her tongue.
“The name’s McFadden, ma’am,” he drawled and tucked his thumbs into his belt. “Ryland McFadden at your service, but you can go ahead and call me Ryder if it helps you feel better.” He cocked his head to the side. “What’s Rue short for? Wait. Let me guess. It’s Rudella, isn’t it? Like Cinderella, only meaner.”
ReGina Welling prefers not to talk about herself in the
third person so…
I live in Maine with my husband, a silly flufferpup named
Dash, and a crazy cat named Cricket. I write full time and also create mixed
media artwork when I get the chance.
When I was three, my mom brought home a new book and when
she went to read it to me, I read it to her instead. That was when she realized
I’d learned to read. Since then I couldn’t even estimate the number of books
I’ve read. It’s a lot!
I love talking to other readers so please visit me in any
one of these various places and don’t forget to let me know you stopped by!
Princess Evangeline has an insatiate lust for power. As her
kingdom’s most feared warrior and heiress to the throne, she plans to one day
rule in her father’s place, just as she rules over countless men during secret
nights of sin.
But when the castle falls to a new enemy, Evangeline becomes
a slave in her own kingdom, forced to obey the heartless queen’s commands to
honor her father’s dying wish: to protect her people.
The princess craves vengeance, but can she resist the carnal
magnetism between her and Prince Rune, the queen’s son and royal pawn? And as
rebellion brews, can she trust Rune, the man with the power to quench her
torrid flames, to be her greatest ally?
T. Pike grew up in Northwest Arkansas where she swam
competitively for more than 17 years. After graduating from Texas A&M
University with an English degree and All-American honors, she returned home to
pursue her master’s in English and write her debut novel: Some Call Me Eve. Now
a law student, she enjoys running and hiking with her dogs and exploring the
mountains with her partner.
The jaw-dropping, exciting follow-up to The Hound of The
Baskervilles will keep you on the edge of your seat!
Hold onto your hats; it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
The Whistle of
Revenge
Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler Mysteries Book 4
by KD Sherrinford
Genre: Historical Mystery Romance
Sometimes, our deepest fear is not the darkness but the
light that blinds.
If you loved Conan Doyle’s, The Hound of the
Baskerville, prepare to be enthralled by KD Sherrinford’s captivating
follow-up, The Whistle of Revenge.
The deadly antagonist, Jack Stapleton, makes a spectacular
return to the city of Milan in pursuit of his old nemesis, the celebrated
Detective Sherlock Holmes.
Adopting the enigmatic persona of Janus, a vengeful
Stapleton, along with the Italian mafia, wreak havoc on the Italian horse
racing fraternity and fledgling car manufacturing industry, and kidnapping
Holmes’s beloved son as part of their evil and well-executed master
plan—Operation Whistle.
Will Holmes, Irene Adler, and their trusted ally, Inspector
Romano, crack the code, rescue the boy, and unmask the deadly Janus?
Set against the backdrop of modern Milan, mind games and
misdeeds of the highest order play out as the story reaches its thrilling and
memorable conclusion.
The deepest secrets are often to be found out in the open,
if you only know where to look.
While her husband, Sherlock Holmes, is off playing detective
in London, Irene Adler finds herself having to turn investigator when her
friend Renata becomes the prime suspect in the attempted murder of her husband,
Luigi Amato. How can she refute the testimony of a credible eyewitness, even
though her heart tells her that Renata is innocent? What she needs is tangible
evidence, and she’s willing to do what she must to obtain it.
When Sherlock finally arrives on the scene, Irene seeks his
counsel, and he agrees to assist with her investigation. However their
relationship is called into question by Irene’s dear friend Sophia, who is not
overly fond of Irene’s husband nor approving of the way in which they conduct
their marriage. Will Irene be able to prove her friend Renata’s innocence, or
is there a more tangled web of deception at play? And will Sophia’s misgivings
regarding her marriage bear unfortunate fruit?
First
place, and best in category at the Chanticleer International Book Awards for
Shorts and Novellas
What will the Saporis find under the tree this year—Christmas presents, or
family skeletons?
In
the spirit of the holiday and a wish for familial harmony, Irene Adler
persuades her detective husband to invite his brother Mycroft to Christmas
luncheon. Holmes had cut ties with his brother when he discovered the
machinations Mycroft employed that drove Sherlock and Adler apart for four
years. He isn’t really sure this reunion is a great idea, but he can deny his
wife nothing.
Of course, they can’t tell the children what Mycroft is to them,
as that would entail learning that their father is the celebrated detective
when they know him simply as Lucca Sapori. And just when they think things may
be going better than expected, ghosts of the past crop up in unexpected ways
and threaten to ruin the holidays for everyone.
Finalist at The
Chanticleer International Book Awards for Romantic Fiction- The Chatelaine—
Proud Recipient of The Editors Gold Seal.
Love is the aria of the soul.
Charlotte Sapori has led a wonderful life, safely tucked in the bosom of her
family. Her mother, Irene Adler, is a renowned opera singer, while her father,
Lucca Sapori, does important government work that frequently takes him away
from them. Charlotte is close to her older brother, Nicco, and they are both
doted on by their parents. All is well until her mother receives an unexpected
diagnosis which shakes the family to its core.
Knowing herself to be dying, Adler confesses to Charlotte things that have long
been kept from her, telling her to find and read her diary. A distressed Lucca
Sapori tells his daughter to read his as well. And by the way, Lucca Sapori is
not his real name. In fact, she may have heard of him—he is actually the
world-famous detective, Sherlock Holmes.
Charlotte finds both diaries and plunges into the hidden world of Irene Adler
and Sherlock Holmes as she discovers what brought them together, and how they
managed to stay together for thirty years despite having to battle the odds.
KD Sherrinford is a multi-award-winning International
author. She was born and raised in Preston, Lancashire, and now lives on the
Fylde Coast with her husband, John and their two children—an avid reader from
an early age. KD loved the mystery writers Conan Doyle, and Agatha Christie was
her favourite. She read the entire Conan Doyle canon by age 13.
KD had a varied career, working with thoroughbred horses and
racing greyhounds. To mix things up, she joined Countrywide and became a Fellow
of The National Association of Estate Agents. Retirement finally allowed KD the
time to write her multi-award-winning debut novel, ” Song for
Someone.” KD got the idea for the story after a visit to The Sherlock
Holmes Museum on Baker Street in 2019; KD has always wanted to write about the
iconic character Irene Adler. A talented pianist from age six, the music from
some of KD’s favourite composers, Beethoven, Wagner, and Stephen Foster, all
feature strongly in her writing. .” Song for Someone “was awarded The
Editors Choice Gold Seal Medal in 2022 and received critical acclaim from Book
Viral, Readers Favorite, Literary Titan and The Historical Fiction Company,
which described” Song for Someone” as an evocative masterpiece and a
book that stands out in contemporary literature. The novel was a recent
Finalist at The Chanticleers International Book Awards- The Chatelaine. ”
Christmas at The Saporis” was published last December. The third book,
” Meet Me In Milan”, went live on the 29th of September 2023. This
thrilling Trilogy was Shortlisted for The CIBA’s Series Book Awards in Genre
Fiction.KD Sherrinford is a member of The CWA, the RNA and the LWA. Her short,
cosy mystery ” A Bit of a Do” was published in Marla Breeden’s
Limited Edition Anthology, entitled ” Malice Matrimony and Murder “On
the 13th of November 2023. Twenty-five original short, cosy mysteries from
international authors, including Deringer and Agatha Finalists, CWA members,
and recipients of The Editors Gold Seal, KD is very proud to be a part of this
fabulous collection. Book four of the Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler Mysters,
the much anticipated ” The Whistle of Revenge” was just released in
2025. You can reach KD on her Facebook author page.
Genre: SciFi Time Travel Action, Techno-Thriller, Suspense
On a clear day in April, terrorists in a commandeered Saudi
airliner divert from their flight path in a suicide mission to detonate a
nuclear device directly over the White House.
“After Washington, D.C. is vaporized by a nuclear surface
blast, Marc Beck, wonder boy of the American foreign service, prevails on
Ashmead, covert action chief, to help him fly two batches of anticancer serum
from Israel to the Houston White House. From the moment they establish their
gritty relationship, life is filled with treachery and terror for Beck (who)
must deal with one cliffhanger after another during the desperate days that
follow. This novel shocks us with a sudden, satisfying ending.” – Publishers
Weekly
“Adventure, suspense, high-tech – this book has it all, from
the best new storytellers we have. You have to read this one.” – Dr. Jerry
Pournelle, author of The Mote in God’s Eye and Mercenary
“Headlong and vivid – real characters drawn starkly against
the catastrophe they race to undo.” – David Drake, author of Hammer’s Slammers
Together we breed Morgan horses. We consult with Morgan breeders to help them choose crosses to their stock to achieve a desired result.
We are also musicians; Janet plays bass guitar, Chris sings and plays guitar. We have an album on MCA records. Look for Christopher Crosby Morris on Soundcloud or N1M.com
Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?
Janet wrote her first novel, High Couch of Silistra in 1975; a friend sent it to an agent who chose to represent her; she had already written the second book in the Silistra Quartet and her agent told her not to disclose that until they finalized the contract for the first one. When the publisher learned of the others, Bantam Books bought the succeeding three. When the fourth book was published, the series already had four million copies in print. Suddenly Janet was a novelist specializing in environmental, gender, historical and political subjects. In the process, Chris started as her editor and ultimately a co-writer. Since then, she and Chris have co-authored many books.
Who is your hero and why?
Heraclitus of Ephesus, a pre-socratic philosopher, whose Cosmic Fragments foreshadow our knowledge of reality and how to perceive it. Among his precepts is the statement that change alone is unchanging. We’ve worked Heraclitus’ fragments in here and there throughout our books.
Which of your novels can you imagine being made into a movie?
All of them. We write cinematically, our books are vivid adventures we undertake without knowing the destination. I, the Sun, The Sacred Band, and Outpassage are particularly suited to film. The Threshold Series is a feast of opportunities for today’s special effects creators.
What inspired you, to write The 40-Minute War?
Growing up under the threat of nuclear annihilation made us long for a solution to such catastrophic challenge. What we wanted was to shorten the time necessary to recover from that horror to a mere 40 minutes. We think we succeeded, but of course the threat still remains.
Who designed your book covers?
The cover of The 40-Minute War was created for Perseid Press by Roy Mauritsen.
Advice to writers?
As for advice to writers, here is all we know: write the story you want to read. Start at the beginning, go to the end, and stop. Seriously. From start to finish you must inhabit the construct in a manner that makes the reader choose to continue; if we as writers can’t feel what it’s like being there, our readers can’t either. Close your eyes, look at your feet where they are standing on the story’s ground; tell us what you see. Tell us what you hear. Ask at the end of each paragraph ‘what happens next?’. If you lose touch with it wait until you’re back inside it. Tell the story that comes to you, and from you, to us.
Best selling author Janet
Morris began writing in 1976 and has since published more than 30 novels,
many co-authored with her husband Chris Morris or others. Most of her fiction
work has been in the fantasy and science fiction genres, although she has also
written historical and other novels. Morris has written, contributed to, or
edited several book-length works of non-fiction, as well as papers and articles
on nonlethal weapons, developmental military technology and other defense and
national security topics.
Christopher Crosby
Morris (born 1946) is an American author of fiction and non-fiction, as
well as a lyricist, musical composer, and singer-songwriter. He is married to
author Janet Morris. He is a defense policy and strategy analyst and a
principal in M2 Technologies, Inc. He writes primarily as Chris Morris, but
occasionally uses pseudonyms.
FIVE 80’s air hostesses had dreams about their SOULMATES centuries before in a 747 crew rest at 36,000 feet. Awake, their forever-loves are gone for good. Decades later, ONE is a physic sleuth for the FBI. She invites FOUR still-yearning ex-hosties for SIX days together for past life regressions to find those soulmates in THIS lifetime. BUT Time Flies…and ONE murderous bastard could be on the loose….
Timeless Beginnings
Time Flies Book 1
by Jill Wallace
Genre: Time Travel Paranormal Romantic Mystery
Avid dog lover, law enforcement psychic and former Air Baobab air hostess Lucky van Niekerk has a gift for sniffing out answers. From helping to solve cold cases to reliving past lives, she’s torn between worlds—the past and the present; the dead and the living.
She’s helping agents track a dangerous killer. But there are some things she can’t find. Her soulmate, for instance.
Determined to solve her own mystery, Lucky learns she must first help others to help herself. She’s sure she isn’t the only one whose life has been touched by the past, so she sends out a call to her former colleagues. Four other air hostesses answer—and they’ve all experienced past-life dreams in the crew rest aboard the same 747 jumbo jet at 36,000 feet. Can Lucky help them solve the mysteries locked in their dreams, or will they be destined to make the same mistakes they made in a previous life?
Discover the power of uncorking past lives and start the journey with Lucky in this first book in the Time Flies women’s fiction series, as five virtual strangers are drawn together in their quest for fulfilment and love.
Author’s Note: If you’re drawn to time travel women’s fiction that seamlessly blends psychic mysteries, past-life explorations, and the adventurous world of aviation, Timeless Beginnings is a journey you won’t want to miss. Fans of Kate Morton and Susanna Kearsley will appreciate the intricate weaving of reincarnation, friendship, and self-discovery that propels this story across time and continents. Join Lucky van Niekerk and her companions as they unlock the secrets of their past lives to illuminate their present.
A vivid dream of the past. A desperate hope for the future.
My name is Brie Lenz.
In the hushed sanctuary of a Boeing 747’s crew rest in 1983, amidst the hum of engines and the dance of distant clouds, I lay my head down as a South African Airways air hostess. I dream of a beguiling beggar, his eyes a mesmerizing shade of emerald, who ignites a flame in my soul. His ambitions for my ballet career in 1887, take me higher than I ever dreamed. He is my anchor, my guiding light, my inspiration, my love.
But as reality pierces through the veil of slumber at 36,000 feet, I am jolted awake, haunted by the echoes of Tchaikovsky and the lingering mystery of that enigmatic beggar. With the pulse of an odd drumbeat echoing in my ears and a shiver coursing through my veins, destiny delivers, this time, in real life. Is it too good to be true?
Fast-forward to the present, and though embers of that centuries-old connection still smolder within me with the man I adore, I cannot deny there is something missing and something amiss. When an unexpected invitation to a transformative retreat arrives, I am torn between fear and fervor. And amongst women I barely know, I find myself in a magical odyssey of self-discovery and a crossroads filled with pitfalls and shrouded in guilt.
Can I reclaim the lost magic of 1877 and weave it into the fabric of my present, or will the past that lurks beyond that crew rest dream continue to cast its long shadow over my future?
With my heart suspended between two worlds, I brace myself for the ultimate reckoning.
Author’s Note: If you’re captivated by time travel romance novels that intertwine past-life memories, ballet, and the allure of aviation, Timeless Pirouette will transport you through a tapestry of love and destiny. Fans of Susanna Kearsley and Diana Gabaldon will appreciate the seamless blend of historical depth and supernatural intrigue. Join Brie Lenz as she navigates the echoes of a bygone era, seeking to reclaim a love that transcends time itself.
Jill Wallace was born and bred (her mother would prefer ‘brought up’) in South Africa, and lived the second half of her life in America. She feels like the African baobab or “Upside Down Tree”, with roots that look like branches. Like the confused baobab, she no longer knows where the South African ends and the American begins. She’s comfortable in her duality and hopes like hell it affords her some degree of complexity. A girl can always hope :o)
Sometimes, she loves dogs more than people, chocolate more than good sense, and Netflix binge-watching more than house cleaning (well… make the latter ALL the time!)
Jill’s addicted to writing. Expect her novels to have a South African flair, and no matter the century of her characters, she’ll strive to keep their situations relevant and their emotions real.
Wallace listens to the voices in her head which describe their dilemma and state of chaos. Then she waits, pen poised, to see what they’ll do about it. She records how they find the courage and strength to attain what they really want—be it friendship, peace, acceptance, or everlasting love. That’s the magic that keeps her heart pounding in her throat and her fingers flirting with keys.
Jill started her writing career as a screenwriter. Her first script was twice optioned by producers for movies. When disappointment flooded in and dreams collapsed, an author friend said, “To hell with them all. Write a book.” So, she did. It took her three years.
War Serenade is inspired by a true story about a bon vivant Italian opera star forced into WWII, who is shot down, captured by the allies and sent to a run-down POW camp in South Africa. Broken and longing for death, he sees a spunky red head through the barbed wire and when their eyes meet, she becomes his reason to live. But he is a prisoner, and she, his enemy…
War Serenade won a number of awards, the most recent are the Golden Quill Contest Winner Desert Rose RWA, Maggie and Rone Awards 2020, for best audio book.
Zebra is Jill’s second novel and largely based on her husband’s experiences. Athol grew up in a remote resort in the Drakensberg Mountains of South Africa during the apartheid era and fought in the Bush Wars in the 60’s and 70’s. This literary fiction/historical/action adventure/coming-of-age saga spans 4 decades. Though the times are incendiary, Zebra is not about politics but a divine, true bond of friendship. Zebra. Friends by Fate. Enemies by Destiny proudly wore the Amazon Banner for #1 New Release and is also a ***** Reader’s Favorite.
Time Flies is Jill’s first series. The common threads with her stand-alone books are the South African infusion, the dog-hero, friendship, impossible challenges and complex timelines.
Timeless Beginnings is Book 1 of the series has multiple and it’s the story of how five ex-air hostesses end up at the home of Lucky, now a FBI psychic, who’s keen to try -as a last resort – past life regression to find the soulmate she lost after she dreamed about him in the crew rest of a 747 in the 80’s. Four other ex-hosties are just as anxious to find their centuries-ago soulmates.
Timeless Pirouette is Book II and the story of Brie who dreams she was a beautiful ballerina who fell in love with a beggar in 1887. Though she believes she met and married the perfect man for her, she fights an incomprehensible guilt and can’t help yearning for her beggar. She is compelled to go back a century before she can go forward.
Jill is in the process of finishing up Athol’s companion novel to Zebra. Titled Leopard Crawl it’s the true-story-inspired missions of one man on a solitary spying sojourn in the heart of the Southern African Bush Wars.
Blood is the link between
humans, demigods, and demons
—and is the Blood Queen’s domain.
Brianag
The Blood Queen Chronicles Book 2
by David H. Millar
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Three childhood friends meet in the Scottish Highlands.
Two hold secrets. One may be a monster.
As Gràinne reached for the still warm heart, tendrils of the red mist
preceded her. When they touched the heart, she felt power drawn from the blood.
She steeled herself and bit into the organ. Such was the curse of the Blood
Queen.
Brianag is the sequel to The
Blood Queen. It is 384 B.C. Ten years have passed since Sidheag’s
execution. Gràinne Ni Fearghal, the Blood Queen, has ruthlessly consolidated
her grip on the eastern tribes and reigns as High Queen. Meanwhile, her
daughter imprisoned in a gilded cage grows in beauty and power and terrifies
her guardians—the demigods of the Aes Sídhe. She must escape. Her grandma, the
powerful Sídhe, Mongfhionn, agrees.
Brianag trembles at two questions: how will her mother receive her, and
can she be redeemed?
Sidheag, was not the only Blood Drinker. Two others, Áine and her
daughter, Leannán want vengeance for Sidheag’s death. Both claim to be
Sidheag’s mother. Yet is Sidheag dead?
Can Cassán, Dùn Brion’s king, control his temper and work with the
demigods to defeat the Blood Drinkers? Will the beast known as the Hound
destroy every living being with three barks or will the ancient Cait People
awaken and intercede?
Content warning: Brianag: The Blood Queen Chronicles contains scenes of sex and
violence appropriate to the time it is set in (400 B.C.). It is not recommended
for readers under 16 years of age without parental agreement.
“It is a
king’s decision,” said Brion. “It will not be you who deceives and delivers the lamb to the butcher’s
block,” retorted Eimhir.
True evil is a persistent and
tenacious beast. Its desire for existence is eternal and insatiable. It needs
to infect only one mind for its insidious philosophy to take root and spread.
It is 394 B.C. At a remote loch in the highlands of Northern Albu, a priest
sacrifices nine innocents. Below the water’s surface, a shape feeds on their
blood and begins to take form. Soon, it becomes sentient and begins to
hunt. Sidheag has risen.
Humans cannot defeat the abomination. Neither can Mongfhionn, the powerful
demi-goddess of the Aes Sídhe.
The only remedy is the Blood Queen, and Gràinne is the
reluctant heir to that throne. Will the Blood Queen stand alongside Mongfhionn
to confront Sidheag? The cost for Gràinne may be too much—unless her
daughter, Brianag, is in jeopardy.
Passions, always near the surface of the Gaels, burst into flames
in The Blood Queen, where father is pitted against son, mother against
daughter, sister against sister, brother against sister, and father against
daughter.
The Blood Queen contains scenes of sex and violence and uses language
appropriate to the period it is set in, i.e., 400 B.C. It is not recommended
for those under 16 without parental consent.
5/5 ★★★★★
Genre: Fantasy, Historical fiction
Review by Jan Foster/History Quill: Last updated Jun 12, 2023
A must-read Celtic ‘Game of Thrones meets Bernard Cornwell’, blending history
with dark fantasy and a truly terrifying villain. The Blood Queen will keep you
turning the pages deep into the night.
The Blood Queen is a dark fantasy
nominally set in 400 B.C. Scotland, wherein a misguided priest sacrifices
innocents in the hope of bringing forth an entity that will do his bidding. This
starts a tale of ‘be careful what you wish for’, as the entity – Sidheag –
forms a corporeal being and a consciousness complete with dark desires for
domination. No one can resist Sidheag’s allure and subsequent enslavement, and
few will survive her rampage across the land as she builds an army to fulfil
her calling.
Aside from the descriptive prose and the brilliant battle scenes, the equality
of the sexes feels genuine rather than a nod to political correctness. Women
rule, fight, murder and fornicate as violently and passionately as the men and
the female characters are badass!
I thoroughly enjoyed The Blood
Queen, even at its most uncomfortable. The historical accuracy of weapons
and battle strategies blended perfectly with the epic and fantastical
storyline. I loved the tiny moments of humanity within the bleakest moments.
Reading the novel felt like watching a horror movie unfold, compelling you to
turn the pages in the hope that somehow, against the odds, humanity will win.
Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, internationally published and
award-winning author David H. Millar is the founder, owner, and
author-in-residence of A Wee Publishing Company—a business formed to promote
Celtic authors and literature.
David is the author of the five-volume, ancient Celtic-based Conall
series and the spin-offs The Dog Roses, The Dog Roses: Resolution, The Blood Queen and Brianag: A Blood Queen Novel.
David resides in Houston, Texas, with his family and two recent family
members, tuxedos Beau and Stiletto.
Could these three words articulate distinct spiritual essences to fuse together?
Opaline’s
Discovery
The Witch DNA Trilogy Book 1
by Sonja Gunter
Genre: Fantasy Romance, Romantasy, Urban Fantasy
Love. Magic.
Danger.
Could these three
words articulate distinct spiritual essences to fuse together?
Bookstore owner,
Opaline Lunn, facilitates a Speed Dating Event, in hopes of finding her
soulmate. She meets attendee Detective Eamon Dayan, who wasn’t looking for
love, but sparks fly at their first kiss.
Together they
unearth Opaline’s powers which lead to the discovery that she has two sisters,
and someone called The Ancient One who wants to kill them.
Unraveling a myriad
of mysteries, with Opaline’s newfound ability to do spells, the soulmates must
find her sisters by her twenty-fifth birthday to be able to confront the evil
force and save all of them.
Now she was waiting for her fourth and final date.
Eamon.
Goodness, anticipation is everything.
She couldn’t believe he wanted to go out with her on a real date. Most guys found her too intellectual. It wasn’t her fault she owned a bookstore and loved to read. History, fiction, romance, fantasy, sci-fi—it didn’t matter. Everything was interesting to her. No genre was off
limits.
The buzzer sounded, and she waited for Eamon. He arrived and took his seat. He didn’t say anything. She didn’t either. They sat for a moment, looking at each other, his blue eyes to her green eyes.
Abruptly, the air surrounding her turned hot, but it wasn’t the kind of hot that made you sweat. It was the kind of sexual intensity that could consume a person, only to let go once it had been satisfied. Opaline fought the urge to fan herself.
Like a foggy night, the room around the two of them became hazy. Eamon reached across the table and touched her cheek. Her body had a will of its own, and she leaned into his hand, closed her eyes, and waited for him to kiss her.
“Opaline? Opaline, are you all right?”
“Wha-what?”
The room was clear again when she opened her eyes.
Eamon hadn’t kissed her. She had imagined the kiss. He hadn’t reached out to her. But he was now. He didn’t touch her cheek. like she had envisioned. Instead, he was touching her hand. Until he wasn’t.
Goodness sakes alive.
“Sorry. I guess the excitement of the night has gotten to me,” she said, recovering. “Did you ask me something?”
“No problem. I asked what you like to eat. If we’re going to go out on a date, I’ll have to find a restaurant because I don’t cook.”
“I haven’t technically agreed to go out with you.” She laughed nervously.
“I’m not going to let you say no.”
“Oh, is that how it’s going to be?” Opaline reached across the table and took his hand. “I guess I don’t have a choice, then. Yes, I would like to go out with you.”
“Great. Does tomorrow night work for you?”
“You do work fast,” she said, lowering her voice, which came out in a low silvery tone.
“Only when I need to.”
She knew he was implying other things, and she smiled again, wishing he had kissed her.
The buzzer ended their date, and Opaline stood. Most of the other attendees had finished their dates too. “I hate to rush things, but I need to wrap things up for the event.”
“If you would like, I can help you with the cleanup,” Eamon said.
“That’s so thoughtful, and here I was thinking you only liked to give the orders.”
She saw by the way his head tilted to the side that her reply had caught him off guard. He looked like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and he was having a hard time coming up with a comeback. He mustn’t be used to word games like her customers at the bookstore were. They usually gave it right back to her. Eamon, on the other hand, was still at a loss for words.
“Yes, I’d love your help. I have to stick around until everyone leaves. I’ll make an nnouncement to let them know what time we have to be out of here. Then I can—no, we—can start.”
“Sounds good. I’ll round up my sister to pitch in too,” he said.
Opaline heard him chuckle and wondered if he had offered his sister’s help without her knowledge.
I was born and
raised in the cold and beautiful Minnesota, but I escaped to Illinois for
seventeen years to raise my two boys, and now I call Florida home. My husband
Andy, who’s always been my hero, has put up with my late night computer typing
and endless stacks of papers with my stories on them. We have one furry friend
as family: Chip, a sixteen year old ragdoll cat.
Life has been
full of ups and downs, but I’ve made it through the hard times. I love to
travel and go to Disney World to trade pins.
I’ve been a bowler for many years, and you can catch me writing my next
novel at the lanes.
I encourage you
to check out my web site, www.sonjagunter.com for more info and don’t be surprised if I
let my Norwegian heritage come through in my stories.
“Morgan’s Landing is a fast-paced, unpredictable
mystery you’ll devour in a single sitting.”
~ Indies Today
In the small Maryland town of Morgan’s Landing,
fourteen-year-old Julie Morgan is living in comfort with her wealthy family.
She disappears on her way to school after a spat with her twin sister.
Detective Jim Brady, married and the father of two, has been on the Morgan’s
Landing police force for twelve years. He identifies a few suspects in the
girl’s disappearance—Is it the fired school janitor, a paroled sex offender,
Julie’s computer teacher…or his own teenage son? Jim can’t believe his son
could be involved, but his wife is convinced the boy is hiding something.
He needs to find Julie before the worst happens—and keep the peace at home.
I was born and raised in San Diego, California and earned a
BA in English from San Diego State University and an MLS from UCLA. I began my
career as a reference and collection development librarian in the Art and Music
Section of the San Diego Public Library and then transferred to the Literature
and Languages Section, where I had the pleasure of managing the Central
Library’s Fiction collection. Although I also enjoy reading biography, memoir,
and history, fiction remains my first love. In addition to the three
R’s—reading, writing, and research—I enjoy Scrabble, movies, and travel.
My earliest ambition was to be a “book maker” and I wrote my
first story, “Judy and the Fairies,” with a plot stolen from a comic book, at
the age of six. I broke into print in college with a story in the San Diego
State University literary journal, The Phoenix, but most of my magazine
publications came after I left the library to spend more time on my writing.
My stories have been published in numerous journals,
including Eclectica, Thema Literary Journal, Avalon Literary Review, The Nassau
Review, and Orbis, and in the anthologies Short Story America, Vol. 2, The
Captive and the Dead, Australia Burns, 2023 in a Flash, and Apocalypse.
