Release Day Blitz For WHEN THE SCOUNDREL SINS By Anna Harrington

Title: When the Scoundrel Sins

Author: Anna Harrington

On Sale: August 29, 2017

Series: Capturing the Carlisles: Book 2

Publisher: Forever

Format: Mass Market Paperback

Price: $7.99 USD

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Six years ago, a childish prank perpetrated by the reckless Quinton Carlisle ruined Annabelle Greene's reputation and any chance she had at securing a successful marriage.  Incensed, she moved to her beloved estate on the Scottish border and has reveled in the solitude...until now when the contents of a family will are revealed.  Suddenly, Belle's single status may cost her the only home she's ever known.  Now, with her only marital prospect a horribly greedy and completely undesirable man, Belle knows just the person to rescue her-the one person who owes her for his bad behavior...

There's nothing Quinn Carlisle wants more than to get out from his older brother's shadow and make a name for himself abroad. So when a mysterious letter arrives, promising adventure, he rushes to the Scottish border...only to find that Belle laid a trap for him.  The awkward, shy bluestocking whom he so enjoyed tormenting is gone, replaced by a graceful, elegant woman who ignites a desire in him he can't resist.  Can Quinn help her save her home-and win her heart in the process? 

1. If your book was optioned for a movie, what scene would you use for the audition of the main characters and why?

-- Tough question! I think I would use the first library scene (Spoiler!) when Belle is forced to propose to Quinn as the only way out of the marriage mess she’s found herself in. That scene is pivotal to everything that comes after it emotionally in the book, and inside that scene lies a riot of things -- desperation, hope, the first stirrings of old attractions that never truly died, and kissing…lots of kissing. It also firmly establishes the conflict between them and how hesitant they both are to open their hearts to love.

2. If you could live in any fantasy world, which one would it be?

-- Perhaps one from a Disney cartoon, like Beauty and the Beast, where everything is brightly colored and beautiful, where people break out into song to share their emotions, and unlike in real life, where the villains are easily recognized for being evil and dispatched in time for a happy ending.

3. What is your favorite hobby when you're not writing?

-- I love working in my garden, especially with my roses. I have 25 rose bushes so far, with plans for more rose beds next year, and more plans to put in a pollinator garden and an old-fashioned kitchen herb garden. In the summer, I’m out there every day working with the plants or taking pictures to share online; in spring and fall, I do all the things that I don’t want to do in the heat of summer; and in the winter, I read through garden books and catalogues, making lists of all the new plants I want to buy. When my yard is full, I’ll have to move so I can start over!

4. What's a book that you've read recently that you would recommend to your readers?

-- His Ballerina Bride by Teri Wilson. The way she unfolds the characters’ motivations and emotions was so skilled that I devoured the book in one night—then promptly reread it so that I could study how she wove in the emotion and character subtleties. Solid conflict and well-developed characters with their own desires and lives. Marvelous!

5. What would you say is your superpower?

-- The ability to find good parking spots. It’s as if the fates said, “We’re going to give you all kinds of problems in every other aspect of your life, but you’re always going to get good parking.” I know, I know -- as superpowers go, it’s a small one, but isn’t it the little things we should celebrate more in our day-to-day lives?  (And anyone who’s ever lived in New York or Chicago will certainly envy this power.)

My review HERE

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Anna Harrington fell in love with historical romances--and all those dashing Regency heroes--while living in London, where she studied literature and theatre. She loves to travel, fly airplanes, and hike, and when she isn't busy writing her next novel, she loves fussing over her roses in her garden.

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We’re giving away 10 copies of IF THE DUKE DEMANDS!

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Author's Release Blitz & Giveaway For HAPPILY EVER AFTER By Kelly Oram

Title: Happily Ever After

Series: Cinder & Ella #2

Author: Kelly Oram

Publisher: Bluefields Publishing

Genre(s): Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Sequel

Release Date: April 11, 2017

The end of one story is often the beginning of another. Hollywood heartthrob Brian Oliver and his Cinderella princess Ellamara Rodriguez have finally found love outside the digital world. But leaving their anonymity behind creates a whole new set of obstacles for the nation's new favorite sweethearts. With the stress of Brian's fame and the pressures of a new relationship weighing down on them, the It Couple quickly begins to wonder if they can hold on to their newfound joy, or if maybe happily ever after is only a fairy tale after all.

Book Links: (Amazon exclusive and in Kindle Unlimited)

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XWKRCS2

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XWKRCS2

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B06XWKRCS2

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B06XWKRCS2

EXCERPT

Blog Tour/Interview & Giveaway For OF THE TREES By E.M. Fitch

Title: OF THE TREES

Author: E.M. Fitch

Pub. Date: Feb 28, 2017

Publisher: Month9Books

Format: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 345

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | TBD | iBooks 

| Kobo | Google Play Books | Indiebound

Cassie and Laney fancy themselves amateur ghost hunters. When a carnival comes to town, Cassie embraces the chance to try something new.

Carnival workers watch the girls with a collective gaze that ignites in Laney a dark and dangerous fascination, leaving Cassie unnerved.

It's not just their age or the unsettling way they stare. There is something in the shifting of their skin and the way their features seem to change in the shadows.

Cassie can's shake this sickening feeling that there's more to the carnival than meets the eye.

When townspeople suddenly start dying and bloody warnings appear around town, Cassie is lured into a nightmare where trees whisper and strange, shape-shifting men haunt the backwoods she once hunted for ghosts with her best friend.

Then Laney goes missing, and only Cassie can get her back. But the creatures of the trees aren't simply going to hand Laney over to Cassie without getting something in return.

E.M. Fitch is an author who loves scary stories, chocolate, and tall trees. When not dreaming up new ways to torture characters, she is usually corralling her four children or thinking of ways to tire them out so she can get an hour of peace at night. She lives in Connecticut, surrounded by chaos, which she manages (somewhat successfully) with her husband, Marc.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Lisa's Loves (Books of Course) Q&A

QUICK FIRE INTERVIEW:

• Twitter or Facebook?

                Facebook.

• Favorite Superhero?

                Superman.

• Favorite TV show?

                The Walking Dead. Love me some zombies.

• Sweet or Salty?

                Both together! Raisinets in popcorn is the ultimate combination. Trust me.

• Coke or Pepsi?

                Coke.

• Any Phobias?

                Not really, I super hate bugs and spiders though.

• Song you can’t get enough of right now?

                Lost Boy by Ruth B.

• Who is your ultimate Book Boyfriend?

                Jamie Fraser. Oh, I’m sorry, James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser.

• What are you reading right now or what’s on your TBR?

                I’m currently reading Quantum Enigma: Physics Encounters Consciousness by Bruce Rosenblum and Fred Kuttner. (Yes, I realize how dry that sounds; but it’s fascinating! One of my short stories coming out in 2017 was inspired by the Schrödinger's cat thought experiment.)

• 2017 Movie you’re most looking forward to?

                A Monster Calls

Was there anything you wanted to add or had to eliminate from the story? What was it and why?

                There really weren’t any cuts that I found problematic. The major elements of the story were left untouched. Most of the edits to Of The Trees were grammatical and some developmental, but they all made the story better and more focused. Now, that being said, the sequel has some juicy bits and horror elements that made me wonder if perhaps I was pushing the envelope a bit. I let my characters and the storyline take over, though, and pushed through. I hope all those bits will all stay intact, but I guess time will tell.

What is the heartbeat of your new novel?

                This novel centers around friendship, trust, and fear. There’s a feeling of helplessness, and an uncertainty of how to overcome it. But, beyond the horror, fairy lore, and whispering trees, Of The Trees is a story of two friends who love each other, and lose each other.

If you found a genie, what would be your three wishes?

                Hmmm… Okay, first, money. I’ll admit it, I’m that person. And while money doesn’t buy happiness, it’s sure easier to put a meal on the table and pay off a mortgage if you have some. So, I’d want a magical little safe (not a big one! See! I’m not greedy!) that is stacked with cash whenever I open it. Second wish: a recipe for calorie-free chocolate chip cookies. Third wish: the ability to fly! I’ve always wanted to be able to do that.

What do you hope readers will take away from reading this book?

I want readers to see that bravery is a choice; that it looks different for different people, but that it’s always worth choosing.

               

Tell us Seven things we may not know about your writing life...

1)      I have found some of my best friends online in the writing community, it has been one of the most welcoming and encouraging experiences of my life.

2)      I have been rejected more times than I am willing to count, and I keep them all in a separate folder to track where I’ve submitted, and where I’m submitting next.

3)      I’ve been writing seriously since 2013, with plenty of “I’m just doing this for fun, I swear!” writing before that.

4)      Of The Trees is my fourth published novel – before this was a YA zombie trilogy entitled The Break Free Series. Overall, I’ve currently written eight complete novels (some which will never see the light of day), a smattering of novellas, and a dozen or so short stories.

5)      Typing ‘The End’ on a novel or series is one of the most thrilling, giggle-inducing, adrenaline-pumping moments for me, I get giddy just thinking about it.

6)      I have no routine, music, or formula that gets me writing – when it’s time to write, I just sit down and do it.

7)      I do an absolute ton of research regarding all sorts of topics for every book or short story I write, this includes movies and television shows that inspire ideas, to non-fiction works, actual research papers and articles, and internet searches that could probably land me in some trouble with the NSA.

Was there any particular research that you did for the new book?

                Yes, tons! I started with Irish fairy-tales and folklore, which led me to W.B. Yeats and a collection of his stories and poems. One in particular stuck out to me, The Stolen Child, and that helped to influence and shape Of The Trees. And while old tales of the Fae are the dark undercurrents that run throughout this novel, the story begins with a ghost story. So there was a lot of research put into one of the old, local legends that skulks around a cemetery quite close to me. It was a ghost story I remembered from my own time in high school, and I went searching through archives for the details. I also looked into everything from tree varieties, to high school floor-plans, to… oh! This was a big one: The Appalachian Trail. So much research went into the conditions on the trail, what you’d have to pack for a thru-hike, how long something like that would take, what the particular sections of the trail looked like. On and on! I just adore researching, which comes in handy because every novel I write requires often very bizarre research. 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $25 Fandango Gift Card, US Only.

Blog Tour/Author Interview & Giveaway For WEDDINGS, CRUSHES, AND OTHER DRAMAS by Emily McKay

Weddings, Crushes, and Other Dramas

(Creative HeArts #6, Willa & Finn #2)

by Emily McKay

Publication Date: Feb 13, 2017

Publisher:  Entangled Teen Crush

Falling in love with the best man wasn’t on the program.

Willa is happy to be the maid of honor in her dad’s upcoming wedding to uber-celeb Mia McCain. Not as happy about the best man being her soon-to-be stepbrother, the infuriating—and infuriatingly gorgeous—Finn McCain. Every time their paths cross, the attraction simmering between them grows a little harder to ignore. Willa knows all about guys like Finn—they only want what they can’t have. What’s between them isn’t real.

Finn has never felt anything more real than what’s developing between him and Willa. Sure, her dad warned him to steer clear, but it’s not just about forbidden temptation. He’s determined to prove to Willa he’s not going anywhere—and that happily-ever-after will always be worth the risk.

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains a wedding so crazy it’ll make you laugh, a stepbrother so hot he’ll make you swoon, and a heroine so real she’ll make you cry.

GOODREADS

 

Google Play | BAM | Indies | Amazon | B&N| Kobo | TBD | iBooks

Tour Schedule:

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES:

Launch Day Blitz& Quick Fire Interview For LOVE BETWEEN THE LINES by Christina Collie

Fall in love all over again with this adult coloring book featuring 45 hand-drawn illustrations inspired by romance novels from bestselling writers Colleen Hoover, Anna Todd, S.C. Stephens, Abbi Glines, K. Bromberg, Jodi Ellen Malpas and more. Sit back, grab your pens and markers, and get ready to explore LOVE BETWEEN THE LINES.

In the pages of this book you will find:
· Designs to help you relax and reduce stress
· Hidden images and book quotes
· Each design printed on a separate page
· Elaborate drawings as well as quickie pages for when you just have a few minutes to color

Illustrations inspired by the works of:

Anna Todd, Jodi Ellen Malpas, Colleen Hoover, S.C. Stephens, Abbi Glines, K. Bromberg, Claire Contreras, Jillian Dodd, Amy Harmon, Tiffany King, R.K. Lilley, Molly McAdams, Tara Sivec, Alessandra Torre, Mia Sheridan, J. Sterling, Katy Evans, Emma Chase, S.L. Jennings, K.A. Linde, Beth Ehemann, Tarryn Fisher, Karina Halle, Helena Hunting, Leisa Rayven, Madeline Sheehan, Harper Sloan, and K. A. Tucker.

Buy the Book!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1UnwIam

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1ZWGTEh

Books A Million: http://bit.ly/261JrIC

IndieBound: http://bit.ly/261KAja

QUICK FIRE INTERVIEW:

• Twitter or Facebook? Facebook! 

• Favorite Superhero? Batman

• Favorite TV show? How to Get Away with Murder

• Sweet or Salty? Sweet

• Coke or Pepsi? Coke 

• Any Phobias? SPIDERS & HEIGHTS!!! Ahhhhh! 

Christina Collie is a twenty-eight-year-old Tennessee native who began doodling images inspired by her favorite books almost four years ago before launching Doodles by Christina. Since then she has doodled over 50 images and has sold prints around the globe. Outside of being a huge bookworm, she enjoys watching LSU football, playing with her dog Nola, and hanging out on her best friend’s farm.

Social Media Links:

www.DoodlesByChristina.com

www.facebook.com/DooodlesByChristina

www.instagram.com/lovebetweenthelines

Add Love Between the Lines to your shelf on Goodreads: bit.ly/1rtvoZd

Xpresso Book Tours For Soul Finder by Jacinta Maree (Her Top Scenes From Series)

Soul Finder 

by Jacinta Maree 

Publication date: Sept  16th 2016

Genres: Dystopian, New Adult, Supernatural

Since being discovered as Soulless, Nadia has become a target for both terrorist groups and government corporations. Now, her only hope for survival rests in the hands of the man sent out to kill her: Diesel, the Mad Dog terrorist.

Diesel is determined to free himself of the never ending curse of reincarnation and the haunting memories that plague his mind. But when his search leads him to Nadia, a greater desire stills him from taking her life.

Unable to see into Diesel’s cracking mind, Nadia instead puts her faith into his strength, fueled by eleven generations of unmatched rage and insanity. Their tight-rope relationship balances the two between life and death, love and rage, trust and betrayal.

Tension pulls at the hems of their dangerous companionship, and as time runs out all madmen must eventually make their choice.

Book two of the thrilling Immortal Gene series dives deeper into the danger of trusting your heart over your head.

GOODREADS

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Jacinta Maree's 

Five Top Scenes From The Series

Writing Soulless and Soul Finder has been an incredible rollercoaster. I’m forever pushing my own limits and trying to twist my own plots, characters and stories to explore themes I haven’t touched on before. 

When it comes to the Immortal Gene series, I have written a story where the hero and villain have fallen in love with each other before becoming their ‘roles’ in this dystopian adventure. It is a very toxic relationship and one that pushes the characters into completing their destiny. 

Top favourite scenes (In no particular order): 

BIG WARNING – SPOILERS

Spotlight Post/Interview For The Immortal Divide by KS Turner

 The Immortal Divide 

The Chronicles of Fate and Choice Trilogy#3

 KS Turner

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Ruby Blaze Publishing

Publication date: 29th October 2016

Pages: 576

Paperback: 978-0-9562242-9-3

This is when it will change. For them. For us. For everyone. Destiny, freewill, intent, magic, science, life, everything. This is when all those named gods will fight to the end. This world and all worlds are fated to end. The prophet, Jychanumun, has tried to prevent it. He has spent millennia walking between life and death to find a way. The powerful Shaa-kutu have tried to prevent it. They have fought with wits and weapons and given their all. Despite their best, nothing seems capable of stopping the formidable Arrunn from completing his final fateful move. So, can Tachra change that fate? Tachra stands between shadow and light. She has no tools or weapons, only the Earth power and true-vision. Perhaps her fellow humans will ascend to greater knowledge and unlock a new discovery. Or, if she can decipher the Book of Fate, perhaps that will hold a key to saving them all. But when that last prophecy comes, will she make the right choice? After all, that fate has already been written:
"If any survive, it will be known as the three day darkness. If none survive, the darkness will swallow all."

Originally trained as an illustrator and designer at Saint Martins School of Art and at Middlesex University, KS Turner turned to fiction when she saw the limitless possibilities of connectivity it offered. Before her shift in career, she worked as a fashion designer for major high-street brands, a graphic designer for musicians, and a product designer for corporations, as well as dabbling with designing technology, sustainable energy,and textiles. A vivid series of dreams were the inspiration for the Chronicles of Fate and Choicebooks. Kate initially tried illustrating her dreams, but found the medium too limiting for the story she had seen, so began writing. At first she didn’t have any intention of writing novels, but the books soon started to come together.Her first two novels, Before the Gods, and Tumultus, were featured in many magazines, won book of the month with Spirit and Destiny magazine, fantasy of the year with Bookbag, and the ‘Must Read Now’ awards with SciFiNow magazine.When Kate isn't writing, she draws, paints and sculpts as well as studying maths, science, theology and philosophy. She loves to play music, explore, nurture nature and spend time with friends and family. She lives in Somerset.

http://www.ksturner.net/

https://twitter.com/KSTurner_author

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15560233.K_S_Turner

The first two books in The Chronicles of Fate and Choice (Before The Gods and Tumultus) have reached fantasy fiction fans around the world and many thousands of copies have been sold. Hugely popular in libraries and with fan mail being sent to the British author, KS Turner, from as far afield as Australia and India, it is clear that this trilogy has far-reaching appeal. Kate explains some more about the stories: “The novels have powerful characters. The kutu are angels, or gods, or aliens, or indeed all three. I think the human, Tachra, describes them perfectly in the prologue of Tumultus:‘These kutu are beautiful, intelligent and strong. They exist in a state of energy and matter, and are able to live in any combination of the two. They thrive on change and are constantly moving, seeking to be the best that they can be. The kutu feel and think much as humans do, only more, much more. They are capable of great things, great thoughts and great acts. They can fly like birds when they wish, using their energy wings. I’ve seen them. They can eat as we eat, when in flesh. I have feasted with them. And when they laugh, it lights up the air with the most beautiful colours: fluid, luminous and glittering colours that reflect their very nature. I see their condensed power; it swirls around them in colours that we have no name for. I see their thoughts. All thoughts have intent, complex or simple, and theirs share aspects of both. And I can see inside their souls. Like a map of three-dimensional shapes their essences are clear to me, if I look.'Along with these striking kutu, and the innocence of early humans here on Earth, I wanted the novels to be action based with weaving plots and sub-plots. But, I also wanted to tackle some of the biggest questions through the novels; questions about our origins, life, death, evil, consciousness and choice. I know... I do like to bite off a big chunk. And this trilogy deserves the biggest chunk I can manage.”

Excerpt from Time: The Immortal Divide

The passageway had widened to a large square, clad entirely in matte-black stone that  seemed to draw in any light. It was dark, almost black. I sensed shadows. I sensed deeper shadow. I sensed shadows within shadow.At the end of the square, sitting, was Meah. She was tense, agitated, and defensive. Low growling sounds were coming from her throat. Her fur had risen to bristles. She was facing a direction I could not see. Her eyes had narrowed. She did not like what she was seeing, but she would not look away.“When you also see,” Viir spoke, “do not fret. You are quite safe.” I walked forward to stand beside Meah. I looked.By the skies! A Nigh-kutu! Before me was a Nigh-kutu imprisoned. Several transparent energy walls and several walls of metal bars stood between us. Nevertheless, my inner defensiveness immediately rose, creating another barrier between the creature and Meah and I. He looked fearsome.The huge black kutu crouched at the back of a large room. His broad black wings were splayed out, undulating in time to the slow, tense rhythm of his deep breaths. I could hear  guttural growling as he breathed. Every breath he exhaled released pent up, furious tension. His hands were tethered by golden rope. The rope was secured to the walls behind him. His pure black energy darkened the space around him. He was fully dressed in war wear. His black skin trousers tucked into strong boots with straps around his legs and body where once he would have kept weaponry. He was muscular, and emitted the power of one of the most formidable Nigh- kutu warriors.The Nigh-kutu felt my presence. He looked up. His eyes flashed with shadow-light. His expression was full of hate. His breathing and growling did not change. He just held my stare  with restrained fury. He wanted to kill me. He wanted to kill us all.

***Syndicated interview with KS Turner***

What is it that first attracted you to fantasy writing?

“It probably all started with having an overactive imagination.
When I was young, I loved fairy tales, comics, and all things make-believe. I would see stories in even the simplest of things. Subsequently, having tried many creative endeavours, when I started writing, I realised it was my art of choice, and the fantasy genre has limitless potentials. First, there’s the magic of creating new worlds, beings and phenomenal events that can get the adrenaline racing. And then you can add layers of emotional and psychological depth that have a comparative realism to our actual world. And then, if you want, you can weave even deeper threads into the story that stir the reader’s own imagination and questioning nature… what an amazing medium. How could I not choose fantasy writing?”

Would you ever consider writing realism?

“Pauses. Pauses again…
I just tried imagining myself writing realism and I’m sure my brain shrunk at the concept! Having opened the door to writing in a genre with very few restrictions, the thought of writing realism feels too linear… and dare I say it, too boring. The real world is there already for all to perceive its beauty and flaws – all we need to do is open our eyes. But, there are worlds, events, and even species that are waiting to be created by writing about them.
Mind you, saying that, I do like putting elements of realism into my novels; just the occasional element to add balance to the speculative.”

Before writing you were trained as an illustrator, did this make the ‘visuals’ of the novels more important?

“I think so, but not intentionally and certainly not consciously. I ‘see’ stories, so it’s natural that the imagery in my head integrates into the characters and scenes as I write them.
I think visually. If I’m illustrating something, I already see it in my mind and then the rest of me has the physical task of producing it. With writing, it goes a step further. I see the stories in my imagination like a film being played; I hear the characters talk, I scan the scenes, and watch the action - all while writing. Much of the visuals are vital to the characters or plot, so they have to get included.”

How long did writing the novels take you? Were there any parts that took longer than others?

“There was a huge variation in the time it took to write the three novels. For the first novel, Before the Gods, the main bulk of the story was written in about six months. But I then spent quite a while editing, getting the voices right for the different characters, and also at this stage, the book was too big, so I edited out 40,000 words.
For the second book, Tumultus, I flew through writing and editing, getting it done in well under a year.
The third book, Time: The Immortal Divide, was initially beset with issues that delayed its progress. One was when my computer died and I lost everything I’d written bar a few short fragments that could be retrieved. After a series of fateful events and long delays, eventually and very determinedly, I took time off and wrote the novel in five months.

Were there bits that took longer to write than the others? 

Yes, absolutely. Getting the overall voices of the Shaa-kutu right initially took quite some time. I found that writing from the perspective of characters who are far more advanced than I, stretched my mind and took consideration. I found most of Tachra’s chapters fluid to write, apart from the chapters where she had almost lost her mind and was exhausted to the point of giving up. When I tried writing those chapters I would suddenly feel exhausted and ill. It was rather like fully immersive method acting; I would put myself into characters’ perspectives so deeply that their situation effected how I felt.”

How much of an impact does training at somewhere as prestigious
 as St Martin’s have on novel writing?

“For novel writing, I think the impacts are subtle, yet effective. Overall, I’ve learnt that whatever the art form, whether designing a product or writing a book, you have to take that inner creativity, magnify it, and then discipline it to produce something that the outside world would love. I’ve learnt how to juggle that creativity with the hard work of completing a project.  It’s a fine balance, but I love seeing a project come to life with all the finishing touches.
I’ve also learnt to take, appreciate, and make use of constructive criticism. When I write, I’m fully immersed in the creativity. Yet when the writing is finished, I can stand back from it and 
view from a detached perspective, with a critical eye. I’ve learnt that if something is not good, try again or try something different. And, if something is good, keep going forward to try to make it even better.
Also, I’ve learnt to follow your dreams, even if others think they are unachievable. When I was young, my peers wanted me to study something academic, such as law or accountancy, and I was told that art school was not an option. So, I saved up enough money for a week’s rent and, with a lone suitcase in hand, got a coach to London, deciding I was moving there. Within two days I had found a job and enrolled in every evening art and design class I could find. A year later, I got a place at art college. Since then, I have never looked back.
So, have courage and follow dreams. After all, you only have a chance of reaching your dreams if you try to reach them.”

Do you take inspiration from myths, legends, beliefs or historic events for the foundations of your novels?

“Yes, yes and yes.
There are many places where I’ve purposely woven something into the story that was directly inspired by our myths. And other times, just a few, there are events or situations that could appear inspired by myth or belief, yet were coincidental, wonderful accidents.
Some of the intentional inspirations have been subtly brought into the story, so they often are not noticed at all, others are more prominent. The inspirations have varied hugely, from Sumerian legends of Inanna, to the history of the last battles of Sitting Bull, and from the Christian bible to King Arthur. Although I’m not going to give any specific references as that just makes spoilers!”

When you started writing was it your intention to weave a deeper narrative or set of themes into your writing?

“Yes, I admit it; I did. My aim was to craft novels that on the surface are simply great fantasy reads with wonderful characters and twisting plots. And then, as well as that, I wanted to weave through that story-arc deeper threads, of many different types, to leave resonances with people after they had read the book. My hope was, and is, that some readers will take away from the books their own relevant deeper thread; whether that’s a question, theory, or realisation.”

This novel completes your trilogy but will any of the characters be returning in other projects?

“Oh yes, definitely. And that makes me smile as I love the characters too much, and they’re far too special, to let them drift.
I already have an outline of a book which is short kutu stories. I realised that there were many times I would have just a sentence or two in the Chronicles of Fate and Choice that were potentially huge stories within themselves. Such as, what exactly happened to Chia when he discovered Earth that almost sent him mad? Or, how did Mardoch and Cranun manage to infiltrate the warrior clan? And Eden3? What’s that? What is Orion referring to when he says that only he and Una know where sleeping beasts lay? I could go on. My interest is piqued just thinking about it. Plus, there’s the potential of a prequel… And then there’s the potential of Tachra’s book on Earth lore… I think I am going to be very busy!”

Was it difficult to write for such different characters, worlds and perspectives?

“My goodness, yes, especially as there was such vast differences in the environments, age, gender, and even species.
When I would start a new chapter, from a different character’s perspective, it would take a while to find that ‘voice’ again. I’d pace, write a few words, scrub them out, and then pace again. And then it would click in and the words would flow naturally. It was the change-overs that were the difficult bit. I consumed a lot of coffee and paced even more.”

In your life what is it – fate or choice?

“Such a big question in so few words!
I would like to say choice, because that’s the independent thinker in me who likes the idea that all my eventualities are my own doing. But I can’t. For me, fate and choice seem to go hand in hand; equal measures. But, I do think that our choices define us.”

What was your motivation to start your trilogy?

“It all started with a dream and a drawing.
The initial motivation for the trilogy was not to write novels, but to simply write a short piece to go alongside some illustrations of dreams I’d had. But, those dreams kept coming and those small pieces of writing turned into a few dozen pages. The characters I saw, and the situations, were awe inspiring and almost impossible to draw. I eventually wrote a summary of the entire story. A friend read the summary, loved it, and encouraged me to continue forward with writing a book.
I decided on a trilogy as the main story line was so huge; far too much for one book. And within that main story, were three distinct areas – the light energy, the shadow energy, and Earth energy. They naturally fell into three books.”

What have you got planned for the future?

“Lots and lots! Literary wise, I already have my next book outlined and it’s already started. In fact, I actually have my next two books outlined, so best I get busy turning those outlines into novels. I’ll certainly be attending some of the literary festivals this autumn, and some of the fantasy and science fiction conventions. I’m also excited to be working alongside a video maker to create some short videos to go with the books.
On an artistic level, I will be drawing dreams, sculpting, and letting my imagination run riot.

After all, who knows when a gem might surface.”