Swift Six Author Interview – James Quinlan Meservy #Fantasy #YAFantasy

Name:

James Quinlan Meservy

Please introduce yourself (250 words or so):

Mornin’! I am James Quinlan Meservy, author of the YA Fantasy series, The Realm of the Light.

I graduated from USU with a degree in Anthropology, and minors in Russian and Geology.

Unlike several of my fellow authors, I was not a reader as a child, and I had no interest in becoming a published author. Instead, I watched movies and played video games.

Today I drive a forklift in a warehouse in Southeast Idaho for my day job, and write on the side.

My wife and I live in Southeast Idaho with our six children. When I am not writing or at work, I like to spend time with my family.

Tell us about your book(s) – title, genre etc (short)

The Realm of the Light Series, which includes The United, The Realm of the Light Book 1, Denizens Among Us, The Realm of the Light Book 2, Perfectly Evil, The Realm of the Light Book 3, Shades of Mortality, The Realm of the Light Book 4, and Within the Shadows, A Rai Saga Anthology Vol 1, is a YA Fantasy series that chronicles the history of the Realm of the Light.

When did you start your writing adventure? What was the inspiration for it?

My actual writing adventure probably started when I was in my mid to late twenties, when I decided I would take some story ideas I had in my head and turn them into a novel. The inspiration for starting the journey was having several ideas and dreams that would not leave me in peace until I wrote them down.

What writing plans do you have for the future?

Right now, finish writing my Dragons’ Deceit book. My creative writing time is limited, and I am staying focused on one project at a time.

What do you like to read?

I enjoy reading Classic Literature, especially Charles Dickens, and I enjoy reading books from fellow Indie Authors.

What piece of advice do you wish you’d had when you’d started your writing adventure?

That I had? Probably the same that I was given, hire a solid editor, read a lot, and write every day. Advice that I wish I had followed, hire an editor.

Author bio and book synopsis

I am James Quinlan Meservy

Fantasy Author Extraordinaire,

Creator of Creatures,

Embellisher of Events,

And Firebrand

“Stories that Kindle Imagination”

James Quinlan Meservy loves literature!  His favorite genre to read is classic literature (Charles Dickens is his favorite author).

He lives in Southeast Idaho with his wife and children, and spent his childhood moving all across northern Utah. He considers his home town to be Mendon, Ut, a small community near Logan, Utah in the Cache Valley.

The United Realm of the Light Book 1

KINGDOMS FALL, ONE DESTINY AT A TIME

Some time ago in a land since long forgotten, an evil force by the name of Lord Yrimwaque – servant of the Threat of Rai – threatens to destroy everything and prepare the world for a harvest. The only thing that stands in his way are three reluctant heroes: Tyler, his girlfriend KimberlyAnn and his best friend Blaze Morrison, who have been recruited by the followers of the Light of Rai. Upon their journey of knowledge, TJ and his friends are forced into an unlikely encounter with a creature of legend, and find themselves in the midst of an ancient battle between the Light of Rai and the Threat of Rai, with our world hanging in the balance. As the Light of Rai teach them to hone their various gifts and talents for the greater good of the kingdom, faith is restored, in the hopes that they will be able to stop Lord Yrimwaque and vanquish the evil horde he desires to unleash upon the land. Amid plots and counter-plots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, allies and enemies, the fate of the land hangs in the balance, as the lines between good and evil become more skewed. But will all their efforts be enough, or will the kingdom be plunged into darkness forever?

Links/Social media

WordPress: https://jqmserv.wordpress.com
FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/James.Quinlan.Meservy/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JQM_Serv
Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/jqmserv
Instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/jqmserv
Amazon Author Link: https://www.amazon.com/author/jamesmeservy
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15205860.James_Quinlan_Meservy
YouTube: Https://youtube.com/channel/UCA3vFyWQV4CdVp4XWJT3Rkw

Author Interview – Francis H Powell

Name: Francis H Powell

Please introduce yourself (250 words or so):

I was born in the UK, I spent some time living in Austria, and since 1999 I have lived in France. I live with my wife, my ten-year-old son, and our rescue dog, Bertie. I have spent a lot of time teaching at schools and universities. I went to art school, and I still do lots of creative things, like painting and sculpture. I also do music. We have a really nice house near Fontainebleau. We have a wonderful garden, but I know next to nothing about gardening. I have limited success planting things.

Sometimes we travel to Paris. Before, we lived in Brittany, near the sea, but I missed the life I used to have when I lived in Paris, lots of culture and things happening. I also have friends who live in Paris. As well as fiction, I write poetry. I put together a book called “Together Behind Four Walls” which was an anthology to raise money for Marie Curie Nurses. 

Tell us about your book(s) – title, genre etc (short)

The book I am promoting at the moment is called “The Fish King and the Two Wise Ghosts”. It is my first children’s book. I also did all the illustrations and front and back covers. There are around thirty illustrations. The book was inspired by a drawing my son did, that looked like a king holding the hands of two ghosts. At first I wrote a long poem then changed it to prose, but kept a lot of the poetry.

When did you start your writing adventure? What was the inspiration for it?

My adventure really began when I saw an advert in a magazine looking for short stories. I was living in Paris at the time and the magazine was called “Rat Mort”. I began writing short stories and sent them off to magazines and to web sites. I really enjoyed writing short stories, but later adapted to writing novels. I was inspired to write my latest book, because of my son. It is great to be able to read him, one of my stories, with him in mind.

What writing plans do you have for the future?

I write a lot and in different genres. I would like to have more children’s books published, but to have some of my other stories published. My other stories are often dark and surreal. It would be great to have a book of my poems published.

What do you like to read?

At the moment I am reading Barcelona Dreaming by Rupert Thompson. I am also part of a book club, so I am obliged to read a different book, each month. I like to read a lot of different styles of books including biographies.

What piece of advice do you wish you’d had when you’d started your writing adventure?

It’s going to be a long and hard journey.

Author bio and book synopsis

BIO

Born in 1961, in Reading, England Francis H Powell attended Art Schools, receiving a degree in painting and an MA in printmaking. In 1995, Francis H Powell moved to Austria, teaching English as a foreign language while pursuing his varied artistic interests adding music and writing. He currently lives in Moret sur Loing, France writing both prose and poetry. Francis H Powell has published short stories in the magazine, “Rat Mort” and other works on the internet site “Multi-dimensions.” He has had three books published and  has also compiled a book of short stories, poems and illustrations, featuring other writers and poets. The book is called “Together Behind Four Walls” and is a book of lockdown stories and poems. The books has raised money for Marie Curie nurses.   He has had poems published in anthologies, for both adults and children.  He has done poetry reading for Paris Lit up as well as other events.

SYNOPSIS

A fishy tale that begins with a king who has two wise ghost friends and his tricky search for a queen. The first to try to win the king’s hand, the fishy Princess Chipolata, is discovered by the two ghosts, trying to steal the crown jewels. At first, the king refuses to believe them. Finally, Princess Chipolata is sent to prison.

The King continues his search by placing an advertisement on social media, “Fish Hook.” He gets a lot of responses; however, all the hopeful queens are most unsuitable. When he sets his eyes on one of his sister’s friends, his search comes to a happy end. Only one problem remains: he has to introduce two ghosts, who like to play jokes on people, to his future bride.

In the second part of the book, the king and queen produce royal heirs. Prince Erik likes ghosts in the same way as his father. A party takes place, and the ghosts spook some of the guests. When Prince Erik grows up, he tells his parents he wants to go on a long adventure. He sees and does some incredible things. After he returns, the kingdom is once again a happy place.

Francis H Powell Twitter

@Dreamheadz

Instagram

Francis H Powell (@francis_h_powell_writer) • Instagram photos and videos

Goodreads

Francis H. Powell (Author of Flight of Destiny) | Goodreads

Facebook

(20+) Francis H Powell author | Facebook

youtube

Francis H Powell – YouTube

Swift Six Author Interview – Astrid V. J. #Fantasy

Name: Astrid V.J.

Please introduce yourself (250 words or so):

I am a USA Today Bestselling and Literary Classics award-winning author, social anthropologist, and transformational life coach. I grew up in South Africa and currently live in Malmö, Sweden (after having lived in many exciting and interesting places). I live with my husband and our two children.

My South African-German heritage and the experiences of living and integrating into other societies have given me a great deal to think about and process.

The training in anthropology has given me the tools to think beyond simple stereotypes and ideological explanations of social interaction while the understanding I have of human potential underlying my certification as a transformational life coach allows me to see what is possible and to appreciate the human capacity to achieve success in the face of adversity.

My parents instilled in me a love for books, and the natural world that we inhabit. This love has led to a deep appreciation of the written word and the desire to contribute as much as I can towards improving the state of the world. I would like to use my expertise and passion for cultures to help us move forward.

I write transformation fiction: incorporating transformation principles in novels, rather than writing another self-help book. This is more than Up-lit. My books are intended to be uplifting, but also to provoke thought and help people question the situations they find themselves in, and to identify how they themselves can transcend their circumstances. 

Tell us about your book(s) – title, genre etc (short)

So far, I have four novels in a series of fairytale retellings and my focus is on lesser-known fairytales, The Elisabeth and Edvard’s World series. I have published two novels in a futuristic fantasy quartet, The Wishmaster series, which follows an itinerant storyteller in her late forties and her young apprentice. Accompanying The Wishmaster series is a spin-off series of novellas recounting the tales that are mentioned in the course of the storyteller and her apprentice’s journey. I am also currently working on an urban fantasy series with a bear shifter clan set in modern-day Sweden.

Additionally, I have also contributed to several permanent charity anthologies raising funds for causes close to my heart. The most noteworthy are:

Children of War: an anthology to support the children of Ukraine

The Enchanted Anthologies series, thus far three books each raising monies for a different environmental cause

What’s in a Name series, thus far two books raising monies for global literacy

When did you start your writing adventure? What was the inspiration for it?

I’ve been writing since I was twelve and started publishing four years ago. I read Fingerprints of the Gods by Graham Hancock and had an idea. I was also acutely aware of the inherent Westernness of Fantasy and wanted to change that despite it being my favorite genre. Making fantasy more representative is definitely something that drives me to write.

What writing plans do you have for the future?

I have so many story ideas, I’ll just keep going until my time is up, because as the past twenty-four years have proven, there’s no lack of ideas in my head.

What do you like to read?

I read anything I can get my hands on. Although I’m not a particular fan of horror, if written well, I’ll even give that a try. Essentially, as long as the writing is good and the plot is solid, I’ll enjoy it.

What piece of advice do you wish you’d had when you’d started your writing adventure?

It’s okay to just go with what you love. I kept pushing writing away because I didn’t believe it was a sensible career option, instead of embracing what I love and trying to make it work.

Author bio and book synopsis

Author bio:

Award-winning and USA Today Bestselling Author, Astrid V.J. was born in South Africa. She is a trained social anthropologist and certified transformational life coach. She currently resides in Sweden with her husband and their two children. In early childhood, she showed an interest in reading and languages—interests which her family encouraged. Astrid started writing her first novel at age 12 and now writes fantasy in a variety of genres, exploring her passion for cultures and languages. When she isn’t writing, Astrid likes to read, take walks in nature, play silly games with her children, do embroidery, and play music.

Series synopses:

The Wordmage’s Tales:

In The Apprentice Storyteller, the boy learns and performs the tales Viola Alerion taught him. Immerse yourself in the tales of the Haldrian Empire and experience these folktales as they fit into The Apprentice Storyteller and Finding the Way. Each tale is a stand-alone and every one of them refers back to the moment it was mentioned in The Apprentice Storyteller or Finding the Way.
The twists of life confront us with the worst within ourselves. At the same time, these moments provide us the opportunity to offer up that which brings out the best in us. Dreams are the seeds of our potential. They are the life-giving guides that unfold the path of our highest achievements. Our dreams require belief—in both the possibility of that intangible dream becoming a reality, and also in our capacity to make it happen.
Love. Loss. Longing. Loyalty. The Wordmage’s Tales bring it all to life.

These tales are a continuation of Astrid V.J.’s exploration of human transformation and expand her journey as a writer of transformation fiction, literature exploring human potential and our capacity to achieve success in the face of adversity. Each one of The Wordmage’s Tales is dedicated to a key principle of transformation.

The Wishmaster series:

A master-storyteller and her apprentice share stories on their travels through the Haldrian empire, where things are not as blissful as the empress would like people to believe. Can they bring change to the galactic empire through their stories?

Elisabeth and Edvard’s World series:

This is a series of retellings of lesser-known fairy tales and folk tales by award-winning and USA Today bestselling author, Astrid V.J. These books can be read as standalones or enjoyed as a series with unexpected interconnections. Currently includes the following retellings:

The Siblings’ Tale duology – Brother and Sister (Grimm)

Gisela’s Passion – Giselle (original Slavic folktale on which the French ballet is based)

Naiya’s Wish – The Nixie of the Mill-pond (Grimm)

Johara’s Choice – The Tinderbox (Hans Christian Andersen)

Links/Social media

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Astrid-V.J./e/B07S8WGPTT

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astrid.v.j_author_official/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Astrid-VJ-USA-Today-Bestselling-Author/100064127106021/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/astrid.v.j_author_official

Swift Six Author Interview – Hannah-Louise Smith #Fantasy

Name: Hannah-Louise Smith

Please introduce yourself (250 words or so): I love reading, especially fantasy, I’m a huge Harry Potter and Star Wars fans, but only episodes 1-6. My preferred hot drink is tea and I have a Siberian husky called Logan, named after my favourite X-man

Tell us about your book(s) – title, genre etc (short) Awakening and Darkness are the first two books in the Mythics and mortals trilogy. They are urban fantasy novels based on Ancient Greek mythology and center around our heroine Christina Jones

When did you start your writing adventure? What was the inspiration for it? I started writing during the first 2020 lockdown, I always wanted to write a book so I just went for it. I had an idea and put my pen to paper

What writing plans do you have for the future? I have so many books planned, I’m currently working on an epic fantasy based on the popular role playing game dungeons and dragons, called Gameplay. After I plan on finishing the Mythics and mortals trilogy with the final book

What do you like to read? I like to read A song of fire and ice. George.R.R.Martin is truly a genius

What piece of advice do you wish you’d had when you’d started your writing adventure? Don’t listen to the doubts, just go for it. The only time you will fail is if you never try

Author bio and book synopsis

Lover of books, tea and fantasy. I have a joint degree in English literature and history and a Siberian husky named Logan. Awakening and Darkness (first two books in the Mythics and mortals trilogy), are out on amazon.

Percy Jackson meets The Mortal Instruments

Christina Jones had always thought that she was normal, just your typical unlucky woman. But this all changes on her twenty-first birthday when she falls, quite literally, headfirst into a world that was thought only to exist in Ancient Greek mythology.

With her new friends, Sophie Romain and Lucas Teravin, by her side, Christina has to fight, not only to control her developing powers and remember who she is, but also to fight the demon that hunts her for a mysterious figure called The Master.

Links/Social media

https://www.facebook.com/hannahlouisesmith19

https://www.instagram.com/hannahlousmith/?hl=en

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22231590.Hannah_Louise_smith

Twitter-@HannahLouiseSm

TikTok- @hannahlousmith0

Dirty Dozen Author Interview – Kathleen Harryman #Suspense #Thriller #HistoricalRomance #ParanormalRomance #CrimeFiction

Kathleen Harryman

Links to book:

Website: https://www.kathleenharryman.com

Kathleen was first published in 2015 and has gone on to win several awards for her books. Developing a unique writing style, Kathleen Harryman grips the reader holding their attention until they become part of the story.

Kathleen Harryman is a talented multi-genre author of suspense, psychological thrillers, crime fiction, romantic suspense, historical romance, and paranormal romance.

Please tell us about your publications/work.

The Other Side of the Looking Glass was my first novel to be published back in 2015. It is a romantic suspense set in York. The Other Side of the Looking Glass Since is written over several POVs, allowing each main character to provide their own thoughts, desires, and fears.

Since 2015, I have gone on to write and publish three psychological thrillers, When Darkness Falls, Darkness Rising (Part of the Darkness Series), and Hidden Danger. There is something about thrillers that allow my creative juices to run. The main character in The Darkness Series is deadly, but also conveys a humorous side. This is something I like to do to break up the suspense, especially as these books are written from the killers’ perspective. Hidden Danger is similar, in that the reader gets a Birdseye view into the killers’ thoughts, but with Hidden Danger it is the relationship between daughter and father that gives it a sense of twisted horror.

In 2019 along with my co-author, and friend, Lucy Marshall, I published my first historical romance, The Promise. This book is based around stories my great uncles have told over the years, and my grandfather, James Chappell, who died during the D-Landings. Though the story differs from my grandfather’s life, it reflects the lives of those left behind at home and who fought on the frontline during World War II. The Promise is written from multiple POV’s and therefore has the intimacy of reading a personnel diary.

Hunted was the first book I ever wrote, even though it was never released until 2021. As an author I felt there was an element missing from the story. Hunted has grown from its first draft. One of the main changes I made, was the introduction of Arthur, a gnome and spy for the Saelee King, and Seberg, a magical staff which causes a lot of trouble for Vampwitch, Alice Quinn. Hunted is the first book in the Vampwitch series and is a paranormal romance.

Life’s Echoes, is a book of poetry, echoing life’s peculiarities, and the personal strength we carry within us.

When I started writing I was determined to become a multi genre author. I have always enjoyed reading a cross reference of genres and it feels wrong to limit my love of writing and storytelling to just one genre.

Do you think the written word (or art) bring power and freedom?

There is always a sense of freedom to be found in the written word. Words themselves are powerful instruments that can bring enlightenment and inspiration. Unfortunately, words can also wound. I like to feel that when we read, we travel with the characters. We live their lives, laugh when they laugh, cry when they cry, and become one with the suspense. What better freedom from life is there than to take that journey into a different world from our own.

Many authors use the power that writing brings. I believe that if I write something, and can feel what the characters feel, then there is no greater power an author can convey to the reader.

What’s your greatest networking tip?

Support others. We all need a helping hand; supporting our fellow authors or businessperson is key to building good relationships.

If you could have dinner with any literary character or author who would you choose, and what would you eat.

If I were to have dinner with a literary author, I would choose Agatha Christie. We would dine on the Orient Express, with afternoon tea. Cucumber sandwiches, scones, jam, clotted cream and tiny pastries.

How much research do you do for your work? What’s the wildest subject you’ve looked at?

Research is key to making any story credible. Behind every book I write, a wealth of research has gone into it.

The wildest subject I’ve researched would be when I was writing Hidden Danger. I was in Glasgow at the time with a colleague from the gas industry and we were looking how to blow up a house using gas. The catch is that the gas needed to be released over time, the occupants unaware of what was happening. We looked at all the components required, how to get the gas buildup without the smell alerting the occupants of the house, etc. It was one of the most hands-on research I have done. If anyone overheard our plotting, I’m sure they would have found us to be quite mad, and very scary.

What’s the best advice you’ve received about writing/publishing?

Never write like anyone else. You are unique and your writing should be too. I recall a journalist confessing how they had spent years looking for the perfect formula to get them the next bestseller. Writing in many other author styles, believing that this was sure to gain him that unattainable bestseller and movie deal. The thing is, he spent so long researching how to write like others, he never got round to writing. This was years ago, but I never forgot—be yourself, write like you, and feel everything you write.

Which authors have influenced you the most?

Enid Blyton

Agatha Christie

Sharon Kay Penman

What is your writing space like?

Cosy. I’m a neat freak, so everything has a place. There are shelves lined with reference books across a multitude of genres, from serial killers to ancient Egypt. And space for my dog, and writing companion, Reilly Roo to sleep.

Tell us about your latest piece?

I am currently writing another World War II romance due for release mid 2023.

What are your hopes for the coming year?

To keep being creative and to find something in each day that makes me smile.

Tell us a silly fact about yourself?

I still have my teddy bear that Mum and Dad had made for me and my sister when we were born. His red paws are no longer in tacked and his white fur is grey, his head wobbles from side to side, but he still brings me comfort.

What did you want to be when you ‘grew up’?

When I wasn’t pretending to be a writer, I wanted to be a dancer, not that I can dance, but I have always loved the freedom that dancing brings.

The Other Side of the Looking Glass (Romantic Suspense): http://getbook.at/TOSOTLG

When Darkness Falls – Book One in the Darkness Series (Psychological Thriller): http://getbook.at/WDF

Darkness Rising – Book Two in the Darkness Series (Psychological Thriller): http://mybook.to/DR-BK2

Hidden Danger (Psychological Thriller): http://getbook.at/hiddendanger

Hunted – A Vampwitch Novel – Book One (Paranormal Romance): http://mybook.to/HUNTED-BK1

The Promise (Historical Romance): http://getbook.at/thepromise

Life’s Echoes (Poetry): http://getbook.at/lifesechoes

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Stand Together Author Interview – Andrew P. Weston

Author name:

Andrew P. Weston

How did you become involved with this project?
I saw the project advertised on social media, and decided to offer a poem or two to help out.

Tell us a little about your work in this book?

I have two poems in the book: The Science of Communication, and Lodestone.

The Science of Communication highlights how volatile the world we live in is. Every day, we see tragedy after tragedy, many of them instigated by bigots who act without thought or consideration of consequence. It also stresses that change will never come, not until society as a whole adopts a different mindset and a willingness to see the good in others; instead of the colour of a person’s skin or the dialect they speak.

Lodestone addresses a similar theme, but this time from the perspective of the damage social media can inflict, especially when the moral compass of the world is set to ‘fit in’ and be popular, instead of doing and saying what’s right. As before, it highlights the need for change, before hatred runs rampant, like an out of control virus.

Please tell us about your other publications/work.

My poetry has appeared in the likes of Muse Pie Press, The Screech Owl, Penny Ante Feud, The Fib Review and The Shot Glass Journal . . . to name a few.

Do you think the written word (or art) brings power and freedom?

It certainly has the power to. Edward Bulwer-Lytton wasn’t kidding when he coined the infamous phrase in one of his plays:

“…Beneath the rule of men entirely great
The pen is mightier than the sword.”

The written word is a far more effective tool for communicating than mindless – or premeditated, come to that – acts of violence. And rightly so, for the power of words is eternal and can stand the test of time. I often recall certain passages or stories I’ve read, years – sometimes decades – ago. Something that moved me. Inspired me. Got me thinking. Its value can be just as precious now as it was when I read it. Now that’s power. And many have used such power, down through the centuries, to bring about change for the better.

If you could have dinner with any literary character or author who would you choose, and what would you eat.

That would be Edgar Allan Poe, a man whose mind – and imagination – worked on an entirely different level from those around him. And of course, the meal would centre around his works:
Starters would be Hop-Frog Legs washed down with Ligeia wine.
The main course would be built of a choice of The Purloined Steak Letter and Pit and the Pendulum Pie.
And for dessert, we’d round off with Tamerlane Tiramisu, complimented by his favourite cognac.

How influential is storytelling/poetry to our culture?

I don’t think storytelling or poetry will ever lose their influence, no matter how ‘instant meme fix’ society becomes. Stories have adapted to meet the modern ‘rushed off our feet’ culture by becoming shorter. Many publishers now want submissions which are half the length – or less – of what they used to be.

Poetry doesn’t have to do that. I’m not talking about ‘epic prose’ here, but those cleverly crafted shorter poems that can tell an entire story in just a few verses, or even lines. It’s just a question of adapting to need, and keeping what you produce current and popular.

If you could be any fantasy/mythical or legendary person/creature what would you be and why?

I’ve always wanted to be the Silver Surfer. I can’t imagine anything more profound than surfing the cosmos, and experiencing the majesty of the universe firsthand, up close and personal, for all eternity.

Which authors/books have influenced you the most?

That’s easy. Stephen R. Donaldson, Raymond E. Feist and Neil Gaiman. I’ve loved the sheer inventiveness of their stories for decades, and always will.

What’s your next writing adventure?

Believe it or not, I’m branching into horror. And so far, I’m rather enjoying it.

What is your greatest success?

Becoming an expert nuisance. It took years of dedication and application, but at last, I’ve done it! According to my wife, that is. . .

What’s your favourite quote, who said it and why?

That will always depend on my mood, as there are several I really like.
However, the one that has a definite edge is:

“Of all things, I liked books best.” ― Nikola Tesla.

As to why?

It sums me up perfectly. I could read before I went to school. I prefer books to films, video games and a lot of other pastimes. I always have my head in a book, even now, when I’m busy, busy, busy, writing.

Tell us a silly fact about yourself?

I love marmite! It is, without doubt, an exceedingly nomilicious food product that compliments just about anything.

What did you want to be when you ‘grew up’?
An astronaut. Something I began to actively pursue when I was younger –  (educationally and vocationally) – and then life got in the way. Bummer!

Swift Six Author Interview – Raven Oak #Fantasy

Name:   Raven Oak

Please introduce yourself (250 words or so):

I’m a disabled, geeky, enby and full-time SF/F author and artist. I live in the Seattle area with my partner and three special-needs kitties and we both enjoy gaming (tabletop, board game, and video games) and exploring the ocean. Cartography and linguistics are both hobbies of mine, and I love living in the Pacific NW.

Tell us about your book(s) – title, genre etc (short)

I have a lot of them so I’ll tell you about Book I of my Boahim Trilogy, Amaskan’s Blood.

It’s been described by others as Disney’s Tangled meets Game of Thrones. I don’t think it’s as violent as GoT but it’s a valid description in terms of the study of familial relationships and political intrigue. My short blurb for it is: Two sisters. Two loyalties. One path together. The two sisters didn’t grow up together and are the antithesis of each other. Adelei has been raised in the Order of Amaska, a holy sect of assassins that seek out Justice for their clients. Margaret is the very stereotype of spoiled princess. Through book I, as they grow to know each other, they both learn lessons from each other that make them better people. While the familial themes are going, there’s an ancient evil brewing because let’s be honest, there always is in epic fantasy. The trilogy is about how they deal with various shades of evil and what evil really is.

When did you start your writing adventure? What was the inspiration for it?

I’ve always written. My first publication was actually a children’s book I wrote and illustrated that was published as part of a university study on children’s literacy. Whenever I got into trouble, I made up a story to go along with it and explain what “really happened” and why it “wasn’t my fault.” Some people call those lies or super-elaborations but in my brain, they were stories. Adventures to entertain me and keep me from thinking too hard about the environment I grew up in.

When I was twelve, I discovered the majority of SF/F, specifically Anne McCaffrey. I liked her photo in the back of the book because she looked like my grandmother and even shared the same birthday (April 1^st), plus the books I first found had dragons (my fav). After devouring the Pern novels, I spent my summer that year writing a 350+ page novel that was my own version of The Dragonriders of Pern. I didn’t know what fanfiction was but it was pretty much that. I even got map making supplies and drew my own maps. I drew dragons and characters as well. I was hooked. I’d written stories before then but never a full novel. After that book, I wrote a trilogy, and by the time I was in high school, I was writing daily of my own material (not fan-fiction). It wasn’t until college that I began to seek publication.

What writing plans do you have for the future?

I’ve got three novels, 1 short story collection, and 1 story in an anthology due out in the next twelve months! Right now, I’m working on revisions for most of those works with some pretty serious deadlines so wish me luck!

What do you like to read?

I read most genres: sci-fi, fantasy, horror, thriller, mysteries, urban fantasy, historical fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, etc. I don’t read a lot of romance unless it’s mixed into one of the other genres. Straight up romance and erotica tends to bore me as a demisexual. As far as my favorites, they shift all the time since I read a LOT, but some favs are: Rebecca Roanhorse, Neil Gaiman, Connie Willis, Jenny Lawson, and Shannon Mayer.

What piece of advice do you wish you’d had when you’d started your writing adventure?

Don’t be afraid to experiment. It’s how we learn.

Author bio and book synopsis

BIO:

Multi-international award-winning speculative fiction author Raven Oak is best known for Amaskan’s Blood (2016 Ozma Fantasy Award Winner, Epic Awards Finalist, & Reader’s Choice Award Winner), Amaskan’s War (2018 UK Wishing Award YA Finalist), and Class-M Exile. She also has many published short stories in anthologies and magazines. She’s even published on the moon! Raven spent most of her K-12 education doodling stories and 500 page monstrosities that are forever locked away in a filing cabinet.

Besides being a writer and artist, she’s a geeky, disabled ENBY who enjoys getting her game on. She lives in the Seattle area with her husband, and their three kitties who enjoy lounging across the keyboard when writing deadlines approach. Her hair color changes as often as her bio does, and you can find her at www.ravenoak.net.

Amaskan’s Blood Book Synopsis:

Adelei was a master in her field, one of the feared Order of Amaska. Those who were a danger to the Little Dozen Kingdoms wound up dead by her hand. The Order sends her deep into the Kingdom of Alexander, away from her home in Sadai, and into the hands of the Order’s enemy, her birth father. The job is nothing short of a suicide mission, one serving no king, no god, and certainly not Justice. With no holy order to protect her, she tumbles dagger-first into the Boahim Senate’s political schemes and finds that magic is very much alive and well in the Little Dozen Kingdoms.

They say the truth depends on which side of the sword one stands. But they never said what to do when all the swords are pointing at you.

Links/Social media

Website: www.ravenoak.net

Mailing List: https://www.ravenoak.net/join-the-conspiracy/

Facebook Author Page:  https://facebook.com/authorroak

Facebook Reader Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ravenconspiracy

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/raven_oak

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/author_raven_oak/

Goodreads Author Page:  https://www.goodreads.com/raven_oak

Bookbub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/raven-oak

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/Raven-Oak/e/B00P5PT4AM

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/user/kaonevar/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravenoak1

Swift Six Author Interview – Jon Cronshaw

Name: Jon Cronshaw

Please introduce yourself (250 words or so):

I’ve been a full-time author since 2017. I’ve zig-zagged between high fantasy, post-apocalyptic, and gamelit. I’m trying hard to stay focused on writing fantasy stories, but that doesn’t stop the Muse teasing me with ideas for space opera tales.

Tell us about your book(s) – title, genre etc (short)

My main fantasy series is called The Ravenglass Chronciles, this is a 21-novella series where each book is inspired by the tarot. My latest novel, Dawn of Assassins is set a few hundred years after The Ravenglass Chronicles and tells the story of a pair of thieves who are recruited by a master assassin. But they’re thieves, not killers.

When did you start your writing adventure? What was the inspiration for it?

I’ve worked as a professional writer for most of my adult life, mostly in journalism. I’ve written stories, comedy scripts, and lyrics since I can remember, so I’ve always had that drive to tell stories. When I saw I could bypass corporate publishers and produce books on my own terms, that’s when I decided to follow this as a career path.

What writing plans do you have for the future?

To keep writing stories in my Ravenglass Universe. As I establish the universe, I want to branch out into other media and work with other writers. There’s potential for video games, movies, and comics. It’s very exciting. It’s also meant that when I get an idea for a story, I ask myself whether it will fit in the Ravenglass Universe. If it doesn’t, I thank the Muse and move on. 

What do you like to read?

Books! And lots of them! I read in most genres. My favourite stories tend to be fantasy. Give me banter and swashbuckling and you’re onto a winner.

What piece of advice do you wish you’d had when you’d started your writing adventure?

Just because someone’s got a system that works for them, it doesn’t mean it’ll work for you.

There is no magic bullet.

Author bio and book synopsis

Jon Cronshaw is a full-time fantasy and speculative fiction author based in Morecambe, England.

Born in Wolverhampton, he has a PhD in the history of art and has written for local and national newspapers across the UK.

He’s an avid reader, podcaster, and history geek.

Dawn of Assassins:

Two friends. A master assassin. One deadly choice.

Fedor and Lev are thieves…not killers.

They lead a desperate life in the tunnels of Nordturm, conning and stealing to buy their next meal.

But when an assassin recruits them against their will, they are forced into a life they do not want and cannot escape.

If they leave, they will die. But if they stay, they must kill.

Can they survive the master’s relentless evaluation?

Is loyalty stronger than the will to live?

Will their friendship last the ordeal?

From the best-selling author of The Ravenglass Chronicles, comes a new thrilling adventure featuring a new cast of unforgettable characters.

You’ll love this high fantasy series, because these unlikely heroes have a story you won’t be able to put down.

Links/Social media

https://joncronshaw.com

https://facebook.com/joncronshawauthor

https://youtube.com/c/joncronshawauthor

https://instagram.com/joncronshawauthor

https://tiktok.com/@joncronshawauthor

You can also find Jon Cronshaw’s Author Diary wherever you listen to podcasts.

Swift Six Author Interview – Tahani Nelson #Fantasy #MilitaryFantasy #Femaleheroes

Name: Tahani Nelson

Please introduce yourself (250 words or so): My name is Tahani Nelson, and I’m the author of the Faoii Chronicles, a female-led military fantasy series. I’ve always loved reading, but growing up I struggled to find heroines that I could identify with or aspire to be. Women in classic fantasy always seemed to be damsels in distress or love interests. Even when I could find an awesome heroine with dreams and aspirations, more often than not it seemed she’d meet a guy halfway through the novel and that would be her main focus. I was so over love triangles by the time I turned 16. So now I write all the heroines that young me looked for and couldn’t find—and it turns out I wasn’t the only one searching. Together, we’ve built the Faoii Army—readers that have followed me through everything and come out the other side triumphantly through every obstacle. I think at this point I’m most famous for always attending readings, signings, and events in full armor and warpaint. I know a lot of people told me it was weird when I first started doing it, but you don’t get anywhere in this world without taking a few risks. And let me tell you—a fantasy lover will cut across a room to talk to someone in cool-looking armor. It’s a great conversation starter, and even if someone doesn’t buy my books the first time they pass my booth, there’s no question that they’ll remember they saw me.

Tell us about your book(s) – title, genre etc (short) The Faoii Chronicles is a completed military fantasy series that focuses on the unforeseen aftermath of war. We all have the power to forge new destinies and futures—but ripples can cause tidal waves, and even the smallest actions can change the Eternal Tapestry in monumental ways.

When did you start your writing adventure? What was the inspiration for it? According to my father, I’ve been writing “books” my entire life. I didn’t really start exploring it seriously until high school, though, when I wrote a 360,000 word monstrosity filled with tropes and two-dimensional characters. But I’ve always had supportive, loving people in my life, and they helped me to practice and hone my craft.  I published my debut novel, The Last Faoii in 2017, and with the incredible support of the Faoii Army, it’s grown beyond anything anyone ever expected. It’s truly been an honor.

What writing plans do you have for the future? Honestly, I don’t know right now. The Faoii Chronicles have been the center of my existence for so long that I’ve kind of forgotten what my life was like before I started it. Now that the series is complete and available everywhere, I’m paralyzed by choice. I can keep writing military fantasy or I can move on to something with dragons or I can explore the science fiction world I created in a short story called “Honeysuckle Sky.” I’m free to do anything. I have no doubt that inspiration will strike and carry me forward the same way it did for my first series. You haven’t heard the last of me.

What do you like to read? I love fantasy, but I also come back to the classics quite often. Fahrenheit 451 is my favorite novel of all time, and I read it anytime I worry about whether or not my words have worth. When I search for something new, I try to support indie authors, because I know how much of a difference a single sale can make sometimes. And ripples can cause tidal waves.

What piece of advice do you wish you’d had when you’d started your writing adventure? Stop comparing yourself to other writers. There will always be someone who writes more than you each night. Who sells more copies or who attends more events or makes more in royalties. It is so easy to get discouraged when you’re constantly comparing yourself to other authors—especially on social media. Those highlighted reels of other people’s “best of” moments while you only focus on your “bloopers” track. Comparison is a thief of joy. It is a soul crushing habit made specifically to extinguish whatever sets your soul on fire. Instead, I encourage you to think about where you were a year ago. Or five. Or ten. That person in the earliest stages of writing would have believed you could ever come this far. They would be so proud of you. And rightfully so. You’d be their hero. YOUR hero. And that’s exactly how it should be. If you must compare, then only compare the author you are now to the author you were then. And keep going. I can’t wait to see what author you’ll be.

 

Author bio and book synopsis

Tahani Nelson is an author and English teacher in Billings, Montana. With hundreds of 5-star reviews and an ever-growing army of Faoii at her back, Nelson has become a common attendee at author events, Renaissance festivals, news programs, and conventions across the US– always wearing full armor and a face resplendent with warpaint. While her most notable appearances have been at the Indie Audiobook Awards and Fantasycon discussion panels, she most frequently gives presentations about empowerment and creating strong, healthy female role models in modern media.

Synopsis of The Faoii Chronicles

The Faoii Order is the shield of Imeriel. Wielding both magic and blade, these women have held back ancient evils and maintained sacred rites for millennia. But when a dark war uncovers secrets that even the Faoii cannot keep hidden, it starts a chain of events threatening the free will of an entire continent.

As old leaders fall and new ones rise to take their place, a warrior, a thief, and a launderer all strive to fix what’s been broken. But none can see how their actions affect the Eternal Tapestry—and all are unknowingly bound to the Threads that the others grasp.

In an intricate tale that spans centuries, The Faoii Chronicles is both empowering and immersive. Everyone has the power to forge their own destiny—and even the smallest actions can change the Weave in monumental ways.

 

 

Links/Social media

https://www.TahaniNelson.com

https://www.facebook.com/TheLastFaoii

https://www.twitter.com/TahaniNelson

Instagram: TahaniNelson

TikTok: TahaniNelson

 

 

 

Author Interview E. G. Creel #Fantasy #MeetanAuthor

Name: E. G. Creel

Please introduce yourself (250 words or so): Vocationally, I’m a photographer and the mother of two Hobbits. Currently, I’m blooming near Augusta, Georgia.

Tell us about your book(s) – title, genre etc (short) The Immortal subtitle Life or death. The choice is hers. Contemporary/dark fantasy. A midlife crisis, island paradise, mass murder, and immortal Vikings.

When did you start your writing adventure? What was the inspiration for it? The Immortal is my debut book. I stumbled into writing in 2021 after having a bad dream. I thought I’d write a paragraph to get the idea out of my head and ended up completing my first draft six weeks later.

What writing plans do you have for the future? Next up is the audiobook. I’m also writing ongoing episodes on Kindle Vella.

What do you like to read? Netflix subtitles.

What piece of advice do you wish you’d had when you’d started your writing adventure? Writing a book is the fun part. Selling it is the hard part.

 

 Book synopsis

Emma just turned forty and has finally decided to begin living her best life. She books a vacation at a resort on a French Polynesian island only to find herself on the dinner menu of an immortal Viking. If she keeps her wits, and with a little luck, maybe she’ll make it off the island alive.

Spoiler alert: Don’t fall in love because the ending will rip your heart out.

https://amzn.to/3rMrMUZ – The Immortal in Kindle

https://amzn.to/3BitErB – The Immortal in Hardcover

 

 E. G. Creel is currently blooming with her family near Augusta, Georgia. The Immortal is her debut novel. Thanks for supporting an indie author.

 

Links/Social media

https://www.facebook.com/EG-Creel-103874478633203/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21925578.E_G_Creel

https://linktr.ee/E.G.Creel