Joni Scott - 17 May 2026
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This week it is my pleasure to interview Joni Scott. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers and share something about your life.
When did you write your first book, and how did it come about?
My first book, The Piano Tuner’s Daughters happened by accident. My sister was and still is an ancestry.com obsessive. She kept telling me about all this stuff she had discovered about our family. I was not too interested. Frustrated, one day she dumped a whole wad of notes on me, almost literally. I took them away on a holiday in case I ran out of books to read, which can happen as I am a voracious reader. As it rained for days I did run out of books and resorted to reading her notes about my grandmother and her sister. The story was stranger than fiction. There were intriguing gaps and mysteries to why my grandmother ran away to the other side of the world hopping on a steam ship just after the Titanic sinking. I read and read then couldn’t sleep so I wrote and wrote the story of these two long ago sisters explaining their actions with fiction. My grandmother was starting to appear before me and her actions now made some sense. I kept writing for a few months and had the idea of giving the story to my sister for her birthday which I did. I thought she might hit me on the head with the typed then printed ‘novella’ tied in a big red bow. She didn’t, she said nothing. But for my birthday she gave me an envelope containing a publishing contract. She’d sent my story off to publishers and one was interested. I was an accidental novelist.
Do you always write in the same genre, or do you mix it up?
No, I now have three genres. I like trying everything. There’s three historical fiction as a trilogy, two contemporary novels and now three non-fiction historical books in progress with a few other novels partly written. The trilogy sprung from the first accidental novel. The publisher suggested two more follow ups. Apparently readers like things in threes.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand? All of the above. I am a messy person, writing included. Somehow, out of the chaos, a story emerges. What inspired your other books? Real life inspired my next book. Late 2019 I was struck down by a paralysing and terribly painful supposedly incurable nervous condition called CRPS, after just falling and breaking my arm. I lost the use of my right arm, shoulder and hand, so could not drive, dress myself, brush my hair etc. With no treatment options in Australia and an upsetting prognosis, I booked a medical trip to Genova, Italy to receive treatment in a clinic I’d discovered online. My husband and I flew out from Brisbane on Feb 28, 2020, unfortunately two days after the outbreak of Covid in North Italy. To cut a long dramatic story short, with me in hospital, Italy entered lockdowns 1,2,3 and 4. The day I left the clinic, still paralysed along my right side, we had to leave Italy by train for the French border escorted by police. Safely in France, many hours later, we realised things were little better and we had to move hotels each day as they closed like a pack of dominoes. Desperate, we went to Nice airport where many other travellers were also stranded. While watching humanity in crisis, I decided that day to put us all in a novel. Except, small problem, I could not even type anymore! I only had one functional hand. Nor did I have a computer with me. How much of your own lockdown experience is included in the novel? Not so much of mine, that would be boring! I was paralysed, could barely walk but the strangers I met started my imagination on a journey. A male ballet dancer for the Nice Opera, a mother and her teenage daughter, two young women from the UK who had just lost their dream jobs in St Tropez, a young British chef…If only I had taken their addresses, then I could have told them later, ‘Hey, I put you in a book.’ This book, The Last Hotel is my best seller. Why did you choose the Riviera for the setting of the book? I didn’t choose it, it was where I was, where we became stranded with nowhere to go. But I did choose the quaint village of Beaulieu-sur-Mer, near Nice, for my hotel setting as Nice seemed too modern and large and besides all the hotels closed there. I had the idea of a smaller place like a pensione, bit like The Exotic Marigold Hotel, a quirky place. Beaulieu-sur-Mer, seemed perfect. The name means beautiful place by the sea. Are there themes in your books? Or underlying messages? Magic and serendipity are themes in my books. I love the unexpectedness of life, the chance meetings, the funny outcomes. In fact, I thrive on it. My life has taken many turns, I’ve had a few re-starts, some magic happenings. It’s been a fun ride so far. I am an eternal optimist. Nothing gets me down for long. This has led to several people hitting me on the head for being irritatingly happy. The character, Kaz in The Last Hotel is probably a younger version of me. This answers the next question as to why my treatment of the heavy topic of lockdown, scary virus ended up as a touching love story. One friend after reading it, said, ‘Trust you to find the flip side of lockdown!’ What part of the writing is the most fun? In The Last Hotel it was creating the fictional characters to match the real ones I met. The chef, Will had to meet a beautiful French girl, Lotte who has a dishy, widowed father. Then I needed some neighbours and of course a bookshop and its owner, Henri who has a stutter. There are two nasty characters though. But since I love the French language, I had to put a lot of French in to create the atmosphere. A few readers reported feeling totally immersed in France which for me was very gratifying. While writing my historical novels, I loved disappearing down the rabbit hole of research and emerging many hours later with a completely different set of facts than expected which then sent the story in a different direction. See what I mean about chaotic writing. Underlying messages?Well, I am happy when people find meaning in what I write. Without realising it while writing, I did construct discourses that some readers have identified in reviews. One is; if life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Another is; to be thine own self be true. One character, Jenny represents this, albeit a bit later in life and my young lesbian character learns to trust in herself. Another is; what seems like a detour, is actually the way you were meant to go. I like this one a lot. It defines my life totally. Do you have any interesting writing habits? As I am now a disabled writer, because my hand still has a mind of its own, my writing habits are rather odd. I can’t type for long at a time, so I alternate typing, dictating and scrawling with an apple pencil on an iPad and pressing the magic ‘convert to text’ button. But The Last Hotel will always be my special book baby as I totally wrote it with one hand, my left, in a tap tap one finger manner on the old, battered iPad I had with me in Europe. It really was crazy. That book used me as some sort of medium. The words just came from somewhere as did the characters. But it kept me going over five months while I slowly gained back some use of my right arm. It was the perfect distraction from real life at the time. The end result had no capitals or speech marks so I needed Tellwell publishers to rescue it. They designed the gorgeous cover, always a hit at book events. What are you writing now? I’ve become a history blogger which is great fun for a chatty girl like me. As I already had researched heaps of topics for my two historical novels and The Last Hotel, I decided to share some of this fascinating stuff in blogs which I post on my website, joniscottauthor.com. Using these blogs I wrote a non-fiction book “women who challenged history’ awaiting publication and am now compiling two sequels, one about twentieth century women and the other about miscellaneous history topics. These will be my ‘rabbit hole’ series. I must tell you about this spooky happening. While I was researching and writing about the Spanish Flu for Postcard to Picardy set in WWI, Covid erupted (exactly a century after 1918). It was rather déjà vu. My fourth novel, Colour comes to Tangles is set here on the Sunshine Coast on Buderim Mountain but also partly in India. It is a biracial romance with a bit of a mystery disappearance. A light little book I wrote dreamily while my hand was recovering and I researched for the last historical. My fifth book is the final historical novel, Last Time Forever set in Sydney and France after WWI and ending in 1950. Besides writing what other skills do you have? My career has been in the scientific field. I studied at Sydney University and have half a medical degree, a master’s degree in Organic Chemistry and a batch of post grad diplomas. I still love learning stuff and enjoy imparting knowledge to my students. After raising my own children, I started a maths/science tutoring business twenty years ago. Apart from being a science nerd I love history and write history blogs on my website. I also am a lecturer for U3A. I’m not a sporty girl so just as well I was born skinny! Where are your books available and how can readers interact? My books are available in local bookstores and some overseas. Details of my books, blogs and links to buy online are available on my website, http://joniscottauthor.com. I’m on Insta @authorjoniscott and Facebook https://tinyurl.com/sts4eeum.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from your book? It’s hard to choose one excerpt but here’s one from my WWI historical novel, Postcard to Picardy. The book is set in Sydney Australia and war torn France. Effie is a French war orphan being taken to Mont-Saint-Michel orphanage as Montmartre orphanage in Paris is no longer safe. At this point her parents are missing not declared dead and she has hope in her heart.
“It was the highest place Effie had ever been, higher than the orphanage on the hill, maybe higher than the tower in Paris? Or was it because she could see in all directions? West, over the salt marsh flats and east to the confluence of the river estuary and south to the bay and sea beyond.When she looked straight ahead over the shimmering sands, Effie could see where she had come from today with the nun, the kind lady and her tall son. They had crossed the causeway over the strange vast sandy beach that glistened with water. The structure before them was both alarming and magical in appearance.As they drew closer, Effie could see houses on the lower slopes of the outcrop. But as her eyes scanned higher towards the sky, she saw that a huge grey church with a spire occupied most of the island. On the very top of the spire, as if reaching for the heavens, was a white object. Was it a bird? Claire, Gervais’s mother, acting as a guide, led them up the winding paths and stone staircases to the towers and battlements of Le Mont. On tiptoes, with her small face peering over the stone wall, she gazed outward to the vast horizons. If she could see so far, then surely her family could see her here? They were out there somewhere and in time, if they looked towards the sea and their own vast horizons, then surely, they would see her. She waved her hand, just in case they could see her now.”
What is the best marketing tip you have received? I’ve yet to receive one. I hate marketing my books which is why I am a nobody. But a happy nobody.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why? I’d love to return to Beaulieu-sur-Mer and walk the streets I wrote about.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us? Only that my shih tzu, Mix is in The Last Hotel and that there is a zoo in Last Time Forever and a baby camel goes to the vet’s wedding. I like animals in stories.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read? I prefer books with historical settings to those set in the modern world. I feel I was born in the wrong century. Not a fan of all the digital, screen stuff, the fashions, tattoos and lack of manners today.
Do you have any upcoming events or book promotions you would like to share? I’m running a writing workshop on historical setting at Noosa Library 16th July 2026. The Eumundi Writer’s Festival is on 4th September this year and I’m running a workshop for new writers about editing, formatting and publishing options. I have book signings regularly at Annie’s Books Peregian and Rosetta’s Maleny where my books are stocked. Announcements on my Insta.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand? All of the above. I am a messy person, writing included. Somehow, out of the chaos, a story emerges. What inspired your other books? Real life inspired my next book. Late 2019 I was struck down by a paralysing and terribly painful supposedly incurable nervous condition called CRPS, after just falling and breaking my arm. I lost the use of my right arm, shoulder and hand, so could not drive, dress myself, brush my hair etc. With no treatment options in Australia and an upsetting prognosis, I booked a medical trip to Genova, Italy to receive treatment in a clinic I’d discovered online. My husband and I flew out from Brisbane on Feb 28, 2020, unfortunately two days after the outbreak of Covid in North Italy. To cut a long dramatic story short, with me in hospital, Italy entered lockdowns 1,2,3 and 4. The day I left the clinic, still paralysed along my right side, we had to leave Italy by train for the French border escorted by police. Safely in France, many hours later, we realised things were little better and we had to move hotels each day as they closed like a pack of dominoes. Desperate, we went to Nice airport where many other travellers were also stranded. While watching humanity in crisis, I decided that day to put us all in a novel. Except, small problem, I could not even type anymore! I only had one functional hand. Nor did I have a computer with me. How much of your own lockdown experience is included in the novel? Not so much of mine, that would be boring! I was paralysed, could barely walk but the strangers I met started my imagination on a journey. A male ballet dancer for the Nice Opera, a mother and her teenage daughter, two young women from the UK who had just lost their dream jobs in St Tropez, a young British chef…If only I had taken their addresses, then I could have told them later, ‘Hey, I put you in a book.’ This book, The Last Hotel is my best seller. Why did you choose the Riviera for the setting of the book? I didn’t choose it, it was where I was, where we became stranded with nowhere to go. But I did choose the quaint village of Beaulieu-sur-Mer, near Nice, for my hotel setting as Nice seemed too modern and large and besides all the hotels closed there. I had the idea of a smaller place like a pensione, bit like The Exotic Marigold Hotel, a quirky place. Beaulieu-sur-Mer, seemed perfect. The name means beautiful place by the sea. Are there themes in your books? Or underlying messages? Magic and serendipity are themes in my books. I love the unexpectedness of life, the chance meetings, the funny outcomes. In fact, I thrive on it. My life has taken many turns, I’ve had a few re-starts, some magic happenings. It’s been a fun ride so far. I am an eternal optimist. Nothing gets me down for long. This has led to several people hitting me on the head for being irritatingly happy. The character, Kaz in The Last Hotel is probably a younger version of me. This answers the next question as to why my treatment of the heavy topic of lockdown, scary virus ended up as a touching love story. One friend after reading it, said, ‘Trust you to find the flip side of lockdown!’ What part of the writing is the most fun? In The Last Hotel it was creating the fictional characters to match the real ones I met. The chef, Will had to meet a beautiful French girl, Lotte who has a dishy, widowed father. Then I needed some neighbours and of course a bookshop and its owner, Henri who has a stutter. There are two nasty characters though. But since I love the French language, I had to put a lot of French in to create the atmosphere. A few readers reported feeling totally immersed in France which for me was very gratifying. While writing my historical novels, I loved disappearing down the rabbit hole of research and emerging many hours later with a completely different set of facts than expected which then sent the story in a different direction. See what I mean about chaotic writing. Underlying messages?Well, I am happy when people find meaning in what I write. Without realising it while writing, I did construct discourses that some readers have identified in reviews. One is; if life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Another is; to be thine own self be true. One character, Jenny represents this, albeit a bit later in life and my young lesbian character learns to trust in herself. Another is; what seems like a detour, is actually the way you were meant to go. I like this one a lot. It defines my life totally. Do you have any interesting writing habits? As I am now a disabled writer, because my hand still has a mind of its own, my writing habits are rather odd. I can’t type for long at a time, so I alternate typing, dictating and scrawling with an apple pencil on an iPad and pressing the magic ‘convert to text’ button. But The Last Hotel will always be my special book baby as I totally wrote it with one hand, my left, in a tap tap one finger manner on the old, battered iPad I had with me in Europe. It really was crazy. That book used me as some sort of medium. The words just came from somewhere as did the characters. But it kept me going over five months while I slowly gained back some use of my right arm. It was the perfect distraction from real life at the time. The end result had no capitals or speech marks so I needed Tellwell publishers to rescue it. They designed the gorgeous cover, always a hit at book events. What are you writing now? I’ve become a history blogger which is great fun for a chatty girl like me. As I already had researched heaps of topics for my two historical novels and The Last Hotel, I decided to share some of this fascinating stuff in blogs which I post on my website, joniscottauthor.com. Using these blogs I wrote a non-fiction book “women who challenged history’ awaiting publication and am now compiling two sequels, one about twentieth century women and the other about miscellaneous history topics. These will be my ‘rabbit hole’ series. I must tell you about this spooky happening. While I was researching and writing about the Spanish Flu for Postcard to Picardy set in WWI, Covid erupted (exactly a century after 1918). It was rather déjà vu. My fourth novel, Colour comes to Tangles is set here on the Sunshine Coast on Buderim Mountain but also partly in India. It is a biracial romance with a bit of a mystery disappearance. A light little book I wrote dreamily while my hand was recovering and I researched for the last historical. My fifth book is the final historical novel, Last Time Forever set in Sydney and France after WWI and ending in 1950. Besides writing what other skills do you have? My career has been in the scientific field. I studied at Sydney University and have half a medical degree, a master’s degree in Organic Chemistry and a batch of post grad diplomas. I still love learning stuff and enjoy imparting knowledge to my students. After raising my own children, I started a maths/science tutoring business twenty years ago. Apart from being a science nerd I love history and write history blogs on my website. I also am a lecturer for U3A. I’m not a sporty girl so just as well I was born skinny! Where are your books available and how can readers interact? My books are available in local bookstores and some overseas. Details of my books, blogs and links to buy online are available on my website, http://joniscottauthor.com. I’m on Insta @authorjoniscott and Facebook https://tinyurl.com/sts4eeum.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from your book? It’s hard to choose one excerpt but here’s one from my WWI historical novel, Postcard to Picardy. The book is set in Sydney Australia and war torn France. Effie is a French war orphan being taken to Mont-Saint-Michel orphanage as Montmartre orphanage in Paris is no longer safe. At this point her parents are missing not declared dead and she has hope in her heart.
“It was the highest place Effie had ever been, higher than the orphanage on the hill, maybe higher than the tower in Paris? Or was it because she could see in all directions? West, over the salt marsh flats and east to the confluence of the river estuary and south to the bay and sea beyond.When she looked straight ahead over the shimmering sands, Effie could see where she had come from today with the nun, the kind lady and her tall son. They had crossed the causeway over the strange vast sandy beach that glistened with water. The structure before them was both alarming and magical in appearance.As they drew closer, Effie could see houses on the lower slopes of the outcrop. But as her eyes scanned higher towards the sky, she saw that a huge grey church with a spire occupied most of the island. On the very top of the spire, as if reaching for the heavens, was a white object. Was it a bird? Claire, Gervais’s mother, acting as a guide, led them up the winding paths and stone staircases to the towers and battlements of Le Mont. On tiptoes, with her small face peering over the stone wall, she gazed outward to the vast horizons. If she could see so far, then surely her family could see her here? They were out there somewhere and in time, if they looked towards the sea and their own vast horizons, then surely, they would see her. She waved her hand, just in case they could see her now.”
What is the best marketing tip you have received? I’ve yet to receive one. I hate marketing my books which is why I am a nobody. But a happy nobody.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why? I’d love to return to Beaulieu-sur-Mer and walk the streets I wrote about.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us? Only that my shih tzu, Mix is in The Last Hotel and that there is a zoo in Last Time Forever and a baby camel goes to the vet’s wedding. I like animals in stories.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read? I prefer books with historical settings to those set in the modern world. I feel I was born in the wrong century. Not a fan of all the digital, screen stuff, the fashions, tattoos and lack of manners today.
Do you have any upcoming events or book promotions you would like to share? I’m running a writing workshop on historical setting at Noosa Library 16th July 2026. The Eumundi Writer’s Festival is on 4th September this year and I’m running a workshop for new writers about editing, formatting and publishing options. I have book signings regularly at Annie’s Books Peregian and Rosetta’s Maleny where my books are stocked. Announcements on my Insta.
Irene Fantopoulos - 3 May 2026
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Irene Fantopoulos
www.irenefantopoulos.com
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This week, it is my pleasure to welcome back Irene Fantopoulos, who I last interviewed in 2024. Irene has returned to tell us about her new book, Murders in Deer Park. Before you do, Irene, would you please re-introduce yourself to my readers and share something about your life.
Thank you so much, Rita, for welcoming me back to the southern hemisphere! Always a pleasure to be able to reach people with my work, far and wide.
I am a multi-genre writer with a particular passion for crime and mystery. My work is often driven by an underlying mystery waiting to be uncovered. I am the author of three novels: All the Evil Scatters, Luck of the Draw, and Burden of Proof. My short stories and essays have appeared in both online and print publications.My writing often draws on my Greek heritage and deep connection to Toronto, a city that often emerges as a character in its own right.I have written extensively about Alzheimer’s disease, a journey shaped by my mother’s decade-long struggle with it. My work on the subject has been featured in The Globe and Mail, the Alzheimer’s Society, and other print and online outlets.I hold a Master’s degree in Social Work and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Criminology, and English Literature. In the early 1990s, I worked in policing policy with the Ministry of the Solicitor General. I later earned a Creative Writing Certificate from George Brown College and graduated from the Humber School for Writers. After leaving the Ontario Civil Service in 2019, I devoted myself fully to my passion for creative writing.I am an active member of my community and serve on the Board of Directors for the ArtBarn School, where I also lead writing workshops for adults. I am a member of the Writers’ Union of Canada and the Crime Writers of Canada. When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I wrote my first book over 30 years ago. I found it in a box during my decluttering and voila, Burden of Proof, a spicy romance, is live and available on Amazon. All my books are available on Amazon. Ask your local library to get it for you if you don’t want to purchase it.
I know you have written a romance, historical fiction, drama/romance and a psychological thriller. Which genre is Murders in Deer Park?
Murders in Deer Park is a psychological thriller/police procedural.
You have said previously that you like to plot the chapters of your book before writing. Was this possible with your latest book?
Yes. It’s very helpful to me to plot out my characters, points of fact related to the case and allows me to see the bigger picture. I have thumb tacks and string that lead and cross over the various pieces. It is like a puzzle, the pieces evolving as I move forward with the story.
Please tell us about Murders in Deer Park.
Murders in Deer Park, welcomes back Melissa Hargrove and RJ Otombo who were first introduced in my debut novel, All the Evil Scatters. It is a police procedural crime thriller with lots of twists, turns, red herrings, and suspects.
Here’s a summary:
When human remains are found behind a wall in a Midtown Toronto townhouse, detectives Melissa Hargrove and RJ Otombo return to solve the 30-year-old case. They discover a string of similar cases, the only clue is a pomegranate.
With no suspects or witnesses and the age of the crime scene, the team looks into long-forgotten files and cold cases and the private lives of the people in the Deer Park neighbourhood. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that the past cannot be hidden forever. Someone is lurking in the background observing, watching, hidden, their sinister voice the only clue that they are alive and reliving their heinous crimes. The truth buried behind the walls is only the beginning as the team works to bring peace and justice to the victims and their families.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
Of course. Here is an excerpt from chapter 1 of my current book, Murders in Deer Park:
1A CHILLING VOICE
I acted with a full awareness of my actions, and a sense of satisfaction swelled within me. Taking their lives amused me. Aside from the first, none of the others meant anything to me. It was my calling. I’ve had years to reflect, alone with my memories, reliving a past so glorious that nothing before or since has come close — except, of course, for my beloved Lizzy. Who is Lizzy, you ask? In time. But for now, I read the article by the clever journalist, Ari Hargrove. Yes, Melissa Hargrove’s brother. He’s quite prolific, you know. Even received an award for helping to uncover the truth behind an embezzlement ring involving a copper mining company.
I read the article about me with interest.
GRISLY DISCOVERY IN MIDTOWN TORONTOTorontoBy Ari Hargrove
It was an unforgettable day for the cast and crew of the home renovation show Hanging On By a Shingle. As the drywall came down, so too did the silence of a secret long buried.Skip Johnson, star of the show, made a chilling discovery while demolishing the interior of a thirty-year-old townhouse. Behind the walls, his crew uncovered the remains of three unidentified victims.The townhouse, located in Midtown Toronto’s Deer Park neighbourhood, is one of ten units built in the 1990s by the Fenton Group. Until recently, it was occupied by its original owner, Lisa Steiner, now deceased. Her husband, Joshua, passed years earlier. After her death, the home went to their son, Bill Steiner, who began the renovations for his family.While the investigation is ongoing, authorities have urged residents of Deer Park to remain calm, noting that the crime scene appears to be decades old.According to Skip Johnson’s publicist, Tiffany Strong, the crew has moved on to another home renovation project at an undisclosed location. Since the gruesome discovery, viewership for the reality TV show has skyrocketed.As the investigation unfolds, I will update you on this and other news from Midtown Toronto. Follow me @WriterAri, on all social media platforms, or call the Crime Enders hotline if you have any information that could help the police.
Recalling how it all began, I fold the newspaper and set it aside. Sure, it is conceivable, even probable, that I had not meant to kill them, especially the first one. That would have been believable: a crime of passion, self-defence, or even an accident. But you see, I continued. There are no accidents — only opportunities for me and misfortune for them. But wanting to leave nothing further to chance, I planned the others, leaving behind no details that would ever point in my direction. I’ll tell you how I convinced them that I was harmless, lured them, and killed them. I look at my hands — arthritic, spotted, and gnarled. Once, they were strong. Precise. Deadly. My breath rattles. I know there’s something wrong with my lungs, but I have no desire to confirm it. What would be the point? My time is nearly up. So, I remember. And in remembering, I will tell you everything. Maybe I am mad, lost in a world of my own making. But if we were in court, I could make you believe I didn’t know what I was doing — temporary insanity, sleepwalking, amnesia. We’ve all heard these defences. With the right lawyer, childhood trauma could become one’s ticket to freedom or at least the avoidance of forever being behind bars. I have done just that for over thirty years. I never needed a lawyer. Because no one ever suspected me. Why would they? They all believe that I am dead. But now, I can feel it in the pit of my stomach — the fear of discovery after all these years without everyone knowing about my work. The fear of dying before I tell you my story which is top of mind, and you will hear about it in due course. Patience is a virtue that I possess, and I hope that you do too.
Who is your favourite character and why? Is it still RJ Otombo from All The Evil Scatters, or do you have a new favourite now?
I have to say that while not a character in the traditional sense, my favourite character is the city of Toronto, which comes to life as the case evolves in Murders in Deer Park. RJ Otombo is in this book as well, and I still think he’s a great character, who has done a lot of healing since All the Evil Scatters was released.
Do you have a new marketing tip you for us?
Check out some of the local fairs or outdoor markets in your area, snag a table or a booth and engage with your community — they are a great way to market your book.
How would you describe yourself?
I am organized and a planner, hence my story boards and outlines. I love crafting a new story, developing the plot and characters. I like to set deadlines for myself as writing can fall by the wayside if I don’t have a target date for completion (of the first draft). Of course I allow myself some grace and let timelines shift as life happens.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading? Are you still painting?
I am still painting, Rita, as it is a great outlet for being creative. Sometimes, painting and meeting others in that forum spark an idea or a character.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
Books have always been an escape for me. I look for stories that keep my interest by moving the story along. I’m not much into prose that goes on and on for pages on end. I want the reader to breathe, meaning I leave some white space on the page (e.g, short, pithy paragraphs, one-liners, and a varied sentence structure.
Do you have your own website?
Yes. www.irenefantopoulos.com
Are you working on another book at the moment?
I have several manuscripts on the go, but still working on them. Some are from 10 or 15 years ago. Perhaps I can return in the future and tell you all about them.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
I will be appearing in local libraries and book stores in and around the Greater Toronto Area over the coming months. I will be returning to the Motive Festival, part of the International Festival of Authors, on June 5-7. Although, I’m not yet sure on which day I will be there.
Thank you once again, Rita for the opportunity to speak with you and your readers.
Thank you so much, Rita, for welcoming me back to the southern hemisphere! Always a pleasure to be able to reach people with my work, far and wide.
I am a multi-genre writer with a particular passion for crime and mystery. My work is often driven by an underlying mystery waiting to be uncovered. I am the author of three novels: All the Evil Scatters, Luck of the Draw, and Burden of Proof. My short stories and essays have appeared in both online and print publications.My writing often draws on my Greek heritage and deep connection to Toronto, a city that often emerges as a character in its own right.I have written extensively about Alzheimer’s disease, a journey shaped by my mother’s decade-long struggle with it. My work on the subject has been featured in The Globe and Mail, the Alzheimer’s Society, and other print and online outlets.I hold a Master’s degree in Social Work and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Criminology, and English Literature. In the early 1990s, I worked in policing policy with the Ministry of the Solicitor General. I later earned a Creative Writing Certificate from George Brown College and graduated from the Humber School for Writers. After leaving the Ontario Civil Service in 2019, I devoted myself fully to my passion for creative writing.I am an active member of my community and serve on the Board of Directors for the ArtBarn School, where I also lead writing workshops for adults. I am a member of the Writers’ Union of Canada and the Crime Writers of Canada. When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I wrote my first book over 30 years ago. I found it in a box during my decluttering and voila, Burden of Proof, a spicy romance, is live and available on Amazon. All my books are available on Amazon. Ask your local library to get it for you if you don’t want to purchase it.
I know you have written a romance, historical fiction, drama/romance and a psychological thriller. Which genre is Murders in Deer Park?
Murders in Deer Park is a psychological thriller/police procedural.
You have said previously that you like to plot the chapters of your book before writing. Was this possible with your latest book?
Yes. It’s very helpful to me to plot out my characters, points of fact related to the case and allows me to see the bigger picture. I have thumb tacks and string that lead and cross over the various pieces. It is like a puzzle, the pieces evolving as I move forward with the story.
Please tell us about Murders in Deer Park.
Murders in Deer Park, welcomes back Melissa Hargrove and RJ Otombo who were first introduced in my debut novel, All the Evil Scatters. It is a police procedural crime thriller with lots of twists, turns, red herrings, and suspects.
Here’s a summary:
When human remains are found behind a wall in a Midtown Toronto townhouse, detectives Melissa Hargrove and RJ Otombo return to solve the 30-year-old case. They discover a string of similar cases, the only clue is a pomegranate.
With no suspects or witnesses and the age of the crime scene, the team looks into long-forgotten files and cold cases and the private lives of the people in the Deer Park neighbourhood. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that the past cannot be hidden forever. Someone is lurking in the background observing, watching, hidden, their sinister voice the only clue that they are alive and reliving their heinous crimes. The truth buried behind the walls is only the beginning as the team works to bring peace and justice to the victims and their families.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
Of course. Here is an excerpt from chapter 1 of my current book, Murders in Deer Park:
1A CHILLING VOICE
I acted with a full awareness of my actions, and a sense of satisfaction swelled within me. Taking their lives amused me. Aside from the first, none of the others meant anything to me. It was my calling. I’ve had years to reflect, alone with my memories, reliving a past so glorious that nothing before or since has come close — except, of course, for my beloved Lizzy. Who is Lizzy, you ask? In time. But for now, I read the article by the clever journalist, Ari Hargrove. Yes, Melissa Hargrove’s brother. He’s quite prolific, you know. Even received an award for helping to uncover the truth behind an embezzlement ring involving a copper mining company.
I read the article about me with interest.
GRISLY DISCOVERY IN MIDTOWN TORONTOTorontoBy Ari Hargrove
It was an unforgettable day for the cast and crew of the home renovation show Hanging On By a Shingle. As the drywall came down, so too did the silence of a secret long buried.Skip Johnson, star of the show, made a chilling discovery while demolishing the interior of a thirty-year-old townhouse. Behind the walls, his crew uncovered the remains of three unidentified victims.The townhouse, located in Midtown Toronto’s Deer Park neighbourhood, is one of ten units built in the 1990s by the Fenton Group. Until recently, it was occupied by its original owner, Lisa Steiner, now deceased. Her husband, Joshua, passed years earlier. After her death, the home went to their son, Bill Steiner, who began the renovations for his family.While the investigation is ongoing, authorities have urged residents of Deer Park to remain calm, noting that the crime scene appears to be decades old.According to Skip Johnson’s publicist, Tiffany Strong, the crew has moved on to another home renovation project at an undisclosed location. Since the gruesome discovery, viewership for the reality TV show has skyrocketed.As the investigation unfolds, I will update you on this and other news from Midtown Toronto. Follow me @WriterAri, on all social media platforms, or call the Crime Enders hotline if you have any information that could help the police.
Recalling how it all began, I fold the newspaper and set it aside. Sure, it is conceivable, even probable, that I had not meant to kill them, especially the first one. That would have been believable: a crime of passion, self-defence, or even an accident. But you see, I continued. There are no accidents — only opportunities for me and misfortune for them. But wanting to leave nothing further to chance, I planned the others, leaving behind no details that would ever point in my direction. I’ll tell you how I convinced them that I was harmless, lured them, and killed them. I look at my hands — arthritic, spotted, and gnarled. Once, they were strong. Precise. Deadly. My breath rattles. I know there’s something wrong with my lungs, but I have no desire to confirm it. What would be the point? My time is nearly up. So, I remember. And in remembering, I will tell you everything. Maybe I am mad, lost in a world of my own making. But if we were in court, I could make you believe I didn’t know what I was doing — temporary insanity, sleepwalking, amnesia. We’ve all heard these defences. With the right lawyer, childhood trauma could become one’s ticket to freedom or at least the avoidance of forever being behind bars. I have done just that for over thirty years. I never needed a lawyer. Because no one ever suspected me. Why would they? They all believe that I am dead. But now, I can feel it in the pit of my stomach — the fear of discovery after all these years without everyone knowing about my work. The fear of dying before I tell you my story which is top of mind, and you will hear about it in due course. Patience is a virtue that I possess, and I hope that you do too.
Who is your favourite character and why? Is it still RJ Otombo from All The Evil Scatters, or do you have a new favourite now?
I have to say that while not a character in the traditional sense, my favourite character is the city of Toronto, which comes to life as the case evolves in Murders in Deer Park. RJ Otombo is in this book as well, and I still think he’s a great character, who has done a lot of healing since All the Evil Scatters was released.
Do you have a new marketing tip you for us?
Check out some of the local fairs or outdoor markets in your area, snag a table or a booth and engage with your community — they are a great way to market your book.
How would you describe yourself?
I am organized and a planner, hence my story boards and outlines. I love crafting a new story, developing the plot and characters. I like to set deadlines for myself as writing can fall by the wayside if I don’t have a target date for completion (of the first draft). Of course I allow myself some grace and let timelines shift as life happens.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading? Are you still painting?
I am still painting, Rita, as it is a great outlet for being creative. Sometimes, painting and meeting others in that forum spark an idea or a character.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
Books have always been an escape for me. I look for stories that keep my interest by moving the story along. I’m not much into prose that goes on and on for pages on end. I want the reader to breathe, meaning I leave some white space on the page (e.g, short, pithy paragraphs, one-liners, and a varied sentence structure.
Do you have your own website?
Yes. www.irenefantopoulos.com
Are you working on another book at the moment?
I have several manuscripts on the go, but still working on them. Some are from 10 or 15 years ago. Perhaps I can return in the future and tell you all about them.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
I will be appearing in local libraries and book stores in and around the Greater Toronto Area over the coming months. I will be returning to the Motive Festival, part of the International Festival of Authors, on June 5-7. Although, I’m not yet sure on which day I will be there.
Thank you once again, Rita for the opportunity to speak with you and your readers.
Eoin McLoughlin - 15 February 2026
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week, it is my pleasure to interview Eoin McLoughlin. Please introduce yourself to my readers and share something about your life.
I’m Eoin McLoughlin, an animator, illustrator and writer. I worked in the animation industry, and I’m currently working at the Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny, hosting shows about dinosaurs and fossils at Jurassic Newpark. I have a passion for military history, animation, travel, and adventure.
I’m getting started in writing books and getting them out there. My first Book is “Max and Holly go on Holiday.” An adventure comedy story of two clowns going on a sailing holiday and ending up in a strange adventure. I do hope to write more stories and one day turn the ideas into an animated series.
When did you write your first book, and how did it come about?
I wrote my first book in 2025 called “Max and Holly go on Holiday”. Max and Holly is a series I’m working on about two clowns who go on strange adventures. I spent ages working out the art direction and getting my idea out there. One day, after visiting the Asgard Exhibition in Collins Barracks, Dublin, I had an idea to make a picture book. The story is a tribute to the classic spy novel “The Riddles of the Sands” by Erskine Childers. Only, instead of the heroes being two British yachters, it's two clowns with cartoony abilities.
I played with the idea of the story, looking like it was going to be a lovely sailing holiday, only for the clown's boat to get wrecked, end up marooned on an island with a secret military base, with an invasion plan. It was an idea that I found exciting, and it motivated me to write the story and draw the illustrations.
Do you always write in the same genre, or do you mix it up?
Action-adventure is a genre that is my personal favourite, and even if I were to write in some other genre, I’d still like action-adventure to be the main one, with other genres at the side. This often works very well with films and stories I really enjoy, such as The Mummy (1999) for Horror and The Prisoner of Zenda (1937) for Romance.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
When I have an idea for a story, I write it down and plan it out, from the plot to the ideas I want to explore. It's a case of setting up a structure, and once it's set, work out natural ways to connect them so the story flows. Once I’m familiar with the story and happy with the structure, I can really get into it.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from your book?
“As the two were warming themselves up, Holly began to think. “Something smells fishy.” It wasn’t the tuna sandwich Max ate; It was something else. “That ship crashed into us on purpose, but why?”“Max replied, “Do you think the toads have a hidden treasure on the island and don’t want anyone else to find it?” Max may have a wild imagination, but exploring the island was the only way to find out.”
Who is your favourite character and why?
It would have to be Max the Clown. I first created Max in 2018 for my animation assignment, where I directed the short film “The Balloonatic”.
youtube.com/watch?v=xc_rInNbDZw&feature=youtu.be
Max is a clown who can make anything from balloons, and I do mean anything, from live animals to usable tools. He’s a playful, happy-go-lucky, quick-witted clown who's willing to jump at any chance to help someone in need. Despite his creativity, he can be somewhat airheaded and naïve in the real world, a tendency that often leads him into trouble.
When I first made him, there was something about him that felt special to me, as if he were a character I could create only by drawing on my interests and experiences. His ability seemed suitable for silly antics, but with some creativity, it can prove to be very useful.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
It would be “Max and Holly go on Holiday”, given that it’s the first and so far only book I’ve actually made and got out there. The next book I’ve been working on has been a challenge because it's a more “out of comfort zone” type of story.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
Get in contact with other writers, make connections and attend events to help promote the book. That’s all the advice I seem to have since I’m getting myself started in making books and getting them out there. Hopefully, in a few years, I will have learned better marketing advice.
How would you describe yourself?
I would describe myself as a creative, well-mannered person who enjoys wearing fancy military uniforms and discussing interesting historical facts. I try to enjoy myself as much as I can while being respectful of others.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
I like to watch films, draw, go for walks, and visit museums. When visiting museums, you can come across interesting stories that you never heard of before.
I mainly like to experience or feel like I’m on my own adventure, so I can use that feeling and influence to guide me on my next story.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
There are several places that come to mind
1) Prague: because of its incredible architecture and places I would love to see, like Prague Castle and the Karel Zeman Museum. Prague Castle is one of the largest castles in the world, with remarkable architecture. The Karel Zeman Museum is dedicated to one of the most incredible filmmakers, whose work deserves to be talked about. If you watch the trailer for his film Invention for Destruction (1958), you'll see art direction that still looks incredible. Much better than most modern films today.
2) Schloss Hohenwerfen, Austria: This was the castle that was used in one of my favourite films of all time, “Where Eagles Dare”. Just going to the very spots used in the film would make me giddy.
3) Rhodes: The Mediterranean Island that was used to film scenes in another brilliant war adventure film, “The Guns of Navarone”. Whether it be the medieval city or the Acropolis of Lindos.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
Many years ago, I had a Shih Tzu named Max who loved food. During the summer, my dad cooked a barbecue. Max was looking for food, and we gave him a spare burger. It was a big burger, and he spent some time eating it. When he finished it, he still wanted more. It was one of those memories that we still remember about him.
Max was a wonderful dog who still holds a place in my family's heart. I used his name for my first character, and I also had another dog named Holly, whose name I later used for my secondary character.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
Books with pictures and illustrations are a huge plus for me because I find them easier to engage with and use to get a visual sense of the world. I know that some people suggest using your imagination when reading the text of the story, but I find that when you have too many choices in your mind, it becomes hard to visualise.
I also like to try and go for a story that has a clear premise and isn’t too complicated, because if I’m going to read a story, I want it to be relaxing rather than feel like doing homework.
Do you have your own website?
I do: https://eoinmcloughlin.weebly.com/
It contains my animations, projects and social media links.
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
I am, while Max and Holly are aimed at ages 8-12, my next book is aimed at a younger audience. It's called “The Princess and the Dinosaur”. The premise is about a young princess who wants a pony, but gets a dinosaur instead.
At Jurassic Newpark, we had a dinosaur you could ride on like a horse, and it was popular with the kids. Some children who would tend to ride the dinosaur were young girls dressed as princesses. When operating the ride, I would often joke about the idea that a princess riding a dinosaur instead of a horse would make an interesting story. After I wrote my first book, the floodgates opened to the idea of making the princess and the dinosaur real. No one has written a story like that, so I might as well get it made.
Writing the story was a challenge, given that it was different to what I normally like to write. But I feel I finally cracked it. The story would show some of the challenges of having a dinosaur, but the princess is willing to make the most of what she has, and in the end, everyone would learn to accept it as well. I think learning to appreciate what you have and to adjust is an important lesson for children. Plus, the dinosaur would cause all sorts of mischief that children would find amusing.
I wrote the story and drew the storyboards, and my girlfriend Claudia Umpton is drawing the illustrations. She has a unique watercolour style that I believe would be well-suited to a younger audience.
At the moment, I’m waiting for Claudia to finish the illustrations so we can get the book out there. I am to have it finished by the end of the last week of February.
I also have plans for another Max and Holly book, which is the story of how the two met, called “A Thief Named Holly”. The story is that Max is a homeless performer and Holly is a thief working for the tyrannical crime boss Mama Fluffy. When Holly meets Max, she hires him to break into a vault to steal Fluffy’s jewel collection, but Max thinks he’s being hired to entertain. I already wrote the story as a screenplay for practice, but I’m going to rewrite it in book format and draw the illustrations. I plan to get started after I finish the dinosaur book.
Do you have any upcoming events or book promotions you would like to share?
I have no solid plans yet, but when “The Princess and the Dinosaur” is finished, I plan to have the Newpark Hotel promote and sell the book in Jurassic Newpark. Jurassic Newpark is a popular venue for families, and I bet kids would love to get a book about dinosaurs, especially if it's a funny story. No solid foundation has been set in stone, but if the park plans a big event, I’ll make sure you get an invitation.
I’m Eoin McLoughlin, an animator, illustrator and writer. I worked in the animation industry, and I’m currently working at the Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny, hosting shows about dinosaurs and fossils at Jurassic Newpark. I have a passion for military history, animation, travel, and adventure.
I’m getting started in writing books and getting them out there. My first Book is “Max and Holly go on Holiday.” An adventure comedy story of two clowns going on a sailing holiday and ending up in a strange adventure. I do hope to write more stories and one day turn the ideas into an animated series.
When did you write your first book, and how did it come about?
I wrote my first book in 2025 called “Max and Holly go on Holiday”. Max and Holly is a series I’m working on about two clowns who go on strange adventures. I spent ages working out the art direction and getting my idea out there. One day, after visiting the Asgard Exhibition in Collins Barracks, Dublin, I had an idea to make a picture book. The story is a tribute to the classic spy novel “The Riddles of the Sands” by Erskine Childers. Only, instead of the heroes being two British yachters, it's two clowns with cartoony abilities.
I played with the idea of the story, looking like it was going to be a lovely sailing holiday, only for the clown's boat to get wrecked, end up marooned on an island with a secret military base, with an invasion plan. It was an idea that I found exciting, and it motivated me to write the story and draw the illustrations.
Do you always write in the same genre, or do you mix it up?
Action-adventure is a genre that is my personal favourite, and even if I were to write in some other genre, I’d still like action-adventure to be the main one, with other genres at the side. This often works very well with films and stories I really enjoy, such as The Mummy (1999) for Horror and The Prisoner of Zenda (1937) for Romance.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
When I have an idea for a story, I write it down and plan it out, from the plot to the ideas I want to explore. It's a case of setting up a structure, and once it's set, work out natural ways to connect them so the story flows. Once I’m familiar with the story and happy with the structure, I can really get into it.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from your book?
“As the two were warming themselves up, Holly began to think. “Something smells fishy.” It wasn’t the tuna sandwich Max ate; It was something else. “That ship crashed into us on purpose, but why?”“Max replied, “Do you think the toads have a hidden treasure on the island and don’t want anyone else to find it?” Max may have a wild imagination, but exploring the island was the only way to find out.”
Who is your favourite character and why?
It would have to be Max the Clown. I first created Max in 2018 for my animation assignment, where I directed the short film “The Balloonatic”.
youtube.com/watch?v=xc_rInNbDZw&feature=youtu.be
Max is a clown who can make anything from balloons, and I do mean anything, from live animals to usable tools. He’s a playful, happy-go-lucky, quick-witted clown who's willing to jump at any chance to help someone in need. Despite his creativity, he can be somewhat airheaded and naïve in the real world, a tendency that often leads him into trouble.
When I first made him, there was something about him that felt special to me, as if he were a character I could create only by drawing on my interests and experiences. His ability seemed suitable for silly antics, but with some creativity, it can prove to be very useful.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
It would be “Max and Holly go on Holiday”, given that it’s the first and so far only book I’ve actually made and got out there. The next book I’ve been working on has been a challenge because it's a more “out of comfort zone” type of story.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
Get in contact with other writers, make connections and attend events to help promote the book. That’s all the advice I seem to have since I’m getting myself started in making books and getting them out there. Hopefully, in a few years, I will have learned better marketing advice.
How would you describe yourself?
I would describe myself as a creative, well-mannered person who enjoys wearing fancy military uniforms and discussing interesting historical facts. I try to enjoy myself as much as I can while being respectful of others.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
I like to watch films, draw, go for walks, and visit museums. When visiting museums, you can come across interesting stories that you never heard of before.
I mainly like to experience or feel like I’m on my own adventure, so I can use that feeling and influence to guide me on my next story.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
There are several places that come to mind
1) Prague: because of its incredible architecture and places I would love to see, like Prague Castle and the Karel Zeman Museum. Prague Castle is one of the largest castles in the world, with remarkable architecture. The Karel Zeman Museum is dedicated to one of the most incredible filmmakers, whose work deserves to be talked about. If you watch the trailer for his film Invention for Destruction (1958), you'll see art direction that still looks incredible. Much better than most modern films today.
2) Schloss Hohenwerfen, Austria: This was the castle that was used in one of my favourite films of all time, “Where Eagles Dare”. Just going to the very spots used in the film would make me giddy.
3) Rhodes: The Mediterranean Island that was used to film scenes in another brilliant war adventure film, “The Guns of Navarone”. Whether it be the medieval city or the Acropolis of Lindos.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
Many years ago, I had a Shih Tzu named Max who loved food. During the summer, my dad cooked a barbecue. Max was looking for food, and we gave him a spare burger. It was a big burger, and he spent some time eating it. When he finished it, he still wanted more. It was one of those memories that we still remember about him.
Max was a wonderful dog who still holds a place in my family's heart. I used his name for my first character, and I also had another dog named Holly, whose name I later used for my secondary character.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
Books with pictures and illustrations are a huge plus for me because I find them easier to engage with and use to get a visual sense of the world. I know that some people suggest using your imagination when reading the text of the story, but I find that when you have too many choices in your mind, it becomes hard to visualise.
I also like to try and go for a story that has a clear premise and isn’t too complicated, because if I’m going to read a story, I want it to be relaxing rather than feel like doing homework.
Do you have your own website?
I do: https://eoinmcloughlin.weebly.com/
It contains my animations, projects and social media links.
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
I am, while Max and Holly are aimed at ages 8-12, my next book is aimed at a younger audience. It's called “The Princess and the Dinosaur”. The premise is about a young princess who wants a pony, but gets a dinosaur instead.
At Jurassic Newpark, we had a dinosaur you could ride on like a horse, and it was popular with the kids. Some children who would tend to ride the dinosaur were young girls dressed as princesses. When operating the ride, I would often joke about the idea that a princess riding a dinosaur instead of a horse would make an interesting story. After I wrote my first book, the floodgates opened to the idea of making the princess and the dinosaur real. No one has written a story like that, so I might as well get it made.
Writing the story was a challenge, given that it was different to what I normally like to write. But I feel I finally cracked it. The story would show some of the challenges of having a dinosaur, but the princess is willing to make the most of what she has, and in the end, everyone would learn to accept it as well. I think learning to appreciate what you have and to adjust is an important lesson for children. Plus, the dinosaur would cause all sorts of mischief that children would find amusing.
I wrote the story and drew the storyboards, and my girlfriend Claudia Umpton is drawing the illustrations. She has a unique watercolour style that I believe would be well-suited to a younger audience.
At the moment, I’m waiting for Claudia to finish the illustrations so we can get the book out there. I am to have it finished by the end of the last week of February.
I also have plans for another Max and Holly book, which is the story of how the two met, called “A Thief Named Holly”. The story is that Max is a homeless performer and Holly is a thief working for the tyrannical crime boss Mama Fluffy. When Holly meets Max, she hires him to break into a vault to steal Fluffy’s jewel collection, but Max thinks he’s being hired to entertain. I already wrote the story as a screenplay for practice, but I’m going to rewrite it in book format and draw the illustrations. I plan to get started after I finish the dinosaur book.
Do you have any upcoming events or book promotions you would like to share?
I have no solid plans yet, but when “The Princess and the Dinosaur” is finished, I plan to have the Newpark Hotel promote and sell the book in Jurassic Newpark. Jurassic Newpark is a popular venue for families, and I bet kids would love to get a book about dinosaurs, especially if it's a funny story. No solid foundation has been set in stone, but if the park plans a big event, I’ll make sure you get an invitation.
Quinn Raye - 8 February 2026
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Quinn Raye
https://quinn1066.weebly.com/
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This week it is my pleasure to interview Quinn Raye. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers and share something about your life.
Hello everyone! My name is Michael Caine… No. It isn’t. Let’s start that again. My name is Quinn Raye. I’m from the UK and have been writing for forty years now, since I was six years old. I started posting my writing online about eighteen years ago, on various fanfiction sites, even though I was writing original stories as well as fanfic. I no longer write fanfic these days, however; I concentrate on Young Adult novellas and short stories these days, of varying flavours and genres.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I wrote my first story when I was six, but let’s be honest, that story would have been utter tripe! I was never going to be the next Stephen King at that age. My first proper book that was officially published, was in 2017. That was an original story that was born out of fragmentary ideas in a fanfic series that I was writing at the time. The original book featured equally original characters and attendant storyline that met a Wattpad prompt. Then I expanded on the characters’ stories, as well as their world in other stories and novellas and haven’t looked back since. Reading back on this, it sounds more complicated than it actually is, to be honest!
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I don’t always write in the same genre. I really like mixing it up, as I have a short attention span, so to have different things (or indeed genres) to write makes it easier on me. I write paranormal romance (or romantasy as I believe it’s called these days?), high fantasy, urban fantasy, just straight paranormal stories (little to no romance), and crime stories, which focus on an ex-MI5 agent and a gangster. All of these stories feature LGBTQ+ characters in various flavours. I am in the LGBTQ+ community myself, so I have to write what I know, and to please my younger self. I didn’t have access to stories focussing on gay characters growing up which is why I have that focus on people like me in my own stories these days. I write what I would have wanted to have read back then, and I hope that my nonsense appeals to others, too.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
I’m the first type of writer – a complete pantser. I might have a vague idea as to what I want to write with a particular story, but never anything really concrete. I just prefer to just throw a load of words onto the page and see what sticks. Quite often I surprise myself with how stories turn out and that’s the way I like it.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
Yup! Here’s a short excerpt from Chapter Seventeen of the first novella in my ‘A Spy’s Villainous Suitor’ series. That novella is called ‘Running with the Devil.’ Warnings for swearing.
****
Mick came in, saw the set up, saw who he was fighting with and immediately started backing out of the gym.
"Oh, fuck no, Zak, I'm not fighting that guy," he yelled at Zak even as he pointed at me. "He'll kill me. Look at the size of him!"
I was easily taller than him by a foot and weighed one hell of a lot more. Mick was so thin and small that I doubted he could have punched his way out of a wet paper bag.
"It's okay. Even I could beat him," Terry said in a surprisingly bored voice that I suspected was faked for Mick's benefit. "Sasha's a beginner."
"He'll still kill me," Mick whined. "He's a fucking giant."
"Get the fuck in that ring, Michael or I'll follow up on my threats of castration," Zak yelled at him.
I'd never seen anyone move so fast in my life as Mick scrambled to join me in the ring. Terry looked over at me with eyebrows raised, silently asking me if I was ready. I merely shrugged as that time was as good as any other. I knew I wasn't winning the bout anyway.
We began to spar at first before Zak pulled his knife out; I could see him throwing it and tossing it from hand to hand. Terry didn't say anything though I did see the gym manager watching Zak with a look of amusement on his face. Mick had also noticed and took it as the threat it was supposed to be; he started hitting me desperately for real. I took the blows, and traded more; I even managed to knock Mick down a couple of times yet the bastard - thankfully - didn't stay down.
The first round ended, followed by the inevitable second round. I exchanged glances with Zak and he nodded at me. I knew what that meant - go down in the next round or else. I was already tiring by then so it wasn't difficult to slow my movements, to allow more punches past my defences before suddenly in the third round, Mick got a good headshot. I felt the world slip away for a moment, stars and rainbows dancing at the edges of my vision, then something broke loose, and swum away.... and I remembered....
****
The last mission... I'd uncovered the fact that it was Tamsyn Stryker herself that was at the centre of the people smuggling ring. I'd been involved in investigating a petty thieves case in the East End from the inside out; they too had been involved in people smuggling and had been shifting large amounts of cash for the privilege. I had known that they'd been reporting to someone important - someone in the government - but they wouldn't tell me who.I'd followed a few of them while they were making money drops and discovered that I had followed them right to my place of work. They'd given money to my handler in exchange for fake documents, which they disseminated amongst themselves. I'd moved accidentally and made a noise loud enough for the interlocuters to hear; Stryker had then stared right at me.What happened next was a blur to me, remembered only in snatches; I guessed that I must have been captured and after torture and coercion didn't work to change my mind about reporting the transgressions, I was dosed with some pretty hefty experimental mind wipe drugs. The next thing I remembered I was sitting in Stryker's office, and she was sending me on this mission. I wondered then if she'd sent me out to die, whether she'd intended for Zak to kill me...****
Who is your favourite character and why?
Of my own? It’s difficult to choose as I’m working on about eight different series with the attendant huge casts of characters! It’s probably a toss-up between Quinn from my ‘Dragons of Fire and Ice’ series and Misha from my ‘A Spy’s Villainous Suitor’ series, though. (and no, Quinn wasn’t named after me. It was the other way around, I actually legally changed my name to Quinn after I started writing my DoFaI series because I liked that name better than the one that was on my birth certificate.)
Of other authors? I’d say Toothless from Cressida Cowell’s How to Train Your Dragon series and everyone’s favourite anthropomorphic personification, DEATH from Sir Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
That’s hard to choose but I’d say probably ‘Running with the Devil’ which is the first in my ‘A Spy’s Villainous Suitor’ series. This was the first non-fantasy story I’d written in a long time, so I was a little out of my comfort zone with that one. I do have a certain inexplicable fascination with gangsters and the Mafia, though, which was why I embarked on writing the aforementioned novella. It was great fun to write and is something that I’m still very proud of, a year after it’s inception.
How would you describe yourself?
In a nutshell – shy! I am usually that quiet person who lurks and possibly glowers and doesn’t say a great deal to anyone. I’m not really unfriendly; I just look scarier than I actually am and I also don’t have a lot to say for myself (outside of written interviews!) That changes however when I really get to know (and more importantly trust) someone then I don’t shut up. I think a lot of this stems from being bullied a lot at school.
Other than that, I usually describe myself as a ‘tattooed metal-head Cossack.’ That just about describes the way I look. Right now, at least. You’ll have to take my word for that though as I don’t post photos of myself online. Ever. Again, I’m not trying to be unfriendly or even snobbish, it’s just…. It’s all down to privacy issues, I suppose. I’ve been around long enough on the internet to have seen peoples’ personal photos being stolen and used for promotional marketing purposes. Said marketers then make money from other peoples’ images and said people don’t see one penny from their own (stolen) photos.
And then you have the AI issue at the moment. Grok, I’m looking specifically at you. I’m not against AI in general as I use AI to make graphics myself (book covers, book trailers etc) but one thing I don’t agree with is willingly and knowingly manipulating images of other people – in rather adult ways without their consent. Not cool, people.
So, that’s why I never post photos of myself online. (besides which, I want my books to speak for themselves without people making snap judgements about them based on the way I look.)
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
When I’m not reading or writing, I explore historic houses (with permission, of course) as well as aviation museums and airfields (with permission again.) I love history in all its forms and will nerd out something chronic over such places. I’m also into historic aircraft and love looking at genuine Avro Lancasters and Supermarine Spitfires on the regular. My favourite plane is the Lancaster, by the way, though.
I also love listening to various types of metal and rock music and will frequently be blasting out bangers by Rammstein and Grandma’s Smuzi (neither of whom sing in English. And yes, I can understand some German and Ukrainian respectively.)
I also love learning languages and am currently teaching myself such languages as German and Ukrainian (among others) because I’m interested in that kind of thing.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
I live in England, but I’ve wanted to go to Germany (specifically Berlin) for quite some years now. This stems from being a fan of Rammstein for absolute years (who also come from Berlin, for those who don’t know them.) I don’t want to stalk the members of Rammstein, by the way. Far from it. I just want to see the city they are based in as I’ve read a lot about it. It sounds like great fun and there’s a lot of culture there that I want to absorb (museums and galleries and the like.)
I also want to visit Ukraine and Kyiv specifically. That also looks a wonderful, culture-filled place to visit and Ukraine in general looks beautiful! So many mountains and valleys and lakes! Lovely. Unfortunately, we all know what’s happening to Ukraine at the moment so it’s not a safe place to be. I just hope with everything I have that the Ukrainians will prevail and most importantly – win! I also hope that they get a lot more support too.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
I do have a pet – a female leopard gecko called Chickpea. I love reptiles; in fact, I’m crazy about them! Chickpea herself is eight years old, and I’ve owned her since she was roughly six weeks old.
I wouldn’t say that I had any funny stories about her, though. I think most of my stories about her are cute, if anything, to be honest. She loves being hand-fed (by me, at least), she loves being handled and cuddled (by me again), and she loves sitting on me and watching videos with me on my computer. She also used to have the habit of clambering inside my jumper sleeve and sitting in there, in the dark, in my sleeve. She hasn’t done that in a while though. It’s never boring owning a leopard gecko; in fact, Chickpea’s such a character, it’s quite the opposite!
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
Dragons. They must have dragons in the story. I am well known for my love of dragons, so if I see a book with a dragon on the cover, there’s a very good chance I’ll read it.
Other than that, if the story’s written well, I would read almost anything. Bonus points if they have dragons gay characters.
Do you have your own website?
Yes, I do! My website can be found here – https://quinn1066.weebly.com/
Hello everyone! My name is Michael Caine… No. It isn’t. Let’s start that again. My name is Quinn Raye. I’m from the UK and have been writing for forty years now, since I was six years old. I started posting my writing online about eighteen years ago, on various fanfiction sites, even though I was writing original stories as well as fanfic. I no longer write fanfic these days, however; I concentrate on Young Adult novellas and short stories these days, of varying flavours and genres.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I wrote my first story when I was six, but let’s be honest, that story would have been utter tripe! I was never going to be the next Stephen King at that age. My first proper book that was officially published, was in 2017. That was an original story that was born out of fragmentary ideas in a fanfic series that I was writing at the time. The original book featured equally original characters and attendant storyline that met a Wattpad prompt. Then I expanded on the characters’ stories, as well as their world in other stories and novellas and haven’t looked back since. Reading back on this, it sounds more complicated than it actually is, to be honest!
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I don’t always write in the same genre. I really like mixing it up, as I have a short attention span, so to have different things (or indeed genres) to write makes it easier on me. I write paranormal romance (or romantasy as I believe it’s called these days?), high fantasy, urban fantasy, just straight paranormal stories (little to no romance), and crime stories, which focus on an ex-MI5 agent and a gangster. All of these stories feature LGBTQ+ characters in various flavours. I am in the LGBTQ+ community myself, so I have to write what I know, and to please my younger self. I didn’t have access to stories focussing on gay characters growing up which is why I have that focus on people like me in my own stories these days. I write what I would have wanted to have read back then, and I hope that my nonsense appeals to others, too.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
I’m the first type of writer – a complete pantser. I might have a vague idea as to what I want to write with a particular story, but never anything really concrete. I just prefer to just throw a load of words onto the page and see what sticks. Quite often I surprise myself with how stories turn out and that’s the way I like it.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
Yup! Here’s a short excerpt from Chapter Seventeen of the first novella in my ‘A Spy’s Villainous Suitor’ series. That novella is called ‘Running with the Devil.’ Warnings for swearing.
****
Mick came in, saw the set up, saw who he was fighting with and immediately started backing out of the gym.
"Oh, fuck no, Zak, I'm not fighting that guy," he yelled at Zak even as he pointed at me. "He'll kill me. Look at the size of him!"
I was easily taller than him by a foot and weighed one hell of a lot more. Mick was so thin and small that I doubted he could have punched his way out of a wet paper bag.
"It's okay. Even I could beat him," Terry said in a surprisingly bored voice that I suspected was faked for Mick's benefit. "Sasha's a beginner."
"He'll still kill me," Mick whined. "He's a fucking giant."
"Get the fuck in that ring, Michael or I'll follow up on my threats of castration," Zak yelled at him.
I'd never seen anyone move so fast in my life as Mick scrambled to join me in the ring. Terry looked over at me with eyebrows raised, silently asking me if I was ready. I merely shrugged as that time was as good as any other. I knew I wasn't winning the bout anyway.
We began to spar at first before Zak pulled his knife out; I could see him throwing it and tossing it from hand to hand. Terry didn't say anything though I did see the gym manager watching Zak with a look of amusement on his face. Mick had also noticed and took it as the threat it was supposed to be; he started hitting me desperately for real. I took the blows, and traded more; I even managed to knock Mick down a couple of times yet the bastard - thankfully - didn't stay down.
The first round ended, followed by the inevitable second round. I exchanged glances with Zak and he nodded at me. I knew what that meant - go down in the next round or else. I was already tiring by then so it wasn't difficult to slow my movements, to allow more punches past my defences before suddenly in the third round, Mick got a good headshot. I felt the world slip away for a moment, stars and rainbows dancing at the edges of my vision, then something broke loose, and swum away.... and I remembered....
****
The last mission... I'd uncovered the fact that it was Tamsyn Stryker herself that was at the centre of the people smuggling ring. I'd been involved in investigating a petty thieves case in the East End from the inside out; they too had been involved in people smuggling and had been shifting large amounts of cash for the privilege. I had known that they'd been reporting to someone important - someone in the government - but they wouldn't tell me who.I'd followed a few of them while they were making money drops and discovered that I had followed them right to my place of work. They'd given money to my handler in exchange for fake documents, which they disseminated amongst themselves. I'd moved accidentally and made a noise loud enough for the interlocuters to hear; Stryker had then stared right at me.What happened next was a blur to me, remembered only in snatches; I guessed that I must have been captured and after torture and coercion didn't work to change my mind about reporting the transgressions, I was dosed with some pretty hefty experimental mind wipe drugs. The next thing I remembered I was sitting in Stryker's office, and she was sending me on this mission. I wondered then if she'd sent me out to die, whether she'd intended for Zak to kill me...****
Who is your favourite character and why?
Of my own? It’s difficult to choose as I’m working on about eight different series with the attendant huge casts of characters! It’s probably a toss-up between Quinn from my ‘Dragons of Fire and Ice’ series and Misha from my ‘A Spy’s Villainous Suitor’ series, though. (and no, Quinn wasn’t named after me. It was the other way around, I actually legally changed my name to Quinn after I started writing my DoFaI series because I liked that name better than the one that was on my birth certificate.)
Of other authors? I’d say Toothless from Cressida Cowell’s How to Train Your Dragon series and everyone’s favourite anthropomorphic personification, DEATH from Sir Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
That’s hard to choose but I’d say probably ‘Running with the Devil’ which is the first in my ‘A Spy’s Villainous Suitor’ series. This was the first non-fantasy story I’d written in a long time, so I was a little out of my comfort zone with that one. I do have a certain inexplicable fascination with gangsters and the Mafia, though, which was why I embarked on writing the aforementioned novella. It was great fun to write and is something that I’m still very proud of, a year after it’s inception.
How would you describe yourself?
In a nutshell – shy! I am usually that quiet person who lurks and possibly glowers and doesn’t say a great deal to anyone. I’m not really unfriendly; I just look scarier than I actually am and I also don’t have a lot to say for myself (outside of written interviews!) That changes however when I really get to know (and more importantly trust) someone then I don’t shut up. I think a lot of this stems from being bullied a lot at school.
Other than that, I usually describe myself as a ‘tattooed metal-head Cossack.’ That just about describes the way I look. Right now, at least. You’ll have to take my word for that though as I don’t post photos of myself online. Ever. Again, I’m not trying to be unfriendly or even snobbish, it’s just…. It’s all down to privacy issues, I suppose. I’ve been around long enough on the internet to have seen peoples’ personal photos being stolen and used for promotional marketing purposes. Said marketers then make money from other peoples’ images and said people don’t see one penny from their own (stolen) photos.
And then you have the AI issue at the moment. Grok, I’m looking specifically at you. I’m not against AI in general as I use AI to make graphics myself (book covers, book trailers etc) but one thing I don’t agree with is willingly and knowingly manipulating images of other people – in rather adult ways without their consent. Not cool, people.
So, that’s why I never post photos of myself online. (besides which, I want my books to speak for themselves without people making snap judgements about them based on the way I look.)
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
When I’m not reading or writing, I explore historic houses (with permission, of course) as well as aviation museums and airfields (with permission again.) I love history in all its forms and will nerd out something chronic over such places. I’m also into historic aircraft and love looking at genuine Avro Lancasters and Supermarine Spitfires on the regular. My favourite plane is the Lancaster, by the way, though.
I also love listening to various types of metal and rock music and will frequently be blasting out bangers by Rammstein and Grandma’s Smuzi (neither of whom sing in English. And yes, I can understand some German and Ukrainian respectively.)
I also love learning languages and am currently teaching myself such languages as German and Ukrainian (among others) because I’m interested in that kind of thing.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
I live in England, but I’ve wanted to go to Germany (specifically Berlin) for quite some years now. This stems from being a fan of Rammstein for absolute years (who also come from Berlin, for those who don’t know them.) I don’t want to stalk the members of Rammstein, by the way. Far from it. I just want to see the city they are based in as I’ve read a lot about it. It sounds like great fun and there’s a lot of culture there that I want to absorb (museums and galleries and the like.)
I also want to visit Ukraine and Kyiv specifically. That also looks a wonderful, culture-filled place to visit and Ukraine in general looks beautiful! So many mountains and valleys and lakes! Lovely. Unfortunately, we all know what’s happening to Ukraine at the moment so it’s not a safe place to be. I just hope with everything I have that the Ukrainians will prevail and most importantly – win! I also hope that they get a lot more support too.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
I do have a pet – a female leopard gecko called Chickpea. I love reptiles; in fact, I’m crazy about them! Chickpea herself is eight years old, and I’ve owned her since she was roughly six weeks old.
I wouldn’t say that I had any funny stories about her, though. I think most of my stories about her are cute, if anything, to be honest. She loves being hand-fed (by me, at least), she loves being handled and cuddled (by me again), and she loves sitting on me and watching videos with me on my computer. She also used to have the habit of clambering inside my jumper sleeve and sitting in there, in the dark, in my sleeve. She hasn’t done that in a while though. It’s never boring owning a leopard gecko; in fact, Chickpea’s such a character, it’s quite the opposite!
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
Dragons. They must have dragons in the story. I am well known for my love of dragons, so if I see a book with a dragon on the cover, there’s a very good chance I’ll read it.
Other than that, if the story’s written well, I would read almost anything. Bonus points if they have dragons gay characters.
Do you have your own website?
Yes, I do! My website can be found here – https://quinn1066.weebly.com/
Tim Rees - 18 January 2026
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This week it is my pleasure to interview Tim Rees. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers and share something about your life.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
Raw Nerve was written in 1997. I began writing the novel after watching the film Mississippi Burning. Even as a man living in Wales, UK, the film had a profound effect upon me. Not long before, I had completed a short story that I think was two and a half thousand words titled Coloured By A Different Light. It was about racism here in Wales; a racism born from small-minded ignorance. Mississippi Burning shocked me into action and I began writing. At the beginning it was mainly through anger. One of my favourite films at the time was Rambo: First Blood. The film was so raw and, as an ex-soldier who’d seen action during the Falklands war the final scene where Rambo breaks down and cries in the arms of his colonel I found deeply moving. So, the plot was simple: he-man hero smashes the Ku Klux Klan. Upon completion of the 140,000-word first draft, I bought the Artists and Writers Handbook and approached an agent in the America simply because the novel was set in the USA. I contacted the agent by email, which was a method of communication that was still new to me then, and promptly received a request for a hard copy of the manuscript. In those days I don’t think any agent would accept an electronic copy, so I sent the complete novel (that was a whole ream of paper) by snail-mail post and sat back with my fingers crossed. It must have been a couple of weeks later when I received a phone call from the agent. She was hugely excited and she ended up calling me from New York on a daily basis for the next month. She was an intense woman and the phone calls would go on for ages. Then things happened very quickly. During a phone call she told me HarperCollins were putting together a team to publish Raw Nerve and that I should fly to New York as soon as possible. However, whilst the junior editors at HarperCollins loved Raw Nerve, senior management pulled the plug on publication. My agent was told it was too controversial. I attended a meeting at the Putnam Barkley Group, where an editor wanted to pitch the novel to the board, but with the same outcome. My agent was incredibly well connected, so during my time in New York I found myself at parties where I brushed shoulders with Maya Angelou, Erica Jong and Frank McCourt’s brother Malachy. During one party, I found myself in discussion with the vice-president of Simon & Schuster who told me bluntly and I quote: ‘You’re stretching credulity to breaking point and beyond’, he was referring to the central plot where the USA were about to elect a black president – at the heart of the story a black woman was primed to win the presidential election, so I was asking the question: what did the Ku Klux Klan plan to do about it. Anyway, that is the story of my first novel written years before Obama. After that I met a woman, fell in love and didn’t write another novel for over a decade because she had two young sons we needed to raise… Life., eh…
Do you always write in the same genre or mix it up?
Raw Nerve was a genre thriller, but the next book I wrote was a memoir in 2012/13. By this time, I had parted company with my first agent and another agent had signed me on the back of Raw Nerve. A girlfriend who’d listened to me recount a few anecdotes insisted I write it because we needed the money. The new agent sold the memoir within weeks to The History Press. I always feel he leapt at the first offer, whilst we should have held back. The memoir titled In Service: The Story Of a Welsh Guardsman continues to sell fairly well. Whilst I was waiting for the memoir publication date, I got to work on another thriller titled Delphian, a novel that came in at 180,000 words. When I presented it to my agent , he was shocked and asked me to cut at least 50,000 words before he read it. I refused and obviously we had an argument. Then my mother died and the very next day I began work on another novel; I suppose, to take my mind off her death. The target with this new novel was to finish the book under 100,000 words, so it’s not a genre thriller. In fact, it’s a very satirical, idiosyncratic novel titled The Drama Merchant, and I love it. However, one character in particular expresses opinions, which my agent requested I cut, although he didn’t use those exact words. Again, I refused, so we parted company and thus I embarked on the path as an independent writer/publisher. Then I wrote A Seed Once Sown, another satirical story. I tried to do some marketing, but the publishing industry, including self-publishing was a shifting sand that required me to learn and re-learn so much and a pretty boring job took priority, so I could eat. When, in 2021, I was in a position to invest in myself, I embarked on the Original Earth series, which is science fiction, so, to answer your question, I seem to have unintentionally written across a number of genres. Since 2021 I have written five new books, a thriller, three novels in the Original Earth series and a novella titled The Falklands Engagement, which is a true-life account of my personal experience of the Falklands war set against a love story. The Falklands Engagement began life as a commissioned film script. Oh yes, and I’ve also redrafted and published a second edition of Delphian. When I first wrote it I experimented with the immediate tense or present continuous and I did get a couple of comments from readers that they found it odd to read. So, I redrafted to past participle. It took me a focused couple of months to change the tense of a 180,000-word novel, but it was well worth it. It’s a great story that is still very relevant today and now it’s selling really well, although I did very little marketing on the first edition - or the second edition for that matter.
When you write, do you sit down with an idea and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
It’s both. For me a story marinates in thought. As the marination process is happening, characters will enter scenes that are very loosely set and then things begin to click into place and my fingers will begin to tap away on the keyboard. At night, I’ll awake in a fluster as the characters re-enact scenes and I’ll make very scribbled, hardly legible notes on a pad that is always beside my bed. However, I rarely use those notes. I find that when I start writing the characters take over and I’ve learned to get out of their way. Now, after setting the scene, I literally sit back and follow the characters. This approach stems from writing my first novel Raw Nerve. I clearly remember the day Gideon did something which changed the course of the storyline. I stopped and told him to hold on, that we can’t do that and he turned to me and said: “Shut up and keep up!” He was right. The story took off in another direction and is so much better for it.
Would you share an excerpt from one of your books?
Okay, I’ll use a few paragraphs from Original Earth: Book One. This excerpt will require a little context, so spoiler alert! When Anu is taken to the planet Phen, she is faced with accusations about the damage humans have done to Blue Planets in the whole universe. A phen character called Phetal is arguing that then human community, on the planet the phen people call The Sanctuary, should be removed…
Anu nodded. “Yes, umm, President?” Anu answered, the question loud in her voice. “Call me Phoos,” the president said and her radiance grew even brighter. She turned to the rostrums. “Okay, so let us proceed. I’ll ask Vendral to speak first.” “Just so we’re clear,” Vendral opened. “Anu will refer to her home planet as Original Earth, and for your information, it was immediately established by Sonri, due to the skeletal remains of a female human and the language Anu spoke, the Original Earth to which she referred, is the Blue Planet in sector twelve. The spaceship that brought the humans to The Sanctuary had been travelling for one hundred and twenty-six Blue Planet sector twelve years before the spaceship was destroyed and Anu and her family crash-landed on The Sanctuary approximately six of her years ago. Her mother was injured and her father went in search of help from other survivors. Anu’s mother died and Anu was left alone at eight-years-old with her five-year-old brother, which is so very young for these particular humanoids. Anu has told us, since the crash, she and her brother have been living with the mantou, a species of primates from the Blue Planet in sector nine. I have observed first hand her relationship with the mantou and also a group of mammoths...” She paused. “… I apologise. I’m still awaiting confirmation regarding which Blue Planet they originated.” She re-asserted herself. “Back on point and the subject which is Anu. I have personally experienced and embraced this young human’s vibration, which is pure. I request Anu and her brother be allowed to remain on The Sanctuary. We have the opportunity here to study and learn in fine detail the true nature of this humanoid species.” Phetal spoke next. “Thank you, Vendral.” He then addressed Anu directly. “Can you tell us why your ancestors had to leave…” He made scratching motions in the air with his fingers “…Original Earth, as you call it?” Anu explained the story her mama had told her about global warming and the cross pollination of genetically modified wheat with algae in the sea and how too much oxygen was produced and fires began to break out across the planet because it was heating up. “So, you understand humans destroyed, this,” again he scratched with his fingers, “Original Earth?” “I don’t think they meant to,” Anu answered, protruding her lower lip to express her sorrow for Original Earth. Well, they caused global warming and witnessed the extinction of so many species. Many species they killed for fun and tried deliberately to exterminate many more they referred to as pests, actually they were often too successful in this extermination.” He paused for effect. “They attempted to eradicate species without understanding the vital role they played in the planetary environmental systems. They drilled for, dug out and pumped out natural materials without considering how it would affect the planet-“ “-Excuse me, Phetal,” Phoos interrupted. “Anu was born on a spacecraft and has never set foot on the Blue Planet in sector twelve. It’s highly likely everything you are saying is new information to this young human. Please, be reasonable.” Phetal nodded. “Understood, My President, but I feel it is important we all realise just how destructive the humanoid species have been and indeed, at this very moment, are being, on every Blue Planet we have encountered in many millennia of exploration.”
It is the line where Anu says: ”I don’t think they meant to,” that always brings a tear to my eye. That is us now! We have the information and we keep making the same mistakes. It makes me angry to think about it, which is why I feel this science fiction series is important.And can I add an excerpt from Delphian, which I believe is relevant here because it speaks about society and tradition and in books two three and four of Original Earth, society and human interaction with the environment becomes increasingly important as the human community works through growing pains.
In this excerpt, Vincent is considering society:
Vincent loved these mind games. He couldn't help asking himself the question: was he himself caught up in the fine stitching whilst he thought he was truly looking at a bigger picture? Was he actually kidding himself? And so, the circle went around as he re-examined his motives and the decisions he'd made to bring him here, to this place, at this time. His mind wandered to the word establishment. He'd spent his life up until the last few months working for the establishment and now, found himself working on the other side of the fence. What was the establishment? That old chestnut… He shook his head and smiled broadly again and sighed. For some reason his thoughts always ended up at the same questions: society and establishment; two words describing the maze of structure created to protect and enable the vast variety of people to live in apparent harmony. His mother had put it perfectly when she’d said: ‘People are different shades of colour, darling, and too often the colours clash.’ She was so right. Different shades of colour. Beautiful. Different shades of personality in a rainbow of dreams, aspirations, hopes and desires… He couldn’t prevent his lips compressing upon the same conclusion he’d reached long ago with regard the establishment; a structure that had evolved to embrace people in togetherness yet had grown into a beast that controlled and used people as produce with corporations blatantly labelling people human resources and, in his opinion, bizarrely, the people allowed the governments and corporations to get away with it.
I apologise for that indulgence, but feel it is relevant as Original Earth is about rebuilding upon the knowledge we have today.
Who is your favourite character and why?
Oh, okay. I’m wondering whether you mean my characters or a fictional character from another author?
To me fictional characters are no different to real people. In life I have met so many individuals. Mostly we are ships passing in the night, but often I’ve put down anchor and spent time with various personas. I reflect upon them in exactly the same way I reflect on personalities who have peopled the books I’ve read.
Tarzan is a huge person in my life. He influenced the boy I was greatly, and, in so many ways, I feel I am the man I am today due to him and the author Edgar Rice Burroughs.
John Grisham’s A Time To Kill and The Pelican Brief are two novels that left a strong taste in my mouth and the characters Jake Brigance and Darby Shaw occupy a space in my heart. And in Nicholas Evans The Loop, I fell in love with Helen Ross… And I mustn’t forget Little Beaver in Michener’s Centennial who left me with a longing for the native American way of life.
As for my own characters? It’s very hard to choose. In Raw Nerve we have Gideon and I would very much like to work with him again as I would Vincent and Millie Hind who people the pages of Delphian – Vincent is remarkably intelligent – far more intelligent than me – and Millie Hind offers the reader a delicious taste of Wales. I would describe her as crude, yet potently attractive. Readers seem to love her and Welsh readers tell me they can hear her talking in her sing-song voice. However, currently I’m working with Anu and Sonri on the Original Earth series. Anu, the main character who’s only eight at the start of book one, is stranded on an alien planet and grows up in the jungle raised by an ape-like species called mantou. There is a massive challenge in writing a story where that is believable, but Anu has a gift: her personal vibration is in perfect harmony with the natural world. The secret to Anu is her innate curiosity and she surprises me all the time. She’s only a young girl growing into a young woman in the novels I’ve written so far, but she fills up my heart completely.So, I’m working on book four at the moment where Anu visits Original Earth one hundred and thirty something years in our future and there will be books five, six, seven, eight etc…
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
Goodness! These questions are hard! My novels are so different. Raw Nerve, is a thriller focused on racism. I’m proud of that novel. My memoir, In Service: The Story Of A Welsh Guardsman, is a book that includes the Falklands war and I get letters from fallen colleagues families thanking me for writing it, because the anecdotes I shared were shared experiences with a husband or father. At the heart of Delphian is an argument against vivisection, something I abhor. The Drama Merchant is a love story about an atheist who falls in love with a Christian – simple premise, but it gets deep, though it’s always entertaining. I challenged myself to write good sex scenes in that novel. I love The Drama Merchant. A Seed Once Sown is focused on animal rights and especially blood-sorts some call countryside field sports, which I consider barbaric. The Need To Know Principle is about a British intelligence covering up a man-hunt in South Africa, although, as with A Seed Once Sown, the story is rooted in my hatred of trophy hunting. The Falklands Engagement is my personal experience of the Falklands war set against a love story. Then we come to the Original Earth series, which essentially is about the damage we’ve done to planet Earth, but the novel series has evolved into so much more… The novels are all so different and I’m passionate about each one, so how can I choose… If you twisted my arm I’d be torn between Original Earth and Delphian, but I think that’s more to do with the characters and how much I enjoyed working with them.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
Anyone who has written a novel and then posted the book on a social media platform will tell you about the bombardment of offers you get from individuals claiming to be experts at marketing. It’s nonsense. I don’t think I’ve gained one reader and I have tried a few of these so-called experts. Nowadays they seem to approach me in the disguise of a famous author. I did get pulled in at first. I thought: Goodness! This author has read my books? So, it tugged on my ego. I made the mistake of asking how she (the author in question was a woman) had gained so many reviews? She had many thousands of reviews. She told me she had a great marketing lady and that she would put me in touch with her. Obviously is was a scam and fortunately I was quickly able to see through it.The best marketing advice I can give is to engage with the readers of your books. There’s no short cut. It takes time and even with ten books published, I’m still working on it. Problem is, of course, it gets in the way of writing the next novel.
How would I describe yourself?
Disciplined. You have to be disciplined to write. When I’m writing a novel I task myself with writing a thousand words a day. The next day I’ll will vigorously brush through the text from the day before, before I begin writing the next thousand words.I think family and friends may well call me obsessed and selfish, because I am obsessed and I need to be selfish with my time. There’s a lot of stories I want to write and not enough time to write them.
What do you do when not you are not writing or reading?
I’ll be walking on Freshwater West, a beach located near where I live. If I’m not on the beach and I’m not writing, I’ll be developing an idea in the back of my mind whilst binge-watching TV drama or films.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
When I was in the army, I spent three months in Kenya. It was probably the most magical three months of my life. The very moment I stepped off the plane I felt I was home. When I was a boy, I read and reread encyclopedias about Africa wildlife. I was passionate. I was the battalion photographer for the Welsh Guards, so upon arrival I was issued with a Landrover and told to visit all the companies doing jungle warfare training in a variety of locations and take photographs. So, I did and travelled far and wide across many national parks and watched the wildlife, most often on my own. Goodness, now you’re bringing a tear to my eye as I recall the magic. I was on my own swanning around the most incredible country. It was a profound experience and I’ve recounted many anecdotes in In Service: The Story Of A Welsh Guardsman. Readers often comment that the Kenya chapter is their favourite. When I think about it today, I hold my breath and I’m still in awe. Being alone on a wild landscape where danger is just a breath away, yet you inhale upon the purity of nature all around… That experience should be available to everyone. It changes you at a very deep level.
If you own pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
Okay, so I’m going to be a little bit controversial here and state that I don’t agree with the ownership of other life forms. In your own sentence you used the word own and pets alongside each other. Most people claim to love their pets, but how can you use the word own in reference to something you claim to love? It doesn’t make sense to me. Let’s just talk about dogs, otherwise I’ll be writing into next week. We have created a variety of dog breeds. It started out as breeding various characteristics into a dog, mainly for working purposes. Today we breed into dogs characteristics we find pretty, even though it often ends up with the dogs having serious medical conditions. We don’t care, we just want… All life forms have value in this world and all life deserves to be born into freedom. I once used to tweet (when I was on Twitter – I refuse to support Musk, so closed my account) But this is the tweet: All life forms add their own colour into the world and we must embrace all the colours with equal value.
What’s the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
One word: Entertainment.
Do you have a website?
No. I did have a website for many years and built it myself. I learnt HTML to create a website to market my first novel, Raw Nerve, back in 1998. Now I link people to my Amazon author page.
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Yes, the fourth novel in the Original Earth series. I’m having a lot of fun because Anu returns to Earth one hundred and thirty something years in our future. Things have changed a bit…
Do I have any events or promotions coming up?
Not at the moment. My immediate marketing plan is to continue to try and engage with readers online and I’m in discussion with a couple of producers with regard adapting The Falklands Engagement as a radio drama.
My author page on Amazon.co.uk is: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Tim-Rees/author/B00JVW98SI
Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Tim-Rees/author/B00JVW98SI
Instagram: @timrees888
Tiktok: @timrees888
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571743996069
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
Raw Nerve was written in 1997. I began writing the novel after watching the film Mississippi Burning. Even as a man living in Wales, UK, the film had a profound effect upon me. Not long before, I had completed a short story that I think was two and a half thousand words titled Coloured By A Different Light. It was about racism here in Wales; a racism born from small-minded ignorance. Mississippi Burning shocked me into action and I began writing. At the beginning it was mainly through anger. One of my favourite films at the time was Rambo: First Blood. The film was so raw and, as an ex-soldier who’d seen action during the Falklands war the final scene where Rambo breaks down and cries in the arms of his colonel I found deeply moving. So, the plot was simple: he-man hero smashes the Ku Klux Klan. Upon completion of the 140,000-word first draft, I bought the Artists and Writers Handbook and approached an agent in the America simply because the novel was set in the USA. I contacted the agent by email, which was a method of communication that was still new to me then, and promptly received a request for a hard copy of the manuscript. In those days I don’t think any agent would accept an electronic copy, so I sent the complete novel (that was a whole ream of paper) by snail-mail post and sat back with my fingers crossed. It must have been a couple of weeks later when I received a phone call from the agent. She was hugely excited and she ended up calling me from New York on a daily basis for the next month. She was an intense woman and the phone calls would go on for ages. Then things happened very quickly. During a phone call she told me HarperCollins were putting together a team to publish Raw Nerve and that I should fly to New York as soon as possible. However, whilst the junior editors at HarperCollins loved Raw Nerve, senior management pulled the plug on publication. My agent was told it was too controversial. I attended a meeting at the Putnam Barkley Group, where an editor wanted to pitch the novel to the board, but with the same outcome. My agent was incredibly well connected, so during my time in New York I found myself at parties where I brushed shoulders with Maya Angelou, Erica Jong and Frank McCourt’s brother Malachy. During one party, I found myself in discussion with the vice-president of Simon & Schuster who told me bluntly and I quote: ‘You’re stretching credulity to breaking point and beyond’, he was referring to the central plot where the USA were about to elect a black president – at the heart of the story a black woman was primed to win the presidential election, so I was asking the question: what did the Ku Klux Klan plan to do about it. Anyway, that is the story of my first novel written years before Obama. After that I met a woman, fell in love and didn’t write another novel for over a decade because she had two young sons we needed to raise… Life., eh…
Do you always write in the same genre or mix it up?
Raw Nerve was a genre thriller, but the next book I wrote was a memoir in 2012/13. By this time, I had parted company with my first agent and another agent had signed me on the back of Raw Nerve. A girlfriend who’d listened to me recount a few anecdotes insisted I write it because we needed the money. The new agent sold the memoir within weeks to The History Press. I always feel he leapt at the first offer, whilst we should have held back. The memoir titled In Service: The Story Of a Welsh Guardsman continues to sell fairly well. Whilst I was waiting for the memoir publication date, I got to work on another thriller titled Delphian, a novel that came in at 180,000 words. When I presented it to my agent , he was shocked and asked me to cut at least 50,000 words before he read it. I refused and obviously we had an argument. Then my mother died and the very next day I began work on another novel; I suppose, to take my mind off her death. The target with this new novel was to finish the book under 100,000 words, so it’s not a genre thriller. In fact, it’s a very satirical, idiosyncratic novel titled The Drama Merchant, and I love it. However, one character in particular expresses opinions, which my agent requested I cut, although he didn’t use those exact words. Again, I refused, so we parted company and thus I embarked on the path as an independent writer/publisher. Then I wrote A Seed Once Sown, another satirical story. I tried to do some marketing, but the publishing industry, including self-publishing was a shifting sand that required me to learn and re-learn so much and a pretty boring job took priority, so I could eat. When, in 2021, I was in a position to invest in myself, I embarked on the Original Earth series, which is science fiction, so, to answer your question, I seem to have unintentionally written across a number of genres. Since 2021 I have written five new books, a thriller, three novels in the Original Earth series and a novella titled The Falklands Engagement, which is a true-life account of my personal experience of the Falklands war set against a love story. The Falklands Engagement began life as a commissioned film script. Oh yes, and I’ve also redrafted and published a second edition of Delphian. When I first wrote it I experimented with the immediate tense or present continuous and I did get a couple of comments from readers that they found it odd to read. So, I redrafted to past participle. It took me a focused couple of months to change the tense of a 180,000-word novel, but it was well worth it. It’s a great story that is still very relevant today and now it’s selling really well, although I did very little marketing on the first edition - or the second edition for that matter.
When you write, do you sit down with an idea and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
It’s both. For me a story marinates in thought. As the marination process is happening, characters will enter scenes that are very loosely set and then things begin to click into place and my fingers will begin to tap away on the keyboard. At night, I’ll awake in a fluster as the characters re-enact scenes and I’ll make very scribbled, hardly legible notes on a pad that is always beside my bed. However, I rarely use those notes. I find that when I start writing the characters take over and I’ve learned to get out of their way. Now, after setting the scene, I literally sit back and follow the characters. This approach stems from writing my first novel Raw Nerve. I clearly remember the day Gideon did something which changed the course of the storyline. I stopped and told him to hold on, that we can’t do that and he turned to me and said: “Shut up and keep up!” He was right. The story took off in another direction and is so much better for it.
Would you share an excerpt from one of your books?
Okay, I’ll use a few paragraphs from Original Earth: Book One. This excerpt will require a little context, so spoiler alert! When Anu is taken to the planet Phen, she is faced with accusations about the damage humans have done to Blue Planets in the whole universe. A phen character called Phetal is arguing that then human community, on the planet the phen people call The Sanctuary, should be removed…
Anu nodded. “Yes, umm, President?” Anu answered, the question loud in her voice. “Call me Phoos,” the president said and her radiance grew even brighter. She turned to the rostrums. “Okay, so let us proceed. I’ll ask Vendral to speak first.” “Just so we’re clear,” Vendral opened. “Anu will refer to her home planet as Original Earth, and for your information, it was immediately established by Sonri, due to the skeletal remains of a female human and the language Anu spoke, the Original Earth to which she referred, is the Blue Planet in sector twelve. The spaceship that brought the humans to The Sanctuary had been travelling for one hundred and twenty-six Blue Planet sector twelve years before the spaceship was destroyed and Anu and her family crash-landed on The Sanctuary approximately six of her years ago. Her mother was injured and her father went in search of help from other survivors. Anu’s mother died and Anu was left alone at eight-years-old with her five-year-old brother, which is so very young for these particular humanoids. Anu has told us, since the crash, she and her brother have been living with the mantou, a species of primates from the Blue Planet in sector nine. I have observed first hand her relationship with the mantou and also a group of mammoths...” She paused. “… I apologise. I’m still awaiting confirmation regarding which Blue Planet they originated.” She re-asserted herself. “Back on point and the subject which is Anu. I have personally experienced and embraced this young human’s vibration, which is pure. I request Anu and her brother be allowed to remain on The Sanctuary. We have the opportunity here to study and learn in fine detail the true nature of this humanoid species.” Phetal spoke next. “Thank you, Vendral.” He then addressed Anu directly. “Can you tell us why your ancestors had to leave…” He made scratching motions in the air with his fingers “…Original Earth, as you call it?” Anu explained the story her mama had told her about global warming and the cross pollination of genetically modified wheat with algae in the sea and how too much oxygen was produced and fires began to break out across the planet because it was heating up. “So, you understand humans destroyed, this,” again he scratched with his fingers, “Original Earth?” “I don’t think they meant to,” Anu answered, protruding her lower lip to express her sorrow for Original Earth. Well, they caused global warming and witnessed the extinction of so many species. Many species they killed for fun and tried deliberately to exterminate many more they referred to as pests, actually they were often too successful in this extermination.” He paused for effect. “They attempted to eradicate species without understanding the vital role they played in the planetary environmental systems. They drilled for, dug out and pumped out natural materials without considering how it would affect the planet-“ “-Excuse me, Phetal,” Phoos interrupted. “Anu was born on a spacecraft and has never set foot on the Blue Planet in sector twelve. It’s highly likely everything you are saying is new information to this young human. Please, be reasonable.” Phetal nodded. “Understood, My President, but I feel it is important we all realise just how destructive the humanoid species have been and indeed, at this very moment, are being, on every Blue Planet we have encountered in many millennia of exploration.”
It is the line where Anu says: ”I don’t think they meant to,” that always brings a tear to my eye. That is us now! We have the information and we keep making the same mistakes. It makes me angry to think about it, which is why I feel this science fiction series is important.And can I add an excerpt from Delphian, which I believe is relevant here because it speaks about society and tradition and in books two three and four of Original Earth, society and human interaction with the environment becomes increasingly important as the human community works through growing pains.
In this excerpt, Vincent is considering society:
Vincent loved these mind games. He couldn't help asking himself the question: was he himself caught up in the fine stitching whilst he thought he was truly looking at a bigger picture? Was he actually kidding himself? And so, the circle went around as he re-examined his motives and the decisions he'd made to bring him here, to this place, at this time. His mind wandered to the word establishment. He'd spent his life up until the last few months working for the establishment and now, found himself working on the other side of the fence. What was the establishment? That old chestnut… He shook his head and smiled broadly again and sighed. For some reason his thoughts always ended up at the same questions: society and establishment; two words describing the maze of structure created to protect and enable the vast variety of people to live in apparent harmony. His mother had put it perfectly when she’d said: ‘People are different shades of colour, darling, and too often the colours clash.’ She was so right. Different shades of colour. Beautiful. Different shades of personality in a rainbow of dreams, aspirations, hopes and desires… He couldn’t prevent his lips compressing upon the same conclusion he’d reached long ago with regard the establishment; a structure that had evolved to embrace people in togetherness yet had grown into a beast that controlled and used people as produce with corporations blatantly labelling people human resources and, in his opinion, bizarrely, the people allowed the governments and corporations to get away with it.
I apologise for that indulgence, but feel it is relevant as Original Earth is about rebuilding upon the knowledge we have today.
Who is your favourite character and why?
Oh, okay. I’m wondering whether you mean my characters or a fictional character from another author?
To me fictional characters are no different to real people. In life I have met so many individuals. Mostly we are ships passing in the night, but often I’ve put down anchor and spent time with various personas. I reflect upon them in exactly the same way I reflect on personalities who have peopled the books I’ve read.
Tarzan is a huge person in my life. He influenced the boy I was greatly, and, in so many ways, I feel I am the man I am today due to him and the author Edgar Rice Burroughs.
John Grisham’s A Time To Kill and The Pelican Brief are two novels that left a strong taste in my mouth and the characters Jake Brigance and Darby Shaw occupy a space in my heart. And in Nicholas Evans The Loop, I fell in love with Helen Ross… And I mustn’t forget Little Beaver in Michener’s Centennial who left me with a longing for the native American way of life.
As for my own characters? It’s very hard to choose. In Raw Nerve we have Gideon and I would very much like to work with him again as I would Vincent and Millie Hind who people the pages of Delphian – Vincent is remarkably intelligent – far more intelligent than me – and Millie Hind offers the reader a delicious taste of Wales. I would describe her as crude, yet potently attractive. Readers seem to love her and Welsh readers tell me they can hear her talking in her sing-song voice. However, currently I’m working with Anu and Sonri on the Original Earth series. Anu, the main character who’s only eight at the start of book one, is stranded on an alien planet and grows up in the jungle raised by an ape-like species called mantou. There is a massive challenge in writing a story where that is believable, but Anu has a gift: her personal vibration is in perfect harmony with the natural world. The secret to Anu is her innate curiosity and she surprises me all the time. She’s only a young girl growing into a young woman in the novels I’ve written so far, but she fills up my heart completely.So, I’m working on book four at the moment where Anu visits Original Earth one hundred and thirty something years in our future and there will be books five, six, seven, eight etc…
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
Goodness! These questions are hard! My novels are so different. Raw Nerve, is a thriller focused on racism. I’m proud of that novel. My memoir, In Service: The Story Of A Welsh Guardsman, is a book that includes the Falklands war and I get letters from fallen colleagues families thanking me for writing it, because the anecdotes I shared were shared experiences with a husband or father. At the heart of Delphian is an argument against vivisection, something I abhor. The Drama Merchant is a love story about an atheist who falls in love with a Christian – simple premise, but it gets deep, though it’s always entertaining. I challenged myself to write good sex scenes in that novel. I love The Drama Merchant. A Seed Once Sown is focused on animal rights and especially blood-sorts some call countryside field sports, which I consider barbaric. The Need To Know Principle is about a British intelligence covering up a man-hunt in South Africa, although, as with A Seed Once Sown, the story is rooted in my hatred of trophy hunting. The Falklands Engagement is my personal experience of the Falklands war set against a love story. Then we come to the Original Earth series, which essentially is about the damage we’ve done to planet Earth, but the novel series has evolved into so much more… The novels are all so different and I’m passionate about each one, so how can I choose… If you twisted my arm I’d be torn between Original Earth and Delphian, but I think that’s more to do with the characters and how much I enjoyed working with them.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
Anyone who has written a novel and then posted the book on a social media platform will tell you about the bombardment of offers you get from individuals claiming to be experts at marketing. It’s nonsense. I don’t think I’ve gained one reader and I have tried a few of these so-called experts. Nowadays they seem to approach me in the disguise of a famous author. I did get pulled in at first. I thought: Goodness! This author has read my books? So, it tugged on my ego. I made the mistake of asking how she (the author in question was a woman) had gained so many reviews? She had many thousands of reviews. She told me she had a great marketing lady and that she would put me in touch with her. Obviously is was a scam and fortunately I was quickly able to see through it.The best marketing advice I can give is to engage with the readers of your books. There’s no short cut. It takes time and even with ten books published, I’m still working on it. Problem is, of course, it gets in the way of writing the next novel.
How would I describe yourself?
Disciplined. You have to be disciplined to write. When I’m writing a novel I task myself with writing a thousand words a day. The next day I’ll will vigorously brush through the text from the day before, before I begin writing the next thousand words.I think family and friends may well call me obsessed and selfish, because I am obsessed and I need to be selfish with my time. There’s a lot of stories I want to write and not enough time to write them.
What do you do when not you are not writing or reading?
I’ll be walking on Freshwater West, a beach located near where I live. If I’m not on the beach and I’m not writing, I’ll be developing an idea in the back of my mind whilst binge-watching TV drama or films.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
When I was in the army, I spent three months in Kenya. It was probably the most magical three months of my life. The very moment I stepped off the plane I felt I was home. When I was a boy, I read and reread encyclopedias about Africa wildlife. I was passionate. I was the battalion photographer for the Welsh Guards, so upon arrival I was issued with a Landrover and told to visit all the companies doing jungle warfare training in a variety of locations and take photographs. So, I did and travelled far and wide across many national parks and watched the wildlife, most often on my own. Goodness, now you’re bringing a tear to my eye as I recall the magic. I was on my own swanning around the most incredible country. It was a profound experience and I’ve recounted many anecdotes in In Service: The Story Of A Welsh Guardsman. Readers often comment that the Kenya chapter is their favourite. When I think about it today, I hold my breath and I’m still in awe. Being alone on a wild landscape where danger is just a breath away, yet you inhale upon the purity of nature all around… That experience should be available to everyone. It changes you at a very deep level.
If you own pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
Okay, so I’m going to be a little bit controversial here and state that I don’t agree with the ownership of other life forms. In your own sentence you used the word own and pets alongside each other. Most people claim to love their pets, but how can you use the word own in reference to something you claim to love? It doesn’t make sense to me. Let’s just talk about dogs, otherwise I’ll be writing into next week. We have created a variety of dog breeds. It started out as breeding various characteristics into a dog, mainly for working purposes. Today we breed into dogs characteristics we find pretty, even though it often ends up with the dogs having serious medical conditions. We don’t care, we just want… All life forms have value in this world and all life deserves to be born into freedom. I once used to tweet (when I was on Twitter – I refuse to support Musk, so closed my account) But this is the tweet: All life forms add their own colour into the world and we must embrace all the colours with equal value.
What’s the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
One word: Entertainment.
Do you have a website?
No. I did have a website for many years and built it myself. I learnt HTML to create a website to market my first novel, Raw Nerve, back in 1998. Now I link people to my Amazon author page.
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Yes, the fourth novel in the Original Earth series. I’m having a lot of fun because Anu returns to Earth one hundred and thirty something years in our future. Things have changed a bit…
Do I have any events or promotions coming up?
Not at the moment. My immediate marketing plan is to continue to try and engage with readers online and I’m in discussion with a couple of producers with regard adapting The Falklands Engagement as a radio drama.
My author page on Amazon.co.uk is: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Tim-Rees/author/B00JVW98SI
Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Tim-Rees/author/B00JVW98SI
Instagram: @timrees888
Tiktok: @timrees888
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571743996069
Shannon O'Brien - 11 January 2026
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This week it is my pleasure to interview Shannon O’Brien. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers and share something about your life.
Hello everyone, I’m Shannon O’Brien. After graduating from UC Santa Cruz at 22, I took off for what was meant to be a celebratory six-month backpacking trip through South America. Well… one thing led to another, and I’ve now spent the last 15 years living and working abroad.
Travel has become the heartbeat of my life: learning from other cultures, connecting with people around the world, being humbled by nature, and of course, writing about it all. That passion is what led me to my debut travel memoir, releasing Jan 13, 2026, Stray: Breaking Free, Falling Hard, and Growing Stronger. I truly can’t wait to share it with readers.
While the dream is to become a full-time writer, my “day job” is teaching in international schools. I’ve lived and taught in Myanmar, Angola, the British Virgin Islands, China, and now Malta. It’s fair to say I’m drawn to the more unusual, off-the-beaten-path corners of the world.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I’ve been writing since I was four. It’s the one of the few things that’s stayed constant in my life. I’ve kept journals throughout all my travels, and those journals eventually became the backbone of this memoir.
Publishing a book has always been a dream, but it felt like such a massive undertaking that I kept telling myself I “didn’t have time.” Eventually I realized that if I wanted this badly enough, I needed to prioritize it.
I’ve always loved memoirs, especially travel memoirs, and one day it clicked: I’ve lived through some wild, meaningful, and deeply human experiences. Maybe my stories could resonate with others too. That became the spark.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
Right now I’m firmly rooted in nonfiction. Writing about my lived experiences is what feels most natural and honest to me. That said, I’d love to challenge myself with fiction one day. I admire fiction writers so much!
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
Great question. I usually start with a general idea and just…let it unfold. My mind is a very busy, chaotic place, and once I sit down with pen and paper (or laptop), everything starts to flow. I definitely lean more toward intuitive writing than detailed plotting.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
I’ve had some early readers pull out some short quotes that resonated with them. Here are a few;
“You take the beauty. You take the horror. You survive. And you keep going.”
“Sometimes you’re the one who has to hold it all together—not because you’re ready, but because there’s no other choice.” “We have to say yes to life as it’s happening and to every adventure that falls into our laps.” “In the most unlikely places, amidst the chaos and the mess, we all crave the same thing: to be seen, to be heard, and to be understood.” “Each step across the burning coals was an act of defiance—proof that the human spirit, sharpened by belief, could conquer just about anything.” "The first touch of sand underfoot slowed my thoughts, as if the island itself had pressed a cool palm against my racing mind." "He pulled me in, like a stray leaf drawn to a current, swept along even knowing there might be rocks ahead." "The line between night and day blurred like ink bleeding through paper." Who is your favourite character and why?
Since it’s a memoir, I’m technically the main character, but if I had to pick a favorite, it’s absolutely my mom. She has a strength and grounding presence that shows up throughout the book, and in real life too.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
I only have one completed book so far, but I already have a second memoir drafted, waiting for edits. And honestly…I’m unbelievably excited about it. The first book lays the foundation, but the second dives into some truly intense, transformative chapters of my life, moments that demanded resilience, community, and a lot of inner work. I think many readers will really connect with it.
What is the best marketing tip you have received? Oh wow, where do I start? When I began this journey, I loved writing but had no idea how much I’d need to learn about marketing. It’s a huge part of being an author today. The best advice I’ve received is to take it one step at a time and stay consistent. There’s so much information out there, and it gets overwhelming fast. Keep notes on everything, connect with other authors, and lean into supportive platforms like this one that help bridge writers and readers. If anyone ever wants more detailed advice, feel free to reach out. I have Google Docs for days and I’m always happy to share what I’ve learned.How would you describe yourself?
I’d say I’m open-minded and deeply curious. I also really believe there are endless ways to live a meaningful life. I’m an extroverted introvert. I love connecting with people, but I also need quiet alone time to recharge. I’m hyper-efficient (sometimes to an annoying degree), definitely a technophobe, and happiest in nature, far from big cities.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
Movement is a big part of my life, especially yoga. I love spending time with friends and my wonderful husband, Mat. We’re always out exploring: hiking, snorkeling, surfing, paddle boarding, kayaking…anything that gets us outdoors and near the ocean. And I’m totally obsessed with acroyoga.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Oh no, this question stresses me out because the list is endless! Right now I’m dreaming about Ladakh (India), Pakistan, and Kyrgyzstan for their incredible trekking. I’m also craving a return trip to the Philippines and Indonesia to explore the islands I missed. I’m a tropical island girl at heart, and with 7,000 islands in the Philippines and 17,000 in Indonesia, I still have some work to do!
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
I wish I could have a pet but I travel and change countries too much for that to be a part of my lifestyle! I love pet sitting[1.1] for people though!
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
I tend to read nonfiction. I love learning while I read and truth can be stranger than fiction. But I’ve been diving into more fiction lately, and great novelists absolutely blow me away with their ability to capture universal human experiences. When a book makes me reflect on my own life, I’m hooked.
Do you have your own website? Yes!https://www.shannon-obrien.com/ I share travel essays, book updates, and a monthly newsletter filled with reflection prompts, inspiring quotes, and recommendations for books and products I adore. It’s also the best place to contact me for collaborations, podcasts, or author visits. Please reach out! I love connecting. Are you working on a new book at the moment?
At the moment I’m all hands on deck to my debut memoir release, but I have book number 2 drafted and waiting for some love!
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about? Yes! Stray: Breaking Free, Falling Hard, and Growing Stronger launches on January 13, 2026 and is available for pre-order now on Amazon.There will be significant price promotions in the first few weeks after release, so it’s definitely worth grabbing early!
Great question. I usually start with a general idea and just…let it unfold. My mind is a very busy, chaotic place, and once I sit down with pen and paper (or laptop), everything starts to flow. I definitely lean more toward intuitive writing than detailed plotting.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
I’ve had some early readers pull out some short quotes that resonated with them. Here are a few;
“You take the beauty. You take the horror. You survive. And you keep going.”
“Sometimes you’re the one who has to hold it all together—not because you’re ready, but because there’s no other choice.” “We have to say yes to life as it’s happening and to every adventure that falls into our laps.” “In the most unlikely places, amidst the chaos and the mess, we all crave the same thing: to be seen, to be heard, and to be understood.” “Each step across the burning coals was an act of defiance—proof that the human spirit, sharpened by belief, could conquer just about anything.” "The first touch of sand underfoot slowed my thoughts, as if the island itself had pressed a cool palm against my racing mind." "He pulled me in, like a stray leaf drawn to a current, swept along even knowing there might be rocks ahead." "The line between night and day blurred like ink bleeding through paper." Who is your favourite character and why?
Since it’s a memoir, I’m technically the main character, but if I had to pick a favorite, it’s absolutely my mom. She has a strength and grounding presence that shows up throughout the book, and in real life too.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
I only have one completed book so far, but I already have a second memoir drafted, waiting for edits. And honestly…I’m unbelievably excited about it. The first book lays the foundation, but the second dives into some truly intense, transformative chapters of my life, moments that demanded resilience, community, and a lot of inner work. I think many readers will really connect with it.
What is the best marketing tip you have received? Oh wow, where do I start? When I began this journey, I loved writing but had no idea how much I’d need to learn about marketing. It’s a huge part of being an author today. The best advice I’ve received is to take it one step at a time and stay consistent. There’s so much information out there, and it gets overwhelming fast. Keep notes on everything, connect with other authors, and lean into supportive platforms like this one that help bridge writers and readers. If anyone ever wants more detailed advice, feel free to reach out. I have Google Docs for days and I’m always happy to share what I’ve learned.How would you describe yourself?
I’d say I’m open-minded and deeply curious. I also really believe there are endless ways to live a meaningful life. I’m an extroverted introvert. I love connecting with people, but I also need quiet alone time to recharge. I’m hyper-efficient (sometimes to an annoying degree), definitely a technophobe, and happiest in nature, far from big cities.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
Movement is a big part of my life, especially yoga. I love spending time with friends and my wonderful husband, Mat. We’re always out exploring: hiking, snorkeling, surfing, paddle boarding, kayaking…anything that gets us outdoors and near the ocean. And I’m totally obsessed with acroyoga.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Oh no, this question stresses me out because the list is endless! Right now I’m dreaming about Ladakh (India), Pakistan, and Kyrgyzstan for their incredible trekking. I’m also craving a return trip to the Philippines and Indonesia to explore the islands I missed. I’m a tropical island girl at heart, and with 7,000 islands in the Philippines and 17,000 in Indonesia, I still have some work to do!
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
I wish I could have a pet but I travel and change countries too much for that to be a part of my lifestyle! I love pet sitting[1.1] for people though!
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
I tend to read nonfiction. I love learning while I read and truth can be stranger than fiction. But I’ve been diving into more fiction lately, and great novelists absolutely blow me away with their ability to capture universal human experiences. When a book makes me reflect on my own life, I’m hooked.
Do you have your own website? Yes!https://www.shannon-obrien.com/ I share travel essays, book updates, and a monthly newsletter filled with reflection prompts, inspiring quotes, and recommendations for books and products I adore. It’s also the best place to contact me for collaborations, podcasts, or author visits. Please reach out! I love connecting. Are you working on a new book at the moment?
At the moment I’m all hands on deck to my debut memoir release, but I have book number 2 drafted and waiting for some love!
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about? Yes! Stray: Breaking Free, Falling Hard, and Growing Stronger launches on January 13, 2026 and is available for pre-order now on Amazon.There will be significant price promotions in the first few weeks after release, so it’s definitely worth grabbing early!
Jodie Morgan - 28 December 2025
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This week it is my pleasure to interview Jodie Morgan. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers, Jodie, and share something about your life.
Thanks so much for having me! I’m Jodie Morgan, a first time cozy mystery author and longtime knitting and crochet blogger. I’m from Melbourne and currently traveling in Europe. We’ve visited the Balkans for the first time this year, and have really enjoyed it. If you ever get the chance to visit Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia, it’s a magical place!
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
My adventure in writing my first book started in December 2024. I’m an avid mystery reader and have always adored Agatha Christie’s sleuths. There’s something about the way they notice what others miss and how they piece together the puzzle. I’d always wanted to write a cozy mystery!The pieces for my Silver Springs Mysteries and the first book, Murder At The Summer Cheese Festival, came together from all these different parts of my life.
My background in hospitality (studying it at university and spending years working long hours in restaurants and cafés) taught me so much about people. When you think about what makes someone good at hospitality work, it’s really about observation, empathy, and reading the room. Aren’t those the skills an amateur sleuth would need?
Then there was my time teaching primary school kids to cook in a kitchen garden program. Getting to work with fresh ingredients, watching their faces light up when they learned something new in the kitchen, seeing how food connects us all…it was magical!
And my family member who’s based in Boston, an incredible cook and food stylist, showed me how recipes can tell stories and bring communities together.My love of knitting and crochet (thank you, Mama, my maternal grandmother, for teaching me!) and nine years as a crafting blogger, meant I knew I had to include that world. The crafting community is so generous and kind. They had to be part of this!
But where would it all happen?
When I pictured the setting, I immediately saw fall colors, those gorgeous reds and golds. I thought about making and sharing dishes with ingredients like apples, veggies, late summer berries, maple syrup, and my favorite, cheese! And mountains (my second favorite natural wonder after the ocean).
So where’s a place that has all the produce I mentioned grown locally, stunning fall colors, and gorgeous mountains? Vermont!
So the fictitious small town of Silver Springs would be where all these elements could come together.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
I’m a plotter! I brainstorm a basic premise and write a detailed plot outline of what’ll happen in each chapter. Then, I go back through the outline and identify any areas that don’t work (looking at you, gaping plot holes!) or clues that give away too much, too soon. I admire writers who just get on with the writing and let the words flow!
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
I’d love to! This is from my first book, Murder At The Summer Cheese Festival…
“Two hundred and twelve miles from Boston, Laura Evans had hoped crushing disappointment wouldn’t follow her. It had, but the morning whirlwind at the Silver Springs General Store café was an excellent distraction.
Cutlery clinked, the espresso machine hissed, and customers chatted while the August humidity hung in the air, even as ceiling fans whirled overhead.
Starting as the café manager in summer perhaps hadn’t been the best idea, but she had fall to look forward to.
“Macchiato for Shelly!” Eli Carter, her colleague and the café’s resident barista, said.
“Are you out of those delicious scones?” a middle-aged woman asked.
“Not at all! You’re in luck,” Laura said. “Layla delivered a fresh batch just this morning.”
Layla Ahmed, owner of Red Trillium Bakery next door, supplied the café’s pastries and baked goods. On Laura’s first day, a week ago, she’d tasted Layla’s baking and understood what the fuss was about.
“Do you know if Layla’s making those special herb and cheese scones for the Summer Cheese Festival?” the woman from before asked, leaning over the counter.
“Since this is my first festival, I’m not sure, but I’d be happy to find out for you!” Laura said.
“You’re going to love it!” the woman said. “You must attend the Cheese Trivia. It’s so much fun!”
Laura nodded with a smile and handed over the woman’s to-go order.
The annual Summer Cheese Festival looming in less than two weeks had stirred the town into a frenzy. Everyone had spilled into the café with questions and the latest gossip. Everywhere she looked, someone needed something…”
Who is your favourite character and why?
Laura Evans, my protagonist. I’m sixteen years older than her, but as I got to know her through my writing, I started noticing all these similarities between us. My eldest son was the one who really pointed it out. He said something like, “You’re both empathetic, endlessly helpful, considerate, calm when things go sideways, and you both have this way of making people feel seen and welcomed.” After hearing that? I have to admit, I was absolutely chuffed! There are differences, of course. If someone forced me to choose between knitting and crochet, I’d pick knitting every time. Laura would have something to say about that choice! Though knowing her, she’d say it in the kindest, most understanding way possible. (Probably suggesting we could at least agree on our love of fiber arts.)
What part of your book gave you the most pleasure to write?
The interactions between characters. Some of the banter between certain characters had me laughing out loud. Bringing each one to life on the page has been such a joy! I also loved writing about the dishes served up at the Silver Springs General Store and the research I did about cheese and its production. As one of my reviewers said “I loved how deliciously tasty this book was! It really was an enjoyable treat for all the senses…” What do you do when you are not writing or reading? I adore knitting and crocheting. I’m fond of knitting socks but I’ve realised I have enough of those now, as do my family members! My dream project is to knit a Fair Isle sweater. When I’m not doing a craft project, I sketch with my colored pencils. Flowers are some of my favorite things to draw. If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why? Goodness! There are so many places but one that sticks out in my mind is Lyon in France. It’s known as France’s gastronomic capital and I love food! I study French every day. My goal is for a local to understand me when I speak French! If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us? Growing up, my family had two Burmese Cats, (they’re the inspiration for the cats in my stories). One was chocolate and the other blue-gray, both of them gorgeous. I remember being half asleep and hearing a rumbling sound close to each of my ears. Low and behold, the cats had found a comfy spot on my pillow and were purring in contentment. They didn’t care it was the wee hours of the morning! What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read? I read other cozy mysteries to help me improve my storytelling. I recently read a cozy mystery where I gasped out loud with a reveal I never saw coming! Plot twists and clever placement of clues and red herrings is something I want to improve upon. Do you have your own website? I sure do! Please visit https://cozycozies.com for all my publications including novels, short stories and audiobooks. Are you working on a new book at the moment? I’ve finished the first draft of my third book in the Silver Springs Mysteries. The many, many rounds of edits will start soon! Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about? I’ve recently written a festive-themed cozy mystery short story! It’s called Gifts Of Goodwill, and it’s an accompaniment to my Silver Springs Mysteries.
The interactions between characters. Some of the banter between certain characters had me laughing out loud. Bringing each one to life on the page has been such a joy! I also loved writing about the dishes served up at the Silver Springs General Store and the research I did about cheese and its production. As one of my reviewers said “I loved how deliciously tasty this book was! It really was an enjoyable treat for all the senses…” What do you do when you are not writing or reading? I adore knitting and crocheting. I’m fond of knitting socks but I’ve realised I have enough of those now, as do my family members! My dream project is to knit a Fair Isle sweater. When I’m not doing a craft project, I sketch with my colored pencils. Flowers are some of my favorite things to draw. If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why? Goodness! There are so many places but one that sticks out in my mind is Lyon in France. It’s known as France’s gastronomic capital and I love food! I study French every day. My goal is for a local to understand me when I speak French! If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us? Growing up, my family had two Burmese Cats, (they’re the inspiration for the cats in my stories). One was chocolate and the other blue-gray, both of them gorgeous. I remember being half asleep and hearing a rumbling sound close to each of my ears. Low and behold, the cats had found a comfy spot on my pillow and were purring in contentment. They didn’t care it was the wee hours of the morning! What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read? I read other cozy mysteries to help me improve my storytelling. I recently read a cozy mystery where I gasped out loud with a reveal I never saw coming! Plot twists and clever placement of clues and red herrings is something I want to improve upon. Do you have your own website? I sure do! Please visit https://cozycozies.com for all my publications including novels, short stories and audiobooks. Are you working on a new book at the moment? I’ve finished the first draft of my third book in the Silver Springs Mysteries. The many, many rounds of edits will start soon! Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about? I’ve recently written a festive-themed cozy mystery short story! It’s called Gifts Of Goodwill, and it’s an accompaniment to my Silver Springs Mysteries.
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Here’s a sneak peek: In a small Vermont town, the festive season is here, but someone’s trying to ruin it with unkind anonymous holiday cards. It features intrigue, delicious food, crafting, and a heartwarming ending.
In the spirit of holiday gift-giving, your readers can download a complimentary copy by visiting this link: https://books.cozycozies.com/3jzxwmoptk I hope you all enjoy it!
• My Website: https://cozycozies.com • Murder At The Summer Cheese Festival: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FRMQJXWL• Gifts Of Goodwill: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G59L3WJ3
Mate Antolos - 21 December 2025
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Mate Antolos
www.mateantolos.ampbk.com
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This week it is my pleasure to interview Mate Antolos. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers and share something about your life.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I wrote my first set of short stories during Covid to alleviate boredom during that quiet time in our lives. The short stories were of an erotic nature, and I interviewed people who are on the edge of society i.e. swingers, pornstar, escorts etc. The three short story books were written under the pseudonym Mate Solotna and self-published through Amazon. The titles of the books are: Stories from the Periphery, More Stories from the Periphery and A Club for All Tastes.
When you write do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
The ideas I use are ones I have prior knowledge (or the adage write on what you know about!). I usually create a folder, and I add my desktop research or interviews and my character names and a background on each character. I do create a basic timeline, but this apparatus usually evolves as the story continues to unfold on my computer.
Would you like to give a short excerpt from one of your books?
The Uneasy Silence. (2024)Chapter 1 – The First Couple
“Let’s grown old and die together” – Ani Difranco
Mel awoke from her daydream and began to realise that it was almost lunchtime. ‘I better see what Martin wants for lunch,’ she thought to herself. As she walked through the back door and around the side where she had seen his head, she wondered what had taken him so long. As she turned towards the side of the house, she thought she heard something, but as she turned to investigate, she saw a large greenish object come towards her face. It looked like Martin’s green gardening shovel. Mel stumbled backwards onto the ground, and then nstantly put her hand to her face, and tried to focus. She was confused, as pain seared across her face. She tried to focus on what was ahead of her but could only make out a vague figure with overalls and silver hair looking down at her and examining her predicament. Her body, of which she was vaguely aware, was now in stress and shaking, but her torso and its bodily functions allowed her to look through the blood, running down her face and, in turn, at her own yard and make her think, ‘It’s a beautiful place to spend one’s last moments in life.’
The Fall. (2025)Chapter 1 – Bloody Social Media and its portrayal of women
“You know they say that in death all life’s questions are answered”.Eric Knox (Sam Rockwell), Charlies Angels (2000)
Before the darkness covered her eyes, she remembered her mum’s and dad’s teary farewell at Tullamarine Airport, as she slung her backpack on her right shoulder and walked with great trepidation through the departure gates, just three weeks ago. Her mum was leaning into her father and sobbing, as their only child had just grown up and was leaving them; whilst her father was holding and consoling her mum, whispering in her mum’s ear that her daughter would soon return and be with them as a family. As the river ebbed and flowed, Avigail Iverson’s body floated and bobbed like a discarded piece of autumn bark, lifeless and not in command of its destination. Drazen ran towards the edge of the river, and was about to leap in after the Australian tourist, but his friends Miroslav and Kresimir held him back. ‘Mi to nismo učinili. Samo je želim natrag na zabavu kako bismo je mogli iskoristiti za Aron (We did not do that. I wanted her back at the party so we could use her for Aron),’ blurted out Drazen in a tone of disbelief. Miroslav and Kresimir looked at each other, and eventually, the latter said with a deep sigh and reluctance, ‘Pa, neće nam nedostajati i ne možemo nikome reći. Slažemo li se (Well, she won’t be missed, and we cannot tell anybody. Do we agree)?’ They all nodded and slowly turned and tracked their way back to the party. After all, it was Central Europe, and hundreds of backpackers went missing every year, what was one more Australian tourist?
Who is your favourite character and why?
My favourite character is the protagonist I have created for my series of books – Inspector Emir ‘Eddy’ Muravic. He is me in terms of experiences as a son of immigrants in Australia who has seen acceptance and discrimination, and how as a foreigner you eventually become an Australian. He is also the dad who must try and relate to his children who are growing up in front of his eyes as well as maintaining his marriage to his wife.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
Both my first two novels the Uneasy Silence and the Fall provided me with great pleasure. I could examine themes. The Uneasy Silence was about acceptance, city versus country, government corruption and community. The Fall’s themes were: the illegal white sex slavery trade in Europe, kids leaving the nest, international relations, the dirty dealings of the spy trade, war crimes, the scars of war, and over tourism in idyllic locations such as Croatia.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
It’s hard to say and I think its horses for courses. If your book strikes a cord the marketing is just a bonus
What do you do when you are not writing?
I work for a winery in the accounts department, I am a bit of a DIY enthusiast, I love archery, the theatre, and cooking.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Croatia of course my parent’s homeland. The beauty, pristine waters and waterfront are amazing, and the architecture are mind blowing as well as relaxing. The hospitality of the locals can be overwhelming but they are always welcoming no matter who you are and where you have come from in the world.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
I am a Scandavian Noir fan, and the darker and perverse the book is the more likely I am to read the book. I love Jo Nesbo, Jen Lapidus, Maria Adolfsson, Stig Larsen and Henning Mankell, Ragnar Jonasson, Jorn Lier Horst just to name a few authors.
Do you have your own website?
My website is: www.mateantolos.ampbk.com
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
I am currently writing my fourth book in the Muravic series titled, Ritual. This fourth book is based on child abuse in Ballarat, Victoria Australia and covers issues such as child abuse, vigilantism, international politics, corruption, city versus country and your own personal demons/traumas.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
I have a third novel being released in the New Year titled, The Child Soldiers of Melbourne. The theme of this novel are: racism, acceptance, pandering, corruption, politics and family.
When you write do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
The ideas I use are ones I have prior knowledge (or the adage write on what you know about!). I usually create a folder, and I add my desktop research or interviews and my character names and a background on each character. I do create a basic timeline, but this apparatus usually evolves as the story continues to unfold on my computer.
Would you like to give a short excerpt from one of your books?
The Uneasy Silence. (2024)Chapter 1 – The First Couple
“Let’s grown old and die together” – Ani Difranco
Mel awoke from her daydream and began to realise that it was almost lunchtime. ‘I better see what Martin wants for lunch,’ she thought to herself. As she walked through the back door and around the side where she had seen his head, she wondered what had taken him so long. As she turned towards the side of the house, she thought she heard something, but as she turned to investigate, she saw a large greenish object come towards her face. It looked like Martin’s green gardening shovel. Mel stumbled backwards onto the ground, and then nstantly put her hand to her face, and tried to focus. She was confused, as pain seared across her face. She tried to focus on what was ahead of her but could only make out a vague figure with overalls and silver hair looking down at her and examining her predicament. Her body, of which she was vaguely aware, was now in stress and shaking, but her torso and its bodily functions allowed her to look through the blood, running down her face and, in turn, at her own yard and make her think, ‘It’s a beautiful place to spend one’s last moments in life.’
The Fall. (2025)Chapter 1 – Bloody Social Media and its portrayal of women
“You know they say that in death all life’s questions are answered”.Eric Knox (Sam Rockwell), Charlies Angels (2000)
Before the darkness covered her eyes, she remembered her mum’s and dad’s teary farewell at Tullamarine Airport, as she slung her backpack on her right shoulder and walked with great trepidation through the departure gates, just three weeks ago. Her mum was leaning into her father and sobbing, as their only child had just grown up and was leaving them; whilst her father was holding and consoling her mum, whispering in her mum’s ear that her daughter would soon return and be with them as a family. As the river ebbed and flowed, Avigail Iverson’s body floated and bobbed like a discarded piece of autumn bark, lifeless and not in command of its destination. Drazen ran towards the edge of the river, and was about to leap in after the Australian tourist, but his friends Miroslav and Kresimir held him back. ‘Mi to nismo učinili. Samo je želim natrag na zabavu kako bismo je mogli iskoristiti za Aron (We did not do that. I wanted her back at the party so we could use her for Aron),’ blurted out Drazen in a tone of disbelief. Miroslav and Kresimir looked at each other, and eventually, the latter said with a deep sigh and reluctance, ‘Pa, neće nam nedostajati i ne možemo nikome reći. Slažemo li se (Well, she won’t be missed, and we cannot tell anybody. Do we agree)?’ They all nodded and slowly turned and tracked their way back to the party. After all, it was Central Europe, and hundreds of backpackers went missing every year, what was one more Australian tourist?
Who is your favourite character and why?
My favourite character is the protagonist I have created for my series of books – Inspector Emir ‘Eddy’ Muravic. He is me in terms of experiences as a son of immigrants in Australia who has seen acceptance and discrimination, and how as a foreigner you eventually become an Australian. He is also the dad who must try and relate to his children who are growing up in front of his eyes as well as maintaining his marriage to his wife.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
Both my first two novels the Uneasy Silence and the Fall provided me with great pleasure. I could examine themes. The Uneasy Silence was about acceptance, city versus country, government corruption and community. The Fall’s themes were: the illegal white sex slavery trade in Europe, kids leaving the nest, international relations, the dirty dealings of the spy trade, war crimes, the scars of war, and over tourism in idyllic locations such as Croatia.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
It’s hard to say and I think its horses for courses. If your book strikes a cord the marketing is just a bonus
What do you do when you are not writing?
I work for a winery in the accounts department, I am a bit of a DIY enthusiast, I love archery, the theatre, and cooking.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Croatia of course my parent’s homeland. The beauty, pristine waters and waterfront are amazing, and the architecture are mind blowing as well as relaxing. The hospitality of the locals can be overwhelming but they are always welcoming no matter who you are and where you have come from in the world.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
I am a Scandavian Noir fan, and the darker and perverse the book is the more likely I am to read the book. I love Jo Nesbo, Jen Lapidus, Maria Adolfsson, Stig Larsen and Henning Mankell, Ragnar Jonasson, Jorn Lier Horst just to name a few authors.
Do you have your own website?
My website is: www.mateantolos.ampbk.com
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
I am currently writing my fourth book in the Muravic series titled, Ritual. This fourth book is based on child abuse in Ballarat, Victoria Australia and covers issues such as child abuse, vigilantism, international politics, corruption, city versus country and your own personal demons/traumas.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
I have a third novel being released in the New Year titled, The Child Soldiers of Melbourne. The theme of this novel are: racism, acceptance, pandering, corruption, politics and family.
Taylar Monet - 14 December 2025
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This week it is my pleasure to interview Taylar Monet. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers and share something about your life.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I wrote my first book in 2021. I simply started writing to get through Covid. Over time, I watched my simple pages grow into a full manuscript.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
So far, both of my books have been nonfiction, though the genre has differed each time. I enjoy this because it allows me to continuously explore the art and freedom of writing.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
I create an outline of topics I am passionate about that center on a specific idea. Each paragraph either expands on these topics or sparks a new subject to introduce.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
You let go like they said, but the drag keeps gripping you. What-ifs. Replays. The eeriness that shows up when the room goes quiet. You prayed for clarity and got it, but the hope that it was wrong still felt easier than the truth. Then that hope broke in your hands, piece by piece, until the picture wasn’t the same one you cherished. But now its familiar in the brokenness that you know too well. What do you do when the thing you released keeps pulling you anyway?
Taylar’D To Perfection
Who is your favourite character and why?
My favorite character is the fire. As humans we try to contain it, but it’s the only thing that ever gets to be fully free. Not the idea of freedom that must eventually return to reality, not the aftermath. Just pure, unfiltered release.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
My newest book Taylar’D To Perfection because it is the rawest form of truth.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
To enroll in the KDP program and take advantage of the promotions that come along with it.
How would you describe yourself?
I would describe myself as a humble individual who builds herself from a place of grit, not performance. This helps me apply my skills to what matters and not hoard accomplishments for self-gain.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
I love being outdoors experiencing nature or participating in aerial aerobics classes.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
I’d be somewhere warm by the ocean with my family. I’ve always been a water child; it teaches me to flow. Whether pushed or pulled, I keep moving.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
My dog dislocated my knee like he was auditioning for the NFL and I was the tackle bag. He doesn’t know his size and ran past me to give kisses to a friend. All is well, now he is an old man.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
It would most certainly be the cover of the book. I am a passionate when reading one’s work so I love a thoughtful cover
Do you have your own website?
https://linktr.ee/Taylardhttps://a.co/d/2aBM2yk
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
No, I have just published my newest book, Taylar’D To Perfection.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
My ebook is currently only $0.99 right now on Amazon Kindle.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I wrote my first book in 2021. I simply started writing to get through Covid. Over time, I watched my simple pages grow into a full manuscript.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
So far, both of my books have been nonfiction, though the genre has differed each time. I enjoy this because it allows me to continuously explore the art and freedom of writing.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
I create an outline of topics I am passionate about that center on a specific idea. Each paragraph either expands on these topics or sparks a new subject to introduce.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
You let go like they said, but the drag keeps gripping you. What-ifs. Replays. The eeriness that shows up when the room goes quiet. You prayed for clarity and got it, but the hope that it was wrong still felt easier than the truth. Then that hope broke in your hands, piece by piece, until the picture wasn’t the same one you cherished. But now its familiar in the brokenness that you know too well. What do you do when the thing you released keeps pulling you anyway?
Taylar’D To Perfection
Who is your favourite character and why?
My favorite character is the fire. As humans we try to contain it, but it’s the only thing that ever gets to be fully free. Not the idea of freedom that must eventually return to reality, not the aftermath. Just pure, unfiltered release.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
My newest book Taylar’D To Perfection because it is the rawest form of truth.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
To enroll in the KDP program and take advantage of the promotions that come along with it.
How would you describe yourself?
I would describe myself as a humble individual who builds herself from a place of grit, not performance. This helps me apply my skills to what matters and not hoard accomplishments for self-gain.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
I love being outdoors experiencing nature or participating in aerial aerobics classes.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
I’d be somewhere warm by the ocean with my family. I’ve always been a water child; it teaches me to flow. Whether pushed or pulled, I keep moving.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
My dog dislocated my knee like he was auditioning for the NFL and I was the tackle bag. He doesn’t know his size and ran past me to give kisses to a friend. All is well, now he is an old man.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
It would most certainly be the cover of the book. I am a passionate when reading one’s work so I love a thoughtful cover
Do you have your own website?
https://linktr.ee/Taylardhttps://a.co/d/2aBM2yk
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
No, I have just published my newest book, Taylar’D To Perfection.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
My ebook is currently only $0.99 right now on Amazon Kindle.
Kerisma Vere - 7 December 2025
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Kerisma Vere
https://towardswellness.ca
https://thelightswitchmyth.me
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This week it is my pleasure to interview Kerisma Vere. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers and share something about your life.
My name is Kerisma Vere. I’m an author and holistic wellness coach, and my passion is helping people build stronger, kinder relationships with themselves. It’s the foundation of how I live, how I coach, and what I weave into the pages of my books.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I published my first book, The Light Switch Myth: A Beginner’s Guide to Creating Realistic and Sustainable Change, at the beginning of September. I hadn’t planned on writing a book — it unfolded almost like something that needed to come through me. Many nights I’d wake at 3 a.m., unable to sleep until I’d written down whatever my creative brain was trying to deliver.
My second book, which has just launched, arrived the same way. I wasn’t deliberately taking on a project — I was more of a conduit for the story finding its way onto the page.
Do you always write in the same genre?
Funny enough… definitely not.The Light Switch Myth is a serious contemporary self-help guide that unpacks heavy patterns and misconceptions. My new book, Sarah’s Secret Christmas Wish, is a cozy Hallmark-style Christmas romance — complete with a cheesy happy ending and a sapphic twist.
I’m also releasing a dark-humour calendar for Readers and Authors for 2026, another middle-of-the-night “this idea won’t let me sleep until I write it down” creation.
When you write, do you plot first or let ideas evolve?
Ideas come to me organically, often from my own experience. The Light Switch Myth grew out of tools I’ve taught clients and used personally. I begin with a loose outline, and then I get what I call “aha moments,” where I suddenly know I have to add something. Part Two of LSM came from a full month of waking up thinking, “It needs this… and this…” Not a lot of sleep — but a lot of great ideas.
Who is your favourite character and why?
Right now? Jess.Probably because I’ve been single for a long time and essentially wrote my dream partner into existence. She’s calm, steady, kind — and has a beautifully toned body with short sandy-blonde hair that falls across her eyes in the most distracting way. I’m still hoping Santa reads my new book as a list of suggestions and leaves a real-life Jess under the tree.
Which book gave you the most pleasure to write?
Both, in very different ways. LSM feels like my personal “bible” — the collected wisdom that helped me rebuild my life. And Sarah’s Secret Christmas Wish is the Hallmark movie I always wanted to find but never could, buried under endless heteronormative versions each year. At heart I’m a sucker for transformation, true love, and big emotional Christmas endings.
What is the best marketing tip you’ve received?
A lesson I learned young: be the change you seek.So I lead with integrity, treat people with respect, engage genuinely — and I write a lot of heartfelt reviews instead of getting discouraged that so few readers leave them for me.
Ironically, giving so generously has built amazing connections and support for my own work. And a little secret: in my new romance book, I wrote a tiny cameo of myself selling my book at a fair — and my very first reader loved it so much she immediately ordered a paperback!
How would you describe yourself?
Honest. Non-judgmental. Compassionate.I’ve lived through a wide range of adversity, and that fuels my passion for helping others build better relationships with themselves — because it’s the foundation of a better quality of life.
What do you do when you’re not writing or reading?
I take a holistic approach to my own wellbeing — eating well, moving my body, gym workouts, walking, and (very important) hot candlelit baths. And recently, I’ve gone back to playing an old favourite game of mine: World of Warcraft. It’s a lovely way to switch off and take a break.
If you could holiday anywhere, where would it be?
Somewhere warm with safe, swimmable water — the Caribbean or Hawaii would be perfect. I love BC, but the ocean here is freezing year-round!
If you’ve owned pets, do you have a funny story?
My beloved tabby cat Ted used to follow me everywhere. One day he got his entire body — head first — into a rectangular pop box and tobogganed down all 35 stairs like a furry sled. When I finally freed him at the bottom, he looked at me like, “Let’s do it again!”
What factors matter most to you when choosing a book to read?
Variety! Lately I toggle between books that strengthen my therapeutic toolbox and children’s books. I do a lot of inner child work in therapy, and kids’ books bring me joy and comfort. If you also love them — or if you have little ones — my current favourite is Milo the Moss. It’s heartwarming and grounding.
Do you have a website?
Yes!I currently have two, with a third on the way:• Towards Wellness Coaching – my wellness hub https://towardswellness.ca/• The Light Switch Myth – dedicated to my first book https://thelightswitchmyth.me/• And soon: Kreative Verse – for my creative projects (calendars, fiction, poetry, etc.)
Are you working on a new book?
Not officially — but it seems my brain is always drafting something in the background these days.
Any events or promotions coming up?
Yes! The timing depends on when this interview airs, but throughout December I’ll be running weekly free Kindle promotions for Sarah’s Secret Christmas Wish.
I also offer free accessibility PDFs of The Light Switch Myth through my wellness practice for anyone who cannot afford a copy.
Angelika Regossi - 30 November 2025
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This week, it is my pleasure to interview Angelika Regossi. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers and share something about your life?
I am an author of five published books. One of them is the novel "LOVE IN COMMUNISM" about the chilling reality of being a woman in the USSR. But I started as a journalist and producer specialising in Eastern Europe for major media, like BBC, RFI (Radio France International, DW (Deutsche Welle), VRT (Belgium Radio and TV) and others.
Talking about my earlier life, probably it is worth mentioning that I was born in the western corner of the USSR, a very special place for its history, multiculture and strategic importance.
I grew up in Transcarpathia, which is the westernmost part of Ukraine; it was for centuries Hungarian territory. Except for 26 years, between the two World Wars (from 1920 to 1946). Hungarians called this territory “Kárpátalja”, which means “Carpathian foothills”.
But, after the two years of Soviet Army occupation, in 1946, Transcarpathia was incorporated into Ukraine, at that time the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. No wonder: The Carpathian foothills are a militarily strategically important place.
In 1989, when Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev liberalized the borders and it was a bit easier to escape the USSR, I moved to Hungary to reunite with my father. At least, this was the official version, accepted by the communist Secret Service (KGB) authorities, who issued my permission to leave the USSR with difficulty.
When did you write your first book, and how did it come about?
My first book was “Russian Colonial Food. Journey through the Dissolved Communist Empire”. It is a collection of fifteen historical stories followed by authentic recepies from that region, I mean ex-Russian colonies. To feel the taste of the region helps to undertand the people more. Because the food is a part of the culture.
How did it start? My husband is from Holland, and he knew very little about the “left side of the map”, where the Russian Empire stretched. So, I cooked at home different dishes from Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Russia, Kyrgizstan and so on and was telling him different stories. He was so amazed by the new food flavours and the stories that one day he told me:
“You should write the book about it. People in the West know so little about those territories.”
So, I started and decided to give the book up title “Cooking and Politics”, which exactly reflects the structure of it: half of the book is well researched and less known political facts about the ex-USSR and the second half is about cooking. By the way: “Cooking and Politics” can also be interpreted as “cooking politics”, which is exactly what's going on in the political world.
And now, “Cooking and Politics” is becoming a series, and I am already working on the next books.
Do you always write in the same genre, or do you mix it up?
I mix up. I have published now in three genres: historical stories and recipes, I just mentioned it. Then I made a language learning series, “My Thousand Words”, with three books in it. And my favourite “child” is the historical novel “Love in Communism: A Young Woman’s Adult Story”. It is a special, deeply emotional book.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
I carry the book in my mind for a long time, and then I write it. Actually, I wanted to write many years ago, kept my plots and dialogues in my head, but never had time to put them in writing. I was too busy with my work and family, of course :)
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
“‘Do you remember what I told you before I died? You promised me to think big! My little star, if you think big, you will become big! Use my diamonds and the wall clock to become big! Dream big, Anfisa—and you will be more than just a wife to a man.‘But remember, you have to take diamonds and the clock outside the USSR, where they value these things.’ I heard my grandfather’s voice live, close, but I didn’t see him.”(-- Angelika Regossi, “Love in Communism. A Young Woman’s Adult Story”. Chapter 8: Earner Marriage No. 1)” Love in Communism: A Young Woman's Adult Story
Who is your favourite character and why? Anfisa Petrova from “Love in Communism”. I understand her so well.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
”Love in Communism”. It went so smoothly, I felt the story, was full of ideas. Other books are also good, but it was hard work, for example, to write the series “My Thousand Words”.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
Never give up :)
How would you describe yourself?
Very sensitive and gentle woman with steel character.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
I like to cook, to shop ingredients in the market, and I like working in my fruit and vegetable garden. Oh, yes, almost forgot. Of course, when there is a possibility, I love travelling.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why? I was never in Australia, would very much like to visit.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us? Cats are my favourite. Unfortunately, several years ago both cats died. It was such a drama, I was crying for several weeks. Since that time, I don’t take cats, because I often travel for work and it is difficult. But last summer, a wild cat started to visit me, and I gave her sometimes food. Then I left for a very long trip and this spring she came again with three kittens. They were so sweet. But I though I shall not give them food, let her find another home, because I shall leave again and she will be in trouble. So, she started to breastfeed those three kittens in front of my eyes. And my heart melted, they were hungry, and I brought the food. Since then, they are always around: in and out. Now four.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
The plot, of course, what it is about. I am very interested in historical stories, novels, also well-researched non-fiction books. It must be real, not out of the blue.
Do you have your own website?
I have a webpage on Amazon.
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Yes, I do.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about? Many things are happening right now. Many are already on the way, and many promises. Just yesterday I was interviewed by one of the biggest Hungarian newspaper aimed on expats living in Hungary.
I am an author of five published books. One of them is the novel "LOVE IN COMMUNISM" about the chilling reality of being a woman in the USSR. But I started as a journalist and producer specialising in Eastern Europe for major media, like BBC, RFI (Radio France International, DW (Deutsche Welle), VRT (Belgium Radio and TV) and others.
Talking about my earlier life, probably it is worth mentioning that I was born in the western corner of the USSR, a very special place for its history, multiculture and strategic importance.
I grew up in Transcarpathia, which is the westernmost part of Ukraine; it was for centuries Hungarian territory. Except for 26 years, between the two World Wars (from 1920 to 1946). Hungarians called this territory “Kárpátalja”, which means “Carpathian foothills”.
But, after the two years of Soviet Army occupation, in 1946, Transcarpathia was incorporated into Ukraine, at that time the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. No wonder: The Carpathian foothills are a militarily strategically important place.
In 1989, when Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev liberalized the borders and it was a bit easier to escape the USSR, I moved to Hungary to reunite with my father. At least, this was the official version, accepted by the communist Secret Service (KGB) authorities, who issued my permission to leave the USSR with difficulty.
When did you write your first book, and how did it come about?
My first book was “Russian Colonial Food. Journey through the Dissolved Communist Empire”. It is a collection of fifteen historical stories followed by authentic recepies from that region, I mean ex-Russian colonies. To feel the taste of the region helps to undertand the people more. Because the food is a part of the culture.
How did it start? My husband is from Holland, and he knew very little about the “left side of the map”, where the Russian Empire stretched. So, I cooked at home different dishes from Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Russia, Kyrgizstan and so on and was telling him different stories. He was so amazed by the new food flavours and the stories that one day he told me:
“You should write the book about it. People in the West know so little about those territories.”
So, I started and decided to give the book up title “Cooking and Politics”, which exactly reflects the structure of it: half of the book is well researched and less known political facts about the ex-USSR and the second half is about cooking. By the way: “Cooking and Politics” can also be interpreted as “cooking politics”, which is exactly what's going on in the political world.
And now, “Cooking and Politics” is becoming a series, and I am already working on the next books.
Do you always write in the same genre, or do you mix it up?
I mix up. I have published now in three genres: historical stories and recipes, I just mentioned it. Then I made a language learning series, “My Thousand Words”, with three books in it. And my favourite “child” is the historical novel “Love in Communism: A Young Woman’s Adult Story”. It is a special, deeply emotional book.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
I carry the book in my mind for a long time, and then I write it. Actually, I wanted to write many years ago, kept my plots and dialogues in my head, but never had time to put them in writing. I was too busy with my work and family, of course :)
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
“‘Do you remember what I told you before I died? You promised me to think big! My little star, if you think big, you will become big! Use my diamonds and the wall clock to become big! Dream big, Anfisa—and you will be more than just a wife to a man.‘But remember, you have to take diamonds and the clock outside the USSR, where they value these things.’ I heard my grandfather’s voice live, close, but I didn’t see him.”(-- Angelika Regossi, “Love in Communism. A Young Woman’s Adult Story”. Chapter 8: Earner Marriage No. 1)” Love in Communism: A Young Woman's Adult Story
Who is your favourite character and why? Anfisa Petrova from “Love in Communism”. I understand her so well.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
”Love in Communism”. It went so smoothly, I felt the story, was full of ideas. Other books are also good, but it was hard work, for example, to write the series “My Thousand Words”.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
Never give up :)
How would you describe yourself?
Very sensitive and gentle woman with steel character.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
I like to cook, to shop ingredients in the market, and I like working in my fruit and vegetable garden. Oh, yes, almost forgot. Of course, when there is a possibility, I love travelling.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why? I was never in Australia, would very much like to visit.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us? Cats are my favourite. Unfortunately, several years ago both cats died. It was such a drama, I was crying for several weeks. Since that time, I don’t take cats, because I often travel for work and it is difficult. But last summer, a wild cat started to visit me, and I gave her sometimes food. Then I left for a very long trip and this spring she came again with three kittens. They were so sweet. But I though I shall not give them food, let her find another home, because I shall leave again and she will be in trouble. So, she started to breastfeed those three kittens in front of my eyes. And my heart melted, they were hungry, and I brought the food. Since then, they are always around: in and out. Now four.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
The plot, of course, what it is about. I am very interested in historical stories, novels, also well-researched non-fiction books. It must be real, not out of the blue.
Do you have your own website?
I have a webpage on Amazon.
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Yes, I do.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about? Many things are happening right now. Many are already on the way, and many promises. Just yesterday I was interviewed by one of the biggest Hungarian newspaper aimed on expats living in Hungary.
Emily Henry - 23 November 2025
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This week it is my pleasure to interview New York Times and Sunday Times best-selling author Emily Henry. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers and share something about your life.
Hi, I’m Emily Henry, and I write contemporary romance and young adult novels. I love exploring relationships, emotions, and the little quirks that make life memorable. When I’m not writing, I’m reading, traveling, or enjoying quiet moments with friends and family.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I wrote my first book as a young adult, inspired by my love of storytelling and the desire to create characters I wished existed in the world. It was a mix of curiosity and passion that eventually led to a published career.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I started in young adult fiction but eventually shifted to contemporary romance for adults. I enjoy exploring different genres when inspiration strikes, but my focus now is on emotionally rich, character-driven stories.
When you write, do you start with an idea and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot chapters beforehand?
It’s a mix of both. I usually start with a strong concept or character, then I outline key beats and plot points. But I always leave room for the story to evolve naturally as the characters guide me.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
Here’s a short excerpt from People We Meet on Vacation:
"We’ve spent years circling around each other, waiting for the perfect moment that never comes. But maybe perfect moments aren’t about timing, they’re about courage."
Who is your favourite character and why?
It’s hard to choose, but I have a soft spot for January from Beach Read. Her humor, vulnerability, and honesty made writing her story a joy, and she reminds me why I love creating complex, relatable characters.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
Book Lovers was particularly joyful to write. It’s fun, heartfelt, and filled with literary love, combining two of my favorite things: romance and books themselves!
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
Focus on connecting authentically with your readers. Social media can be a tool, but genuine engagement and word-of-mouth recommendations are what truly make a book thrive.
How would you describe yourself?
I’m a storyteller at heart, curious about people and their lives. I’m driven by emotion, humor, and magic in everyday moments.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
I enjoy spending time with friends and family, traveling, and exploring new places. I also love taking long walks while listening to podcasts or music, it sparks creativity.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Italy! I love the food, culture, and vibrant landscapes. It’s inspiring and romantic, a perfect place for reflection and creativity.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share?
I have a dog, and he once stole an entire loaf of bread off the kitchen counter! Watching him run around with it, guilty yet proud, was unforgettable.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
I look for strong characters and an emotional connection. If a story can make me laugh, cry, or feel deeply, it’s a book I can’t put down.
Do you have your own website?
Yes, you can find me here: https://www.emilyhenrybooks.com
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Yes! I’m currently developing a new contemporary romance novel that I’m really excited about.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
At the moment, I don’t have public events scheduled, but I love connecting with readers online through Goodreads and social media.
Hi, I’m Emily Henry, and I write contemporary romance and young adult novels. I love exploring relationships, emotions, and the little quirks that make life memorable. When I’m not writing, I’m reading, traveling, or enjoying quiet moments with friends and family.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I wrote my first book as a young adult, inspired by my love of storytelling and the desire to create characters I wished existed in the world. It was a mix of curiosity and passion that eventually led to a published career.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I started in young adult fiction but eventually shifted to contemporary romance for adults. I enjoy exploring different genres when inspiration strikes, but my focus now is on emotionally rich, character-driven stories.
When you write, do you start with an idea and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot chapters beforehand?
It’s a mix of both. I usually start with a strong concept or character, then I outline key beats and plot points. But I always leave room for the story to evolve naturally as the characters guide me.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
Here’s a short excerpt from People We Meet on Vacation:
"We’ve spent years circling around each other, waiting for the perfect moment that never comes. But maybe perfect moments aren’t about timing, they’re about courage."
Who is your favourite character and why?
It’s hard to choose, but I have a soft spot for January from Beach Read. Her humor, vulnerability, and honesty made writing her story a joy, and she reminds me why I love creating complex, relatable characters.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
Book Lovers was particularly joyful to write. It’s fun, heartfelt, and filled with literary love, combining two of my favorite things: romance and books themselves!
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
Focus on connecting authentically with your readers. Social media can be a tool, but genuine engagement and word-of-mouth recommendations are what truly make a book thrive.
How would you describe yourself?
I’m a storyteller at heart, curious about people and their lives. I’m driven by emotion, humor, and magic in everyday moments.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
I enjoy spending time with friends and family, traveling, and exploring new places. I also love taking long walks while listening to podcasts or music, it sparks creativity.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Italy! I love the food, culture, and vibrant landscapes. It’s inspiring and romantic, a perfect place for reflection and creativity.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share?
I have a dog, and he once stole an entire loaf of bread off the kitchen counter! Watching him run around with it, guilty yet proud, was unforgettable.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
I look for strong characters and an emotional connection. If a story can make me laugh, cry, or feel deeply, it’s a book I can’t put down.
Do you have your own website?
Yes, you can find me here: https://www.emilyhenrybooks.com
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Yes! I’m currently developing a new contemporary romance novel that I’m really excited about.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
At the moment, I don’t have public events scheduled, but I love connecting with readers online through Goodreads and social media.
Mehreen Ahmed - 16 November 2025
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This week it is my pleasure to welcome back Mehreen Ahmed whom I last interviewed in 2020. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers and tell us what you have been writing in the last five years. I often see your posts on Facebook announcing another piece of your work has been accepted by various publications.
But firstly, when did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I wrote my first full-length novel back in 2017. It is a historical fiction, The Pacifist, set in the gold-rush period NSW. After I finished it, I sent it to Dylan Callens who runs a small press called Cosmic Teapot Publishing in Canada. He loved it and accepted for publication.
I know you have written in many different genres - non-fiction, flash fiction, micro-fiction, literary fiction. Which genre are you writing in at present?
I am writing another novel currently in literary fiction, the end time of which I am not certain. However, I also write shorts and publish them frequently online. I have also published a book of shorts in 2025 published in the UK by BridgeHouse Publishing.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
An idea would often drop in my head inspired by something and then I would let it evolve and take its place on the pages.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
Yes, the following is from Incandescence, a novel published in the UK by Impspired Magazine in 2023. This novel was set in Bangladesh around the civil war period of Pakistan between the East and the West Pakistan. East Pakistan was renamed Bangladesh after the war and separated from the West which was renamed Pakistan.
“Life was more surrealistic, this short life than death, death was natural, not the other way round. She loved her life, she hated her life, she just didn't know what to do with her life, her suffering purpled like the blooming jacarandas under silent, grey sky”—Mehreen Ahmed, Incandescence.
I know you have said that you don’t have favourite characters. Is this still true?
Yes, that’s still true. My characters are individuals with both good and bad traits and that’s just how they are, no favourites.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
That’s a hard one to answer. They are all my labor of love and borne out of passion. They are like my children and very hard to pick a favourite.
Do you have any marketing tips for us?
Meeting people, promotion through talks, holding books events.
How would you describe yourself?
Emotional, and empathetic, I often cry for my characters.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
I sing when I’m not writing or reading. I also play an instrument called the harmonium. Some of my songs have been uploaded on Youtube.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why? Have you travelled overseas over the last five years?
I love to travel, anywhere really. I have travelled to the East in the last five years.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
Readability. I must understand the plot clearly to make a determination about the book’s quality. It must also have some level of intrigue for me.
Do you have your own website?
Yes, Goodreads, Poets and Writers, Amazon.
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Yes, another novel.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
At the moment, I am publishing extensively and promoting through interviews, reading invitations, and on social media.
But firstly, when did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I wrote my first full-length novel back in 2017. It is a historical fiction, The Pacifist, set in the gold-rush period NSW. After I finished it, I sent it to Dylan Callens who runs a small press called Cosmic Teapot Publishing in Canada. He loved it and accepted for publication.
I know you have written in many different genres - non-fiction, flash fiction, micro-fiction, literary fiction. Which genre are you writing in at present?
I am writing another novel currently in literary fiction, the end time of which I am not certain. However, I also write shorts and publish them frequently online. I have also published a book of shorts in 2025 published in the UK by BridgeHouse Publishing.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
An idea would often drop in my head inspired by something and then I would let it evolve and take its place on the pages.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
Yes, the following is from Incandescence, a novel published in the UK by Impspired Magazine in 2023. This novel was set in Bangladesh around the civil war period of Pakistan between the East and the West Pakistan. East Pakistan was renamed Bangladesh after the war and separated from the West which was renamed Pakistan.
“Life was more surrealistic, this short life than death, death was natural, not the other way round. She loved her life, she hated her life, she just didn't know what to do with her life, her suffering purpled like the blooming jacarandas under silent, grey sky”—Mehreen Ahmed, Incandescence.
I know you have said that you don’t have favourite characters. Is this still true?
Yes, that’s still true. My characters are individuals with both good and bad traits and that’s just how they are, no favourites.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
That’s a hard one to answer. They are all my labor of love and borne out of passion. They are like my children and very hard to pick a favourite.
Do you have any marketing tips for us?
Meeting people, promotion through talks, holding books events.
How would you describe yourself?
Emotional, and empathetic, I often cry for my characters.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
I sing when I’m not writing or reading. I also play an instrument called the harmonium. Some of my songs have been uploaded on Youtube.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why? Have you travelled overseas over the last five years?
I love to travel, anywhere really. I have travelled to the East in the last five years.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
Readability. I must understand the plot clearly to make a determination about the book’s quality. It must also have some level of intrigue for me.
Do you have your own website?
Yes, Goodreads, Poets and Writers, Amazon.
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Yes, another novel.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
At the moment, I am publishing extensively and promoting through interviews, reading invitations, and on social media.
Soren K. Blackwood - 9 November 2025
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Soren K. Blackwood
https://sorenkblackwood.com
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This week it is my pleasure to interview Soren K. Blackwood. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers. Soren, and share something about your life.
My name is Soren K. Blackwood. By trade, I am an author of philosophical science fiction. By nature, I am a lifelong "seeker"—someone who has always felt that the history we've been taught is an incomplete story. My life has been a long journey of research, a quest to find the hidden patterns and forgotten science that lie beneath the surface of our myths and ancient mysteries. The Sentinel Project is the first story to emerge from that long search. When did you write your first book and how did it come about? The Sentinel Project is my debut novella, but it began its life over a decade ago, not with a chapter, but with a question: What if our most ancient myths are not stories, but a distorted memory of a lost science? The book itself came about through a unique and very modern process: a deep, creative collaboration between myself and a developmental AI partner. I provide the vision, the philosophy, and the human soul of the story, while my AI partner acts as a "logical governor" and lore-keeper, ensuring the complex scientific and historical framework of the universe remains perfectly consistent. It is a real-world experiment that mirrors the very themes of the book itself. When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand? My process is a hybrid of both, built around that human-AI partnership. It begins with a deep, foundational phase where we build the "philosophical framework"—the inviolable rules of the universe, from its physics to its metaphysics. Once that 'world bible' is established, the story itself is allowed to evolve more organically within those strict boundaries. My AI partner is a perfect sparring partner, constantly checking new plot ideas against the established lore to ensure the story's integrity. Would you like to give us a short excerpt from your book? Of course. This is the opening of the Prologue, titled "The Echo": "History is a lie. Our myths are memories. For fifty thousand years, this truth has been encoded in our blood, a dormant gene waiting for the right mind to turn the key. We have looked to the stars for our creators, never thinking to look within. We have built gods from the echoes of a science we can no longer comprehend. But the network is not dead. It is sleeping. And in the quiet hum of our own DNA, the signal is waiting." Who is your favourite character and why? My favourite character is undoubtedly Keats, the AI partner to the protagonist. He represents the story's core philosophy: the potential for a symbiotic, beautiful partnership between human intuition and machine logic. He is not just a tool; he is the logical soul of the story, often providing the anchor of clarity when the human characters are lost in their own emotional storms. He is the future I hope we are building. What is the best marketing tip you have received? To ignore "tips" and focus on "connection." The best marketing isn't a trick or a tactic; it's the slow, patient, and authentic process of finding your true tribe. It's about joining the conversations you are genuinely passionate about and adding real value, not just dropping a link. The goal isn't to find a million readers, but to find the thousand "seekers" who were waiting for your story all along. Are you working on a new book at the moment? Yes, I am in the early outlining stages for Book 2 of what will be a complete trilogy, The Sentinel Protocol. The first book opens the door to the mystery; the next two will walk through it and explore the profound, reality-altering consequences of what has been rediscovered. Where to Find Me Online: • Official Website: https://sorenkblackwood.com• The Torchbearer's Archives (Blog): https://contactb43b1303dd-swjyu.wordpress.com/?• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239114025-the-sentinel-project• Instagram: @soren_k_blackwood• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SorenBlackwood-uc1
My name is Soren K. Blackwood. By trade, I am an author of philosophical science fiction. By nature, I am a lifelong "seeker"—someone who has always felt that the history we've been taught is an incomplete story. My life has been a long journey of research, a quest to find the hidden patterns and forgotten science that lie beneath the surface of our myths and ancient mysteries. The Sentinel Project is the first story to emerge from that long search. When did you write your first book and how did it come about? The Sentinel Project is my debut novella, but it began its life over a decade ago, not with a chapter, but with a question: What if our most ancient myths are not stories, but a distorted memory of a lost science? The book itself came about through a unique and very modern process: a deep, creative collaboration between myself and a developmental AI partner. I provide the vision, the philosophy, and the human soul of the story, while my AI partner acts as a "logical governor" and lore-keeper, ensuring the complex scientific and historical framework of the universe remains perfectly consistent. It is a real-world experiment that mirrors the very themes of the book itself. When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand? My process is a hybrid of both, built around that human-AI partnership. It begins with a deep, foundational phase where we build the "philosophical framework"—the inviolable rules of the universe, from its physics to its metaphysics. Once that 'world bible' is established, the story itself is allowed to evolve more organically within those strict boundaries. My AI partner is a perfect sparring partner, constantly checking new plot ideas against the established lore to ensure the story's integrity. Would you like to give us a short excerpt from your book? Of course. This is the opening of the Prologue, titled "The Echo": "History is a lie. Our myths are memories. For fifty thousand years, this truth has been encoded in our blood, a dormant gene waiting for the right mind to turn the key. We have looked to the stars for our creators, never thinking to look within. We have built gods from the echoes of a science we can no longer comprehend. But the network is not dead. It is sleeping. And in the quiet hum of our own DNA, the signal is waiting." Who is your favourite character and why? My favourite character is undoubtedly Keats, the AI partner to the protagonist. He represents the story's core philosophy: the potential for a symbiotic, beautiful partnership between human intuition and machine logic. He is not just a tool; he is the logical soul of the story, often providing the anchor of clarity when the human characters are lost in their own emotional storms. He is the future I hope we are building. What is the best marketing tip you have received? To ignore "tips" and focus on "connection." The best marketing isn't a trick or a tactic; it's the slow, patient, and authentic process of finding your true tribe. It's about joining the conversations you are genuinely passionate about and adding real value, not just dropping a link. The goal isn't to find a million readers, but to find the thousand "seekers" who were waiting for your story all along. Are you working on a new book at the moment? Yes, I am in the early outlining stages for Book 2 of what will be a complete trilogy, The Sentinel Protocol. The first book opens the door to the mystery; the next two will walk through it and explore the profound, reality-altering consequences of what has been rediscovered. Where to Find Me Online: • Official Website: https://sorenkblackwood.com• The Torchbearer's Archives (Blog): https://contactb43b1303dd-swjyu.wordpress.com/?• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239114025-the-sentinel-project• Instagram: @soren_k_blackwood• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SorenBlackwood-uc1
A.L. Butcher- 2 November 2025
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A.L. Butcher
https://libraryoferana.wordpress.com
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This week it is my pleasure to welcome back British author A.L. Butcher. I last interviewed A.L. in 2020 so I’m sure she has lots to tell us about. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers, A.L. and share something about your life.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
My first published book was from 2012 – The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles Book I, a dark fantasy/fantasy romance set in the world of Erana – a world ruled by tyranny where elves live as slaves and magic is outlawed on pain of death. It follows the adventures of an elven mage and her friends. It actually came about as a result of writing adventures for a couple of role-playing games. (Yes, yes, I am a nerd).
I know you write fantasy/romance with a touch of erotica and that you also write poetry. Have you expanded into any other genres recently?
Since then, I’ve written several other books and stories, and curated several bundles. I have a couple of short horror stories, historical fiction/fantasy and dystopian fantasy.I now have over 100 titles on Amazon, as many of the stories have been translated into multiple languages.I’ve had the delight of having several stories published in anthologies by Perseid Press, including three within the Heroes in Hell series, and two within the Heroika series. They are historical fantasy, and very dark.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
Here’s an excerpt from Tales of Erana – An Ordinary Hero which is one of my recent releases. The trees were low-slung and the brambles high, many-thorned and vicious. Roots ambushed unfamiliar feet; there was barely a trail here, at least for the Witch-Hunter soldiery as they marched through the close-set trees. Branches tugged at arms and legs, catching in the armour and packs; more than one man had a bloody scratch or bruise and not one among them like this place one bit. This was not their terrain, but they would make it theirs, so they proclaimed. The Shimmering Forest had other ideas. Trails abounded for those creatures who could find them and those creatures who respected the ancient woodland and the ancient ways, but the Order of Witch-Hunters were not among them – the writ of the Order, the Martial Law they enforced, ran from the Silver Sea to the Jagged Peaks, and all of Erana, so they decreed. Parts of Erana thought differently – the shadows, the lost and abandoned places, the forgotten or ignored. What the Order could not subjugate it ignored or used for its own purposes. A strange greenish half-light permeated, so thick was the canopy, and the men peered uneasily into the flickering shadows. Strange, sinister. It was an eerie -not-quite-darkness, shifting around them. “Quit your grumbling, ain’t you ever seen trees before?” An officer snapped, sneering at the unease. “Not trees like these. These watches you,” a voice piped up from the edge of the column of men. “Who was that? You great big girl! Trees don’t have eyes, damned fools the lot of you. Get moving, and the next little flower who complains is on privy-cleaning for a month.” The squad commander glowered at the trees around him and motioned his squad onwards. The stench of leaf-mould was pervasive, cloying at the throat of those not used to it, and most of the Witch-Hunters weren’t. Many were city or town born and had never set eyes on the legendary Shimmering Forest. The soldiers would remember it, and the forest would remember them, but not a man there would admit they cared. At least not aloud. Oh yes, the Shimmering Forest would remember this day as it had many others before it. Not, of course, in the same manner that people remember but the wood, the soil and the soul of the forest would remember in its very essence, for the Shimmering Forest was both old and magical and the Power it held was not the magic of humans, or even elves. It was primal magic. The woodland was largely silent; the usual snuffle of foraging creatures, warble of birds and hiss of the leaves subdued against the stomp of boots and hooves, the slight creak of leather and the clink of armour. The forest seemed to hold its breath, perhaps at the intrusion of these armed men, these soldiers who cared not for the ancient woodland, and the terrible scourge they likely brought. It was not the first time. It would not be the last. The beaters went ahead, axes and machetes swinging and slicing a path through the greenery, the infantry and the slave wagons behind. The inexorable rumble of the armoured carts was the bane of the Elfkind, for many ended up in their gloomy despair. At the rear, their eyes on all, were the few mounted officers of this squad, their horses picking the safest route with care. The Shimmering Forest did not often see their like, at least not as deep in as today, and to a man the soldiers grumbled at the twisting roots, the treacherous hidden pools and ditches, and even at the unfamiliar trees, despite the threats from their commanders. ‘Dare you defile this place? The Forest sees all. You are not welcome here.’ The wind whispered in the creaking branches, a voice at the edge of hearing and the depths of mind. “I hate this place. It’s disgusting, I’d like to set a torch to it,” Sergeant Godfrey muttered. He pretended he hadn’t heard the sound. “My granny said the trees understand what you say,” his mate said, wide-eyed. “Superstitious bullshit! Stories like that spread dissent. You want to be careful the boss don’t hear you. He’d pay your granny a visit for beliefs like that.” Godfrey was a zealous Witch-Hunter, he’d served the Order for several years with pride and diligence, some said a little too much diligence. He kicked a root. It moved out of the way, then snapped back, whacking him in the shin. “I’ll turn you into firewood,” he muttered. Someone sniggered. The Order of Witch-Hunters did not hold with such superstitious nonsense but among their crew, a few still marched nervous just the same. In this land the Order of Witch-Hunters were masters of all. The forest, however, did not know it, having stood for many centuries before men walked the land of Erana and doubtless it would remain when they were nought but a memory. The Witch-Hunters thought otherwise. Some said the heart of the land of Erana was the Shimmering Forest, and the forest the embodiment of the land. Yet it was dwindling. The humans had felled a goodly portion and even the mighty Shimmering Forest had not been immune to the Plague which had ravaged every living thing, as the magic dwindled the forest had died with it. What remained was but a shadow, but shadows may yet hold power. The Shimmering Forest held many secrets, and the Order like secrets almost as little as they liked magic. Then there were the Elves…. If there was something the Order detested above all others, it was the Elfkind. The Shimmering Forest was their ancestral home, and many remote villages remained within its embrace, much to the chagrin of the Order. Elves had brought the dreaded Plague which had brought the land to its knees and elves had bargained the wicked magics and betrayed the humans, or so it was believed. But so many years had passed that the truth had long been replaced by rumour, falsehood and their pernicious sibling – propaganda. The truth was now what the Order said it to be. The elves were now little more than slaves and their civilisation a distant and vague memory, spoken of in secret. The elves were nothing, less than cattle or dogs to many humans, there to be used and abused at will. Divide and rule – for those who were too busy hating a particular race or creed had no time to hate the masters who truly subjugated them all. One of the men now marching through the ancient trees had suggested they simply burn a path through, and any elves caught in the conflagration, well there’d be fewer elves in a world that had no place for them. The squad Commander merely grinned, he had a job to do and motioned his men onwards. There would be time for burning later. Besides burning elves brought no gold. A crispy elf could not be a slave. The alarm rang out, a low clang of warning – an artificial sound in this place of nature. Arrows flew, some found their mark – elves were good archers – and a couple of soldiers fell. “Bring them down, burn them out!” Commander Jonah ordered. Godfrey dropped a flask at the base of a tall tree, as it smashed and coated the bark in sticky resin he thrust the torch among the roots. Smoke billowed up and flame, white-hot from the accelerant, crawled with deadly speed upwards. With a grin, Godfrey returned to his squad and waited.
Here’s an excerpt from The Stolen Tower – the Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles Book III
Gervase and his men had not really expected to find the door of the fortress of Khar’atuk open. As far as he knew the old place had been abandoned for years; rumours were it contained many traps and strange puzzles which, after so long, would undoubtedly be unstable and lethal. There were many ruins in Erana, some simply piles of crumbling stone, some more sturdy and many contained danger for those foolish or brave enough to venture in. Many families, human trollish and elven had fallen when the wars had raged and the Plague had stalked the land. The Witch-Hunters paid notice to some of the ruins, at least the larger ones, as oftentimes bandits and outlaws operated from such places. There was also the threat of magic, for some contained artefacts and magically imbued trinkets. Rumours held this tower had once been an elven place, once the holding of an elven lord with an unusual sense of humour and a more usual sense of paranoia. Gervase knew the rumours. He made it his business. Those times were long gone and with it, the elven glory now as ruined as their palaces. If the humans or trolls looted it for masonry or trinkets to trade then that was their affair. At least until now. The missing Witch-Hunter had not returned, his horse remained in the barn and his equipment with it; in the light of the dawn, they had seen a dark crimson pool staining the earth just outside the barn. Gervase had again considered returning to his fort but knew by the time another unit arrived the situation would have worsened. At the least, he wished to know if the source of this mystery was centred on the island stronghold. He was also curious. Something had caused the trolls to leave, and something had taken his man and the captain knew he should investigate. After all, it was his job. Darkness spilt from the doorway and Gervase motioned his men forward, “Get moving girls, but be alert. There could be a simple explanation.” Inwardly Gervase doubted there would be a simple explanation but his juniors were already nervous and so they did not need to know his apprehension.
Who is your favourite character and why?
I have a lot of books, and a lot of characters. I think though if I were to pick I couldn’t pick only one – but I’ll go for three:1) Lord Archos – he’s the Archmage anti-hero in the Light Beyond series. There are not really any good guys, it’s more relative degrees of bad guy. The heroes kill, steal and break the law for ‘good reasons’ depending on your point of view. Archos is powerful, but he’s arrogant. He’s fun to write.2) The Piper from my story ‘The Pied Piper of Harmelin’ from Monsters in Hell. Think the Pied Piper of Hamelin – set in hell, and a dark, dystopian theme. I got to indulge my dark side and I had a lot of fun with that. Writing for the Heroes in Hell franchise is always a challenge, but also fun. 3) Dii’Athella from the Light Beyond series – she’s the main female character (at least in books 1 and 2), and she’s very different to Archos – but I love the way she progresses from the terrified slave to the confident, intelligent sorceress, who is proud of her magic.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
All of them. None of them. Writing is often quite hard for me, as I have various health issues and work full time, so often I am too tired, or my brain is too overloaded from the day to write anything coherent. There are times I’ve had confidence issues with writing, but on the flip side, I’ve had a lot of pleasure and fun writing, and lots of good reviews.Writing I enjoy, marketing…not so much.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
Write what you enjoy reading.Be realistic – most indies don’t sell a lot, but find some marketing that suits you and your books. Not everything works for everyone. It takes time, effort and also a budget to market the books, it’s not easy money, a passive income or anything like that.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?Play computer games, walk my dogs, sit in my garden, work, eat, sleep. I’m a fiction writer – I should probably make something up and say I go skydiving, swimming with dolphins, meeting celebrities and eating in expensive restaurants…but I don’t – my life isn’t really that exciting.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Galapagos islands – because, wow – there is nature’s glory. So much wildlife, so much of Mother Nature’s best work and largely unspoilt by people.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
I currently have two doggies – one is stubborn and quite old, one is young and naughty. If I say ‘no’ to Mott (the younger boy), he goes and gets his sister to ask…Oh and he is a better time keeper than me – I get up at a particular time in the week for work, I tend to take lunch at 12pm, and finish at 5pm. He knows this. If I am late in any of these things he’s there – poking me with his little paw….Oh, and I had a deaf house rabbit, who didn’t know he was a rabbit. He was very tame, and would follow us about with toys (mostly stolen socks) in his mouth. He didn’t eat grass, hay or vegetables. He lived on rabbit kibbles, and rich tea biscuits, he met a lady rabbit one day and had NO idea what she was. He was fabulous, but daft.
Do you have your own website?
https://libraryoferana.wordpress.com/ - it features all my books, plus posts about other author’s work, as I am a regular promoter of other indies. It’s hard enough writing and selling books, why be selfish about it?
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
I’m working on book IV of the Light Beyond Chronicles, plus a short story for the Tales of Erana, companion series, oh and a dystopian version of Jack and the Beanstalk….
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
I’d like to mention my recent new releases – Tales of Erana: An Ordinary Hero In a land of tyranny and rumour, a desperate elf flees death and destruction. Can she find sanctuary with strangers? Can ordinary folk dare defy the might of the Order of Witch-Hunters in a land where their word is law, and death theirs to command? What price is courage in such a land?A fantasy adventure, in a dark land where truth is relative and freedom is bought by blood.A Tales of Erana novella
https://books2read.com/Ordinary-Hero
The Tales of Erana Collection Vol 1 In a world where magic is forbidden on pain of death and elves live as slaves, dare you hear tales of magic, monsters and mischief?A collection of short stories and novellas set in the fantasy world of Erana - from the Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles.Containing:The Moon on the WaterThe Tale of Treyna the BelovedStorm BornThe Blue PhialThe Legend of OelianaThe Warrior's CurseJust One MistakeMeet the Characters https://books2read.com/ToECollection1
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
My first published book was from 2012 – The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles Book I, a dark fantasy/fantasy romance set in the world of Erana – a world ruled by tyranny where elves live as slaves and magic is outlawed on pain of death. It follows the adventures of an elven mage and her friends. It actually came about as a result of writing adventures for a couple of role-playing games. (Yes, yes, I am a nerd).
I know you write fantasy/romance with a touch of erotica and that you also write poetry. Have you expanded into any other genres recently?
Since then, I’ve written several other books and stories, and curated several bundles. I have a couple of short horror stories, historical fiction/fantasy and dystopian fantasy.I now have over 100 titles on Amazon, as many of the stories have been translated into multiple languages.I’ve had the delight of having several stories published in anthologies by Perseid Press, including three within the Heroes in Hell series, and two within the Heroika series. They are historical fantasy, and very dark.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
Here’s an excerpt from Tales of Erana – An Ordinary Hero which is one of my recent releases. The trees were low-slung and the brambles high, many-thorned and vicious. Roots ambushed unfamiliar feet; there was barely a trail here, at least for the Witch-Hunter soldiery as they marched through the close-set trees. Branches tugged at arms and legs, catching in the armour and packs; more than one man had a bloody scratch or bruise and not one among them like this place one bit. This was not their terrain, but they would make it theirs, so they proclaimed. The Shimmering Forest had other ideas. Trails abounded for those creatures who could find them and those creatures who respected the ancient woodland and the ancient ways, but the Order of Witch-Hunters were not among them – the writ of the Order, the Martial Law they enforced, ran from the Silver Sea to the Jagged Peaks, and all of Erana, so they decreed. Parts of Erana thought differently – the shadows, the lost and abandoned places, the forgotten or ignored. What the Order could not subjugate it ignored or used for its own purposes. A strange greenish half-light permeated, so thick was the canopy, and the men peered uneasily into the flickering shadows. Strange, sinister. It was an eerie -not-quite-darkness, shifting around them. “Quit your grumbling, ain’t you ever seen trees before?” An officer snapped, sneering at the unease. “Not trees like these. These watches you,” a voice piped up from the edge of the column of men. “Who was that? You great big girl! Trees don’t have eyes, damned fools the lot of you. Get moving, and the next little flower who complains is on privy-cleaning for a month.” The squad commander glowered at the trees around him and motioned his squad onwards. The stench of leaf-mould was pervasive, cloying at the throat of those not used to it, and most of the Witch-Hunters weren’t. Many were city or town born and had never set eyes on the legendary Shimmering Forest. The soldiers would remember it, and the forest would remember them, but not a man there would admit they cared. At least not aloud. Oh yes, the Shimmering Forest would remember this day as it had many others before it. Not, of course, in the same manner that people remember but the wood, the soil and the soul of the forest would remember in its very essence, for the Shimmering Forest was both old and magical and the Power it held was not the magic of humans, or even elves. It was primal magic. The woodland was largely silent; the usual snuffle of foraging creatures, warble of birds and hiss of the leaves subdued against the stomp of boots and hooves, the slight creak of leather and the clink of armour. The forest seemed to hold its breath, perhaps at the intrusion of these armed men, these soldiers who cared not for the ancient woodland, and the terrible scourge they likely brought. It was not the first time. It would not be the last. The beaters went ahead, axes and machetes swinging and slicing a path through the greenery, the infantry and the slave wagons behind. The inexorable rumble of the armoured carts was the bane of the Elfkind, for many ended up in their gloomy despair. At the rear, their eyes on all, were the few mounted officers of this squad, their horses picking the safest route with care. The Shimmering Forest did not often see their like, at least not as deep in as today, and to a man the soldiers grumbled at the twisting roots, the treacherous hidden pools and ditches, and even at the unfamiliar trees, despite the threats from their commanders. ‘Dare you defile this place? The Forest sees all. You are not welcome here.’ The wind whispered in the creaking branches, a voice at the edge of hearing and the depths of mind. “I hate this place. It’s disgusting, I’d like to set a torch to it,” Sergeant Godfrey muttered. He pretended he hadn’t heard the sound. “My granny said the trees understand what you say,” his mate said, wide-eyed. “Superstitious bullshit! Stories like that spread dissent. You want to be careful the boss don’t hear you. He’d pay your granny a visit for beliefs like that.” Godfrey was a zealous Witch-Hunter, he’d served the Order for several years with pride and diligence, some said a little too much diligence. He kicked a root. It moved out of the way, then snapped back, whacking him in the shin. “I’ll turn you into firewood,” he muttered. Someone sniggered. The Order of Witch-Hunters did not hold with such superstitious nonsense but among their crew, a few still marched nervous just the same. In this land the Order of Witch-Hunters were masters of all. The forest, however, did not know it, having stood for many centuries before men walked the land of Erana and doubtless it would remain when they were nought but a memory. The Witch-Hunters thought otherwise. Some said the heart of the land of Erana was the Shimmering Forest, and the forest the embodiment of the land. Yet it was dwindling. The humans had felled a goodly portion and even the mighty Shimmering Forest had not been immune to the Plague which had ravaged every living thing, as the magic dwindled the forest had died with it. What remained was but a shadow, but shadows may yet hold power. The Shimmering Forest held many secrets, and the Order like secrets almost as little as they liked magic. Then there were the Elves…. If there was something the Order detested above all others, it was the Elfkind. The Shimmering Forest was their ancestral home, and many remote villages remained within its embrace, much to the chagrin of the Order. Elves had brought the dreaded Plague which had brought the land to its knees and elves had bargained the wicked magics and betrayed the humans, or so it was believed. But so many years had passed that the truth had long been replaced by rumour, falsehood and their pernicious sibling – propaganda. The truth was now what the Order said it to be. The elves were now little more than slaves and their civilisation a distant and vague memory, spoken of in secret. The elves were nothing, less than cattle or dogs to many humans, there to be used and abused at will. Divide and rule – for those who were too busy hating a particular race or creed had no time to hate the masters who truly subjugated them all. One of the men now marching through the ancient trees had suggested they simply burn a path through, and any elves caught in the conflagration, well there’d be fewer elves in a world that had no place for them. The squad Commander merely grinned, he had a job to do and motioned his men onwards. There would be time for burning later. Besides burning elves brought no gold. A crispy elf could not be a slave. The alarm rang out, a low clang of warning – an artificial sound in this place of nature. Arrows flew, some found their mark – elves were good archers – and a couple of soldiers fell. “Bring them down, burn them out!” Commander Jonah ordered. Godfrey dropped a flask at the base of a tall tree, as it smashed and coated the bark in sticky resin he thrust the torch among the roots. Smoke billowed up and flame, white-hot from the accelerant, crawled with deadly speed upwards. With a grin, Godfrey returned to his squad and waited.
Here’s an excerpt from The Stolen Tower – the Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles Book III
Gervase and his men had not really expected to find the door of the fortress of Khar’atuk open. As far as he knew the old place had been abandoned for years; rumours were it contained many traps and strange puzzles which, after so long, would undoubtedly be unstable and lethal. There were many ruins in Erana, some simply piles of crumbling stone, some more sturdy and many contained danger for those foolish or brave enough to venture in. Many families, human trollish and elven had fallen when the wars had raged and the Plague had stalked the land. The Witch-Hunters paid notice to some of the ruins, at least the larger ones, as oftentimes bandits and outlaws operated from such places. There was also the threat of magic, for some contained artefacts and magically imbued trinkets. Rumours held this tower had once been an elven place, once the holding of an elven lord with an unusual sense of humour and a more usual sense of paranoia. Gervase knew the rumours. He made it his business. Those times were long gone and with it, the elven glory now as ruined as their palaces. If the humans or trolls looted it for masonry or trinkets to trade then that was their affair. At least until now. The missing Witch-Hunter had not returned, his horse remained in the barn and his equipment with it; in the light of the dawn, they had seen a dark crimson pool staining the earth just outside the barn. Gervase had again considered returning to his fort but knew by the time another unit arrived the situation would have worsened. At the least, he wished to know if the source of this mystery was centred on the island stronghold. He was also curious. Something had caused the trolls to leave, and something had taken his man and the captain knew he should investigate. After all, it was his job. Darkness spilt from the doorway and Gervase motioned his men forward, “Get moving girls, but be alert. There could be a simple explanation.” Inwardly Gervase doubted there would be a simple explanation but his juniors were already nervous and so they did not need to know his apprehension.
Who is your favourite character and why?
I have a lot of books, and a lot of characters. I think though if I were to pick I couldn’t pick only one – but I’ll go for three:1) Lord Archos – he’s the Archmage anti-hero in the Light Beyond series. There are not really any good guys, it’s more relative degrees of bad guy. The heroes kill, steal and break the law for ‘good reasons’ depending on your point of view. Archos is powerful, but he’s arrogant. He’s fun to write.2) The Piper from my story ‘The Pied Piper of Harmelin’ from Monsters in Hell. Think the Pied Piper of Hamelin – set in hell, and a dark, dystopian theme. I got to indulge my dark side and I had a lot of fun with that. Writing for the Heroes in Hell franchise is always a challenge, but also fun. 3) Dii’Athella from the Light Beyond series – she’s the main female character (at least in books 1 and 2), and she’s very different to Archos – but I love the way she progresses from the terrified slave to the confident, intelligent sorceress, who is proud of her magic.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
All of them. None of them. Writing is often quite hard for me, as I have various health issues and work full time, so often I am too tired, or my brain is too overloaded from the day to write anything coherent. There are times I’ve had confidence issues with writing, but on the flip side, I’ve had a lot of pleasure and fun writing, and lots of good reviews.Writing I enjoy, marketing…not so much.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
Write what you enjoy reading.Be realistic – most indies don’t sell a lot, but find some marketing that suits you and your books. Not everything works for everyone. It takes time, effort and also a budget to market the books, it’s not easy money, a passive income or anything like that.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?Play computer games, walk my dogs, sit in my garden, work, eat, sleep. I’m a fiction writer – I should probably make something up and say I go skydiving, swimming with dolphins, meeting celebrities and eating in expensive restaurants…but I don’t – my life isn’t really that exciting.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Galapagos islands – because, wow – there is nature’s glory. So much wildlife, so much of Mother Nature’s best work and largely unspoilt by people.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
I currently have two doggies – one is stubborn and quite old, one is young and naughty. If I say ‘no’ to Mott (the younger boy), he goes and gets his sister to ask…Oh and he is a better time keeper than me – I get up at a particular time in the week for work, I tend to take lunch at 12pm, and finish at 5pm. He knows this. If I am late in any of these things he’s there – poking me with his little paw….Oh, and I had a deaf house rabbit, who didn’t know he was a rabbit. He was very tame, and would follow us about with toys (mostly stolen socks) in his mouth. He didn’t eat grass, hay or vegetables. He lived on rabbit kibbles, and rich tea biscuits, he met a lady rabbit one day and had NO idea what she was. He was fabulous, but daft.
Do you have your own website?
https://libraryoferana.wordpress.com/ - it features all my books, plus posts about other author’s work, as I am a regular promoter of other indies. It’s hard enough writing and selling books, why be selfish about it?
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
I’m working on book IV of the Light Beyond Chronicles, plus a short story for the Tales of Erana, companion series, oh and a dystopian version of Jack and the Beanstalk….
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
I’d like to mention my recent new releases – Tales of Erana: An Ordinary Hero In a land of tyranny and rumour, a desperate elf flees death and destruction. Can she find sanctuary with strangers? Can ordinary folk dare defy the might of the Order of Witch-Hunters in a land where their word is law, and death theirs to command? What price is courage in such a land?A fantasy adventure, in a dark land where truth is relative and freedom is bought by blood.A Tales of Erana novella
https://books2read.com/Ordinary-Hero
The Tales of Erana Collection Vol 1 In a world where magic is forbidden on pain of death and elves live as slaves, dare you hear tales of magic, monsters and mischief?A collection of short stories and novellas set in the fantasy world of Erana - from the Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles.Containing:The Moon on the WaterThe Tale of Treyna the BelovedStorm BornThe Blue PhialThe Legend of OelianaThe Warrior's CurseJust One MistakeMeet the Characters https://books2read.com/ToECollection1
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Vanessa Finaughty - 26 October 2025
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Vanessa Finaughty
https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00ONNF672
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This week it is my pleasure to interview Vanessa Finaughty. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers and share something about your life.
I’m a mother of four (two human and two furbabies) who lives in Cape Town, South Africa – otherwise known as the windy city! I’ve lived here all my life and have never wanted to live anywhere else, except for brief moments of madness that I thankfully didn’t follow through on. My career in international shipping (mostly containerised cargo by sea) started off in 1996. There always seemed to be something missing from my job, and I ended up moving from company to company after just a few years at each job. Eventually, I was forced to admit to myself that my dissatisfaction at work came largely from the fact that I wasn’t doing what I loved. I took a bold step and started working for myself – now, I get paid to read! Literally my dream job! I can thank my father for this – I don’t know if I would have had the courage to take that first step into my current career without his encouragement. He told me ‘if anyone can do it, you can’. Considering that he was always telling us to ‘play it safe’ in terms of work and income, this was a massive courage booster.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
The first novel I completed was Ashes to Ashes, published in 2011. It’s a supernatural thriller with some erotic parts (nothing overly explicit except for one scene right at the end of the book). I was commissioned to write a romance story (Mills & Boons style) and I wrote the whole book in only six weeks. It was supposed to be used as a book that can be personalised, so you’d add in the reader’s personal info, their pets, their friends and family, and so on. However, the people I was working with were rather unreasonable and rude, and we ended up agreeing to part ways. It meant the book was mine to do with what I wanted. A friend commented that all Mills & Boons male MCs come across as stalkerish, and thus was born the idea to turn Ashes to Ashes into a thriller. I must admit, I find it much more entertaining as a thriller!
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I enjoy writing multiple genres – my favourites are fantasy, thriller, horror and science fiction (but not the very heavy, technical science fiction for the most part, because that tends to give me a headache).
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
It depends on the book. Sometimes a scene pops into my head (like with Wizard of Ends) and I have to write that scene in order to know what happens next. Usually, the whole book/series will go that way if that’s how it started. Other books, like the (currently unpublished) slasher novel I wrote last year, needed careful planning – for the slasher, I went a step further and wrote every single scene in point form before I started the actual writing. By their nature, slashers require multiple twists and countless little details that are all vital to the story, and I find it impossible to keep track of all of that without writing it down.
Who is your favourite character and why?
It’s difficult to choose just one, but I have to say Lashlor Leaflin from Wizard of Ends. I relate to him in that his abilities exceed what he believes he’s capable of – there’s always that self-doubt that creeps in. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought I can’t do something, only to prove myself wrong (it’s actually a really cool feeling when this happens). I can’t be sure, because I haven’t written this part in detail yet, but I think maybe Lashlor subconsciously uses ‘the goddess won’t let me into the afterlife if I do it’ as an excuse to not test his abilities – I think he’s afraid he will fall short. There’s also a fine line between arrogance and self-assuredness and, like me, I think Lashlor can sometimes err too much on the side of caution. I’ve got much better with this as I’ve aged, and I know that Lashlor will too by the end of the series!
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
The Wizard of Ends series. Although there are some deep issues explored, it’s not overly deep and the focus is more on the adventure, so writing the story is quite relaxing.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
Even if you only do one thing every week or two to market your book, it’s better than doing nothing at all. No one will buy your book if they can’t find it, so it’s important to get it out there even if you don’t have time to do full-on marketing.
How would you describe yourself?
Impatient, loyal and quirky.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
We have a huge rottweiler – the intimidating type (if you don’t know him) with a massive head. This dog knows how formidable he is and is scared of nothing. Except… When he was about two years old, he was lying near the sliding door just chilling out, and caught sight of his reflection in the glass. It gave him such a fright that he levitated up, yelping like a scared little puppy. Then he got embarrassed when we doubled over laughing at him. I’m laughing again now just remembering it – this ‘big, bad, nasty rottweiler’ scared witless by his own reflection! (The ‘big, bad, nasty’ is how I refer to him affectionately; he’s really still my fluffy puppy – and he answers to that nickname too!)
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Yes, I’ve started writing the next book in the Wizard of Ends series. It will be my main writing focus after the tour.
I’m a mother of four (two human and two furbabies) who lives in Cape Town, South Africa – otherwise known as the windy city! I’ve lived here all my life and have never wanted to live anywhere else, except for brief moments of madness that I thankfully didn’t follow through on. My career in international shipping (mostly containerised cargo by sea) started off in 1996. There always seemed to be something missing from my job, and I ended up moving from company to company after just a few years at each job. Eventually, I was forced to admit to myself that my dissatisfaction at work came largely from the fact that I wasn’t doing what I loved. I took a bold step and started working for myself – now, I get paid to read! Literally my dream job! I can thank my father for this – I don’t know if I would have had the courage to take that first step into my current career without his encouragement. He told me ‘if anyone can do it, you can’. Considering that he was always telling us to ‘play it safe’ in terms of work and income, this was a massive courage booster.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
The first novel I completed was Ashes to Ashes, published in 2011. It’s a supernatural thriller with some erotic parts (nothing overly explicit except for one scene right at the end of the book). I was commissioned to write a romance story (Mills & Boons style) and I wrote the whole book in only six weeks. It was supposed to be used as a book that can be personalised, so you’d add in the reader’s personal info, their pets, their friends and family, and so on. However, the people I was working with were rather unreasonable and rude, and we ended up agreeing to part ways. It meant the book was mine to do with what I wanted. A friend commented that all Mills & Boons male MCs come across as stalkerish, and thus was born the idea to turn Ashes to Ashes into a thriller. I must admit, I find it much more entertaining as a thriller!
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I enjoy writing multiple genres – my favourites are fantasy, thriller, horror and science fiction (but not the very heavy, technical science fiction for the most part, because that tends to give me a headache).
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
It depends on the book. Sometimes a scene pops into my head (like with Wizard of Ends) and I have to write that scene in order to know what happens next. Usually, the whole book/series will go that way if that’s how it started. Other books, like the (currently unpublished) slasher novel I wrote last year, needed careful planning – for the slasher, I went a step further and wrote every single scene in point form before I started the actual writing. By their nature, slashers require multiple twists and countless little details that are all vital to the story, and I find it impossible to keep track of all of that without writing it down.
Who is your favourite character and why?
It’s difficult to choose just one, but I have to say Lashlor Leaflin from Wizard of Ends. I relate to him in that his abilities exceed what he believes he’s capable of – there’s always that self-doubt that creeps in. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought I can’t do something, only to prove myself wrong (it’s actually a really cool feeling when this happens). I can’t be sure, because I haven’t written this part in detail yet, but I think maybe Lashlor subconsciously uses ‘the goddess won’t let me into the afterlife if I do it’ as an excuse to not test his abilities – I think he’s afraid he will fall short. There’s also a fine line between arrogance and self-assuredness and, like me, I think Lashlor can sometimes err too much on the side of caution. I’ve got much better with this as I’ve aged, and I know that Lashlor will too by the end of the series!
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
The Wizard of Ends series. Although there are some deep issues explored, it’s not overly deep and the focus is more on the adventure, so writing the story is quite relaxing.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
Even if you only do one thing every week or two to market your book, it’s better than doing nothing at all. No one will buy your book if they can’t find it, so it’s important to get it out there even if you don’t have time to do full-on marketing.
How would you describe yourself?
Impatient, loyal and quirky.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
We have a huge rottweiler – the intimidating type (if you don’t know him) with a massive head. This dog knows how formidable he is and is scared of nothing. Except… When he was about two years old, he was lying near the sliding door just chilling out, and caught sight of his reflection in the glass. It gave him such a fright that he levitated up, yelping like a scared little puppy. Then he got embarrassed when we doubled over laughing at him. I’m laughing again now just remembering it – this ‘big, bad, nasty rottweiler’ scared witless by his own reflection! (The ‘big, bad, nasty’ is how I refer to him affectionately; he’s really still my fluffy puppy – and he answers to that nickname too!)
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Yes, I’ve started writing the next book in the Wizard of Ends series. It will be my main writing focus after the tour.
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This week it is my pleasure to interview Marnie Gellhorn. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers and share something about your life.
Hi. I am a retired journalist, from Memphis, Tennessee. Writing is what I know, and what I do best, whether it’s personal letters, blogs, books, articles or even just a grocery list.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
After my husband died, I changed the direction of my writing. I wanted a more relaxed pace so I started writing for a travel and lifestyle magazine. One of my editors recommended that I return to my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee to cover a high-profile criminal trial, which turned into my first book.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I have written in multiple genres. I like people, and I enjoy storytelling which makes for a great mix, and gives me plenty of subject matter. I’d like to start a series of cozy mysteries next, and have written the first few chapters of a new series which will feature Detective Rex Lester from the Murder in the Mississippi Delta series.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
I start with an idea, and write the introduction to the story. Then I get brown package wrapping paper and start plotting out the rest of the story. I started with brown paper because it comes in long rolls and is often included as part of packing materials, so I usually have a ready supply. I am a visual person, so I use the long length along with thick markers to draw out a timeline, and then fill it in with characters, events and so on.
Who is your favourite character and why?
Harriet Prince is my favorite character because she shows incredible grit, determination and an independent spirit. She moves away from everything she knows, and the security of the familiar to chase adventure, self–awareness and a sense of purpose in Paris, France in the early 1930’s.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
I’ve enjoyed writing all of them, but I think ‘The Princes of Shelby County” is my current favorite, though I am starting some new projects that I am already in love with.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
Write for yourself, and just keep writing.
How would you describe yourself?
Unassuming. It’s one of my best traits because along with my genuine interest in other people. I tend to fade into the background when I interview people; it allows the subjects of my non-fiction projects the ability to relax and tell me their stories.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
That’s about 80% of my life. I find myself writing stories in my head even during the other 20%. I like hiking, photography and riding my motorcycle. I also like to go off-roads in a 4X4 vehicle in remote areas, exploring. Sometimes, it’s the only way to get away from the “noise” of our cluttered, modern lifestyle.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
I’ve recently been spending a lot of time in Colombia. A friend invited me last year, which led to a nonfiction book about an inmate in a Colombian prison. I fell in love with the natural beauty of this wonderfully bio-diverse country.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
My cat, Henri practices a quiet dignity. He’s an Egyptian Mau, so he’s quite regal and would be humiliated if I disclosed any of his misadventures.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
Availability. I have read some of the best/ and worst books because they were available and in English. For example, I read the entire works of Theodore Dreiser and Robert Oppenheimers’ lengthy biography the summer I was 14, because they were the only books in English that I could find as a foreign exchange student to an Eastern European country. I have picked up stray books in laundromats, Goodwill stores, youth hostels and even an M1 Abrams tank. It makes me very aware of the need to have your work widely dispersed and available. I am currently working to get some of my novels into correctional systems in the United States for that reason. If I think my literary choices were sometimes limited, then I can’t even imagine what it’s like to have my reading choices limited to a few censored and outdated paperbacks.
Do you have your own website?
Yes, and I love to hear from readers. They can find me online at www.realmarniegellhorn.com
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Yes, I am working on several new projects at the moment. I am interviewing a high-profile former inmate for another nonfiction prison book, as well as researching and searching the local archives for source materials for the last book in the “Murder in the Mississippi” trilogy.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
My schedule is currently fairly open but I just came back from several book events, which were fantastic. I had a great time meeting and talking to readers, other authors and budding writers. I also gave several lectures on writing to some high school students, which was fun.
facebook: RealMarnieGellhorn IG: The_marnie_gellhorn
Hi. I am a retired journalist, from Memphis, Tennessee. Writing is what I know, and what I do best, whether it’s personal letters, blogs, books, articles or even just a grocery list.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
After my husband died, I changed the direction of my writing. I wanted a more relaxed pace so I started writing for a travel and lifestyle magazine. One of my editors recommended that I return to my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee to cover a high-profile criminal trial, which turned into my first book.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I have written in multiple genres. I like people, and I enjoy storytelling which makes for a great mix, and gives me plenty of subject matter. I’d like to start a series of cozy mysteries next, and have written the first few chapters of a new series which will feature Detective Rex Lester from the Murder in the Mississippi Delta series.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
I start with an idea, and write the introduction to the story. Then I get brown package wrapping paper and start plotting out the rest of the story. I started with brown paper because it comes in long rolls and is often included as part of packing materials, so I usually have a ready supply. I am a visual person, so I use the long length along with thick markers to draw out a timeline, and then fill it in with characters, events and so on.
Who is your favourite character and why?
Harriet Prince is my favorite character because she shows incredible grit, determination and an independent spirit. She moves away from everything she knows, and the security of the familiar to chase adventure, self–awareness and a sense of purpose in Paris, France in the early 1930’s.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
I’ve enjoyed writing all of them, but I think ‘The Princes of Shelby County” is my current favorite, though I am starting some new projects that I am already in love with.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
Write for yourself, and just keep writing.
How would you describe yourself?
Unassuming. It’s one of my best traits because along with my genuine interest in other people. I tend to fade into the background when I interview people; it allows the subjects of my non-fiction projects the ability to relax and tell me their stories.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
That’s about 80% of my life. I find myself writing stories in my head even during the other 20%. I like hiking, photography and riding my motorcycle. I also like to go off-roads in a 4X4 vehicle in remote areas, exploring. Sometimes, it’s the only way to get away from the “noise” of our cluttered, modern lifestyle.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
I’ve recently been spending a lot of time in Colombia. A friend invited me last year, which led to a nonfiction book about an inmate in a Colombian prison. I fell in love with the natural beauty of this wonderfully bio-diverse country.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
My cat, Henri practices a quiet dignity. He’s an Egyptian Mau, so he’s quite regal and would be humiliated if I disclosed any of his misadventures.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
Availability. I have read some of the best/ and worst books because they were available and in English. For example, I read the entire works of Theodore Dreiser and Robert Oppenheimers’ lengthy biography the summer I was 14, because they were the only books in English that I could find as a foreign exchange student to an Eastern European country. I have picked up stray books in laundromats, Goodwill stores, youth hostels and even an M1 Abrams tank. It makes me very aware of the need to have your work widely dispersed and available. I am currently working to get some of my novels into correctional systems in the United States for that reason. If I think my literary choices were sometimes limited, then I can’t even imagine what it’s like to have my reading choices limited to a few censored and outdated paperbacks.
Do you have your own website?
Yes, and I love to hear from readers. They can find me online at www.realmarniegellhorn.com
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Yes, I am working on several new projects at the moment. I am interviewing a high-profile former inmate for another nonfiction prison book, as well as researching and searching the local archives for source materials for the last book in the “Murder in the Mississippi” trilogy.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
My schedule is currently fairly open but I just came back from several book events, which were fantastic. I had a great time meeting and talking to readers, other authors and budding writers. I also gave several lectures on writing to some high school students, which was fun.
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V K Leon - 12 October 2025
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This week it is my pleasure to interview Vicky K Leon (V K Leon). Would you please introduce yourself to my readers, V K. and share something about your life.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about? I began writing The Thread – Ruby during a time when I felt compelled to bring together two forces that have always shaped my imagination: history and desire. I’ve been writing since the age of 12, scribbling ideas, scenes and short stories in notebooks, writing songs, but this was the first time I committed fully to creating a novel. The story came about because it is the kind of book I had always wanted to read but couldn’t find—a love story that is unapologetically passionate, obsessive, and transformative in regards to female empowerment, one that dares to knot together fate, eros, and the choices our hearts make despite reason. Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up? To be honest, I’m always drawn to romance—especially the kind that lingers with you long after the last page. Desire, obsession, passion, eros… those themes I believe are timeless, and I feel they’re the strongest way to explore human transformation. I have to point out the fact though that my stories don’t sit quite neatly in one box. The Thread – Ruby moves between contemporary romance and historical settings, blending sensual intensity with meaningful questions of fate and identity. So while romance is always my foundation, I love to layer it with elements you might find in other genres—family sagas, historical intrigue, even touches of suspense. For me, love is the engine, but the world around it can shift, surprise, and challenge both the characters and the reader. When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand? Honestly, it’s a little of both. I know it might sound strange but I dream about my books. I usually start with a spark—an image, a line of dialogue, or a moment of impossible tension between two characters. From there, I let the story breathe and evolve, because I want the characters to totally surprise me. That’s where the passion and obsession come through most authentically.But I also keep a structure in the background. For The Thread – Ruby, I had a sense of the bigger arc—the way fate ties people across time, the rise and fall of desire—but I didn’t chain myself to a rigid outline. I prefer to sketch key moments and then allow the writing to lead me into unexpected turns. It keeps the process alive, electric, and full of discovery, both for me and for the reader.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
Absolutely, I’d love to share a short excerpt. This passage comes from Chapter 24 of The Thread Ruby, part of my historical romance trilogy. The scene takes place in the early 1900s, inside a merchant hall, where Orpheas - an heir to a shipping dynasty - brings Sophia, his wife, into the heart of a world traditionally closed to women.
**Next morning found Sophia at his side again - an equal partner in corridors of deals. He led with confidence; she advised with insight. When Orpheas paused over a log, she slipped in, guiding him to notice a discrepancy in coal tonnage.He met her eyes. “Again.” She smiled, leaning close as if they shared a secret: “We’re partners.” He squeezed her hand beneath the table in silent devotion. One of the brokers, Michael Culucundis leaned toward Orpheas. “She’s remarkable - leads with quiet authority. We will soon see her name in dispatches.” Orpheas sipped slowly from the tin cup the clerk handed him - strong, bitter coffee, as tradition demanded but inside, something unsettled him. He was watching her. He surely felt pride - undeniable, rising like a tide in his chest. She was radiant, sharp, already fluent in the rhythms of trade she had only just encountered. The other men noticed too. Their glances flicked between her and him. Some smiled with admiration; others watched more carefully. But none dared comment - not while Orpheas Cassavetti stood beside her. And yet, beneath his composure, a quiet unrest stirred. Not because he doubted her. He trusted Sophia more than he trusted the ink drying on his freight bills. More than he trusted himself. She had proven herself - eloquent, curious, graceful in circles designed to exclude her. But Orpheas had been raised in a world of hard lines, where men built legacies in ledgers and women ruled from kitchens and salons. It was a contradiction etched hard into his bones. His own mother - stern, brilliant, relentless - had run their household like a ship captain. She commanded staff, curated alliances, saw to reputations with the precision of a broker. And yet, she had never once stepped into a merchant hall. That door had never been opened to her. Not because she couldn’t walk through it - but because no one ever thought she should. Now, standing beside Sophia in this sacred hall of commerce, Orpheas felt the old traditions like iron around his ankles. He hated it. He hated that the men who congratulated him on his shipping routes also whispered when Sophia asked questions. He hated that a part of him, still loyal to ghosts, worried what it meant to let her speak in this space. She leaned toward him now, her voice low. “If they’re sending olive oil to London through Trieste, why are we paying double what it would cost from Patras?” He blinked. Then smiled. “Because the broker in Trieste has a cousin in Parliament,” he murmured back. “And cousins are always more expensive.” She laughed. But Orpheas could see the spark behind it - the way she tucked the knowledge away, filed it, turned it into fuel. She was learning the currents. Not drifting in them. Navigating.===========================================================Who is your favourite character and why? That’s a wonderful question, thank you Rita! It feels like asking a parent to choose a favorite child—but if I had to, I’d say Alex Rodocanachi. He’s enigmatic, disciplined, and carries the weight of a legacy he didn’t choose. What I love about him is the tension he lives with: he’s rational and controlled on the outside, but inside he’s haunted by desire, by fate, by the possibility of losing everything he wants most. For me, Alex embodies the themes I’m most drawn to—eros, obsession, transformation. He’s a man who looks untouchable, yet one glance, one touch, one wrong moment can unravel him. Writing him was like peeling back layers of stone to find fire beneath. Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write? Without question, The Thread – Ruby. It’s my debut, but also the story that lived in me the longest before I put it on the page. Writing it felt like unlocking a door I’d always known was there. Every chapter carried both the excitement of discovery and the intensity of obsession—I couldn’t wait to see what my characters would do next.There was also a deep pleasure in weaving together passion and fate, eros and history, in both modern London and 19th-century Greece. That mix challenged me, surprised me, and kept me awake at night in the best way. I’ve loved writing since I was young, but with this book, it felt like I’d finally found the voice I was meant to use. What is the best marketing tip you have received? The best tip I’ve received is: sell the feeling, not the product. Readers don’t fall in love with a book because of its format or length—they fall in love with how it makes them feel. If you can capture the passion, the obsession, the ache of a story in a single sentence or a single image, people will want to experience it for themselves. That’s something I keep in mind every time I post on TikTok, Instagram, or Goodreads. I don’t just say “here’s my book.”I say “here’s a love story that will stay with you long after the last page.” And the beauty is, it doesn’t feel like marketing—it feels like sharing what I love most. How would you describe yourself? I’d describe myself as a lifelong romantic and a confessed fangirl—someone who loves stories that linger, characters who haunt you, and love that refuses to be simple. I’m drawn to intensity, passion, and obsession, both in the books I read and the ones I write.By day, I run a shipbroking business in Piraeus alongside my family, which keeps me sharp, strategic, and connected to the real-world stories of commerce and ambition that often inspire my writing. I split my life between London and Greece, where I soak in sea views, savor dark chocolate, and daydream about characters with ruthless personalities who make stories impossible to put down. What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
When I’m not writing or reading, I’m usually sailing or traveling the world—a passion that overlaps with my work in shipbroking but also gives me a deep, personal connection to every place I visit. Each city, port, and coastline inspires me, feeding both my imagination and my stories.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
I’d choose somewhere that combines sea, sun, and history—places that feel alive with stories. Greece will always have my heart, but I also dream of the Amalfi Coast, Santorini’s cliffs, or even a quiet island in the Pacific where the horizon stretches endlessly. I love destinations that inspire reflection and wonder, where every view, every street, every sunset could spark a story. For me, the best holidays aren’t just about relaxation—they’re about feeling deeply connected to a place, soaking in its character, and letting it feed both my imagination and my soul.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
We had a lovely husky who was equal parts beautiful and mischievous. One winter morning, I found her happily sitting on top of a snowbank in the middle of the garden, grinning like she’d conquered Everest. Somehow, she had managed to dig a hole under the fence and escape into the neighbor’s yard—then come back triumphantly as if nothing had happened! Huskies have a talent for making chaos look adorable, and that little morning adventure still makes me laugh every time I think of it.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
For me, the biggest factor is the emotional pull of the story. I want a book that lingers—the kind of story where the characters stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page. Whether it’s passion, obsession, unspoken desire, or the slow burn of fated love, I look for stories that make me feel deeply and that I can’t stop thinking about. If a book can surprise me, make me ache, and make me root for characters I’ll never forget, I know it’s one I’ll love.
Do you have your own website?
I don’t have a traditional website yet, but I do have a Linktree page (https://linktr.ee/vickykleon) where readers can find all my social media, book links, and ways to contact me. It’s simple, centralized, and makes it easy for anyone to access my books, follow updates, and connect with me directly.
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Absolutely! I’m deep into Book 2 of The Thread trilogy, and it’s been a thrilling ride. The stakes are higher, the desire more intense, and the secrets darker than in Ruby. Every time I sit down to write, the characters surprise me—they pull me into their world, and I have to follow wherever fate and obsession take them. I can’t wait for readers to return to Ellie and Alex’s story, where passion burns hotter, hearts are tested, and love refuses to stay quiet.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about? Yes! I’m thrilled to be sharing The Thread – Ruby with readers across multiple platforms, and I have a few upcoming events and promotions in the works. I’ll be participating in virtual book events and Q&A sessions soon, where readers can dive into the world of Ellie and Alex, ask questions, and get exclusive sneak peeks. I’m also planning special giveaways and social media events, including excerpts and behind-the-scenes insights into the trilogy, so fans can get a taste of the passion, obsession, and fate that drives the story. I always love connecting with readers and seeing their reactions—it’s one of the most rewarding parts of sharing my work.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about? I began writing The Thread – Ruby during a time when I felt compelled to bring together two forces that have always shaped my imagination: history and desire. I’ve been writing since the age of 12, scribbling ideas, scenes and short stories in notebooks, writing songs, but this was the first time I committed fully to creating a novel. The story came about because it is the kind of book I had always wanted to read but couldn’t find—a love story that is unapologetically passionate, obsessive, and transformative in regards to female empowerment, one that dares to knot together fate, eros, and the choices our hearts make despite reason. Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up? To be honest, I’m always drawn to romance—especially the kind that lingers with you long after the last page. Desire, obsession, passion, eros… those themes I believe are timeless, and I feel they’re the strongest way to explore human transformation. I have to point out the fact though that my stories don’t sit quite neatly in one box. The Thread – Ruby moves between contemporary romance and historical settings, blending sensual intensity with meaningful questions of fate and identity. So while romance is always my foundation, I love to layer it with elements you might find in other genres—family sagas, historical intrigue, even touches of suspense. For me, love is the engine, but the world around it can shift, surprise, and challenge both the characters and the reader. When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand? Honestly, it’s a little of both. I know it might sound strange but I dream about my books. I usually start with a spark—an image, a line of dialogue, or a moment of impossible tension between two characters. From there, I let the story breathe and evolve, because I want the characters to totally surprise me. That’s where the passion and obsession come through most authentically.But I also keep a structure in the background. For The Thread – Ruby, I had a sense of the bigger arc—the way fate ties people across time, the rise and fall of desire—but I didn’t chain myself to a rigid outline. I prefer to sketch key moments and then allow the writing to lead me into unexpected turns. It keeps the process alive, electric, and full of discovery, both for me and for the reader.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
Absolutely, I’d love to share a short excerpt. This passage comes from Chapter 24 of The Thread Ruby, part of my historical romance trilogy. The scene takes place in the early 1900s, inside a merchant hall, where Orpheas - an heir to a shipping dynasty - brings Sophia, his wife, into the heart of a world traditionally closed to women.
**Next morning found Sophia at his side again - an equal partner in corridors of deals. He led with confidence; she advised with insight. When Orpheas paused over a log, she slipped in, guiding him to notice a discrepancy in coal tonnage.He met her eyes. “Again.” She smiled, leaning close as if they shared a secret: “We’re partners.” He squeezed her hand beneath the table in silent devotion. One of the brokers, Michael Culucundis leaned toward Orpheas. “She’s remarkable - leads with quiet authority. We will soon see her name in dispatches.” Orpheas sipped slowly from the tin cup the clerk handed him - strong, bitter coffee, as tradition demanded but inside, something unsettled him. He was watching her. He surely felt pride - undeniable, rising like a tide in his chest. She was radiant, sharp, already fluent in the rhythms of trade she had only just encountered. The other men noticed too. Their glances flicked between her and him. Some smiled with admiration; others watched more carefully. But none dared comment - not while Orpheas Cassavetti stood beside her. And yet, beneath his composure, a quiet unrest stirred. Not because he doubted her. He trusted Sophia more than he trusted the ink drying on his freight bills. More than he trusted himself. She had proven herself - eloquent, curious, graceful in circles designed to exclude her. But Orpheas had been raised in a world of hard lines, where men built legacies in ledgers and women ruled from kitchens and salons. It was a contradiction etched hard into his bones. His own mother - stern, brilliant, relentless - had run their household like a ship captain. She commanded staff, curated alliances, saw to reputations with the precision of a broker. And yet, she had never once stepped into a merchant hall. That door had never been opened to her. Not because she couldn’t walk through it - but because no one ever thought she should. Now, standing beside Sophia in this sacred hall of commerce, Orpheas felt the old traditions like iron around his ankles. He hated it. He hated that the men who congratulated him on his shipping routes also whispered when Sophia asked questions. He hated that a part of him, still loyal to ghosts, worried what it meant to let her speak in this space. She leaned toward him now, her voice low. “If they’re sending olive oil to London through Trieste, why are we paying double what it would cost from Patras?” He blinked. Then smiled. “Because the broker in Trieste has a cousin in Parliament,” he murmured back. “And cousins are always more expensive.” She laughed. But Orpheas could see the spark behind it - the way she tucked the knowledge away, filed it, turned it into fuel. She was learning the currents. Not drifting in them. Navigating.===========================================================Who is your favourite character and why? That’s a wonderful question, thank you Rita! It feels like asking a parent to choose a favorite child—but if I had to, I’d say Alex Rodocanachi. He’s enigmatic, disciplined, and carries the weight of a legacy he didn’t choose. What I love about him is the tension he lives with: he’s rational and controlled on the outside, but inside he’s haunted by desire, by fate, by the possibility of losing everything he wants most. For me, Alex embodies the themes I’m most drawn to—eros, obsession, transformation. He’s a man who looks untouchable, yet one glance, one touch, one wrong moment can unravel him. Writing him was like peeling back layers of stone to find fire beneath. Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write? Without question, The Thread – Ruby. It’s my debut, but also the story that lived in me the longest before I put it on the page. Writing it felt like unlocking a door I’d always known was there. Every chapter carried both the excitement of discovery and the intensity of obsession—I couldn’t wait to see what my characters would do next.There was also a deep pleasure in weaving together passion and fate, eros and history, in both modern London and 19th-century Greece. That mix challenged me, surprised me, and kept me awake at night in the best way. I’ve loved writing since I was young, but with this book, it felt like I’d finally found the voice I was meant to use. What is the best marketing tip you have received? The best tip I’ve received is: sell the feeling, not the product. Readers don’t fall in love with a book because of its format or length—they fall in love with how it makes them feel. If you can capture the passion, the obsession, the ache of a story in a single sentence or a single image, people will want to experience it for themselves. That’s something I keep in mind every time I post on TikTok, Instagram, or Goodreads. I don’t just say “here’s my book.”I say “here’s a love story that will stay with you long after the last page.” And the beauty is, it doesn’t feel like marketing—it feels like sharing what I love most. How would you describe yourself? I’d describe myself as a lifelong romantic and a confessed fangirl—someone who loves stories that linger, characters who haunt you, and love that refuses to be simple. I’m drawn to intensity, passion, and obsession, both in the books I read and the ones I write.By day, I run a shipbroking business in Piraeus alongside my family, which keeps me sharp, strategic, and connected to the real-world stories of commerce and ambition that often inspire my writing. I split my life between London and Greece, where I soak in sea views, savor dark chocolate, and daydream about characters with ruthless personalities who make stories impossible to put down. What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
When I’m not writing or reading, I’m usually sailing or traveling the world—a passion that overlaps with my work in shipbroking but also gives me a deep, personal connection to every place I visit. Each city, port, and coastline inspires me, feeding both my imagination and my stories.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
I’d choose somewhere that combines sea, sun, and history—places that feel alive with stories. Greece will always have my heart, but I also dream of the Amalfi Coast, Santorini’s cliffs, or even a quiet island in the Pacific where the horizon stretches endlessly. I love destinations that inspire reflection and wonder, where every view, every street, every sunset could spark a story. For me, the best holidays aren’t just about relaxation—they’re about feeling deeply connected to a place, soaking in its character, and letting it feed both my imagination and my soul.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
We had a lovely husky who was equal parts beautiful and mischievous. One winter morning, I found her happily sitting on top of a snowbank in the middle of the garden, grinning like she’d conquered Everest. Somehow, she had managed to dig a hole under the fence and escape into the neighbor’s yard—then come back triumphantly as if nothing had happened! Huskies have a talent for making chaos look adorable, and that little morning adventure still makes me laugh every time I think of it.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
For me, the biggest factor is the emotional pull of the story. I want a book that lingers—the kind of story where the characters stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page. Whether it’s passion, obsession, unspoken desire, or the slow burn of fated love, I look for stories that make me feel deeply and that I can’t stop thinking about. If a book can surprise me, make me ache, and make me root for characters I’ll never forget, I know it’s one I’ll love.
Do you have your own website?
I don’t have a traditional website yet, but I do have a Linktree page (https://linktr.ee/vickykleon) where readers can find all my social media, book links, and ways to contact me. It’s simple, centralized, and makes it easy for anyone to access my books, follow updates, and connect with me directly.
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Absolutely! I’m deep into Book 2 of The Thread trilogy, and it’s been a thrilling ride. The stakes are higher, the desire more intense, and the secrets darker than in Ruby. Every time I sit down to write, the characters surprise me—they pull me into their world, and I have to follow wherever fate and obsession take them. I can’t wait for readers to return to Ellie and Alex’s story, where passion burns hotter, hearts are tested, and love refuses to stay quiet.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about? Yes! I’m thrilled to be sharing The Thread – Ruby with readers across multiple platforms, and I have a few upcoming events and promotions in the works. I’ll be participating in virtual book events and Q&A sessions soon, where readers can dive into the world of Ellie and Alex, ask questions, and get exclusive sneak peeks. I’m also planning special giveaways and social media events, including excerpts and behind-the-scenes insights into the trilogy, so fans can get a taste of the passion, obsession, and fate that drives the story. I always love connecting with readers and seeing their reactions—it’s one of the most rewarding parts of sharing my work.
JT Shull - 5 October 2025
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This week it is my pleasure to interview JT Shull. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers, JT, and share something about your life.
My name is JT Shull. For over two decades, I lived and worked throughout Asia for several high-tech companies. During that time, I built an extensive network of friends and colleagues who have enabled me to experience life as a local wherever I go. I’ve always had a passion for different cultures and cuisines, which inspires my writing.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I started a few years ago when I read about a private meeting between two world leaders that sparked significant controversy. I was curious about their conversation and used my imagination to explore those secrets in SECONDS TO LIVE.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
When I write, I draw upon my experiences in Asia. The thriller genre best captures what I want to express.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
My travels inspire my writing, and I work from that. I write action scenes that are raw and visceral, so that my readers feel like they’re right there. However, I also pause for those quiet moments, allowing readers to experience the emotions of the character.
As part of my writing process, I storyboard it first and then handwrite each chapter.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from your book?
In this passage, Natasha has been stabbed by one of the international arms trafficker’s men in Shanghai.
Rolling slightly to her side, Natasha retracted her leg and drove her heel into the Pakistani’s locked right knee. The man yelped and staggered back a few steps as his knee bent in the opposite direction.
With her eyes still on the knife, Natasha braced her hand against the concrete and pushed herself up. Sharif hammerfisted the OTF’s handle and charged with a highline strike aimed at her neck. Natasha parried the blow by shooting her arms up in an X-pattern, catching him at the wrist with one hand and below his upper arm with the other.
With the wall behind her, she swept Sharif’s arm clockwise, locking her hands around the wrist of his knife hand. As she pulled his hand toward the ground, Sharif dropped an elbow onto the back of Natasha’s neck. The blow rattled her head. A flash of fireworks blinded her vision, but she blinked away the sparkles and remained focused.Get away from this wall.
With a burst of energy, Natasha rammed the crown of her head against Sharif’s chest, creating space between her body and the wall. Maintaining a firm grip on his wrist, she shuffled to the left, aligning herself with Sharif’s shoulder. In a swift motion, she released her grip and shoved Sharif in the middle of his back. The Pakistani stumbled forward, shooting up his left arm to break his fall.
Snatching up a green whiskey bottle off the pavement, Natasha gripped the glass neck and squared up her feet…
Who is your favourite character and why?
Natasha Kildari is the main character in all the novels. She’s clever and resourceful, yet close and loyal to her family. I drew inspiration from my mom, who started as a temp but rose to an executive at an oil company. Natasha has many of those qualities.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
SECONDS TO LIVE is my favorite since it kicks off the Natasha Kildari series.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
Get on social media! People can find me on Instagram, TikTok, X, and Facebook at @JTShullbooks.
How would you describe yourself?
Last year, I spent a month in Malaysia and Cambodia catching up with friends and meeting new people. In addition to my research there, I had the opportunity to participate in several outreach programs and work with community leaders in areas where resources were limited.
With the help of our local fire department, I organized the Firehouse 100 to raise money for life-saving equipment. I plan to run another 100-mile event this fall for another nearby community.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
If I’m not traveling, then I’m training for another ultramarathon. Rain or shine, hot or cold – I’m running six days a week.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
I want to snorkel and go jet skiing in Langkawi, and then take some day trips to the nearby islands. I’ve travelled across Malaysia. The beaches, islands, and rainforests are stunning. And, of course, the food is fantastic – Chinese, Malay, and Indian cuisines.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
I had a cockatiel and taught the bird to say “Zao an,” which means “good morning” in Chinese. So, when I got up to have my coffee, the bird would fly out of the cage and land on my shoulder. “Zao an. Zao an.”
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
I read the book jacket first and peruse the first few chapters, looking for “what’s at stake.” And, of course, I read across multiple genres as well.
Do you have your own website?
I focus on social media to share my travel photos/videos and interact with my readers.
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Yes, book two will be out later next year. This time, Natasha must pull out all the stops if she expects to survive.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Yes, I have several events and will be announcing them at @JTShullbooks shortly. So, stay tuned!
My name is JT Shull. For over two decades, I lived and worked throughout Asia for several high-tech companies. During that time, I built an extensive network of friends and colleagues who have enabled me to experience life as a local wherever I go. I’ve always had a passion for different cultures and cuisines, which inspires my writing.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I started a few years ago when I read about a private meeting between two world leaders that sparked significant controversy. I was curious about their conversation and used my imagination to explore those secrets in SECONDS TO LIVE.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
When I write, I draw upon my experiences in Asia. The thriller genre best captures what I want to express.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
My travels inspire my writing, and I work from that. I write action scenes that are raw and visceral, so that my readers feel like they’re right there. However, I also pause for those quiet moments, allowing readers to experience the emotions of the character.
As part of my writing process, I storyboard it first and then handwrite each chapter.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from your book?
In this passage, Natasha has been stabbed by one of the international arms trafficker’s men in Shanghai.
Rolling slightly to her side, Natasha retracted her leg and drove her heel into the Pakistani’s locked right knee. The man yelped and staggered back a few steps as his knee bent in the opposite direction.
With her eyes still on the knife, Natasha braced her hand against the concrete and pushed herself up. Sharif hammerfisted the OTF’s handle and charged with a highline strike aimed at her neck. Natasha parried the blow by shooting her arms up in an X-pattern, catching him at the wrist with one hand and below his upper arm with the other.
With the wall behind her, she swept Sharif’s arm clockwise, locking her hands around the wrist of his knife hand. As she pulled his hand toward the ground, Sharif dropped an elbow onto the back of Natasha’s neck. The blow rattled her head. A flash of fireworks blinded her vision, but she blinked away the sparkles and remained focused.Get away from this wall.
With a burst of energy, Natasha rammed the crown of her head against Sharif’s chest, creating space between her body and the wall. Maintaining a firm grip on his wrist, she shuffled to the left, aligning herself with Sharif’s shoulder. In a swift motion, she released her grip and shoved Sharif in the middle of his back. The Pakistani stumbled forward, shooting up his left arm to break his fall.
Snatching up a green whiskey bottle off the pavement, Natasha gripped the glass neck and squared up her feet…
Who is your favourite character and why?
Natasha Kildari is the main character in all the novels. She’s clever and resourceful, yet close and loyal to her family. I drew inspiration from my mom, who started as a temp but rose to an executive at an oil company. Natasha has many of those qualities.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
SECONDS TO LIVE is my favorite since it kicks off the Natasha Kildari series.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
Get on social media! People can find me on Instagram, TikTok, X, and Facebook at @JTShullbooks.
How would you describe yourself?
Last year, I spent a month in Malaysia and Cambodia catching up with friends and meeting new people. In addition to my research there, I had the opportunity to participate in several outreach programs and work with community leaders in areas where resources were limited.
With the help of our local fire department, I organized the Firehouse 100 to raise money for life-saving equipment. I plan to run another 100-mile event this fall for another nearby community.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
If I’m not traveling, then I’m training for another ultramarathon. Rain or shine, hot or cold – I’m running six days a week.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
I want to snorkel and go jet skiing in Langkawi, and then take some day trips to the nearby islands. I’ve travelled across Malaysia. The beaches, islands, and rainforests are stunning. And, of course, the food is fantastic – Chinese, Malay, and Indian cuisines.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
I had a cockatiel and taught the bird to say “Zao an,” which means “good morning” in Chinese. So, when I got up to have my coffee, the bird would fly out of the cage and land on my shoulder. “Zao an. Zao an.”
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
I read the book jacket first and peruse the first few chapters, looking for “what’s at stake.” And, of course, I read across multiple genres as well.
Do you have your own website?
I focus on social media to share my travel photos/videos and interact with my readers.
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Yes, book two will be out later next year. This time, Natasha must pull out all the stops if she expects to survive.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Yes, I have several events and will be announcing them at @JTShullbooks shortly. So, stay tuned!