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Category: Author Interviews (Page 2 of 26)

Author Spotlight: Georgiana Kent

Check out this spotlight for Fantasy author Georgiana Kent!

You can find all her links furthest down the page, and don’t forget to check out her books!

1. Hi! Welcome to my humble blog of all things bookish! I would like for us to start by getting to know you. Give us a short bio, please!

Hi! Thank you so much for having me! My name is Georgiana and I’m a fantasy author from the UK. I used to live abroad, so my urban fantasies and fantasy romances pull in inspiration from my time in the East. I love cake, chocolate and dachshunds! Though, not necessarily in that order!

2. Tell us 5 fun facts people might not know about you!

1. I’m a teacher of languages

2. I speak Mandarin Chinese, French and Spanish

3. I started going grey at 21 (I blame men!)

4. I have PCOS but was fortunate enough to become a mum several years ago.

5. I’ve always been creative, but I started out drawing mangas! I’ve drawn all my own character art.

3. To get to know you just a little bit better, I’d like to ask you some ā€œThis or Thatā€-questions. Answer 5 of these and explain why you chose this or that, or maybe an entirely different alternative!

Ebooks OR physical books? Both! I love my little library of physical books, but I always have an eBook on my phone

First person view OR third person view? 3rd person

Standalone OR series? Series, though I love standalones set in the same universe!

Read multiple books OR one at a time? I used to be a ā€˜one at a time’ kinda girl, but now I’m ā€˜multiple’!

Signed edition OR first edition? Love a signed copy!

Graphic novels OR comic books? Mangas! I adore Studio Ghibli!

Plot driven OR character driven? Both!

Zombies OR dragons? Make mine a dragon!

Witches OR vampires? Vampries, please!

Shop at an actual bookstore OR shop books online? Actual bookshop, I always love finding new bookshops

Hero OR anti-hero? Oo, I love me a good anti-hero! There’s someonthing about morally grey heroes…

TBR list OR mood reader? TBR list

Music while reading OR silence? Silence

Read in bed OR read on sofa? Bed!

4. When you look for books to read, what trope, theme, or type of story will always catch your attention?

I love fantasies with found family and a good slow burn romance, my favourite is enemy-to-lovers!

5. If you were to describe your writing style using 3 words, what would they be?

Original, compelling, epic

6. So what do you write? Tell us a bit more about your chosen genre, style and ongoing projects/WIPs/series!

I’m currently writing Book Three in my Soul Dominion series which is about a girl, Erica, who has a secret. One day, she’s attacked on her way home by a demon and her life is saved by Michael, an enigmatic, and sexy, time traveller! From that point on, nothing is the same as her secret and life unravel as she helps Michael and his friends save humanity from dominiation by a growing army of soul-thirsty demons. It’s the first of many series that will take place in my KeyMaster universe with faeries, fae, vampires, werewolves, demons and angels, each with different MCs and stories.

I’m also drafting a fantasy romance series. Warring Hearts will be a series of standalone novels and novellas set in Myrrithia, a land where myth meets legend and passion runs high! The novellas will be loosely based on myths, fairy tales, and folklore with equal helpings of magic, action and romance.

7. What is your most recent release? Give us a short presentation, cover, and a link for where to buy it!

Keys of Fate was released in July 2022 and is Book Two in my Soul Dominion series. It follows straight on from the climatic end to Keys of Time, and is a non-stop sequel filled with action, mystery and a burgeoning romance! Faced with a chestful of family secrets, Michael helps Erica decipher her family’s past, whilst preparing to stop an onslaught of demons hell-bent on humanity’s demise. But, as passions run high, can they put aside their differences and work together?

Keys of Fate is available on Amazon in eBook, KU and paperback.

https://books2read.com/u/bMxRAV

Book One, Keys of Time, is available here:

www.books2read.com/u/baZeAQ

8. Last but not least: where can we find you? Drop those links!

IG: https://www.instagram.com/authorgeorgianakent/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/GeorgianaKentAuthor

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorgeorgianakent?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/authorgeorgianakent

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/georgiana-kent

Website: https://bit.ly/keymasterchronicles

Author Spotlight: Lauren L. Garcia

Check out this spotlight for Fantasy Romance author Lauren L. Garcia!

You can find all her links furthest down the page, and don’t forget to check out her books!

1. Hi! Welcome to my humble blog of all things bookish! I would like for us to start by getting to know you. Give us a short bio, please!

Lauren finds Real Life overrated, and has always preferred to inhabit alternate realities, both self-created and created by others. However, after being burned by certain fandoms one too many times, Lauren decided to focus her reality escape attempts on her own creations. She’s much happier now, although she still enjoys fandoms – in small doses.

A believer in love, hope, compassion, and similar squishy ideals, Lauren endeavors to create stories that both gut-punch and elevate her readers. Emotional rollercoasters are what make fiction fun, after all.

When she’s not avoiding Real Life responsibilities, Lauren enjoys dancing at music festivals, spending time in nature, and tending to her cat’s every whim. She lives in North Florida with her partner and assorted furred critters, but can be found online at laloga.com

2. Tell us 5 fun facts people might not know about you!

  1. I am married to my high school sweetheart. We’ve been together for over 20 years.
  2. I have a Ninja Turtle tattoo (Leonardo – my fave)
  3. The main characters in my first series, Catalyst Moon, started life as OCs (original characters) in several long running Star Wars fanfics.
  4. I have multiple Star Wars and Star Trek costumes, including prosthetics.
  5. I recently became a vegetarian. (For ethical & environmental reasons. No shade to anyone who has not made this choice. I am fortunate enough to be able to choose not to eat meat.)

3. To get to know you just a little bit better, I’d like to ask you some ā€œThis or Thatā€-questions. Answer 5 of these and explain why you chose this or that, or maybe an entirely different alternative!

Ebooks OR physical books? – Ebooks, because with my poor vision, it’s nice to be able to increase the font size & my lighting preferences.
First person view OR third person view? Third person close. Just as intimate as first, but less clunky.
Standalone OR series? Series, because characters need time to grow!
Read multiple books OR one at a time? Multiple at a time, but different genres, ie: fiction and non-fiction.
Signed edition OR first edition? Signed editions for that personal touch.

4. If you were to describe your writing style using 3 words, what would they be?

Heartfelt, evocative, epic.

5. So what do you write? Tell us a bit more about your chosen genre, style and ongoing projects/WIPs/series!

My current series, Chaos Moon is LGBTQ+ fantasy romance. If you love badass heroines, rivals to lovers, and slow-burn steamy romances, Chaos Moon will heal your heart and become your new obsession. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

6. What is your most recent release? Give us a short presentation, cover, and a link for where to buy it!

Assassin’s Mercy (Chaos Moon #1)

Link: https://books2read.com/assassins-mercy

Need a mage killed? Verve’s got you covered.

As a member of the holy order of Atal’s Chosen, Verve lives by the edge of her hematite blade. Trained from childhood to stand tall against the warring mage clans, Verve won’t let anyone else’s family die at magic’s cruel hands.

So when Verve’s patron tasks her with taking out a notorious mage leader, she knows her skills are up to the challenge. Sure enough, Verve lands a cover-job right in the heart of her target’s territory. The coin’s not great, but protecting the locals makes for the perfect camouflage while she hunts for her true target. What’s more, the handsome local barkeep Alem seems to know more than he’s letting on about the mage she’s looking for.

Against all common sense, Verve discovers a cause worth fighting for in the village. But living by the blade means dying by it too, and when Verve’s powerful patron learns of the life she’s found and her growing change of heart, she gives Verve an ultimatum: Kill the mage or be hunted by her own fellow Chosen. Verve is forced to choose a side or risk losing her new found family, the life she didn’t know she wanted… and a man she didn’t know she could love.

The only way out of this mess is to die… or find magic of her own.

7. Last but not least: where can we find you? Drop those links!

Main page: https://laloga.com/

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

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lalogawrites

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lalogawrites?lang=en

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/laloga

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lauren-l-garcia

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lauren-L.-Garcia/e/B01IKV2L8Y/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15266429.Lauren_L_Garcia

Author Spotlight: Robb Wallace

Check out this spotlight for Fantasy author Robb Wallace!

You can find all his links furthest down the page, and don’t forget to check out his books!

1. Hi! Welcome to my humble blog of all things bookish! I would like for us to start by getting to know you. Give us a short bio, please!

Hello readers, my name is Robb Wallace, I am from Ayrshire in the west of Scotland and I write both fiction and non-fiction books. I am an information junkie and just love curiosity, which led me to sci-fi and fantasy growing up. Life long trekkie! 

I have written five non-fiction titles, a few short stories and one epic fantasy. I love reading about other cultures, spirituality, religion, magic and technology. In my spare time, I participate in martial arts and love eating, yes lots of eating.

2. Tell us 5 fun facts people might not know about you! 

  • I have no sense of smell, 90% of the year.
  • I am a strong protan. Colour Blind.
  • For years I was a tour guide in London on the open-top buses.
  • I graduated top of my class. Truth be told that was my second attempt at university returning as a mature student. The first time I attended, I was kicked out for failing nine exams out of nine. The difference 15 years makes! 
  • I regularly eat hot sauce way beyond my tolerance, which usually ends with me in tears and hiccuping like a dead man walking. But I love it.

3. To get to know you just a little bit better, I’d like to ask you some ā€œThis or Thatā€-questions. Answer 5 of these and explain why you chose this or that, or maybe an entirely different alternative!

Ebooks OR physical books? – Both, I have stacks of both. 

First person view OR third person view? – Depends on the story, I personally write in third.

Standalone OR series? – Both, love a good series to get lost in but love a solid stand-alone that answers the call in just one book. 

Read multiple books OR one at a time? Nowadays it is one at a time, but many years ago I was a multiple book juggler, but no longer. As the mighty Hagbard Celine once said ā€œNever whistle whilst your pissinā€ i.e don’t split your attention. 

Signed edition OR first edition? – Neither. I will take any edition.

Graphic novels OR comic books?– I have a decent collection of both. 

Plot driven OR character driven? – Both. Yeah a good book needs both, a strong plot and great characters, one without the other is no good. 

Zombies OR dragons? Dragons all day long. Zombies have to be the worst monster of all time. Slow, stupid, dead. hahah I just don’t get it. 

Witches OR vampires? A witch vampire sounds like a mighty character. I do love vampires, I wrote a comedy vigilante vampire short. Where the protagonist, the mighty ā€œSteak bakeā€ turns against his kind and starts staking other vampires. It’s dark, gritty and set in modern-day Glasgow. Like Falling Down meets Punisher/Blade. https://www.robbwallace.co.uk/books/steak-bake/

Shop at an actual bookstore OR shop books online? Been a while since I entered a Waterstones. I used to be a regular but now it’s all online. 

Hero OR anti-hero? Both

TBR list OR mood reader? I am impulsive, I will see a video, a post on social or a recommendation and boom, I am online buying it. I do have an extensive TBR but it all it does is grow. ahhaha.

Music while reading OR silence? Gentle elevator-style background music, or silence. But nothing that will interfere with me concentrating. 

Read in bed OR read on sofa?  Both.

4. When you look for books to read, what trope, theme, or type of story will always catch your attention?

I like things that are going to force me to think, something to challenge my ideas, to inspire me, to make me go ā€˜wow’. Which usually means non-fiction titles, epic/heroic fantasy or epic space opera sci-fi.

5. If you were to describe your writing style using 3 words, what would they be?

Passionate, Tenacious, Curious.

6. So what do you write? Tell us a bit more about your chosen genre, style and ongoing projects/WIPs/series!

I am currently writing book two in my Illusion series. The first book ā€œThe Silence In The Songā€ is about a young lad called Arran, it is a not-so-classic coming-of-age story. As part of his rite of passage, he consumes strong hallucinogenic mushrooms, gets outcast from his nomadic hord and then travels across the known world to save his people from an Immortal king, a figure he encountered in his hallucinogenic trip. 

https://www.robbwallace.co.uk/books/the-silence-in-the-song/

BLURB:

Death is not the end. The immortal King and his legion of otherworldly beings have made sure of that. 

The immortal king’s empire expands southward, consuming everything in its path.

A young nomad, born of prophecy, comes of age, plagued by visions of the King’s brutal conquests and the strange etheric beings that consume the souls of the dead left in the King’s wake.

This is the story of an uncommon boy who dares to believe that he can be the difference, that he can challenge the immortal King for the freedom of every soul on the planet.

The story is set in a human-like world and has a heroic/epic fantasy feel. A mix of barbarian tales, world-building, magic, spiritual dimensions, philosophical curiosity, ancient myths, psychedelic visions, conspiracies, martial arts and questions about the nature of life, death and reality.

This is an epic fantasy novel with science fiction elements. A firm crossover between the two disciplines.

Join Arran, the silence in the song, and find out if he has what it takes to kill the King and save his people.

Video Blurb:

7. What is your most recent release? Give us a short presentation, cover, and a link for where to buy it! 

The Silence In The Song by Robb Wallace, it is now available on Amazon, Kindle (KU for a limited time), Paperback and Hardback. Soon I will be releasing it wide. All links can be found at https://www.robbwallace.co.uk/books/the-silence-in-the-song/

8. Last but not least: where can we find you? Drop those links! 

I can be found at https://www.robbwallace.co.uk all my books, links, blogs, newsletter etc can be found there. On social, you can find me at @robbauthor on the major platforms. 

Author Interview: S. J. Wilke

Check out this spotlight for author S. J. Wilke!

You can find all her links furthest down the page, and don’t forget to check out her books!

1. Hi! Welcome to my humble blog of all things bookish! I would like for us to start by getting to know you. Give us a short bio, please!

I am SJ WILKE. I have a background in Psychology and Technology. I’ve traveled the world, but find I enjoy making places up in my books.

I currently live in Wisconsin with a few cats. My hobbies are gardening, walking the beach of Lake Michigan, and contemplating life between writing books.

I have always had an overactive imagination, which allows me to come up with a book idea at the drop of a hat. I like to tell people I write about what I’d like to do, but can’t because of those things called laws and ethics. Since I can’t go out and shoot bad guys, I have my character Banter do it.

I like to put as much realism in my books as I can, even if they are fantasy. When Banter was born, I learned how to use a gun. How can I write about a Hired Gun if I don’t even know how to shoot?

2. To get to know you just a little bit better, I’d like to ask you some this or that questions. Answer 5 of these and explain why you chose this or that, or maybe an entirely different alternative!

Winter, spring, summer or autumn? Autumn – it may signal the end of a growing season but it also signals the victories achieved through the year.

Cat or dog? Cat. I have four of them. I’m also as independent as they are.

Tea or coffee? Tea. Even though I am American, I like a good cup of tea with sugar and cream. I must have been British in an earlier life.

Morning or evening? Evening. I’m not a morning person. Morning is for sleeping. Evening is when my creative juices start flowing.

Ninjas or pirates? Ninjas. You would need to read my Banter series to understand. Ninja means being careful or not telling your dad.

Mountains or beaches? Beaches. During the summer, I walk on one a couple times per week.

Plotter or pantser? I plot. Where do I put the dead bodies. How do I off someone. I mean… I plot books and where the characters need to go, how they grow, or command their environment.

Pen and paper or computer/phone? Computer, laptop to be more exact. I’ve worked in technology too long. I like to use it to my advantage.

Standalone or series? Series. Starting the next book in a series is like reconnecting with an old friend. You go out to lunch, catch up on each other’s live, and enjoy each other’s company.

3. When you look for books to read, what trope or type of story will always catch your attention?Ā 

Magic, fantasy. I love books that take you away from reality. That is what I hope most of my books do.

4. What do you write? Tell us about your current projects and the latest happenings!

I love fantasy because there are no rules. You can make things up as you go. I am currently working on a paranormal thriller, The Smell Of Death, that involves a young woman who can smell emotions and when someone is about to die.

Death is not her most favorite smell, and that is what someone employes her to do: Sniff out death.

Summary: Asaina has an acute sense of smell. She can smell death. Not just the approaching death of someone ill, but the smell of death from someone about to be murdered. She needs a job, but what does she do when the one skill she has gets her a job that terrifies her and makes her ill. Even worse, the man she has to work with is just as terrifying. The one thing she wants to do…

…. is run. But he can track her… the same way she can smell death… he can smell her.

5. What is your most recent release? Give us a short presentation, cover, and a link for where to buy it!

I just finished book 5 of my Banter series. This is my one series that is actually based on reality, and I have to follow the rules. The series follows the life of a female gun-for-hire, Banter, who starts working for the police.

SUMMARY: Banter is a gun for hire. After she does a hit in a park, she meets a good looking detective, Corey Van Baine, who is investigating the case. But he’s married. When Banter learns his marriage is on the rocks and his wife has left him, she becomes his unlikely therapist to help him overcome the devastation. However, Banter finds herself falling in love with him and suspects Corey is falling for her. A love affair enfolds via cellphones and brief glimpses as they do their jobs. Him, always one step behind her, trying to find out who she is, and she, leading him on… Until they find themselves working together on a mass murder case…and the bullets start flying.

6. What real-life inspiration do you draw from, and what are your primary fictional sources of inspiration (books, authors, films, music, etc.)? Name a few!

I draw from life. I can walk through a grocery store, see a character, and dream up a book. Other sources included daydreams, youtube videos, friends and family, and the news.

7. What is your writing routine? If you have one, give us the run-down!

I write every day if I’m not editing. Morning starts with tea and breakfast. I goof off a little bit. Check emails, then write a chapter. Chapters are 3000 words. Of course, some days have more goofing off than others, and maybe I won’t reach 3000 words, but I am always writing.

8. If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice as you started out on the path to becoming an author, what would it be?

Just do it. Keep writing. Even writing junk hones the writing skills.

9. Last but not least: where can we find you? Drop those links!

Www.iamsara.com  lists all of my books and where to find them.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100049725112992

I occasionally post on facebook and respond to anyone who messages me.

Author Spotlight: Helen Garraway

Check out this spotlight for Fantasy author Helen Garraway!

You can find all her links furthest down the page, and don’t forget to check out her books!

1. Hi! Welcome to my humble blog of all things bookish! I would like for us to start by getting to know you. Give us a short bio, please!

Helen Garraway lives in the UK and began writing about the world of Remargaren, a fantasy world of her creation in 2016. Sentinals Awaken was Helen’s debut fantasy novel published in 2020. The series is now four books strong with a fifth due in spring 2023. The first book in her new fantasy romance SoulMist series, SoulBreather released October 4th, 2022.

An avid reader of many different fiction genres, a love she inherited from her mother, Helen writes fantasy novels and also enjoys paper crafting and scrapbooking as an escape from the pressure of working as a Product Manager.

Having graduated from the University of Southampton with a Degree in Politics and International Relations, she remains an active member of their alumni.

You can find out more at www.helengarraway.com.

2. Tell us 5 fun facts people might not know about you!

I flew a plane when I was about ten! I was an avid plane spotter.

I enjoy gardening, but not so good at looking after house plants.

Alfie, my cat, was the inspiration for the Arifels, even down to the name!

I am answering these questions whilst I am in New York.

I love to watch golf, but have never played.

3. To get to know you just a little bit better, I’d like to ask you some ā€œThis or Thatā€-questions. Answer 5 of these and explain why you chose this or that, or maybe an entirely different alternative!

First person view OR third person view? Third

Standalone OR series? Series

Read multiple books OR one at a time? Multiple books (audio/ebook/physical)

Zombies OR dragons? Definitely dragons

Hero OR anti-hero? Hero

4. When you look for books to read, what trope, theme, or type of story will always catch your attention?   

I like to read all things fantasy, from epic fantasy quests, to paranormal romances. I like detailed worldbuilding, clever magic systems, charismatic characters and plenty of romance!

5. If you were to describe your writing style using 3 words, what would they be?

Immersive, easy to read, action-packed

6. So what do you write? Tell us a bit more about your chosen genre, style and ongoing projects/WIPs/series!

I write fantasy. My first book was epic fantasy which is one of my favourite genres to read. I loved building a new world, which grew with each book. The series starts with Jerrol discovering treason at the highest levels, but before he can do anything he is arrested for treason. The series follows his adventures as he figures out how to awake the Sentinals and defeat the threat against his world. The next book in the series is book 5, and my newsletter subscribers have just voted on the name: Sentinals Banished.

Sentinals Banished is set about seventeen years after book 4 and introduces us to some new characters, Jerrol’s children, Mikke and Leyarille are about to take the stage! Though Jerrol and Birlerion are still very much front and centre even if the new king is not a fan! The book is all complete and off to the editor.

The first book in my new series, the fantasy romance SoulMist series is available in paperback and is about to release as eBook in the Realm of Darkness Anthology. I am busy writing book 2, DragonBound. The SoulMist series follows the story of a fallen angel, and the mortal who has a secret that just might help to save him.

Sentinals Rising, book 2 of the Sentinal series, just released in Audiobook if that is your preference: viewbook.at/SentinalsRising

7. What is your most recent release? Give us a short presentation, cover, and a link for where to buy it!

My latest book, SoulBreather, the first book in the soulmist series, launched on October 4th, 2022 as part of the Realm of Darkness Anthology.

You can buy 35 full-length fantasy books for only 99c.

Link: https://books2read.com/realmofdarknessset

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1739934474

If you fall in love with the shadows, does that mean you are fallen too?

A dying angel. A fractured realm. The SoulBreather who might be able to save them both. 

Solanji has a secret. One that is becoming increasingly difficult to keep. She can touch souls and see into a person’s inner thoughts. Soulbreathing is exhilarating and addictive, until the day Solanji caresses the wrong person’s soulmist. 

Dragged into a long forgotten angelic mystery, she is forced to venture into Eidolon, the godforsaken last resort for those without souls. In order to save her brother, she must rescue a broken and tortured man. Can she save him from the shadows? Does he even want to be saved? And can she find a way to return to the light before the darkness engulfs them both?

8. Last but not least: where can we find you? Drop those links!

Author webpage: www.helengarraway.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HelenGarraway

Sentinals Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/548332472871946

https://Linktr.ee/HelenGarraway

Author Spotlight: Sky Sommers

Check out this spotlight for Romantic Fantasy author Sky Sommers!

You can find all her links furthest down the page, and don’t forget to check out her books!

1. Hi! Welcome to my humble blog of all things bookish! I would like for us to start by getting to know you. Give us a short bio, please!

Hi, Catrin and thank you for having me! I’m an indie author who loves writing twisted fairytales. And I read them by the tons, too. All my books have humour in them and are linked by some character or another, but they are all standalones. As for genres – my Magic Kingdom series areĀ retold fairytales of Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, Belle&Beast and the Wizard of Oz; I’ve recently branched into quirky romantic fantasy with my Goddesses Saga and there is a post-apocapyptic post-Brexit book out there as well. I live in Tallinn, Estonia and am like an intelligent dog (understand but don’t speak) multiple languages. I have 1 kid, but my hubby has 4 from his previous marriage who pop by, so I’ve given up on math of ā€˜how many to dinner’.

2. Tell us 5 fun facts people might not know about you!

Most people probably have no idea who I am anyway, so anything about me would be something new to the world at large, but here goes:

  • I try to find the fun even in the darkest of times, which is the background to my snarky humour and I hear that’s true for most comedians;
  • I’m an attorney-at-law (solicitor equivalent in the UK), but currently on sabbatical, which is a new fact even some of my friends don’t know;
  • I’ve travelled to all continents but the top and bottom one, but plan to make it there too, so polar-bears and penguins, beware!
  • I judge books by dialogue, ā€˜coz it showcases someone’s character the best;
  • I suck at writing descriptions, but am lucky enough to have a few indie author friends to help me with that developmental edit pet-peeve.

3. To get to know you just a little bit better, I’d like to ask you some ā€œThis or Thatā€-questions. Answer 5 of these and explain why you chose this or that, or maybe an entirely different alternative!

Ebooks OR physical books? THIS – Ebooks for about 8 years now since an iPad & phone are easier to take along anywhere;

First person view OR third person view? THAT – while I hate descriptions and love YA (which has a lot of 1st person POVs), I prefer the movies running in my head from 3rd person POV compared to people shouting in my head, which I get with 1st POVs;

Standalone OR series? THIS AND THAT. Standalones when I need a good HEA pick-me-up and series if the writing is superb – then I want to explore the author’s whole mutilverse. I can and do give up on series if the 1st book is meh.

Read multiple books OR one at a time? THAT. I might have multiple books listed as ā€œreadingā€ on Goodreads, but I read 1 at a time and usually very quickly and then move on to the next.

Signed edition OR first edition? THAT. I prefer to have the 1st editions in my grabby hands.

Graphic novels OR comic books? NEITHER. I love drawings in books with lots of text and have grown complacent on getting the comic books brought to me in awesome movies.

Plot driven OR character driven? THIS AND THAT. The plot can’t be good without captivating characters and great characters alone running around like headless chicken are not fun either.

Zombies OR dragons? THAT. Dragons all the way. I hate horror.

Witches OR vampires? THIS AND THAT. Preferably together like in some of Phaedra Weldon’s books. And no, vampires are not horror.

Shop at an actual bookstore OR shop books online? THIS AND THAT. You can’t let me into a bookstore, I’ll come away with a huge-ass cart. Ironically, online, I manage to contain myself.

Hero OR anti-hero? THIS AND THAT. Although THAT is harder to find. Even harder is when THAT turns into THIS.

TBR list OR mood reader? Ā THIS AND THAT. TBR list mostly during summer reading challenges, seat-of-the-pants decision is usually THAT (mood).

Music while reading OR silence? THAT. I do have playlists for some of my own books, but I listen to music when I’m trying to ā€œseeā€ or ā€œfeelā€ a scene I want to write.

Read in bed OR read on sofa? THAT. Always. Bed is for sleeping. And dreaming. And you know…

4. When you look for books to read, what trope, theme, or type of story will always catch your attention?

Villains turning into heroes; heroes turning into villains; the one; virgin saviors; forced marriages that turn into loves to end all; enemies-to-lovers (but without harsh stuff that’ll give me PTSD); oh, I love them tropes, gimme.

5. If you were to describe your writing style using 3 words, what would they be

Sarky; quirky; lean.

6. So what do you write? Tell us a bit more about your chosen genre, style and ongoing projects/WIPs/series!

Some stuff I already mentioned. Ongoing projects – oh, there are many:

  • Goddesses Saga – the first book: Charm& Mayhem released on October 4, 2022 within a 99c Realm of Darkness box set of 41 full-length novels – ancient and modern Earthen goddesses living it up – starting with the Goddess of Fate trying to bring magic back to Earth and then in February the Goddess of Death will try to find herself a successor;
  • A Nutcracker retelling is in the workds for 2023-2024, to be co-written with Astrid V.J., a USA Today bestselling author;
  • Enchanted Flames – a charity anthology in support of communities touched by fire – has one of my short stories in it and comes out in June 2023;
  • Twice Upon a Name – a fun anthology of mishaps and mistaken identities – featuring my story To Find A Queen – comes out in April 2023;
  • And just tonight I had a vivid dream about a RH (reverse harem) adult fantasy idea I now have to write…

My style – I write like I talk – which is usually the best advice for new authors anyway, right? So, if you’ve read my answers you can expect that same idiocy – sorry, sorry, quirkiness – running through the dialogue and descriptions in my books.

7. What is your most recent release? Give us a short presentation, cover, and a link for where to buy it!

My latest release is a goddess-angel quirky romantic fantasy called Charm & Mayhem within a 99c Realm of Darkness box set of 41 full-length novels.

8. Last but not least: where can we find you? Drop those links!

You can stalk me online here:

Website and blog: https://skysommers.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/sommers_sky/

TikTok: @skysommers_author

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sky-sommers

Newsletter: (you get a FREE story if you sign up): https://storyoriginapp.com/giveaways/247f5fec-e7c1-11ec-a2ef-8b1d6686ccf8



Author Spotlight: Jack Adkins

Check out this spotlight for Fantasy author Jack Adkins!

You can find all his links furthest down the page, and don’t forget to check out his books!

1. Hi! Welcome to my humble blog of all things bookish! I would like for us to start by getting to know you. Give us a short bio, please!

I’m Jack Adkins, father of four boys between the ages of 13 and 21, an IT professional for 25 years, and a writer of fantasy tales for much longer. My introduction to fantasy came through Dungeons & Dragons and the first books I read were penned by R.A. Salvatore, Troy Denning, and Weis and Hickman. I began writing with a semi-autobiographical tale called The Big Wind of Wallingford about the new kid on his first day of school and his struggles with intestinal gas. That was in fourth grade.

2. Tell us 5 fun facts people might not know about you!

My family and I moved to Alaska for three and a half years for my wife’s job.

I was a stay-at-home dad for ten years. During that decade.

I ran my own web development company.

I’ve acted in or directed more than forty plays.

I’m an ordained Baptist minister.

3. To get to know you just a little bit better, I’d like to ask you some ā€œThis or Thatā€-questions. Answer 5 of these and explain why you chose this or that, or maybe an entirely different alternative!

Ebooks OR physical books? I prefer physical books. They are nostaligic for me, reminding me of being curled into an arm chair reading novels late into the night. I’m also very particular about keeping the pages and covers pristine.

First person view OR third person view? Third person. I read books as movies so I like to see the pieces move around from an omniscient perspective.

Standalone OR series? No preference. I can really enjoy both. What I don’t like is an standalone with a ton of unresolved plot lines or a series that should have ended but drags on and on.

Read multiple books OR one at a time? I am the worst. I am always reading at least four or five books at the same time. Help!

Signed edition OR first edition? A signed book is much for important to me than a first edition. For me, a signed book is personal. The author has touched it and put an individual mark on it.

Graphic novels OR comic books? I like the idea of graphic novels as a compilation of a comic book series, but I much prefer the serial aspect of comic books. Waiting for the next one to drop was a thrill as a child.

Plot driven OR character driven? Character, character, character. Even if the plot isn’t super exciting, I love following how characters react and grow in response to their situations.

Zombies OR dragons? My love affair with Dragons began with Dragons of Autumn Twilight. I have been captivated by their majestic beauty, boundless intellect, and regal bearing ever since.

Witches OR vampires? Old school vampires hold a powerful mystique for me. As a kid, Dracula and Strahd were fascinating. Then Anne Rice’s Vampire Lestat blew the lid off the old troupes. I love a good vampire tales.

Shop at an actual bookstore OR shop books online? It’s hard to beat a good bookstore. Be it a tiny, musty smelling building jammed with old tomes in some downtown shop or a palatial cathedral like Joseph Beth Booksellers, I find bookstores to be romantic and a battery for my imagination.

Hero OR anti-hero? I am a sucker for a noble knight whose virtue and honor are as much a shield to him as his suit of full plate.

TBR list OR mood reader? Both. I fill my TBR with books I want to read and then select from them according to my whim.

Music while reading OR silence? It’s impossible for me to block out ambient noise. It’s so annoying. I prefer silence when reading, or writing.

Read in bed OR read on sofa? I prefer a sofa or nice arm chair for reading. Something plush was swallows me up while the world fades away.

4. When you look for books to read, what trope, theme, or type of story will always catch your attention?

I love the buddy-cop trope in film, and really enjoy a good one-two punch from characters in a story. That, and the wizened mentor trope are interesting to me. I like watching a nobody be nurtoured into success.

5. If you were to describe your writing style using 3 words, what would they be?

Humor, pathos, heart.

6. So what do you write? Tell us a bit more about your chosen genre, style and ongoing projects/WIPs/series!

I like massive sweeping fantastical worlds viewed through the lens of troubled characters. I try to make the world rending problems the character is battling occur somewhat in the background of more tangible struggles the character is dealing with. ā€œYes, a Dragon War has broken out and people are dying in droves, but I can’t believe she lied to me. I thought she was an elf but really she’s a half-Dragon! I loved her! Wait… do I still love her?ā€ That’s a tongue-in-cheek example. In my current series, a half goblin (half something else he doesn’t want to admit to) who is looking for his missing father. His dad was his only anchor in his stormy life and he’s gone. Anuka Sandbar will do anything to be reunited with him. Along the way, he leave a path of destruction as he ploys through life with little thought to the consequences of his actions. He leaves building, boats, and friendships in smoldering ruins. He is finally forced to work with a couple of weirdos who hammer away at the walls of his tiny heart, trying to work their way inside. Anuka, being three apples high, has dealt with bullies his whole life and he hates them. A lot his trouble revolves around him acting poorly in the face of some bully.

7. What is your most recent release? Give us a short presentation, cover, and a link for where to buy it!

The Eye of a Dragon is book 2 in my Dragons of Dorwine series. Anuka’s exploits from book 1, The Blood of a Dragon, have left a host of fresh enemies in his wake and his main mission still incomplete. Anuka and his new friends walk a razor’s edge by trusting a Black DragonLord to behave according to his nature as they search for an item of incredible power. The Eye of a Dragon is available on KU to read or for purchase on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09YT7CSZM The audiobook, narrated by Michael Kramer, will be available in November 2022.

8. Last but not least: where can we find you? Drop those links!

You can find me all over the place:

Website: https://authorjackadkins.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjackadkins

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorjackadkins

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jack-adkins

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21725352.Jack_Adkins?from_search=true&from_srp=true

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