It’s that time of year again. My least—and when I say least I mean exponentially worse than sitting at home alone all day on a major holiday—favorite day of the year. Spring forward can suck it as far as I’m concerned.
The rankings are not without their controversy.
A solid case can be made that fall back is the worst of the two because between early November and the middle of March it gets darker earlier, way too early. If you haven’t read my blog in the past I am a strong proponent of daylight savings time year-round. It’s ridiculous to keep changing our clocks twice a year and I think daylight savings time has the stronger case over standard time to be the year-round time tracker. But that’s an argument for another day.
What gives spring forward the edge as the worst of the two days is that we lose an hour of sleep. It throws my body off and takes me days to adjust. I hate it.
And no one in our political environment is taking serious this issue that is dearest to my heart. I discussed this with a friend the other day and we devised a plan that might be a workable solution for my time change aggravation.
Each year during fall back I could move east because the eastern time zone would mirror what the central time zone was before the change. Then on spring forward day, I return to Kansas and the central time zone. That way my body would never have to adjust to the time change.
At first, I thought I could go to Louisville since that is where my daughter lives. After some thought, I have a better plan. She’s a flight attendant and isn’t home much and I don’t like the cold so it makes more sense for me to relocate to Florida for the winter.
I can’t help but wonder if a solid legal case could be made that since the government isn’t doing anything to ease the stress on my life that comes from their mandatory time change they should have to pay for my relocation and living expenses required for my mental health.
I simply need to find the right lawyer to take on my case. It seems like an open and shut case to me. And maybe the right lawsuit would get the attention of politicians to make the most logical change in the law since, well, ever.
Until the government quits manipulating time, I’ll have to consider dual citizenship in Kansas and Florida. The only downside of the plan is that it doesn’t solve the early darkness.
Madilynn Dale is an author based out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. She writes fantasy, romance, and paranormal pieces primarily. She spends most of her day with her son, tending to her pets, and writing.
Madilynn holds degrees in several areas. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology from Southern Nazarene University, located in Oklahoma. She also has an Associates of Science degree in Physical Therapy Assistant Sciences from Oklahoma City Community College. She is licensed as a Physical Therapy Assistant in Oklahoma and works as a PRN therapist.
Madilynn has enjoyed reading various forms of fiction and the occasional non-fiction story since she began reading as a young girl. Writing seemed to be another piece of this addiction to books, and she embraced it after becoming a mother. Writing is now a piece of her soul to be bared to the world.
Madilynn’s hobbies, when not writing, include reading, baking, crafting, hiking, and horseback riding. She loves to travel and explore. One day she hopes to expand her travels and see the world, but in the meantime, you will find her working on her next novel. She will most likely have coffee and some form of chocolate with her as she writes.
Share a little bit about your newest book, Black Flames.
Black Flames is an empowering novel that takes readers on an adventure. It’s steamy, addicting, and cinematic.
Ember believes she’s a latent wolf until she finds herself facing a demon using hellfire. The black flames trigger something within her and the world as she knows it is dumped on its head. Has her entire life been nothing but a lie?
Tied to the future Alpha via contract, she seeks an escape to find her true mate. Confused by the emotions surrounding her discovery, she sacrifices herself to save her pack and is taken to hell. With a false engagement and memories erased, she finds herself part of a larger plan. Can she fulfill her role and manage to return home without her secret being discovered?
What can you tell us about the future of the Ember Series?
Black Flames is the first book in what I plan to be a Trilogy. I may have a few spin offs with some of the other characters, but it is for sure going to be a three book thing. Ember will go through a lot of growth, heartache, and change with these books.
You have several books listed on Amazon, including another series. Tell us about what else you have written.
I have a variety of novels written. My first series that has more to come is my Fae Shifters series. The first four books follow main character Liz as she seeks a slower paced life only to be thrust into a world of magic, one where all turn to her as their savior. The novels focus on selfcare, friendship, love, and family. It’s a fast-paced series filled with various paranormal beings.
Breaking Traditions: the Shifter and the Mage is my paranormal romance novel following Natalie as she seeks to break free of her parents traditions of arranged marriage to pursue a life of love with her true mate. It’s a college-based romance and really focuses on pursuing your dreams.
I also have various short stories published with a variety of storylines. They are fun and feature fun characters.
Your educational and work background is in the medical field. Why did you begin writing?
It is! So, I’m a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant in the state of Oklahoma. I love helping people and only work on occasion as I spend more time with my son right now and focus on my writing. I have always been an avid reader growing up and had a wild imagination. With some encouragement from friends and my family I took that next step and attempted to publish traditionally before I tried Indie publishing. I love being an Indie author though and don’t see myself taking the traditional route in the future. Seeing my stories come to life and discovering that others enjoy them to has been life changing.
Where did you come up with the name for your website, thechaptergoddess.com?
I wanted something unique and empowering. The name reminds me that I can chose my path and encourages confidence.
What are your best and worst writing habits?
My best habits are that I can stop writing and pick write back up where I left off no matter how long it’s been. My worst habits are that I can’t sit still. I wiggle and swirl side to side while I type but tend to do better when I hand write it. I try to change things up and let my creativity flow differently by long handwriting my story then typing it up. In a way it creates a good habit by allowing me to do a bit of editing while I transfer it over improving the story overall.
If you could talk to yourself when you first started writing what advice would you give?
Write what you want. Don’t let other’s expectations effect you and your work. Don’t let depression and negativity hold you back. Go for it and stay strong. You can do it.
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
I have to say it honestly depends on the scene. Some scenes energize me, especially writing the action scenes, but others, tire me out. Transition scenes are some that make me fatigue easily but they are important in tying the story together. It doesn’t help that a lot of time my writing is done at night after the day has ended and my son is asleep.
How do you come up with character names?
This is a great question. When I first started writing I would just come up with them at random and sometimes I still do but with my latest series, the Ember series, I found myself researching the meaning of names more. I always love when authors hide bits of information like that in their characters names and I wanted to carry that over into my own work.
What does success look like for you as an author?
Success is having one person read my book and like it. Being a best seller in the future would be awesome of course but I’m a bit realistic. It will come in time. Having a good relationship with my readers is another thing that is successful. I love how much my readers have grown and become more engaging in the short time I’ve been published.
Anything additional you want to share with readers?
I would love for you all to check out my work and subscribe to my newsletter on my website, www.thechaptergoddess.com. I love to chat and share tid-bits of my personal life in my letters. Also keep reading!
“When your mother and I found each other, she was already pregnant with you. We didn’t find out until after we had been dating for a few weeks. We knew we were mates right off the bat, but wanted to learn more about each other before taking the next step to complete the mating. Your mother came to me with tears in her eyes when she found out. She had hoped it wouldn’t happen.” He reaches over and grabs my mother’s hand, squeezing it.
“Your real father was someone I met at a party. He was sweet and every girl’s dream. I will never know why he took an interest in me, but he picked me that night, and we slept together. I was about your age at the time. I didn’t find out who he was until the next morning.” She glances at Zeke.
I feel Zeke tense around me, and he tightens his hold on me.
My mother continues, “I had hoped to try and turn that one night into more when I woke the following day, but your real father revealed to me who he was. He told me he only ventures out from his realm on occasion to attempt to procreate. He has never had a true mate and will most likely never have one. He also told me that there was a chance I could become pregnant after our night together despite contraceptives and that if I find myself pregnant, to call for him, and he would come to take the child. He said the babe would be the next heir to the throne of Hell.”
Zeke’s grip on me becomes uncomfortable, so I elbow him to ease up as I continue to stare at my mother. “What are you trying to say?”
She lets go of my father’s hand and begins to shake them as if shaking water. Her eyes dart to my father, who is frowning, before coming back to mine. “Your father is Lucifer, the leader of Hell.”
“This has to be a joke,” I state, trying to push up from the sofa, only to be held back by Zeke.
By day, Jan juggles consultancy work with her family, but by night she sneaks off, into the past. Her penchant for sprinkling history with magic is fueled by coffee and Cadburys. When not writing, Jan takes her dogs and small monsters into the countryside, especially if there is a castle or historic building there with a cozy coffee shop in which to escape the rain of Manchester, England.
Share a little bit about your book, Anarchic Destiny and The Nature Series.
The Naturae series is a historical fantasy mostly set in the century of Tudor rule, in England and Scotland. It blends magical realism with actual historical events and people, featuring as main characters two fae who have differing views on how their life should pan out but are dedicated to being together, no matter what. Of course, when they are ripped apart, they each face challenges which can only be resolved by being together!
I’ve also written a prequel set in 800Ad which is when Vikings invaded the Orkney Islands (which has a significant impact on the story!) which is the tragic story of a villain’s descent, or creation!
Disrupting Destiny, book 1, sets out these main characters and establishes the world of Naturae through a dramatic journey towards accepting one’s destiny to rule.
Anarchic Destiny is Book 2 in the series and introduces the main antagonist for the remainder of the series, a morally grey vampire, Henry Fitzroy. Subsequent books will take the reader through the remainder of Tudor rule, culminating in the Civil War.
What inspired you to weave fantasy with history?
I’ve always been interested in history, and more importantly, what it can teach us about today. Fantasy allows the writer to ask trickier questions, sometimes human ones, and explore them. You can give characters wings, what a pain when corsets are a requirement. You can make them dependent upon blood alone – how handy if the Catholic church regularly ‘lets blood’ as a cure.
My stories verge on alternative history, and the challenge for me is skirting with how far can I go with having the characters witness or participate in real historical events without it actually changing the course of history as we know it.
Do you know how many books you plan for the series?
I think when I’m done there will be 6 books – including 2 prequels. The next on my list is a second prequel actually – the love story between my two main characters set in the 1400’s.
You also have a children’s book, Mitch and Mooch try Swimming. Tell us about it.
It’s a children’s picture book / early reader aimed at 4-7 year olds. The series, Mitch and Mooch Try, is all about new experiences, and equipping both parents and children with what to expect from a first lesson in a sport.
There’s some specific terminology help, what sort of activities you might do, and also addressing some common fears which children have about an activity (like, what happens if water goes up my nose? The book is also written with dyslexia in mind, the font is dyslexia friendly and the style is more like a comic book with speech bubbles as these things can help reluctant or struggling readers.
You have a whole website dedicated to Mitch and Mooch. Talk about what it offers.
The website is where parents and teachers can find out more about the book, as well as download some free resources like colouring sheets, word searches, and certificates for effort. There’s articles on there about rising to the challenges of parenting as well, kind of, what works for me or what issues I’m working on with children in my life.
When can readers expect the next Mitch and Mooch book?
The next few books are written, but right now, I’m in the process of looking for a new illustrator as unfortunately, since COVID, mine has stopped illustrating. The next is Mitch and Mooch Try Gymnastics, but I don’t know when it will be published as yet.
Do you have any odd writing habits?
I don’t know whether there are ‘normal’ habits to compare with! Everyone is different. I don’t know if it’s peculiar, but I have to write in absolute silence. I tried writing with music or in a public place, and frankly, it just didn’t work for me. Perhaps it’s because I have to really get my head into 500 years ago!
What is the best piece of writing advice you have received?
AIS – it stands for Arse In Seat. The words won’t write themselves; you actually have to be there, ready to write, for them to get onto the page. Sounds obvious? Hard to do sometimes, but very necessary. Of course, words might come at other, inopportune times, but to get a novel written, you have to make time to actually sit down and write them.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Ignoring all the other things which require my attention, and getting absolute silence in a busy household!
What does success look like for you as an author?
Success would be someone I don’t know, picking up my book in a book store, and going, ohh I’ve heard of this, I’ll buy it.
Anything additional you want to share with readers?
Subscribe to my newsletterhttps://www.subscribepage.com/mailingsubscribe and I’ll send you a free copy of the Naturae Series prequel Risking Destiny (a full length novel set in Viking Age Orkney) to enjoy!
Whilst checking the concealing mist level, a desperate messenger fae had found Joshua, requesting his presence most urgently at the citadel. Despite flying the several miles back as quickly as he could, he fretted he would be late. By the time Joshua reached the High Hall, the hastily called Council meeting was already in session. A worker fae crowd gathered to watch the proceedings, so his flustered entry was hardly unnoticed. He paused by a trunk-seat, to straighten his attire after his rush from the far edges of Naturae island. Now, on top of being damp from the droplets of the cloud, he was sweaty and ill-prepared for whatever lay ahead. Joshua caught his breath in the humid atmosphere of the vaulted-ceilinged hub of their community and sent a brief prayer upward to calm himself. Already, he sensed the tension within the vast chamber, although tempered by silent respect from the observers as their representatives deliberated.
Present around the wide oval table which he had helped to craft were his Queen and wife, Aioffe; her closest confidante and advisor, Uffer or Lord Anaxis, as he was formally titled, who now oversaw the running of the Palace instead of the Beneath; Overseer Thane, the acknowledged spokesperson of the entire community of worker fae; the aging Captain of the Guard and fifteen worker representatives from across designations. None of the Nobles were there, which suggested to Joshua this matter did not concern the wider realm but Naturae island specifically. Had it been a full session, Joshua hoped that he would have been given proper advance notice of the meeting, but, he was only the Prince and had no formal responsibilities within Naturae. This session was thus urgent, but not disastrous. But he could be wrong, he realised; the debate, as he slid onto his seat, was decidedly more combative than usual.
He dropped his wings and tilted his head slightly to acknowledge Aioffe next to him. She flicked a grateful glance his way, her elbows resting on the table and her chin in her hands as the Council argued. He slipped his hand to her knee and squeezed it, and she smiled without turning her attention from the conversation. The smile didn’t reach her eyes. Instead, he saw they were a darkened blue and filled with worry.
“He needs to be kept away from us all, for our own safety!” Uffer said. His fists stopped just short of pounding the polished wooden surface.
Thane sided with him. “Lyrus is of the old order. It’s too much of a risk to have him around.” His head shook, causing tiny particles of mud to spray into the air. Down one cheek, a dark smudge still decorated his weather-beaten face.
“We should have left him buried,” a worker representative said, shaking his head. “I wish we’d never dug him out.” Thane nodded sagely, his mouth downcast.
Joshua leant over to Aioffe and whispered, “What did I miss?”
In a trembling voice, she muttered, “Lyrus was pulled out of the remains of the Beneath this morning. Alive.”
Joshua gasped, “Still alive? After seventeen years?” He leaned back as he tried to imagine what it must have been like to be buried underground for such a long time, unable to die in the suffocating darkness.
“Barely, but yes.” She turned her attention to the conversation. “I would appreciate hearing the opinion of the Captain of the Guard, please? Before we can come to a consensus about what should be done with him.”
The Captain nodded curtly; the grey hairs turning silvery on his head as they caught the light streaming through the windows, which only added to his gravitas. “My Queen, it would be remiss of me not to point out that I have a conflict of interest. Lyrus was my predecessor. He was, regardless of his actions, an outstanding soldier. He taught myself, indeed, all of our older army, everything. For that, we have a debt of responsibility towards him. A duty of care, you might say. But,” he sighed, “I also fear that rehabilitation into our ranks, were he to recover sufficiently in a physical sense, risks his opinions, his manner and style, corrupting our new generation of soldiers.”
“So where does that leave us?” Thane interrupted. “What are my workers to do with him? I won’t tolerate him spreading discord.”
Shrugging, the Captain said, “We no longer have a Beneath in which to hold him whilst we wait out his recovery and ascertain the threat level he poses. And, he was the most senior of all Guards – Captain as I am now. He should be accorded the respect he is owed.” The loyal officer then glared through his tufty grey eyebrows at Thane.
“He will surely need medical attention for many months,” Uffer interjected. “Perhaps if Lyrus were to be placed in one of the palace rooms, under strict guard, until such a time as we can determine where his allegiances lie?”
Joshua thought this sounded like a typically sensible suggestion from his friend, and nodded. All the while, he kept a gentle hand on Aioffe’s knee for support. His other fist clenched and unclenched in his lap. Two previous encounters with Lyrus had both resulted in differing traumatic outcomes. He held Lyrus fully responsible for kidnapping Aioffe and dragging her away from him, then leaving her captive in the Beneath, thinking he was dead.
Joshua glanced across the table, pondering the changes which had happened since then. The re-building of Naturae and establishment of Aioffe’s new Queendom had taken precedence, and their community grew closer as well as in numbers. No-one had missed Lyrus, and there had been no need for the Beneath; that entire area had been forgotten about – until they needed the space. Joshua knew they were excavating around there to build new ground level outbuildings to house their growing numbers of livestock, but he hadn’t anticipated they would dig so deep as to discover what lay in the Beneath.
He glanced at Aioffe again, seeing the tension in the way she held her slim body. This must be a shock for her, although she focussed on the conversation as if it were just another matter within her Queensland. He worried about the conflicted emotions she surely felt – this was her brother they were discussing, even if there had been little love between them.
If Lyrus was alive, what did that mean for them? Joshua’s tongue ran over the gap in his jaw, left by the tooth Lyrus had extracted while torturing him for information, just minutes before the Beneath had collapsed in an earthquake. As this happened some seventeen years ago, Joshua had tried to bury the memories and his guilt. At the time, it had seemed perfectly reasonable for himself and Spenser to tie up and leave his enemy in the Beneath whilst they rescued Nemis and Fairfax, but now?
At some point, he would have to see Lyrus. Face the brother-in-law whom Joshua had thought was dead. Joshua could not have known, and frankly wouldn’t have cared at the time, that Naturae would be almost uprooted with the violent shaking. He guessed Lyrus would hold him responsible, but to his mind, his imprisonment underground still didn’t make them even. Whatever pain Joshua had endured, Lyrus had caused far greater emotional agony for his wife, and that was unforgivable.
Aioffe stared straight ahead, trying to ignore the glowers which were being exchanged around the table. “I would like a Council consensus on where he is to be housed whilst he recovers.” Her mouth tightened. “We do not have medical facilities and whomever we assign to his care must be able to withstand his ‘methods’ of persuasion.”
The Captain splayed his hands on the table, reaching forwards towards his Queen. His eyes grew earnest, as he said, “Many of us remember the way he would manipulate minds. Your Highness, I still think it wisest if he is placed directly under our care. He, being of royal blood, will doubtless recover very quickly with the Lifeforce we can provide. But his injuries sound severe. The Lifeforce will restore his essence and speed healing, but without correctly positioning of his bones and wings, he would be left a cripple. Although we fae are not healers, we could send for the one who knows our ways, to ensure he makes a full recovery.” He glanced at Joshua, “I believe you know of one such person, our Prince?”
Joshua’s lips pursed. One of the few fae to have been severely injured – several times – and his life saved whilst in the human world, only a tiny part of him empathised with Lyrus’s future, doubtless painful, journey back to health. Joshua’s own recovery, after being slashed and squashed by Lyrus, would not have been possible without the very man the Captain referred to – Maister Jeffries. A witch and heretic. A man Joshua had no option but to trust, only to have been used and betrayed. He nodded briefly, pushing away doubts about whether he wanted to be in contact with the monk again, to be deliberated upon when he had a moment with Aioffe. Until he knew her thoughts on the matter, he did not want to commit to anything.
“We can’t allow unknown others, even if they are healers, into Naturae.” Simeon, one of the worker representatives, cried out. Around the table, Joshua noted many of the other workers shared his concern. “We don’t need outsiders. The risk is too great they will talk about us.”
“There is also the Treaty to bear in mind,” the Captain said. “Remember, only fae are allowed onto Naturae. Any visitors would have to be certain their stay here goes unnoticed.”
“We go into their world when we like.” Thane weighed in, “It is only by the bounty which our Queen has bestowed on our city that we have sufficient resources, sufficient strength, to learn from humans ourselves. Do not forget that.”
Joshua smiled – Thane had proved over the years to be more open to mixing with the wider realm than Aioffe and he had ever expected.
Another representative, Oldy Elizae, known for her dislike of humans or indeed anything not fae, but well respected in the worker community, said, “Why couldn’t we ask a healer what they would do, without bringing them here? But then, I suppose it’s difficult to explain what we are without actually seeing the problem.” Her voice tailed off, realising she was not particularly helping.
Aioffe nodded her head slightly, and Oldy Elizae smiled once more, grateful to have had the chance to be heard. Aioffe said, “I understand your fears, and yes, there is always a danger of exposure when we try to involve ourselves in the human world. But,” and her eyes flicked over to Joshua, “We do know there are healers experienced with fae there, and even if we cannot find the one who healed my husband, we should think about how to find an alternative. Where is Lyrus now?”
“Outside.” Thane grumbled, “Shouting still, hissing his poison.”
“With no guards? We must protect our Queen! Who knows what he will do now he’s out,” Uffer said, frowning at the Captain. “And that means protecting her from the likes of Lyrus as well as foreign intervention. He should be kept apart from everyone until he has healed sufficiently to answer for his actions.” The voices around the table began to rise again.
“Lyrus cannot be expected to justify what happened before when he was under the orders of the former Queen.” The Captain grew defensive – understandably, Joshua realised. He likewise had served under her rule yet was respected here as if he had not also perpetrated the unkind methods the old Queen used to get what she wanted. “He should not need a guard. Lyrus is not a threat to anyone and remains a sworn Queen’s Guard.”
Thane raised his voice, “Doesn’t need a guard? He was the cruelest of soldiers, the most wicked of any aside from Queen Lana, and the most scornful of those who were not his equal. I am not convinced he has any place in Naturae at all. Lyrus should be kept completely away from everyone. He has had years to plot what he would do when eventually discovered. Keeping him apart from us is the safest course of action. Isolate him under heavy guard somewhere else on the island. I don’t want the workers at risk. If Lyrus recovers, he will be strong, and there is no guarantee he will reform his behaviour and attitude to suit our current, more inclusive, circumstances. Our Queen has the full support of our workers, our army, and this Council – her security is paramount and he cannot be trusted.”
Joshua glanced at Aioffe, wondering how strange it must be to have your safety discussed as if you were not even present. There were too many differing opinions to make sense of, and he could see the tiredness in her eyes. He squeezed her knee again, but then Aioffe stood. Joshua’s heart swelled with pride.
“I do not wish to make a final decision about his future here without your full agreement on the matter.” She said, “All I know is, right now, my brother is lying in a clearing, surrounded by people staring at him and he can barely move. He is in pain, and certainly starving after so many years buried. Uffer, please ensure that he is assisted to feed from a small live animal. I know my brother – the urge to take Lifeforce will overwhelm him, and to deny him that risks him attacking any fae who happens to be close by. You will remember how fast he can be, even if injured. I doubt anyone would be able to fight off a crazed frenzy-feed from a maniac like him. Better to give him as much as he needs to heal from our supplies.”
The Captain said, “My Queen, then it would surely be safer for us all if he were to be placed in a chamber, rather than out in the open.”
“I agree,” Aioffe said, “There are many guardable side chambers which we could place him in for now. Rotate the soldiers outside but keep them close, Captain, and make sure they understand the potential threat he poses. We cannot afford for them to be swayed by his former authority over your army.” She smiled at the officer, “I know you will be cautious to keep us all protected.” She turned to Uffer, “As Lyrus will be kept within the Household, I can rely on you to ensure he is fed.”
Joshua said, “I recommend rabbits, Lord Anaxis. Small enough to sustain but will not provide much energy for significant or aggressive movement.” He looked at Aioffe to confirm. “We will need to first discover Jeffries’ whereabouts.”
Aioffe rolled her eyes. “That will be impossible with the few spies we have and such a large realm to cover.” She shook her head, glanced at the lowering evening light streaming in through the windows, and frowned. “I must take my leave, I have much to attend to.”
“Shall I assist, my love?” Joshua asked, standing as well.
Aioffe’s lips lifted, but the smile did not reach her eyes. “No, I know you have other matters to oversee. These are not affairs which I need you for.”
Joshua nodded and looked down at the table. He swallowed, then his eyes followed her as she flew out of the room. He turned back to the Council and saw most of them gathering their personal items and making ready to depart. Uffer engaged in conversation with some of the worker representatives about which rabbit enclosures to use. Thane met his gaze though, and they descended the few steps from the raised dais side by side. As they pushed through the cluster, Joshua heard the worker’s whispered shock. No doubt gossip about what had happened would travel quickly, leaving each to make their own minds up about the implications of the return of a known enemy of their beloved Queen.
Where the crowd thinned out, Thane, in his deep, authoritative tone which he only used when speaking in an official capacity, said, “Our Queen must be encouraged to proceed with the plans for the Ceremony. You know the workers are looking forward to welcoming this third generation into their ranks. The rite of passage it represents for our young must not be forgotten in the upheaval. I look to you, Prince Joshua, to ensure that this distraction does not take away Queen Aioffe’s focus.”
Joshua caught his regretful glance as they passed one of the smaller gathering areas to the side; neither of them had much time these days to sit and converse about their development plans as they had done in the early years of Naturae’s re-greening. Thane was the informally recognised leader of the worker fae, and Joshua felt honoured to work by his side, sharing ideas as they created and grew the citadel. The level of trust and mutual respect between them well established, so much so that Thane was not overstepping, however formally he had asked his favour.
“I will discuss it with her, of course. I cannot see any reason why we would not continue, despite the upheaval. Have we any sight of Ambassador Spenser and Nemis yet?” What a time for them to return, Joshua thought.
Thane shook his head. “I have had a watch close to the jetty as you requested, nothing as yet.”
“There is time still,” Joshua said. “Nemis may know where Jeffries has ended up as well.”
Thane stopped and glanced at Joshua, lowering his voice to say, “Are you sure you want to bring him here? It is well known what Lyrus did to you, and I realise how you feel about Jeffries.” He raised an eyebrow at his friend.
Meeting his eyes, Joshua said nothing, but his mouth tightened. “We have little choice in the matter. Lyrus is my wife’s brother. He is ‘royal’ as a result and that might be all that matters.”
I’ll skip the more formal bio which people can find on Amazon. Here’s the short and sweet stats. I grew up in the 80s and 90s on all the great cartoons, TV, movies, toys and video games of that time. What a great time to be a kid! I’ve got a background in visual design. Growing up, my twin brother and I always wanted to draw comic books. Now, I just write. I’m also a dad and a husband. I’ve given up on getting my wife to read my nerdy book, but my kids are loving it. There’s nothing like sharing stories with people and sharing stories with my kids is the absolute best.
Share a little bit about your book, Ringstraked: Ruin of the Giant King.
It’s a fantasy book for sure. But it’s somewhat unique. The magic system is more about superheroes than wizards or spells, etc. It’s also set in the ancient, middle east, whereas many fantasy novels are in a type of Middle Ages or Renaissance setting.
Why set it there? Well, the book fundamentally tries to imagine what the world would be like if superheroes were real? How would our history be different as people with superpowers began to emerge in every nation?
Now, this isn’t entirely new ground, of course. I really enjoyed Amazon’s The Boys, which asks that question too. Also, the movie Chronicle, which was great. But most “realistic” takes on this question are set in modern times. Some corporation invents some device or formula or some alien species transformed ordinary people.
But my book imagines this happening a long time ago at the dawn of civilization. Now, Marvel’s Eternals recently touched on this. And I won’t comment on its mixed receptions. All I will say is that my book and audiobook was written and published way before Eternals was even announced.
And I think I’m taking the plot and concept in a far different direction. In particular, the villains aren’t nameless, faceless monsters or robot-looking aliens the size of a planet. And the heroes aren’t genetically engineered off-worlders that really aren’t a part of humanity. They are home-grown, real people who represent the nations and cultures they come from, something readers can care about.
How did you get started as a writer?
I’ve been writing casually since college, which was a while back for me. In college, my twin brother and I wrote a 600-page novel with dozens of characters. In our mind, it was a blend of Star Wars and Marvel’s X-men.
Now that I’m getting older and my life is settled down a little, I’ve gone back to writing. With this book, I joke that I wrote it by accident. And what I mean is that I intended to write a story in a more modern setting. But I didn’t want to just do exposition about where this world came from and its magic rules. So, I started writing a back story and I wanted to make sure it was sufficiently developed. And eventually it was obviously so developed that it had turned into its own book.
Do you plan to publish another book? If so, when?
Yes. I think writing is in my veins now. It’s hard work but very fulfilling.
Just getting started on the new book. This will be something a little different. Definitely still set in the same time frame as the last book, which is the ancient earth. There will be similar themes as the last book and readers can expect to continue to see varied and interwoven storylines that I think will surprise them.
I’ve also marshalled two of my brothers in the effort, to bounce ideas off of and help push the story in the right directions. I’m really excited about it.
Your author page on Facebook is called Popcorn Mythology. Where does that name come from?
So, if there’s one thing I can spend hours doing, it’s talking about all kinds of TV shows and movies and even cartoons from when I was a kid, high school, college.
When I started writing, I was thinking about what inspired me. And I realized that I had a kind of mythology, a set of archetypes and nostalgic impressions that formed a kind of lore. Only this mythology wasn’t based on ancient legends. It was based on pop cultural stories and entertainment, the kinds of things you would enjoy while eating a bucket of popcorn. And that’s where the name came from, “popcorn mythology.”
And when we started it, the intent was not only to talk about my book, but more to create an opportunity to have conversations with other people with similar interests, not from an academic perspective, but in a common language of pop culture emerging from the 80s and 90s.
What is your oddest writing habit?
Well, I’ve heard this is true of some other writers. But I feel pretty odd about it. I don’t read a lot of books. I prefer movies and TV. In a way, I think as a writer it causes me to really value dialog because of the way actors can really deliver character through the way they talk. It also creates a sense of how body language is important, etc., essentially ways to establish distinct and hopefully rich characters without relying on exposition.
I think it’s also created a certain sense of pacing. One of the things that frustrates me sometimes in movies or even serial TV shows is when the pacing is off. Because that’s also pretty apparent in a medium like video. To me you need a good balance of dialog and action and building and twist, but beyond balance you also need a rhythm. A reader needs to be excited and feel the suspense, but also get chance to breathe, absorb, be happy when a character is happy, or sad, or feel relieved as they feel relieved, and just have a well-rounded full experience with them.
And that’s the kind of escapist nature of entertainment, right? Getting to go through a range of ups and downs with characters. For me, I want readers to feel the kind of gratification of work and reward, relationships and meaning, that we all want in our own lives.
What is the most difficult part of the writing process for you?
Finding the time. I’m a husband and a dad. And I have a full-time job that I really enjoy. So, I’m often sneaking time late into the night, making deals with myself about how little sleep I can get by with or how late up I can set my alarm or if I really need to exercise the next morning before work.
My book ended up over 500 pages. But when you really believe in something, when you really think you’re producing a quality story, you get so involved that you are just emotionally invested, and you can’t pull yourself away.
Where do your story ideas come from?
Well, no surprise that I’m trying to recapture the magic of things I grew up with.
You know originally I thought it was the particulars that matters. Star Wars as a brand. Luke and Han and Leia and Vader. Christopher Reeves as Superman. But now that I’m older, I realize there are these common kernels, these more basic elements that are common to human experience, aspects of all stories that make them good stories, or of good character writing that make for good characters.
Of course, I’m not the only one who realized this. It’s not rocket science. But that’s where my ideas come from. A desire to recreate the inspiration that I felt as a kid and to provide, at least for me, to ensure that there is a kind of quality that I remember from those great movies and TV shows of the 80s and 90s. Which I think is more important now than ever because every streaming service is producing all kinds of content in a race to just get stuff out there no matter what the quality is.
How do you come up with character names for your stories?
I tell my kids that all characters are in some ways either an extension of yourself or of people you know and the roles they played in your life.
Sure, you may think to yourself, “Ooh, I want this guy to be my Captain Jack Sparrow” or “this guy is my Loki,” but ultimately you have to fill in a lot of details. And movies and TV, which is kind of my wheelhouse, they don’t give you a lot of character depth, at least not depth that is articulated the way that an omniscient narrator has to do.
So where do you fill that in from? It has to come from you and your relationships. You write what you know, right. That’s the adage. Again, not rocket science. I’m not inventing this stuff.
But I recently started reading my book to my kids at night before bed. I have a boy and a girl. And what I told them was this. “This story is about a brother and a sister. And the brother is very smart. And the sister is very special. This book is in part about you.” And that is true. You take inspiration for your characters from bits and pieces of yourself, of people you knew, or even people you barely knew that left some striking impression on you.
If money were no object, what would you do?
If money were no object, I’d turn this story into a movie series. I’d put a ton of cash into large sets, practical special effects, and historic locations.
But what I wouldn’t do is cast a bunch of well-known actors. I think about Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher, these weren’t household names when Star Wars came out. They were talented. They knew how to embody the characters in this strange new world. And that’s why the characters came to life on-screen.
My worry is that if you just cast famous people, then the show often (but not always) becomes about the actor. The actor becomes the selling point, the cornerstone of the marketing campaign. But if you get talented people that aren’t super famous, then the characters and the story become the most important thing, the selling point.
For me, Game of Thrones was a great example of that. And honestly, the same was true for most the super heroes in the Marvel Universe. People don’t remember this, but Robert Downey Junior was not exactly an A-list actor when the first Iron Man movie came out. And I think the magic happens, when it’s about the story and the craft, not the fame.
What does success look like for you as an author?
I’m not looking to make money off my books. As I mentioned, I have a career that I really enjoy. If people liked my book or the audiobook, I’d give them away. That’s not how Amazon works. And that’s not how you pay for things like getting an audiobook made, or better cover art.
But if they really are good quality, then success for me is that the book isn’t really lost in the digital shelves of Amazon, buried under a thousand other books in the same genre. What I want, as a writer, is for my stories to be shared and to bring people enjoyment. Sincerely.
Anything additional you want to share with readers?
One last thing maybe, a bit of self-disclosure. I stink at marketing as it turns out. I am terrible at promoting this book. I just want to write. And it’s hard to stay out there in social media to promote. I don’t have a passion for social media and self-promotion.
I have a passion for writing, good characters, good character arcs, fulfilling conclusions, and (for my money) good dialog. And yes, I throw in some details fighting scenes peppered throughout to keep people on their toes.
But I’m hoping they won’t hold against me that the book has been poorly marketed. It’s my fault. I’m doing this on my own. And hopefully, they won’t let that get in the way of them trying it out. There’s some twists and turns in this book. And it’s an epic story. So, give it a chance.
Facebook Twitter Youtube (Book Trailer) BookLocations: Amazon and Audible. Look for the name “Ringstraked.” I guarantee it’s the only thing you’ll find with that name.
Excerpt
(Chapter: The Vale of Gall)
Realizing he could not outrun the spear, the last giant determined to stand his ground. Raising his heavy shield before his face, he braced himself for what would surely be a forceful blow. But the spear struck without impact. Without a sound, it soared straight through both the shield and its bearer. The giant collapsed dead where he stood, as if falling suddenly into a deep sleep. For, the light which bathed the spear also lent to it a certain aspect of unnatural rigidity and potency, which no substance or armor could resist.
A soon as the spear’s task was complete, the Thracian champion recalled it again to his hand, just as he had done the first time. Catching it with graceful ease, he staked the spear upright in the ground as he turned toward the wounded Aganon, who was still on her knees, panting heavily in great pain.
Having seen the great skill with which the champion had struck down the giants, Aganon found herself in awe. She struggled to summon the strength to rise and attack. With the pike still lodged in her shoulder, she could hardly maneuver. Unless she could remove it, she would no doubt prove an easy mark. She had little recourse. To free herself, she would have to do something unthinkable. Groaning mightily and grinding her teeth, she drew the fire of her wings downward, causing it to shrink and gather into a single column of flame. The flame moved over her shoulder and onto the wounded arm. The fire soon engulfed the arm itself, burning hot enough to reduce the lengthy pike to cinder. It soon crumbled into ash, swept away in the passing breeze as the fire spread out along the full length of Aganon’s arm, even to the fingertips. She cried out in pain, then suddenly sighed in welcome relief. The fire could neither heal the wound, nor restore the strength of her arm. But, the arm of flesh was no more, now replaced by an arm of fire. Gone was the broken limb yet somehow, the fire had made her whole. Relieved of her duress, Aganon rose to her feet to face the Thracian. Remembering her battle with the champion of Elam, she stretched forth the contours of the fiery arm, shaping it into a wiry lash, which spiraled in rolling, sparking circles along the ground.
“We must kill her quickly,” Hyrus urged.
“No,” the champion forbid.
“Midrin, this is dangerous,” cautioned Hierapol. “You must not be naïve.”
“The decision is not yours to make, Hierapol,” replied the champion.
Pulling his spear from the earth, the champion directed his words to Aganon, speaking to her in the native Assyrian tongue.
“You understand me. I know you do,” he said. “Surrender and I will spare you, you and your army.”
“I have bested better men than you, Thracian,” Aganon scoffed.
“I assure you, you haven’t,” he answered soberly. “What’s more, you are wounded and in no condition to fight.”
“Am I?” she taunted.
“Don’t be a fool,” he warned her. “I am stronger, faster, and uninjured. I have killed your giants. And you have no idea what else I am capable of.”
Aganon was slow to move. She looked around her. A third of her army was dead or dying. En-Larsil’s body was lying on the ground in a heap not very far from her. She could see the other two giants as well, both slain and fallen to the dirt. Then her eyes turned back toward the towering champion of Thrace. He stood before her patient, ready, and holding the golden shield of the crescent moon. She took a few deep breaths. Jeruh kept his hands gripped tightly around the hilts of his swords, poised to strike. But there was no need. Aganon dropped once more to her knees. The fiery lash vanished into a thin line of black smoke shrinking backward all the way up to her shoulder. As the smoke drifted and disappeared, her left arm was gone. But at least the bleeding had stopped, sealed somehow by the fire. Exhausted and ailing from her wounds, she bowed her head.
“I surrender,” she said.
With their giants dead and their champion surrendered, Menosheth and the Babylonians lost all will to fight. Yet, the Thracian champion was somehow aware of their despair, and he began to speak to them in a booming voice that echoed mightily throughout the canyon.
“I am Midrin, son of Adan, champion of Thrace,” he shouted. “Your fight here is ended. For, I have ended it. And I will have quarrel with any man who says otherwise. Lay down your arms, and you will be shown mercy. I swear it.”
Menosheth was the first to lay down his sword. Coming forward, before the Thracian champion, he bowed his knee in surrender. Scattered throughout the canyon, the rest of his captains did the same. The surrender cascaded in a wave along the entire the length of the canyon, until all of the Babylonians, weary and shaken, dropped their swords and shields to the ground, stunned in disbelief.
The Thracian champion then turned toward Jeruh.
“Are you the one they call Jeruh of Illiund?” he asked.
“I am,” answer Jeruh.
“And you are in charge of these men?” the champion continued.
“I think I can vouch for that,” Hierapol interjected with a winsome grin. “And from the looks of things, doing quite well at it.”
“Hierapol,” replied Jeruh, “I had wondered if I should ever see your likes again after your departure from the tombs. It seems the last hope for Thrace has finally come forth from his place of hiding. Do you have any idea how many horses and riders have been spent in your search?”
“Not nearly as many as were wasted here today,” said the champion in stern lament, looking out across the field upon the great many lying dead and wounded on both sides.
“And here I thought being hard to find was rather the point,” jested Hierapol.
Jeruh feigned disapproval, “We could have used you a bit sooner.”
“Not much sooner, I should think. From what I’ve been told, Thrace has fared quite well with you at the old king’s side,” answered Hierapol, with a note of appreciation.
Standing to Jeruh’s right, Hyrus looked quite dissatisfied. The Thracian champion was the first to take notice, before even a word was spoken. For his gifts lent to him also a certain ability to intuit the inclinations of those around him.
“You, there,” said the champion to Hyrus. “Something displeases you? Speak up. Your voice will be heard here.”
But Hyrus was reluctant to share his thoughts. After all, he knew neither of the two men before him.
“Spit it out, Hyrus,” ordered Jeruh.
Hyrus turned to Jeruh and replied, “My lord, is it wise to spare an army of this size? As a whole, they are but a portion of Imrodin’s forces, yet the loss of their number would still be of great help in the war to come. We should kill them now, while we have the chance.”
“No,” said the champion.
Still speaking to Jeruh, Hyrus persisted, “We should at the least decimate their forces.”
But the champion objected yet again, “Not a single man laying down his arms in surrender will be harmed. I have given my word.”
“Forgive me, sir,” said Hyrus to the champion. “But I know neither you, nor your word, nor on whose authority you speak.”
“I speak on my own authority,” answered the champion plainly.
“Do you claim to be a king then?” Hyrus scoffed.
“No. But I am your champion. And on the field of battle, my authority can only be challenged by another of my kind.”
“I tend to agree with Hyrus,” responded Jeruh. “But seeing how we lack the means of killing so many ourselves, I don’t see that we have much choice in the matter.”
Hierapol smiled at the clever phrasing of Jeruh’s answer. For, he had somehow managed to go along with the suggestion even while clearly expressing his sharp disapproval.
“I suppose they’ll all have to come north to Illiund,” Hierapol observed in his typically cavalier tone. “Although, it doesn’t seem a particularly bright idea to bring an enemy army this size across our own borders. And then there’s the problem of where to house them and how to feed them all when we arrive.”
“We will release them back to the south as a warning to Imrodin,” ordered the champion.
“Begging your pardon,” Hyrus protested, “but the giant king of Babylon does not heed the warnings of men, neither king nor champion.”
“It does not matter,” the champion explained. “He’s coming north regardless. And when he does, his fate will rise or fall by the strength of his champions, not these men. Let them go home to their own people in peace, a sign of good will for the days that follow this war.”
Hierapol looked to Jeruh for a decision.
“Well?” he asked.
Jeruh was slow to answer, then finally spoke.
“I never had any intention of marching north with ten thousand prisoners. Do what you will. The field is yours.”
“And what of her?” asked Hyrus, nodding toward Aganon.
“You have the means to restrain her?” the champion asked Jeruh.
“I do. But it will be hard to move her.”
Upon hearing these words, Aganon offered no protest, nor did she even so much as lift her head. After glancing back toward her one more time, the Champion turned his attention once again to Jeruh.
“Make your preparations,” the champion ordered. “Use whatever means necessary but see to it she suffers little. She is coming with me, alive.”
“I’m sure my men will do their best,” Jeruh halfheartedly assured him.
And with that, Jeruh relinquished his command to Hierapol and the champion. He turned, heading over the crest of the ridge and to his horse, which was waiting on the downward slope. Weary from the day’s battle and even more weary from the months spent in preparation, he was content to hand over the burden of command. This was close enough to the ending he had hoped for, given how little hope he had to begin with.
“Well,” Hierapol remarked cavalierly. “That should be good enough.”
Then the Thracian champion turned toward Hyrus.
“Gather your men,” he told him. “When their champion is ready to travel, we leave for Illiund with all haste. We shall not linger here for the giant king to send another.”
Hyrus nodded in agreement.
“Good,” said Hierapol. “It’s been far too long since I was home.”
The champion walked slowly toward Aganon. Patting her gently on the shoulder, he spoke to her as one would to an old friend.
“Come,” he said, “we have a long road to travel, you and I.”
It was an unexpected gesture to be certain, and Aganon was by no means sure what to make of it.
I am a first time author and live in Wesley Chapel, Florida which is about thirty minutes north of the city of Tampa. I work for the ABC television affiliate WFTS and I’ve been in the TV industry for about twenty years.
Share a little bit about your book, The Interstellar Police Force.
The Interstellar Police Force, Book One: The Historic Mission
This is a Science Fiction-Action-Comedy, set on present day Earth, which begins in a far-off galaxy. Prodor Moffit and four other prisoners have escaped to Earth and it’s up to two IPF Agents to find them. But, right off, they are met with problems.
The first is that they have limited information on the human race that only goes up to the late 1950’s. The second is that the Agents are alien in appearance, so to complete their covert mission they must replicate themselves into humans. The commander’s replication succeeds, but due to a computer glitch his partner is replicated into a Doberman Pincher.
With mid-twentieth century information in hand, the agents successfully land. And with the help of a young Earth girl who unwittingly discovers their true identities, the mission to re-capture Prodor Moffit and the other prisoners is on.
Where are you at in the process of creating book two of the series?
I am about 98% finished with, The Interstellar Police Force, Book Two: The Beauty of Violence. I still have some secondary characters that I would like to polish up, but other than that it should be going off to the editors in two to three months.
Book Two will pick up roughly six months after Book One ended. Jeff and Genghis spend more time in Old Town searching for a man trying to extort money from shop owners and who they feel could be one of the escapees. Prodor Moffit continues to leave bodies in town along with amping up the production of his illicit drug, Dragon’s Breath. Meanwhile Lieutenant DeLaRue decides to confront Marshall Jeff Trent about the serial killer known as the Surgeon.
Why did you decide to combine science fiction and comedy?
I have always liked the concept, in book form and television, of a drama with comical undertones. Very similar to the short lived yet great TV series Firefly. I feel I have achieved this as well with my characters of Jeff Trent and Genghis Khan.
As the story goes, the two IPF agents have limited information on the human race. In fact the only information they have on the human race is a small file of the worst movies made by them. So, the computer that produces driver licenses, credit cards, etc. can only reference this one file. And this is how they get their names. The commander of the mission gets the name Jeff Trent from the 1957 movie Plan 9 from Outer Space and his partner receives the name, Genghis Khan from the equally bad 1956 movie The Conqueror starring John Wayne.
Your bio on Amazon says you have worked in the television industry. How has that experience influence your journey as a writer and published author?
It really has not influenced me in any real way except for the friends that I’ve made along the way. They all have been very supportive and encouraging.
How did your writing journey begin?
Well, I think it really started with my love for the anthology style TV shows like the original Twilight Zone and Netflix’s Black Mirror, along with many others. In 2006 I was attempting to write (what I thought was) a script treatment based on an old Twilight Zone episode in the hopes of taking that and writing a screenplay then making it into an Indy film. I found out later that script treatments are supposed to be about two paragraphs long. I had over 90 pages. What I had was a short novel. Not knowing anything about copyright laws, I set it aside but thought that this was something I could do. Two months later as I was at a stop light while driving home one day I looked to the empty lane next to me and imagined a 1959 Ford Thunderbird coming out of the sky like a plane touching down on a runway and pulling up next to me. There was a man behind the wheel wearing Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses and a Doberman Pincher sitting in the passenger seat. That’s when the idea for The Interstellar Police Force came to me and it just snowballed from there.
What is the most valuable writing advice you ever received?
Ray Bradbury was once quoted as saying, “Write a thousand words a day and in three years you’ll be a writer.” So, I have taken that to heart. I try to write a thousand words every time I sit in front of my computer. Not every day, but I do try to reach that word count.
Who has been the biggest supporter of your writing?
I would say family and friends. I have received some great constructive criticism and editing tips that have help me shape The Interstellar Police Force, Book One into what I have self-published.
What are the best tips you’ve received that helped improve your writing?
Sending the manuscript out to beta readers. I was told, when Book One was completed and edited to do this. Beta readers will charge a minimum price to read your novel and critique it. It was with their positive feedback that I knew my novel was ready for publishing.
What does success look like for you as an author?
Success? My definition of success (when I finally do achieve it) is being able to hire a lawn service to mow my lawn. Until then, I will continue to endure the 80, 90 degree Florida weather while mowing in August.
Anything additional you want to share with readers?
I just would like to thank you for this opportunity and those who have read my novel. I do greatly appreciate it.
Tensions and security were both high when the eight inmates were led to the waiting transfer vehicle, higher than normal, and all due to one particular inmate, Prodor Moffit.
The guards were alert and focused. All their weapons were pointed down, safeties off. Their fingers were on the trigger guards, not the triggers. No one wanted to accidentally discharge their weapon and start a panic. There were rumors that there would be an attempt to break Moffit out, being that this was the most vulnerable part of the prisoner transfer. Out in the open and walking to the transfer vehicle.
As the shackled inmates were marched up the ramp of Interstellar Police Prison Transfer vehicle 964, Prodor Moffit glanced back at the throng of armed guards. He was quite pleased; this heightened security was all for his benefit. He gave them all a knowing grin and continued up the ramp with the other inmates.
After the inmates were secured in their cells on the third deck, the transfer vehicle was readied for departure. Coordinates to the penitentiary on a neighboring planet were loaded into the navigational computer. The crew of IPPT 964 closed and sealed hatches, the invisible magnetic mooring lines were released.
The two pilots in the cockpit engaged the ascent engines and the vehicle gently rose from the ground. As it pointed it’s bow toward the starry night sky for the fifteen day journey, the guards, watching from the ground, relaxed as the vehicle accelerated higher into the night. Their job was done.
But no one knew at that moment that IPPT 964 would never make it to its destination.
Katharine Wibell’s lifelong interest in mythology includes epic poetry like the Odyssey, Ramayana, Beowulf, and the Nibelungenlied. In addition, she is interested in all things animal whether training dogs, apprenticing at a children’s zoo, or caring for injured animals as a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
After receiving degrees from Mercer University in both art and psychology with an emphasis in animal behavior, Wibell now lives in Roswell, Georgia with her dog, Alli, as a full-time author and artist. Many of her literary works blend her knowledge of the animal world with the world of high fantasy.
Share a little bit about The Guardian’s Speaker: Volume Five, which releases today, Feb. 25, 2022.
The Guardian’s Speaker: Volume Five is the next installment of my adult, Viking fantasy series. These novellas are based solely on Nordic myth. Readers will enjoy traveling through the nine realms of Yggdrasil, the world tree.
Líf was born with the ability to see each person’s fylgja, the animal shaped guardian spirit that Nordic peoples believed were connected to and associated with a person from birth. As a result, she is often viewed as mad and shunned, for she is the only one with such an ability. At least until she meets Brasir, a man who claims all humanity is at risk of dying and only he is able to prevent this calamity. The problem is that he is a slave. And he is not hers to free.
In this novella, readers accompany the Viking band as they travel further from Midgard, the world of mankind, and into Svartálfheim, the lands of the black elves. Life has never been easy, especially for those who dare leave the safety of their homelands.
You have multiple series listed on Amazon. Which ones are complete and which ones still have book coming?
At the moment, The Incarn Saga is a complete series in four volumes. These are new adult shifter fantasies. Set in the Kingdom of Elysia, two races—the ruling humans and the native Theriomorphs, a shifter species—live begrudgingly side-by-side. Neither group likes or trusts the other. Yet, when a battle-thirsty third party begins attacking Elysia’s shores, both races must push aside their differences and fight as one. My main character is seventeen-year-old Lluava Kargen, a shifter that has been drafted for the impending war.
The Djed Chronicles is my young adult adventure fantasy. The first two books, The Twelve Tasks and The Vargarian Sire, have been released, and the third will be released late 2022. This multiverse contains twelve magical planets that host all manner of fantastical beasts and beings. If the balance that effects the universe is destroyed, then all life will be lost. Only the Djed, the prophesied hero, can prevent this from happening, and the Djed is predicted to be a child of Earth.
You plan to release a novel or novella every other month this year. What made you decide on that goal? How are you able to be that productive?
I do not believe in rushed writing. However, authors who release a high volume of books or have a large backlist have a greater chance of making a living off their work.
When Covid hit in 2020, I was forced to pivot away from my art and focus more on my writing. In addition to a full-length book, I began writing the Viking novella series and produced a body of work. Last year was the first in my three-year plan to release a new work every other month. This year, I am also planning to publish more box sets, my first audiobook, and hard back editions. Writing is a vocation that I take seriously.
Do you prefer to write novels or novellas? Why?
I love long stories! Unfortunately, they are time consuming to write and cost more to produce. This is why I challenged myself to create a series of novellas. Eventually, I might mellow out and write books of a moderate length, but who knows?
What are some of your normal writing habits? (food, time of day, location, music, etc.)
As I am a morning person, I check on any ads that I am running as I sip my coffee. Then I will spend the rest of the morning trying to reach my page count in my home office. After lunch, I switch my focus to whatever task is most important that day. This could be maintaining my social media presence, conducting interviews, editing, formatting, working on advertising, researching, or even painting. And I always try to read a little bit upon awakening and before going to sleep.
I wish I could listen to music when I work, but I need total silence to focus on new material. I do have several playlists that I use to get into the writing mood or as background when I am working on marketing.
You’re an artist as well as an author. Are you as passionate about art as you are writing?
Yes, though I have recently focused most of my attention on my writing career. Still, I am always available to accept a pet portrait commission. I love painting dogs, cats, and the like. It serves as a great break from my afternoon work. I am also thrilled that my paintings were simultaneously accepted in three different juried shows this year.
Do your art and writing influence each other?
Not really. My art predominantly features animals whether pets or wildlife. My writing focuses on epic/high fantasy. What is common between them is my passion for animals. In fantasy, this has taken the form of the race of humanoid beasts known as Ntr or the Theriomorphs, my shifters.
What are the best tips you’ve received that helped improve your writing?
Using some form of an outline! My own might look crazy to the outside viewer with its colorful sticky notes and diagrams tacked to the wall in front of my desk. They pair up with my ten plus pages of plot drafts, dialogue segments for future scenes, and links to my favorite research sites. Determining what works best for me has allowed me to write more rapidly while keeping track of every character, dimension, and world that I have already developed.
Animals are a big part of your life. Are they a big part of your stories?
YES! As I mentioned a little earlier, my love of animals, both real and fictional, continuously crops up in my stories. The Incarn Saga features shifters, and the main character can transform into a white tigress. In The Djed Chronicles, the Ntr is a race of humanoid beasts inspired by Egyptian deities. The Guardian’s Speaker has an abundance of animal undertones for the fylgjur are animal-shaped guardian spirits that protect mankind. These examples barely scrape the surface when compared to the many mythological creatures that have their moments of stardom in my books.
What does success look like for you as an author?
There are two ways that I could judge success. Financial success would enable me to support myself and my family. But another form of success, perhaps even more desirable, is if my stories would continue to be read and loved long after I have passed on.
Anything additional you want to share with readers?
I love connecting with fans and followers not only about my books but also “nerding out” on others or mythology in general. If you want to keep in touch, find me through the following platforms:
Signed and personalized copies of a selection of my books can also be found on my Etsy shop along with my art.
Excerpt
This excerpt is the Prologue of The Twelve Tasks: Book One of The Djed Chronicles
He could taste blood.
His own.
Adrenaline coursed through his body, preventing him from feeling the pain of biting his tongue. Stumbling along the dimly lit corridor, he tripped over his own feet and collided with the stony floor. Scraped knees were of little importance now. People needed to be warned. The signal must be sent.
There was no pleasure in being the first to know, in interpreting the signs. A target was now on his back. He had not a chance for survival.
His frantic footfalls were the only echoing encouragement for this, his last, great mission. Their reverberating sounds masked his panting and his rapid heartbeat. He should have lit more sconces. He should have prepared more Wards. He should have done a lot of things. Would this last act of his be enough to redeem his soul?
The end was coming. For everything. If the Djed was not discovered and proven true, the scales would tip too far, the balance would be shattered, equilibrium lost. And along with it, all life.
A sudden catch in his side caused him to stumble once again. He must make it—yet he knew he was being hunted, and he knew he was slowing down.
The Darkness had awakened. And she was hungry.
Looking ahead, he could see his goal. The circular device was before him now, in his line of sight. Ancient as it was, it would work for him. It had to.
One at a time, he forced the concentric stone rings to spin. The runes and timeworn symbols on each ring must align in the correct pattern, or the result would be disastrous.
With each grinding click as specific sections locked in place, the room dimmed oppressively. Almost there. Almost there. Almost…
The room went black, sucking all light and the last hope of sight into its depths, leaving only two eyes that glinted like the golden coins used as offerings for Charon, the boatman of the underworld. No scream was heard as the dial turned for the final time.
I have been writing since I was about 10 and have ventured out of my chosen genre to write this series from a dream I had.
Share a little bit about your new book, Legacy of Risks, which releases today, February 22.
Legacy of Risks carries on after Marek and Prince Hector defeat Lucien Mannors in his attempt to destroy the family. After tragedy in Paris, Marek (who has taken on his birth name, Marc) takes up the position of Chief Advisor to the Regent, Fitz and Heir Apparent, Euphenia.
Legacy of Risks is the second in the series. Tell us about the series. Do you have an idea at this point of how long the series will last?
Consequences is a series of books that reminds readers that your actions always have consequences and you must accept those consequences. Currently, there are three books in the series, the third book, Dangerous Heart has been submitted for publication. There is a possibility of 1 or 2 more books. These are still in developmental stages.
I noticed you have a Facebook page called J A Duxbury’s Weird Words. It sounds interesting. Tell us about it.
Anyone can join this group. I began the group because I found there were one or two words that I would misspell constantly and with all the bad news in the world today, I thought I would entertain friends and others with these words. It has since grown to be a place where people can post their upcoming books and manuscripts and ask for help with writing or art work.
How long have you been writing? At what point did you decide to publish a novel?
I have been writing since I was about 10. When I lost my niece to cancer, I decided to retire from full-time work and concentrate on writing. I participate in the National Novel Writing Month every year and an editing friend read my 2014 entry and told me it was worthy of publishing, so that was the first book I published. I had planned to publish since the day my father told me to “get a real job. Writing will never pay your way.” When my niece died, I suddenly thought to myself “what if it did?” Thus the decision to be serious about my writing and get published.
What is your oddest writing habit?
Oddest writing habit would be to wear a particular baseball cap if I’m stuck. It is royal blue with the word “think” on it.
What is the most valuable writing advice you ever received?
Keep writing. Never stop writing.
Who has been the biggest supporter of your writing?
My family and friends. I have a number of friends out there who cannot wait until I’ve finished a piece.
What are the best tips you’ve received that helped improve your writing?
Keep an eye on repeated words and use a text-to-speech function.
What is Dark Dimensions?
Dark Dimensions is my first book and is about a vampire and human clan that are lost amongst dimensions due to a scientific experiment gone wrong. Somehow this did not link to the Author Page.
What does success look like for you as an author?
Success for me is if people read my books and like them and ask for more!
Anything additional you want to share with readers?
Continue reading them, please, and pass along their links with friends. The more who read my books the more I love it. My goal is always to entertain people.
Prince Hector looked at me in surprise. “What? Marc, snap out of it. It’s me. I know it was traumatic, but you’re here. Now. It was a long time ago. I know we should never have brought it up but I think you’ve been holding it in for too long.” He paused before deciding to continue. “Which doesn’t mean you can take it out on anyone here! We’re your support. We’re not your enemies!”
I looked at him with narrowed eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Marc, be careful what you say next. Remember where you are.”
“Oh, I do, Your Royal Highness. I know exactly where I am. Who I am? That’s a completely different matter.” I went to wheel away from him but he blocked my passage.
Dubbed The Slow Writer, Kimberly T. Hennessy is quirky with a side of kook, but don’t let that fool you. She loves doom and gloom and human foibles intrigue her.
Share a little bit about She Runs With Wolves.
It’s a very personal book that I wrote because I was feeling alienated by the genre that I loved so much. I’ve always loved YA, but as I grew older a gap between me and the protagonists grew. Somehow, the young heroines had had it all figured out by the time they were 16, which wasn’t my case. In fact, it still isn’t. When I was first pregnant, I had more questions than ever, and that’s sort of how it all came about. I wanted a book that featured a vulnerable heroine, of a more mature age, that hadn’t it all figured out and was struggling to know what to do. It’s about empowerment through vulnerability.
Where are you at with book two and when can readers expect it to be available?
I’m not dubbed The Slow Writer for nothing. Book 2 is still in its very early stages. It’s still in outline form and constantly undergoing changes, but the good news is that all the unanswered questions in book 1 will be addressed.
You also have a book available on Amazon called Digital Coup: A collection of short stories from the future. Tell us about it.
A Digital Coup is set before the breakdown of the modern world. It’s a glimpse into what led to Eira’s post apocalyptic world. I wanted to give the readers a bit of an origins story so they could possibly understand some of the more complex relationships in Eira’s world, which have everything to do with AI.
Please note that A Digital Coup is meant to be permafree on Amazon, but they keep changing it back for no apparent reason. I’m constantly emailing them to change it back.
Do you prefer to write short stories or novels? Why?
I do enjoy writing a short story. Bite size is so much easier to write in terms of flow, narration and so forth. Although I do enjoy extrapolating more long forms of writing and delving deeper into plot and subplots there’s something to be said about executing an idea from start to finish in a few days.
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Admittedly it exhausts me. I’ve had to learn to pace myself otherwise I get depressed. Staring at a screen for 8 hours day, not to mention constantly thinking about your story 24\7 is too much. Writing energizes me when I’m on the cusp of a new idea, or when I’ve been juggling many story elements (not always sure how they work as one) eventually come together in some sort of magical way like a puzzle.
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
A great editor and book cover designer.
What are some of your normal writing habits? (food, time of day, location, music, etc.)
I usually write first thing in the morning. When I write scripts, I usually listen to music, but for novels I require dead silence, and I’m always munching on something, usually something sweet.
What are the best tips you’ve received that helped improve your writing?
Changing my sentence style, which I found hard to do. I was used to writing screenplays where sentence style isn’t as important as getting the idea, the visuals across. Novels are a different beast, and to keep the readers engaged I had to re-learn how to write, which wasn’t easy. Lots of word processors out there can help you improve your writing style.
If you could only write about one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Dystopian. I love everything about the genre. It challenges us to think about our decisions and where we are heading as a species.
What does success look like for you as an author?
For me, it’s about developing a readership. It takes years of hard work and dedication, but once you have those readers that enjoy your work, then it becomes really rewarding.
Anything additional you want to share with readers?
Don’t give up. It’s easy to get discouraged, and just quit for so many reasons. I’m not good enough, this is too hard, but the more you write the easier it gets. This is my first self-published novel, and the learning curve was steep. There were lots of obstacles, but at the end of the day it’s about enjoying the ride. If you enjoy writing, then write. The rest will come.
What if losing yourself meant you were erased from existence? Your essence overridden with no one the wiser?
Ylva the She Wolf – a parasitic artificial intelligence trapped for years in a box yearns for a human host to become alive again.
Eira, a fiery human prisoner, will do anything to escape the clutches of the evil ruler Lorcan and fulfill an old prophecy told about her unborn child.
The power of three wolves unite the two in a battle for supremacy to restore those living underground to the surface. Their inner war rages as they fight for dominion of the frozen wasteland that is now Earth.
David Green is a writer of the epic and the urban, the fantastical and the mysterious.
With his character-driven dark fantasy series empire of ruin, or urban fantasy noir Nick Holleran, David takes readers on emotional, action-packed thrill rides.
Hailing from the north-west of England, David now lives in County Galway on the west coast of Ireland with his wife and train-obsessed son.
When not writing, David can be found wondering why he chooses to live in places where it constantly rains.
Share a little bit about In Solitude’s Shadow.
In Solitude’s Shadow is the first book in the Empire of Ruin trilogy, an epic dark fantasy, with the sequel, Path of War, out this June.
It’s a book that explores many things I’ve found fascinating from other fantasy properties from books to video games and film/TV, but with my own spin on it. It’s fast-paced and action packed, but the characters are the focus and amid the huge stakes there are deep intimate moments. Every character from the ensemble POV face life-altering incidents, and not all make it out alive…
When and where do you do your best writing?
I can’t really choose all that much where I write with the ongoing lockdowns and my toddler ruling the roost, so I’m either in my kitchen or desk at the end of my bed, either very early in the morning, or very late at night
What is your background in film and does that background influence your writing?
I studied film at university with a focus on directing, but did plenty of work in set design, editing, and screenwriting, with the latter continuing on. It’s a big influence as I usually write from a picture in my mind, like a moving scene, and describe that. Books and film/TV are very different, so many rules don’t apply; namely there’s no cost to writing a scene on paper where you have to think about that when doing a screenplay – how much will this cool scene take out of the budget – so in novel writing the only limits are imagination. However, I do consider how cinematic a scene might be, but many modern writers do. We’re conditioned a little from exposure to film and the ways stories are constructed now. Fantasy nowadays has a narrow scope compared to the sprawling continental stories of classic fantasy, with more of a focus on character, I find.
If you could spend the day with one famous author (dead or alive), who would you choose and why?
Robert Jordan. I’d plague him about the minutiae of Wheel of Time, pester him about changing his mind about Demandred/Taim and contentedly listen to any tale he’d like to tell me.
Your author bio on Amazon says you, “He has published works across a number of genres, and will continue to write until he can physically no longer do it.” Two-part question: Why do you write in multiple genres instead of focusing on one? Why did you decide to write until you physically can’t?
I always forget about that bio, it’s an older one (early 2020, I think!) I started getting into the publishing work through anthologies, and a lot of those were horror. I like horror quite a bit, but it isn’t my passion like fantasy. Same as sci-fi. But they were great to learn from and hone certain skills, and I enjoy mashing genre in general. Nowadays my focus is mostly on long-form, solo fantasy novels, but I will throw out a short story in an anthology that takes my fancy every now and then. It’s nice to try new things and apply the learnings to my fantasy work. And why write until I can’t? I just really enjoy it. I look at it as my job and hobby, and it’s a pleasure to sit at my laptop and create.
You have five pages worth of your writings for sale on Amazon. Can you summarize what readers will find (novels, short story collections, anthologies, etc.)? Do you have a favorite?
It’s tough to decide on a favourite as I’m quite critical on my work and always try to improve on it on the next book. For example, I think Path of War is a big improvement on everything I’ve written so far, and will have to see if people agree when it’s finished!
But I’m very happy with the response to both In Soltiude’s Shadow and The Devil Walks In Blood. They’re both very different types of fantasy, and have a different writing style (Solitude is multiple POV 3rd past tense, Devil is 1st person, single POV present) but I achieved what I wanted to with both of those.
In terms of anthologies, my favorite is probably Last Stop. It’s more horror leaning, but it’s set in the same world as The Devil Walks In Blood, and the protagonist, Nick Holleran, appears in the final chapter. It was a project I set up with my publisher and other authors came in to write about a specific place with a revolving set of characters. It was fun to do!
Would you describe yourself as prolific? If so, what advice would give to other readers who want to write more than they do?
I wouldn’t describe myself as that, but some do! I’d like to be more consistent with my own releases, but sometimes these things get held up for multiple reasons! But, in terms of advice, I do write almost every day, even if it’s 500 words. Structure works for me, and treating it like a job helps, too.
Why did you decide to publish and not just write?
So that was set up with another couple of European authors (a fellow Irishman, and a chap from Sweden) to give a home to speculative fiction writers in Europe, particularly in the adventure and mystery genres. There isn’t a lot of homes for that kind of work, and we were all fans, so we decided to give it a go!
What can readers expect from you in 2022?
Quite a bit! Path of War will release in June 2022, followed by a quick release of two Nick Holleran books – the sequel to The Devil Walks In Blood which is called One Life Left, and, because it’s ending on a HUGE cliffhanger, the sequel to that will come soon after. That’s probably October and November, but I’ll be writing the trilogy caper to Empire of Ruin then, aiming for a spring 2023 release, so we’ll have In Solitude’s Shadow, Path of War and TBC in the trilogy. I honestly haven’t thought of a title yet, but my brain tells me it must be three words like the previous 2!
What are your long-term goals as an author?
Just general world domination, all my work adapted for the big streaming sites like Amazon, Netflix and HBO, and many New York Times #1 Best Sellers 😉
Not much, eh?
To be honest, I don’t have too many long-terms goals. I started this as I always wanted to do it, and I wanted something to show my son when he’s older, and hopefully he’ll read one of them, enjoy it, and want to read more.
So, long-term, it’s finishing my two series in a satisfying manner for me, the readers, and my publisher, then seeing what to do next.
Anything additional you want to share with readers?
That if you read any of my work, please get in touch! I love hearing from readers, listening to your theories and feedback
The rider in black slid from its horse, hood falling with the movement. Calene gasped at the sight. A pale, bald woman glared back at her with black eyes. Angry, red cracks ran across her skin. The woman’s thin lips curled back into a snarl and Calene felt her draw on her Spark. Zal took advantage of the distraction and grabbed Calene by the hair. She yelled in outrage as he pulled her face into a rising knee. Her nose exploded on impact and she fell, head ringing. Her vision dimmed as she sank into the cold, wet mud.
“The drok is this?” Vettigan roared.
She looked up at the shout, confused, blood dripping down her face, into her mouth. Her friend leapt from the cart, but froze, sinking to his knees. The Sparker in black moved like a viper, void eyes fixed on Vettigan, a look of deranged glee—no, desire—etched into her ruined face. Vettigan shook, eyes wide with fear, shock and disbelief plain in his features.
“Haven’t you heard?” Ganton said, licking his lips. He hadn’t even dismounted. “Change is in the air. Allow our Shadow Sparker to show you the future.”
Calene shook away the pain. Opening the second sight, she gasped. A scream swelled in her throat. Black tendrils oozed from the Shadow Sparker, pulsating as they slithered into Vettigan. They entered his mouth, ears and eyes, and he howled in agony. The Sparker grinned, pulsating as she drained his light. His essence, his energy, seeped into her pores. Calene had seen Evisceration on the battlefield, had seen its after-effects on her father, but nothing like this. The dark energy invading her friend’s body seemed a living thing, twisted by the will of this thing, this ‘Shadow Sparker’.
Vettigan’s skin withered, hair shedding from his scalp. Seconds had passed, just seconds, but already he looked a decade older.
“Evisceration?” Calene screamed, wiping the blood from her nose as she struggled to her knees. “You can’t do this. Teeth of the gods, are you insane?”
She wouldn’t watch this happen again. Not to Vettigan. Not to anyone.
Once again it’s time for a fun adventure. Enjoy my story below, then follow the links to other stories of participating authors in the blog hop. Leave us comments. We love hearing from you!
This is the sixth part of GRIT’s adventure. To start at the beginning for context, start with Grim Failure.
Bad News for GRIT
Even though the disciplinary council’s verdict was the worst news I had ever received, relief swept over me. It could have been worse and all I could think about was not having to sit alone in an office processing paperwork with no hope of ever returning to the field.
Stan and Rick met me outside the judgment room, Stan with a grim frown and Rick smiling like he had just been named Reaper delivery person of the year.
“Tough break kid,” Rick said gleefully. “Your next miscue and you’re through.” He left whistling.
Stan glared, snarled, and I thought he might bite. “I could have gotten you out of this mess. You’re a disgrace and they should have executed you.”
My knees buckled and I nearly fell.
“Maybe next time you’ll listen to me,” Stan shouted before chasing after Rick.
Well, at least Stan and Rick had finally agreed on something.
Standing outside, alone, the gravity of my situation sunk in. I had escaped a devastating punishment, but Rick was right—one minor miscue and I would never be a reaper again.
The council hadn’t specified an expected collection rate, but I knew that I had to step it up. They had no need of someone who couldn’t get his job done. I needed a win, and I needed one badly.
Rejuvenated with a new sense of purpose, I started toward the main office to get my next assignment. It was time to shake off my old, fearful, self and show everyone that I had earned the top spot in my class and I was worthy. I didn’t have the luxury to give people slack. If they were meant to die, then I would be there to collect their souls and deposit them as required. No more emotional attachments for me.
The freedom felt great and I wondered how I had gotten so wrapped up in worrying about people and death. It wasn’t like watching a reaper die, after all.
I received my next assignment and scanned the file with a new vigor. I had a second chance and I would take full advantage of it!
I had barely left the main office when I bumped into Sheila. Her brother Dale stood a few feet away. Dale and I had been best friends during training, but now he refused to make eye contact.
Sheila was a mess, blubbering words so incomprehensible I didn’t know whether to feel sorry for her or to laugh. I decided that since I was probably the source of her sorrow I shouldn’t laugh. But when I started to tell her how alive I felt and how much I was looking forward to my next death, she stopped me.
“I can’t see you any more.”
It wasn’t like Sheila and I had known each other long, and we had only really been on the one date, so when her dropping that bomb crushed my insides and forced me to take a seat, I was shocked.
“Dad says you’re a bad influence, an even worse reaper, and he didn’t want his precious daughter anywhere near you. He sent Dale.” She nodded toward her brother as if I hadn’t noticed his presence. “He wants Dale to make sure I break it off with you.”
I didn’t realize I had become attached to Sheila in the short of time we had been together. But she had believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. She helped me overcome my initial fear of death. How could I do this without her support? I was at the end of the line and even though I was determined to prove I could be a great reaper, I didn’t think I could do it without help, with support, without encouragement, without Sheila.
