The Making of a Fantasy Writer by Colin Sephton – Guest Blog and Giveaway

November 3, 2025 By 1 Comment

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Colin Sephton will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The Making of a Fantasy Writer
I never really set out to become a writer, it happened almost by accident, or perhaps more accurately, as a natural extension of another passion. My creative journey began with artwork. From a young age, I loved drawing and painting, and I was especially drawn to fantasy art. At first, I honed my craft by sketching well-known superheroes and established characters created by others. That practice taught me technique and discipline, but after a while I began to feel constrained. I wanted to breathe life into my own creations. That desire for originality slowly grew, and eventually many of the characters that now populate my novels were first born decades ago in the pages of my sketchpads. Over time, I realised that having visual references of these figures gave me an advantage. It allowed me to describe them in greater detail on the page. While not every character I write has an artistic origin, a great many do.

My inspiration for storytelling goes beyond characters, though. I’ve always been fascinated by certain subjects: fantasy, the mysteries of the cosmos, the latest scientific theories, questions of consciousness, and the allure of ancient knowledge and lost civilizations. These passions shape everything I write. In many ways, my novels are the result of blending all these threads into a single creative tapestry. This fascination began in childhood. With my very first library card in hand, I would spend long summer days immersed in books, researching whatever captured my curiosity and creating little projects of my own. That early hunger for knowledge never left me, it simply evolved into stories.

Ignatius and Indigo find themselves struggling mentally to come to terms with the complex nature of the cosmos and their newfound supernatural powers obtained through their prior encounters with gods and demons. In their quest for another relic from the Creation, they are aided by the secretive thirteenth Chapter of the Union Jacks. In search of the secret of the Flaming Celestial Pearl, they must travel to Tibet in the great airship, HM Spirit of the Empire.

Pursued by fanatical knights sworn to protect the relic, they must reluctantly call upon the Charon, the seven merciless demons from the underworld to assist them. Piecing together the map that will lead them to a fabled city hidden deep within the Himalayas, they must defend themselves from air pirates, a previous foe from Oxford, mountain beasts and elementals.

Discovering the correct path through the mountains, Indigo realises her soul may never be the same again. Regardless, they enter the Great Void where using the Sword of Wisdom, they discover the truth about the cosmos.

Enjoy an Excerpt

The desk was large, and made from burr walnut, inlaid with green leather, decorated around the edge in gold. Its golden glow illuminated the office. The room was floored with black and white tiles and all four walls were lined with rich oak panelling, with the same crest carved into one of the panels. Behind the desk hung a large oil painting, a dark portrait of a brooding figure. The desk was otherwise uncluttered, just a brass inkstand and a green banker’s lamp. The only ornamentation was a bronze of a lion like those seen in Trafalgar Square.

“Good morning, Mr Lawrence,” said an aide as he entered the office with a silver tray of tea. Earl Grey, his preferred choice. Hot, no milk.

“The latest reports, sir,” the aide gestured with his head at the stack of Manilla folders. “Some unusual goings on in Oxford,” he said as he raised an eyebrow. The thin weaselly man had been with the Union some twenty years and throughout all that time had spent most of it behind a desk.

Lawrence didn’t rise to his prompting and replied simply, “Very well, Jenkins, I will let you know!”

Sifting through the reports, Lawrence took on a serious brow, mulling over the potential impact on the Empire of each report. The first report told of dangerous shamanic practices in China, disrupting the activities of the East India Company. He picked up the next report and after reading it, then reading it again, his face turned red, his brow furrowing. Significant disturbances in Oxford. His large fist slammed down in a rage onto the green leather, knocking his ink pot over. A book fell off the shelf behind him as he filled his lungs and bellowed, “Jenkins, get me Isambard Ignatius. NOW!”

About the Author Colin was born in Coventry and worked in the automotive industry for over twenty years before becoming an Engineering teacher. Obtaining his first library card at the age of thirteen, he became an avid reader of Fantasy and the mysteries of the Universe. He has an inbuilt curiosity for lost knowledge and ancient texts that may help to unlock the secrets of consciousness and the universe. Living in Oxford for many years, he has now moved back to his home county of Warwickshire where he enjoys creating and working with his wife on their garden in which he writes and entertains their two grandsons. He has always been an artist and writer and is inspired by the worlds created by Robert E Howard and Michael Moorcock, with the artwork of Frank Frazetta.

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Interview with Charity Tahmaseb and giveaway

October 29, 2025 By 19 Comments

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Charity Tahmaseb who is visiting with us today to celebrate the recent release of her newest book THE PANSY PARADOX, the first book in her SFF The Chronicles of King’s End series. Charity will be awarding a $25 bookstore gift card to a randomly drawn commenter on today’s post. EDITED TO ADD: Congratulations to winner Deb B.

 

 

A woman with nothing to hide—except the truth—meets a man with nothing to lose—except his heart. And he’s just arrived in town to fire her.

Meet Pansy Little

Since her mother vanished, Apprentice Field Agent Pansy Little is the sole guardian of King’s End, protecting it from a supernatural force only a select few can see. The arrival of an agent from Enclave headquarters doesn’t bring relief. Instead, it means Pansy’s well-crafted charade is about to collapse.

Meet Henry Darnelle

Principal Field Agent Henry Darnelle doesn’t want to be in King’s End, but he’s been blackmailed into performing Pansy’s field agent evaluation—with explicit instructions to fail her.

Distractedly handsome and unfailingly correct, he surprises Pansy—and himself—by defying orders to fire her. Instead, his curiosity is piqued by both Pansy and King’s End.

Together, they investigate, unearthing intricate ties that bind their families. Together, they might even be falling in love.

But someone with a decades-old obsession is watching, maneuvering behind the scenes, someone won’t rest until blood is spilled.

Welcome to King’s End, where discord falls from the sky and an eccentric twenty-something patrols the streets with her pink polka-dotted umbrella. Where one misstep won’t merely bring disaster—it might spark the end of the world.

The main character, Pansy Little, lives by some explicit, if cryptic rules set down by her mother. They are:

1. Never go into the housing development after dark.
2. Never go to the silo alone.
3. Never go to the covered bridge, period.
4. If the Enclave makes an offer, remember they always require something in return.
5. Trust no one from the Enclave.
6. When someone tells you they’re not betrothed, don’t believe them.
7. The Screamers don’t fight fair; you shouldn’t, either.

During the course of the story, Pansy, along with Henry, end up breaking several of these rules. That first rule in particular has some startling and far-reaching consequences. Although rule six will continue to have repercussions throughout the series.

Charity wants to complete and publish the second book in the series, The Marigold Miracle, next year.

“I’m pretty sure I can do that. However, this is my first year of full-time fiction writing. I quit my tech job in January of this year, and I’m still finding my way when it comes to pacing myself and my publishing schedule,” she said.

Charity grew up in Mankato, Minnesota, the home of Maud Hart Lovelace, author of the Betsy-Tacy series.

“My house was on the other side of the ‘big hill’ of the series,” Charity told me. “For a time in junior high, I had a paper route where I delivered papers to Betsy’s, Tacy’s, and Tib’s house.

“When I wasn’t reading mysteries or the Chronicles of Narnia, I was most likely reading (or re-reading) the Betsy-Tacy series. In her books, Maud called Mankato Deep Valley, and you can feel her deep love of the town. “

This influenced her own work, she said, as she’s done something similar with her own fiction, using elements of places she’s lived to create her own fictional small towns.

We asked Charity, “Could you ever co-author a book with someone?”

“I actually have co-authored two books with one of my best friends, Darcy Vance. We wrote two young adult novels together, The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading and Dating on the Dork Side. (Do I need to mention they were YA novels? I feel like the titles give that away.)

“Sadly, Darcy passed away in 2018. I still miss her so deeply. The odd thing about losing Darcy is I’ve lost all desire to write young adult stories as well. Even when we wrote our own stories, we were such a big part of the other’s writing process. I still think of Darcy as my ideal reader. She loved the Coffee & Ghosts series, and I wish she could have read book four. I would also love to know what she would have made of The Pansy Paradox.

“After losing Darcy, I had to reinvent myself as a writer. But I know this: she would never want me to stop writing. So I haven’t. “

When she’s not writing, she loves reading, gardening, researching (some topics might never end up in her writing, and researching her family tree.

“I don’t do this too often because it’s such a rabbit hole that I’ll glance up and realize that I’ve been at it for eight hours straight,” she admitted.

This past year, she created a cottage garden and plans to expand that next year and create pockets of pollinator friendly, native plants in other spaces in her yard.

“What did you want to be when you grew up,” I wondered.

“A lot of authors talk about how they always wanted to write. And while I’ve always had stories in my head, I so wanted to be a girl detective when I grew up. Or rather, I wanted to be a girl detective from the moment I started reading mysteries.

“My favorite mysteries were the Trixie Belden ones. In fact, somewhere, I still have my Trixie Belden fan club membership card. I also read Nancy Drew, The Secret Seven, Encyclopedia Brown, and I wandered into the adult mystery section in the library about the time I was ten. I read a lot of Agatha Christie as well.

“I never did find a mystery I could solve. But the mystery genre has had a huge influence on my writing. Most (if not all) of my stories contain a mystery element. For my recent series, both my main characters have mysterious goings-on in their hometown. I suspect this is a form of childhood wish fulfillment on my part.”

“If you could keep a mythical/paranormal creature as a pet, what would you have?”

“I love the magical helper trope, love it. I had so much fun writing the ghosts in my Coffee & Ghosts series. Granted, some of those ghosts were helpful, and some not so much. Then, for The Pansy Paradox, I came up with the notion of sentient umbrellas. (No, don’t ask me how; I have no idea.)

“My first inclination is I’d love a magical cat. Then again, I’m not sure I’d want to be constantly judged. A dragon would be cool. Or a magical fox! I wouldn’t keep them as a pet. But as a friend in the woods outside my house? Absolutely.“

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Eden: The Final Solution by Pascal Bouquillard – Spotlight

September 10, 2025 By 2 Comments

 

Dystopian Novel

Date Published: May 2, 2025

 

 

In 4029, Homo convertibilis has replaced Homo sapiens and their
scientists study the “Pierre de Vent,” a collection of political, historical,
and ancient sacred texts written by the “founding father,” who is the
reference of the new society.

2054, to combat the chronic anemia of the sedentary population, who live
cloistered and under government tutelage, the pharmaceutical company Orson and
Orson, of which Nucleus is the main shareholder, developed a regenerative pill
called Jouvence. Everyone is clamoring for it. “Unfortunately,” the side
effects of the miracle product affect the libido of the consumers, causing
them to literally die of pleasure.

Nucleus manipulates governments to gradually rid the planet of the surplus
humans who no longer have a place in a society where finance has supplanted
mass consumerism. His hope is to turn Earth into a true Eden for his people
who are, in his eyes, the only humans worthy of survival. However, a
persistent infertility crisis amongst his kind, casts a dark shadow over his
once-promising vision of a utopian future. Meanwhile, in the Metropolis, some
Sedentaries, including Winston, manage to escape the systematic and inevitable
extermination set in motion by Nucleus.

Will they be able to survive the persecution of the army of liberty and the
reactivation of the GMO seeds of hyper-accumulating hyacinths that has covered
the entire planet?

Gripping, provocative, and chillingly prescient, Eden: The Final Solution is a
dystopian tour de force that challenges the limits of progress, morality and
reimagine the Orwellian dystopia, shaped by the excesses and anxieties of our
time. Fans of Brave New World and 1984 will find themselves
enthralled—and terrified—by this haunting vision of the future.

About the Author

Pascal Bouquillard is a jack-of-all-trades. After graduating from the
“Baccalauréat économique et social” in France, he pursued
classical music studies at the “École Normale de Musique de
Paris”, taught for almost 30 years, acted on American stages in South
Carolina and published acoustic versions of his favorite songs on the YouTube
channel, “pascalsguitar”.

At the end of the ’80s, he spent several years touring Europe and
French-speaking countries with the “Trio Français de Guitare”,
which he co-founded and which specialized in transcriptions of works by early
20th-century composers. Unfortunately, focal dystonia prevents him from
pursuing a career as a classical guitarist. He then obtained a scholarship to
the “Maitrise de Musique Baroque de Versailles”, where he played
tenor and was introduced to conducting.

In the ’90s, he co-founded the progressive rock band Saens, in which he
was composer, singer, bassist and acoustic guitarist, and with whom he
released three albums: Les Regrets d’Isidore D, Escaping From The Hands
Of God and Prophet In A Statistical World.

In 1997, he conducted Benjamin Britten’s opera “Noah’s
Ark” at the Cathédrale Saint Louis in Versailles, the Église Saint
Augustin in Paris and the Théâtre de Poissy. That same year, he was invited to
conduct a group of musicians from the Orchestre National de France at the
Théâtre des Champs Élysées, on the occasion of Mstislav Rostropovich’s
70th birthday.

He then moved to the USA to find the woman he was to marry. Interested by the
turn the world economy is taking, he returns to his original political
passions.

After more than 5 years of research and reflection as part of a virtual
focused group of French citizens, and driven by the anxieties provoked by his
discoveries, he launched into the writing of “Eden” and the
“Practical Guide toward an Atomic Democracy”.

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Ideal Writing Space by Colin Sephton – Guest Blog and Giveaway

September 9, 2025 By 8 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Colin Sephton will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Ideal writing space

My ideal writing place is my study at home. It is my little sanctuary away from everything. It’s my own little world if you like. I can I like to work in my study surrounded by my inspiration. I am surrounded by bookshelves of fantasy books; my favourite authors being Michael Moorcock and Robert E Howard. These shelves also contain lots of Marvel graphic novels, science / astronomy books, art books, philosophy books, lots of notebooks and sketchbooks, and lots of curios gathered over a long time. I have prayer wheels, singing bowls, comic figurines, meteorites, Buddhist and Hindu statues. I draw all my ideas from these. I find it really relaxing to thumb through my books, especially the art books. These are for traditional artists like Monet, Turner, Constable or Da Vinci, but I also have fantasy art books by Frank Frazetta, Boris Vallejo, Roger Dean, and others. I use these for my own art and sometimes find it easier to paint a character before I use him / her in my writing. My artwork helps me to visualise characters so I can describe them in detail in my novels. I am a very visual person, and I think that probably comes across in my writing.

However, I can work virtually anywhere because I do a lot of my writing either on an iPad or by hand in a notebook. The notebook is also where I keep a lot of my ideas and research. I will scribble chapters down at speed, which leaves my handwriting looking dreadful. I defy anyone else to be able to read some of it. Then when I type it up, I will refine it, add additional detail, and move some text around. I am able to work like this anywhere, in coffee shops, hotels, even the beach or around a pool. I then edit all of this on a laptop in my study. I find it easier to move whole chunks of text around and look at several pages at once on my laptop. I drink lots of tea when I’m working and sometimes listen to music, but I can find that a distraction depending on the track. My music taste is very eclectic. After writing a piece or a chapter, I will think about it overnight and usually come up with additional ideas that I can add. So will edit to a certain extent as I go along. Anything I remove, I keep. I never delete anything, you never know when it will come in handy.

When doppelgangers start appearing in Oxford, Union Jack agents Ignatius and Indigo find themselves on another cosmic quest, one they didn’t set out to investigate.

Drawn into the search for the elusive and dangerous Book of Shadows, they find themselves traveling across the cosmos once again, racing against other versions of themselves, and visiting the Oracle to be given prophecies of terrible destruction that will engulf the cosmos in darkness. Only these two heroes—or their doubles—can open the book, which would lead to dreadful consequences for themselves, the world and the whole of creation.

The agents must outwit their own mirror souls and invade the impregnable Administorium, which holds the answers they need but also fearsome enemies of both the Union Jacks and the entire cosmos. In this quest, Ignatius and Indigo must protect not only England and the Empire, but the world and the cosmos.

Enjoy an Excerpt

As the shadowy figure moved from shelf to shelf, ornate gilt decoration caught what dim light there was on his grey-turquoise armour. Carvings of ancient scribes and tomes written to record the passing of aeons on many worlds across many planes. The books he tended were part of the vast repository of information that he had collected through his long lifetime. Books here took the form of sacred texts carved in clay, or written on scrolls of vellum, or even human skin. Enormous tooled leather-bound volumes with gilt pages or with golden clasps, some were chained and bound, their knowledge too dangerous to be shared or accessed by mere mortals. The shelves had been arranged by subject and ordered in a timeline for each category. There wasn’t any index system. The Librarian worked using only his memory, knowing each and every volume, regardless of when it was written or when it was obtained. Nothing was forgotten, his memory was a storehouse of wisdom and knowledge from across the cosmos.

With his brother and sister, they had probably gathered the entire history of the cosmos. From time to time, they would travel the astral planes in search of new knowledge and rendezvous every millennium to discuss and compare notes to set quests for each of them to fulfil in the search of even more ancient texts. Legend had it the three siblings were born of the Goddess of Wisdom and their father was a High Priest of the Ti-Botta.

About the Author Colin was born in Coventry and worked in the automotive industry for over twenty years before becoming an Engineering teacher. Obtaining his first library card at the age of thirteen, he became an avid reader of Fantasy and the mysteries of the Universe. He has an inbuilt curiosity for lost knowledge and ancient texts that may help to unlock the secrets of consciousness and the universe. Living in Oxford for many years, he has now moved back to his home county of Warwickshire where he enjoys creating and working with his wife on their garden in which he writes and entertains their two grandsons. He has always been an artist and writer and is inspired by the worlds created by Robert E Howard and Michael Moorcock, with the artwork of Frank Frazetta.

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Her Holiness by Dustin Dunbar – Spotlight

September 9, 2025 By Leave a Comment

Can an extraordinary young woman alter the course of history for the better……or will the forces of power and greed extinguish her light forever?

Find out in Dustin Dunbar’s new novel, Her Holiness.

Adopted by a loving Irish couple in Rome, young Kate Murphy is plagued by haunting visions that defy explanation—until a priest’s blessing unleashes a torrent of prophetic imagery, including chilling scenes of a man crucified upside down. As whispers of her power spread, she captures the attention of a radical Vatican sect, while across the world, evangelical zealot Edhir Souza builds an army to topple the Church and claim its influence. As Kate’s visions grow stronger, leading her toward a long-lost archaeological treasure, she becomes both a symbol of hope and a threat to entrenched power. With enemies closing in, her quest to challenge the Church’s patriarchy and awaken a new spiritual truth could cost her everything.

Enjoy an Excerpt

At the base of the towering monument, a crude wooden cross awaited him, stark and foreboding against the canvas of their revelry. Panic rose within him as he caught sight of it, and he struggled against his captors’ grip. Laughter erupted around him, jagged and cruel. “Stop wasting your energy, old man,” one of them taunted, tightening his hold. “I am not worthy,” he gasped, his voice cracking, hoarse from disuse. “Do not crucify me as you crucified my Lord.” The guards merely smirked. “You are going to die on that cross, old man. Now be silent and face your fate with some dignity.” He could feel his heart pounding, the weight of his pleas hanging heavy in the air. “Do not!” He shouted now, desperation coloring his words. The eyes of the crowd turned toward him, curiosity morphing into a darker hunger.

The leader of the guards sighed, annoyance flickering across his features. “What would you like us to do with you, old man? How should we kill you?” He closed his eyes for a moment, gathering what little strength he had left.
“You may crucify me if you wish. I cannot stop you. But hang me… upside down.” His voice was barely a whisper now, laced with a reverence he could not shake. “I am not worthy to die as he died.” The guard shrugged, laughter spilling from his lips like venom. “Dead is dead.”

He waved a hand at two of the men, and they stepped forward with a grim eagerness. “Upside down it is.” With a chilling efficiency, they laid him upon the cross, nailing his hands and feet, securing him to the brutal instrument of his execution. He felt the sharp surge of pain with each blow, but he offered no resistance, no cry of anguish escaped his lips. They lifted the cross, hoisting it high until its base struck the ground with a dreadful thud. His head hung low, nearly touching the earth, while his feet rose into the air—an inverted position that felt like a mockery of everything he stood for.

As the crowd roared and the sun beat down mercilessly, memories flashed through his mind—moments of laughter, love, and fervent faith. He thought of his Lord, of the love that had driven him to endure so much for the sake of others. Time stretched painfully, each agonizing minute a reminder of the suffering he had seen inflicted upon others.

Yet amidst the torment, a profound peace washed over him as the hours passed, the pain blurring into a distant hum. In those final moments, as darkness encroached upon his vision, he summoned the last vestiges of his strength. With every ounce of love that had filled his heart across the decades, he breathed his final words in Latin, a prayer woven into the very fabric of his soul. “Ignosce, diligatis envicem, nunc coepi.” Forgive, love one another, now I begin.

About the Author:Dustin Dunbar is an author, visionary, and transformative voice running for president in 2028 on a platform of common sense, compassion, and a refusal to play politics as usual. A survivor of generational addiction, his hard-won personal triumph—chronicled in his memoir You’re Doing Great! (And Other Lies Alcohol Told Me)—propelled him into the worlds of psychology and spirituality, where he earned a doctorate and built a thriving coaching practice. With Her Holiness, a bold religious thriller, Dunbar turned his gaze to the intersection of faith and corruption. Now, as a presidential candidate, he is driven by a singular mission: to awaken America to its vast potential and shared humanity. He lives in San Diego, where his two daughters remain his greatest inspiration.

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Character Creation by Alex Zenk – Guest Blog and Giveaway

September 2, 2025 By 3 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Alex Zenk will be awarding a $25 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Character Creation

Having strong, relatable characters will help your story. They do not need to be overpowered and unrealistic, but should feel real. Establish core traits, names, age, background, and role in the story. Work out their personality, identifying key traits such as bravery, cynicism, or compassion. Is your character flawed? What motivates the character to do what they do? Build out the character’s backstory, what was their upbringing like, and what moments shaped their worldview. Who does your character have relations with: friends, spouse, parents, or kids? Does your character have any wounds? Work out their arc and potential growth. Does the character have a positive arc, a negative arc, or a flat arc? The character should have an external conflict to drive growth and reveal the character. As you work out your villain or conflict in the story, use this in connection to various actions that your character could participate in. As you show development, does this show in dialogue and behavior? Where were they once shy, and now they talk to everyone? What does that dialogue look like? Keep your character consistent and stay true to the core of who they are. Try to steer clear of overused tropes, like the “chosen one”. What supporting characters do you have? Do they bring out the best in the main character, or the worst? Avoid the tropes, but you should still use the familiar archetypes, like hero, mentor, or rebel. Add your unique twists to these archetypes. There is a lot to be said about character development. Generally, authors who flesh out their characters extensively tend to have better stories, while those with weak characters often struggle.

In a world where ancient magic is fading and darkness grows, one dwarf mage stands between his realm and destruction.

Ordi, a gifted mage with the rare ability to command all elemental magic, is summoned by his king on a perilous quest. Accompanied by his loyal posh hound Mira and his warrior brother Verdun, Ordi must recover the legendary Otthroite Gems—powerful artifacts thought lost to time.

As they journey through forbidden forests, abandoned dwarven cities, and haunted valleys, they discover these gems are the only hope against the rising threat of the long-banished Dark Lord. With each step, they uncover secrets of ancient magic and face betrayals that test the bonds of brotherhood.

Rich in world-building and filled with magical encounters, “The Chronicles of Ordi” blends classic fantasy elements with fresh perspectives on courage, loyalty, and the price of power.

Enjoy an Excerpt

The battle intensified. The witch’s minions—a mix of twisted abominations and resurrected corpses—swarmed the clearing. Galen led the paladins in a valiant charge, striking down skeletal warriors only for them to rise again. Ordi and the mages unleashed torrents of arcane energy, incinerating the dark creatures. Despite their best efforts, the witch’s power seemed endless. She began summoning more skeletons to add to the chaos of the battle. Mira charged in, pounding and ripping bones apart. The skeletons reformed effortlessly, keeping her busy.

The skeletons pressed in, their bony fingers scraping and clawing, as Ordi and Mira fought back to back, the sounds of battle filling the clearing. Ordi summoned bolts of arcane magic that pierced through the skeletal frames, incinerating them to ash, but it was a fleeting victory. The skeletons reformed with unnatural speed, their rattling bones an unsettling soundtrack to the ongoing fight. Read more – link in comments.

About the Author Alex Zenk brings a fresh voice to the world of epic quests and magical realms. Born and raised in the midwest, Alex’s love for fantasy was kindled early by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and nurtured through years of immersive role-playing games. As a pastor by day and a storyteller by night, Alex brings a unique perspective to his writing, weaving themes of morality, redemption, and the complexities of good and evil into his narratives.

Drawing inspiration from his experiences in World of Warcraft, Alex has crafted a rich and immersive world in his debut series, “The Chronicles of Ordi.” His background in theology and his deep understanding of human nature inform the complex characters and intricate plot lines.

When not writing or tending to his pastoral duties, Alex can be found exploring the natural beauty of Iowa with his family, using these adventures to fuel his imagination and inspire new fantastic landscapes. With plans for multiple books set in the world of Asheros, Alex Zenk is poised to make a significant impact on the fantasy genre, offering readers a blend of classic epic fantasy with a modern, thoughtful twist.

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As an Author, What Scares Me the Most by Tom Haward – Guest Blog and Giveaway

August 14, 2025 By 6 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Tom Haward will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

As an author, what scares me the most is…

The most contradictory fear as a writer is the fear no-one will read my books but also that everyone will read my books. I’m always scared about putting so much time, love and effort into these stories and then no-one ever reads them. I’ve learnt over the years not to care about what people think and not to be validated by other people. It’s taken a long time to get there but now I genuinely don’t care about how people view me. As long as I have integrity and stay consistent in that, then people liking or disliking me is their subjective thing. So, when it comes to writing I feel safe in myself and my own ability not to care if people don’t like my books. But there’s something different about people liking your books and actually reading your books!

And that’s my fear: having books no-one has read. But then then other fear I have is all of my local community reading my books. And it’s not because I worry if they will like it, but because I worry about them finding any grammatical mistakes and stopping me in the street to point then out.

Again, I’m not fearful of what people think; I’m fearful of realising my own mistakes via other people! It sounds silly but being a writer means most of our fears are probably contradictory and absurd! And on that note, I do hope all of you reading this pick up my books and give them a read.

With Grand Protector Faust missing and Caesar dead, Senator Frigus is trying to hold the fraying threads of the Empire together by keeping this information secret. The Empire is already fragile, and if the truth spills onto the streets of Rome and beyond, the Empire could crumble.

Faust is prisoner of the giant Bjorn Askå and his cellmate is the rebel leader, Boatman King. Abducted by Askå, they’re now part of his grand plan to rule the entire world, with the Empire his next target. Can Faust and Boatman forge an alliance or are their own ambitions stronger than any desire for a truce?

A continent away, Bella, Maverick and the other rebels have escaped to the RIA where they lick their wounds from the disaster of Faust and Askå’s attack on their underground headquarters. They believe they have covered their tracks and hope the 35, leaders of the RIA, will equip them to take the fight to Rome again, this time with the advantage of surprise.

Olivia King, though, she is tired of the fight. Traumatised from being tortured at the hands of Maximus Nero and conflicted about her husband’s relentless desire to crush Rome, she is unsure whether she has the energy to keep fighting those who have caused her so much pain.

With the world and its people in turmoil, one thing is for certain: chaos remains in a world needing redemption.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Southwark London 2030

Marcus flipped his eyepiece up and walked away from the vantage point he’d found for spying on what Maximus was doing. There were other crosses lining London Bridge, but in the cold January night, the bodies nailed to those crosses were quiet. If any were still alive, they were conserving energy, swapping between trying to breathe and trying to push themselves up on their nailed feet so their lungs were able to intake some life-saving oxygen. The orange glow of street lights showed the odd misty puff of breath feebly forming and then dispersing, like death swatting away the attempt at clinging on to life.

Indeed, the early morning, just before the arrival of dawn, was quiet. Quiet didn’t mean calm and he was feeling the pulse of adrenaline rushing through him. All the soldiers around him were because if they were guarding the son of Caesar then there was a good chance rebels would be appearing. It wasn’t guaranteed, but Maximus wanted to make a show of crucifying someone and he believed twenty-five soldiers as his protection was a necessary element to that.

When Marcus and his comrades were called up to be ready to go immediately, a few soldiers pulled out their phones and texted their loved ones saying they were going on a dangerous shift and to be prepared. Marcus scoffed at their fear and told them so. The response was that Marcus was new to this city and he should prepare himself for encountering Boatman King or The Beast, because that encounter would likely be his last on this earth.

About the Author: Tom was born in Essex and at 4 months old he and his identical twin were adopted into an oyster farming family. Tom now runs the business as generation eight of Haward oyster farmers. He has a fiancée, baby daughter and a cockapoo.

Tom has an MA in Creative Writing and has loved telling stories since he was a child, whether verbally or through prose.

The Path of Chaos was his debut novel. He is also working on a six episode comedy screenplay and tweets passionately about his family’s industry and the challenges it faces.

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Standing at Heaven’s Doorstep by Judy Cohen – Spotlight

July 22, 2025 By Leave a Comment

 

 

Fantasy and Sci-fi

Date Published: 05-11-2025

 

 

Standing at Heaven’s Doorstep is a book of 31 short stories. They are of
fantasy and science fiction. I have revised old fairy tales. We will ravel to
new worlds and assist in solving their problems. You will meet three devils, I
have known. Tooth fairies and dreamers are waiting. Join me… Judy

 

 

About the Author

 My name is Judy Cohen. I taught kindergarten, and new teachers for 27 years.
During that time I was a blogger and a part time writer. My family encouraged
me to write my book. The question they posed was, what am I waiting for?
Standing at Heaven’s Doorstep was born..

 

Contact Link

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Purchase Links

 

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The White Deer of Kildaire by Christy Matheson – Spotlight and Giveaway

July 9, 2025 By 8 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Christy Matheson will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour and a fine writing notebook with personalized art to a second randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

There’s a deer sorting Christmas decorations in Maura’s kitchen…

All Maura wants is a peaceful winter holidays in her dilapidated Irish castle, but her ex is threatening her with family court, and her second grader has invited a strange–completely unclothed–friend, to spend the holidays with them. Oh. And the friend’s dog, which is not actually a dog but probably one of the white deer of Celtic myth.

Maura distracts herself from her husband’s threats by trying to discover why a Fae deer is in her kitchen, when the two women accidentally end up in the Ireland of ancient myth. The White Deer was the human queen of this castle, but it appears she has husband trouble too. Perhaps…the deadly sort of trouble.

Can Maura rescue her new friend — or is Maura herself so tangled in the White Deer’s fate that she won’t make it home to her children alive?

This novella will appeal to readers who enjoy cozy fantasy, ancient history, Irish folklore, and uplifting stories about motherhood and found family.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Raindrops slide down the windscreen of the Peugeot, and condensation creeps up the windows as we let the minutes tick by. We got to Cork airport early, but Aiden and Kaylee haven’t changed their minds. No way, no how are they getting on that plane back to America.

Aiden lifts his phone and snaps a picture of the distinctive swoop of the departures building, then turns and gets me in the frame. Ca-tip. Ca-tip. He hunches and his thumbs fly over the screen.

“Okay,” Aiden says. “Done. It’s official now.”

He’s trying to prove that I did my best to drop them off, but I know it won’t be enough. The teens’ biological parents are both going to blame me for violating the custody agreement.

Within seconds, my phone buzzes against my leg. In the back seat, Kaylee’s pings, then dings, then chirps. Aiden, who at 16 always plans ahead, switched his to silent mode before unleashing the storm of recriminations. I should have done the same. I close my eyes and lean my head against the cold window. Buzz, buzz, chirp, ding.

“Are you sure you won’t get out…” My voice can’t turn this into a question.

“Have we missed the plane yet?” Kaylee demands.

“No,” Aiden and I say together.

We sit without talking. More pings.

Amber: Please.
Please please please please please.
One mother to another. Please.

In my heart of hearts, I sympathize with Amber. I’d want to see my children for Christmas, too.

About the Author: Christy Matheson writes award-winning fiction about friends, family, and finding one’s place in an ever-changing world.

She is the author of “The Castle in Kilkenny: Fairy Tales” novella series. Each one sets a traditional Irish fairy tale within a modern blended family, perfect for readers wanting a cozy family adventure.

Christy’s regular historical work (sans fantasy elements) can be found in the award-winning “Feisty Deeds: Historical Fictions of Daring Women,” of which she is also an editor. Her Regency novels are represented by Kristina Sutton-Lennon and have won pre-publication awards for women’s fiction.

Christy is also an embroidery artist, classically trained pianist, and sews all of her own clothes. She lives in Oregon, on a country property that fondly reminds her of a Regency estate (except with a swing set instead of faux Greek ruins), with her husband, five children, three Shelties, one bunny, and an improbable quantity of art supplies.

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Among Us by V.G. Harrison – Spotlight and Giveaway

June 16, 2025 By 6 Comments

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. V.G. Harrison will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

She’s in the most dangerous place in the world.

Prof. Meridia Vail, a member of the Bridgeway Space Station, has escaped the government stronghold and is on a mission among the human population of this “new” Earth. She needs to find scientists, engineers, researchers, anyone who can help her and her crew get back to their derelict space station that has crossed over into a different dimension. The sooner the better, too. The Bridgeway is in a decaying orbit and has the potential to kill millions, if it crash lands on the planet.

Trusting anyone in this New Earth is going to be hard to come by. The authorities have branded her as a maniac who has escaped from a mental hospital. For the past five years, multiple countries have colluded in declaring no survivors from the Bridgeway Space Station incident. When Meridia’s finally able to convince a university professor, Dr. Dana Haden, of who she is, Prof. Vail realizes she’s not home-free yet. She has to convince the entire world who she is and expose the lies nations have been telling their citizens. Will governments be forced to free her crew so they can work the problem…or will they take their chances and nuke the station from orbit to bury their secrets?

Read an Excerpt

“Wait! Stop!” Dr. Haden grabbed the chair, but wasn’t able to yank it from my grip. She placed herself between me and the window. “What are you doing? Put this thing down.”

“He threatened you,” I replied. “I can break the glass with this and we can make it out on the ledge. I might be able to even carry you in my arms and we jump–”

“Oh my God, no.” She shook her head before smiling and motioning for me to lower the chair. “It’s okay. I swear. He’s a friend. Put the chair down; he won’t hurt us.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” She eased the chair out of my hands and placed it back on the floor. A sigh released the tension from her face and shoulders. “You would’ve seriously thrown that thing and tossed me across your shoulder before jumping three stories to your death?”

“Of course. I don’t know if I would’ve come away unscathed, but I would’ve taken the chance, as you’re my only chance to get back to my space station right now.”

“Wow. That’s some friendship.”

“You’re welcome…I think.” I half-smiled.

“I’m not even sure my husband would’ve gone to those depths.” A chuckle seemed to calm her more as she made her way to the door. Her hand motioned for me to relax. “It’s just my colleague, Professor Carlin.”

She opened the door and motioned for him to enter.

About the Author:Amazon best-selling author, V.G. Harrison enjoys creating smart heroines who are more comfortable dealing with things like Fine-structure constant and quantum entanglement than the fallout from their conflict. She loves to write stories that leave her audience so engaged they can’t sleep at night, thinking about the possibilities.

V.G. holds a Bachelors in Biomedical Engineering and a Masters in Information Technology. When she’s not writing, she’s an IT manager for software company.

Her ever-growing list of hobbies include astronomy, attending comic cons, keeping an eye on the cryptocurrency and stock markets, hydroponics gardening, hiking, and connecting with her daughter on a cool level. Building Lego sets at night with milk and cookies on the side come in handy for that.

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