Blog Archives
Countless Challenges That Kids Face
Success follows a young boy who is working on a school assignment to discover what the meaning of success is by interviewing people he knows. What was the inspiration for your story?
The inspiration for this particular series of stories comes from my students over the years. As an elementary school teacher, I have seen countless challenges that kids face. I am inspired by them to write stories that touch on big life lessons, such as identity, perseverance, kindness, and courage. This story came to me while I was on a walk with my oldest sister one Sunday morning. She and I were chatting about my students, her own kids who are now adults, and life in general. If you have sisters, or have been around sisters, you know how we can bounce all over the place in conversations! Anyhow, as the day went on, the idea became more and more clear, and the story sort of wrote itself!
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Helen Ayle?
I agree, the art is fantastic! Helen and I have been collaborating for about two years. We discovered one another for our very first project, a book called Good Deeds Gone Wrong that also has the same main character as Success. We have collaborated on seven projects so far. She is a wonderful artist and illustrator. Her ideas are creative, and I love how she brings different perspectives in the illustrations. My favorite from this book is while Stephen was lying awake in bed… I love the colors and mood on that page!
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The main themes that I wanted to explore through this book are identity and defining success. I think it is important for kids to consider this idea of identity — who we believe we are and how we see ourselves. I also hope kids understand that success looks different for different people. Ultimately, I hope kids think about success a little differently, just like the main character. I see children come through my classroom each year who are so uniquely talented, and often don’t feel successful based on school criteria. They maybe struggle with reading or math, but perhaps are incredibly logical thinkers. Or maybe they are amazing artists, or kind and helpful people who jump up to assist anyone who needs it. I have kids who are incredible public speakers, dancers, writers, athletes, and mathematicians. Ultimately, I hope this book helps kids feel seen and understood. I hope it helps them consider that each person is gifted in different ways, and that is what makes the world function well. We need all of the talents and perspectives!
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I just released another piece about a week ago that Helen illustrated for me called A Big Family’s Big Trip. I was inspired to write a story after reading the 1978 Caldecott winner The Relatives Came. The story is about my family’s trip to Israel in December 2018- January 2019. My parents were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in 2019, and they announced that rather than having a big party, they wanted to take us all on a big trip to Israel! It was an amazing adventure, to say the least. And Helen did a fantastic job creating the thirteen characters inspired by my family! She has also finished illustrations for another book called Tough Turning Ten that will be released this summer. AND I’m also putting together a book for another series that I have with an exceptional illustrator named Pablo D. A’lio. That series has brief lessons for everyday activities that are also wise words of wisdom for life. We created three books of Grandpa’s Lessons, and now we are diving into Grandma’s Guides… We can learn a lot about life from activities like fishing, hiking, cooking, and gardening. Plus grandparents always have the best advice, right?
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Wild Daydreams
The Impossible Girl follows a teen that has discovered her magical abilities, but her talents frighten those in power. She must find out why she is different. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Inspiration comes to us in the strangest of ways and at the strangest of times. Since I was a child, I knew I wanted to be a writer. Naturally, I was a reader with a wild imagination…something I’ve never quite grown out of (thankfully). I could be anywhere and the littlest of things would spark a story idea. I had notebooks full of them by the time I was a teenager. One of the things I’d often dream up stories about (which would later inspire the entire setup of THE IMPOSSIBLE GIRL) was the crescent shaped birthmark on my right wrist. Such a simple thing it was, but to me as a child, it was always something to keep me entertained and dreaming as to why I had it or what it meant. With The Impossible Girl releasing this August, I’m grateful to the child that I was and for all the great authors who instilled in me a love of reading and believing in the impossible – because some of those wild daydreams made it into my book (the crescent shaped scar included).
Ava is shocked to find out she has magic and must learn about her past and her abilities while also dealing with normal teenage emotions. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
We can all have waves of feelings and by demonstrating Ava’s doubts and insecurities along with her self-determination and kindness, it’s reflective of a young person’s life and the journey they are on. Ava finds her footing in a world she belongs to, learns to speak up for herself, and that it’s ok to be vulnerable. She finds a group of friends she forges deep and meaningful bonds with and grows to love. She finds a place in this found family of her choosing.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
While there’s a lot of themes I hope people pick up on and identify with, the biggest one is this: Nothing is impossible. There’s a quote I like by Audrey Hepburn, “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says “I’m possible.” To each and every person reading THE IMPOSSIBLE GIRL, that is what I hope they takeaway. Follow your dreams, defy the limitations placed on you, and do the things you never thought possible.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m currently working on the sequel to THE IMPOSSIBLE GIRL. It’s an amazing experience building and expanding this world and I’m having so much fun writing it!
Author Linktree: https://linktr.ee/AshleyWhiteWrites
The magites who call this “underworld” home live under the strict dictates of The Registry-and Ava will have to do the same. That starts with enrolling in Linhollow Academy for the Supernaturally Gifted.
A target is placed on her back once it’s discovered Ava’s the only magite since The Registry’s inception to not be tagged or able to be tagged in its omniscient system. Powerful magites fear what this could mean and view her as a threat to a way of life that has kept their “underworld” safe for three hundred years.
With all eyes on her, including two oversized shadows from The Registry watching her every move, Ava must toe the line as Resistance Riders, kelpies, near-death experiences, and other dangers follow her everywhere.
In this new world where she shows incredible promise in her craft, Ava will learn that getting to the bottom of her unexplained existence will take her down a perilous path where a dark secret lurks-one dangerous enough to disrupt the entire order of The Registry and jeopardize her life and the lives of her new friends.
Fall in love with this new series from debut fantasy author, Ashley White. For fans of J. K. Rowling and Rick Riordan, The Impossible Girl will be the perfect novel to add to your collection.
Rand McLester Author Interview
Fifteen Billion Years I Alpha and Omega follow two men that are drawn in to the creation of the next universe without being aware of it. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Writing has been a hobby since I was a teen-ager. The Book of Revelation, time travel, and the Bermuda Triangle [among other things] have always interested me. Why not write a book using them. Although, I didn’t intend to write more than one book until I finished Alpha and Omega [a long time ago] and realized “the story” was a lot longer, and more involved than I thought it would be, to complete the story.
What were some of the emotional and moral guidelines you followed when developing your characters?
Our world has “good” people and some really “bad” people. It has always been that way. The characters are either good [honesty, integrity, don’t lie or steal, etc.] or bad [real scumbags]. When I was a kid, our mom and dad made us go to church [until I was 16]. I hated it then, but sure appreciated it later in life. They were the best parents a kid could ever have asked for. I kinda modeled Reed [in the books] after myself. And some of his “life” is based on my own life. When Jessica told me her last name is Reed, I figured ok, that might be a “sign”. May sound dumb, but that’s what did it. I figured if Infused Media can make the trilogy affordable for regular people, I’ll republish it. That’s part of why I trust Jessica.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The primary theme is good vs. evil. The good is God, the evil is satan, but satan and his adherents are “disguised” early in the storyline and not actually revealed until book two, after the millennium.
Sub-theme: creation vs. evolution. We know there were dinosaurs and cavemen a long time ago; so, there are dinosaurs and giant Troglodytes in the story [book one], basically following the Earth’s timeline from beginning to end [Armageddon].
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Right now, I don’t have time to do another book.
I was going to write a fourth book [a series] but decided the trilogy has a conclusion of its own, so I decided not to do it. I believe every good adventure story needs a cool battle for its climax and to be honest, one of the main reasons I didn’t write the fourth book is because the battle in the end of book three is between God’s angels [called Mystics in the books] and satan and his lost souls [called Dark Forces]. The battle is about 90 pages long and keeps changing as it progresses to the climax; so far, I haven’t been able to come up with a better battle for a fourth book [unless maybe it would take place in hell, and that would be difficult to describe].
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
Revelation 16: 16 (RSV) Holy Bible
In the not too distant future…
A blend of Indiana Jones and Lord of the Rings, the Fifteen Billion Years Trilogy is an epic adventure loosely
based on the Book of Revelation in the Bible. With the end and beginning of mankind, the characters
must overcome impossible odds in the unending conflict of good versus evil… with hope for a future.
Alpha and Omega is the first installment of an engrossing adventure bound with unfailing friendship,
uncommon faith and undying perseverance.
Alpha and Omega:
An open-pit copper mine, the world’s largest superfund site now refilled and reclaimed. Disguised as a
scientific research center, but in reality, the planet’s most imposing military stronghold controlled by
the world’s most evil general.
Two men who know the secret… and a time machine.
The leap to a faraway and distant future through a horizon threshold on the edge of the universe… and
callow people in a new but primitive world beyond the Black Hole.
Then returning to an oppressive Federation controlling a world in tribulation… and a wiry little old man
with scraggly gray hair and bristling beard.
The entire planet on a collision course toward the ultimate conflict.
…Armageddon.
Writing About Liminality
The Liminal Loop: Astonishing Stories of Discovery and Hope is a collection of true stories by multiple authors that take readers on an inspirational journey. Why was this an important book for you to write?
The Liminal Loop is the second anthology of liminality I have edited. I believe that important subjects – like liminality – can be best understood by way of many voices of multiple authors, all writing from their own perspectives, disciplines and experience. The collection of the many creates much greater depth and breadth.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
In addition to the foundation stones of why liminality acts and does what it does (like its qualities and how it works) are the applications – to the environment, mass chaos events, issues of race, spirituality, and social transformations. A new addition to this collection is the chapter on the arts and how artists contribute to the conversation through their distinctive mediums.
How did you decide what stories to include in this collection?
I knew many of the authors and their work to begin with and that helped. But I also discovered new people writing about liminality in distinctive ways and I invited them to participate. The responses were incredible and added to the richness.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your book?
I hope that readers will come away from this book with a new understanding of the powerful shifts and transitions of life and how we, as a community can traverse these powerful thresholds and transform as individuals and communities.
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Website
Close To Becoming An Obsession
Corrupted Souls follows a detective that is investigating a murder that appears to be a hate crime, and in the process uncovers a massive conspiracy that could get him killed. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
I read a story about hate crimes perpetrated against the Jewish community in New York City, and it really bothered me. The memory of those attacks stuck in the back of my mind, and it came out when I was considering an inciting incident for Corrupted Souls. I find hate disgusting, and this heinous act in Corrupted Souls fills my main character with disgust in the same way it would me. Sadly, such an incident could easily happen today.
Joe has been through a lot and this case pushes him to his limits. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Joe has a strong moral sense, and that comes from his small-town, Midwestern upbringing. He has the best solve rate of any of the detectives in his area because he drives himself to close a case. He is creative, intuitive, and his lieutenant has described him as a bulldog because once he grabs hold of a case, he won’t let go of it. It comes close to becoming an obsession, and he once learned the hard way that he cannot drive himself beyond what is physically and psychologically possible to solve a case.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
This may seem odd to some people, but I don’t think in terms of themes when I write. I approach a story by concentrating on plot and character, and if themes develop out of the story, so be it. To me, themes clutter my thinking about the story, and they don’t help me write the book. So, I leave themes up to people who read and interpret the story.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I just completed the first draft of One of Ours, and it will be published next year. It tests Joe in ways he has not been challenged before because the crime strikes close to home.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Nature Is Imploring Us
Ursamer: A Treasury of Feel-Good Stories Book 2 follows a young Inuit girl who tries to find someone that will understand her message about global warming. What was the inspiration for your stories?
Ursamer – the name came into my head. Sound is very important to me as a musician, but also as a writer. Translated, Ursa and Mer mean Bear and Sea. So, I thought I would write about polar bears and what is happening to them. I also wanted to write about climate change from a different slant. Everyone talks about the physical changes to the ice caps, but not so much how this is affecting those who live there.
Ursamer encounters very different people each time she arrives in a different place, how did you decide on where she would appear?
I tried to imagine what it would be like from her perspective and the difficulties she would have in conversing with the people she met. They would be so culturally removed from her. I wanted to show how different people are affected in different ways, but that we’re all in the world together and things are not looking rosy. Someone old and homeless in New York City (Ursamer can’t see why an elder is not treated with respect), famine-stricken refugees in Africa (they are desperate to the point of lost humanity), and me-dominated rich shoppers in a giant mall – the on-demand types. (It’s all about them, and they are totally clueless about what’s going on in the real world, which is, in essence, their world too.)
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
That nature is imploring us to turn ourselves around. The main thing for me is that humanity STILL doesn’t get it. The global pandemic is something that has never happened before. (Yes, others have, but they go away, at least for a while. I have a PhD in disease ecology, so I know what I’m talking about here). This virus is different – it’s not going away.
But, we have not learned from it. This is nature shouting a HUGE wake-up call. We’re a small step ahead with vaccines, but then we just keep going with our self-centred agenda – over-populating, over-consuming, polluting, degrading, destroying…
The ”On Demand” species. Uggh.
Listening is also a central theme of this story. The vast majority of people do not listen. Poor communication is a huge problem.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Well, a few. A comedy/social justice novel – it should be out by the end of the year.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Where has she come from? What is her story? She has something very important to say, but no one is listening!
A sweet, poignant tale about climate change, Ursamer is ideal for children ages 8 and older.
Stop Running And Accept Ourselves
Darke Realms – The In-between follows a woman with magical powers as she spends years on the run, only to find a place she belongs just when she may lose everything. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
To be honest, I never gave it conscious thought, but in some ways Rue is running away from who she can become. I believe all of us are inherently intuitive and we have the potential to be remarkable, but we also fear that part of ourselves that can create an amazing world for everyone. We can either spend a lifetime turning away from whom we can become or we can finally stop running and accept ourselves as we truly were meant to be, which is what the character eventually does in the end.
Rue starts off alone and unsure if she will ever find where she belongs, eventually finding the people that accept who she is and take her in. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
My mother, who had been my anchor my whole life, died four years ago this month. Since her death, I’ve felt anchorless – adrift. I’ve had to redefine my ideals of family and come up with new traditions that hold meaning for me without my mother here to help define them anymore. Family isn’t always about blood. Sometimes it’s the connections we establish with others to make our lives whole – it is willing to open yourself to happiness and accept it any form that it comes to you. Life is too short to wait. If you wait too long, then you might miss out on the most amazing opportunities out there to love and be loved in return.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
- Fear. You can let it rule you and make you unhappy or you can face it down and take way the power you thought it had over you.
- Courage. Bad things are going to happen. Are you going to let them break you or are you going to take action that will get you out of that dark place?
- Acceptance. To many people suffer because they cannot accept how the universe intended us to be. I’ve had my struggles with it myself, but not accepting your true nature only makes you miserable. Truth of whom we are is the light we gravitate towards to embrace true happiness.
- Self Sacrifice. My mother always put her family first. If she had doubts, I never saw it. We have to be willing to give our all towards anything we do. Half measures only give half rewards. Being all in, often gives us the ability to change ourselves and our circumstances for the better.
- Family. Family truly is the soul connections we make with each other. Whether by blood or by choice, the love is still there and uplifts us and gives us a sense of belonging and peace.
- Love. It’s the one thing no one can do without. No matter how good or bad a person’s actions are – at the deepest level, every action is a cry out for love.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
For the Darke Realm series, the follow up to this book should be done by August this year. I am currently working on a short horror story collection for teenagers that should be published at the end of May. If you haven’t guessed, I am often working on several projects at once. The variety keeps me from growing stagnate in my writing.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
I escaped with my life . . . barely. For fifteen years the Dark one has pursued me. I’ve evaded him all this time by never settling down . . . until now.
All those years on the run, I was always alone. Now I’m surrounded by the paranormal – wolves, witches, and monsters that dwell deep in the dark.
I’ve met my alpha wolf mate, Michael, and it’s hard to get close. I still live with the things the Dark one did to me.
How can I open myself up to the possibility of a never-ending love and a happily ever after when I can see the Dark coming? It’s hard to imagine finally living my life when I was born to fight a war I might not survive. The universe has a cruel sense of humor that I’ve never appreciated, especially now that I stand to lose everything I’ve ever wanted or will ever love.
Inspired By Frightening Displays Of Inhumanity
Meshkwadoon follows several characters as they experience fear, obsession, trauma, and terror while they navigate a world where things are not what they seem. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Just average, everyday human behaviour mixed with a concern about what the true Canadian identity is. If Canadian society is a ‘mosaic’ of diverse cultures, then what does that leave for those Canadians who are reliant on a Canadian national culture? There always seems to be this uncomfortable, unsaid acceptance of a Canadian identity that is connected to something that average Canadians don’t actually feel associated with (or is fundamentally superficial), not to mention the pre-existence of what was here prior to Canada’s nationalization. Natasha came to me through a desperate need to understand what exploring this identity could be… and what kind of spiritual impact the reality of Canada’s melting pot society has on a land as ancient and beautiful as any ancient cultural identity.
What intrigues you about the horror and dark fantasy genres that led you to write this book?
I honestly only identify it as horror because people told me it is horror. Most people seem to struggle to define the genre, and I am loathe to pinpoint one except for magical realism. I wanted real, and sweaty, and grimy. I wanted anxiety to be clear and uncomfortable, yet understood. And really, reality is just naturally dark and filled with minute traumas inspired by frightening displays of inhumanity. The magical, mythological (or fantasy) elements grew through the need to stay connected to the spirit of the land and my love for elements of cultural mythology.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Anxiety, fear, hyper reality, Canadian diversity, pent-up human trauma, and the commonplace misunderstandings of the actions and intent committed by other people. It was also very important to me to ensure the integrity of the spiritual world was associated with and connected to the physical.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m currently working on Meshkwadoon: Book 2. I anticipate that I could initiate the publishing process by Fall 2022, but who knows what path those edits will take and what my ‘non-writing’ life puts on me. I also have a novella in development… Something more in line with literary fiction, but that could dwindle with a potential loss of the right emotion or be publishable by January 2023; it’s a mystery even to me.
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram
As a perspective driven tale, it delves into the minds of a woman, a man, and a boy, as they are dragged through an experience of fear, obsession, trauma, and terror. Where the foundational spirit of the land seeks to fulfill its obligation to an exchange of life for the life of all.
Discover the unspoken impact a melting pot society has on the folk lore and language of a land whose roots go deeper than 150 years. A world whose spirits carry on despite the hunger of the living.
LITERARY TITAN 