Blog Archives
I Love Her Rebellious Spirit
Posted by Literary Titan

To Kill a King follows a spirited archaeologist trapped in Iron Age Ireland who struggles to survive a prehistoric warrior culture. What were some sources of inspiration that informed this novel’s development?
One night, I was looking through a National Geographic and discovered photographs of Old Croghan Man, a bog body dug from the Irish peat in 2003. When I read the article and saw that he was 6’6”, about twenty-five years old, and likely a warrior-king who’d been deposed and ritually murdered in such a profound way, I was hooked. I had to tell his story and make his life and death meaningful. I hope I did that.
When I was finishing high school in my thirties, I took a course called Native Ancestry 11. I still remember the moment the text explained “animism” – the idea that everything—rocks, trees, soil, animals, clouds, moon, stars—has spiritual energy. “I know that! I’ve always known that.” That moment was the catalyst to my journey in Indigenous Studies. During my BA, I studied archaeology, anthropology, and North American Indigenous cultures. But the Indigenous cultures of Ireland and Scotland, particularly the Neolithic cultures, also intrigue me. These people were so tuned into nature; much more so than we are today.
I suppose Sorcha arose from that part of me. She’s a composite of me and several young women I’ve known, some of them Irish. I love her rebellious spirit and especially her flaws. I love that she asks for what she wants, doesn’t put up with abuse from men, swears her heart out, speaks her mind, and teaches Old Croghan Man to curse even though she’s been forbidden to change history by Cernunnos. I introduced Sorcha and her first experience seeing the Old Croghan Man artifact in Book 2, To Sleep with Stones. Because she’s gifted in psychometry when Sorcha touched the copper mounts on his leather armband, she envisioned the man’s face and that’s one of the reasons she became an archaeologist. When Cernunnos offers to take her anywhere in the world to any time and culture, Iron Age Ireland is the natural choice.
I’ve always wanted to travel back in time especially to the Celtic countries I write about. I find Diana Gabaldon of Outlander fame very inspiring. I love how Diana mixes genres, times, and cultures, and courageously tells the truth of her characters’ experiences. She doesn’t hold anything back and that courage inspires me to do likewise.
Singer-songwriter, Peter Gabriel, inspired the voice of Conall Ceol, my Druid bard. I’ve been listening to Peter’s archetypal lyrics and incredible voice for years but how could I describe it and the effect Peter’s singing has on me? I’m hoping Estrada did Conall and Peter justice with his comments about the “six-hundred-year-old yellow cedar tree that had been split by lightning” that he remembers when he hears Conall sing. The bard’s voice makes him want to “curl into Conall’s yellow cedar soul and steam.” I feel that way listening to Peter Gabriel most days.
Your characters are well defined and intriguing in their own ways. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Thank you for saying that. I’m an intuitive writer and don’t create my characters as much as allow them to speak, so I can’t take credit for their eccentricities. They arrive fully developed. I don’t outline or even plot the stories and never tell them what to do, so they often surprise me.
What I realized after writing this last book was that I’d been chronicling Estrada’s inner journey throughout the books. In To Charm a Killer, he’s a player until he falls in love with an Irish witch named Primrose who heals his past wounds. Unfortunately, that relationship doesn’t work out but, because of Primrose, To Sleep with Stones finds him drawn to the ideal of marriage and family, something new and foreign to him. His father disappeared when he was twelve and his mother abandoned him to his tyrannical uncle—this is why he’s so attracted to magic, myth, and freedom. In Stones, Estrada will do anything to save his friend Dylan from being hurt in prison and that loyalty to his friends is another of his ideals. In To Render a Raven, the ideal of self-sacrifice for the greater good arises. Estrada’s grown into being an amazing father but he’s still questioning what’s more important: freedom or family? Because he’s polyamorous, he loves both Michael and Sensara, his child’s mother, plus he’s still attracted to other people. But Raven ends in tragedy and we see how destroyed Estrada is in the beginning of To Kill a King.
The driving ideals behind Hollystone Coven prevail throughout the books. The value “to thine own self be true” arises with all the characters who are either LGBTQ or allies. The witches celebrate a myth of ecology, which is something our planet desperately needs today. The coven reveres nature so their rituals are all intended to heal the Earth; while their actions are geared at saving peoples’ lives. They fight evil and value honor, respect, and freedom. Sensara, doesn’t go to Iron Age Ireland with Estrada but she’s a healer and the matriarch of Hollystone Coven. Sensara demands truth and loyalty, but values forgiveness and love. That’s how she manages to stay attached to Estrada though he often makes her crazy.
What draws you to Irish folklore and what aspects were important for you to include in your story?
I was raised on faery stories and truly believed in faeries from childhood. Growing up, I spent a lot of time alone out in nature riding my horse and I’m sure I connected with all kinds of spirits. My father’s family, the Carrs, were Celts, so there may be some ancestral connection, but honestly, I feel it’s more a past life thing. When my daughter and I were driving through the west counties of Ireland in 2005, we turned to each other and said, “We’re home.” So, I have an intrinsic connection to Ireland and all that it is. Magic. The Irish faeries are the descendants of gods—the Tuatha de Danann (tribes of the Celtic Goddess Danu). They appear in Books 1 and 2. In To Kill a King, I weave in the Druidic lore.
And of course, Cernunnos is the Ancient Horned God of Celtic Myth. He first appears in Book 2 when Estrada invokes him along with the Celtic Oak King to help solve the murder and get Dylan released from prison. Cernunnos appears again in this story as the trickster god and is really the character who manipulates everything from time to people. I love his character because he’s such a tease and likes to play with the humans. Still, he sees something special in Estrada who he calls “shaman.”
This is book four in your Hollystone Mysteries. What can readers expect in book five?
Well, I can’t say too much since I don’t plan these things. However, at the end of To Kill a King, Estrada is given a timely gift by Cernunnos which creates an epic cliffhanger. Someone said I should have ended it before the cliffhanger, but how could I? Estrada needs this opportunity to right the wrongs and rid the world of evil. Doesn’t he? And, of course, the cast of characters, their motivations, hopes and dreams, change significantly at the end of book 4. I can’t say how. That would be giving it away. But Estrada’s already shown me some of what he’s planning and all I can say is, it will be epic.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Share this:
- Share on X (Opens in new window) X
- Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
- Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
- Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
- Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
- Share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket
- Share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
- Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
- Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
- Print (Opens in new window) Print
- Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
Posted in Interviews
Tags: author, author interview, book, book recommendations, book review, book reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, ebook, fantasy, fiction, goodreads, historical fantasy, historical fiction, kindle, kobo, literature, nook, novel, read, reader, reading, story, teen fiction, time travel, To Kill a King, Wendy Hawkin, writer, writing, young adult
Fighting Demons Of Their Own
Posted by Literary Titan

The Venus World follows six Queens ruling over a dystopian New World while an uprising threatens their supremacy. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Our world tends to be male skewed. The atrocities against women are high across most parts of the world and sometimes even in our own neighbourhood.
Before I start to write, I tend to ask the question, ‘What if?’ In this case it was, ‘What if men were not the dominant species, would women take control? This led to further questions like, why would men let women come into power, why would they let them rule unopposed, if women ruled, would men be slaves, would they be the weaker sex? And that was the foundation of the story, a bio-terrorist attack gone wrong, setting up the scene for women domination and a role reversal in this new World.
The six Queens are unique and intriguing characters. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
The six Queens are very different from each other, including their hunger for power. Some like Rani have been thrust into a leadership role they very clearly never wanted. Queen Marihiba is totally power greedy, using her ruthless nature to rise from being a mere guard to a Queen. Others are privileged rulers, while still others like Lohi are fighting demons of their own, while Queen Polime is often misunderstood, however unpredictable and loyal to her people. It is this stark difference that makes the mix between the Queens volatile and interesting. No woman truly trusts the other and the alliances are fragile, capable of snapping at the slightest provocation, which is exactly what Z plays upon to gain power from the Queens.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I wanted to show that:
- women can also rule effectively, however, at the end of the day, they too are humans and humans irrespective of their gender (be it male, female or the 3rd), race and sexual orientation, are still either power hungry tyrants or feel empathy towards others as the case may be.
- human beings unite and rise in the face of adversity.
- sometimes the best move is strategic in nature, rather than physical.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have a couple of books in the pipeline which should be ready by late this year or early 2022.
- A fantasy – thriller, on the lines of Harry Potter meets The Amazing Race, meets Indiana Jones!
- A creature – feature set in Mumbai, India (my current residence) about a pre-historic creature that inhabits the neglected and much abused waterways of the island city, causing chaos and bringing death.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Twitter
Year 2100: Six Queens rule over the New World, asserting power over a dwindled population of healthy men, whose use now is only for reproduction or slave labor. The borders of the New World have changed and so have the rules.
But life is not peaceful when the women reign. There is an uprising coming, fueled by the divide to create new and sustainable male life. And when the women are not united in their efforts, men will try and rise to power.
Will the Queens ruling the Earth realize the danger before it’s too late or will their egos be the foundation that men needed to diabolically put their plan of revolt into action?
The World might never be the same again.
Share this:
- Share on X (Opens in new window) X
- Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
- Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
- Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
- Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
- Share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket
- Share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
- Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
- Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
- Print (Opens in new window) Print
- Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
Posted in Interviews
Tags: author, author interview, book, book recommendations, book review, book reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, dystopia, dystopian, ebook, fantasy, fiction, goodreads, Hywel Richard Pinto, kindle, kobo, literature, nook, novel, post apocalyptic, read, reader, reading, science fiction, scifi, story, The Venus World, writer, writing
My Imagination Ran Wild
Posted by Literary Titan

In the Dark of Eden follows a man with recurring dreams of a mysterious forest who decides to explore that forest and uncovers a surprising twist to the Appalachian folklore. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
A couple years ago, I needed a clean break from everything life was throwing at me, so I decided to trek a four-mile trail at Audra State Park. It turned into quite an adventure because I hadn’t lost myself in a forest since I was a kid. My imagination ran wild, and I started jotting ideas on paper to create the plot when I finally returned home.
Tyhannon is an intriguing character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Tyhannon represents many lost men, including myself, trying to find their way in today’s chaotic world. He’s relatable because it’s become increasingly difficult to find our calling or just be content with life. Many of us are constantly in search of something but no avenue to communicate or explore our deepest desires. As a result, many of us become loners or wandering spirits. There’s something out there or within waiting to be discovered, and it’s often indescribably greater than us.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The prevailing theme is wonder and taking risks in the face of uncertainly. Also, the wisdom of our interconnectedness with nature. Nature is God and we are Gods of Nature when we choose to be by discovering our ultimate purpose.
This is book one in The Eden Trilogy. What can readers expect in book two?
There’s a duplicate scene in Book 1 that’s supposed to represent déjà vu when Tyhannon misses an opportunity to save a man’s life not once but twice. It’s not obvious to Ty, but that scene will have more significance in Book 2 as Tyhannon gets a third chance. And yes, there will be another metaphysical sex scene.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Share this:
- Share on X (Opens in new window) X
- Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
- Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
- Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
- Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
- Share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket
- Share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
- Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
- Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
- Print (Opens in new window) Print
- Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
Posted in Interviews
Tags: author, author interview, book, book recommendations, book review, book reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, ebook, fantasy, fiction, goodreads, horror, In the Dark of Eden, kindle, kobo, literature, mystery, nook, novel, occult, paranormal, read, reader, reading, short story, story, supernatural, writer, writing
A Unique Part of My Life
Posted by Literary Titan

Memoirs of a Bible Smuggler shares your true story smuggling Bibles during the cold war. Why was this an important book for you to write?
My memoirs I hope are a testimony to God’s power and grace in our lives and His care for those who are hurting such as the persecuted Christians. Both of these were important stories I wanted to tell. Those years were also a unique part of my life and I enjoyed writing about them.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
The hardest thing to write about were instances that might offend friends and coworkers.
What is one piece of advice you would have given yourself before starting your missionary work?
Always have a backup plan and give God the glory!
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your book?
I would like readers to realize that God is always there for us whatever the circumstances. Also, you don’t have to go overseas to be a missionary. The most important mission field is your own home. Lastly, pray for fellow Christians who suffer persecution, oppression and imprisonment for their faith.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
Share this:
- Share on X (Opens in new window) X
- Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
- Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
- Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
- Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
- Share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket
- Share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
- Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
- Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
- Print (Opens in new window) Print
- Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
Posted in Interviews
Tags: author, author interview, biography, book, book recommendations, book review, book reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, christianity, ebook, goodreads, Jeana Kendrick, kindle, kobo, literature, memoir, Memoirs of a Bible Smuggler, nonfiction, nook, novel, read, reader, reading, story, writer, writing
Run Through The Wild
Posted by Literary Titan
The Tempter’s Bane finds Adroegen’s friends on their own and facing an assault from Vyroun. What were some new ideas you wanted to introduce in this book that were different from book one?
Well, I would say that overall, I aim to have the more timeless themes in this story, themes like good and evil, courage, selflessness, and friendship. Within this book in particular, I think that friendship plays a significant part all the characters’ choices, as the six members of the company within the tale are separated in The Tempter’s Bane and hope that they will see each other again.
If there is a new theme perhaps that I introduce in The Tempter’s Bane that was not present, or at least not as much so, in The Fleeing Company, I would say a theme of temptation. In The Fleeing Company, the main antagonist is the goblin chief, who is hunting Adroegen and his friends as they run through the wild. In The Tempter’s Bane, the goblin chief’s master, Vyroun, is the villain.
From what I see of other stories out there today, the trend for villains is to make them ‘gray,’ if that is the best way to put it. They are perhaps misunderstood, or went through some kind of trauma in their past, or perhaps they might think that they are doing what is right but are misguided, and so forth. The point is, one could argue that many villains today are not wholly evil. In my story, however, the main villains are complete embodiments of evil, or of the ‘pure evil’ sort.
With the villain in this book, Vyroun, I tried to take an approach of making him almost into the devil. The story I give for him is that at one point long ago, Vyroun chose to reject the god of this story, Enilundar, and serve evil, perhaps like a fallen angel of sorts. My goal was to make him vividly terrifying whenever he appeared, but one trait about Vyroun that I implemented was that he would try to tempt good people into serving him, perhaps like Satan tempting one into turning against God. I best not go into great detail, but I will say that I have one chapter in The Tempter’s Bane that is intended to resemble the biblical story from Matthew 4: 1-11, where Satan tempts Jesus three times in the desert.
The intent was to make evil, or its ways, to appear very tempting, whether by the idea of gaining wealth or power, or simply gaining relief from torment, physical or emotional. If someone were in some kind of terrible agony, whether they are starving or in physical pain, or emotional torment from losing their friends or family, and they are offered to be free of such pain if they but choose to serve evil, some undoubtedly would make choices that they would never make under more normal circumstances.
This seemed like a fun novel to write. What was the funnest scene for you to write?
It was a fun book, and I daresay that picking a favorite part of it is rather difficult. If I had to choose one, I think that I would pick one scene in which Adroegen returns to the Fornwood, an old forest where all the trees can talk, and many can walk. When he reaches the border, he speaks with three trees, named Willowtwig, Pineleaf, and Beechbark, and the three of them soon begin arguing amongst themselves. Willowtwig does not like being asked to look over the border, because being a willow tree, his branches hang low and make it hard for him to see. Pineleaf, meanwhile, is inquired about his name, because pine trees to not have leaves, and he is not too happy about his name being called odd.
Although, I would say that there were several chapters that were fun. What I liked a lot about The Tempter’s Bane is that while The Fleeing Company was entirely from Adroegen’s perspective, which was done because that worked the best for that book, The Tempter’s Bane is told from a little of all the characters’ perspectives within the company. The plan I have in the long term is for all six characters to have their own stories and heroics as the tale moves on, and The Tempter’s Bane begins telling the stories for the other characters beyond just Adroegen.
The fun part of going into six separate points of view is that each character is a little different, and would think and react differently in certain situations. When writing, I must think like they would when in their point of view. Edelbir has a liking for work, and so I must think that way when things are told from his perspective. Kattalin is one who loves the sea and spends much of her time doing things like daydreaming and laying in the grass, watching the clouds pass, though she does not get time for such things in this book. Gleowan and Vaenn are both a little more clever and comical. Gleowan likes to drink and smoke, while Vaenn will often obsess over how she looks.
I think, though, that any chapter with Caitren in particular was enjoyable. Of all the characters, she might stand out the most. Caitren I consider to be someone that is impossible not to like, as she has a naturally hopeful and joyful spirit to her. She is quite a happy character and has a more innocent nature, though these traits are tested in this book, even more so than how they were tested in The Fleeing Company.
What were some sources that informed this novels development?
The greatest influence is undoubtedly Tolkien, who I consider to be a masterful storyteller. I do have several creatures that he borrowed from old folklore and mythologies, but more than that I go after similar themes to what his stories had, themes of courage, friendship, and finding strength and not giving up in the face of daunting evil, among others. These sorts of traits are what I think ultimately make a great story, one that inspires anyone who reads it, and it does seem as if we do not see very many stories like that anymore.
Among other sources, I go to old fairy tales and European mythologies. The Snow Queen and The Last Dream of the Old Oak are a couple tales from Hans Christian Andersen where I took a few minor influences, and the writing and narrative styles I use come from fairy tales. The Prose Edda, where the Norse myths come from, is another great source. After that, I go to some Old English texts.
If you were wondering, just about everything that I read is at least a hundred years old, if not over a thousand years old! There is a gold mine of great ideas in such places though as I have found, even if they are not in our modern dialect and might be, admittedly, tougher to read.
This is book two of The Drifters’ Road series. What can readers expect in book three?
Well, I had best be careful what I say here, as an author, of course, does not want to give away what they have planned next. I will say that The Tempter’s Bane marks the end of what will be the first adventure for this company of six. The war against Vyroun was one that would last for two books, and for the third book, the company will embark on a new adventure, one which I think will be quite fun. The map is going to expand, and these characters are going to venture off to new places, meet new characters and creatures, as well as have a new enemy.
This second adventure will be a sequel adventure after their first major one, but it will not be another adventure just for the sake of one. I do have a much greater plan or purpose that these adventures for Adroegen and his friends are building towards. However, I think that I had best not say much more for right now, other than that I completed a first draft for the third book to The Drifters’ Road in late July. Right now I am thinking over what I think must be changed or what could be improved. That process will take several months before the book is ready for editing, and then publication. Realistically, I think that it is at least a year away, but I am working on book three and look forward to its completion.
Author Links: Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | kylemccurryauthor.com
The goblin chief has been defeated, but the goblins have regrouped and resumed their search. Adroegen has taken a fall over a cliff and may be gone, while Caitren is captured and will be brought before the evil lord Vyroun, who will soon wage war upon the kingdoms in the north. Gleowan and Vaenn search for Caitren, while Edelbir and Kattalin must find Adroegen, as well as a hidden kingdom of dwarves to aid them against Vyroun.
The Tempter’s Bane is the second installment of The Drifters’ Road series, in which Adroegen’s friends lose their guide in lands unknown to them. On their own, they despair over the coming assault from Vyroun, and over fear that their friends might be gone.
Share this:
- Share on X (Opens in new window) X
- Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
- Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
- Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
- Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
- Share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket
- Share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
- Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
- Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
- Print (Opens in new window) Print
- Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
Posted in Interviews
Tags: adventure, author, author interview, book, book recommendations, book review, book reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, ebook, fantasy, fiction, goodreads, kindle, kobo, Kyle McCurry, literature, nook, novel, read, reader, reading, story, sword and sorcery, The Tempter's Bane, writer, writing
Surrounded by Ocean
Posted by Literary Titan
Mangrove Sands takes four friends who all seemed destined for uncertain futures and sends them on a magical adventure. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Once I retired, writing was a way of staying connected to the students who I missed terribly. My beautiful environment surrounded by ocean, marine animals and bushland full of native birds and wildlife added to my inspiration and development of fictional characters.
Your characters were wonderfully diverse and well developed. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Having worked with Primary school students for nearly a decade who were verified under the spectrum and watching them grow under my wing and transform from failing students to students who began to enjoy learning, were finally understood and given a new way of learning, definetley played a part in the development of my characters.
Each character has a small piece of character or personality from some of the children I worked with.
Many of these students have transitioned to highschool and beyond. One in the army, one studying law, another a graphic designer. They still stop for a chat or send me messages .
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Definetley for children facing hardship and adversity my book aims to encourage children to find the positive in even the worst situation and make every day count.
Other underlying themes touch on environmental awareness, empathy and kindness.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Both the sequel Mangrove Sands, The Enchanted SeaWorld & Beyond and The third book of the series, Mangrove Sands, The Epic Journey are currently in production in London.
It is hoped that the sequel will be released in 2021. This book includes an indigenous aboriginal character who teaches her friends about her language and culture.
The third book includes a Swedish character opening the doors and young minds to embrace multiculturalism, language and diverse cultures And of course, there are many more adventures in the Enchanted Seaworld.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Based on an island in South East Queensland, Australia, four children, who attend the same island state school, are all miserable at home and school until Parlow, the pelican, comes knocking on Tommy’s window one night to offer him a better life. Tommy thinks he is dreaming as do his friends—Maria, Dino and Jake—who all have an out of body experience and are taken to an enchanted underwater sea world beneath Mangrove Sands, where they meet talking animals who have their own language and become the children’s tutors, mentors and friends.
Through an enchanting underwater sea world of magic, adventure and humour, Mangrove Sands aims to provide hope and inspiration to children around the globe facing adversity.
Share this:
- Share on X (Opens in new window) X
- Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
- Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
- Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
- Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
- Share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket
- Share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
- Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
- Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
- Print (Opens in new window) Print
- Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
Posted in Interviews
Tags: adventure, author, author interview, book, book recommendations, book review, book reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, childnre, childrens book, ebook, education, elementary, fantasy, fiction, goodreads, kids, kindle, kobo, literature, Mangrove Sands, nook, novel, parent, read, reader, reading, story, teachers, writer, writing
Bringing the Collection Full Circle
Posted by Literary Titan

Seasons of Love is a collection or thrilling romance short stories with interconnecting characters which each taking place in different season. What was the inspiration behind this short story collection?
The collection originally started out as a single short story – Dogwoods in Springtime – which was included in a limited-release anthology. Once the rights reverted back to me, I began toying with the concept of expanding Caroline and Rick’s story. Then, in keeping with the seasonal theme, I came up with the brilliant idea to add three more, thus bringing the collection full circle.
My favorite story from the collection is ‘Aspens in Autumn’. Do you have a favorite story from this collection?
Oh, thank you! Aspens in Autumn was my first foray into romantic suspense and I had a lot of fun imagining Ramsey and Bishop running for their lives. Is it wrong to enjoy your characters’ dire predicament? Hmmm…
To answer your question, my favorite is Snowflakes in Winter. I absolutely love Chloe, and her sizzling chemistry with Alex. Her quirky personality was fun to write, too.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I don’t write with a particular theme in mind, but I have a personal connection to each of the locations depicted in the stories. I currently live in Kentucky (Dogwoods in Springtime); in my teens, I visited Nantucket Island (Seashells in Summer); I met and married my husband in Flagstaff, Arizona (Aspens in Autumn); and my family and I vacationed every year in New Hampshire (Snowflakes in Winter).
Describing that first glimpse of a dogwood in bloom, the smell of salt air blowing in off the ocean, the majesty of fiery-gold aspens lighting up a mountainside, and the warmth of a crackling fire – all of those images were a walk down memory lane for me.
Do you have plans to write more short stories with these characters in them?
While I don’t plan to expand on these characters, I’ve learned to never say never. Who knows? One or more may pop up in another story someday. You’ll have to keep reading my books to find out. 😉
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Dogwoods in Springtime
Still in mourning three years after her husband’s death, Caroline Ballard’s solitary life in rural Kentucky is disrupted by a broken water line, of all things. As if the lack of running water wasn’t bad enough, her immediate attraction to plumbing contractor Rick Spencer unearths emotions long thought buried. Opening her heart to love for a second time, a malicious lie told by his ex-wife threatens to end the budding relationship before it begins.
Seashells in Summer
Having adopted her four-year-old daughter, Lily, at birth, Taylor Brightman is suspicious when former Marine Sergeant Grant Cutler appears on her Nantucket Island doorstep claiming to be the girl’s biological father. Wary of his motives, his good looks and charming personality win her over, but can she trust that she won’t lose custody along with her heart?
Aspens in Autumn
Ramsey Fiorentino is having a bad day. On the run for her life after witnessing a murder, she’s being pursued by none other than Bishop Hamilton, a private investigator hired by the person who committed the crime. When he catches up to her and the truth comes out, they flee to the mountains of Flagstaff, Arizona to hide, but it’s only a matter of time before their newfound romance is tested in the wake of a deadly confrontation.
Snowflakes in Winter
When New Hampshire State Trooper Alex Ballard becomes stranded during a blizzard in the middle of the night, he seeks refuge at a local bed and breakfast, surprised to discover the owner, Chloe Mancuso, is the sole occupant. A passionate night spent in each other’s arms ignites feelings neither thought possible, but there’s someone else with his eye on Chloe and he’s not willing to share.
Share this:
- Share on X (Opens in new window) X
- Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
- Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
- Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
- Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
- Share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket
- Share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
- Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
- Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
- Print (Opens in new window) Print
- Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
Posted in Interviews
Tags: author, author interview, book, book recommendations, book review, book reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, ebook, fantasy, fiction, goodreads, kindle, kobo, Kristine Raymond, literature, love story, military, nook, novel, read, reader, reading, romance, Seasons of Love, short story, story, womens fiction, writer, writing
A Genuine Labor of Love
Posted by Literary Titan

We Never Knew Just What it Was shares the life story of the Chad Mitchell Trio. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Like many people my age, the Chad Mitchell Trio had a huge influence on me as a kid growing up in a small, conservative community during the 1960’s. More than any other music, folk music has been a significant historical influence in American history. It played a significant role in American life through the Great Depression, World War II, the post-war McCarthy blacklists, and the tumultuous ‘60’s. Because Mike Kobluk and Chad Mitchell both live in Spokane and were willing to cooperate, I jumped at the opportunity to tell their story and immerse myself once again in all that wonderful music. It was a genuine labor of love for me.
This was written with members Mike Kobluk and Chad Mitchell. What was the collaboration process like on this book?
Despite living only a couple of blocks apart, Mike and Chad don’t see each other a lot. During the summer of 2019, the probably spent more time together than when they were touring in the 60’s. We would meet together for interviews once a week, then I would talk to them separately each week as well.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned about the trio when writing this book?
The crux of the story is that these are two guys who have polar opposite personalities. Those differences led to Chad’s departure from The Trio in 1965, and John Denver’s emergence as Chad’s replacement. They didn’t speak for twenty years. Then a woman attempted to arrange a reunion appearance. They both said, essentially, I will if he will. Despite the animosity that led to their divorce, the one thing that was sacred to both of them was the quality of the music. On that day twenty years later at that awkward meeting, the woman who brought them together asked, “Do you think you remember the harmonies on Four Strong Winds? And it was as if they’d never been apart. The again shared their demand for excellence, and once again reveled in the music.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from their story?
I just hope this instill in us old Boomers a recollection of a time and place when for, so many of us, a dedication to social justice was instilled in a generation by three guys who sacrificed their commercial success to biting satire and social statements that radio and television refused to play.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
As Mike, Chad and Joe Frazier raced along a frantic treadmill of rehearsal, recording sessions, nightclub performances and concerts, Mike and Chad began to realize the demand for musical excellence was they only thing they had in common. Their personalities were and remain polar opposites.
When Chad left The Trio in 1965, to be replaced by John Denver, neither Mike nor Chad mourned the parting. Two years later, Joe’s demons caught up to him, forcing his dismissal.
When folk reunions became popular in the 80’s, fans and folk historians agreed that The Chad Mitchell Trio was the one group that would never take the stage again. Their schism was just too great.
They hadn’t spoken in twenty years.
Then came a call.
I will if he will.
Their mentor and music director Milt Okun worried the were making a mistake. They couldn’t possibly be as good as their fans remembered.
They were.
They kept their day jobs, and their distance. But once again, they had the music.
As their friend Tom Paxton noted, “Sometimes the only thing people have in common is musical talent. But if they have that one thing, they’d be fools not to use it.
Share this:
- Share on X (Opens in new window) X
- Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
- Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
- Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
- Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
- Share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket
- Share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
- Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
- Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
- Print (Opens in new window) Print
- Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
Posted in Interviews
Tags: author, author interview, biography, book, book recommendations, book review, book reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, ebook, goodreads, kindle, kobo, literature, memoir, Mike Murphey, music, nonfiction, nook, novel, read, reader, reading, story, We Never Knew Just What it Was, writer, writing



