Blog Archives
The Stakes Were Not High Enough
Into the Night and The Glass Demon are two different stories in an immersive paranormal collection. What were some sources that informed the development of these stories?
I’ve always been fascinated with vampires, and they remain a popular movie monster to this day, some of them are even portrayed as heroes. Samuel has the same lure to these beings without really understanding how much danger he’s in. I felt the stakes were not high enough to craft another vampire story, so I made it happen at the same time as a barbarian invasion. It’s not meant to be historically accurate, I thought of it as Underworld meets Braveheart.
The Glass Demon is fictional, but I wanted it to feel like it could be true. Even to this day I enjoy watching Ghost Adventures, Paranormal Caught on Tape, A Haunting, and movies like The Rite. I also read The Encyclopedia of Demons & Demonology by Rosemary Ellen Guiley. My inspiration came from true experiences, but I wanted the human element to be stronger than the horror aspect. William is damaged, but I still wanted my readers to feel for him. This is more of his challenge than it is about a supernatural, paranormal Exorcist-type story.
What were some challenges you set for yourself as a writer with this set?
The most important thing I strived for was preventing my characters from fading into the background. I wanted action, but I didn’t want it to become action-driven over character-driven. These are tales of some people in impossible situations, and they could’ve given up at any time—but they didn’t.
What draws you to the paranormal genre and makes it ripe for you to write in?
I subscribe to Discovery+ so I watch a lot of paranormal shows. I’ve had a few minor experiences myself while growing up, from hearing whispers to seeing forms that slowly fade away. None of that happens to me anymore, but it still left its mark on me. If we rely on only the things we physically see, then we see nothing at all. It doesn’t matter if you believe in the supernatural, but the concept should at least be considered.
Do you have more novellas planned for this world you’ve created?
I had thought of doing sequels at one time. I tried to make it feel like both stories could continue. Into The Night could continue to Ireland where Gavin and his family escaped, and something in The Glass Demon world could trigger William to reunite with Victor and Mikael. At the moment I’m not active in either, but the possibility is there.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Website
They will never stop hunting you.
In the autumn of 1325 an army of barbarians invade the south-western region of England. A drifter named, Samuel and a strong-willed woman named, Valencia journey north to Ashborough to seek the aid of the steward’s army.
While on their mission they realize the barbarians aren’t their only threat. Two vampire matriarchs, and their vampire horde, stalk them relentlessly. They find themselves in the midst of two wars as they fight northward on, what seems to be, a Sisyphean task.
THE GLASS DEMON
There is much unrest here-
William Corgel is a clairvoyant medium who is hubris, doubts his faith and a heavy drinker who finds comfort in pills. Believing there is nothing he can’t handle he soon finds himself in a home with a demonic presence and the possession of a teenage girl. The demon continually taunts and attacks him while claiming to know William’s suppressed childhood memory centered on his mother.
Struggled To Explain Their Identity
Stan and Allen: A Book About Gender follows two non-binary alligators who are misgendered and educate their friends on gender-neutral language. What was the inspiration for your story?
The inspiration initially came from my own experiences explaining my identification of nonbinary to others. When I first told my parents about my identification they mistaked being nonbinary for being bisexual – a common misconception. I also thought about those I knew who were younger than me who also struggled to explain their identity to family or others. I wanted to create something which could act as a friendly tool for these conversations. A children’s book seemed to be a great format which could reach all ages.
My older brother, Brennan, is actually the great story-teller in the family – and has always been a creative inspiration for me. Brennan loves creating short stories. It really was his love which made me truly fall in love with writing and creating stories of my own.
What educational aspects were important for you to include in this children’s book?
The presentation of Stan and Allen was extremely important. I wanted the book to be visually stimulating to hold attention and also represent the positive nature of the story. If you follow closely you can see each character speaks in their own font style. It was also important to me to have the book rhyme to depict a friendly tone. Having anthropomorphic characters I believe is one the most important aspects of the book. Since Stan and Allen are both alligators we are able to just purely focus on the given topic – gender. Since animals are less ‘gendered’ than humans I believe it’s easier for someone new to the concept of non-binary to learn on an already fairly gender neutral alligator. Finally I also wanted a type of reflection included which is why the book ends with some pure educational pages. These include a dictionary type definition of what it means to be non-binary, three important things about gender, and some easy gender neutral greetings.
Overall I hope the book is able to serve as a great educational tool. I have had school counselors, students, pediatricians, parents and others express how helpful the book has been in their explanation and understanding of non-binary identification. The book is meant to help educate anyone of any age about what it means to be non-binary.
What were some of your inspirations as a writer?
I drew inspiration from my favorite children’s books : Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich and The Spider and the Fly. Both books have very unique illustrations, are written in rhyme, and are in square page format. My love for these two books and their formats helped inspire Stan and Allen to have hand drawn illustrations, rhyme, and be formatted in square pages.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I am currently working on two more Stan and Allen books. One is a follow up on gender which dives deeper into the topic. The other is about ADHD. I have ADHD and realize all the negativity associated with it, but don’t agree. I hope to illustrate ADHD as a positive rather than a negative. Stan and Allen: A Book About Gender is my first published book through Archway publishing — I am currently working on marketing it and building up a following. My dream is to publish my next book through Simon and Schuster.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Website
Stan is here to help. In a kind and gentle way, he offers suggestions on how to extend gender neutral greetings, answers questions around pronouns, explains what it means to be non-binary, and encourages everyone to advocate for themselves. Best of all, Stan teaches the importance of accepting ourselves and others around us, just as we are.
Stan and Allen is the tale of two alligators who have a friendly conversation about gender that will educate and empower all ages about what it means to identify as non-binary.
The Whole Path of Life
Leo, the Little Wanderer follows a little boy who sets off on a journey where he sees world wonders and meets kind people who help him. What inspired the setup to this story?
In the broadest sense, this story is inspired by the whole path of life. While wandering along it, we start from the front stairs of our childhood home and aim for something that interests and attracts us – perhaps even far away. When the journey is over, it’s time to return home to the last place in our life. There we’ll think about everything we have seen and experienced. What have we gathered in that backpack of our life journey as memories?
The places where the journey in this book starts and ends symbolize the beginning and end of life. The child sets off excitedly and curiously, meets people, gains experiences, and learns about life. He has a lot to wonder about and understand. It takes a person’s entire life to go through all of this.
I wrote this story at a very special time in my life. My dear father had just become seriously ill, and we knew that his life’s journey was coming to an end. Although the travels in the story are based on my own experiences, my father was always strongly in my mind when I wrote this book.
It may sound strange, but reading this book has helped some people in their grief when they have just said their last goodbye to a loved one.
Was there anything in this book that was inspired by your own travels?
Most events are based on my experiences and feelings during my European trips. Especially during interrail as a young student, I could walk alone for weeks in strange places and meet so many different people. It was essential to know whom you could trust.
In this fairy tale, I don’t name places in any way, not even countries. However, the reader may guess some.
Leo’s journey follows the pilgrimage route of Santiago de Compostela. He joins the builders of Gaudí church, the Sagrada Familia, in Barcelona. In another mighty church, St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, he lights candles and listens to wonderful music. He experiences the same hospitability in Budapest as I did when staying at the home of some amazingly warm and friendly people. In addition, Leo climbs the same fortress hill in Jaén, Spain, as Napoleon’s troops used to – and I have done with my family.
In this book, I take the boy also to see Venice before everything beautiful sinks into the waves – deep in similar thoughts that I had decades ago. And the author he meets at the fountain is the famous Nobel prize winner Jose Saramago, whom I also once happened to meet on the street in Spain, where he was involved in a big cultural project.
I have woven into the story so much of my ponderings about what is beautiful, valuable, and worth preserving that the book is almost like my spiritual testament. And still, it is a fairy tale journey – one with very little money, valuable experiences, and plenty of memories to take home.
What were some creative themes that were important for you to include in this book?
The main themes of this book are actually quite serious. Leo’s story deals with the importance of people to each other – the possibility of meeting and being connected on many levels. The best links between people are built directly between hearts and remain there even though times and places change.
Now, this leads us to more creative elements in the story. The beauty of nature, music or architecture, and other forms of art create unique connections to many places and environments. In addition to connecting people here and now, they can build bridges even between different periods and eras in human societies. History and the present meet each other. We get to witness that miracle if we know how to look openly at the world around us.
When I travel, I often experience the magic of particular places. It feels like some deeper current of life is flowing through me and telling stories of the past. Perhaps this is precisely the feeling I have tried to convey in this story of Leo.
What scene in this book did you have the most fun creating?
As I already said, this book is actually quite genuine and serious. Although the places and people’s encounters are unique and beautiful, the description also contains a kind of wistfulness in the background of everything. This sadness comes from the feeling that everything is transient and can only be stored in memories. The most beautiful and meaningful things can be over in an instant, and one person’s life is just a fleeting moment in eternity.
But, maybe it’s worth highlighting also those points in the book’s events that made me smile. After all, this is a happy book!
I thought Leo’s visit to the cafe and barber shop in the narrow streets of the old town was funny, even though there were dark clouds hanging over the characters. Illustrator Andrea Alemanno made the scene vivid and hopeful. The long list of concerns for entrepreneurs is first on the table, but then they start taking care of the needs of the young customer, Leo. The boy gets treats, and his hair is cut right away. The illustration is excellent, and it portrays the characters well!
Another scene that makes me feel good and light is the gathering of local families in a coastal town. Leo, a visiting wanderer, is taken in without any problems, even though no one knows him. He is offered food just like families’ own children. As I thought about the scene, I could hear in my mind how people joined in singing together with a gentle guitar accompaniment.
Among the writer’s privileges and unique opportunities are creating any kind of fantasy persons, situations, or views and getting to enjoy them yourself. It feels like living many lives at once!
Author Links: Facebook | Website
Along the way Leo sees many wonders of the world, and meets kind people who are willing to lend a hand, even to a perfect stranger. An old writer also teaches Leo to listen, and pay close attention to the messages that people reveal beyond their words.
At last the little wanderer returns home, wiser and content.
Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny: An Unholy Alliance follows two beings with superhuman capabilities and a hunger for power who join forces to take what they want using whatever means necessary. In fantasy novels, it’s easy to get carried away with the characters’ magical powers. How did you balance the use of supernatural powers?
To balance the use of supernatural powers I set clear rules for what they could and could not do. For example, while the power of flight removes a lot of obstacles for those characters, all that means is that other world-building tools need to be used to ensure that this power does not invalidate conflict in the plot. I keep an extensive document of notes on how the Power system works in order to know its limits so as to not break the story. While the power of the characters may seem absurd, this is for thematic purposes: it is supposed to seem ridiculous how much power so few people can horde.
I also balance the use of powers with the story by showing the limits of raw power in its capacity to solve problems by giving complex problems that strength alone cannot resolve. Power is made to represent things metaphorically and allegorically. Even if it seems powerful or unfair, if it evil there is always a way to overcome it.
I try to make sure that the use of Power always ties in to a character or thematic purpose. Typically tied to the character that wields that unique power for character purposes. If the character represents something, the power will do the same. Say a villain with a specific type of flaw has the power of immortality: this supernatural power might be trying to communicate just how difficult it can be to vanquish that vice.
Calling the supernatural powers “Power” was an intentional attempt to get many good phrases that could have deeper and double meanings. The reader will be made to think if I am talking about the supernatural and magic power… or something far more tangible in the real world.
I restrained myself from putting in the most extreme or powerful abilities. The goal is to pace things across different books: each region and era have their own unique uses of Power that gain and fall out of prominence. The Power system grows more complex and powerful as things progress and advance just like real world military capabilities. This allows for variety so that the Power system will feel new and exciting with every new addition that the reader gets their hands on.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I hoped to get many themes and messages to readers of the book. Just a few would be:
- The corrupting influence of power and how it influences the human condition
- The insanely large gap in power between those in positions of authority and those they rule over
- The evils of imperialism and colonialism
- The historic failures and problems of the past that influence so many modern problems in the present
- The only difference between Pirates and Emperors is the scale of their atrocities.
- Idealizing the past is a mistake and potentially very harmful. Yearning for a bygone age that never was, can lead to bad things.
- Violence and war are not things to be idealized.
- The eternal conflict between tyranny of the oppressors and the freedom of the oppressed.
- Money and power do not necessarily equate to happiness.
The book is an attempt to portray the whitewashed tradition of noble kings and knights from fantasy novels with more historical accuracy. Address the real-world problems with tyrannical monarchies rather than glamorize them as a bygone paradise.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
The sequel to this book is Manifest Destiny: By Any Means Necessary which will focus on what comes after our heroes’ happily ever after. In the far future of the first book, it seems that the more things change, the more they stay the same. I’m very excited for that book and think it’s even better than the first. And the third book is well underway as well. If all goes well, both books will be available in 2023.
I’ve almost nearly completed the first installment of the next series that will be coming after Manifest Destiny. A series of books diving into the mythology of the Manifest Destiny Universe set in a completely different time and place. A lot of it seems very similar to our own with… slight alterations. The book will be examining my reimagining of Greco-Roman myth using realworld comparative mythology analysis. Mixed in with the fantasy fun, I hope to actually educate readers on the exciting world of myth studies and Indo-European mythology.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
“The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.” — Thucydides
Just how much death and destruction are two youths willing to inflict on innocents in the name of furthering their power?
For Norne, it seems her only choice in securing Arcosia’s future is marrying into Tartarus nobility. After all, the end justifies the means.
But fate has other plans.
When she chanced upon Chaos, her whole world was flipped upside down. Standing before her is a man who not only equals her appetite for anarchy, but also shares her ambitions of supremacy.
And so, the unholy alliance is forged.
It won’t be long before people will cower in fear at the mere mention of their names. Blood will run the streets and their power and influence will be felt to the farthest corners of the Universe.
But how will they do it? And will they succeed?
Find out for yourself in “Manifest Destiny: An Unholy Alliance” by prolific writer Jaiden Baynes.
If you’re looking for a tantalizing read filled with chaos, destruction, betrayal, and relentless ambition, then get ready to meet your next favorite book!
I Thought Up The Oddest Name
Stalking Throckmorton follows the great-grandson of a mysterious man as he tries to find the hidden family assets hidden beneath a demolished brewery. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
My maternal great-grandfather and grandfather built and owned a brewery in Bangor, WI, a small town in west-central Wisconsin. It shifted to a canning factory with Prohibition and went bust in 1935 weeks after my grandfather died. The building was used as a feed mill when I was in high school and had enough space left over to raise steers on the third floor and store boats on the North end. Tunnels and caverns built from 1862 to 1864 allowed them to brew lager beer all year long and deliver it to all the bars in town without being exposed to winter weather.
Did you create an outline for the characters in the story before you started writing or did the characters’ personalities grow organically as you were writing?
I created an outline for the first half of the book. A couple of the early chapters were dropped. Some of the characters were drawn from relatives who lived in town, a few others were inspired by people I’ve met.
To name the title character, I thought up the oddest name I could think of. You can imagine my surprise when my spellchecker corrected my spelling. Lord Throckmorton was executed during the reign of Elizabeth I in England after he failed in an attempt to assassinate her. Since then, I’ve learned of a couple people by that name in NE.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
My youngest son had Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (A.L.L.) when he was 32. He had less than a 50/50 chance of surviving. He’s doing well now, but that was a wrenching period in our lives. Nixon passed a law that funds treatment for A.L.L., but I believe that is the only type of lymphoma that is covered. The cost of treating cancers can be horrendous without good insurance.
What is the next book in the Throckmorton series about that you are working on, and when will it be available?
The next book is tentatively named “Last Gasp.” Nancy and Throckmorton discover the body of one of his elderly clients in the client’s home. There is no clear cause of death and the sheriff, in a tough re-election campaign, doesn’t want to probe too deeply. It would be easier to call it “natural causes” rather than take the risk it was murder and not be able to quickly solve it.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Publisher
A lawyer hands Throckmorton an 82-year-old letter that claims his dying great-grandfather Otto Kessler stashed the family assets in an office under his brewery. Those assets could be worth $50 million or nothing in today’s market. The village has demolished the brewery and buried the office.
Murder victims are found in homes once owned by the Kessler’s. The crooked village mayor and a con man learn of Otto’s letter and force Throckmorton to make them partners. An inept crew slows the excavation to the office, and security cameras show the killer has visited the dig. Once in the office, the men find stock certificates in companies that went bankrupt between 1950 and 1990. His partners quit. Throckmorton finds another treasure in the office, but not the one Otto put there. To keep it, he must face the killer in the dark.
It Has Been All About The Journey
The Adventures of Cathy the Catfish and Sammy the Swan follows two best friends who live in a pond and learn how much their friendship means to them. What was the inspiration for your story?
I provide security for an insurance company in Little Rock, Arkansas. They have a beautiful spread of a property. One of my duties is to ride around on a golf cart and check out the property. In the back of the building, there is a nice pond that many different animals frequent throughout the day. One day, I noticed a crane by the bank of the pond picking off small fish. I thought, what an unusual friendship that would be: bird and fish. Many children do not know what a crane is, but know of swans. The idea of two characters and a storyline came to me and I went back inside and started writing. The story was written in under 20 minutes and it just took off from there.
What educational aspects were important for you to include in this children’s book?
My target audience for this book is Pre-K and Kindergarten. This story teaches our young that not only can two different animals from different backgrounds come together and become friends, but they can do so in the same environment. This is an extremely important lesson for our children to learn, especially in today’s world. Even if they do not entirely grasp this concept, putting it in their ears is imperative.
What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?
In my experience, it has been all about the journey. I received my Masters of Science in Sport Administration in December of 2021. During the process of getting my degrees, I wrote hundreds of papers. I would always joke that it would be nice if I could write something that would benefit me other than scholastically. When I started having success, I began kicking myself for not writing projects sooner. Then I realized that it took the journey for me to get here. I wasn’t ready at that point in my life.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have 5 books ready for production. I am waiting on illustrations before I can pitch them to my perspective publishers. My plan is to publish two books by the end of 2023, including a Christmas sequel that I’m calling: Christmas on the Pond; A Cathy and Sammy Story. I wish I had more of a definitive answer on the others, but I am playing the waiting game as well. In the meantime, I will enjoy watching Cathy and Sammy. It’s almost award season!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
By: Adam Houchins
Sharing a pond, Cathy the Catfish and Sammy the Swan become good friends. This is the story of their friendship and a memorable life lesson. Giving children a platform to think, ask questions, and learn, author Adam Houchins hopes this book will create smiles and family bonds.
About the Author
Adam Houchins is a father of four children and an uncle to two, and they will always inspire him. Houchins is currently a graduate student at Arkansas State University, and he is from Jacksonville, Arkansas. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army and has been to twenty-four countries. Houchins is also an avid sports fan and a history buff.
How Did This Happen
The Dawning: 31,000 BC follows the love story of two people in prehistoric times who are kidnapped and thrust into the middle of a conflict. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
The marvelous Paleolithic drawings at Chauvet Cave in southern France. It is difficult to view these drawings and then call the people who made them, “primitive”.
What kind of research did you do for this novel to ensure you captured the essence of the story’s theme?
I read about about 20 books and studied European archeology at The University of Virginia.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Political evolution. Specifically, the development of human government. Rousseau rightly said: “Man was born free but it everywhere in chains.” Why, how did that happen. Why has mankind repeatedly chosen subjugation over freedom.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m not sure. I’m thinking about a sequel to The Dawning. I’m also thinking about another historical novel set in the gem/jewelry trade. Perhaps, an ancient goldsmith drawing on my 40 years experience as a goldsmith/gemologist. Whatever it is it will be a historical novel.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Ejil and Lada, son and daughter of a Cro-Magnon tribe (on the verge of adulthood) have begun to explore their maturing feelings when an encounter with a clan of Neanderthal hunters tears their Ice Age world apart. Lada is lost and Ejil finds himself embarked on a desperate odyssey to find the mother tribe.
The Neanderthals, a pale skinned people, occupied Ice Age Europe for three hundred thousand years. Dark-skinned Cro-Magnons, our direct ancestors, appeared forty-five thousand years ago. Five thousand years later, the Neanderthals had disappeared. What happened when our two ancestral peoples came face to face on the ice bound plains of prehistory?
Travel back 33,000 years into our deep past. Set against the backdrop of the fabulous painted caves of Southern France, follow the gripping tale of two young lovers and the sweeping narrative of ancient cultures met in bloody conflict.
Together We Can Redefine And Heal
Rooted HEIR shares your story of self-discovery and healing from your past traumas and abuse while helping others start the healing process. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I didn’t start with the intention of writing a book my intention was to heal. I knew that I had to stop running, and get completely honest with myself. I had to allow myself to remember, to feel every emotion that either I couldn’t at the time or had suppressed, and to tell what was true to me. I had to tell myself my own story. Writing became an intracule part of my healing process. I couldn’t help but wish that I had someone or something to shed light and guide me while going through all the difficult moments that life was preparing me for. I began to see how this was so much bigger than just me. It pushed me to go deeper, be more transparent, to be as authentic as I possibly could be so that my readers knew I could feel them, I could see them, and I could hear them, because I was them. If by chance somehow Rooted HEIR made it into their lives I wanted them to be empowered and inspired. To know that they matter, their stories matter, and together we can redefine and heal.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
The whole process was emotionally hard but the most freeing thing I have ever done. There were countless times I wanted to quit and say forget it but the calling was too great. If I had to choose just one thing, I would say the most difficult part to write about was not about what was done to me but the realizations that came to me when holding up the mirror and looking at myself. It is easy to blame the actions of others for why our behaviors may be a certain way, the hard part is getting completely honest with ourself to see where we need to take responsibility. The cleansing the roots to bare good fruit. I had only wished it didn’t take me over 20 years to start the process.
What is one piece of advice someone gave you that changed your life?
“Healing is not leaner my dear, it is an everyday journey.”
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
Things are not always what they appear to be and we just never know who is dealing with what no matter how it looks on the outside. I truly hope my readers can walk away inspired to continue their healing journey with hope remembering to JKG. We just never know who’s testimony can be someone else’s survival guide.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Trauma f*ucking sucks! There is nothing gentle, pretty, or rosy about it! Its painful, dark, and lonely. Rooted HEIR is a vivid and transparent memoir that takes you on one woman’s journey of suffering, self-discovery, and forgiveness.
In a span of three days the illusion bubble burst. Christina finds herself sitting in a dark room feeling so small and insignificant. She has a choice to make, more of the same or change. After more than two decades of avoiding the painful truth, running from herself, and pretending it was time to drop the shackles of shame.
Have you ever asked yourself, who am I, when you strip away the titles and roles that you’ve been defined by? Well, she did, and she didn’t have a clue. She needed to hold up the mirror, grab the shovel, and start unearthing the traumas that held her freedom. But where do you start? …At the beginning.
In her own words Christina reveals the most intimate parts of her life from the childhood abuses to her own self-destructive ways, and the lessons she has learned along the way. Rooted HEIR is a courageous story filled with the voice of brutal honesty. Her voice that was silenced so many times now can be heard in hopes that others will know they too can speak. Let’s heal, be empowered, be inspired, and redefine our lives. THE TIME IS NOW!
LITERARY TITAN 