Blog Archives
A Christmas to Remember
T S James delivers a touching and enchanting tale in his latest book, A Christmas to Remember. This heartwarming story captures the essence of the holiday season through the adventures of two young girls, Lily and Sophie, in the days leading up to Christmas. Lily, a steadfast believer in magic and Santa Claus, finds her faith tested by Sophie, whose doubts stem from the cynicism of her mother. In a beautiful act of selflessness, Lily wishes for Sophie to rediscover her belief in magic, setting the stage for an unforgettable journey. On December 23rd, the girls receive an extraordinary invitation to the North Pole to meet Santa himself. Before their meeting, they encounter Jingles, a lively elf who assigns them a series of tasks to inspire the residents of Santclausby and reignite the true spirit of Christmas. Through these adventures, Lily and Sophie learn timeless lessons about friendship, selflessness, and the joy of believing.
While this book is written for children, it holds immense appeal for adults as well. The story invites readers to reflect on the magic of the season and the importance of preserving the wonder and innocence of childhood. Anthony James masterfully captures the emotions of his young protagonists, weaving their simple yet profound perspectives with themes of gratitude, connection, and belief. Lily and Sophie’s deep appreciation for their friendship and those around them is both heartwarming and thought-provoking, leaving readers with a renewed sense of gratitude for the people in their own lives. The book also thoughtfully addresses many of the curious questions children often have about Santa Claus, such as how gifts are made and delivered in a single night. These delightful explanations add a layer of realism to the magical narrative, making it both entertaining and educational for young readers. For adults, it serves as a poignant reminder to nurture a child’s sense of wonder and to find magic in everyday moments.
Perfect for the holiday season, A Christmas to Remember is a captivating story for the whole family. Its themes of belief, appreciation, and the enduring magic of Christmas make it an ideal read for creating cherished memories together.
Pages: 190 | ASIN : B0DKZSBPJ8
The Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight
Jennifer Ivy Walker’s enthralling novel, The Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight, seamlessly weaves into the existing narrative arc as the third installment of her captivating series, The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven. A captivating concoction of tension, suspense, and gripping plot twists, this volume proves itself indispensable in maintaining the continuity and dynamism of the series.
Central protagonists Tristan and Issylte make their compelling return, immediately plunging into conflict as Issylte’s unexpected pregnancy is revealed en route to Tintagel. The ensuing narrative raises the stakes even higher when Issylte is spirited away by antagonists intending to use her as a sacrificial pawn. This necessitates a desperate and high-stakes pursuit, compelling Tristan to confront a choice with potentially far-reaching implications for his kingdom and his beloved.
The book demonstrates the undeniable chemistry and progression of Tristan and Issylte’s relationship, ultimately culminating in their anticipated union and the imminent birth of their child. Moreover, Issylte’s inherent power offers her a semblance of protection against her kidnappers, enhancing the plot’s intriguing complexity.
The narrative also showcases noteworthy creativity and depth in its depiction of a diverse range of characters. The addition of new characters, such as the sinister Mistress Malfleur, alongside previously introduced figures like the formidable evil queen and their associates, enriches the plot with multifaceted layers of intrigue and suspense. This heightened complexity may offer readers a more stimulating challenge as they navigate through the engaging storyline.
Furthermore, unexpected shifts in character behavior, such as Issylte’s interaction with the midwife, add a refreshing unpredictability to the story. These moments provide opportunities for readers to witness character growth and to explore different facets of their personalities, enhancing the overall depth and richness of the narrative.
The Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight offers an enjoyable journey through meticulous character development and a well-orchestrated plot line, which consistently maintains its synergy with the previous books. This installment is an impressive continuation of Walker’s series. It’s exquisite composition and intricate storytelling is commendable. The Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight is a splendid read that leaves the audience eagerly anticipating potential sequels.
Pages: 348 | ASIN : B0C28XRHR2
My Version Of Alice’s Adventures
Once Upon A Wonderland follows a young woman trying to find her love while encountering numerous challenges and life-threatening situations. What was the inspiration for the original and fascinating idea at the center of the book?
The first Wonderland story I wrote – Alice Falls Again – was a self-contained story, where Alice meets characters from the dark origins of popular nursery rhymes. However, when one reader said that the ending begged a sequel, a new story began to grow in my head, where Alice’s quest to discover herself and find love would be taken to the next level. The premise that saving Wonderland is tied to Alice saving herself is present in both stories, even if the second stand-alone story introduces characters from the sinister backstories of fairy tales. It would be disrespectful of me not to mention the overriding inspiration for my version of Alice’s adventures, namely Lewis Carroll’s masterpieces.
Your novel has some very interesting characters that have their character flaws but are still likable. How do you go about creating characters for your story?
On a very practical level, I first thought about their role in the main story – in the plot or sub-plots – as well as their motives, fears, likes/dislikes, habits and so on. At times, I felt like a profiler, building up a character profile from clues and bits of evidence. I even Googled and edited images that represented the characters’ physical appearance in order to bring them to life and sit beside me as I wrote. After that, the characters pretty much decided themselves what they did and said as I wrote the story. I knew that if I could keep them true to their characters, then they would reflect the fact that every one of us has strengths and weaknesses and, even in the case of a talking bear or poltergeist, be somewhat credible.
I felt that there were a lot of great twists and turns throughout the novel. Did you plan this before writing the novel, or did the twists develop organically writing?
In the first book – Alice Falls Again – writing was pretty much conscious stream of thought. However, with Once upon a Wonderland, I spent more time planning the plot, sub-themes and cadence, as well as character arcs. I’d say most of the twists and turns were either planned or a result of planning. But not all. For example, I was not aware of the major twists at the end of the story until I got there. I was as surprised as readers will hopefully be. There is a real risk in over-planning and something to be said for conscious stream writing, so I would never want to orchestrate everything beforehand. If I did, my characters would change things anyway.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
Never say never but for now Alice is where she wants to be. I have two or three other writing projects that need my attention. On the other hand, life has a way of throwing you curveballs. Life is full of surprises and Alice knows that from experience. With so much curiosity and a strong will, some might say she even embraces upheaval in her life.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Instagram | Website
Can Alice uncover the truth to escape her twisted fantasy?
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“Fee-fi-fo-fum!” boomed the ogre.
“Why do you keep quoting Shakespeare’s King Lear?” asked Alice. “And while we’re on the subject, why can you only smell the blood of Englishmen? Why not other nationalities? Or English women come to that?”
–A poltergeist in tattered leotards, a queen suffering from hypersomnia and a psychotic arsonist. These are not the Rumpelstiltskin, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella that Alice has come to know and love. Nevertheless, she needs to get them and other fairy tale characters out of Wonderland if she’s to mend Time and return home. And rescue Jack, the feathered boy she’s in love with.
Alice’s quest is not helped by accusations of treason from the local inhabitants, the advances of an arrogant Pied Piper and the fact that she is growing younger by the hour. And then there is the Queen of Hearts and her cohorts to contend with.
Peppered with surreal events, gritty wordplay and the sinister backstories to popular fairy tales, this sequel to Alice Falls Again is a must for younger and older adults alike.
Reviews for the prequel Alice Falls Again:
“A brilliant and amusing reinvention.” KIRKUS REVIEWS
“An ideal fantasy for Carroll fans.” blueink
“Fantastical wonders and head-over-heels adventures abound.” Foreword Clarion
She Learns To Wield The Magic
The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven is a genre-crossing novel with elements of fantasy, fairytale, and romance as well. Did you start writing with this in mind, or did this happen organically as you were writing?
I adapted the medieval French legend of Tristan et Yseult, which is heavily interwoven with Arthurian myth. I knew I wanted to write a paranormal fantasy version of this medieval romance, complete with Druids, forest fairies, dark magic, Avalon, and Elves, so I researched a lot of dark tales from the enchanted Forest of Brocéliande, birthplace of Merlin, Lancelot, and the Lady of the Lake Viviane. My paranormal romance dark fantasy trilogy incorporates many of those mystical tales of Arthurian myth into the original medieval French legend of Tristan et Yseult.
In your novel, I picked up some inspiration from other fantasy novels that I thought played well in the story. What were some of your sources of inspiration for this book?
Marion Zimmer Bradley’s classic, “The Mists of Avalon” was a big inspiration for me, as were many legends associated with King Arthur–especially the forging of Excalibur in dragonfire on the island of Avalon by an Elf descended from the Gods. I knew I wanted to have Avalon and the Elves play a huge role in my trilogy. And when I discovered that Tristan (my male protagonist) was a Knight of the Round Table with Sir Lancelot, who was trained in Avalon by the Elves, I knew that would be essential to my plot.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I did a lot of research into herbal medicine and healing crystals, since my female protagonist Issylte is a healer. I created an elemental “verdant magic” for her to wield as she discovers her latent gift as a forest fairy who heals with natural herbs. I developed the plot so that Fate would lead Issylte to Avalon–where she learns to wield the magic of all three sacred elements of the Goddess (forest, water, and stone). In my novel, Lancelot brings the grievously injured Tristan to Avalon, the Island of Healing, where Tristan meets his fated mate, Issylte– the only one skilled enough to heal him.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
“The Lady of the Mirrored Lake”, book 2 of “The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven” trilogy, will be released January 23. It continues the paranormal fantasy medieval romance of Tristan and Issylte as the fated mates discover a transcendent passion, wield their Druidic magic, and join forces with shapeshifting allies to defend their Celtic kingdoms from the wicked Black Widow Queen.
Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Tristan of Lyonesse is a Knight of the Round Table who must overcome the horrors of his past and defend his king or lose everything. When he becomes a warrior of the Tribe of Dana, a gift of Druidic magic might hold the key he seeks.
Haunted and hunted. Entwined by fate. Can their passion and power prevail?
A Few Hidden Messages
Cinderella Didn’t Live Happily Ever After, is an in-depth analysis of fairytales and how women are portrayed and treated in comparison to men. Why was this an important book for you to write?
It’s an important topic because fairy tales are among some of the first stories we learn as children, and these stories are told and re-told in many books and movies. Even modern novels sometimes put forward versions of these fairy tales where the female heroine finally gets her “prince”—the high-status man who has wealth and status. Because these tales are so ubiquitous, it’s important to unpack them and really understand what they’re saying. They have quite a few hidden messages.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
One thing that I wanted to get across was that male characters are largely powerful, active, good people. In contrast, female characters tend to be weak, passive, and powerless. And when female characters are powerful, they are often evil. This idea of a powerful woman generally being evil concerns me because it may set us up to be wary of women who have ascended to powerful positions in our society.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from reading your book?
I want people to really question whether the fairy tale life is desirable. I found that female royalty has very little power and are the most unhappy. Queens cry more than any other character, and princesses are terribly treated—imprisoned, kidnapped, etc. Marrying the prince or king has some tremendous disadvantages in fairy tale land, but that is put forward as the ultimate goal.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My next book is called Only Prince Charming Gets to Break the Rules: Gender and Rule Violation in Fairy Tales and Life. It’s an analysis of fairy tales and folktales from around the world and I learned in my research that male and female characters are treated differently when they break rules in stories. Men are often rewarded or unpunished, whereas women are punished very severely. In fact, one-third of them are executed! I draw parallels with modern life where I found that men and women are treated differently when they break rules. For example, men and women in the legal, financial, and medical fields are given very different punishments for the same behaviors. I hope to have that published later this year or early next year.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Super Sassy and Quick Witted
Powerful Purples follows the inhabitants of a memorable fantasy world as they undergo drastic societal changes that will alter their very existence. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
I believe if we as humans can come together and learn to accept one another for our different appearances, cultures, and beliefs, this world would be a much nicer place.
There were many fascinating characters in this series. Who was your favorite character to write for and why?
Zannah was—by far—my favourite character to write through. She’s super sassy and quick witted. There were many times where she took over and changed the course of her own story. I never quite knew what to expect when writing her scenes. She was always surprising me.
Were you able to achieve everything you wanted with the characters in the novel?
I’m happy with the growth of my characters from Pastel Pink to Powerful Purples. My characters are all flawed in their own ways, but I believe that’s what makes them feel real.
I must say, when it comes to my audiobooks, I’m absolutely ecstatic with the way the narrators portrayed my fictional characters. Khristine Hvam, Jodie Harris, James Patrick Cronin, and James Fouhey really brought them all to life.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m working on a Supernatural Thriller set in Louisiana, USA. I’m hoping to have it finished and released by the end of 2022, if all goes to plan.
Author Links: Twitter | Instagram | Website | GoodReads | Amazon | Audible
When Harlow is imprisoned by the Queen’s guards, Slater is forced to flee for his life and team up with Jax—the one man he detests more than any other. Together with courageous Zadonians from all four races, they devise a daring rescue mission to save Harlow from impending death.
Nothing is what it seems, however, and Harlow finds herself being drawn into political intrigue that will change the landscape of Summer and Winter forever.
Torn between Slater’s wants and needs, and her own—will Harlow stay to keep Slater happy or follow her heart and return with Jax?
My Mother Told These Tales
Tales of the Monkey King is a retelling of classic Chinese tales of the famous Monkey King. What drew you to this folklore and inspired you to write a book?
I am of Chinese origin. We came to the US as refugees in 1950 when the Nationalist government fell. My mother told these tales to my brother and I and over the years I told them to the children of all our friends and they all loved the tales-especially the boys.
I decided it was time to write up these stories (in my mother’s words) for children and now my grandsons to enjoy. There are plenty of academically precise translations in several languages – but like all scholarly works, they aren’t much fun.
The illustrations were beautiful. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Gennel Marie Sollano?
I sent in the very amateurish and rough sketches I did years ago for the first edition and she took what she wanted for the illustrations. There was no direct contact, it was all done with Xlibris but I wanted to make sure the artist was recognized and so her name is clearly listed as the book illustrator.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
My introduction explained it all. This is a really well loved and well known set of stories in Asia. You tube has both the 1986 TV series (Journey to the West) and the 2000 (Journey to the West sequel). I belileve the Japanese did a very good cartoon rendition and there are endless movies and Chinese operas based on the themes.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I haven’t gotten started yet but am thinking of extracting interesting anecdotes from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms (several TV series on 3 kingdoms which is also very well known in Asia). It’s sort of a practical rendition of how to apply Sun Tzu’s Art of war to win.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
Treasury of Feel-Good Stories
Dargo: Eco Hero follows a lonely young man as he rises from despair in his going-nowhere-fast job to his new position as hero for the environment. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
This came from many sources. Part from a dream (the character’s first name and the bone thing). Part from my childhood adoration of my older brother. Part from a recent visit to Northern California, where I was shocked by mile after mile of freeway with memorials to fallen highway patrol officers, many with Hispanic names (hence Fernandez). Part from my own experience of being bullied in the workplace. Part from my ongoing love affair with music. Part from my life-long love of nature. Part by the First Nations American elder who saved his people from annihilation due to his translatory skills and eloquence of speech. Part from the ordinary cold-war Russian soldier who did NOT hit the red button to signal incoming nuclear attack (otherwise, we would not be having this conversation, I suspect). All this reminded me of what just one person can do, even though they may feel at the end of their tether.
Dargo is an intriguing and well developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
There are plenty of people who don’t fit into everyday society. So many have suffered as a result, and of course still do. I wanted to say that no matter how hard things get, be exactly who you are.
And please BE. Don’t give up. Things will turn around. Hang in there. There may be 7.5 billion people and counting in this world, and the pressure to conform to the idealised ‘thing’ is greater than ever, but we need YOU! As Samara Jones learns in The Girl with Ten Diamonds, my companion novella to Dargo, “You can’t clone a soul”.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
This disconnect between humanity and nature, and how that problem might be addressed. Because it absolutely must be! You can’t save it if you don’t love it, and you can’t love it if you don’t know it.
Also, personal redemption. So very, very important in this increasingly crowded and competitive world. I wonder how many fell through the cracks-of-no-return just today…
So, as Dargo discovers, he begins by lifting spirits, and that includes his own.
I really hope this book lifts readers’ spirits in these very tough times we find ourselves in. Especially important for those trying to save the Earth. It’s a tough gig, and I hope Dargo can provide a little solidarity and joy.
Find nature and you will find yourself — worked for me!
Thanks for reading.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Kahnilla the Dragon. She will be the 6th instalment in this Treasury of Feel-Good Stories. This series follows the style of Dargo – examination of serious, topical issues through humorous story-telling.
The series has stories for all ages. Kahnilla is another adult fairy-tale. It deals with hate and its cost, and how young people and others learn to hate by following wrong information. The story focusses on the importance of true listening, thinking for oneself, and getting one’s facts from reliable sources. We really need to, more than ever!
Kahnilla is in production now, and will hopefully be out early next year.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
A lonely young man suffers a massive defeat. When all is lost, he meets a fiery fortune-teller who pleads with him to save her.
Can he re-invent himself as a hero?
A light-hearted but poignant little story, Dargo is humorous and heart-warming; a fairy-tale for adults.
You can also read this to your children who care about Earth. And, if they don’t, Dargo will help them to do so!
An enjoyable timely tale that will appeal to the magic in all of us.
Illustrations
LITERARY TITAN 