Blog Archives
The Clometheons
In The Clometheons, a science fiction novel with a strong spiritual and emotional core, we follow Jenelle, a solitary seamstress living in a remote valley whose life has been shaped by a past lightning strike that nearly burned her world down. When a storm rolls in with lightning that sometimes has no thunder, time that seems to freeze, and a comet-like streak of light that falls into the woods, her private battle with trauma suddenly collides with a much bigger one: an interdimensional conflict between TUPO and the Deugeotvites, watched over by mysterious beings and embodied in things like a glowing orb named Dot and a living doll called Stitch. As Jenelle, her sister Linda, her niece Melissa, and their friends get pulled into this strange war, the book shifts from small, weather-beaten cottage life to questions about peace, restoration, and what it actually means to trust.
The writing leans into vivid, sometimes almost playful description: thunder sounds like trucks in tunnels, storms feel like cauldrons whipped by a cranky wizard, and anxiety is this stomping thing in your gut that will not sit still. I enjoyed that a lot. It gave the science fiction a grounded, sensory feel, like the cosmic story had mud on its boots. I never doubted that the author cared about these characters. Jenelle’s fear of lightning, her stubborn attempts to pull up her big girl pants, and Linda’s protective streak all felt human and messy in a way that suited a character-driven sci-fi story more interested in hearts than hardware.
What surprised me most was how the book handles the big ideas under all the strange terms and factions. On the surface, you have TUPO, Deugeotvites, triglets, and travelers, but underneath that, I heard very familiar questions: What do you do with trauma that never really leaves? Is peace something you fight for or something you receive? How far do you go to keep others safe, even when you are terrified yourself? There is a clear spiritual layer here, not preachy, but present, especially in the way storms, second chances, and “miraculous” timing show up in Jenelle’s life. The science fiction framework lets the author talk about good and evil, loyalty, betrayal, and restoration in a way that feels like a parable in motion. I did feel the book’s length, and sometimes the pacing wandered when I wanted the main conflict to stay sharper.
I felt like I had spent time in a very particular corner of science fiction: one that cares as much about emotional scars as it does about cosmic battles. If you enjoy character-focused, spiritually flavored science fiction that mixes small-town living with interdimensional stakes, and you are okay with some extra flourishes in the prose along the way, The Clometheons will hit that sweet spot. Readers who like their genre stories thoughtful, hopeful, and a bit talky will get the most out of it, especially if they are willing to sit with storms, both in the sky and inside a person’s chest.
Pages: 658 | ASIN : B0FNYK44LJ
Lucas Cabral and the Secret of the Amazon: The Warriors of Light Series
Lucas Cabral and the Secret of the Amazon sweeps through prophecy, danger, and a race against time as ancient forces stir and evil claws its way toward freedom. The story moves from a cursed Templar temple to modern Brazil, where the birth of three extraordinary children sends shockwaves through the world. As Brotherhood guardians scramble to protect the newborn Warriors of Light, sinister servants of the Lord of Darkness hunt them across continents. The book blends myth, adventure, and heartfelt human moments in a tale about destiny, courage, and the fragile balance between good and evil.
This was an exciting story, and I felt the excitement right from the beginning. The writing has a bold, cinematic quality. At times, it feels intense, even breathless, because danger lurks behind so many corners. I loved how the book shifts between sweeping prophecy and very grounded moments, especially the scenes with Rafael navigating airports while holding onto fear and faith at the same time. The mix of mysticism and real-world tension pulled me along, and that slow but steady buildup was thrilling.
I also felt a warm connection to the characters. Rafael’s devotion struck me deeply. He’s not flashy or loud. He’s steady and scared and determined, which made him feel real to me. Tendy and Paulo brought softness and heart into the story, and the Amazon setting felt rich and alive. There were moments when I wished the pacing slowed down to give me more time with them, but even then, I admired how the author kept the story moving along. The ideas in the book made me think about legacy and responsibility and how ordinary people rise when the world seems to be falling apart.
By the time I reached the last pages, I felt both satisfied and curious about what comes next. I would recommend this book to readers who love fast-moving adventures, mythical prophecies, and stories where ordinary characters carry extraordinary burdens. It’s a great pick for anyone who enjoys young adult fantasy with a global scope and a good dose of heart.
Pages: 283 | ISBN : 978-1962185776
Stillness and Reflection
Shifting Sands follows the survivors of Sol Thalen in the aftermath of its fall as they try to rebuild their culture and society when everything has literally been destroyed. How did you approach writing about this destruction and your characters’ response to it?
For me, destruction is never just about the physical loss of a city—it’s about what happens to identity, purpose, and relationships in the aftermath. When Sol Thalen fell, it wasn’t just the loss of a home; it was the unraveling of legacy, belief, and the illusion of safety. I approached the writing with a deep sense of grief—both personal and communal. I asked myself, What do people hold onto when everything collapses? The characters’ responses came from that place of questioning. Just as some characters choose hope—clinging to survival and the chance to rebuild and dream of a future—others give up hope for themselves, often believing that their own death or disappearance might still serve a purpose. There’s this tragic tendency to justify surrender as a kind of sacrifice: If I fall, maybe someone else can rise. That contrast—between hoping for self and hoping for others—is the heart of the emotional conflict I wanted readers to feel. It’s rarely clean or heroic. It’s messy, human, and deeply personal. And it’s in those moments, I think, that the soul of a story reveals itself.
It seems you took your time in developing the characters and the story, creating a great emotional impact while the survivors process what is left of their world and civilization. How did you manage the pacing of the story while keeping readers engaged?
Thank you—that means a lot. Pacing is something I pay obsessive attention to. I wanted the emotional beats to land, but I also didn’t want the story to feel like it was dragging its feet. What I aimed for was a rhythm: moments of stillness and reflection followed by bursts of urgency. It’s like breathing. When the characters pause to mourn or reflect, the reader breathes with them. But when danger returns—and it always does—they’re pulled right back into the action. I layered multiple storylines so that even when one character is reeling, another might be scheming or moving forward. That way, readers never feel stuck. There’s always a heartbeat somewhere.
I also use an outline, and I’m meticulous about following it. That’s where I catch when there’s too much breathing space, when a chapter feels like it’s meandering, or when a sequence clearly needs to be tightened with rising tension or sharper stakes. The outline becomes a map of emotional flow and momentum, helping me keep that delicate balance. I layered multiple storylines so that even when one character is reeling, another might be scheming or moving forward. That way, readers never feel stuck. There’s always a heartbeat somewhere.
Are you a fan of the fantasy and adventure genres? What books do you think most influenced your work?
Absolutely, I’m a lifelong fan. Fantasy gave me the language to talk about things I didn’t always have words for—identity, grief, power, longing. I grew up reading Tolkien and C.S. Lewis like many others, but it was later on that I was deeply moved by authors like Brandon Sanderson, Cassandra Clare, J.K. Rowling, and Ursula K. Le Guin. Each of them, in their own way, showed me that fantasy could be epic and intimate. That worldbuilding could serve emotional truth. Their works taught me that it’s not just about dragons or swords or kingdoms—it’s about the people who bleed and hope in between. I try to carry that into every page I write.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
Thank you—and yes, it absolutely does continue. Shifting Sands is the fourth installment of a five-book saga, and the next book is the finale, where everything comes to a head. The choices made in Shifting Sands ripple outward, and readers will be taken to corners of the world that have only been hinted at until now. The political game gets even deadlier. Old wounds resurface. And the more fantastical elements take center stage in ways that force the characters to question not just their loyalties, but their very sense of identity.
If Shifting Sands was about surviving the collapse, Ancient Paths is about reckoning—learning who you really are when certain truths come to light, and deciding what kind of legacy you want to leave behind. Some legacies, after all, might be too broken to rebuild. And some people may discover they were never meant to serve themselves, but something far greater.
Readers have often told me they don’t know how the stakes could possibly get any higher—and to that, I say: I’m excited for them. Many have also noticed how I tend to plant seeds in earlier books that only bear fruit later on. Well, this fifth and final book is where all those seeds bloom. Every thread comes together. Every secret is revealed. This is the climax of everything.
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THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA IS ALWAYS PAID IN GRAVES. And with the Sunken City subdued and Sol Thalen fallen, this truth has become undeniable. The Cycle of the Capitals has ended, leaving a world fractured by distance and silence. As Chris joins a people in exodus, he finds no victory left untainted—every gain paid for in blood, every cost sharpening like a blade. Joined by the new Chronicler, he journeys in a final attempt to save a scattered remnant from extinction—and soon realizes he must confront the creature within him… and accept that surviving the monsters around them may require becoming one himself.
Elline faces a different reckoning. With the Capitals isolated and every line of communication severed, mistrust coils behind every stone of Djarin Tor—ready to ignite a coup that would ensure their defeat in the widening war. To stop this collapse, she must embrace the birthright she has long avoided—even if it means defying the Magister. Meanwhile, Havet’s designs tighten with a precision that suggests his victory has already begun, and his cruelty shows no end. As an era dies in silence, the fate of the next will be written not by those who hope to endure it, but by those who dare to shape it from the ruins left behind.
A fast-growing favorite among epic-fantasy readers, this saga delivers cinematic battles, devastating stakes, and slow-burning bonds caught in the crossfire of a war that threatens to consume entire eras—set in a world where monsters rise and no victory comes without a price.
A Personal Challenge
The Manglers of Carraig centers around a boy fighting to protect his mother and sister and a jeweler known for her grim designs, both living in a world split by wealth and riddled with monsters. Where did the idea for this novel come from?
Believe it or not, the idea came from Brandon Sanderson’s writing course. I was in a bit of a literary slump, so I decided to check out the free creative writing course Brandon Sanderson posted on YouTube. In one of the classes, he asks students to come up with a setting or plot for a horror story. One of the students suggested “economic,” which stumped Sanderson. However, as an economics teacher, I took it as a personal challenge. Not long after, the idea hit me: what if a nation’s currency was not only a medium of exchange but also something people needed to keep the monsters away at night? I immediately took that concept and layered it over Hemingway’s To Have and Have Not—and voilà, my masterpiece was born.
What intrigues you most about the horror genre?
Definitely the characters. All genres need compelling characters, of course, but there is something about horror that requires very human and flawed people. I think this is why Stephen King is so successful. His plots are powerful, but it’s his characters that keep people invested for hundreds and hundreds of pages. To be honest, I would consider The Manglers of Carraig more dark fantasy than horror, but I knew I needed compelling characters if I was going to get readers invested in the setting.
What was your favorite scene in this story?
The scene with the Finger Baron. The chapters set in the Hen House, in general, are some of my best writing. I remember when I finished those chapters, I felt tremendous pride in how they turned out. Normally, I’m nervous after finishing a chapter because I worry the writing wasn’t as clear as it felt while it poured from my fingertips. But I had so much fun writing those chapters that they required almost no revisions in later drafts. The interaction with the Finger Baron was especially fun, and I actually laughed out loud at the madness I had created—or, more accurately, the madness the characters created for themselves, as sometimes happens when they take over the narrative. Hopefully, readers will find the same horror, humor, and suspense that I felt while writing the scene.
Can we look forward to more work from you soon? What are you currently working on?
I have quite a few books waiting to be discovered on Amazon, but for now, I’m working on a seafaring fantasy with pirate orcs and sea monsters. It’s in the early stages, but I’m happy with where it’s headed and hope to be finished by the end of 2026.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
Leave Them a Legacy
The Tralls of Nindarry follows two ordinary children who, while visiting their grandparents, discover a hidden realm of magical beings called the Tralls and wind up on an epic quest. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Fantasy is a wonderful genre that exercises our brains and encourages us to think outside the box.
Young people today are often presented with a world facing shattering crises and heroes that save it by blowing up the invaders or performing dangerous and unbelievable stunts.
I wanted to introduce my readers to the beauty of nature and the dangers it faced. I also wanted them to realize they could be the heroes who save it for future generations to enjoy – not by engaging in incredible feats of daring or strength but by making small changes that could have a great impact.
I find the world you created in this novel brimming with possibilities. Where did the inspiration for the setting come from, and how did it change as you were writing?
The tralldoms were modelled on Badu Island, where we once lived and where we were very happy.
The setting of this story is my beloved Mt Ninderry. A beautiful mountain, shaped like a resting lion, and filled with an abundance of Australia’s amazing flora and fauna.
Of course, I needed to change some facets of the setting to accommodate the plot as it developed.
What is your background and experience in writing, and how did it help you write The Tralls of Nindarry?
I was a classroom teacher for many years, and I took classes as well in Drama, Digital Storytelling, and Creative Writing.
I also enjoyed entertaining my classes with stories of the brave tralls fighting to save their ancestral lands, but I was always careful not to impinge on the myths and legends of the traditional residents.
When I retired, I became The Storyteller and entertained children with my themed stories both locally and internationally, and I realised that even in this digital age, children love to be told stories.
When I had my own grandchildren, I wanted to leave them a legacy, so I combined some of my stories into a book and based the main characters, Bella and Gemayn, on them.
What story are you currently in the middle of writing?
My stories are complete. There are five published books in the Trall Series:
The Tralls of Nindarry
The Tralls of Mundi
The Tralls of Maruchus
The Tralls of Colum
The Tralls of Nosa
Each one covers an environmental problem impacting our natural world.
I hope these books will make young people more aware of the beauty and importance of our precious flora and fauna, and encourage them to become real heroes by taking care of their own natural environment.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Suddenly, the tralls are forced to go to war to save their ancestral lands from the evil Mr. Handley and Gemayn and his grandmother are trapped in the tralldom. During their enforced stay, Gemayn uncovers a long-held secret that links his family to the tralls. Could it shatter the emerging friendship between Gemayn, Bella, and the tralls, or will it destroy the bonds of trust that have always existed between them and their beloved grandparents?
The Tralls of Nindarry, written by emerging author Gayle Torrens, is the first book in The Trall Series; a collection of five portal fantasies set in Australia. It explores the concepts of intergenerational relationships, trust, loyalty, self-confidence, and environmental issues.
In 2024, The Tralls of Nindarry was awarded a Golden Wizard Book Prize for a fantasy book written for eight to twelve-year-old readers.
Friendship and Responsibility
The Tralls of Maruchus follows a spirited young trall who befriends a water sprite and promises not to reveal their existence, yet after a devastating fire, she is forced to break that promise. What was the inspiration for the set up of your story?
There were two important issues I wanted this story to cover.
Firstly, I wanted to show my young readers that even if someone is very different from them, they can become friends. I firmly believe that, as Australia and indeed the whole world become more multicultural, this is an important concept for children to understand.
Secondly, children quickly learn that promises must be kept, and this can sometimes cause them worry and concern, and even lead to dire consequences. I wanted to demonstrate through this story that there are good promises and bad promises. Promises that make you feel happy and excited are good promises and can be kept, but promises that make you feel unhappy, sad, or worried are bad promises and they can be broken, and should be shared with others.
In many contemporary coming-of-age fiction novels, authors often add their own life experiences to the story. Are there any bits of you in this story?
When I was teaching, I would read a chapter of a book to my class each morning, and the stories, although wonderful and exciting, were always about the lifestyle of children living in other countries. By the time I retired, I had three grandchildren, and I wanted to leave them a legacy that would remind them of our family and the close bonds we shared, so I decided to write a portal fantasy, and set it in Queensland so it would showcase an Australian lifestyle.
I included many of the good times we’d shared as a family and the valuable lessons we’d learned along the way. I also included some childhood memories of happy times spent with my own grandparents.
Then, just after the first book was released, my mother and my husband passed away, so I included many of the maxims they loved to pass on. Sadly, a lot of today’s children don’t live near their grandparents, and consequently, they miss out on these nuggets of wisdom.
As more grandchildren arrived, more books were added, and gradually, The Trall Series developed into a stylised biography of our extended family. The tralldoms, for instance, were influenced by the happy carefree existence we had when we lived on Badu Island in the Torres Strait, and the personalities and traits of the various characters are an amalgamation of several family members. There are always a few chuckles when someone is recognized or an event is recalled.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Each book in the series covers issues that I feel strongly about; namely empathy, inclusiveness, fairness, and responsibility.
In The Tralls of Maruchus, I focused on friendship and responsibility. I hope this story encourages young readers to realise that true friendship should be based on shared beliefs, shared interests, a strong commitment to understanding each other, standing by each other in times of need, and embracing differences as well as similarities.
I’m also very committed to preserving the environment and its native flora and fauna. Each book in The Trall Series is based on a different environmental problem that the characters work together to overcome. I truly believe that if we can introduce young people to the beauty of their local environment early enough, they will develop into adults who will take positive steps to care for it.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take the readers?
The series now consists of five books: The Tralls of Nindarry, The Tralls of Mundi, The Tralls of Maruchus, The Tralls of Colum, and The Tralls of Nosa. As previously stated, each story includes an environmental issue (mining, misuse of water, fracking, plastic waste, and local fauna and flora being displaced by introduced species).
They also deal with many of the issues that have an impact on children as they develop their own character and personality.
My hope is that The Trall Series will have a positive effect on young readers and encourage them to make choices that will help them to promote the best facets of themselves. I also hope it will encourage them to become more aware of the environmental problems our world is facing, and that the brave, resourceful young characters that feature throughout the series will motivate them to take an active role in protecting their own environment.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
Eventually, Ellie takes her new friend to her tralldom to meet her kinships and Maya promises the fief that she will never tell anyone about the Tralldom of the Rivers or the water sprites who inhabit it but when their home is destroyed by fire and the lives of the water sprites are put at risk, Maya soon realises that she is unable to help them by herself and that promise becomes a burden too great for her to bear.
Eventually, Maya is forced to break her promise and the story she shares leads to a chain of events that will change the lives of the sprites forever.
Will Ellie, who considers a promise to be a sacred oath be able to forgive Maya or could her betrayal lead to the end of their friendship?
The Tralls of Maruchus is the third book in The Trall Series, a collection of exciting portal fantasies set in Australia. The books may be read as stand-alone books but reading them in sequence opens up the wonderful world of the tralldoms and their inhabitants and uncovers some long-held secrets.
The series has been written for competent readers aged between 9 years and 13 years.
Environmental Destruction
The Last Ayer follows a spirited young numbat who discovers she is the last of a sacred line known as the Ayers, and must find the courage to fulfill her destiny and rid her homeland of evil. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration is all around us at the present time. Human encroachment and global warming are affecting humans and animals around the globe. I wanted to shine a spotlight on the issue while providing a very enthralling adventure story. Inspiring young minds is at the forefront of my work.
I find the world you created in this novel brimming with possibilities. Where did the inspiration for the setting come from, and how did it change as you were writing?
As a child, I was fascinated by animals worldwide. I was especially interested in those found only in Australia. When I began writing, I researched children’s books and noticed a dearth regarding endangered animals and/or the animals of Australia. I was determined to write a story that took place in a fantastical world reminiscent of Australia. The Last Ayer is the third book created in the world called Sunderland.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The dominant theme of environmental destruction drives the story. However, I also wanted to express the need for accepting responsibility, facing up to those responsibilities, and having the courage to do so. The story emphasizes the importance of friendship despite the differences between friends.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
No, this is not the first. My first book, The Sword of Demelza, also takes place in Sunderland and tells of the wonderful and powerful journey of two siblings who face the world of Sunderland alone to save their dying mother. It is a multi-award- winning middle-grade novel.
My second book, The Gift of Sunderland, plays off of the first book. A major theme in this book revolves around a reluctant hero who has hidden himself away after a traumatic experience. He saves a young numbat from drowning, and she helps him to realize that he must face up to who he is, namely the Guardian of the forest. She helps him accept that responsibility and return to Sunderland’s creatures who need him.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Pinterest | X (Twitter) | LinkedIn | Kohana Wolf | Amazon
Elsewhere, in the city of Dungarah, an evil perentie named Jago is driven by revenge for the death of his father at the paws of the numbat colony, and has stripped Sunderland of its natural resources. Jago’s need for power over the inhabitants of Sunderland is never ending. His efforts have resulted in the servitude of many woodland creatures.
But now, their slavery has brought them to the precipice of revolt. They only await the return of one called The Guardian of the Forest who they believe will bring nature’s balance back to Sunderland along with their own freedom.
At first, unaware she is the key to saving Sunderland, Keera and Echo travel to Dungarah, a long and dangerous journey. On their way, she discovers her true identity . . . and her destiny. Discover how Keera, the last of her kind, learns to face and overcome the evil perentie overlord, Jago, as the Last Ayer of Sunderland.
A Track of Forgiveness
Snow: Cursed begins in a traditional way, but then takes a turn that defies traditional fantasy storytelling. What was your approach to writing the story?
My approach was definitely to “defy tradition,” and that trope of “good guy versus bad guy” with the good guy always winning. I wanted to express the fact that we—as humans—are all different, and that good and evil are not two absolutes, but that there’s a blurred line in between. I really just wanted to turn the whole idea of a fairytale on its head so I could expose that truth while unraveling that trope in the process. I tried to really show that in the prologue of Snow: Cursed, which is written in Snow’s first person as a sort of “looking back” type thing. In a way, I set out to make something entirely untraditional, to escape the black and white, and I believe I succeeded.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
The human condition is so unique and can take lots of different turns which makes it stellar for fiction books. As humans, we have countless emotions that can be displayed in so many ways, and we get into lots of situations that are awesome to write about. Our reactions to things are very interesting and are fun to play with in fantasy because sometimes they can become warped by fictitious realities. Writing from perspectives other than my own sort of allowed me to place myself in their bodies and feel for what I, as the character, would do in that situation. I’ve done this with Snow more times than I can count. It’s so fascinating to me to put all those components into a character and to stir them up and spew them out sometimes.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
There were a lot of themes that I wanted to explore throughout Snow: Cursed, primarily the fact that good and evil aren’t as black and white as the stories say. I really wanted to show off that morally gray area in my debut novel. Self-discovery, self-acceptance, forgiveness, and friendship are also really important parts of my book. Snow has to go on a journey to find herself, and to accept who she has become because of her knowledge of the curse. She sets herself on a track of forgiveness when Merlin refuses to go with her out into the world behind the wall. Forgiveness is something I think a lot of teens reading YA probably struggle with, so I wanted to delve into that quest. Snow’s friendships were also paramount in my mind when I was writing their interactions with each other, but especially with Merlin. The strong bond between the two characters is expressed during Merlin’s flashback in chapter twenty-four. Themes of loyalty and trust are explored through their relationship, sometimes both getting shattered in different situations. All of these are really important to me.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I’ve finished writing book two of the Snow Saga, and I am currently revising it. It’s a continuation of Snow: Cursed that follows up on the cliffhanger ending, so readers will learn what happens to Snow, along with Marian and Merlin. New characters are introduced into the story, such as Gretel Charming, Jack Horner, and Mulan. The title of the second installment is Snow: Wanted. I’m also playing around with a few different series ideas to expand my writing interests a bit further.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
On the eve of her fifteenth birthday, her father divulges a secret that her parents had kept from her since the very beginning. One that could ruin her life forever. The fact that she was cursed at birth by an evil sorceress who cast a spell that is nearly impossible to break.
Snow will find that the line between good and evil is not all that it is cut out to be. It is blurred, and it has faded from the black and white that it once was. Good is not always pure, and evil is not always wicked. Throughout her adventures, battles, and difficulties she quickly discovers that she might not be on the side that she thought she was on.
Will she succumb to the fate that was forced upon her or live to see another day? Will she find the truth or just encounter lies? Will she remain pure as snow, or will her conscience falter as the trials of her life wear on? Will she live happily ever after or have her future unjustly stolen from her grasp? The future is up to Snow.
