Blog Archives
Living an Honest Life
Where Truth Lies Waiting follows a woman who has a traumatic accident that leaves her suspended between life and death, and develops a sixth sense, allowing her to hear the thoughts of those who visit her. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for the setup of this story can be traced to my childhood. I was always fascinated with how people’s actions did not always match their spoken words. Say and do could be very different things. With this preoccupation, I always wondered what it would be like to know what people thought and how different it would be from what they shared verbally. As I got older and self-reflected, I realized that this “sixth sense” could be as harmful as it could be helpful in really knowing a person deeply.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
I feel that most people are pleasers. They will tell you what they think you want to hear. Honesty, on the other hand, does not flow as freely from people. I would also say that most people aspire to be good and do good. But being and doing good usually require sacrifice and giving. It is not always easy, and that is when things get interesting. In my opinion, the “what ifs” are what drive good fiction.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
One theme that is at the forefront of this novel is living an honest life. Honesty applies not only to others but to one’s own self and it can change over time, given how each of us changes and evolves. Forgiveness fits perfectly into this theme as there is bound to be a need for forgiveness as each of us searches for our own truth.
Another theme that was important for me to explore was the possibilities of what happens to us when we die. Our culture works hard at preserving youth and seeking longevity. Most people I know would not find a conversation about death and dying a very desirable topic. We tend to run from the one true fact that we are guaranteed in life: We will all die. Exploring it in fiction offers a safe space to imagine and consider, even for a moment.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
This is my third novel. At this point, I have been encouraged to write a sequel for my second novel, Three Days in Amsterdam. I am mulling that idea around. These three novels were written with a specific purpose. In all honesty, I am waiting to be inspired because that makes the pen flow with a fluidity that is magical. I strive for that magical inspiration always.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Amazon
See Tina Now. She lies in a hospital bed, her broken body tethered to life by tubes and machines. Suspended between life and death, Tina’s spirit lingers in a space where memories resurface, and questions arise.
Feel Tina’s struggle as she confronts the cracks in her once-ideal life. Her only connection to the world is her sight-until an unexpected sixth sense emerges, allowing her to hear the unspoken thoughts of those who visit her bedside. What begins as fascination soon turns unsettling, as their inner truths challenge everything Tina assumed she knew about her relationships and herself.
Piece by piece, Tina must rely on the raw, unfiltered thoughts of her visitors to uncover the mystery of how she ended up in this shattered state. Each memory offers a clue, shedding light on hidden truths and unresolved conflicts from her past.
In the end, as the cause of her tragic circumstances become clear, Tina gains a profound understanding- but it’s far from what she expected.
Tanja Davia’s third novel, Where Truth Lies Waiting, takes readers on an extraordinary journey into the liminal space between life and death. It explores the fragile balance of perception and truth, the weight of our choices, and the seemingly random events that shape our life. Yet, as Tina begins to wonder-are any of these events truly random?
Gritty Environments
Hessman’s Necklace is a gritty noir thriller set in 1950s America, where a reckless fixer hunts a legendary necklace through a smoky maze of lust, lies, and moral ruin. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I was reading a lot of crime stories from the period when I first began Hessman’s Necklace, adhering to the conventions of noir. I focused on seedy settings, grim circumstances, and deeply flawed characters with dubious pasts and unsavory motivations. The very first scene I penned was a visceral torture sequence, featuring Ray wielding a blade while the Reverend, bound to a harsh wooden chair, pleaded for his life, fervently asserting his innocence. Initially conceived as a short story, it was rejected by a magazine due to its graphic and violent nature. Through numerous revisions, I softened the scene to make it more palatable. Eventually, I expanded it from a short story into a novelette, and then into a full-fledged novel, yet that pivotal scene continued to serve as the heart of the book. It encapsulates a moment where the central character, Ray, is pushed to the brink of barbarity as pressure and ambition drive him further into darkness.
The prose in Hessman’s Necklace is bold and stylized. How did you develop that voice?
I drew inspiration from the works of writers such as Dashiell Hammett, John D. MacDonald, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Hammett, in particular, possessed a remarkable talent for crafting memorable characters, each defined by their actions, appearance, and dialogue. In Hessman’s Necklace, my intention was to honor this style by bringing my characters to life through their distinct voices and the authenticity of their interactions. Like Hammett’s dialogue, which flows organically, I aimed to make my characters’ exchanges engaging and meaningful, propelling the narrative forward while revealing their complexities and motivations. John D. MacDonald’s mastery of detail and sensory richness played a crucial role in shaping my narrative choices. I carefully wove my characters into gritty environments, ensuring that readers could not only follow the unfolding drama but also feel the weight of their surroundings. I embraced sharp, raw language to convey tension and captured the visceral sensations of key moments. At the same time, I drew from Fitzgerald’s lyrical prose, employing vivid imagery and striking metaphors to enhance the depth of the narrative.
The book leans into noir tropes but still feels fresh. How did you strike that balance between homage and originality?
I’ve always had a fondness for the 1950s noir and crime fiction paperback originals from publishers like Gold Medal Books, as well as others such as Signet, Dell, Lion, and Ace. While many of these works adhere closely to established formulas, the sheer demand and profitability urged writers to produce quickly. It’s impressive how prolific authors like Erle Stanley Gardner maintained quality while churning out massive quantities; he produced twenty-eight novels in a single decade. Gil Brewer could wrap up an entire novel in mere days: So Rich, So Dead was completed in just five days, while Flight to Darkness took only three. I aimed to create a 1950s-style noir with a more deliberate approach and a creative twist on conventions. I challenged myself to tell the story from Ray’s perspective, ensuring he was present in every scene, and sought to add a literary flair that elevated the prose without slipping into artificiality or pretentiousness. Underrated crime writer John Flagg, whose novel The Persian Cat was the inaugural release from Gold Medal, excels at high drama—his stories are typically enriched by thrilling scenes, well-imagined locations, and engaging characters. His lush descriptions and sharply sarcastic personas inspired me to keep Hessman’s Necklace both fast-paced and suspenseful while emphasizing wit. I incorporated factual historical details, references to topical news, literature, and art world trivia to capture the essence of that period, all while addressing modern themes that echoed those times. Alas, unlike Gardner and Brewer, it took me years rather than days to finally consider the story complete.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I’ve started and paused half a dozen novels since finishing Hessman’s Necklace. There’s always a deadline looming that sidelines my creative writing projects, making it a real challenge to find the motivation to complete one before moving on to the next. But I’m determined to get there. Currently, I’m polishing the final chapters of a family drama set in Rhode Island. It leans more towards a beach novel than a crime story, infused with plenty of humor, tension, and personal struggles. Once that’s wrapped up, I plan to revisit the office-based mystery I began last year, and with any luck, both of these novels will finally be ready for publication by early next year.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Website | Amazon
Ray’s captivating looks and distinction as a ladies’ man persuade Walter to assign him the unusual task of getting romantically close to Merriam Woolcroft, a pretty church secretary. Apparently, Merriam is the mistress of Reverend Arnold Sinclair, a shady South Boston clergyman whose community activities have identified him as a powerful trafficker of stolen antiques.
Although mildly curious if Sinclair’s vestry is stocked with priceless art, one solitary object occupies Walter’s interest: a famed emerald-studded 22-karat gold necklace purloined from a museum thirty years earlier. Convinced that the reverend has this long-lost relic, Walter maintains that Ray should focus on stealing Merriam’s heart to locate the necklace, unaware that manipulating a woman is far more complex and dangerous than manipulating locks.
Escalating tension and unexpected twists turn the stealthy treasure hunt into a ruthless fight for survival.
Making it Believable
In Daughter of the Void, a young woman must learn to navigate her own magical abilities in a world divided by war and forgotten secrets. Where did the idea for this book come from?
As odd as it might sound, the concept for Daughter of the Void came from science and not fantasy. I have a secret love of astronomy and theoretical physics, and I’ve always been fascinated by the concepts of dark matter and antimatter. I wanted to create a magic system that captured the mystery of our world’s unseen particles in a unique framework. In Daughter of the Void, you get to experience magic as a substance only visible to those with a gift for it, and you get to witness antimagic in the form of Raelyn’s power. While my magic system doesn’t follow the same rules as dark matter and antimatter, those concepts were my inspiration.
Who was the inspiration for Raelyn’s traits and dialogue?
I put a little bit of myself into all my characters, and Raelyn got more of me than I care to admit. Her quiet, contemplative approach to life mirrors my own. Neither of us is going to be the belle of the ball or the social butterfly. I also gave her my love of nature and solitude, and her little bit of sass is mine, too. As for her stubbornness, kindness, and commitment to seeing the best in people—those were traits of my grandmother, to whom the book is dedicated.
How did you balance magic and its use throughout the story to keep it believable?
This was an important sticking point for me. I think it’s easy for magic to become overpowered in any world. When a magic system doesn’t have regulation, it makes readers wonder why the characters aren’t just blasting their way to the end goal. To keep Daughter of the Void’s magic system realistic, I limited who could use it and made it extremely time-consuming and difficult to master. Only the most talented and dedicated mages could become truly powerful, and even then, they could only specialize in one or two types of magic due to its complexity. Of course, the ultimate balancing agents are wardens, such as Raelyn.
Can we get a peek inside the next book in this trilogy? Where will it take readers?
I would love to share a sneak peek! I am so excited for book two; it has been so fun to write. In this next installment, you’re going to spend time on The Grey Isle, where you’ll get to know the Holy Knights, Saints, and another “special” cat named Alphesior. Now that the world knows Raelyn is a warden, her assumed destiny starts to look more and more inescapable, and she accepts an offer of formal training as forces around the world seek to claim her power. In the mix, we’ve got smugglers, traitors, magic battles, a murder mystery, a conspiracy, necromancy, essence magic, and Laris doing his best to protect Raelyn despite some big roadblocks. Be prepared for an unexpected alliance at the end of it all.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Instagram
In a world where tendrils of magic envelop all things, Raelyn discovers she’s one of the last of her kind: a warden. As a conduit of the gods capable of creating holes in the fabric of magic, she is a daughter of the void. Forced to flee as her city burns and her best friend is kidnapped, she finds herself in an unexpected partnership with Laris, a mage whose abrasive personality hides a desire to keep her safe. The pair are chased deep into the Vast, a treacherous mountain range filled with hostile feyfolk, where Raelyn grows ever closer to her companion and learns the consequences of being directly connected to the gods.
Guided by the spirit of the last Holy King and unknowingly hunted by Saraht, an enemy warden with a personal vendetta of her own, Raelyn and Laris embark on a journey to seek answers. Along the way they must confront the growing threat of war and the knowledge of Raelyn’s true purpose: a devastating power she will need to embrace to defeat Saraht, but one that will alter her fate forever.
A Pure Fantasy
Orphan’s Quest is a coming-of-age fantasy where a red-eyed orphan named Chip rises from obscurity to heroism, guided by pain, power, and the timeless lessons of inner strength. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I originally wrote the first book for my children as a pure fantasy embedded with life lessons. Maxims or truths are best explained in the form of a story or parable. It became an Amazon fantasy bestseller in four countries (the U.S., the UK, Canada, and now India). I wrote it using simple names so you don’t have to learn High Elvish to understand. I wanted the emotional struggle to shine through. I have wanted to write a fantasy story ever since I read The Lord of the Rings at the age of eight. Terry Brooks’s The Sword of Shannara was another great inspiration from my childhood. My opening scene, where the orphan, Chip, is standing on the edge of the valley gazing at the kingdom below, is reminiscent of the opening of The Sword of Shannara. I have been influenced by Tolkien, Feist, Rowling, Jordan, Eddings, and Goodkind, among others. I desired a classic, pure fantasy from the old days, using all the tropes (themes). Some authors want to change the tropes, but for me, the idea of a spurned orphan rising to face an ancient evil is a classic tale that I love.
Chip is an intriguing and well-developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Chip is the consummate underdog. Born with red eyes and abandoned at the gates of the small kingdom, he is immediately shunned for being different. This speaks to everyone who feels different, and we’ve all experienced it in some form or another. He starts with nothing, made worse by ostracization. His suffering is brutal, yet all problems can be overcome with the right mindset. Suffering can become a catalyst to personal growth if the “problems” are rephrased as “challenges.” There is even a point where his mentor, the weapons master, says people should thank everyone who wronged them, for that forces us to grow stronger. The story shows us that even the lowest among us can rise to the challenge and become our greatest heroes. The book can be inspirational, and I receive no greater joy than seeing someone else’s life improved. We are all in this together. Having said that, it is also an epic, action-packed fantasy full of magic and wonder. Many who read it say they cannot put it down. Each successive book becomes more immersive, and by the end, it will be longer than The Lord of the Rings.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I’ve included most of the classic fantasy tropes: a young protagonist who rises from nothing to try and save the world, a wise wizard, a mentor who teaches timeless lessons to the young boy searching for his place in the world, the budding romance between the orphan and the princess, the cruel king and prince, the medieval setting, the hidden magic, and the inevitable quest. Throughout it all, additional themes of personal growth emerge, including viewing life as a challenge, recognizing that freedom is a result of self-discipline, and, above all, never giving up.
What can readers expect in book two of The Great Forget Fantasy Series?
The first book is short and only 99 cents, allowing readers to see if it’s the right fit for them. It’s an introduction to the series, which gets progressively longer. Book two is a race by the main characters to warn the inept king of impending doom. An ancient evil has broken through its prison and is coming for the small kingdom that stands nearly defenceless against the evil hordes. Yet, nothing can prepare them for what is about to happen. Hang on for the ride!
Visit my website below for a free prequel short story (I recommend reading Orphan’s Quest first) and other gifts.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
For readers aged 13 to 100+.
For those who crave a powerful fantasy story woven with life’s deepest truths.
As the weapons master once said,
“Everything you want is on the other side of fear.”
The journey begins…
Long ago, a mysterious event known as The Great Forget ravaged the Earth. Magic was born.
Millennia later, a baby with red eyes is abandoned at the gates of a small kingdom tasked with guarding the Pass of Death. The orphan, Chip, is condemned by a spiteful king to a life of misery in the castle kitchens—scorned, unwanted, and cast aside.
In a twist of fate, Chip befriends the princess and catches the eye of the wise wizard Xander, who sees something special in the boy. The wizard sends him to train under the realm’s most formidable mentor, the weapons master, where Chip learns hard-won truths, hones his skills, and prepares for the ultimate test: his coming-of-age quest to the Pass of Death.
There, an ancient evil awaits, and a stunning revelation…
Amid the howling winds of the fabled pass, Chip is about to discover a world far more deadly than anything he ever imagined.
Join him as he learns what lies on the other side of fear…
for he may be humanity’s last hope.
A tale of courage, sacrifice, and unbreakable will, Orphan’s Quest explores what happens when the one they cast aside becomes their only chance to survive.
Combining echoes of Tolkien, the emotional resonance of Eddings, and the relentless pacing of Feist, this is a story for anyone who has ever faced the impossible and stood tall.
May you never be the same again.
The audiobook version is narrated with music and special effects by the acclaimed actor Nigel Peever, showcasing over thirty years of voice mastery.
Reviews from Amazon:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “It has been one of the most incredible series of books I’ve read.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “The writer develops so many great truths about life.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This is a superior fantasy novel.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Coming of age story masterfully told.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Have to say this is probably my all-time favourite author and story.”
Uncover the ancient mystery behind The Great Forget Fantasy Series—a saga readers are calling “addictive,” “powerful,” and “impossible to put down.”
Begin the journey…
Volume 1: Orphan’s Quest
Volume 2: Defenders of Hope
Volume 3:A Dim World
Volume 4: Guardian
Volume 5:Wizard’s Guild
Volume 6: Stone Kingdom
Volume 7: Light Seeker
Shadow of the Dragon (Legends from Qiledara)
Brothers Aaron and Damien return in the second installment of Amy Daniels’ Legends from Qiledara trilogy. In Shadow of the Dragon, Damien is imprisoned, and Aaron is touted as the next king. His bravery unmatched and his confidence rising, Aaron gives way to the visions of the past that haunt him, and he sets out to bring his mother’s murderer to justice. The creatures known as the dragonkin, however, still abound. Will his abilities and the ultimate power of his kingdom be enough to overcome what lies beyond its walls?
Amy Daniels continues to bring vibrant characters to life in the audiobook version of Shadow of the Dragon. Book 2 is an incredibly involved but immaculately detailed follow-up to the first in the trilogy. Daniels does a wonderful job of succinctly bringing readers up to date in the opening chapter, making this installment viable as a standalone read.
The work Daniels puts into imagery is what takes her books to the next level, and it is especially evident in the audiobook. Envisioning Qiledara, the Hidden Kingdom, and the Amber River is a real delight for the imagination. The almost choking fog and darkness that engulfs the soldiers is practically breathtaking for the reader; you can feel both the trepidation and anxiety in each of the action scenes. By contrast, the splendor and beauty of Maiden’s Rest and the care given to details in the descriptions of scenes are unmatched in many other fantasy novels. One of the most striking scenes and one I kept coming back to as I read was the reveal of the reconstructed dragon within the dismal treasury building. The image of the skeleton towering over Aaron and his cohorts is the perfect visual to demonstrate the power of our hero and page-turning suspense in Daniels’ writing.
One of the most delightful aspects of this novel is the diverse cast of characters. Daniels does not shy away from crafting strong female leads. Brenda, throughout the novel, is a fantastic example of both physical prowess and determination. Facing the dragonkin, these terrifying yet brilliantly described creatures, she is a remarkable standout who will appeal to readers seeking unique and vibrant characters within their adventure fantasies.
Audiobook versions can, many times, either make or break a book for me. Narrator Phillip Nathaniel Freeman brings this tale to life with a tone and delivery that not only engages readers but enhances the already picturesque descriptions of the landscape and the urgency found in each of the action sequences. I appreciated the fact that no two characters sounded similar. Listening to Daniels’ work was like listening to a stage production–finely tuned and full of passion.
While Aaron’s storyline will draw readers in, it is the ongoing adventure, well-paced and featuring a large cast of colorful characters, that will turn them into instant fans. Daniels offers readers a good balance of narration and engaging dialogue. I recommend Shadow of the Dragon, the second book in the trilogy, to anyone seeking a solid fantasy that offers not only action but a blend of tragedy, vengeance, and an exceptional tale of heroism.
Time: 16 hours and 36 minutes | ASIN: B0F5YCKS4J
Coven of Andromeda
After reading Coven of Andromeda, I found myself swept into a world where magic, family, and destiny dance together in both surprising and deeply emotional ways. The book follows two main narrative threads. One centered on Sameril, a gifted apprentice drawn into the dark elegance of necromancy, and the other on Bree Tanner, a young woman returning home to uncover her family’s magical legacy. Their stories, though miles apart in tone and setting, intersect in meaningful ways as both characters grapple with the burdens and beauty of inheritance, self-discovery, and the cost of power.
Personally, I was drawn to the writing’s warmth and richness. The prose flows with a quiet confidence, painting vivid images without getting bogged down in heavy description. The emotional beats, especially those between Bree, her sister Molly, and their mother, resonated with me. The magic system felt thoughtful and layered, and the way it tied into character growth was really satisfying. There were times when the pacing felt a bit uneven, particularly in the middle sections where side characters and subplots began to pile up. Still, the heart of the story never got lost, and that kept me engaged.
What really stood out to me were the ideas at play. This isn’t just a fantasy about spells and grimoires. It’s about the strength of matriarchal bonds, the tension between tradition and innovation, and the bravery it takes to choose your own path when expectations press hard against you. The story asks big questions about death, memory, and transformation, and doesn’t pretend to have simple answers. I appreciated that. Some parts made me misty-eyed. Others made me smile, especially the interactions between the coven women, who feel like real, complicated people with equal parts wisdom, mess, and sass.
I’d recommend Coven of Andromeda to anyone who loves generational stories with strong female leads, lush worldbuilding, and a touch of the mystical. It would especially resonate with readers who appreciate fantasy that feels grounded in emotion and family, rather than epic battles or political scheming.
Pages: 518 | ASIN : B0F88X1Z2Z
TORRENT
Torrent by Anthony B. Gray is an emotionally charged psychological thriller that begins with a brutal tragedy and dives headfirst into grief, guilt, and the chaos that follows. The story centers on Samuel, a high-powered Atlanta attorney whose carefully ordered life unravels when his wife, Monica, dies by suicide following years of emotional neglect and shared trauma. The narrative takes us from opulent law offices to the hauntingly beautiful and treacherous wilderness of Canyon Park, where Samuel embarks on a trip meant to honor Monica’s memory and ends up confronting his own inner demons, dangerous strangers, and possibly something far darker than grief.
Gray’s writing is bold and unflinching. The opening chapters hit like a hammer. They’re vivid, tragic, full of jagged edges. He paints Samuel with a kind of clinical coldness, showing a man addicted to control and blind to emotion. And yet, as the story unfolds, there’s an unexpected tenderness beneath the grief. Gray doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths: the way ambition can slowly rot relationships, how denial makes us complicit, and how even the most successful lives can be hollowed out by loneliness. The pacing is tight, with bursts of poetic introspection giving way to a fast-moving, character-driven plot. I was impressed by how Gray weaves Monica’s presence through the whole book. She’s gone, but never really absent.
There were moments when the dialogue leaned into melodrama. Some scenes felt like they were pulled from a pulpy noir film more than a grounded psychological tale. Still, that unevenness didn’t dull the emotional impact. In fact, I think it gave the story a strange rhythm. Moments of emotional realism snapped against bursts of surreal tension. The latter half of the book turns almost horror-like, not with ghosts or monsters, but with the monsters we carry and the secrets we bury. It’s weird, gripping, and sometimes hard to read, but I couldn’t look away.
If you’ve ever wrestled with guilt, if you’ve loved someone too late, or if you just like your thrillers with a side of soul-searching, Torrent is worth your time. It starts with heartbreak and ends somewhere darker, but also, strangely, with a kind of redemption. I’d recommend it for readers who appreciate layered characters, emotional messiness, and stories that don’t tidy themselves up for comfort.
Pages: 149 | ASIN : B0DRJ8LSHC
Abyssal Echoes
Mustafa A. Nejem’s Abyssal Echoes is a sci-fi horror epic set in the crushing blackness of Earth’s deepest ocean trenches. It follows the crew of the submarine Pacifica on a research expedition that quickly spirals into a confrontation with ancient ruins, alien technology, and horrors not of this world. What begins as a scientific survey becomes a descent into madness, mystery, and metaphysical dread, as the crew uncovers evidence of an extinct, hyper-advanced underwater civilization and awakens dormant forces that seem bent on rewriting evolution, and maybe even reality itself.
The writing is brisk and cinematic, and Nejem has a knack for making even the most impossible sci-fi ideas feel grounded. I was hooked from the first dive into the hadal trenches. There’s a real sense of awe and dread that reminded me of the first time I watched Alien or The Abyss. The science fiction is chewy enough to be thought-provoking but never gets bogged down in tech speak. And the horror is not cheap scares. It creeps up on you. The chapters unravel like found footage or a lost logbook, giving the whole thing an eerie realism I didn’t expect.
But what I really liked was the way the book handles its ideas. There’s something ancient and cosmic at play, something that brushes against theology and philosophy without being preachy. The alien race, the Aen’Bri, aren’t just another version of us, they’re genuinely other, and their technology is so advanced it borders on magic. There’s a grim warning running through the whole book: that curiosity has a cost, and that some doors, once opened, can’t be shut. That theme, of knowledge becoming its own curse, resonated with me. I didn’t always love the pacing; a few segments toward the middle got repetitive with rescue missions and creature encounters. But those were small bumps in a book that otherwise kept me fascinated and creeped out in the best way.
Abyssal Echoes is perfect for readers who enjoy sci-fi that leans into horror. Think Event Horizon, The Thing, or Annihilation. If you like stories about the unknown, especially the unknowable, this book is for you. I’d especially recommend it to fans of deep-sea horror, cosmic dread, or anyone who enjoys fiction that makes them feel both tiny and terrified in the face of the universe.
Pages: 159 | ASIN : B0CQFP6WB5
LITERARY TITAN 