Blog Archives
Everything Is at Stake
Until the Rescue Ship Arrives follows a retired priest who discovers a washed-up alien on a beach and chooses to protect this visitor and not turn them over to the authorities. What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
Regardless of genre, what I consider great fiction always reveals the strengths and weaknesses of the characters who are presented with a problem or crisis in which much or everything is at stake. Great fiction requires presenting characters with great challenges.
What was one scene in the novel that you felt captured the morals and message you were trying to deliver to readers?
There are numerous scenes in Until the Rescue Ship Arrives in which characters had to reach deep within themselves, especially in Chapter 22, but to avoid giving those surprises away, a scene I would mention is in Chapter 4 when the female alien, already physically depleted and functioning almost on force of will alone, battles fatigue and the elements in her struggle to reach the Oregon shoreline.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I am still exploring little fragments of stories that come into my head. Sooner or later, I’ll conjure a scene, a situation, or an exchange of dialogue that tells me there is a story here waiting to be discovered. I constructed the Until the Rescue Ship Arrives from the opening of Chapter 1 in which Father Hughes discovers the alien female on the beach. I saw everything pretty much as I wrote it up to the point when he kneels down and realizes he has discovered a person from another world. For some time thereafter I engaged in “what happens now?” until finally, I just began writing that scene. From then on, I was mostly just a reporter describing what I saw and what I heard the characters saying. The next book will probably follow that pattern.
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Living With the Characters
The Adventurers and the Enigma of the Lagoon follows four friends as they head to Óbidos Lagoon in Portugal for a camping trip, who end up on a suspenseful journey to unravel a series of suspicious incidents surrounding a historical legend. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The plot for this book was already in my mind. The ADVENTURERS would camp in three lagoons in central Portugal and then one of them would be kidnapped during the night and taken to Leiria Castle. However, when I arrived at Óbidos Lagoon, as I always go to the places where the stories will take place, I was surprised by those noises in the lagoon, I heard the story of the underwater people and the plot changed completely. I had to forget all about the previous one and leave it for the next volume, the 5th (The Adventurers in the Lost Labyrinth), and create a different one. So, this adventure took place entirely in the charming little town of Óbidos and its lagoon, the largest freshwater and saltwater lagoon in Europe.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
I always have a lot of fun during the entire process of writing these books, living with the characters, but I laughed a lot writing the scene in which Tony hits the bandit Margarido on the head with a bucket and puts a fish in his mouth so he won’t scream for help.
Did you find anything in your research of this story that surprised you?
During the research for this book, I was really surprised by the legend of the underwater people from the Óbidos Lagoon. As soon as I heard it, I had to include it in the plot.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
The ADVENTURERS have many adventures ahead of them, travelling from north to south across the country, always with exciting adventures, thrilling plots, and a touch of history, as Portugal has a very rich history, in events and characters. It is the oldest nation in Europe to have defined borders. There are currently 16 volumes in the series. The next one is set on Berlengas Island, and its plot is linked to the legend of the treasure of a pirate, Captain Kidd.
Author Links: GoodReads | Isabel Ricardo | Facebook | SerieOsAventureiros | Website | Amazon
Then something happens in the dead of night: footsteps wandering nearby, strange sounds in the lagoon whose origin no one can trace, and a mysterious sight. Do these events have to do with “shrews”, underwater men, a local legend? Determined not to be intimidated, THE ADVENTURERS devise an audacious plan to unravel the suspicious incidents they witness. What strange mystery does Óbidos Lagoon hide?
Volume one and two in the ADVENTURERS series, The Adventurers and the Treasure Cave and The Adventurers and the Underground River, are Literary Titan Book Award winners – Four Stars/ Silver Award.
Blue Jeans and Lavender Gowns
Blue Jeans and Lavender Gowns, by A.W. Anthony, is a gentle and heartfelt coming-of-age romance set in the Midwest during the 1970s. Told through the perspective of Terry Deitz, a small-town high schooler, the novel follows his winding, often awkward journey toward love, manhood, and faith. At the center of this story is Debbie Douglas, the girl who catches Terry’s eye and, in time, his heart. Through football games, study hall antics, and tender moments of doubt and hope, the story paints a nostalgic picture of adolescence flavored with Christian values and clean romance.
Reading this book felt like riding in an old pickup on a country road—bumpy, charming, and unexpectedly meaningful. The writing is earnest and full of heart. It leans into its strengths: relatable characters, small-town dynamics, and the quiet courage of first love. I appreciated that the story was never rushed. The slow pace mirrors real life, especially in rural America, where relationships unfold over seasons, not chapters. Anthony’s choice to write from the boy’s point of view adds a fresh and grounded feel that sidesteps cliché. And while not every conversation crackles, many are brimming with sincerity and teenage honesty. I smiled a lot. Sometimes I winced. But I always believed them.
I do feel there are moments where the moral undertones get a bit heavy, and a few plot beats feel like they were written with a wink to Hallmark. But maybe that’s part of the charm. This book isn’t trying to be edgy or clever. It’s kind, and that’s rare these days. The moments that truly shine feel pulled straight from real life— tender, simple, and real—the kind of moment that doesn’t need big drama to feel big.
Blue Jeans and Lavender Gowns is more than a simple love story; it’s a tribute to decency, patience, and young hearts figuring it out. I’d recommend it to anyone who craves clean romance, Christian values, and a walk through simpler times. It’s especially great for teenagers and their parents, or anyone who wants to remember what it felt like to fall in love for the first time—with a girl, with life, or even just with the idea that something good might be waiting around the corner.
The Inevitable
The Inevitable, by Josh Soule, takes readers on a captivating journey into a future where time travel is a fascinating yet tightly controlled phenomenon. Set in this intriguing backdrop, we meet Jack Helm, a remarkable character who has aspired to experience time travel since childhood. While circumstances prevent him from realizing his dream directly, Jack’s involvement as a judge in the Supreme Time Court allows him to play a crucial role in granting or denying time travel to others. As he navigates his professional responsibilities, Jack also finds love with his co-worker Hailey Styles and embraces the joys of parenthood.
The story expertly unveils the intricacies of the time travel process and immerses readers in a world where its ethical implications come to light. Jack’s disillusionment with his job adds a layer of depth, revealing the moral complexities that arise when facing the consequences of time travel. Although the book’s beginning, labeled as Chapter 0, could have incorporated the information more seamlessly into the main narrative, it nonetheless offers valuable insights into the workings of this unique universe and introduces readers to the protagonist, Jack Helm. I feel that the plot lacks significant conflict but the absence of traditional conflict is intentional, allowing the focus to shift towards the moral dilemmas and introspective journey of the characters. Jack’s realization that time travelers are sacrificed to avoid duplications raises compelling questions about the ethics of such a practice. His internal struggle, culminating in a report he intends to submit, showcases his desire for change and adds a touch of suspense to the story. Jack’s decision to back off ultimately reflects the complexity of his character and the difficult choices he faces. The author skillfully portrays the blossoming romance between Jack and Hailey, building upon their shared experiences and genuine connection. The most intriguing part of the book occurs towards the end, where a shocking turn of events disrupts Jack’s plans for the future.
The Inevitable possesses the foundation of a truly remarkable story. The author successfully delves into the ethical complexities of time travel and presents relatable characters. The potential for a thrilling narrative is evident, and the author’s ability to craft suspenseful scenes deserves recognition.
Pages: 122 | ASIN : B0DF2G2FHP
Mystery and Intrigue
While The Jury Waits follows a self-absorbed but magnetic defense attorney who gets tangled in the most personal case of his career, the murder trial of his lover. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for the setup of the story was driven by two things; first, my intense desire to step outside my comfort zone to write a work of fiction, and secondly by my love of crime shows, movies, and John Grisham novels.
What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Believe it or not, the movie, Liar, Liar where Jim Carrey played a charismatic attorney who came across as not having a legal mind at all.
How do you balance story development with shocking plot twists? Or can they be the same thing?
I consider them different. Balancing the two, albeit difficult to do, is driven by the structure associated with writing a decent work of fiction. Introduce, develop, and create mystery and intrigue through plot twists is my approach.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
The sequel to While the Jury Waits. It is going to be a trilogy eventually.
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Finding Your People
Racing Towards Destiny follows a neurodivergent marketing professional who has her whole life implode in a single day, she quits her soul-sucking job, catches her boyfriend cheating, and impulsively buys a one-way ticket to Spain. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Half of the inspiration was having a bad boss for eight years. I wrote Racing Towards Destiny after six of those years when I’d had enough. A couple of friends and I would leave work on Fridays for lunch and fantasize about not coming back. Of course, we always returned after lunch, but sometimes we’d joke and say, “Is this the day we just keep going?” That’s where Anna’s move came from.
The second half of the inspiration was from following MotoGP. There were five sets of brothers racing in the various levels (Moto3, Moto2, and MotoGP), and I wondered how it would be to be the one always in the shadow. That’s where Isaac’s character arc and his story came from.
The other background for the setup was based on a favorite children’s book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst. Anna has the adult equivalent and moves to Spain.
A lot of time was spent crafting the character traits in this novel, especially for Anna. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
It was important to me that the characters felt real, or three-dimensional, which was why I spent so much time and energy working on them. Anna’s character traits have a lot in common with mine, especially her neurodivergence. While she is not entirely based on me (and our childhoods were very different), many aspects of her ASD are mine. The way she sees the world and how she interacts with it is much like how I do. It was important to me to portray someone on the spectrum who wasn’t emotionally flat but full of emotion and capable. Just sometimes overwhelmed.
While the racers were inspired by some of the real MotoGP racers, they are all fictional characters, so I invented things about them that could be true or seemed to fit with what I know of racing and the racing lifestyle.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Themes of finding your people and advocating for yourself were important. If we don’t put ourselves first sometimes, who else will? Anna was also learning to accept her own value. As the story progresses, she is more difficult to take advantage of and starts to believe she deserves to be treated well.
Acceptance was also an important theme. I also explored the idea of best friends and family.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
The second book is already written, and I’m just waiting to pitch it to my publisher (Black Rose Writing) this summer when they’re figuring out titles for 2027. Vince (Isaac’s older brother) and Catarina’s story takes place during the following racing season. Love on Track #2 is currently called Racing Hearts: A Sports Romance (Love On Track #2).
A second, related duology is in the works; this series will be called Love Off Track and will focus on secondary characters from Racing Hearts. Expect at least one of these in 2028.
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Though her autism means Anna struggles to connect, she takes a job as an umbrella girl on the MotoGP motorcycle racing circuit to make ends meet. Traveling across Europe with the team, she is soon caught up in the exhilarating world of racing.
Isaac is a motorcycle racer who lives forever in his brother’s shadow. His older brother is the most famous motorcycle racer of all time-a twelve-time champion. When Anna joins Isaac’s team, he dares to imagine a life beyond racing-one filled with love and family. His newfound happiness improves his performance on the track, but his success causes friction. For the first time, Isaac becomes a contender for the championship and his brother’s rival.
Anna and Isaac must advocate for themselves, or their newfound happiness will skid off track.
Start your engines and grab your copy of Racing Towards Destiny-filled with heart-pounding race action and steamy romance.
LITERARY TITAN 