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Choose to Empower Others
When You Called My Name follows a sixteen-year-old boy with autism, depression, and anxiety who is contemplating suicide till he meets a new girl in school who helps him change his perspective. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Three friends of mine inspired this story. They bravely shared stories of what life was like for them as autistic people with depression and anxiety. (One of them is a counselor, and he shared more things from a professional POV.) They also mentioned how men got less attention for the same mental issues compared to women because traditionally, men were not encouraged to show any weakness or emotion. (That unfortunately remains a fact to this day.) That got me thinking. That’s why I wrote When You Called My Name and decided to tackle mental issues from a male perspective. The main character, Logan, was loosely based on my friends, although he does have my insecurity and tendency to overthink. Can’t help it, I always put a little bit of myself into every character I create.
Despite my objective to examine mental illness through a male perspective, female characters—most notably, Andrea—play an important role in the novel, too. Andrea is a perfect example of what a strong, brave character should be like. She doesn’t put down anyone because she’s comfortable with being herself. She doesn’t have to hurt anyone to make herself feel better. Only the best people choose to empower others, and that’s exactly what she does—she empowers Logan and helps him discover the beauty in being himself.
A lot of time was spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
Actually, I didn’t spend a lot of time crafting their character traits. Things just came easily to me. Logan Smith is an insecure main character who has a full character arc and becomes brave and emotionally mature at the end. Andrea Goldstein is a fairy godmother type of character who’s sunshiny and has a gift for making quirky, clever remarks. She ranks high on my list of favorite characters (which is an incredible feat, as I’ve written thirty-two books now and created hundreds of characters!) I don’t think I’ll ever give birth to another character as cool, interesting, and positive as she.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
There’s the obvious anti-bullying message, of course, but what lies behind it matters more—compassion, bravery, and finding the strength to grow. The sub-themes in my story are mortality and existentialism. The plot twists in the latter part of the story also serve to remind readers that life is fragile, and we must cherish every minute of it.
What is one thing that you hope teens and young adults take away from When You Called My Name?
Have empathy. Have empathy for anyone of any gender, race, or age. We’ll never know what it’s like to be in the shoes of another person, but having empathy and the ability to imagine ourselves in their position is what makes us human. To you, winning an award may be a tremendous achievement; to someone else, getting through another day is an accomplishment in itself. You never know what other people are going through, so “Judge not,” as the Bible says.
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When You Called My Name
In When You Called My Name, Hermione Lee presents a poignant exploration of adolescence through the story of sixteen-year-old Logan Smith, who grapples with autism, depression, and anxiety. The narrative begins at a critical moment in Logan’s life, as he faces severe bullying at school that pushes him to the brink of despair. The arrival of a new student, Andrea Goldstein, marks a turning point. Andrea not only stands up to the bullies but also becomes a steadfast ally, helping Logan see his own worth and fostering feelings of self-love and acceptance.
This young adult novel carries a profound message beneath its straightforward narrative. Lee’s writing style strikes a balance, sophisticated enough to engage older readers yet accessible for younger ones, making the book suitable for a broad audience. The characters are crafted with realism and depth: Andrea embodies hope and resilience, while Logan reflects the struggles of anyone who has ever felt marginalized. Lee skillfully addresses themes of bullying, the potential for victims to become perpetrators, and the transformative power of self-acceptance. The plot weaves together issues of mental illness, toxic family dynamics, and the journey toward forgiveness and personal growth, making the narrative both comprehensive and compelling.
When You Called My Name is notable for its focus on male adolescence and the specific challenges of bullying within this context. It offers a fresh perspective on young adult literature. Hermione Lee’s thoughtful and impactful approach provides valuable insights for readers navigating similar challenges.
Pages: 244 | ASIN : B0CZ7GN54K
Fragments of a Random Mind: A Poetry Collection
In Fragments of a Random Mind, Hermione Lee offers readers a collection of poetry that is both engaging and reflective. Lee draws inspiration from Brian Bilston, which is evident in the intriguing spatial play in her writer’s note, setting a promising tone for the anthology. This debut collection is divided into five sections and encompasses 62 poems. Lee navigates various themes, such as love, life, the natural world, personal reflections, and motivation.
Each section delves into a specific aspect: the first explores life and love through the lenses of friendship, nostalgia, and relationships, while the second focuses on nature, offering observational insights on dawn, birds, flowers, and lakes. The third part contemplates the art of writing, addressing common challenges such as procrastination and other reflective thoughts. The fourth part includes observational and reflective poems on people, urban life, and the surrounding environment. The collection concludes with motivational pieces aimed at uplifting the reader.
Lee’s approach to organizing the anthology into distinct sections provides a clear thematic structure. This method allows for a focused exploration of each theme, contributing to a unique reading experience. The poems themselves exhibit commendable creativity, with notable phrases like “umbrellas bloom” and skillful alliterations in “I see people hurting people.” The collection presents an array of themes, leaving room for the reader to forge their own emotional connections with the poems. The inclusion of experimental pieces such as “Utopia,” “Modern Poetry,” and “Impossible” showcases Lee’s versatility, employing a prose-like style that is both refreshing and enjoyable. The descriptive nature of the poems, capturing emotions, scenes, and impressions, is a key characteristic of Lee’s writing. The collection showcases a range of narratives and ideas, offering glimpses of engaging storytelling and thought-provoking concepts. Lee’s use of poetry taps into its ability to evoke emotion and curiosity, suggesting exciting possibilities for more narrative or thematic depth in subsequent projects.
Lee’s debut poetry collection, Fragments of a Random Mind, presents a promising start to her poetry career. The collection showcases her potential in the realm of poetry as she explores themes of love, loss, identity, and belonging. Her use of vivid imagery and emotive language captivates the reader’s attention and brings her poems to life. Fragments of a Random Mind is a noteworthy addition to the world of contemporary poetry and a testament to Lee’s talent as a poet.
Pages: 132 | ASIN : B0CW1LX5X9
The Moral Of This Dark Tale
Helen’s Tale follows a lonely Elder woman working for the royal family who is entrusted with mentoring a new Elder-in-training with whom she forms a bond. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Helen’s Tale is a companion novel to the Otherworld Trilogy. The trilogy itself is focused on Alexandria’s adventures. (Alexandria is the princess of the Otherworld.) Helen also appears as a secondary yet important character in the trilogy. She received mixed feelings from the readers. Some were fascinated by her character while others found her snobbish and standoffish. Therefore, I decided to write a prequel for the trilogy featuring her as the main protagonist. I was inspired by two movies—Black Swan (2010) and Spencer (2021). Both are psychological films. I decided to step up my game and include some Gothic elements in Helen’s Tale and make some parts of it horrifying.
What’s the moral of this dark tale, you may ask? Does it aim only to scare? Being the preachy author I am, I made sure to include an important message in the book: We all have weaknesses. You can be a tough, macho guy or a strong, independent woman, but in the end, none of us is invincible.
What was your writing process to ensure you captured the essence of the characters?
The writing process was very much like most of my books—I didn’t follow the sequence of chapters when writing Helen’s Tale. Instead, I worked on the scarier chapters first, derived great pleasure from writing them, and patched the holes (missing chapters) at the end. I did not have to work hard to capture the essence of the characters because I was already familiar with them, having finished the Otherworld Trilogy before starting Helen’s Tale.
Are there any emotions or memories from your own life that you put into your character’s life?
The answer is a very fortunate no. Although like Helen, I was bullied, the level of bullying she experienced was inhumane, while my plight paled in contrast. She suffered from PTSD, depression, schizophrenia, and anxiety in the aftermath, and while I was lucky enough to walk away from the bullying un-traumatized, I know many people aren’t as fortunate. Being an author, it is important to empathize with our characters and imagine what we would have done if we were them.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
The next book from my publisher might be Eric’s Tale, another companion novel to the Otherworld Trilogy. Like Helen, Eric is also a character with a sad past. The other two companion novels I’ve written for this series are Zack’s Tale and Eileen’s Tale.
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I Want To Convey A Message Without Preaching
Snowfall follows a cursed ice witch who must find true love within a year or melt into a puddle of water. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I design my covers using and purchasing pictures from Shutterstock. When I stumbled upon what became the cover for Snowfall, I was mesmerized by the ice forest. I immediately thought of a cursed ice witch and her quest to find love and break the spell. Readers who have read Snowfall may associate it with Frozen and Beauty and the Beast. I do not deny I was inspired by both and decided to combine the elements of a frozen heart, true love as a cure, and death as a penalty if Pristina the ice witch fails to win true love. However, there are far more complications entailed in this book. Pristina must battle with her conscience and must determine whether it is moral to interfere in Gabriel and Marleigh’s dysfunctional and abusive relationship.
Pristina Cardin was resigned to die when she unexpectedly found love, unfortunately, things do not go smoothly and she is faced with a difficult choice. What were the morals you were trying to capture while creating your characters?
I used to love preaching to readers because it made me feel important to be listened to, but now, I believe a good writer pinpoints issues and invites readers to think and debate instead of telling readers what to think.
In Snowfall, the morals and themes are:
1) Manipulation and deceit in a relationship.
2) Whether it is moral to intervene in a problematic and toxic relationship.
3) Sacrifice and letting go.
4) The value of life and cherishing it.
What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?
1) To capture the essence of the characters. Pristina is one of those protagonists who’s very different from me. She is lonely and craves love and companionship. Therefore, it was important for me to put myself in her position and think like her to make her realistic. Being an author, empathy is a must-have trait if we are to create a character whom
2) To convey moral messages without sounding like a preacher.
I’m always worried about over-preaching the readers and boring them, yet I insist on having certain scenes in my books that lead to some life insights. For example, here’s an excerpt from Snowfall:
“What did being alive mean? Did it mean living and breathing and watching each day come and go like a flowing river? Or was there something more to it? Fighting the tides of mundanity that threatened to numb one’s senses? Breaking the routines one set up for themself? Experiencing new, exciting things and going on adventures to expand one’s horizons? Embarking on different journeys that gave one a brand-new perspective on life and allowed them to view the grand, sublime, and sometimes terrifying universe in a whole new light?”
To me, writing novels means striking a balance between focusing on the morals and (hopefully thought-provoking) themes and making the storyline intriguing enough to not make readers slam the book shut before turning the last page.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have finished twenty-two novels as of June 2022. Snowfall is my seventeenth-written but my ninth-published book. My eighteenth-written novel is titled Stars, Clouds, and Shadows, and I’m seeking an agent to represent it right now. My tenth-published book, available since May 15th, is Helen’s Tale, a companion novel to my Otherworld Trilogy.
I just finished another novel (YA literary) recently, and I might start the next book in September. It may be an adult contemporary romance titled Romantic Endeavor, focusing on the protagonist Katharina and her handsome, brooding neighbor who possesses a melancholic secret. However, I also have many other story ideas clamoring for my attention, so I am not certain if Romantic Endeavor will turn out to be my twenty-third-written novel.
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Fortune shines upon her one day when she saves a young man, Gabriel Deon, who is dying from hypothermia. Unfortunately, the rescue pushes her into an endless pit of troubles, and Pristina is almost murdered by Gabriel’s possessive girlfriend, due to a misunderstanding. In the end, Pristina must make a difficult decision that will determine her destiny—should she abide by her morals, or should she abandon them to save her own life?
Helen’s Tale
Hermione Lee’s Helen’s Tale is an enthralling exploration into the realms of fantasy, horror, and adventure. From the gripping opening line to the poignant conclusion, readers will find themselves irresistibly drawn into the narrative, yearning to discover the events that unfold. Despite the book’s prevailing darkness, it brilliantly illuminates the slender rays of hope that seep through its melancholic framework. This narrative offers a compelling message: the power of hope endures unceasingly for those who place their faith in it.
Set in a meticulously crafted fictional universe teeming with magic, Helen’s Tale presents us with a divided world: the Otherworld, the primary setting, and the Underworld, a grueling trial ground for our protagonists. As readers navigate through this world, they are entwined in complex court politics involving the monarchy and a rigid social hierarchy. Lee’s engaging prose and vivid world-building effortlessly transport readers into this new, enchanting setting.
The narrative revolves around Helen, the Representative Elder and chief royal advisor. We witness her grapple with cutthroat court politics and the animosity of fellow Elders. The introduction of Evonne, her protégé, catalyzes a transformation in Helen’s melancholic demeanor, infusing her life with newfound joy. Although the story begins on a somewhat lighthearted note, it soon descends into a hauntingly gothic ambiance as the plot advances.
As a book that resides firmly in the Dark Fantasy genre, readers will encounter some challenging and potentially disturbing topics. Some of the themes in this gripping novel are bullying, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and mental illness, encompassing visions and hallucinations. While these themes are intense, they are skillfully woven into the character development of Helen giving readers a rich protagonist.
The journey of Helen and Evonne is a thrilling rollercoaster of high-stakes adventures and trials, emotional peaks and valleys, and joy and sorrow. Helen’s Tale comes with my highest recommendation for those who revel in narratives imbued with dark themes and adventures laced with intrigue.
Pages: 222 | ASIN : B0C3GH2T5Z
Snowfall
In a world where love is the ultimate conqueror, navigating the complexities of merging one’s life with another’s can prove to be a daunting task. Alas, the scarcity of outstanding and eligible partners only adds to the challenge. Nevertheless, the quest for a compatible mate should never be abandoned, as destiny may have it that one’s soulmate is out there waiting for them.
Snowfall, a novel penned by the talented Hermione Lee, transports readers to a world where Pristina Cardin, an ice witch, resides in her solitary ice manor on a mountaintop. With little interaction with the outside world, Pristina found solace in the confines of her icy abode. Unbeknownst to her, a nefarious character lurked in the shadows, waiting for the opportune moment to rid the world of her presence.
It was not until another witch was hired to eliminate her that Pristina’s life was forever altered. Instead of carrying out the original plan, the witch cursed her with a timeline of one year, after which she would meet her demise by melting into the floor of her manor. Isolated and resigned to her fate, Pristina never envisioned the possibility of love or companionship until Gabriel, a wealthy wizard engaged to a manipulative woman named Marleigh, entered her life.
The novel’s enchanting storyline and portrayal of true love restores hope to those yearning for their soulmate. Hermione Lee’s vivid and engaging writing style effortlessly draws readers into the story, while the plot’s fast-paced twists and turns keep them guessing. The author’s ability to craft well-rounded characters with whom readers can connect emotionally is particularly noteworthy.
Pristina, the novel’s compelling protagonist, is a character that readers will undoubtedly adore. I highly recommend this book to fans of fantasy and romance, as Hermione’s writing is exceptional, and the story is both charming and engaging. It is with great anticipation that I look forward to reading more books by this incredible author.
Pages: 204 | ASIN: B0BWFQDD59
Kindled A New Idea In My Mind
The Lost Siren follows a young and beautiful siren who loses her memory and when she starts to regain it, realizes she must seek redemption for past actions. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Last year, I wrote a book called Where the Magic Lies, which Literary Titan has also kindly reviewed and granted the gold book award. There is a chapter in it about amnesia, and that was the trigger that kindled a new idea in my mind. What if a story began with a character with amnesia? It would be like a mystery, as the character doesn’t know anything about themself, and there could be countless possibilities for their true identity. I’ve always wanted to write a mermaid tale, and since I played around with my cover designing app and with the help of Shutterstock, came up with a cover I adored, I decided I would have to write The Lost Siren as soon as possible.
Aquila remains strong despite finding out about her past and realizing that her old self could ruin her hope for a happy future. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
The theme of redemption and righting one’s wrongs is important in this story. Also, I did an experiment with Aquila—the same one I did with many of my other female protagonists, Azalea Wood from The First Buds of Spring and Amethyst Quartz from Where the Magic Lies. I made these characters feminine but strong. Now, I received criticism regarding the protagonist of my first book, Alexandria Richardson from In the Name of the Otherworld. Some readers didn’t like her because she was too masculine, and they believed some of her remarks were offensive to feminine women. In other words, she was too politically correct. Of course, I wasn’t happy when the criticism reached my ears, because I felt misunderstood. I didn’t mean to bash anyone at all, and it was unfair the readers automatically assumed I believed what my main character believed! But at the same time, their words got me thinking—would it be possible to create a female character strong and independent, yet graceful and romantic all in equal measure? My three babies—Azalea, Amethyst, and Aquila did it, or at least in my humble opinion.
I encourage people to view my characters as separate individuals instead of labeling their character traits as masculine or feminine, and respect their uniqueness no matter whether they are male or female. In fact, this is something that should be valued in real life, too—to have a heart big enough to accept people of all types and not judge them or label them in a certain way. No matter whether you are a feminine female, a masculine female, a masculine male, a feminine male, or none of these or all of these, you deserve to be you. Having been a victim of bullying, I can’t stress the importance of this enough. Back to the point I made about gender roles, I sincerely hope everyone, regardless of gender, can relate to my characters, regardless of gender, either. Personality traits should be viewed as neutral and not marked masculine or feminine. Everyone should feel free to identify with any trait.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Redemption is obviously a main theme. There is also an underlying message in the story: don’t judge people based on first impressions. Everard and Raphael, Aquila’s two love interests, are stark contrasts. Everard is charming and gentle at first glance, but he turns out to be a liar who abandons Aquila instead of helping her face her past. Raphael, on the other hand, appears aloof at first, but he shows concern for Aquila when she is in trouble. Just because someone is friendly and adorable doesn’t always mean they have a heart of gold. And it’s also true the other way around—just because someone seems unapproachable and standoffish doesn’t always mean they don’t crave warmth and affection. This is a message that applies to all relationships and friendships alike.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
It’s been a long time since I finished The Lost Siren, which was last August! I went on to write Within the Walls, a YA paranormal fantasy about two students discovering the dark secrets of their boarding school. And after that was A Gathering of Tales, a YA dark fantasy novel with romantic elements centered around the adventures of four protagonists from well-known fairy tales. After that came Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, a prequel and retelling of Alice in Wonderland, told from the Queen of Hearts’ perspective and explaining how she went insane and became evil. Then, I wrote Where the Darkness Lies, a sequel to Where the Magic Lies, and finally, I finished Snowfall, a YA fantasy romance about a cursed ice witch finding love. Right now I’m working on Stars, Clouds, and Shadows, a paranormal romance about an angel and devil falling in love with each other. However, Snowfall might be my next publication. I hope to release it in January because it’s a snowy book, and because I want to get it published on my Mom’s birthday.
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LITERARY TITAN 