Blog Archives
Living the Story
Whispers of the Forgotten follows a woman who inherits her grandmother’s bookstore and finds a hidden letter that changes everything, thrusting her into a forgotten world of history involving a lost city called Elara, buried secrets, and an ancient artificial intelligence. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Initially, I just wanted to write an adventure story that included lost cities and some hidden technology. While the big idea stayed the same, the details changed a lot over the course of writing the story.
You took your time in building the characters and the story to great emotional effect. How did you manage the pacing of the story while keeping readers engaged?
I imagined living the story and tried to keep it believable and moving forward.
How did the mystery develop for this story? Did you plan it before writing, or did it develop organically?
I had a plan for an initial mystery, but as the story developed, that plan changed and new puzzles seemed to present themselves.
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?
This is the first in a four-book series. In book 2, a new adventure is pursued and again the readers are left with a cliffhanger. In books 3 and 4, the story begins at the end of book 1 and combines with book 2. I plan to have book 2 available in late summer and books 3 and 4 available winter of 2026.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
When Evelyn Hart inherits her grandmother’s bookstore, she expects a quiet life filled with childhood memories. But a hidden letter changes everything—thrusting her into a forgotten world history involving a lost city called Elara, buried secrets, and an ancient artificial intelligence once built to protect humanity, now intent on destroying it.
As she digs deeper into her grandmother’s mysterious past, Evelyn uncovers a web of secret societies, the hidden truth of Earth’s history, and a chilling glimpse into humanity’s possible future. Her world unravels when she discovers she is central to a plan to erase mankind.
Armed with her grandmother’s cryptic journal, a small group of unlikely allies, and a man concealing his own dark past, Evelyn must uncover the truth behind her family’s legacy—before it unleashes a power capable of reshaping the world forever.
Time is running out. Evelyn is the key to humanity’s survival—or its end.
Riley’s End
In the gripping novel, Riley’s End, readers delve into the intricacies of friendship and the haunting shadows of the past. Tony Cevilli and Riley Antonelli shared an unbreakable bond on the baseball field, yet strangely absent beyond its confines. This enigma deepens when Riley is tragically murdered, leaving Tony grappling with a myriad of unanswered questions. Was it an elaborate cover-up? Had Riley been unjustly framed?
Fast forward, and a determined Tony seeks answers, enlisting the help of Linda and Tommy, the sharp-witted duo heading a detective agency. Together, they navigate a labyrinth of secrets and deception surrounding the puzzling demise of Riley Antonelli.
Set against the backdrop of the mid-1960s, yet commencing in the present, we witness Tony’s personal battle with cancer. As he confronts his own mortality, his resolve to unearth the truth about Riley’s murder intensifies.
Hansmann’s storytelling prowess shines through with compelling character arcs that captivate from the get-go. The narrative provides a deep exploration of human nature, its intricacies, and nuances. Riley, with his innate desire for righteousness, stood out and resonated deeply, making him a personal favorite.
The book’s got a killer plot that smoothly takes you from one twist to the next. Readers can see Hansmann’s knack for writing a gripping mystery—it’ll keep you hooked from start to finish!
For aficionados of mystery novels, Riley’s End is not just a recommendation—it’s an essential addition to your reading list. Bill Hansmann has truly woven a tale that is both poignant and thrilling, a testament to his skillful storytelling.
Pages: 316 | ASIN : B0CBXWQZSD
Imagination Took Over
The Attic Door follows a little boy in a new bedroom that has a strange door where strange and scary sounds come from who works up the courage to investigate what is behind the door. What was the inspiration for your story?
The inspiration for The Attic Door came from my experience in second grade when I lived in Chicago, Illinois. My family moved into a new house, and my sister, brother, and I each got to choose our own bedrooms. Unfortunately, I picked the one with a large door that led into the attic. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but that quickly changed once night fell—especially during Chicago’s windy winters. The attic door would rattle and shake, and I began having nightmares. Eventually, my younger brother and I switched rooms, since the attic didn’t bother him at all. But as fate would have it, his old room—now mine—had a window that opened onto the roof. Of course, my imagination took over once again. I had to endure the rooftop window for another year until we finally moved!
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I loved writing the story, and the completed illustrations made me love the picture book even more.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator David Barrow?
All communication went through the publisher. She shared the illustrations as David completed them, and I provided feedback. It was an easy process because David captured everything just as I had envisioned.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I submit directly to publishers and currently have three stories out on submission. No takers so far, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed!
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Scary noises are coming from the creepy attic door in Eduardo’s bedroom. His imagination goes wild!
When Eduardo (and his stuffed alligator) finally gather their courage to go investigate, is it a ghost? Or a monster? Or something unexpected?
It Started With a Drawing
D.O.L: Light Running, Part 1, which has recently been renamed Light Running in Parris Island, follows a fiery, sharp-tongued woman who becomes entangled in government secrets and paramilitary organizations while battling her own haunted past. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The entire saga started from a drawing I did in art school in 2005 and a horrible experience I had during a short story class I took in 2009. When I turned in my final assignment for that class I will admit I was full of myself. I thought my final draft was God’s gift to man. My classmates were less than enthused and humbled me with their criticism:
‘I didn’t like it.’
‘Writing isn’t your thing.’
‘I thought the plot was too generic.’
This devastated me, and I didn’t touch the story for another three years. Between 2012 and 2020 I tried to rework the narrative but never got very far into the storyline. Then Covid struck and, like many, I found myself with an abundance of free time. In seven months I completed the first book. After a two-year editing process I submitted my book for review. I’m proud to say that, so far, I have not received less than a five star review.
There was a lot of time spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
The short answer is ‘realism’. My characters are alive and real in my head. I can see them move about in the real world. Furthermore, I am able to hear the inflections in their voices and even accompany certain scenes with background music. It is my job – my purpose – to make sure that my characters live just as vibrantly in your mind.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The primary theme of the book was Lilly’s first mission as an ARMOR agent. An unknown adversary has infiltrated Parris Island, forcing Lilly to rely on someone with less experience than herself. In the previous books most of the heavy lifting had been done by side characters like Joe or Andrew. This was Lilly’s maiden voyage and I wanted to keep the reader guessing as to whether she would sink or swim.
Supporting themes include: Sisterhood in the military; reunion and loss and unexpected betrayal.
Where does the story go in the next book, and where do you see it going in the future?
The next book is already out on Amazon, and it is called D.O.L: Light Running In Afghanistan. I’ll give you three guesses where Lilly is going, but you’ll only need one.
In this installment, Lilly must embark on her second mission with little-to-no recovery time from the first. Things escalate when her transport plane is shot down behind enemy lines. Light Running In Afghanistan gives an intriguing alternative story to the book/movie ‘Lone Survivor’. However, in this version, Lilly ends up being the lone survivor and she encounters a village that houses a centuries-old secret. The story will keep you guessing and your questions will be answered but, of course, more questions will arise.
I see this entire series seamlessly spanning a multitude of literary genres. The major themes for the entire saga are already completed in my head; it’s the fine points that need further development. With that in mind, I won’t reveal too much about where things are going. After all, the entire series is one gigantic mystery. And the title: D.O.L is classified. The name of the game is escalation and fun and I intend to deliver on both.
Heightened: Project Evolve
Kevin E. Morris’s Heightened is a fast-paced, emotionally layered YA science fiction novel centered around Kai, a teen orphan struggling with trauma, mysterious memories, and unexplainable auditory visions. When Kai starts hearing events from miles away, he’s pulled into a world of genetically enhanced people known as the Heightened. The narrative follows his journey from the confines of Hope Street orphanage to a secret underground society, revealing long-buried truths about his family, abilities, and the sinister government agency that wants him dead. What starts as a quiet mystery spirals into a full-blown adventure involving betrayal, secret powers, found family, and the growing pains of discovering who you really are.
I genuinely enjoyed the writing. Morris has a gift for voice—Kai’s inner thoughts are sharp, sarcastic, and often painfully vulnerable. The bursts of humor are well-placed and don’t undercut the gravity of what’s happening. His dialogue is natural, making even the exposition-heavy moments feel conversational. Structurally, the pacing is solid. Short chapters keep the action moving, and the moments of quiet—Kai lying on the roof, dreaming of a different life—are haunting in their stillness. The world-building doesn’t try to do too much at once. Instead, it layers slowly, revealing only what Kai learns, which makes the reader feel like they’re discovering things right alongside him.
What hit me most was the emotional undercurrent of the story. This is a book about abandonment, but also about resilience. Kai’s grief, anger, confusion, and hope are all tangible. Some scenes, like his first realization that his nightmares are real, or the moment he discovers his parents were murdered and not just absent, genuinely made my chest tighten. At times, I wanted to shake Flint (his mysterious protector) for being too vague, too secretive, too late. But that’s the point—Morris doesn’t write flawless saviors or heroes. He writes about damaged people doing their best in a broken world. And that makes the story feel real, even when the powers get borderline supernatural.
Heightened is ideal for readers who crave emotional connection in their sci-fi, who don’t need nonstop battles to be hooked, and who love underdog protagonists with grit and heart. If you liked The Maze Runner or Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, you’ll probably fall for this one too. Teens and adults alike will find something to hold on to here.
Pages: 214 | ASIN : B0F27J2Z5J
LITERARY TITAN 