Blog Archives
Building a Community To Survive
The Reckoning of Chaos and Magic follows a group living in a post-apocalyptic world going on a supply run who are captured, tortured, and imprisoned, causing a supernatural power to awaken inside them. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration began with Book One, Rubicon Escape, and continues through this book. My inspiration was to create a hook and immediate tension in the storyline, which would reveal the support from the ranch and the love that TJ has for Mel. As authors, we need that hook in the first few pages to engage and captivate our readers. My hope is that if they pick up this book first without having read the other two, they will go back and grab the other two, and then be waiting for Books Four and Five.
The characters in your book are complex and well-developed, drawing readers into not just their story but the inner workings of their minds. What is your process for creating such in-depth characters?
I write the storyline out in Plotter and build the plot line, the Arcs, and the path I want the story to take. I then began typing on my computer to create the initial draft with this raw idea and the characters. Once completed, I start reviewing, rewriting, and changing how the characters interact and speak in the story. While I’m in the middle of a storyline, I tend to dream about these characters and the storyline, and I wake up making changes based on my dreams and thoughts.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Resilience, perseverance, and survival, and how people will become friends and build relationships in times of need. This story follows a group of people building a community to survive, while also exploring the internal conflicts of a new family coming together. I wanted to portray my characters as relatable to the challenges we face in our everyday lives and how we can learn to get along. The internal conflict is not solved in this book, though the plan is to mend the fences in an upcoming book.
I also wanted to build an external threat to the protagonist and build that conflict and tension in the story.
Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?
Yes, Book Four is currently in the works. The next book will cover overcoming fears and fighting for what we believe in. This genre of book always has the good fighting evil, and that will continue. What might start out as someone being good, they will turn to the dark side and try to fight the team at the ranch.
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Supernatural Apocalyptic War – Book Three
When the world ended, Freedom Ranch became more than a refuge—it became a fortress of hope, grit, and magic.
After the EMP collapse that shattered every system on Earth, Mel and TJ thought they had built something unbreakable: a home carved from the chaos, protected by veterans, healers, and survivors who refused to give up. But the deeper they dig into the ruins of civilization, the more they uncover that the apocalypse wasn’t only man-made… it was supernatural.
A rescue mission gone wrong thrusts Mel and her team into the hands of a brutal gang, revealing just how far the corruption and cruelty have spread across what’s left of America. But the real threat isn’t human—it’s the darkness rising within the unseen world. When Mel, Gail, Shelly, and Raven are marked by a living tattoo of the Tree of Life, time slows, magic ignites, and the four women discover that destiny has bound them together as the Chosen Four.
Each bears a gift born of ancient power: Mel’s nature magic, Gail’s shapeshifting spirit, Shelly’s crystal sorcery, and Raven’s command of the unseen. Together, they’ll learn that the apocalypse has awakened more than survival instincts—it’s awakened a war between worlds.
As allies gather—veterans, witches, and warriors of light—Freedom Ranch becomes the last bastion between humanity and the encroaching shadow. Ruffus, the loyal Malinois, continues to evolve into something beyond mortal comprehension, guarding the ranch as a griffin of legend. Joe, the quiet neighbor with too many secrets, finally reveals his true name and purpose. And when Merlin himself steps out from myth to stand beside them, the team realizes that magic has always been real—it was just waiting for the right people to believe.
But belief won’t be enough. Evil walks in flesh and fog alike: gangs turned warlords, twisted spirits hungry for vengeance, and a demonic force that feeds on fear and blood. When the Chosen Four are hunted by otherworldly beings sent to destroy them, their friendship and courage will be tested to the breaking point. The line between life and death, love and loss, faith and fear blurs in a battle that spans both realms.
Haunted by visions, bound by prophecy, and armed with grit, humor, and firepower, Mel and her allies must face the truth—magic isn’t a gift. It’s a reckoning.
As the skies burn and the earth trembles, Freedom Ranch will either become the birthplace of humanity’s rebirth… or the tomb of its last defenders.
In The Reckoning of Chaos and Magic, blends post-apocalyptic realism with supernatural mythos, forging a story where survival meets destiny and courage is laced with laughter. Heart-pounding action, loyal camaraderie, and deeply human moments drive this third entry in the Supernatural Apocalyptic War saga.
The end of the world was only the beginning.
The true war has just begun.
The Tralls of Mundi
The Tralls of Mundi continues the imaginative world Gayle Torrens first opened in The Tralls of Nindarry. Set in a vividly Australian-inspired fantasy land, it follows Jete and his kin as they journey to the long-awaited “Coming Together” of the tralldoms. What begins as a joyful reunion quickly twists into an adventure full of danger, mystery, and courage. Torrens builds a realm both whimsical and meaningful, where talking creatures, magical plants, and mythical beings shape a tale about loyalty, bravery, and the strength of community. It’s a story for children and young teens but layered enough to keep adults engaged, too.
Reading this book felt like wandering through a sunlit dream in a forest filled with mythical creatures. The author’s writing has warmth and rhythm. It’s easy to hear the voice of a teacher who knows how to hold a young listener’s attention. Sometimes the descriptions stretch a little long, but the detail also makes the world feel alive and real. I found myself caring about Jete and his friends. Their courage felt honest and their fears familiar. The villains are satisfyingly nasty, yet the story avoids becoming too dark. The tone stays hopeful, grounded in the belief that good hearts and brave choices matter most.
What I loved most was how Australian it felt without being heavy-handed. You can almost smell the bushland and hear the kookaburras. The dialogue has a simplicity that works. It makes the story easy to follow and keeps the fantasy believable. There are moments where I wished the pacing moved faster. Still, the heart of the story, the lessons about friendship, resilience, and doing what’s right even when you’re scared, rings true. It made me think about how small acts of courage can ripple through generations.
The Tralls of Mundi is a heartfelt and imaginative read that blends adventure with a gentle sense of wisdom. It’s perfect for young readers who love fantasy with moral depth, or for parents and teachers who enjoy reading aloud stories that spark discussion about values and bravery. It’s not just a tale of magic and tralls, it’s a celebration of storytelling itself, and it left me smiling long after I turned the last page.
Pages: 306 | ISBN : 1543198619
Literary Titan Book Award: Fiction
The Literary Titan Book Award honors books that exhibit exceptional storytelling and creativity. This award celebrates novelists who craft compelling narratives, create memorable characters, and weave stories that captivate readers. The recipients are writers who excel in their ability to blend imagination with literary skill, creating worlds that enchant and narratives that linger long after the final page is turned.
Award Recipients
Childhood’s Hour: The Lost Desert
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
The Human Psyche
The Woman in the Ship follows the captain of a starship and the ship’s sentient AI, as they drift through the black silence of space after the destruction of Earth. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
It was a wonderful and fascinating topic to write about, but the inspiration itself would involve a major spoiler for a twist in the novel, so I will have to tell you later off mic! But I have always been interested in space flight since teenage years and have had an interest in artificial intelligence since writing my previous novel Android Author. I am primarily interested in human emotions and interactions though, and putting the crew of the Ascension into such an extreme situation is a perfect way for me to delve into the human psyche and the AI element was an interesting jump point to explore what it means to be a conscious, intelligent life form.
The writing in your story is very artful and creative. Was it a conscious effort to create a story in this fashion, or is this style of writing reflective of your writing style in general?
It is my natural style, although it has developed over the years. When I first started writing, I was always lyrical in my style, and actually, I have reigned it in over the years and learned that just because I know how to write beautiful twiddly prose doesn’t mean you always have to – a bit like not showing off all the time on the guitar in a band – not that I am in a band, well not yet anyway!
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Yes, I wanted to explore childhood memories, how we remember our parents and how we can relive similar stories through different lifetimes. Mostly though, getting sidetracked from your question a bit, I just wanted to be in space! And until they decide to appoint a poet laureate in the international space station, this is the closest I can get. I woke up one morning at about 2AM and had the whole book plotted out in two hours, including names and everything. Sitting down and writing it was the equivalent of getting my space boots on and venturing out myself into, as you say, the black silence of space.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I have just finished this and another project, a comic called The Gloriously Untrue Adventures Of Sapphira which I wrote and illustrated – also set partly in space – and will be working on my new projects in January. Issue 2 of my comic and a new novel, as yet untitled, about a future society where unborn children are vetted by AI systems before they are deemed suitable for birth and inclusion in society.
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Captain Sally Arden finds herself at the heart of this drifting elegy, caught between duty and despair. Her closest companion is Nova, the ship’s sentient AI, who defied orders to self-destruct and now manifests with the personality and memories of a long-dead woman named Nova Starlight. As the remaining crew wrestles with loss, love, and fractured identities, Sally’s bond with Nova deepens into something intimate, uncanny—and possibly redemptive.
With luminous prose and a dreamlike voice, The Woman in the Ship drifts between science fiction and philosophical fable.
Literary Titan Silver Book Award
Celebrating the brilliance of outstanding authors who have captivated us with their skillful prose, engaging narratives, and compelling real and imagined characters. We recognize books that stand out for their innovative storytelling and insightful exploration of truth and fiction. Join us in honoring the dedication and skill of these remarkable authors as we celebrate the diverse and rich worlds they’ve brought to life, whether through the realm of imagination or the lens of reality.
Award Recipients
Filaments by KZK Zuganelis Kasling
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Redemption on a Cosmic Scale
Quantum Genesis follows a scientist on a distant planet whose experiment brings the planet to life, and reveals that an asteroid will destroy all life in ten months, and he must find a way to save everyone. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for Quantum Genesis came from my fascination with the intersection of science, consciousness, and the environment. I’ve always been intrigued by the idea that a planet itself could possess awareness and agency—what if the very ground beneath us could respond to our actions? That idea, combined with concerns about ecological balance and humanity’s responsibility toward nature, became the foundation for Ghia and its relationship with Ode. The story evolved into a what-if scenario about creation, consequence, and redemption on a cosmic scale.
One thing that stands out to me in your novel is the creativity embedded in this world. What was your inspiration for creating such an imaginative world?
I wanted to create a world that felt both alien and familiar—a reflection of Earth’s potential future if we continued down a path of unchecked experimentation and environmental strain. The planet Ghia is a canvas for exploring how life might adapt and evolve under extreme conditions, blending advanced technology with an almost spiritual symbiosis between humanity and nature. The visual and atmospheric elements of Ghia were inspired by a mix of astrophysics, quantum theory, and my love for cinematic world-building, similar to how films like *Avatar* or *Interstellar* immerse audiences in otherworldly yet believable settings.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Several key themes run through Quantum Genesis—sacrifice, faith versus fear, and humanity’s fragile relationship with its environment. I wanted to explore what happens when science reaches a point where it begins to blur with spirituality, and how people respond when their entire existence is threatened. Ode’s journey from scientist to reluctant savior mirrors a larger story about growth, humility, and trust in something greater than oneself. Ultimately, it’s a story about survival, connection, and the cost of both progress and redemption.
Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?
Yes, *Quantum Genesis* kicks off this trilogy. The second book, *Quantum Mind*, is out now (https://www.books2read.com/quantummind). The third, *Quantum Entanglement*, is in the works, and will delve further into the future. The Quantum Guild of Planets is constantly pushing the boundaries of universal mysteries, and they encounter an alien race intent on severing the bond between planets and their dominant species. The Guild thrives on mutual cooperation, growing through the exploration of differences and individuality. This all culminates in a final showdown that could forever reshape the quantum limits of mind, matter, and destiny.
Here is a pretty good description of the books that are part of the Quantum Genesis Series. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZLNJZN5?binding=kindle_edition
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With the clock ticking, Ode must rally humanity and guide them into subterranean caverns where stasis chambers offer their only hope of survival. Empowered by Ghia’s gift—quantum-infused stones with the power to heal, teleport, and manipulate the quantum fabric of reality—Ode faces impossible odds as he races to save his people. But with fear and faith dividing the population, and the planet’s very survival on the line, Ode and Ghia must work together to overcome the impending cosmic destruction.
As the asteroid approaches, the only certainty is this: if you want to survive, you need to go underground.
For fans of sci-fi thrillers filled with high stakes and unexpected twists, “Quantum Genesis ” is a must-read. If you enjoyed books like “The Martian” and “Enders Game,” then you’ll love this gripping tale of survival and sacrifice.
Wondering At Big Things
The Last Ghost follows a man raised by his grandparents after his parents’ tragic death, who has a passion for technology and an understanding of business, leading him to live a successful but solitary life. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
That’s an interesting question. When I was a boy, my brother and I were sometimes left for extended periods with my paternal grandparents. The life they led was not all like the lives of our parents – they had different values and very different ways of viewing the world.
I loved being part of their world for even a short while – it was like stepping back in time and living a slower life. In its pace there was time for savouring small things and wondering at big things.
After my grandparents died that world was closed to me, but I never forgot its lessons. But what if I had? Worse, what if I had never been lucky enough to learn them in the first place? The realities of contemporary life – virtual connections in particular – can erode a sense of community, of belonging, of the responsibility to be considerate.
The idea of a full life as a true measure of a successful life appealed to me. I guess that was the inspiration for The Last Ghost.
Were you able to achieve everything you wanted with the character of Joshua Stewart in the novel?
What I wanted was to give the reader a picture of how Joshua developed and changed over nearly three decades of living. What I tried to do was to suggest the reasons for his actions – his ways of thinking, of applying both reason and desire to his actions.
My work is just the start, though. The reader’s imagination puts the real flesh on the bones. For sure, you need to give readers enough to go on, but its important to leave them room to think, to imagine, and to draw conclusions. If you fill in all the blanks, you preclude that from happening. Readers are like the audience of a play – indispensable to the story-telling.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
First and foremost, our disconnected world. What happens to a person when the value and importance of the next person is lost through lack of human contact?
How does that disconnectedness wear away our ethics? How easy does it become to commit a small evil when you can’t begin to understand the human consequences?
How does one small evil lead to larger ones? And what is the cost to a person’s being?
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I am working on the fourth book in The Scandalous Memoirs of General John Torrance series of historical fiction adventures. The working title is Jack and Will and I’m hoping that it will be published in late December.
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Josh’s family dwindles away and his real friends become his employees. His social life becomes nocturnal and empty of real meaning. He an otherwise solitary life, making more money than he needs, and facilitated by every modern convenience.
But there comes an unexpected occurrence, one that radically changes Josh’s needs and purpose.
LITERARY TITAN 