Blog Archives
Wild Daydreams
The Impossible Girl follows a teen that has discovered her magical abilities, but her talents frighten those in power. She must find out why she is different. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Inspiration comes to us in the strangest of ways and at the strangest of times. Since I was a child, I knew I wanted to be a writer. Naturally, I was a reader with a wild imagination…something I’ve never quite grown out of (thankfully). I could be anywhere and the littlest of things would spark a story idea. I had notebooks full of them by the time I was a teenager. One of the things I’d often dream up stories about (which would later inspire the entire setup of THE IMPOSSIBLE GIRL) was the crescent shaped birthmark on my right wrist. Such a simple thing it was, but to me as a child, it was always something to keep me entertained and dreaming as to why I had it or what it meant. With The Impossible Girl releasing this August, I’m grateful to the child that I was and for all the great authors who instilled in me a love of reading and believing in the impossible – because some of those wild daydreams made it into my book (the crescent shaped scar included).
Ava is shocked to find out she has magic and must learn about her past and her abilities while also dealing with normal teenage emotions. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
We can all have waves of feelings and by demonstrating Ava’s doubts and insecurities along with her self-determination and kindness, it’s reflective of a young person’s life and the journey they are on. Ava finds her footing in a world she belongs to, learns to speak up for herself, and that it’s ok to be vulnerable. She finds a group of friends she forges deep and meaningful bonds with and grows to love. She finds a place in this found family of her choosing.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
While there’s a lot of themes I hope people pick up on and identify with, the biggest one is this: Nothing is impossible. There’s a quote I like by Audrey Hepburn, “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says “I’m possible.” To each and every person reading THE IMPOSSIBLE GIRL, that is what I hope they takeaway. Follow your dreams, defy the limitations placed on you, and do the things you never thought possible.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m currently working on the sequel to THE IMPOSSIBLE GIRL. It’s an amazing experience building and expanding this world and I’m having so much fun writing it!
Author Linktree: https://linktr.ee/AshleyWhiteWrites
The magites who call this “underworld” home live under the strict dictates of The Registry-and Ava will have to do the same. That starts with enrolling in Linhollow Academy for the Supernaturally Gifted.
A target is placed on her back once it’s discovered Ava’s the only magite since The Registry’s inception to not be tagged or able to be tagged in its omniscient system. Powerful magites fear what this could mean and view her as a threat to a way of life that has kept their “underworld” safe for three hundred years.
With all eyes on her, including two oversized shadows from The Registry watching her every move, Ava must toe the line as Resistance Riders, kelpies, near-death experiences, and other dangers follow her everywhere.
In this new world where she shows incredible promise in her craft, Ava will learn that getting to the bottom of her unexplained existence will take her down a perilous path where a dark secret lurks-one dangerous enough to disrupt the entire order of The Registry and jeopardize her life and the lives of her new friends.
Fall in love with this new series from debut fantasy author, Ashley White. For fans of J. K. Rowling and Rick Riordan, The Impossible Girl will be the perfect novel to add to your collection.
This Story Has Been Years In The Making
The Dagger follows a young detective who is also a witch, as she uncovers secrets that her family has kept hidden for generations. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
They always say you should write about something you know. I love tarot cards, magic and family.
When I grew up I was the youngest of five, a quiet child that loved observing others. I kept myself entertained with the family dynamics. Some people love their family and it’s a safe heaven, while others feel like aliens in their family. It’s something you can endlessly dissect!
I was fascinated by the idea that a each family member would represent the qualities of one of the major arcana cards in the tarot deck. That’s what the whole Madigan family does, even literately in Book 2 “The Magical Tarot Deck.” This story has been years in the making. It took me a long time, before it found its present form.
Last but not least, the magic! I enjoy using real life witch practices and spice it up with a healthy dose of fantasy. It’s so much fun.
These three things combined is how the Madigan Chronicles started.
Bridget tried to separate herself from her family’s magical abilities but ends up reconnecting with her family and her powers. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Bridget made a choice to leave her family and her gifts behind. What happens if you deny your true self? As it turns out,Bridget unconsciously still used some of her magic.
How do you find out who you are? It’s something most of us struggle with growing up, and even later in life. Through Bridget and her magic I get to explore that. To find out who and what she is and finding the courage to be yourself. That’s one of the joys of writing. You get to be all these characters. You learn a lot!
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Consequences is one of the themes I explore in Book 1. Most of the time we make choices or do things that effect other people, it’s not something you can avoid. But I think it’s important to realize some actions can have enormous ripple effects.
Tara is confronted with the consequences of her secrets. Bridget, she cut herself off from her family to protect herself from emotional stress, but forgot the immense hurt she causes her twin with that.
Another one is Balance. Nobody is all good or bad, there’s always a balance! It’s something that I explore throughout the series.
What can you tell readers about the second book in the series, and when will it be available?
The second book: “The Magical Tarot Deck” is available! The Madigans thought they could relax after they retrieved the Dagger of Consciousness, but malicious Lucy takes possession of the family’s Magical Tarot Deck. Now they must get it back in time before she will use it against them. Lucy sees her chance not only for revenge but also to pressure the Madigans to return the Dagger. More family secrets are forced into the open and magical talents emerge.
The third installment is also available: “The Wand” The struggle to keep the elemental powers safe continues, and the family dramas deepen.
As “The Wand” begins, Ceri has a hard time finding the balance as the Keeper of the Land in Fairy and being human – alienating her daughter, who finds a dangerous friend in Mab, the Queen of Fairy.
In the meantime, Maeve must face up to her teenage trauma and wrestles with accepting her true self. Bridget does her best to help her twin, and make up for some of the pain she had caused by leaving her behind all those years ago. At the same time, she is forced to take on a responsibility she never wanted and upsets the entire family in the process.
I’m currently working on book 4 “The Cup”, which I hope will be published before the end of the year.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Instagram
This unstoppable magical rollercoaster unearths long-kept family secrets. The Madigan family bond is pushed to the limit. Will they be strong enough to keep that century-old promise and protect the elemental power objects from a dark witch?
Stop Running And Accept Ourselves
Darke Realms – The In-between follows a woman with magical powers as she spends years on the run, only to find a place she belongs just when she may lose everything. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
To be honest, I never gave it conscious thought, but in some ways Rue is running away from who she can become. I believe all of us are inherently intuitive and we have the potential to be remarkable, but we also fear that part of ourselves that can create an amazing world for everyone. We can either spend a lifetime turning away from whom we can become or we can finally stop running and accept ourselves as we truly were meant to be, which is what the character eventually does in the end.
Rue starts off alone and unsure if she will ever find where she belongs, eventually finding the people that accept who she is and take her in. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
My mother, who had been my anchor my whole life, died four years ago this month. Since her death, I’ve felt anchorless – adrift. I’ve had to redefine my ideals of family and come up with new traditions that hold meaning for me without my mother here to help define them anymore. Family isn’t always about blood. Sometimes it’s the connections we establish with others to make our lives whole – it is willing to open yourself to happiness and accept it any form that it comes to you. Life is too short to wait. If you wait too long, then you might miss out on the most amazing opportunities out there to love and be loved in return.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
- Fear. You can let it rule you and make you unhappy or you can face it down and take way the power you thought it had over you.
- Courage. Bad things are going to happen. Are you going to let them break you or are you going to take action that will get you out of that dark place?
- Acceptance. To many people suffer because they cannot accept how the universe intended us to be. I’ve had my struggles with it myself, but not accepting your true nature only makes you miserable. Truth of whom we are is the light we gravitate towards to embrace true happiness.
- Self Sacrifice. My mother always put her family first. If she had doubts, I never saw it. We have to be willing to give our all towards anything we do. Half measures only give half rewards. Being all in, often gives us the ability to change ourselves and our circumstances for the better.
- Family. Family truly is the soul connections we make with each other. Whether by blood or by choice, the love is still there and uplifts us and gives us a sense of belonging and peace.
- Love. It’s the one thing no one can do without. No matter how good or bad a person’s actions are – at the deepest level, every action is a cry out for love.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
For the Darke Realm series, the follow up to this book should be done by August this year. I am currently working on a short horror story collection for teenagers that should be published at the end of May. If you haven’t guessed, I am often working on several projects at once. The variety keeps me from growing stagnate in my writing.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
I escaped with my life . . . barely. For fifteen years the Dark one has pursued me. I’ve evaded him all this time by never settling down . . . until now.
All those years on the run, I was always alone. Now I’m surrounded by the paranormal – wolves, witches, and monsters that dwell deep in the dark.
I’ve met my alpha wolf mate, Michael, and it’s hard to get close. I still live with the things the Dark one did to me.
How can I open myself up to the possibility of a never-ending love and a happily ever after when I can see the Dark coming? It’s hard to imagine finally living my life when I was born to fight a war I might not survive. The universe has a cruel sense of humor that I’ve never appreciated, especially now that I stand to lose everything I’ve ever wanted or will ever love.
Broken Revelations: Calamity of the Gods
Adrian is back! But, so is the Dominess. She has no shortage of jobs for Adrian, and this one seems like a no-brainer. Of course, nothing is as easy as it seems for Adrian and his entourage. When he pulls out a pad and pen and begins to take inventory of all the stolen items he must investigate as part of his task for the Dominess, he can’t possibly imagine where this list will take him. With one hurdle to get over–getting into the realm of the gods as a mere mortal, Adrian sets out to hold up his part of the bargain, no matter where or how far it may take him.
This is the third book of author Albert Scott’s Broken Revelations series, and I am amazed at the insanely diverse cast of characters created by the author. As classic as so many of them seem, Scott makes it feel like the most natural thing in the world for angels and demons, gods and goddesses, and dragons and werewolves to roam the streets today. The unique personalities given to each one of these characters make for a highly entertaining read, indeed. I love not knowing which one of Scott’s characters is going to come out with a quip or term used by my own teens. I found myself laughing out loud quite often while reading about Adrian’s adventures.
The pace of Scott’s writing is perfect for the genre. I like a fantasy story that moves quickly, gets to the heart of the matter, and puts characters in the forefront. Scott manages to do all this and more. Again, dialogue dominates the text. This isn’t always a welcome technique, but Scott’s ability to have his characters interact while simultaneously telling the story through their exchanges is unmatched. With quick wit, the author moves Adrian and his wives through the rising action and to the climax effortlessly all the while drawing readers in for the long haul.
With so many references to current pop culture, this extraordinary novel is a sure-fire hit. Scott is a master at the action/adventure/fantasy combo. Characters like Adrian don’t come around often–he stands out among all the other main players I have read in recent years.
Broken Revelations: Calamity of the Gods is a riveting adventure and fantasy novel with both memorable and relatable characters. Readers will experience Adrian’s quest along with him and his wives with vivid details in this installment of the trilogy.
Pages: 130 | ASIN : B09MV9T8BW
Darke Realms: The In-Between: (Arcana 1)
Darke Realms – The In-between is the first book in author Michele L. Sayre’s Arcana series, and it is a solid introduction to the world and some of its major characters. In this story, the first person we meet is Rue Mohanahan, a thirty-five-year-old woman with a secret past, deep trauma, and supernatural abilities. Serendipity brings Rue to a small town, where she meets a local witch and the nearby Nightblood werewolf pack leaders. Unfortunately, Rue’s past doesn’t stay in the past, and she is forced to confront the demons that haunt her. As it turns out, Rue is an Arcana, a human-angel hybrid. While this is the source of her fantastic abilities, it is also the reason she has been hurt so badly. Everything culminates in a battle that can only be fought with the people she met along the way and can only be won using her powers.
One theme that runs through this captivating novel is, belonging. Readers watch as the protagonist transforms from someone who has no home and no family to someone who is important and beloved in her community. As she finds love in many forms: familial, platonic, and romantic, readers will experience her joy and watch her grow into someone more confident. Despite her painful past, Rue is a loving figure to those around her, and through the love she gives, she finds a place where she belongs.
The author weaves an exquisite, well-paced tale with a good combination of world-building and plot building. It is tailor-made for readers who love contemporary fantasy stories with dark and urban fantasy elements. The novel is narrated in first-person from the perspective of three different characters. This approach allows readers to gain a more substantial understanding of the action and the thought process behind each character’s motives.
Sayre uses familiar fantasy tropes, giving readers a sense of comfort with elements that have come to be expected in the traditional fantasy genre. The characters are likable and sympathetic, providing readers with feel-good emotions as they follow their journey. The story sets the stakes high but believable while leaving enough out of the story to set up for sequels.
Darke Realms – The In-between is a riveting dark fantasy novel that gives readers solid and relatable characters in a new world. Using elements of horror and paranormal activities, the author builds excitement for this new series and sets up readers for an action-filled and exciting adventure.
Pages: 319 | ASIN : B09M8BHK3M
Broken Revelations: Brides of War
Adrian has quite the burden to shoulder. The Dominess has made an appearance and has a job offer for him. As one of the horsemen, he has been tasked with forcing the Nephal to buckle down on their out-of-control families, an incredible undertaking. While trying to decide how he might be able to accomplish this task, Adrian is also dealing with what can only be described as harassment by a pesky cult. Luckily, he won’t have to go it alone–if he can pull himself together long enough to keep things from going haywire and ruining his plans. To add to the drama, Adrian has less than a week to accomplish all this.
Broken Revelations: Brides of War is the second book in the series by Albert Scott. Adrian, one of the horsemen of the apocalypse, exists in a modern-day world with all the experiences and memories of centuries gone by. His life is filled with the drama of living in the present, with a few exceptions, one being the fact that his best friend is a werewolf. In addition, he is attempting to follow through on an order from the Dominess. Not one to back down or give up, Adrian forges ahead with every obstacle possible being tossed his way.
Author Albert Scott has a particular knack for creating memorable characters. The way in which he describes his characters is visually stunning. He has some of the most unique ideas for character types. I must admit that I had to reread the paragraph in which he introduces the Dominess’s Teeth. The imagery this line conjured up was nothing less than amazing. I enjoyed picturing what these two men looked like in Adrian’s world. The author’s writing style is dialogue-heavy. For many readers, this will be a dream come true. Many novels like this in the fantasy genre tend to rely mostly on narrative. Scott manages to shift the focus from long stretches of narrative to many spirited exchanges between characters, all of which lay out both the setting and plot without the need for extra filler. Scott truly does write efficiently.
Broken Revelations: Brides of War is a fantasy adventure novel that is an easy and fun read filled with humor, though dark at times. Readers will appreciate the unique blend of pop culture and references to figures from Biblical times. To anyone looking for a fresh take on apocalyptic tales, this is for them.
Pages: 194 | ASIN : B08HJLPGKS
Giving Revolutionaries a Voice
Children of Maya follows a changeling rabbit that wants to free her fellow prey animals from a life of slavery. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
My homeland of Romania had a thriving mining industry, and during the historic rebellion against the Communist Dictator Nicolae Ceacuscu in 1989, the miners protested on masse. The story was inspired by those events to give those brave revolutionaries a voice.
Maria leads the revolt and turns into a dynamic character. What were some driving ideals behind her character’s development?
Maria herself was based on my grandmother. A woman with a heart of steel and even harder determination.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Family struggles have always been my forte in storytelling. If it’s the calloused father with egomania, the overworked mother at a loss with how to raise her children, the selfish siblings who can never get along, or just the misguided friends who forget when to follow and stay loyal, all these people are interesting, lovable and even redeemable. Ambivalence is a lovely thing when you try to understand why people behave the way they do. Magic realism and overcoming adversity was another fundamental theme. I want people to look at their lives and study the past and ask themselves, are they actually struggling compared to what others have endured.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I want to build the sequel to Children of Maya, and I promise it will bring more to the table. More adventures, mishaps and epic struggles against the odds. But at the same time, I have a second novel already finished and largely polished I want to publish. It’s inspired by the history of the late Roman empire, with light magic and a lot of court intrigue. It’s a surprise, but fans of my first book will feel right at home.
Author Links: Amazon | Goodreads
LITERARY TITAN 