Discordant Love Beyond Death | Dark Affection Anthology

Interview with Dickon Springate from Beyond Death Publishing about “Discordant Love Beyond Death,” a para-romance / dark fiction anthology including works from Dickon Springate, Karen Peralta, Dave Higgins, Ben Monroe, A.M.Henle, Shayna Diamond, and Dianne Arrelle.

Describe the anthology, “Discordant Love Beyond Death,” in a few sentences?
DISCORDANT LOVE BEYOND DEATH offers up twenty-two fabulous inspired short stories, by a fresh line-up of authors from around the world, ensuring that there is something for everyone; especially those with a love of the macabre.

What inspired you to compile these great short stories in an anthology?
It was while I was working on my previous anthology, 1816:The Year Without Summer, and I received a couple of stories that were really great, but they didn’t quite fit the brief, yet they were too good to simply pass over or reject, so I reached out to the authors and discussed various ways that they could be used, and through those chats the main idea for the next anthology sprung up.

How did you select the authors and stories to include?
As well the couple that were automatically included from the initial discussions, I put word out through Twitter and Facebook and finally approached several authors whom I have worked with before. All told we filled up the slots quite quickly.

This anthology has a Kick Starter pre-order campaign. For people new to the crowd-funding process, can you tell us about it and why you decided to go that route for the anthology?
As well as being able to present a very polished and user friendly site to allow readers to purchase their advanced copies, it also gave us a chance to do something a little different from the norm, but allowing the audience to really get involved both by having their name included in the rear of the book, but also the chance to have their name immortalized by being used in a story of their choice.

It also afforded us the chance to offer both books and merchandise at a discounted price point.

What are your favorite stories in the anthology?
Now that would be telling. Honestly, as an editor I worked hard with all the authors to ensure that they were all the best versions they could be, so I don’t really have a favourite. I could, however, tell you which one I found the creepiest … I will just say mushrooms and leave it at that.

For people not familiar with dark affection / para-romance, can you describe it for us?
Paranormal Romance, or Para-Romance in a subgenre of romantic fiction that includes elements that defy description, much like ghost stories, horror and dark fiction.

Dark affection is a similar subgenre that deals with very strong emotions, but not always necessarily passionate or romantic, and because many of the stories were neither romantic nor lustful, I felt that the anthology straddled both categories without fitting into either perfectly.

What do you like about the dark affection / para-romance genre?
Featuring stories that danced the line between dark affection and paranormal romance gave us the chance to display really ground breaking and thought provoking tales designed to stop you dead in your tracks, question your previously held preconceptions of what is right and wrong, before allowing you to return and continue reading.

Who do you think would most appreciate this anthology?
This will certainly appeal to horror and dark fiction fans, as well as those who felt books like 50 Shades should have been a whole lot darker, not to mention anyone who wants something different to the usual sickly-sweet Valentine's Day offerings.

Do you have a favorite dark affection / para-romance main character?
Much like favourite stories, I can’t really say who I like the most, but I can say that there are certainly a couple of characters that I would hate to encounter in a darkened alley late at night.

What do you have in mind for your next project?
My next project is a return to my cosmic horror roots, with a collection of imaginative retellings of classic Mexican urban legend origin stories but with a deft Lovecraftian twist added into their backstory or main protagonist.

"Discordant Love Beyond Death" Description:

"Love takes on many forms, as does death, and this anthology features twenty-two stories that dance the line between Dark Affection and Paranormal Romance, where death is not the end but merely the start of some truly original tragedies, tales that will often stop you dead in your tracks, challenging you preconceptions of what is right and wrong, before allowing you to return and continue reading. 

DISCORDANT LOVE BEYOND DEATH offers up twenty-two fabulous inspired short stories, by a fresh line-up of authors from around the world, ensuring that there is something for everyone; and with many being on the macabre side, we believe that this anthology makes the perfect alternative gift for those who want something a little different come Valentine's Day."

More Information
Check out the anthology on Kick Starter. 
Like Beyond Death Publishing on Facebook. 
Follow Beyond Death Publishing on Twitter. 
Check out Beyond Death Publishing on Instagram.
Visit the Beyond Death Publshing website.  

Pamela D. Smith, Lakysha Starks-Sampson, and Rennata Cage Becks

Today we are interviewing Pamela D. Smith, Lakysha Starks-Sampson, and Rennata Cage Becks about their books: “She Won't Fail,” “Money Will Bring Your True Character Out,” and “Scarred but Healed.”

Tell us a bit about yourselves and what brought you together to support each one another.
RB: I am a caring, passionate, ambitious young lady. Kysha and I grew up as friends and Pamela helped me publish my 1st book and she's an inspiration. 

Lakysha: My name is Lakysha Starks- Sampson, I’m the wife of Trent Sampson and the author of two books, Bossn’ Around and Money will bring your true character out. I have one biological daughter named London Dade and one bonus daughter name Samora Sampson. My husband and I are the owners of LaPaz L.L.C. It’s a mental health and substance abuse facility in Ruston LA.   Rennata is my bestfriend for over 17yrs, and I‘ve known of Pam since I was a young child. I’ve always known of her to be a true Woman of God.  She and I became acquainted five years ago when I asked her to publish my book. Over the years of us working together she has helped me out a lot on coming out of my box and step out of my comfort zone.   We all were brought together to support one another because we all seek God and have a close relationship with him. We all have a desire to empower women on getting to know God, trust in him and not what man says, and we all include God in all of our plans, and we want to help others to set goals and not limits.

Pamela: I’m a wife, mother, and what I consider a kingdom servant. Several titles have been attached to the things that I do but when you sum them all up I’m a servant. What brought us together is both of these ladies are publishing clients of mine. Working with them was such a joy and I saw something in each one of them that made me eager to pour into them to help them reach some of their goals as an author. I wanted others to see what real women empowerment looks like.

What drew each of you to write inspiring books about empowering women?
RB: I've experienced many trials, from loosing my parents and other loved ones, after being diagnosed with cancer myself, I knew I could encourage someone else to never give up.

Lakysha: Well I’ve always wanted to write a book to inspire someone to know that it doesn’t matter what side of the track or neighborhood you were raised on, you can do anything if you have just a little faith and the help of God.

Pamela: I don’t believe that we go through anything that can’t be shared in a manner to help someone else. Most of the time what we go through is so much bigger than us so I wanted to write in such a way that my experiences would inspire other women.

Faith plays a major role in all of your books. Can each of you share a bit about your experience with your faith and how it impacts your writing?
RB: I was raised to believe in God for all things and His word will not return void, regardless of what the doctors said I knew I was healed and I never allowed anyone to speak negatively over me. 

Lakysha: My faith impacts my writing to let someone know that nothing is neither too big nor too hard for God to bless you and give you the desires of your heart. Just trust the process. 

Pamela: My faith impacts my writing because I am able to share how I have trusted God so many times, in so many situations and because of my faith things worked out just as God promised.

Who do you think would most appreciate your writing?
RB: I believe anyone that has experienced hardship and has or is willing to overcome will appreciate my writing. 

Lakysha: I think a person who has felt that they have been counted out, don’t have a  college degree, has a past, a not so good family history , or anyone scared to do the impossible will appreciate my writing. My writing will encourage readers to know that the sky is the limit. If you can think it, then you can do it.

Pamela: I think millennial women who are looking to develop or enhance their relationship with God will appreciate my writing. Those who are looking to be redeemed and restored without having a bible shoved down their throat.

Tell us a bit about the RP Smith Agency and its vision. 
Pamela: RP Smith Agency is a faith-based publishing agency where we help aspiring authors self- publish their books and then use their book to build their brands. The vision expands further than just publishing but because we are not quite 2 years old yet we wanted to start there and have plans to expand from here.

Your writing empowers women and teens to build a spiritual foundation and align their success goals with their spirituality. Do you have any advice for women and teens who wish to get started on this journey?
Pamela: My advise is to develop a relationship with God, understand what His will for your life is, and then live in the truth of that. Understanding His word helps to understand who you are as a person and I think it’s a must that you understand the person before you can operate in the purpose.

On a similar note, what are some of the struggles women and teens today face when trying to achieve their success goals?
Pamela: Comparison! Women and teens are struggling with self confidence because of comparison. Their best doesn’t seem good enough because they are using someone else’s measuring stick

Has your writing taken you to places or revealed things you hadn’t thought about before?
Pamela: Absolutely. To God be the glory. For example, when I go back and read my first books and the books I have recently released I get a chance to see how much I have grown as an individual and how my values and the things I place importance on have changed. Becoming an author has allowed me to meet so many great people, attend so many great events, and created so many opportunities (personally and professionally).

Can one of you share a bit about your writing process?
Lakysha: Initially when I started writing five years ago, I was a procrastinator because I didn’t know how to start writing my book. I didn’t understand the audience attention that I needed or wanted to reach. I was a bit nervous; I was worried if people would like it or even read my book. 

Could each of you tell us about your latest book?
RB: Scarred But Healed tells how I overcame a rare breast cancer diagnosis, after losing my nephew, maternal grandmother, father, mother, and mother in-law which were all diagnosed with cancer. 

Lakysha: “Money will bring your true character out” was to inspire readers not to rely on your money but to rely on God. The book talks about how our character is sometimes different depending on our money situation.

Pamela: My latest book, She Won’t Fail, is a book with 12 steps that helps women align their success goals with their spirituality in order to live a purpose driven life.

How have readers responded to your writing so far? 
Pamela: Readers have responded in a very positive way, a way that I am extremely grateful for. Because of the positive response I am a multi Amazon best selling author. 

Are they any authors who have influenced your writing styles?
RB: I have read a lot of books and like a lot of author's writing, but I cannot choose one that influenced my writing style. 

In ten years, where would you like your writing careers to be?
RB: 10 years from now I plan to be on a larger platform, I don't only want to write, I want to make a difference, especially with breast health and encouraging others.

Lakysha: I said that this was my last book writing. In ten years, I’m hoping that I will be able to continue to reach readers and that my previous books will sell inside of books stores across the country. 

Pamela: In 10 years I’ll be tapping into a realm in the publishing industry that I haven’t tapped into yet. I plan to also be more behind the scenes at RP Smith Agency. Right now I am on the forefront and it’s because I started building a personal brand before we started RP Smith Agency, so that’s what works now, but I’m ready for a role reversal and ready to do some of the behind the scene work and allow someone else on the team to be the face and voice of the agency.  

What do you have in mind for your next writing project?
RB: I am working on my next project and I want it to encourage and empower people with tools to become a better version of themselves and not focus on how others view them. 

Pamela: My next writing project was completed over a year ago, it’s just waiting to be released. That’s really the output of my work product. It’s usually written and completed long before it’s released. 

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your books?
RB: If you're experiencing any kind of doubt, pick up a copy of my book and be encouraged in the Lord and yourself because anything is possible as long as you believe.

Lakysha: I want potential readers to know that my books are not only to empower women but to empower men also. I want them to know that you can do anything and don’t allow your money to dedicate you mood.   

Pamela: I want readers to know that our writing is not about us but it’s our way of serving them and letting them know that God is within them and they will not fail.

More Information
Visit the RP Smith Agency website for book ordering information.  
Check out RP Smith Agency on Instagram.
Follow RP Smith Agency on Facebook. 

Jayson Nadolny, Author of Nistarim: The Awakened

Today we are interviewing Jayson Nadolny, author of the supernatural fantasy novel “Nistarim: The Awakened,” the first book in The Angelic Human Series.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
It's always so much easier to tell you about my characters than it is to tell about myself.  Maybe that's why I chose fiction!  Let's see, I'm a 36 year old man from Ashtabula, Ohio living near the beautiful city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  By day, I work as a Pharmacy Technician and spend my evenings reading or writing.  As an out, gay man – I grew up experiencing some very difficult times and I guess that is part of why I wanted to ensure that I included LGBT themes in my first novel.  I didn't have much to read when I was struggling with who I was that went beyond stereotypes.  

I guess, if you asked my friends to describe me they would most likely all use the term “nerd.”  I have just a slight obsession (maybe more than slight) with the television series, Doctor Who.  I have beat lifelong Doctor Who fans in my trivia knowledge of the show, so it may be something that ventures beyond a normal love of the show.  In fact, there may be a few nuggets of reference in the book eluding to my love of the show. 

Describe the plot of your new book, “Nistarim: The Awakened,” in a few sentences.
The book follows the situations that occur leading up to and following “The Awakening” of many of the Tzadikim Nistarim.  When the Nistarim are “reincarnated,” they do not remember who they are, what they can do and what has happened.  They simply live their lives feeling the sorrow of the world without knowing why.  Due to an extreme event, they are all thrown into the process of awakening before their time.  After awakening, they must work together (while dealing with their own lives...and poorly I might add) to stop the evil that caused their premature awakening before it's too late and the entire world crumbles.  

Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
Another tough question!  When I was writing it, I guess I had people struggling with who they are in mind.  Many of these characters are dealing with problems that relate more to their humanity than their angelic nature.  One copes with the loss of the man she fell in love with, while another has no real idea who he is as a person.  I was told by a close friend that was integral to finishing the book that she can see parts of me and my own struggles in each and every character.  Those struggles are very real and I wanted people to see that, through all the terrible things that happen in our lives and the pain we struggle with – we can make a difference.  So, long drawn out answer to say this: those who are struggling and need to see that they are important are the ones that most certainly can appreciate this book the most.  

Tell us about the Tzadikim Nistarim and their supernatural abilities.
In traditional Jewish lore, the Tzadikim Nistarim (or the Lamed Vav) are the 36 individuals from each generation tasked with the duty to help the entire world deal with their suffering.  It's a theme that really hit home to me when I learned of it and find comfort in it myself.  The traditional belief means that, no matter where you are or what you're going through, there are these 36 righteous people around the globe that all feel the sorrow and suffering that you feel – so truly we are never alone in our pain.  

Author Jayson Nadolny.

Of course, if you're going to write a supernatural fantasy about them, we have to make some changes!  In this series, they are not only righteous people that carry on the weight of the world but they are supernatural beings – human bodies with angelic souls (hence Angelic Humans in the series name).  Their abilities, while most have not learned all of them in book one, include everything that you would traditionally see in an angel.  They have full access to the power of Heaven.  Again, these abilities in this way are more prevalent in the second and third books, which are underway as we speak.  

The idea of reincarnation is central to your series. Can you tell us about the role reincarnation plays in the plot?
In the first few drafts of the outline, the Nistarim were all immortal.  No matter what way I would spin it, this always caused problems with where I wanted to take the story.  Adding in the reincarnation idea really changed it all.  A lot of the struggles that the Nistarim have with their awakening (and the awakening of those around them) involve the lack of knowledge of who they were.  Utilizing the reincarnation theme, it allowed these beings to truly live their humanity in a way that they never would have if they had only lived one life.  

Imagine, if you had supernatural abilities and had lived since the dawn of creation – before man.  Nothing would be new.  Nothing would be exciting.  Love would just be a flash in a pan to someone who had lived that long.  By their ability to die and return, this gives their humanity a realness that the immortals would never have.  

The Tzadikim Nistarim are tasked with the defending the world from a great evil. Without giving too much away, what can you tell us about the evil they must fight?
I struggled with deciding what the evil would be in book one.  Naturally, a typical antagonist in this one would have been Satan, but I didn't want to go that route.  Without giving away what the evil is too easily, I'll say this: the character is nothing like modern-day portrayals throughout media as we see it.  I gave this evil character a slightly different spin that my beta readers really seemed to love.  

Tell us about your protagonists.
I would say that the protagonists are really the entirety of the 36, though we really only get to know a few of them.  First, we have Zaine who is a quiet, nerdy author in college with a very religious upbringing.  He keeps to himself much of his life until he's thrust into this crazy supernatural world.  Seeing him grow – loves begin, end and change, was a very emotional situation for me.  

Second, we have Cat Harper who is a nurse with a hard outer shell.  She's married to her work but goes through a very heartbreaking plot twist causing her to re-evaluate her entire life...and all of those lives.  

Finally, we have Asa who is a college professor and is more of a leader and guide to the others.  I really wanted to give Asa everything he could ever want in life as I wrote him...but we will see if that happens.  He is integral to what is happening as I am writing book two.  

Are there any authors who have influenced your writing style?
Growing up in a very sheltered church setting, I didn't have the chance to really read much of the literature that young adults would typically read.  Basically, if I wasn't required to read it in school and it had a supernatural flare to it, I wasn't allowed to read it.  

Because of this, I was introduced to a couple writers that shaped my view of supernatural fantasy (though they marketed themselves as Christian Fiction).  Those were Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker.  They were the two that introduced me to a world outside of my sheltered view of the supernatural world.  I would devour their books and beg for more.  I guess that they were the biggest influences in my writing.  

Also, a friend of mine – Eric Wilson, who wrote the Jerusalem Undead Trilogy (and also used the Nistarim topic – though vastly different) influenced my desire to write.  Talking to him about his process, seeing the work that he put in...that really changed my ideas and gave me the desire to actually put my thoughts into words.  

How long have you been writing?
This is my first novel, but I've been writing since I was a teenager.  Many of those things actually no longer exist – papers tossed over the years, but I was given a gift from a dear friend back in October.  She had worked with me at the library when I was a teenager and we had worked on starting a novel together all those years ago.  So, as I finished my first novel, I also had the opportunity to read the way that 16 year old Jayson wrote.  It was a wonderful experience.  

Who was your favorite character to write?
There were actually a few that are tied for this title, actually.  Lucifer was a very fun one to write because of his personality.  His snarky attitude and quick attitude changes kept me laughing while I was writing and he really surprised me.  Tied as a close second was the character of Lucas, the little boy.  While he doesn't show up a ton in the book, he really spoke to me.  The innocence and power of this character made him complex in my mind.  There were so many more things to him than actually made it onto the paper, but I assure you that we will see so much more of this little man throughout the second and third book.  

What got you interested in the supernatural fantasy genre?
Having spent much of my life studying the strange and abnormal things of the supernatural, I guess it was just a natural progression.  In my seminary program, I chose to focus on the supernatural aspect of the world for much of my independent study as well as in my practice as a minister.  The themes that I saw always drew me in deeper and that's why I wanted to set my story in a world where the supernatural was both hidden yet very much alive.  

How do you think you've evolved as a writer since when you first started?
I have had the great honor of working with people that really understand writing.  From those who are avid readers to those that write themselves, I have gotten to surround myself with people who know a thing or two about writing.  As this project was being completed, they helped me as I evolved.  Their input was invaluable.  

I also see a lot of changes to my writing style as I continue working on the second book in the series.  The descriptions of events and characters seems to have evolved quite a bit and I find that in book two, the writing is a much higher quality because of that evolution.  

Are there any aspects (e.g. character building, world building) of your writing that you've been practicing?
I would say that my biggest “practice” has been in the character building.  Taking a character from my brain, where they are living and breathing in a very real sense to me, and bringing them to life for others to experience is so important.  As I've progressed in writing, I think that practice will always be a part of this because I want to make sure that each character is developed enough that others can enjoy them the same as I have.  

What are your goals as a writer for the next ten years?
That's quite a distance in the future, though as I get older ten years doesn't seem as distant as it did as a younger person!  For now, I would say that completing the Angelic Human Series trilogy is a major aspect of the goals for the next ten years, though I hope it doesn't take that long!  I also have two more series that I have outlined and would love to see those completed by that time as well!  

How have your readers responded to the book so far?
I have received phenomenal feedback from those that have read the book so far, though it hasn't been out very long.  It is so amazing to me to hear from readers and I can't wait to hear more of what people thing.  The comments as well as criticisms that I have received have worked to shape my writing as I continue on to the second and third books in the series!  

Is there any aspect of writing you don't like?
I can't say that there is an aspect that I don't like, persay, though I would have to say that in a supernatural book such as this – there has to be death and cruelty.  These things are foreign to me because I'm not one to relish in the idea of having to kill a character or see them come to harm.  So, if I had to choose something that I was not very comfortable in, it would be that.  We all know that a book doesn't progress very well if there aren't obstacles and negative things impacting our characters, so it has to happen – but it isn't something I look forward to.  

Have you ever had writer's block? If yes, how'd you deal with it? If you have not had writer's block, why do you think you haven't?
The answer to this first part is a resounding 'Yes'!  Writing the first book in the series, The Awakened, took me over two years because of the writer's block.  On top of a lot of emotional situations in my personal life, I also dealt with the many nights and days with the computer infront of me and no words coming out.  It was disheartening to say the least.  

The best way that I had to deal with it was the people around me that brought me support.  Throughout the vast majority of the writing process I had my best friend, Erica.  She had read every chapter pretty much as it was written and knew my characters and story beautifully.  When writer's block would hit, I would call her...discuss the story thus far and throw out the “what ifs” of the next part I was planning on writing.  These discussions were integral to moving the story forward and combating the writer's block.  

As the story was nearing an end, when writer's block had been a major problem with how to end the book, I also had a co-worker that would send me a “first line” from all of her favorite books each day.  This provided me with motivation to really sit down and finish the story that had been bubbling in me.  Support, whether from those that know your story well or just those who want to encourage you in other ways, is always an amazing writer's block cure!  

What do you have in mind for your next project?
As "Nistarim: The Awakened" is book one in a trilogy of three books in the series, I am already moving foward on the second book.  "Nistarim: The Fallen" will take us deeper through the struggles of the Nistarim as they inch closer and closer to Armageddon and the end of everything that we know.  I think that many readers will be surprised in the way that this all comes about and the unlikely hero in this next step in the series!  I can't wait to finish this next book and bring to life the next part of a series that my current readership has allowed to be a part of their lives.  

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
This story is a fictional take on some very real beliefs and aspects of many different faiths.  I think it's important to remind people as they read of that.  One reader was very upset in the way that I portrayed Yeshua (Jesus) in such an informal way in some aspects, and I want to make sure that others realize that it is fictionalized and is not meant to be a show of how any faith believes directly.  

Nistarim is a series of books that is meant to bring out a story of the struggles that we all have and the fictional world in which it takes place is just one setting in which we can see ourselves and our own struggles.  That is the central part of writing this novel for me – yes, telling a great story with supernatural themes – but also holding a mirror up to the struggles, pain and heart aches that are very real in our world.  

Closing Remark
Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me about this book today!  It was a pleasure sharing with you the writing process, the elements of the book that I love and the struggles that I had writing it.  I can't wait for your readers to experience "Nistarim: The Awakened" and future books in the series!  

More Information
Buy Nistarim: The Awakened on Amazon.

Dimitri Liountris, Author of The Oracle’s Journal

Today we are interviewing Dimitri Liountris about his urban fantasy novel “The Oracle’s Journal.” 

Tell us a bit about yourself.
There’s not much to tell really. I am a new author who published his first book less than a year ago. I am currently getting my MPhil in Criminology, which gets in the way of writing, because responsibility and priorities are a thing apparently. But, then again, the psychology side of criminology helps with getting into my characters’ heads, so silver lining there. I am South African, born and bred. Been in South Africa my entire life, moving between Cape Town and Johannesburg. I absolutely adore storytelling in any form and in all genres with the notable exception of historical fiction. I have tried to get into it and I cannot. And I am a writer, which I suppose is obvious with the whole book thing, but a writer is a specific creature and I like to know that I am one. That’s about it.

Describe the plot of your new book, “The Oracle's Journal,” in a few sentences.
This is a difficult question, because the book actually has several storylines that collide at different points. But the long-and-short of the plot involves an enemy named Serena returning to modern-day Earth, the year 2012. Serena used to be queen of Earth a hundred thousand years ago and wants her throne back, but in order to do that, she needs to reclaim the power she once had before she was imprisoned. So, she’s searching for a book known as the Oracle’s Journal, which has several powerful spells, one of which can make Serena a goddess. At the same time, four teenagers get the powers of sixteen dead gods, becoming the guardians of the realms, and they find themselves facing off against Serena and her knights. They also learn to transform into the different gods, increasing their powers exponentially. That’s the basics of it, but the story also follows the characters that helped the last set of guardians as they try to mentor the new set, which brings in a lot of other characters and sets up the history of the world.

Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
Fantasy readers. I know, that’s vague, but I have to say, I didn’t really think of this until after the book was written. I wrote it with the notion of wanting something that was just fun and entertaining, so if you like fantasy and want a fun story with lots of things happening, this your book. It’s fast-paced, it has a lot of magic, and it’s long, so if you enjoy immersing yourself in worlds of magic, I think you’ll have a good time here. I’ve put a lot of lore and mythology into this book, with rules for how the magic system works, so if you enjoy that kind of thing this is the book for you. Lastly, I’ll say that the book does take on a superhero-type angle. Not so much as a theme, but more in execution with the colours and fights, so if you’re someone who enjoys any of the Marvel movies, you’ll find this book entertaining. Oh, and if you’re someone who likes series, or big sprawling sagas, this will be a series, one day, as soon as I publish, you know, more than one book.

The story is set into motion when the powers of gods are given to four teenagers. Tell us about these four teenagers.
So the teenagers are Blake Holden, Monique Bishop, and Jen and Eric Storm. Blake, Monique, and Jen are all seventeen-years-old, while Eric is fourteen. There’s not much to tell about them, but that is done on purpose. I wanted to breakaway from the trope of “the chosen ones always come from tragedy or have a secret past”, so the conflict they experience comes from when they get their powers and then from inner turmoil brought on by those powers. At the start of the story, they are just normal kids. Jen, Eric, and Monique are orphans, but they come from stable households with loving guardians. The real personal problems for the kids, and what starts their development as characters, is when they realise that magic has been woven through their lives for years and how that affects them, and how it affects their relationships with those closest to them. Individually, they all have their own things. Blake is a mess of tranquility and anger, if that makes sense. Monique is rational. Jen is almost annoyingly righteous. And Eric is the youngest, which brings a ton of implications as he enters this world of magic and mayhem. But I don’t like to dwell on their personalities at the start because they change as they continue their journey, as all characters should.

How do they react to having received the powers of the gods?
They all have different reactions, and even individually, their reactions go up and down. But, for the most part, they shift from being absolutely panicked about what they can do to loving the powers they have. Their powers are vast, but are also contained to what I call ‘elements’. So, they have things like fire, water, wind, but they also have powers that have to do with motion (telekinesis, gravity control, teleportation) and phantasm (ghost powers). So, the reaction depends heavily on the guardian, and who got what element. But I suppose the reaction to their powers is less important than their reaction to the implication of those powers. They are now guardians and that means they have to defend sixteen different realms, and that’s a lot to ask of four teenagers. It takes its toll on them, and while they are in wonder, they’re also scared and confused.

The monsters from the Chaos Realm begin to leave through a portal. Can you describe these monsters for us?
They are mostly what are known as Chaos demons, and these are creatures that are either born into the Chaos Realm or created by shredding and then stitching the souls of the dead into a new beast. There’s no template for demons, so I can’t really give you an exact description of what they look like because they’re all different, but know that creatures of Chaos rarely have great intentions. Plus, monsters are not the only thing that come through the portal. Serena was imprisoned in that realm, not born there, and there are others who were imprisoned as well. Monsters are the first thing to come through, but they aren’t really the worst. I find mankind’s biggest enemies tend to look like us.

Author Dimitri Liountris.

Tell us about the artefacts, including the most powerful artefact – The Oracle’s Journal.
Well, this is a difficult question, because we’re walking directly into spoiler-town. So, with regards to artefacts, there’s two important items and the second is just a massive spoiler, so I can’t really go into that. It’s actually the title of the second book. As for the Oracle’s Journal, without wishing to spoil, it is a book that was created to house the most powerful spells in existence. Examples of these spells include opening portals with the strength to suck in entire buildings, reviving the dead, and linking two people’s lives in that if one dies so does the other. And then there’s the spell that can create a god, which is probably the most important spell in terms of this novel – and the next one, come to think of it. The book itself has different rules to it, but those are revealed throughout the story. I suppose the one aspect I can give is that to read the book, you need to find the oracle, a being that almost no one knows the identity of, which adds an extra facet to Serena’s plan.

Without giving too much away, what can you tell us about the story’s antagonist, the Demon Queen?
Sure, how long do you have? In all seriousness, Serena is one of my favourite characters, and I absolutely love her scenes, especially with a character named Izzy – who mentors the guardians. There’s a lot I can say about Serena but a lot of it is spoiler-y. What I will say is that I wanted to make a villain who was understandable. I’ve never bought into the notion that characters always need to be relatable. As long as they’re understandable, as long as we can empathise with their vision even if we disagree with it, we can make a connection, and that’s what Serena is all about. She’s a villain, no doubt, but she’s also someone who has experienced loss and pain, and it shows in how she carries herself and how she acts. The Demon Queen moniker is both true but also false, and I can’t really say more than that without going into details. What I can tell you is that she is extremely powerful, even without her Queen of Earth powers (she was almost god-like when she ruled Earth). She controls six magical elements (Motion, Lightning, Defence, Form, Wind, and Light) and she is an expert fighter with swords and hand-to-hand combat. She is a queen, regal and proper, but also a warrior who should not be taken lightly. After all, she survived in the Chaos Realm, a hellish world, for over one-hundred-thousand years (oh, she’s got eternal youth) and that’s not an easy thing to do.

What drew you to the urban fantasy genre?
This is a difficult question, because while I describe the book as urban fantasy, the series starts to move to other types of fantasy, where magic creatures and other worlds start popping up like daisies. So I wouldn’t say I was drawn to urban fantasy, but rather I came to fix a problem I’ve always had with stories that take place in modern times or urban settings, which I’ll get to in a moment. My first book, and second, just happen to be in an urban setting and are limited compared to what I have planned for the rest of the series, so that’s why I call it urban fantasy. With all of that said, I suppose I should actually answer your question. So, I’ve always been a fantasy and sci-fi junkie, but I leaned more to fantasy. But the reason I set it in an urban setting and in modern day is because I had a problem that I wanted to fix. I love Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones as much as the next person, but I find I am drawn more to stories that happen on Earth, in modern society. That said, it’s always bugged me that urban fantasy and modern fantasy tends to be tamer than high fantasy stories. I find the stories to be contained, where the only people who know about magic and what is happening are the important characters, and the rest of the world is oblivious because everything is kept secret or hushed. And then things get tied up at the end and the heroes go off after saving the world with the world none the wiser. It annoys me to no end, and so I wanted to blow that up, which is why I wrote this story. When magic appears in this novel, when the portal opens, it is in view of the world. The media is there, the army comes in, it is chaos. The world has been changed forever. The genie is out of the bottle and it’s not going back in. I wanted to explore what would happen in this time of social media and 24-hour news if magic had to show itself, and so I ran with that, and by the time the story ended, I realized we have not left Maxton City despite fifteen other realms out there. I don’t know if that makes sense, but the long-and-short of it is that I like change. I want my world to change with my characters and I am fascinated by the concept of us humans, who for better or worse think we are the centre of the universe, not only finding out that there are other worlds out there but also that we’re pretty low in the magical food-chain. In order to do that, I needed the story to be in an urban centre where all eyes would be on the portal.

Are there any authors who have influenced your writing style?
Michael Grant, author of the “Gone” series is definitely up there. It’s my favourite series and when I revisit the books and see how he writes, and then reread my own chapters, I can definitely tell his influence is there. Other than that, no one else really jumps to mind. I try to take little pieces from different authors. Some authors are great a inferring things, like George R.R. Martin, so I’ll try to see if that’s something I can do, but other than Grant, there’s not one author where I think: yeah, you’re definitely influencing how I structure my sentences. I read, I listen to audiobooks, I take notes, and I go from there.

How long have you been writing?
As a serious writer, someone who wanted to publish his work and share it with the world, it’s been about five years. That first book was a nightmare to write, but I’m going through my other projects faster so I hope to publish more than one book every five years. In terms of writing in general, I’ve been doing it since I was like fourteen. I started with fan-fiction stories, the first of which was an atrocious piece of Dragon Ball Z fan-fiction. I used to go back and read it, and it would make me squirm. But I have been writing for a while. I actually came up with the concept for The Oracle’s Journal when I was sixteen, and even wrote a draft when I was still in high school, but at that point writing seemed like a mythical thing and who was I to assume anyone would read my work? Good thing too, because when I read that copy after I decided to take this seriously, it wasn’t great. But that’s what first drafts are, I suppose.

Who was your favorite character to write?
Don’t make me choose between my babies… in all honesty, I have no clue. It jumps all the time. Serena is definitely up there. And one of her followers, Malik, is great fun to write. But if I had to pick someone it would probably be a character named Melissa. Melissa is Blake’s mother, but she could easily be the main character of the story if I were to shift a few things around. In many ways, this series is actually her story because the kids start to emulate different sagas of Melissa’s life. Melissa was involved with magic in the past and she is scarred by what happened twelve years before this story starts. This history, coupled with the fact that she is a powerful fighter, a good leader, and someone who deeply dislikes the gods, she is a lot of fun to write, because like her, I’m always trying to strike a balance between what needs to happen and what I want to happen. Melissa is very much a through-line for all the other characters as she interacts with almost everyone, and that lets me not only explore her story and contrast it with other characters, but also lets me know that when I write her scenes, I’m writing other characters who might not get a lot of “screen” time.

How do you think you've evolved as a writer since when you first started?
Well, for one thing, I use pronouns now. When I started – I still do it now a bit in my rough drafts – I’ll just keep writing the character’s name. “Jen walked into Jen’s room while holding Jen’s cellphone.” It’s not that terrible anymore, but that was one problem I had. I think I’ve definitely gotten better at writing deeper characters who are not one thing. At the start of the story everyone sort of had a side, good or evil, and as the story progressed I found that I didn’t like that, to the point where I was going back and rewriting entire scenes to make characters slightly more nuanced in their reasonings. I’ve also grown to adore themes. I look for them everywhere now and try to include them in my work. I find themes give me a guiding light to follow when I’m writing, and that was definitely an evolution, because when I was younger the word “theme” made me roll my eyes.

Are there any aspects (e.g. character building, world building) of your writing that you've been practicing?
Character descriptions and condensing sentences. Let’s get this out the way: I hate describing what people and things look like. Hate it. Give me what a character is thinking or a fight scene and I’ll write until the end of time, but of all the things that take time out of my writing, describing what someone looks like and what they are wearing takes the most, because I just don’t have the patience for it. I have no clue about fashion in real life, so the way someone styles their hair or wears their clothes take effort from me, and I’ve been trying to get better at that. As for condensing sentences, I find that I do describe something in fifteen words when ten would do. So, I’m practicing getting better at that. If nothing else, it will help me write shorter stories.

What are your goals as a writer for the next ten years?
Three things. One is to publish more books and get more followers reading. What happens after that, who can say, but at the moment I’m hoping to finish this current series as well as another one in ten years, with maybe some short stories sprinkled in between. The other two things will not take ten years (hopefully) but I’d like to give my blog more attention and create an author’s website that holds all the information this current series has. This series has sixteen realms, each with their own rules and species, and unless I plan to include a free encyclopedia with each new novel, I’ll never get all the information down into a book because not all the information is needed for this specific story. Still, with so much happening in my mind, I thought it would be nice to create a website with the explanations of the different realms, their gods, and their elements, as well as creatures and special locations within those realms. I’ll move into more detailed things like culture and religion at a later date… and now that I’ve answer this question, this might actually take ten years, but that’s the gist of it. As for my blog, it’s already up, and it’s all about writing. It’s called Professional Amateur Writers, but I’ve been neglecting the poor thing lately. But I’ve got a plan that starts soon and we’ll see where that goes.

How have your readers responded to the book so far?
Well, my mother loves it. No, but seriously, so far so good. It hasn’t gotten a ton of traction yet, but the seven reviews it has gotten (yes, I count every single review and read them ten times) have been really good. People tend to like the magic and characters, which is what I hoped they’d latch on to. The biggest complaint is the length, which I myself actually agree with. I thought about splitting the book in two, but it is one full story and it didn’t feel right. I don’t have much to go on except Goodreads, and so far it’s been four or five star ratings. Mostly.

Is there any aspect of writing you don't like?
Character descriptions. I could complain about it again, I really could, but I’ll just direct you to my previous answer.

What is your favorite aspect of writing?
Dialogue. Hands down, making characters speak is what I love about writing. I feel you can do so much with dialogue, from explaining concepts, to showing emotions and motives, to making readers laugh and cry. Yes, you can do that with normal prose, but I find dialogue just has a kick to it. It’s almost easier to read when it’s someone else’s voice in my head. I don’t know if that makes sense, but dialogue is my favourite aspect. No question about it.

Have you ever had writer's block? If yes, how'd you deal with it? If you have not had writer's block, why do you think you haven't?
Is there a writer who hasn’t had writer’s block? Who are they? They should write a book. They’ll make millions. Yes, I’ve had writer’s block more times than I can count, and I do two things that help, but both pretty much come down to just write. Write anything. Write absolute garbage if you have to, but write. With that said, the first thing I do is find out what the problem is. If it’s a specific character, I’ll literally just write their scenes with no context of the rest of the story or characters. It’s almost like free writing, just to see where this character will take you if left to their own devices. It helps me flesh out the character and understand how they think, and what their motives might be. The second thing I do, if the block is not specific and I just don’t know what to write, is to just write anything. Jump to the first scene that pops into my head and write one sentence, and then try to follow it up with a second. It sounds dumb; how can you write when the problem is that you can’t write? But that’s really the only way I know to fix it. Write anyway. Write knowing that you’ll probably toss the scene away, because if you do, it will be worth it to get the creativity flowing again. Also, random tip, when you reach the end of a writing session, don’t finish the sentence. Write a half sentence out so that when you come back, you have to finish it. It helps you jump back in immediately.

What do you have in mind for your next project?
So, I’m working on two projects at the moment. One is the sequel to The Oracle’s Journal and takes place two weeks after book one ends. The second project is called Children of the Beasts, and follows two boys trapped in another world who must rush home to basically stop a world war from breaking out. It’s set in an alternative Earth and it is what I call my “anything-goes” story. It’s both fantasy and sci-fi. It has dragons, and sorcerers, and clans, and ninjas, and chimera, and cyborgs, and demons, and angels, and, and, and. It’s a mess of magic and technology, and follows the adventures of the two boys, Kashiko and Dartan, as they move through the six worlds. I’m having a blast writing it because it is so out there. I just hope others feel the same way reading it.

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
Well, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. My book is long. It’s not difficult to read but it does take a chunk of time to get through. However, I do think it’s worth it. I put a lot of effort into making sure something is always happening and that the characters are fun to follow around, so while it is long, I doubt you’ll get bored. Obviously, this is from a biased source, so maybe go check out the reviews. What I can tell you is that there is a ton of magic, lots of action, and plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end of the story. It is the first book of five, so there are things that are set up for the future, but it is a complete story and so worth the read. This book was a nightmare to finish, but I also had so much fun writing it because of how much magic and lore is in it, and I hope you as a reader find it entertaining.

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Forever Young: A Mother's Story of Life After Suicide by Sharon Truesdale with Sue Leonard

Today we are interviewing Sharon Truesdale about her non-fiction book, titled “Forever Young A Mother's Story of Life after Suicide”

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I live in Northern Ireland. I work for the Education Authority for Northern Ireland in Education other than at School Program supporting young people with special educational needs. I have four children Matthew, Natasha, Annie Jean and Daniel and have been blessed with grandchildren; Tyler, Nancy Louise and another beautiful grandchild due in the next couple of weeks. I enjoy the simple things in life like walking the dogs on the beach, going to the movies and heading out for a meal.

Describe your book, “Forever Young A Mother's story of Life after suicide,” in a few sentences.
The book is my story of life after the suicide of my son Matthew aged 17. I have shared my most personal feelings, thoughts and behaviors with the hope that my story will help others and help break the stigma attached to mental health illness and suicide.

Who do you think would most benefit from reading this book?
I think it would help anyone who has a mental health illness, contemplated suicide, is a survivor of suicide, or affected by suicide or someone who is grieving by showing them that they are not alone and that there is support and services available out there. It would also help organizations and services understand the importance of following their policies and procedures and the consequence of what would happen when they do not. It can also help employers understand the impact of suicide or grief has on a person and also within their family when forming welfare at work policies. It can help each one of us to acknowledge the importance of talking and practicing self-care. 

What inspired you to share your story?
I was inspired by others to share my story. Over social media I read about people painting stones with positive messages on them, placing them for others to find them. Notes with messages and helpline numbers attached to bridges to encourage people to seek help and that they are loved and valued. Benches placed around communities to encourage people to sit down and talk. The list goes on…

What are some ways that you worked through the grieving process?
I read books, attended a Bereaved by Suicide support group and worked with a counselor for 9 months, joined online grief support groups mainly on Facebook to try and understand what was happening to me. I visited my GP during times when I felt lost. I was looking for a quick fix however it took a long time to realize that this was a process and one which would require me to be true to myself by acknowledging my feelings, thoughts and behaviors. I learned mindfulness which I found helpful as it allowed me space to understand me in this new life I found myself. By practicing mindfulness I started to hear the birds sing again when I was out for a walk, to feel the wind on my skin and the rain on my cheeks and I started to enjoy the things I used to do, before the nightmare began. I started to stay more focused on the here and now rather than be reliving the past often stuck on the day I found Matthew. I learned to apply this into the simple things in life like watching a movie and as I practiced it I started to cope better.

What are some things you learned from the experience of working through the grieving processes?
The main thing I learned from my journey is the importance of showing myself love, kindness and forgiveness and practicing self-care. By listening and acknowledging my thoughts, behaviors and feelings I learned to be in control of my new life as the old Sharon Truesdale died when I found my son. By practicing self-care I learned to live more in the here and now instead of existing in the past.

Part of your grieving process has been celebrating your son’s life. Can you tell us a bit more about this process?
As a family we meet up with Matthews friends on his anniversary and on his birthday at his garden. We share stories, let go off balloons and spend time remembering Matthew. Over the years Matthews Facebook has become a memorial page and we share memories, photos and thoughts to Matthew and with each other. Matthews son Tyler who is 6 years old and Matthews brother Daniel, aged 8 as they get older they ask more about Matthew. We use these times to share stories and experiences to teach them about Matthew; going to the bakery to buy Matthews favorite sausage rolls and visiting Portrush where Matthew loved to sea fish.

For someone who has recently lost a loved one to a suicide, do you have any advice for them?
TALK, TALK, TALK  to friends, family, anyone. You do not have to suffer in silence or be alone. There are services out there who can help. If you try one and you haven’t connected with it, try another. Find one that fits.

On a similar note, do you have any advice for someone who is trying to support someone affected by suicide during their grieving process?
Listen without judgement and without feeling the need to advise. Just be there. Instead of stating the obvious ‘you’ve lost weight’ help out by doing practical things like making them a sandwich. Remember as life goes on for you, they are often still at day 1, week 1. I found my son, organized the funeral and watched him be buried but I didn’t accept he died until 9 months later.

Did writing the book take you to unexpected places or reveal things you hadn’t thought about before?
When writing the book I reflected over my life as a whole journey from Matthews birth to his death and in between. Beforehand life was viewed in segments; when I was young, when I was at college, when I was married. During difficult life experiences these were often forgotten about through avoidance. The book highlighted my life as a whole and triggered a lot of good and bad experiences which I had to deal with.

Was it difficult to revisit these painful memories during the writing process?
Revisiting them brought me back to when I was married, Matthews time at school, the day I found my son and I had to relive each memory with the view of sharing them with people I do not know. I had to be honest and genuine when sharing my story so I had to go to places in my mind which I didn’t want to go to especially back to the darkest days when I too contemplated suicide. I was scared that my old feelings, thoughts and behaviors would impact all the positive things I was doing and return me back to the unhealthy ways of coping, for me which was alcohol and gambling.

What was the most challenging aspect of writing the book?
The most challenging aspect of writing the book was to make sure it was a fair and accurate account of what happened in my life without letting the feelings associated with grief to take over e.g. anger, guilt or shame especially when recounting parts of my life which involved others.

It seems mental health and suicide have been getting more attention by the public recently, especially with the loss of several celebrities, such as Anthony Bourdain, Kate Spade, and Avicii, among many others. Do you think this has helped people gain a deeper understanding of mental health and suicide?
It highlights that suicide can affect anyone; old, young, rich, poor, male, female and that we can all hide behind a mask. Numbers are increasing yet there is still a stigma attached to mental health and suicide. Celebrity families help break the stigma attached by talking openly about it and encouraging people to talk and seek help. 

How have readers responded to your book so far?
I have received some lovely messages from readers who have lost a loved one through suicide, from as close as my hometown and as far away as California thanking me for sharing my story and how it has helped them feel that they are not alone. Other readers who have shared they have a mental health illness have thanked me and said that the book helped them. I hope the book simply encourages us to start talking to each other and look for support and services if and when we need further help.

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