Tag Archives: Author Interview

A Cozy YA Ghost Story: Discover ‘When June Haunts May’

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One visible spirit. Two phantom thieves. Three courageous friends.

When June Haunts May

The Haunting of Pinedale High #10

by Celaine Charles

Genre: Cozy YA Paranormal Ghost Story

June Brookes has haunted the library at Pinedale High for decades, without attention. Until one day, new sophomore, May Blakely, notices. Could this be June’s chance to cross over to the hereafter? If only she knew what needed to be finished from her old life.

Angsty May prefers solitude. Her deadbeat dad may have ditched her in this small town, but she has no interest befriending this strange girl, or the cute boy across the street.

June’s hereafter hustle goes haywire when two phantom soldiers plot to hijack her passage to peace, at the expense of hurting fellow students. June saves May’s life, igniting their joint efforts to protect the school. Can May help June to her happily ever afterlife?

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Don’t miss the rest of the Haunting of Pinedale High books! Find them on Amazon

Celaine Charles lives in the enchanted Pacific Northwest, teaching elementary school by day and writing by the stars at night. She’s an award-winning, multi-genre author who balances her dual life creating poetry, fantasy, and contemporary romance shorts, while blogging about her journey on Steps in Between. In addition, she’s embarking on the world of children’s picture books.

She’s published collections of poetry through Egret Lake Books and Palmetto Publishing Group, and fiction through The Wild Rose Press and Eliza Storm Books.

Celaine is a member of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association, Storyteller Academy, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and reads poetry regularly with the Museum of Northwest Art, Writing’s on the Wall series.

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Would you like a chance to win a $40 Amazon or PayPal Gift Card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?

After watching the Netflix movie, Girl Haunts Boy and the Netflix series, School Spirits, I literally wrote my new young adult paranormal fantasy, When June Haunts May, as if it were on the screen!

I pictured my blue-haired angsty sophomore, May, meeting the spirit, June, in her new high school. June pesters her for a friendship in which she has no interest, not to mention she’s dressed like she’s headed to a fifties sock hop. But this girl…ghost…desperately needs to connect with May. She’s the first person to see her in decades, so she must be the key to help her crossover to the other side. In the midst of meeting, they both stumble upon the local high school lacrosse star, Reid, crying by himself in the…rumored to be haunted…woods behind the school.

Hiding behind my writing desk, each main character was in constant motion as this story came to life. And they’re all three going through real emotions the big screen could vividly portray. May prefers loneliness as her safe haven. June’s been alone for so long, she’s a jumbled mess when someone finally sees her. Reid fears the loneliness he predicts is soon to come for reasons they all find out later. This book, without being sad, shines a little light on three different perspectives of loneliness.

The story is set at the start of fall, the colors all golden-green and marigold-yellow at a North Carolinian school, Pinedale High. On campus there’s a wooded area and pond behind the school, with an old neighborhood sprawling out beyond, complete with crumbling sidewalks and overgrown shade trees. The autumn season creates the perfect ambience for this small-town story and would make for a spookily cozy movie any time of year.

May, June, and Reid become unlikely friends, meeting some curiously amazing side characters along the way. They will truly have you smiling and possibly wincing at the same time. And as if figuring out her past isn’t enough for June to deal with in her seemingly small window to cross over, two Confederate soldiers decide to hijack her freedom, putting the whole school in danger.

When June Haunts May has just enough spook, risk, and vulnerability woven in with tender moments that build relationships, including friendship and young love, to make this cozy ghost story the perfect feel-good movie!

I also wrote a novella, Stained Glass Secrets and Star Wishes, back in 2022. It’s a mash-up of Hallmark meets Fantasy, and I’ve always imagined it as a holiday movie on the Hallmark Channel.

A stressed-out, single accountant skips out on life to spend Christmas alone at her family’s snowy, lake cabin. A freshwater fairy, who looks handsomely human out of water, comes to the surface to face his own fears and grief, yet unexpectedly spies her crying through a window. Together with a wish on a star, a snowy ice castle, some Christmas cookie mishaps, and Ollie, the springer spaniel, they fall in maybe-one-day-possibly love.

The whole story makes me gush!

And finally, I’ve been told by many readers of my young adult Keeper Series (Seam Keepers and Dream Keepers), that it should be made into a movie. I guess with my own ADHD, I always try to write my books with strong pacing. It’s a tough one for me because I can get wordy. But hopefully with the art of revision and rereading my stories again and again through that revision process, I smooth the pacing for the most reluctant reader to want to read. And good pacing does make for a great movie!

What a fun question to answer!

Advice they would give new authors?

I would tell a new author to keep writing no matter what. And equal to that, keep reading and learning how to improve your craft. That’s it. New (and seasoned) writers need to continually remind themselves to ignore the noise and negative reviews (unless there’s truly something that will help them improve their writing) and just continue to create and grow in their craft.

Going to writer’s conferences is also a GREAT way to learn the craft and business of writing. There are support systems out there, but writers need to reach out to find them. A writing conference and/or writing class in your community are great ways to get started.

I met my writing critique group through a writing class. Then we all attended a writing conference together. I learned so much while at the same time, increasing my support system. Writing is an isolating experience because we’re generally alone for long periods of time. Critique groups and writing classes can help ease the isolation and provide resources.

So new writers—read, keep writing, ignore the noise, and reach out to find your people and improve your craft!

Describe your writing style.

Always a hard question for me, but this is my assessment of my writing based on what my critique group and beta readers tell me, as well as how it feels when I’m drafting my stories.

I am a lyrical writer working to edit down my long sentences while still trying to achieve the dance and flow of a full story.

There. I said it. I guess you might say I’m overly wordy, but ultimately don’t want to come across that way, so I have to backtrack over all my writing in the revision and editing stages to cut words. I will never be that writer who needs to add more details for word count. Ha! I am the opposite! My stories always need to be cut and tidied up.

Lyrical writing is just part of my process, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

What makes a good story?

For me a good story is all about the characters. I can read a book with an okay plot, if I love the characters. But it’s difficult for me to read any story, if I can’t relate or connect with the characters working through even the most organized plot lines. I’m definitely a character-driven author and reader, both.

Along with intriguing characters, I appreciate lyrical voice and sensory explosion on the page. I want to see, and hear, and taste, and smell everything the characters do. When a simple sentence sweeps me away, I’m in awe of the author and can’t wait to read more.

What are you currently reading?

This is my year of reading ARCs (advanced reader copies) and researching romance. It’s been rough not reading fantasy and poetry, the two genres I love the most, but 2026 filled up fast with several ARC reads for other authors. I am exploring the idea of writing a full-length contemporary romance.

 I’m not sure how this happened, but I may have overcommitted myself with ARC reads. With that said, it’s fine. I love helping other authors this way because I need their help in return, and it feels special getting a sneak peek at a finished book that’s not out there yet. Getting those early readers and honest reviews can surely help set a newly launched book in the right direction. So, I am happy to do that. I just happen to have a lot of ARC’s back-to-back right now.

As for romance, this is a new genre for me. I’m already writing short stories with my author’s collaboration project. With fellow writers, SD Porter and Eliza Storm, we are each writing short rom-com style stories to match each holiday. We’ve written one for Halloween (Midnight Meet-Ups), one for Valentine’s Day (Sweet Chaos), and our new collection for the Fourth of July (Caught a Spark) comes out this summer (2026). I’m having so much fun, I think I might want to write a full-length romance! To research, I’m reading a variety of authors in the romance world right now. Most of these have been audiobooks, since I’m busy reading ARCs.

For now, I’m reading books for other amazing authors and swooning about my own one-day romance.

What is your writing process? For instance, do you create an outline first? Do you write the chapters first?

I always think of characters first, no matter what kind of story I’m writing, be it fantasy, contemporary romance, or children’s. After that, I place my characters in a setting that fits them, then loosely point them in the direction of what they want or need until something internal and external gets in their way. Finally, I make as many things rain on their journey…so that we have some kind of interesting story and growth arc in the end.

Writing chapters and scenes help me when I’m stuck. It’s okay to write out of order, and I’ve done this before with books, but I find that it takes me longer sometimes to stitch them back together. For this reason, I try to write as linearly as possible.

When drafting a new story, I do consider plotting plans like Save the Cat and the Three Act Structure, however they are sketched and not written in ink. I ask myself a lot more questions than I used to when planning a story now. I want to know up front what lie they believe about themselves, what childhood trauma might be holding them back, and then how they might use that very fear to save the day.

I’ve always called myself a recovering pantser. My first book took seven years from first draft to publication. Although it was a long journey, I still learned so much on the way. I wouldn’t trade any of that time, however I don’t want to spend seven years on a book again. At my age (not telling) I don’t have time for that. As much as I love letting my characters explore and choose their own story (which I still do to a degree) I have a few mile posts I need them to get to along the way to keep me focused and grounded….and ultimately to get more books in my reader’s hands.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

I do believe in writer’s block, but I’ve learned a few things about the wall that stops the flow of writing and some tips and tricks too.

  1. We all fall into different categories of life and we’re all facing different obstacles in the way of writing (or having time to write). So, the variables are unmeasurable. With that being said, I remind myself that creating is unique for everyone and can be affected by a vast number of reasons. I can’t name them all here but…family and/or job responsibilities, time restraints for a million reasons, health, life surprises (positive and negative), energy levels, and more. Give yourself a break! It’s okay to step back sometimes. Regroup. Start again when you can.
  2.  I’ve read that sometimes we get stuck when we don’t know our story well enough. You can work backwards to the place you felt confident and try to angle it in a slightly different direction. Presto! That sometimes works.
  3. Try one of the ideas listed below that I do when I’m feeling stuck. This list was taken from my blog post on Steps In Between, Writing Breakthroughs (25 tips when you’re stuck): https://stepsinbetween.com/2023/01/29/writing-breakthroughs-25-tips-when-youre-stuck/

What I do…

  • Take a walk (or some kind of nature bath)
  • Read a book in the same genre I’m writing in
  • Listen to writing podcasts
  • Visit a museum
  • Go to a movie in a movie theater
  • Go to the real theater and see a play
  • Complain to my writing critique group
  • Plan a field trip to research my characters (where might they go if they visited my town?)
  • Drown my sorrows in chardonnay and allergy-free chocolate
  • Reread all I’ve written again with fresh eyes
  • Read another author’s ARC
  • Read book reviews
  • Work out (I like Pilates)
  • Write or read poetry
  • Write something completely new (maybe an article helping other writers)
  • Pray (this one seriously works for me)
  • Find some fresh inspiration for my writing space (a new candle, vase of flowers…)
  • Plan a weekend or even just a day to NOT think about writing and just be
  • Spend time with loved ones or friends and just live a little (fill up the life tank)
  • Find a new flavor of tea or coffee to drink while I write
  • Try plotting a little—if you’re a pantser. Try pantsing a little—if you’re a plotter. The point? Do something different!
  • Read a writing craft book
  • Dress up when I write (or maybe dress in character), but sometimes dressing for the occasion puts me in the right mood.
  • Burn candles or use aroma therapy to set the mood…I like lavender and vanilla
  • Create mood boards to go with my stories (Pinterest is great for this)
  • Take my characters out for lunch…or dinner…or coffee…or dancing (whatever might work for the story). By this, I mean that I write a small scene that might never make it into the book, but maybe something to share with readers later.
  • Here’s a new one, not on my blog post. Find a music soundtrack that coordinates with your story or story vibe. Background music can put me in the mood.
  • Another new idea, not on my blog post, which works for me most times…set a timer. I like 25-minute sprints, but even if you only have ten minutes, write for that allotted time. You will feel better. And sometimes that’s all we need to get back in the groove.

Happy Holidays to the Storytellers and Story Lovers

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There’s something about the holiday season that feels like a book you return to year after year.

The familiar opening lines. The comforting setting. The quiet moments that linger long after the last page.

As the year comes to a close, I wanted to pause and say thank you—and Happy Holidays—to every author I’ve had the honor of featuring here, and to every reader who has spent even a few minutes of their time wandering through my posts (or even better, through the pages of my novels).

If you’re reading this, you’re part of a community that believes in stories. You’re part of MY community.

And that matters. It matters to me.

Books Are the Gifts That Never Stop Giving

Books have always been a special kind of gift. They don’t sparkle under the tree, but they glow in other ways:

They offer escape when the world feels heavy.
They provide comfort when words are hard to find.
They challenge us, soften us, and sometimes even change us.

This time of year, stories feel especially powerful. We read by twinkling lights. We recommend favorite novels to friends. We tuck books into stockings, hoping the right story finds the right person at the right time.

Stories remind us that even in dark chapters, hope still exists.

And that’s a very special kind of magic.

To the Authors Who Shared Their Stories Here

To every author who trusted me with their work, their process, their vulnerability, and their voice—thank you.

Writing is brave. Sharing that writing is even braver.

Behind every book is a person who wrestled with doubt, chased inspiration at odd hours, and kept going even when the path felt uncertain. Trust me, I know! Featuring your stories on this site has been one of the greatest joys of my year, and I’m endlessly grateful for the chance to spotlight your creativity.

Your words matter. Your stories matter. And I can’t wait to see where the next chapter takes you.

To the Readers Who Keep Showing Up

And to the readers—those who comment, share, recommend, and quietly return—thank you for being here.

Readers are the heartbeat of storytelling. Without you, stories are just words on a page. With you, they become worlds, emotions, and memories.

Whether you found this site through a favorite genre, an author interview, or a single late-night scroll, I’m grateful you stayed.

May your holidays be filled with stories that make you feel understood, inspired, and a little less alone.

Turning the Page on a New Year

As we step into a brand-new year, I hope it brings:

  • More time to read
  • More courage to write
  • More stories that surprise us
  • And more moments of quiet joy with a good book in hand

The best stories are never really finished—they simply invite us to keep reading.

So here’s to fresh chapters, new ideas, and the magic that only stories can create.

From my heart (and my bookshelf) to yours—

Happy Holidays and happy reading.

— Nina Soden

Turning 50: A Celebration of Art, Family, and Stories – PLUS A GIVEAWAY!

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November 26th marks a big milestone for me — my 50th birthday. I’ll admit, that number has been sitting with me in a strange way. There’s something about it that feels both heavy and profound. But instead of focusing on the number, I want to celebrate the journey that brought me here — and the art, family, and community that have shaped me along the way.

I’ve always been an artist. As a kid, I filled sketchbooks with drawings and painted anything I could get my hands on. Creativity was my language — the way I understood and expressed the world around me. In college, I discovered the magic of theatre and film, and that love carried me all the way to California after graduation. I chased stories on stage and on camera, learning what it meant to bring characters to life.

When my husband and I moved to Alabama in 2004, the curtain didn’t fall — it simply shifted. I found a vibrant theatre community here, both on and off the stage. And when film opportunities weren’t as accessible, writing became my new creative outlet. It started as a whisper — a need to tell stories — and grew into a lifelong passion.

Since publishing my first novel in 2012, I’ve written worlds born from imagination, heart, and a deep love for storytelling. Each book has been a reflection of my creativity — as an artist, as a dreamer, as a human being trying to make sense of the world. But none of it would have been possible without my family. Their love, patience, and unwavering support have carried me through every chapter. Being a wife and a mom are my greatest accomplishments — everything else, every creative endeavor, is built on that foundation of love.

And then, of course, there’s you — my readers. Your encouragement, your messages, your shared excitement about my books… my stories mean more to me than you could ever know. You’ve helped turn my art into something living, something shared.

So, to celebrate this milestone birthday and to give back a little of the joy you’ve given me, I’m hosting a Birthday Giveaway! 🎁

✨ Enter to win a signed copy of one of my books (U.S. entries only)! ✨

Here’s how to enter:

  1. Leave a comment below — tell me your favorite birthday memory, your favorite book of mine, or simply say hello.
  2. Fill out the short entry form (linked below) so I can contact the winner.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

The giveaway will be open through November 30th, and I’ll announce the winner the first week of December.

As I step into this new decade, I’m choosing gratitude — for art, for stories, for family, and for the readers who make it all worthwhile. Thank you for being part of my creative journey. Here’s to the next chapter — one filled with courage, curiosity, and a whole lot of love. 💜

With gratitude,
Nina Soden
Author | Dreamer | Storyteller

Duality by Sunny Hart

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As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.

She’s their executive assistant by day, and the city’s vigilante by night.

Duality

The Archers Book 1

by Sunny Hart

Genre: Why Choose RH Romance

Executive assistant by day… vigilante by night…

Evelyn Harper lives a double life. By day, she is the unassuming assistant to the Stone brothers and their best friend, efficiently managing their security firm’s operations. By night, she runs the Archers, a vigilante organization delivering justice for those that the legal system fails.

For years, she’s successfully kept her two lives separate, using the information she’s privy to at the security firm to save more lives with the Archers. But when a threat targets her men, Evelyn’s two worlds collide. Evelyn must reveal her true identity and harness all her skills and resources if she’s going to keep them alive.

But when the four men discover her betrayal, will they let her help them or will they turn her and her organization over to the very corrupt system that Evelyn fights?

Duality is the gripping first book of three in The Archers series, full of action, intrigue, and romance as Evelyn fights to protect her loved ones and uphold her brand of justice. It is a MFMMM slow burn contemporary romance with dark themes but is not a dark romance. If you love strong female characters and a harem that adores their FMC, this is the book for you!

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Sunny Hart lives in the rolling hills of the Kentucky Bluegrass. She has spent her entire life expressing herself through writing and short stories until one NaNoWriMo she challenged herself to write a book to share with the world. By Her Sight is the first book Sunny has published but is one of many floating around in her head. When not writing, Sunny is spending time with her dogs and horse and working her ‘day job’ as a business strategy consultant.

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Would you like a chance to win a $10 Amazon or Paypal gift card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?

I’ve always written as a way to process the world whether that be journaling or writing short stories. One November, I challenged myself to write a full book from beginning to end and that’s how By Her Sight was written. I fell in love with the why-choose genre and the rest is history!

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Probably not until I had finished writing the first three books in the Unitam Realm series. That feels like a long time but it took a bit for my mindset to shift and be like “I can really write a book!”

Do you have a favorite movie?

I love the Marvel universe but especially the earlier Marvel movies. Captain America is one of my favorites!

What inspired you to write this book?

There’s a lot of injustice in the world and there are many, many people that the justice system fails. Evelyn came to life from the part of me that wants to burn it all down sometimes. Obviously she doesn’t and she creates the Archers after something devastating happens to her but writing the Archers series helps give me hope.

What can we expect from you in the future?

I’ll always be writing! I’m too far deep into the life now and I have too many stories swirling in my brain. I’m excited to finish up the Archers series and maybe dive back into my Unitam Realm series for a prequel trilogy.

How did you come up with the name of this book?

So originally this was going to be a duet and the duet’s title was going to be Duality. But as my alpha and beta readers will tell you, I can’t limit what I write at all so the duet quickly turned into a trilogy but I loved the name Duality too much to let it go so I made it the first book’s title. Duality means “an instance of opposition or contrast between two concepts or two aspects of something” which I think fits Evelyn’s life at the start of the book perfectly!

Who designed your book covers?

The amazing Inessa at Cauldron Book Press!

Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reins of the story?

Oh I have no control whatsoever LOL! I am a plotter so I like to start with a plan but usually somewhere along the way it goes off the rails and I’m changing direction. However, there have been times in a series when I unconsciously write something at the beginning that ties in perfectly at the end and it is usually driven by a character’s actions.

What are your top 10 favorite books/authors?

Too many to count! I love everything by Devyn Sinclair, Tessa Hale, J Bree, Grace McGinty, and Nadia Lee. Their books are staples in my library!

Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write?

Some of them come right away. Usually my FMCs are always pretty formed in my head before I start writing. There’s always one guy in the group that fights me. For Duality, that guy was Marcus. He seemed to like fighting anyways so it worked out!

Do you see writing as a career?

I’m hoping to turn it into one! But that’s a long term goal. Right now, I don’t want to put that much pressure on my creativity. Instead, I’m happy writing as the words come to me!

Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?

I like to write to music or work in a coffee shop! My first book, By Her Sight, was written almost exclusively to the Hamilton soundtrack actually. There’s something about a bit of noise that allows me to shut off part of my brain and dive deep into the story.

Advice they would give new authors?

The first draft is you just telling yourself the story. It’s supposed to be messy and imperfect! Remember, writing is a marathon, not a sprint!

A Holiday for Homicide by Devon Delaney

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As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.

A televised cooking competition puts Sherry, a successful cooking competitor, in the spotlight, especially when the final challenge calls for catching a killer.

A Holiday For Homicide

A Cook-Off Mystery #9

by Devon Delaney

Genre: Cozy Murder Mystery

 A televised cooking competition puts Sherry in the spotlight, especially when the final challenge calls for catching a killer . . .

Despite being a seasoned competitor, nothing could have prepared Sherry Oliveri for the thrill of being chosen for a three-day cooking challenge on national television. She’s dying to tell her friends, but she and everyone else involved in the contest has been sworn to secrecy until it airs. Still, that’s not stopping someone from penning cryptic notes about the show for the whole town to read, which has the production crew on edge—right up until one of them is found dead.

Determined to root out the killer, Sherry suspects the truth lies with whoever’s behind the mysterious notes—which have now turned dark with menacing comments on the murder and suggestions of buried secrets. Trying to unravel it all while focusing on her recipes, Sherry’s stopped dead in her tracks when the cook-off host drops a bombshell. With no time to spare, she’ll have to unearth the one missing ingredient that will ensure the killer’s cooked . . .

Includes recipes from Sherry’s kitchen!

Praise for the Cook-Off Mysteries:

“The Cook-Off Mystery series by Devon Delaney is a very tasty treat!” —Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

“This is a very fun and rollicking mystery that stays light-hearted even as the case gets more complicated . . . Cooking, holiday celebrations, and moving family drama all make for the perfect escape.” —Kings River Life

“This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn’t feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!” – Netgalley Reviewer.

Amazon * B&N * Bookbub * Goodreads

**Don’t miss the rest of the Cook-Off Mysteries! **

Find them on Amazon!

Devon Delaney is life-long resident of the Northeast and currently resides in coastal Connecticut. She is a wife, mother of three, grandmother of two and accomplished cooking contester. She taught computer education and Lego Robotics for over ten years prior to pursuing writing. Along the way Devon has been handsomely rewarded for her recipe innovation over the last twenty-plus years. Combining Devon’s beloved hobby of cooking contesting with her enthusiasm for writing was inevitable.

When Devon is not preparing for her next cook-off, she may be found pursuing her other hobbies, including playing competitive USTA league tennis, gardening, needlepointing, painting, jarring her produce, and hooking rugs. Her standard poodle, Rocket, is her pride and joy and keeps her on the path of sanity.

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Bookbb * Amazon * Goodreads

Would you like a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

What is your writing process? For ex: do you outline first?

I have yet to develop a consistent writing process. A lot has to do with my life’s happenings at the time of writing. If I’m in a time crunch I outline with as much rigor as I can, but I have yet to adhere to the outline as I reach the halfway point of the book I’m working on. Outlines are very helpful to put one foot in front of the other without a misstep. Mapping out an outline I have every intention of sticking to is the best launching point for me. I plow ahead for at least two hours at a sitting most every day, putting words down to move the plot forward. As I move along in the process I predictably take a left turn from the outline. When I’m confident the outline has served its purpose I go rogue and transition over to notes I’ve taken from manuscript day one. One of my favorite steps in the writing process is re-write time. I begin my first re-write when I’m halfway done the manuscript. I recognize I’ve reached that point by the number of words I’ve written. By the end of my first re-write I have exercised my most powerful word-whacker tool repeatedly, cutting out multiple paragraphs of text. I have a tendency toward wordiness and a tap of the Delete key is my best defense against reader vertigo, a not-so-rare condition brought on by a dizzying  excess of words on the page. I read and reread my words not for grammatical errors, which abound, but for inconsistencies, both in the character’s development and the storyline. I search for confusing passages and unnecessary detail of any variety. Clarity is king and not easy to achieve. After midway re-writes I move ahead to finish the story, before starting the re-write over again from word one. I’m confident at this point I am headed in the right direction. I know how I want the book to end, how I want to tie up loose ends and which characters I want to let remain standing by the last word. I’m pretty sure I re-read my books between twenty to thirty times. I think about the characters and plot day and night until I finally send the manuscript off to my publisher.

Do you see writing as a career?

I would love that.

Fun facts/tidbits/did you know? – type tidbits about the author, the book or the writing process-

Fun facts:

I am the oldest person on my USTA tennis team.

I have tried out for Chopped three times and gotten to the final interview stage each time before not being chosen. I will keep trying.

I began watercolor painting this year.

I won the very first recipe contest I entered.

I got a publishing contract in one month after my agent began the search.

Writing process tidbit: Writing a winning recipe is a lot like writing a good mystery. Begin with a catchy title. Cozy mystery readers love puns in their titles. For a recipe contest you must know your audience. Some research on past winning recipes can offer a clue as to the naming convention the contest leans toward, the contest may lean toward a long descriptive name or , on the flip side, a short direct attention grabber. Draw the reader into the book or recipe from word one. If the ingredient list is too long the home cook turns the page to an easier version of a similar recipe. Along the same vein, if there are too many characters in the plot the story is diluted, and the reader closes the book. The meat of the recipe, which is the recipe preparation, must contain a unique twist that makes both appealing and outstanding. A twist or two within a mystery is mandatory for the book to be successful. The recipe must wrap up with a wonderful outcome that draws the diner in, to the point he or she can’t wait for the first bite. Likewise, the book’s plot must wrap up loose ends and leave the reader satiated and yearning for more from the author.

The Synchrotron by Rain Hunter

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The End of the World has Never Been This Incompetent!

The Synchrotron

by Rain Hunter

Genre: Science Fiction Comedy

✔️A deadly virus.
✔️A world overrun by monsters.
✔️ Six scientists on a dangerous mission to cure the world.
We are screwed…

They only wanted a Nobel Prize. Instead, they will have to save the world.


It was going to be the experiment of the year. Preparing to blast x-rays through a piece of palladium at the most dazzling European synchrotron, Anna and five of her fellow scientists expected a few hiccups.

Not a horde of hungry spleen-eating zombies.

The world has succumbed to the virus, leaving only scattered survivors.


When Anna and her friends realise that the infected can be cured back into humans, they pledge to find a cure no matter the cost. Equipped with a lab wrench and questionable lab ethics, Team ID26 are humanity’s last hope.

But what is the price of saving the world?

Running out of time, Anna and her friends will face the impossible choices between life and death, morality and cure. When the future of the world is at stake, what will they have to sacrifice?

**Only .99cents!!**

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What is similar between science and postapocalyptic survival?

Everything that can, will go wrong.”

Rain Hunter is a writer of post-apocalyptic science fiction. Having spent years as a materials researcher, Rain intricately weaves scientific precision into the stories. “I’ve had a fun lab run over the years and might have picked some degrees on the way,” laughs Rain. “But the most important thing for my books is that the science has to be real. No more can-and-know-it-all characters! If I know how to cook meth from baking soda and cough syrup, I won’t be able to start a rocket engine, full stop. Even in fiction!”

Rain is a huge fan of the zombie genre, both in movies and books. “I’d kill to be a zombie extra in a film. Even if they smash my brains out in the first two seconds. Sign me up anytime.”

Dark humour and irony are the main ingredients in Rain’s novels. “I am sure the world will die laughing. That’s what I would do.”

Rain lives in Birmingham (England), which serves as a main inspiration for the goriest post-apocalyptic scenes. In their spare time, Rain plays a harp in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Nah, not really. 

Website * Facebook * Instagram * TikTok * Amazon * Goodreads

Would you like a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?

How about we speak about all the things that you learn that are NOT writing? Are you an indie author? You will know all about the daily grind of DEY – do everything yourself. From creating your own website to your own ads. Here are some of the professions I’m mastering so that more people could see my books (I didn’t even say buy):

  • Editor. Here is an example: one of my editors (US-based) offered on her website a separate service for converting British English into American English (all those ises into izes). Reasonable – as a British author I would like to be understood by my American fans. (Hello? Any American fans around?) I specified with her that I was writing in British English (just to make sure). Guess what came back? All my en-dashes brutally converted into a bunch of em dashes. My novel started to look like written by a rabid AI. Well, if she doesn’t know the differences in bloody dashes, how could I trust her as an editor?
  • Cover designer. It’s okay if your novel is a mainstream romantasy (no disrespect, just not my genre) and you can photoshop some stock images into an epically looking fae/princess/warrior. It’s a completely different piece of guts when you need to explain to people what a synchrotron is. I attached photos. Photos didn’t help.

Also, explaining what is post-apocalyptic comedy turned out difficult. Or I’m just shit in explaining.

  • Instagram influencer. Yes, it’s a bloody job. Some people are good at it and are paid for it. Not me, sorry. I have 107 followers. They seem to be reading all types of books but not MINE.
  • Book formatter. Throwing together a printable pdf doesn’t work anymore.
  • Ads. Holy Odin, if there is Hell, it’s surely populated with ads and people creating ads that nobody ever clicks.
  • SEO whisperer. Backlinks, keywords, optimisation. When was the last time you searched for anything on Google? What did you find? Did you read past the AI bot at the top of the page? It’s high time we do AIO (AI optimisation).

Join my mailing list for more self-publishing stories. I’m honest and don’t pretend self-publishing is not shit. It is, until maybe book forty-two. Why do I do it? Because some books are too niche for trad pub and I do hope to be able – one day – to pay for a family dinner with the money I make from my books.

Stop Procrastinating and Start Writing Your Novel

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You’ve been thinking about it for months — maybe even years.
That story idea that keeps tugging at your imagination. The characters who live in the back of your mind. The plot twist you dream about late at night. But for one reason or another, you keep putting it off.

Sound familiar?

If so, it’s time to stop procrastinating and finally start writing your novel.

Why Do We Procrastinate?

Let’s be honest — procrastination isn’t about laziness. It’s about fear.

Fear of failure. Fear of not being good enough. Fear of starting something you might not finish. It’s easier to plan to write a book than to actually sit down and face a blank page.

But here’s the thing: every writer — from bestselling authors to first-time novelists — feels that fear. What separates those who finish a novel from those who don’t is the decision to write anyway.

The Myth of the “Perfect Time”

If you’re waiting for the stars to align, for a long weekend of uninterrupted silence, or for inspiration to strike like lightning — you’ll be waiting forever.

Life will always be busy. The dishes won’t wash themselves. Emails won’t stop. There’s no perfect moment to start writing.

But there’s always this moment.

And if you can commit to showing up for your story now, even for just ten minutes a day, you’ll be amazed at how quickly those words stack up.

5 Simple Ways to Start Writing Today

Ready to finally get those words out of your head and onto the page? Here are five easy, actionable tips to kickstart your writing habit:

1️⃣ Set a Tiny, Achievable Goal

Forget about writing an entire chapter. Start with 250 words. That’s one page. One scene. One conversation. Small goals build momentum.

2️⃣ Schedule It Like an Appointment

Carve out a specific time each day to write — even if it’s just ten minutes. Put it on your calendar. Treat it like a commitment you can’t break.

3️⃣ Silence Your Inner Critic

Your first draft isn’t supposed to be perfect. It’s supposed to exist. Let yourself write badly. The magic happens in the revision process.

4️⃣ Create a Distraction-Free Zone

Find a quiet space, silence your phone, and let those around you know you’re off-limits for a short while. Even brief, focused sessions make a difference.

5️⃣ Find Your Writing Tribe

Join a local writing group, an online community, or find a friend who loves books as much as you do. Accountability and encouragement matter.

Your Story Matters

Someone, somewhere, is waiting for the story you have to tell. Whether it’s a reader looking for escape, connection, or inspiration, they won’t find it if you never write it.

Stop waiting for the perfect time. Start writing today.
Your future self (and your future readers) will thank you.

📖 Need a little guidance on outlining or planning your novel? I’ve written two indie author guides to help you along the way.

Check them out below and get started on your writing journey today!

Plot It, Plan It, Crush It… June, 21, 2025 -From 2pm-4pm

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YOU’RE INVITED…

AUTHOR MEET & GREET | BOOK SIGNING | & AUTHOR DISCUSSIONS
Saturday, June 21st from 2:00 – 4:00 PM
Blue Apple Books (14 Main Street, Suite B, Madison, AL)

calling all writers… Join me for ‘Plot it, plan it, crush it’ where I talk about how to get organized, stay on track, and finally finish your novel!

Reckless With The Cowboy by Elsa Winckler

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Becket Weston meets his match when he tries his bad boy skills on the wrong woman.

Reckless With the Cowboy

The Westons of Montana Book 2

by Elsa Winckler

Genre: Contemporary Small-Town Romance

Cowboy Becket Weston likes women, plural, and has a reputation for breaking hearts. His bad-boy behavior masks a deeper need to atone for past mistakes. His side-hustle—using a pseudonym and posting comic drawings of ranch life on social media—lets him explore life, love, and grief without being exposed. He even has a following! But no amount of introspection can explain his fascination with Eleanor Campbell—Main Street, Marietta’s newest shopkeeper. She’s definitely not his type, so why does she keep turning up in his drawings?

Ellie Campbell isn’t one for staying long in any one place, but when she inherits money from her grandmother and decides to open a yarn store in small-town Marietta, it feels like she’s putting down roots. She’s not looking for a relationship after one too many hard knocks, literally, but Becket Weston gets under her skin like no other, igniting passion that’s impossible to ignore.

He’s a bad boy playboy and everyone knows it, but there’s something about him that just doesn’t add up. Does Ellie have the courage to stick around and find a way into his heart?

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A Family With the Cowboy

The Westons of Montana Book 1

Widowed rancher Hayden Weston knows what it means to be responsible for his siblings, his eight-year-old son, and the running of the huge family cattle ranch. Some even call him a stern and grumpy taskmaster and they’re not exactly wrong. So when Hayden discovers his son reading a storybook instead of doing chores, he calls on Luke’s teacher to talk about priorities.

School teacher Laura Anderson is new to Marietta, Montana, and has never—until now—been reprimanded for encouraging a child to read. It doesn’t help that sweet Luke’s father is the handsome cowboy with the amber eyes that she met in Grey’s Saloon, or that she’s wildly attracted to him.

Sparks keep flying as their paths keep crossing, but Hayden is determined not to give in to his incomprehensible need to have, hold, and protect Laura from any type of harm. He’s the one who’ll hurt her if he lets her stray too close. He’s not ready to admit his feelings or commit to sharing his life with her.

Even if love comes tumbling in.

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I have been reading love stories for as long as I can remember and when I ‘met’ the classic authors like Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell, Henry James The Brontë sisters, etc. during my Honours studies, I was hooked for life. I married my college boyfriend and soul mate and after 47 years, 3 interesting and wonderful children and 4 beautiful grandchildren, he still makes me weak in the knees. We are fortunate to live in the picturesque little seaside village of Betty’s Bay, South Africa with the ocean a block away and a beautiful mountain right behind us. And although life so far has not always been an easy ride, it has always been an exciting and interesting one! I like the heroines in my stories to be beautiful, feisty, independent and headstrong. And the heroes must be strong but possess a generous amount of sensitivity. They are of course, also gorgeous! My stories typically incorporate the family background of the characters to better understand where they come from and who they are when we meet them in the story.

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bluesky * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Would you like a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?

I did a teaching diploma after school, stayed at home for ten years while our kids were small before going back to work. While I was working as an administrator in the English Department of a nearby university, I was inspired to study again. I was forty. I got an Honors degree in English and also did a MPhil in Document Analyses and Design, thinking that it was something I could do when I retire. But then I entered a magazine competition looking for romance authors way back in 2008 and was fortunate enough to be the winner. The prize was the publication of my first book – I was hooked. Growing up, my mother was an avid romance reader and there were always stacks of love stories in the house, particularly stacks of Mills & Boons. I literally read thousands of them.

I met Jane Porter from Tule Publishing when she visited ROSA (The Romance Writers Organization of South Africa) in 2016. Afterwards I sent her a manuscript, she liked it and since then I’ve published seven books with Tule – an extraordinary team of women. I count myself extremely fortunate to be able work with them.

I’m married to my college boyfriend who is also my best friend and my soulmate. We have three grown-up kids who have long since left the house and are each doing their bit to make this world a better place. We are so proud of them and are blessed with four grandkids who are just growing up way too fast.

I mostly write in Afrikaans and have around seventy books published by various publishers in South Africa. I have also written two children’s stories.

What is something unique/quirky about you?

I’m an introvert, something I’ve only discovered when I was much older. I like people and I’m blessed with a a circle of close friends, but I need to be alone to re-charge. I can’t do late nights, for instance, by ten my battery is flat!

I’m no chef but I love to cook for the people I love and nothing gives me more pleasure than to have our whole family around a table.

Where were you born/grew up at?

I was born in a small town called Upington in South Africa. As kids we swam in the Orange River and went camping in the Kalahari Desert.

If you knew you’d die tomorrow, how would you spend your last day?

With my husband, our children and grandchildren, of course. Around a table, eating and telling stories.

What kind of world ruler would you be?

I’ll put women in charge of education, hospitals and the police. Start from the ground up, teach children respect before anything else and let kids play. A lot.

What do you do to unwind and relax?

I read, go for long walks, knit or crochet. I’m fortunate enough to have a very special group of women I can call friends. Visiting them always makes my heart sing. We’ve known each other for such a long time. We have a Whatsapp group and during tough times, we rely on each other to help us carry whatever burden we have. During Covid, especially, it was a kind of lifeline. We shared recipes for bread, for food, books we’ve read and sometimes just something silly that has happened. It was a wonderful way to keep our spirits up,

Describe yourself in 5 words or less!

Disciplined, dedicated, passionate, impatient, a sucker for a story or movie with a happy ending.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

After about twenty books J

Do you have a favorite movie?

Pretty woman

Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?

A family with the cowboy! Liam Hemsworth would make a very sexy Hayden Weston and Brie Larson would make a lovely Laura.

As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?

A leopard. They are solitary animals and like to walk alone. As hopeless introvert, I can relate.

High Couch of Silistra by Janet Morris

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Dystopian.
Biology shapes reality…
One woman’s mythic search for self-realization in a distant tomorrow…
Her sensuality was at the core of her world, her quest beyond the civilized stars.
Aristocrat. Outcast. Picara. Slave. Ruler.

High Couch of Silistra
The Silistra Quartet Book 1
By Janet Morris
Genre: Epic Dystopian SciFi Fantasy

“Engrossing characters in a marvelous adventure.” – Charles N. Brown, Locus Magazine

“The amazing and erotic adventures of the most beautiful courtesan in tomorrow’s universe” – Frederik Pohl

I was high-couch in the greatest house of pleasure in the civilized stars.

“We are all bound,” is the great truth of Silistra: Bound by biological necessity and genetics, the men and women of Silistra struggle to sort Nature from Nurture – where Nature always wins. Welcome to Silistra, a glimpse of a far distant future wherein a civilization proclaims the greatest feat an individual can perform is to produce one child, yet distrusts the sciences that brought them to verge of extinction.

Here women and men coexist uneasily in a society ravaged by war, technology, and infertility, each vying for power, each seeking dominion over one another. Be warned, if your tastes run to simplistic plots, throbbing organs, swooning damsels or kick-boxing women in men’s armor, Silistra may be too challenging. Feminists, misogynists, misanthropes, or fans of political diatribe, this is not the book for you.

High Couch of Silistra, first of the notorious Silistra Quartet, brings us to a realm where thought alters probability, where creativity is inextricably linked to the urge to own and dominate, and where the universe itself is amenable to a focused mind.

Rooted deeply in humanity’s mythic past yet unaware of the planet Earth, High Couch of Silistra begins one woman’s mythic quest for self-knowledge – with surprising results.

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Don’t miss the rest of the series! Find them at Perseid Press!
https://theperseidpress.com/series/silistra-quartet/

Best selling author Janet Morris began writing in 1976 and published more than 30 novels, many co-authored with her husband Chris Morris or others. She contributed short fiction to the shared universe fantasy series Thieves World, in which she created the Sacred Band of Stepsons, a mythical unit of ancient fighters modeled on the Sacred Band of Thebes. She created, orchestrated, and edited the Bangsian fantasy series Heroes in Hell, writing stories for the series as well as co-writing the related novel, The Little Helliad, with Chris Morris. She wrote the bestselling Silistra Quartet in the 1970s, including High Couch of Silistra, The Golden Sword, Wind from the Abyss, and The Carnelian Throne. This quartet had more than four million copies in Bantam print alone, and was translated into German, French, Italian, Russian and other languages. In the 1980s, Baen Books released a second edition of this landmark series. The third edition is the Author’s Cut edition, newly revised by the author for Perseid Press. Most of her fiction work has been in the fantasy and science fiction genres, although she has also written historical and other novels. Morris has written, contributed to, or edited several book-length works of non-fiction, as well as papers and articles on nonlethal weapons, developmental military technology and other defense and national security topics.

Janet said: ‘People often ask what book to read first. I recommend “I, the Sun” if you like ancient history; “The Sacred Band,” a novel, if you like heroic fantasy; “Lawyers in Hell” if you like historical fantasy set in hell; “Outpassage” if you like hard science fiction; “High Couch of Silistra” if you like far-future dystopian or philosophical novels. I am most enthusiastic about the definitive Perseid Press Author’s Cut editions, which I revised and expanded.’

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Would you like a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card or a print or ebook copy of High Couch of Silistra (1 winner each)
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Q&A WITH THE AUTHOR

What is something unique/quirky about you?

I breed Morgan horses. I consult with Morgan breeders to help them choose breeding combinations to achieve a desired result.
I am also a song writer; I play bass guitar with my husband Chris who sings and plays guitar. We have an album on MCA records. Look for Christopher Crosby Morris on Soundcloud or N1M.com

Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?

I wrote my first novel, High Couch of Silistra in 1975; a friend sent it to an agent who chose to represent me; I had already written the second book in the Silistra Quartet and my agent told me not to disclose that until they finalized the contract for the first one. When the publisher learned of the others, Bantam Books bought the succeeding three. When the fourth book was published, the series already had four million copies in print. Suddenly I was a novelist specializing in environmental, gender, historical and political subjects. In the process, Chris became my editor and ultimately a co-writer. Since then, we have co-authored many books.

Who is your hero and why?

Heraclitus of Ephesus, a pre-socratic philosopher, whose Cosmic Fragments foreshadow our knowledge of reality and how to perceive it. Among his precepts is the statement that change alone is unchanging. I’ve worked Heraclitus’ fragments in here and there throughout our books.

Which of your novels can you imagine being made into a movie?

All of them. I write cinematically, our books are vivid adventures I undertake without knowing the destination. I, the Sun, The Sacred Band, and Outpassage are particularly suited to film. The Threshold Series is a feast of opportunities for today’s special effects creators.

What inspired you, to write The Silistra Quartet?

The Silistra Quartet was a unique departure for me and it included issues of women’s rights in the 70’s before Handmaid’s Tale.

Convince us why you feel High Couch of Silistra is a must read.

The Silistra series in which High Couch of Silistra is book 1 blazed a new trail in science fiction and fantasy, many critics saying that I had created a new pantheon of warrior women giving rise to heroines like Xena. Today it is more important than ever for everyone to accept women in leadership roles and I would like to think we had something to do with gaining them more recognition.

Who designed your book covers?

Most of my covers, including High Couch of Silistra, are realized by Roy Mauritsen, a gifted graphic artist.

Advice to writers?

As for advice to writers, here is all I know: write the story you want to read. Start at the beginning, go to the end, and stop. Seriously. From start to finish you must inhabit the construct in a manner that makes the reader choose to continue; if I, as the writer, can’t feel what it’s like being there, my readers can’t either. So close your eyes, look at your feet where they are standing on the story’s ground; tell me what you see. Tell me what you hear. Ask at the end of each paragraph ‘what happens next?’. If you lose touch with it, wait until you’re back inside it. Tell the story that comes to you, and from you, to me.

I am happy to be one of many tour hosts sharing information about