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After a bitter divorce, Jackson Norwood never thought he’d fall in love again. Especially not with his best friend, Essence Priestly. His attraction to her is the most powerful thing he’s felt in a long time, and he doesn’t just want her as a lover. He wants her to be his wife. Yet she’s determined to keep their relationship strictly platonic.
Jackson means everything to Essence and her son, and she’s torn between her love for him and the fear of ruining their years of friendship. But after an impulsive, passionate weekend together, she can’t deny their chemistry is off the charts. Jackson woke up the part of her she thought died years ago, and Essence is tempted to let him have what he wants—her.
But drama from his ex-wife is enough to challenge the strongest connection. Will Essence and Jackson’s reinvented relationship buckle under the pressure? Or will their bond grow stronger and lead them to their happily-ever-after?
USA Today bestselling author Sharon C. Cooper loves anything involving romance with a happily-ever-after, whether in books, movies, or real life. She writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, as well as romantic comedy. She enjoys rainy days, carpet picnics, and family game night. Her stories have won numerous awards, including The Rochelle Alers Best Series award for her Atlanta’s Finest Series (2022) and The Beverly Jenkins Author of the Year award (2021). When she isn’t writing, Sharon loves hanging out with her amazing husband, doing volunteer work, or reading a good book (a romance of course). To read more about Sharon and her novels, or to sign up to be notified of her latest releases, visit www.sharoncooper.net
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“I’m as crazy as an outhouse rat and just as hard to kill.”
Once upon a time, Lexi was a “normal” teenager. Now she’s a galactic cop with a deadly predator as her boss. She gets to deal with flesh eating monsters, alien babies, hunky warlords, space battles, and not so bright bad guys. Plus, the fate of the universe rests in her hands. What could possibly go wrong? Did we mention the baby? (It’s a boy)
I was sixteen when I found out not only am I an alien hybrid, but monsters called the Tai-Kok were getting ready to invade our world. Guess who gets to stop them? Me. How?
My uncle, the mad scientist, created a machine called the portal that instantaneously sends a test subject from one location to another by converting them into energy. His idea is to port me onto a Tai-Kok ship. All I have to do is leave a bomb, hit the retrieval button on my spiffy traveler’s belt and poof! I’m back on Earth before the Tai-Kok ship goes kaboom. Sounds simple, right?
Wrong. Uncle Ben doesn’t have a clue where I’ll actually appear on the ship. It could be the engine room, the crew quarters, or even the bridge. It’s like playing Russian roulette. The Tai-Kok don’t like surprises or uninvited guests.
To make things even more fun, I have an alien battle commander stuck in my head and I’m related to a powerful Coletti warlord. Yippee. The chances of me living to see eighteen aren’t good.
Howdy. My name is Gail Koger and once upon a time I was a 9-1-1 dispatcher. Too many years of wild requests, screwy questions, bizarre behavior and outrageous demands have left me with a permanent twitch and an uncontrollable craving for chocolate. I took up writing science fiction romance to keep from killing people. So far, it has worked.
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Seth thought God was dead…but ideas tend to linger.
“Kent Priore writes like a natural about the supernatural. American fiction has found a terrific new voice.” —Joseph O’Neill, PEN/Faulkner Award-Winning Author of Netherland
Standing amidst the destruction of Magistrum, great sorrow and guilt weighs upon Seth as he keeps the memory of his mistake close—to continue his growth, to remain good. A concern which lingers through the birth of his daughter, Persephone, labeled a True Born God by the personification of the White Abyss. And due to the sudden death of her uncle, Persephone’s abyssal powers emerge in a destructive way, tearing a hole through the fabric of the world. Thus, solidifying Seth’s worries of managing his own struggles while being father to a god who resembles his past far too much.
Feeling Persephone’s powerful aura pulsate through dimensions, both antagonistic forces begin pursuing her, wanting to eliminate a threat, and make her power theirs. Alongside these heavy stressors, Seth must also deal with the inevitability of Sasha dying the same mysterious way as the other Guild members.
The Earth devolves into a wasteland as the gods ravish the globe, devouring every human they can find. All the while Seth, Sasha, their daughter, and others lay in hiding, waiting for the right moment to strike back, to resist the will of the Abyssian gods—but can they without sacrificing everything they worked so hard to achieve? And will Seth, so burdened by his past actions, endure this, or will he devolve into the monster he once was…the monster he fears his daughter will also become?
Fans of “Jerusalem” by Alan Moore, “The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath, or “The Master and Margarita” by Mikhail Bulgakovor will enjoy “The Monsters Among Us.”
“Kent Priore writes like a natural about the supernatural, and The Monsters Among Us is a marvelously dark and true novel. American fiction has found a terrific new voice.” —Joseph O’Neill, PEN/Faulkner Award-Winning Author of Netherland
Seth’s life until now has been a product of a diabolical, evil Truman Show, his entire upbringing a façade orchestrated for malevolent purposes. After his beloved dies, he undergoes a demonic metamorphosis, which causes the world’s fictitious walls to crumble.
As he tries to piece a semblance of his life back together and move on, he meets friends who inspire, but even more harsh truths are revealed, perhaps too difficult to cope with.
The very existence of life and reality is exposed as a machination of grotesque gods. And to defeat them, Seth will have to fill his emptiness, for which there’s only two options… Bring the world to ruin, or learn to transmute his pain into strength.
Fans of “Jerusalem” by Alan Moore, “The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath, or “The Master and Margarita” by Mikhail Bulgakovor will enjoy “The Monsters Among Us.”
“I was intrigued from the first sentence, determined to spend the night speed-reading so I didn’t have to remain in suspense any longer.” -Ella Dupuie, author of Fractures of the Fallen
“Supernatural storytelling at its best, this vivid cinematic novel takes the reader on an imaginative journey through what could be considered end of days. The Monster’s Among Us is a masterful creation and a must read—even for those who aren’t fans of fantasy/horror.” —Joni Marie Iraci MFA author of Vatican Daughter
Graduated from Bard College with a BA in the Written Arts, Kent Priore is an author of dark literature, genre-blending epics and vignettes, where dark romanticism meets modern psychology for a macabre but hopeful depiction of inner struggle and the human ability to endure, and perhaps even prevail. He has a fascination with humanity and is one of the few to believe that despite our many weaknesses, we are far stronger than we often think. He wishes to show that strength to those darker individuals, burdened by lonesomeness, poor mental health, and other forces perceived to be out of their control, as well as show them that all is not lost.
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An Interview with the Author…
What are you reading right now? Or what do you have on your TBR that you’re dying to read?
I’m currently reading Edenville by Sam Rebelein! It’s fantastic, and fans of the book would also like The Monsters Among Us and its sequels. Rebelein created a rich cosmology in Edenville that weaves around the entire story, and I did the same for The Abyss Borne Gods books.
Favorite social media site?
None of them! I exist on social media merely because being an author demands I do. Honestly, I’m not a fan of how the internet has evolved, and the heavy role social media has in our lives. There’s a piece of humanity missing from us now—a certain liveliness, personability, wholeness. This is a topic too large for this space, but I prefer to just speak to another human being, face to face.
Favorite Superhero or Villain?
Venom! I enjoy that he is neither a hero nor a villain, and has a host of troubles, mostly psychological. As an author who writes literature centered around dark, morally grey philosophy, Venom’s blend of good and evil speaks to me.
Sweet or Salty?
I’m going to cheat a little here: Sweet AND Salty. Because much like how that combination brings out the best of both its parts, I think this answer encapsulates who I am as a person and author quite well; someone who sees the value in both positive and negative emotions, in not just being one thing while damning the other. To be truly whole as a complex human being, one must invite both sides of the spectrum into oneself.
Any Phobias?
I suppose being alone. Not a very interesting answer, I know. No one likes being alone. But it’s the impetus for how I came up with Seth’s plight and core modus operandi. He cannot stand being alone and he desperately wants to feel whole.
Do you play video games? If so what are some of your favorites?
Yes, I do! This is one hobby I still make some time for. I’ve been playing video games for the last thirty years, and my favorite would have to be the Xenoblade Chronicles series. Though I’m currently absorbed in Pokemon Pokopia.
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A broken past. A forbidden present. A second chance worth everything.
A broken past. A forbidden present. A second chance worth everything.
Sam Durbin is on the brink of everything he’s worked for. One bad injury threatens to end his breakout hockey season, and the pressure to get back on the ice is mounting. But nothing throws him off his game faster than coming face-to-face with his physical therapist—the woman he walked away from. The one he never forgot.
Angelina Rossi finally has the career she fought for. A position at a top-tier clinic, a future she built on her own terms … and a patient who could destroy it all. Treating Sam should be simple. Clinical. Professional. But every session drags up the past she’s tried to bury and the feelings she never truly let go.
Sam knows he doesn’t deserve a second chance. Angie knows she can’t survive giving him one. But every session chips away at their defenses—old wounds resurfacing, new heat building, and neither of them quite able to hold the line.
Giving in to desire could end Sam’s comeback before it begins. It could destroy the career Angie’s fought so hard to build. But walking away might be the one loss neither can overcome.
Deking at Love is a steamy, second-chance, forbidden sports romance featuring a wounded hockey player, a no-nonsense physical therapist, and a chemistry they can’t outskate. Perfect for readers who love witty banter, workplace tension, and high-stakes emotion—with a guaranteed HEA.
Since childhood, all sorts of stories and characters have lived in G.K. Brady’s imaginination, elbowing one another for attention, so she’s finally giving them their voice on the written page.
An award-winning writer of contemporary romance, she loves telling tales of the less-than-perfect hero or heroine who transforms with each turn of a page. She also writes historical fiction under the pen name Griffin Brady.
G.K. is a wife and the proud mom of three grown sons. When she’s not writing, she might be reading, traveling, drinking wine, listening to music, or gardening—sometimes all at once! She currently resides in Colorado with her very patient husband.
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Thirty days. Seven rules. One undeniable attraction.
After her fiancé skips out on her wedding, Murphy Clarke buries herself in her life-coaching career and develops seven rules to protect her heart. Number one? Never take vacations.
Oops. We find her on a month-long vacation in North Carolina, where she’s alarmed by the sparks flying between her and an arrogant yoga instructor. She’s confident, though, that she’ll be able to keep her other six rules… until she isn’t so sure. Of anything.
Noah Andrews’s name was once synonymous with the San Francisco tech industry, but his heart broke – both physically and emotionally. After a heart attack sidelined his career, his long-time girlfriend dumped him. Why is he now so attracted to this woman who seems to embody the life he left behind?
Witty and full of heart, MURPHY’S LAWS is a story of second chances, small-town charm, and the beautiful chaos that comes when you stop following your own rules… and start following love instead.
Fueled by coffee, peanut butter, and popcorn, she writes stories set in fictional towns in northeast Ohio. Terry loves to place her characters in improbably situations, then allows them to take over…uhm…guide the story.
She lives in a small apartment with overflowing bookshelves, her muse, Moose, and all her characters, in North Lima, a real town in northeast Ohio. And, yes, it does get crowded at times.
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Shade of Wings is a speculative young adult novel about a family of New York City crows struggling to survive the outbreak of West Nile virus during the sizzling summer of 1999.
For fans of Laline Paull, a speculative young adult novel about a family of New York City crows struggling to survive the outbreak of West Nile virus during the sizzling summer of 1999.
Four-year-old Duncan needs to hurry up and find a mate—at least, according to his sister, Cloud. But she doesn’t know about the mistake that’s preventing him from leaving their family to start another.
Though he’s the eldest, Duncan doesn’t see himself as a father. Yet that’s what he must become when both his parents die of the mysterious illness that’s killing crows across New York City. He devotes himself to caring for his siblings, including three fledglings—but he soon discovers he can’t protect them from the “blind death.”
Meanwhile, a zoo pathologist’s worst fears are realized. It starts with dead flamingos. Then critically ill New Yorkers start showing up in hospital emergency rooms.
Some blame the crows.
A profound story of loved ones sticking together in the face of tragedy and hardship.” – Kirkus Reviews
An amazing and heartfelt read. McGaffin confirms what so many of us already know, that humans should learn from the smart ones around us, even if they’re crows.” – Lori Matsukawa, TV News Anchor and author of Brave Mrs. Sato
“Utterly original! I’m in awe of Pam McGaffin’s deft storytelling—she makes a family of crows both fascinating and deeply relatable. I love a book that leaves me seeing the world with fresh eyes, and Pam accomplishes that in spades.” – Andrea Ezerins, author of When the Forest Dreams
Pam McGaffin always knew she would write books when she grew up.
So, at age 51, after a long career in journalism and public-relations, she quit her day job and went to work. After seven years, countless rewrites, and a seat-of-her-pants course in modern publishing, she released her debut novel, The Leaving Year, with SparkPress Aug. 14, 2018.
Set in the beautiful Pacific Northwest where she grew up, The Leaving Year, is a coming-of-age story about love and loyalty, family and friendship, and the stories we tell ourselves in our search for meaning.
For her second novel, Shade of Wings, she looked to New York City to tell the story of the West Nile virus outbreak from the point-of-view of the first US victims – American crows. She hopes readers fall in love her hapless hero, Duncan, and his plucky crow family. She certainly loved giving them life.
Before tackling novels, Pam wrote short stories and articles. Her short fiction has appeared in the online literary journals, Eclectica and Amarillo Bay, and her articles have been published in many Puget Sound-area publications and websites, including The Daily Herald (in Everett, WA), Bicycle Paper, the MS Connection newsletter, and Seattle Children’s Story Project.
She has a BA degree in Communications Journalism from the University of Washington and certificates in fiction writing and advanced literary fiction from UW Extension.
When she isn’t writing or thinking about writing, she likes to read, walk the dog, swim, bike, garden, and watch birds.
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Waves of Light and Darkness challenges and delights a reader’s perception with surreal and surprising world-building.
Waves of Light and Darknesschallenges and delights a reader’s perception with surreal and surprising world-building.
Whether they are set in the past or the future, in a Kansas farmhouse or a potentially supernatural cave, these short stories share one commonality: a search for something beyond what one knows is needed. Through a multitude of unexpected perspectives (a cat, a coma patient, a ventriloquist), this utterly novel collection of stories examines and reconfigures universal themes of life, death, and human connection.
Several stories focus on finding identity amidst societal pressure, such as “Seduction,” and “Alexandria Her Smile,” while others like “A Pusillanimous Human” and “The Gift for Albert Smoots” explore mortality and grief.
John Danenbarger spends much of his time writing in Italy. Born in Atlanta, he graduated from University of Kansas with a degree in English and Creative Writing. With a backlist of short stories, Danenbarger established the Salem Massachusetts Writers’ Club. After living in Oslo, Norway, Stockholm, Sweden, and Salem, MA, Danenbarger achieved a merchant marine captain’s license, sailing for two years on the New England coast including two round-trips to Bermuda.
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An alpha with a storied legacy. An independent woman rebuilding after grief. Forbidden desire—for only one is human….
An alpha with a storied legacy. An independent woman rebuilding after grief. Forbidden desire—for only one is human….
After her mother’s death, photographer Erica Barrett, buys a home she and her mother obsessed over during her childhood in the quaintly historical town of Tolstone. Her magnetic next door neighbor intrigues and disturbs her. The sensual pull feels otherworldly.
Wolf shifter Dominic Beaumont never wanted to be the prime alpha of the sanctuary city, Tolstone, but when his father dies, he’s forced to step up as pack leader and prime alpha over all the wolf packs sheltering in his town. Erica’s arrival is dangerous. The attraction is fierce and instant, but duty comes first.
When revelations about Erica’s past and parentage create chaos, and she questions everything she thought she knew about herself, Dominic is her strength. But as tension builds in the pack, and his leadership is challenged, love becomes a risk that could cost him his authority, his people, and everything he’s sworn to protect.
Perfect for readers craving illicit wolf-shifter romance filled with fate, secrets, rebellion and an alpha willing to risk everything for love.
Sheritta Bitikofer writes paranormal romance with a particular fondness for wolf shifters and witches. Her stories are driven by one guiding belief: love inspires courage. Through fierce romances, unbreakable pack bonds, and the magic of covens and family, her characters fight for the lives—and loves—they deserve. Sheritta lives in northwest Florida, where she drinks far too much coffee and joyfully balances life as a wife and mother while crafting her next heartfelt paranormal love story.
When she’s not writing her next novel or taking care of her daughter, Sheritta enjoys diving into the fascinating and complex history of the American Civil War. With a BA in American History from American Public University, her primary focus of study is the many human-interest stories that embody the spirit of the mid-nineteenth century.
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In the French Resistance of 1944, trust is the difference between life and death. Post-war troubles heighten when our hero’s life is in danger and all he holds dear is at risk.
In the vast tapestry of war, outcomes are never certain. Its demands are endless, its sacrifices countless. Yet for one couple who will share war’s burdens and dangers-a daring American OSS agent and a French Resistance leader-its conclusion will transform both lives forever.
From the opening line, author Arthur McMaster, a retired foreign intelligence officer, makes clear: “No families escape the devastation of war.” What follows is storytelling you won’t be able to set aside. Amid the apple orchards and farmlands of war-ravaged Western Europe in the final years of World War II, we follow thirty-five-year-old OSS operative Claire Skiffington and French Resistance leader Jacques Berlangier through perilous clandestine operations. Eluding Vichy collaborators and Wehrmacht checkpoints, Claire’s cover is that of a simple pastry girl, but this emissary is far more than she appears.
Years after the Nazi menace has passed, in the small Breton village of Combourg, Claire and Jacques are in love and determined to build a life together. Their days and nights in Paris work to make it all magical. But someone wants Jacques dead. Why? And how will one estranged family member unlock the source of danger?
Brimming with suspense and rich in character development, In the Orchards of Shadow and Light features beautiful imagery and finely drawn characters. Written by former DIA-CIA analyst and award-winning writer Arthur McMaster, In the Orchards of Shadow and Light is the first in a trilogy based on espionage, romance, and suspense. Combines elements of “The Rose Code,” “The Nightingale,” and “All the Light We Cannot See” to create a rich atmosphere, original characters embroiled in real historical events, dangerous romance and compelling drama. This story represents one man and one woman’s perilous commitment to service in the face of danger: one couple’s commitment to overcoming treachery and blazing a future together.
What readers are saying:
“Finely crafted with an artisan’s touch, there is an unseen history beneath the lives of those trying to survive. Precisely researched, McMaster adroitly drops the reader behind the lines of clandestine operations. The grim destruction of Europe is brought to life with beautiful imagery and reconnoitered characters-every bit as interesting as those of Ken Follett’s Eye of the Needle and The Key to Rebecca. This is a fine novel no one should pass up.”
— William Walsh, author of Lakewood (TouchPoint Press)
As you begin this book, prepare yourself for reading a writer who knows the details of espionage so well they feel like second nature, rather than research. Prepare yourself for lush, lyrical prose and the historical span of an Ian McEwan novel. This is a spy story, a love story, and a family story set largely in France, during a war, but McMaster balances the deprivations of war with domestic arts, the healing chores of mother women who bake stolen oranges into cakes, somehow find tea to serve, and harvest the slenderest sprigs of tarragon and chervil, plucked from their gardens, and stored in delicate clay pottery. This is a white knuckle thriller written by someone with all the sensibilities of a poet.
Poet, playwright and novelist, Arthur retired from full-time teaching, most recently as Visiting Assoc. Professor of English, at Converse College, in Spartanburg, SC. HIs books include: In the Orchards of Our Mothers (historical fiction novel); The Whole Picture Show (poetry) Musical Muse (academic); Birdies Never Die (golf); Givings & Misgivings (poetry) and The Spy Who Came Down with a Cold (poetry) and Need to Know (memoir).
Arthur’s first career was that of a foreign intelligence officer, with assignments with military intelligence and briefly with the CIA. Arthur earned an MFA degree in Poetry at University of Florida. Pushcart Prize nominations. He now teaches in Continuing Education Dept for Furman University (fiction and poetry).
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Witness the vile acts of a monstrous heart.
Feel the vicious clash of duality in conflict.
Know the light of protection through valiant courage.
-Winner: 2026 Literary Titan Gold Book Awards: Fiction -2nd Place: 2026 BookFest Awards – Fiction- Dark Fantasy -Book Nerdection “Must Read” -Readers’ Favorite: 5 Stars
Von is cast into the pages of Ananael, the Order’s tome of secret knowledge. However, his venture into the past takes an unexpected turn as he awakens within a cosmic void in the presence of the eternal being, who grants him perspective through others woven through his existence. Yet before he may commence his time-altering quest, a trial of discovery, revelation, and horror surrounding his origin awaits him.
Benson’s monstrous heart sews the seeds of a vile past brimming with betrayal and hate. Through unimaginable deceptions and buried secrets, familial bonds once forged from love, honor, and acceptance are upended and broken forever. The souls of integral births, sprouting from pillaged and neglected foundations, unfurl a path towards disarray.
Distorted memory fragments challenge Von’s grip on reality, and the reveal of a horrid truth ignites a vicious fury of vengeance. Though his quest for answers falters along the way, he finds help from an unexpected ally. Meanwhile, a mysterious power awakens within Navaryn, putting her at odds with both her friends and herself. And as the motivations of Celestine’s leader become questionable, her suspicions involving her role within the Halryn continue to grow.
As the disparate worlds of Celestine and Daeva teeter on the brink of war, Von and Navaryn are drawn together by unseen forces. Two destinies, once parallel, now collide. But where bloodshed beckons, a valiant act of courage challenges the course of their fates.
-Winner: 2025 International Impact Book Awards – Fantasy -2nd Place: 2025 BookFest Awards – Fiction- Dark Fantasy -Winner: 2024 Indies Today Awards – Best Urban Fantasy -Winner: 2024 Literary Titan Gold Book Awards: Fiction -Finalist: 2024 Literary Global Fiction/Debut & Dark Fantasy Sci-fi -Book Nerdection “Excellent Read”
For Rayshell and her best friend Trish, senior year of high school is going to hell in a handbasket. The feud between Celestine and Daeva is bleeding into their world. When a mysterious visitor infiltrates her dreams, Rayshell is thrust into a realm of profound, otherworldly secrets. Together, Rayshell and Trish uncover the unbelievable—they are the living vessels for two banished Celestine guardians.
Amidst mystical recollections and a wondrous magic system that shatters the veneer of their everyday lives, the two friends embark on a journey against time to connect with the Celestine guardians’ allies in hopes of freeing them from their imprisonment. Simultaneously, the shadows cast by Daeva darken. The notorious outlaw, Merisek, has positioned himself to claim dominion over the Order of Existence—a trio of powerful artifacts capable of reshaping reality. Armed with two of these relics, Merisek races against the emergence of the Celestine guardians to claim the third. The stage is set for a showdown that will determine the fate of existence itself.
Rayshell and Trish are all that stand between Merisek and his unhinged desire to twist the fabric of reality into his making. As the threads of destiny unravel, the question looms: who will be the author of existence, and what profound truths will be unveiled in the final, decisive act?Clay Urn Publishing * Amazon * Apple * B&N * Bookbub * Goodreads
Husband & Wife author duo Shannon Vierra & Edward Ayllon write under the pen name S & E Black. Together, they craft the award-winning series, The Chimera Snare. They share a deep appreciation for music and credit a great number of bands and artists for inspiring their writing journey. Currently, they live in the greater Chicago area amidst a rich and diverse culture with their clowder of rescue cats.
Shannon is an urban gardener and an avid seed collector. In the makeup community, she goes by the moniker zoomzoommacaron and hosts an international, zombie-themed makeup collab called the #zombabescollab. She also enjoys anime, horror movies, craft beer & kombucha, cooking (and eating), sunbathing, photography, and singing badly. Music fuels Shannon’s many passions, especially writing and creating art. She credits music with saving her life on multiple occasions in her teenage and young adult years.
Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Edward first discovered the joys of creative writing through his early high school studies, and has spent many years exploring and developing a deep appreciation for the arts. Since first collaborating with his wife, Shannon, he has sprouted a passion and true affinity for storytelling and crafting literature. In addition to refining his skill in creating written works, his other interests include playing bass guitar, listening to music, and dabbling in photography.
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INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHORS
What book do you think everyone should read?
Shannon: Be Water, My Friend, by Shannon Lee.
Edward: Animal Farm by George Orwell.
Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write?
Shannon: They come to me as we storyboard and flesh out more of the universe. And each one takes time to develop, so it’s a bit of a process. Even if they’re more minor characters, we still do our best to dial in their vibe, attitude and appearance before we start to insert them into the story. I personally need to see them first, so each character has a complete (or nearly complete) profile.
Edward: It’s a little of both. We make it a point to iron out the framework of what we’re working on, but from time to time there comes a need that a new character can facilitate. That happened a few times while writing “Reflections.” It’s that organic element of writing that can truly bring a sense of spontaneity and liveliness to a story.
Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?
Shannon: Music all the time. I can’t especially find my zone in silence. Music helps pull my focus and take me out of my head and into the scene I’m working on, making it easier for my mind to find freedom.
Edward: I need music 100% of the time. It helps bring me into the mood or atmosphere of what I’m trying to write. It’s been highly inspirational for the both of us. In fact, we include a page in our books with dedications to the various bands and artists whose music has influenced our writing.
Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?
Shannon: I will always work on the framework for the coming installments, but for sitting down and writing proper, I work on one at a time.
Edward: I’ve been entertaining the thought of writing multiple books at once. If I can discipline myself enough, I might be able to do it. We shall see.
If you could have been the author of any book ever written, which book would you choose?
Shannon: I’ve never considered this question until now. Perhaps I’d choose Harry Potter so the author wouldn’t be a transphobic twatwaffle who ruined their series for thousands of fans. Trans Rights are human rights. No one should dictate who someone else wants to identify as. Life has no place for this kind of hate. Let people be themselves.
Edward: I couldn’t agree more. There’s no sense in being hateful on account of people simply wanting to freely be who they want to be.
Pen or type writer or computer?
Shannon: Pen and paper for early notes and basic framework, especially on the road. Then I move to the computer to further refine things. I’ve never been great at a typewriter because it’s too rigid for my chaotic approach. I make too many mistakes while typing in general, and sometimes need to start my thoughts over.
Edward: This may be old-school, but I’ve become very fond of using a whiteboard. We got one not too long ago specifically to map out our next book. It’s on wheels, too, so we wheel it into the living room and spitball back and forth over drinks and snacks. I write pretty chaotically as well, so a computer is really the only way to go for me.
Tell us about one of your favorite characters.
Shannon: I tend to favor writing the villains. Joro is a character that we don’t know terribly much about in Fragments, but he is one of my favorites. Not only because he’s a shapeshifter and one of the powers I wish I could have. In Reflections you will get a glimpse into his past to help understand a little about what turned his heart so cold.
Edward: My favorite character to write has to be Merisek, who is Joro’s mentor. He’s presented in “Fragments” as a cold-hearted villain, but you come to find that there’s much more to him beyond the superficial by the end of the book. Then as you dive into “Reflections,” you come to learn more about his origin, his motivations, the life-changing revelation he faces, and how he tries so earnestly to honorably navigate the path that he was unwillingly set on. Put simply, he was a lot of fun to write.
Nina Soden 