Please welcome Soulla to my blog. Shall we have a chat about what is new with your books, and news?

Please introduce yourself to those reading this blog post.

Hi I’m Soulla Christodoulou, author of Broken Pieces of Tomorrow, The Summer Will Come and Alexander and Maria. I also write poetry, enjoy posting and creating inspirational, uplifting quotes and absolutely adore the language of love.

I am also a mother of three grown-up boys, a yiayia (grandmother in Greek) to my granddaughter Eleni and live in London with my life-long partner Alan.

I am a private tutor of English Language and Creative Writing and also offer writing services to new authors, including mentoring and editing.

Has writing always been part of your life and when did you “know” that it was time to start writing your first book?

Writing has always been a part of my life; keeping a diary in my teens, journaling as an adult. I was always the one who wrote “an essay” in the wedding guest book and in birthday cards. I was always the one my mum approached when she had to write a letter and who sat for hours writing out our family Christmas cards growing up.

I first knew that it was time to start writing my first books, Broken Pieces of Tomorrow, when I joined a Creative Writing Class in January 2015. One of the writing projects was to write the first chapter of a story and that led to a semi-biographical story which evolved into one of fiction over time. It was the book which healed me and I cried writing many of the scenes.

How difficult was it writing your first book?

It didn’t feel difficult at all writing my first book. It was exciting, invigorating and motivating. I was working full-time at the time and yet still found the time and energy to write in the evenings and at weekends. I used to browse the internet for writing advice and podcast on the craft of writing. I wanted to find out everything I could about writing and writing well.

Have you ever wanted to give up and what stopped you?

Actually, no! I write when I want and when I don’t feel like it I do something else… I have my “other” life and my “writing” life and both support each other. Since leaving my teaching career I have found a balance between writing and teaching privately which is so much better for my health and mental well-being. And of course, I am still in a place to support young people and adults with their writing. I’m truly blessed.

Who is the most supportive of you and your dream to be a writer?

My mum and my partner have both been relentless in their support of and love of my writing. They are both behind me every step of the way and understand how passionate I am about my writing. They are my biggest fans and in fact, both talk about my writing to other people as much as I do!

Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

I recently started a newsletter which comes out once every six weeks and I would love your readers and blog audience to join. They can join via the link in my Instagram bio or here: https://sendfox.com/soullaauthor

What is the best advice given to you (book or otherwise), and by whom?

That’s difficult to answer but I’d say most recently it’s do what you feel is right for you. Don’t worry about what others are doing or saying. Just do what feels good for you. Even if you feel scared, push forward and see where your ideas will take you. If you’re doing what feels right for you, the rewards will always be greater and bring so much more joy. Success is different for everyone and the only way to be happy is to be true to yourself. It’s about finding your purpose.

One of my best friends always says this although I don’t think she’s all that good at taking her own advice. She spends too much time procrastinating so I find I have to remind her of her own advice often!

What is your target audience and what aspect of your writing do you feel targets that audience?

My target audience is made up of both men and women who love to read real, gritty stories full of realism but which have a happy ending. My stories don’t fit into a certain trope but they will make you question life, question your own ideas and opinions and they will always leave you with a warm glow.

Hard-hitting themes such as immigration, illicit love, complicated relationships, teenage pregnancy, societal imperfections, injustice, racism and domestic abuse are written in a sensitive and sometimes bold way. My audience likes to read relatable stories which have been researched and written well.

Did the cover evolve the same way, or did you work with someone to make it come together for you?

The covers for my first indie-published novels were the winning entries to a “Design My Book Covers” competition I ran on Instagram.

Broken Pieces of Tomorrow’s cover was designed by a fourteen-year-old UK student – I loved her simple yet striking cover and blue is my favourite colour. The Summer Will Come’s cover was painted on canvas by an Athens University student who I have since met when I visited Athens in April 2019. The bright colours and the candle sitting in the window capture the book’s essence perfectly.

Alexander and Maria’s cover was designed professionally by a book designer who works with my publisher The Conrad Press. This was the fourth or fifth design and even then it took a few tweaks to achieve the cover I felt happy with me. I absolutely love it!

What are you working on now? Can we get a peek, an excerpt?

I’m working on the fourth draft of a contemporary fiction story called The Village House. I can share the first draft of the back cover copy with you as the editing of the book is still underway.

“Part set in the Cyprus mountain village of Omodos, and London, Katianna, a successful UK Greek Cypriot entrepreneur, who has turned her back on love, receives a solicitor’s letter.

Still mourning the loss of her parents, she reluctantly leaves her business, her anchor, and flies to Cyprus. There she is pulled in by the country’s culture and her childhood memories and meets Polis.

What she discovers surprises and unnerves her and back in London, she faces some tough decisions which threaten the fabric of her life. She struggles to stay focused.

Will Polis be the one to breathe life into The Village House and also find a way to unlock Katianna’s heart?”

Any last words before we wrap things up?

I’d like to thank you Mary, and your community, for having me and for reading this interview and if anyone needs any support please give me a shout.

Links:

Blog – https://soulla-author.com/blog/

author page – https://soulla-author.com/about/

website – https://soulla-author.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/soullaboulla.me

Twitter – https://twitter.com/schristodoulou2?lang=en

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17103481.Soulla_Christodoulou

Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Soulla-Christodoulou/e/B074SCG6ZW%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.co.uk/asceducational/_saved/

Tumblr –

Barnes & Noble – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alexander-and-maria-soulla-christodoulou/1138569442?ean=9781839781414

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/soullasays/

In Davy’s Dragon Castle, children learn to get along with others no matter the color of their fur or skin. It’s important for children to learn the concept of, and how to not be racist and toddlers are a great age to start the teaching. Anti-racism education in elementary school starts with students’ awareness of themselves, of others and of how those interactions play out. All social and emotional learning helps children to express feelings and be tuned in to the needs of others. This teaching contributes to the development of all children. Additionally, children are introduced to a character that wears a prosthetic leg, giving children a chance to learn and understand how prosthetics work and if it does/does not limit abilities. Acceptance and inclusion are important in social learning from an early age. The opportunity to interact with your child/children in a positive environment, such as the castle in this story, illustrates the importance of a positive environment in aiding children with learning social skills with other children and adults.  Davy’s Dragon Castle helps parents and teachers to reinforce positive behaviors in an imaginative setting of imaginary dragons, castle, and town. Learning and sharing are essential for social development in all children.  $2.99 #kidlit #picturebook #ASMSG #BooksWorthReading #dragons #fairytales

In Davy’s Dragon Castle, children learn to get along with others no matter the color of their fur or skin. It’s important for children to learn the concept of, and how to not be racist and toddlers are a great age to start the teaching. Anti-racism education in elementary school starts with students’ awareness of themselves, of others and of how those interactions play out. All social and emotional learning helps children to express feelings and be tuned in to the needs of others. This teaching contributes to the development of all children. Additionally, children are introduced to a character that wears a prosthetic leg, giving children a chance to learn and understand how prosthetics work and if it does/does not limit abilities. Acceptance and inclusion are important in social learning from an early age. The opportunity to interact with your child/children in a positive environment, such as the castle in this story, illustrates the importance of a positive environment in aiding children with learning social skills with other children and adults.  Davy’s Dragon Castle helps parents and teachers to reinforce positive behaviors in an imaginative setting of imaginary dragons, castle, and town. Learning and sharing are essential for social development in all children.   

Please make welcome, Casey Bell. Welcome to my blog, Casey. Shall we have a chat?

My name is Casey Bell. I am a multi-genre and multi-medium writer. I have published non-fiction, fiction, children’s, teens, and adult fiction books. My latest book series, American History, is a nine book children’s book series that celebrates American inventors and innovators from diverse backgrounds.

Has writing always been part of your life and when did you “know” that it was time to start writing your first book?

Since I could write, I was constantly writing something. I wrote my first song when I was about 7 years old. I would write in journals, I wrote commercials, game shows, talk shows, and tv shows and then perform them in my room. I would even sometimes record them on cassette tapes. I wrote skits, poems, and plays, not realizing I was a writer. I did it for fun. My English scores were low in school, so I never thought of being a professional writer. In 2002 I saw a film on Lifetime television and decided to write my version of the film as a book. Because of my lack of English skills and my lack of knowledge on publishing books I contemplated on writing it. By 2003, by faith I decided to start writing it and by 2016, “A Family of Strangers,” was written and published.

How difficult was it writing your first book?

My first book I started writing was “A Family of Strangers.” It was not my first published book. It was the most challenging book for me to write. I kept getting writer’s block. The problem was the ending is so shocking and unbelievable, I did not want to get to it quickly, yet, I did not want to take too long either because I did not want to bore the reader. The challenge was finding content in between the middle of the book and the end without it being too short or too long. I solved the problem by writing the end of the book and then writing backwards to the middle.

Have you ever wanted to give up and what stopped you?

I never wanted or did give up on publishing books. Although “A Family of Strangers” took me fourteen years to finish, I wrote and published other books withing that time. I did give up on A Family of Strangers at one point. I decided to let it go. I ended up putting the story in my other book, “Essays of Dysfunctional Families: Literary Betrayal.” I don’t know what “it” was the made me continue. I remember not being satisfied enough with the story being in another book. No matter how much I lied to myself that I was okay with giving up on the book, I was not okay. I decided to pray and ask Holy Spirit for help and I heard His voice say write it backwards. Write the ending and the rest will come to you. And that’s what I did.

Who is the most supportive of you and your dream to be a writer?

My parents. Then again, they have been supportive of me in everything I do.

What is the best advice given to you (book or otherwise), and by whom?

No one in specific, I heard this advice many times and am now finally using it daily and that is do what makes you afraid. Do not allow the can’ts, shouldn’ts, etc. stop you from doing what you want to do.

What is your target audience and what aspect of your writing do you feel targets that audience?

My target audience are non-readers. I used to be one. In school most of what I had to read was boring to me. I assumed that reading in general was boring. Once I started visiting the library in my adult years and chose books that were of interest to me, I realize reading is fun, not boring. I write in simple language, I keep it fun, interesting, and enticing to keep the reader wanting more. I consider my books to be appetizers or taste testing for non-readers to realize reading books indeed is fun and worth doing daily. Hopefully after a non-reader reads my book, it will encourage them to visit their local library or bookstore and purchase some books.

Did the cover evolve the same way, or did you work with someone to make it come together for you?

I designed the book cover myself. It was easy to do because the cover is the story you won’t know that until you read it.

What are you working on now? Can we get a peek, an excerpt?

I am not working on any books now. I have four books finished. I am in the process of getting them published. One of them is called Rejected. It is a collection of my submitted poems and short stories that have been rejected by publications, contests, and/or competitions. Below is part of a poem, “Dance Again.”

DANCE AGAIN

When I was a child, I would dance

I’d dance every time I had the chance

I did not care who would see me

It was me I was not afraid to be

I’d dance to Gospel, country, reggae or hip hop

Disco, Electronic, Latin, or bebop

I dance anywhere, it really didn’t matter

Until my self-esteem, my peers did shatter

They would criticize, laugh, and joke

My confidence in me now was broke

I’d hear the music and would want to move

But I would hear their laughs and ignore the groove

There was a time I would dance and not care

But now dance in public I wouldn’t dare

I noticed my life was not the same

Dull, boring, and full of shame

I would try to return to the mind of a child

But it just seemed too weird, crazy and wild

But today as I sit here and wonder

Why did I allow them to still my thunder?

I have lost me in the midst of my peers

They have installed in me unwanted fears

With a renewed mind I have decided to recover

The original me, this music lover

Any last words before we wrap things up?

Thank you for this opportunity of this interview. Readers can find me at authorcaseybell.com and can find my social media information on the Social Media tab on my website. Lastly, to anyone and everyone reading this, make sure you stay as unique as your fingerprints.

BIO

Proud Uncle Casey Bell has authored two Young Adult books, three General Fiction, three Non-Fiction, two Short-Stories, one Horror, one book of Poetry, five Children books, one book of collection of Art, and has produced four Word Search books. Twenty-two books total with no intentions of slowing down. He enjoys sharing stories, ideas, and art that cause people to think beyond the box. Not only a writer, but also a playwright, graphic designer, fine artist, and fashion designer. 

Links:

https://www.authorcaseybell.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15362662.Casey_Bell

https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseysamuelbell

https://www.instagram.com/authorcaseybell/

https://myspace.com/caseysamuelbell

https://www.patreon.com/caseysamuelbell

https://www.facebook.com/BookstoReadBTR/

Tweets by BooksToReadBTR

From Amazon: He’s an injured firefighter. She bakes the most delightful treats. When their worlds collide will the baker help heal the firefighter with a mix of blueberry muffins and her caring way? The elegant baker, Hannah Bell, has always lived on Bluestar Island with her family. While still grieving for her father, who died in a fire, she focuses all of her energy on making her dream come true—opening her very own bakery. But when a broken water pipe washes away her carefully laid plans, she’s on the verge of losing everything. New York firefighter Ethan Walker’s life is in a tailspin after he’s injured on-the-job. When an urgent call detours him to Bluestar Island, he agrees to help his lovable but meddlesome great-aunt. But organizing the island’s Spring Fling proves a lot harder than he originally imagined. He needs help…and fast. Under the magic of Bluestar Island’s sea breeze and warm sunshine, Hannah and Ethan must not only face their immediate obstacles but also their own turning points in life. Will they have to do that alone? With a leap of faith and a dash of romance, they might just find the perfect mix to make their dreams come true. Includes a delicious recipe for The Elegant Baker’s Blueberry Crumble Muffin!

My Review: This is the first book I’ve read by this author. Romance stories are rather special to me as I so love happily-ever-afters. Without giving away too many details, the male protagonist is a firefighter in Brooklyn. He hails from a long line of firefighters and there is an accident in which he was seriously burned. When his great aunt suffers a fall and must recover in Boston, he travels to her home on Bluestar Island to take care of Peaches, his aunt’s dog. Nightmares Co tinge but to a lesser degree. The female protagonist wants to have the bakery of her dreams, and things were going that way until water pipe breaks and opening the bakery seems impossible. You’ll have to read the rest to find out how those who in Bluestar help their own out when things happen. Five stars .

From Amazon: Casey Dunlop kills people for a living and likes it. She’s a newly published murder mystery novelist all set to make her dream come true: become a bestselling author. Even if she has to come out from behind her desk and meet real people at her first book signing event. Noel Calderone, a handsome playboy and the youngest son in one of Toronto’s most powerful and wealthiest families, has read her book and is determined to make Casey his next conquest despite their awkward first meeting. Can Casey put her best foot forward to impress Noel’s family? And will Noel’s desire for Casey create more than a little friction in his family, especially with his mother, who is harbouring an old secret that could end their relationship before it starts… Write to Love, Book Two in the Calderone Family Romance series, is a spirited and feel-good stand alone rom-com.

My review: This is the first novel I’ve read by Grant. This novel includes the beautiful love match with hilarious happenings throughout. Lots os miscommunication and one rather evil person pops up in the worst of times. I found it refreshing to read a different take on romance and it was nice to see the galley almost error free. Five stars.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Sisters of the Sweetwater Fury

By Kinley Bryan

(Blurb)

Three sisters. Two Great Lakes. One furious storm.

Based on actual events…

It’s 1913 and Great Lakes galley cook Sunny Colvin has her hands full feeding a freighter crew seven days a week, nine months a year. She also has a dream—to open a restaurant back home—but knows she’d never convince her husband, the steward, to leave the seafaring life he loves.

In Sunny’s Lake Huron hometown, her sister Agnes Inby mourns her husband, a U.S. Life-Saving Serviceman who died in an accident she believes she could have prevented. Burdened with regret and longing for more than her job at the dry goods store, she looks for comfort in a secret infatuation.

Two hundred miles away in Cleveland, youngest sister Cordelia Blythe has pinned her hopes for adventure on her marriage to a lake freighter captain. Finding herself alone and restless in her new town, she joins him on the season’s last trip up the lakes.

On November 8, 1913, a deadly storm descends on the Great Lakes, bringing hurricane-force winds, whiteout blizzard conditions, and mountainous thirty-five-foot waves that last for days. Amidst the chaos, the women are offered a glimpse of the clarity they seek, if only they dare to perceive it.

Twitter Handle: @kinleybauthor @maryanneyarde

Instagram Handless: @kinleybryanauthor @coffeepotbookclub

Hashtags: #HistoricalFiction #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub

Tour Schedule Page: https://www.coffeepotbookclub.com/post/blog-tour-sisters-of-the-sweetwater-fury-by-kinley-bryan

Buy Links:

Universal Link: https://books2read.com/sweetwaterfury

Amazon UK:https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09HY4P5ZB

Amazon US:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09HY4P5ZB

Amazon CA:https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B09HY4P5ZB

Amazon AU:https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B09HY4P5ZB

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sisters-of-the-sweetwater-fury-kinley-bryan/1140325821

Kobo:https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/sisters-of-the-sweetwater-fury

iBooks: https://books.apple.com/gb/book/sisters-of-the-sweetwater-fury/id1589941489

Author Bio:

Kinley Bryan is an Ohio native who counts numerous Great Lakes captains among her ancestors. Her great-grandfather Walter Stalker was captain of the four-masted schooner Golden Age, the largest sailing vessel in the world when it launched in 1883. Kinley’s love for the inland seas swelled during the years she spent in an old cottage on Lake Erie. She now lives with her husband and children on the Atlantic Coast, where she prefers not to lose sight of the shore. Sisters of the SweetwaterFury is her first novel.

Social Media Links:

Website: kinleybryan.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kinleybauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kinleybryanauthor/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kinley-Bryan/e/B09J5GWDLX

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59240907

When Angels Fly

November 19, 2021

Interview with Kinley Bryan, author of Sisters of the Sweetwater Fury

Please introduce yourself to those reading this blog post.

Thank you so much for having me today. I’m a historical novelist living in South Carolina, although I was born and raised in Ohio. Sisters of the Sweetwater Fury, which is my first novel, is inspired by actual events during the Great Lakes Storm of 1913. I knew I wanted to make this catastrophic storm the setting for my story after learning that my great-grandparents, sailors on the Great Lakes, survived it. I love living near the water. I used to live on Lake Erie, and I now live with my husband and children near the Atlantic Ocean; however, I am definitely not a sailor.

Has writing always been part of your life and when did you “know” that it was time to start writing your first book?

Yes, I’ve always loved to write. In college, I majored in English, interned at the university press, and had a part-time job as a writing tutor. After graduation I found work in corporate communications. For years a little voice in my head said I ought to try writing a novel, but I would always hush it up. Finally I got tired of telling myself “no” and I started writing.

How difficult was it writing your first book?

The difficult part was how long it took to learn the craft of writing fiction, and to get to the point where I felt my writing was ready for the world. Although it’s the first book I’ve published, Sisters of the Sweetwater Fury is the fourth book I’ve written. I now consider those first three as practice. Because I write historical fiction, there’s a lot of research required to get the setting and characters right, and it’s certainly time consuming. But I’ve found that I love the research.

Have you ever wanted to give up and what stopped you?

I’ve been frustrated at times, but I’ve never wanted to give up. The act of writing is too important to me. I get antsy if I haven’t written in a while. So I try to take the frustrating bits and learn from them.

Who is the most supportive of you and your dream to be a writer?

I couldn’t do this without the support of my husband, Mike. I often worried it was indulgent of me to spend so much time learning the craft. But Mike has always supported me. He’s taken my dreams seriously and for that I am grateful.

Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Writers thrive on positive feedback, and reviews are so important. If you enjoy Sisters of the Sweetwater Fury and want to leave a review, it would make my day.

What is the best advice given to you (book or otherwise), and by whom?

There’s the oft-repeated advice, “Write what you know,” but I follow a different take on this: “Write what you want to know more about.” Unfortunately, I don’t recall where I heard it.

What is your target audience and what aspect of your writing do you feel targets that audience?

Sisters of the Sweetwater Fury is set in 1913, and it’s the story of three women’s struggles to exert some control over their own lives, at a time when society’s roles for women were limited. In that sense my novel would appeal to people who read historical fiction by writers such as Ellen Marie Wiseman and Kim Michele Richardson. But the novel can also be enjoyed as an adventure story—most of the novel takes place during the storm, and as a whole it’s fast-paced—and I think this gives it a wider potential audience.

Did the cover evolve the same way, or did you work with someone to make it come together for you?

I had always envisioned illustrated elements rather than photographic ones for the cover. I also wanted the cover to depict stormy seas. Other than those two things, I didn’t know what it would look like. I was lucky to find a wonderful designer who created a cover I absolutely love.

What are you working on now? Can we get a peek, an excerpt?

I’m currently doing the research for my next novel, so I’m afraid I don’t have anything to share just yet.

Any last words before we wrap things up?

When I do have something to share, I will include it in my (very infrequent) newsletter. Readers can sign up on my website for updates on new releases and book promotions. Thanks again for having me on your blog today!

Many fantasy books mention clothes. These are usually made of wool or linen. If there’s an “Asian” civilization nearby, perhaps even silk. But what did early civilizations really use for their clothes? I’m not talking about Medieval clothes or even Roman ones. I’m talking before that. Way before. About 8,000 years before that, to be…

What Were Stone Age Clothes Made of? — Nicholas C. Rossis

From Amazon: Escaping the reality of a clueless husband and willful kids, Lily indulges in a romantic fantasy that proves all too real when Grandma’s rubies send her back in time. Aware she can’t mend her marriage or steer her children in the right direction unless she stays in the here and now, she vows to leave the past to the past. But in her attempt to take away the jewelry’s power, she accidentally sends herself back without her return ticket, the rubies. Will her dysfunctional family fall apart without her? Or will they pull together for the common good? It could go either way.

My Review: This was a new twist on a love story fraught with teenage angst, a fantasy that becomes a betrayal turned friendship, love that endures despite vivid time traveling, medical needs, the whole gamut of life and issues in three different times. The ending was unexpected. Five stars.