Tag Archive | fiction

Protective Instinct

Mar19

Book Link

From Amazon:

When self-absorbed, international bestselling author Sebastian Bartoli refuses to write the biography of the infamous, mob-connected Maximillian Fontana, the consequences turn deadly.

Sebastian (Bash) Bartoli is an international bestselling crime novelist. Maximillian (Max) Fontana, who is reputed to have ties to organized white-collar crime, has insisted Bash write his biography. Concerned for his safety, Bash’s friend/agent devises an elaborate plan for him to disappear to a secluded location on Guntersville Lake in Alabama. Being accustomed to having his comfortable life managed, Bash is irritated by the inconvenience of having to deal with his own affairs, not to mention the danger it might pose if he is discovered.

Morgan Skylar is a good-natured and unfiltered, southern kindergarten teacher. She is much more comfortable eating potato chips with Cheez Whiz and Louisiana Hot Sauce than champagne and caviar. After the death of her overly protective grandfather (Pops) who raised her in rural Georgia, she takes time off to grieve, ending up in a cottage next door to Bash. When mechanical issues arise, she seeks help from the renter in the main house. Bash is annoyed that his secluded hideout is apparently not so secret. Begrudgingly, he offers her assistance. This is where Morgan and Bash’s worlds collide. When suited, armed men show up at the lake house, Morgan’s trained survival skills take over, and she secures their escape by boat as bullets fly.

Morgan offers to provide a temporary sanctuary to Bash in her Pops’ remote Appalachian cabin. Upon arrival, she discovers a letter from Pops revealing his dangerous past that may now be coming for her. As the unwitting targets of dangerous men, Bash and Morgan fight to stay a step ahead of their pursuers, while seeking answers. Bonds are tested. Trusts are broken. Alliances formed. Agendas hidden.

My Review:

This book is full of romance and danger. Not only do we have a writer who allows others to control and schedule his life, but there are mobsters and a biker gang from LA hot on his backside along with the girl of his dreams coming into the story fast. The pace is frenetic and exciting. The protagonists souls are left bare. Gutwrenching scenes are prevalent as much as the ones involving the bad guys chasing them. The book is a wonderful story. I had problems with one protagonist being a kindergarten teacher then a first grade teacher, and back and forth. Ansel Adams is Ansel Adams. Four stars for need of edits. Will give five stars when I see edited book.

The Skipper’s Child

Mar12

Book Link

From Amazon:

For Arie Kornet, School holidays on his family’s barge, the Rival, are more than tedious. His father is a Dutch commercial skipper, and all they do is travel from one place to another on the European waterways, delivering and taking on goods. His deaf mother and his two sisters accept the lifestyle, but Arie is intensely frustrated with it all – especially as it is December and Christmas is coming. It seems there is nothing for him to do on board, and no escape. That is, until an unexpected stowaway, a frightening encounter with Russian secret agents and an alarming international plot bring him far more excitement than he has ever bargained for. Suddenly, his own life, and those of his entire beloved family, are in danger. Forced in to a new and adult role, Arie is faced with difficult decisions to make, and even more difficult actions to take.

The Skipper’s Child is an exciting story of adventure and suspense set in the evocative world of the commercial waterways during the coldest winter of the Cold War.

My Review:

Living life on a barge is not an easy life, but it is rewarding. Everyone must do their part, and the work was hard. Even more when one travels with a load of wool or whatever they carried during war time. On the plus side, families become closer, and friendships with other skippers and their families are treasured. One gets to see so many countries and architecture, scenes most have never seen or imagined. For Arie, he longed for a life away from the hard work of the barge he lived on with his two sisters and his parents. Along comes Dimitri, and things get dicey. What does Arie decide to do after the trials of one December during time of war? I won’t give away the story nor the ending.

Genuine Deceit

Feb27

Book Link

From Amazon:

When a young woman finds herself unknowingly accountable for the past sins of her family, she must unravel their secrets and lies to stay alive.

When her grandmother is brutally murdered in her own home, Reagan Asher leaves her corporate job and rushes to her sleepy hometown in Ohio. She has barely entered the house before a second break-in attempt is made, prompting police to believe it’s not just a random burglary. Reagan’s lifelong friend Mattie asks Aiden Rannell, her brother-in-law and an ex-Navy Seal, to lend support and protection to Reagan as she navigates the investigation.

Aiden suggests a ring that Reagan’s grandmother owned may be more valuable than anyone realizes. Considering her frugal life growing up, Reagan dismisses the idea, showing Aiden an old pink box filled with similar colorful, ornate costume jewelry she and her friends played with as children. When they find a decades-sealed container with shocking contents supporting Aiden’s concerns, Reagan begs him to help her find the origin and if it is related to her Nana’s death.

Finding clues to solve a decades old mystery proves challenging as the threats to Reagan’s life escalate. Could the discovery of a water-stained, half-torn photo found in her grandmother’s safe deposit box be significant? Her mother’s suicide? Her father’s abandonment? Unanswered questions send Reagan and Aiden across the country in search of answers, with danger never far behind. With each new revelation of deception and lies, Reagan begins to doubt everything she ever knew about her life.

My Review:

Wow. York has written a book without smooth sailing. This book grabs your attention, then takes you a ride like a roller-coaster with unpredictable twists and turns. Just when you think you have it figured out, you find out you don’t. The emotions are palpable, the love and loss equally palpable. The lies are numerous and, frankly, heartwrenching. Well done.

Meet Sarah Tanburn

Feb25

Please welcome Sarah Tanburn to my blog. Hello Sarah, I’m glad you made it here this morning. Shall we have a chat?  

Please introduce yourself to those reading this blog post.

Hi Mary, and thanks for having me here. I am a writer, reader, sailor, hiker and cat-servant living in South Wales, UK. I write essays, review books, memoirs and occasional poems. Fiction is my main love though: I write historical fiction, especially maritime based, fantasy and science fiction and some literary stuff too.

In my 50s, I went back to university and last year graduated with a PhD in Creative Writing from Swansea. For that I wrote a duology of novels, of which more in a moment. At the same time, I wrote the series of fantasy novellas now out in a collection called Children of the Land.

Has writing always been part of your life and when did you “know” that it was time to start writing your first book? (If you are here as an invite to promo your small business, then please write your own questions and provide relevant photos and links, thank you.)

Yes – and no! As a child and young adult, I wrote a lot. The autobiography of my pet. The story of Boff. A screenplay for Prisoner of Zenda. Then, like so many people, life got in the way. I wrote lots of journalism and public policy material but not creative work.

In 2003 I took redundancy, sold my house and moved aboard my own yacht to go off sailing. Free of the career shackles, I started creative work again. That turned into a novel which I worked on in bursts for a long time. It won’t be published, but I learnt a lot writing it.

When I started the PhD I knew that it would be a novel. It ended up being two, telling the story of William Brown, a Black woman who served as sailor and spy in Nelson’s Navy. I am now querying the first, entitled Born of Courage.

Children of the Land was a surprise gift along the way. The first novella I wrote in that world was Hawks of Dust and Wine, which came to me in one long burst. The story came second in the Rheidol Prize, an important Welsh literary prize, which was great. I then started thinking of other tales set in the same world.

How difficult was it writing your first book?

Children of the Land, my first published book, was a joy to write in many ways.  My complicated, somewhat dystopian future Wales brings with it some important disciplines. For my characters, it is difficult to travel out of Wales and electronic communication is monitored. But compared to the rest of a very unstable world (climate change, geopolitics) it is safe and tolerant. People are not rich, but they are not starving either.

Each story picks up on some imagined creature of the land, a mythological character or fabled part of Welsh history. Some, like the water monsters of The Flow, have their roots in our tales, but others are my invention. I wanted strong women, real challenges and a bit of fun along the way.

The hardest part was probably ensuring the elements of the Welsh language, such as blessings or place names, were right. Fortunately, I have lovely friends who are fluent in Cymraeg and generous with their time and skills.

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

I think we all want to give up at times. We fall out of love with a project, or it just doesn’t seem to want to make sense. Our words stop working. Maybe our shoulders hurt and our waistline out of control.

The stories and the characters and the sheer joy of creation always bring me back. I will be standing the shower and realise that this is why that outfit matters, or that of course Charlie would run into the battle – or whatever it might be. And then I am back, making stuff up.

That’s what I keep writing despite rejections and disappointments. The stories won’t let me stop.

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

I must name two people. One is my wife, Sandra, who is endlessly supportive and engaged. She welcomes my creativity but also my efforts to be more strategic about networking and marketing. The other is Jon, my supervisor for my PhD, who has been a fantastic mentor, generous with his time and insights.

Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

I hope they enjoy the unsettling, immersive world of Children of the Land. I ask some dark questions about where trends in our society are going, and how they might play out in a small country which is not rich, but which has a strong sense of social justice. At the same time, I had some imaginative fun with the spirits of place and what might happen if the moles decide to take over.

I should add this is undoubtedly an adult book, despite the title. The children of the land are born when the landscape itself starts taking a hand in what happens next; they are not always kind.

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

Gosh! Pick one? As a writer (rather than a human being) I immensely admire Ernest Hemingway. In his Paris Review interview, he says two great things. One is to leave out what you know: ‘I have seen the marlin mate,’ he tells us, ’so I left that out.’ The other is always to stop for the day when you know what the next sentence will be. Both of those work for me.

(If readers would like more about icebergs, Eisenhower and greening, there is an excellent article in the New Yorker at https://bit.ly/4ix0s4H by John McPhee)

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

Fans of Angela Carter, Ursula Le Guin and Neal Stephenson will all find elements to enjoy in Children of the Land. There are monsters, certainly, some in human form. There is heroism and strange happenings. Technology matters in isolationist Cymru, whether energy is generated, we communicate beyond our borders or move from place to place. These are fantasies, certainly, but feedback suggests they appeal beyond the bounds of genre.

The intellectual roots of Children of the Land included my ambition to explore the tales of future Wales. Many writers look back at our history, whether at dragons, or glorious resistance or King Coal. I wanted to take those elements of myth and modernity and ask where they might lead us. These tales should therefore appeal to readers of political fiction, exploring possibility.

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

I worked with a book designer. He created the cover and an icon for each of the five novellas. He saw the stories as a pathway for the imagination, so took the stepping-stones that feature in some of the stories as the central motif.

I used each of those motifs to make postcards, with a pull quote from the relevant novella. These have been invaluable publicity and I have used them widely on social media.

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

There’s always more than one project on the go. I am (at the time of this interview), working on a novel, Wildwood, a standalone story set in the same world as Children of the Land, about rewilding the temperate rainforest. It is a love story between Gwen, perfumier and mother, and Hwni, spy and healer for the forest of the Upper Tywi Valley. At one point Gwen and her father are summoned to the capital, Aberytstwyth, and Hwni is looking after Gwen’s baby daughter Fidán. She takes the child into the woods.

The next morning dawned bright and dry and silent. No news came from Gwen in Aber’ so Hwni put Fidán back in the papoose and set off into the hills. She walked up the path Gwen had taken with Dafydd ap Morgan and Rhys ap Owain. Men bearing the names of their fathers. Humans love asserting family ties: maybe Fidán would help her understand. All the while she chatted to the baby, describing the plants along the way. The worts and the polypods, the lichens, lolling hart’s tongue everywhere beneath ivy-berries and the shaped lobes of oak leaves. At the orange fungus Morgan had attacked, she stopped and laid a finger on the stumps left behind, which were sprouting again. On the other side of the path the two pieces Gwen had placed were thriving, and she stroked them gently. ‘There’s a blessing for them, Fidán cariad,’ she said and continued upwards, still reciting the litany of the forest.

Any last words before we wrap things up?

I am very grateful for this chance to talk about my writing. There is always a great deal to learn from such clever questions, and from other writers who talk to you. I want to add that I write in lots of genres and forms: that may not be always the most commercial approach, but it allows me to tell tales of strong women and big themes the way I choose. I urge writers and readers to go beyond their usual comfort zone and find something new.

Bio

Sarah Tanburn is a writer living in South Wales after living afloat for a decade. The hidden stories of women at sea under sail fascinate her, and her work recovers their voices and agency in complicated worlds. She is also enmeshed in environmental concerns and passionate about a future, safer world. Her short stories, essays, memoirs and reviews have appeared online and in print across various outlets, for instance www.nation.cymru, Superlatives and [wherever] magazines, Ink, Sweat & Tears and the Iron Press anthology Aliens.

Social Media

Website: www.ladyturtlepress.cymru

Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/7wnB8Cb

Twitter: @workthewind

Bluesky: @sarahtanburnwriter.bsky.social

Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-tanburn-0a10a13

Hashtags:  #Fantasy #WelshFantasy #HistoricalFiction #WomenInHistory 

Keepers of the Lighthouse

Feb18

Book Link

From Amazon:

Coby is back on the biggest quest of his life. With his wife Gracie and their newborn baby by his side, they venture to his newly inherited estate. After the lady of the manor’s untimely death, they rush to attend her funeral and discover Coby has inherited more than he ever imagined, including the prestigious Hotel Luminara on Tempest Island.

While exploring his newfound wealth, Coby learns of the mysterious disappearance of the lighthouse keepers on a treacherous cliff. Eager to uncover the truth, he takes his pregnant wife on an adventure to their new hotel.

News of his inheritance draws the attention of Reed Winslow, a wealthy jeweller determined to preserve his family’s legacy. Winslow hires Ryder Blackwood to stop Coby from revealing the island’s secrets.

On Tempest Island, Coby delves into the enigma of Mae Yore, Lord Frederick Hart, and their connection to the vanished keepers. His quest leads him to a diamond eerily similar to the infamous Hope Diamond. As Coby and Gracie struggle for survival against Ryder, they are forced apart, leaving Coby stranded on Lochlan’s Cove. There, he encounters the apparition of an elegant ghostly woman and makes a shocking discovery.

With another tragic death on his estate diverting his attention, can Coby survive, uncover the truth, and share the story the world deserves to know? Only time will tell in this page-turning, fast-paced thriller.

My Review:

Mary Schmidt5.0 out of 5 stars Paranormal and more

Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2025

  • Verified Purchase
  • I found this story to be a unique paranormal read with a loving couple who became engaged. Did they marry? I leave that for the next readers. The Hope Diamond is front and center throughout this book in many different ways. Ethereal ghosts are almost in every home and abode. Mostly kind, some a bit bitter, and other men who try to kill the main male protagonist. A lot happens in the span of a 2- 3 hour drive. That final clue needed by those who wished to claim it, whether entitled to claim it or not. Danger lurks everywhere, even on the high seas. This book is descriptive, some even repetitions of phrases. I would have preferred more dialogue in bringing the story to life, but that is my preference

Heart of Evergreen!

Jan27

Book Link

New Review From Literary Titan

Heart of Evergreen by Mary L. Schmidt is a psychological thriller that masterfully delves into the unraveling life of Kim Dailey. A devoted wife, Kim’s seemingly perfect marriage takes a chilling turn when she discovers her name linked to a hit list on her husband Steve’s laptop. This revelation propels her into a whirlwind of doubt and fear, where every moment becomes a high-stakes journey to uncover the truth. As Kim confronts the possibility that her husband may be a covert assassin, the narrative explores themes of deception, resilience, and the lengths one will go to protect their family.

One of the novel’s standout strengths is its seamless blend of suspense, mystery, and romance. Schmidt crafts a deeply personal and intimate story, grounding the tension with the raw, emotional depth of her protagonist. Kim’s love for Steve, even amidst her mounting suspicion, and her compassionate observations of him as a father figure to her children, create a poignant duality that resonates. A particularly haunting moment arises when Dmitry’s death is contemplated—a scene so viscerally portrayed that it lingers long after reading. Schmidt juxtaposes the brutal finality of loss with the tenderness of grief, making it both heartrending and unforgettable. The story’s backdrop is a festive celebration overshadowed by the threat of an unseen assassin that creates gripping tension, while the richly layered characters bring authenticity and nuance to the narrative. The novel’s exploration of human relationships is deeply resonant, capturing moments of heartbreak, love, and hope with equal finesse. A notable strength lies in its portrayal of women’s resilience. Whether navigating life-altering choices or enduring harrowing trials, the women in Heart of Evergreen shine as embodiments of strength and grace. Balancing its weighty emotional themes are heartwarming glimpses of Kim’s moments of joy, particularly with her children. These scenes lend a warmth that counterbalances the darker aspects of the plot, offering moments of reprieve amidst the tension. The crescendo of the narrative, the poignant demise of Dmitry stands out as a masterfully written moment, weaving hope and heartbreak into an unforgettable climax.

Heart of Evergreen is an evocative tale that will captivate readers who enjoy romantic family sagas infused with elements of crime, desire, and emotional complexity. Fans of Ian McEwan’s Atonement will be drawn to its layered storytelling and profound exploration of the human spirit. This is a novel that lingers in the mind, leaving readers both moved and reflective.

Pages: 160 | ASIN : B0DR69LRC2 ~ Literary Titan

Meet JP MacDougall

Jan27

Please welcome JP MacDougall to my blog. Hello James. James wrote the Pangean Chronicles series. Shall we chat about this series?

Please introduce yourself to those reading this blog post.

Hi, I’m James MacDougall from the UK and I am the author of the Pangean Chronicles series. Over the past twenty years I’ve written the Pangean Chronicles series which is made up of five books: A main trilogy and then two prequels.

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

I always loved creative writing as a child and it was always a strength of mine at school. It wasn’t until I was about 19 and I was going through a bad patch and went off the rails a little – the writing really kicked in then and it acted as a coping mechanism. To begin with I just wrote poetry (really badly!) but then this idea started to form and I just started writing what would later become Awakenings, which is the first of the Pangean Chronicles. For the past 20 years I have dipped in and out of the story, adding things, changing things and it became a hobby that never left. I don’t think I was aware that this was going to be my first book and I certainly never imagined that it would be published!

How difficult was it writing your first book?

I didn’t find it difficult – or maybe I did – it took twenty years for the main trilogy to be in any state where I was happy for other people to read them. I think I would have moments when I just ran out of ideas and so I’d park it and sit on it for a few years before coming back to it again. But really, the whole writing process is so pleasurable and rewarding and as I said it also helped with times when my mental health was not as good as it should have been.

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

No, I’ve never wanted to give up writing. Even when I got to a point where the ideas weren’t flowing, I always knew that something would come to me eventually – I was never in a rush to get it finished.

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

My wife is amazing and it was she who told me a few years ago that I should get my stories published. She is very patient as well – I tend to disappear off into my own little world and she handles that very well. My dad has also been an incredible supporter, he has read all my books and always gives me very honest feedback!

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

Be patient! I am the most impatient and knee jerky person and the whole publishing game is designed for very patient people. I made some silly mistakes at the beginning of this whole thing purely down to my impulsiveness, but I think I have learnt some lessons and have accepted that things just don’t happen overnight!

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

My writing is quite fast paced and there is always something going on. I’ve always felt that it would appeal to tweens and teens but I know a number of older readers who have also very much enjoyed the stories.

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

For Awakenings I had a cover designer working with me to come up with the front cover and it was her idea to have a character on the front cover. I’m really pleased with the result people say it is quite an enticing front cover. I think I only began thinking about the front cover when I was close to publishing – it’s a bit corny but the writing has always been my priority.

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

Having now finished the Pangean Chronicles series, I am now working on an origins series. Throughout the five books, there are loads of references and back stories to my version of the time of Pangea and I thought it would be great to write that story. So, I’m beginning from the very beginning and am planning to chart the story of the Dark Lord’s first rise and the fall of Pangea into Darkness. I’m about three quarters of the way through the first one at the moment and hopefully will have that complete by March. There is a second part as well which I am scribbling away on my note pad!

Any last words before we wrap things up?

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to say hello! If you are ever considering writing a book… Do it and do it for yourself above everything else. I am not sure where I would be without my writing, it certainly picked me up when I was in some very dark places.

BIO:

James started writing at the age of 19, just 3 years after his dyslexia diagnosis. Refusing to allow his dyslexia to define him, James always had a great imagination for stories and found an endless source of inspiration through the works of J.R. Tolkein, Ian Fleming and Stephen King. It has been a 20 year labour of love to combine these genres in his own series of books, ‘The Pangean Chronicles’, which were written while working as a full time teacher in the south east. As a devoted father to three young children, James also enjoys practicing the skill of oral storytelling, a skill he credits to helping him overcome the challenges of being a dyslexic author. When he is not writing, teaching or telling stories, James loves to be outdoors, promoting outdoor learning, working in his own garden or walking on the Ashdown Forest with his family.

Author Page: www.thepangeanchronicles.com

Twitter: https://x.com/PangeanChrons

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095127045157&locale=en_GB

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

BlueSky: @pangeanchronicles.bsky.social

Tiktok: @pangeanchronicles

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/48899277.JP_MacDougall

Global Book Awards!

Dec28

Hello Mary,

Congratulations on your book Her Alibi achieving BRONZE in the Global Book Awards, in the category Biographical Memoir. In the coming days, we’ll send you details of how to get hold of your digital medal and certificate, but for now, we just wanted to pass on the good news.

Book Link

From Amazon:

Visions of her Cherokeegrandmother, Cordie, flashed through Mary’s mind as her mother, Marguerite, informed her that her stepfathershot himself and was in the hospital. Oh no!

No! This can’t be! Not after the joking around at my home last night. NO!!!!Did she use me last night? She’d never use her scapegoat child. No, she couldn’t! Even Marguerite wouldn’t sink that low! Or would she? Marguerite had always been abusive and vile to most people,and especially to her children and husbands, but would she shoot Harold? 

Yet, here I was, and I had to tell the police that, yes, my mother was at my home all evening and into the night. How despicable that my mother connived her way into using me as her alibi.

This book is a true memoir drawing upon the locals and inspiration of the areas in which the author lives and works. Names of towns, places, facilities, and people are real except for three men. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is not coincidental in nature and places where events take place are from her life growing up.

And Then You Were Gone

Dec21

Book Link

From Amazon:

And Then You Were Gone

Nina, a popular fantasy author, maintains a reclusive existence. Aside from Nina’s work, her primary focus is her daughter, Sophie.

Incessant bullying at school and a public, mortifying falling out with another girl sparks a downward spiral in Sophie’s emotional state.

Nina watches helplessly as her daughter appears to be unable to move past this unfortunate event. Nina grows so consumed with Sophie’s suffering that she loses her desire to write. How does one help a teenage daughter in torment?

But then Nina has an idea—an unorthodox method to help her daughter. She is going to write a story—bringing in a special character into Sophie’s life. As the author, Nina can control the outcome of the story. Or can she?

As fiction and reality blur, Nina realizes that things have gotten out of hand. Is her story the blessing she hoped for or a curse she never expected?

Read this riveting and hauntingly poignant tale to find out more.

My Review:

Life… This was an insightful read into the complex lives of a mother, a daughter, friends, and a bully. Adolescence can be a tough time for many, and with that comes differences between a mother and her daughter. No child should be bullied. Many bullied kids don’t tell anyone about being bullied, and some kids take their own lives as they are desperate in how they feel. The bullied teen in this story did not take her own life. This story has all the feels, both good and bad. Coping mechanisms such as forgetting what one did happened. The story is short and read easily.

Meet Willa R. Finnegan

Dec8

Please welcome Willa R. Finnegan to my blog. Good morning, Willa. I’m so happy to have you here today. With hot cocoa in hand, shall we get down to chatting about your phenomenal writing story?  

Please introduce yourself to those reading this blog post.

Hello, everyone! I am an author, and writing has been my passion for a while now. I am thirteen years old; I began the publishing process when I was twelve, and I wrote Snow: Cursed when I was eleven. My message to other aspiring authors out there is to let nothing stop you.

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

I would say that storytelling has always been a part of my life I suppose but not always to the degree of a book. I remember when I was three or four and I would dictate to my mom what I wanted her to write on the page. I started writing stories when I was about nine years old, but on paper instead of on the computer. They were short stories of course, but I loved creating characters and worlds just the same. I started writing books on the computer when I was ten years old, and they began to grow in length. I would share my stories with my parents, friends, and family and write more and more, constantly trying to get better. Although Snow: Cursed isn’t the first book I’ve written, I wanted to put my best foot forward when publishing. I’ve always enjoyed entertaining people with my words.

How difficult was it writing your first book?

It was extremely hard to write my first book, and I don’t think that a single author in the world would say that it isn’t hard. There were times when I would pause in my writing and I would venture onto other ideas that I knew from the beginning I wouldn’t finish—I like to refer to those ideas as “flings”—but I eventually found my way, and just kept writing until I reached the end. Reading books has always been a passion of mine, and I think this helped additionally, because the better reader you are the better author you become.

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

I’ve never really wanted to give up before, and I think the fact that I love writing so much overshadowed all the doubt. Although writer’s block is a very serious thing, and has plagued me before, I’ll never let that stop me.

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

My parents and friends have been very supportive of my writing for quite a while, and really wanted me to get my first book published. They’re the ones who helped make this happen most of all. They believed in my dream from the beginning.

Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

If you are a child author like me, take a chance and go for it! You’ll never know what will happen if you never try. Never, ever let anything stop you, no matter what your goal is.

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

The best advice that has ever been given to me is from the “Wicked” Broadway musical. This must be my favorite line throughout the whole thing. Elphaba and the Wizard say several times that “everyone deserves the chance to fly.” I think that this line speaks to something bigger, and I think it is great advice for aspiring authors. Becoming an author was my chance to fly.

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

My target audience is probably middle school age children as well as high-schoolers and fantasy loving adults. I tried to embed little seeds of important philosophy throughout the book, and I think that younger children might not be able to grasp the true meaning of those philosophies, but I think my book is enjoyable for all ages.

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

I must give a shout out to the amazing cover design team at Page Publishing for creating such an epic cover to go along with my very first published book. I gave them a description of what I envisioned, and they turned that into an awesome reality that was exactly like I had pictured it.

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

I have finished writing the second book in the Snow Series and am currently on the third. I ended Snow: Cursed with a major cliffhanger so that all my readers will be dying to read my second book. I’m sorry, but no spoilers!

Any last words before we wrap things up?

Whether writing is your passion like mine, or if it’s something else, having faith, courage, determination, and perseverance will always take you one step closer to making your dream come true. It doesn’t matter whether you are a child or an adult. Goodbye, and remember that “everyone deserves the chance to fly!”

Willa had her first book signing…

Willa R. Finnegan is a thirteen-year-old reading and writing enthusiast and loves to tell thrilling tales through her books. She loves weaving familiar stories into a breathtaking tapestry that readers will be in awe of. At a young age, she realized that her passion was writing, and so she pursued that with everything she had.

Snow: Cursed: Finnegan, Willa R: 9798893155211: Amazon.com: Books

Snow: Cursed by Willa R Finnegan, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®

Congratulations, Willa!