Your Next Favorite Author Blog—Corinne LaBalme!

At this cozy bistro, the cuisine is to die for!

Ghost-writer Melody Layne longs for a low-drama assignment while recovering from her break-up with the seductive and secretive Carlos Ortega. A cookbook memoir for a charismatic TV celebrity seems like a dream-come true… until the chef’s stylish Parisian bistro attracts an enemy who’s not above slipping some poison in the plat du jour. With too many crooks in the kitchen, can Melody save the chef’s asset, keep her own job, and re-kindle her spicy romance with Carlos? Only thyme will tell… and in the meantime…

                                                   BON APPETIT !!! 

Corinne LeBalme lives in France and loves everything about it… except eating snails. Her articles about European fashion, food and fun destinations have appeared in The New York Times Travel section, Diversion, Passion and La Belle France. Four published novels: Temporary Engagement, Summer People, French Ghost and French Toast. (Coming in 2026: French Post)

The Interview:

Avis: Welcome to Your Next Favorite Author! 

Today’s guest, Corrine LeBalme, has been with us before with her debut novel French Ghost, book one in her Paris Ghost Writer Chronicles. Her latest release, French Toast takes us on a gastronomical romp through France and beyond. It’s another page turner, for sure!

            I can’t wait to find out more! Our first question today is:

Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?

Corrine: In this particular book? While I state that ‘similarities to real people or places are entirely coincidental’, the person who invited me into my delightful Parisian writing circle has a cameo role… with permission. 

Avis: Ooh, mysterious and fun! Writing groups are such a great source for help with writing but also character development! I love it!

            Our next question is somewhat related: 

What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?

Corinne: I have the great fortune to be part of a very dynamic Thursday night writing club. We critique the week’s work, share publishing perils, and consume copious quantities of cheese and Cabernet while we’re doing so. Writing can be lonely so it’s comforting to hang with a pack.

Avis: How wonderful! You had me at cheese! Strong bounds develop when writers meet to share creative projects! It’s part of the joy of writing, right?

            Here’s the next question:

Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?

Corinne: Since the Ghost-Writer series is a trilogy, I round up the same suspects in each volume: Ingrid the model, Jenna the blogger, Bertrand the cop, Michel the music critic. But the key characters are Melody and Carlos. Will they EVER manage to stay on same (romantic) page for more than five minutes? And will Melody ever ghost-write a book that doesn’t get wrapped up in police tape? Questions to be answered in Book Three (FRENCH POST).

Avis: LOL! Well, that sounds very entertaining, and it keeps the series interesting and readers turning pages, I’m sure. I know I loved book 2 in this series, but I have to say, I could have started here without reading book one. 😊

That brings us to the end of another interview on Your Next Favorite Author, this time with Corinne LeBalme! 

For more on Corinne and a review of French Toast, please read on!

Social Meds:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/corinne.LeBalme

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

Review by Avis M. Adams:

Corrine LeBalme’s French Toast released October 15, 2025, and fans of LeBalme, women’s fiction, and romance will enjoy this one! Melody Layne is back, but this time she’s ghost writing a cookbook/memoir with a star-chef who is a drama queen! Some of his antics are romcom worthy! Melody’s love life coupled with the ill-fated meals of our chef, keeps readers in a twisted state of who, what, and where! 

Melody’s love life seems to be on the fence as her best friend Jenna pushes for her relationship with Michel, a jazz aficionado/critic, yet Carlos reappears through the ministrations of some other friends who want to see the two love birds reunited. Through a series of meals, wedding events, and parties, Meldoy’s life is filled with promise one moment, with sparks flying the next! Her life is interesting to say the least.

My mouth was watering over the meals she described, and I looked up a great recipe for Coq au vin that I will make soon! Paired with drinks and wines, LeBalme’s novel is smart, sassy and fun on so many levels! It’s a light read, and although my sympathies lie with Carlos, Melody will make up her own mind in the end!

Your Next Favorite Author—Molly M. Hammond!

The alignment waits for no one.

Luma was six years old when she was found wandering alone with no memory of a family or how she got the strange scars that crisscross her palms. Now, twelve years later, Luma is summoned across a magical bridge to another world: a world where the decimated population of elves suffer under the ruthless wizard army. 

Luma’s appearance is a ray of hope for the elves, who believe she is their prophesied “Daughter of Starlight”, the only one whose powerful magic can heal their broken defenses. Luma just wants to get back home, but the wizards discover her, and soon Luma is in the fight of her life. As she flees a mighty adversary, Luma struggles with hints of a strange power from deep within, a power that she can neither control nor deny any longer. 

             Desperate for answers, Luma joins a group of elf resistance fighters on a perilous journey in search of the exiled elf mage. Along the way, Luma begins to realize there could be more truth to this prophecy than she first thought, and that just maybe, she has a family after all.  

Molly M. Hammond is an award-winning author whose love of language and storytelling has shaped her life and career. She holds degrees in English and Communication, as well as American Sign Language Interpreting. Molly’s storytelling is informed by her deep empathy, sharp observation, and a vivid imagination that often strikes while she’s out on her daily 5 mile runs, a routine that both inspires her creativity and frustrates her with ideas that never quite leap directly onto the page. When she’s not writing or interpreting, Molly can be found adventuring with her dog, Bungee, and her two cats, Rose and Clover, or enjoying life in the scenic St. Croix River Valley of Minnesota with her husband and two sons. 

Daughter of Starlight is her debut novel and the first in a planned series.

Avis: Hi Readers! Welcome to Your Next Favorite Author! Today’s guest, Molly M. Hammond, and she joins us today with her debut novel The Daughter of Starlight, a high fantasy adventure. This recent release, as of July 9, 2025 is set in two worlds. Briefly on Earth as we know it, and mostly in Edira, a fantasy world where elves and wizards collide, and where only Luma can stop the war.

            Now that I’ve whet your appetites, lets find out more about Molly! Our first question today is:

Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?

Molly: This isn’t really a “secret” per se, but when I choose names for main characters in my fantasy stories, I tend to select names that have real-life significance related to the story. For instance, Luma’s parents, although they play a small part in this book, have names that reflect the story’s theme. Seren (Luma’s mother) is a Welsh name meaning “star,” while Tarak (Luma’s father) is a Sanskrit name meaning “star” and “protector.” And of course, Luma’s name is a nod to “light” or “illumination.” It’s not something my readers probably know, nor does it significantly contribute to the overall plot. It’s just something that makes me smile as a writer. 

Avis: Clever! I like that a lot! Names are so important, and having this type of meaning behind them is very cool! Having special meanings like this makes writing so much fun!

Let’s get to question number two:

What is your writing Kryptonite?

Molly: Cat videos on the internet! I do love a good cat video when I’m supposed to be writing. 

I also do a fair amount of editing as I go during the drafting process. I know everyone says you’re not supposed to do that with a first draft, and it does slow the process down somewhat, but I can’t help it!

Avis: It’s hard not to edit while you draft! I do a bit of editing too, but I love the drafting and creating part too much to let editing slow me down. 😊 I do love a good cat video though! I’m with you on that one too! 

Moving on to question number three:

Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?

Molly: The first novel I wrote was a standalone historical fiction novel that remains unpublished for now, and I never really thought of myself as writing a series until I got into the fantasy genre. However, I am currently writing the sequel to Daughter of Starlight, and I’m having so much fun with it! It turns out Luma and her crew still have plenty to say! I plan to finish it and have it ready for submission by the end of this year, and I’m really excited about the possibility of bringing a new Starlight adventure to my readers! 

Avis: More Luma? Yay! Thank you, Molly, so much for joining us! It’s been wonderful getting to know a bit about you and your writing life, and I’m so happy to hear you are working on a sequel to your fabulous debut The Daughter of Starlight. I know your books will be well received by young and old alike! 

Please read on for Molly’s socials and a review of her book! 😊

Review by Avis M. Adams

Daughter of Starlight, a high fantasy by Molly M. Hammond, brings to life, Luma, a young woman living between two worlds. The problem for Luma is she doesn’t know why she doesn’t fit in the only world she’s ever known. She’s tired of being different.

Hammond opens with Luma, and eighteen-year-old foster kid trying to survive in her ordinary world where she doesn’t fit in and is not accepted her for who she is. That all changes on a hike in the Colorado Rockies when she is lured into a cavern where the earth quakes, and she finds herself falling.

She wakes in a room with the three people more like herself than anyone she’s ever met. Thus begins her indoctrination into the world of Edira, and Luma begins the journey she was born to take. 

Hammond’s world building takes us to a land filled with elves, wizards, talking owls, and one dragon who bears the four-star constellation that dominates the night sky. The lore of this land that crosses the veil between a world in which she didn’t belong, a world desperately in need of her powers to heal and save it becomes a story of timeless adventure, of epic proportions, a story that pits wizards against elves in a war to end all wars so that the world can finally heal itself. 

Hammonds storytelling mastery brings a heroine that will win readers hearts and keep readers turning pages into the night. Daughter of Starlight will satisfy fantasy lovers, lovers of adventures, and any reader who loves a strong female hero who overcomes her own weaknesses and fears to save her friends and a world she has grown to love. A Five-Star read! 😊

Your Next Favorite Author—J. L. Sullivan!

Bax unleashed the magic. Now he must face the darkness

After banishing the evil djinn, Bax’s life has returned to normal—almost. His guilt-fueled nightmares won’t relent until he musters the courage to return Ifrit’s artifact and finally lay the demon to rest. But nothing in the djinn-verse is ever easy.

Someone has summoned Ifrit back into the world, placing Bax at the center of the swirling dark wishes the djinn is fulfilling for his new master.

As Ifrit’s attacks grow deadlier, Bax and his friends must uncover the identity of Ifrit’s new master and convince them to banish the evil spirit. But with no high-powered lunar eclipse for another one hundred and fifty years, banishment might be impossible.

J. L. Sullivan writes young adult novels inspired by gritty urban environments and the fantastical tales that percolate within abandoned buildings and desolate alleys. He began his writing journey in high school with a local newspaper before venturing into creating writing in college where he found himself lost in contemporary stories with magic summering just underneath the surface. His debut novel, From Brick & Darkness, a dark reimagining of an ancient myth, won multiple awards following its spring 2022 release, with a sequel coming in 2025. He currently lives in St. Louis with his wife, two daughters, and a dog named Princess Penelope Picklesworth.

Avis: Welcome to Your Next Favorite Author! 

Today’s guest, J. L. Sullivan, has joined us before, and this time he is back with his newest YA fantasy/adventure novel, From Ash and Darkness released in March of 2025. It is the second book in his Djinn adventures with Bax, Ashley, and Jason, and it’s another page turner, for sure!

            I can’t wait to find out more! Let’s begin with our first question:

Do you keep a series Bible to keep track of your characters and plot points in your series?

J. L.: Absolutely! I have several documents I use. I’m a big fan of character profiles to make sure I’m describing a character and their background consistently. And by filling in backstory on a character, sometimes it inspires a secondary plot line. Before I start a book, I also draft a one or two sentence pitch and a one-page synopsis. That doesn’t mean they won’t change along the way, in fact they most definitely will. But while I may take twists and turns, a rough synopsis helps center my story and keep it focused. 

Avis: Great way to keep track of your story and characters arcs, plot twists and focus! No wonder your characters jump off the page. 😊I’m fascinated by the Djinn in yourworld, especially Ifrit and Janni, so our next question is about them!

Is Ifrit named after a real Djinn? Is Janni? If not how did you develop them as such great characters?

J. L.: There are mentions of djinn (or jinn or genies) all the way back to ancient Sumerian texts. As a result, they have been long embedded in different cultures, evolving as cultures evolve. So there isn’t necessarily one source of truth. However, I went with Islamic lore that defines eleven types of jinn. Two of those types are Janns and Ifrits. I took some liberties with the mythology, like the idea of a vortex and the djinns’ personalities, but kept much of the Islamic mythology like how Jann are one of the weakest of the jinn and Ifrits are one of the most powerful. The benefit of writing about ancient myths that have been pervasive in different cultures is the rich mythos from which to draw inspiration.

Avis: Interesting response and so fascinating! Your research sparked your creativity and helped you generate these two great mythic characters that readers will adore, and your world building options are believable and expand our “normal” world but seem like it could exist! I loved it. 😊 Our next question is more about your writing process:

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

J. L.: It takes me almost a year or more to write a book. While writing is a passion of mine and sometimes I wish I could go faster, I like to take my time and flesh out my story. Plus, I have a daytime job, a wife with her own business, two preteens, and a very high maintenance dog! 

Avis: Well, all of your hard work of fleshing out the story and developing characters that leap off the page was worth it! This book is an excellent read, packed with adventure and suspense! 

            That’s it for today, readers! We are at the end of another interview of Your Next Favorite Author, this time with YA author J. L. Sullivan! For a review of From Ash and Darkness, please scroll beyond the social media links. 🙂

J. L. loves to connect with readers on social media or by email at contact@jlsullivan.net.

Website Link: https://jlsullivan.net/

Facebook Page Link – FB

Instagram Link – Insta

BookBub Author Link – BookBub

Twitter Link – X

TikTok Link – TicTok

Goodreads Author Link – Goodreads

Amazon Author Profile Link – J.L. Sullivan

Review by Avis M. Adams

J. L. Sullivan’s second novel From Ash and Darkness is another YA paranormal adventure of the high impact kind. We meet Bax and his two cohorts, Ashley and Jason as they try to put the Djinn back in the bottle, or in this case, the big, bad, scary Ifrit back into the darkness. 

Sullivan picks up the story two weeks after Bax and his cohorts trap Ifrit with the help of their Djinn friend, the cute and soft Janni, a friendly and much smaller Djinn. They relegate Ifrit to his old wooden box, but the box cannot live in Bax’s closet forever. 

On Halloween, he and his friends plan to dispose of Ifrit, but when they get to the cellar and Bax opens his backpack, the box is gone!

He traces his steps back to the West End Coffee Shop. While he ordered, Jason took a bathroom break, and his backpack was left unattended. Someone stole the box with Ifrit inside.

Panic ensues, then a more calculated search begins for Ifrit, and the person who stole him. 

I was swept away with this story from page one. Ashley and Jason are joined by Scarlett, Bax’s pretend girlfriend, and with Warren, his comic bookstore owner/friend, they all search for the Djinn thief, and plan on how to overpower Ifrit and send him away for good.

Sullivan’s novel makes good on its promise to deliver a great YA read filled with Djinn lore, family drama, girlfriend problems, and lots of action! Highly recommended five-star read!

Your Next Favorite Author—Susie Black  

Fourth down…you’re dead.

There wasn’t an honest bone in Buzz Bixby’s body. The Encino High School’s head football coach was an equal-opportunity scoundrel. Bixby cheated and lied his way to the top and screwed anyone and everyone in his wake. So, the question wasn’t who wanted the bastard dead. The question was, who didn’t? Student reporter Hannah White’s interview with the coach is a nonstarter when she discovers varsity football hero Dean Snyder standing over Bixby’s battered corpse holding a bloody trophy. Despite how guilty Dean looks, Hannah is convinced he’s innocent. When Snyder is arrested for Bixby’s murder, the wise-cracking, irreverent amateur sleuth jumps into action to flesh out the real killer. But the trail has more twists and turns than a slinky, and nothing turns out how Hannah thinks it will as she tangles with a clever killer hellbent on revenge.

Named Best US Author of the Year by N. N. Lights Book Heaven, multi-award-winning cozy mystery author Susie Black was born in the Big Apple but now calls sunny Southern California home. She has published seven books in four years and book eight is slated for release in May 2025. 

She reads, writes, and speaks Spanish, albeit with an accent that sounds like Mildred from Michigan went on a Mexican vacation and is trying to fit in with the locals. Since life without pizza and ice cream as her core food groups wouldn’t be worth living, she’s a dedicated walker to keep her girlish figure. A voracious reader, she’s also an avid stamp collector. Susie lives with a highly intelligent man and is the mother of one incredibly brainy but smart-aleck adult son who inexplicably blames his sarcasm on an inherited genetic defect. 

Avis: Welcome to Your Next Favorite Author! Today’s guest, Susie Black, has joined us several times and is already a favorite! Her newest novel, The Case of the Croaked Coach, released February 17, 2025. It is set on the campus of Encino High School in California and introduces a new hero in The Hannah White Mystery Series.

            I can’t wait to find out more! Our first question today is:

Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?

Susie: Yes, I do. I have several personal characteristics, physical traits, and personal history details that I have purposely infused into my protagonist that I hide in plain sight. Only close friends and family will recognize them.

Avis: That’s fun! I bet they love finding themselves or recognizing the traits! As a writer myself, this next question is one I love to know the answer to:

What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?

Susie: I always know how the story will begin and end, but I have difficulty with “the mushy middle.” I overcome it by allowing the characters to take the story from the middle to the end. Of course, if I don’t like what they have done, they know I can change it. Or, if I absolutely HATE what they did, they know I can either write them out of the story or kill them off…so they are highly motivated to do a fabulous job.

Avis: LOL! Your characters have a life of their own! It’s sometimes difficult to rein in the unruly character, but the threat of murder probably works well! Here’s another writerly question:

What is your writing Kryptonite?

Susie: I have two: Overusing certain words and using cliches that can make the stories unintentionally dated. For The Case of the Croaked Coach, thankfully, several of my YA authors guided me away from the cliches that would not fit in a high school today.

Avis: I do the same things! Thankfully my critique group lets me know when I’m wading into cliches and overusing words. My editor at Wild Rose Press does as well! Thank heavens for revision, right? It takes me so long to get a book from inception to final draft, so that’s our next question:

How long, on average, does it take you to write a book?

Susie: From inception to submission, about four months.

Avis: That’s amazing! You are so disciplined to make that happen! Your fans surely love it, though, to have a new read so quickly! I love this next question so much, because we all began as readers, right:

What is your favorite childhood book and why?

Susie: Hands down, the books in both the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series. I credit an early interest in solving puzzles and mysteries and the development of a sense of curiosity and asking questions learned in those books to my now writing cozy mysteries. 

Avis: Well, that explains a lot! Especially your chosen genre! I thought this book read like a Nancy Drew, and I mean that as a compliment! Next question please:

What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?

SUSIE: I am friends with several author colleagues, both men and women-including the interviewer- who write in various genres, mostly different from the one I write in. These authors have given me some great suggestions, especially on how to write a YA story that will appeal to both young and adult mystery readers and how to keep my series relevant to readers.

Avis: Excellent answer, friend, and I agree! Other writers give a different type of critique that is so helpful to our writing and makes it stronger. 😊 Here is our last question of the day:

Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?

Susie: While I write my books as a series with a continuing cast of characters and setting to build a bodywork with connections between each book, I’ve written each book with enough information from earlier books in the series that each one can stand on its own.

Avis: That is so difficult to do, but you manage to do that so well! I’ve enjoyed so many of your books, and I love the characters, but a reader could pick up any one of them, and enjoy an excellent read without beginning with book one!

            Thank you so much for joining us again, Susie! Good luck on your new venture into YA mystery! I know your books will be well received by young and old alike! For a review of The Case of the Croaked Coach, keep reading beyond Susie’s social media links. 😊

Blue Sky: https://www.hollysusiewrites.bsky.social

Facebook: Susie Black, author of The Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series | Facebook

Facebook: https://facebook.com/TheHollySwimsuitMysterySeries

Instagram: Susie Black (@hollyswimsuit) • Instagram photos and videos

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/authorsusieblack-61941011

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hollysusie1_saved/

Twitter/X: http://twitter.com/@hollyswimsuit

Review by Avis M. Adams

Susie Black has done it again, this time with her new series for YA readers! The Case of the Crooked Coach, the debut title of the Hannah White Mystery Series, takes us to Encino High in sunny Southern California where we meet our teenaged protagonist. 

Hannah White, a typical high school student, is an investigative reporter on the school paper, The Coyote Weekly Chronicle. When Hannah is sent on assignment to interview Buzz Bixby, the scandal-ridden, womanizing head football Coach, she expects to get the inside scoop on his new coaching job for a college team. Instead, Hannah discovers Bixby’s crumpled body sprawled across his desk, and varsity football star Dean Snyder holding the murder weapon, a blood-drenched state championship trophy. Despite how it looks, Hannah believes in Dean’s innocence, but the cops disagree and arrest him. Hannah’s pursuit of the real killer takes her on a trail of intrigue and danger. As she closes in on her suspects, whoever murdered Coach Bixby now wants Hannah dead.

Black’s distinctive voice is ever present in this fast-paced murder mystery with her trademark touch of humor to keep readers on their toes. Black’s masterful development of this plot thickens with more twists and turns than the Mosquito Ridge Road. Black weaves another cozy mystery with murder and suspense creating tension on every page. Readers will be wondering until the final pages whodunnit! Highly recommended to Black fans, cozy mystery lovers, and anyone looking for a great YA mystery!

Your Next Favorite Author—Jennifer Ivy Walker!

Dragon of Denmark is a sizzling, scintillating blend of historical fiction, Norse mythology, paranormal fantasy, and steamy Viking romance!

Skårde the Scourge, bastard son of the Danish king Harald Bluetooth, is a fierce Viking warlord who earned the prestigious title Dragon of Denmark through victorious battles and lucrative Viking raids. When his royal father announces that Skårde will forge a Viking alliance through an arranged marriage to the daughter of Richard the Fearless, the Dragon of Denmark considers the voyage to Normandy an infuriating banishment.
     Illegitimate daughter of Richard the Fearless, the Viking Duke of Normandy, Ylva is a Druid priestess and Celtic healer with the otherworldly gift of sight. She learns that she must leave her Breton village behind and travel to Normandy, where she will marry the Viking brute that she has foreseen in a terrifying vision.
     When the Frankish king, determined to drive the Vikings from Normandy, attacks and seizes Richard’s clifftop fortress, the Dragon of Denmark must ally with Ljósálfar Light Elves, a Viking völva with powerful seiðr magic, and a vitki— a shapeshifting sorcerer who can assume the form of a falcon–to reclaim the ducal palace.

     Jennifer Ivy Walker is an award-winning author of medieval, paranormal, Celtic, and Viking romance. A former high school French teacher and professor at a state college in Florida, she holds an MA degree in French literature.  Her novels encompass a love for French language, literature, history, and culture, incorporating her lifelong study and many trips to France. 

Avis: Welcome to Your Next Favorite Author! Today’s guest is already a favorite, Jennifer Ivy Walker! Her newest novel, Dragon of Denmark, released October 5, 2024. It is set in France on the Normandy coast and showcases her research on the Viking age and France during this tumultuous time of Viking occupation that becomes permanent!

            Let’s begin our discussion with this first question: 

Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?

Jennifer: Yes, in my novel, Winter Solstice in the Crystal Castle, there are hidden secrets for readers who finished my fantasy trilogy, The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven, that others will simply miss.

Avis: Readers will want to check out all your books to keep up with the stories, the characters, and find the secrets! That’s half the fun for me when I find an author I love. 😊 Question number two is:

What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?

Jennifer: Balancing family obligations with finding time to write.

Avis:  I agree! As a writer, we cannot hit pause so we can work on our writing! It seems like you are a great time-manger, though because you’ve written so many books in just the last couple years! 

            Which leads to question number three:

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

Jennifer: Generally, it takes me about four months to write a novel, or a month for a novella. 

Avis:  Like I said before, you are a terrific time manager! Your list of titles is growing so quickly, it will keep your fans very happy! There is a lot to read. 😊

Our fourth questions is:

What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?

Jennifer: I am friends with Michelle Godard-Richer and Virginie Marconato. Both are encouraging and supportive, giving me critiques and advice.

Avis:  They are both great writers and you’re lucky to have such great friends! We need that kind of support to keep doing what we do. 😊

            Our fifth and final question is:

Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?

Jennifer: I have done both. I’ve written a trilogy (The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven), with two spinoff novels that can stand alone (Winter Solstice in the Crystal Castle and A Celtic Yuletide Carol) but both books are much better understood (to find hidden secrets, for example, as mentioned above in number one) if read as part of an ongoing series.  Dragon of Denmark is book 1 of the Valiant Vikings series, with each book capable of standing alone, but much better appreciated if read as a series in the proper order. I have also written a WWII romantic suspense (The Witch of the Breton Woods) and two steamy novellas (Amour in Avignon and Flames of Flamenco) which are individual works and not part of any series.

Avis:  You are one prolific writer, my friend! Thanks for sharing some of you secrets and a bit more on your writing life!     

And thank you so much for visiting YNFA today, and for all you readers meeting Jennifer ivy Walker for the first time, see below for Jennifer’s socials, and for a review of her wonderful historical/Viking Age novel, Dragon of Denmark. If you scroll beyond the review, you’ll find a list of Walker’s other books as well as a blurb of Dragon of Denmark!

Until next time, keep reading and writing! 😊

Jennifer’s Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferIvyWalker/

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

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jenniferivywalker.bsky.social

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/bohemienneivy/vikings/

Website:  https://jenniferivywalker.com/

Book Links:

Amazon

Goodreads

Bookbub

Review by Avis M. Adams

Jennifer Ivy Walker does it again with The Dragon of Denmark, a romance set in a series from the Viking Age. Skärde the Scourge is the bastard son of Harold Bluetooth, and he stands to gain nothing from his father the Danish king. Ylva is the illegitimate daughter of Richard the Fearless, the Viking Duke of Normandy, France, is shunned by her Frankish neighbors because of her Viking father. When the two fathers get together and devise a marriage between these two, sparks of rage fly.

            Ylva is as outraged by the union as is Skärde, and the move to Normandy is a shock to Skärde, the Dragon of Denmark’s system, but the two have no recourse but to do what they are told. The anger felt by both young people sets this up as a union for disaster, but Ylva’s healing abilities, and Skärde’s prowess with a sword can sustain them both in this unwanted union. 

            Little do these two know that father knows best, as they go through with the ceremony, and their love unfolds the more they learn of each other. Walker’s mastery at developing relationships that give us goosebumps and make us swoon is front and center in this tale of royal disputes, battles of honor, and mystical healing.

Historical romance fans will love this tale of love, blended with Norse lore and legend. 

Bonus Info!

Other Novels by Jennifer Ivy Walker

The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven

The Lady of the Mirrored Lake

The Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight

Winter Solstice in the Crystal Castle

A Celtic Yuletide Carol

The Witch of the Breton Woods

Flames of Flamenco

Amour in Avignon

Excerpt from Dragon of Denmark:  Vision of the Viking Beast

Inside the hidden sea cave, Ylva dipped her hands into the ebullient pool at the bottom of the cascade, bringing the icy water to her lips and drinking deeply from the sacred spring of Mont Garrot. She washed her face and neck with the cleansing spray from the waterfall. Bowing her head in reverence upon the altar she had built, Ylva bid her blessed goddess Divona adieu and prepared to exit the holy shrine.

But as she attempted to rise, the deafening roar of the waterfall suddenly stilled as a stifling darkness descended, transfixing her to the altar where she knelt before the pool. In the limpid depths before her, a towering, heavily armed warrior appeared in the mirrored waters of the sacred spring.

Pulse pounding, limbs trembling, Ylva was mesmerized by the terrifying image of the massive Viking beast.

Long blond locks extended past his enormous shoulders, and a braided beard covered his oxlike neck. Thick furs draped down his broad muscled back. Silver torques with elaborate carvings encircled his mammoth arms, inked with terrifying images of dragons, wolves, and bears. In an intricate scabbard belted at his sinewy waist, a gleaming sword with a glittering emerald in its hilt was sheathed upon his left hip. Dark leggings clung to heavily muscled thighs, and leather boots and furs laced up his wide, sculpted calves.

At the sight of the rippled torso riddled with scars and covered with dark blond hair, Ylva’s breath caught in her throat.

Emblazoned across his mountainous chest, a jagged thunderbolt scorched the bare skin.

As she beheld the lightning streak which marked the monstrous brute, a sizzling energy surged up her veins. Frozen in fear, Ylva was immersed in the current which flowed from the sacred spring and seared her from within. Gazing into the hypnotic waves of the mirrored pool, she glimpsed a white castle perched high upon an oceanfront cliff. 

And, in the distance, anchored in a sheltered cove, the red and white striped sails and carved dragon prows of an enormous fleet of Viking ships.

Your Next Favorite Author—Avis M. Adams!

It’s release day for The Consequences!

Tagline: She lost her family. Can she save her community, or will she lose her life trying?

Olivia survived the illness that killed her family, and now all she wants to do is escape her grief. She is hell-bent on getting to her horse, then maybe she will be okay. But what was once a fifteen-minute drive to the stable, is now an arduous seven-mile bike ride through a post-apocalyptic landscape. 

When she arrives at the stable, her horse has died, and the stable owner desperately needs hay to save his other horses. With Brian the Dorkmeister in tow, she sets out to find the hay man, but when she does, he begs Olivia to journey on into the mountains for the medicine he desperately needs to save his youngest child from the illness.

As Olivia travels the destroyed landscape of washed-out roads and fallen timber, with no phone service, and no electricity, and an oncoming storm, her own illness recurs. How can she help anyone, and who can she trust in this crazy, broken world—the boy she pushes away or her unpredictable ex who once cared for her?

On this trail of survival, Olivia learns that she must first trust herself then maybe she can save the people she loves. 

Avis Adams loves the Pacific Northwest and live near Forest Park in Portland, Oregon. She has two YA novels, The Incident and The Disappearing Names and one romance novella, The Christmas Wish Knotts, released from TWRP. She has a new YA novel, The Consequences, a sequel to The Incident. Her first love is poetry, and Quilcene, a chapbook, was published by Finishing Line Press.  She belongs to the Baker Street Writers Group, and the Flamingo’s Reborn Writers and is an active member of the Willamette Writers. She volunteers at the WW office hours for critiques and brown bag lunches. She has taught English for three decades, most of them at Green River College, and she enjoys presenting sessions on writing craft at local conferences and writer meetings. In her spare time, she hikes, spends time with family (read granddaughter!), kayaks, cross-country skis, reads, and take long walks in Forest Park. But mostly, she loves to write.

Welcome!

I’ve never posted a blog about myself, so here goes! This is release day for The Consequences, book two in a trilogy on climate change, and I’m so excited!

The Consequences follows two teens, Olivia and Brian, as they journey into the mountains to save their friends and family from a deadly illness that is devastating their community. 

I’m not going to do an interview with myself, but I will say that I love to write, and seeing my books in print is a lifelong dream! Thank you for reading and for all your support!

Check out my book and my social links at:

The Consequences

Excerpt:

Brian shuffled his feet.

I sighed. Why did he have to care about me? I couldn’t afford to care about him or anyone, not after all the death, not after—

Perry Brewster. My chest constricted. The best-looking guy in the senior class, and he’d chosen me. Mom was furious and Grandpa didn’t approve, but Perry was a force I didn’t even try to resist.

The last thing I needed right now was another boyfriend. My breath caught in my throat. I was still raw after Perry. I lifted my bike and pushed it around a fallen tree. Why had Perry changed after his mom passed? Grandpa Billy and I had sat two rows behind him at her funeral. It was the last time he spoke to me, but I could tell something was wrong, I waited for him to get over his grief and come back to me, but I was hit by my own grief storm and quit caring.

I walked around in a fever, alone in our big house. Grief canceled Perry’s rejection. Then Dr. Johnson diagnosed, “Novel Hepatitis A Virus,” and I collapsed. 

Novel HAV. What was “novel” about a disease? Emma said “novel” meant we had no immunity. All I knew was I had zero immunity to grief, and Shadow was all that kept me going.

I might shatter into a million tiny pieces if she was gone too. 

“I need to get to the barn.” I glared at Brian. “She’ll fight to live if I’m there.” I lifted my bike from the ground and mounted, then stood on my pedals pressing with all my weight. 

The crow glided between the trees left standing, and a tremor ran through me I pedaled harder past trees laying on the ground in a tangle and stacks of cord wood by Dad’s road clearing crew. Why didn’t they come back? Because of them, I had to pull my bike over all these logs. 

“Hold up.” Brian pulled his bike in front of me.

“Now what?” I scowled at him.

“I just need to rest a minute.” He pulled out a water bottle and took a swig.

He meant he needed me to rest, but Dr. Johnson said to do what I was able to do, even if I was exhausted. My own doctor would know better than some dork on a bike. 

“Fine.” I swung my pack from my shoulder. Two could play at this game. I reached into my pack for my water bottle. My fingers brushed a book cover, my journal. Dr. Johnson said writing might be cathartic and help me with my “grief.” Perry had surprised me with it on my birthday last April. I ran my hand over the cover. That had been a year ago.

I pulled out my water and took a deep swig. The Cascade foothills rolled from dark to lighter blue as they rose higher into the mountains, and I drank in the sweet mountain air. Brian kept his distance when we rode past the Forest Ranger Station. Maybe he was smarter than I gave him credit for? 

I slowed down by the sign I’d taken for granted until now.

Mt. Rainier National Park

Mother Nature’s Playground

Our playground. I glanced behind me. Brian was staring at the abandoned station. Dad had kept this place running, but the windows remained dark since his— 

I pressed on. Shadow had to be alive.

The cloud cover grew thicker, and the temperature dropped, but sweat trickled down my back all the same. I wiped my nose on the back of my sleeve. My ribs ached on my upper right side. Mrs. Z said grief had lowered my immune system. I was so sick of her harping on about the seven stages of grief.

 I was stuck on 4. Depression, Reflection, Loneliness. Ugh. It was like that e.e. cummings poem, “Loneliness.” It seemed more like an anagram, a word game, than a poem. Mr. Woods loved that poem. I sighed. Sometimes memories of life before El Primo helped, but not now. 

Your Next Favorite Author–Susie Black!

Brings a whole new meaning to “the rabbit died.”

Mermaid Swimwear President Holly Schlivnik discovers the Bainbridge Department Store Easter Bunny slumped over dead and obnoxious swimwear buyer Sue Ellen Magee is arrested for the crime. Despite her differences with the nasty buyer, Holly is convinced the Queen of Mean didn’t do it. The wise-cracking, irreverent amateur sleuth jumps into action to nail the real killer. But the trail has more twists than a pretzel and more turns than a rollercoaster. And nothing turns out the way Holly thinks it will as she tangles with a clever killer hellbent on revenge. 

Named Best US Author of the Year by N. N. Lights Book Heaven, award-winning cozy mystery author Susie Black was born in the Big Apple but now calls sunny Southern California home. Like the protagonist in her Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, Susie is a successful apparel sales executive. Susie began telling stories as soon as she learned to talk. Now she’s telling all the stories from her garment industry experiences in humorous mysteries. 

She reads, writes, and speaks Spanish, albeit with an accent that sounds like Mildred from Michigan went on a Mexican vacation and is trying to fit in with the locals. Since life without pizza and ice cream as her core food groups wouldn’t be worth living, she’s a dedicated walker to keep her girlish figure. A voracious reader, she’s also an avid stamp collector. Susie lives with a highly intelligent man and has one incredibly brainy but smart-aleck adult son who inexplicably blames his sarcasm on an inherited genetic defect. 

Avis: Welcome, readers, to another edition of Your Next Favorite Author! Today’s interview is with my writer friend, Susie Black. Welcome back, Susie, and congratulations on another page turner cozy mystery! I really loved this one, and so will cozy fans. 😊 Susie has been on the blog several time, but she always has new tidbits about her writing strategies and her latest projects, so let’s begin, shall we? 

Here’s the first question:

Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?

SUSIE: Yes, I do. I have several personal characteristics, physical traits, and personal history details that I have purposely infused into my protagonist that I hide in plain sight. Only close friends and family will recognize them.

Avis: LOL! I love that! Using real people to help develop your characters really brings them to life and makes them unique, and you are so good at that! Is Holly Schlivnik based on you? LOL! You don’t have to answer. 😊

            Our next question is:

What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?

SUSIE: I always know how the story will begin and end, but I have difficulty with “the mushy middle.” I overcome it by allowing the characters to take the story from the middle to the end. Of course, if I don’t like what they have done, they know I can change it. Or, if I absolutely HATE what they did, they know I can either write them out of the story or kill them off…so they are highly motivated to do a fabulous job.

Avis: LOL! You really see your novel characters as real people and let them make decisions about how to shape the story. That’s very cool and takes a lot of mastery. It seems like they pay attention to their imminent deaths if they misbehave! 😊

            I’d love to hear your response to this next question:

What is your writing Kryptonite?

SUSIE: I have two: Overusing certain words and using cliches that can make the stories unintentionally dated.

Avis: I have to say that I’m guilty of overusing certain words! My critique group lets me know all the time! Clichés are easy to write into our books, aren’t they? But you use them so well! I love a “a car full of circus clowns,” for one!

            Here’s a question our readers will want to know the answer to:

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

SUSIE: From inception to submission, about four months.

Avis: You have got to be kidding me! That’s fast! Good for you, and I’m sure your fans are thrilled because they know there’s another book coming soon from their favorite author!

            I also love this next question:

What is your favorite childhood book and why?

SUSIE: Hands down, the books in both the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series. I credit an early interest in solving puzzles and mysteries and the development of a sense of curiosity and asking questions learned in those books to my now writing cozy mysteries. 

Avis: Okay, Susie, that makes a lot of sense! You really bring your love of mystery to your cozy novels, that’s for sure! You also solved a problem I have when asked this question! How do you choose just one book? You chose two series that have so many, many books!

            Our next question is another one that is so interesting:

What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?

SUSIE: I am friends with several author colleagues both men and women-including the interviewer- who write in various genres, mostly different from the one I write in. These authors have given me some great suggestions, especially on how to keep my series relevant to readers. Several write in the paranormal genre and have encouraged me to add some “woo-woo” to my plots. I added two hilarious ghosts in Death by Jelly Beans. The response has been so overwhelmingly positive in focus groups, that I have made the two ghosts’ continuous characters in the series. Author colleagues who write romance suggested that I give the series protagonist a love life and a pet. My main character has two men in her life now and a male standard poodle named Sigmund Freud who is wildly popular with readers. 

Avis: Thanks for nod, and I can think of a couple paranormal authors who are very happy about your ghosts! You really satisfy your readers by listening to these requests and it brings such depth to your novels and makes them a joy to read!

            Our last question today is:

Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?

SUSIE: While I write my books as a series with a continuing cast of characters and setting to build a body of work with connections between each book, I’ve written each book with enough information from earlier books in the series that each one can stand on its own.

Avis: Thanks for that answer, Susie! You craft each book to stand alone, even if it is a series with wonderful repeat characters! 

I’m so happy to interview you on another excellent novel, and I’m so impressed by how many wonderful reads you have produced in such a short amount of time! I for one can’t wait for the next installment!

            See links to Susie’s socials below and scroll down for my review of Death by Jelly Beans a Holly Swimsuit Mystery Book 5, release date, September 4th, 2024! This is another 5-star novel from Susie Black!

Book Bub: www.bookbub.com/authors/susie-black

Facebook:    https://facebook.com/TheHollySwimsuitMysterySeries

Good Reads: Search results for “Susie Black” (showing 1-9 of 82 books) | Goodreads

Instagram:   Susie Black (@hollyswimsuit) • Instagram photos and videos

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/authorsusieblack-61941011

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/hollysusie1_saved/

Twitter:    http://twitter.com/@hollyswimsuit

Website: www.authorsusieblack.com

E-mail: mysteries_@authorsusieblack.com

Review by Avis M. Adams

Death by Jelly Beans is Susie Black’s latest addition to her award-winning series, The Holly Swimsuit Mysteries. In this Easter-themed whodunit, Holly Schlivnik is back at it when once again, and the police have arrested the wrong person. With her beloved standard poodle Siggie by her side, Holly sets out on another murder-solving adventure.

While Holly waits to meet with Sue Ellen Magee, the nasty swimwear buyer at Bainbridge Department Stores, the President of Mermaid Swimwear overhears an argument between the Queen of Mean buyer and  Pedro Conejo, President of Rent-A-Rabbit-Characters. Dressed in an Easter bunny costume, Pedro gets an earful from Sue Ellen for allegedly drinking alcohol on the job in the buyer’s “kid-friendly” swimsuit display. 

On her way for another meeting with Sue Ellen, Holly discovers the Easter bunny dead in the display. After several fights with said rabbit, Sue Ellen is arrested for the bunny’s murder. However, Holly is not convinced Sue Ellen killed the rabbit and her search for the real killer begins. 

Susie Black masterfully weaves this plot with delicate twists and turns, multiple suspects who all hate Sue Ellen, and a myriad of other wonderful characters that leap off the page. With her skill in world-building and creating suspense, Black keeps us scratching our heads to the final reveal and very satisfying denouement! 

Cozy mystery fans will love Susie Black’s latest edition. Death by Jelly Beans is sure to hit all the high notes and satisfy even the most avid mystery reader. Five-Stars!

Your Next Favorite Author—Cyndi L. Stuart

This Killer Won’t Let You Run Away!

A letter, sealed with blood red wax, arrives in a small coastal town. Samantha’s hopes of a new, quiet life are shattered. The killer is back. Like years before, the crime scenes mimic classic mysteries Samantha once taught in her English Lit class—The Art of Detection. Is one murder staged from an Ellery Queen novel? P.D. James? Sherlock Holmes? Maybe more. 

Five years ago, strangers died. This time—friends. As the body count climbs, this menace must be found, or the killings may never stop. What’s hidden in the tiny details? Why is the killer taunting her? As the killer closes in, does she once again cut and run or stand and fight? What will Sam risk to bring this nightmare to an end?

Cyndi didn’t start out life as a mystery writer. But one day something unexpected happened—she became a woman of a certain age.

“What in the world are you waiting for?” said the voice in her head as she woke up on her fiftieth birthday. “That novel isn’t going to write itself! And YOU, sweet pea, are NOT getting any younger.” 

So, after years spent as a naturalist on the north Oregon coast and PNW garden speaker, Cyndi dusted off her old Comm degree, left technical writing behind and got to work on short stories, flash fiction, and personal essays. But in secret she tapped away on her first mystery novel, Deadly Yours, which has now been published by The Wild Rose Press.

The challenge of creating stories from her own imagination, current events, history, and things she might have overheard at the local coffee shop is what makes her happy and where her passion for writing began. She now lives on a small island in south Puget Sound where she and her husband, a potter and artist, run an artisan business. When not reading, writing, or procrastinating, Cyndi can be found hiking, biking, or swimming in the local lakes, streams, and even Puget Sound (in a wetsuit).

Cyndi is a member of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association and Sisters in Crime.

Avis: Welcome to Your Next Favorite Author! Today’s guest is Cyndi L. Stuart! Her debut cozy-mystery novel, Deadly Yours, released April 17, 2024, and is set on the Oregon Coast and in Portland, Oregon! Two of my favorite places. 😊

            We are all excited to talk with Cyndi and find out more about her writing life. so let’s get started! Our first question is: 

Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?

Cyndi: Yes, and I’ll be interested to see if anyone figures them out. It would probably take a real mystery buff who has read some of the classics to find them.

Avis: Oh no! I think I missed some for sure! That is fun, so all you readers out there, if you find them, you’ll have to let Cyndi know!

            Here’s our next question:

What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?

Cyndi: Getting past the first 20,000 words. I seem to run out of steam at that point (even with a solid storyline) and I’m forced to have a “come to Jesus meeting” with my characters. I remind them that they are smart and should be able to get me to the end of the story. I end by telling them, “Buck up and get moving!”

Avis: LOL! Way to get after your characters! I never thought of bossing them around, and it seems to have worked because you’ve published a wonderful read! I’ll try that next time. 😊

            Our. next question is:

What is your writing Kryptonite?

Cyndi: Just about anything. I’m an Olympic Procrastinator and have the medals to prove it. I can dink-a-doo the day away with the best of them. To combat this, I have to set a specific writing time every day. I also placed my desk facing away from the window. I live in the forest and could stare out into the canopy, watching the world go by for hours.

Avis: Your place sounds idyllic! That would be distracting! 

If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?

Cyndi: I wish I would have ignored that infamous line every writer hears. “You can’t make a living as a writer.” If I had refused to listen, I believe I would have found a writing community early on and really tapped into my creative side BEFORE I turned 50. So, to all the striving and struggling writers out there, young or mature…Don’t You Believe A Word Of It! KEEPING WRITING!

Avis: Excellent advice for young writers, Cyndi, and a wonderful note to end today’s blog on. 😊

            Thanks so much for visiting YNFA today, and for all you readers out there, see below for Cyndi’s socials, and for a review of her wonderful cozy-mystery, Deadly Yours.

Until next time, keep reading and writing! 😊

Cyndi’s social media links

Review by Avis M. Adams

Cyndi Stuart’s cozy mystery Deadly Yours takes us on a journey through the double life of Samantha McMican, a life that she finds herself in peril of losing. 

As a reporter for the Cove Beach Chronicle in a small town on the Oregon Coast, Sam’s life is bucolic at best restful at most, but her book clubbers keep her on her toes. That all disappears with the arrival of a letter from an anonymous person who knows about her previous life, the one she is hiding from, the one that still haunts her dreams.

Stuart’s masterful story telling unravels a cast of wonderful well-crafted characters who support Sam as she works with Portland detectives to solve the mystery of who would want to kill her friends and ultimately her. The race against time creates a delicious tension as Sam’s past is revealed to her new friends in Cove Beach. With their help, she unravels the mystery before she loses to the mystery writer. 

Stuart’s pacing is impeccable, and as she unfolds the clues and possible leads, we turn the pages rooting for Sam and sitting on the edges of our seats! 

Murder mystery fans will devour this book, as will cozy mystery lovers, and anyone who wants a great summer read! Pick up Cyndi Stuart’s Deadly Yours and curl up in your beach chair, this book is a five-star read!

Released – April 17, 2024

Your Next Favorite Author–Terry Segan!

A mysterious plant, a forgotten necklace, and years of lost memories…

Twenty-two years after a tragic accident claimed Joy’s memories, a chance discovery in a gift shop nudges her forgotten past to the surface. Was it the cashier’s purple necklace, the Celestia seeds, or long-suppressed recollections pushing her to remember her former life?

            As she searches for clues leading home, unknown elements threaten her current happiness and those she loves. When a cryptic symbol forms on her wrist and additional instructions appear on the seed packets, they offer more confusion than clarity. 

            With her best friend’s help, Joy strings together the missing pieces of her mysterious provenance. Her quest uncovers those who have paid the price for her reckless youth. Will she be welcomed back with open arms or scorned for having survived?

            Release Date: May 29th, 2024!

Terry Segan, originally from Commack, NY, resides in Nevada. To appease her gypsy soul and travel cravings, she’s rarely found at home on the weekends. Her journeys inspire the paranormal mysteries filling the pages of her books. Some of her best ideas are worked out while traveling on the backseat of her husband’s motorcycle. His only request is to be a chalk outline in one of her novels—providing she’s still writing fiction. Terry’s goals are to cause her readers to laugh out loud, cry with joy, or cower under the covers wondering if that thump under the bed was real or imagined.

Avis: Welcome, readers, to another edition of Your Next Favorite Author! Today’s interview is with my writer friend, Terry Segan. Welcome back, Terry, and congratulations on another book! I really loved this one, and so will paranormal/Sci-Fi fans. 😊 Terry and I both released debut novels in 2022, and we are old friends at this point! I love learning new tidbits about her writing strategies and her latest projects!

            Let’s begin, shall we? Here’s the first question:

What is your writing Kryptonite?

Terry: Clutter! I’m one of those organized people who has to make the bed every morning. (Though that could be because all the covers end up on my side, and I’m disposing of the evidence.) My workspace has to be in order otherwise my creativity shuts down. Surprisingly, I can write almost anywhere—the beach, a bar, or outside at the picnic table. What I can’t handle, is being surrounded by stacks of stuff and debris. A room full of knick-knacks and tchotchkes might as well be a chorus line of toddlers waiting to poke the delete button when I turn my back.

Avis: LOL! You have a way of making me laugh, and this response is so funny! I’m similar, in that I need order. A messy room is death to my creativity, but all my knick-knacks can stay as long as they’re in their designated spot! I like a little controlled chaos! Let’s see what you think of our next question:

If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?

Terry: As a teenager, had I recognized my passion for writing, I would have taken classes to build my skills. Also, I would have begun writing books at a younger age. I’ve always had a grasp on grammar, but the nuances of crafting a compelling story have been a learning curve for me over the last decade and a half. I didn’t take writing seriously until my mid-forties. Some people need a sporty new car or round the world cruise to satisfy their mid-life crisis. I chose to become an author.

Avis: That’s good advice! Sometimes we ignore that inner calling! For me it was teaching English! I always wanted to write, but I always wrote! Now that I’m teaching, I will probably never stop! This next question is very personal for each writer:

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

Terry: It depends on which books. The first one took me a few years, the second about two. Now I’ve got the timeline down to about six months before my manuscript is ready for an editor. There are two different ways to look at my progress. Either I’ve improved my skills so I can get my ideas down quicker, or the characters screaming in my head are getting louder forcing me to set them loose sooner.

Avis: I love this response! I do think we improve our craft and shorten our production time with each book, and you are certainly proving that! Your finished novels are a joy to read! This next question also varies from author to author:

Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?

Terry: Both. Obviously, my standalone novels won’t relate to each other. My Marni Legend series has two published with a third being my current project. While those have definite connections, if a reader stumbles upon the second or third book first, I want them to be able to enjoy the book in its entirety without knowing all the backstory of the previous novel. I believe I add enough detail for new readers to understand the characters without boring those who began with book one. Though, I have been asked if I’ll be writing a sequel to Photographs in Time or, my current release, Five Steps to Celestia. I haven’t ruled either one out, but those would have to be read in order. As I mentioned earlier, there are many characters and stories in my head demanding time on the computer screen. Right now, it’s all about choices.

Avis: Thanks for that answer, Terry! It is about choice, isn’t it, and following what is right for each book! 

I’m so happy to have you back for another interview, and I’m so impressed by how many wonderful reads you have produced in the amount of time since you signed your first contract with The Wild Rose Press! I’ll be reading all your books and can’t wait for the next Installment!

            See links to Terry Segan’s socials below and scroll down for my review of Five Steps to Celestia, release date, May 29th, 2024! This is another 5-star novel from Terry Segan!

SOCIALS

Author Website: https://terrysegan.com/

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/AuthorTerrySegan

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SeganTerry

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorterrysegan

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Terry-Segan/e/B087YQGXMD

Review by Avis M. Adams

In Terry Segan’s latest paranormal novel, Five Steps to Celestia, we meet Joy, a woman without a past, or at least one she remembers. Segan sets this novel in the wine country of Oregon, and we meet Joy after decades of not knowing who she is, but she has managed to create the woman she has become, a wife (newly widowed), a stepmom, and owner of a successful business.

            The Mystic Swirl Winery is Joy’s home, but since her husband’s passing, she wants to retire. The story opens with Joy and Suzi, her newly divorced best friend, roaming through a gift shop. Joy is trying to cheer Suzi over her new status of single. Segan has a talent for developing sassy and humorous characters, and in this novel, Suzi takes that prize. 

As they peruse the contents of yet another gift shop, Joy meets an older man who helps her into buying three interesting seed packets that catch her eye. He’s as mysterious as the packets that proclaim five steps, but list only one. He also wears a necklace with a glass vial like one given her in the hospital after the accident that stole her memory. 

            As Joy follows step one on the mysterious seed packet, the second step becomes visible. Odd? Yes! And enough to keep this reader turning pages. To add to the complexity of Joy’s new widowhood, her desire to retire, and the tension in her stepdaughter’s marriage, Segan filters in hints of the life that Joy has forgotten. 

            She teases out little tidbits as the story progresses, adding to the mystery and the danger of Joy’s past, as characters enter the story benign and friendly, and turn threatening as more of her past is revealed. 

            Segan’s Five Steps to Celestia is a mystery you’ll want to dive into at the beach, on a trip, or at the end of a busy day so grab your coffee, tea, or a glass of wine, and sit back for the ride of your life. Segan is steering this craft with masterful ease, and readers won’t be disappointed. This novel deserves Five stars!

Your Next Favorite Author–Kate Ristau!

 She must learn to fight in the shadows — or die in the flames. This is not a fairy tale.

Áine (On-yah) lives in the light, but she is haunted by darkness, and when her fey powers blaze out of control, she escapes into the Shadowlands. But she cannot outrun her past. Fire fey and a rising darkness threaten the light, burning a path across the veil. Her fiery dreams come to life, and with the help of Hennessy, an uninhibited Irish girl, Áine dives into the flames to discover who she truly is. Her mother burned to keep her secret safe, and now Áine wields the deadly Eta. She must learn to fight in the shadows — or die in the flames. This is not a fairy tale.

Kate Ristau is an author, folklorist, and the Executive Director of Willamette Writers. She is the author of three middle grade series, Clockbreakers, Mythwakers, and Wylde Wings, and the young adult series, Shadow Girl. You can read her essays in The New York Times and The Washington Post. Kate is the Producer of the Nebula Awards, the Chair of the Tigard Public Library Board of Directors, and the Vice-President of the Oregon Poetry Association. Meet her online at Kateristau.com.

 Avis: Welcome to another episode of Your Next Favorite Author! I am so excited to welcome middle grade/YA author Kate Ristau! Kate is a full-time writer and executive Director of the Willamette Writers a group that covers the entire state of Oregon, as well as a board member of the Oregon Poetry Association, and many more writing affiliations!

I am excited to talk with Kate about writing craft today, which leads us to our first question:

What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?

Kate: I tend to write my first drafts in a sprint, building the story and telling it to myself. Revisions take me forever, as I build out the characters and the world. Sometimes, I wish I was more of a planner, outlining my story beforehand, but I know I never will be. My favorite part of writing is uncovering the story – chasing down the plot and revealing the twists and turns.

Avis: Well, you certainly are a master at finding the story! I’ve read two of your series, The ClockBreakers Series, and The Shadow Girl Series. I loved the way your stories build and develop and take us on a journey that is filled with unexpected twists and turns! Revision takes me forever as well, and I think it’s because I too am a pantser with a bit of plotting thrown in. The next question is:

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

Kate: My first drafts take less than a month. They are fun and joyful. Revising is a whole other ball game (and I’m terrible at sports). It probably takes me about a year to complete a revision, though a lot of that time is actually sitting and thinking. I have to work a few things out in my head before I start fixing them on paper. 

I’m working on a problem like that right now in one of my stories. I gave the characters too much magic, and I’m trying to figure out the limits of that magic. Once I’ve got that figured out, I’ll go back to that story. I’m working on other projects in the meantime.

 Avis: I love this response! Juggling different projects keeps you on your toes, I’m sure! Revision for publication is a study in details, details, and more details! 

            Here’s our next question:

What is your favorite childhood book and why?

 Kate: I loved Greek mythology – all those stories of gods and monsters. I liked the heroes too, but I never really connected with them. I connected with the story – the overcoming. Then I started to think to myself: what other stories are out there? What haven’t we heard or read or celebrated?

 Avis: I love that about all of your stories! You choose a culture or a country and focus on their folklore and heroes, their gods and goddess! I love it! It’s what makes your stories unique, yet even between your different series, they are all connected by that focus on myth, folklore, and the crazy characters they develop. You take them to a new level. 😊

            Our last question is:

What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?

Kate: I am a HUGE believer in writing community. I love talking about writing and connecting with other writers. I also love reading – I’m constantly working through stories and poems. I actually think the two most important things for any writer is reading and connecting. One builds your craft and the other builds your life!

Avis: You do both so well, and you are my role model. 😊 Reading is so important and I know most writers are voracious readers, but I’m not sure all writers seek out community, and that’s what I find important too! 

            I’m so glad you were my guest today, and it’s exciting to hear a bit about your ideas and world of creating and writing! For more information about Kate’s work visit her webpage, and see her social links listed below!

            Also, scroll for a review of her Clockbreakers Series, because I couldn’t read just one. 😊

Socials:

https://www.facebook.com/ristawesome

https://www.instagram.com/kateristau

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm3r4Q2kbHf-fXhOZJgXekg

Review by Avis M. Adams

Kate Ristau’s middle grade fantasy novel, Asterion’s Curse. is the first book in her Clockbreakers Series. Ristau, a folklorist and storyteller, creates a hero whose name is as important and specific to the story as the key. Eleven-year-old Charles Kleis the 15th, or Char, or Charlie is our wheelchair bound, female protagonist. As the first child in her family, she had to have that name or none of this story would have happened.

            Ristau’s characters that leap off the page, and Charlie most of all. 

When her dad decides to throw her a birthday, Charlie isn’t onboard, but she loves her grandfather who happens to be rich. He lives in a mansion filled with weird doors, and he throws her the most extravagant birthday party, just what she never wanted. 

            Dad and Grandfather have something they need to tell her, but when the doorbell rings, and Charlie answers, she accepts a key from a tall man in a dark suit, Mr. Prom, who speaks with an accent, and he’s looking for her.  The key has an intricate, delicate, and elegant design, she becomes attached, almost addicted, to it. 

            It comes with a “small price,” a strand of her hair, which she freely give the man so she can keep the key. Her best friend, Maria, is wary of the deal, but Mr. Prom disappear. Charlie doesn’t care. She has the key.

            She’s returns to her party, which is in full swing, when her grandfather rushes to her disheveled and asking if she’d accepted a key. Charlie confirms his worst fears, and our adventure begins. 

Grandfather informs her that her father has been kidnapped by evil automatons, and Charlie must use the key to find him. With Trent and Maria by her side she turns the key in the door’s lock, and the room filled with light.

            Ristau masterfully crafts a portal, a means to transport her young protagonist into Ancient Greece and the famous Labyrinth of the Minotaur, Asterion, who just happens to know her dad. As a matter of fact, he has known many of the Charles Kleises through the ages. The last words Charlie spoke to her father are seared on her brain, and new she wants to rescue him and apologize. If the only way to do that is with the help of a minotaur named Asterion, her frenemy Trent, and her best friend Maria so be it. 

Charlie and her friends learn they have powers in this strange land. Trent has super strength. Maria has super speed, and Charlie has the brains to plan their attacks and figure stuff out. Asterion understands the Ancient Greek world they are in, and all four of them work together to fight and win the battle between Prom and his automatons. They must win if Charlie ever wants to see her dad again.

            Asterion’s Curse sets up The Clockbreaker Series as an epic journey of three friends who must fight along the Minotaur, Asterion, against the evil Prom to reunite Charlie and her father and finbally reunite Asterion with his sister. 

Asterion’s Curse, Book 1 in the Clockbreaker Series will appeal to readers who love myth and folklore, magic, and adventure. And great news, each book in the series takes our heroes to another land and their myths, gods, and goddesses. Hang on to your butts for the ride of your life, and look for Morrigan’s Revenge, Book 2, and The End of Time, Book 3! Five-stars