Connections eMagazine February 2026 Edition

Connections eMagazine

Message from the Editor

Free Publication

The Purpose of this eMagazine is to connect readers and bloggers with authors. The first magazine of the new year is always one of my favorites. It’s devoted to spring, love, and new growth—everything that feels especially welcome after a long winter. I think we could all use a little of that right now. So settle in, enjoy some wonderful stories, and discover a few new books along the way. I hope you love this issue as much as I did.

“Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary.” - Jim Rohn

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FEATURES

Sylva Fae… A beloved children’s book author who brings imagination to life with warmth, whimsy, and heart. Her stories sparkle with adventure while gently celebrating courage, kindness, and curiosity Through enchanting worlds and unforgettable characters, she inspires young readers to dream big and believe in their own magic. (Page 6)

Author Interviews

…

In this issue Holly B. Gutwillinger (Page 34), Liisa Kovala (Page 74), Samantha Evans (Page 110), and Zachary Hagen (Page 130).

In every issue...

First Chapters

Book Reviews

Author Tips and Tricks

• A Picture is Worth 1000 Words by Multiple Authors

• 77 1/2 Herbs — Juniper by Ronesa Aveela

• Pawnee Express by Tom Benson

• The Challenges of Co-authoring by E.A. Darl

• The Mouse Family That Live by the Brambles by Gez Robinson

• The Asrai By Lyssa Medana

• Aum by Shri Jaykishan Hariharbhai Kapdi

• Illustrated Idioms by Susan Faw

Louis L’Amour

Editorial Team

PUBLISHER — MPSmith Publishing

EDITOR –IN– CHIEF

Melanie P. Smith https://melaniepsmith.com

CONTENT EDITOR

Sylva Fae

https://www.facebook.com/SylvaFae

COPY EDITOR

LaPriel Dye https://dyenamicsediting.com

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Emalee Jensen

CONTENT MANAGER

Lyssa Medana https://alwaysanotherchapter.co.uk

REVIEWS..

Sassy Reads https://sassyreviews.data.blog/category/book-reviews/

The AR Critique https://elarcritique.wordpress.com/free-book-reviews-for-authors

Author Anthony Avina’s Blog — https://authoranthonyavina.com/category/reviews

Always another Chapter https://alwaysanotherchapter.co.uk/category/book-review

Reader’s Choice https://passionduniya.wordpress.com/category/education/book-reviews

Eric Lahti https://ericlahti.wordpress.com/category/reviews/

PARTNERS

Creative Edge Publicity https://www.creative-edge.services

MPSmith Publishing and Connections eMagazine does not endorse any information contained in the articles or advertisements throughout this magazine. All contents are Copyright © by the individual authors and used with their permission. All rights reserved.

Sylva Fae

Meet Sylva Fae an award-winning children’s author, illustrator, and ghostwriter whose whimsical imagination continues to charm readers of all ages.

Based in the north of England, Sylva grew up in Lancashire in a rambling old farmhouse, surrounded by an artistic family and a motley crew of adopted animals. Before dedicating herself fully to writing, she spent more than twenty years teaching literacy to adults with learning difficulties and disabilities a role that deeply influenced her storytelling approach.

Her pen name, Sylva Fae, carries personal meaning: “Sylva” honors her youngest daughter, whose name means of the woodlands, while “Fae” reflects the fairies and folklore that inspire much of her work. Now living in Cheshire, Sylva and her family own a small woodland that continues to spark her creativity.

Her debut children’s book, Rainbow Monsters, was published in 2017, marking the start of a prolific writing journey. Since then, she has released numerous picture books, chapter books, and illustrated anthologies. Though children’s literature remains her primary focus, Sylva has also ventured into short fiction for adults and contributed to several collaborative anthologies.

Interview by Melanie P. Smith

Mindful Monsters and Friends has grown into a lovely online community. Can you share what first inspired you to start the group, the meaning behind its name, and how it supports the values you promote in your books?

I originally set up the group as a marketing tool for my books. It’s difficult to market children’s books on social media because my audience are not old enough to have social media accounts, meaning I have to market children’s content to their grown-up family members. I see so many authors running book groups, that solely market books, mainly to other authors – it’s a closed loop, and, to be honest, it’s boring! I wanted to break away from that so I created Mindful Monsters and Friends, named after the second book in my Rainbow Monsters series. By adding mindfulness to the mix, it enables me to vary the content and appeal to a larger audience. It also meant I could invite social

media friends from other interests, including other writers, artists, photographers, and those who love bushcraft and the outdoors.

That is how it started, but it’s grown into a lovely community, as you said. The focus is now on enjoying the community spirit, and I seem to have attracted people who share my sense of humour. I don’t overdo the book marketing, but when I do have a new book out, my group is my biggest and best

What other ways do you use social media as an author?

We first met in a writers’ group, and I was immediately struck by your willingness to help and encourage other authors. Writing can be such a demanding and timeconsuming career—what drives you to dedicate your time and energy to supporting fellow writers?

I have to admit; I’m really rubbish at using social media. My daughter once told me, ‘Old people use Facebook.’ I guess that makes me an old person then. Facebook is my go-to platform, but I also post to Instagram in the hope of reaching a younger audience too. A few years ago, the same daughter persuaded me to set up a TikTok account, but I found it too difficult to create the volume of content needed to make a difference there. I guess I’ll stick with Facebook.

When I started out writing, I quietly lurked in groups. I was silently in awe of all of the ‘proper authors’ who seemed to know everything about writing and publishing. I learned a lot over those first few years, and bit by bit I found myself passing on advice to new writers. I suddenly realized I wasn’t quite the newbie anymore, but I remembered how daunting it was at first and how I was often scared to ask questions for fear of looking silly. I was given so much help and advice along the way so it’s nice to pay it forward. Writing itself is a solitary affair, but publishing requires the support of a community, and the more you give, the more support you receive.

You’ve been a longtime supporter of our Reader’s Choice Awards and often help out behind the scenes. What is it about this competition that inspires you to return and volunteer your time year after year?

Unlike a lot of awards, The Reader’s Choice is free to enter which makes it accessible to all indie authors. This is very important because often indies are portrayed as lesser than the traditionally published authors, but involvement in the Reader’s Choice Awards shows this is clearly not the case. It’s good to see indie authors getting the recognition for their work, as unlike traditionally published authors, who have a whole team to turn their writing into a book, indies often take on the roles of writer, formatter, cover designer, publisher and marketer.

I like that Reader’s Choice has a balanced judging process, including the readers’ vote, as well as a panel of authors and editors as judges. It guarantees that any prize is a valid endorsement of quality, and not just a popularity contest. And on a personal note, I have discovered some amazing new authors from volunteering on the judging panel.

What inspired you to start writing children’s books, and what is it about the work that you find most rewarding or meaningful?

It started as telling stories to my own children when they were little. Whenever we went for a walk, I would weave in stories to turn a ‘boring’ walk into an adventure. It kept my children entertained and amused, and happy children make for easier parenting! I have always read my children bedtime stories, and it became an important part of their bedtime routine, so if we’d been out during the day, I would recount the story from the day’s adventure on the journey home, in lieu of reading a book. My children accepted this as a bedtime story, fell asleep in the car, then we would carefully, quietly carry them to bed – more parenting hacks!

But then one day, my middle daughter asked if I could write a story down so she could see the words, ‘like a real book’. She had a very specific request –“It has to have rainbows and monsters (but cute ones, not scary), and ice cream and muddy puddles.” I set about the task of writing it, and Rainbow Monsters was the result. But that wasn’t enough. She didn’t just want to see the words on paper; she wanted pictures too. This was the point I joined a few writer groups to discover how I could make a ‘real book’ for my daughters.

So, my initial inspiration was purely to entertain my own children, but I discovered that I really enjoyed writing, and other people’s children seemed to enjoy my stories too. My children are now too old to read my books, so I take pleasure in reading at festivals and local events to entertain other children. One of the things I find the most rewarding is to see the same children coming to my storytimes and joining in with the stories they’ve heard many times over.

When young readers finish one of your books, what do you hope they carry with them—whether it’s a lesson, a feeling, or a spark of imagination?

My stories are primarily meant to be fun, but they all do carry messages of friendship, working together, acceptance and caring for one another. These were values I wanted to instill in my own children but if others learn these values, then that’s a good thing too. Something I’ve experienced a few times though, is children getting that spark of imagination to write their own stories, and I love to nurture their creativity. Children read books but very rarely get to meet the author, so when they hear me read my own books, they make that connection, that there is a person like me behind all their favourite books, and they realise that they too could become an author.

Are your stories shaped more by the characters who come to life in your imagination, or by the plots you build around them? How does your creative process usually begin?

I have several answers to this as each one is different. Most of my children’s stories started with a conversation with my children, then the ideas buzzed around my head until a story formed. I’m not entirely sure which comes first, the characters or the plot, as they tend to evolve together. For example, Bea & Bee became a story after I found a tired bee on a walk. We picked it up to put in a flowerbed, so it didn’t accidentally get trodden on, but the bee didn’t want to leave, and sat in my palm for the entirety of the walk. My daughter said, “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a pet bee?” and suddenly my imagination stirred.

However my imagination is fuelled initially, the plots unfold, and the characters take form in my head, long before they make it onto paper. Long commutes, waiting in queues, and doing monotonous chores are the perfect opportunities to write stories in my head. As a child, I was labelled as a daydreamer, but I think it was perhaps just my writer brain waiting to be heard.

Every genre has its challenges. What aspects of writing for children do you find the most difficult, and how do you overcome them?

The low word count is one of the biggest challenges. You have 500 to 1000 words to tell the whole story and create a believable character. Every word counts and has to set the mood or further the storyline in some way, and they have to be the right level for the age group too.

You’re a regular contributor to Connection eMagazine’s Thousand Word Challenge, and I always look forward to seeing your interpretation of each new photo prompt. Do you find it difficult to shift from writing children’s stories to writing for adults and do you have a favorite between the two?

I like both equally and for different reasons. The inspiration flows in very much the same way as for my children’s stories, and the characters ‘talk’ to me. Given that the word count for children’s stories is similar to the thousand-word challenge, certainly helps, as I’m geared into writing that length. I gathered all my magazine short stories together into a collection titled, ‘No Fairytale.’

You’ve written in several styles already—are there any genres or subjects you haven’t tackled yet that you’d love to experiment with?

I’m an avid reader of complex mystery suspense / murder mystery novels, and I would love to write one myself. I have plenty of plot ideas, but the writing of murder mysteries is far placed from the cosy stories I usually write, so I know it would be a challenge.

I’m currently experimenting with a time travel paradox story, a subject I find fascinating. The first draft is written, and the sequel is buzzing around my head already, but I now have the challenge of brutally editing it. I’m not sure yet whether it will be worthy of publishing but I’ve certainly enjoyed writing it, and I’ve loved doing the research into paradoxes.

Another project I am working on with author Susan Faw, is a YA dystopian series. I’m enjoying writing within a new world and the challenges it brings for the characters.

Do any of your characters draw inspiration from real people in your life, or are they purely fictional? And do you think there’s something healing or cathartic about writing characters based on real experiences?

My children’s story characters are mostly based on the characters of my children – that’s quite easy to do as I’m so familiar with how they’d react or what they’d say in different situations. With adult stories, it’s quite different. I need to have a visual of the character before they come to life. Some characteristics are borrowed from people I know but they’re often a mismatch of different real people and imagination – they seem to evolve on their own. I do have a certain ex-boss who is my model for evil characters though, and I find it cathartic to see them get their comeuppance.

What would you say to writers who may be struggling with self -doubt—those wondering if they’re good enough, if they should keep creating, or if their voices really make a difference?

I still struggle with self-doubt, and I think that’s true for most writers and creatives generally. But self-doubt is what makes us strive to learn and improve. It can be crippling at times but it can also drive us to achieve better results. When we start out, we compare our efforts to the books we are reading and feel we are lacking, but we forget that the author of that book was once where we are. Writing, like any skill, takes practice and the only way to move out of the self-doubt zone is to keep writing. Write for the love of writing and write for yourself. Compare your latest draft with the first pieces of writing you did, rather than an experienced author, and you’ll see just how much you are progressing. If you write about a subject or genre you are passionate about, that passion will shine through and there will be a reader out there who shares it.

Can you share an inside scoop or fun fact about yourself that readers wouldn’t discover just by reading your books?

I’m struggling to think of one because I put a lot of myself and my experiences into my stories. I own a small woodland, but you could probably guess that from the settings of a lot of my stories.

Out of all the books you’ve published, is there one that holds a special place in your heart—or one that tested you the most during the writing process?

Rainbow Monsters, being the first, holds a special place in my heart. I think that the books I’ve written since have been more accomplished, but Rainbow Monsters remains my bestseller and has won awards. This is the book that transformed me from being a mum telling stories to her children to a published author, and for that reason it is special.

The book that has tested me most is the time travel one I’m currently working on. Going from a thousand-word limit to one hundred thousand words, is quite a challenge. In addition to that, I think I gave myself a difficult plot, incorporating paradoxes and different timelines into the story, making sure it all tied together logically.

You’re very active in the Bushcraft community. What inspired you to combine your love of nature with your passion for writing?

There is the saying, ‘write what you know.’ I know my woodland and I know about bushcraft, foraging and generally spending time out in nature. It’s inevitable that woodland settings find their way into my books, and of course, woodland animals make great characters for children’s books. But it’s more than that. Doing storytimes at Wild Festivals and The Bushcraft Show means that my core audience are also part of the outdoorsy community. It makes sense to write for the interests of my audience, and that just happens to align with my own passions. Moreover, several of the books have been requested by members of the bushcraft community. ‘Lenny’s Lavvu Adventure’ came about because the founder of a lavvu group asked me to write a story about a lavvu (a lavvu is a small tent). And when I was asked to do bedtime stories at The Bushcraft Show, I realised I would need a story to settle children down to sleep, so wrote ‘Time For Bed’ specifically for this purpose.

If you were to write a spin-off story featuring one of your side characters, which character would you choose—and why?

I think Lavvu Lenny would love to continue on his adventures, and the lavvu community have asked if there will be more books. In real life, a lavvu group bought a squirrel soft toy, that looks like Lenny, and took him on a lavvu adventure to Italy. The Italians at Cimone Outdoor, joined in with their own squirrel and now Lenny has an Italian girlfriend called Molly! It seems my character has his own adventures without my writing them, so perhaps Molly needs a spin-off story.

Every writer has their little habits do you have a writing ritual, go-to snack, or quirky routine that helps boost your creativity?

I’m a procrastinator! If I am inspired to write, I will do anything but write but the result is that I clear the chores before I do actually sit down at my desk. Once I’m in the writing zone, I need a calm, clear space and quiet, then I disappear into the story and lose track of time in the real world. I often forget to eat and drink if I’m caught up in a story.

How do you decide on your character names? And what’s your process for choosing just the right title for a story?

I have various ways of choosing character names, but I like the name to have some meaning relevant to the story, or their character. In Woodland Warriors, the main character is called Ayla. Her name means oak tree or doe, either of which is perfect for a woodland story.

In adult stories, the names often just come to mind when I think through the dialogue. It’s almost like the characters introduce themselves. I do like names that lend themselves to a variety of nicknames though, as it gives you the opportunity to show the relationships between the different characters. For example, with the name, Alexandra, a close friend may call her Lexi, while colleagues could shorten her name to Alex.

Choosing titles is quite easy for me. The title often just pops into my head at the start of the process. I use the first title as a working title, meaning to revisit it later, but more often than not, that first idea is the one I use. For children’s books, I like short snappy titles and tend to use alliteration – That Pesky Pixie, Woodland Warriors, Spooky Spells, Secret Santas

We’d love to give readers a taste of your writing could you share a brief sample or excerpt from your work?

This is an unedited peek at the time travel novel I am currently working on:

Life is all about choices. Some are great choices, decisions to be proud of, and some we instantly regret. This one was most definitely the latter. You might think that a day on a beautiful, Spanish beach was a fabulous place to spend a child-free afternoon, but instead I’m sat on a rocky outcrop as waves splash over my legs, soaking my boots and jeans. No, this was not one of my better life choices!

For a time, it was idyllic and peaceful down this end of the beach, with just the sounds of the sea and a wide expanse of sand between me and the rest of the world. I watched as couples sauntered, hand in hand along the shore, and in the distance, I could see small children running back and forth with buckets of sea water, to fill the moat around their sandcastle. I was perched on a large, flat rock, gentle waves lapping the edges, happily enjoying my solitude. The sun shone down, far hotter than expected. I rolled up the sleeves on my woolly jumper, then closed my eyes, basking in the glorious warmth. My mind drifted into a serene haze and the bizarre happenings of the last few days were pushed aside temporarily. I would need to sort through my thoughts, at some point, to understand what was happening to me, but for now, I was enjoying existing only in this perfect moment.

I should have known not to trust in fate. It was in this moment, lulled into a false sense of security, that a freakishly big wave surged in, splashed over my rock and soaked me up to my knees. The shock of the cold water sent me scooting back, with a squeal. This was the second poor decision of the day!

My speedy retreat guided me into a stagnant rock pool. I now had a wet bottom, and a soaking jumper to add to my soggy legs and boots. Cursing inwardly, I extracted myself from the pool, removed strands of seaweed and half a dead crab, and sat back to assess the situation.

Wrong place, wrong time, wrong clothing! Who comes to a beach in jeans, boots and a jumper? Me, that’s who. Why do I leap into things without thinking them through? I guess it’s time to go home.

Now, all would have been fine had I been able to get home, but Lady Luck had most definitely deserted me. I frantically searched in my damp pockets for anything to help but I remembered, that in my haste to leave, I’d left my bag on the bed. I had no money, no phone and more importantly, no passport. A wave of panic rushed over me.

Can you tell us about your current projects and what readers can look forward to from you next?

Picture book: The Naughty Step Monster – what if the children weren’t really naughty, and instead a cheeky monster was the one causing mischief so he’d have some company on the naughty step?

Children’s anthology: A Fickle of Fae – a collection of fairy stories set in my little woodland.

YA: Sneaking Silence – a prequel to the Silent Lands series, under the pseudonym EA Darl.

Adult novel: The Spring Garden Paradox - a time travel novel.

If you could slip away to write anywhere a mountaintop hideaway, a beachside bungalow, or a vibrant city full of life where would you choose, and how do you think that place would influence your writing?

Beachside or mountainside. Basically, I feel inspired and peaceful anywhere there are trees. Perhaps my perfect writer retreat would be a cabin in the forest, just a short wander to a deserted beach, with rockpools and little caves to explore.

For those who want to read more of your work or follow your creative journey, where can they find your books and connect with you on social media or online?

I’m mainly active on Facebook facebook.com/SylvaFae

You can join my Facebook group, Mindful Monsters and Friends: facebook.com/groups/mindfulmonstersandfriends/ Instagram: sylvafae

You can find my books on Amazon: https://author.to/SylvaFae

Thank you Sylva for taking the time to share your work with us. I’ll be looking forward to the new book!

First Chapters

Stealing Silence by E. A. Darl,

Susan Faw & Sylva Fae

First book in The Silent Lands Chronicles.

https://geni.us/StealingSilence

Chapter One

The Theft

For the tenth time, Avalon crouched by the rusting wheel of the abandoned wagon, the hood of her filthy hoodie pulled tight round her face. The sleeves were too long and bunched up in the crook of her arm. She had cut holes in the cuffs to act as gloves on the colder evenings. Avalon’s cracked and dirty fingernails poked through the openings and curled around the rotting wooden spokes as she counted off the steps of the patrolling guard.

The great dome that covered the greenhouse was lit from within by rows of hydroponic lights, blurred to her view by the fogged glass. Avalon quickly lowered her eyes, preserving her night vision and continued to count inside her head. Her stomach rumbled at the sight of so much food gathered in one location. She pulled a stone from her pocket and began to suck on it, to quell the rumblings and distract herself from her hunger.

Twenty eight. Twenty nine. Thirty, she counted silently.

The guard disappeared around the far end of the greenhouse, to continue his patrol on the other side from where she hid. She checked both directions and listened for the telltale sounds of human movement, but all was silent. Neither creature nor insect stirred in the sweltering heat. She swiped her sleeve across her face, to clear her eyes of the sweat rolling down her forehead and dripping off her nose. It left a greasy smear on her pixie features.

With one last check to be sure the coast was clear, she ran toward the glass enclosure, keeping to the shadows cast by the abandoned farm equipment. She zigzagged across the hundred or so yards that were the moment of truth, for in that one hundred yards there was no protection, no place to hide. She saw the camera mounted on a pole at the entrance to the greenhouse swing her direction and dropped flat to the ground. Her dirty clothing blended in with the dusty landscape as she froze, counting down the seconds until the camera swung away from her location. Blind to the gatekeepers, she ran for the shadow cast by the thick iron rib that supported the glass of the dome. Two feet of metal supported the bones and formed the foundation of the structure, running around the circumference of the structure. At periodic intervals, hinged metal plates were spaced, through which ran electrical cables and watering lines, that snaked up the sides of the greenhouse to feed the water supply lines suspended above and feeding to every vertical growing mat. Avalon tugged on the three foot wide plate, which opened to a squawk that shot into the silence like a gun shot. Avalon grimaced and then crawled into the hatch, wriggling herself over and under the tumble of lines, all which sought to either strangle or electrocute her. She moved slowly, careful to not touch any of the unprotected connections. With all this dirt and water, she was sure to electrocute herself if she misstepped.

A line caught around her foot and she eased it out of the tangle, then slithered down onto the floor of the greenhouse. The rich, moist scent of growing assailed her hungered senses as she got to her feet. Everywhere was a riot of green plants and flowering crops in various stages of their reproductive cycle. As she straightened, her forehead bumped a plump red tomato and her eyes bulged at its size. She plucked the tomato and bit into its shining surface. The tangy juice ran down her chin in glorious rivulets and in four bites, she had consumed it. She swiped her sleeve across her chin as her eyes swept the interior, searching for the ripest and easiest bounty to harvest. She spied a carefully pruned apple tree, branches bent to the ground and tied for easy picking. A bag was produced from inside her sleeve and she plucked half a dozen apples and stuffed them inside it. Her eyes fell on plump ears of corn, sagging from an eight foot stalk. She took her knife and cut out four of the ears and stuffed them in the bag alongside the apples. Some fat mushrooms and a long zucchini also disappeared inside. With the bag nearly full and only so much room in the corded space of the hatch, she reluctantly returned to the hatch. On the way she grabbed a handful of blueberries from the bush hanging at eye level in its nutrient

sack, and nearly cried with joy for the sweetness of the treat. She paused and stuffed a bunch in her pockets before kneeling down before the exit. She shoved the bag through the tangle, then dropped it gently onto the ground outside the greenhouse. With a regretful last glance at the sinful amount of food all around her, she squeezed her way back through the narrow, dangerous opening, pulling herself out with her hands wrapped around the lower edge of the wall opening and inching forward with her toes. She pulled herself forward, head tucked to avoid a drooping cable.

Suddenly hands grabbed her by the elbows and she was yanked out of the opening to slide to the ground with a thump that squashed the blueberries in the pockets of her hoodie. With a cry, she rolled over to be met with a flashlight that was shone directly into her eyes, blinding her.

“Well, if it isn’t little Avalon the thief. So it’s you, who has been plundering the greenhouse, eh? A nice black market sideline I am sure.” The guard’s hand clamped around her upper arm, and he painfully pulled her to her feet. She kicked out at him but he dodged the attack easily, being twice her height and double her weight, if not triple. Instead she dropped her teeth to his arm and bit as hard as she could into the flesh of his forearm. Cursing, he clouted her with the hand that gripped the flash light. The rough lip of metal caught her cheek, slicing a gash even as her head snapped back. “Enough of that, you she-devil!” Rough hands pulled her arms behind her back and she heard the snap of handcuffs, as the cool metal encircled her wrists. Gripping her by the upper arm with his right hand, he picked up the bag of stolen edibles with his left and dragged her along behind him. She staggered, her head still wringing from the blow.

It wasn’t until they left the ring of light cast by the greenhouse, that she saw them. A police squad car sat in the dark and leaning against the hood was Captain Anderson, the local constabulary. The guard dragged her forward and pushed her to the ground in front of the captain. “Here she is, Mitch! Finally we have caught the thief.” He spat the words like a curse. “This one is the mastermind behind the food thefts. Caught her red handed and on camera too! The interior camera shows her stuffing blueberries into her mouth and the evidence of the theft is on her sweater.”

Mitch turned to Avalon and said “Turn out your pockets,” in a quiet voice. The guard grinned and shone the light on her.

“Pretty damn hard to do, when I am handcuffed,” Avalon smirked, twisting around to show him her wiggling fingers.

He frowned and gestured to the guard to unlock her hands, which he did with a muttered complaint. “She is a sly one, Captain. I really think you should keep her locked up.”

“I will take your advice under consideration.” He focused on Avalon. “Now, turn out your pockets.”

With a cheeky grin, she turned her pockets inside out, displaying the purple mashed remains of the blueberries. “It was just a snack, one that has been thoroughly ruined by Godzilla, here.” The guard gave her an ugly look and hitched his pants higher over his protruding stomach.

“Look, Captain! I have your evidence. Look what she stole!” he said, proffering the bag of stolen food. She took it from the greenhouse, Captain! She is the thief!”

“Thank you, I will take it from here. Shouldn’t you be securing the greenhouse? Fifty more starving urchins could have descended like a swarm of locusts on the greenhouse in the time you have stood here, advising me on my job. You’re dismissed.”

The guard straightened and a look of horror flashed across his face. “You are so right, sir!” and he ran back into the light of the greenhouses, yelling at the top of his lungs.

Avalon grinned at the retreating guard, and then her smile dropped as she focused on the captain.

“Avalon, what am I going to do with you? You cannot steal food anymore. This has to stop. Why are you back here again?” Crossing his arms, he looked so much like a kindly father, with his crown of thick grey hair and a craggy lined face. He was the kind of father she wished she had. Despite his age, he was a muscled man, and towered over her five foot frame. The crown of her dark silky hair barely came to his shoulder and she had to crane her neck to look him in the eye. She didn’t bother, until he put a finger under her chin and tilted her head back. “This time, you will have to come in. This time it means jail time.”

Panic clutched at her throat and she swallowed painfully. “But I can’t go in, Mitch. I can’t!” She backed up a step and he grabbed her arm. Avalon winced under the pressure of his fingers as they contacted the bruises rising on her arm. Mitch lightened his hold but did not let go.

“I’m sorry, but you must come with me this time.” He pulled her toward the squad car and pushed her into the back seat, before climbing behind the wheel.

Avalon’s eyes scanned the handle-less interior and the fledgling panic gripped her in earnest. “Mitch, please, let me out. I can’t go with you! Let me out!”

“Not this time, Avalon.”

The engine purred to life as he turned the key. The headlights swung in a crazy arch and he drove off toward the police station, with a quietly sobbing Avalon in tow.

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1 A Picture is Worth A

Words

We had some great entries for our last challenge. If you didn’t get a chance to read them, you should take a minute to check them out. Congratulations to our top winners for getting the most reader votes on their submission. You can read the winning story as well as the other entries here…

https://view.publitas.com/mpsmith-publishing/ connections-emagazine-2nd-quarter-2025/page/52-53

1st Place Spy Gate Sylva Fae

2nd Place Assets, Lies and Videotapes

Melanie P. Smith

The Imagebehindthe story...

Everyone has heard the saying A Picture is Worth 1000 Words. Well, this is where we put that saying to the test. In each edition, we post an image and ask authors to tell a story in approximately 1000 words. Each story is unique, compelling and interesting. It just goes to show, while the picture might be worth a thousand words those words can be as diverse as the authors writing them

Keep reading to discover new authors and their stories based on the picture provided. And be sure to visit our Facebook page to vote for your favorite.

https://www.facebook.com/ConnectionsEMagazine

The Mystery Walk

By Sylva Fae

https://www.facebook.com/SylvaFae

Adam glanced again at the note written on the bottom of his map: ‘One of your group members is an imposter. Your task is to observe them and identify the person who does not fit in. You must keep this task secret.’

Before they’d set off on their mystery walk, each member of the group had been given a route map by the organiser.Adam watched as the others did as he had, studied the map, then looked around the group. I bet we’ve all been assigned a role, like a murder mystery type game, he pondered. What if one person has been instructed to behave in a strange way? And I am the detective…this should be fun!

The mystery walk had seemed like an interesting idea. It was an opportunity to meet new people, get some exercise, and the mystery element had piqued his interest. The advert had been

quite vague, but in hindsight, he guessed that was deliberate to add to the mystery, and now the note on his map added an extra layer of intrigue. He smiled at his companions.

“Should we introduce ourselves? I’mAdam.”

“Bianca,” the lady with the camera replied.

“I’m Cassie…”

“I am Darren. Should we see where this mystery walk takes us?” Darren set off, taking the lead.

Adam hung back to let the ladies go next. He hoped it would appear as polite, but in reality, he wanted to be in the best position to observe the other three without them noticing. Darren set the pace, and the others fell into step behind him. They followed the path along the top of the quarry until they reached the highest point.

“Look at that view!” Cassie commented.As she gazed down to the water, she stumbled over a tussock of grass then quickly resumed her position.

“It is a delightful view,” Darren agreed. He checked the map and set off again.

“Wait, I want to take some photos,” Bianca said. She swung the camera around, clicking away.

Adam observed the trio, analysing each comment and movement for something to betray them as the imposter. Darren quickly agreed about the view but he barely looked out over the quarry. And Bianca seems to be taking photos randomly rather than choosing the best view. For someone with an expensive looking camera, she doesn’t seem to be much of a photographer…

They reached a fork in the path, both ways heading downwards through the woodland. Darren seemed to have nominated himself as leader, he glanced at the map and pivoted towards the left path.

“This is the correct way. Follow me,” he said.

Bianca clicked the camera three times then set off behind Darren.

“I love walking through the trees,” Cassie commented as the path wound around through the dense woods.

Click, click, click went Bianca’s camera. She hardly broke her stride to capture the photos. Is she really taking pictures? It seems too random, not planned, almost like the camera is a prop rather than her passion. Could she be the imposter?

Adam had barely spoken so far; he was too intent on studying his companions, and waving away the little black flies that buzzed around him. He needed more information to work with.

“So, why did each of you come on this walk? I’m here because I was intrigued by the name, and also it seemed like a fun activity.”

Bianca raised her camera, “To take photos and enjoy the view.”

“I love the countryside,” Cassie added.

“I came on this walk to follow the map and experience a walk with new people,” Darren said. He glanced again at the map and continued, as if signalling the conversation was over.

Hmm, maybe Darren is the imposter…his voice is so monotone and doesn’t seem to convey any emotion. For someone who wants to meet people, he’s not doing a good job of being friendly. Cassie stumbled over a tree root, righted herself and fell back into step behind Bianca.Adam didn’t think much of it until it happened a second, and then a third time. Each time she barely faltered then fell back into step. He watched the feet of the three ahead of him. Darren set the pace, his strides perfectly even. The other two matched his pace in flawless sync. Too perfect! Nobody walks that uniformly on bumpy ground. But Cassie’s trips seem strange too, almost deliberate rather than accidental. Why would she do that?

Click, click, click went the camera. Three more snaps of random things – always three. No pausing to frame the shot, just click, click, click. It’s like she’s just posing as a photographer Damnit! All three of them are exhibiting strange behaviour. Darren seems too perfect, and he’s either memorised the map and just pretending to check the route, or he already knows which way to go. Bianca is playing a role, without actually knowing how a photographer behaves, and Cassie is acting deliberately clumsy.

The woods finally opened out onto the edge of the lake at the base of the quarry. The organiser from earlier stood waiting for them.

“Congratulations on making it here. I set you each the task of identifying the imposter, what is your verdict?”

“Adam!” the other three answered in sync.

Adam glanced at them in confusion. “I have not been able to detect a single imposter. Each of the others has exhibited abnormal behaviour. They’re too perfect, too scripted, too contrived, as if they are playing a role rather than being themselves.” He hesitated a moment, “Those three don’t seem… human. Given that, I agree I am the odd one out. I must be the imposter.”

“End simulation!”

The screen showing the view of the quarry lake and the fourAI characters faded to black.

“It appearsAdam identified the other three asAIs; while being convinced he was the only human. I believe I win,” Adam’s programmer concluded.

“Agreed, we move forward into the next phase using theAdam model.”

Sylva Fae is a married mum of three from Lancashire, England. She has spent twenty years teaching literacy to adults with learning difficulties and disabilities, and now works from home as a children’s writer and illustrator.

Holly B. Gutwillinger

Holly B. Gutwillinger is an author and podcaster from a small northern Ontario town. Her debut novel, North of Broken & Furever Home, launched February 14, 2026, exploring a woman's complex relationship with her rescue dogs.

Holly's writing is shaped by her deep love of family she is the proud mother of two adult sons and her commitment to the animals who enrich our lives.

She holds a certificate in creative writing from the University of Toronto's School of Continuing Studies and is currently completing her MFA in fiction at the University of King's College. Holly serves on the board of her local writers' guild and volunteers with the Women's Fiction Writers Association.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I am from a small town, but I have big ideas! I am a woman, mother, and wife who dreams big and works tirelessly to accomplish my goals. First and foremost, I am a writer dedicated to telling as many dog stories as I can in my off-hours. Someone once called me a Renaissance Soul because I love trying out various hobbies and living a full life.

Are you a multi-genre author or a single-genre author? How did you decide what types of books you would write?

I might be considered multi-genre because my first novel is contemporary fiction, but my work in progress is a sweet romance. I don't limit myself to these genres and prefer to stay open to new ideas as they come.

North of Broken & Furever Home revealed itself to me in an unusual way. While I was looking for ways to support my dogs with their fears and anxieties, I started to conceptualize lines in my dog’s voice. This shifted my perspective on both of my dogs. As I learned to accept them as they are, my words continued to flow onto the page, and scenes turned into chapters.

Interview by Melanie P. Smith

Do you have a favorite, or is one type of book easier for you to write than others, and why?

Contemplating these questions is fun because it highlights my natural tendency to write from the heart. Whether I'm crafting a sweet romance story set at the dog park or exploring family issues in a more serious tone, I appreciate my ability to adapt my writing to the setting. Given my eclectic reading habits, it makes sense that I write in a similarly diverse manner. : www.ramblingsfromthelittleshed.com

When did you start writing? Did an event or person prompt you to take that leap?

I had been writing in secret for several years. I wasn’t sharing any of the pieces I wrote with anyone, not even my family. One day, walking through the mall, I approached the President of the local writers’ guild, who was promoting the guild, to ask her for advice.

I explained my situation and how reluctant I’d been to call myself a writer. She looked at me and said, and I quote, “Sounds like you’re already a writer.” In that moment, without even knowing it, she gave me permission to be unapologetically myself. I haven’t stopped writing since.

I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I am so excited to create more stories, first and foremost for me, and then for the readers who need to read them.

How / where do you find the plots you write about?

I pull ideas from everywhere poems, songs, books, conversations, and art. It starts with a spark and develops into an idea. Once I have a working title, I can move on to outlining, but my plot ideas come from various sources.

At two in the morning self-imposed wake-up call prompted me to write four pages of notes, which is now my current work in progress. Ideas can also come from podcasts, walks in the woods, or a line from a story. That’s the beauty of writing—ideas naturally lead to new stories.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I’m happy to answer this question because the message this story delivered to me came late in the writing process of my first novel. I, like so many others, am accustomed to using the term “rescue” to refer to my dogs, but when I interpreted my dog’s behaviour and created a story, it dawned on me that this was never a story of who rescued who but how we accepted one another, lived cohesively and found happiness in the small wins.

I’ve become a writer later in life. I have the privilege to financially support this passion via funds from my day job, but as I move closer to retirement, in three years, eleven months and fourteen days to be precise, I want to emphasize that the writing should bring you some sort of joy. The part of the process may not always be fun, and sometimes it’s downright discouraging, but if you can return to the moment where you found passion in your writing, you can move through the difficult stages of it.

Mark Twain said, “Write what you know.” Tell us about your writing process. Are you a plotter or a panster? Do you plot, plan, and conduct hours of research; or do you just sit down and write whatever comes to mind based on your personal history and knowledge?

I can’t move into the writing process until I have a working title that guides my idea. Some may resonate with what I’m saying, and others may wonder how that’s even possible. It’s just a feeling I get. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that my titles tend to have themes embedded in them, and tend to steer the ideas in the right direction.

I consider my process somewhere between a plotter and a panster. I’m at my happiest in the planning stage and could stay there forever if I weren’t reminded that I have to write the story. The idea of creating something new is always exciting.

Once I have a clear outline, I start writing. A line jotted on a notepad, a napkin here and there, which becomes a paragraph, and I follow the initial outline until the point I don’t refer to the bullet points. Then, the pantser part of me reveals itself, and I let the words fall onto the page.

Tell us your latest news

My latest news is that it snowed two feet overnight, and I have to shovel before I can get to my writing shed in the backyard!

Now that my first novel is out in the world, it’s time for me to move forward with the sweet romance that presented itself at two in the morning all those months ago. I do have a full first draft, and I am happy to report that I am moving on to the second draft.

I have several files filled with ideas for further stories, but they remain dormant until I’m ready to bring them to life through writing. I see several more love stories with lots of canine companions.

Must read book !!!!

I just finished the book North of Broken & Furever Home by Holly B. Gutwillinger and I feel like I went on a journey of love with Renley, Sully and Cash ! It was written so beautifully and eloquently that I was able to be transported into their private story. I felt like I knew the characters my whole life and they were part of my world as well. This is a wonderful book for the entire family. It gives the reader a different perspective of what our pets could be thinking and going through with their own issues. I have fallen in love with both Sully and Cash and hope this book can help others like them find loving homes. Adopt a rescue !!!! Amazing book !!!! I hope there is a sequel !

North of Broken & Furever Home

Renley Nelsen's life is unravelling. She’s caught between midlife melancholy, her sons have drifted away, and her mother's mind is slipping beyond reach.

Sully, the youngest in a pack of abandoned dogs in Ontario's northern woods, knows only survival. Neglected and scarred, his distrust runs deep.

When Renley's closest friend begs her to join a dog rescue mission, she sees an escape. However, the broken animals—especially Sully—force her to confront more than she bargained for. As she works to save the pack, Renley discovers hidden strength and faces an impossible choice: keep running or find the courage to claim the life she deserves.

Told from alternating perspectives between Renley and Sully, this is a story of mutual acceptance, where woman and dog must learn that healing demands the bravery to stay when everything inside you wants to run.

https://geni.us/NorthofBroken

How much of the book is realistic?

Although the protagonist, Renley, is fictional, her life feels as relatable as that of the girl next door. Most of the story is based on the lives of my two dogs, Cash and Sully, except for the rescue mission. These types of rescue missions to save stray dogs happen more often than we’d like; therefore, nothing in the story is so unrealistic that it couldn’t be inspired by real events.

North of Broken & Furever Home started as autofiction, but the more I tapped into the dog’s voice, the more I was compelled to re-create his story, and that’s when I knew it had to be fiction.

What books have influenced your life the most?

Any book that moves me emotionally influences me. At first thought, Anita Diamant’s Red Tent is a story that lives rent-free in my head. I read it several years ago, and it’s time to revisit it. I have it in softcover, hardcover, and collector’s edition, and I gift it to all of my friends.

Next, Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series introduced me to time travel in a way that made it believable. From the first line of the first book, I metaphorically walked alongside the protagonist’s side, watching the scene unfold. Or did I time-travel?

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Stephen Rowley’s novel, Lily and the Octopus. His novel gave me the idea and the permission to give my dog Sully a point of view in my book. I’ve invited him onto my podcast, but I haven't received a response yet!

What are your current projects?

I have a current Substack newsletter where I recount my MFA in fiction experience as well as my writing journey, and as soon as my novel is fully launched, I plan to continue the second draft of the sweet romance. I would love to collaborate on a project and also write a full-length piece in my second language, French.

Can you share a sample of your current work with us?

I would love to share a sample of my current work.

This excerpt takes place when Renley drives to the shelter for her volunteer shift and walks into a full room of volunteers.

~~~

Renley put the SUV in park and looked up the slope at the two-story building in front of her. Her shoulders relaxed, and she sank a little lower into her seat, taking a deep breath. She’d almost forgotten about her frustrations, familial responsibilities, and misplaced keys.

Renley took in the shelter’s exterior from her vantage point. The building had been donated as part of an estate. The shingles curled up to the sun like petals of a flower, soaking up the light. She’d been told the century-old home was built on five acres of overgrown farmland, providing the perfect setting to care for cats and dogs until they found their forever homes. The faded blue and white siding showed signs of wear, and the condensation on the windows revealed cracked seals, but it gave the building a charming, rustic appeal. As long as it had a solid roof and kept the animals warm and safe, she figured it was perfect.

She collected the treats, her bag, and the tray of coffees from the passenger’s seat, then headed up the gravel walkway. She’d brought along a bag full of Chance’s toys to donate, minus his buffalo plaid collar.

A new dog deserved a new collar.

Emma met her at the front door, smiling even brighter upon seeing Renley. Emma’s rosy cheeks and sparkling blue eyes gave her a youthful glow.

“Happy anniversary, Ren!” Emma said, taking the oversized box. “Double chocolate-dipped?”

“Got the last one. Sorry, I’m late. Crazy line at the drive thru.”

The donuts served as a good distraction. She slipped through the front door, and upon entering the reception area, which had once been an old mud room for a large family, she was greeted by the usual Saturday crew: Danni, Mitchell, and Carla.

Remnants of chipped wallpaper peered from behind countless posters of lost dogs and photocopies of pages offering rewards for missing cats.

“Look who decided to come in,” Carla said, hands on her hips.

“Good morning, Carla,” Renley said, raising her eyebrows at Emma.

Renley had never met a more serious woman than Cranky Carla, the nickname she’d secretly given her.

Carla wore the same beige chino pants and grey T-shirt as she did every other Saturday. Her hair pulled back in a tight ponytail made Renley wonder whether that was the cause of the edge to her voice.

Would she ever fit in with this group? It burrowed through her mind. Danni and Carla were in their early twenties, while Mitchell had recently turned twenty-nine and joked on his birthday that he was having a quarter-life crisis. Emma was the closest in age to Renley; they’d been friends since they first met in college at seventeen.

The shelter’s décor hadn’t changed much since it was a double-story home. The walls, painted a sage green and plastered with flyers, advertised missing pets and dog food brands. The barren entrance lacked chairs, but two wooden benches donated by a local provided sufficient seating. Visitors tended not to wait long; they wanted to visit the dogs upon entry.

The staff had gathered at the main counter. Danni, the youngest of the group, with a fresh pixie haircut that framed her face and suited her bubbly personality, slid her arm around Renley’s shoulders. “You sharing those donuts or are you going to eat them by yourself?”

Renley set down the tray of cooled-off coffees, took the box of donuts from Emma’s hands, placed it on the reception desk and wafted the sugary delight when she tucked the lid behind the box.

Over the past few weeks, Renley had gotten to know all the volunteers at the shelter. She cherished her Saturdays with this crew even if she didn’t quite fit in. Or so she thought. Not friends outside the shelter, but she tried her darndest to find common ground with people half her age. She wanted to share more than pleasant conversation in the months to come.

For once, Renley didn’t want to bail at the first sight of a challenge. No quitting, no backing out. Some days felt like a tug-of-war between her responsibilities at home and the peace she found in the shelter, but she was still here. And maybe, that counted for more than she’d ever realized.

“You’re doing great, Ren. You’ve been a huge help here,” Danni said, dunking her plain donut into her coffee that rested upon the two-tier desk.

Renley’s cheeks flushed. She wasn’t giving up her hours to do meaningless chores; she was part of something, a pack. It was not glorified work, but in this moment, with her shelter friends by her side, Renley realized she didn’t have to carry everything on her own. She looked down as she set her tote bag on the floor.

Emma placed a pin that said, Rescue Dogs are the Best Kind of Dogs, on Renley’s collar and said, “Happy to have you part of the team, girl.”

Emma, who towered over Renley’s five and a half feet, leaned in for a hug before turning to help herself to coffee and a double chocolate-dipped donut.

“Breakfast of champions,” Renley remarked.

“Eat up, folks, we have a full house today,” Emma said.

“Why’s that?” Renley asked.

“One of the locals brought in a litter of seven puppies he found under a bridge while walking his dog last night. Said they were freezing and huddled together. He couldn’t have found them without his hound’s unbeatable detection abilities. Poor wee things.” Emma held her hand to her heart.

Renley’s mouth dropped. She stared at the floor and picked up her cup. Don’t bring a puppy home. Jesse’s words stung her thoughts. A joke, right?

© Holly B. Gutwillinger

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Don’t write because you feel obligated. I say that with a grain of salt because, because if it is your day job or the way you make a living, it goes without saying you may have to write articles that are obligatory; however, if you are someone like me who has found her voice and what speaks to her heart, then I say follow your gut.

If it feels good, write it. If it doesn’t, don’t write—unless you’re working out your feelings on the page. Write what your heart needs to say and surround yourself with supportive people who will lift you up and help you walk through the difficult moments of inner criticism.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Dear Reader,

When it comes to North of Broken & Furever Home, you may find it difficult to set your human judgment aside to read from the dog’s point of view. Find the playful side of your reader’s mind and have fun with it.

It helped me see my dogs in a different way and to understand that I will never know their history and the abuse they endured, but I can make their lives happy ones.

Other than writing do you have any hobbies?

How much space do I have to share this answer, since the list is exhaustive!

I enjoy running, hiking with my dogs, knitting, journalling, reading, drawing, and the latest addition to the list is mini pottery.

Name the hobby, and I’ve likely tried it.

Can you share something personal with your readers? Do you have any holiday traditions?

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite days of the year. Although I strongly believe you should show your love every day, I feel like February 14th is the perfect excuse to go the extra mile and show the loved ones you care about.

Is there one person, past or present, you would like to meet and why?

I would like to sit with my paternal grandfather and ask him as many questions as he could tolerate. I never met him, and his life was tumultuous at best from the few stories I’ve heard. The little I do know of him is that he was a self -made artist and a writer, but I never got to see his work, except for a few pieces, or understand who he was as a father, son, and grandfather. He served in both world wars, and I have no doubt his life would have been much different had he not been exposed to such atrocities.

I love nothing more than surprising friends and family with little gifts on that day and celebrating love. I still write tiny notes and letters to loved ones. In fact, on my twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, I wrote my husband twenty-five letters, each using one adjective to describe him.

I’ve created “open me when boxes” for my sons when they left for post-secondary school. It’s a box that contains handwritten letters, notes, and treats for occasions when they feel lonely or need a pick-me-up.

Do you have a mentor that helped or encouraged you to follow your dream of writing?

Let me tell you about a kind, generous and talented author, Liisa Kovala. She started out as a mentor, and now I have the privilege to call her a friend. She was the one who pointed out that I was already a writer in the very moment I needed to hear it. She has encouraged me when I doubted my skills. She taught me so much about the craft of writing and has coached me through many pages. I would not be where I am today without her mentorship.

If money was no issue would you prefer a cozy beach bungalow or a rustic cabin overlooking a mountain lake?

Rustic cabin overlooking the mountain lake is ideal, but I’m easy-going and would gladly take the cabin in the woods with a small stream!

The idea of taking my dogs out for long walks to discover the trees and the forest makes me want to pack up my belongings and become a homesteader who writes in the backcountry! Ideas come naturally when I’m amongst the trees, and my dogs are by my side.

What kind of music do you enjoy? What kind of movies do you prefer? Do you have a favorite author?

Like the books I read and the genres I write in, my taste in music is eclectic. I would argue that the music from the eighties was the greatest. Hair rock bands were plentiful, as were the hairspray bottles, and pop music was emerging on a whole new level. I’ve always had a soft spot for old country too, including the greats such as Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, but my range is wide. I love everything from Wham to Vikinginspired music.

I will watch just about any kind of movie except for horror. I’m quite partial to an old duster too.

As for authors, not one stands in front of the other, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the works of Diana Gabaldon, Stephen Rowley, Anita Diamant, and E.E. Cummings.

To be honest, my absolute favorite author is my youngest son, Rogan. He doesn’t see it yet, but his poetry will move you and inspire you to take a pen to paper. And I’m not just saying that because I am his mother.

What do you want written on your headstone and why?

Holly made others feel valued and heard. She was always ready to help those in need, especially the four-legged ones.

I’ll need a large headstone to fit all of that!

One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so, what is it? Do you have a social media platform where your fans can go to interact with you and follow your progress?

Readers can follow my journey over on these platforms. Substack will give you more lengthy insight on what I’m doing, whereas Instagram will fill your feed with dog photos.

Website: www.ramblingsfromthelittleshed.com

Substack: https://substack.com/@hollybgutwillinger

Instagram: rambling_from_the_little_shed

Peace, Love, & Murder

The Charles Manson Story

An investigative account of one of the darkest times of the 1960’s by best-selling True Crime Novelist and radio personality, Alan R. Warren

In the late 1960s, America’s promise of peace, love, and freedom collided with a nightmare that would forever change the nation. At the center of it was Charles Manson failed musician, self-styled guru, and one of the most infamous figures in criminal history. Peace, Love, and Murder: The Charles Manson Story goes beyond the familiar headlines to reveal untold details about Manson, his followers, and the culture that allowed him to thrive. Alan R. Warren explores how the chaos and counterculture of San Francisco and Los Angeles in the 1960s created the perfect storm for Manson’s rise.

Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, Warren also shines a light on the lives of Manson’s “Family.” Each member’s background is explored, showing how personal struggles, vulnerabilities, and the allure of belonging drew them into Manson’s orbit and into history’s most shocking crimes.

This is more than a true crime story. It’s the unsettling account of how an era built on dreams of love and freedom gave rise to murder and madness.

https://cutt.ly/StQfGZnk

Alan R. Warren is a Canadian bestselling true crime author, producer, and lead host of the internationally syndicated radio show and podcast House of Mystery. The show airs across North America on multiple stations, including Los Angeles, Riverside, Palm Springs, Salt Lake City, Seattle/Tacoma, and Phoenix, reaching a wide audience of mystery and true crime listeners.

A respected authority in true crime nonfiction, Warren has authored 38 books covering serial killers, cults, human trafficking, history, and memoir. His work is published by major true crime publishers including RJ Parker/Vronksy Publishing (Canada) and WildBlue Press (USA). He has been a contributor to True Case Files Magazine since 2013 and continues to write for Serial Killer Magazine.

No More Obstacles

By Tom Benson

http://www.tombensonauthor.com

Lisa stood with her back to the kitchen worktop, arms folded. “I need to hear a denial, Karl.” Her husband studied the coffee machine as it created his Americano. “Lisa, there’s nothing to deny.”

“In a short time, we’re going to be in the wilderness with Jason and Mandy, and I have to know if I’m laughing and joking with a good friend, or a deceitful bitch.”

Karl sipped his coffee and raised an eyebrow. “Wait until we’re out there, take Mandy to one side, and tell her about your suspicions?”

“She’s going to bloody deny it, of course, so what’s the point?”

“How long have you known her?”

“Since school … close to twenty years.”

“If I knew someone for that long, I’d know if they were lying just by looking at their expression when I asked a question.”

Lisa inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. “Before you and she can have a cosy chat today, I’ll find an opportunity to talk to her.”

“Will it be okay if I have a cosy chat with Jason, or do you want an opportunity to talk to him too?”

“Don’t be bloody facetious.”

Twenty minutes later, there was a knock on the cabin door.

Lisa greeted her best friend and her handsome husband with a smile. “Hi.”

Jason raised his eyebrows. “Are we good to go?” He had a large photographic equipment bag slung from his shoulder, and Mandy had her favourite camera draped from her neck, ready to use.

Lisa turned. “Karl, the guys are here.”

“I’ll be right there,” he called back.Adoor closed within the cabin, and Karl stepped up to the doorway with a large bag slung over one shoulder. “You can’t have a picnic without the food.” He slapped the bag and stepped outside to join the others.

From the pair of log cabins, it took only twenty minutes before the four friends were brushing aside foliage as they headed through the dense woodland on the way to their chosen location. For an hour, they climbed through the greenery following a barely visible trail. The physical effort required for the hike prevented idle conversation, so the only voice heard most of the time was Jason’s as he called out to be aware of hazards, like sharp rocks, large ruts, and tangled undergrowth.

When they finally reached the sunken lake halfway up the hillside, they all stopped to appreciate the view down to the water, and out across the massive area of forestry in which they were spending a weekend.

Lisa stood at the edge of the drop. “How far down is it to the water, Jason?”

“The drop from here to the surface is about two hundred feet, and the water is three times as deep. It’s been said that because of all the greenery around the sides, if a person falls in, it would be nearly impossible to escape.”

Mandy stepped closer to her husband and selected a zoom lens from the large bag hanging from his shoulder. “You said this lake was halfway to our destination, and with this view, our expedition holds so much promise.” She fitted the lens to her camera and began taking a series of shots of the lake below, across the forest and the fields beyond.

Jason said, “It’s an incredible view from here, isn’t it?” He pulled a water bottle from his belt.

Karl said, “I think it’s incredible that there isn’t a town or village in sight.”

Lisa was the last to catch her breath, standing with her hands on her hips. “Sometimes, being so far away from civilisation helps you appreciate what you’ve got.”

Mandy lowered her camera and turned. “Profound, for you, sweetie.” She grinned.

Lisa was deadpan as she met her gaze. “Whether or not it’s profound, it’s a fact.” She paused. “We all have to recognise when we’ve got what we need, and be grateful.”

Jason said, “If you girls are finished with philosophy in the wilds, are we ready to go on?”

Lisa said, “I’d like to rest a little while longer, but if Mandy is happy to hold back and wait for me, you two guys can carry on with the climb.”

“We can if you’re sure,” Jason said. “And I wouldn’t worry about getting lost because we’ll leave a trail that’s easy to follow.” He half-turned. “Come on, Karl. We’ll beat a path towards the top.”

Karl said, “I don’t know ” “Go on,” Mandy said, slowly shaking her head. “It’s not like we could get lost.”

Karl nodded. “Okay, but don’t worry, we’ll be moving on slowly.” He turned and caught Lisa’s eye. “You’ve got water in your backpack, so ensure that you both have a drink before you continue.”

Five minutes later, as the men continued, the women’s voices faded to muffled sounds, and then there was silence except for the rustling of leaves and the fluttering of birds as their territory was invaded by the two men. The pair had been fighting their way up the gradient for fifteen minutes when a high-pitched scream cut through every other sound.

Jason turned and looked at Karl briefly before they raced headlong back down through the dense greenery. The pair tripped repeatedly, but ran on with urgency. When they arrived, only Lisa was at the spot, staring at the deep, placid water far below, her face expressionless.

Jason panted. “What happened … where’s Mandy ”

Lisa looked at him, then down at the water. “She was in a bad position, and taking ” “Lisa,” Karl whispered. “Did you have anything to do with her fall?”

Jason looked from one to the other, his brow furrowed. “What’s going on?”

Lisa said, “Karl wouldn’t admit anything, so I told Mandy I thought my dear husband was having an affair, and she said he was.” “He has been,” Jason said, but not with her.” He pushed Lisa over the edge, and her scream echoed during her fall. He turned and embraced a wide-eyed Karl. “No more obstacles.”

http://www.tombensonauthor.com

Tom Benson is a creative writer who has published novels, novellas, short story anthologies and a series of five poetry anthologies. He started his writing career in 2007, but in his words, “By then, I had learned enough about people and life to make my writing credible.”

He has won two short story competitions, had six short stories published in traditional anthologies, and one on audio CD. One of Tom’s tales, Simply Irresistible, was requested by the World Reader organisation, which provides literary support for developing countries. In 2013, a master’s degree student studying media at Glasgow University requested Tom’s poem, River Clyde, for use as a supporting narrative.

Meet

Maisey,

the newest children book sensation

by critically acclaimed author and Financial Expert Kalee Boisvert

Maisey isn’t the best at well, anything. Not at cartwheels.

Not at singing.

Not even at tying her shoes quickly.

But what Maisey is great at? Trying.

Laughing.

And diving into life with her whole, wonderfully wiggly self.

So when her school’s talent show sign-up sheet goes up, Maisey writes her name without a second thought. She has no plan just the feeling that it could be fun. While everyone else seems to have their “thing,” Maisey’s attempts at piano, karate, and gymnastics turn into hilarious disasters. And when her friend Evie has a stage-fright stumble, Maisey does what she does best: she shows up with heart.

With a burst of creativity (and a pile of pool noodles, cardboard, and tape), Maisey builds something no one sees coming a performance that isn’t about being the best at all, but about bringing everyone together.

A joyful, laugh-out-loud celebration of bravery, creativity, and trying new things just because they make you happy, Spectacularly Mediocre Maisey reminds kids that you don’t have to shine the brightest to light up a room. You just have to be you

Perfect for readers who love:

• School talent show stories

• Celebrating quirky creativity

• Characters with big hearts and even bigger imaginations

• Books about confidence, courage, and being yourself

Spectacularly mediocre? Maybe. Spectacularly Maisey? Absolutely

https://cutt.ly/BtQhwdeC

Kalee Boisvert has spent over fifteen years in the financial industry, driven by a desire to rewrite the money story she grew up with. Raised in a single-parent household, she became passionate early on about financial empowerment and helping others create freedom and confidence through money. But her path didn’t stop there. Over time, Kalee’s work expanded into something deeper: a soul-level invitation for women to remember who they are. Today, she writes both financial and spiritual books offering practical tools, tender truth, and gentle reminders that you are already enough.

KatyaCumming New Release

https://bit.ly/4kiZPxB

At 57, I was keen to take a few pictures of myself enjoying my new kinky pastime, but I got carried away and forgot to close the blinds completely. Jeff, my next-door neighbour, had changed his day off from work, and he enjoyed a brief, surprise peep show through my window.

It would have been impossible to bluff, so when Jeff knocked on my door two minutes later, I had no choice but to let him in. I expected him to laugh, but when I saw his reaction, I knew I’d have to bargain with him to keep my crossdressing a secret.

My accidental display created a portal into a world I’d only browsed on a screen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I’m from Edinburgh in Scotland, and work in retail to earn a living. Relationships are for those involved in them, so that’s where mine will stay.

In my quieter moments I read and write, and sometimes those things are done while I travel, which I also enjoy. To keep in shape, I swim, cycle and jog.

https:// katyacummingerotica.com/

Reunion: and other erotic stories

A selection of six short erotic stories that feature amongst them such LGBTQ topics as gay men, and gay women, crossdressing, transgender, cuckold and bi-curious. The tales range in length from 2,700 words to 5,000 words.

https://bit.ly/4kfZpYD

77 ½ Magical Healing Herbs

By Ronesa Aveela

Common Juniper

Venture into the magical, healing world of herbs and embrace the power of nature. This article is taken from the book 77 ½ Magical Healing Herbs, which is an introduction to herbs found in a special Midsummer’s wreath. This is an especially enchanting time of year. Among the Bulgarians, the day is called Eniovden. You may think herbs are only for spicing up food and healing the body and mind, but they have other uses, as well. This unique herbal book is an essential guide for tapping into the power of herbs. It highlights centuries of lore and historical facts about healing and magical uses of herbs from Slavic and other traditions.

Please see the medical and magical disclaimers before you try any of the recipes from the book.

Juniperus communis

Common juniper

Description: As a shrub, juniper grows to a height of around 3 to 13 feet (1 to 4 meters), but it can reach tree size of 33 feet (10 meters) and, on occasion, 52 feet (16 meters).

The bark is reddish or blackish-brown, while older branches are more gray-brown. Two varieties of needles exist. Sharp green whorls form in groups of three around the twigs, looking like an awl, with a whitish band on the inner surface. Others are blunt, scaly leaves. The fruits are cones. The male ones are yellow and similar to other conifers, but the scales on the female, seed-bearing cones are fused together and look like a dark-blue or brownishred, fleshy berry. They are small, hard, and spherical. At first, they are green, but turn purple -black with a bluish waxy coating as they ripen. The cones contain three gray-brown seeds.

History and Traditions: Juniper has long been a remedy for illnesses due to its healing properties. Burning the leaves and bark inside acts as a disinfectant. Ancient Greeks burned it as protection from epidemics like the plague. In the nineteenth century, the same practice was performed in French hospitals to prevent the spread of smallpox. Native Americans would leave ill people in a juniper forest so the aroma would have a healing effect. They also treated wounds and bone and joint diseases with juniper. As with many plants, juniper protected people from demons. They laid it by houses as a safeguard against both the evil eye and poisonous snakes. The plant makes its way into stories and mythology as well. In one fable, a mother makes the sign of the cross over juniper branches to protect her sleeping children from devils. In another story, hitting a devil with a juniper staff can defeat him. In Greek mythology, Medusa used a juniper branch to sprinkle her sleeping potion into the eyes of the serpent that was guarding the Golden Fleece.

Habitat and Distribution: Native to Europe, northern Africa, northern Asia, and North America. American juniper is shrub-like, while European plants are more likely to grow to trees.

Growth: Evergreen. The plant blossoms around April or May. It grows in infertile soils and in mountains on dry, stony slopes.

Harvesting: Fruits, called juniper berries, are used. Gather them from September to November. When they are plump, slightly dry, and almost black, they are ripe. Both immature and ripe fruit can be found on the plant, as the fruits take two or three years to ripen. Lay them out on shelves to dry a little. They’ll lose some of the blue color and become more blackish. Store them in a cool, dry place, out of sunlight.

Medical Use: Juniper is a common diuretic and laxative. Folk remedies are for flatulence, colic, coughs, chronic bronchitis, stomachaches, hemorrhoids, neuroses, insufficient menstrual flow, bad breath, acne, dandruff, and more. It was once also a method of birth control. The berries contain chemicals that may decrease swelling and fight bacteria and viruses. However, there is insufficient evidence that it works for other illnesses. More studies are needed.

Rituals and Magical Use: Juniper leaves and wood are burned as ritual incense for purification, fumigation, divination, and sanctifying objects due to the pleasant fragrance. The berries are used in love spells of an erotic nature to enhance a man’s interest and potency. Steep the berries in wine and have him take a few sips daily. You can also steep the berries in vinegar and add the liquid to your bath to make yourself more attractive. Placing juniper berries by your front door will protect against theft. You can carry a sprig of dried berries on you as an amulet or keep some in your car to protect from accidents as well as theft. A tree or shrub growing close to your house, with branches over the entrance, can keep out spirits, evil forces, people, and diseases.

Other Use: Juniper is planted as an ornamental shrub. It’s also a flavoring for gin, beer, brandy, and wine. Dried berries are used as a condiment, in sauces and filling, and to season meats and other foods. The oil is a fragrance in soaps, cosmetics, perfumes, and aftershave. Chewing the fruits can sweeten your breath. The plant’s stems repel insects.

Other Names: Needle yew, juniper berry, fairy circle.

Aromatic: The plant has a pleasant, long-lasting aroma. Its berries are bitter raw, but are dried for food usage. The seeds have a sweet taste and resinous odor.

CAUTION: Pregnant and lactating women should not use; the plant was once called “bastard killer” due to its abortive properties. Avoid use if you have inflamed kidneys or diabetes. In high doses, the berries are toxic and can cause diarrhea, kidney failure, seizures, urinary tract irritation, and blisters on the skin. Stop using at least two weeks before scheduled surgery.

The Tale of the Juniper Tree

In this tale from the Brothers Grimm, the juniper tree possesses magical powers.

The story begins like Snow White, with a mother pricking her finger and wishing for a child as red as blood and as white as snow. She makes this wish beneath a juniper tree. Nine months later, she bears a male child as red as blood and as white as snow. Her joy overcomes her, however, and she dies. Her husband buries her beneath the juniper tree.

The next magical act of the tree is to bring the boy back to life after his step -mother murders him. His half-sister carries his bones, wrapped in a silk kerchief, to the juniper tree. The tree stirs and its branches clap. A mist pours from the tree, with a fire burning deep within. Then, a beautiful bird flies out. When the girl looks, the kerchief and bones are gone.

One place you can read the full story is on www.theguardian.com from the link in the sources (Grimm).

Sources for the Juniper Pictures

Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Juniperus_communis_-_K%C3%B6hler%E2% 80%93s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-082.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Juniperus_communis_fruit_illustration.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:San_Juan_de_la_Pe%C3%B1a__Sendero_de_monta%C3%B1a_a_Santa_Cruz_de_la_Ser%C3%B3s_40.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Puszcza_Bydgoska_rezerwat_Lazyn_28_42015.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Juniperus-spice.jpg

Herbs are powerful, but they can also be dangerous.

MEDICAL LIABILITY DISCLAIMER: The information in this article, in the book and on our website is not intended to be medical advice, nor does it claim that the herbs listed are safe or effective to use in the manners described. It is not meant to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease. It is merely a brief summary of various herbal folk remedies and how they have been used in the past and may still be used today. With the exception of a few personal recipes, we have not tried any of these remedies and cannot verify their effectiveness or safety.

MAGICAL DISCLAIMER: Magical ingredients and spells are for entertainment only. We have not tried any of these remedies, nor do we make any claims as to their effectiveness or safety.

77 and a Half Herbs?

The wheels in your mind have probably been turning as you think, “77½ herbs is an odd number.” And you’re right. But it’s a special, magical number, referring to herbs gathered on Eniovden, June 24, when Bulgarians celebrate Midsummer’s Day. If you want to find out the secret of the half herb, you’ll have to read the book.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ronesa-aveela/77-1-2-magical-healing-herbsthe-secret-power-of-herbs

Ronesa Aveela is “the creative power of two.” Two authors that is. The main force behind the work, the creative genius, was born in Bulgaria and moved to the US in the 1990s. She grew up with stories of wild Samodivi, Kikimora, the dragons Zmey and Lamia, Baba Yaga, and much more. Her writing partner was born and raised in the New England area. She has a background in writing and editing, as well as having a love of all things from different cultures. She’s learned so much about Bulgarian culture, folklore, and rituals, and writes to share that knowledge with others.

By

TOM BENSON

West Berlin before reunification. He saw active service in Northern Ireland and the first Gulf War.Acareer in retail management followed and lasted 25 years. Since 2007 Tom has published novels, anthologies and poetry. https://tombensonauthor.com/

Pawnee Express

Jim Cooper was a wiry sixteen-year-old who lived for adventure. He was an orphan and a skilled horseman, which made him an ideal candidate for Pony Express. In the summer of 1861, and only three months into the job, he would find the excitement he craved.

The young courier was riding through Red Rock Canyon at a trot, enjoying the tranquillity while he drank from his canteen. He heard a human cry. It was a mixture of shouts and screams, so Jim rapidly capped his canteen and thrust it inside his shirt. He urged his horse into a gallop and thrashed either side of its forequarters with the tails of the reins.

In less than fifteen seconds, he had a decision to make.

Amid the rock formations stood a small grassy clearing, divided by a stream. On one side of the stream, a Pinto pony lay injured and distressed, while on the other was a Pawnee of about twelve years old. The boy stood, knife in hand, facing a cougar.

Jim fired two rapid shots near the golden cat as he approached, but the animal flattened itself to the rock, snarling. It was hungry, and desperate. When Jim dismounted, he realised the young Indian was transfixed and trembling.

“Don’t you worry, boy,” Jim said without turning. He walked forward between the boy and the cat, raised his gun, and squeezed the trigger, but the mechanism jammed. He pursed his lips, and maintained eye contact with the animal as he holstered his gun. Jim reached behind for his Bowie knife.

“It’s gonna’ be the hard way then ....”

The cougar’s muscles rippled as it lowered its lithe body and growled. The big cat pressed down on all fours and pounced.

Jim swallowed hard and stepped back with his right foot. He slashed viciously at the area to his front, sensing a brief contact as the blade found fur and flesh. The weight of the cat bowled him over, but he thrust his left hand forward to grab at the animal’s furry throat. He had to keep the teeth away.

The teenager and beast rolled over in their opposing struggle for survival. Jim’s nostrils filled with the feline smell of the animal. He felt searing pain as claws dug through his outfit into his thighs and left shoulder.

Jim screamed, but maintained his focus on the animal’s gaping mouth as it snarled, and dripped saliva onto his face. The cat’s breath made the youngster gag, but he didn’t turn away. He couldn’t afford to turn away.

Adrenalin spurred the lad on as he kept the beast’s jaws away and continued slashing with his knife. He felt his left arm weaken, so in desperation thrust his knife up, burying the blade in the animal’s heaving chest. Seconds later, the big cat slumped onto him.

It took his remaining strength to push the warm, bleeding, furry mass from his body. He leapt to his feet and looked around, mouth agape, his breathing deep and rapid, and sweat pouring from his face. When the initial shock passed, he glanced at his wounds before looking for the Pawnee.

No longer trembling, the boy stood nearby, wide-eyed, mouth hanging open.

Jim wiped his knife on his leggings before staggering to the stream to kneel and clean his wounds. When he stood up again, his body shook involuntarily as he assessed his wild adversary. He couldn’t afford to dwell on the possible outcomes.

The Indian boy knelt beside his pony, making no sound, but tears rolled down his cheeks. He caressed the deep wounds left by the cat’s initial attack. In his mind, he relived the ordeal of the pony, kicking out, but having been trapped among the slippery rocks.

Jim set off in search of his own mount. It was fifteen minutes later when he found it grazing in another clearing. Leading his horse, Jim walked back to the scene of his recent life and death struggle. He stopped to look at the Pawnee boy.

Damn it,” the young courier muttered, before stripping the livery from his horse.

The Indian boy knelt beside his dying pony, whispering a native prayer.

“Hey, boy!” Jim called. “Git over here afore ah’ change ma’ mind.”

The youngster stood, looked at Jim and at the bareback, WF-branded horse. He cocked his head to one side like a pet dog and looked again at the courier and the horse.

“C’mon, boy,” Jim said. He beckoned with his left hand while holding the horse’s mane with the right hand. “I ain’t gonna’ offer again.”

The boy knelt and whispered something to his pony before walking forward slowly. He looked from Jim to the horse, and reached tentatively for the mane.

Jim nodded and smiled.

In seconds, the Indian was mounted, bareback. He untied his bright-coloured bead necklace and handed it down to his white benefactor before riding off.

Jim took a swig of water. He used his razor-sharp knife to end the suffering for the crippled Pinto. He gathered up his bridle, saddle and leather Mochila containing the mail. Prior to setting off, Jim stopped briefly to look at the cougar.

“Ah’ jus’ can’t wait to tell ma’ friend William Cody ‘bout you.”

William Cody, a fellow courier, was also sixteen, but already regarded as a frontiersman. The thought of telling the tale to his friend kept Jim’s spirits up as he walked on in the heat.

It took two hours to reach Number 27 Relay Post.

While Elizabeth Tennent patched up Jim’s wounds, her husband Mike mused over the loss of a courier pony to a cougar. Jim hadn’t mentioned the Indian boy.

Mike said, “Leastwise you managed to git’ yore livery off the dyin’ critter. Damn equipment ‘n mail is worth twice the price of the horse.”

Aweek later, as Jim rode hard across the plains, a rattlesnake bit his horse’s right foreleg, and it

threw the rider as it went down headlong.After dealing with the crippled horse, Jim gathered up his gear. The rider was cursing his luck, but grateful once again for the lightweight saddle as he set off on foot to the next station. He knew it would take at least three hours to walk through open country to the relay.

Alone rider watched from a hilltop, unseen by Jim.

Jim stopped after an hour to have a drink and noticed the dust cloud. It was coming from the base of the hills, so it was unlikely to be a cavalry unit. He undid the securing straps on his gun and knife, but continued walking.

“If ah’ go,” he murmured, “one o’ you boys is goin’ with me.”

Five minutes later, it was clear to Jim from their cropped hair that the riders were Pawnee. Though not renowned for savagery, they could fight and kill, like any man. The hunting party halted in a semi-circle in front of Jim; their leader dismounted before his pony had stopped. He strode forward, his gaze fixed on the white teenager.

Jim dropped his riding livery, drew his knife, and glared at the approaching brave.As Jim crouched and extended both arms outwards to square up to his opponent, he became vaguely aware of a brief ripple of laughter.

The Indian towered over him, twice his weight. His deeply tanned and muscular body bore the evidence of many injuries from weapons. This particular native was a true warrior and survivor.

The courier was unaware of the Pawnee knife until the point touched his throat. The brave moved the weapon and raised the beaded necklace on the tip of the blade without damaging the boy’s flesh. From behind one of the other riders, a small boy jumped to the ground and came forward. He grinned and said something in his own dialect.

The leader nodded slowly while maintaining eye contact with Jim. The Indian withdrew the knife, threw it upwards, and caught it by the blade. He handed the knife to the Pawnee boy. The youngster winced as he traced a line into his right palm with the blade. He handed the knife back, and the brave deftly turned the blade and offered it, handle first.

Jim put away his own knife, but maintained eye contact with his adult opponent, and accepted the weapon. He’d heard of this custom. He looked around at the staring eyes and concentration of the other riders as they all leant forward on their ponies.

Jim pressed the tip of the blade into his right palm and drew a line of blood. He was careful to conceal the pain and his discomfort. He handed the knife back, handle first, to the grinning, nodding warrior.

The courier and the Pawnee boy clasped their bleeding hands together, and the whole band of Indians yelled and ululated in delight. The two youngsters grinned at each other and embraced briefly with their free arms.

After the brief ceremony, the leader stepped forward, held Jim firmly by the shoulders, and nodded vigorously as he said something profound in his own tongue.Amurmur of agreement sounded from the party of hunters. Still looking at Jim, the leader shouted a sharp command.Ahorse was brought forward.

Only on closer inspection did Jim realise it had the Wells Fargo branding, WF, so it was the horse he had given to the boy. While Jim strapped his livery to the horse, the young Indian leapt up behind the party leader on his pony.

Jim waved to the Pawnee riders and set off at a gallop. *

At the relay, Mike Tennent helped Jim change mounts.

Elizabeth Tennent said, “It’s a nasty gash you got on your hand, Jim boy.”

The teenager couldn’t believe he’d had two incidents in such a short time, so close to the same relay station. He didn’t explain the details of his injury, but nodded.

“Coulda’ bin’ a whole lot worse, Missus Tennent,” he said. He mounted and set off.

Mike was inspecting the horse, which had once supposedly been mauled by a cougar and left for dead. He ran his hands over its forequarters and hindquarters.

“Well, ah’ll be damned,” he muttered, as he continued his inspection.

Four miles away, from high on a hill, a small group of riders watched as Jim Cooper galloped past across the prairie and into the wilderness beyond.

The leader of the party raised a hand and spoke solemnly in Pawnee.

“May the great god Tirawa watch over you, my courageous paleface son.”

The End

Astory taken from: Smoke & Mirrors

Acollection of 12 short stories which cover a variety of genre. They are twist-in-the-tale, and will have a special appeal to those with a keen sense of justice.

https://bit.ly/4bsGuYq

Smoke & Mirrors and other stories

Pat Daily is a polymath, serial entrepreneur, gamer, and the author of the Spark Chronicles, a near-future science fiction series. Pat began his professional career as an engineer and Air Force test pilot. After leaving the military, Pat worked at NASA’s Johnson Space Center on both the Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs before launching his first company. He has worked globally as a human performance and safety consultant.

When not writing or bringing new airplane designs to life, Pat can be found gaming. He is a fan of role-playing games – particularly open worlds with engaging storylines where actions have consequences. Pat and his wife live in Houston.

Website: https://thepatdaily.com

Spark Book One of the Spark Chronicles Series

A stunning debut by Former NASA Engineer and Air Force Pilot, Pat Daily

In his mother’s last letter, she wrote, “Find me. Save me.” And Will Kwan had heard those words before. He’d heard them in a video game. Solar Prime Augmented Reality Park, or SPARK, is a theme park for gamers: a sprawling virtual reality complex with quests and games that appeal to all ages. But beneath the surface, SPARK harbors many a secret. When sixteen-year-old Will has to escape the foster system, SPARK is his destination. “Find me. Save me.” What had his mother meant? At SPARK, he runs headlong into the force of nature known as Feral Daughter, another runaway who has chosen to make SPARK her home and her life. As their friendship grows, Will begins to walk a path that will unveil not only the secrets of SPARK, but also a whole new perception of his world. So when terrorists threaten his new home and new friend, Will cannot stand idly by. Can Will finally get his closure? Or will SPARK be destroyed, along with the new life he has built?

https://bit.ly/SparkPatdaily

More in the series

WB and Feral have survived the attack on SPARK, but the terrorists are not through. Forces intent on stealing the technology behind Black Grass and the AI necessary to make it work are on the move again. As WB and Feral attempt to return to their normal lives, they realize that the enemy will never quit until they have the tech or SPARK itself is destroyed.

Flying below the radar kept them safe before, but increased notoriety works against the two as everyone from the FBI to gang members know who they are. Now, local bureaucrats, terrorists, and even fans intrude on the gamers’ lives. WB and Feral butt heads and hold hands as events and outsiders attempt to pull them apart.

Meanwhile the duo struggle to control an AI who has decided that killing humans can be an effective and efficient strategy.

Award-winning author Pat Daily is back with his fourth book in The Spark Chronicles. The world is moving ever closer to a global nuclear conflict. Technological disruption by Black Grass and Spark's AI, Morrigan, have created tremendous economic and political risk for major powers. When one of Morrigan's favorite humans, Feral Daughter, is kidnapped by a group hoping to pressure Spark into releasing the technology, Morrigan must act. Feral's closest friend, Will, launches an attempt to rescue her as humanity creeps closer to annihilation. Can Will and Morrigan save Feral and the world?

The Spark Chronicles follows a pair of teens as they first, find a way to live in the Solar Prime Augmented Reality Park (SPARK), then must fight terrorists intent on destroying the park and stealing the solar power and artificial intelligence technology behind it.

Treasure Hunting

By Melanie P. Smith

“This is going to be awesome,” Tracy was practically bouncing with anticipation in the back seat.

“Have any of you guys done this before?” Kate wondered.

“Nope,” Ford grinned.

“Me either,” Kyson grinned. “But this is going to be epic.”

Ford slowed and pulled into the staging lot for Sutters Pond. “You guys grab what you need from the trunk. I’ll go check us in.”

“I thought there’d be more people,” Kate frowned.

“Did you girls get everything?” Kyson waited at the trunk.

“Yeah, I’m good,” Kate flung her pack over her shoulder.

“Are you sure you want to carry that heavy thing, Babe? It could be a long hike,” Kyson warned.

“If I go, the camera goes,” Tracy insisted. “We’re heading into the wilderness. The last time I left it in the car, I regretted it the entire time. Don’t worry, I’m used to lugging this beauty around for hours.”

“Alright,” Ford announced and opened a map onto the hood of his car. “There are three groups. Us, those two couples over there, and the third group has another couple and a single guy. This mark identifies our final destination. Once we collect all the items, we head over there.Astaff member will be waiting to drive us back here where the winner will be announced.”

“So, it’s a treasure hunt?” Kyson wondered.

“Yeah,” Ford agreed.

“I thought the website said each adventure would have at least twelve people,” Tracy only counted eleven.

“Amanda and Greg Hancott, the owners, said one couple didn’t show and another had car problems. They assured me it wouldn’t impact our adventure.” “Makes sense,” Kyson agreed. “One less group makes less competition but won’t really affect us.”

“How do we find the first clue?” Kate studied the map, eager to begin.

“I have it,” Ford held up a small piece of paper. “Go to the place where blue flowers flare and look for a man waiting in a chair.”

“Here,” Kate pointed to the map. “I think we go to Azure Meadows.”

“I agree,” Kyson stepped back.

“Me too,” Tracy took Kyson’s hand.

“Okay,” Ford folded the map. “Azure Meadows, it is.”

It took nearly twenty minutes hiking through rough terrain but finally they emerged from the trees and stood on the edge of an enormous meadow filled with blue wildflowers.

“It’s beautiful,” Tracy whispered.

“And there’s the guy in the chair,” The group rushed toward their target ready to tackle the next clue.

An hour later, they had retrieved four treasures and were heading for Sutter’s Pond fifth clue in hand.

Tracy was shooting picture after picture, the rest of the group was laughing and telling stories some serious, some obviously made up.

“I hope this is the last clue,” Kate admitted. “I’m starving.”

“Sutters Pond is just up ahead,” Ford advised. “We’re not that far from that staging spot, so I’m sure we’re almost done.”

They rounded the bend and the dark, serene water of the pond came into view.

“I didn’t realize we were at the top of a hill,” Tracy began snapping shots.

“I don’t see an obvious clue,” Kyson glanced around.

“Let’s head down,” Ford instructed. “The trail goes right past the pond. It might be at the far end of the water, where the trail turns to the left and heads back into the trees.”

The path leveled out when they reached the pond. It was nestled against a steep cliff and surrounded by tall grass and thick brush. “Hey, what’s in that tree?” Kate pointed at something white swinging from a branch.

“I bet it’s the clue,” Kyson rushed to retrieve it. “It says we need to find some kind of berry that bears love.”

“Let’s split up,” Tracy suggested. “We’ll cover more ground.”

Moments later, Ford called out. “Found it!” He rushed back to the path near the tree and was soon joined by Kyson and Kate.

“Where’s Tracy?” Kyson demanded.

Tracy crested the hill at a dead run, followed the path, and collided with Kyson.

“What’s wrong?” Kyson demanded.

Tracy leaned over and braced her hands on her knees. “We need to go, now!”

“What happened?” Ford asked, worried.

“I was taking pictures and I saw a tiny cabin over there, down in the gully,” Tracy explained. “It looked quaint, so I started to take pictures, zoomed in, and realized there was a man rushing toward the front porch.” “Okay,” Kate frowned. “Why did that upset you?”

“Because he was dragging a woman behind him. She was cuffed, or her hands were tied together, and she had something wrapped around her mouth,” Tracy explained. “He looked up and saw me.”

“But he’s pretty far away, right?” Kate asked.

“He shoved the woman inside the cabin and started to run,” Tracy continued. “He’s running this way. We have to go.”

Kyson grabbed her hand and the four of them began to run down the trail. They had to reach the staging point. Their contact would have a car and could get them to safety where they could call the police.

The group burst into the parking lot, spotted the Hancotts and rushed toward them.

“What’s wrong?” Amanda demanded.

“We have to go,” they all yelled at once. “He’s closing in.”

“Who?” Greg asked, confused.

“We’ll explain in the car,” Ford insisted. “Please, we have to go.”

The couple settled into the front seat. The four friends jumped into the backseat and slammed the door.

“Drive,” Kyson insisted.

Just before they pulled onto the road, a man darted into the parking lot, smashed the window on a parked car, and followed.

“Who is that?” Greg asked once he was speeding down the highway.

“Call the police,” Ford told Kate.

Kate pulled out her phone and dialed 911. She explained the situation and told the dispatcher they were being chased.

“Officers are on the way,” the woman soothed.

Kate screamed, nearly dropped the phone, but recovered and switched to speaker.

“What happened?” The dispatcher asked.

“He rammed us,” Kate advised

“Okay, a police car is approaching behind you, can you see it?” the woman asked.

“Yes,” Everyone answered together.

“I need you to pull over and let us do our job,” the woman instructed.

Greg pulled into a wide driveway on the side of the road. Siren’s blared and the cops flew by. Within seconds, they had the car stopped, the man cuffed and settled into the back of a patrol car.

The group exited the vehicle when a cop approached them..

“I’m Deputy Bennett. I need you to tell me what happened. The man said he was just driving down the road, and he doesn’t know what’s going on.”

Tracy handed the cop her camera. He scrolled through photo after photo, then stopped when he reached the images of the pond. “I’m going to need to keep this card for evidence.”

“Okay,” Tracy nodded.

“Will she get it back?” Kyson asked. “We took a lot of pictures today and we don’t want to lose them.”

“I’ll make copies myself,” he assured them. Then he rushed away, said something to another cop, and they sped down the highway.

“Do you think we’ll ever learn what happened to the woman?” Kate wondered.

“Probably not,” Ford took her hand. “But Kyson was right. Today was epic.”

Several hours later, the group was gathered in Kyson’s living room scarfing down pizza. When a photo of a small cabin appeared behind the news anchor, they turned up the volume.

“Police report Mai Jacobs was abducted from her vehicle and taken to this small, abandoned cabin in the woods. Her husband, Tyler Jacobs, was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, injuries unknown. They have a man in custody and insist there is no further threat to the community. He’s been identified as thirty-four-year-oldAnson Shaw. We’re told the couple was on their way to an afternoon adventure at Sutter’s Pond.”

“The no-shows,” Tracy said in amazement.

“Police credit the quick reactions of two couples hiking in the area and the owners ofAbbot OutdoorsAdventure company for saving the life of this couple. Details to follow as we confirm them.

“So,” Kyson grinned. “What should we do next week?”

The group laughed and Ford threw a pillow at Kyson’s face.

Melanie P. Smith Long before she delved into the world of fantasy and suspense, Melanie served nearly three decades in the Special Operations Division at her local sheriff’s office; working with SWAT, Search and Rescue, K9, the Motor Unit, Investigations, and the Child Abduction Response Team. She now uses that training and knowledge to create stories that are action-packed, gripping, and realistic. When Melanie’s not penning her next adventure, she can be found riding her Harley, exploring the wilderness, or capturing that next great photo.

melaniepsmith.com

Some Secrets can be Lethal From the outside looking in, Alex Deveraux has it all; a loving family, a business empire, and a bright future. But, the Deveraux family has secrets deadly secrets. And those secrets have finally caught up to Alex. Caught between two realities, she is forced into a world she never knew existed and a destiny she never wanted.

Get ready to enter a world of darkness, secrets, and deadly destinies. Alex Deveraux has lived a normal life with her loving family oblivious to her true lineage. But, when she loses her parents, she discovers a secret that will change her life forever. Alex is half-human, half-fae and, she’s now the reigning fae queen. As if that wasn’t enough, her people are at war with the vampires and the bloodsucking king wants her dead. Alex must face her fears, take control of her destiny, and learn to trust new allies. Will she rise to the challenge and save her people, or will her enemies succeed in destroying her family and her entire kingdom? If you enjoy a hidden world of fantasy mixed with real-world drama, you'll love Dusk a thrilling ride of danger, romance, and self-discovery.

https://books2read.com/Dusk

Liisa Kovala

Liisa Kovala is a Finnish Canadian author, book coach, and podcaster. Like Water for Weary Souls (2025) is her second historical novel. Liisa is the author of Sisu's Winter War (Latitude 46, 2022) and Surviving Stutthof: My Father's Memories Behind the Death Gate (Latitude 46, 2017) which was shortlisted for a Northern Lit Award and published in Finland by Docendo (2020). Liisa lives with her husband in Greater Sudbury, Ontario. She is inspired by her Finnish heritage and the northern landscape she calls home.

Interview by Melanie P. Smith

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I am a Finnish Canadian author and certified Author Accelerator memoir and fiction book coach. In my previous life, I was a teacher. I’m also a mom of two adult children and a fur-mom to Emma, a Mini Goldendoodle.

Are you a multi-genre author or a single-genre author? How did you decide what types of book you would write?

I am a multi-genre author. My first book, Surviving Stutthof is creative non-fiction. It recounts my father’s experiences as Finnish merchant marine imprisoned by the Nazis in a concentration camp. My first two novels, Sisu’s Winter War and Like Water for Weary Souls are historical fiction based on historical events in the 1930s.

Under my pen name, A. L. Jensen, I write the Hygge House Cozy Mystery series. The first book is called Hygge and Homicide and the second is Midsummer, Marriage, and Murder. The third book, coming out in the fall, is called Murder by Nordic Design.

Do you have a favorite genre, or is one type of book easier for you to write than others, and why?

I love all genres equally but for different reasons. Historical fiction allows me to research interesting times and events and imagine a world that existed. Cozy mysteries let me play in the contemporary time period and create a quaint town with quirky characters, as well as work out the puzzle of the mystery. How / where do you find the plots you write about?

Stories are everywhere if you are paying attention. I never suffer from not having ideas, but I do have difficulty pursuing all the ideas. I’m afraid I won’t be able to write all the story ideas I have.

When did you start writing? Did an event or person prompt you to take that leap?

Writing has always been something I’ve done, even as a young child. I wrote a lot of short stories and terrible poetry in high school and studied English at university. Then, I got married, started my teaching career, had two children, and coached rhythmic gymnastics. I was still dreaming about stories but not taking the time to write them. Around the time I turned forty, the decision was made to write about my father’s experiences during the war, and I took this as a challenge. If I was going to write his story, I wanted to do the best job I could. I enrolled in a creative writing program, and my writing career officially started. Now, I am a full-time writer and book coach.

Mark Twain said “Write what you know.” Tell us about your writing process. Are you a plotter or a pantser? Do you plot, plan, and conduct hours of research; or, do you just sit down and write whatever comes to mind based on your personal history and knowledge?

Although I am a great admirer of Mr. Twain, I have to disagree. I often write so that I can know. Historical events are so fascinating, and I’m particularly interested in how they reflect what’s going on in our lives today. When it comes to the cozy mysteries, I love to explore ideas, even though I’m grounding the story in settings that are familiar to me.

As far as plotting, I’ve tried all the things, but I’ve landed on a combination between plotting and pantsing. I love a solid outline that includes the key events and why it matters to the protagonist, but I’m happy to veer off in a pantsing way to explore a new idea as I’m writing and then revise the plot to accommodate that idea. The outline gives me some structure as I’m writing, but also the freedom to change and adapt as I write. It’s the perfect marriage of two methods. This is the method I also use when I’m coaching clients to plan and write their stories.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

In Hygge and Homicide, my protagonist Minna Halonen has started a new life in her northern hometown of Lakewood. She’s in her early fifties, divorced, and has an adult child and an aging mother. Despite her changes in circumstances, she takes a leap of faith to start a new business with her best friend Christie. Minna needs to learn to trust herself and her intuition as she investigates a murder that happens at the opening of Hygge House. I want readers to know it’s never too late to begin again and find the life you love.

Tell us your latest news

I’m so excited that the first two books in the Hygge House Cozy Mystery series are out in the world and have been received with such great enthusiasm. When you spend so much time dreaming of the novel, writing and revising the story, it’s so wonderful that readers love it, too. And, book three will be out soon!

Hygge and Homicide Book 1

Escape to the charming town of Lakewood in this Scandinavian-inspired cozy mystery. Recently divorced, interior designer Minna Halonen returns home to run her mother’s décor shop and open a lakeside retreat called Hygge House. But on the morning of its grand opening, she discovers a dead body on her doorstep. To save her business and her fresh start, Minna must uncover the killer in a town where everyone knows everyone.

Hygge and Homicide is the first book in the delightful Hygge House Cozy Mystery series where murder meets Scandinavian comfort in a rustic northern town.

Midsummer in Lakewood should be a celebration of love as Minna Halonen and her partner Christie plan a stunning lakeside wedding at Hygge House. But when the groom’s uncle who sent a cryptic message and nearly skipped the festivities is found dead in a Muskoka chair, the joyous occasion turns dark. Now Minna must uncover whether it was natural causes or murder before the happiest day of the season is tainted forever.

Midsummer, Marriage, and Murder is the second book in the delightful Hygge House Cozy Mystery series where murder meets Nordic comfort in a rustic northern town.

Midsummer, Marriage and Murder

https://geni.us/HyggeHomicide

—Book 2

Available April 2, 2026

How much of the book is realistic?

Hygge and Homicide feels very realistic. The characters are like neighbours with quirky personalities and dreams for their lives. The house itself is based on the Rowley House in Niagara-on-theLake, and the town is a mash-up of small towns

I’ve visited. In many ways, Lakewood is the town I’d love to live in, and I think readers will recognize many things about it. Perhaps the only unrealist part is that this town is about to experience several murders more murders per capita than a small town should experience!

What are your current projects?

What books have influenced your life the most?

As an avid reader, I’ve been influenced by so many books and genres over the years. As a cozy mystery author, I must mention my love of Agatha Christie. I read everything as a teenager and young adult, and now I’ve returned to rereading her work, starting with Murder at the Vicarage. She’s the master of small-town mysteries, fascinating characters, and fun plots.

Do you have a mentor that helped or encouraged you to follow your dream of writing?

Mentors are so important to writers and over the years I’ve had many. Notably, I worked with the brilliant Allyson Latta at University of Toronto on my final project that was published under the title Surviving Stutthof. She taught me so much about structure and scene. I also worked with Canadian award-winning author Gail Anderson-Dargatz on my first novel, Sisu’s Winter War. Her voice still resonates in my head as I revise my manuscripts. At the Humber School for Writers, I was honoured to work with Marina Endicott, another award-winning author, on a historical novel I hope to release in the next year or two about a Finnish war child. These writers, along with many others, taught me so much about the craft and encouraged me to keep writing.

I’m putting the finishing touches on the third book in the Hygge House Cozy Mystery series, Murder by Nordic Design, and planning book four. I also have two historical novels in varying stages of readiness. In addition, I’m working with my book coaching clients on their projects, helping them through the manuscript writing process.

Can you share a sample of your current work with us?

The door from the kitchen led into the breakfast nook, a space I loved so much, and where I often took my coffee in the morning before my hike with Hugo. I had visions of updating the floor and replacing the windows, a teak table set, and comfortable lounging chairs. Yet another space that needed work.

I reached out for the doorknob and pulled it open. The door creaked and almost fell off its hinges. That hadn't happened before. At least, I had noticed no issues with the door. I'd have to ask James if he could get it fixed for us. It wouldn't do to have the door fall off its hinges and hurt someone on our property. The thought of it made mecringe. We had to consider everyone's safety now, not just our own. Thank goodness for insurance.

I paused for a moment to recall what I was doing. Ah, yes. Secateurs for Mom from the shed. I pictured the interior of the shed and remembered exactly where I'd seen the set. Sofia was right. I might be forgetful about what I was doing, but my visual recall was still pretty good.

Careful not to take the door completely off its hinges, I pulled gently and was about to step into the kitchen nook when something on the floor caught my attention.

I gasped. Sprawled out in front of me was a body. A man. A young man, by the looks of

I glanced around in a panic but saw no one else. I leaned over the body, trying to figure out if he had passed out or had fallen and hurt himself. My heart pounded as I struggled to think clearly. Crouching beside him, I took a few deep breaths and scanned his body for signs of injury.

"Can you hear me?" I used a loud voice, checking for responsiveness. There was none.

I squeezed his arm, trying to elicit a response. "Do you feel any pain?" No response.

I checked for breathing. His body was still, and I couldn't hear any sounds, so I placed my ear close to face, listening for sounds and hoping to feel air passing through his lips. He wasn't breathing. If I’d had a mirror, I'd have held it to his face like they do in those old mystery shows. His chest was not rising and falling, and his body looked limp.

I'd never touched a dead body before. At least, I thought he was dead. I couldn't smell any alcohol. There was no obvious wound, at least from this vantage point. I checked his pulse. Nothing. I checked again just to be sure. He was definitely dead.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

My advice for writers is simply this: it’s never too late. If you have dreamed of writing and publishing, you can learn to do anything. Don’t worry about your age or education, or anything else that is holding you back. Just start.

Pick one of your characters and share some of their backstory that didn’t make it into the novel.

In Hygge and Homicide, I briefly mention that James’ father Henri had a heart attack a few years earlier. James returns to Lakewood to take care of his father as he recovers and decides to stay. James had his own life and career in the city, but he was unhappy. Coming to Lakewood reminded him of the kind of life he wanted to lead. His story is much like Minna’s story. And, of course, there is a romantic element to their relationship. They have much in common, including their love of small-town life, devotion to family and friends, and drive to make Hygge House work as a business. I love that both Minna and James returned to Lakewood and after a whole lifetime, have found each other.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Readers, writers, and books need one another. Writers need to write, books need to be read, and readers need great books. It’s a lovely triangle. I’m so grateful to my readers who support my journey and look forward to the next release. There is nothing kinder than to receive a word from a reader about how my stories resonated with them. It makes my heart sing.

Is there one person past or present you would like to meet and why?

I would love to meet Anne Boleyn, Henri VIII’s second wife whom he beheaded, and the mother of Gloriana, Queen Elizabeth. There are so many perspectives on the kind of woman she was, and I’d like to get to know her. I suspect she wasn’t as conniving as some writers have depicted her, and not as naïve as others have described her. She is an interesting woman with a story to tell, and wouldn’t it be wonderful to hear it straight from her?

What do you want written on your headstone and why?

“On to the next chapter …”

Is death the end or is it just the start of a new chapter? I’d like to believe that we are energy and can’t be destroyed. So, what happens to our energy? I don’t know, but in that chapter, we’ll get to find out. I fear death. It’s inevitable. But I am very curious about what happens next.

Other than writing, do you have any hobbies?

Writing isn’t a hobby for me, but it does take up a lot of my mental and physical energy, so it’s important for me to do other things. I love to walk with my puppy Emmy, and we live in a small community with good walking trails. I’m a big reader and I’m a fan of movies and series, so my down time is often spent absorbed in stories while I’m not writing my own.

Can you share something personal with your readers? Do you have any holiday traditions? What kind of music do you enjoy? What kind of movies do you prefer? Do you have a favorite author?

My guilty pleasure is watching disaster movies. I’m not sure why I love them so much. Generally, the plot is the same. Some kind of disaster threatens a city, a state, or a country, sometimes the world (think tsunami, earthquake, asteroid, etc.). A protagonist must do something to prevent the disaster and save their family (often saving a child and reuniting with a spouse in the process). Disaster movies are usually predictable, often cheesy, and highly entertaining. I have a secret dream to write a disaster

If money was no issue would you prefer a cozy beach bungalow or a rustic cabin overlooking a mountain lake?

I would love a rustic cabin overlooking a mountain lake. I imagine I could experience all of the seasons there: beautiful summers, colourful falls, crisp winters, and gentle springs. It sounds delightful. But to be honest, I love where I am now: a small community in the north, a cozy lakeside home, surrounded by trees and nature trails near family and friends. I am content. (But I’d still love to spend some time writing in that cabin!).

One final question...Do you have a blog/ website? If so, what is it? Do you have a social media platform where your fans can go to interact with you and follow your progress?

You can find me at liisakovala.com and liisakovalabookcoach.com. I’m also on Instagram and Facebook, and sometimes on TikTok. My YouTube channel is called Women Writing. You can find or order my books wherever you buy your books, but there are easy links on my website.

You can also find me at liisakovalawomenwriting.substack.com to receive Women Writing features, articles, and the weekly Women Writing Podcast. I also have a community who meet to write, called the Women Writing Circle. Consider joining us! I invite you to subscribe to my Substack and receive a free download of “The Sisu Method for Writers: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Writers.”

The Legend of Hunters Pool

By Sylva Fae

“Hello and welcome to another episode of, Legends Unveiled. Today, we are at the quaint Lancashire village of Rivenmor, where the legend of Hunters Pool is still whispered as a warning to those who wander the moors…”

“And cut!”

“Let me just get some footage of the manor house, then we’ll head over to the moor.” Lucy panned around the village, capturing the cobbled streets and stone cottages. The village was nestled within the valley where three hills met. She slowly zoomed in on the central hill, and followed it upwards to where a manor house was just visible, tucked behind a copse of old oak trees. “Okay, I’m good.”

The friends hiked up the nearest hill and set off across the rugged moorland. The path took them round the back of the manor. Here, the vegetation switched from a blanket of heather, to tussocks of grass, spiky hawthorn bushes and occasional clumps of reeds. They avoided the reeds, which helpfully marked out the boggy areas, and finally arrived at a steep drop in the hillside.

Alex looked down to the pool of dark water below. “This is a good place to film, let’s get the camera set up. Josh? You ready?”

Josh carefully stepped as close to the edge of the drop as he dared, and turned to face the camera. Lucy gave the thumbs up that the film was rolling.

“This is the very spot where the legend began and below me lies the deep, dark depths of Hunters Pool. Is it really haunted, or is it just a cautionary tale to keep children from going near

dangerous water?As we always say, all legends are borne out of fact, but how much of this is true? It’s up to you to decide.”

Lucy gave another thumbs up and Josh stepped away from the treacherous edge with relief.

“I’d like to get some ‘walk and talk’footage for the next bit. Jess, can you explain the legend as we make our way down to the pool? Lucy, keep the pool in the back of the shot,” Alex instructed.

Jess nodded. She had done this many times and had perfected the art of talking into the camera, while still keeping track of where she was going.

“We’re heading down to the edge of Hunters Pool, but what is the legend that haunts this beautiful place? Well, there are two different versions of this story, depending on who in the village is telling it. It starts with the typical rich meets poor love story. Rosie-Mae, a cobbler’s daughter, fell in love with Alfie Howarth, son of the Earl. It was a doomed relationship and they met in secret on the moors behind the manor. Rosie-Mae fell pregnant and rushed to meet Alfie to tell him the good news, and this is where the story splits. Some say she lost her footing and fell, plunging to her death in Hunters Pool. Others claim someone from the Howarth family had heard of her pregnancy and lay in wait to rid the family of an inconvenience. Either way, poor Rosie-Mae drowned in Hunters Pool and her body was never found.”

“Cut!” Alex shouted. “We’ll film the next part at the water’s edge. Josh, you pick up the tale, and I’ll swim out into the pool to add a bit of visual context.”

The Legends Unveiled team quickly set up on the shallow bank of the pool. Lucy positioned the camera and set up a wide shot of the water, with Josh central in the foreground.Alex stripped down to his trunks and gingerly tested the cold waters.

“Brrr! It’s flipping freezing! The things I do for fame and fortune!” Alex joked, and waded out into the pool.

Lucy waited until Alex was deep enough to swim, then nodded to Josh to start.

“The next part is where the legend takes a spooky turn. The tragedy of Rosie-Mae’s drowning soon faded from village chatter, and Hunters Pool went back to being a favourite hang out for the local teenagers. But the next summer, tragedy struck again and Hunters Pool claimed two more lives,” Josh paused and gazed out over the water for a moment, then turned back to the camera.

“The victims wereAlfie’s older brother, and cousin. The one survivor, the baker’s son, was too terrified to speak at first. Finally, he told of a pale, watery figure that grabbed his friends, dragging them down to the bottom. Like Rosie-Mae, their bodies were never recovered. The legend began. The deaths of the Howarth boys seemed to add credence to the rumours that Rosie-Mae was murdered, and she was now seeking revenge on the family responsible.” “Arrrhhh! Help me!” Alex screamed suddenly. He thrashed in the water, ducking under several times then rising, spitting out water. His eyes wide with fear, he kicked and splashed trying to swim towards the shore.

“Alex!” Jess cried, running to the water’s edge.

Josh frantically kicked off his shoes, ready to wade in.Alex managed to free himself and swam at speed, finally collapsing on the stony bank.

“Oh my god,Alex! What happened?”

Alex looked up with a fearful expression. “She got me. Rosie-Mae is real…” he whispered.

Jess gasped, and Josh scurried away from the water’s edge.

Alex’s wide-eyed stare slowly morphed into a grin. “Gotcha! Ha, you should have seen your faces. Good footage though?”

Jess punched him. “You idiot! You had me worried then.”

“You didn’t seriously think I was being attacked by some vengeful peasant, did you?” Alex laughed. “I must have got my foot caught in a branch or something. It freaked me out for a moment…”

“Guys…” Lucy interrupted. “Guys, I think you need to see this.”

Lucy fast-forwarded through the last bit of footage, then zoomed in. Out on the water, a dark silhouette of a face, framed with long straggly hair, rose above the surface for a few seconds, then slowly sank back into the depths of Hunters Pool.

Sylva Fae is a married mum of three from Lancashire, England. She has spent twenty years teaching literacy to adults with learning difficulties and disabilities, and now works from home as a children’s writer and illustrator.

RELEASE

In a world where the bees were weaponized and the cure was buried, sometimes the sweetest victories come from the simplest truths. But some secrets, once revealed, can never be hidden again.

The sickness that nearly killed them might be cured. But the consequences of survival? Those are just beginning.

Four teenagers. One killer bee sting. A ticking clock to find a cure that shouldn't exist.

https://geni.us/SoothingSilence

New Releases in The Silent Lands Chronicles And the Challenges of Co-authoring

(E.A. Darl is a collaborative series by authors, Susan Faw, Judith Docken and Sylva Fae)

Years ago, Susan Faw had the idea to co-author a YA series that fit the sci-fi/dystopian genre. She gathered me and author, Judith Docken together, and we brainstormed ideas. Susan was the driving force behind the project but we were eager contributors. We are very different writers; Judith is the author of a ghost story and has also published non-fiction books and articles, Susan is primarily a fantasy writer, and I mainly write children’s books – it was a peculiar mix of styles, but we all share a love of the dystopian genre and it worked. We chose a pen name to fit the genre, which incorporates our middle names: E.A. Darl.

By E.A. Darl

https://geni.us/StealingSilence

Judith set about writing a standalone novella, set within the same world, Shadowed Silence. It follows the back story of one of the main characters, and shows how the polluted environment caused a slow decline of society and led to the world featured in the main series storyline. This book can be read as a prequel, or as a standalone at any point during the series.

Judith came up with the series title, The Silent Lands Chronicles, and Susan the dystopian premise that the ecology had been destroyed by government mismanagement and greed. The disappearance of the bees and other insects was the first symptom hence the land being silent. And then the ideas started flowing. Susan set off on a writing marathon, and we soon had the first novella of the series, Stealing Silence.

https://geni.us/ShadowedSilence

Together we brainstormed the next couple of books, Susan went into another writing flurry and soon after, Seeking Silence and Stinging Silence were published. The series had great reviews and we were enthusiastic to continue. Our main character, Avalon grew as she became more intent on uncovering the secrets of her family, and fighting back against the people who had caused the catastrophic collapse of the life she once knew. We spent many fun hours planning her future adventures. What started as a simple idea, grew into a world of government corruption, gangs and a secret resistance movement made up of scientists.

Reckless. Determined. Obsessed.

Sixteen year old Avalon is a scrappy street kid. Her sister Alexa has never been apart from Avalon-that is until Avalon abandons her to chase after a dangerous gang, who might just be the key to their missing parents. When clues surface, hinting at the truth behind their disappearance, Avalon packs her rucksack to leave.

Panicked, Alexa begs her to stay, but Avalon ignores her plea. Oblivious to personal danger, she races to confront a dangerous adversary-the notorious Firebrand gang. One thought consumes Avalon. What is the Firebrand gang’s connection to the Gainsborough’s?

Meanwhile, the epidemic sweeping their world is exploding with new cases. Time is running out and Avalon’s family is central to it all.

Obsessed. Driven. Blinded By Pain.

Avalon’s pride is her downfall. Abandoned at an early age and obsessed with the knowledge that her parents may still live, she sneaks away in the early morning hours. Determined to discover the truth she confronts the deadliest ghetto in all of Solace.

Bad move.

Driven by guilt, anger and a healthy dose of reckless abandon, Avalon runs head on into the deadly virus sweeping the world. The clock is ticking.

Can her trusted allies administer a cure before the disease claims her life? Only her parents know for sure.

https://geni.us/SeekingSilence

https://geni.us/StingingSilence

https://geni.us/SneakingSilence

I was tasked with writing a prequel from the perspective of Avalon’s little sister, Alexa. I wrote the first draft, but then sadly Judith could no longer continue with our joint series. My draft sat unpublished for a few years and the project stalled. Suddenly last year, the series picked up and Susan urged me to publish my prequel. Sneaking Silence was released in early December 2025. It is set a year before the main storyline, and introduces characters who were to become integral to future plots.

While revisiting my draft for Sneaking Silence, I also reread the rest of the series, and the original excitement of those early planning days returned. I was keen to keep going with the story, but as Susan was now busy writing her other series, we switched roles. I became the primary writer, with Susan taking on the ideas, proofreading and publishing roles.

The next book in the series, Soothing Silence was a tricky one to plan. Within each book there is a main storyline that is resolved, but there are minor plot points that are slowly revealed throughout the series. I’m being vague to avoid any spoilers here! Susan left me with a few unresolved plots and neither of us could remember where they were going! It was a challenge, not only did I have to continue the main storyline, I had to come up with ways to tie up loose ends from the previous books. I said I wanted to avoid spoilers, but if you read the series, take a moment to pause and consider how Susan left the characters at the end of Stinging Silence – you will see my dilemma. I do love a challenge though, and Soothing Silence was published at the end of December 2025.

https://geni.us/SoothingSilence

I was on a roll…my head was fully immersed in the Silent Lands world, and I set off on the next book in the series. Scattering Silence is due to be published in February 2026, and the draft for the next one has already started. There are two further books planned but who knows where the characters might lead me?

Should you wish to read the series, here is the order to read the books in:

Shadowed Silence – a standalone prequel set years before the main storyline, read at any time.

Sneaking Silence – prequel set one year before the main storyline.

Stealing Silence – book 1

Seeking Silence – book 2

Stinging Silence – book 3

Soothing Silence – book 4, new release

Scattering Silence – book 5, soon to be published

https://geni.us/ScatteringSilence

Synopsis of The Silent Lands Chronicles

The cure was always there hidden in honey, buried in lies. Now one family's immunity could save thousands, if it doesn't kill them first.

When Avalon Gainsborough is caught stealing food from a government greenhouse, she's just trying to survive another day in a world gone silent. The bees that once pollinated the earth have been transformed into killing machines. The land is dying. And the very government that caused the catastrophe controls the only fertilizer that allows anything to grow.

But Avalon and her younger sister Alexa are different. They've survived on their own for four years since their scientist parents vanished without a trace. They have skills. They have secrets. And they have something the government desperately wants: immunity to the killer bee venom that's claiming thousands of lives.

When a sympathetic cop named Mitch offers them a way out of their dead-end existence, the sisters are thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse with the most powerful forces in the country. What starts as a simple burglary mission becomes a desperate race to uncover the truth: their parents didn't just disappear they were kidnapped because they knew too much.

Content Notes:

Violence: Moderate (action sequences, bee attacks, some peril)

Language: Clean (appropriate for ages 13+)

Romance:

Slow-burn, fade-toblack (YA appropriate)

Triggers: Parental kidnapping, starvation, medical experimentation

Reading Level: Young Adult (ages 13+), Adult crossover appeal

Hidden in their research is the Caladrius a cure that could heal the dying land and free humanity from government control. But the same officials who stole that research will stop at nothing to keep it buried. They've already weaponized one scientific breakthrough. They won't let another one slip through their fingers.

As Avalon and Alexa dig deeper, they discover:

• Their immunity isn't an accident it's the key to saving thousands

• The resistance movement has been waiting for them

• Their parents' legacy could change everything or destroy what's left of the world

• Some secrets are worth dying for, and some are worth killing to protect

• The greatest weapon against tyranny is a family that refuses to break

From the dusty fields of abandoned farms to secret underground bunkers, from government research facilities to the sacred lands of the Seiko tribe, the Gainsborough sisters will fight, survive, and discover that the cure for a dying world might lie in the very blood running through their veins.

But salvation always demands sacrifice. And in the Silent Lands, the cost of freedom is higher than anyone imagined.

What Readers Are Saying:

"If you loved The Hunger Games and Divergent, you'll devour The Silent Lands Chronicles!"

"The sister bond is everything these girls will break your heart and make you cheer!"

"I couldn't stop reading. Binge-worthy doesn't even begin to describe this series."

"Finally, a completed dystopian series I can read straight through!"

The Authors Who Make Up E.A. Darl

Read more by Susan Faw here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Susan-Faw/author/B01BW8MPDS

Read more by Sylva Fae here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B01BPM4QGA

Read more by Judith Docken here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Judith-Docken/author/B073XS6DC5

Global Book Awards

CREATIVE EDGE PUBLICITY IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE MULTIPLE REPRESENTED WINNERS IN THE 2025 GLOBAL BOOK AWARDS!!!!

GOLD CATEGORY

Winner in Family Life

The 2025 Global Book Awards for Self-Published Authors.

Featuring our medal winners and finalists in each of their categories.

The Global Awards aim to discover new talent as well as recognize fine examples of self-published books. As such, we hope they will give self-published authors the recognition they deserve, whether that is in their writing creativity, or in the way they have marketed their books to attract new readers.

In this modern age of self-publishing, books need to be appraised not only by their content and writing style, but also by the way they present and market themselves to the prospective buyer, whether that is in the good ratings it has on important stores like Amazon, its book cover and description, or the number of reviews it has collected. They must also appeal to new readers so part of the evaluation included a survey asking avid readers to select the top 5 books they enjoyed the most.

Grief & Bereavement

Self Help Spiritual

SILVER CATEGORY

BRONZE CATEGORY

The Mouse Family That Live By

The Brambles

by Sylva Fae

Photography by Gez Robinson

Gez Robinson is a talented wildlife photographer from Yorkshire, England. For the last few years, I’ve been following the story of a family of mice, that live in an area of the garden dedicated to wildlife. It has been fascinating to watch the trust that has built up between the mice and Gez, as he patiently sits behind the camera. The photos are stunning, and show what characters wild mice are, whether it be their quirky antics in their natural environment, or their curiosity as they interact with the props left by Gez for the mice to explore.

Gez has been a wildlife photographer for around fifteen years, and has a passion for wildlife. During the first pandemic lockdown, craving his photography fix, he started taking photos of the birds and other wildlife in his garden.

“…and that’s when I spotted a little mouse on the old decking. It was looking at a blackberry on the blackberry bush and just stood there whilst I took photos of it. My passion with the mouse family was born.”

Since the early successes of the Mouse Family That Live by the Brambles facebook page, Gez has published a book of the same name and set up other social media accounts.

https://www.facebook.com/bramblemouse

https://www.gezrobinsonphotography.co.uk/

Instagram: gez_robinson_photography

TikTok: @mousefamilybythebrambles

Copyright @ Gez Robinson for all photos featured in this article.

The Twisted Grain by Dr. C.L. Spillard

Review by Eric

Lahti

https://

ericlahti.wordpress.com/2023/12/18/ book-review-the-twisted-grain-by-dr-c-lspillard

The Review

For those of you who missed out, I reviewed another of Dr. Spillard’s books – The Evening Lands – back in ’21. The Evening Lands was a great read, focusing on the nature of good and evil and Verity’s guardian devil. Verity is back in The Twisted Grain, the new psych thriller from across the pond. This time, Spillard injects a bit of ecodisaster into the mix.

Now, the jury is largely out on the long -term effects of GMO foods. Considering the complex nature of our food supplies and how we consume them, it’s entirely possible dastardly things are afoot. Whether those dastardly things are intentional is also a question for the future. But Spillard drags the future into the here and now with an essentially two-part-inone story. The first part of the story explores Verity and her interrelationship with Reid – a villain with a change of heart, his mad-scientist machinery, and just how big and out-of-control things can get when we let them go.

So, that’s the skeleton of the plot. Much like The Evening Lands, The Twisted Grain is much more than its

"If you don ’t like to read, you haven ’t found the right book."

– J.K. Rowling

underlying plot. A good writer – and Spillard falls into that group – knows that the skeletal plot is just a parts hanger, something to keep the narrative cohesive while the real magic occurs elsewhere.

For instance, if you were to view the skeletal outline of Superman, it would probably look something like “A dying planet fires its last son into a distant planet. Shenanigans ensue.” Or: “The crew of the Enterprise sets out on a wacky adventure to find God. Hijinks ensue.” In the case of Superman, more than a few keys points get lost in translation. In the case of Star Trek V, that pretty much sums up the movie. The Twisted Grain’s plot outline falls into the Superman category rather than the Star Trek V category.

Excuse me for a moment. I just have to say Star Trek V was freakin’ stupid. God, I hate that movie.

Anyway, back to the task at hand. The Twisted Grain is much more even than Dr. Spillard’s blurb below would have you believe. Much like The Evening Lands was a philosophical traipse through the poison-daisy-filled fields of good and evil, The Twisted Grain is a trek through the nature of just what vile really means. Worse, who is really behind the vileness. Villains aren’t always out in the open about their villainy. Sometimes, the villain just wants money or power, but the truly great villains are looking for so much more. Just like the truly great heroines have a little more up their sleeves that some would guess.

So what you wind up with a nation-hopping – and mind-bending – adventure where you’ll spend almost as much time plumbing the depths of the psyche as wading through the sometimes foul nature of the world. You could technically sum it up with “A heroine and her former tormentor hatch a mad plan to save the world. Danger ensues.” but it wouldn’t capture the magic and brilliance of actually reading the book.

Highly recommended. Get your copy on Amazon

Check out her website https://cspillardwriter.co.uk/

REVIEWS

Hex and the City

by Mark Leslie and Julie Strauss

Hex and the City is a fast-paced story that blends supernatural chaos, sharp wit, and emotional depth in a way that feels thrilling. Set against the gritty energy of New York City and the haunting atmosphere of New Orleans, the story follows Michael Andrews, a werewolf trying to live a seminormal life and Gail Sommers, a woman bound by an ancient family curse that makes love dangerously complicated.

What really stands out is the balance between action and emotion. The novel delivers intense paranormal conflicts, secret societies, curses, and magic, but never loses sight of its characters’ inner struggles. Michael and Gail’s relationship is raw, messy, and deeply human, making the stakes feel personal even when the fate of the world is on the line.

The writing is smart, humorous, and easy to follow. The alternating points of view keep the momentum strong and allow readers to connect deeply with both leads. Even as part of the Canadian Werewolf series, this book works perfectly as a standalone. : 5/5

"The man who does not read good books is no better than the man who can ’t."

I Think It’s a Sign That the Pun Also Rises

by Mark Leslie

I Think It’s a Sign That the Pun Also Rises by Mark Leslie is a lighthearted read and a tribute to the art of the pun, the dad joke, and the well -earned groan. Leslie leans fully into silliness, inviting readers to relax and enjoy language at its most playful. The book’s strength lies in its sheer enthusiasm for wordplay. Every joke feels like it was shared with a grin.

Organized into themed sections such as meta jokes, one-liners, reflections, and observational humor, the collection offers constant variety while remaining easy to read in small doses. Readers can open the book at random and still find something amusing within seconds.

More than anything, the book succeeds because it understands its purpose: to bring joy, spark laughter, and encourage sharing. Leslie’s humor feels inclusive and warm, making it suitable for readers of all ages who appreciate clean, clever comedy. I Think It’s a Sign That the Pun Also Rises is an ideal pick-me-up book. It is perfect for coffee tables, gift-giving, or those moments when a good laugh (or groan) is exactly what’s needed.

: 5/5

Review by Sassy Reviews https://sassyreviews.data.blog/2026/01/09/i-think-its-a-sign-that-the-pun-also-rises

Mark Twain

REVIEWS

The New Empire by Allison McBain

The New Empire by Alison McBain is a heartbreaking tale. The slave brand I definitely remember in a Western movie that a Chinese slave also had one. Whether that slave brand mark is fictional in both this book and the Western movie is something I will never know. But it reminded me of the Chinese people who through tough times were sold and lived hard lives. The things they have seen and endured as a person being sold to another shows us humanity at its worst. Jiangxi’s story is sad, dark, and lonely. A young Chinese boy sold as a slave. His bravery speaks volumes. He faces his destiny whatever it may be with more strength than any grown adult. Alison McBain’s writing is entertaining and fun. It’s easy to follow and get lost within Jiangxi’s tale and adventure. I definitely recommend this book to all readers.

Rating: 5-stars

Reviewed by Danielle Urban, AR Critique

https://elarcritique.wordpress.com/2025/12/28/review-new-empire/#more-47908

Time Reaping in Deadwood by Ann Charles

Time Reaping in Deadwood by Ann Charles is the next best adventure readers will experience. The all-time favorite trademarks that make this novel stand out include humor, actionpacked scenes, the most unexpected always happens, there’s is constant chaos. Ann Charles writes in a way that is enticing, bold, and dramatic. It’s like being at the theater but living in an action-packed Western movie with a paranormal fantasy twist. She always manages to capture my full-attention and drag me so deep into her characters’ lives. I loved this group of quirky characters and their dilemmas. If you love quirky, hilarious, and unique characters, this is the book for you! There is always something for readers to love. Never a dull moment in Time Reaping in Deadwood.

Rating: 5-stars

Reviewed by Danielle Urban, AR Critique

https://elarcritique.wordpress.com/2023/10/31/review-time-reaping-in-deadwood/

The Children of Red Peak by Craig DiLouie

A remarkably haunting novel, author Craig DiLouie does an amazing job of capturing the raw horror of surviving a doomsday cult. The novel explores the horrors of the cult and the power that changed the path the cult was originally on, but the true heart of this story comes in the characters themselves.

The characters are the gateways into the heart of this story, exploring how the actions of the cult impacted them each in their own ways. While the powerful and supernatural elements of the story that kicks in towards the climax of the story are fascinating, the true horror that comes into this narrative is the cult itself.

As someone who is fascinated and interested in cults and how they come to form, it was engaging to see the character’s own experiences, as they seem so similar to horror stories that have happened in real life. From the change in the cult’s practice from peaceful worship to blind faith to the insistence of obedience to the cult overall and the chilling actions that resulted in murder, mutilation and cultists disappearing, the true scares and spine-chilling atmosphere explored in this novel comes from the cult, something many readers will be drawn to in this novel.

The Verdict

A powerful, emotional, and horrific modern-day horror novel, author Craig DiLouie’s “The Children of Red Peak” is a marvelous read. The shocking events of the past collide with the horrific truth of the future in this novel, and protagonist David, his sister Angela and the other survivors immediately draw the reader in with their own coping skills in the wake of the cult and their bonds with one another. It’s a perfect read as the holiday season approaches, and the book’s final confrontation will have readers thinking critically about the nature of the universe itself. Be sure to grab your copy of this amazing read today.

Rating: 10/10

Review by — Anthony Avina

https://authoranthonyavina.com/2020/11/21/the-children-of-red-peak-by-craigdilouie-review

REVIEWS

Against All Odds by Jeffery H. Haskell

Against All Odds is a gripping military science fiction novel. Jeffery H. Haskell delivers a story that is as emotionally challenging as it is action-packed.

The story centers on Lieutenant Jacob T. Grimm, a naval officer whose instincts save lives during a sudden and brutal ambush in deep space. What appears to be a heroic victory quickly turns into something far more disturbing, forcing Grimm and the readers to confront the devastating consequences of decisions made in the heat of battle.

Haskell excels at depicting realistic military procedures, chain-of-command tensions, and the psychology of leadership. One of the novel’s strongest elements is its exploration of accountability. Grimm is placed in a morally gray space where intent, outcome, and perception collide.

Admirals, intelligence officers, civilians, and pirates add richness to the universe, each with clear motivations and conflicting agendas. This book will strongly appeal to fans of military sci-fi who enjoy thoughtful storytelling alongside action.

My Rating: 5/5

Review by Reader’s Choice https://passionduniya.wordpress.com/2025/12/19/against-all-odds

"A book is a gift you can open again and again."

Garrison Keillor

Fireboy

by Edward Willett

Fireboy by Edward Willett is a gripping and suspenseful read. The story follows thirteen-year-old Samantha Anastasia MacReady, an eighth grader at Engelmann Middle School. Sam is one of only two survivors of the infamous incident in Dr. Ballard’s Grade 7 science class an unfateful day the adults simply call “The Tragedy.” Because of this, Sam is terrified of taking Dr. Ballard’s Grade 8 science class.

The disaster occurred during a Grade 7 overnight camping and astronomy trip to Mount Mollard, where all the students vanished except Meg Leblanc.

Later, during a camping trip with her father, Sam hears someone whispering her name from the campfire. When she looks, she sees the face of her best friend, Lorenzo. After returning home, she notices flames flickering in the woods beyond the old barn and again hears her name being called. She eventually sees Lorenzo again he insists he’s not dead and begs Sam to help him return home.

To uncover the truth, Lorenzo urges Sam to investigate what really happened that night, starting with Meg, the survivor. Get your hands on this book to find out what they uncover.

The author’s writing style is captivating. I especially loved the book’s title and cover design. The plot is refreshingly original, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The story is well paced. I am looking forward to reading more books by the author in the future.

My Rating: 5/5

Reviewed by — Sassy Reviews https://sassyreviews.data.blog/2025/07/08/fireboy

The Asrai

By Lyssa Medana

I was looking through the list of legendary creatures on Wikipedia (which I recommend for any writer with any sort of supernatural connection) and I saw the entry about theAsrai. They are described as creatures of water, like an aquatic fairy, ancient and wise, and as being pale and gentle. The old fairy stories have the Fair Folk wading through rivers of blood so that seems a little unlikely, but I suppose that it’s possible.

Folklore is a funny thing. My mother was possibly the most superstitious person in the world ever and I never heard anything about theAsrai, described as being from Cheshire and Shropshire. I grew up in Cheshire, though possibly the wrong part of Cheshire and this was something completely new to me. The entry also referred to Bala Lake, or Llyn Tegid, which is as full of folklore as it is of water and includes a mysterious monster and a drowned town.

The story on Wikipedia sounded so sad.Afisherman caught anAsrai which pleaded for its life in a foreign language. The fisherman covered it with seaweed and its voice grew fainter and fainter as the creature melted away in the sunlight until there was just a puddle of water. It was such a vivid image, but I couldn’t think of anything like it in my childhood. Then I remembered Jinny Greenteeth. I suspect that theAsrai are the polite Victorian version of the stories that went around the playground.

Jinny Greenteeth was a monster, a creature that lurked in ponds and canals, lurking underneath the algae covered water. We were all warned that if we got too close to those green covered waters then Jinny Greenteeth would grab us and pull us under the water to drown. I heard a few different versions, many of them involving cousins or distant friends of the storyteller. The stories were gruesome, vivid and as good a way as any of keeping young kids away from weedstrangled water. When I had a quick check for Jinny Greenteeth, her geographical range covered Cheshire and Shropshire as well as Liverpool and Lancashire.

My mind has a habit of wandering away without adult supervision, and I started thinking about theAsrai and Jinny Greenteeth being the same. When you think about people in general, they come in all sorts of personalities. You can have awful, dreadful dictators and serial killers who are the same species, the same type of creature as Bob Ross or Mister Rogers. Perhaps the Jinny Greenteeth is theAsrai version of Ted Bundy or the Yorkshire Ripper. Would there beAsrai tasked to deal with the rogues? Would there be Jinny Greenteeth that realised the error of their ways and wanted to turn away from their murderous path? Would former comrades in the water suddenly become bitter enemies? Would mortals be asked to intervene in deadly battles? The possibilities for stories growing from these small folktales are wonderfully many and varied, and I’m adding them to my ‘to write’list.

Pics for TheAsrai

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Komargorod_pond_2013_G3.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lord%27s_Bridge_Pond,_Church_Road,_Shepperton,_Surrey_01.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Abandoned_Beaver_Pond_ (888fa0b8155d463c9c9674d1c8b739c6).JPG

Lyssa Medana is a fifty something author living in West Yorkshire, UK. Her works include Out of the London Mist, Under the Bright Saharan Sun, King’s Silver, The Forgotten Village, Digging up the Past, and Dinner at Dark among others.

Lyssa also regularly publishes poems, articles and short stories on her blog, Always Another Chapter https:// alwaysanotherchapter.co.uk/ along with all the latest news

Lyssa is fascinated by the odd, the quirky and the unusual and enjoys dipping into old folklore and English social history, which she uses shamelessly for her writing. Her hobbies include knitting, reading and heckling history documentaries.

DeathCon

A Zombie Story

In

affiliation with

Stark Publishing, Bram Stoker Award Winner Nzondi is back with a new twist on surviving the apocalypse

Love survived death-now it has to survive the apocalypse.

On the second anniversary of her boyfriend's death, Cozy Coleman, a rising star in a world where necromancy is mainstream, boards DeathCon, a horrorthemed convention cruise where she and her two best friends-the Scream Teens-are hired as headline necro-tainment.

When a brutal she-wolf attack kills Cozy, she awakens reanimated, caught between life and something far darker. Her resurrection reveals an extinctionlevel virus beneath the Pacific-one that could turn the Hawaiian Islands into ground zero for an undead apocalypse.

As the ship locks down, a covert military unit arrives to contain the outbreak, led by a hardened operative Cozy recognizes instantly: the boyfriend she's been mourning isn't dead, but deep undercover. Furious at the lie yet still madly in love, Cozy is forced to fight alongside him as the ship descends into chaos. With ravenous creatures overrunning DeathCon and time running out, Cozy must confront what she's becoming-and decide whether love, trust, and her dangerous power are enough to stop the end of everything.

https://books2read.com/deathcon

Nzondi is an award-winning science fiction/horror author, a music producer and songwriter. Named after King Acemandese from Kemet, Africa, Nzondi (a.k.a. Ace Antonio-Hall) was born Acemandese Nzondi Hall in Queens, New York on July 4th. In 2013, his debut novel, Confessions of Sylvia Slasher, was published by Montag Press. His science fiction/horror work, Oware Mosaic is the 2019 Bram Stoker Awards® Winner for Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel, making him the first African American to win the prestigious award in a novel category. His zombie novel, Lipstick Asylum, was published by Omnium Gatherum Media, 2021. Crossroad Press reprinted his novel Oware Mosaic in 2023.

Interview by Melanie P. Smith

SamanthaEvans

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I grew up in Chicagoland and went to the Twin Cities in Minnesota for college, where I played enough Ultimate frisbee to have minored in it. Clint and I married in 2004 and lived in Oregon for a few years before returning to Minnesota. He became a pastor in 2015 and died from cancer in 2019. Our daughters were eight, seven, and six at the time. I remarried in 2023. A lot of life happened in between each of those sentences, and through it all, writing has always grounded me, brought me joy and peace. It’s when I write that I feel closest to God.

Linktr.ee/LoveSamEvans

Do you have a favorite genre, or is one type of book easier for you to write than others, and why?

The Prodigal’s Son: Crackhead to Jesus Freak is the hardest book I’ve ever written. I tell people who’ve read the Harry Potter series that The Prodigal’s Son is my horcrux. Writing the story required me to dive into a very dark place that cost pieces of my soul. But for the sake of the people whose lives will change from reading that one, I would do it all again.

https://geni.us/ProdigalsSon

My first love is fiction. I love writing edgy, but closed-door romantic suspense. I’m looking forward to working on a romantic-suspense series this year. I’m also excited to work on The Ephenian Chronicles, a YA fantasy fiction series with elements of romantic suspense.

When did you start writing? Did an event or person prompt you to take that leap?

I actually didn’t realize I was an author until I had several books on Amazon. No one else who knew me was surprised. Friends scrunched their eyebrows in confusion and said, “You know people don’t write books for fun, right?” That hadn’t occurred to me, actually. My mom said, “Don’t you remember that poem you wrote in third grade? You sat on the stairs and whipped that poem out in about five minutes and then it won first place at a district-wide competition.” My cousin said, “don’t you remember those ‘Bunny Bandit Tales’ you told the rest of us when we were kids? You used to make up the stories on the spot.” When I called a friend to tell her I was an author, she reminded me that I was the editor-in-chief for our high school literary magazine. So, my love of writing and my knack for it has been ever-present, but I didn’t start calling myself an author until a few years ago.

How / where do you find the plots you write about?

I’m 100% a pantser, so the story sorta just falls onto the page.

I came up with the idea for The Ephenian Chronicles from the thought, “What would it be like if my three earth-born children interacted with my three heaven-born babies?” I’m excited about the series. Six books, each written from a different sibling’s POV.

In my upcoming romantic suspense, The Lakeshore’s Secret, I chose the location Pequot Lakes, Minnesota based on a real place I’d lived. Everything else tumbled from my fingertips on the go.

Mark Twain said “Write what you know.” Tell us about your writing process. Are you a plotter or a pantser? Do you plot, plan, and conduct hours of research; or, do you just sit down and write whatever comes to mind based on your personal history and knowledge?

For multiple reasons, I typically choose a place I’ve lived for the setting of my novels. That way, I can write about the place accurately, which lends credibility to the novel. It’s also a nod to the communities I’ve been a part of. And third, knowing the setting intimately anchors the story so I can focus more on the other details.

Tell us your latest news:

I have quite the line-up for 2026. The Prodigal’s Son: Crackhead to Jesus Freak launched January 1, 2026 and I can’t wait to hear what readers think about the story. The Lakeshore’s Secret, my debut romantic suspense novel, releases in March. Dressed in Love Press picked that series up.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Oh, I love this question. Thank you for asking it. The message of each book is different.

Love Letters to Miscarriage Moms You are not alone in the grief of losing a child.

The Prodigal’s Son: Crackhead to Jesus Freak You are worthy of God’s love. You are not too far gone for the grace of God to reach you.

The Lakeshore’s Secret: You are stronger than you think you are.

How much of the book is realistic?

I make my fiction stories as realistic as possible. I never want a reader to have to waste energy suspending disbelief. The idea is for them to get lost in a well-crafted, fantastic story.

What books have influenced your life the most?

I fell in love with the characters from Julia Spencer Fleming’s Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne mystery series. And I saw that she released a new one that I can’t wait to read. Her characters jumped off the page and made me laugh out loud. When I read her novels, I thought, ‘this. This is how I want to write.’ I’d love to sit across the table from her someday.

Do you have a mentor that helped or encouraged you to follow your dream of writing?

These last three years, Terry Whalin, a veteran author/ publisher/ acquisition editor. He calls me every time I release a new newsletter to praise the work I’m doing. His greatest message to me has been, “Don’t quit. The ones who make it are the ones who don’t quit.”

What

are your current projects?

I’m finishing a Bible study that will sidle up to Love Letters to Miscarriage Moms geared for support groups and small groups. Aiming for Mother’s Day for that one. I’ve also hired a voice actress to read the audio for The Prodigal’s Son: Crackhead to Jesus Freak. I’m letting my publicist Mickey tell me when that one should release. While all that’s going on, I’m looking forward to writing the second book in The Lakeshore Mysteries Series.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

You are my first priority when I write, not awards or best-selling lists. When you read my work, I pray that you’ll laugh, you’ll cry healing cries, and you’ll meet characters you resonate with. Feedback from readers is one of my favorite parts of what I do. I look forward to hearing what you think.

Can you share a sample of your current work with us?

I’d be more than happy to. Also, anyone who signs up for my newsletter at https://setschritter.substack.com/ receives three free chapters of The Prodigal’s Son. https://setschritter.substack.com/

Pick one of your characters and share some of their backstory that didn’t make it into the novel.

In the Lakeshore’s Secrets, Tasha mentions that her mom is in prison for drug-related charges. I didn’t have time to flesh that out in book one, but it may come up again in book three when an EMT is held hostage by a drug dealer.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

You have to want it. Really want it. 82% of Americans say they want to write a book. Less than 3 % actually write one. And only about 1% actually publish a book. Add selling books and Marketing to that equation? Chop that 1% by another fraction. So, if you really want it, and you’re part of that 1%, here is my best advice:

1.) Attend a writers conference

2.) Promote yourself at least once/ day

3.) Don’t quit

Is there one person past or present you would like to meet and why?

Julia Spencer Fleming or Cecil Murphy, just to talk shop and absorb as much writing knowledge from them as possible.

What do you want written on your headstone and why?

“She Told Them They Were Loved.” Because that’s what I want people to say about me after I’m gone. I titled my poetry book after that phrase.

Other than writing do you have any hobbies?

Gardening! My Siberian Husky and I both love digging holes in the backyard. I also love waterskiing and hiking but I don’t get to do those two activities as much as I’d like

Can you share something personal with your readers?

In college, I became a member of the Polar Bear Club. It’s what Minnesotans do in February when cabin fever sets in. The shyest girl in my hall was jumping and the seniors promoting the plunge advertised T-shirts with a picture of a toilet plunger on them that read, ‘It takes a little more to be a plunger.’ The day I jumped into Lake Johanna they had to cut through two feet of ice to get to the water. It is the dumbest thing I’ve ever done, but I still have the T-shirt.

If money was no issue would you prefer a cozy beach bungalow or a rustic cabin overlooking a mountain lake?

Cozy beach bungalow. I love the feeling of the sun on my skin and watching the power of the waves. Also, my husband Tim hates the snow.

One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so, what is it? Do you have a social media platform where your fans can go to interact with you and follow your progress?

Linktr.ee/LoveSamEvans … all my media links in one place.

My newsletter is the best way to stay up-to-date and when fans sign up for my newsletter, they receive three free chapters of The Prodigal’s Son: Crackhead to Jesus Freak. Regarding social media, I’m most active on Tiktok and Instagram. The Lakehouse Secret, The Prodigal’s Son, and Love Letters to Miscarriage Moms each have their own pages on Facebook.

Affordable Editing

Aum

ByShriJaykishanHariharbhaiKapdi

Author of “Treasure of Indian Music”

About “Shree Saurashtra Sangeet Vidyalay” (Shree Saurashtra Music Class)

“Shree Saurashtra Sangeet Vidyalay” (Shree Saurashtra Music Class) is a nonprofessional music class established by Shri Mohanlal Ramdasji Kapdi to serve and spread Indian Music. It was formed in 1935 in the High Court Road, Bhavnagar City – 364001, Gujarat State, India.

“Shree Saurashtra Sangeet Vidyalay” has a lifetime membership of “Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal,” Meerut, Uttar Pradesh State, India and “Bruhad Gujarat Sangit Samiti”, Ahmedabad City, Gujarat State, India.

“Sageet Prarambhik” to “Sangeet Visharad” (Six years of degree course in music) music course is available. One can also learn basic music for fun. Training is given in Vocals and Instruments, like Harmonium, Casio, Benjo / Tysocoto, Violin, Mendolin, Flute, Guitar and Tabla (Tabour – An Indian rhythm instrument). You can learn Classical, Film – Movie Songs, “Bhajans” (adorable songs), “Ghazals”, “Sugam Sangeet” and “Gujarati Songs”.

Founder and Generations

[i] Shri Ramdasji Vanmalidasji Kapdi (passed away 1973)

Shri Ramdasji Vanmalidasji Kapdi - father of Shri Mohanlal Ramdasji Kapdi, was a singer and music composer. He arranged music for silent movies and plays (by seating in the balcony in that era). He used to play a harmonium with two hands, with his legs used for the bellows of the harmonium - in the "Deshi Natak Samaaj Kampany" (a play company), Bhangwadi, Bombay.

Shri Mohanlal Ramdasji Kapdi was a singer and music composer. He arranged music for silent movies and plays (by seating in the balcony in that era) with his father Shri Ramdasji Vanmalidasji Kapdi. To develop further skills in "Kirana Gharara Gayaki", Shri Mohanlal Ramdasji Kapdi went to Mumbai in January - February 1944 and was trained by Shri Balkrishna Kapilesvari Buva, a disciple of Shri Abdul Karim Khan Saheb and from Shri vamanrao Thakar in "Shree Saraswati Sangit Vidyalaya", Swastik House, Lamington Road, Bombay – 400007.

[ii] Shri Mohanlal Ramdasji Kapdi (1914 – 1999)

In the "Lavkush" play, music was arranged by Shri Mohanlal Ramdasji Kapdi. Play was performed a total of 684 times in day and night shows.

[iii] Shri Hariharbhai Mohanlal Kapdi (1938 – 2025)

Shri Hariharbhai - a son of Shri Mohanlal Ramdasji Kapdi started his musical journey by learning music from his grandfather Shri Ramdasji Vanmalidasji Kapdi and father Shri Mohanlal Ramdasji Kapdi. Later Shri Ramdasji was a priest / worshiper in the "Nana Ambaji's" Temple on the High Court Road, Bhavnagar City. After his death, Shri Mohanlal started worshipping at the temple. So, Shri Hariharbhai received some guidance and training from Shri Anantbhai (Antubhai) Swarmandle Sir. Shri Hariharbhai received a training in the Violin from Shri Haribhai Sharma, a founder of the "Kathiyawad Sangeet Shala" in the Vora Bazar, Bhavnagar. Shri Hariharbhai was a singer and a “Tabla” player also.

By profession, Shri Hariharbhai is a teacher in the high school - "A. V. School” - Later known as "Shri Dhaneshkumar Jashavantlal Mehta" high school - at Crescent Circle, Bhavnagar, teaching Hindi & History and is a post graduate in the subject of "Hindi" language. He conducted all the musical programs in the school. He conducted the "Saurashtra Sangeet Vidyalay" (Since 1935) during the evening.

Music Programme:

Shri Mukeshji Mathur - a legendary play-back film singer is accompanied on violin by Shri Hariharbhai Mohanlal Kapdi, during his Bhavnagar visit at Theosophical Lodge. Kersi Mistry is playing an accordion!

Music Awards:

"Gujart Gaurav Purashkar" in music for the year 2008-2009 was awarded to Shri Hariharbhai Mohanlal Kapdi (Bhavnagar City) by Honorable Minister Shri Fakirbhai Vaghela in Tagore Memorial Hall in the Ahmedabad City, Gujarat State, India. Dt.10/12/2009.

"Sangeet Ratna" Award was presented to Shri Hariharbhai Mohanlal Kapdi by the Honorable Governor of the Gujarat State Shri "Maha-mahim" Pandit Naval Kishorji Sharma at "Shivanand Ashram", Jodhpur Tekari, Amdavad, Gujarat, India, on the Dt.03/05/2009 on the 65th birthday of Swami Adhyatmanandji.

[iv-1] Shri Jaykishanbhai Hariharbhai Kapdi:

Shri Jaykishan Hariharbhai Kapdi has learned music from grandfather Shri Mohanlal Ramdasji Kapdi and father Shri Hariharbhai Mohanlal Kapdi. He is "Upantya Visharad" in “Tabla” (“Tabour” - An Indian rhythm instrument). He is also trained in Vocals, Harmonium, and Guitar.

Shri Jaykishan Hariharbhai Kapdi: Digital Archivist and FourthGeneration Guardian of Saurashtra's Musical Legacy

Shri Jaykishan Hariharbhai Kapdi is a multifaceted Indian musician, author, educator, and cultural preservationist who has transformed his family's century-old musical heritage into accessible digital resources. As the son of violin virtuoso

Shri Hariharbhai Mohanlal Kapdi and grandson of Vidyalaya founder Shri Mohanlal Ramdasji Kapdi, Jaykishan represents the fourth generation of the Kapdi lineage, dedicated to Hindustani classical, and Gujarati devotional music. With qualifications as “Upantya Visharad” in “Tabla” (rhythm instrument), he blends traditional guru-shishya training with modern tools like eBooks and apps, ensuring Saurashtra's melodies reach global audiences.

His mantra: "Music is a blessing from God hereditary, yet for all."

[v-1] Pooja Aniruddhbhai Kapdi:

[iv-2] Shri Aniruddhbhai Hariharbhai Kapdi:

Shri Aniruddhbhai Hariharbhai Kapdi has learned music from grandfather Shri Mohanlal Ramdasji Kapdi and father Shri Hariharbhai Mohanlal Kapdi. He is "Upantya Visharad" in “Vocals.” He is also trained in Harmonium.

[iv-3] Shri Jiteshbhai Hariharbhai Kapdi: (1968 to 1994):

Shri Jiteshbhai Hariharbhai Kapdi - has learned music from grandfather Shri Mohanlal Ramdasji Kapdi and father Shri Hariharbhai Mohanlal Kapdi. He was trained in Vocals, Harmonium & “Tabla” (“Tabour” - an Indian rhythm instrument). Cared "Shree Saurashtra Sangeet Vidyalay”, Bhavnagar with his father. He was engaged and both passed away in a car accident while going to Jamnagar from Rajkot for seeking a blessing of her aunt (Mother's Sister) serving in the Civil Hospital Jamnagar. Last click before his departure.

Pooja Aniruddhbhai Kapdi has learned music from grandfather

Shri Hariharbhai Mohanlal Kapdi and father Shri Aniruddhbahi

Hariharbhai Kapdi. She is trained in Vocals and Harmonium.

[v-2] Jeenal Aniruddhbhai Kapdi: Jeenal Kapdi Shah:

Jeenal Aniruddhbhai Kapdi has learned music from grandfather

Shri Hariharbhai Mohanlal Kapdi and father Shri Aniruddhbahi

Hariharbhai Kapdi. As a singer her career is shining - Jeenal Kapdi Shah -a rising star in Gujarati Music Industry.

[v-3] Shri Jeet Jaykishanbhai Kapdi:

Shri Jeet Jaykishanbhai Kapdi - has learned music from grandfather Shri Hariharbhai Mohanlal Kapdi and father Shri Jaykishanbhai Hariharbhai Kapdi. He is trained in Harmonium & Guitar.

Music Programme:

Dt.:29/02/1996 "Jaane kahan gaye woh din" (Musician Shri Shankar Jaikishan):

"Jaane kahan gaye woh din" - A free program of legendary musician of Shri Shankar Jaikishan was arranged by "Shree Saurashtra Sangeet Vidyalay", inaugurated by Honorable Muni. Commissionaire Smt. Sunayana Tomar Madam on the Dt. 29/02/1996 in the "Yashvantrai Natygruh", Bhavnagar City, Gujarat State, India.

Dt.:22/01/2009 "R. D. Burman Na Mastibharya Geeto" (Musician Shri R. D. Burman):

"R. D. Burman Na Mastibharya Geeto" - A free program was arranged by "Shree Saurashtra Sangeet Vidyalay" at "Yashvantrai Natyagruh" on the Dt.22/01/2009 in the Bhavnagar City, Gujarat State, India. Shri Hariharbhai (Harmonium), Aniruddhbhai(Vocal), Sagarbhai, Jaykishanbhai (Guitar), Jaldeepbhai, Niravbhai (Keyboard), Karmveerbahi ("Tabla"), Sharadbhai (Octopad).

3.3 Dt.:05/07/2009 "Swar Bhinjya Shabd" (Musician Shri Hariharbhai Kapdi):

"Swar Bhinjya Shabd" - A free program of “Gujarati Poetry” composed by Shri Hariharbhai Mohanlal Kapdi was arranged by "Shree Saurashtra Sangeet Vidyalay" at "Shishuvihar" on the Dt.05/07/2009 in the Bhavnagar City, Gujarat State, India. Shri Hariharbhai (Harmonium), Aniruddhbhai(Vocal), Shri Firdausbhai Dekhaiya(Guitar), Jaykishanbhai (Guitar), Jeenal Aniruddhbhai Kapdi (Vocal).

3.4 Dt.: 06/05/2012 "Roshan Se Roshan Tak" (Musician Shri Roshan – Shri Rajesh Roshan):

"Roshan Se Roshan Tak" - A free program was arranged by "Shree Saurashtra Sangeet Vidyalay" at "Apang Parivar Kalyan Kendra" on the Dt.06/05/2012 in the Bhavnagar City, Gujarat State, India. Shri Hariharbhai (Harmonium), Aniruddhbhai(Vocal), Jaykishanbhai(Guitar), Jeenal Aniruddhbhai Kapdi (Vocal).

3.5 Dt.13/07/2014 "Nagma-A-Gulzar" (Poet Shri Gulzar):

"Nagma-A-Gulzar" - A free program was arranged by "Shree Saurashtra Sangeet Vidyalay" at "Shishuvihar" on the Dt.13/07/2014 in the Bhavnagar City, Gujarat State, India. Shri Hariharbhai (Harmonium), Aniruddhbhai(Vocal), Jaykishanbhai(Guitar), Jeenal Aniruddhbhai Kapdi (Vocal).

Nomination:

4.1 Jeenal Kapdi Shah (Jeenal Aniruddhbhai Kapdi of "Shree Saurashtra Sangeet Vidyalay", [1935]

Bhavnagar City – 364 001, Gujarat State, India) - Nominated for the Best Female Singer at "GIFA" - Gujarati Iconic Film Awards - 2024 with Madhubanti Bagchi, Aishwarya Majmudar, Manasi Parekh, Bhoomi Trivedi, Vrattini Ghadge.

4.2 Jeenal Kapdi Shah (Jeenal Aniruddhbhai Kapdi of "Shree Saurashtra Sangeet Vidyalay", [1935]

Bhavnagar City – 364 001, Gujarat State, India) lent her voice to the song “Sanwariya” of “Ajab Raat Ni Gajab Vaat”, a Gujarati film released on November 15, 2024.

She was nominated for Best Vocalist – Female, at the “Janmabhoomi Awards Gujarati 2025” for this song. [Note: The movie title “Ajab Raat Ni Gajab Vaat”, roughly translates to "A Strange Night's Amazing Talk" or "A Strange Night's Amazing Story" in Gujarati.]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0d0NAPI9Y0&list=RDS0d0NAPI9Y0&start_radio=1

company in Bombay City, Maharashtra State, India, probably during January

Praise for Shri Jaykishan Hariharbhai Kapdi

Jaykishan is known for his incredibly talented musical family, but I know him as an author. In addition to sharing his love of music, Jaykishan is well known in the author world for tirelessly supporting his fellow authors. His kindness and enthusiasm in promoting authors is very much appreciated by all. I am proud to call Jaykishan my friend. – Sylva Fae

Jaykishan Kapdi grew up in a family where he was taught music is a blessing of God. It is hereditary to him. He has learned music from his grandfather Shri Mohanlal Ramdasji Kapdi and father Shri Hariharbhai and learned how to teach music to others. He is “Upantya Visharad” in “Tabla” (rhythm).

His grandfather established a non professional music class “Shree Saurashtra Sangeet Vidyalay” in 1935 in the Bhavnagar city, Gujarat State, India, to spread & serve music.

Zachary Hagen

Zachary Hagen is a Florida based fantasy author and teacher. He lives there with his wife, Claudia, their son, and their dogs, Flynn and Bellaluna. When he isn't busy writing his next book or teaching, you can often find him at a great restaurant or reading a good book.

From a young age he was enthralled with the world of story. From the stories his parents read to him from his blue bedtime story books (if you know, you know) to the first two series that he read, The Chronicles of Narnia and A Series of Unfortunate Events, Zachary's tastes continued to develop throughout his years of reading.

The influences for his first series, The Eternal Chronicles, include Christopher Paolini, J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and others.

Interviewed

By

Melanie P. Smith

Do you have a favorite genre, or is one type of book easier for you to write than others, and why?

I think fantasy is easier for me to write in simply because I get to define my own rules for the world. That creates a sort of blank canvas where much of what I want to say can be tailored and specified even further. There are layers I can explore with world-building that even science fiction has difficulty reaching.

How / where do you find the plots you write about?

Mostly I just write down little ideas I have whenever I have them. Then I think about and build stories based on whatever is on my heart using those titles, settings, or characters.

When did you start writing? Did an event or person prompt you to take that leap?

I formally started writing in 2021, though I certainly had done some in classes and for fun before that. It was actually a student who said they’d never read the Chronicles of Narnia because it was too old. Since one idea I’d had for a while was a spiritual successor to C. S. Lewis’ work, I decided to go for it, and my first series, The Eternal Chronicles, was born.

Tell us your latest news

My latest novel, Aisha’s Secret, comes out on February 24! I’m really excited for this one. I got the idea about midway through writing my first series.

Aisha is the best thief in Easima, the capital of Makan Alsahar. She wants to survive and to thrive, but how can she? After all, an orphaned daughter of a seamstress without a single honest dinari can’t aspire to much more than stealing the very bread she needs to live…and maybe a few fancy jewels and golden trinkets.

On a particularly fruitful day of thievery, Aisha finds a bottle and unleashes the fiery djinn within. When the djinn, Qadira, offers her three wishes in gratitude for her freedom, she mistakenly wishes to become a princess. However, instead of becoming the daughter of a childless king, she switches lives with Prince Aladdin.

Thrust into the life of princess of Makan Alsahar, Aisha must navigate the convoluted intrigue of the palace court. Unfortunately, Rapha, a low-level advisor, knows who she is and blackmails her into helping him rise through the levels of the royal advisory.

When Aisha meets Aladdin in the markets of Easima, she starts to fall for him even though she stole the life that was rightfully his. Now Aisha must hide her true identity and help Rapha climb the ladder of success in the Makan Alsaharn court. Will she keep living a beautiful lie, or will the truth be what it takes to finally leave her old life behind for real?

From the author of the Eternal Chronicles comes a dramatic retelling of the story of Aladdin. The intrigue and drama of Aisha’s Secret will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

How many masks can one girl wear?

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Love is about honesty, and there’s freedom in truth no matter how beautiful the lies are that we tell ourselves.

How much of the book is realistic?

I like to think that anything that isn’t magical is accurate and realistic, particularly the Romance portion, but there is definitely an element of creativity to writing fantasy.

What books have influenced your life the most?

Definitely Chronicles of Narnia and the Inheritance Cycle and the Time Quintet, but I like to think I got some snark and humor from A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Do you have a mentor that helped or encouraged you to follow your dream of writing?

Professor Kathy Goddard from Southern Adventist University and my mom and grandmother. Those three women really encouraged me, and particularly Professor Goddard grew my talent and honed my craft.

What are your current projects?

I’ll be working on a large and intense epic fantasy, possibly a series. I’m doing the worldbuilding for that now. I’ll also be working on a book in the same universe as Aisha’s Secret but based on another fairytale. Aisha’s story is a revisit of Aladdin, and I’m tackling Cinderella next with a twist of course.

Other than writing do you have any hobbies?

I love to cook, and I’d love to put cruising here, but I don’t do it enough to call it a hobby. I also enjoy video games.

I would, but I’m currently in the pre-writing phase of both my new projects. I can share a synopsis of Chip’s Chance, though.

Thomas “Chip” Dubois is a lumberjack working on his family’s property under a domineering stepmother and stepbrothers. He works harder than all his family and is constantly covered in wood chips.

Princess Lorana has exactly one month to find a wealthy husband she loves or she will be married off to a foreign prince to secure an alliance and much needed resources for Cambria.

They fall in love, but Chip must gain back his family business and land in order to retain the heart of the princess or he’ll lose her and any place on his family’s estate.

Pick one of your characters and share some of their backstory that didn’t make it into the novel.

Qadira, a djinn who was trapped in a bottle and freed by Aisha, is one of my more interesting characters. What didn’t make it into the book is that she’s over 100 years old and has had many adventures and previous run-ins with the villain of the story.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Allow yourself to ask questions and think vivid thoughts about the possibilities. One of the best things about writing is the permission to let the imagination run wild.

Mark Twain said “Write what you know.” Tell us about your writing process. Are you a plotter or a pantser? Do you plot, plan, and conduct hours of research; or, do you just sit down and write whatever comes to mind based on your personal history and knowledge?

I am completely a plotter. I actually attempted somewhere between 4 and 7 novels before discovering that I could plot out the whole story. I cannot finish a book unless I have a relatively detailed plot. I start with the general idea, write the back cover copy, and then I create a linear outline of events and insert the main story beats into the plot. Then, I add in detail when I transfer those main story beats into the chapter sections in my writing software, scrivener. Not sponsored; I just really love them. After that, I just write. Once my draft is done, I edit and do all the publishing things like cover and formatting.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I would love to thank readers for reading. I have such a love for books, and I love that people continue to enjoy what I and other writers create.

Is there one person past or present you would like to meet and why?

I’d like to meet the apostle, Paul. He had such interesting perspectives, and I’d love the opportunity to ask him questions and gain a direct understanding without the barrier of translation.

What do you want written on your headstone and why?

I want my children to remember me for being a good dad because, at the end of the day, does anything else really matter besides that?

Can you share something personal with your readers? Do you have any holiday traditions? What kind of music do you enjoy? What kind of movies do you prefer? Do you have a favorite author?

I’ll share a holiday tradition. Every Christmas Eve (except for this last one, weirdly enough) we have cinnamon rolls on Christmas Eve, which we eat while watching a Christmas Carol, and then we unwrap one gift, which is always pajamas. In the case of my wife, my son, and me, the pajamas are coordinated if not completely matching.

If money was no issue would you prefer a cozy beach bungalow or a rustic cabin overlooking a mountain lake?

If money is no issue, I’m putting a Craftsman style manor with bedrooms for all the kids I wanna have, guest suites for my brother and sister-in-law and my parents, a massive game room and theater in the basement, and a gourmet kitchen overlooking a mountain lake. By no means do I want a rustic cabin, but I don’t want the sand either. I want a big house where all my family can be. Bonus would be if the lake gets cold enough to freeze over and I can learn how to ice-skate with the kids. Then we can add new holiday traditions of skating and hot chocolate. I adore the mountains. (I might go look on zillow for lakefront mountain property in the mountains now…)

One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so, what is it? Do you have a social media platform where your fans can go to interact with you and follow your progress?

Zacharyhagenwrites.com and all my socials are linked on there, but it is zacharyhagen_writes on insta and tiktok.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076206160257#

https://www.tiktok.com/@zacharyhagen_writes?lang=en

https://www.instagram.com/zacharyhagen_writes?igsh=MzEwMDd0ZzE3NTI5&utm_source=qr

Illustrated Idioms

Inspired story prompts by Susan Faw

The early morning fog blanketed the ground as though a giant had laid a vast featherbed across the midway. The ground-hugging cloud gave the impression that the Ferris wheel was anchored to the sky rather than to the ground. It hung improbably from the first rays of the sun to cross the sky.

Stan strode toward the darkened booths without a care for where his feet touched down. The path was a familiar one, born of years of maintenance work on the rides and amusements that made up the fun park.

But lately, the pranks had been getting out of hand.

At first, it had been simple things, like overturned trash cans or all the toilet paper spooled off the roll and onto the floor in the bathroom stalls. Pranks committed by bored kids let loose in an amusement park that required a coin for everything, coin that had run out earlier in the day. These were the kind of pranks pulled by penniless youths not yet rounded up by their parents who were parked in the beer garden guzzling tankards of ale.

The pranksters had escalated the scope of their activities to include vandalism and breakdown of the park equipment.

Dammed if he knew how they were doing it, though. He was still scratching his head over yesterday’s disaster where all the cabling on the suspended swings had become tangled. The heavy metal cables had twisted and tied themselves in knots like a pretzel.

It really did look like the handiwork of giants.

And these pranks were being carried out after hours, as far as he could determine. He had taken to closing down the maintenance himself in an attempt to catch the pranksters red-handed, staying until one or even two in the morning. Still, he had found no one on the grounds after closing.

Yet every morning it is the same. Impossible stunts accomplished in the wee hours.

This time he had prepared. He set up hidden cameras throughout the park to catch the pranksters in the act. Not only that, he had packed a bag and was planning to camp overnight in the park.

First stop, the midway. It was where the main power grid was housed, and always his first stop on arrival at work.

As he rounded the main ticket booths and strolled down the wide, mist shrouded boulevard, his eyes picked up the sound of music playing. He quickened his steps in excitement. Finally, he was going to get a break and catch them in the act! The tricksters were still in the park! He thumbed his cell phone on the verge of calling 911, but decided to wait and see what was going on, so that he could call in a solid description of the culprits.

He slowed to a stop at the corner and peeked around it. The midway game trailers were open, and light and music streamed from each one, but not a soul could be seen. He waited a moment to see if anything moved in the area, but other than the flashing lights of the displays, nothing else moved in the area.

The closest game was the Wild West Shoot Out, and tinny saloon music blared from the speakers while the game ran through its cycles. The arcade guns were primed, and the targets popped up at random intervals in a background of a farm scene. A bear, a fox, a sheep, a gunslinger’s cowboy hat, and a Mexican sombrero. Everything seemed to be operating correctly except for the line of ducks that normally paraded across the top of the scenery.

Strangely, these targets were twisted so that only the edge of the target could be seen, where they were present at all. Some were down as if they had been shot and others gone.

Grumbling, he went around the back of the display and unlocked the maintenance access doors, swinging them open wide.

Great, now I will have to get all these ducks in a row before I can go after the pranksters.

At that moment, a crash sounded from three games over. Stan froze, hand stretched out over a tin duck, listening hard.

English Idiom: Get One’s Ducks in a Row –

This means to complete one’s preparations, become efficient and well organized…This synonym for “Get one’s act together” probably alludes to lining up target ducks in a shooting gallery. (Slang, 1970s)

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by

The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

If you want to read more of Susan Faw’s Illustrated Idioms, the series is available here:

https://geni.us/Idioms

Book nerd and fantasy aficionado, Susan is an award-winning author who also doubles as masked crusader for the fantastical world. Championing mythical rights, she quells uprisings and battles infidels who would slay the lifeblood of her pen. It’s all in a day’s work, for this whirlwind writer.

Winner of the Dante Rossetti Grand Prize for Best Young Adult Fiction of 2016 (Seer of Souls, Chanticleer Reviews) she is actively crafting stories that sing in your memory. Welcome to the quest!

You can find Susan at https://susanfawbooks.com/ , on twitter @susandfaw or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SusanFaw.

Of Witches and Vampires

The Prequel to the Kingdom Journals Series

A new direction of darkness by Award-Winning author and podcaster, Tricia Copeland

Sentenced to a life of solitude, she relishes fleeting periods of happiness unaware of the consequences of her joy. Lilith enjoyed many comforts in her life with Adam, but contentment evaded her. Desperate for companionship, she flees Eden betraying her covenant with God. Faced with being stripped of her powers, she accepts a sentence of never knowing the beauty of a marriage.

One handsome stranger, then another weave into her life bringing her love and contentedness for a time. Each leaves Lilith with very different children. Her first, like their father are fast and strong, with superior senses. The next set take after Lilith and her second love that, like her, possesses ethereal abilities.

Can she raise these two lines in harmony? Or are they destined to destroy one another?

Of Witches and Vampires is a short paranormal prequel to the Kingdom Journals Series. If you like fresh takes on vampire and witch lore, you’ll love Tricia Copeland’s short story. Buy Of Witches and Vampires to witness the genesis today

https://geni.us/WitchesVampires

Tricia Copeland believes in finding magic. She thinks magic infuses every aspect of our lives, whether it is the magic of falling in love, discovering a new passion, a beautiful sunset, or a book that transports us to another world. An avid runner and Georgia native, Tricia now lives with her family and four-legged friends in Colorado. Find all her titles from contemporary romance, fantasy, to dystopian fiction at https://triciacopeland.com

& Tricks

“I can survive well enough on my own – if given the proper reading material.”

– Sarah J. Maas

The web is a wonderful tool. There’s instant access to a wealth of knowledge on any topic - including Self-Publishing. Here are a few examples to help authors along the way.

How to Publish a Book on Amazon (Step-by-Step Guide for 2026)

You finished your book. Now you’re staring at Amazon, trying to figure out what actually happens next. What to click. What matters. What doesn’t. And how not to accidentally mess something up after all that work.

https://kindlepreneur.com/how-to-publish-a-book-on-amazon/

How to Publish a Coloring Book That’ll Sell in 5 Steps

Coloring books are popular with kids and adults alike, but they’re often misunderstood by first-timers. A successful coloring book requires more than just good illustrations. It takes niche research, planning, and a clear understanding of your audience.

https://kindlepreneur.com/how-to-publish-a-coloring-book/

5 Surprising Ways Going Indie Helps Authors Connect with Readers

Connecting with readers is a journey that often evolves in ways we never expect. A shift in the industry, a new opportunity, or even a simple reader message can open unexpected doors.

https://press.barnesandnoble.com/bnpress-blog/5-surprising-ways-going-indie-helpedme-connect-with-readers/

Your Self-Publishing Checklist: How to Self-Publish This Year

If publishing your book has been on your to-do list for months or even years, this selfpublishing checklist is designed to help make this the year you finally hit publish!

https://press.barnesandnoble.com/bnpress-blog/self-publishing-check-list/