The Celwyn Newsletter Issue 19

⋅

In this issue, interviews with:

Valerie Willis, Paranormal romance author
James Seeley, Thriller writer

There is also a great article from editor Jennie Rosenblum and updates and reviews from Gina K. Mitchell. Our new serialization is a short story from Benjamin X. Wretlind, entitled Over There.

Celwyn’s Cats

Celebrate! Roll around the floor. Take a bath. Hack up a hairball. Book 6, Swango, is almost here!

It’s almost Christmas, can you believe it?

Stop by the Mystery Review Crew on December 1st, https://mysteryreviewcrew.com/ You’ll find some great one-liners nominated by your favorite authors, and a contest.

Later in December, the Mystery Review Crew

will have their holiday event of original short

stories and giveaways. Author Richard Koreto

and I have collaborated on our story, Ophelia’s

Promise.

It features Salieri and Mozart, and a murder.

An Interview with James Seeley

Decorated veteran Jacob Stearne races against ruthless adversaries to recover a secret capable of changing the balance of global power. Entangled in betrayals and shifting alliances, Jacob must first confront the Hero’s Paradox before he can secure the prize.

When James Seeley was ten, he read Treasure Island and thought: when he made stuff up, he got in trouble. So, he became a writer. But life had a few twists. At 19, he adopted a three year old girl, later met and married the love of his life, and had two children. When he’d made all the gold he could eat, he pursued his dream career: writing action-adventures. He is now sixteen books deep and loving it.

1. Does your reading stay within your genre, or do you read different genres? I read widely, both within my genre of mystery and thrillers as well as Sci-Fi, Romance, and Historical. I’ll read anything well-written. I also enjoy a good deal of non-fiction to better inform my writing. IE: This year I’ve read books on economics, writing, espionage, history, mythology, and a few biographies.

2. Do you ever consider yourself in the shoes of the reader? Do you hear anything from them? I think of myself as a reader first. But humans are the best at self-deception, so I constantly poll my readers through my newsletters. I get terrific feedback. I decided not to kill off a couple characters who were boring me because my readers said, “We don’t read Game of Thrones because they all die!” So I shipped the characters off to faraway lands and retrieve them once in a while. As I answer this question, I’m about to send out a poll on whether they’d like a whole new post-apocalyptic series from me. I’ve got a premise in my head, but it would take time away from the bread-and-butter characters.

3. Have you thought of writing non-fiction? For the last ten years, I’ve had a book on parenting in my head, titled: How to be the Perfect Parent. (If you have kids over 15, you just laughed.) As noted in my bio, I adopted a little girl forty-eight years ago; I later got married and had two kids the old-fashioned way (two parents, nuclear family). I now have three kids, three grandkids, and three great grandkids. Over nearly five decades of parenting, I learned a lot of things through trial and error. My second crop benefitted immensely from my good-ideas-gone-wrong and they frequently thank their big sister for teaching me how to be a better dad. If I write it, the book would have chapters like: You don’t know unconditional love until you’ve bailed a child out of jail. And advice like: The goal in life is to have the kids leave and the wife stay. Not to mention observations such as: Getting angry doesn’t work … apparently.

4. Will there be a sequel to Chasm of Exiles? Yes, it’s the sixteenth novel overall (2 prequels and 14 in the series proper). Once, I left a cliffhanger at the end of a book, but I hate those and my readers weren’t shy about telling me their opinion either. Since then, each book stands alone. You can read any of them in any order. The story arc contains elements that carry over, but nothing you can’t figure out. After this book, there are two more stuck in my head. After that, I’m seriously considering an epic post-apocalyptic trilogy or pentalogy.

5. Should new authors write for themselves or their audience? In my humble opinion, you should always write for yourself first. If you don’t like it, why would anyone else? That said, it’s important to understand the reader you want to reach. I happen to love oddball writing and experimental stuff that might not go well with my intended audience. So I write something that I want to read—within reason.

6. Do you have your next book’s plot already in your head? Yes, in general terms. My series has two main characters, and the next one will focus on the heroine, Pia Sabel. She’s a billionaire (the only nice one) who becomes trapped after an avalanche cuts off communications at an exclusive Alpine resort. With her are six other billionaires (not-so-nice) and their significant others. One of the party is murdered and Pia must figure out whodunit. It will be my homage to the manor-house mysteries of Agatha Christie while also paying tribute to the intrigues of John le Carre and the twists of Lucy Foley.

Book 6 of the Celwyn Series, Swango is almost here. Pelaez is back and causing trouble. Available for pre-order now. General availability 12-29-24.

Interview with Valerie Willis

Valerie Willis is an expert typesetter, public speaker, and a paranormal romance author. Works include Writer’s Bane, The Cedric Series, The Prince’s Priest as V.C. Willis, and Cryptid Erotica as Honey Cummings. Her workshops have covered novel writing, research, world building, character development, reader immersion, foreshadowing, and more.

How would you compare Cedric the Demonic Knight to other styles of fantasies?
This may have all the trappings of a dark fantasy and broody antihero, but this story, characters, and even the plot at times is pulled from a mixture of mythology, dark history, and superstitions. For Cedric, many will recognize a blend of Russian, Romanian, and Polish folktales and superstitions tied into the mix and names reflective of the Russian Knight Hero Tales that were commonplace during the Dark Ages in which the story takes place in for most of the book. Each book in the series does this with different focal points to add a different flavor that often leads readers stunned at accuracy or the amount of influence from real world mythos.

If you have used a writing group for help and support, what has been your experience with finding them, and using them?
At the start of my author career, I was part of a variety of writer groups. Each of them had something different that aided me in both my writing as well as my goal to become an author. For example, one group always had workshops about traditional and self publishing so I could learn more of what to expect from both sides, another group that had a few other writers in the same genre were a big help on making sure I was mastering my genres, another was very open to building writing craft and how to self edit, and another helped with reading my work out loud and being able to strengthen my public speaking skills.

Which of your books was the hardest to write, and why?
The 4th book in the Cedric Series was the hardest. I had hit a point in the story where I had to take a step back and do more worldbuilding and establish what I had hinted at for 3 books. Deciding how and what I wanted my underworld and magical realms to look like and more importantly, how they functioned was quite the undertaking. In the end, I am very happy that I didn’t shy away from using the Celtic belief system as the foundation despite how little information from the original culture exists. Using it allowed me to overlap Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and more to add some fun burst of flavor in unexpected places.

For your own reading, what genre (s) do you read?
I read a lot of Dark Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, and MM Romance with Fantasy vibes. There is also a lot of Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Romance in my selections. My current series I am chewing through is the Blood and Ash Series by Jennifer Armentrout. SO GOOD! Absolutely love the characters and the banter is so fun for a Dark Fantasy Romance.

Do you plan to write any nonfiction?
I have already written and published some nonfiction books! Because I do so much research and have a process, my first one was the Writer’s Bane: Research 101 for those needing help to organize that process or get more out of their research attempts. From there, I have released a textbook sized book on Formatting 101 as well as being known for reformatting old public domain books such as Bulfinch’s Mythology, The Faerie-Faith of the Celtic Countries, and The Book of Werewolves. Non Fiction inspires a lot of what I do and these books are resources for the Cedric Series, so I made them into eye-pleasing versions. Writer’s Bane Series came about thanks to over a hundred panels and workshops, I realized I knew a lot about a lot, and now I’m passing what I have learned and experience to other writers.

Can a villain be sympathetic, or do good deeds in order to be redeemed in the eyes of those around them (or the readers)?
I love morally grey characters, and more importantly, every character being flawed. In the Cedric Series there is the constant sensation that each powerful being we encounter is a villain to Cedric in some way, while still being a hero in their own tale. In book 2, Romasanta: Father of Werewolves we get to see this play out a few times as scenes overlap and parallel from book 1. We see Romasanta as this nasty villain but as you travel through his own story you realize that Cedric is oblivious to who he really is, what his intent is, and this concept of Cedric is beneath Romasanta in a lot of ways which drives this concept “I don’t have to explain myself to you” vibe that breaks down communication. I love character that can flip sides depending on where their feelings, morals, and goals align in several situations. We see this the most I think with the character Lilith, and more is revealed about her in books 3 and 5!

Discover my books and Social Media connections here: https://linktr.ee/WillisAuthor

Editing

Jennie Rosenblum has been an independent editor for small publishers and indie authors. Since 2014, she has been happily self-employed helping authors. Over the next few months, she will be sharing guest columns here. Feel free to reach out to her at www.jenniereads.com.

Why Pay for an Editor When I Can Use Software to Polish My Manuscript?

With the rise of advanced editing software, authors may wonder whether a professional editor is necessary. While these tools can help identify grammatical errors and improve sentence flow, they fall short in areas requiring deeper insight, such as story structure, character development, and market alignment.

A professional editor doesn’t just focus on sentence-level corrections; they look at the entire manuscript. Experienced editors often specialize in specific genres, giving them the expertise to understand what works best for your target audience. They know how to pace a story, develop characters, and maintain the right tone based on your genre’s conventions.

More importantly, the best editors are in tune with current market trends and reader expectations. This knowledge helps them guide you in making your book more commercially viable while preserving your unique voice. Software simply cannot provide this level of market-savvy advice.

Ideas for Holiday Book Gifts

The Celwyn Series YouTube channel

Let’s Talk About BBNYA

The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is a unique annual competition celebrating the best in self-published and indie-published literature. Judged entirely by a panel of book bloggers, it offers independent authors the chance to gain exposure and connect with passionate readers. The competition consists of multiple rounds, with books being eliminated and reviewed along the way, culminating in a final selection of standout works.

For readers, BBNYA provides access to hidden gems, curated recommendations, diverse stories, and insights from trusted book bloggers. With the rise of indie publishing, BBNYA has grown in popularity, making it a respected platform for discovering fresh literary voices.

Sign-ups for 2025 authors and panelists should be open in early February (ideally by February 7. Check my site for details and a mailing list where people can sign up to be notified when entries open.

To learn more about the benefits of BBNYA to readers and authors, check out the blog post, Let’s Talk About BBNYA, on GinaRaeMitchell.com.

While BBNYA 2024 is wrapping up, it’s not too early to consider becoming a panelist or entering an Indie book for the 2025 competition.

Story Serialization part 1 of 3

A Review, and Review Opportunities for Authors

Tayvie’s Story is an extraordinary coming-of-age saga of a talented, young, biracial jazz singer who perfects her craft on two continents during the volatile 1930s and ’40s despite appalling circumstances.

Tayvie’s Story by Mim Eichmann | Book 3 of the A Sparrow Alone Trilogy| $20 Gift Card Available | #StandAlone #Jazz #WWII #EarlyJazz #StrongWomen | @GoddessFish @EichmannMim @Mim.Eichmann

Indie authors, are you looking to boost your book’s visibility?

Gina Rae Mitchell offers reviews, giveaways, and promotions that can help your work reach a dedicated community of readers. With regular features on indie titles, opportunities for promos, interviews, guest posts, and a growing subscriber base, this blog is a goldmine for exposure and engagement. Ready to connect with readers who love discovering new indie gems? Explore more at GinaRaeMitchell.com!

Gina showcases all genres of books, from children’s picture books to middle-grade and young adult books, to all types of fiction.

What is New with the Celwyn Series?

What is new with the Celwyn Series?

Book 6 is finally ready. You’d think I just birthed triplets.

Swango, will be out late this year, 12-29-2024 and is available for pre-order now. The good news is that the title is unusual enough for it to come up easily at Amazon.

….a warning … the series is still magical realism in a steampunk world with Captain Nemo and Celwyn, but now it contains a new genre; one that will open up the adventures in unexpected ways, usually at the expense of Celwyn, Professor Kang and Bartholomew.

The blurb:

Late in the 1870s Singapore, Celwyn survives a vicious attack only to find it may take even more to endure his own family. His brother Pelaez has returned, insisting on his innocence, and their father Wolfgang Augustus Griffin has his sights set on Nemo’s marooned crew. As the Nautilus travels to Beirut, Prague, and Findbar Island, they encounter Swango, a seemingly innocent clairvoyant and drinking buddy from the magician’s past, a man who has more help with his predictions than most spiritualists. Meanwhile, Nemo must finally confront the secrets of his own past.

By the time the magician and the others leave Singapore, they are grieving; a member of their family has been murdered in Prague.

The magician’s first encounter with Swango is told as they plan for the Nautilus’ journey to the Castell de Ferro in Spain where Doctor Jurik Lazlo is hiding. Captain Nemo has been searching for him for a long time.

For book 7, Lucky and Mrs. Nemo, progress has been made since the last newsletter. It has been read by two great new beta readers, thank you Jean and Dorothy, and I’ll soon be able to finalize it and ship it to my publisher. If you would like to become a beta reader, let me know at https://loukemp.com/about-the-author/

There isn’t an official blurb yet for Lucky and Mrs. Nemo. Here is a draft of it:

On Findbar, they’ve added another scientist. Dr. Martha Gluck (aka Lucky) is a character, literally and figuratively. She enjoys a good gunfight, doesn’t faint at the sight of magic, and accepts danger as a jolly good time. She finally draws the line when she meets up with the broadsword wielding ghost, Mrs. Spencer.

Book 8? I’d reported here that 130 pages of the handwritten first draft existed, and I’d tucked it away until book 7 was at the publisher. Well… I can only find about 80 pages, and have had to back up and regroup. Since that discovery, it has marinated for a few weeks, and will move forward again—like a living thing with a mind of its own and a lack of grammar and bad spelling.

The near future holds another companion book for the series, untitled, and it will star Pelaez demonstrating his untrustworthiness and devious ideas of fun.