Thoughts on Imagination…

Music Shall Untune the Sky book 2

The Raven and the Pig book 3

The Pirate Danced and the Automat Died Book 4

The Sea of the Vanities. Companion book.

https://books2read.com/celwyn005

The Wyvern, the Pirate, and the Madman Book 5

Swango Book 6

https://books2read.com/swango/

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Serialized Stories Serialized Stories

Serialization: In Memory of the Sibylline Part 1

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Serialization: In Memory of the Sibylline (the beginning of Jonas Celwyn and the Celwyn series)

IN MEMORY OF THE SIBYLLINE

By Lou Kemp

The many men so beautiful
And they all dead did lie!
And a million million slimy things
Liv’d on–and so did I.

——The Rime of the Ancient Mariner – Coleridge

Like a shower of fairy dust on fire, the embers from Townsend’s pipe blew across the railing and into the night; lost long before they fell into the waves.

He cupped his pipe to protect the remaining embers and to keep his hands warm. It seemed like only hours ago when the Christianna had sailed out of Cascais under a warm Portuguese sun.

A pregnant moon hung low over the sea. The waves reflected moonlight on iridescent crests that rolled by the Christianna as frothy and lacy as underskirts. Townsend gazed upward. The conflagration of stars seemed endless. Somewhere beyond them lay places the sailors of the future would travel. He’d be content to reach Alexandria and with a wee bit of luck it would be more temperate than his last visit in 1812. He nearly froze before he reached Cairo.

Although he did not hear footsteps, Townsend became aware of another presence at the rail. Townsend looked closer and saw that it was an older academic he’d met as he boarded the ship. A deep and pervading sadness seemed to weigh upon his shoulders.

“Good evening, Mr. Perideaux,” Townsend said.

“A beautiful night, no?” Perideaux’s cigarette flickered in the darkness, revealing a faint sheen of perspiration decorating his brow.

Although his words seemed calm enough, it appeared that Perideaux needed to be reassured in some manner, perhaps only to hear another voice in the vastness of the night. Townsend could sympathize with that thought. The undercurrent of fear existed most tangibly when a lone ship rode the waves in the dead of night. It was long after eleven bells and the crewmen in the rigging above were only a suggestion of movement. Or life.

“Yes, a beautiful night,” Townsend agreed.

Perideaux made no response. The man’s attention seemed transfixed some distance off the port bow as his gaze swept the sea from side to side, as if searching for something.

Under their feet, the Christianna creaked and groaned as she climbed a wave. Townsend relit his pipe. The damned thing could never stay lit for more than a few minutes. He wondered if Perideaux expected to see another ship cross their wake.

If Townsend hadn’t been watching his companion closely he wouldn’t have seen the delicate shudder that traveled down the man. Perideaux whispered, “Felicity, oh Felicity.” and he grabbed hold of the railing.

At first Townsend could perceive nothing except the inky night and the roiling waves. Then he saw the outline of a ship. Within seconds, the vessel seemed to glow and solidify. Three masts pointed to the sky and brass rails glimmered underneath canvasses that billowed, tickled by the wind. Shadows walked the deck. She floated nearly a league in the distance, without lights, without substance.

A gurgling sound came from Perideaux’s throat and he whispered, “The Dutchman.”

Townsend heard him, but couldn’t stop watching the phantom ship that appeared to fade away until the moonlight pierced through her and then she became distinct once again.

* * *

From a porthole I watched as Madagascar slipped away into the distance. Already, a hot sun reflected the sea, obscuring the city with so much brightness that the smoke-shrouded shacks and fishing boats blended to gray, leaving just a suggestion of civilization behind the foam-capped waves.

My cabin was on the leeward deck, only a few paces from the Captain’s quarters and those of the passengers. Through the portholes blew a fragrant breeze, bringing the suggestion of frying sausages and the calls of the sailors as they worked high above in the rigging and swung from spar to spar. The LeHanna was a barkentine and considered of good size.

I’d determined that my cabin door would not open. Presumably because it was locked. However, I had no trouble hearing footsteps on the wooden deck approach and stop just outside.

Through the porthole, I could see most of my guard in profile. The newcomer confronting him was a tall man, nearly my height, scholarly and pale.

“We’re pleased to have you aboard, Doctor Perideaux,” said the guard.

The trick to observing someone without staring and causing them to turn and stare back is to look a bit off to the side. In this instance, I watched the sky just beyond Doctor Perideaux’s large ears. There was no mistaking the steel in his voice.

“Are you? Is that why you feel it necessary to brandish a musket around my family?”

The guard replied, “I’m sorry you feel that way, Sir. But I have my orders.”

“What orders? What do you have to guard? I just sent Felicity back to the cabin for her safety.”

“I’m sure your daughter will find something to do there,” the guard said.

Doctor Perideaux pointed at the cabin door. “I demand to know what is in there.”

“No one is to enter this cabin. And no one will.”

With a clatter of boots, Captain Hume arrived wearing a wide smile and insincere eyes. Perhaps Doctor Perideaux noted the Captain’s eyes, for his tone did not change.

“Captain, what is in there?”

Although a short man, the Captain did not shrink from the doctor’s aggressive stance, nor did he raise his voice.

“Please calm yourself. I’m sure you do not want to upset your wife.” The ship’s bell rang thirteen times for the hour, drowning out his next words, “…simple matter. We have charge of a prisoner. He is to be dropped off at Victoria Island tomorrow.”

“Why is he up here with the passengers?” Doctor Perideaux demanded. “Why is he not kept below with the crew?”

I enjoyed Captain Hume’s slight hesitation. How would he put it? Would he tell the truth, or prevaricate?

“Doctor, I have specific orders that the prisoner is not to have contact with a living soul. He has to be separated from the crew.”

The doctor stared at the Captain. “Why?”

“I can not tell you.” Captain Hume placed a hand on the Perideaux’s shoulder. “Please. Keep your family away from this area. Entertain them. I believe your wife is not well?”

Doctor Perideaux rubbed his chin and frowned. “No, she is not. The baby is due shortly.”

“All the more reason for you to join her. Perhaps with a cup of tea?”

* * *

A rain shower visited the ship with the lightest touch. The LeHanna climbed the waves rhythmically, descending and rising as lovers do, hesitating to savor the moment slowly.

The last few days had marked the end of summer in Madagascar, and I’d grown tired of the food and lack of good lager. On balance, the muggy nights were warm with scents made more pungent with the heat and promise of whatever I could find in the bohemian quarters. When we reached Seville, it would be autumn and the bougainvillea would still bloom in veils of brilliant color. I had no intention of being dumped on Victoria Island like a rancid bag of potatoes.

The penal colony on Victoria Island offered little besides hard labor and the most notorious criminals for company. The sharks that circled the island did so knowing that there would always be another convict swimming towards the sun, tiring…and then succumbing. I shuddered delicately and resumed my reading.

* * *

The dulcet sound of snoring filtered through my cabin door. I arose and moved to the porthole to watch my guard as he slept. The full sun, a satisfied belly, and the repetitive motion of the waves had lulled him to sleep against the wall of the cabin. Or it could have been something else. Perhaps dropped into his plate of stew.

A young girl approached from the stern. She wore her red curls tied in a ribbon that matched her dress of robin’s egg blue. She was probably eight years of age, but checked over her shoulder with the furtiveness of a well-seasoned Singapore pickpocket. If I interpreted her smile correctly, she seemed content with what she saw.

As she passed by, I said “Hello, Poppet.”

Innocent eyes widened, searching for my voice.

“Up here, my dear.” I unlocked the door. It would be a simple matter to lock it again if the guard awoke and became curious.

She stood under the porthole and squinted. “I can’t see you. Who are you?”

Such a sweet little lamb. Where was her nanny, or her father, or whoever keeps the unsuspecting from characters like me?

“My name is Celwyn. Would you like to come inside?”

The child hesitated but a moment before stepping over the legs of the sleeping guard.

By the time she’d opened the door, I’d moved to the far corner of the stateroom and sat behind the petite drop table common to all sea cabins. It had been a while since I’d been around a tiny person, but she would most likely be less intimidated if I was closer to her level. The child poked her head inside the door, noting my traveling trunk with its mysterious contents visible to a curious eye, and finally myself. I must have passed a child-like test, for she came inside, leaving the door ajar. Perhaps she felt more afraid of her parents finding her than she was of me.

If you wonder why I did not venture forth from my unlocked cabin; it wasn’t time yet to do so. Crafting a perfect situation from raw elements is so much more entertaining than being tossed about by random acts of fate. Or shot at by pistols.

“Please sit down,” I said to my new friend.

She took several steps and then flounced into the chair across from me. Up close, I could see some of her father in the intelligent eyes, but her beauty would come from her mother.

“Who are you? Why are you alone in here?” she asked.

“May I call you Felicity?”

A miniature jaw dropped open. “How did you know my name?”

I gestured toward the deck outside. “Your father mentioned you.” How many other children named Felicity would there be on a cargo ship on its way to the Cape?

“Oh.” She studied me for a moment like her mother would peruse a menu. “I suppose that would be all right.”

Rather verbose for a little one. She eyed me with the inquisitiveness of a young cat. To her, I would appear similar to any other gentleman she would encounter; strong of face, whiskered, and dressed in a linen suit and brocade waistcoat. Not as many men would wear a ruby on his finger such as I wore, nor savor the aroma of a particularly obscure and fine tobacco that I’d stashed in my trunk. Very few men were as feared as I, which was a pity; I am misunderstood most of the time.

“Would you like something to drink? Milk?”

Felicity nodded assent, and then frowned. “I don’t see any milk.”

“Look around. I’m sure you will,” I said.

Her eyes traveled the rather small room and when they returned to the table, a glass of milk sat before her. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out.

“Help yourself,” I said.

Felicity touched the glass with a fingertip and then drew it closer until she could sniff the contents. With a lingering look of doubt upon me, she drank. Half of the milk remained when she licked her lips and asked, “Where did you get this?” She looked under the table. When she sat up, the glass was full again.

The girl blinked rapidly, and then her eyes darted from object to object in confusion. She asked, “How did you do that?”

I smiled. “Do you always believe only what you can see? Or do you believe in things you can not see?”

Her eyebrows nearly touched as she thought. “Only what I can see is real,” she answered.

I pointed to the glass. “Is the milk real?”

“Of course it is, silly.” To prove it, she drank more milk, all the while keeping her eyes on me. My, my, such suspicion. When she replaced the glass on the table, it was once more full to the brim.

For several moments she stared at the glass before daring to look at me. “How did you do that?”

I shrugged and asked, “What is in that pouch?”

She had placed a velvet pouch on the table when she joined me. At the mention of it she didn’t hesitate to open the strings that closed it and dump the contents on the table between us.

“These are my jacks. This is the ball you play jacks with,” Felicity said.

She tossed the ball, which was about the size and color of an apricot, into the air, and caught it again. On the second toss, she deftly picked up several of the tiny metal stars scattered on the table. “Do you know how to play?” she asked and without waiting for a reply added, “Of course, you have to pick up all the stars and not lose the ball.”

With that admonition, Felicity threw the ball into the air again. It hung, suspended between us, above her head. Her eyes grew as wide as her little face. Before she could cry, the ball descended again. Slowly.

Her hand automatically reached for the metal stars. Felicity squeaked and stood up. The stars had become tiny frogs made of the finest crystal. Even in the muted daylight, they reflected light delightfully.

“Oh, my!” the child exclaimed and gathered them into her hands. The ball bounced off the table and into my trunk.

I ushered Felicity to the door. The pouch of crystal frogs was clutched in both of her hands. As I reached for the door handle she asked, “May I come visit you again?”

“Certainly. But only if the guard is asleep. This is our secret.” I placed a finger to my lips. By the time we reached Seville, I might even have a young apprentice to teach some less sinister magic tricks to.

Felicity put a finger to her lips and then slipped out the door with a giggle.

Part 2 of 3 will appear in February’s newsletter

Crimes by Moonlight is still available and there are some great stories in it.

Crimes By Moonlight

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Of Ships and Sealing Wax on Amazon

The Celwyn Newsletter Issue 21

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In this issue, interviews with:

Beau Lake, paranormal romance and horror writer, and Romantasy writer JM Paquette
Florida mystery and suspense author, JC Gatlin
Suzanne Shaw, author of historical sea fiction

Also in this issue is another great article by editor Jennie Rosenblum on Choosing the Right Beta Reader, and part 1 of In Memory of the Sibylline, the serialized story that began the Celwyn Series.

SWANGO Is Here!

Book 6 of the Celwyn Series, Swango is available everywhere now. Pelaez is back and causing trouble. First review link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R2CPQG49OMU42N/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B0DGN3SC5R

Scars of the Heart wins in the category Short Stories Collections of the Literary Global Book Awards 2024 .

Celwyn’s Cats

Ah…. the editing is almost done. Then she’ll pay attention to me again.

Want to publish a short story?

Need a market for a great short story? Flametree Publishing pays industry rates. Be sure to note if the submission window is open or closed.
https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/fantasy-gothic/topic/call-for-submissions

An Interview with writer Suzanne Shaw

Suzanne Shaw loves British history and literature, especially Jane Austen and fiction about the Age of Sail. Truthfully, she began writing historical fiction so she could spend as much time as possible in the Eighteenth and early Nineteenth Centuries. Of Ships and Sealing Wax is her first novel. She was fortunate enough to research its background and settings in the Bodleian Library, the London Library, and in Cornwall.

Of all your characters, which is the most like your personality?

I recognize something of myself in Sylvia Heywood, sister to the lead character Caroline. Sylvia likes to take charge and always thinks she’s right, but she has a big heart and would do anything for someone she cares about. Like Sylvia, I enjoy being in control. I hope I am half as generous.

If you have used a group of beta readers for help and support, what has been your experience with finding them, and using them?

I was fortunate to have four exceptional readers for the final draft. I connected with one reader via the internet and others through a historical fiction masterclass. All were willing to read and comment on a 90,000 word manuscript, which is a very heavy lift. Through writing struggles, lockdown, rejection, and success, they’ve leant me their ears, shoulders, and wisdom. One of my readers even found my publisher for me. There are so many unknowns to writing a first novel and finding a publisher. The lessons are: (1) you can’t do it alone, and (2) you need to reciprocate.

For your own reading, what genre (s) do you read and why?

I love a mystery. I tend to look for mysteries with a historical or foreign setting because I like to be taken to a different time or place. During lockdown, I read mostly nonfiction, although couldn’t tell you why. Recently, I’ve been reading more literary fiction for a book club. I also read a lot of poetry, especially haiku and traditional Chinese poetry, which is beautiful and intriguing.

Will there be a sequel to Of Ships and Sealing Wax?

I’m currently editing the manuscript for a related book that’s set several years later and follows many of the same characters. It’s a not sequel per se, but there is more to their story. There are suspense elements this time — stolen letters, missing sapphires, chases through dark streets, mysterious foreign ladies. And I hope there will be more stories after this one.

An Interview with Beau Lake and JM Paquette

About the Book:

Did you love The Mummy (1999) but wished every character had kissed? After an accident at a dig site, food truck owner Eliza inadvertently wakes up a centuries-old mummy. While Milfonnos the Blighted searches for the priestess who summoned him, Eliza enlists the help of a security guard, a mercenary, a lawyer, and a thief. Together, the harem uncover a secret society and rob a crime syndicate dealing in stolen artifacts, all in the hopes of freeing Milf from the magic that binds him.

Beau Lake Bio: Beau Lake is a paranormal romance and horror writer residing somewhere in the Shenandoah mountains. She is the author of the DC Pride series (co-written with Tatum West), the 6-part Wolves of Wharton series, One Mummy to Go, Please! (Co-written with JM Paquette), and the upcoming horror anthology series Allgood.

@beau__lake on Instagram, Tiktok, Threads, Facebook and beaulakebooks.com

JM Paquette Bio: JM is the author of the Klauden’s Ring Saga as well as the Conjuring Fascination, Rockstar Fairy Tales, and Shawarma warrior King series, JM Paquette writes fantasy and paranormal romance novels. When she isn’t writing, she can be found teaching English, dissecting grammar, defending fantasy, discussing Tolkien, editing books, and watching Russian dragon shifter movies

Authorjmpaquette.com

Are there unique challenges to stay true to history?
Beau: Jen and I wrote primarily about characters who resided in modern day Cairo, but Milfonnos is a pharaoh out of time. What we really played up was when he tries to go to a place of great comfort (the temple where he was coronated), he finds only a river, because historically, that temple had washed away. There’s also another scene where he is following what he believes is an impossibly long snake, which is a road; sees the eye shine of a predator, which is a car’s headlights; and gets shouted at by the driver (who, in his mind, should be groveling and kissing his feet).

Do you have advice for a writer tackling a new genre?

Beau: I am living this right now as I transition to purely horror fiction (except for future installments of the Shawarma Warrior King series!). My advice would be to read, read, read in your genre. You may know how to write, and write effectively, but you need to know what the beats look like, how the (in this case, horror) novel BREATHES.

What genres do you read and why?

Beau: Generally, I read horror but I do enjoy fantasy and science fiction. Horror has always been a comfort. In The Book of Accidents, Chuck Wendig wrote that characters endure terrible things, but the things don’t kill them. They simply change them.

Do you have suggestions to promote books on social media.

Beau: Vary it up. Don’t post the same content over and over. Work with the platform you are using, not against it. It is okay to be silly and have fun, because you’re a person, not just an author.

Will there be a sequel?

Beau: Absolutely. Jen and I have an outline for the rest of the series. Each book gives another character an arc and moves along the plot toward its conclusion. We try to make each one feel like it’s own complete thing, so there’s not quite a cliffhanger; you feel good where the characters are at that end. We anticipate the next book of the series to come out late 2025 or early 2026.

JM: Of course! Beau and I planned for a five book series arc, so Eliza and the guys have many more adventures coming up!

Is there a place for politics in your books?

Beau: Books are inherently political. Even the most far-flung world, full of elves and knights and whatever else, endures political struggle of SOME kind. It is the human condition to explore how humans are, even if our characters aren’t entirely human.

If you have used (or still do) a writing group for help and support, what has been your experience with finding one, and using them?

JM: Having a co-author (Beau Lake) made writing this book infinitely easier (since I technically only wrote half a book!) as well as a ton of fun. We shared a ridiculous amount of mummy gifs (and sexy men in general) to keep us inspired as we went. Having that accountability as well as someone to bounce ideas off as we built the story made the process natural. On top of that, we had another writer (Valerie Willis) weighing in on our crazy ideas as we plotted the main story beats, and that additional perspective made the story richer in the end.

Do you consult a friend/other authors for advice on sticky writing situations?

JM: Always! I tend to write at night online with other authors on a Discord server, so when I get stuck, I can ask whoever is on for some feedback. I just did that last night on my work in progress (Rockstar Fairy Tales 2: Heart of Fire)! The debate: Which is more fun: the vampire hooks up with the sister of the woman he accidentally killed the night he was turned OR the sister didn’t die and is alive (a vampire) and her sister comes looking for her (and then I decide who the vampire ends up with)? We laughed, and they gave me some good insight *You’ll have to read the book to see what they suggested!).

For your own reading, what genre (s) do you read and why? If it isn’t the one you write in, would it be someday?

JM: I am a complete sucker for paranormal romance. Give me vampires, witches, demons, werewolves, and all manner of shifters. Even better if there’s a love triangle. I do demand a happy ending, though. No deaths (even noble sacrifices!) in my romance, please!

Choosing the Right Beta Reader

What is the difference between a beta reader and an editor? Beta Readers see the story: Editors see the details.

Beta readers are a crucial part of the writing process. They offer fresh eyes, honest feedback, and insights that can elevate your manuscript. However, not all beta readers are equal. Choosing the right ones can make the difference between valuable critique and wasted time. Here are tips to help.

Look for Brutal Honesty

Friends or family may hesitate to critique your work openly. A good beta reader, however, isn’t afraid to point out issues like weak characters, slow pacing, or awkward dialogue. Constructive criticism is essential for growth.

Set clear expectations with potential beta readers. Let them know you’re not seeking flattery but honest feedback. Avid readers will understand audience expectations and can identify potential flaws.

Seek Diverse Perspectives

A mix of backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints will give you richer, more comprehensive feedback. For instance, if your story features characters from different cultures, beta readers from those backgrounds can ensure authenticity.

Similarly, a range of ages, genders, and expertise levels can help address different aspects of your manuscript, from character arcs to dialogue.

Consider Professional Beta Readers

Unpaid beta readers can be helpful, but hiring professionals offers unique advantages:

Commitment Professionals treat beta reading as a job. Unlike unpaid readers, they are consistent and deliver detailed feedback on time.
Expertise Many professionals have publishing experience. They can critique story structure, pacing, and character development with precision.
Objectivity Unlike friends or family, professionals provide unbiased feedback focused on improving your manuscript.
Efficiency With a clear timeline, professionals help you meet deadlines without delays.

Choosing the Right Professionals

When hiring a professional beta reader, look for experience in your genre. Check reviews, testimonials, and sample critiques. Be specific about what you want—feedback on pacing, character development, or overall readability—to get the most value.

Combine Approaches

Using both unpaid and professional beta readers can balance everyday reader perspectives with expert insights. For example, unpaid readers can gauge engagement, while professionals focus on technical elements like plot and pacing.

Final Thoughts

Beta readers are invaluable for refining your manuscript, but selecting the right ones requires thought. Prioritize honesty, seek diverse perspectives, and consider professional services. The goal isn’t perfection but progress. With the right feedback, you’ll be ready to craft a polished, compelling book.

An Interview with JC Gatlin

About the book:

A Tampa crime writer returns to her hometown to attend the funeral of a childhood friend who committed suicide, but suspects murder when she receives text messages from the deceased.

Bio:

JC Gatlin is an award-winning mystery & suspense author residing in Tampa, Florida. After self-publishing three stand-alone murder mysteries on Amazon, his fourth book, H_NGM_N: Murder is the Word was published by Milford House Press. That mystery went on to win the prestigious Royal Palm Literary Award for Best Mystery. Milford House published his following novel, Darkness Hides, and will be publishing the sequel to H_NGM_N in 2025.

How would you compare your book to other styles of mysteries?

My mysteries tend to have a balance of humor and suspense. I’m a big fan of 90s mystery/horror, like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, and those influences are present in my mysteries. It’s scary but also tongue-in-cheek.

Of all your characters (real or not), which is the most like your own personality? How many of the char’s traits are already part of you, verses what you want them to be?

I don’t think any singular character is a stand-in for me. However, every character has traits of my personality with them. Tori can be no-nonsense, bull-dogged determined once she makes up her mind to do something or prove something. There are many people who will tell you I’m the same way, especially when it comes to my writing schedule. RJ doesn’t take life too seriously and is laid-back and makes fun of things he sees. That’s a dual part of my personality too. I don’t think RJ would ever be the life of the party, but neither would I. Even the murderer shares a few personality traits with me, although I can’t go into that without revealing which character did-in the school teacher. (And no, I would never resolve a situation with murder!)

In what you read or write, what kind of characters appeal to you the most, and why, with examples.

I love characters who have personality defects and social issues, and learning what trauma happened in their past to create those defects. I like characters who are humorous, whether that’s in dialog or in their actions. And, of course, characters who are hiding something, especially plot-twisting secrets, are the crux of any good mystery.

In H_NGM_N, Tori is stuck moving forward professionally, personally, and in her romantic relationships due to things that happened to her growing up. When her childhood friend is murdered, she has to return home and, in the event of solving the murder, confront those childhood issues. I hope readers say, “Oh, so that’s why she’s like that or does that,” as they learn more about her past.

Can a villain be sympathetic, or should they do good deeds in order to be redeemed in the eyes of those around them (or the readers)?

I guess it depends on the type of story you’re writing. In a mystery, the murderer always has a motive, but I don’t know that the motive must always be sympathetic. Murderers in whodunnits generally tend to be motivated by greed, revenge, or passion. And while they always get their comeuppance, they are rarely redeemed.

In H_NGM_N, the reader will certainly understand why that character resorted to murder to achieve a goal, and the consequences are tragic–a lot of characters are affected by the murder. However, I doubt anyone will feel sympathy for the villain. I think that goes for all my mystery novels–there is understanding for the why, but I doubt any sane person would actually agree that was the best course of action.

One character trait that all great villains share is the idea that they are the hero in their own story. From their perspective, their actions were justified or right. Because of their circumstances, they were left with only one option. Only Darth Vader is a true, no-shades-of-grey villain, but even he is redeemed in the end and wanted to bring order to chaos. So scratch that, even Darth Vader wasn’t just purely evil for evil’s sake.

The Celwyn Series YouTube channel

What is New with the Celwyn Series?

What is new with the Celwyn Series?
Swango (book 6) is available everywhere. If you would like a list of past events in the previous books as a reference while reading it (recommended), visit my site and contact me for the list. https://loukemp.com/about-the-author/

Mini-blurb: Pelaez is back, they find Mrs. Nemo, and Captain Nemo is a bit upset. 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, here is the official blurb.

On Findbar, they’ve added another scientist. Dr. Martha Gluck (aka Lucky) who is a character, literally and figuratively. She enjoys a lively 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.
I’m at the 95% mark in the final editing, and an educated guess is that it will be out in fall 2025.

Book 8, with a tentative title of We Three Magicians, is on hold for a bit because I’ve changed book 7, which requires rewriting the first part of book 8. At least I haven’t lost any more of the manuscript. There is also the distinct possibility that I’ll write another companion book first featuring Pelaez (Celwyn’s brother and also an immortal magician) to release some stress. Pelaez feels like my alter ego at times with his antics and devious ideas of fun. .

The Violins Played before Junstan book 1

Music Shall Untune the Sky book 2

The Raven and the Pig book 3

The Pirate Danced and the Automat Died Book 4

https://books2read.com/celwyn04

The Sea of the Vanities. Companion book.

https://books2read.com/celwyn005

The Wyvern, the Pirate, and the Madman Book 5

Swango Book 6

https://books2read.com/swango

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Over There by Benjamin X. Wretlind Part 2

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Read Part 1

The wagon wheels creaked as they traveled the desert floor. The sun was high and the heat had returned. Harrow saw another white puff of cloud in the distance, a collection of whatever moisture could be pulled out of the arid world around them. In other places, that cloud would likely grow into a storm. Here, it would eventually go away, replaced by yet more blue sky and more heat.

Wendel stirred. He stretched out on the brown wool blankets in the back of the wagon. Harrow heard him and turned to look.

“Where are we?” Wendel asked.

“Told you it had a kick.”

“You weren’t wrong about that, mister. How long have I been asleep?”

“A night and a morning. Any good dreams?”

Wendel took a drink of water out of a tin cup and poured the rest over his head. He mussed up his hair and wiped his face dry with his hands before taking the seat next to Harrow on the jockey bench.

“Think I went back in time,” Wendel said. He looked around before continuing. “Damn desert looks the same as it did yesterday.”

“That’s an illusion. The horizon is always just over there, but the mountains to the left and right have grown larger.”

“Plants ain’t much to look at.”

“No, they ain’t. So tell me. What was this dream you had? I’m always interested in what my customers experience. Makes for good advertising.”

“Just so…odd. There was a little boy, about four or five. Think he was me, but I don’t know. He was playing with some little toy soldiers.”

Harrow reached into a shirt pocket and held out the toy he had taken as payment for the pill. “Like this?”

“Yeah, that’s it. In fact, that’s the same toy the boy in the dream….” Wendel trailed off. Harrow glanced his direction and saw the man’s eyes drift backward into memory, fixed on a moment rather than any object in the present.

“Go on.”

“That’s just it. I don’t think I can. The boy was playing with the toys and there was a stove. I can’t recall what happened. It felt like a memory, though, but some piece of it is missing. What’s in that pill, anyway?”

“A few odds and ends. Magic. Whatever you want to call it.”

The wagon rolled forward for a quiet minute. Clomp, clomp, clomp.

Finally, Wendel spoke up. “You said dreams help heal whatever the past has thrown at you. What did you mean by that?”

“Dreams are many things. They can be memories, the brain working out problems, or just random thoughts laid out in random ways. Things in the past can seem lost sometimes, but they’re nothing but memories we haven’t processed, load-bearing walls in the construct of our house. I think sometimes dreams help us repair that wall if it’s causing us to behave certain ways later in life.”

“If this was a memory, you’d think I’d remember more.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.”

“Always thought dreams meant nothing.”

“No.” Harrow chuckled. “They’re something so much more.”

“What do you mean?”

“Think about it this way. If I gave you a book with a thousand words, you could make up a thousand stories, right?”

“I suppose.”

“But you can’t make up stories that included words that were not in that book. In that way, you’re limited to what you have.”

“I’m not following.”

“Your memories are those words. Your brain won’t make up what it doesn’t know, so there are holes. Those random images are not random, are they? They are the words in that book being shuffled around until they make up a new story. What if we could put those words back in the order they first appeared? What if we could patch the holes by using the words of another man’s book? Another boy’s book?”

“Guess I don’t get it.” Wendel sighed as his leg rhythmically bounced. “Wish I could go back and figure it out.”

Harrow pocketed the little toy and smiled slyly. “You can. For a price, of course.”

###

“I’ll take a shoelace.” Harrow pointed to Wendel’s shoes as the two sat apart from each other around another nightly campfire. “You ain’t got nothing else I need.”

Wendel obliged, removing first a shoe, then pulling its lace through the holes. He passed the lace to Harrow in exchange for another pill.

“We’ll be at Avernus tomorrow, so make this one count.”

Wendel nodded and choked down the pill.

###

There is the boy again and the wooden container with the toys inside on the stove in the living room. The old people are still talking and laughing at whatever it is old people talk and laugh about. They have their backs to the boy and do not see the first signs of pending trouble, do not see the first flame ignite a piece of wood on the side of the bowl, a piece that drops from the bowl onto the floor.

The boy’s eyes are wide as he tries to cover up what he’s done by throwing a nearby cloth over the flaming piece of wood. In his haste, the wooden bowl tips over, spills the contents of the melted toys onto the floor.

The fire spreads. The old people turn to see what the boy has done. Some of them are yelling. All of them are on their feet. One of them pulls the boy back from the stove while another tries to put the fire out by batting it down with a blanket. Rather than go out, the fire grows. A spark catches a curtain. Another catches a throw rug. In seconds, the living room explodes into a firestorm and the boy is pulled farther away by the old person, farther away from the fire, farther away from the experiment that was supposed to end in a rainbow crayon with which he could paint the world. It is gone, like the bowl, the stove, the curtains, replaced by flames, by screams, by shouts of direction and the words of unintelligible panic, by the heat and movement and a dozen different smells vying for attention in the boy’s nose.

The boy is sitting in the grass now. It is wet. He is scared and does not yet know what he has done, what he has wrought upon his mother, his brother, his father, the old people still in the house. He hears glass break and sees flames erupt from a window. The night sky, so often full of stars, is now fading, turning a reddish gray, covered by smoke rising from the house and lit from the fire. The boy fears he is not far enough away. He can feel the heat. He is not far enough from the fire in the house, from the angry old people, the glances in his direction, the people running from the trough in the barn with buckets. He wonders why they don’t use the water from the well, the well Daddy said to never go near, the well his brother said was home to a troll, the well in which he once saw Mommy toss a coin.

His brother. The boy looks around. He cannot see his brother, cannot hear his brother. He does not know if one of the old people grabbed him and pulled him out. He had left the living room to go into the kitchen. Is he still inside? Is he safe? Or did the fire reach him, wrap its devilish fingers of flame around his body, and drag him to the place Mommy said bad people go?

Wendel now recognizes himself. He is standing in the grass off to the side, his uncle’s house engulfed in fire to his right, the boy in front of him. He watches the boy, the boy who is backing up, the boy who does not see how close to the well he is.

The boy who was his brother.

As rapid as the fire had taken over the house, a surge of regret and guilt—pent-up emotion trapped behind bricks built of self-doubt and denial, of projection and displaced anger—bursts through and floods the tangles of Wendel’s mind. He feels his throat constrict even as his eyes grow wider with the realization that it was he who egged his brother on, he who pushed him to place a wooden bowl on a hot stove to make a New Thing, he who was responsible for the fire…he who forgot his brother had died in that well on that night so long ago.

Wendel takes a step toward the boy still backing toward the well. He wants to warn him, to say something to the boy who was his brother, who would still be his brother if things had turned out differently.

He wants to, but he does not.

There is something in the grass the boy left behind, something that blends in with the green but stands out because it wants to stand out, because it needs to be a beacon of light in the flood of emotion that threatens to drown Wendel, a buoy on which to cling.

He reaches down and picks up a toy soldier, the kind that is kneeling, the kind that is aiming a rifle. He tells himself he will hold on to it, that he will cherish it, that he will always remember what he did until the day he dies.

He will make the New Thing for his brother. Maybe then they can forgive him.

Wendel blinks. He is in another field, another time. He is no longer a boy, no longer welcome anywhere. In front of him, there is a house on fire, just like his uncle’s. A woman screams. People frantically try to douse the flames. A woman writhes on the ground. The scent of burning flesh stings his nose, waters his eyes. He grips the toy soldier in his hand, the rifle digging into his palm as he watches the fire create a New Thing in front of him.

Once more he closes his eyes. The screams fade, the smell dissipates. When he opens his eyes again he sees another house, another attempt at creation. But he is too close. The world fades in and out, black and then orange, black and yellow, black and red. He is dizzy. The smoke in his lungs robs him of consciousness.

When he comes to, heat from another fire rushes over him, and he opens his eyes to see.

A larger building in a city. Fire wagons surrounding an inferno, people throwing buckets of water on the flame. He stands across the street and watches, entranced by the flames, comforted by the heat, satisfied with the way the wood pops and crackles and steam trapped inside heats up and bursts. He knows this fire will deconstruct the building, just as it did those crayons, those toys, the other houses, the world. He knows he can finally make the New Thing for his brother. He knows he can paint the sky with magical rainbows, yellows and oranges and reds all rising among the black and brown of smoke.

In his hand, he grips the toy soldier tighter until the rifle snaps off..

###

Harrow backed the wagon up to a precipice. Far below, the rotting bodies of men and women and children clambered over each other, stretched out to find purchase on the vertical sides, to find a way to climb out of the pit. They moaned and cried and wailed and screamed. There was room for a million more and then some. No doubt, as Harrow completed his delivery of this man, he would return to the desert and find another and another. Perhaps they will recall why they were chasing the horizon in the first place, why they wandered in the desert with no destination in mind. Perhaps they won’t need a pill to remember.

It’s a nice thought, but they all need a pill. True sins can leave voids in the brain, empty spaces where memory should be. The pill helps fill in past transgressions with facts from someone else’s point of view.

As the horses pulled the wagon forward and the still sleeping body of Wendel tumbled out of the bed and into the pit, Harrow reached into his pocket and took out the little toy soldier. He regarded it for a moment, turned it in his fingers, then tossed it to land among the detritus of a million other payments made for a chance to learn the truth, a million other reminders of the wages of sin, the price of guilt.

The End

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See The Knight, the Gnome, and the Fox on Amazon

The Celwyn Newsletter Issue 20

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In this issue, interviews with:

Artist and Author Stephen B. Graziani

   Urban fantasy and historical fiction Author D.A. Spruzen

Author Mimi Francis

Children’s Author Chip Haynes

Also, another great article by editor Jennie Rosenblum, plus ideas for holiday gifts, for the gift of reading.

Celwyn’s Cats

Hiding from editing, no one can see her…..

Mystery Review Crew – Cliffhangers: One-Liner Showcase

Stop by the Mystery Review Crew on December 1st at 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, https://mysteryreviewcrew.com, will have their holiday event of original short stories and giveaways. For it, Author Richard Koreto and I, have collaborated on a story, Ophelia’s Promise. It features Salieri and Mozart and a murder.

An Interview with writer and artist Stephen B. Graziani

I asked Stephen Graziani a few questions, and here is what he said:

About what people see. One thing I learned long ago—it’s not my job to determine what other people see in my work… it’s just my job to create pieces where people find something to see or think about. Naturally I can guess what many people will see or feel, especially with the more opinionated pieces, but I’m still constantly surprised by other’s interpretations.

I once sculpted a 7’ high rusting steel cross, held together by barbed wire, in response to an evangelist announcing God said to vote for a republican—only to have a 19yo kid walk into my shop and love the piece because it showed how strong the church is. When I do an art festival, I usually take around 100 different etchings, displayed in bins for thumbing through like old jazz albums. Sometimes I try to guess which pieces will attract a certain person, and I’m probably only right 25% of the time—I like that.

Art to stories and visa-versa. I have a hard time writing a story to a piece of my art—I can get by that, if needed. But I find when I try to create an etching to a story I’ve written, the art becomes too limited. I like my art/etchings to be ‘story rich’… quoting one of the editors from a book that’s coming out soon— a hybrid anthology where 19 writers create stories and poems to 32 of my etchings. I only wrote one, so I’m anxious to see through other eyes. My best solution is to keep my art and writing completely separate… at least for now (I don’t like to close doors). I’m primarily an artist who occasionally likes to write, but when I’m doing either I can’t imagine not doing them.

Process wise, I like there to be a challenge—without the dance, what fun is it? With the etchings I’m working with a medium that’s unpredictable (it’s still a new medium to me), so there’s the dance aspect, so I don’t care for the challenge of playing to a prompt, outside life in general. But when it comes to writing, I love working from prompts… that becomes the challenge (though it’s not needed).

A note about the covers. When I worked in television, though I had a horrible tendency to want to play in other people’s lanes, I eventually came to terms (almost) with each department best controls their craft. My book cover designs were like writing the books—to see if I could do it all from scratch, but not trying to become a novelist. I believe publishers or cover design artist dealing with book sales in mind have a better finger on the marketing side than I would.

Stephen has two shows in May 2025—Beverly Hills Art Festival & Monsterpalooza.

The picture above is called What Ifs by the artist.
https://www.facebook.com/grazarts/
http://www.grazarts.com/

Swango: 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.

On Amazon

An Interview with D. A Spruzen

D. A. Spruzen grew up near London, U.K., graduated from the London College of Dance and Drama Education, and earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Queens University of Charlotte. She teaches creative writing in Northern Virginia when not seeking her own muse. Dorothy is also a visual artist and loves her Cavalier King Charles spaniel, her house on the Chesapeake Bay, reading, and creating her garden.

Her published works include the Sleuthing with Mortals urban fantasy series; a historical novel, The Blitz Business; The Flower Ladies trilogy; Crossroads: Two Novellas; and, a poetry chapbook, Long in the Tooth. She reviews for the Washington Independent Review of Books and serves on the faculty of the Tinker Mountain Writer’s Workshop at Hollins University in Roanoke, VA.

1. Do you plan to write any nonfiction? (or another genre?)

I have had a lot of poetry published, and a poetry chapbook, Long in the Tooth, was published a few years ago. I’ve taught and written a memoir.

2. What advice would you give to aspiring authors who are just starting their writing journey?

Take classes and learn the craft. Read widely. Find a writer’s group. When you write, write without stopping to worry about spelling, grammar, and so on. Stopping to fix all that is a sure path to writer’s block. Then revise. Revise. Revise some more. Edit last. Get other eyes on your work.

3. Set the scene: What is your perfect writing day? What time of day is it? Where are you? What is or is not happening in the background?

I sit in front of a window that looks out onto the Chesapeake Bay. The waves dance and play with the sunlight. I am alone except for my dog. I have a handy bottle of Pellegrino on my side table.

4. How would you compare the style of the Sleuthing with Mortals series to other styles of fantasies?

The memoirs move through the Norse heavens, ancient cultures, and other historical events. A mystery runs through the story, too, as does Mary’s own life in the household. Hence, while largely urban fantasy, the books also embody mythology, historical fiction, and mystery.

5. In your series, Sleuthing with Mortals, do your characters evolve as it progresses?

In The Turkish Connection, a Norse goddess, Lin hires Mary to be the resident ghostwriter of her memoirs. Mary finds all her previous assumptions about life, love, and religion, challenged—Norse gods and their powers are real and what she thought was mythology, isn’t.

In The Witch of Tut, Lin finds a friend of her own kind (goddess), a great comfort. Mary is a little jealous, and … there’s such a thing as a witch? Terror grips Mary more than once.

In The Knight, the Gnome, and the Fox, Mary realizes that her daughter has greater abilities than a normal child. Will the child find her mother inferior? To Mary’s amazement, yet another survivor of Raganarok appears. Yggdrasil is growing fast. They all wonder how life will change if the gods of Asgar rule again.

Interview with children’s author Chip Haynes

Chip Haynes is an artist, writer, cyclist and juggler living in Tampa, Florida. Chip is currently dabbling in fiction and poetry when he’s not pedaling in shorts and sandals, and doesn’t mind writing in shorts and sandals as well. But not when he’s riding his bike. The man ahs his limits. (But he has juggled on his bike!)

1. Talk about the illustration process (and what you’ve learned?) I’m a retired professional commercial artist, so I have to say that the illustrator for this children’s book series, Niki Tantillo, is my absolutely hero. She obviously read all of these stories very carefully and kept notes. She got everything, every detail, so very right, down to the flower on Olivia’s brown hat! And I could never have matched her wonderful casual style, which was exactly with this casual possum needed! We have emailed back and forth a bit, but we have yet to meet. (And we really should!)

2. What do you think new authors should decide before they begin their book? Should it be who they are writing for (themselves or their audience)? Do you have other criteria you would suggest? Oh, I wrote a whole book on this! (“How to Write a Book”) It comes down to this: Once you have That Idea, do your homework, your research and do the most detailed story outline that you possibly can. That’s what totally saves the day later as you sit there and write the text. Oh, and caffeine. Yer gonna need some serious caffeine. Yep.

3. Of all your characters, which is the most like your personality? How many of the char’s traits are already part of you, verses what you want them to be? In all honesty, it’s probably me, somewhere, in all of my books, but I am SO Oliver Possum! I’ve got the bike and the hat, and I DO stop for tea and pie. (I did just this morning!) And I am sort of short and fuzzy…

4. In your upcoming book, did your characters evolve as you used them? Oliver grows up from book to book, from learning to ride a bike in his first book to having adventures on the road with his friends and finding a girl possum to ride with, but as for me, no, I’m still just Uncle Chippie to everyone. Even my nephews.

5. Can you see yourself using Ai in your books? On what part and why? No. I enjoy the act of writing too much to let some robot try to be me. And geez, Louise, what if they did a better job? I’d be out of work! (But would they pay me for the use of my name? Hmmmm…

6. Talk about how your series came about. What did you initially visualize for the theme? Did it lead to an idea for a new series? The idea came to me as I rode Oliver Possum’s bicycle- a vintage English 3-speed. The name came first, and then the persona followed. And then the stories… so many stories… The series is simply my life on a bike over the years and the miles…

Email: [email protected]

See Oliver Possum’s Bicycle on Amazon

Holiday Special!

The Celwyn Series celebrates the holidays! From Dec 14th – Jan 3rd. If a reader buys one of the paperbacks or hardcovers, they get the ebook for FREE.
link to buy

Choosing the Right Editor with Jennie Rosenblum

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.

Finding the right editor is about more than just skill:

It’s about finding someone who clicks with you and your project.
Think of it as a partnership, and ask yourself how you prefer to work. Do you like having a regular chat over the phone to discuss feedback, or are you more comfortable with email exchanges?
Maybe you’re looking for someone who gives deep developmental feedback to help shape your story,
Or perhaps you just want a polished final draft with clean grammar and style.

Being clear on your preferences will make the search much smoother and help you find the perfect editor for your project.

Most editors these days are a bit of a one-stop shop—they often provide a range of services like beta reading, developmental editing, and copyediting. Some can even tackle grammar, style, and proofreading all in one go, making the process simpler. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and make sure they offer exactly what you need. After all, finding the right editor is like finding the right pair of shoes—it has to be the right fit, or it’s just not going to work!

Working with an editor is an investment in your book’s success, giving it the best possible chance to stand out in a competitive market.

A good editor won’t just polish your prose; they’ll help your voice and story shine through in a way that’s unmistakably yours. So. take your time, find someone who understands your vision, and get ready to bring your book to life in the best way possible.

Ideas for Holiday Book Gifts

The Celwyn Series YouTube channel

Link to Celwyn’s YouTube channel

Supporting Local

Turtleman Used Books

108 22nd Ave SW Ste 4, Olympia, WA 98501 · 4.3 mi(206) 200-5809

Proprietor, Murlin Varner [email protected]

All Genres, rare and used books.

Find them online at: https://www.facebook.com/TurtlemanUsedBooks/

THE WRITE LINE • www.free-expressions.com • September 30, 2024

POWERFUL PROMPTS

Looking for some inspiration? Give these writing prompts a try and see where your words take you.

Only ten letters survived…
Still, she waited…
A glamorous denial…
The heavens already forbade…
They took another turn…
Seeking wiser counsel…
Rapture stole them…
Ten times the cost…
The scales tipped…
A rush of sunlight…
The veiled waves…
It came down to the poets…
Abstract clouds…
His footsteps an elegy…

An interview with writer Mimi Francis

Mimi Francis is a sassy romance writer known for her steamy tales of passion that leave readers breathless. When she’s not crafting the perfect happily-ever-after, you can find her sipping margaritas and binge-watching Marvel movies or the TV show Supernatural. But her true loves (after her husband, of course) are her four Shih Tzus who keep her company as she spins stories that will make your heart race and your toes curl. Get ready to fall in love with her characters and the worlds she creates.

Find Taken By The Mobster on Amazon.

1. Is there something about your books/your point of view that you think readers should know? I write my books in third-person dual POV. This gives my books a movie-like feel when you’re reading them. It also gives the reader the chance to see the story from both the male and female characters’ points of view.
2. Will there be a sequel to Taken by the Mobster? The second book in the Massachusetts Mafia series will be released in mid-2025. The title is a secret and under wraps. It will focus on two minor characters from Taken by the Mobster, Caitlin O’Reilly and Grady McCarthy. All of my books are standalone reads in an interconnected universe, so they have a firm “happily for now/happily ever after” ending.
3. Did a particular historical/arcane fact in your research stick with you, maybe becoming part of the series or a standalone in the future? This book is part of a mafia romance series. While doing my research, I discovered that the Irish mafia was quite prevalent in the Boston area in the 1900s. This fact prompted me to focus the series on the Irish mafia in the New England area.
4. Who is your favorite villain of all time and why? (examples please) and 12. Can a villain be sympathetic, or do good deeds in order to be redeemed in the eyes of those around them (or the readers)? (examples)My all-time favorite villain is Loki from the Marvel movies. My favorites are Avengers and the first Thor movie. I think villains can be sympathetic, especially if their origin story is tragic or compelling. And I do think they can redeem themselves if they change their ways and do good. Helping the protagonist accomplish a heroic act often redeems them for me.
5. Which specific authors or books have influenced you in your writing journey?I was heavily influenced by J.R. Ward, the author of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series and Stephen King. Both are writers I admire and when I wrote as a teenager, I tried to emulate their writing, in particular King’s. As I grew as a writer, I became more and more influenced by J.R. Ward. I have followed her for years and I love her books. I hope someday to have people love me like they do her.

What is New with the Celwyn Series?

For book 7, Lucky and Mrs. Nemo, progress has been made, to a point. All the beta reads are back, and they’re very useful. But …. something was missing, and until this morning I hadn’t a clue what it was. Without committing a spoiler of my own work, lets say it is going to be a double cliff hanger. Of course, with my usual lack of foresight, that means I have to revise at least the beginning chapters of book 8. Such is the life of the disorganized.

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) who 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.

I’ll repeat the following description from last month because I feel like it: 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 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. Captain Nemo has accepted the unexpected, and even makes sarcastic comments about it.

For Swango: 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.

Book 8? I’d last reported that I’d lost about 50 pages of the handwritten first draft. That doesn’t seem so bad now (see the reference to changing the draft above because of a change to book 7) Everything works out for a purpose. If not, even with a little bit of bad luck, or worse, and it all looks as if it were planned that way.

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

Shameless Buy Links to booksellers who carry the Celwyn series.

The Violins Played before Junstan book 1

Music Shall Untune the Sky book 2

The Raven and the Pig book 3

The Pirate Danced and the Automat Died Book 4

The Sea of the Vanities. Companion book.

Serialized Stories Benjamin X. Wretlind, Over There, Science Fiction, Serialized Stories

The Wyvern, the Pirate, and the Madman Book 5 https://books2read.com/celwyn005

Swango Book 6 https://books2read.com/swango/

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Over There by Benjamin X. Wretlind Part 1

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Over There by Benjamin X. Wretlind Part 1

The man without the hat was not the first Harrow had picked up this week, but he was the first with shoes. Most of them walked barefoot.

The wagon, pulled by two stocky horses with contrasting colors—one ashen, one red—slowed as Harrow pulled back on the reins and gave quiet instruction. He regarded the man standing in the middle of the desert, the man with nothing but ragged clothes, singed in spots, covered in dust, the man with shoes too clean to have been on his feet for long. He was slender, as most people in this day were, but only the stubble of a few days’ respite from a razor covered his face. Even so, there were telltale signs of exposure to the elements: red skin, crusted saliva around the mouth, pinched eyes.

“Afternoon,” Harrow said as the wagon matched the speed of the man.

The man did not look up, nor did he speak. Rather, he continued a slow plod through the desert toward the horizon, a determined gaze fixed upon the unreachable.

“Give you a lift?”

Again, the man said nothing, but an inkling of awareness crossed weathered features. Harrow noted the man’s affect and appearance. It was no different from most of the people he picked up along the way. Gaunt, expressionless, soulless. Some of them started their journey toward the horizon early, some late. Some started in the middle, as it was clear this man had.

The man stopped and Harrow pulled on the reins just enough to rest the wagon. He looked at Harrow, then slowly took in the horses resting in the scorching sun, the jockey bench where Harrow sat, the wagon bed and the iron tires wrapped around maple spokes. Harrow sensed the man was processing, absorbing as much information as possible. Likely, he was calculating a response in a brain no doubt slowed from shock, exposure to the elements, or a lack of water. Maybe all three.

“Where are you headed?” Harrow asked.

“Over there.” The man’s voice cracked as he pointed in an ambiguous direction with a weak jerk of an arm. Harrow noted cracked lips, red with sores, blisters on the backs of a hand. He’d been wandering for a few days.

“Well, hop in. I can give you a ride. There’s some water in a bucket and an extra hat for your head.”

“Much obliged.” The man ambled to the back, stepped into the wagon, then fell in apparent exhaustion on a pile of brown wool blankets. His eyes remained open, fixed on the cerulean blue sky at the end of the world.

Harrow turned. With a quick jerk of the reins, the horses obeyed, and the wagon moved onward.

###

“What’s your name?” Harrow looked back. The man was now upright on the blankets, a tin cup of water in a shaky hand cemented to his lips. He finished the last of the water and let the cup drop on the wagon bed.

“Wendel.”

“Apt name.”

“Yours?”

“Harrow.”

“Odd name.”

The wagon continued forward, wheels creaking against the hard desert ground. Every so often, a rock jostled the two.

“You say you’re headed over there,” Harrow said after a moment. “What’s over there for you?”

“I don’t know. Don’t know where I’m going.” The man turned around. “Not sure where I’ve been.”

“Not much out here at the end of the world save a horizon you can never catch.”

“No. Suppose not.” Wendel crawled forward and took up an empty seat next to Harrow. “Dreams, I guess. Mind if I sit?”

“Not at all. I enjoy the company.” Harrow chewed on blade of grass. “You been traveling long?”

“All my life with no destination in mind,” Wendel said. “If you mean lately, I don’t know.”

Harrow could not respond to that. The two men looked ahead of the wagon at the vast expanse of scrub brush and wide open sky. The rugged terrain was daunting to look at, and yet peaceful in its way. In the distance, to the left and right, huge rock formations erupted out of the desert floor, defiant fists stabbing heavenward.

“Where you headed?” Wendel asked.

“Avernus.”

“Funny name.”

“Ever been to Whynot, North Carolina? Last Chance, Iowa?”

Wendel shook his head. “Can’t say as I have.”

“Funny people make up funny names.” A playful smile crossed Harrow’s lips.

The wagon bumped over uneven terrain, past parched scrub brush, a few rocks. A lizard sat in the sun on one of them, nervously twitching its tail as the wagon passed. Harrow let himself watch the animal for a moment, a tiny imp confused in a hellish wasteland.

Wendel broke Harrow’s trance. “What’s at this Aver— Av—”

“Avernus,” Harrow said. He tore his eyes away from the lizard and looked ahead. “It’s a place to rest. Just over yonder.” He pointed toward the horizon with a dirty, crooked finger. “You can relax among friends, put your feet up and do nothing all day.”

“Sounds mighty nice. Fancy, even.”

“I don’t know about fancy, son, but a rest is a rest after a man’s long journey.” Harrow glanced at his passenger. “Your journey been long?”

Wendel did not respond right away. He looked down at his fingers, picked something out from under a fingernail, looked up at the sky.

“Those blisters hurt, mister?” Harrow asked.

The man turned his hand over and regarded the sores on his skin. Some of the blisters had popped, while other large bubbles had filled with pus.

They sat in silence for another moment. Harrow noted with bemusement that Wendel’s leg rhythmically bounced up and down. Wendel looked right, then left, then right again. He was nervous, or perhaps skittish. Impatient.

“You expecting something?” Harrow asked.

“No, no. Just…just not sure where I am or how I got here. Eager to get out of this desert, though. With all that’s been going on in the world, I want to block it out, put it behind me.”

Harrow nodded, knowingly, but asked anyway, “What’s been going on in the world?”

“My world or the world in general?”

“Only got one.”

“True.” Wendel picked at his fingernails again. “Seems like it’s all burning, and now here I am. Feel like I’ve been walking for days.”

“Can’t all be bad.”

“Can’t say any of it was good. Been running my entire life. Feel like I’m chasing the horizon, round and round, trying to make something I can’t get right.”

“The horizon?” Harrow chuckled. How many people say the same thing? “You just keep running? Sounds tiring, if you ask me.”

“Sad life.”

“Sad. Tiring. A man runs all day, but what if, instead, that man didn’t worry so much about that horizon, about what’s over there? Some say the destination can be a let down. Some say it’s all about being content.”

“I don’t know about that. Has to be better than this.”

Harrow looked at Wendel. There was a definite maudlin quality about the man, a defeatist attitude, but one tinted with perhaps a little realization. “Might feel different if you let yourself enjoy the journey.”

Wendel scoffed. “Enjoy what? The wheat that grows the moment you scythe it or this expanse of dirt? Fires that die the moment you light them? Should I enjoy the angry people on the street, the news in the papers? No, mister. I been trying to create something out of my life, and I can tell you, it ain’t possible where I’m coming from. It is over there.”

Again, Wendel indicated an ambiguous direction with the jerk of an arm.

“I see. You know, some people pay for enjoyment.”

Wendel sighed. “I’d pay a mint just to get there, anywhere, over there.”

“Hmm.” Harrow turned his attention from Wendel and looked ahead of the wagon, ahead at the distant horizon this man so impatiently wanted to get over. The wagon wheels creaked and groaned in rhythm to the clomping of the horses’ hooves. A tiny white cloud disrupted the endless sky, and Harrow smiled.

“How much longer?” Wendel asked, interrupting Harrow’s revelry.

“Maybe two, three days. We’ll rest when the sun sets.”

“Got a book to read?”

“Nope.” Harrow smiled wider. “But I have something that might help you pass the time when we settle the horses in for the night.”

About Benjamin X. Wretlind

Benjamin X. Wretlind is a speculative fiction author who writes science fiction, dark fantasy, magical realism, and some horror. Infusing his writing with a heavy dose of philosophy and epistemology, he is the author of several novels, novellas, and creative writing books and is a full member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA).

While not writing, Benjamin builds and teaches leadership and professional development courses to staff at Yale University. Owing his life’s viewpoint to Bob Ross, he has also painted a few things, thrown a few paintings away, and probably has a painting on an easel right now. Oh, and he loves woodworking, too.

It’s all about creating.

Benjamin lives with his wife Jesse in Colorado.

For blog articles and more, go to: https://www.bxwretlind.com/

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The Celwyn Newsletter Issue 19

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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

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.

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.

Shameless Buy Links to booksellers who carry the Celwyn series.

The Violins Played before Junstan book 1

Music Shall Untune the Sky book 2

The Raven and the Pig book 3

The Pirate Danced and the Automat Died Book 4

The Sea of the Vanities. Companion book.

The Wyvern, the Pirate, and the Madman Book 5 https://books2read.com/celwyn005

Swango Book 6 https://books2read.com/swango/

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The Celwyn Newsletter Issue 18

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In this issue:
An interview with Chad Miller, author of historical mysteries

Book Review, Scars of the Heart by Bob Van Laerhoven

The second installment of the serialized short story, Genevieve Understood Us, by Richard Koreto is available on his website!

Celwyn’s Cats

Deer parade, not a cat parade

Swango Swango Swango! Book 6 in The Celwyn Series is almost here!

Swango, book 6 of the Celwyn Series is available for pre-order & for sale 12-29-24. In 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.

A Review of Scars of the Heart, by Bob Van Laerhoven

Mr. Van Laerhoven is an artist with words who paints in all mediums.

He also has the ability to make you think and feel. In this collection of short stories his talent is on display with a heavier hand in horror and angst, and it works well. There is no sugar coating what the characters see and do, and yet it is so real, you can picture each part of it, and will find the stories will not go away when you finish them.

For instance, Drees the painter was cursed, no matter what he did, and to make matters worse his best friend’s spirit haunts him. The spirit has company in his guilt. The story is at once old and new, and everything in between. It even has a reference to the race driver, Sterling Moss. The noir is as thick as the betrayal, the revenge, and the retribution; it all ends up in a unrelenting drive to (hiding the spoiler).

From the story the Abomination there is a comparison: the Doctors Without Borders treat all the patients alike, including the murderers and their almost victims—all under one roof. “What do stupid Westerners know of the honour of hatred?” A line that stands out and reminds us that there is whole world out there of so many cultures and history, something Van Laerhoven describes so well.

This story in particular is multi-layered: the narrator is the murderer (honorably in his opinion) of many, and when he later meets one of his victims, he really sees what he did to a victim in the hospital room next to his. He remembers killing her sisters viciously, and yet he tries to atone. His solution is unexpected, except when you realize the circular beauty of retribution and (hiding spoiler) seems to be his unique way of resolving it all. These stories are wonderful, and unsettling, and should be on your list to read. Highly recommended.

Find it on Amazon

Interview with Chad Miller

One axe. Two murders. Who will confess?

Chad Miller has been writing dark fiction, horror, and mysteries for over 25 years. Deeply inspired by the works of Conan Doyle, Bram Stoker, and Kurt Vonnegut, he’s been studying to create his unique voice. Chad is a pharmacist and lives in Delaware. Chad enjoys playing guitar and going to the theater, museums, and being immersed in culture that large cities can provide.

Find The Confession by Chad Miller on Amazon.

If you had to recommend one of your books to young adults just leaving YA reading, which of your books should they start with, and why? The Confession. This is an historical mystery and follows my main character, Isabella from her childhood to young adulthood. Even though there are elements of horror and a few brutal scenes, we get an insight of the struggles of a young girl as she tries to navigate adolescence in the late 1800s.

How soon do you know you’ll kill off a particular character, and what told you to do it? I’m not an outliner, but I have specific plot points that I try to organically try to reach. Sometimes this is killing off a character, but other times the story drives itself. I firmly believe that no character is safe. I killed off my favorite character I had ever written because the story demanded it to happen. This even surprised and saddened me.

Which of your books was the hardest to write, and why? Prisoner of Despair. This book was heavily inspired by Bram Stoker’s Dracula. I tried to capture the feel of classic horror, so the novel is written in the epistolary style. The story is told through a series of diary entries and letters through multiple POVs. It was difficult to keep all the voices distinctive and keeping the timelines in order was tedious.

For your own reading, what genre (s) do you read? I’m all over the place. Lately I’ve been reading a lot of Neil Gaiman and Cormac McCarthy. I read almost any genre, except erotica or steamy romance. I just need a great story with great characters. Of course, classic horror is my favorite genre.

Tips from a reader: Gina Rae Mitchell

Navigating the Dreaded Reading Slump: Tips and Tricks

Reading slumps are like an unwelcome guest for avid readers—a period where no book seems to capture your interest or hold your attention. You may find yourself picking up book after book, only to put each one down after a few pages. It’s frustrating, especially when reading is usually a source of joy or escape. So, what causes reading slumps, and how can we break free from them?

First, it’s essential to recognize that reading slumps happen to everyone. Life can get busy, and distractions like work, stress, or fatigue can make it difficult to focus on books. Sometimes, it’s not the book—it’s you. Even the best story might not hold your attention when your mind is preoccupied.

The good news? There are plenty of ways to get out of a reading slump. One simple solution is to change the genre. If you’ve been diving into heavy historical fiction or intense thrillers, try something light and easy, like a romance or a fun mystery. Alternatively, reread a favorite book. Nostalgia can rekindle the joy of reading and remind you why you love books in the first place.

You can also try audiobooks. Sometimes, the act of physically reading can feel daunting, but listening to a book while doing other activities can help ease you back into the habit.

Lastly, give yourself permission to take a break. It’s okay to step away from reading for a while. Often, the desire to read comes back naturally when you’re not forcing it.

Remember, reading slumps are temporary, and your next great read is just around the corner!

What’s up next on the blog?

BBNYA (Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award) has entered the finals stage. I have been assigned a few books to read for the final round. This year, my reading is a little bit curtailed due to vision issues. So, to make up for it (and in my excitement), I agreed to post 59 Spotlights featuring the semi-finalists over the next two months. This is on top of my regular Indie Author Reviews, Blog Tours, and weekly Friday Fun Finds. I might just be crazy!! Visit my website to follow along with the fun!

Website: GinaRaeMitchell

The Celwyn Series YouTube channel

Other News

In case you have friends or family in London, Karen Haden will be speaking about her debut novel Paying in Blood at a Cheltenham Literature Festival Local Writer Event on Wed 9 Oct at 12.30pm in the Hub venue.

Available mid-October Richard Koreto’s The Cadieux Murders. The ink is still wet on the contract, but Wren Fontaine is already running into trouble as she renovates Cadieux House, a modernist masterpiece on Long Island’s exclusive Gold Coast. The home’s architect was the brilliant and eccentric Marius Cadieux. He was there that night in 1955 when a glittering party ended in a murder that 70 years later still hasn’t been solved.

Story Serializations. As frequently as possible, the Celwyn newsletter will have an ongoing serialization of stories of speculative, mystery, and any other genre I enjoy.
If you miss any parts of the upcoming serializations, you can find them here:

Serialized Stories

Richard’s story is also here:

Genevieve Understood Us

What is New with the Celwyn Series?

Swango, book 6 of the series, finally has a release date: 12-29-24.

The blurb. A magician, a widower, and an automat travel the world… but nothing has prepared them for Swango.

In 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.

For book 7, Lucky and Mrs. Nemo: Finally, it is with the beta readers. Those lucky and kind souls. I’m excited about it because of the major changes in it, but also nervous that I’ve captured all the opportunities with it.

There isn’t an official blurb yet for Lucky and Mrs. Nemo, but Lucky is a character, literally and figuratively. Traditionally the personality of a scientist is dry. Not so for Lucky, who enjoys a good gunfight. She participates in the final bloody scene as they defend Findbar, and where they find the ghost of Mrs. Spencer in the mansion’s tower with her broadsword and a deadly attitude. The new genre introduced into the series in book 6 is active in book 7, and Kang and Bartholomew both wish it weren’t. Certain things scare them more than others.

Book 8: Although 130 pages of the handwritten first draft is still safely put away I have been thinking instead of continuing with it, letting it percolate like a confused cup of coffee.. More ideas have come to the surface, and they require a bit of fore-planning. Not if they’ll be included, but how.

The near future will have Pelaez still causing trouble, and Celwyn keeping the peace between his brother and Captain Nemo. Maybe Swango can be bribed to leave Pelaez somewhere in the future? Or Pelaez will reach the point where he wants to be the only untrustworthy member of the ensemble.

Shameless Buy Links to booksellers who carry the Celwyn series.

The Violins Played before Junstan book 1

Music Shall Untune the Sky book 2

The Raven and the Pig book 3

The Pirate Danced and the Automat Died Book 4

The Sea of the Vanities. Companion book.

https://books2read.com/celwyn005

The Wyvern, the Pirate, and the Madman Book 5

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