Hi, all! Today, I’m helping out a fellow author by featuring her book on the blog as part of her book tour with Silver Dagger Book Tours. Kae Galla is one of the authors in the Children of Chaos series, which I’m participating in, and since I do book features and interviews, I wanted to help her out in getting the book out there! So, without further ado, let’s go take a look at a bit about the book and the author.
Sweet Dreams – Book Info
Children of Chaos Series
by Kae Galla
Genre: Paranormal Romance
There are stories and legends written, all around the world, about my father. Many of those tales, although highly fictionalized, do speak some semblance of truth. My father is what you’d call “The Sandman.”
For eternity, the men in my family have traversed the realm of dreams, putting the world to sleep. It’s a great honor and fantastic ability…at least, that’s what my father says.
I wouldn’t know, because I have yet to gain my legacy.
As the school year comes to a close, and I spend more time with the loneliest girl in class, things begin to change.
My name is KAE Galla and I’ve loved writing since before I knew how. I’d sit with my mom and grandma telling them exactly what I wanted my story to be, and they would write it down under misshapen scribbles I tried to pass off as art work. It wasn’t until years later that I finally decided to go full throttle with my passion and share it with the world. Now, thanks to the support of my loving family, great friends, and an amazing team, my dream of becoming an author are reality. My heart is in Paranormal Romance, and Romance in general, but I love challenging myself and broadening my horizons so you can bet there is more to come!
If you’d like to follow KAE Galla, you can do so using the links below!
Hey all! We’ve got James Quinlan Meservy here with us today to share about his experience as one of the authors in our new anthology, Glimpses of Time and Magic, which will be releasing at the end of this month. Since James has been with us on the blog before, I gave him a new set of questions to answer just to keep things fresh. Thanks for taking the time to be here, James!
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
(JQM)
I am James Quinlan Meservy,
Fantasy Author Extraordinaire,
Creator of Creatures,
Embellisher of Events
And Firebrand
“Stories That Kindle Imagination”
I have a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, with an emphasis in Archaeology, and minors in Russian and Geology from Utah State University. Unlike many of my fellow authors, I was not a fan of books as a kid. I was more of a TV, movie, and video game kid, who learned to love to read as a senior in high school, and learned to love writing in my late twenties, early thirties. It was long, gradual process to teach myself to love to turn my dreams into stories.
Glimpses is a historical fantasy anthology, so have you ever written this genre before, and if so, what got you into it?
(JQM)
You know, I actually have written some historic fantasy before. My novella, The Viscount of Sternboard, A Realm of the Light Novella, is a Titanic story set in my fantasy realm, The Realm of the Light, which is a parallel realm to our own.
What was the inspiration for your short story?
(JQM)
My story included in Glimpses of Time & Magic is Excal’Byr, A Realm of the Light Short Story. It was inspired by my love of Arthurian Lore and Camelot.
What was the most difficult part of writing the story?
(JQM)
Bleen, I don’t think any part of this story was difficult. I have been thinking of how to fit Camelot and Excalibur into the Realm of the Light for several years. So when I started writing, it just flowed out. So, I guess the only real difficulty I had with this story was to find the time to write it out.
What was the easiest part of writing it?
(JQM)
The writing of it. The story flowed out of my mind and into words with ease.
Can you tell us about what you’re working on now with the anthology drawing close to its release date?
(JQM)
The Cross of Roses, A Fantasy Thriller from the Realm of the Light.
The Cross of Roses takes place some three or four years after the end of The United, and is about a serial killing priest who uses magic to murder the unrepentant sinners in his congregation. This one is NOT a YA story, though I do keep the content fairly clean, which in this case means no sexually explicit scenes, limited vulgarity, and limited gore.
Who was most helpful on your journey with your short story in Glimpses?
(JQM)
The most helpful person with Excal-Byr? Well, that’s easy. My editor, Dorcia Beland. She is a fantastic editor, and helped me fix a few problems that came up in the writing. Second to her is my wife, who is always willing to talk out a story with me.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors and writers who are considering anthologies?
(JQM)
Read anthologies and short stories. Get a feel for how they flow, how they fit into a writer’s larger literary world.
Second to that is to write.
What is the most difficult part of being involved in anthologies for you?
(JQM)
Most difficult part? Probably getting all the contributing authors to agree about price, sales objections, marketing strategies, and the overall goal of the anthology.
What do you like best about being involved in anthologies?
(JQM)
Being part of Glimpses of Time & Magic really pushed me to write Excal’Byr, a story that was lingering in the back of my head for a long time, but I never committed to paper. Writing out that story was probably my favorite part. The second is meeting, working with, and making friends with new authors.
What part of working with the group of authors in Glimpses was your favorite?
(JQM)
Meeting new authors. Glimpses was the first time I ever worked with Joshua Reid and Michaela Baker, two very talented authors whom I look forward to working with in the future.
Find Out More About James Quinlan Meservy
If you guys are interested in learning more about James, you can find him on Amazon. He has several other full-length novels and a few children’s books available there. You can also find him on Facebook.
Today, I have Alicia Scarborough, author of the short story “Misted Love” in our anthology Glimpses of Time and Magic. She’s going to share a little bit about herself, her work, and writing with us today. Thanks for being here, Ally!
Her story’s cover and the anthology cover are below for your enjoyment.
Without further ado, let’s jump into the interview!
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Uhhh, I guess you could call me a whirlwind of crazy ideas that manifest themselves either as stories or paintings. For you see, I’m an author and artist that must follow the whims of my muse and create the songs that it wishes to sing for those to hear and see.
What kind of fantasy do you write, and what got you into it?
Right now, I’m writing Urban Fantasy. Both Youth (Middle Grade) and Adult. If you’re curious as to which stories is appropriate for a younger readership then pick up the books that have ‘Alicia Scarborough’… the other books that use my initials ‘A.L.’ are for a more mature audience.
As for other genres, I write poems, horror (stories from my nightmares) and some humor. I’m currently working on two more stories. One is about a little girl that likes to turn her playmates into dolls; that story is not due to release until April 2022. The other story is still under wraps, but I can say that it does involve T-Rexes and will be releasing this December 2020.
What got me into writing fantasy? I’ve always loved it. When I was younger I would write stories that mimicked some of the fairytales that I heard as a child and I would add a slight twist or make up what happened after the ‘Happily Ever After’
What genres do you read, and do you write the same ones?
I read mostly Urban Fantasy, but I do branch out into other genres. Especially if I need to research the other genre for writing purposes. Yes, this is my excuse to be able to buy more books. LOL.
What are some of the things you like to do to relax?
I play ARK, read, paint pretty pictures in Photoshop, watch tutorials, watch anime, play with my green cheek conures or groom my beloved Pomeranians’ fur (I have two)
Can you tell us about your current work-in-progress?
Well, I kind of already spilled the beans on the doll one. But yeah if you like Goosebumps then you’re going to love the story “Play with Me” for it’ll give you that chill factor and make you want to turn a cautious eye towards all dolls. Yet, it won’t be released until April 2020.
The t-rex one… I can’t say much except keep your peepers peeled on my FB page for updates or news. You’ll see stuff for that secret story soon enough because it will be released this year.
If you’ve published (self-published or traditionally published), can you tell us a little about the experience?
Planning. It makes the difference between a successful release or a tragic release. I like to know what I’m getting into before I take the plunge. I’m self-published because I want that extra control and the ability to make that key point decision if necessary.
Self-publishing is a ton of work but it’s a trade off if you want to have control on things that matter like your book cover, blurb, price and marketing. From what I’ve heard from my fellow traditionally published authors they have to work within the confines of the publisher.
That’s not for me. I need the freedom to do what needs to be done and without delay.
What were your inspirations for writing?
Dreams. I always have vivid dreams that I sometimes wonder if I’m having a glimpse into another reality and into that person’s life. Because some of those scenes feel so real.
Who got you into writing when you first started?
4th Grade teacher, Mr. Cox. He always encouraged us to do freewriting just before we started our Language Arts (English) lessons. Sure, at that time we were still dealing with the fundamentals of writing, but it was good practice. Since then I’ve kept up with it even if it was poems or just writing down my thoughts.
Was there anyone who came alongside you at any point when you were struggling in your writing journey and made a real difference? If so, who and why?
No, not really. I would have to say that I have an awesome gang of author friends now as opposed to when I first started self-publishing.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors and writers just starting on the writing journey?
Don’t do it for the money. I’m serious. You’ll get heart broken if you start this journey focused on the thousands of dollars. Writing is tough and it’s going to get tougher before you’ll even get a reward.
Instead, focus on your ‘Why’ – why do you really want to write? What’s the burning reason that will keep you trudging through the dark trenches of despair and push you towards victory?
What is one thing you wish someone had told you before you started writing?
Stop listening to everyone else and do your own thing. Everyone’s journey is different and there is no secret formula to success. It’s a matter of rolling up your sleeves and getting dirt under your nails to get that hard work done. There’s no shortcut. Period.
What’s your favorite book, and who’s your favorite literary character? Why?
Mercy Thompson Series by Patricia Briggs. Mercy Thompson is my favorite character because of the trouble that she gets thrown into and must figure a way out of it. She’s tough, smart and she never gives up. Even when her body is mostly a pile of mush she keeps on fighting because she has people she wants to save. She’s one tough cookie and I like her.
Conclusion
Well, thanks for being here with us today! I’m sure we all learned quite a bit about your work and you as an author, and I enjoyed having you on the blog. Best of luck with your future endeavors. Readers, if you want to find Alicia’s books, you can do that on Amazon. As she mentioned, she uses two different authors’ names depending on which age group the books are appropriate for. You can find her profile on Amazon here.
This week, I had the opportunity to interview Sara Zagorski, one of the authors in our new anthology Glimpses of Time and Magic and author of the short story The Heart of the Coast. I won’t take up any further time from the interview, so let’s dive into the questions and answers.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hi, world! I’m Sara, a 15-year-old sophomore from Chicago. I may be young, but I’ve been writing ever since I knew how to read, and most of my daily life is filled with reading and writing. On the side, I play softball, play the flute in marching band, and draw. I have a cat named Sydney, a dog named Molly, and a very tight group of friends who continue to inspire and support me every day!
What kind of fantasy do you write, and what got you into it?
I tend to write high fantasy set in my ongoing magical universe that exists outside of our earth, though I’ll also dabble in other types of fantasy whenever I get inspired. I can’t remember exactly what got me into this type of fantasy, but I could probably trace it all the way back to second grade when I first started liking Peter Pan. Ever since I first saw that movie, I’ve been obsessed with the idea of other worlds existing outside of our own that have their own laws, history, and magic, and whenever I get inspiration for another one of these worlds, I enjoy creating stories about them.
What genres do you read, and do you write the same ones?
I read almost exclusively fantasy and science fiction, and that translates pretty directly to my writing. I find real-life really boring and scary sometimes, and writing stories set in alternate worlds is a really easy way for me to escape stressful situations and envelop myself in a different universe.
What are some of the things you like to do to relax?
Reading and writing are pretty high on that list, though I also like to put on my music and take a walk around my neighbourhood if I’m feeling particularly stressed. It also helps to watch movies or shows that have really good memories associated with them to help remind me of good times.
Can you tell us about your current work-in-progress?
The Heart of The Coast is the first story I’m getting published, but I never actually anticipated having the opportunity to put my work out there until I was a lot older. As of now, I don’t have any other books in the making that I’m looking to publish, but I’m working on a couple of stories for fun in the meantime. My main project right now is called Kye Rising. It’s another story set in my alternate universe in which the main character, Kye, is sent to my fantasy world where he has to adapt and prepare for war before the antagonist, a dark elf known as the Dark One, takes over the last standing kingdom that opposes his reign. I haven’t gotten far with this story yet, but I’m loving the characters so far, so it’s going to be a fun ride!
If you’ve published (self-published or traditionally published), can you tell us a little about the experience?
Like I said before, this is my first time getting published. I don’t have much valuable insight into the experience, but I think this opportunity is a really good starting point for getting published in the future. Working with a group of experienced authors has helped me understand the process a little better, and I have a good idea of what I’ll need to do to publish my own work on my own!
What were your inspirations for writing?
Most of my inspirations for writing come from books, movies, or shows that I’ve been obsessed with at some point. As I read and watch things, I usually take notes on the distinctive traits of my favourite characters, plot points I love the most, and any other unique characteristics that make me enjoy the books and movies as much as I do. Some of my biggest inspirations were the Game of Thrones series, works by J. R. R. Tolkien, and The Untamed.
Who got you into writing when you first started?
I can’t actually remember who first got me into writing. I’ve written books ever since I learned how to read, and some of my oldest stories date all the way back to kindergarten. Because I’ve been writing for so long, there’s no one person in particular who inspired me to start writing, but there have been a lot of authors along the way who helped give me ideas for stories.
Was there anyone who came alongside you at any point when you were struggling in your writing journey and made a real difference? If so, who and why?
There was actually one person who really helped me with my writing, and her name is Joanna White. She’s the author who first introduced me to this project, though I’ve known her for a long time before this. She’s been a really great mentor for my writing ever since I started doing her Author’s Games back in fifth or sixth grade, and because of her helpful comments and critiques on my writing, I’ve improved drastically ever since. Her Author’s Games also gave me an excuse to write new stories every week, and I got to put my creativity to good use for the period that I competed. I’m genuinely really thankful for all the help she’s given me over the years!
What advice would you give to aspiring authors and writers just starting on the writing journey?
My best advice is to not force yourself to write if you don’t want to. Waiting until the perfect inspiration hits you makes your stories that much better and more enjoyable to write. Also, basing your stories off of things you enjoy in your everyday life can make your stories really personal, and you can connect really deeply to the characters and the settings. The best part of writing for me is making that connection to the characters and finding yourself in your work.
What is one thing you wish someone had told you before you started writing?
I wish someone had told me not to force myself to write if I don’t want to. There were times where I burned myself out and couldn’t write anything because I’d tried to make myself write too much, and those periods were always really miserable.
What’s your favorite book, and who’s your favorite literary character? Why?
It’s almost impossible for me to pin down my favourite all-time book, so I’m going to say that my current favourite is An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. The book has lots of incredible character development, and it also includes one of my favourite plot points in which the villain ends up becoming the hero (or the other way around). As such, my favourite current literary character would have to be Elias. He’s got really good morals, he’s an awesome fighter, and he overcomes many challenges that end up building him up as a person. He’s the perfect example of my favourite type of character.
