Author Interview - Abra Pressler

 

Abra writes diverse contemporary romances set in tight-knit communities. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Creative Writing – Screenwriting) from RMIT University. Her work has appeared in Kill Your Darlings, Lip Mag, Blush Magazine, SBS, Her Canberra, Women’s Agenda and on the ABC. In 2018, Abra joined the ACT Writers Centre as a Board Director and served as Chair of the Board until 2020.

Abra has also judged numerous literary competitions, including the 2021 Sex and Gender Prize (Stringybark Publishing) and the 2020 Valerie Parv Award (Romance Writers of Australia).

In her spare time, Abra enjoys reading, knitting, bushwalking, and good coffee. She’s a passionate Sydney Swans supporter. Her latest book, The Next Big Thing, is now available.

Genre: Contemporary romance

Q&A:

Q1: What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?

My latest book, The Next Big Thing, comes out in late February and it’s inspired by Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen and particularly Ang Lee’s marvellous TV adaptation, and the time I spent living in Melbourne while studying. As stories tend to do, the plot deviates from the source material but the themes explored in the novel remain unchanged: love and relationships, independent women in society, and wealth and greed. 

Q2: What is a significant way your book has changed since the first draft? 

 I don’t think writers like to admit that sometimes they don’t like the books they write, and that was true for me for 70% of the time writing The Next Big Thing. The dislike of the novel ultimately stemmed from my own insecurity: was I a good enough writer to write this story? That was the hardest thing to overcome.

 I thought the first draft had a glimmer of potential - enough to get it edited and redrafted - so by the end of the fourth (and final) draft of this novel, I felt I’d done the characters and the story justice.

 Q3: What authors, or books have influenced you?

I enjoy reading really widely - there’s nothing I won’t read - but my ‘immediate buy’ authors are Talia Hibbert, Ariana Nash, Sarah J Maas, Rainbow Rowell and Jack Harbon.

Q4: What is your schedule like when you’re writing a book?

When I’m not on a deadline, I usually write for a few hours on a Sunday. Where I can, I’ll write most weeknights but as I work full-time, this isn’t always possible. I’ve become really attuned to my mental fatigue, so if all I want to do after getting home from work is watch YouTube videos and paint my nails, then that’s what I do.

Q5: What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?

Accept that this might be your first book but not your debut novel. I think I wrote seven or eight novels before More was published. That’s one of the hardest pills to swallow. As much as I love those other novels, I simply wasn’t a strong enough writer to pull them off - but through them, I became better at my craft.

Those ideas never die. You’ll find places to reinvent them. If it’s not working for you, lovingly move on to your next work.

Q6: What is the best writing advice you have ever heard?

Write what you love. For a long time, I struggled in a genre that didn’t work for me when all I wanted to do was write romance. I switched back to writing romance, and I haven’t stopped and I’m so much happier in my creative process.

Q7: How do you celebrate when you finish your book? 

Usually, I go on a hike! When I finished More, I climbed Mt Ainslie - a beautiful mountain in the middle of Canberra, where the book is set. With The Next Big Thing, I climbed one of my favourite tracks just outside of Canberra: Square Rock.

Q8: What do you think is the best way to improve writing skills?

Read widely. Listen to audiobooks. Enjoy them and then dissect them; why do they work or why don’t they work?

Q9: What are you working on now?

At the moment, I’m working on a Christmas road trip novel set in Australia. It’s still early stages but I’m excited.

Q10: What are you currently reading?

I just finished The Wicked King by Holly Black and now I’m reading Accidental Honeymoon by Miranda Mcleod. It’s an LGBTQI+ fake marriage romance that feels like biting into a warm cinnamon donut.

To find out more about Abra Pressler, check out the social media links below:

Facebook

Instagram

Amazon Author Page

Website

The Next Big Thing is now available in paperback and ebook.

Opposites attract in this Sense and Sensibility adaptation about second chances, community, and very, very good coffee.

As a single mother, Ana Woods knows what it’s like to lose everything. That’s why she started Grace House, a not-for-profit helping vulnerable people find security again. At Grace House, A person’s past is left at the door. There’s no judgement. But when her daughter’s father reappears after four long years, she appreciates just how hard it is to let go of the past.

In pursuit of his passion, aspiring musician Jordan Templeton gave up everything – including ties to his affluent family name. With his bank account now lower than his age, a part-time job at Spencer Lane Cafe is supposed to be a fresh start. Until it lands him in hospital and a referral to Grace House.

Ana knows she can help Jordan if he’ll let her in. Jordan knows the moment he does, he’ll cross a line. His boss has made it clear he’s not to mess with the café regulars, and he’s technically Ana’s client. What’s worse is that Ana’s gorgeous.

Successful, independent, and frightening in an incredibly attractive way. As Ana and Jordan grow closer, the lines between personal and professional begin to blur.

If you enjoyed this interview, please consider Buying Me A Coffee to keep these interviews going :)

Author Interview - S. R. Fabrico

 

Born a raised a Yankee who loves NY style pizza and Philly cheesesteaks, S. R. Fabrico was introduced to the amazing world of Southern BBQ after moving to Tennessee where she lives with her husband and two children. Her family is her main priority, and everything she does is for them. She attended college in the 90’s and received a degree in mathematics with a minor in secondary education, the went on to coach cheerleading and dance for 20 years and won a Hip Hop Dance World Championship. Anything and everything creative are her absolute favorites, so writing has always been a hobby. When I’m writing, she likes to wife hard, mom hard, paint, read good books and watch good movies.

You can learn more about S.R. Fabrico by visiting her website www.srfabrico.com or following her on social media IG: @srfabrico_author and FB: @srfabricoauthor. Her debut novel, The Secrets We Conceal is now available on Amazon, Apple Books and Barnes and Noble. 

 Genre: Coming of Age Fiction, Womens Fiction, Family&Relationship/Child Abuse (based on a true story)

Q&A:

Q1: What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?

The Secrets We Conceal – it is a story that needed to be told.

Q2: What advice would you give to help others create plotlines?

Don’t force yourself into one idea or concept. Let things evolve as they may.

Q3: What authors, or books have influenced you?

Dan Brown, Janet Evonavich, The Hunger Games, JK Rowling, and Nicholas Sparks

Q4: What is your schedule like when you’re writing a book?

I work full time so I squeeze in writing most nights and weekends. I keep notes on my phone throughout the day as ideas pop into my head.

Q5: Does writing energize or exhaust you? Or both?

Both – lol!  It depends. If the ideas are flowing and things are good it is exhilarating. But when I am not feeling it then it can be exhausting. The marketing of a book is exhausting.

Q6: What is the best writing advice you have ever heard?

Don’t worry about the rules. Just write!

Q7: How do you come up with character names for your stories?

I choose names of people I know that remind me of the character at first. Then after the writing and character develops I go back and give the character their “real” name that will actually be used in the book.

Q8: What do you think is the best way to improve writing skills?

To write and then read. Oh and then write and read some more.

Q9: What are you working on now?

Right now I am focused on launching and marketing my debut novel and creating my outline for my second novel.

Q10: What are you currently reading?

I am currently reading The House of Gucci and The Chemist by Stephanie Meyer.

To find out more about S. R. Fabrico check out the social media links, and keep scrolling for more about The Secrets We Conceal.

Facebook

Instagram

Website

TikTok

The Secrets We Conceal

A riveting coming of age story, that will make you laugh, cry and root for Laura to find happiness.

Laura Shirk is a normal, happy, go-lucky, little girl playing with Cabbage Patch dolls and Legos. Until she isn’t. Set in the late 1980s-early 90s, a visit to her aunt and uncle’s house changes everything.
What follows is a nerve-racking story shedding light on child sexual abuse. As the tragedy unfolds, Laura mutters through life concealing her secret from everyone. Feeling alone and isolated, she struggles to navigate her younger years wondering if she can or will ever find happiness.
Then, Laura meets ‘the perfect man’ for her. Can he heal her heart and break down her steel walls?
The Secrets We Conceal, S.R. Fabrico’s debut novel is a riveting coming of age story that beautifully conveys how love and strength can heal all wounds.

If you enjoyed this interview, please consider Buying Me A Coffee to keep these interviews going :)

Author Interview - S. A. Crow

 

S. A. Crow is an LGBTQ+ author, writer coach, poet, and Indie author living in Arlington, TX with two odd dogs and a lovely partner. If she isn't writing, she's reading a good book. Age is just a level of experience, play to the end. The Fire Inside, Book 2 of The Fire Series is out now!

Genre: Romance, suspense

Q&A:

Q1: What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?

The Fire Inside is my latest book, and it’s the 2nd book in my Fire series. I couldn’t wait to tell Tony’s story and share his back story and the love of his life. It’s my first, second chance romance novel. A true crime inspired some of the suspense elements and I added a bit about that crime in the afterward on the novel.

Q2: When you’re writing an emotional or difficult scene, how do you set the mood?

I usually set the mood with atmospheric music and maybe read or watch something beforehand that will get me thinking about the difficult scene.

Q3: What authors, or books have influenced you?

Laurell K. Hamilton, Carian Cole, Anne McCaffrey, Leah Brooke, Charlaine Harris, Shayla Black, Bertrice Small

Q4: When did you first realise you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve been writing stories in my head and on paper since I was young. I started an internet magazine when I was in my early 20s. It wasn’t until a few years ago when I was going through a traumatic life transition, that I thought the story I was writing might be worth publishing.

Q5: What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?

Everyone has doubts that are normal, the ones who succeed push them away and keep working. Don’t let the doubts win.

Q6: What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

How many people it takes to make a book happen, that writing isn’t a lonely and isolating experience.

Q7: What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?

I wasn’t a normal child. I was forced to be an adult way too early. I rarely talked to adults like a child. I would carry on full adult conversations with the adults around me and watching the realization dawn on them that they've been having a conversation with a young child was fascinating to me. It was then that I learned that the use of language changed how people perceived you.

Q8: What was the first book that made you cry?

I’ve cried over so many books, but I think the first I remember is Interview with the Vampire. I first read that book when I was seven and the death of a character struck me so hard.

Q9: What are you working on now?

I’m hosting an alpha read for my first urban fantasy mystery novel, I’ll be hosting a beta read for the 3rd book in the Fire series, I’m writing the 4th book this year and a stand-alone romance suspense novel this year. 

Q10: What are you currently reading?

I do a reading challenge every year on Goodreads. This year my challenge is to read 100 books in 2022. I know that I’ll be reading one classic, Animal Farm by George Orwell, this year.

To find out more about S. A. Crow check out the following social media links. Keep scrolling for an excerpt of The Fire Inside!

Facebook

Instagram

Goodreads

Amazon Author Page

Website

The Fire Inside, Book 2 of The Fire Series

A change in the air pressure behind me catches my attention. In the mirror, Sebastian’s face peers at me over my right shoulder. I freeze, arrested by his terrifying grin. It reminds me of the clown from Stephen King’s movie. The warmth of his body oozes along my back, sending shudders down my spine. I gasp in shallow, rapid pants as my gaze locks with his. The coldest pair of cruel eyes I’ve ever seen.

I let out a cry as he clutches my neck. The phone falls from my grasp. The needle in his other hand rises above my head and dives down in an arch.

Why can’t I move? I need to move.

Get away. Pick up the phone. Hit him!

I stay still, and watch the needle pierce my skin.

The needle’s contents burn as they plunge into my body, shocking me as much as his presence did.

He continues to grin that same wicked smile, and chuckles as my muscles give way beneath me.

I can’t stand upright. I can’t run. My body won’t respond to my commands to move, to run for my life. Instead, I slide to the hardwood floor.

Oh, God!

I can’t scream. My body doesn’t acknowledge my orders. My vision dissolves into fuzzy, jittery images.

He rolls over a wheelchair and hoists me into it, tossing a blanket over my body. The afghan my grandmother made for me. It buries me, but even the affectionate memories it brings cannot thaw my worries. I’m chilled to my bones.

I never dreamed Sebastian would do this. Paralyzed and half-conscious, I realize I know nothing about him. I had seen only what he wished for me to know.

What’s going to happen to me now?

There’s no pleasantness this time between chilly air-conditioning and moist heat. The world inches by as I’m wheeled to a car I don’t recognize. At the front passenger door, Sebastian lifts me again and leaves me slouching in the car seat as he locks the door. The trunk opens a few moments later, and I hear him curse as he struggles with the wheelchair. Before I know it, the driver-side door opens. Time slips past me as I blink, and then rebound back to consciousness all at once.

He reaches over me and buckles my seat belt. The car turns over. I can’t feel the engine rev. He must have paralyzed my nerves along with my muscles. I see the scenery out the windshield shift and change from the parking lot to Henderson Street. We pull into a construction site and stop. He leaves the motor running, the air-conditioning continuing to cool the car.

He’s on the phone. Did I lose more time? He’s telling a guy named Mario to hurry and give him an address. He needs to get off the streets. Mario must have given him what he wants because Sebastian hangs up and chants it aloud so he’ll recall it:

“Twenty-seven hundred, northwest twenty-seventh Street, off of Azle Avenue. Twenty-seven hundred, northwest twenty-seventh Street, off of Azle Avenue. Twenty-seven hundred, northwest twenty-seventh Street, off of Azle Avenue. Twenty-seven hundred, northwest twenty-seventh Street...”

It becomes my mantra too until I fall into the black...

If you enjoyed this interview, please consider Buying Me A Coffee to keep these interviews going :)

Author Interview - SJ Pratt

 

S.J. Pratt loves writing young adult science fiction. Her work has appeared in Sponge, The Quick Brown Dog, The Commuting Book, and Antipodean SF. She is also a narrator for the Antipodean SF Radio Show, which she loves.

She runs an aerospace engineering company by day and writes by night (well, early hours of the morning), is an avid feminist and coffee addict, and looks forward to culminating her existence as an omnipotent space whale. She lives in Christchurch, New Zealand with her incredible husband and incredibly needy cat. Her debut novel, The 716, is now available!

Genre: Young Adult & Science Fiction

Q&A:

Q1: What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?

The 716

I’ve always been an ardent feminist. One day, I was having a drink with a friend and I was getting pretty upset about sexism. About being interrupted dozens of times a day. About my less qualified male co-worker who was paid more than me for the same job. About the rape case that happened in a spot that is literally on my walk to work. The friend I was talking to was sympathetic, but he didn’t really get it. Not like I did. So, for some reason, I posed a question: What if it was the other way around? What if women were the so-called dominant sex? What if men were expected to do the household chores while holding down a full-time job because nature made them better at it and the universe taught them it is their responsibility? Suddenly, his fire came out. He started getting just as passionate about it as I was. Now, I want to be clear, it’s not that he didn’t agree that sexism was bad and we should have done something about it before this moment, it’s just that this was the point where he really started wanting to be a part of the solution, the point where I could tell he could feel the injustice rather than just understand it and sympathise. So, I wandered home thinking, what if I wrote a novel like that? Where the world favoured women and feminine traits? Where only women could go to university or the glass ceiling prevented men from rising up through the ranks? And then, what if our main character was a young man, trying to be taken seriously as a budding engineer in a world that has judged him for his unimpressive looks and clothing choices before even giving him a chance? And from there, The716 was born.

Q2: What is a significant way your book has changed since the first draft? 

The 716 has been completely rewritten 5 times, parts of it more than that. It’s a completely different story now. RAY, my adorable robot side character, hadn’t even appeared in my head and Meliora was a tiny town, not a collection of large cities.

One difference that strikes me is my main female character. To begin with, readers found Olivia too egotistical and selfish (which made me reflect even further about how women are “bossy and rude” while men doing the same things seem like “confident leaders”). I had to be very careful how she came across. I wanted her to be inherently privileged and not understand her privilege, but also have it be believable that after she meets Andy (our male protagonist) and goes through the events of The 716, that she would change and embrace feminism and equality for all.

Q3: What authors, or books have influenced you?

Oh, where to begin! There are so, so many. Here’s just a few:

·         Jane Austen. I love Elizabeth Bennett. I love that she refused a man after he said he loved her against his better judgement and in spite of her family, especially given women were supposed to feel grateful that a man even noticed them back then!

·         Maya Angelou: Need I say more? Beautiful, breath taking, soul-wrenching work.

·         I, Robot: I’m not a fan of all of Asimov’s work, but I love this one. A collection of short stories that explores what it means to be human and what it means to be a robot. Also, one of the main scientists is female, which is pretty boss given then time this was written.

Q4: What is your schedule like when you’re writing a book?

I’m lucky enough to work part time. I get two full days a week to dedicate to writing. I’m an early bird, so on those days I get up nice and early, grab a gigantic cup of coffee and let the words flow.

Q5: What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?

Let your first draft be for you. Don’t give in to the gremlin in your head telling you this has to be great. It doesn’t. It’s a first draft. If you want a unicorn to wander into a scene and save the day, then do it! Don’t judge. At least, not yet. That’s what the very important editing stage is for!

Q6: What is the best writing advice you have ever heard?

Trust your gut. There is so much writing advice out there: whether you should plan before you write or just sit down and go, types of character and story arcs, how many side characters are too many etc. Research how other people do things, sure, but at the end of the day, writing is not mathematics. There’s no one right way to do it. Try a few different ways and embrace the one that works for you. And when you read something in your manuscript and you feel it is off, it’s probably off. Look into it.

Q7: How do you celebrate when you finish your book? 

It’s funny you ask that because I just put my book up for pre-order so in a way it is “done”. And then I took out the rubbish lol! On a serious note, I have a glass of wine and read something fun or watch a movie and then on the weekend I go out for a really nice dinner with my husband/family/friends. I think it’s important to take a moment to enjoy that success.

Q8: What do you think is the best way to improve writing skills?

It’s cliché, but read. Read in your genre. Then read outside your genre. Take note of how successful authors have done certain things, especially within your genre. Tropes, character development, story arc, twists and reveals, that kind of thing. The more I read, the better my writing is, and the cooler my ideas are.

Q9: What are you working on now?

Getting The 716 ready for release day! Bring on International Women’s Day (March 8^th)!!

Q10: What are you currently reading?

I’m currently reading The Dying Light by Lily Rooke. It’s intense, the characters are layered and conflicted, and it’s an epic read so far.


Here is the blurb for The 716:

Olivia is destined to be the future leader of Meliora. She’s smart, rich, and innovative, and she has a pink Identifeye light.

Andy is destined to be a waiter and househusband. His blue Identifeye light prevents him from pursuing his dream of becoming an engineer. After all, who ever heard of a male engineer?

But when Andy’s life becomes entangled with Olivia’s and he gets the chance to prove himself on the female stage, everything starts to change.

In a society where men are second-class citizens and only binary gender norms are acceptable, Andy and Olivia must confront their own beliefs and decide what kind of world they want to live in.

Will they do what is expected or what is right? And will the wrong choice spell disaster?

The 716 is a vivid feminist coming-of-age story filled with resistance, romance, and the courage of everyday heroes. Fans of The Lunar Chronicles and Noughts and Crosses will enjoy this original and thought-provoking Sci-Fi adventure.

Find out more about SJ Pratt by following the social media links below:

Instagram
Facebook
Goodreads
Amazon Author Page
Website

If you enjoyed this interview, please consider Buying Me A Coffee to keep these interviews going :)

Author Interview - Allyson S. Barkley

 

Allyson S. Barkley is the author of A Memory of Light, the first of the Until the Stars Are Dead fantasy series, and many other never-to-be-published novels, short stories, poems, and essays. Her second novel, A Vision in Smoke, is set to be published in spring of 2022.

 

Born in Charlottesville, Virginia, Allyson grew up an avid reader, writer, and horseback rider. She finds herself particularly inspired by hikes in far-off places, strangers in coffee shops, and clever music lyrics.

 

Allyson earned a degree in Global Studies and Hispanic Literatures & Cultures from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She lives in Durham, North Carolina with her partner and their two cats.

Genre: YA/NA Fantasy

Q&A:

Q1: What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?

My latest book is called A Memory of Light. It is the first book in my series Until the Stars Are Dead. The second book is going through final editing stages now and will release early in 2022. A Memory of Light was born from some solo traveling I did about five years ago and started as a story about a young woman on an epic journey. That soon evolved into something that wrapped up all of my ongoing struggles and experiences into a much more complex four-book series.

Q2: When you’re writing an emotional or difficult scene, how do you set the mood?

I plan my writing in the sense that I outline the story arcs, but I don’t force myself to write certain scenes when they aren’t coming to me easily. I tend to jump around and then come back to tie them together. The most emotional scenes are usually written in moments when I’m feeling particularly emotional – whether joyful or grieving – about something and need to put it into words. Pouring that feeling into my stories is the best way for me to process those moments.

Q3: What authors, or books have influenced you?

Jane Austen, J.R.R. Tolkien, Fredrik Backman, and Cormac McCarthy. Each of them contributed something very important to my writing, though they are all very different authors. Austen’s character development is so full of beauty and depth. I admire how she makes every moment critical, how a single look or moment of silence can speak volumes. Her stories are about everyday life and yet she manages to enthral readers centuries later because she is such a master of character work. Tolkien is – of course – a king of fantasy. His quests are legendary and inspired Ari and Ely’s journey in my series Until the Stars Are Dead, to an extent. I also love his grand, biblical style of writing. It’s not exactly how I write, but there are hints of it there in certain moments. Backman is my contemporary hero. He can twist and turn a phrase like no one else. Each of his characters and every piece of his dialogue are absolutely real and true and cut to the heart. I aspire to write words that speak to the humanity in all of us. McCarthy has a similar way with dialogue. I love how simple it is. He understands that you don’t need fancy words to ask the big questions. And he can write angst and fury and despair like almost no one else.

Q4: When did you first realise you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve been writing since I was old enough to hold a pencil. It wasn’t until I had graduated from college that I realized my work might be worth publishing. That idea was freeing and terrifying, but I haven’t looked back since!

Q5: What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?

Write something almost every day and write everything. Every single experience and observation can serve as inspiration so pay attention to the little details in the world around you. Writing is not about creating content out of nothing; it’s about taking what is in and around you and turning it into something different. Each moment and each feeling is worth being shared. Journaling and note-taking are great ways to keep those creative juices flowing and remind your brain to look for the little things.

Q6: What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

Just how much of myself I put into them. I knew that I was drawing on certain experiences but I didn’t realize until a few years after my first drafts were done that I’d written myself, my grief, my trauma, and my hope into them so explicitly. Writing has become a critical part of my emotional and mental health care routine but it took me a long time to realize how important it was for my mental processing. Now that I know, I’m never looking back. There is something so powerful about putting those emotions into fictional characters, like trying on different clothes. You can ask questions or experiment with solutions that you might be afraid to try in real life. Putting my characters through these paces has allowed me to come to some interesting and impactful conclusions about myself and my life.

Q7: What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?

I don’t have one specific experience in mind, but I think I understood this idea from a young age. I loved stories and reading and was fascinated by the ways words could make me feel so many different things. My dad also taught us that language is important – that learning grammar, understanding new words, and using them persuasively is critical. My perspectives changed even more when I learned Spanish and travelled to different Spanish speaking countries. This had such a huge impact on me and my understanding of how language works and how important it is.

Q8: What was the first book that made you cry?

I have cried over so many books that I’m not sure! Probably something like Black Beauty or Little Women when I was young.

Q9: What are you working on now?

I’m working on the second book of Until the Stars Are Dead. I’m incorporating my beta feedback and plan to publish in early spring. A Memory of Light ends on a bit of cliff-hanger, so I’m very excited to give my readers the next instalment!

Q10: What are you currently reading?

I’m listening to Tarnished Empire on audiobook and plan to start For the Wolf soon. I also just read Lovely, Dark and Deep by Claudia Cain and highly recommend it to anyone interested in spooky fantasy books! She is a fabulous author.

A Memory of Light is available in paperback and ebook format. Keep scrolling to read the blurb and excerpt that Allyson so kindly shared with us!

An exceptionally-skilled thief, Ari lives deep in the forest with no one but her bobcat Jagger for company. She is determined to keep to herself as civil war drags on around her, but when a mysterious stranger appears with an unexpected job offer, she has no choice but to leave her quiet life behind.


Unwillingly paired with chatty, optimistic magician Ely, Ari finds her patience, wits, and skill tested when the journey quickly proves to be far from what either of them bargained for. Ari must face one of the greatest tests of her thieving career - and come to terms with the many secrets she has been hiding.


With an exciting heroine and a diverse cast of characters, A Memory of Light is the first title in the fantasy series Until the Stars Are Dead, which follows Ari and Ely's adventures navigating the dangers of their complicated, quickly-changing world.


And here is a brief excerpt:


"The next several hours seemed to drag on, or rather, they passed so quickly that Ari felt they were not making any headway at all. The sun hurried across the sky while the three travelers raced it on much slower horses. She was growing tense, the pressure of her own expectations making her grumpy and particularly anxious to get out of the open air. Picking up on Ari’s stress, Jagger glanced back at the two humans behind him and lengthened his smooth stride to cover more ground. Ari followed his lead, pushing herself forward despite the many hours they had already logged that day. Ely’s footsteps came from the rear in the same steady pattern, pounding the purple grass down into the soft earth.

As they moved on, the plains darkened with the evening light, turning a deep blue, almost black against the still-bright sky. Ari got the sense that they were running upside-down, with the sky in the earth and the earth in the sky, everything hanging by a thread so that they might fall at any moment. She wondered, if they did fall, whether they would land on the ground or fly among the stars until they were lost for good. It did not seem like it would be so bad to be stuck up there, as long as Jagger was with her.

Dav had always spoken to her of the stars, of the creatures that went to live there after life was done, and Ari had loved his stories, but never believed him. It was too dangerous to believe in anything that she could not see. What remained of the world was a battlefield, and she figured that there weren’t many humans left who had souls worthy of the constellations anyway."

To find out more about Allyson S. Barkley check out the following social media links below:

Facebook

Instagram

Goodreads

AmazonAuthor Page

Website

If you enjoyed this interview, please consider Buying Me A Coffee to keep these interviews going :)