Book Five of the ‘Ro & Angel Trent’ Series by Peter Draper. Out Friday, 29th!!
Taking The King’s Shilling. Peter Draper, 2024.
“Taking the King’s shilling” originally meant entering the Navy. And since this wasn’t always done voluntarily, clear drinking glasses of which one could see the bottom were invented, as one of the tricks used to make men “take the King’s shilling” was to slip it into their ales and let them grasp it once they finished their drinks. At that point it was too late to turn back. But how does all this relate to our story?
Angel and Ro’s new journey begins in a pub named ‘The King’s Shilling’: Marvin, head of security, is there to meet them. But since it’s too loud, they agree to meet again the following day in a quieter environment over breakfast. In addition to salmon and eggs, Ro also receives a box that belonged to her now defunct mother. Inside there are some postal orders and a piece of paper with three names on it, the deed to a house, a small envelope with a lock of hair. When Angel and Ro go and visit the house, they are pleasantly surprised by how well kept the garden is, including immaculate flower beds. Impossible, they think, the house has been abandoned for at least 40 years. But as the lovely neighbour Edith kindly explains, there’s a woman who comes once a week to tend to the house and a man who takes care of the garden once a month. The kind and lovely neighbour, however, is not as straight-forward as it seems, and, among the many things she forgot to mention, there is also the minor fact that she actually died of childbirth with her baby in 1987. Something’s definitely ‘pen and ink’ here!
This new instalment of the Angel & Ro saga is the best one so far. There is the usual mix of mystery and sarcasm, dressed up with love triangles and gulped with a hearty swig of grog, but this time there are no deaths (or, at least, not for “unnatural” causes), no guns or criminal behaviour involved. All the contrary. This is a cosy mystery that surfaces from the past with a nice, heart-warming resolution. It’s an intimate story that preserves the essence of Draper’s writing and style but strikes more profound chords within the reader. A really good book and a nice intermission in the saga.
‘Taking The King’s Shilling’ is available for purchase (from this Friday) at: https://bit.ly/3OlTKkS
Our team had the pleasure of talking with American YA fantasy writerCourtney Lillard, author of ‘The Dark Angel’ Series, a sword and sorcery fantasy set in the kingdom of Asteom.
‘The Dark Angel’ Series. Courtney Lillard, 2021-2014.
Hi Courtney and thanks for taking the time to chat with us! Let’s begin by discussing your series ‘The Dark Angel’: what is it about?
Tell us something about yourself: where did you grow up, what did you study, what do you do when you are not writing?
I was born and raised in Appleton, Wisconsin as the third of five children. Growing up, I enjoyed participating in music and theatre, allowing me to develop a deeper interest in the arts. After graduating high school, I pursued my BA in Broadcasting and Public Relations Communications and my MA in Communication Studies. I began writing during the following months before moving to Lincoln, Nebraska. During that time, the first drafts of ‘The Dark Angel’ series came to fruition. Book One was officially published in January 2021. Outside of writing, I am a fan of reading fantasy stories and the classics. My other hobbies include cooking, playing video games, working outdoors in the yard and doing puzzles.
When and why did you start writing and how did you choose your genre?
I began writing in 2018 during a period of my life before I started working full time. I had always wanted to publish a book and began putting my ideas together into an outline. I got serious with wanting to become an author when I considered my purpose for dedicating time to my stories. In the end, it came down to wanting to entertain my readers and take them away from the world for a bit. That is one reason why I enjoy fantasy. Another is because I can add magic, creatures, and aspects of the world without boundaries.
What’s your target market and how would you like to expand in the future?
Currently, I am aiming to target YA readers who are over 16. It’s difficult to get books in libraries without direct connections, which is an area I would like to expand on in the future. Until I complete the series with Book Six next year, I would like to test various marketing sites before diving into them fully.
What is coming next in your writing career?
I intend to complete and publish the final book in The Dark Angel series early in 2025. I am also working on a different story that is shaping up to be a trilogy and plan on focusing on that next. Then, I will start a new back-up story so I have two projects taking place.
Are you planning to keep focusing on fantasy or would you like to try something different? And format-wise: do you prefer short or long form?
I plan to continue writing fantasy for the time being. I am enjoying working on two projects at once with one taking precedence. As far as the format goes, I prefer fleshing out a series and struggle to condense an idea into a short story. I would rather add more than limit myself to a certain length.Â
Do you have any formal qualification in the creative writing or did you polish your skill mostly through practice and peer review?
Aside from writing in college, I do not have formal training. I have been developing my skills as I go along and look for feedback from family members who read my books. I also write for myself, so I do not need to worry about appeasing others.
What does your “typical” writing day look like (if you have one)?
Since I work full time, I set a routine where I get up and write 1,000 words every morning before work. If that doesn’t happen in time, I focus on completing that goal before the end of the day. It takes a lot of dedication, but it’s worth it when I look back and see the word count.
What are your thoughts on today’s publishing market – both traditional and independent – and the indie author community more specifically?
Indie authors face many challenges because of how the industry currently works; however, readers are giving indie books a chance now more than ever. People have access to books at the touch of a button. We’re being shown books on our social media pages. Audiobooks allow us to listen while we drive, clean, before bed, etc. The world is constantly changing, and indie authors must be able to keep up with this in order to stay relevant. Regarding publishing, I chose self-publishing because I had no experience with the process and didn’t do my research. Part of me regrets not learning more about traditional publishing, but I wouldn’t change much else about my journey as an author. Most indie authors I see and talk to are open to helping others, which creates a welcoming community, with plenty of support or critique groups to share ideas. There will always be poor writing on both sides and at every level. There will always be authors who care too much about their ego. As an indie author responsible for only my work, I’ve learned to surround myself with positivity and be willing to grow.Â
Do you have a favourite author?
My favorite author is Mercedes Lackey. Her ‘Heralds of Valdemar’ Series got me into reading and fantasy as a teenager.Â
If you could choose only 3 books to carry with you on a desert island, what would they be and why?
I would choose my three favorite books: ‘Take a Thief’ by Mercedes Lackey because that is the first book I remember reading in my young adult life, ‘Jurassic Park’ because I enjoy the building story and themes, and ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ because the story set in the historical setting is compelling despite how it forces me to consider each sentence.
To find out more about Courney Lillard and her work, follow her on her social media (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) and have a look at her books on her website.
Jones is fundamentally a reject: he is not popular in the community as he wasn’t in school, he is unable to create significant interactions with his peers, even less if they are girls, he listens to dark metal music and all its sub-genres that no-one besides him seems to know of or care for. He has a menial job at the local recycling depot, lives in a social housing estate that offers shelters to lowlives and mentally challenged people. There is nothing about him that can possibly attract people. One night, after purchasing an old stereo at his favourite second-hand shop, he finds a weird radio show, that seems to be broadcasting murders from the future. It can’t be real, right? How can anyone know what will happen in the next few hours, including names, events and locations, and broadcasting it on radio? But curiosity can be a powerful motivation and Jones decides to go to the place he heard of on the radio, to find himself in the right place at the right time and prevent a killing. Here starts Jones’ journey into his supernatural psychic power, which will end with an explosive event and a very tight epilogue.
We are not completely convinced by this book, especially the beginning: Jones is a nice and relatable character, but there is a very big chunk that only describes what a loser he is. After the third chapter, this only becomes repetitive and doesn’t add much to the story. The same goes for the long diversion on music and genres and sub-genres and names of bands that might be real or fictional. Loved the idea, though: it embodies the genre perfectly and has great potential – the voice that Jones hears on the radio belonging to an old lady who is in a hospice in a vegetative state, and owned the power before him – but it’s not fully developed in its current state.
Author of The Queer Dystopian Novel ‘Bittersweet Nightshade’
Bittersweet Nightshade. Shelley Crowley, 2023.
CAN YOU GIVE US A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF YOUR BOOK?
‘Bittersweet Nightshade’ is a queer character driven dystopian novel set in a world similar to ours where a small percentage of the population born during ‘the Problem Year’ develop unique abilities known as ‘Gifts’ during puberty. Follow three unlucky young adults as they navigate their way through their past traumas, struggle with their unwanted Gifts and build new relationships. Perfect for readers looking for grounded human stories with a touch of the fantastical.
WHATARE YOUR BOOK USPs?
‘Bittersweet Nightshade’ is a more tempered down take on the dystopian genre, with no big rebellions and nationwide battles. It is a deep insight into the minds of these three haunted Gifted and the trials they face making it through each passing day. It is perfect for readers looking for damaged characters to laugh and cry with, to get attached to and root for. It is a queer story where being queer is not the story.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF…
I was born in Stockport, UK, where in my early teen years I hunkered down in my bedroom after school and wrote novels. With a full manuscript in my hands at age 16, I knew I had found my purpose. That particular novel will never see the light of day but we’ve all got to start somewhere, right? I did not go to university straight after college thanks to several tutors telling me there is no money and stability in being an author. Later in life I graduated from Sheffield Hallam University with a BA in Creative Writing as a mature student, started self-publishing my newer, more refined works, and discovered that those college tutors were indeed correct. But when you have a passion for writing, and characters in your head that refuse to leave you alone until you have told their story, you have to just suck it up and go for it. You don’t choose your calling, your calling chooses you.
Find out more about the author, her latest publications and her social media on her linktree.
Hank is a truck driver. He is driving to Sacramento on Route 50, also known as the loneliest road in America, when he is stopped by a policeman. There’s been some disappearances lately on Route 50, says the agent, so be careful. Hank doesn’t do much with the info, and continues his journey, but he is ahead of schedule and very tired, so he decides to stop at a motel for the night. Here he meets Malcom, another guest. They exchange a few words and share a beer. Nothing unusual for solo travellers who want some company. Eventually, Hank turns in for the night, but he is awakened a couple hours later by a loud thud and a faint female voice. As silly as it might sound, Hank knows the noise comes from beneath him. The problem is that beneath him there is only floorboards and the motel foundations. He looks for Malcom’s help and second opinion, but Malcom tells him that he is probably only hearing things, maybe the lack of sleep and so many hours alone on the road are tricking him. Hank is quite firm, though, and decides to give 911 a call. He hears the operator’s voice followed by a strong blow at the back of his head. When Hank wakes up, he is in a basement with a scantily clad and visibly worn out girl named Sara. She tells him that they are in Malcom’s basement, Malcom being the man behind the disappearances on Route 50. They soon realise they have to do all they can to buy some time and find a way to escape. And despite the grotesque situation, Hank, Sara and Malcom even get along, sharing small talk and meals. The only problem is: Malcom doesn’t like beef or lamb or pork, he prefers… more “unusual” flavours.
I have to admit that after a somehow “misleading” start, the novel takes a turn for the best and soon picks up a very good pace. I wasn’t totally sold on the truck driver, and even less by his imprisonment in a basement, but when the reason why Hank and Sara are locked in that basement becomes clear, the twist the story takes is mind-blowing. The characters are penned with sharpness and skill and the plot slowly but steadily unravels page after page with craftsmanship and shrewdness, driving the story to the highest peak it could possibly reach, before a relieving resolution. This is the perfect book for those already regretting the end of spooky season, a thriller with horror elements set in a basement (which gives the story an extra element of claustrophobia), it reads in very little time, the prose is flawless and so are the dialogues and the plot. A great book we highly recommend.
We’ve recently had the pleasure to interview Sakura Black, who told us a little more about her (steamy) paranormal romance novels. With three series already under her belt, Sakura offered us some witty, funny and honest insight into her journey as an author so far and her plans for the future.
Many thanks for taking the time to talk to us, Sakura! We know you are busy with your next book… but before delving into that, would you like to introduce your latest series, ‘Playing with Demons’?
The ‘Playing with Demons’ series is all about possessive demons and the feisty women they’re lucky enough to obsess over. Each book follows a different couple battling through Hell and Earth for their happily ever after.
What do you think sets your books apart from the competition?
If you like sassy, strong women and unhinged, morally grey, monster men who would do anything for them, then these books are for you! My books are spicy, fun and thrilling, yet full of heart.
Tell our readers a little about yourself...
I am a British-Filipino author who writes under the pen-name of Sakura Black and who’s also a reader first. I grew up devouring anything paranormal fantasy romance and was a smidge too obsessed with Dean from Supernatural. I live in a small town in England and spend my free time crafting spicy stories about monstrous men and the women they fall horns over tail for. Let me tell you a funny story: I once stayed up so late reading that I heard my university roommates getting up in the middle of the night to secretly blow up balloons and decorate outside my bedroom door for my birthday. I had to pretend to be so surprised when I actually got up that morning all bleary-eyed from too many just-one-more-chapter’s. I didn’t want all their stealthy late night giggles to go to waste!
‘Playing with Demons’ is not your first series, it’s actually the third one: when and why did you start writing?
I started writing for revenge. Since I always stay up too late reading and have to face my sensible adult days super tired, I wanted to bring others down with me because I’m evil like that. I officially started about 5 years ago on a train. I had no clue what I was doing and literally just opened up a word doc on my phone and started texting out a book. I was so scared to tell anyone what madness I was attempting that I even hid it from my partner for months and eventually took him to a cafe to confess something… he’d thought I was about to break up with him, poor guy!
How did you discover you wanted to focus on writing paranormal romance and what is your target market?
I chose my genre because, at the time, the kind of monster romances I was looking for didn’t really exist. Or not enough of them to keep me occupied anyway! I wanted them to be spicy and with enough gritty yet fun story action to keep me hooked. For me, it’s about that sweet spot for monsters, somewhere between cosy and horror, because I’m brave, but not that brave. My target market would be anyone who looks for escapism and entertainment from their romance reads.
With book three in the ‘Playing with Demons’ series being released in March 2025, what are your writing plans for the future?
The third instalment of the ‘Playing with Demons’ series is the last for now, but I’ve already semi-plotted book 4, so it might not be the end of the series! I don’t think I’ll be able to stray from my paranormal romance genre because I love it too much. My next plans are to continue the ‘Monster Mate Hunt’ Series, with the third book set for mid/late 2025. I may also dabble in the sci-fi romance sphere eventually, but I’m a super indecisive person so haven’t got concrete plans just yet.
Do you have any formal qualification in creative writing or did you polish your skills mostly through practice and peer review?
I have zero qualifications in the creative industry. If anything, I have minus qualifications in creativity because I’m somehow a corporate tax accountant (i.e. THE most interesting person at a dinner party). My love of reading drove me to writing though, and I’ve been learning through craft books, podcasts, editors red-penning all over my manuscripts and a healthy amount of trial and error. I’m always fighting to get better, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
How does your “typical” writing day look like (if you have one)?
I usually wake up at 5am (because I’m one of those weird morning people not to be trusted) and get a few hours of writing done while chugging coffee before I go to work. I’ll write while I commute on the train too, and hope not to scandalise the poor person sitting next to me with just where that tail ends up…
What are your thoughts on today’s writing industry? With the self-publishing revolution a lot of people started to publish their own books, but along with some hidden gems there seems to be also poor quality work out there. What is your opinion and why did you choose self-publishing?
I’m all for the self-publishing revolution! As a self-published indie author, I think it’s empowering to get my books straight to the market and let people decide if I’ve written a load of crap or not. I like the control of rising or falling on my own merits, even if it means more work to try and learn how to be a publisher and marketer as well as a writer. The community is great and most people are more than happy to support each other. I still feel like a really new author though and I’d love to make some author friends.
Being a writer also means being a reader. What are you reading currently? And what book you couldn’t finish no matter what?
I’m currently reading ‘Bride’ by Ali Hazelwood – it’s amazingly captivating and I highly recommend it! I’ve had to stop and start ‘Her Vicious Beasts’ by E. P. Bali a few times because even though it’s a brilliant read, it mentions cute details about Australia and I’ve just come back to the cold, rainy UK after a year there and it makes me miss the place too much. My tiny heart just can’t take it yet.
Do you have a favourite author?
This one is hard to decide on, but I’m going to have to say Ilona Andrews – they’re a couple writing team powerhouse and everything they write just sucks me in and won’t let go.
If you could choose only 3 books to carry with you on a desert island what would they be and why?
You ask all the tough questions!! I’d have to pick some of my early favourite classic paranormal romance reads, the ones that really got me hooked on the genre – ‘Magic Bites’ by Ilona Andrews, ‘Halfway to the Grave’ by Jeaniene Frost and ‘City of Light’ by Keri Arthur. Though maybe only bringing first-in-series reads would drive me to madness…
Any final words of wisdom?
Thank you for featuring me as an author! I really appreciate you taking the time to ask me these questions and I hope readers can get to know me and my brand of crazy a little better. I love chatting about all things books, so please reach out to me on social media or on my newsletter to be book friends!
Find out more about Sakura Black on her website, where you can find all her books and subscribe to her newsletter. You can also follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
