Darklight On... Lilliana Rose

Today's Darklight On is ... Lilliana Rose,

Welcome Lilliana,

How did you come to write speculative fiction? What attracted you to the genre?

The first movie I ever saw was Star Wars, and I’m sure that has influenced my attraction to speculative fiction. That and my big imagination. I enjoy writing speculative fiction because I can let my imagination have freedom to create. 

Are you a plotter? Pantser? Or somewhere in-between?

I’m the sort of person that flys by the seat of my pants, so I’m more of a pantser than a plotter. I like to go with the creative flow when I write. However, the more I write, the more I discover that I’m somewhere in between. I also spend a lot of time thinking about the stories I’m going to write, so there’s a bit of planning going on in my head before I sit down to write. 

Do you have a favourite of your characters?

I love my character Zadi from my middle grade book, The Jumble Sale. She’s quirky, strong, a lot of fun, and helps to bring her community of misfit monsters together.

What are you currently working on? 

I’m currently working on the Lost Souls Academy Bk2, The Dream Talkers. 

What is your favourite part of the process of writing? 

My favourite part of writing is when I get a new story idea to write about. It’s a lot of fun then to see where this idea might lead. 

What can we expect from Lilliana Rose in the future?

I’ll be writing more paranormal romance. I have the Lost Souls Academy series to complete, and then I have another story brewing which I can’t wait to get into (Shh, secrets!). If only there was more time to write!

Who are your favourite authors?

Classandra Clare, I’ve enjoyed all of her books. 

What are you currently reading?

I’m currently reading Susan Horsnell, and her western romances. 

Do you have a favourite spec fiction movie or TV series?

I do love Dr Who. A lot. 

Star Wars is also one of my favourites movies. 

Do you have advice for emerging writers? 

Join groups on social media and learn as much as you can, a lot of the process is trial and error, so keep trying. 

~~~

Thanks, Lilliana Rose

The Waking of Ghosts

Lost Souls Academy Book 1

There is an evil awakening.
At the Lost Souls academy, students aren’t your typical everyday alumni. 

Rejects from clans, packs, and covens walk these halls, but there’s something more sinister haunting the academy.

A resident ghost has new student, Zarya, on the fight to banish it. Will her actions cause more enemies at her new school than friends? 

‘I’m coming for you.’
A message from beyond has Zarya fearful. Her skills are underdeveloped, but as a ghost hunter, she must stand and fight this new evil. 

Can Zarya grow to be the ghost hunter she’s destined to be or will forces overpower her and bring chaos and destruction to the Lost Souls academy?

Buy on amazon: books2read.com/u/b5QyBk

~~~

About the Author

Lilliana Rose is an Amazon Bestselling author, who writes romance in the subgenres of contemporary, paranormal, steampunk, and rural. She enjoys helping characters overcome problems or issues, and the misunderstandings that often plague relationships, to help them fall in love. Whether it’s city heels being replaced with country work boots, or some magic beyond this world, or cogs and gears and corsets, each story shows how love can prevail. She has over fifteen years’ experience in various education systems as a teacher, a skip and a jump from starting out in genetics research. It is all helpful for inspiring her writing. She has poetry, middle grade, picture book, novellas, and novels published under various pen names.

~~~

Check out more of her work at www.lillianarose.com and as an Amazon Author and her blog on inspirational creativity and wellness, Café Pondering www.cafepondering.com and Cultivating Creativity Workshops.


Keep up to date with Lilliana on social media

Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, Instagram

Magic Thursday: Mapping Fantasy Worlds

by Shona Husk

This May I’ve been published for 10 years. There’s been some ups and downs, but I’m still here and still writing and still publishing. I tried being a full-time author but decided I needed to be making more than I was for it to work out, so I retrained as a bookkeeper and went back to part time work last year. It didn’t kill my creativity at all. In fact, having a weekly income took the pressure off.

But toward the end of the year I started looking for something else to do on the side, still connected to writing. I know a lot of writers do covers or edit, and while I can do structural edits, I can’t copy edit to save myself.

The answer was so obvious once it was pointed it out to me: map making.

For twenty years I was a civil draftsperson. I designed and drew roads, roundabouts, sewerage and drainage systems and subdivisions. I was in one of the last classes to be taught manual drafting (at the big tables with either pencil and paper, or ink and film) as well learning CAD. I’d also done art at school (and won a few prizes at the International School) and I had consumed vast amounts of fantasy novels.

In a Venn diagram of my skills, drawing fantasy maps was right in the middle. It also fit squarely with my desire to do more artwork in 2020.

Source: Deposit Photos

I spent a few weeks reading about maps and studying the different techniques. I experimented with black and white ink on paper, with colour and grey scale. I also dabbled with my tablet…but honestly, I prefer the tactile sensation of paper and ink and only use the tablet for a final clean up and edit. Maybe that will change as I get better at drawing on my tablet—it is easier to correct errors, and change colours electronically—but maps have a different feel when drawn by hand. And I’m trying to find something to get me off the computer.

Here’s to another 10 years of writing and creating!

~~~

Romance author Shona Husk lives in Western Australia at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Blessed with a lively imagination she spent most of her childhood making up stories. As an adult she discovered romance novels and hasn’t looked back.

With over forty published stories, ranging from sensual to scorching, she writes contemporary, paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi romance.

Visit Shona at her website.

Shona's latest release is the romantic suspense, Close to the Truth.

Is the truth worth dying for?

TV biologist, Jasmine Heydon, escaped Bitterwood once. She was 16 and run out of town by the cops for the crime of being born on the wrong side of the tracks. Ten years later, she's changed a lot but Bitterwood hasn't. The town's only claim to fame is the legend of the River Man, a murderous creature who first killed a century ago. Back in town to film a show about the River Man, Jasmine plans to put the mystery to rest once and for all.

Bitterwood's favourite son, Gil Easton, has never forgotten Jasmine, and he's never forgiven his father, the chief of police, for running her off. But now Jasmine is back, stirring things up. This time, Gil is determined to stand by her even when the locals want her silenced.

As Gil works to unearth the truth, Jasmine tries to understand her own childhood sighting of the monster. As the threats escalate, the search for the truth grows dangerous ... because the River Man is killing again.

Buy links

DarkSider News for January 2020

Welcome!

Happy New Year to you all, though for many it hasn't been a great start to 2020.
Here in Australia, bushfires are raging across many of our states and 
our thoughts are with those affected. Please stay safe. 
Please consider donating to charities helping those in need. 

NEW RELEASES

Greed and Other Dangers by TJ Nichols (Book 2, Mytho) was released by Dreamspinner Press on 4 December.

Dragon shifter Edra has always lived to serve and protect—in ages past, as a knight, and in the modern world as a mytho liaison to the San Francisco PD. Behind the scenes he safeguards the mythos community from scandal—and further human hatred. When the eggs of a rare greater dragon are stolen, Edra must find and return them before the mother razes the city.

Edra’s partner, Jordan, has just been promoted, and he’s on the trail of several stolen mythos artifacts. Together, they track the eggs to a colony of mermaids living in the bay near Alcatraz Island.

But trying to separate a mermaid from her treasure is asking for trouble.

As Edra and Jordan grow closer, they test the bounds of human-mythos relationships. But Jordan isn’t ready to mate for life, and Edra won’t pretend to be human for Jordan’s friends. With the hills on fire and a storm brewing in the bay—and in their bed—something’s got to give.

Available from: 

Dreamspinner Press | Other links

Mark of Eon by Anna Hackett  (Book 5, Eon Warriors) was released on 1 December.

Oil and water. Fire and ice. Terran space marine and rugged alien warrior.

Space marine Lieutenant Jamie Park has a reputation as tough as steel...just the way she likes it. A horrible childhood and her marine training have forged her into a strong woman, and she's never seen a fight she'd back down from. Taking on the voracious insectoid Kantos is her focus, even if that means being assigned to the Eon warship, the Desteron, and working with the one arrogant alien warrior who's seen her vulnerable and weak.

Medical Commander Aydin Kann-Ath lives to be the perfect warrior and doctor. All his life, he's worked to restore his family's tarnished honor. He has no room in his life for anything but his work, and that includes a headstrong, battle-hardened Terran who -- even when injured -- refuses to follow orders. Yet every minute he spends with Jamie, she ignites both his temper and his desire, and he can't seem to stay away.

With every interaction, Aydin finds himself fascinated by Jamie's courage and spirit, and Jamie finds herself consumed by a fiery attraction that terrifies her. On a dangerous hunt to find symbiont lifeforms that have been stolen by the Kantos, the pair can't ignore their passionate connection. But the evil Kantos threaten not only their lives, but the fate of the galaxy, unless Jamie and Aydin sacrifice it all to stop them. 

Available from:
Amazon US | Amazon Aus | 

The Master and the Sorceress by Bernadette Rowley was released on 7 January.

A DESPERATE SORCERESS
Katrine Aranati no longer knows how to deal with the woman she has become. She runs headlong into a man whose heart's desire is order and control.


A MASTER JEWELER
James Tomel is outwardly a pillar of society, but he hides more than one secret. His life plan has no room for a dangerous liaison with a reckless stranger.

When they are thrown together on a trip to Brightcastle, fierce creatures from legend pursue them, but even more perilous are the feelings swirling between them. As their hearts and bodies come together, one will flee while the other demands an accounting.

The Master and the Sorceress is the seventh book in the epic Queenmakers Saga, combining the sweeping high fantasy world of Thorius with sizzling romance. If you like magic, danger and mythical creatures, wrapped up in an 'opposites attract' love story, you'll adore The Master and the Sorceress.

Available from:

Amazon US | Amazon Aus |

Pagan Pleasures box set by Lilliana Rose with Books 1 to 5 of the Pagan Pleasures series was released on 26 December.

Edi Court is a white witch who hasn’t finished her training. She left her covenant, running away from her ex Anto, and the entrapment of that relationship. Will starting an alternative healing business, Crystal Sands, be the new beginning she’s looking for? And is the hot, plumber Voltaire part of that package?

With the peak of summer solstice, Johan is looking for a fling, and Nova might be the perfect distraction for him. But Nova is trying to discover her Magik ability. Will Johan get in the way, or help her? Can a fling lead to something more lasting?

The approach of Mabon causes Asiza to look into her dark ancestral past. There’s a mystery she needs to solve to help choose the path of her future. But she is better at helping Kaedin make progress solving the puzzle box his deceased parents left him. Will their personal mysteries bring them together and help them find love?

Serilda is ignoring the Samhain energies, desperate to keep her own secret hidden from her new friends at Crystal Sands. In doing so, she uncovers a family secret for Kaito and turns his life upside down. Secrets are revealed. Will they help or hinder the chance of Serilda and Darus falling in love?

Zamara is a Seer who helps others look into their future. But she can’t see her own. She yearns to be in a relationship for Yule. Will the new pharmacist, Kaito, be the medicine she needs to find love?

This Yule there’s a storm coming. The white witches of Crystal Sands will need to face it together if they want to survive and keep their community together

Available from:
Amazon US | Amazon Aus |

The Lizzie Grace Boxed set by Keri Arthur with books 1 to 3 was released on 25 December.

Get the first 3 books of the LIZZIE GRACE SERIES in a single volume for the one low price. Each book in this box set is available separately, but by buying them in a bundle, you're getting a better deal!

The box set contains Blood Kissed, Hell's Bell, and Hunter Hunted.

BOOK 1—BLOOD KISSED
In a world where magic and science sit side by side, and powerful witches are considered necessary aides for all governments, Lizzie Grace is something of an outlier. Though born into one the most powerful blue blood witch families, she wants nothing to do with either her past or her magic.

But when she and Belle, her human familiar and best friend, open a small cafe in the Faelan werewolf reservation, she quickly finds herself enmeshed in the hunt for a vampire intent on wreaking bloody havoc. It’s a hunt that soon becomes personal, and one that is going to take all her skills to survive–that’s if the werewolves, who hate all things witch, don’t get her first.

BOOK 2—HELL'S BELL
When the church bell tolls thrice in the middle of the night, evil this way comes…

Lizzie Grace and Belle Kent, her witch familiar, are living and working on the Faelan Werewolf Reservation—one that has banned the use of magic within its borders. Although they have their supporters—including ranger Aiden O’Connor, who once hated all things witch—Lizzie and Belle now face possible eviction.

But the Faelan Reservation is a place filled with wild magic which—when left unprotected—quickly becomes a draw to those who walk the darker paths. As Christmas approaches, a new evil comes to town—one that eats the souls of the living and animates the flesh of the dead.

As the body count grows and the trail of clues leads them to the doorstep of the local vampire, Lizzie, Belle, and Aiden must find the killer before death comes calling on them.

But the biggest threat of all may come in the form of a witch who sees through the veils of Lizzie’s carefully constructed lies and suspects the truth of who she really is…

BOOK 3—HUNTER HUNTED
Christmas is fast approaching, and Lizzie Grace and her witch familiar, Belle Kent, are hoping it’s going to be a quiet one.
But those hopes are dashed when, on a quest to find a customer’s errant husband, Lizzie comes across the body of a witch and a dark circle of power neither she nor Ashworth can break.

Then werewolves begin to turn up dead—skinned.

As the body count rises, and the hunters become the hunted, it’s evident there’s a new evil in town.

One that is determined to claim the reservation—and the wild magic—for his own.

Available from:
Amazon US | Amazon Aus | Kobo |






Non spec-fiction

Close to the Truth by Shona Husk was released on 4 January 2020.

Is the truth worth dying for?

TV biologist, Jasmine Heydon, escaped Bitterwood once. She was 16 and run out of town by the cops for the crime of being born on the wrong side of the tracks. Ten years later, she’s changed a lot but Bitterwood hasn’t. The town’s only claim to fame is the legend of the River Man, a murderous creature who first killed a century ago. Back in town to film a show about the River Man, Jasmine plans to put the mystery to rest once and for all.

Bitterwood’s favourite son, Gil Easton, has never forgotten Jasmine, and he’s never forgiven his father, the chief of police, for running her off. But now Jasmine is back, stirring things up. This time, Gil is determined to stand by her even when the locals want her silenced.

As Gil works to unearth the truth, Jasmine tries to understand her own childhood sighting of the monster. As the threats escalate, the search for the truth grows dangerous … because the River Man is killing again.

Buy links available from Shona's website.

A Show Tradition box set by Lilliana Rose with Books 1 to 6 of the Show titles was released on 15 December.

It’s not always easy finding love on the farm. Can these hot cowboys (and one sassy cowgirl) open their hearts, have a second chance, and change lust into love?

For the last few years, cowboy Ben has met up with Raven when he’s at the Royal Show. No expectations. No commitment. This year something’s changed. He is starting to feel more than lust towards her. Does Raven feel the same?
Raven is a city girl to the bone, but Ben, with his cheeky smile, hot body, and fun nature, is someone she’s beginning to feel attracted to.
Can this be more than lust, and can she be a farmer’s wife?

Cowboy Max is a bachelor with a closed heart and a hot temper. At this year’s show, he meets Zoe, a sassy, sharped tongued city girl who busts his balls without effort. Zoe threatens to turn his world upside down. She’s not the sort of woman he expected to be attracted to, let alone develop feelings for. Will he let love into his life again?
Zoe can’t believe the fast attraction developing with Max. His closed heart and rude comments are enough to send her packing. Until something unexpected happens.
Can Max and Zoe work out their differences, and let love guide them?

Cowgirl Dusty is a sassy, strong, no-nonsense woman. Blaise is a city boy, clueless about the life she lives. He turns her life around and tests her patience. But there’s something about him she’s attracted to. She’s made mistakes in love before, so will this stop her from finding love now?
Blaise is visiting the country for his work as an accountant. So far, everything is going wrong. He might lose his job and the woman who has stolen his heart. It feels like he’s chasing dust clouds instead of love. Will he find a way to prove to Dusty that he is a man of worth and can be trusted?

Available from:
Amazon US | Amazon Aus |

PRE-ORDERS

The Assassin's Gift by Claire Boston (Book 1, The Emperor's Conspiracy) is expected to be released on 6 April.

She’s trained to kill. But is her prey the man she’s ordered to eliminate… or the one who sent her?

Princess Lien reserves her loyalty for her uncle, the emperor. Groomed as his secret assassin after he took her in, her first target is the khan of the barbarians responsible for her parents’ murder. But her supernatural speed is no help when the monarch betroths her to the man she’s meant to slay.

Waking naked in the enemy camp far from the palace and her pet dragon, Lien is horrified to find she’s imprisoned by the ruthless tribe—and they know her true mission. Refusing to believe her uncle betrayed her, she vows to become his spy. But as evidence that she’s on the wrong side mounts, it will test her fidelity and honor.

Can Lien unravel a web of deceit in time to stop the real traitor?

The Assassin’s Gift is the first book in the riveting Emperor's Conspiracy fantasy series. If you like strong heroines, loyalties challenged, and treacherous battles, then you’ll love Claire Boston’s enthralling adventure.

Pre-Order links

Gluttony by Lana Pecherczyk (Book 4, Deadly Seven) is expected for release on 26 February.

She doesn't know whether to kiss him or kill him...

Worst summer ever. It’s bad enough that smart girl, Via Mackenzie has been stuck in the middle of nowhere on her family’s annual camping trip, but it gets worse when her nemesis, Hudson Trent turns up. Still, she’s managed to avoid him for two years, and it’s not about to change now.

Hudson's having a bad week. Make that a bad year. Ditched by his warring parents and ignored by the girl he's been crushing on forever, he knows he only one he can rely on is himself. Which is a great plan, until Via literally falls from a tree and lands on him.

His quick thinking might have saved her from serious injury, but he ends up with a twisted ankle and a girl who thinks she owes him something. Forced to spend time together, Hudson remembers how much fun they used to have before everything went wrong.
Via's also struggling to ignore the spark between them, but can she trust him not to hurt her again?  Either way it’s going to be a summer they never forget.

Pre-Order from:

Amazon US | Amazon Aus |

The Walking of Ghosts by Lilliana Rose (Book 1, Lost Souls Academy) is expected to be released 23 January. 

There is an evil awakening.

At the Lost Souls academy, students aren’t your typical everyday alumni.
Rejects from clans, packs, and covens walk these halls, but there’s something more sinister haunting the academy.

A resident ghost has new student, Zarya, on the fight to banish it. Will her actions cause more enemies at her new school than friends?

‘I’m coming for you.’
A message from beyond has Zarya fearful. Her skills are underdeveloped, but as a ghost hunter, she must stand and fight this new evil.

Can Zarya grow to be the ghost hunter she’s destined to be or will forces overpower her and bring chaos and destruction to the Lost Souls academy?

Available from: 

Amazon US | Amazon Aus |

COVER REVEAL

The Healer's Curse by Claire Boston (Book 2, The Emperor's Conspiracy) has a cover but no release date yet.

Amber Rose by Donna Maree Hanson (Book 3, Cry Havoc) has a cover but no release date yet.

EVENTS

Authors including our own Lilliana Rose and Keri Arthur are participating in the book auction hosted by Beyond the Pages (on Facebook) raising money for rural fire services in QLD and NSW. The auction is due on 24 January.  

Congratulations to all our DarkSiders!

Thanks for sharing in our news. Until next time, happy reading!