Lee J Mavin
is the author of 11 books. He is also a teacher and father. He has a
Masters in Creative Writing and am solely focused on writing fiction
(fantasy and horror) and poetry. He is now in collaboration the
illustrator Karolina Piotrowski, a Polish artist who has brought many
stories to life. He has worked and studied in China and Japan and
studied with Dr Xiaohuan Zhao (a master of Chinese poetry) to complete
his book Li Bai’s Shadow, at the University of Sydney. He has two
children who are both avid readers, so he is always in the loop with
trends in children’s fiction. He is married and lives in Sydney, where
he teaches English.
Tell us about your book! What inspired you to write it?
The Wars Between is a fantasy young adult novel that was inspired by the invasion of Ukraine. It is a novel about Outis Everrett and simple young poet, who journeys across the sea to bring change to the
world. In this world there are three main countries, one being a monarchy: Asalandia of which Outis is from. Another being Kastanair, a democratic country that has been at war with Asalandia for thousands of years. The other country is Syanthia, that is the centre of trade. They claim to be neutral in the ongoing wars and benefit from producing all the weapons for Asalandia and Kastanair. They also produce most of the meat. Gwenia Xiachung, a young girl who is determined to travel to Syanthia and stop all meat production as she is a vegan activist. On her way, she meets Outis and everything changes.
How did you choose the title for your book? Did it come to you right away, before you started writing it, or did it come later?
I was brainstorming some titles with mydaughter and she came up with the title The Wars Between. The title came after the first draft.
Tell us about the cover design process. Did you have a basic idea of what your book cover would be like?
The cover was designed my illustrator Karoline Piotrowski. I have been working with her on previous children's picture books. I thought she captures the essence of Gwenia and Outis well on the cover.
Who is your cover designer and how did you find him/her?
I found Karolina online as she is Polish. I am Australian so we are very far apart.
What has been the readers’ response to your cover?
All good so far. I think it is more appealing to young girls but I hope to gain more interest from boys and men too.
What tips would you give to authors who are looking for a cover designer?
Look on facebook, fiverr and over online platforms and ask for samples beforehand.
Anything else you’d like to say about your book?
I am very pleased with this book and am confident it will be a success. I feel the issues are relevant these days.
David LeRoy
is an author and avid explorer of the intersection of philosophy,
psychology, and art. His debut novel, The Siren of Paris, is a poignant
work that emerged from personal family research he undertook in 2010 to
locate missing persons of WWII.
LeRoy’s fluency in French and two-year
sojourn in France afforded him unique insights into the French culture
he deftly weaves into his literary work. With a Bachelor of Arts in
Philosophy and Religion, an MBA from California State University
Sacramento, and an MSc. Applied Data Science from Paris, France, LeRoy
is a polymath with diverse interests and an insatiable curiosity for
knowledge.
He currently resides in California, where he continues to write and pursue his creative passions.
Tell us about your book! What inspired you to write it?
The Siren of Paris follows one soul’s spiritual journey to seek peace from his decision from surviving World War Two. The original research project had nothing to do with fiction and everything thing to do with missing person’s research of American tourist who never made it home in 1939. I decided based upon what I had learned to write a fiction novel instead of a traditional nonfiction memoir. The main protagonist is a man named Marc Tolbert who falls in love with the Marie Bonnet, who becomes in the course of the war his mortal enemy. The story is of one of wartime betrayal.
How did you choose the title for your book? Did it come to you right away, before you started writing it, or did it come later?
The project was called “Français Seulement” for someone who disappeared into France during the war to never be seen again. The title is a line that appears in the novel as a question from a German Solider named Officer Sean. He was drafted against his will when he returned to Germany after studying in America to visit his family. His passport was revoked and he was conscripted to the Army in 1938. He spoke English, and he is the one who asks my protagonist “What Siren of Paris is calling you back to horrid city?” The Siren of Paris has multiple meaning in the course of the story.
Tell us about the cover design process. Did you have a basic idea of what your book cover would be like?
Covers, designs and marketing a book is a very difficult and painful journey. I did not understand or know this in 2012. The first cover was a pre designed cover purchased that had elements of the story, but too much of a romantic promise.
Cover One
Plus, I have tag lines on it. It is not horrid but it is not the best. Most people assume that the story is romantic.
Cover Two
It is a professional job, but too much mystery, intrigue is suggested. My story is not a mystery novel. Cover two, had too many elements of mystery and thriller genre.
Cover Three
Cover three is based upon the drawing known as “The Man of Pain and Sorrows,” which is truer to the story. When you look into all of the titles published in the past twenty years, there is a storm of highly romanticized world war two stories with women on a hero’s journey in the context of German occupied Paris.
They are great covers, but do you see the trend? How do I stand out when Amazon is pulling up The Siren of Paris along books like The Paris Network, or The Last Letter from Paris?
Below is a study of covers to put to a test.
I did a study of the various options and the put it out to my audience.
My story is a brutal war story that has betrayal as the core relationship conflict. Therefore I decided to commission Cover Four from the same professional that I had used to create the cover up my next story, titled The Flower of Chamula. The Flower of Chamula is a very different story of The Siren of Paris. However, it was through that cover that I had found the talent to create professional covers.
It is hard, requires work, reflection and a design who will listen to the marketing challenges of the story. Below is the book cover that I approved.
Cover Four
Today, the new cover is inspired by Cover Three, but is it executed by a professional Photoshop expert with cover experience
Who is your cover designer and how did you find him/her?
Ace Sadler
Found his work on Instagram and reach out to him if he could make a cover that appeared similar to a very high end commercially successful book in the genre of Latin American Magical Realism.
What tips would you give to authors who are looking for a cover designer?
Stay away from premade covers or anything that is AI generated. Save money and budget for $1000 or more for a high end cover.
Make sure there is a contract in place.
Go through a process of researching high end covers of your genre that have been created in the past five years. Do not copy the design but have a new cover created that is of the same quality.
Anything else you’d like to say about your book?
You may love The Siren of Paris or even hate it, but it is a very unique story. The Siren is not a thriller, romance or horror story. People read of the war as it happened. It is Historical Literary Magical Realism.
The Priest of Time and Judgment is based upon a real priest who suffered and died at Buchenwald Concentration Camp. He is the one who summons the dead of the war. His qualifications is the pain and suffering he experienced at the betrayal of his own congregation.
The graves marked ‘Known Unto God” means unknown person, and those were graves that were looked at as possibilities of someone. The animals belonged to a traveling circus that died on roads as the fall of France took place. . The rabbit died on the RMS Lancastria as well as the dog.
Marc Tolbert faces these ghost and he must prove he is worthy to be among those who are called “Known Unto God. “
Magical Realism was not as big in 2012, and there were not a lot of historical fiction that combined the magical elements. Today, Magical Realism is huge.
It is my prayer and hope that the likes of World War Two stay historical. Current events in Asia suggest that the 21st century maybe heading into a new tragedy.
Barbara Jean Weber lives in Skagit County with her husband and two daughters, where she works as a speech and language therapist. Her novel, The Welcome Sign,
was inspired when she was gifted a mermaid welcome sign. The more she
studied the sign, the more her story evolved. She is currently an active
member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Tell us about your book! What inspired you to write it?
The Welcome Sign begins when Molly Parmell's grandmother mysteriously disappears. She and her mother travel to Cape Cod to take ownership of the house they inherited and begin to discover unusual things about the grandmother's sudden disappearance. What they discover is more dangerous and life changing than they ever imaged. When Molly and her mother find a beautiful mermaid Welcome Sign in
the attic and place it on the front door strange events start to happen and they are flooded with visitors who claim they knew the grandmother. They soon find out that the mysterious Welcome Sign comes with powerful magic and secrets are slowly revealed as Molly learns about her grandmothers involvement with a secret organization working to keep balance between the magical realm and the real world. The magical realms placed an invisible veil of secrecy over the world to hide their true identities from the human world allowing them to live among the humans in secret. An angry rebel group of magical beings, tired of living in hiding is tearing down and destroying the magical cloaking fabric between the two worlds. If they are not stopped the magical realm will be revealed and will no longer be safe from the rest of the world. As Molly and her mom embark on a dangerous and magical adventure throughout the magical realms to help stop the rebels, she learns of her own unique powers and her strong family heritage connected to the Welcome Sign. Along the way, she teams up with new magical friends helping to keep the realm of magic safe from the eyes of the world and discovers that her grandmother was right all along. The world she thought she knew no longer exists, but an amazing world of magic woven into their world has always been hiding in plain sight.
The Welcome Sign's creation began when I received a beautiful mermaid Welcome Sign as a gift. I love mermaids and my parents had found a lovely sign with a mermaid on it. The store was going out of business so they purchased the sign for me. After I received it as a gift, I had several amazing dreams about the origin of the sign. Those dreams were the inspiration and basis for the "The Welcome Sign."
In school I was always interested in creative writing and was excited when we received new assignments to write something new and interesting. Having an interest in creative writing from an early age allowed me an outlet for writing about things that really interested me. I had written short stories for assignments but had never tackled anything quite like this. Writing a book someday was always something I had dreamed about if I found the right story. I've always had a fascination with mermaids and magical realms so when I started having the dreams about the sign, I began writing the main ideas down, put them in outline form and started creating characters, events, etc. As it evolved, it became a fun adventure story that I was eager to share with my family and others as I felt they would also enjoy reading it. A project that once seemed overwhelming and daunting was replaced with the joy of creating magical worlds, interesting characters, intrigue and battles between good and evil. It's fun to believe that my metal mermaid welcome sign might really have a magical origin story. You just never know. The Welcome Sign was written as the first book in a series of three. The second book is written but not published and the third book is still being developed and is in outline form.
How did you choose the title for your book? Did it come to you right away, before you started writing it, or did it come later?
Both the title of the book and concept of the story started as a result of receiving the metal mermaid welcome sign as a gift and from the dreams that followed. There was no doubt about the title of the book. I knew from the very beginning that the title would be The Welcome Sign.
Tell us about the cover design process. Did you have a basic idea of what your book cover would be like?
I had a basic concept of the cover. I wanted a mermaid Welcome Sign featured on a door since that was the basis of the plot for the book. My daughter expanded it from there. We discussed the concept and she made various versions of the artwork.
Who is your cover designer and how did you find him/her?
The cover design and concepts were inspired by artwork from my oldest daughter. I had a basic idea of what I wanted the cover to look like but my daughter expanded it from there. She is very talented with all sorts of art and I knew I wanted her work featured for the cover. The artists with Bookbaby, who published the book changed the artwork just slightly from my daughters original work to prevent any trademark issues from the original metal welcome sign design.
What has been the readers’ response to your cover?
People seem to really like the cover design and are impressed that it was inspired by my daughters artwork.
What tips would you give to authors who are looking for a cover designer?
I would recommend finding someone who's art you like. If it's a family member or friend that makes it more personable. If you don't have someone like that, then look at book covers in the genre you are writing in, look at similar art on line to see if something fits your vision and reach out to them directly if possible. I went through BookBaby publishing company and they have artists that work on the covers, so you can work closely with them to make your vision come alive.
Anything else you’d like to say about your book?
The Welcome Sign is a fun, magical story for young-middle teen readers who enjoy hidden worlds of enchantment, magical powers, interesting characters, strong friendships, adventure and imaginative and emotionally engaging stories. The Welcome Sign is a balance between personal growth and magical adventure. It is full of good versus evil, intrigue and action. This book will delight and entertain readers who enjoy unique and magical characters, secrets to be revealed and discovering amazing new places. The Welcome Sign aligns with readers expectations for middle-grade fantasy. I am working on finishing book three in The Welcome Sign series.
I look forward to your feedback and am happy to write back to you. Please check out my website: www.barbarajeanweber.com and I can also be reached at author@barbarajeanweber.com.
Thank you so much for taking the time to get to know me and more about The Welcome Sign. If you like fun, adventure stories with lots of action, this book will be a fun one to read.
Before she ever had “author” next to her name,S.D. Lettie
was—and still is—an avid reader first; the kind who would finish a book
in a day and beg her parents to take her back to the bookstore. Reading
started as a hobby and, as she got older, became her source of
entertainment, escape, and comfort. Over the years, she found herself
wanting to write the kind of worlds readers could get excited about—a
world that could grow into a fandom of its own.
Today, Lettie writes slow-burn
romances—stories about characters who are imperfectly perfect, the hard
moments that shape them, and the plot twists that leave readers reeling.
Outside her writing life, she’s a wife and mom of two, roles that
influence both her time and perspective. She’s also a dedicated soccer
fan, the kind who will plan her day around a match and openly admit
she’ll yell at the TV when things get heated.
Through all of it, her goal as an author is simple: she wants her characters to stay with readers long after the book ends.
Tell us about your book! What inspired you to write it?
My inspiration came from two things I love: mafia romance and espionage/political thriller movies and TV shows. I wanted to blend those two worlds and add one of my favorite tropes (outside of friends-to-lovers): arranged marriage.
How did you choose the title for your book? Did it come to you right away, before you started writing it, or did it come later?
I knew what the story would be about before I even started writing, so the title came early. I usually know the title before I begin because it helps the book feel more real to me. I brainstormed ideas with my husband and knew I wanted something easy to remember and on theme with the rest of the series.
Tell us about the cover design process. Did you have a basic idea of what your book cover would be like?
Yes, I wanted the cover to be symbolic of the plot. When I first started self-publishing, I knew absolutely nothing - including where to find a cover designer. I joined a few Facebook groups, lurked on the self-publishing subreddit, and eventually found 99designs because it was affordable. The designer was great and really brought my vision to life.
Who is your cover designer and how did you find him/her?
My cover designer is Distinguished on 99designs.
What has been the readers’ response to your cover?
The response has been really positive. Readers seem to love it, especially the colors, which hint at the overall tone and themes of the book.
What tips would you give to authors who are looking for a cover designer?
Do your research. I lucked out with my designer, but I know that isn’t always the case. Be as detailed as possible when explaining your vision, and if you can, work with someone who has experience designing covers in your genre.
Anything else you’d like to say about your book?
If you like this cover, just wait until you see book two.
Theresa Cheung
is an internationally bestselling author and public speaker. She has
been writing about spirituality, dreams and the paranormal for the past
25 years, and was listed by Watkins Mind Body and Spirit magazine
as one of the 100 most spiritually influential living people in 2023.
She has a degree in Theology and English from Kings College, Cambridge
University, frequently collaborating with leading scientists and
neuroscientists researching consciousness.
Theresa is regularly featured in
national newspapers and magazines, and she is a frequent radio, podcast
and television guest and ITV: This Morning’s regular dream decoding
expert. She hosts her own popular spiritual podcast called White Shores and weekly live UK Health Radio Show: The Healing Power of Your Dreams.
Her latest book is the paranormal thriller, NightBorn, available at Amazon US and Amazon UK.
Tell us about your book! What inspired you to write it?
Nightborn is my debut novel, but in many ways it’s also the culmination of everything I’ve learned from decades of researching and writing about dreams. I wanted to write a thriller that felt utterly gripping on
the surface but also worked as a kind of covert crash course in dream decoding. I kept hearing from readers of my non-fiction that my books were helping them remember and interpret their dreams so I thought, what if a novel could do that too?
The story came to me almost like a dream itself, dark, vivid, symbolic, and unsettling, and I knew I had to write it. It’s fiction with a purpose: to entertain you, to keep you turning pages, and to quietly kick-start your own dream recall in the process.
How did you choose the title for your book?
The title Nightborn arrived almost before the plot. It felt like the perfect word to describe someone shaped, guided, and haunted by what happens in the dark. It also echoes the idea that dreams are a kind of second birth: every night we descend into this mysterious realm and emerge changed, whether we realise it or not. Once that word appeared, it never left me. It became the heartbeat of the entire novel.
Tell us about the cover design process. Did you have a basic idea of what your book cover would be like?
From the very beginning, I knew the cover needed to evoke that eerie threshold between dreaming and waking. When the idea of heterochromia, two different coloured eyes, surfaced, I felt an electric jolt. Eyes are the windows to the soul, yes, but I also think they’re windows to the dreamer within. The dual colours suggest dual identities, dual realities, dual truths and everything the book plays with.
I didn’t want something metaphorical or soft. I wanted visceral. Something that makes you feel watched, or awakened. And that’s exactly what happened.
Who is your cover designer and how did you find him/her?
My cover designer is my own son-in-law, and that feels wonderfully poetic. Because Nightborn wasn’t supported by my usual non-fiction publishers, I turned indie for the first time in my career. That meant relying on the creative people already in my life and honestly, it was the best decision I could have made. He understood instinctively what the book needed because he’s seen my passion for dreams and symbolism up close for years. He built the image from scratch, and he absolutely nailed it.
What has been the readers’ response to your cover?
I’ve been blown away. Truly. Readers are telling me the cover gives them an instant, visceral reaction some even say it triggers dream recall the moment they see it, which is astonishing and exactly the secret intention behind the design. Others say it feels haunting, unsettling, hypnotic. I’ve had messages from people who bought the book because the eyes called to them. As someone who writes about dreams, that makes me smile, because dreams often begin with a single image you can’t shake.
What tips would you give to authors who are looking for a cover designer?
Find someone who understands the emotional mood of your book, not just its genre. A cover isn’t just marketing it’s the first line of communication between your story and your reader’s subconscious. Look for a designer who listens, who isn’t afraid to explore symbolism, and who can translate your themes into an image that stops people in their tracks. And if you’re indie, don’t overlook the talented creatives in your own circle. Sometimes the perfect collaborator is much closer than you think.
Anything else you’d like to say about your book?
Nightborn is a thriller, yes, but it’s also an invitation. If readers walk away feeling thrilled and a little more connected to their dreams, then I’ve achieved exactly what I set out to do. This book was a leap of faith into fiction, into indie publishing, into a new way of sharing my lifelong passion. And I couldn’t be prouder of the result.
Johanna Frank
is a Canadian author based in Southern Ontario, where she lives with
her husband, and delights in time with her children and grandchildren.
Her award-winning A Lifeline Fantasy Series includes The Gatekeeper’s
Descendants (Readers’ Favorite 5-Star Medalist), Jophiel’s Secret
(Winner of the 2023 General Market Suspense Fiction Award and the
Christian Speculative Fiction Award), and Here Lyeth (finalist for The
Word Guild’s 2025 Christian Speculative Award).
In addition, Johanna has introduced a creative memoir, a deeply personal work that explores God’s abundant mystery and healing.
Known for her lyrical, imaginative
style rich in symbolism and spiritual depth, she invites readers into
otherworldly adventures and real-life reflections that illuminate
belonging, faith, and the unseen.
“Frank, one of Canada’s emerging
authors in spiritual fantasy, walks a fine line between general fantasy
and faith-based fiction. Her work aims to innovate and transcend
traditional boundaries, catering to a hungry market of curious readers
who don’t want to be preached to but are open to exploring spiritual
themes through fantasy.” – Sheri Hoyte, Reader Views
Tell us about your book! What inspired you to write it?
Thank you for this question. I included a Letter to Readers at the beginning of the novel to share more about its origins. In short, it took me well over a decade to piece together the unusual events that have shaped my life—many of which, I believe, reflect God’s abundant sense of mystery. Should you choose to
read the book (and I hope you do), the prologue draws on inherited knowledge of an ancestor’s trauma, while the main narrative—told in first person—reveals personal experiences of haunting visions, profound dreams, and deep loss. Ultimately, the story leads to an enduring sense of peace and an unwavering faith in life everlasting.
How did you choose the title for your book? Did it come to you right away, before you started writing it, or did it come later?
Great question given I struggled with this considerably once I finished the manuscript for The Voice I Couldn’t Ignore. The working title – The Spiritual Side of Grief - had cemented considerably so it was tough to smash it to bits once I’d realized it wasn’t quite a good fit any longer. Originally, I was wanting to simply get certain unique experiences on paper, suitably and only possibly, for sharing. Though the writing flowed more as a novel – a story – and I needed a title to reflect the story of experiences. That’s when I changed the title to The Open Window, then after considerable thought to The Voice I Couldn’t Ignore.
Tell us about the cover design process. Did you have a basic idea of what your book cover would be like?
I did actually. First, it needed to be considerably different from my previous three novels which are a different genre – a speculative fantasy for adults and young adults. Many authors change their pen name when writing in a different genre, I chose not to and for that reason, required a different look for The Voice I Couldn’t Ignore. In my head, I knew I wanted it to be clean, simple, profound, and with a white background.
Who is your cover designer and how did you find him/her?
Google, of course! About five years ago, I came across a website whose cover designs instantly caught my eye. I was impressed by the creativity and professional quality of their work right from the start. Over the years, the team has expanded and taken on more clients—a clear reflection of their success. With that growth, their service has become a little slower and not quite as personal as it once was, but their design expertise remains outstanding and continues to deliver beautiful results.
What has been the readers’ response to your cover?
BookLife gave the cover an “A-” grade, so I was happy about that. However, after receiving a few queries such as – ‘but it ends well, right?’ – I’ve realized some readers may bypass this creative memoir, which reads like a novel by the way, perhaps because they are not confident in the faith component. While in reality, the novel is a strong testament of faith, one that survives a harsh storm.
What tips would you give to authors who are looking for a cover designer?
Review their prior work as well as their cost for producing a cover. Ensure they will provide two or three options and are willing to make adjustments once you’ve settled on an option. It is key that they ask for your input before design, input that is sufficient for them to get the ‘feel’ of your book – the feel you want your readers to have in order to pick it up.
Anything else you’d like to say about your book?
The biggest challenge was to take the heart and guts and experiences I’d kept secret and carried on my sleeve so-to-speak for many years and allow it to transition into a product per se. When writing, I’d decided to put my best foot forward, to have the story professionally edited and with a professional cover. Then I would make that final decision – to publish. And hence, I did publish.
Kayleigh Kavanagh
is a disabled writer from the North-West of England. Growing up in the
area, she learnt a lot about the Pendle Witches and launched her debut
novel around their life story. Her main writing genres are fantasy and
romance, but she loves stories in all formats and genres. Kayleigh hopes
to one day be able to share the many ideas dancing around in her head
with the world.
Tell us about your book! What inspired you to write it?
I wanted to write a sequel to the first book, “Whispers of the Pendle
Witches,” but I didn’t want to just cover the trials, as I thought the
ending of the first book was better and more empowering than what
happened in reality.
I love the idea of reincarnation, and those with strong psychic gifts
often claim to remember snapshots of previous lives. At first, I was
going to have Demdike reincarnate in the modern day, but then I realised
there was a span of time between this, where others could have
reincarnated. The next idea was to have the books set exactly two
hundred years apart, but this was pushed aside when I learnt more about
1800s England.
The end of the first book ends with Demdike, Chattox, and Alizon
casting spells, and I wanted to follow this thread. It developed into a
story where Demdike and Chattox’s spell had unintended consequences,
trapping them as spirits bound to their bloodlines, while Alizon’s
actions (which they were unaware of) added another layer of issues.
The rest developed naturally as I learnt more about the time period.
There are people in the modern world trying to pull us back to these
past times, where women had so few rights, and I know for a fact that
even back then, there were strong women fighting against these unfair
standards. I wanted it to show how women are strong, no matter the
circumstances, and hopefully, it will help empower others to keep going
even in these uncertain times.
How did you choose the title for your book? Did it come to you right away, before you started writing it, or did it come later?
It was actually the original title for the first book. However, I
didn’t think I’d be doing a sequel, and when betas talked about my book,
they just kept calling it Whispers, so I shortened it to “Whispers of
the Pendle Witches”.
When I decided to write the sequel and decided where the book was
going, the first title felt like a perfect fit. The WotPW part became
the series name, and One Foot in the Ether became the name of this new
project.
Tell us about the cover design process. Did you have a basic idea of what your book cover would be like?
I knew I wanted it to be blue. The first book was green; this one is
blue. The third will hopefully be red, and the fourth purple (subject to
change). But this was my only real idea.
It did take several revisions, as the first few weren’t great, but
the quality was much better once I sent more image suggestions and
mockups. It was collaborative, and I think we made a great final cover.
Who is your cover designer and how did you find him/her?
I used Get Book Covers .com, which I’ve used several times. They’re
affordable and do great work. Also, if you do have issues, they’re good
about revisions. I’ve heard you can also change designers, but this
hasn’t been necessary for me. I plan to continue to use them in the
future.
What has been the readers’ response to your cover?
Positive, they think it suits the spooky atmosphere of the book.
What tips would you give to authors who are looking for a cover designer?
Shop around. Ask other authors who have covers you like. Look on
Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc, and see what’s trending and what you’d
like your book to look similar to.
Anything else you’d like to say about your book?
Whether you judge a book by its cover or not, this one is worth trying.
Paula Omokhomion is a Master of Public
Policy student at the UC Riverside School of Public Policy, though
she’s fairly certain that won’t be forever. She holds a B.S. in Public
Health Nutrition from UNC Chapel Hill, where she also minored in
Creative Writing (Fiction) and graduated with highest honors for her
120-page thesis novella, New Age Taffeta.
Paula developed her skills and love
for writing fiction in a very, very interesting Nigerian boarding
school, where the lack of television meant she had to invent
entertainment for everyone else. She loves reading manhwa, watching
Indian TV dramas, listening to music, and writing short stories.When not
doing any of those or in the classroom handling R code, she’s refining
her LinkedIn or taking Instagram selfies. She lives in California with her family,
including her two fellow triplets, and is currently dreaming of a future
PhD in public health—and maybe another novel.
Tell us about your book! What inspired you to write it?
My book, Shape of the Sun, focuses on a heir to an Indian construction empire that has to decide between choosing ethics or not when he falls in love. The stakes are higher because he is going against his half-brother for this inheritance, and the latter is playing very dirty, so love is an obstacle and he’s trying to maneuver it.
I believe I was really inspired by how fiction canon traditionally does not express male leads in an unflattering manner, and going further, how some actually have male leads that do terrible things but put in major efforts to compensate for it, which could come off as whitewashing in realtime. Raj, SOTS’ male lead really is that central character that is by no means misunderstood and is particularly consciously unreliable. There is also meta-fictional commentary on whether romance can really wipe out negativity as well as the effect of family neglect, and performative masculinity.
How did you choose the title for your book? Did it come to you right away, before you started writing it, or did it come later?
I actually thought of Shape of the Sun after seeing a particularly sad image that won a Pulitzer, I believe. The sun was being particularly oppressive in the picture to a child that was malnourished and at risk of being prey to a vulture. The next day I believe, I was listening to a friend discuss how the sun was a proof of life and something that everyone cherished.
In that moment, I couldn't help thinking how the sun could be two-faced and given meaning based on who was describing it; it was a problem to some and a promise to others.
Raj, SOTS’ lead is exactly like that. Sure, he is rich and handsome and is the lead, but based on who you are asking, he might not have done some really nice things, which you get to see in the book.
Tell us about the cover design process. Did you have a basic idea of what your book cover would be like?
Yes, I didn’t want it to be too priming in a way that readers concluded what the themes were and entered the novel with that idea in mind. Sure, there is romance and I could opt for the popular go-to of a couple on the cover, but that book really involves more themes than that. So I wanted a cover that conveyed seriousness, but not to the point that people thought it was horror or something like that.
Who is your cover designer and how did you find him/her?
I was the cover designer, and I did it in Canva.
What has been the readers’ response to your cover?
I haven’t gotten many comments on the cover compared to the content, but one did admit that the cover might be understating the rich content and a possible problem for garnering interest. Thus, I am contemplating a revised cover after a few months of floating the original. But nothing is certain yet, as I am watching for more reviews.
What tips would you give to authors who are looking for a cover designer?
Try Canva templates first. If you can afford it, Threads is a good resource for finding out from other indie authors which artists produced their cover work.
Anything else you’d like to say about your book?
Shape of the Sun is literary fiction, romance, inheritance drama and family saga all at once. Readers should approach it with an open mind and also be prepared to expand their worldview and perspectives. All reviews are always welcome.
BB Swann
is a twenty-seven-year retired elementary teacher who writes books for
children and young adults. Her issue-driven stories focus on characters
who face difficulties most readers can relate to, and how they succeed
through perseverance, ingenuity, and hope. She is also a literary agent
at FinePrint Literary Management in New York representing a diverse
group of authors that write picture books through adult manuscripts
mostly in the genres of sci-fi, fantasy, or speculative fiction. You can
visit her at Facebook, Instagram and TicToc.
Interview:
Tell us about your book! What inspired you to write it?
Wooded Discovery is a young adult urban fantasy. I like to describe it as a mash up of Supernatural (#teamcrowley), Scooby Doo, and Harry Potter, if Harry hated magic. There’s lots of teen angst, discovering themselves, and mystery to be solved. And of course, a dash of romance!
Really, my son was a big inspiration for this story. He and I were huge Harry Potter fans. But in general, we shared a love for fantasy stories that had magic. That’s partly why I wrote this one. The main character Zaidyn is based off him, to a point. Zaidyn is just so loveable, bit of a mama’s boy, likes to read—all traits my son shares. Zaidyn’s best friend Iggy was tons of fun to write! He’s that snarky BFF who isn’t afraid to poke fun at his friend, but just a quickly will have that friend’s back in a crisis and do what it takes to help. Book 2 is his story and I kind of tortured him a bit, but he’s tough and can take it. Ky started out quiet and moody, but in his book (#3) he really blossomed into something I didn’t expect! These three POV characters each came to life during the course of the series and have stuck with me for long after. I hope readers feel the same and hopefully they see a bit of themselves in the characters, too.
Piper, Gabby, and Melody, the girls in the story, don’t get to share their POV, but that doesn’t mean they don’t take charge. I’m a bit of a feminist (okay, a HUGE feminist) so my girls will always be strong, even if they don’t believe they are. And these girls are absolutely the strength behind their friends.
How did you choose the title for your book? Did it come to you right away, before you started writing it, or did it come later?
Originally, this book was titled Out of the Woods. I attended an online workshop where Bryan Cohen was the speaker and had the opportunity to have an evaluation done of my marketing/sales page by his company Best Page Forward. His team suggested I change the cover and title to better fit the genre. The original cover looked a lot different. I don’t think it was bad, but the new cover and title absolutely is better. The colors are striking and jump out at the reader from the thumbnail. That’s an important thing to have when you’re trying to stand out on a screen.
Tell us about the cover design process. Did you have a basic idea of what your book cover would be like?
Changing from the old to new cover, I asked them to focus on the woods as the biggest part of the image. But their designers came up with the rest of the design. I don’t even think I had them change anything! I just fell in love with the look and ran with it. I’m glad I did, too. I get a lot of compliments on the covers for the whole series. At the time, I was preparing to publish book two and hadn’t even started book three, but I went ahead and had the team complete the other two covers as well. When you write a series, it’s important to have a cohesive look for the books. I’m really happy with the way these all have similar structure, but the colors and little details embody the uniqueness of each story.
Who is your cover designer and how did you find him/her?
The team at Best Page Forward worked on the covers. I don’t have a specific name, but I do recommend them as a great place to consider.
What has been the readers’ response to your cover?
When I go to book signings or events, the cover for Wooded Discovery always gets the first glance. I’ve heard so many different people say, “I love this cover!” so I know readers like it.
What tips would you give to authors who are looking for a cover designer?
I would first go with a recommendation from someone you know or trust. If that isn’t an option, then I suggest looking at references/reviews. Reedsy is a good place to start. If you see a cover you like, try to learn the designer’s name. This will be easier if it’s an indie author because they will be able to share the name. Traditionally published books will be more difficult to figure out. But you can collect images of covers that might have a feature or style that you envision for your cover. Be sure to get a cover designer who knows what your genre needs because a romance cover will look a whole lot different than a mystery.
Anything else you’d like to say about your book?
Just that I hope people seek it out and give it and me a try! And if they do, please consider leaving a review. It’s the best way to help an author get more visibility, and to help other readers decide if the book is for them.
Delia Hayward is a proud mother of
three wonderful sons, a beautiful granddaughter and a precious grandson.
God put it on her heart to write From Turmoil to Peace so
that people could benefit from her life experiences. She has been
blessed and hopes her book blesses others. You can follow her at Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/delia.hayward.14.
Interview:
Tell us about your book! What inspired you to write it?
Imagine growing up in a world where emotional and physical abuse were a constant presence, leaving deep scars and a shattered sense of self worth. This is the reality I faced, and yet, I emerged stronger and more resilient than ever. Despite the challenges in my marriage, and as a single mother raising three sons, God touched my life and helped me in such a profound way that I was able to raise my boys with positive self-esteem and a strong sense of faith. My story is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to overcome even the darkest of circumstances with God’s
never-failing mercy, grace, and love. This book is not just my personal story, but a message of hope and redemption for all those who have suffered from emotional and physical abuse. The book’s primary goal is to show that anyone can have a personal relationship with God and find solace in their faith. I encourage readers to seek God and find comfort in His presence, and to live by His word. By doing so, they can find peace, healing, and a
sense of purpose.I also acknowledge the importance of seeking help and support, particularly for those affected by alcoholism or abuse. I encourage readers to reach out to self-help programs and support groups, where they can find a community of people who understand their struggles and who can offer guidance and support.The stories I share in this book are real and personal, drawn from my own experiences. While the names of my family members and friends have been changed to protect the privacy of those involved, the emotions, struggles, and triumphs are all too real. My willingness to share my story is a testament to the courage and resilience I received through a relationship with God, and a reminder that we are not alone in our struggles.
While living in Georgia, I worked full-time for an attorney and devoted my Sundays to serving on the worship team at my church. Each day, I found myself growing spiritually through reading God's Word and spending time in prayer. During that season, God placed a calling on my heart to write a book, and I chose to walk in obedience to His guidance.
How did you choose the title for your book? Did it come to you right away, before you started writing it, or did it come later?
The title came to me before I even began writing. At the time, my life was in complete turmoil—chaotic, uncertain, and heavy with pain. But everything changed when I opened my heart to God. That moment of surrender brought a deep sense of peace, and the title naturally reflected that transformation. It felt like the name of the book was given to me as a gift, even before the first word was written.
Tell us about the cover design process. Did you have a basic idea of what your book cover would be like?
Honestly, I had no clear vision for the cover at first. What mattered most to me was how I wanted people to feel when they saw it—hopeful, calm, and uplifted. I shared that with the designer, along with my love for soft pastel colors. She took that emotional direction and created something beautiful. The moment I saw it, I knew it was perfect. It captured the spirit of the book in a way I couldn’t have imagined.
Who is your cover designer and how did you find him/her?
My cover was designed by a talented woman named Taylor. I was introduced to her through my editor, Wendy Garfinkle, who recommended her specifically for this project. Wendy knew exactly the kind of creative touch my book needed, and Taylor delivered beautifully.
What has been the readers’ response to your cover?
Everyone I’ve spoken to has absolutely loved the cover—just as much as I do. It seems to resonate with readers on an emotional level, which is exactly what I hoped for. Their positive reactions have been incredibly affirming.
What tips would you give to authors who are looking for a cover designer?
I’d definitely recommend Taylor, since she’s the only designer I’ve worked with—and she did an amazing job. But beyond that, I’d suggest finding someone who truly listens to your vision and understands the emotional tone of your book. A great designer doesn’t just create something visually appealing—they capture the heart of your story.
Anything else you’d like to say about your book?
Readers will find hope in these pages. From Turmoil to Peace is more than just my personal journey—it's a testament to the power of faith, healing, and transformation. For anyone feeling lost, overwhelmed, or stuck in a season of struggle, this book offers a reminder that peace is possible. By sharing my story, I hope to encourage others to open their hearts, lean into grace, and discover the strength that comes from letting go and trusting God.
Mary Lawlor is author of Fighter Pilot’s Daughter (Rowman & Littlefield 2013, paper 2015), Public Native America (Rutgers Univ. Press 2006), and Recalling the Wild (Rutgers Univ. Press, 2000). Her short stories and essays have appeared in Big Bridge and Politics/Letters.
She studied the American University in Paris and earned a Ph.D. from
New York University. She divides her time between an old farmhouse in
Easton, Pennsylvania, and a cabin in the mountains of southern Spain.
Tell us about your book! What inspired you to write it?
All my life I’ve wanted to put together the list of places where my family lived and link each one to the issues in the headlines of the time, particularly regarding what the US government was up to in its military movements. We were a Marine Corps, then Army family, and we moved every two years. I went to 14 different schools by the time I was ready for college, and it all felt like a confusing, exciting, bewildering experience. Where are from, people would ask, and I would have to say too much to answer. But where
are your roots, they’d ask, and I was never sure how to answer the question until I was old enough to understand that they were in suburban New Jersey and more distantly, in Ireland.
By the time I was teaching courses at Muhlenberg College on literature and film of the Cold War, I was thinking seriously of compiling this list and the events of the times into a narrative. My students had so many questions about those times, and though we didn’t talk about my own life in the classroom, they got me thinking about what my family went through and what effects all that moving had on me. I finally sat down and started a draft; and a few years later, there it was, a full manuscript of Fighter Pilot’s Daughter.
How did you choose the title for your book? Did it come to you right away, before you started writing it, or did it come later?
The title came later, after I’d written the entire first draft. I had planned on calling it “The Pilot’s House,” but my editor at Rowman & Littlefield (now part of Bloomsbury Press), suggested it was too obscure and novelistic-sounding for a memoir. He convinced me to give the book a title that spoke more directly to what it was about. A friend helped me come up with Fighter Pilot’s Daughter, and I used “The Pilot’s House” as the name of the first chapter.
Tell us about the cover design process. Did you have a basic idea of what your book cover would be like?
Yes, I thought it would feature a photo of my father climbing into one of his planes or of my parents out together dancing at the Officer’s Club. The graphic designers at the press had the Daughter part of my title in mind and came up with a couple of ideas for me to choose from, both of which included images of my sisters and me. I chose the one with the clouds and the plane and the snapshot of my sisters and me in our fathers helmets at Halloween. I thought it was more appealing than what I’d had in mind and spoke to the larger story of the book quite effectively.
Who is your cover designer and how did you find him/her?
Rowman & Littlefield had some people on staff in their graphics department who came up with the sketches for the cover. I don’t have their names, but they’re likely working for Bloomsbury Press now, since it has taken over Rowman & Littlefield.
What has been the readers’ response to your cover?
They’ve loved it! Many people have written to ask which one is me (I’m the one on the far right, with the cape) and expressed their delight with the playfulness of the cover, especially given the seriousness of the family dramas addressed in the book and of the effects of US foreign policy on the moods of our domestic scene.
What tips would you give to authors who are looking for a cover designer?
I would say listen respectfully to suggestions by the professionals working for your publisher or to independent visual PR specialists. I’d also say you should trust your own ideas but make sure to vet them with others.
Anything else you’d like to say about your book?
I’d like to say I’m very grateful for all the wonderful responses and feedback I’ve gotten from so many readers of my generation who resonated with the story and saw themselves and their lives reflected in it. I learned a great deal about myself, my parents and sisters, and my relationships with them as I was writing the book. It was a process of self-analysis, in a sense, and became quite an emotional experience. I feel passionately about my feeling regarding the sixties and the Cold War as expressed in the book and still enjoy reading it.
Christine Amsden is the author of nine award-winning fantasy and science fiction novels, including the Cassie Scot Series.
Speculative fiction is fun, magical,
and imaginative but Christine believes great speculative fiction is
about real people defining themselves through extraordinary situations.
She writes primarily about people, and it is in this way that she
strives to make science fiction and fantasy meaningful for everyone.
In addition to writing, Christine is a
freelance editor and political activist. Disability advocacy is of
particular interest to her; she has a rare genetic eye condition called
Stargardt Macular Degeneration and has been legally blind since the age
of eighteen. In her free time, she enjoys role playing, board games, and
a good cup of tea. She lives in the Kansas City area with her husband
and two kids.
Tell us about your book! What inspired you to write it?
The idea for Knot of Souls came to me in November of 2020, after a particularly divisive election cycle. I wasn’t sitting on the sidelines that year; I worked social media for two state senate campaigns where I got a front-row seat to some of the vilest comments you can imagine. The day after the election, I sat down at my computer and wrote three words:
Write something happy.
Joy got her name before she got a plot! :)
Ultimately, I chose to write a story about two very different beings forced by circumstance and mutually assured destruction to work together … and come out stronger on the other side.
How did you choose the title for your book? Did it come to you right away, before you started writing it, or did it come later?
I usually struggle with titles, but this one almost wrote itself. It’s called Knot of Souls, and it’s about two souls trapped together inside one body where they get all tangled up. I played around with “tangle” and a few other synonyms, tried a few word orders, but this one popped early and obviously. It didn't come to me before I began writing, but it was early enough I don't remember calling it anything else.
Tell us about the cover design process. Did you have a basic idea of what your book cover would be like?
When I originally conceived the cover for Knot of Souls, I was sure of only one thing: there had to be a knot. A green knot, made up of blue and yellow light (Joy’s soul is bluish-white, Shade’s is yellow-gold). The knot could be Celtic, because that’s recognizable at a glance, but that part isn’t literal. The colors are.
I worked with BZN Studio Designs, and the artist there helped me conceive the rest. I initially suggested a silhouette to de-emphasize the importance of the body (compared to the souls), but this idea apparently looked too science fiction! (I’m not always convinced by the line between fantasy and science fiction, but I understand the genre expectations.) So, no silhouette. We went through a few different designs before she hit on the idea of obscuring the model’s features by showing only the lower part of her face, chin turned off to the side. The effect was surprising, even dramatic, and it kept the focus precisely where I wanted: on the knot.
I love the lighting effects most of all, When I look at this cover, I don't see one person at all. I see both Joy and Shade, and I hope after reading the book, others will see it that way, too.
The skyline at the bottom is Kansas City, where much of the story takes place.
Who is your cover designer and how did you find him/her?
BZN Studio Designs was a recommendation from a colleague. I used them last year, too, when I got the rights back on The Immortality Virus and needed a new cover. She did a beautiful job on that one, too (https://a.co/d/efZnVdd) and although it's a very different cover, I also loved the lighting effects there. It's why I went back.
What has been the readers’ response to your cover?
Overwhelmingly positive! Which is especially gratifying because this is the first cover I commissioned on my own, without the help of a publisher.
What tips would you give to authors who are looking for a cover designer?
Look at covers. Lots of covers. Look at the cover artist's portfolio, too, and make sure you like their work, then tell them (with examples) what kinds of things you're looking for. Communication is the key to getting what you want.
Anything else you’d like to say about your book?
Just that if you enjoyed my Cassie Scot books, I think you'll like this, too. It's got all the magic, mystery, and magical family drama you've come to expect from me, plus a wonderful buddy love at its core.
