A Slice of Cake With... Bernadette Rowley

This week I am delighted to have a slice of cake with author Bernadette Rowley.

Bernadette is a lover of epic fantasy who is a veterinarian by day and an author by night. She is currently published in the genre of fantasy/paranormal romance with eight books, all set in her fantasy world of Thorius.

Along with sword and sorcery, dashing heroes and stunning heroines, Bernadette includes strong healing themes in many of her books - an element which is central to her everyday job.

Bernadette lives in Brisbane, Australia, with the four heroes in her life - her husband Michael and three grown sons. She is a member of several writer organisations including Queensland Writer’s Centre, Romance Writers Australia, Vision and North Queensland Romance Writers. Bernadette’s other interests include watching and scoring cricket, singing and music.

What kind of books do you write?

I do write fantasy but my special niche is epic fantasy romance so think Game of Thrones but with the romance front and centre. Political intrigue, magic, healing and battles are major sub plots to the romance. My character Alecia Zialni is the pivotal protagonist in my Queenmakers Saga of eleven books which follows her ‘hero’s journey’.

We get to see a new couple (other than Alecia and hunky shifter Vard) exploring their relationships in six of the books and then an epic finale in the last three in the series.

Can you describe your writing why?

It’s a compulsion and a goal all in one. I do get itchy when I’m not penning a new story so there’s that. However, the process I really love is the editing. I find draft a bit of a grind much of the time but there’s an incredible sense of accomplishment when you get new words on the page.

And the goal is to retire from my day job (veterinarian) and write full time. At the moment, that’s just not possible, so the juggling continues.

Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most

Oh my goodness! I can’t imagine picking one but my mind immediately leapt to The Lord and the Mermaid. I’m incredibly proud of this story so let’s see… 

A sneaking, murdering mermaid. Fury swept him and he clenched his teeth to hold in the shriek that fought its way from his throat. At last he’d found a small piece of revenge against the sea nymphs; a life for his brother’s. He stared at the perfect features: full pale lips, high cheekbones, long reddish lashes, placed in a heart-shaped face that had likely lured dozens of sailors to their deaths. And that bosom! No man could gaze upon it without wanting to touch the luscious curves. Oh yes, this monster had all the tools of the trade, but she’d not kill another man if he had anything to say about it.

Nik pulled the knife from his boot and raised it, ready to deliver a fatal strike. Something stayed his hand. A kernel of sanity urged him to use this being to discover what happened to Jon. Suddenly, he was looking into brilliant sea-green eyes. A keening song sliced through his skull and he stiffened, the knife falling from his hand. 

Tell us about your latest project

My latest project is called To Wed A Queen and is a novella about Alecia’s marriage to Vard Anton, the sexy shifter I mentioned earlier. I figured this couple needed an actual wedding to seal the deal so readers can have that ‘ah’ moment. I’ve put my faithful readers through quite a lot, wondering if this couple would ever have their HEA, so I want to make it up to them. But even so, the road to the altar isn’t smooth for Alecia. Sorry!

What is your favourite cake?

Great question! I actually love cheesecake of all sorts. If you want to know a real cake favourite, then I love Black Forest Cake for the cherries and cream…and I would have to eat it with a good strong cappuccino.

You can connect with Bernadette here:

Instagram - @rowleybernadette
Twitter – @bt_rowley
BookBub - bookbub.com/profile/bernadette-rowley
Website - bernadetterowley.com
Facebook - facebook.com/bernadetterowleyfantasy
Pinterest - pinterest.com.au/bernadetterowleyfantasy

Join me next week when I will be having an extra, extra slice of cake with Tim Walker.

If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please get in touch. I'd be delighted to have you.

You can also support my writing endeavours and buy me tea & cake at Kofi - it's what makes the world go round!

Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop. Never miss out on future posts by following me. 

A Slice of Cake With... Kristina Gruell

Kristina learnt storytelling at her grandparents’ dining room table. Growing up, she rode horses, participated in FFA, danced, and read voraciously.

After a car accident left her wheelchair-bound for eight months, and chronic health issues limited her previously active lifestyle, she turned to books and play-by-post roleplaying. This was in the early days of AOL chatrooms. Her original stories and first novel attempt were background for her online characters.

Eventually, she began writing and telling stories to entertain her friends.

She’s a tea snob who loves dogs and enjoys a good brandy in the evenings. She spends her spare time reading, building elaborate Lego sets, and playing World of Warcraft, where she met her husband, because she is that geeky.

Her published works include The In Blood and Fire Series: From the Ashes, A Burning Ember, The Flame Within, The Conflagration, The World Ablaze and the In Blood and Fire Companion and Short Story Collection.

What kind of books do you write?

I write characters that could be your best friend or your worst enemy. Or both. The world isn’t black and white, nor just shades of grey. It includes all colors. My characters are the same. No one is just good or evil. We all have some of both, though some might have more good and less evil, or vice versa. We all have to do our best with the hand we are dealt and some of us falter while others soar. That is what my stories explore. With a side of swords, guns, trains and … magic! 

Can you describe your writing why?

I wanted to tell stories about characters that overcome the hard things and thrive, friendships that endure, unexpected love in all its forms. Heroines that don’t do it for the glory or power, but to protect their chosen family. 

Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most

High Prince Gavantar Coden

Keltonmere, Providence of Andolin: Caeldenon

15th & 16th of Nane

The smell of burning grass and scorched earth, and worse, filled the air. 

The healers had set up tents well behind the staging grounds, a line of soldiers defending their station. The stories told of long, drawn-out battles, wherein men fought with unflagging strength for hours, only to emerge victorious to celebrate till dawn the next day. The truth was something altogether different. 

The men on the front lines rotated; those who had been on the field this morning were now resting before the healers’ tents. They would be the last line of defense for the wounded and the Masters, should the army fall. In another hour, they would move to the back ranks, and those in the front lines would fall back, moving toward the healers’ tents to take their own rest. Water and strong sweet tea would be provided, and those who could eat, would. 

The ranks of men, the gunners and their cannons, were all distractions. The real work was happening elsewhere. Should they take the town—and Gavantar damn well intended to do just that—he didn’t want the Hathorites or their magi to escape to the ships that filled the harbor. The Hathorite soldiers had retreated inside the city walls, but their magi had shown the Caeldenon forces quite effectively what their range was, and they could defend those ships. 

Gavantar and his generals had decided to send the Lynene ‘ah Hanal, Daughters of Night, to pay a quiet visit to the harbor. The Daughters had needed time to move behind the tree line to the north, to the edge of the cove, where they could slip into the water without detection. From there, the forty women would split into teams and set fires in the holds of the dozen ships that lay at anchor. For now, the army’s job was to keep the eyes of the magi on them. 

To the south, Masters Isra and Amir were doing more than distracting: they were waging a private war. At least two magi were engaging them from the walls, with fireballs and lightning, concussive waves of sound, and even boulders moving through the air between the city and the hills to the south. Gavantar couldn’t spare much thought for what the Masters were going through, though, as battle reports were constantly flooding in. 

“Your Highness!” a messenger said, thrusting a folded note toward him. 

Gavantar took the note, which was from Blood General Olind, and read: 

Magi has moved to the north wall. Snipers advancing on city gates. -O

He handed the note to Galwyn and dismissed the messenger. 

He pulled his spyglass out and turned back to the walls. Men and women atop the walls above and around the city gates began falling at regular intervals, most from sniper fire. Teams holding metal shields that measured ten feet by eight had advanced on the field. Each shield had two ports that, when opened, allowed a sniper room, and a view, to shoot. They wouldn’t hold up against the magis, but facing men with little cover and guns that weren’t as advanced, they stood a fair chance. 

This proved to be so. Once the Hathorites realized they were outmatched, they began rushing for cover, and in their haste, they pushed more than a few of their number off the walls. 

Smoke rising from the harbor told Gavantar what had pulled the magi away. He turned his spyglass out of its holster and scanned the line of ships: he could see sleek figures in black, diving off the stern of the ships closest to him. The magi could see the same thing, it seemed. There wasn’t much they could do to save the ships, but they could punish those who had denied their escape. 

A series of small fireballs began flying off the wall, but Gavantar could not see if they hit their targets. 

An explosion, louder and larger than any Gavantar had heard before, came from the south. Screams filled the air, hundreds of voices from inside the walls; some with panic, and others keening a death song. Lightning danced in the hills, the trees and brush to the south of the city were ablaze; ships to the north were now fully afire. The air crackled, and the smoke was beginning to make seeing the battlefield, let alone the actual city, difficult. 

Gavantar walked back into the command tent, Galwyn beside him. Blood General Zarin and Lord General Lyss were inside, sitting amid piles of reports. 

“Send word to Olind and then pull our forces back,” Gavantar ordered. 

“Yes, Your Highness,” Lord Lyss said without hesitation. 

Zarin looked out the open side of the tent, taking in the scene for a long moment, and then nodded to Lyss pen the order. 

Lyss was regular army, here representing King Jennatar Elindger of Andolin, but Zarin was part of the Mael’Hivar. The Blood-Sworn took orders, but they would sure as hell tell you when they thought you were fucking up.  

However, in this case, it was clear that Zarin agreed with Gavantar’s assessment: the field was becoming too hazardous. It was time to pull back and recoup before assaulting the walls. 

Tell us about your latest project

My most recent project is the final book in my In Blood and Fire series. In The World Ablaze we face the end of the world. The goddess who has moved players behind the scenes for centuries has come out of the shadows. The rulers of the world have gathered in Lithonia with their amies to face the Goddess Nemesistaea and her followers in a last, desperate battle to save the world of Redolan. 

What is your favourite cake?

Black Forest or vanilla bean cake with strawberry filing and vanilla bean buttercream. 

You can connect with Kristina here:

Facebook: facebook.com/kristinagruellauthor

Instagram: @kristinagruellauthor

TikTok: @kristinagruellauthor

Website: kristinagruell.com

Discord: discord.gg/mp3rZHvB7s

Amazon Author page: amazon.com/stores/author/B08WFSBHMT

Join me next week when I will be having a slice of cake with Emily Hornburg. 

If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please get in touch. I'd be delighted to have you.

You can also support my writing endeavours through Kofi and buy me virtual tea & cake - it's what makes the world go round!

Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop. Never miss out on future posts by following me.

A Slice of Cake With... Stephen Hall

Stephen Hall is an Australian television writer, author and actor with dozens of credits to his name. He’s appeared in some 30 TV shows, four movies, two stage musicals, and several Melbourne International Comedy Festival shows. In 2016, he was hand-picked by John Cleese to play the role of Basil Fawlty in the world premiere season of Mr Cleese's play 'Fawlty Towers Live'.

He's also written and run pub trivia nights, he's been a teacher, a postman, a barman, a cleaner, a waiter, a stand-up comedian, a removalist, and - for one torturous afternoon - a call center employee.

In 2005, he appeared on 'Temptation' (the reboot of '$ale of the Century'), and won seven consecutive nights, taking home “The Lot”. In 2006, he won the title of 'Australia's Brainiest Quizmaster', on the show of the same name.

From May 2019 - May 2020 he wrote the first draft of his debut novel, Symphony Under Siege, releasing a new chapter each week online.

He lives in Melbourne, Australia with his wife and daughter.

What kind of books do you write?

I deliberately write across a variety of genres. Coming from writing TV comedy and light entertainment for the last 25 years, I'm comfortable jumping around from one style to another. 

My first book How To Win Game Shows is non-fiction: a mashup of anecdotes, interviews, 'How To' chapters full of tips and hints... and an autobiographical element, which recounts exactly how I did it. 

My second book Symphony Under Siege is an out-and-out swashbuckling science fiction comedy adventure, which I wrote as a serialised challenge to myself, posting a new chapter online each week for the year that it took me to write it. 

My third book is called 50 Things To Be Seriously Grateful For Today* *and 50 not-so-serious things to illustrate them, and I'm describing it as “a non-fiction book that's chock full of fiction”.

Can you describe your writing why?

I've been writing, or making up, stories and characters and gags to entertain people for as long as I can remember. I loved Creative Writing in school, and decided very early on that I wanted to be an actor and a writer. 

And I have been! For all this time, I have been! How wonderful. You know that saying “Find a way to get paid for something you love to do and you'll never work a day in your life”? 

Well, that's wrong. It's trite, it's simplistic, and it's dismissive... but there's a kernel of truth in it. 

I work really hard at writing. But I'd much rather work really hard at writing – and acting - than ANYTHING else. And, in my time, I've actually been a postman. 

I love writing, it stimulates me. And now, as I draw closer and ever closer to 'official' retirement age.... I'm looking forward to retiring INTO writing my books.

Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most

Hmm. Maybe this bit from Symphony Under Siege (a flashback explaining how the space pirate captain Salazar Sharp originally acquired his ship) might give you an idea of the tone I'm going for...

Later, Felicity told Salazar about her ex-husband; about his irritating habits, his infidelity, his vindictiveness…

Salazar listened but wasn’t sure why she smiled as she said this.

“… But now,” she finished, “none of that’s my problem! I’m free! Free, free, FREE!” 

Ah. That’s why.

“What did he do?” Salazar asked.

“I just told you.”

“No, I mean for a job.”

“Oh, right. He called himself an Independent Long Haul Consignment Contractor for the FrontierLine Corporation. I called him a stinkin’ freighter jockey”. 

A thought occurred.

“Hey, I don’t suppose you want to buy a beat-up old interworld cargo freighter? I got it as part of the settlement, on this weird condition that if I sell it, I give any proceeds to him.”

Salazar’s eyes lit up. A ship of his own? That would mean mobility, increased earning power… independence! It’d mean an end to schlepping around the galaxy on whatever ride he could scam his way onto. It’d mean a permanent roof over his head. If he had his own ship, everything would change for him. If he had his own ship, Salazar would be free too.

He stopped himself - what was he thinking? There would be no way he could afford an actual ship. Even a beat-up old one. With his finances, buying his own ship was only a daydream, nothing more. 

“How much do you want for it?” he asked resignedly.

“From you? One dollar.”

Salazar stared at her - was she serious? 

She smiled as she nodded.

“… And I’ll be sure to pass that entire dollar on to him!” she laughed.

“Really?” asked Salazar incredulously.

“Really.” 

Salazar extended his hand and she shook it.

“Deal!” he said.

“Deal,” she echoed. “This is your lucky day.”

“Oh, don’t I know it!” he purred, as he scooped her up in his arms. She squealed happily, and they kissed again…

Ten days later, on landing platform #8302 of the city’s vast spaceport, Salazar introduced his new (although technically very old) ship to the nine members of his crew.

“What do you think?” he asked, as they all met in the ship’s shabby communal area for the first time. 

“Well, it’s not much to look at,” sniffed Worrell. Karlsen nodded in agreement with his friend. 

“I reckon I could do something about that…” 

“Good, AJ - good!” Salazar enthused. “See, that’s what I like to hear. Positive suggestions!”

Salazar turned his attention to the pilot. “Quinn, can you fly it?”

Quinn looked insulted. “With one arm tied behind my back, Cap’n. It’s a FrontierLine 3183 interworld freighter - they’re set-and-forget. Anyone could fly this thing. In fact, flying this thing is gonna be boring.” 

“I could do something about that, too,” offered AJ. “A few little improvements to make it a bit more interesting...”

“Thank you!” said Salazar. “See? Constructive contributions - that’s what we need.”

“I got a constructive contribution, Cap’n.” 

“Yes, Fletcher?”

“Ship’s got no weapons. I say we fit it out with plasma cannons - four should do it.”

“Good idea,” said Salazar.

“And three destroyer class energy mortars. On each side. Plus we’ve gotta have some SPR seeker missiles; three - no, four. On the port side, and then another four on the starboard side.”

“And we don’t need all that space in the Cargo Hold,” added her pal Gotmund. “We could convert it into a bomb bay.”

“Yeah!” said Fletcher. “And torpedo tubes. We need torpedo tubes. Four. No, five. No six! Six torpedo tubes! And we should also - ”

“Great, great,” said Salazar, holding up his hands. “Lots of good ideas there. Thank you.”

He looked around happily as his First Mate Jiang stepped forward.

“Cap’n,” she said. “Although it looks structurally sound, this ship is old. It’s dark, it’s dingy and dirty, and it needs updating in every area.” 

Salazar beamed. “Yeah! Perfect, isn’t it?” 

“Hello?” came a woman’s voice from somewhere outside the ship.

“Aha! She’s here!” exclaimed Salazar, pulling two bottles of Betelgeusean Firewater from somewhere inside his overcoat. “Come on!”

All hands followed him as he bounded down the gangplank, holding the bottles aloft. 

“Great! You made it!” Salazar said, striding across the landing platform and handing Felicity a bottle. 

“Of course,” she smiled.

“Everyone, this is Felicity,” Salazar announced to his crew. “Felicity, this is… everyone.”

There were polite nods all round.

“Felicity will do the honours of christening our ship with its new name… ”

He paused for effect.

“… the Cheeky Albert!”

There was an unimpressed pause. Then each crew member produced a shot glass from a pocket and held them out, eyeing their captain expectantly.

“‘Albert’? Why ‘Albert’?” asked First Mate Jiang.

“Dunno - it just came to me in a dream,” Salazar said, opening his bottle and trying to remember if he knew anyone by that name. “It just felt right.”

Felicity shrugged and walked towards the ship, as Salazar poured each crew member a shot of the potent liquor. 

Standing before the ship’s bow and brandishing her bottle above her head, Felicity proclaimed “I hereby name this ship… the Cheeky Albert!” 

She shut her eyes tightly and smashed the bottle on the hull, laughing as booze and bits of broken bottle rained down upon her.

“The Cheeky Albert!” yelled the pirates, downing their drinks. 

As the pirates all lugged their bags aboard, Salazar moved closer to Felicity.

“Hey, I just wanted to say…” his tone intimate, “these last couple of weeks we’ve spent together have really meant a lot to me.” 

Felicity smiled uncertainly. She felt faintly embarrassed on the young man’s behalf.

“I have to go now; there’s a couple more people I need to recruit, to round out my crew…” he continued. “but one day, I’ll return.” He looked earnestly into her eyes. “I promise.”

There was a polite pause.

“Why?”

“Sorry?”

“Why do you want to return?”

“Oh. Erm. I thought you might want - ”

“Nah, I’m good.” 

“Oh. Right. So…” Salazar squinted over his shoulder at his ship and crew, in a way that he hoped looked manly.

“I’d better go. I won’t forget you, Felicity.”

She nodded. “And I won’t forget you, Salvador.”

“Salazar.”

“ - Salazar.”

“Good. Alright then…” and he gave her a hug that was more awkward than he expected it would be.

“Bye.”

“Bye.”

He hoped his crew hadn’t seen that. Bounding up the gangplank with an overplayed air of raucous excitement, he boomed, “So, Quinn! Let’s see what the Cheeky Albert can do!”

Tell us about your latest project

Well, 

50 Things To Be Seriously Grateful For Today* * and 50 not-so-serious things to illustrate them is a very personal book; the 50 Things are all Things that I personally am seriously grateful for (from 'This Morning's Sunrise' to 'Having My Household Rubbish Collected This Week'), and it's my hope that the reader can be grateful for (at least some of) the 50 Things too. 

Having said that, the other half of the book - in this weird hybrid format I've created - allows me to pull out all the stops and return to my gag-writing roots. After each thing to be seriously grateful for, the reader turns the page to find a random gag-filled page that looks like it's just been randomly stuffed into this book – it might be a menu, it might be a comic strip, it might be a crossword puzzle, it might be flatpack furniture assembly instructions.... I've been greatly inspired by the spinoff books by Monty Python and The Goodies and Not The Nine O'Clock News. 

Only my book isn't ALL 100% gags – my book goes serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly/serious/silly....

Well, you get the idea. 

What is your favourite cake?

Mm, sure. Well, it's pretty hard to go past a great big slice of a good Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, or Black Forest Cake. There's a lot going on in your average BFC... rich chocolate sponge, whipped cream, kirsch, sour cherries, grated chocolate, (and my favourite one has a crunchy, biscuity base).... but when it all comes together, it's nothing short of Magnificent. I'm salivating right now, just thinking about it. ˶Hurra fűr Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte!” sage ich.

You can connect with Stephen on Facebook: facebook.com/Stephen-Hall-author-104076775059804, Twitter: @How2WinGameShow and visit his website thestephenhall.com.

Join me next week when I will be having a slice of cake with Jack King. 

If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please fill in the form found here. I'd be delighted to have you.

You can also support my writing endeavours through Kofi and help fuel the creativity by buying me tea & cake - it's what makes the world go round!

Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop. Never miss out on future posts by following me. 

A Slice of Cake With... Carollyne Lairie

This week I am delighted to have a slice of cake with author Carollyne Lairie.

Carollyne lives close to the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada. She has lived in and traveled to many places in the world, allowing her to bring texture, meaning, and variety to her stories. 

She's mentored under many writing greats like John Truby, David Farland, Hal Croasmun, and more, to improve her craft over decades of study and feedback.

After graduating with a BSc Hons Psychology, she remained a lifelong learner. She's worked in social service agencies as well as other occupations.

An avid fruit and vegetable gardener, she's taught gardening classes and founded a Facebook group for local gardeners with three thousand members.

Since 1998, Carollyne has run an all-volunteer charity for the poor in western Ukraine where they've provided food, shelter, clothing, and medical needs as well as built wells and installed running water.

Carollyne ran her own holistic clinic doing alternative therapies in the early 1980s. She continues her studies in the field.

She created a doll line and wrote twenty-six songs, several poems, and an activity book. The CD was produced by famed producer Greg Hansen, and the cover was painted by internationally renowned Simon Dewey.

Carollyne is the mother of four and a grandma to thirteen who live scattered across the States and Canada.

She loves to help others find happiness in life and hopes her books provide new insights, joy, and entertainment.

What kind of books do you write?

I’m writing stories with heart, soul, science and spirituality that entertain and uplift while revealing human nature and the trials and triumphs we face. I try to use writing skills I’ve gleaned over decades of study under great teachers and mentors while going for breadth and depth in plot, character, theme and description.

Right now, those stories are published under clean/sweet contemporary romance and romantic suspense. I’m interested in writing more middle grade, and possibly cozy mysteries later.

Can you describe your writing why?

Writing allows me to share the fascinating things I’ve learned over my life. Those include travels, gurus, my psychology degree, work experiences, scriptures, diverse people, real-life antagonists, principles from science, art and nature, and inspiration that comes as I write.

I love researching to add depth to stories. It’s a win for me and the reader.

Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most

The orange light of the fire tinted his face, shadowing the cut of his cheekbones, his eyes, and beneath his chin, in the hollow of his Adam’s apple. It highlighted his brunette hair with streaks of fiery gold, and he became more captivating to her. He whispered in a solemn tone, as though he’d never uttered the words aloud before. “Ever wonder about the moment of creation of a human being? Imagine you had all the materials, everything you need to bring about a human life. We’re not talking about making babies. We’re barely conscious of the underlying physical processes—the chemistry, physics, biology, much less the spirituality of the life force. I mean the spirit that lives within the body and what’s believed by many to continue after death. Now, Katie, what fine materials would you need to make that spirit before it joins its mortal body?

(from The Bridesmaid’s Billionaire)

Tell us about your latest project

THE BRIDESMAID’S BILLIONAIRE: 

Canadian psychologist Katie Bondar reunites with billionaire Geovanni Calabrese in Italy, hoping to return home with a ring on her hand. 

Geovanni, the orphaned poet-prince, seeks to reveal hidden prophecies unburied from ancient cathedrals that could protect mankind.

Dangerous enemies seeking the same treasures threaten their lives, their love, and the future of humanity. 

Geovanni faces an impossible choice—saving his parents, Katie, the treasured scrolls, or the rest of the world.

The Bridesmaid’s Billionaire is a sweet, romantic suspense.

What is your favourite cake?

Black Forest cake.

You can connect with Carollyne here:

@carollynelairie
facebook.com/CarollyneLairie
CarollyneLairie.com
amazon.com/~/e/B08LMK5XFN
bookbub.com/authors/carollyne-lairie

Join me next week when I will be having a slice of cake with Barbara Evers. 

If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please fill in the form found here. I'd be delighted to have you.

You can also support my writing endeavours and buy me tea & cake - it's what makes the world go round!

Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop. Never miss out on future posts by clicking here. 

A Slice of Cake With... Sonnet O'Dell

This week I am delighted to have a slice of cake with author Sonnet O'Dell.

Sonnet was born at the John Radcliffe in Oxford and spent many years living in different spots all over the UK.

Sonnet now live in Worcester, Worcestershire, home of Lea & Perrins and the site of the last battler of the Civil War. Sonnet enjoys nothing more than reading or writing a good book. She is fascinated with worlds created by words and has a passion for mythology that can be seen in some of her works.

She has a BA Hons Degree in Creative Writing & Writing for Performance and a writing companion in the form of a large black tom cat called Salem.

When not busy writing, her favourite thing to do is to curl up with Salem on her lap and read a good book. Her favourite is Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

What kind of stories do you write?

I write books that blend many things together, monsters, myths, romance, adventure, magic, crime, science fiction. I love to fit fantasy into the everyday, to imagine that magic hasn’t been lost, its just evolved to look a little different to survive alongside mobile phone and computers.

Can you describe your writing why?

I’m not sure I could stop if I wanted to. I’ve always has stories that I’ve wanted to tell, they grow inside me until the force their way out.

Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most

This is a tough one. Not sure I have a whole paragraph. I have one liners that I quite like or cheesy jokes that manage to make their way into my stuff. I suppose one of my favourites was:

“I have to ask, do you know you’re crazy?”

“Not sure. Hum a few bars and I’ll join in.”

Tell us about your latest project

I’ve just recently moved into audiobooks. I currently have the entire Cera Raine Series available on audio narrated by the wonderful Claire Nicholls. I’ve just finished Triton Rising on audio and it should be out later this year, and just starting to get Mistakenly Mated recorded which will probably hit sales platforms beginning of next year.

All are available on Kindle in the meantime ;)

What is your favourite cake?

Black Forrest Gateau. Hands down. Love it.

A very popular choice on this blog! You can connect with Sonnet at the following places:

Website: www.sonnetodell.co.uk

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sonnet-ODell-Author-Page/127559694006921

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SonnetODell

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2875589.Sonnet_O_Dell

Join me next week when I take a look back at the cake of 2020. My first slice of cake for 2021 will be with Sydney Scrogham.

If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please fill in the form found here. I'd be delighted to have you.

You can also support my writing endeavours and buy me tea & cake - it's what makes the world go round! 

Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop.

A Slice of Cake With... M.L. Tishner

This week I am delighted to be having a slice of cake with author M.L. Tishner. 

Mari is a half-Peruvian, half-American hobbit and pug owner who was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana where she grew up writing Sailor Moon/Gundam Wing fanfiction. She studied biology and Spanish at Indiana University where she decided to revive an old space opera she wrote in her high school years.

A native Hoosier, Mari now lives in southern Germany where she entertains people with her adventures as an American ex-pat in the Land of Beer and Pretzels on her blog adventuresoflamari.com and YouTube Channel as well as making sure the world knows her pugs, Abner and Roxy, exists. When she’s not writing, Mari cooks, snowboards, dances to the beat of her own drum, reads late into the night, and binge watches a good story unfold on Netflix with her husband. The God Queen is her debut novel.

What kind of stories do you write?

I write stories with magic and space ships but I focus on people and their identities and how it’s tied to family and destiny.

Can you describe your writing why?

When I first wrote about my heroine, Rei, I was thirteen years old and in love with both Sailor Moon and Star Wars and I wanted more adventures like it and couldn’t find enough to satisfy my need. So I grabbed a pen and a notebook and decided to write it myself.

Now in my thirties - I write because it’s a need that comes from somewhere deep inside. I get antsy when I can’t write. I am addicted to delving deeper into the world I have created and finding what stories come from it.

Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most

I adore writing Bronx and Rei together - I always get excited when they’re in the same room:

Bronx scratched his chin, already coated with stubble. “He was a great teacher. I learned a lot from him, and we became close. Nik would often talk about you.”

“He did?” she said quietly.

“Yeah. I was the only one who knew about you, the only person he could talk to. He really missed you. He had this photo of you with pigtails and you were missing your two front teeth.”

Rei made a face. “Ugh. I hated that photo.”

“I thought it was cute. But I must admit, when you first arrived, I half expected you to still have pigtails.”

“I only wear pigtails on special occasions.” She smirked.

“Like weddings?”

“And baptisms.” She took a sip of her tea.

He raised an eyebrow. “Our second date?”

She choked as she laughed. She met his eyes and found them earnest. Her breath ceased completely for a moment, then she raised her mug. “By your logic, wouldn’t this count as a second date?”

He laughed. She loved the sound of it. “You caught me, Miss Ettowa. Third, then?”

Her stomach fluttered as she caught the playfulness in his voice. “Just so you know, Mr. Manca, I will be expecting more than whispers and tea for our third.”

“Then I vow to redouble my efforts.” He winked.

Rei giggled once she caught her breath. She liked him. She really liked him. Every moment she spent with him left her only wanting more. “I can imagine how well you and Niko got along. You both like to pretend you’re witty.”

“Pretend? Ouch.” He put a hand to his chest, a smile still on his face. “Right in the ego.”

“I can tell Niko rubbed off on you. He said the same thing to me once.” She threw her own hand to her chest. “Oh, betrayed by my sweet baby sister.” She barely contained her laughter as she tried to imitate her brother’s deep voice. “So dramatic.”

Tell us about your latest project

I am working on the sequel to my debut The God Queen. The novel is called The Last Imperator and continues the adventures of Rei and the other “gods” as they try to stave civil war that is brewing in the star cluster.

What is your favourite cake?

Black Forest… more specifically the one my mother-in-law makes (she’s German).

A very popular cake choice! You can connect with M.L. Tishner here:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mltishner 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mltishner/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mltishner

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mltishner

Join me next week when I have a slice of cake with Karina Kantas.

If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please fill in the form found here. I'd be delighted to have you.

You can also support my writing endeavours and buy me tea & cake - it's what makes the world go round!

Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop.

A Slice of Cake With... Rebecca Lennard

This week I am delighted to be having a slice of cake with Rebecca Lennard.

R. Lennard dreamed of being the headmistress of a boarding school, a jockey, a ballet dancer and a diplomat. At the same time. Two left feet stopped the dancing dream, and a fear of falling stopped the jockey one.

At ten years old, when she discovered that the squiggles on the page actually meant something, she devoured every book in the library before figuring out that she could be all she dreamed of and more if she wrote the book.

Rebecca enjoys learning about ancient civilisations, cosplaying and endless cups of tea.  An avid fantasy and sci-fi reader, she fell in love with dragons, space travel, discovering fantastical history and stepping through a cupboard. Fantasy became her home away from home, and she loves to share the worlds she's created with her readers in the YA series, Lissae. 

Residing on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia, Rebecca enjoys the natural beauty of both the beach and the bush, finding hidden writing spots as a makeshift office. 

When Rebecca isn't writing, she's masquerading as one of the librarians on the Sunshine Coast. 

What kind of stories do you write?

I write books full of magic, action and hope. They’re aimed at teenagers, but lots of adults enjoy reading them too (including me).

Can you describe your writing why?

I have worlds in my head that are aching to be shared. If I don’t write, it feels like something is off-kilter with the world.

Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most

A favourite?! That’s like trying to pick a favourite book, or a favourite child or something. But since you insist…

My favourite all time line is the first line of Ronah: It all started with a trip to the museum and a charging Minotaur. 

But my favourite scene would be from Rakemyst: Sam was humming. Humming. Her heart was aching so much she thought it might burst, and this bastard was humming?

Tell us about your latest project

My latest release is Rakemyst, the second book in the Lissae series. Set immediately after Ronah (book one), Rakemyst follows Shari as she struggles with the guilt over her failure to protect the ones she loves most. With the imminent merging of the two isles, she must ignore her grief and start the painful search to replace the dead Guardian’s Apprentice. 

As mysterious bone-clad warriors close in with their magic-draining arrows, her task becomes urgent.

While Shari puts the potential apprentices through an array of intense challenges, she and her Guardian, Jonathan, butt heads over whom to trust with the fate of their lands. As the battle surges, Shari fears a fractured team will leave a gaping hole in their magical defences.

Can Shari bring her crew together before a bloodthirsty army massacres her people?

If you like kick-ass characters, sword-slicing action, and vivid magical realms, then you’ll love Rakemyst.

Available at: www.lissae.com 

https://books2read.com/rakemyst 

or https://www.amazon.com/Rakemyst-Book-Lissae-R-Lennard-ebook/dp/B08128S99K 

What is your favourite cake?

Black forest cake. Cherries, chocolate and cream, what more could you ask for in a cake?

If you would like to know when Rebecca's next book will come out, please visit her website at www.lissae.com where you can sign up to receive emails with exclusive extras and get notified when her next release is available.

Follow Rebecca on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Goodreads.

Join me next week when I'm joined by Marvin Neu. 

If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please fill in the form found here. I'd be delighted to have you.

You can also support my writing endeavours and buy me tea & cake - it's what makes the world go round! 

Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find all her books on Amazon. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop.