How much research did you need to do for your novel?
I’d been a soldier in Bosnia, first with the French Foreign Legion, then with the Bosnian government troops. So I was already quite familiar with the wartime situation and what it looked, smelled and sounded like over there.
I knew how the local people speak, and I understood their culture and mindset. I’d never been to Srebrenica, though, so I read and double-checked many details from UN reports, old news articles, the International Criminal Court’s proceedings and such.
Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?
Not really. It doesn’t, of course, mean that the stuff I write is always publishable. But if I truly got stuck, I guess I’d just tell myself not to try so hard. You don’t always need to aim high. Take the pressure off yourself, and it’ll work out.
What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?
Journey to the End of the Night by Louis-Ferdinand Céline. He wrote it during the interwar period. Later he was banished because of his antisemitic polemics, but the Journey’s nihilistic outlook on society still rings like an eerie warning bell. Let me quote from it, and please tell me if this sounds vaguely familiar today:
“Lying, f—ing, dying. A law had just been passed prohibiting all other activity. The lies that were being told surpassed the imagination, far exceeded the limits of the absurd and preposterous … Everybody was doing it.
In competition, to see who could lie the most outrageously. Soon there wasn’t a bit of truth in the city. The little that had been left in 1914, people were ashamed of now. Everything you touched was fake … everything you read, swallowed, sucked, admitted, proclaimed, refuted, defended was made up of hate-ridden myths and grinning masquerades, phony to the hilt. The mania for telling lies and believing them is as contagious as the itch.”
Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly?
I think anybody can write. Should they, that’s another question.
How do you use social media as an author?
I’ve done a couple of blog tours, but that’s about it. I’m not really on any social media. If anyone wants to reach out to me, they can always do so through my website.
For information about Jani’s book tour and giveaway, click the link.
Maka, a young Bosnian soldier, has survived three years under siege. When the enemy forces launch their final attack on his hometown, he must escape to the hills.
But traversing the vast woods is a task against all odds: to stay alive, and to find his infant son and his wife, he is soon forced to make a desperate move.
Set against the harrowing background of raging guerrilla warfare and the genocide in Srebrenica, Father of One is, at heart, a story of deep humanity, compassion and love.
It is the account of one man’s desire to reunite his family, separated by war, and of bonds unbroken by trauma, sustained by loyalty and tenacity. Writing in a voice that rings with clarity and authenticity, Jani Anttola lays open a dark moment in Europe’s recent history.
Excerpt:
They walked up to the plaza where narrow streets led from the ancient town gate towards the centre of the promontory and the Saint George’s church and its cemetery gardens that overlooked the old fishing town.
Most of the shops lining the plaza were shuttered. Turning up towards the rectory, they came to the café bar. A young, lean man in a dress shirt and round eyeglasses was sitting by the window with an espresso and listening to the radio that the waiter had placed on the counter. A newscast was on and a woman newsreader was talking in rapid, tense sentences about something.
“Good morning,” said the waiter. “Lovers up so early?” He was an acquaintance of the hotel owner, a smooth-mannered boy who came from the lavender country in Istria. The old man had recommended the place for their shop-roasted coffee.
“Good morning,” Maka said.
Amelia dismissed the innuendo with a little laugh. “How are you?”
“I’m good as always.”
Maka, leaning to the counter and taking off his sun hat, looked at the radio. “What’s the news?”
“Their Teritorijalna Odbrana got the orders to start a counteroffensive.”
“No,” Amelia said, looking at the grave-faced waiter.
“When was that?” Maka asked.
“Last night. There’s armoured columns advancing towards Ljubljana. Six JNA brigades.”
“It’s happening too fast. They declared independence only three days ago.”
“Well, it’s happening, all right,” the waiter said. “Yesterday they shot down two helicopters. Now there’s fighting on the Italian border. The Slovenians have bogged the tanks down and are busting them.”
“But it’s insane,” Amelia said. “Everybody’s lost their mind.”
“The generals seem to think it makes perfect sense,” said the bespectacled man by the window. He lit a cigarette and blew smoke towards the ceiling, his head leaning back, then stared out to the street, where a group of loud young men was passing, waving Croatian flags.
About The Author:
Jani Anttola is a Finnish novelist and a medical doctor. In the 1990s he served in Rwanda with the French military and fought in Bosnia as a soldier of the Bosnian army. His works have been published in the UK and Finland. He has spent most of his adult life abroad, working in Africa, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific.
Will the keys to the riad be the key to her happiness? Or will they open up the door to ruin?
The Keys to the Riad
by C.D. Damitio
Genre: Metaphysical, Magical Realism, Romance
Colette, the quintessential New York ‘it-girl,’ has a life many envy. But as her 40th birthday nears, she feels an undeniable void. Seeking a unique gift, she discovers a set of ancient North African keys—but what she doesn’t know is that the keys come with ownership of an ancient mansion steeped in magic, historical intrigue, and family feuds.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of modern Africa, Colette embarks on an unexpected journey that takes her far from the familiar streets of New York.
As she unlocks each door of the riad mansion, she delves deeper into its hidden passages and whispered legends, revealing stories of love, betrayal, and long-buried secrets.
Each room holds a puzzle that Colette must piece together, not only to understand the riad’s mysterious past but to find her true self.
The riad is not without its dangers. As Colette unravels the mysteries that lie within, she encounters a tapestry of characters—some seeking to help, others intent on keeping the riad’s secrets hidden at any cost.
Will the keys to the riad be the key to her happiness? Or will they open up the door to ruin?
DeFou stood up, again dumping the dog from his lap onto the floor. “It’s really best that you forget all about it,” he told her. “It is gone and our policy is to protect the confidentiality of our patrons.”
He moved to the far wall and began moving a pile of vibrant but ancient textiles from one shelf to another. A large ring of golden keys clattered out from between two of the pieces.
It landed on the floor like a gymnast with a broken body, keys splayed in many directions. Colette gasped, seeing the keys cleared her mind of everything that had been in it before. She had never seen anything like them.
There were somewhere around twenty skeleton keys on the large golden ring. The ring itself was ornate and appeared to be decorated with rubies. The smallest of the keys was at least six inches and the largest was over a foot.
Colette still hadn’t done anything with the profits she had made before and she still hadn’t bought herself a birthday present. The crazy little Frenchman leaned down and picked them up.
“Ah, I’d wondered where these had gone. I wouldn’t want to lose them.” He put the ring on his wrist – it sparkled and glinted in the light. Without the keys, it would have looked like a priceless bangle by itself. With the keys, it was simply breathtaking.
About the Author:
Tapping into his eclectic adventures exploring the physical world, mystical philosophy, and other planes of experience, CD Damitio weaves tales spanning the spectrum of life. Like the storytellers of old, his narratives transport readers into diverse landscapes of the imagination.
The End of the World has Never Been This Incompetent!
The Synchrotron
by Rain Hunter
Genre: Science Fiction Comedy
✔️A deadly virus. ✔️A world overrun by monsters. ✔️ Six scientists on a dangerous mission to cure the world. We are screwed…
They only wanted a Nobel Prize. Instead, they will have to save the world.
It was going to be the experiment of the year. Preparing to blast x-rays through a piece of palladium at the most dazzling European synchrotron, Anna and five of her fellow scientists expected a few hiccups.
Not a horde of hungry spleen-eating zombies.
The world has succumbed to the virus, leaving only scattered survivors.
When Anna and her friends realise that the infected can be cured back into humans, they pledge to find a cure no matter the cost. Equipped with a lab wrench and questionable lab ethics, Team ID26 are humanity’s last hope.
But what is the price of saving the world?
Running out of time, Anna and her friends will face the impossible choices between life and death, morality and cure. When the future of the world is at stake, what will they have to sacrifice?
Steve didn’t call back. After I’d checked my phone for the millionth time, Kay patted me on the shoulder and took my phone away for safekeeping. I guess she meant my poor heart, not the phone.
“I heard that’s called ghosting,” Edsie told me.
“I heard that’s called tone-deaf, Edsie,” Kay bit back on my behalf.
Some say there are no heart wounds that a bucket of ice-cream cannot heal. How about treating those with instant noodles?
No?
Our noodle supplies are running dry, and even the chocolate bars we’ve hauled through the Ring back to ID26 won’t last us more than a day or two.
On a positive note, we’ve progressed on the spleen front.
After consulting Google Images, we agreed that the blob we initially identified as the pancreas was the spleen, the key to transforming people into blood-thirsty monsters.
We wrote and attached new labels.
“What do we do with the rest of it?” Tanya asked after we put the spleen aside and packed the other Ali’s organs into plastic sample boxes.
“Bin it. We’ve got the spleen,” said Dan.
“I’ll throw it into the biological waste,” Tanya said, loading the boxes onto a small trolley.
She was going to wheel Ali’s remains back to the wet lab. We could officially rename that wet lab into “Spleen-eaters’ Mortuary”. As one of them, Ali belonged there, too.
“I’ll help you,” said Edsie. “What if you have another seizure?”
Kay, Dan and I stared at them in confused silence while Edsie grabbed the trolley and rolled it out of the hutch. Tanya picked up the hammer and followed him.
Okay. What have I missed?
Since Tanya started taking her meds again, she seemed to be back to her usual self, no issues with her whatsoever, apart from this unexpected feat of helpfulness from Edsie. Had he been bitten?
“What now?” Kay asked after the door closed behind them.
“I don’t know. That’s weird. I’ve never heard him offer help before,” I said.
“No. What do we do with that?” Kay pointed at the chunk of flesh on the workshop table. It smelled rancid and unhealthy. Was it a typical smell of a slowly rotting spleen, or did the presence of the virus make it foul?
“If the virus is in his cells, we should find and isolate it,” I said.
“No shit,” said Dan.
“Microscope?” I suggested.
“We have to cut it very thin for a microscope,” said Kay.
“Not with a knife, I suppose.”
“It’s not a piece of meat, Anna, of course not with a knife. With a microtome. I even know where we can find one,” said Kay.
Quotes from reviewers:
“Like The Martian meets Zombieland—serious survival mixed with dark humour and fast action”
“surprisingly deep for post-apocalyptic science fiction”
“a mix of science, survival, and zombie action with added dark humour, this book will keep you hooked”
“a totally different take on the genre!”
“absolutely loved it!”
“surprisingly robust contemplations on life scattered throughout this fast-paced book”
“Sad. Humorous. Suspenseful.”
Quotes from the book:
Sunday! What a holy day for our unholy undertakings!
Before I start hyperventilating, let me focus on the facts. Dan says that when emotions are bigger than you, facts never are; they are short and precise.
Octopuses have three hearts.
A day on Venus is longer than a year on Venus.
Although zombies are a fictional concept, there are “zombie” ants that are infected by fungus and jump off heights, killing themselves.
Ah, crap, ignore this last one!
We didn’t see it, Dan! In the movies, zombies are always dead, right? But our zombies – no, our spleen-eaters – they are alive. The virus doesn’t kill them, so we can… cure them. Right?”
“We? As if, in us, the five chemists? Since when does a doctor in your title involve treating monsters back into people?
A couple of years after we’d dealt with COVID-19, the UN, WHO, and other important people got together to prepare the world for the next outbreak. Their plan, called “Lock and Block”, prescribed establishing a total area lockdown within 24 hours. Isolate the area, move in the military, fence off the perimeter, and shoot anyone who tries to escape.
The last one’s a joke. Sort of.
“How did you know they would make good samples?”
Have I told you about Louise’s proprietary stare? Here it was, telling me all I needed to know about my level of intelligence.
“Good brain samples are the ones that you do not need to scrape off the floor,” she explained, in case the stare was not sufficient.
If something walked out on us in search of a late-night dinner, I’d have to fight it off with only my charisma.
Zero chance, then.
About the Author
What is similar between science and postapocalyptic survival?
“Everything that can, will go wrong.”
Rain Hunter is a writer of post-apocalyptic science fiction. Having spent years as a materials researcher, Rain intricately weaves scientific precision into the stories.
“I’ve had a fun lab run over the years and might have picked some degrees on the way,” laughs Rain. “But the most important thing for my books is that the science has to be real. No more can-and-know-it-all characters! If I know how to cook meth from baking soda and cough syrup, I won’t be able to start a rocket engine, full stop. Even in fiction!”
Rain is a huge fan of the zombie genre, both in movies and books. “I’d kill to be a zombie extra in a film. Even if they smash my brains out in the first two seconds. Sign me up anytime.”
Dark humour and irony are the main ingredients in Rain’s novels. “I am sure the world will die laughing. That’s what I would do.”
Rain lives in Birmingham (England), which serves as a main inspiration for the goriest post-apocalyptic scenes. In their spare time, Rain plays a harp in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
By way of introduction, here is Lauren Wagner’s bio.
Lauren Wagner’s love for reading started as a young adult after discovering her town’s public library. After carrying out piles of books at a time, and re-reading them over and over again, she discovered her love for writing. She writes fantasy and science fiction as well as post-it notes about her future stories.
She grew up in the western suburbs of Chicago where she presently resides with her husband and two children. She currently teaches upper elementary students to love and obsess over written works of art.
Hello, Lauren , welcome to Angel Kiss Publications. Thank you for agreeing to do this interview.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
When did the writing bug ensnare you?
I started writing fourteen years ago, during my pregnancy with my first child. There’s something about those months—maybe the hormones, maybe the anticipation—but my dreams were wild, vivid, and relentless.
I needed a way to capture them before they vanished, so I started writing them down when I woke up. And once I began, I couldn’t stop.
Is writing your full-time profession?
Writing isn’t my full-time career—it’s my passion, the quiet joy I turn to after a full day in the classroom. By day, I teach elementary students, helping them discover the magic of reading and the power of their own words.
There’s something incredibly rewarding about watching young minds light up as they find their voice on the page. And when the school day ends and the classroom quiets, I return to my own stories, inspired by the very love of language I strive to pass on.
How many published books have you written?
Misguided Trust is the second book I have published. My first, Awaken, came out in 2022.
It tells the story of Natalia, a girl chosen by her people to die as a human sacrifice. But she is kidnapped and placed into an eternal sleep instead.
Centuries later, Natalia awakens in a strange new world when an archaeological team searching for the lost city of gold discovers her.
As she guides them through the dangerous jungles of Argentina, Natalia uncovers a prophecy connected to her past and must make a heart-wrenching choice: fulfill her destiny to restore balance or fight for her own survival.
Awaken also has dragons. And I absolutely love dragons.
What are you working on now?
The students at my school have been asking me to write something more suited to a younger age group—I’m working hard to create a story without blood sacrifices, love triangles, or surprise murders.
And honestly? I’m loving it.
The story follows a group of kids who live in a place inspired by the sky caves of Nepal. Their mountainous city in the sky is being shaken by a series of powerful earthquakes, and when the kids get separated into a network of tunnels, they discover an outside world beyond their wildest dreams.
What is a favorite quote from one of your own books?
There is a quote in Misguided Trust that says, “Isolating yourself from the world doesn’t change your past. It just prevents you from making a future.”
Can you share a random interesting fact about yourself?
I don’t like the smell of ketchup.
What spark started one of your stories?
I came upon a documentary about Incan child sacrifices in the Andes Mountains. I was deeply struck by the story of “The Maiden,” one of three children found perfectly preserved over 500 years ago.
These children were said to have gone willingly, and their sacrifice was seen as a great honor in their culture. Yet, I couldn’t help but wonder about the perspectives of their families and communities—fathers, farmers, or even rulers who believed the sacrifice was necessary for survival or prosperity.
Scientific studies revealed that the Maiden’s diet shifted dramatically before her death, indicating her sacrifice was planned well in advance. The frequency and reverence of such sacrifices became more evident the deeper I researched—some remains were so well preserved that scientists whispered around them, as if not to disturb a sacred sleep.
These haunting discoveries inspired me to write. I created Natalia of Estancia, a fictional character meant to honor the Maidens and the countless other children offered to the gods of her time. Through her story, I hoped to better understand their lives, world, and the complex beliefs that shaped their fate.
What is one of your favorite scenes that you’ve written? Why?
In Awaken, there’s a scene where Natalia is trapped in a cave and suddenly finds herself face-to-face with a giant dragon. The creature is both magical and terrifying, its presence overwhelming.
But Natalia straightens her shoulders, takes a deep breath, and—even though terrified—she stands her ground, ready to face whatever comes next.
Who is your favorite character that you’ve created? Why?
My favorite character died before the story of Misguided Trust unfolded. My husband was joking around about me writing him into one of my books, and that is how Tommy came to be.
He is a bright, mischievous kid who grows into a devoted best friend. He always wants the best for those around him and always argues with the ways of the world he doesn’t understand.
But in the story, he died before the first scene. He was the memory that kept pushing the main character forward. He was the memory that unvulgarly turned the villain villainous. Without Tommy, there wouldn’t have been a story.
What has been your most rewarding experience since publishing your work?
My favorite experience after publishing came from a student I had this year. I brought in a copy of Misguided Trust to show them.
One student’s eyes popped, and his jaw dropped. He said, “That is the most beautiful cover I have ever seen.” The look on his face absolutely melted my heart.
What advice would you give to authors just starting out?
I think it’s easy to get lost in your writing, in the best way. You fall into the world you’re creating, and suddenly, hours pass like minutes. But with that immersion comes the risk of losing your thread, especially when you’re deep into a story.
The best advice I have? Always reread what you wrote yesterday before you begin writing today. It helps you reconnect with your tone, characters, and momentum.
If you hit a wall—and believe me, we all do—don’t panic. Step away for a few days. Let your mind breathe. Then, when you’re ready, start reading it again from the beginning.
Often, the pieces that felt stuck will shift into place naturally. Writing isn’t just about pushing forward—it’s about listening to your story, even in the quiet moments when it doesn’t want to speak.
What are your favorite books?
Whenever anyone mentions a book to me, my first response is always, “I LOVE that book.”
There are so many favorites I have, it’s hard to choose just one. I get swept up in different stories for different reasons—sometimes it’s the characters, sometimes the plot, and other times just the way the author writes.
But my utmost favorite? Probably The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen. That book had everything I love: a clever and rebellious protagonist, twists I didn’t see coming, and a plot that kept me hooked from the first page.
I also love anything written by Sarah J Mass and Andy Weir. Their books pull me into completely different worlds—whether it’s fantasy kingdoms full of magic or outer space missions that feel scarily real.
Who has influenced your writing the most?
I have an older sister gifted with so many natural talents, especially when it comes to writing. She was the first person I turned to whenever I needed help, whether with a resume, a school assignment, or even a simple email.
There’s something about the way she effortlessly crafts words—clear, direct, and meaningful—that I’ve always admired. I’ve wanted to capture even a fraction of that grace in my own writing.
When you’re not writing, where can we find you?
If I’m not writing, there’s a good chance I have a book in my hand. I even keep a secret stash of books in my car—just in case.
Following a catastrophic nuclear war, Sara lives in a town where the government controls every drop of water. Strict rationing tightly regulates residents’ lives, and to fall sick is to be executed.
Sara’s life becomes more dangerous and complicated when she first hides and cares for a small boy who has fallen sick, then takes him in when his parents are taken by the authorities.
Determined to care for the helpless child while struggling to keep alive the memory of her long-dead best friend, Sara leans on her friend’s older brother, Josh, an employee of the domineering water company that controls the water rationing.
But Josh is under suspicion, and the city’s enforcement unit begins to observe their daily activities. Despite knowing that she’d be executed if her actions were known, Sara finds herself deeply and distressingly attracted to the lead investigator, navigating a complicated romance and finding a glimmer of hope in a world long dominated by fear and control.
Excerpt:
United Region Water Laws: Established May 2167
Water restoration and conservation laws formed with the intent to restore and maintain the physical and biological integrity of the nation’s waters are our nation’s highest priority. Any ill citizens will be removed from government-proclaimed safety zones for the public’s well-being.
Black SUVs line the street, their dark tinted windows and their sparkling silver rims reflecting impending doom. But the windows cannot keep out the screams. Not the cries, nor the banging from inside the vehicles. It’s random health inspection day, and dozens of citizens have already failed, by the count of SUVs.
Josh stands to greet me with a kiss on the cheek, his silence speaking louder than words. I smile back and try to ignore the ominous SUV’s and to ignore what is happening.
“Sit down. Don’t draw any more attention to yourself than necessary,” Josh says.
My pulse is pounding, and my chest rises and falls quicker than I can control. Sweat drips from my brow. My stomach is tied in knots. I assess my body for early signs of illness. No sore throat. No muscle aches. No nausea. All I can do is wait in silence. Our words would be lost anyway, so I sit down at the table.
About The Author:
Lauren Wagner’s love for reading started as a young adult after discovering her town’s public library. After carrying out piles of books at a time, and re-reading them over and over again, she discovered her love for writing. She writes fantasy and science fiction as well as post-it notes about her future stories.
She grew up in the western suburbs of Chicago where she presently resides with her husband and two children. She currently teaches upper elementary students to love and obsess over written works of art.
Since I have been in high school I have had a story idea in my head that created upon itself more and more throughout the years. This was my world of Tarzinëa.
I have the novels planned out in my head. The problem is how complex the story is itself and how long the books will probably be. This led me to find small ways to world build for the overall story. One of the main ways was creating “The Tales of Ferrês Series.”
It allowed me to get into the head of some of my characters and dive into their backstory to create a short story series all its own. Tales of Ferrês was created of ten short stories that helped break down the unique elements within this kingdom.
Many haven’t stepped foot in the kingdom for 500 years and lived to tell the tale. But some have entered but never spoke of their adventures within.
This series comprises standalone stories that stand in different time periods of Tarzinëa. And each story has its own character that is influenced by the creatures within.
I love each story individually in its own way, and each influences the overall story line throughout my journey as a writer. You are free to read them in order or pick each to read in any order they want.
If you want to get all the stories in one book you can grab “Tales of Ferrês,” bundle book. All the stories are included plus a bonus story never seen outside the bundle book. You can grab the bundle book HERE at your favorite retailer or through my author store HERE.
To learn more about the books and enter the giveaway click the link.
