Author: Ellwyn

A supernatural thriller of vengeance and occultic magic. 

A powerful American leader is reborn as a black child in an African hut.

The Fake Ghost 

by Nuzo Onoh

Genre: Supernatural Horror, Magical Realism

A dark farce and a supernatural thriller of rebirth, betrayal, vengeance, occultic magic, mysterious invocations and creepy rituals–from Nuzo Onoh, recipient of the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement and “the Queen of African Horror.”

Set both in Nigeria and the USA, The Fake Ghost follows the whacky and sinister travails of the President of the United States, reborn as a black child in a tiny African hut.

As the child grows, he insists on being called POTUS and hears disturbing voices in his head that often cause him to be cruel and selfish. Until one day an accident separates the linked souls.

With the help of a medicine-man, the president must find a way to free his trapped soul and return to the United States to prevent a dastardly political plot against him. But first, he must enter a diabolical blood pact, which might return to haunt him with devastating consequences.

“Sometimes shocking, fantastical and hilarious, but also tinged with hope, this ghost will haunt you long after the final page.” —Tim Lebbon, author of The Last Storm

**Releases Aug 12, 2025!**

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Indigo.ca * Deadsky Publishing * Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Fake-Ghost-Nuzo-Onoh-MFA/dp/1639512071

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-fake-ghost/id6744546684

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-fake-ghost-nuzo-onoh/1146557688?ean=9781639512256

Indigo.ca: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/the-fake-ghost/9781639512072.html

Deadsky Publishing: https://deadskypublishing.com/portfolio-item/the-fake-ghost/#toggle-id-1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/221499628-the-fake-ghost

Excerpt:

Life isn’t fair. Why don’t I have a real dad like President King? He couldn’t ever imagine the president raising a fist or a belt to his daughter. 

“Anyways, if things work out swell, you’ll soon be visiting the Big Apple or any one of our marvellous states. We’ve got fifty-four states since we split Texas and California into two. America is now the greatest, and you, lucky boy, are now speaking with the ruler of the entire damn world—”

“China is the new ruler since—”

“Fuck China!” The president snarled. “I’m the most important guy in Terra Firma. Hell! Even aliens from Mars speak with me, and I ain’t kidding you.”

POTUS’ eyes widened into saucers. “No way! Your Excellency, you’ve actually seen real aliens, like in the films, Liberation Night and Independence Day and Women in Green and Men in Black. Real mothership aliens?”

President King preened, chest all puffed out, a grim smile on his face. “Yep. This is top secret, right? I’m not supposed to tell that we got aliens running wild amongst us, but take it from me, there are loads of them and—”

“Are there any aliens that are famous?” POTUS cut in, his heart thudding with excitement—Oh my God! Just wait till I tell Frankie. Mega wicked!

“Sure. Listen, promise you won’t tell, right? Swear on your life, and I’ll give you a coupla names.”

“I swear on my life,” POTUS crossed his heart feverishly. His love affair with sci-fi was only second to his boxing reruns on archive hologram channel.

“Okay. You know the actor guy, Tom Cruise? Yep! He’s one of the Martians.”

“No way! Tom Cruise?” POTUS’ ears were literally burning—Tom Cruise is an alien! Oh my God! 

“Yep! Ever ask yourself how come he does all his own stunts despite his age? I mean, the guy’s older than me in human years, right? Last time I checked, he was almost seventy years old, and he’s still scaling walls and jumping parachutes and driving cars over cliffs.

Hell! It’s even rumoured the guy never bleeds, never sleeps, and never been sick either. Now, who wouldn’t want that kinda power, right? A real charmer and superman, literally,” the president shook his head, his eyes glittering with admiration. POTUS could tell he liked alien Tom Cruise a lot. 

“Are there women aliens too, Your Excellency?” 

“Sure thing. The singer broad, Taylor Swift. Yep. Little green girl, I’m afraid. Psycho-bitch is a cloner and can split herself into thirteen alien Taylors, ensuring she has enough of herself to wreak chaos on humanity whenever she wants.

Why do you think she always wears those creepy number 13 earrings? The alien bitch claims she was born on the 13^th of the month and turned 13 years on a Friday the 13th, but we know who her real parents are and trust me, they ain’t humans; alien mummy and daddy, just like their spawn. As I said, that psycho bird is the mistress of chaos. She can sow anarchy, cause riots, and destruction just by showing her friggin’ face and opening her big mouth to spout garbage.

And boom! Instantly, humanity turns into crazy zombies; wild, rabid squad dogs who just want to cancel out everyone without having a friggin’ idea why they’re doing it. And she has thirteen clones to help her sew unrest around the world. Most times you see her having a concert in different countries, it’s actually one of her thirteen alien clones performing. But as I said, this is top secret, got it? Just between the two of us, right?”

“Right,” POTUS nodded. He was so relieved Rihanna wasn’t amongst the named aliens. It would’ve killed him if his all-time celebrity crush was one of the little green people from Mars. She might be older now, but he still had endless hologram recordings of her in her hay days to feed his besotted eyes. 

Something niggled him.

“Your Excellency, are all the aliens white people, or do we have any black aliens too?”

President King barked a grim laugh. “Sure thing. We got loads of black aliens, even yellow ones. They hold annual Alien Zoom meetings to catch up with their alien stuff. I hear Will Smith’s been begging them to let him into the meetings but they keep voting him out.

I reckon the alien motherfuckers think he has too many lethal Men in Black anti-alien arsenals. So, they don’t trust him and who can blame them? Mind you, Will’s no alien, but the fashion designer guy that used to be a singer, Pharrell Williams, and the F1 champion, Sir Lewis Hamilton…” he paused and nodded grimly as POTUS’ eyes goggled. “Yep! Sorry to disappoint you, kiddo, but they’re both little green men too.

Not forgetting the Korean megastar singer, Taemin. That guy doesn’t even need to hide the fact that he’s an alien. He looks like one and moves like one. Little wonder they call him the reincarnated Michael Jackson, who was another alien freak, by the way.

Yeah, these alien fuckers have got their people practically in every country, although we have the most in America. I’m guessing Martians know a quality country when they see one. Fuck China!” The president glided closer till he was practically whispering. “You see, they send them down with special powers. The aliens we gotta fear are the singers and the drivers.”

President King caught the stunned look on POTUS’ face and nodded again with that hard smile that POTUS was starting to admire. It was a smile of power, of strength, of knowledge and ruthlessness. It was the kind of smile that said the president had the aliens well sourced and could handle them with ruthless ease.

About the Author

Nuzo Onoh is an award-winning Nigerian-British writer of speculative fiction She is a pioneer of the African horror literary genre. Hailed as the “Queen of African Horror”, Nuzo’s writing showcases both the beautiful and horrific in the African culture within fictitious narratives.

Nuzo’s works have featured in numerous magazines, podcasts and anthologies, as well as in academic studies. She has given talks and lectures about African Horror, including at the prestigious Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies, London.

She is a Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Nuzo holds a Law degree and Masters degree in Writing, both from Warwick University, England. She is a certified Civil Funeral Celebrant, licensed to conduct non-religious burial services.

An avid musician with an addiction to JungYup and K-indie, Nuzo plays both the guitar and piano, and holds an NVQ in Digital Music Production. She resides in the West Midlands, United Kingdom.

Linktree * Bluesky * Substack * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Author Links

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nuzoonoh

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/nuzo.bsky.social

Substack: https://nuzo.substack.com/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/nuzo-onoh

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Nuzo-Onoh/author/B00K6OYCDQ

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8150070.Nuzo_Onoh

Giveaway 

$10 Amazon 

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

https://sdbook.promo/TheFakeGhost

Q&A

What genre or type of story inspires you most when reading or writing?

Fantasy stories inspire me most when writing. Believable characters, “real” situations in a fantastical world, etc. Story’s about people who “win”, improving themselves/finding love/finding sucess/what have you, those are the one’s that grip me. Especially when they get those things against all odds or struggling uphill to get them.

Are there any real-life experiences that directly influenced Resthaven, Silverlake, or The Book of Ghaan?

A lot of the interpersonal relationships I’ve either experienced myself or witnessed. The humor and joking around comes from my time in the army and friends. Bar and tavern scenes come from places I’ve drank in and experienced first hand. The trauma and aftermath comes from my time in a level 1 ER/Trauma center.

What are you most proud of as an author so far?

Actually doing it. Writing stories that other people read and are interested in. Having people interact with me, tell me my fantasy’s are great or touched them some how. Hearing people say they couldn’t put it down. It’s uplifting.

What do readers most often tell you about your work (e.g., “I loved the world,” “The characters felt real,” etc.)?

That the world comes to life for them. Some people are just enthralled by the characters, others by the story itself, but the most common is how much people enjoyed the detailed plot and realism they experience as they read the series.

If someone bumped into you at a fantasy convention, what kind of impression would you want to leave?

Just a normal guy. I don’t put on airs, I drive a normal car, live a normal life, have the same concerns everyone else has. I’m friendly, approachable, and have no problems answering questions and talking to anybody.

Is there any quirky or unexpected detail about you people are surprised by?

MY favorite ‘hobby’ is taking hikes int he wilderness, exploring places I’ve never been before, being ‘one’ with nature – all of which leads me to convey the ‘experience’ when I write. I used to be into horseback riding which taught me sometimes you just have to go with the flow and stay on. Downhill skiing was full of excitement, wind blasting in your face as you figuratively race. Blacksmithing taught me you can turn a lump of something ugly into an object of beauty. Camping taught me to accept what is and drive on. Online gaming taught me you can be whatever you want in whatever realm you find yourself in.

Would you prefer to gently mention your books or boldly champion them in your bio?

A mix between the two. I definitely want attention for my story, but I don’t want to come across as a used car salesman

What’s the current status of The Book of Ghaan, Part Two — are you mid-edit, drafting, or preparing for release?

Part two is mid-edit with its planned release this summer. I’m about half way through, then it will be off to professional readers.

Do you want your author brand to feel more wise veteran fantasy crafter, more passionate newcomer with surprising talent, or something else?

Definitely a passionate newcomer, not too high on himself, with surprising talent

To learn more about Colin Darney’s books and the giveaway, click the link.

Magic is feared. 

The truth is forgotten. 

But the silence – it still remembers. 

Resthaven

The Chronicles of the Troop Book 1

by Colin Darney

Genre: Epic Fantasy 

A divine war once shattered the world. Now, it begins anew—unnoticed, and bathed in blood.

Tommy is the son of a fisherman in a quiet lakeside village, where nothing truly dangerous has happened in generations. But when monstrous warriors descend from the woods, slaughtering everything he’s ever known, Tommy is thrown into a world of violence, prophecy, and secrets his father spent a lifetime hiding.

Fleeing across the inland sea, the survivors carry more than trauma—some carry buried power. Among them, an elven woman with a hidden past, a dwarf whose grief burns hotter than his forge, and a boy who isn’t just a boy – he’s something more. As rumors of more attacks spread and refugees flock to safe havens, it becomes clear the ondilaan are not just raiding.

They’re hunting.

But why?

As Tommy struggles to survive, love, and grow into the man the world might need, forces far older than any kingdom turn their gaze toward him. And the hidden power is watching.

Resthaven is the first entry in The Chronicles of the Troop, an epic fantasy saga that blends brutal war, divine judgment, and philosophical weight with real human stakes.

A note to readers: Violence through fantasy combat, Minor swearing, Adult themes, No sex.

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NZDQLZY

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/resthaven-the-chronicles-of-the-troop-book-1-by-colin-darney

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59912551-resthaven

Silverlake

The Chronicles of the Troop Book 2 

The troop survived Resthaven. But survival was just the beginning.

Donnor leads his ragtag force of villagers, conscripts, and outsiders deeper into the southern reaches of the Serensea. Their mission: find and defend the last remaining settlements from the ondilaan. But the enemy has changed—and so has the troop.

As Tommy comes into his own as both a mage and a chronicler, he wrestles with the burden of power, the scars of war, and the discovery of a lineage that shakes his identity. Beside him, Arisaylia’s magic deepens beyond her control, while Donnor is haunted by a loss he cannot afford to repeat.

In the villages, foothills, and the ruined fields of the south, the troop finds not only battles—but betrayals, hard choices, and the truths that threaten everything they thought they understood.

Silverlake is the second book in The Chronicles of the Troop, a philosophical epic fantasy saga blending tactical war, elven lore, deep character bonds, and the high stakes of ancient memory … for readers who crave stories where victory costs something real.

A note to readers: Violence through fantasy combat, minor swearing, adult themes.

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B8F2XDBK

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/silverlake-the-chronicles-of-the-troop-book-2-by-colin-darney

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61837535-silverlake

Windyspring

The Chronicles of the Troop Book 3 

The enemy grows bolder. Allies grow silent. And the gods remain lost.
 
The troop is scattered, wounded, and shaken by betrayal from within and without. What began as a mission to protect the southern villages of the Serensea now threatens to unravel the fragile balance between kingdoms, clans, and divine history.
 
As Tommy’s power blooms into something ancient—and dangerous—Arisaylia confronts truths about the elves that could fracture her people forever. Donnor, haunted by war and his family’s fate, must hold together what remains of their fragile alliance before the flames of conflict spread beyond control.
 
Meanwhile, far from the troop’s journey, in the Endless Plains power stirs. Civilizations long dormant move once more, as kingdoms make secret pacts and old races return to claim what was once theirs.
 
Windyspring is the third volume of The Chronicles of the Troop, a sweeping epic of war, memory, and magic—where loyalty is tested, identities unravel, and the true cost of power begins to reveal itself.

A note to readers: Violence through fantasy combat, minor swearing, adult themes.

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CDF5W6GF

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/windyspring-the-chronicles-of-the-troop-book-3-by-colin-darney

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195516932-windyspring

Harper’s Creek

The Chronicles of the Troop Book 4 

The dead have been buried. Silence is broken. And secrets refuse to stay where they lay.

As the troop pushes east toward Harper’s Creek, the weight of their survival in Windyspring lingers—along with a growing fear of what lies ahead. Tommy’s power evolves beyond even the elves’ understanding, and Arisaylia begins to question whether the path she and her son will walk was ever theirs to choose.

Back in Redtail Hold, Sella finds herself drawn into a role far greater—and more dangerous—than her songs alone. Her rising influence in the eyes of the elves threatens the balance of the Hold, and the line between duty and desire grows thinner and thinner.

But war isn’t fought only with weapons. As old alliances fray and ancient eyes turn towards the Serensea, both soldier and singer must decide who and what they are—before the tide of history swallows them before their new fate is born.

Harper’s Creek is Book Four of The Chronicles of the Troop, where fantasy meets philosophy, and where battles of the heart are as perilous to everyone involved as those of sword and hidden sorcery.

A note to readers: Fantasy combat, minor swearing, adult themes.

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DBW2DTN6

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/harper-s-creek-the-chronicles-of-the-troop-book-4-by-colin-darney

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217066222-harper-s-creek

About the Author 

In a world where gods are silent and magic is feared, Colin Darney writes stories about people who still fight forward. A veteran, trauma nurse, and lifelong student of human resilience, Colin’s fantasy series—The Chronicles of the Troop and the follow-up The Book of Ghaan—explore what it means to survive, to love, and to hold on to hope when the world says you shouldn’t.

Known for gritty realism, emotionally layered characters, and the kind of dialogue you’d actually hear in a bar full of off-duty soldiers, Colin blends classic epic fantasy with raw, lived experience. His readers often say the world feels real, the characters feel familiar—and that once they start reading, they can’t put it down.

The Book of Ghaan, Part Two is currently in editing, with release planned for summer 2025.

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bluesky * TikTok * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Author Links

Website: https://authorcdarney.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Author.C.Darney

X: https://x.com/authorcdarneY

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

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/authorcdarney.bsky.social

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorcdarney

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/colin-darney

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Colin-Darney/author/B09PBYD9ZY

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22085129.Colin_Darney

Giveaway 

$30 Amazon 

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

https://sdbook.promo/ChroniclesOfTheTroop