Introducing…

Introducing Sandra Danby.

/ lizziechantree / 4 Comments

Today it’s my pleasure to introduce you to popular author, Sandra Danby. Sandra now writes fiction full-time. Her short stories and flash fiction have been published online and in anthologies. Sandra is now writing ‘Sweet Joy’, third in the ‘Identity Detective’ series, set in London during The Blitz. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association ‘New Writers Scheme’.

Meet Sandra

I’m originally from East Yorkshire and, though I’ve lived in and around London for a long time now, my heart belongs to my seaside home. In fact I feel the call to return becoming stronger and stronger as I grow older. My family still lives in the same place and my oldest friend too, so I visit often. The black-and-white photograph is from a booth at Butlins Filey, taken on a Sunday School outing when I was ten. This was a big deal as our usual outings were to educational places such as Castle Howard. I’d been longing to go to Butlins as I’d heard about the dodgems. Note, this photo was taken in August but I’m wearing an Aran sweater, knitted for me by my mum.

Yorkshire childhood, cliffs at Bempton - photo @SandraDanby-1

Being a Northerner is deeply ingrained. I drink [very] strong tea, gallons of it every day. When it gets colder, I put on a jumper. The central heating is never turned above 18°C by me, but when I’m out my husband zaps it up to 23°C which feels tropical to me! And I make great meals from leftovers. Given all of this, it was no surprise to my family that Yorkshire features so strongly in my second book, Connectedness.

And so does my second spiritual home… Spain. For the last ten years, we’ve lived part of the time in Southern Spain near Málaga. Once I’d decided that the heroine of Connectedness should be an artist it seemed logical to make her a Yorkshire woman. And as Pablo Picasso was born in Málaga, it was quick hop and a step to take Justine to art college there.

Connectedness by Sandra Danby

About ‘Connectedness’

TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD, ARTIST JUSTINE TREE HAS IT ALL… BUT SHE ALWAYS HAS A SECRET THAT THREATENS TO DESTROY EVERYTHING

Justine’s art sells around the world, but does anyone truly know her? When her mother dies, she returns to her childhood home in Yorkshire where she decides to confront her past. She asks journalist Rose Haldane to find the baby she gave away when she was an art student, but only when Rose starts to ask difficult questions does Justine truly understand what she must face.

Is Justine strong enough to admit the secrets and lies of her past? To speak aloud the deeds she has hidden for 27 years, the real inspiration for her work that sells for millions of pounds. Could the truth trash her artistic reputation? Does Justine care more about her daughter, or her art? And what will she do if her daughter hates her?

This tale of art, adoption, romance and loss moves between now and the Eighties, from London’s art world to the bleak isolated cliffs of East Yorkshire and the hot orange blossom streets of Málaga, Spain.

A family mystery for fans of Maggie O’Farrell, Lucinda Riley, Tracy Rees and Rachel Hore.

Ignoring Gravity by Sandra Danby

About the ‘Identity Detective’ series

Rose Haldane reunites the people lost through adoption. The stories you don’t see on television shows. The difficult cases. The people who cannot be found, who are thought lost forever. Each book in the ‘Identity Detective’ series considers the viewpoint of one person trapped in this horrible dilemma. In the first book of the series, Ignoring Gravity, it is Rose’s experience we follow as an adult discovering she was adopted as a baby. Connectednessis the story of a birth mother and her longing to see her baby again. Sweet Joy, the third novel, will tell the story of a baby abandoned during The Blitz.

Unlike Rose Haldane, Sandra is not adopted.

Links

‘Connectedness’ at Amazon https://amzn.to/2q6qy5Z

‘Ignoring Gravity’ at Amazon http://amzn.to/1oCrxHd

Author website http://www.sandradanby.com/

Twitter https://twitter.com/SandraDanby

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

Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/sandradan1/



Introducing Arabella Sheen.

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Today I am happy to introduce you to such a lovely lady and talented author, Arabella Sheen. I met Arabella through the Romantic Novelists’ Association and it has been a pleasure to learn more about her work. Today she will be sharing the news about her latest sweet Regency release…Westbury.

Chit-Chat from Arabella Sheen…

Lizzie has asked me to tell her readers a little bit about me…so here goes.

Before, in a previous life, I left school with a few GCSE’s and trained as a nurse. Having qualified as a General Nurse, I then specialized in theatre nursing and moved to Holland in the Netherlands, where, for nearly twenty years, I lived, worked and breathed hospitals. I loved it. The work, the people, the place…everything. It was a brilliant life experience and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. The challenge of solving health problems whilst helping sick people at the same time was amazing. Although hard work, nursing is a rewarding job and one that I would recommend to anyone. Sadly, due to personal health reasons and the need for family support, I returned to England and my career track changed completely.

By day, I’m now employed as a chef in a busy international hotel and by night, I’m pounding the keys on the laptop, working on my latest work-in-progress.

Writing has always held a fascination for me. I have drawers, shelves, cupboards, and bookcases, all filled and covered with books. Anywhere and everywhere a book can be stored, you’ll find one. And it was simply a step from the longing to read romance novels, that the urge to write books evolved. The creation of stories has always captivated me.

I was fortunate enough to have been born and raised in Clifton, Bristol, England, (where I now live), and grew up surrounded by beautiful classical Georgian architecture. The romance of the Regency era has always held me spellbound and my imagination runs riot whenever I think about what could have happened behind some of the doors and in some of the buildings I walk by on a daily basis.

But, it was while travelling to a RNA Chapter meeting which was being held with fellow authors in Lacock, a historical village in the heart of Wiltshire, England, (where Cranford, Pride and Prejudice, Downton Abby, not to mention Harry Potter, were filmed), that the urge to write Westbury evolved.

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BOOK  BLURB:                    Westbury

Can Miss Georgina Morton surrender her independence and accept the Duke’s love?

Miss Georgina Morton, at the age of four-and-twenty, with a modest annual income of four hundred pounds, believes she has no need of a husband and can manage quite nicely without one. Yet within a matter of weeks, she’s betrothed to Giles Glentworth, the Sixth Duke of Westbury, and bound for Regency London.

Set in rural Wiltshire and elegant, fast-paced London…a runaway ward, a shooting at mid-night, and a visit to fashionable Almack’s, are only a few of the adventures Georgina enjoys while falling for the Corinthian charms of the Duke.

 

Arabella Sheen - Westbury - Cover - Feb 2019

BOOK EXCERPT:

The Marquis was a fine figure of a man. Handsome enough, with a crop of thick, raven-black hair swept back from his brow in the style known as a Brutus. His features, although not rugged, were strong and compelling. And his penetrating eyes, by startling contrast, were of a cool steely grey that was mesmerising. But his good looksand manly attractiveness did not sway her from the fact that his gentleman-likebehaviour wasn’t up to scratch or that he was shouting, giving her a dressing down in public.

Flustered and on the point of apologising for her hasty action, Georgina remained silent. When she heard his angry words and the tone of voice in which he spoke, she pointedly ignored his outburst and concentrated solely on straightening her lopsided bonnet. But when his horses moved, restlessly shaking their manes for attention, her bonnet, which had by now fallen from her head and dangled by its ribbons down her back, was completely forgotten.

Drawing near to where the high-perch phaetonstood, and with total disregard for her safety, she’d gone to the front of the carriage, taken the horses’ bridles in her gloved hands, and tried to calm them. Stroking their forelocks, she’d spoken soothing words before fixing a steely glare of disdain upon their owner.

Never before had she been more thankful for all the hours she’d spent in her bedchamber as a young girl, standing in front of the mirror, practising and perfecting the art of delivering the harshest of stares imaginable. Any lesser man than the Marquis would have baulked at herglower, but her unflinching look seemed not to affect him.

Arabella Sheen - Regency Romance - Banner

 

Westbury  – Ballrooms, Cotillions and Almack’s

Available from:

Amazon Universal:http://bit.ly/2TAndcI

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2DbG1Ie

Barnes & Noble – Nook:http://bit.ly/2RHldOb

Kobo:http://bit.ly/2GaHUJe

Website:http://www.arabellasheen.co.uk/sweet-regency.html

and other reputable ebook retailers.

 

Arabella keeps in touch with her readers on:

Website:http://www.arabellasheen.co.uk/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ArabellaSheenAuthor/

Twitter:https://twitter.com/ArabellaSheen

 

 

 

Introducing Ros Rendle.

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It’s my pleasure to introduce you to author Ros Rendle today. Ros is a fellow member of the Romantic Novelists Association.

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From Ros:

I am Ros Rendle and I tell fibs for a living. Well. . . don’t all writers? It’s the best job there is, living in many different worlds and meeting the people of my dreams, ensuring they do what I want and having happy endings.

I used to be a head teacher, writing policy documents, essays and letters, although also telling the odd story that young children seemed to enjoy. Now, writing for adults, the challenge is more demanding but very satisfying, especially when people give honest and positive reviews, I win awards, and manage to get an Amazon best-seller sticker.

When we moved to live in France, I had time to explore my imagination using many of the local colourful people and situations as stimulus. Support from the Romantic Novelists’ Association New Writers’ scheme gave me the impetus I needed to succeed. Sense and French Ability was my first published novel, followed quickly by Peace of Time. My publisher has these two are on a price reduction currently.

A series, about three sisters during times of major 20thcentury conflict, are also on Amazon and gaining good reviews. These are Flowers of Flanders, Flowers of Resistance and a novella, Delphi’s Dilemma. I collect Fumsup lucky charms that were given to soldiers in WW1 for a speedy and safe return. In Flowers for Flandersone sister tells another a malicious lie which will affect the course of all their lives. When Michael goes to war, Rose gives her Fumsup to Michael. To discover whether it works at all and whether he comes back to her or her sister, you will need to read the book.

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Further information can be found at :

www.rosrendleauthor.co.uk

www.facebook.com/RosalindRendleAuthor

www.twitter.com/ros_rendle

www.instagram.com/ros_rendle

6 friends - or are they_love, betrayal and life-changing decisionsfrom best selling, award winning author

and books are available from:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Ros+Rendle&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

or

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=ros+rendle&ref=nb_sb_noss

Thank you, Lizzie, for this opportunity. I hope people continue to enjoy my books and the next should be revealing itself soon.

Introducing Julie Ryan.

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About Julie:

Julie Ryan’s roots are in a small mining village in South Yorkshire. After a degree in French Language and Literature, wanderlust kicked in and she lived and worked in France, Poland, Thailand and Greece. Her spirit enriched, her imagination fired, Julie started a series of mystery romances; thrillers set in the Greek Isles. She has also written a Christmas rom-com and her latest work, Finding Rose, is a contemporary novel with a strong historical element.

A prolific and well-known book review blogger, Julie does her writing and reviewing from rural Gloucestershire, where she lives with her husband, son and rescue cat. She manages to write a book a year although without their help, she would probably write more quickly. She is a book addict and will soon need either a bigger house for her collection or a new husband!

When not writing or reading or eating chocolate, she can be found treading the boards in the local amateur dramatic society – Oh yes she can!

 

Finding Rose – blurb

When three sisters, Ginny, Sally and Molly are brought together at their father’s hospital bed, they are forced to confront not only the prospect of a future without him but also the secrets of the past that have kept them apart.

Their father, Eddie Matthews, drugged up on morphine, seems to be rambling but could he, in fact, be reliving previous lives as a Tudor monk and as a soldier on the Front in WW1? Struggling to speak he reveals that he has a secret and urges his daughters to ‘Find Rose’. Can the sisters put aside their differences to fulfil his last wish?

 

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Finding Rose Buy the book here

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Introducing Emily Royal.

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Today’s Introducing guest is author and fellow member of the Romantic Novelists Association, Emily Royal. I absolutely love the photos she has sent me for this post, especially the first one where she seems to be being kissed by a snake! I was also interested to learn that Emily used to be an airline pilot. Read on to find out more…

 

Over to Emily:

Emily lives in rural Scotland with her husband and two teenage daughters, together with their menagerie of pets including hamsters, chickens and 12 snakes. Despite popular opinion, her snakes are all friendly and include Twinkle, an attention-seeking boa constrictor and Burma, an unimaginatively-named Burmese Python, who loves to come out for cuddles. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, currently serving on the committee, and graduated from their New Writers’ Scheme.

Emily’s debut novel The Sins of the Sire, was published by Tirgearr on 13 March 2019 and is a gritty, dark and sexy historical romance set in the Highlands of Scotland – a tale of vengeance and atonement set during William Wallace’s rebellion against Edward I. It’s the first in her Dark Highland Passions series and she’s currently writing the next book in the series. The Sins of the Sire is available as an e-book and is free on Kindle Unlimited.

Her second published book will be a standalone Medieval Romance, published later in the year by Wild Rose Press. Another dark and sexy historical, the book has themes of Outlander, Game of Thrones and The Handmaid’s Tale.

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Emily currently works as an actuary after having indulged in a brief dream of becoming an airline pilot almost 30 years ago when she left university. Her job enables her to travel, so she accumulates air miles as a passenger and uses her time waiting around at airports for drafting. She also has the opportunity to be creative with her job which has enabled her to teach and present lectures at various companies and institutions around the world, including a university in Beijing where the students were very interested to learn about romantic fiction, as well as actuarial science!

Emily is a sucker for a dark story, particularly if it contains a tortured hero, and she cites Gollum as her all-time favourite literary character.

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Emily can be found at:

Twitter: @eroyalauthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eroyalauthor/

Website: http://www.emroyal.com/

Links for The Sins of the Sire:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07N974NW5/

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N974NW5/

 

Introducing Elly Redding.

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It’s my great pleasure to introduce you to award winning author Elly Redding today. Elly is a fellow member of The Romantic Novelists Association and she’s here to tell you more about her work.

From Elly:

I’ve always lived with a dream or two bubbling away in my head. Whether it was tap dancing with Fred Astaire, or dashing through a forest to escape from villains, my imagination has always sent me to a world where almost anything could happen. Only it would have been very lonely, if I’d been there all by myself. So, I created a hero, or at least I thought I had, to make my dreams come true.

Only what happens when things go wrong? When the love of your life turns out to have feet of clay?

Book cover of True Colours-1

“True Colours” is the first in my trilogy of second chance romances. It tells the story of a very determined young lady, called Kate. She’s been through the mill, or any other contraption you might care to name. After all, it’s not every day that you discover your fiancé within groping distance of a pair of heaving breasts that aren’t yours. And she’s done the sensible thing, she’s sent him packing. Only now Saul’s back. And this time, it doesn’t look as though he’s going to take ‘no’ for an answer…

I was thrilled when ‘True Colours’ won The New Talent Award at The Festival of Romance. Since then, it’s been awarded a B.R.A.G. Medallion, Chill with a Book Readers’ Book of the Month, and received third prize in The Independent Author Book Award “Words for the Wounded”.

My career has spanned from nursing to owning a specialist medical translation company. When not writing romantic fiction, I enjoy family, friends and conversation; art, travel, and trying not to fall over my own feet in – you guessed it – tap dancing. Oh, and I’m finally learning how to swim…

Find out more about Elly’s work here:

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2Y3Hj1N
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2THU7wi
Website: https://ellyredding.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ellyredding
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EllyReddingAuthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellyredding/

Introducing D.I. Finn.

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I’m absolutely thrilled to showcase this talented author today. She’s a wonderful lady and I met her when I became a member of the #RRBC book club. She shows endless support to others and it’s my great pleasure to tell you more about her latest work today.

Thank you, Lizzie, for having me on your blog today to help celebrate the release of my first poetry book, “Just Her Poetry Seasons of a Soul.”

Finn Facts:

  1. My grandson declared after watching the Disney movie, “Moana” (and seeing the grandma come back as a stingray) that I would be a dolphin. Which is: D-L-F-I-N-N.
  2. I try to write poetry in as many places as possible, including while riding on the back of a Harley. I haven’t figured out how to write underwater when I’m snorkeling—yet.

Blurb:

Take a journey with D.L. Finn as she blends her love of nature with her deepest emotions. Sit with her on the forest floor observing its tranquil beauty, or stroll along the ocean’s shore admiring the vastness of its horizon. Here in these peaceful moments you’ll be able to experience her thoughts and feelings in the light—and in the darkness. This is a thought-provoking collection of poetry that invites the reader into all the seasons of a soul.

Excerpt from NATURE Spring and Summer

SIT ALONE

I sit alone on our deck

Blanketed in the sun’s warm rays,

The bird’s chirps and trills

Fill the silent space.

 

Our big black cat

Looks for his prey,

And chases away the bees

Who wander into my presence.

 

Our dogs lazy on their backs

In the backyard with their paws in the air,

Like a yoga pose

Welcoming the warmth.

 

Distant pond frogs sing their loud chorus

A lone cloud floats by,

Reminding me of the winter past

And storms yet to come.

 

But right now it is time to bask

In what spring has brought,

So, for this moment

I sit blissfully alone.

 

Author Bio:

D.L. Finn is an independent California local who encourages everyone to embrace their inner child. She was born and raised in the foggy Bay Area, but in 1990 relocated with her husband, kids, dogs, and cats to the Sierra foothills in Nevada City, CA. She immersed herself in reading all types of books, but especially loved romance, horror, and fantasy. She always treasured creating her own reality on paper. Finally, being surrounded by towering pines, oaks, and cedars, her creativity was nurtured until it bloomed. Her creations vary from children’s books, young adult fantasy, and adult paranormal romance to an autobiography with poetry. She continues on her adventures with an open invitation for her readers to join her.

 

Amazon Purchase Link

D.L. Finn Links:

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Pinterest

D.L. Finn blog



Introducing Morton S. Gray.

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Today I am thrilled to have author Morton S. Gray on my blog. She’s such a lovely lady  and I can’t wait for you to find out more about her work.

Biography for Morton S. Gray

Morton lives with her husband, two sons and Lily, the tiny white dog, in Worcestershire, U.K. She has been reading and writing fiction for as long as she can remember, penning her first attempt at a novel aged fourteen. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and The Society of Authors.

Her debut novel The Girl on the Beach was published after she won Choc Lit Publishing Search for a Starcompetition. The story follows a woman with a troubled past as she tries to unravel the mystery surrounding her son’s headteacher, Harry Dixon. This book is available as a paperback and e-book.

Morton’s second book for Choc Lit The Truth Lies Buried is another romantic suspense novel, the book tells the story of Jenny Simpson and Carver Rodgers as they uncover secrets from their past. This book is available as an e-book and will be issued as a paperback and audiobook on 12 March 2019.

Christmas at Borteen Bay was published on 13 November 2018 and is Morton’s first Christmas novella. It is set in her fictional seaside town of Borteen and follows the story of Pippa Freeman who runs the Rose Court Guesthouse with her mother and local policeman Ethan Gibson as they unravel a family secret as Christmas approaches.

Morton previously worked in the electricity industry in committee services, staff development and training. She has a Business Studies degree and is a fully qualified clinical hypnotherapist and Reiki Master. She also has diplomas in Tuina acupressure massage and energy field therapy. She enjoys crafts, history and loves tracing family trees. Having a hunger for learning new things is a bonus for the research behind her books.

You can catch up with Morton on her website www.mortonsgray.com, on

Twitter – @MortonSGray

Facebook – Morton S. Gray Author – https://www.facebook.com/mortonsgray/and

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/morton_s_gray/

Purchasing links for The Girl on the Beachat http://www.choc-lit.com/dd-product/the-girl-on-the-beach/

Purchasing links forThe Truth Lies Buriedathttp://www.choc-lit.com/dd-product/the-truth-lies-buried/

Purchasing links for Christmas in Borteen Bayat https://www.choc-lit.com/dd-product/christmas-at-borteen-bay/

Proudly writing for Choc Lit-8


        

Introducing Francine Beaton.

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Today’s special guest is Francine Beaton. She’s a fellow member of the Romantic Novelists Association and I’ll certainly be adding her books to my TBR list.

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About Francine:

FRANCINE BEATON is a romance writer who lives in South Africa with her Scottish husband and teenage daughter. When she’s not reading or writing about love and Happily Ever After, she’s most likely busy painting or taking photos of everything that catches her eye. During rugby season, you’ll either find her next to the pitch or in front of the television, following her favourite teams. It’s probably not difficult to figure out why her debut novel, Eye on the Ball, as well as the series, Playing for Glory, has rugby as a theme. Whenever she gets the opportunity, she loves travelling to faraway places and considers Scotland her second home.

Francine Beaton

BUYING LINKS:

Eye on the Ball: https://amzn.to/2TiIFDj

Obstruction: https://amzn.to/2Hm1SC2

Taste for Coffee: https://amzn.to/2QNzgBh

Making the Right Call: https://amzn.to/2O6wsma

Summertime Blue: https://amzn.to/2TtksK3

Blou Somer: https://amzn.to/2RxXnEp

My Blue Heaven: https://amzn.to/2B8mUOZ

ʼn Stukkie Blou Hemel: https://amzn.to/2RTQqm8

HYPERLINKS

https://www.francinebeaton.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FrancineBeatonAuthor/

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

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/BeatonFrancine

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomfrancinebeaton

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Francine-Beaton/e/B07BJH92HR

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/francine-beaton



Introducing Lorna Suzuki

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It’s my great pleasure to introduce you to an author who I met whilst networking on social media, Lorna Susuki. Lorna also runs a popular blog and I was lucky enough to be interviewed there, just over a week ago. Lorna is having her work adapted for a cable television series, which sounds so exciting and I can’t wait for you to all find out more about this talented lady.

Meet Lorna.

After multiple, failed bids at world domination, Lorna Suzuki was forced to create a fantasy world where she reigns supreme… until her characters orchestrated a military coup!

With over 35 years in the field of martial arts, she is a 5th degree black belt practitioner/instructor of Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, an ancient fighting system incorporating 6 traditional samurai schools and 3 schools of ninjutsu.

As a freelance writer, she has tackled everything from biographies to scriptwriting for an adventure travel series. When it comes to fiction writing, she is best known for the 10-novel epic adult fantasy series, the Imago Chronicles. The first three Imago novels are currently being adapted for a cable TV series. She also co-wrote with her daughter, Nia Suzuki-White, the 5-novel YA fantasy series, The Dream Merchant Saga.

In writing the Imago Chronicles series she created a female protagonist, one that is reluctantly accepted into the brotherhood of warriors. Drawing on her own experiences as a woman in the once male-dominated field of law enforcement and martial arts, she brings the female warrior, Nayla Treeborn, to life.

When Lorna is not murdering her characters or destroying entire civilizations with a few keystrokes, she is either mangling people into submission, puttering in her garden or baking delectable pies and other tasty treats.

Lorna Susuki

Website: http://www.imagochronicles.com/IMAGO_FANTASY_REALM/Welcome.html

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=books-ca&field-author=Lorna T. Suzuki

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/imago