Author Q&A – Helen Garraway 

Author Q&A – Helen Garraway

Helen Garraway lives in England, UK and has been writing about the world of Remargaren, a fantasy world of her creation, since 2016 when an imperfect storm of events left her home alone with her cat and time to spare. Having graduated from the University of Southampton with a Degree in Politics and International Relations, she remains an active member of their alumni. An avid reader of many different fiction genres, a love she inherited from her mother, Helen writes fantasy stories and enjoys paper crafting and scrap booking as an escape from the pressure of working for a Video conferencing company as a Product Manager creating services for the solutions they manufacture.

Sentinals Awaken is Helen’s debut novel and will be followed by Sentinals Rising and Sentinals Justice, both of which are currently being edited.

Sentinals Awakening is available TODAY

 

Q1: Tell us about your writing/published books

I have just released my debut fantasy novel, Sentinals Awaken. This is the first book in the Sentinal series and is set in a feudal world of my creation called Remargaren. It’s a world where magic has been banished for over three thousand years ago, but unexplained changes are happening. Jerrol Haven, a King’s Ranger, discovers treason at the highest level and although the King tries to help him, he falls ill and the Crown Prince sentences Jerrol to death. Jerrol must escape, discover why magic is leaking back into his world and unravel the mystery of the insidious disease overtaking the watches. After accidentally awakening a Lady’s Sentinal, one of the goddesses personal guards, he needs to figure out how to wake the rest and rescue the King – but even then, his troubles are only just beginning.

 

Q2: Have you always wanted to write?

I’ve always been an avid reader, but I can’t say I have always wanted to write a novel. My background is in marketing, so I have always worked with words, and enjoyed playing around with them. That’s how I came up with Sentinals. I wanted a word that evoked guardians or protection, but the word sentinel always makes me think of computers or AI, and my world is feudal, so I changed the e to an a, and I have my own Sentinals.

My mum instilled in me my love of books and reading.  She would sit and watch the telly, a book on her knee and knit at the same time! We enjoyed discussing plot and characters and anticipating what would happen next. She would have loved this. She would have been my biggest supporter; beta reader, proofreader, you name it. Unfortunately, she passed away four years ago, and that was my catalyst. My daughter left for university and I had an empty house and I began writing. And out tumbled seven books over a period of three years. Along with a couple of half-finished ideas! This last year I have been editing the first three books and now the first is out there. My second book, Sentinals Rising will be published in the spring of next year, maybe around Easter.

 

Q3: Tell us about a scene that you loved but had to edit out of your book.

I had a scene near the beginning of the book where Jerrol and Jennery meet and whilst they are discussing what has been happening, a man tries to creep up on them. Jennery overpowers him, has a wrestling match in the mud and ruins another set of clothes, and half suffocates the suspected assassin in the mud, (when you read the book you’ll understand). It turns out he wasn’t an assassin but a scholar, sent to try and help. But then I changed the storyline to waken the Sentinal, Birlerion, much earlier and then I had too many characters, so I cut Arthal out of the book completely, so the scene had to go. But I was smiling to myself as I wrote it because he was so inept! Maybe I’ll search it out and post it as an ‘out-take’ to my members corner on my website.

 

Q4: How do you fit your writing into your everyday life.

With difficulty! I wrote a blog post about balancing acts, and how you have to be good at juggling to be a writer. I have a full-time job as a product manager, where I create new services for our products during the day, and at night and on weekends, well…I have just published my debut fantasy novel Sentinals Awaken. My second novel in the series, Sentinals Rising is with the editor. I’ve kicked off the cover design and map for book 2. I have to say – isn’t the cover art for Sentinals Awaken gorgeous? It was created by Jeff Brown (www.jeffbrowngraphics.com) and he did a fantastic job. I am editing the third novel, Sentinals Justice. I’ve just posted a free novella called Convergence, for those who are interested in learning more about my characters, sign up to my newsletter to get the link and find out how Jerrol and Taelia first met. And then there is the social media. You are most likely to find me on twitter, though I have created Pinterest boards on imagery I associate with the different countries I am writing about. Vespiri is green and lush, lots of forests and rivers. I am new to Instagram and have just created a face book author page, but I do have a presence and you can follow me there too. I couldn’t create a Goodreads author page without a published book, so that will be live soon.  Look forward to engaging on your platform of choice and answering your questions about the world of Remargaren, or my publishing experiences!

 

Q5: Tell me about your current work

In Book Two Sentinals Rising, Jerrol begins to learn more about the Sentinals he has woken, and through him we begin to understand a little more about who they are and where they came from. Its an opportunity to dig a little deeper and discover what happened all those years ago when the Lady acted to save her world. Not only is Jerrol tasked to protect his King, he is also sent off to a neighbouring kingdom to help the nomadic families of Terolia who are disintegrating under the Ascendant threat. So, plenty more action and adventure to come. I’m hoping to have everything ready to publish in the spring, by Easter at the latest.

 

Q6: How many books do you own?

Ooh, lots. Because I never give them away. I love fantasy and some Sci Fi, and I’ll read other genres like thriller and romance. I’ll give any genre a go once, though probably not horror, as I have a queasy tummie and too much blood and gore is just euch! Unfortunately, I don’t have space for them all on the shelves so some of them are boxed up. Especially as my daughter is also a bookworm- different genres but loves buying books! She has overflowed onto my bookshelves.

Thank goodness for the eReader. Though, I must admit I do prefer the feel of a book in my hand, so I often buy both the ebook and the physical book. That way, travelling or at home, my favourites are always to hand. I often re-read books. I had to buy a new version of Partners in Necessity by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller because I wore it out.

You can find out more about my books, publishing progress, blog and book reviews on www.helengarraway.com. Sign up to my newsletter and get the link to the free novella Convergence.

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