Author Interview: D. Thomas Jerlo

 

Please welcome to the Pen Dames blog author D. Thomas Jerlo, who also writes as Dawné Dominique!

We’re excited by this opportunity to interview her and treat you to an excerpt from her novel, Dark Prisoner: The Kruthos Key. She’s one of our favorite writers as well as a talented artist who has created many beautiful covers for Pen Dames books. We know you will enjoy getting to know her.

 Dawné is also giving away a free eBook to one lucky commenter!

 Here’s the interview:

 Please tell us a little about YOU—where you live, your background, jobs, interests, etc.

I’m an author living in one of the coldest regions of Canada. I write under the pennames of D. Thomas Jerlo and Dawné Dominique. I also have twenty-five plus years’ experience as a professional book cover artist and run DusktilDawn Designs.  I’m also a twin, with my sister being 45 minutes older (it’s why my mom likes her best).  I am in the process of retiring from my paralegal position and look forward to writing full-time (again).

 How and when did your writing journey begin?

I wrote stories all my life in a little black notebook and probably began a dozen novels throughout my lifetime, which I never finished; however, in the early 1980’s I discovered Anne Rice and was instantly hooked on paranormal. Although I was primarily a fantasy reader, Ms. Rice gave me the push to follow my dream of becoming a published author. I joined a writing site and learned all I could about fiction. I have met some unbelievably talented people along my journey, and I have them all to thank for helping me become who I am in this business. 

     Which authors/books are on your keeper shelves?

To name just a few: J.R. Tolkein, Anne Rice, Robert Jordan, George R. R. Martin, Terry Brooks, Stephen King, Piers Anthony ... I could list more but there’s only so much room. 

What genre is your book? What do you like about writing in that genre?

Dark Prisoner: The Kruthos Key is an epic fantasy novel similar to Lord of the Rings, but with a female heroine. It was my first love genre to write. Since then, I have branched out into paranormal and speculative fiction. Writing in these genres allows me to use my imagination to its fullest.

What is the setting of your book? Please describe it.

Etharia is a fantasy world made up of majestic mountains, fertile plains, rich forests and many lakes...it’s beautiful.

Why did you choose this setting? Is it a real place or did you create it for the story?

I wanted to create a setting that was relatable to readers, so I chose a setting very similar to Canada.

Is your book part of a series or a standalone? If it is part of a series, briefly describe the series.

Dark Prisoner: The Kruthos Key and Dark Prisoner: Ebbing of Tides is a two-book series.  Ebbing of Tides requires proofing and edits before I can send same to my publisher for consideration. Both novels share Suna and Feran’s journey to save Etharia. In the process of doing so, they find that more than duty binds them together. There is a little romance, but the gist of the story is epic battles, the fight for power, good overcoming evil, and a few memorable characters that will stay with you long after the book is finished.

Writing this book was more than a labor of love. I took facets of what was happening in my real life and turned it into fiction. When I write, my world(s) must be believable, even in fantasy. I want my characters to intimately touch my readers and make them laugh or cry. Dark Prisoner has epic battles, scheming underlords, heroes that you want to cheer for and villains you'll despise.

 Describe your main character—life, personality, motivation—whatever you think will make us want to get to know the person.

Dark Prisoner: The Kruthos Key centralizes on Suna Di'Viao, a Divenean with mage'ical abilities, so she ages much more slowly than an average human. She's hidden from the world for over thirty years, wallowing in guilt and remorse for failing to protect her king and queen. During her isolation her entire race vanishes, leaving Suna the last of her kind. I like to think of this novel as a little like J.R. Tolkien meets Wonder Woman with serious guilt issues. I structured Suna after myself because what I wanted to do more than anything at the time I was writing this book was to hide from the world. I wanted to be strong and confident again, but I had lost myself, very much like Suna. For me, my characters are very real people; they have flaws, and I wanted her to be as relatable as possible.

Suna intuitively feels the land’s pain and senses change is coming and it is not good. Being on her own for so many years has left her bitter, and solitude is something she not only craves but feels she needs; however, she is instructed to meet up with someone who is to help her find the Kruthos key - a companion she does not want or need, but has no choice but to accept.

What writing projects do you have on the horizon?

I have a mystery/thriller in the works, but I need to finish a few previous projects first. The basics of the book are mapped out, but because this is a new genre for me, I’m doing my research. In other news, I have finally finished writing the fifth and final novel to my vampire series, which is currently undergoing extensive rewrites and edits.

What do you like to do when not writing?

I have a five-year-old grandson who I absolutely adore, and we try to spend as much time with him as possible. Having battled cancer all last year, I find time and health the most precious commodities in life, and I want to spend as much time as I can with my loved ones.

 

Month of Love: Lord of Fire

Pen Dames Celebrate the Month of Love

Lord of Fire (Wytchfae Series #5)

by Flossie Benton Rogers

When The Hawk meets his Wytchfae, the result is spontaneous combustion.

Adept in witchery and of Fae lineage, Wytchfae Garnet McAnna chases the demon responsible for enslaving innocent Fae familiars. Unexpected trouble strikes in the form of a mesmerizing stranger known as The Hawk.

Exiled from an elite warrior's brigade, Lord of Fire Gabriel Hawk lives isolated from the human world and the realm of Fae. To be left alone is all he craves. Then Garnet bursts on the scene with her tough manner and tender heart, and long-forgotten feelings begin to stir. Will dark forces prevail, or will Garnet and Gabriel come together to save the innocents?

Lord of Fire is a standalone paranormal romance in the Wytchfae Series.

Amazon 5 Star Review:

Yet another fantastic entry in the author’s Wytchfae series, LORD OF FIRE is packed with action, adventure, magic, and romance. The pace is practically non-stop from the opening scene, an enthralling tale that will have you eagerly flipping Kindle pages to see what happens next. The whole tale is fun and the chemistry between the leads has just the right mix of give and take. A winner!

#witches #fairies #magic

Buy Link:  Lord of Fire

About the Wytchfae Series:

Each book in the series is a standalone paranormal romance with different main characters and storylines. The books are action-packed and set in the real world and the magical world of faeries, witches, goddesses, demons, angels, guardians, and ghosts from various mythologies. Some of the realms are welcoming, others dangerous and forbidding. Throughout it all, love prevails.

Fate Comes Softly Anthology

 

Fate Comes Softly

Meet Liberty Trivette, Isabelle Landers, and Audra Tadlock.

A collection of three unforgettable love stories.

*****I give this book 5 of 5 stars. Each story is unique and will appeal to a wide audience. The characters are so diverse yet realistic. I felt I knew many of them well and hated the way some acted though they were true to character. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. ~ Chrisk

 

 Saving Liberty

Falsely accused of a crime she didn’t commit, Liberty Trivette is exiled from a wagon train. Alone on the prairie, she fears for the life of her unborn child. For widower Ethan Wheeler, saving Liberty creates unforeseen challenges. As love unexpectedly blooms between them, Liberty and Ethan dare to envision a future together until the man responsible for having her cast out of the wagon train shows up and threatens to shatter their lives.

Isabelle and the Outlaw

History Professor Isabelle Landers accidentally walks into a time portal. Propelled back two hundred years to land smack dab in Arizona’s outlaw territory, she meets Raphael Sinclair, a Pinkerton agent posing as an outlaw. According to her history book after he was wrongly hanged, his body disappeared and was never found. Isabelle is faced with the dilemma of saving Rafe from hanging a second time. Falling in love was never part of the equation. If he leaves his world he will die. If Isabelle stays with him then she will die. Can their love survive the ultimate sacrifice?

McKenna's Woman

 

Nothing is more important to McKenna Smith than receiving a pardon from the State of Texas for a murder he didn’t commit. Working undercover as a photographer his luck changes for the better when he recognizes Audra Tadlock, the twin sister of the man who betrayed him. But McKenna and Audra’s delicate bond of trust is threatened when she learns the shocking truth that the brother, she thought died ten years ago is alive and a maniacal killer. If she testifies against him, he’ll hang; if she allies to save him, then she risks losing McKenna’s love.

 

Available in print or as an Ebook at Amazon.com; BarnesNoble, or your favorite online store

HAPPY READING!

 

Month of Love: Heartbeat of the Moon

For February, the Pen Dames are each taking a week to highlight one of our books. Of course, the theme this month is Love.

Heartbeat of the Moon is Book #2 in my Rhythm of the Moon series. It's a historical romance that features a midwife and a musician and apothecary who suffers from bipolar disorder. 

What does love mean to me? Love is about accepting each other's flaws and weaknesses. My stories reflect that even those of us who aren't "perfect" deserve a chance at love. We all have our struggles; we all make mistakes. Love is forgiving. And sometimes love requires strength and mercy. The following excerpt reflects my two main characters, Maggie and Ian, as they work toward understanding each other's complexities. After a long trip, Ian had returned with a precious book by the great Greek doctor and philosopher Galen. He is very excited.

     She could not help but be wrapped up in his enthusiasm. "How interesting. I will look forward to reading it, when I am not so busy."

     He cocked his head. "I will read it to you later."

     She scowled. "Read it to me? Am I a child of five? You know I can read, well or better than you." The old woman who had schooled her in midwifery had also taught her to read. "Do you think I am not intelligent enough to understand it?"

     He grinned, tapping his fingers on the counter.

     Aggravation prickled her skin like stinging nettles.

     His eyes followed the blush burning from her cheeks to her bosom. He stepped back in mock alarm, and she gave in to her rage. Insufferable man!

     "Do you think you are far smarter than I? Do you think because you have traveled to the ends of the earth, seeing more in one trip than I have seen in my life, you can lord it over me?"

     His lips quivered. God help him if he smiled. He reached out his hand, and she backed away.

     "I will not be patronized like a child. Read it to me?"

     He grasped her hands and brought them to his lips, despite her struggle. "Maggie."

     Did he think her nothing but a lowly midwife from London's slums? What kind of rare women did he meet, traveling so far away from her, for him to think of her in such a way?

     "Maggie."

     His voice caressed her inside with long, slow strokes. His lips lingered enticingly near, firm, long, and tilting at the corners. He had a small nick on his chin from shaving. 

     "What?" God curse her, she squeaked.

     "It is written in Greek."

                                                                      ****

Love endures, through setbacks and misunderstandings, and requires humor, kindness, and self-love to survive. 

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone. 

Month of Love: Water Desires

 

For February, the Pen Dames are each taking a week to highlight one of our books. Of course, the theme this month is love.

Water Desires

by Katherine Eddinger Smits

Water Desires, Love’s Siren Song Book Two

Nik is in Greece waiting for her shapeshifter lover to return from rescuing migrant humans when a stranger carries an unconscious and badly injured Bas in from the Aegean Sea. She’s desperate to take him to an island in the Atlantic where a hidden spring of healing water will restore him.

But at the same time, Nik’s adoptive father is dying from a boating accident in her hometown of Tarpon Springs, Florida, and he’s asking for her. 

While battling a strange illness which antibiotics won’t cure, Nik must figure out a way to save Bas and get home to help her father. 

When Bas follows Nik to Florida, he is forced to keep his distance from her. He has already escaped one death sentence because of their relationship, and he can’t risk another. Still, he’s furious when Nik turns to her old friend, a mage Bas dislikes, to help her unravel the hidden truth behind her father’s accident. 

Water Desires is Book Two in the Love’s Siren Song Series. The thrilling sequel to the award-winning Water Dreams will drag you under and not let you up for air until the end. 

If you like mermaids, mages and magical romantic suspense, you’ll love this book. 

#star-crossed lovers #shapeshifters #paranormal

For fans of Debbie Herbert, Emma Hamm, and Christine Feehan  

Amazon 5 Star Review:

This is a great follow up to water dreams. There is tragedy, intense moments and love. Nik is strong, and determined to do things her way and figure herself out. Great book!!!

Buy Link:

Water Desires, Love’s Siren Song Book Two

Pen Dames Pointers! Tips to Jazz Up Your Writing 2024-1-8

 

A passion of Pen Dames is to help other writers by sharing tips and insights we have learned along the way. We hope you will find the pointers beneficial to your writing process.

Loretta C. Rogers

Read Recent Books in Your Genre

Avoid modeling your story after a book written 10 years ago or you may find that your novel is hopelessly out of date. When you research the market for the genre you plan to write, definitely study the classics, but also read books with recent copyright dates to check out the newer story lines.

Katherine Eddinger Smits

Sensory Details

Readers want to be immersed in a book, to become so involved in the fictional dream they forget where they are and feel like they are living the story along with the protagonist.

How do authors create that experience for them? By using sensory details in description. Sensory details include what the character sees, hears, smells, tastes, feels (both external and internal), and anything they perceive, filtered through their own unique personality, mood, and circumstances.

What does your heroine notice as she runs through the woods? 

It depends. 

If she’s Little Red Riding Hood trying to escape the Big Bad Wolf, she may only pay attention to the distance remaining to Grandma’s cottage, the weight of the basket thumping against her legs and slowing her down, the blur of tree limbs as she passes by, the wheeze of her breathing: only those things immediately relevant to her dire situation. 

What if she is Belle, running through the woods to warn Beast that Gaston is on his way with the torch-bearing villagers intent on destroying him and all those who dwell within his doomed castle? Her heart will be thudding with fear for him, not herself. She’ll spot every root and branch which is about to trip her up or delay her progress. The howling wolves are circling. And the pounding footsteps of the townspeople get louder as they gain on her. 

Or what if she is Katniss Everdeen before she volunteers as Tribute? As she runs through the forest, she concentrates on the hunt; her belly grumbles for something to eat; she focuses on the trail of the animal she plans to bring home to feed their family. Small, rustling sounds in the brush indicate where her prey hides. She imagines the aroma of the meal roasting over the fire, and she salivates as she anticipates the meaty, savory taste.

Place your protagonist in a critical scene. Then, consider the sensory details he or she experiences in the moment. Describe two or three of the most evocative ones to your reader, and your story will work its spell on them!

Barbara Cairns

Write What You Want to Read

When you create a story that you love yourself, it comes through in the writing. It will read as if in the words, and your protagonist and characters as a whole, pop off the page instead of being flat. It will also be much easier to write, and you’ll get excited about your story or topic. Picking the right genre for your book matters as you progress on your writing journey.

Jennifer Taylor

Honor Your Accomplishments

Making New Year's resolutions? There's nothing like making a fresh start at the beginning of the year. Some years I am as ambitious as a squirrel in a peanut factory. I leave no to-do stone unturned. At the end of the year, when I look back at what I'd written, I laugh like a maniac. There is no way a thousand Nora Roberts could have accomplished the writing goals that I had set out to do (and let's face it, one Nora Roberts is pretty formidable in her ability to produce stories). Now, there's nothing wrong with aiming high, and good for you if you can accomplish every goal you set out to do. And this applies to all life goals. But if you didn't, give yourself Grace. 

Even the most realistic writing goals can get derailed by life's unexpected events. For example, you're working like a house afire on that 5,000-word-a-week goal that you had set on January 1, and Pestilence hits the house. Take the Kleenexes that you've stuffed inside your runny nostrils to keep working and go lie down for a nap. We all need to remember Self-Care. You'll be up and running (and hopefully not your nose!) again soon.  

At the end of the week/month/year, take a look at what you were able to accomplish. Give yourself a break and a pat on the back. You made it through and now you can begin again. Maybe you'll even get an opportunity to get a few extra thousand words in.

Whatever your goals, be it writing, getting in shape, or learning a new hobby or skill, remember there are people who care about you and who will cheer you on. Just reach out. And most of all, have a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Flossie Benton Rogers

Sequential Action vs Consecutive Action

Be careful not to show actions happening at the same time when it's impossible for the actions to be anything but sequential. (Exception: Keep in mind that writing style is a factor, and allowances are sometimes made to show a rapid, seamless flow of action.)

Error: She walked into the room, taking a seat beside her friend. (She can’t walk and take a seat at the same time.)

Fix: She walked into the room and took a seat beside her friend.

            

Error: Sitting down, she sipped tea from the ornate cup. (Sitting down and sipping tea at the same time may be physically possible but would be awkward.)

Fix: She sat down and sipped tea from the ornate cup.

       

Possible exception to show rapid, seamless action:

The Marshall whipped out his gun, blowing the bad guy to Kingdom Come.

Did these suggestions resonate with you? Let us know, and also tell us of any writing questions you have and topics you’d like us to cover in these Pointers.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy writing! Cheers from the Pen Dames.

Happy New Year 2024 from the Pen Dames

 

Happy New Year 2024 from the Pen Dames! Blessings for all good things in your life, including warm family time, sparkling good health, spiritual uplift, prosperity and abundance, bountiful creative accomplishments, and tons of marvelous reading!