MY INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR L.E. HARRISON

 

 

What’s your name and what genre would you consider your books to be?

My name is L.E. Harrison. I like to describe my books as Contemporary Fantasy, which is fantasy set in the present day. It’s a bit like Urban Fantasy, but without the crime-fighting or detective elements.

 

Tell me about your book. How did you come up with that (story, angle, idea)?

When I was fourteen years old, I happened to be staring out the big bay window of our house in Sunnyvale, California when a spring water truck painted with the name ACADIA in big, bold letters drove by. I remember thinking it would be a great name for a character in a book, so I began writing a story about a girl with that name. As I continued to write about her, vivid scenes began playing in my mind, and a host of other interesting characters began to show up. Over the years, the story evolved and took on a life of its own. The scenes that eventually became The Children of Corvus series were a far cry from those earlier drafts, however. For instance, it took me several years to discover that I was writing about a tribe of shapeshifters in northern Maine. The first book in the series was finally finished around 2012—nearly 30 years after I saw that spring water truck pass by my window!

 

 

 

 

 

What kind of research did you do for this book?

When I began this series, there were certain things I knew about the geographical area where my characters lived. The first, was that it was mostly primordial forest that was magically hidden from the rest of the modern world. The second, was its name: Blackwater Hills. There was a river that my characters called the Blackwater River, which ran through the center of their shielded territory. The third thing I was certain of, was that it was located in Maine, USA.

When I resolved to get serious about actually finishing the story, I began to research maps and towns in northern Maine. A few miles south of a small town called Ashland, I found a spot that seemed to match the terrain and location I had previously only seen in my imagination. I was shocked to discover that a river named the Blackwater River ran right through the spot I had chosen on the map! I haven’t visited Ashland or the actual river yet, but I do plan on taking a trip there soon.

I did visit Acadia National Park in Maine while writing Blackbird, the first book in the series. On the way, I happened to stop at a place called America’s Stonehenge, located in New Hampshire, which became the basis for Mystery Hill—the rock labyrinth and circle of standing stones where the priests of the Sacred Order perform their rituals.

 

Can you tell me about your Series?

Here is a brief overview of the series: Protected by the Great Shield, the tribe lives united in their love and reverence for the god, Corvus. The god of beasts had once bestowed a sacred gift, the ability to transform into the divine entity known as Bestiae, upon the males of this tribe. Inbreeding with humans has caused the gift to become diluted and corrupted. The power of transformation has not been completely eliminated. What remains triggers a curse the Sacred Order calls the blood madness. Corvus’s Sacred Law proclaims that to guarantee the blood madness will not be passed to future generations, every male with the curse must be executed.

BLACKBIRD (The Children of Corvus #1) is the story of star-crossed lovers, Michael Singleton and Alena Andrick.

 

 

MERULA (The Children of Corvus #2) begins eighteen years after the tragic events in book one. In order to save the life of her childhood friend, Samuel Singleton, Cadie Maxwell must fight to expose the corruption within the Sacred Order, forswear her holy vows, and uncover the real truth about her gods and her tribe.

 

 

CORVUS (The Children of Corvus #3) Samuel Singleton and Catriona Remington—a witch and a son of Corvus—must combine their powers to defeat the witch goddess and save the souls of the Merulas trapped inside the Shadowlands.

 

 

CADIE AND SAMUEL: IN THE INTERIM (A Children of Corvus Short Story). The events in this short-story take place during the weeks between the novels Merula and Corvus.
Focusing on Samuel Singleton and Cadie Maxwell’s brief romantic interlude, the story adds depth and understanding to their complicated emotional connection.

 

 

Do you have a favorite book out of this series?

That’s a bit like asking which of my children I love the most. Lol. Even though it was the one that took me the longest to write, I would have to say that book two, MERULA, is the book that gets me the most emotional. I went through a lot of changes in my personal life while I was writing it. Because I lost both my mother and my stepmother during those years, and some long-buried family secrets were finally revealed, the themes of the book really resonated with me. I also enjoyed getting to know Samuel, Cadie, Jonathan, Catriona, and Sarina. Revisiting the characters from book one, as well as getting to watch new characters evolve and interact with them, was interesting.

 

Was it always meant to become a series?

I originally envisioned the story as one long volume. I wanted to begin with the events in Merula and Corvus, then intermittently flash back and forth to the past, to the story told in Blackbird. It soon became obvious that the idea wasn’t going to work. There was way too much story to tell in one book, so I had to break it into three separate installments.

 

 

 

What’s a typical working day like for you? When and where do you write? Do you set a daily writing goal?

When I’m working on a novel, I typically write three to four hours a day. I measure my progress in scenes, rather than word counts, so my daily goal is always to finish at least one of the scenes I’ve outlined. Some days, life gets in the way, and that plan doesn’t always work out. Other days, I  get more done than I expected, so it tends to balance out nicely.

 

Is there a genre that you’ve been wanting to experiment with?

I’ve always been a huge fan of science fiction, but it’s a little intimidating for me to think about writing in that genre. I might try my hand at it someday!

 

What do you think of book trailers? Do you have a trailer or do you intend to create one for your own book?

I think book trailers are awesome! I’ve seen so many fantastic and creative trailers. I have considered making a few for my own series, but I would have to spend a good amount of time experimenting first, as I’ve never done one before.

 

 

What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?

Being married to a supportive, wonderful man for thirty-two years, creating our family, and raising our children together.

 

Have you always liked to write?

I’ve always loved reading fiction. As a kid, I spent most of time in libraries. The annual book fair was the highlight of the school year, for me. I began writing poems and stories around fourth grade. I remember writing plays, then forcing my siblings and friends to act them out with me. It wasn’t until around seventh grade, when I read The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, that I began to think seriously about writing a novel. I still have some of those early attempts, but I haven’t actually looked at them in a long time.

 

 What writing advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Stay true to your vision of what you want your novel to be, and push through whenever you feel like giving up. Remember the reason you started your book, and try to bring that passion and excitement into your writing. Write the book you want to read. You are your first audience, so if you’re not entertained and moved by emotion, your readers won’t be either. 

 

Do you read reviews of your book(s)? Do you respond to them, good or bad? How do you deal with the bad?

Yes, I do read my reviews. I’m very interested in my readers’ reactions to my work, their insights and observations.

 

 

What are you working on now?

Right now I’m working on the first book of a two part series. The duet is set in the same universe as The Children of Corvus series, and will focus on the descendants of Venefica, the Witch Goddess.

 

Where did your love of books come from?

I would have to say that my love of reading came from my Mom. She read books to us every night, when we were kids.

 

Do you have any favorite authors or favorite books?

Carol Berg writes flawless prose and characters that leap off the page. I’ve read all of her books at least twice. Jennifer Roberson’s Sword Dancer series is amazing. Reading her books made me want to write in the fantasy genre. I was obsessed with Stephen King novels for many years. The Stand and 11/22/63 are favorites of his. I also love the character Lestat, from Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles. Anne Bishop’s Black Jewels series is a must read for fans of dark fantasy. For science fiction, you can’t find anyone better than Connie Willis. Judith Merlke Riley is simply brilliant. I’m also a huge fan of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series.  The list goes on, but that’s a sampling of the authors I enjoy reading.  

 

Of all the characters you have created, which is your favourite and why?

I love all my characters—even the nasty ones—but I would have to say that Samuel Singleton is the one who comes through stronger and clearer than the others. He always demands that I tell his story his way. Sometimes, I even dream about him. His character isn’t always the easiest one to write, but his voice is certainly the loudest!

  

 

Does writing energize or exhaust you?

It can sometimes be exhausting to spend so much time alone in my office, but the creative process is exciting to me. I love it when the plot to a story I’m working on gels and comes to life. Fleshing out the worlds my characters inhabit, and discovering more about them, is what keeps me going when I sometimes feel like procrastinating.

 

What is your writing Kryptonite?

Political arguments on social media.

 

 What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?

I’ve met so many fabulous authors in the Indie Community. Most are generous, kind, and encouraging—sharing their successes, failures, and insights to lift up the community and help others succeed.

 

If you were writing a book about your life, what would the title be?

I’ve actually thought a lot about this, and have already come up with a title: I Am Emily Dickinson. And if I ever get around to writing the book, I’ll explain what that means!

 

 

Where can your fans find you and follow??

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00BZ1CFZ6

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7754768.L_E_Harrison

Newsletter Signup: http://eepurl.com/dkbSxr

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LEHarrison1

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/l-e-harrison

Books2Read Profile:   https://www.books2read.com/ap/nOgpon/LE-Harrison

 

Thank you for taking your time to do this interview ❤️

 

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY:

L.E. Harrison

 

Long Bio:

L.E. Harrison is the author of the contemporary fantasy trilogy the Children Of Corvus, as well as a collection of previously published poems and short stories. She decided she wanted to be an author in the fourth grade, when she began writing poetry, plays, and stories. A lifelong avid reader and lover of genre fiction—from science fiction to paranormal romance, and everything in between—she’s inspired by books that blur the boundaries, and by the authors who manage to do it exceptionally well. She lives in an hundred-sixty-year-old farmhouse in rural Pennsylvania, where she is busy working on the next chapter in the universe of Soluna’s children.

Email: Blackbird1154@yahoo.com

Website: https://authorleharrison.wordpress.com/

 

 

THE CHILDREN OF CORVUS SERIES

By L.E. Harrison

Protected by the Great Shield, the tribe lives united in their love and reverence for the god, Corvus. The god of beasts had once bestowed a sacred gift, the ability to transform into the divine entity known as Bestiae, upon the males of this tribe. Inbreeding with humans has caused the gift to become diluted and corrupted. The power of transformation has not been completely eliminated. What remains triggers a curse the Sacred Order calls the blood madness. Corvus’s Sacred Law proclaims that to guarantee the blood madness will not be passed to future generations, every male with the curse must be executed.

 

Blackbird

(The Children of Corvus #1)

Price: $2.99

Buy Link: https://www.books2read.com/BlackbirdLEHarrison

Awards and Recognition: An IHIBRP 5-Star Recommended Read

Forced to choose between obeying her instincts or the laws of her tribe, is she willing to risk everything for the man she loves?

Ten years after departing this world, Michael Singleton returns to the valley nestled along the Blackwater River. Michael suffers from a rare disease, the curse of his tribe. Because of this curse, Michael’s soul will be damned to wander the Shadowlands, the domain of the Witch Goddess, for eternity.

To escape this fate, Michael must unlock the spell that opens the portal to Corvus’s kingdom, the Otherworld. It is a secret known to only one man, the powerful Guardian of the Dead. Michael is convinced that if he can invoke the spell and travel through the portal, he will finally be rid of his painful, debilitating torment. He cannot believe his luck when he stumbles upon the key in the form of Alena Andrick.

Alena is the only child of the Guardian of the Dead. Her safe and predictable life studying to follow in her father’s footsteps, is turned upside-down when she meets Michael at the Solstice celebration. Alena is inexplicably drawn to the handsome, charismatic stranger. But when Michael is arrested and accused of murdering the Captain of the Guard, Alena is forced to choose between obeying her instincts or the laws of her people.

Merula

(The Children of Corvus #2)

Price: $2.99

Buy Link: https://www.books2read.com/MerulaLEHarrison

Awards and Recognition: One of Indie Author Land’s (Read Freely) 50 Best Indie Books of 2017

An IHIBRP 5-Star Recommended Read

Winner of the 2018 Virtual Fantasy Con Award for Best Dark Fantasy

What if you were a shapeshifter, but didn’t know it?

What if the man who raised you orchestrated your father’s execution?

What if you discover that the people closest to you have been lying to you all your life?

On a cold October morning in Blackwater Hills, Samuel Singleton steps outside to do his morning chores and is whisked through a portal into the domain of the witch goddess known as the Shadowlands.

On a cold October evening, Cadie Maxwell, a priestess newly sworn to the Sacred Order follows what she believes is the will of the gods, flees the only home she has ever known, and embarks on a quest to find the real truth about her tribe’s Sacred Law–a law that demands that any male cursed with shapeshifting powers must be executed.

With limited knowledge of the world beyond Blackwater Hills, Cadie arrives in a small town called Ashland. She takes a job at a local bar and grill where she hears Jonathan and Sarina Lance discussing their missing father, best-selling novelist J. Lance Sr..

Cadie, Jonathan, and Sarina join forces with an eager, up-and-coming reporter on an expedition through the mysterious forest to rescue J. Lance Sr..

Cadie guides the outsiders through the Great Shield (a powerful force-field that that protects her homeland) but things do not progress the way any of them expect. Anxious to find her father, Sarina breaks off from the group. The others chase after her, but find Samuel–naked and disoriented– instead.

Cadie discovers that Samuel is cursed with the shapeshifting power, and to her dismay, the council of priests votes to put her in charge of Samuel’s execution. In order to save Samuel’s life and get her friends safely back to Ashland, Cadie must expose the corruption within the priesthood, forswear her holy vows, and uncover the real truth about her gods and her tribe.

 

Corvus

(The Children of Corvus #3)

Price: $2.99

Buy Link: https://www.books2read.com/CorvusLEHarrison

Awards and Recognition: An IHIBRP 5-Star Recommended Read

A witch and a son of Corvus must combine their powers to defeat the witch goddess and save the souls of the Merulas trapped inside the Shadowlands.

As host of the newscast, The Scoop At Five: Live!, Catriona Remington prefers to show the world a brave face. Inside she’s barely keeping it together, worrying over the fates of Sarina and Jonathan Lance. After they managed to locate the twins’ missing father in Blackwater Hills, Sarina stayed behind by choice. Jonathan, however, is being held prisoner in the castle dungeon for the crime of homicide.

When she receives disturbing news from the senior Medicus of Blackwater castle, Catriona enlists J. Lance Sr.’s help to infiltrate the dimension of the children of Corvus and aid her friends. But an irresistible attraction to Samuel Singleton, the newly crowned leader of the tribe, awakens a power she’s been suppressing since leaving the coven. Also complicating matters, is Sarina’s mystifying and debilitating illness. When Catriona follows Samuel into the Shadowlands to rescue his father, she finds herself at the mercy of the witch goddess and her demons.

In order to save his father’s spirit and protect his mate, Samuel must learn to embrace his power and his duty to his tribe as the Merula. He must also learn to accept Bestiae–the god-like part of himself he can’t control without the help of wolfsbane potion.

Can Catriona be the bridge that ends the centuries’ long feud between the sons of Corvus and the daughters of Venefica?  Or will the mere fact that she was born a witch irreparably damage the Balance in Blackwater Hills, and provoke the wrath of the Raven of Otherworld?

The Blackbirds

The Children of Corvus Omnibus

Price: $5.99

Buy Link: https://www.books2read.com/TheBlackbirdsOmnibus

Awards and Recognition: One of Indie Author Land’s (Read Freely) Best Books We’ve Read All Year 2018

The captivating contemporary fantasy trilogy about a tribe of shapeshifters, deep within the inhospitable forest of northern Maine USA, in an alternate dimension known as Blackwater Hills.

Contains three complete novels in The Children Of Corvus series:

BLACKBIRD (Book One)

MERULA (Book Two)

CORVUS (Book Three)

Cadie and Samuel: In the Interim

(A Children of Corvus Short Story)

Price: $1.50

Buy Link: https://www.books2read.com/IntheInterimLEHarrison

The events in this short-story take place during the weeks between the novels Merula and Corvus.

Focusing on Samuel Singleton and Cadie Maxwell’s brief romantic interlude, the story adds depth and understanding to their complicated emotional connection.

 

Praise for The Children of Corvus Series by L.E. Harrison:

https://www.books2read.com/ap/nOgpon/LE-Harrison

Editorial Reviews:

Review of Blackbird (Book One) – An IHIBRP 5-Star Recommended Read

A Stunning Novel That Serves As Model For Paranormal Fantasy Reads!

L.E. Harrison leads us into the complex spiritual and metaphysical world of shifters and werewolves in her absorbing paranormal fantasy novel, “Blackbird (The Children of Corvus Book 1)”. Written as part diary and part third-person account, mostly on the behalf of her main characters—Alena, Michael, and Jonathan, this tale of an ancient inter-dimensional shifter civilization living a hidden life, obscured by The Great Shield, in the backwoods of Maine is as astonishing as it is unique.

In “Blackbird”, Author Harrison builds an entire world comprised of various paranormal beings that is based on constructed religious laws, folklore, and ancestral customs. The degree to which she evolves her characters, based on this premise, creates a whole new depth to shifter society—Something which I have not seen thus far in a novel of this genre.

From “Blackbird”’s heroic and impetuous female lead to her persecuted and brooding leading man, readers will find this novel more than satisfies one’s yen for romance and adventure as this pair and their cohorts uncover shocking secrets about their pasts that, perhaps, might best be left alone. In the end, this bittersweet tale is as shocking and revealing as can be.

Harrison’s story not only stands out in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy venue, it should serve as a model to other writers of how to develop a truly believable paranormal society. Mystery… Action… Romance… And much, much more are neatly tucked within the pages of this can’t-miss, astonishing tale.

-J.B. Richards – IHIBRP, https://www.authorjbrichards.com

I came to The Blackbirds with baggage. I read the word “shapeshifters” in the blurb and felt that I knew what to expect – buff, handsome man, often shirtless, and a modern, snarky heroine. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that genre, but, believe me, that is not what this book is. Instead L.E Harrison has set her sights much higher, and has much loftier ambitions.

This trilogy is set in a world of the author’s creating, a world that is – and is not – northern Maine. We are deep in the lore of a tribe of shapeshifters, in Blackwater Hills. In the first book of the series, we meet our lead characters, Alena, who we are immediately fond of, and Michael Singleton, a man stained with a curse.

-ReadFreely (Shortlisted for The Best Book We’ve Read All Year)

Merula (Book Two)

An IHIBRP 5-Star Recommended Read

A Fierce & Driven Paranormal Fantasy Read!

In “Merula (The Children Of Corvus Book 2)” by L.E. Harrison, relationships extend to the second generation of the Corvus tribe, expanding on “Blackbird”—the intimate and revealing memoirs of enigmatic elder, J. Lance Singleton. As his children—brother and sister twins Jonathan Jr. and Sarina, along with Catriona—a cocky young reporter, and Cadie—a Blackwater runaway, set out to find J. Lance using his journal, they cross The Great Shield and have a fateful run-in with Samuel, a young man who along with Sarina was supposedly attacked by a horrid beast and left for dead. Little do they realize that each of them has now been set upon a dangerous path that will eventually lead them to their destinies.

The tie-ins between all three novels of The Children Of Corvus series are seamless and “Merula” is no exception. Harrison’s plot line in this chapter is fierce and driven, establishing the upcoming dynasty that will rule the Blackwater clan. She holds back no punches as she presents a series of horrifying events that will leave most readers gaping with awe at the unpredictable nature of this dramatic paranormal read. Harrison has developed a fully intact and functional multi-world where each of her characters is well thought-out and independent—possessing a personality, drive, and agenda that is all their own. Full storylines on each individual wind together seamlessly, giving the reader a wider view of the panorama that contains the mystical world of Blackwater.

Like most reads involving shape-shifting werewolves and witches battling it out between tribes and clans, Harrison’s tale contains graphic descriptions of physical torture and violence, such as when shifters change form and when harsh sentencing is carried out by the heads of their communities. I recommend all three books in The Children Of Corvus series—“Blackbird”, “Merula”, and “Corvus”—only for ages 17 and up.

-J.B. Richards – IHIBRP, https://www.authorjbrichards.com

“The novel has a promising plot, the intertwining stories of the two central characters are intriguing and will keep readers turning pages. The writing is descriptive and evocative, particularly when delving into the thoughts of the main characters and when describing the strange happenings they observe around them. The ideas of shapeshifting and a fantasy realm parallel to our own certainly aren’t new, but Harrison puts a new spin on these concepts creating an original story that fans of the genre will enjoy.”

-The Booklife Prize

Blackbird (Book One)

“I’m a sucker for books that take landscapes I’m familiar with, and makes them something magical and interesting. Nothing really does that more than a set of shapeshifters hidden away somewhere in Maine. …An interesting story and a good premise for a book. It’s easy to enjoy, and I could tell that Harrison really visualized and had a clear picture of the story she was telling. Steeped in magic and lore, there is a lot here to love.”

-Bookwormblues

Customer Reviews:

The Blackbirds (The Children of Corvus Omnibus)

5 Stars!

This book is not what you are expecting in a shifter/paranormal book. That is not a bad thing. This book will blow your mind with complex spin on the original theme of the shifter world. You will love every minute of it and want more!

-Katrina A, Reviewer (NetGalley)

4 Stars!

This… Was not what I was expecting. In quite a good way. I thought it would be a shifter romance, and it is, in parts. But actually, its a clan-drama in a fantasy setting, full of social politics and scheming, lies and retribution. And it’s actually rather good! If, like me, you were hoping for some steamy fluff, you may be disappointed, as the few sex scenes are PG, but I certainly got embroiled into tribe politics and didn’t feel the lack. The trilogy takes place over a large time period, but focuses on one family within the tribe. I felt a little confused at the beginning, as the author chose to have a minor character begin the novel… However, in all, a broadly entertaining trilogy well worth a read if you like fictional gods and the secrets that bind. Four stars.

-Corinne C, Reviewer (NetGalley)

5 Stars!

I enjoyed this book, and it was long enough to keep me occupied for a while, which was nice. Having the whole series as one book was nice as well, because it allowed seamless reading throughout the series.

-Reviewer (NetGalley)

5 Stars!

I absolutely loved this book!

Cheryl Thomas, Reviewer (NetGalley)