Renewal & Mystery: The Secrets Behind the Story
March's showcase explores hidden truths, personal transformation, second chances, and the mysteries that keep readers turning pages.
Every story begins with an idea, but behind every book is an author with a unique perspective, inspiration, and journey.
This month, we invited authors to share a little more about the stories they write, the themes they love, and the moments that helped shape their books.
Grab a drink, get comfortable, and spend some time getting to know the storytellers behind the pages.
Meet the Authors
- C.A. Chaplin
- E.A.M. Trofimenkoff
- Elm Jed
- G.M. Gray
- Georgia May
- J. Arens
- J.D. Brubaker
- Krystal Harding
- Mandi Kontos
- Mandy Casto
- Morgan Reilly
- S.S. Nightshade
- Sybil Knight
- T.F. Johnson & Imogen Elvis
- Wendolyn Baird
🌿 Renewal & Mystery: The Secrets Behind the Story
March is filled with hidden truths, unexpected twists, and personal transformation. This month's showcase explores the stories, inspirations, and mysteries that keep readers turning pages.
🖋️ What Hidden Truth Shaped Your Story?
C.A. Chaplin
Healing from trauma is a difficult, nonlinear process.
E.A.M. Trofimenkoff
Harlan is inspired by my Nana that passed away in 2021. Writing A Kiss of the Siren’s Song was instrumental in helping me move through losing her. 💜
Elm Jed
I'm a Theater kid at heart. Just always for the drama and those pearl clutching moments.
G.M. Gray
I love all forms of sci-fi, but with Triple Strike, I wanted to tap into the "Star Trek" conceptions of the future (e.g. reflections of what we can be rather than a dark vision or warning). I wanted to create something hopeful.
Georgia May
I watched an anime called The Sacred Blacksmith and by the end of the week my MMC was fully formed and ready to be dropped into chaos!
J. Arens
I finished reading all the Nancy Drew books when I was 10 and I wanted more. But I wanted something that was a little more grown up by the time I got into my mid-teens. The first iteration of **The Silence Broken** was a fanfiction of sorts where I imagined Nancy as Dick Tracy’s daughter. It only took five rewrites to bring it to what it is now. So now I have a whole series that I hope will feel like Nancy grew up and read too many Sam Spade novels.
J.D. Brubaker
I wrote a short story about Cinderella being an assassin who goes to the ball to kill the prince, and it eventually expanded into a novel. Now, it’s my dark fantasy series.
Krystal Harding
I started writing after losing my granddad. Undas is inspired by my grandfather, fun-loving and a big mountain of a man who I've had to learn to live without. A Realm of Wind and Rain gave me the therapy I needed to help me try to fill the void I was missing.
Mandi Kontos
That being different is ok - even when the world says no - but also The Mummy was a huge inspo.
Mandy Casto
When I first started writing, I was grieving a personal loss, so writing helped me cope and process my feelings.
Morgan Reilly
Feminine rage and never apologizing for who you are.
S.S. Nightshade
I created my main character as an OC to be the love interest in the anime Diabolik Lovers lol, and she eventually bloomed into her own story.
Sybil Knight
The hidden truth in my stories would be that people are messy, chaotic, and imperfect. I like flawed characters who still manage to get their HEAs.
T.F. Johnson & Imogen Elvis
"Shadow of the Ghost Light" was a 'Someone should write that ... WE could write that.' moment whilst driving interstate together for an event and listening to the Phantom of the Opera soundtrack. While it's not a direct retelling, Phantom of the Opera heavily inspired Shadow of the Ghost Light, and we love the gothic vibes, the mystery, and the tension.
Wendolyn Baird
The concept of everlasting love and being true to yourself despite all odds.
🖋️ What Draws You to Mystery or Transformation?
C.A. Chaplin
The very concept of healing trauma is transformation - from the inner work you do on yourself, the power of love, and the safety to change. When it's purely physical, it's the very body itself.
E.A.M. Trofimenkoff
I love the possibilities that come from it! And one of the funnest things to write are plot twists! I love a good “OMG NO WAY!” moment!
Elm Jed
I'm a Theater kid at heart. Just always for the drama and those pearl clutching moments.
Georgia May
I just really love seeing a full character journey, like a bumbling villager becoming an unstoppable hero and learning about themselves and the world around them. There’s something magical in it.
J. Arens
I like to figure out what’s going on before the big reveal. To me, they’re the best kind of story. And I really like the way that the good ones stick with you and make your brain work.
J.D. Brubaker
The darker nuances of being human.
Krystal Harding
I love the versatility that comes with transformations. The wondering of what is going to come from the other side of it and what possibilities it creates moving forward.
Mandi Kontos
It's a natural evolution of life - without it life is boring - so is a book!
Mandy Casto
For someone who loves to know a story’s ending before it begins (I know 😳), I am more fascinated by the twists and turns a story takes. It’s about the exciting journey for me, not the destination.
Morgan Reilly
For transformation, it's inevitable (at least, it should be). Humans should always grow and change as they live, learning new things and reflecting on who they are. It's the same for my MC, Rowan.
S.S. Nightshade
The unique depth of emotions and dramatic arches.
Sybil Knight
I like stories that always keep me guessing, that can make me sympathize with the villain. Or guess who it really is.
Wendolyn Baird
I love the possibilities of transformation, the potential that we can grow stronger, kinder, or create more joy in the world. When it comes to books, I'm all about cheering on character arcs and main characters that carve a place for themselves in the world.
🕯️ Which Tropes Do You Love Exploring?
C.A. Chaplin
Hurt/Comfort
E.A.M. Trofimenkoff
Hidden identities, f*ck it, one bed
Elm Jed
Grumpy/Sunshine, Hurt/Comfort, Found Family
G.M. Gray
Found Family is always a good one, as is Power of Friendship. I also like to play/subvert with the tropes of Grumpy x Sunshine, Age Gap, Slow Burn, and Enemies to Lovers in the main romance. It is all of those things and none of things all at once!
Georgia May
Enemies to lovers/Grumpy x Sunshine/Forced proximity/Marriage of inconvenience
J. Arens
Strong female character, Found family, Witty cast
J.D. Brubaker
Fairytale retelling, revenge, strong women characters
Krystal Harding
Fated Mates but with a twist, fu*k it, one bed, chosen one, morally grey men, touch her/him and die
Mandi Kontos
Found Family
Mandy Casto
It’s a tie between small town whodunit and found family
Morgan Reilly
Found family, he falls first, she's grumpy/he's sunshine
S.S. Nightshade
Holy war
Sybil Knight
Forced proximity and secret identities are my favorite tropes.
T.F. Johnson & Imogen Elvis
Slow burn, boss x employee, black cat x golden retriever, trinket magic, underworld illegal dealings, mysterious theatre, society favoring magic, who can you trust?
Wendolyn Baird
Second chance/star-crossed lovers. Mutual yearning. Found family.
🕯️ How Do You Reveal Truth Slowly?
C.A. Chaplin
Truth is always a slow burn AND a twist with the Red Dragon. His mind is labyrinth and he hoards secrets like gold.
E.A.M. Trofimenkoff
Truth in AKOTSS is revealed through magic: both the fantastical kind, and the kind that comes from pure connection.
Elm Jed
Plot twists and cliffhangers.
Georgia May
Enemies to lovers is definitely a slow burn reveal, Grumpy x sunshine is all about the banter, and Forced proximity/Marriage of inconvenience are revealed in the twist.
J. Arens
It's all twists and turns. I never know where the story is going. I pretty much figure out who the bad guy is **with** my characters. It’s a really fun way to write, and hopefully that means that I keep readers guessing too. Which is the main goal.
J.D. Brubaker
Slow burns
Krystal Harding
Twists and slow burns and sometimes a hint of mystery
Mandi Kontos
Slow burn twists, they are peppered through the story and if you find the contractions creeping back in you'll put two and two together.
Mandy Casto
There’s a bit of a slow burn and we watch two of the characters learn a paramount truth in real time. But we don’t know what that means for the main character until the end!
Morgan Reilly
Through a plot twist!
S.S. Nightshade
All of my books have foreshadowing which lead to dramatic plot twists, it's my favorite thing to include.
Sybil Knight
The truth is revealed one layer at a time like an onion (usually with a final ah-ha moment at the very end).
T.F. Johnson & Imogen Elvis
Twists and turns
Wendolyn Baird
It's pretty open, but it's up to the characters to work out what they've missed...and there's definitely a few twists involved.
⚠️ What Impact Do You Hope Readers Feel?
C.A. Chaplin
Slow burn with a very traumatized individual, frustration as he backslides into toxic behavior, heartbreak of betrayal, and grief of losing everything you've ever known.
E.A.M. Trofimenkoff
I hope my readers feel a sense of connection and that they feel seen and understood 💜 and also maybe a teensy bit of emotional damage 🙃
Elm Jed
Those living with anxiety, PTSD, and depression to feel seen. That healing is not linear, and although it sucks it isn't, doesn't mean you can't have your happily ever after.
G.M. Gray
I hope readers come into the series to enjoy the pulpy adventure, jokes, and banter, but I hope by the end they will engage with questions of life, death, freedom, and love.
Georgia May
I want them to feel the highs and lows of all the things the characters go through right alongside them. I also want them to feel seen by the mental health representation, approach to grief and PTSD portrayal. It doesn’t matter if you’re a future queen or a lowly demon - mental health affects us all ❤️
J. Arens
I genuinely want my books to feel like they’re real. I hope that readers come to Big Town and can’t wait to revisit. Hopefully, my characters feel like they’re real people.
J.D. Brubaker
I want my readers to see themselves in my characters, to feel immersed in my fantasy world, to be hooked on the emotional journeys.
Krystal Harding
I want my readers to feel for my characters so much that when they are at their lowest, they're cheering for them to just get up and keep going. I want them to cry when something good, bad or sad happens. I want them to be able to relate to my characters most of all. I want people to read my stories and find someone in them that they can see themselves in.
Mandi Kontos
That they fall in love with the story and feel like Lucy and her friends are their friends, that they're apart of the found family within Faded Fragments.
Mandy Casto
There are a few B storylines happening, and I hope for relevance—that they can relate to any one of the unique characters and feel like they are right there on the island, too.
Morgan Reilly
Through loss comes transformation, and grief exists because we love.
Sybil Knight
I hope my readers experience a myriad of emotions from the occasional laugh to that stomach churning that has you quickly flipping to the next page.
T.F. Johnson & Imogen Elvis
shock, surprise, heartache, tension, fear
Wendolyn Baird
Hope.
🌒 How Does Your Character Transform?
C.A. Chaplin
The Red Dragon must learn to trust, despite a history of horrific abuse and abandonment. Cúraniel must learn to rely on others. Celebel must learn to find his voice
E.A.M. Trofimenkoff
After finding home on the sea, Sybine grows into herself, and the emotionally distant pirate is forced to trust a mysterious stranger keeping secrets!
Elm Jed
She goes from an anxious barista not looking for love to someone who's able to stand beside one of the most powerful men in NYC.
G.M. Gray
The central narrative arc for Alan is learning to accept all the parts of him.
Georgia May
My FMC experiences a huge amount of growth, starting as a blinkered princess and ending as a voice of the people. She goes from palace walls to blood and grit and she does all of it with the weight of a nation on her back.
J. Arens
My main female character starts off as a strong young woman that doesn’t think that she needs anyone else to help her. She’s impulsive and sometimes doesn’t think things through. As the series progresses, with a new partner to adapt to, Olli is starting to grow into a more mature and thoughtful adult. I know I’m writing her (and the others) but I’m still really proud of her.
J.D. Brubaker
They grow. They grieve. They love. They lose. They face the darkest parts of themselves and have to make difficult decisions. These are dark fantasy retellings of fairytales so there’s a lot of exploration of the darker side of existence.
Krystal Harding
Without giving too much detail, Luna goes from being human to something so much more that she was born with and just didn't know. She was a strong independent woman who was forced to be that way, she now has to learn that she can rely on others instead of being the one everyone else relied on.
Mandi Kontos
Lucy learns that first impressions aren't always something that should last before getting to know someone.
Mandy Casto
Julianne returned to the island afraid to face her childhood memories; but her time on the island makes her grow to appreciate
Morgan Reilly
Rowan accepts herself for who she is, which is invaluable. She is a powerful force to behold.
Sybil Knight
Some of my characters change and some stay exactly the same because changing isn’t something they are committed to do.
Wendolyn Baird
Her understanding of herself and the world around her shifts, but she also steps into an unshakable confidence.
📚 What Makes Your Book Stand Apart?
C.A. Chaplin
Worldbuilding, lyrical prose, unforgettably complex characters
E.A.M. Trofimenkoff
It’s a fast-paced, character driven, and action-packed story, but there’s a huge emphasis on what family means and how being both too trusting and too distrusting can get you into trouble.
Elm Jed
The series is a blend of plot twists, BDSM tactics helping heal and confront trauma, and the MCs save each other in their own way.
G.M. Gray
Triple combines fast, pulpy fun with queer romance with intriguing world-building and a philosophical undertone. It simultaneously always takes itself seriously and never takes itself seriously.
Georgia May
The world building - The world is drip fed through the eyes of someone who starts off knowing nothing of life beyond her palace, and ends up knowing far too much. Instead of information dumps, we learn about Valerus alongside Elda.
J. Arens
I like to think that The District Detectives as a whole series is a really good blend between (actual) history, a fun dose of alternative history (that I’ve added to make my world work), and a big sprinkle of high tech (because it’s fun).
J.D. Brubaker
It’s a fresh take on classic fairytales with a dark and violent twist. And while love is the central emotion, it isn’t the primary focus. Characters aren’t caricatures, they’re complex and diverse.
Krystal Harding
It is a multi point of view series where every character gets the closure they deserve. You will not find a single character whose story does not get wrapped up in one book or another. This is a 6 book main series with 14 side novels & novellas. I have the desire to know personally what happens to everyone in series and I don't want to leave people hanging.
Mandi Kontos
It's dual POV plays on Ancient Egyptian pharaoh's, mummies and forbidden magic in the modern world.
Mandy Casto
The main group in this small town whodunit are not actually from the small town. Each character brings their own unique flare to the story as it unfolds.
Morgan Reilly
It’s Red Riding Hood where she’s the wolf and has to balance her human life with the wild that wants to be set free.
S.S. Nightshade
Written for an anime adaptation making unique visuals and action sequences, plus the cast is entirely chaotic even though it's a fantasy.
Sybil Knight
Messy, chaotic characters who are so beautifully flawed and human. Your book in one intriguing sentence: Obsession is the root of insanity.
T.F. Johnson & Imogen Elvis
inspired by Phantom of the Opera, romantic fantasy with a murder mystery and many twists and turns
Wendolyn Baird
It combines contemporary fantasy, folklore, and reincarnation in a slow burn friends to lovers situation.
📚 Describe Your Book in One Intriguing Sentence
C.A. Chaplin
Like Tolkien, with smut
E.A.M. Trofimenkoff
A fun sapphic seafaring adventure with a side of emotional damage!
Elm Jed
A sweet Rom-Com in the making...on the surface.
G.M. Gray
A space opera adventure blending Star Trek, anime, and Terry Pratchett style humor in a queer normative world.
Georgia May
A princess is plucked from her palace by the emotionally unavailable mentor her gods have appointed, but the world he drops her in is vast, and the secrets it holds will make her, or crush her.
J. Arens
Prohibition Punk private eye: gangsters, moonshine, and a holographic secretary. (Or, if you prefer) If Nancy Drew grew up and read too many Sam Spade novels.
J.D. Brubaker
Fairytale characters raised together in an assassin’s guild run entirely by women.
Krystal Harding
What if you could be an immortal and your only limit be yourself?
Mandi Kontos
Faded Fragments is the mummy meets charmed in both Egypt and Melbourne, Australia.
Mandy Casto
If you are a fan of Hallmark Mysteries, you will love Return to Jade Island!
T.F. Johnson & Imogen Elvis
A gaslamp fantasy inspired by Phantom of the Opera
Wendolyn Baird
When Mairi and Castor both find themselves enchanted by a museum at the edge of The Wyldewood, the town's folklore laden past begins to encroach upon their lives and threaten any chance at a future together.
🌲 What Does Indie Publishing Mean to You?
C.A. Chaplin
Freedom to tell a complex, character-driven story centered on neurodivergent MCs.
E.A.M. Trofimenkoff
I love having the freedom to make all my creative choices and to work with other creatives!
Elm Jed
Options. The ability to write what I want, how much, and how detailed.
G.M. Gray
It means telling the story I want to tell without worrying about fitting a market, because often times "fitting a market" results in excluding the very people I'm trying to reach.
Georgia May
Creative freedom. My world is mine, my page count is what it needs to be for my book to flourish, the tropes are what I choose and there is no mould to force myself into if I choose not to.
J. Arens
It means that I have control over my destiny. I may have to do all my own marketing, and spend all my own money, but at least I don’t have to worry about ever being part of a big publisher’s slush pile. Or, even worse, being told what can and can’t write. I’d much rather spend my time writing the books I love and publishing on my own terms than having to answer to certain publishing norms. Plus, I wouldn’t have met some of the coolest people if I hadn’t decided to go indie.
J.D. Brubaker
It's a world where I feel like my books matter and make a difference.
Krystal Harding
It's the freedom to publish what I want, when I want and lets me make genuine connections with readers.
Mandi Kontos
Being able to take my time and write the story that I want - have it be the best version it can be and hand picking my team that supports and works with me.
Mandy Casto
I can have full control of the story that my audience reads, so I feel extremely vulnerable and connected to my reading community.
Morgan Reilly
Creative freedom and a wonderful community
Sybil Knight
Indie publishing is everything to me. It’s what allowed me to put my books out in the world. I’m also a control freak so it definitely allows me to keep hold of the creative reins.
Wendolyn Baird
Freedom.
Thank You For Joining Us
A huge thank you to the authors who participated in this month's showcase and shared a little of their stories with us.
Whether you're discovering a new favorite author or reconnecting with one you've loved for years, we hope these interviews helped you connect with the people behind the books.
📚 Explore more indie books at Salient Books.
💚 Because stories are better when you know the storyteller.