From Louise Wise

Friday 25 October 2024

As a writer I like to picture my characters, maybe find a lookalike in a magazine. How do you picture yours? #writerslife #writingcommunity #scifi #books

My characters are normal, everyday people (apart from the aliens!). And as a writer I like to picture my characters, maybe find a lookalike in a magazine, but can never capture a true likeness.

I'll describe them here, but I've asked ChatGPT to draw them, and it's come up with Charlie's Angles!! How I see them in my head is so different to how they've come out. 😂😂😂

Anyhoo, let me introduce you to the main protagonist in Jelvia: Not Human--Macy Shaw.

At 24, Macy’s life has been shaped by both tragedy and determination. Losing her mother to murder when she was only twelve, she found herself cocooned by her guardians, Lisa and Dillian, who did their best to shield her from further heartbreak. 

But Macy was always ready to break out on her own. She left behind the quiet of Cornwall for the buzz of London, beginning as a gofer in the cutthroat world of journalism. She’s since hustled her way into a role as a celebrity journalist, yet she dreams of something more. Determined and ambitious, Macy wants to shed the glitz of celebrity stories and earn her place in serious journalism, where real, impactful stories await.


Nurse, Courtney Day is the daughter of Macy's guardians. 

Watching how deeply her parents cared for Macy stirred a bit of jealousy in her as a child, but in time, those feelings faded.

 Now, she and Macy share a deep bond, their friendship blossoming as they grow older. Perhaps because of those early doubts about her parents’ love, Courtney has a tendency to fall for people too quickly, often wearing her heart on her sleeve. But despite her vulnerability, her loyalty to Macy and those she loves is unwavering.


And my favourite... Phil! 

She was a joy to write. Real name Li Jing Zmin is a complex fiery presence with a mind that races in all directions. Autistic, bipolar, and managing ADHD, she’s known for her bluntness and unfiltered honesty, qualities that sometimes catch people off guard. 

Her love for Oliver is fierce and consuming (as his is for her), though it runs nearly parallel to her intense fixation on revealing the truth of the alien invasion to a world still in the dark with her Wake Up Movement protests.

Her passion and relentless pursuit of justice fuel her every move, making her a force to be reckoned with.


Jelvia: Not Human

Holding out for a Hero #1
Surviving her Dominant #2
Spider #3
Moon and Back #4
Nemesis #5
Til the World falls Apart #6

This is a story where humans unknowingly coexist with the Jelvias—a powerful alien race exiled to Earth with a mission to cleanse their home of the unwanted. Disease-resistant, imposing, and venomous, the Jelvias embedded themselves into our world.

It was meant as a quiet takeover, but a fractured command system leaves the Jelvias believing they belong here, sparking a conflict that engulfs both species.

In this thrilling saga, each character—Macy, a journalist drawn into a dangerous romance; Courtney, whose fears become entangled with an alien's obsession; and Phil, a fervent activist forced to confront her own beliefs—finds themselves on the frontlines of an emerging war. Their intertwined fates lead to a final battle that could upend human existence or redefine it.

Across love, betrayal, and survival, Jelvia: Not Human explores what happens when humanity no longer holds its own in a world transformed.

Amazon.com | Amazon.UK

Sunday 29 September 2024

Jelvia: Not Human - The Shadow of Itor #SciFi #MindControl #FuturisticSociety #JelviaNotHuman

Jelvia: Not Human


A sci-fi saga of inter-species friendship, love and the battle for Earth's ownership


Itor was a place no one ever truly left. Coming to Earth had been a one-way journey, but even here, escape was nothing more than an illusion.

For the Wardens, the Committee’s control was absolute, seeping into every thought, a silent, ever-present reminder of subjugation. Workers had a privilege Wardens could only envy—they could disappear into the shadows, becoming runaways, forming hidden communities where the Committee’s reach didn’t quite extend. 


Wardens were chosen at birth, their futures dictated by their genetic strength. Cloned from superior lines, they were never meant for freedom.

Families were a rarity, and bonds were dangerous. Only the runaways dared to form connections, slipping through the cracks of a system built to crush individuality.

Becoming a Warden was a brutal ordeal. The trials weren’t meant to test but to break. Failure wasn’t just a disgrace—it was a death sentence, or worse, a life discarded into insignificance. Those who survived didn’t simply endure; they were reshaped into instruments of control, serving the Committee’s will without question.

But the stories of the New World offered a flicker of hope. Panspermia missions were seen as a way out, even if the cost was death. 


Itor itself was a world of cold, lifeless cities, where every structure, every action, was designed for one purpose: control. 

Where people survived, but no one truly lived.

When the mission to Earth faltered after the leader became injured, control began to unravel… distort.

The Simulation Reality, designed to preserve their sanity, started to blur with the real world. Even their injured leader fell victim to its effects, leaving them, for a few brief and wondrous years, free.

But the Committee never relented. It slowly pulled the Wardens back, forcing them to remember—until they did.

Their awakening was a nightmare.

"Til the World Falls Apart", Book 6, is the conclusion to the Jelvia: Not Human series and is set to be released in 2025, bringing the epic story to its thrilling finale.

Sunday 8 September 2024

The Mind Hierarchy: Discover the Thrilling YA Fantasy Series Taking Readers by Storm! #fantasy #indieauthors #authorcommunity #yafiction

Unravel Ancient Mysteries and Epic Powers in The Mind Hierarchy

If you love immersive fantasy worlds, ancient mysteries, and characters facing epic challenges, The Mind Hierarchy is the series for you. This thrilling YA fantasy follows Kiara, a girl from Seattle, who uncovers a mysterious bracelet in an ancient cave near Jerusalem.

What begins as an innocent discovery soon becomes a perilous adventure, as Kiara grapples with psychic powers that could save or doom the world. Alongside her friends, she must unravel the secrets of ancient artefacts and confront a world on the brink of chaos.

Dive into The Mind Hierarchy to discover why it’s becoming a must-read for fantasy lovers!

Power Duels - The Mind: A Dystopian YA Fantasy Novel of Psychic Abilities, Friendship, and Self-Discovery 

by

Katie Wright

“Have a sharp mind and a strong body. Decide with your soul. Three combine to make it whole.” – Inscription on David’s mysterious ancient scroll

Kiara, a reserved and quirky 18-year-old girl from Seattle, becomes the focal point of a cataclysmic event after unwittingly activating a mysterious bracelet uncovered in an ancient cave near Jerusalem. This powerful ancient artifact thrusts Kiara into a perilous journey of self-discovery and responsibility, as she unravels the invigorating, but terrifying mind manipulation and thought control psychic powers enabled by the bracelet.

Accompanied by her loyal friends David and Ben, Kiara sets out to uncover the origins and purpose of the enigmatic bracelets and coins. Their perilous quest is fraught with danger and revelation, as they delve into ancient mysteries and confront the far-reaching consequences of Kiara’s psychic abilities.



As chaos erupts around them, Kiara grapples with the unintended consequences of her power. She forms alliances with like-minded individuals known as the Mind Hierarchy, striving to restore order to a world in turmoil. However, rebellious factions seek to overthrow Kiara's rule, threatening the fragile balance she hopes to achieve.

The Mind transports readers into a richly imagined parallel world, where ancient artifacts hold the key to unimaginable psychic powers. It is the immersive first volume of the Power Duels YA Fantasy series, which features heart-stopping action scenes, memorable characters with complex romantic relationships, heroic bravery, and devious enemies. In this profound coming of age journey, Kiara must discover that true enlightenment lies not in the mastery of her supernatural powers, but in the strength of true friendship and the courage to face one's inner demons.

“I loved the power struggle Kiara faced and how the "mind games" played out. this book reads like a screenplay, and I hope someone makes a movie of it someday." - Amazon Review

Amazon.uk | Amazon.com


Do you want to appear on this blog? 

Drop me an email at info@louisewise.uk for an inclusion. It's FREE!

Sunday 1 September 2024

Pieces of Us: A Legacy of Words from Seven Women Across Eight Decades #poems #songs #haikus

Pieces of Us 

by
Cheryl K McGonigle

Beginning in the 1940s, women united by family and separated by time were bound by a profound connection and a shared desire to capture their experiences in writing. Their words come together to form a lasting tribute to love, legacy, and the timeless art of expression.

Pieces of Us is a collection of poems, songs, quotes, thoughts and haikus from one mother, and her six daughters.

The voices of seven women spanning over eight decades.


With the passage of time much of the writing has been lost or forgotten.
This book is a collection of some of what remains. 

Seven women, all living in different time periods connected by a family bond, each choosing at some point to put pen to paper and share their feelings and experiences, to share pieces of their lives.


Do you want to appear on this blog? 
Drop me an email at info@louisewise.uk for an inclusion. It's FREE!

Tuesday 27 August 2024

🎉 Blog Takeover Alert! 🎉#indieauthors #bookfest #authors #authorcommunity

Brace yourselves, because on September 1st, I’m handing over my blog to some wildly talented authors who are ready to blow your mind with their amazing books! 

Got a book you’re itching to show off? This is your golden ticket! Just fling your book links my way, and I’ll craft a dazzling showcase that’ll make your mum proud.



Don’t sleep on this chance to hook in new readers and mingle with fellow book geeks. Let’s turn my blog into a literary circus! 

P.S. Indie and small press authors only! Sorry, Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, and George R.R. Martin—this spotlight is reserved for the real rockstars!

Get ready for a book bonanza! 

Email for an inclusion: info@louisewise.uk

Disclaimer: No famous authors were harmed (or overly offended) in the making of this blog takeover.  

Warning—this blog may contain excessive amounts of indie author awesomeness. Side effects may include discovering your next favourite book and an uncontrollable urge to support indie authors. 



Saturday 24 August 2024

Jelvia: Not Human is underway! #jelvia #scifi

 Opening chapter from book 6 of the final book in the Jelvia: Not Human series (unedited).

'Til the World Falls Apart


Grey light strained through murky clouds as dawn crept in. The house's dim glow barely touched the driveway, and the morning chill pierced Macy's hoodie, making her shiver

“Are you sure Phil won’t follow us?” James asked, closing the boot of the car with a soft thud.

Macy looked at the house where Phil had gone only a moment ago. ‘She’s pregnant. I told her it’s too dangerous,’ she said.

Oliver emerged from the house, his movements stiff with tension. His eyes darted around, lingering warily on the Jelvias, though his demeanour was notably more composed than the previous night. He clutched several Tupperware boxes, his knuckles white.

'Leftover pizza,' he muttered, extending them towards Macy.

'Thanks,' Macy replied, accepting the boxes. She tried to catch his eye, but his gaze was fixed on the ground.

Phil had followed him. Her expression was sullen as usual, but there seemed something lighter about her. She looked less burdened.


'Has he told you where you’re going yet?' she asked, her head jerking slightly towards Calder who stood next to Narcifer. Both Jelvias were talking; standing a little way from the others.

Macy shrugged. "Just to drive north—" she started, but her words were cut off by a deafening roar. A convoy of cars tore into the driveway, gravel flying like shrapnel. One vehicle blocked their exit, while another skidded to a halt beside them, tyres screeching. She recoiled in shock, stumbling backwards as shadowy figures poured out from the vehicles.

Narcifer grabbed her and shoved her headfirst into James’ car, slamming the door behind her. Chaos erupted outside as Macy scrambled into the footwell, trying to hide. The noise and the whirlwind of events overwhelmed her, everything happening too fast to process.

She peeked over the dash. A Jelvia charged at Narcifer, claws ready. Narcifer met him head-on, and they both went down, rolling out of her view.

There was much yelling.

There was no sign of Oliver, Phil, or even James. She couldn’t look for bodies—her attention snapped to a sound behind her. Calder struck another Jelvia with such force that the man’s skull cracked against the brick wall. Blood burst from the back of his head, leaving a dark trail as he slid down the wall.

Calder was unrecognisable, throat pulsating and mouth gaping. They locked gazes, but then he was gone, and Macy was alone. She felt her teeth chattering and tightened her jaw. She looked out the other window, hoping to see Narcifer, but couldn’t see him. Instead, her eyes fell on James lying a few metres away. He looked dead.

She pushed the car door open, feeling a surge of adrenaline through her veins. Her legs trembled as she approached James, but before she could reach him a piercing yell shattered the air.

Panicked, Macy turned to see several Jelvias rushing toward someone out of sight. Calder suddenly appeared from the opposite direction, throwing himself into the chaos. They all crashed to the ground in a tangled mess of limbs. Macy’s instinct screamed to run into the house and hide, but a bleeding Jelvia lay sprawled in front of the doorway, blocking her path.

Her legs refused to move, and her breath caught in her throat as she stared at the brutal fight happening right in front of her. Calder was on the losing end, but she couldn’t pull her eyes away, frozen by the horrific scene playing out in front of her. She stood frozen in terror, knowing as soon as they’d finished with Calder and Narcifer—wherever he was—she’d be killed. Shaking herself from her rigidity, she began to sidle along the side of the house.

She stepped carefully over the dead or unconscious Jeliva and felt the grunginess of his blood on the ground beneath her feet. She didn’t look. She didn’t want to see the gore on her feet.

The door to the house hung open, and she hesitated again but she knew that once inside, it’d become a prison, so she carried on towards the side of the house and the open field beyond. Glancing behind, she saw Jelvias drag a floppy Calder and throw him into the boot of their car. She gasped as the boot was closed, and his attackers jumped in and sped away.

Macy stood frozen for a moment, realising she’d been overlooked. She continued edging along the side of the house, her eyes darting around, searching desperately for any sign of Narcifer.

Hearing a noise, Macy instinctively turned, her heart lurching at the sight of Narcifer being dragged by his feet. A primal roar escaped him as he struggled against his assailants, but they outnumbered him four to one, and it was clear he wouldn’t stand a chance alone. Helplessness washed over Macy like a suffocating wave, her fingers involuntarily tangling in her hair as she raised them to clutch her head in her helplessness. Briefly, Phil’s sword collection flashed through her mind, but before she could even consider dashing into the house for a weapon, a strong arm seized her, wrenching her away from her thoughts and dragging her towards the unfolding chaos at Narcifer’s side.

Narcfier fell still when he saw her.

‘Come quietly, Narcifer, and she lives,’ the man holding her said. She felt his breath on the top of her head.

‘Let her go first,’ Narcifer said.

‘In the car,’ a Jelvia said.

Grim-faced, Narcifer nodded.

Pounit un,’ Macy whispered. Knowing death would come no matter what she said, she yelled louder, ‘Pounit un!’

A firm hand seized Macy’s forehead, tilting her head back with an uncomfortable strain. Refusing to yield, she met the Jelvia’s gaze head-on, determined to show her defiance.

‘Already awake,’ he remarked before abruptly throwing her to the ground. The impact sent a jolt of pain through her skull, but she kept her eyes fixed on Narcifer as he meekly climbed into the back of a waiting car, flanked by two other Jelvias.

Macy stood up and watched helplessly as the car sped away with Narcifer inside. Ignoring the shakiness of her legs and the chattering of her teeth, she eyed the third car the Jelvias had arrived in. It had boxed James’ car in against her own and Oliver’s.

Macy’s heart leapt into her throat as she realised no dead Jelvia was lying on the ground in front of the opened door. She spun around, looking for him. The sudden emptiness of the space where he had lain moments ago sent a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins.

With a surge of panicked urgency, Macy dashed towards the Jelvia’s car, her footsteps echoing in the tense silence of the moment. Frantically, she wrenched open the door, her fingers trembling as they fumbled over the barren ignition.

Trapped in a maelstrom of terror, Macy’s senses surged, each sound reverberating like thunder in the oppressive silence. A suffocating wave of dread washed over her as she swept her gaze across the once-ordinary driveway, her heart hammering against her ribcage like a relentless drumbeat.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, the sight sending a jolt of primal fear coursing through Macy’s veins. She watched in horror as the wounded Jelvia approached, his presence a chilling spectre in the dark morning.

‘Hey, little human.’ His voice cut through the silence like a jagged blade. And the way he nonchalantly stepped over James’ prone form, sent a shiver of dread down Macy’s spine. She stepped backwards, knowing no matter what she did, he’d use his venom to kill her. ‘I guess we’re alone,’ he said drawing closer with each step.

There was no point in running.

Macy’s eyes widened in disbelief. Behind the Jelvia, James stirred, struggling to his knees. She kept her gaze on the Jelvia, hoping somehow, James had a plan. But even as the thought was running through her mind she heard a sharp crack of a gunshot. The Jelvia’s legs buckled, and then he fell heavily to the ground.

James got to his feet and shoved the smoking gun into the waistband of his jeans.

‘Get in the driver’s seat,’ he said, indicating the car.

‘I… it has no keys,’ she said but jumped in anyway.

‘I just want you to take the handbrake off and steer,’ he said.

Macy’s fingers fumbled for the handbrake as James, with a series of grunts and strained efforts, shoved the car out of the way of his own. When he cleared the path, James dashed towards his vehicle. Panic surged through Macy, propelling her from her seat, but James had already started the engine by the time she reached his car.

Their eyes met over the bonnet, and Macy’s heart sank as she realised he intended to leave without her.

‘Macy. Move!’ he shouted.

‘I’m coming with you!’ Macy’s voice cracked with urgency as she sprinted around the front of the car towards the passenger side. But before she could reach the door, James slammed his foot on the accelerator. Instinctively, she lunged forward and grasped the wing mirror, but the sudden acceleration yanked her off her feet. With a sickening thud, Macy collided with the ground, the impact jarring her entire body and sprawling her on the asphalt.

The vehicle came to a sudden stop, kicking up gravel from the driveway as it skidded to a halt.

‘Fuck,’ James said, and she heard his footsteps as he came to see if he’d hit her. ‘Macy…’

Her body still had adrenaline coursing, so it was hard to tell if she was hurt. She scrambled up, opened the passenger door and jumped inside. James stared at her through the window, then he returned to the driver’s side.

‘Phil and Oliver ran around the back of the house. They may be hiding out until they think it’s clear,’ he said, turning the ignition on.

‘So?’

‘So, I think you should hang around here until they come back.’

She glanced in the bent wing mirror and saw the dead Jelvia on the driveway. Her teeth began to chatter. ‘I thought your gun was fake,’ she said, not answering him. ‘Thanks for saving my life.’

James reached into the dash and pulled out a packet of tissues. ‘Here. For your face,’ he added when she looked at him blankly. She pulled the sun visor down and looked at her face. It was grazed and blooded. She managed to wipe away a trickle before James floored the accelerated and she was thrown back in her seat, dropping the tissue.

Macy grabbed her seatbelt and pulled it on. Drizzle misted the window screen until the car’s window wipers dashed them away.

Things were moving too fast. Five minutes ago, they were packing the car for an adventure to save the world. Now, the rug was pulled again.


 

Friday 9 August 2024

Navigating the World of Editors: The Good, the Bad, and the Unreliable

I've had my fair share of unreliable editors over the years, so when you find one you can trust, make sure to hold on to them.

I've worked with editors who got a little too excited over my sex scenes, leaving comments like 'I'm hard' in the margins. Then there were those who clearly didn’t read the manuscript properly, missing details like a character who starts with blue eyes in the opening chapter but somehow ends up with brown eyes by the end.

More recently, I've been dealing with an editor who keeps moving the deadline. First, she was ill. Then, she had internet problems. After that, she claimed she never received my email. At this point, the next excuse might as well be that aliens landed in her back garden! I’ve received a partial refund because she returned the first pass of edits, but now she’s hesitant to send me the second pass after I’ve gone through her corrections.

I’ve also had an editor I had to let go because of her health issues. She couldn’t finish my series, but she refunded me in full, and we’re still in touch through emails. Ill health is something no one can control, but I can certainly spot the difference between genuine issues and a disorganised or dodgy editor.

My current editor is my guardian angel, Vanessa von Mollendorf. I used her on Hunted by Louise Wise, and now she’s taken over where the ill/internet issues/not received emails/aliens editor failed on the Jelvia: Not Human series by T. E. Kessler.


Jelvia: Not Human - a sci-fi 'with heat' by T E Kessler.


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If you like #syfy #alien #romance books check out this extract from EDEN

Excerpt from the book  Eden by Louise Wise Dizziness swamped her. Then sunlight fell on her in a burst of fresh, cold air as...