What better way to celebrate #SummerReading season than an enchanting chat with a talented #writer who just happens to have a new #book releasing today (Blade of Truth)! Canadian author Lali Love's books #inspire and #entertain---without further adieu, let's chat with Lali:
Q1. Lali, I have enjoyed reading your gorgeous, poetry/meditation book, The Joy of IT so much! I have it handy on my coffee table to open up and be inspired each day. The collection is awesome and the drawings are simply stunning. How do you go about developing and planning such an inspiring book with your contributing team of writers and artists? What other inspiring poetry collections do you have or that are in the works?
Thank you for taking the time to read The Joy of I.T. (Infinite Transcendence), Veronica! I’m thrilled that you are enjoying the uplifting anthology of creativity and inspiration. It is a work of passion that aims to provide poetry of self-reflection and well-being.
During the height of the global lockdown of 2020, I began to reflect on some of the lessons thrust by this enigmatic pandemic. We were gifted with an opportunity to slow down our chaotic lifestyles and social conditioning of striving to reach unrealistic expectations based on external stimuli. From my perspective, this experience influenced me to re-examine our priorities as a society and awaken to our inherent truths. As such, I was inspired to create an uplifting artistic book, focusing on positive messages of encouragement, joy, female empowerment, worthiness, and self-love.
My intention behind this anthology was to offer insightful viewpoints and transformational artwork, to elevate the expansion of consciousness and celebrate the beauty of Mother Earth. I was motivated to create a mystical, ornate full-colour coffee table book, with visually invigorating healing energy, and the vibrational frequencies of joy to enrich the mind, body, and soul. The combination of spiritual mantras and affirmations offers powerful words to help with meditative messages of self-motivation, mindfulness, and harmony to realize self-mastery.
I am a huge admirer of mixed media art and acrylic paintings that evoke various emotions, from elation and enthusiasm to pure appreciation. My goal was to collaborate with lightworkers whose artistic creations were well known in the mystical community. These incredible artists embody the light, anchored in love and kindness, transcending time, and space.
I am so grateful that I was able to collaborate with my Soul Tribe to publish this book. With a bit of time and effort, we were able to finalize the pieces for this anthology with the remarkable healing poetry by Gillian Small and transformative art by Aurelien Pumayana Floret, Autumn Skye, Michelle Aristocrat, and Daniel B. Holeman. It has been an honour to showcase and feature the contributions of digital art, photography, and visionary creations that are inspired by the goodness of humanity, the magic of nature, and the infinite spirit that connects us all.
Each piece has been carefully selected to provide visual stimulation and healing energy as a vibrational match to the forty insights, messages, spiritual-quotes, and enlightening poetry. I hope the reader resonates with the multi-dimensional teachings of love, hope, and bliss that unite us all during a time when the world is at a precipice of significant change.
I am currently working on my third poetry collection that focuses on humanity’s emotional freedom, inner revolution, state of mind, and clarity of truth. I’m hoping to have the book released before the holiday season in 2021.
Q2. From poetry and healing you moved into the world of dark fantasy and sci fi--what was your inspiration for the characters and their journeys?
Since publishing my debut novel, Heart of a Warrior Angel in July 2019, I have released five books. My mission is to bridge my knowledge of metaphysical philosophies with visionary fiction, to empower, enlighten, and entertain the reader with thought-provoking and gripping storytelling. The core message in every story includes a challenging path for my main character toward enlightenment, as the eternal struggle between good and evil intensifies in the parallel timelines. The primary themes entail overcoming trauma, transformation, and self-actualization, through the alchemy of love and forgiveness.
When I developed the main character in my first book, Lilac Noble, I had to imagine how an incarnated angel’s true identity could be stripped away in modern-day society, by humanizing the fantasy. I wanted to make her authentic, damaged, and vulnerable, relaying raw emotions and internal conflict that readers could identify with as she struggled to understand her Soul purpose in the face of darkness.
As readers vicariously wade through Lilac’s past experiences of financial hardship, oppression, pain, cruelty, and the long-term effects of post-traumatic stress and depression, it was essential to relay her sheer determination and resilience to protect her loved ones from harm. Her soul was fractured, she was far from perfect and layered with scars from childhood abuse. However, Lilac was accepting of her emotional volatility as she actively sought healing techniques to expand her consciousness to discover her true self.
I wanted to portray Lilac as a multi-dimensional character, compelled by pure, unconditional love, giving her layers of emotional and spiritual depth throughout her healing journey, as she discovered her warrior wings and began to conquer the evil entities that have been sent to derail her divine mission of breaking her family’s generational bloodline curse.
My dark fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal books shine the light on difficult and sensitive subject matter. The strong female protagonists must deal with childhood wounding to heal the emotional blockages that keep them trapped in a cycle of despair. They face an awakening through the dark night of the soul to get to the core of their perceived distress with deep shadow work.
It is my intention to evoke a poignant response in the reader, immersing them in this emotional rollercoaster-type of experience, while raising awareness on mental health issues and core wounding that are truly relevant in today’s society.
The second novel took me into the young adult category for The De-Coding of Jo, Ascending Angel Academy series. It is a meld of fantasy, paranormal and science fiction, with a strong appeal to readers ages 14 years and older. It is the first book of the Ascending Angel Academy series that has been compared to Euphoria meets A Wrinkle in Time, with a dash of The Matrix. It incorporates plot-driven and coming-of-age stories of diverse, gender-inclusive teenagers struggling with self-identity and a sense of belonging. I was inspired to shine a light on issues such as anxiety, depression, bullying, body dysmorphia, loss, and external dependencies, through my fictional characters.
The main character Jo (Josephine) is Lilac’s youngest daughter (from Heart of a Warrior Angel) who grows up within the current insurgence of the artificial intelligence matrix. At sixteen, she struggles with her shadows, while navigating through teenage angst and high school issues. Her journey to enlightenment explores her own authentic truth about love, belonging, passion, freedom and becomes the observer of her celestial metamorphosis.
This novel allows readers to understand the emotional turmoil taking place in Jo’s world. When a demonic parasite turns her classmates into an army of sleepwalkers, sixteen-year-old Jo must confront her celestial identity and reveal the mystery of existence. The first stage of the Ascending Angel Academy initiates Jo’s ethereal remembrance through light code activations as she discovers her powers of astral projection and time travel. With the help of her best friends, The Council, and a Galactic Compass, Jo unleashes the cosmic powers of creation to prevent the Lord of Darkness from enslaving all of humanity into obscurity.
I am excited to release the second book in the AAA series, Blade of Truth, on July 7, 2021. The story examines the concepts of telepathy, shapeshifting, and the history of Galactic Battles between the sacred Light and Darkness since the beginning of time. Jo has to fulfill her second mission on Earth with the StarSeed Quest, to pass the hall of learning stage of integration and mastery. With her friends by her side, they are tasked to save mother earth from being hijacked by the evil Lizzie forces.
The book incorporates self-realization modalities and emotional healing while dissolving the veil of density within the astral realm. By eradicating judgment, toxicity, and mind control systems with the truth, Jo is able to clear timelines and old grid patterns with ancient stargate light codes. The protagonists attempt to rescue their classmate and the Custodian of the Galaxy from the Lizzie Wizard of Bondage, who has been running a human trafficking ring in the Canary Islands.
Q3. Lali, you're an inspiration to many in the #WritingCommunity! Your outreach to readers seems phenomenal and crosses many genres--can you share some of your processes/tips you've found rewarding to promote your books?
That is very kind of you to say, Veronica. As an indie writer, I have learned so much about the publishing industry as a whole. It’s still a learning journey as I navigate through the overwhelming analysis behind algorithms, book promotions, and the daily grind/hustle of marketing. I have documented some successful strategies and resources that have worked for me over the past two years, which have resulted in increased book sales, awards, and even reached the Amazon Best Seller list. I plan on sharing this Indie Bestseller approach with all my newsletter subscribers over the next six months.
Much like many of our friends in the #WritingCommunity, I’m still balancing my day job with my writing and publishing demands, while having a life. Managing the many different social media platforms alone is a full-time job. I don’t pretend to understand the world of Book Tok, but I’m sharing my work on that platform as well to expand my reach. I may need to hire a Virtual Assistant for assistance very soon!
I’m super grateful for all the love and support I receive for my publishing journey on Twitter. There are so many incredible writers such as yourself, that I have connected with and formed friendships, all around the world. It is my hope that we can all meet at an Indie Book Conference one day, wouldn’t that be a massive celebration? I think California, somewhere on the coast would be ideal.
Q4. What's next on your writing horizon? Any news you can share--enquiring minds want to know!
I’m glad you asked, Veronica! I have some exciting news to share for the Blade of Truth. I have signed with Ravens and Roses Publishing to bring science fiction, epic fantasy stories to bookstores all over the world! The diverse and inclusive cast of my Ascending Angel Academy series has finally found a home with a publishing imprint that not only wishes to empower underrepresented authors but aims to revolutionize the independent publishing industry by supporting creativity, ingenuity, and innovation.
Once I finish my next poetry collection, I plan on writing the third and final book in the AAA series, with the hopes of publishing it in 2022.
Don’t miss my announcement on Twitter, where one lucky winner of my Pre-Order Giveaway Promotion will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a signed paperback book on release day. We are also having a virtual Book Launch Party for the Blade of Truth, Wednesday, July 7th, from 6-7 pm EST on CW Discord Server, with a keynote speaker, Dakota Rayne, founder of InkedinGray Publishing and Co-Founder WriterHive.
I hope you’re all able to join us and celebrate my fifth book release with me!
Thank you so much for this opportunity, Veronica. Much love and blessings for a joyful and fulfilling summer.
Same to you, Lali---thank you so much for taking time to chat with us today! Congratulations on your #NewRelease and best to you with your exciting, writing journey. You can learn more about Lali and her fabulous works here:
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#Inspired and #Motivated, it's Wednesday, time for #DearDiary:
It's beginning to look a lot like 🕸Tangled Webs🕸!
Sorry, I'm still running in #ChristmasInJuly mode, LOL. #Author Bibiana Krall and I reached a major milestone this past week with Tangled Webs, the edits are completed and the manuscript is being readied for final load onto the seller sites (Pssst, it's #bootiful!)! I'm beaming with pride for this release--stay tune for some very, um, 'original' takes on scary tales (with perhaps a laugh or two)! #Halloween is coming...
A cheeky tale of mystery this week from the writers of Twitter...
Author Beth Cowan-Erskine, Loch Down Abbey, 5⭐
The Inverkillen family have been ruling the roost of their family estate for hundreds of years. Life at Loch Down Abbey is filled with pomp and tradition, but includes the not so glamorous family squabbles, dashed dreams and love on the rocks. When a mysterious illness hits the countryside, the staff at the Abbey scramble to keep the household running in the manner its inhabitants have become accustomed to, dealing with shortages, extra workloads and numerous bouts of ill temper.
Tragedy strikes the estate when the body of Lord Inverkillen is found, sending his descendants into a panic when they learn the estate has lost most of its luster and funds. The heirs frantically look for a way to keep the estate running as the police investigate the Earl's death. As the options and time run out, dramatic changes are in store as more secrets are revealed. Will the family be able to adjust?
Author Cowan-Erskine weaves a cheeky mystery filled with whodunnit chills and humor. Loch Down Abbey is a fun romp in a cozy mystery world this reader adores, a highly recommended read!
Next up in the #reading queue:
Loads of #author interviews, #bookreviews and all things #books and #writing. Book Lovers, Readers, Writing Community--this channel is for you! See you soon...
Crowns and Kisses,
Veronica
P.S. Stay tuned for next week's official #ChristmasInJuly #BookCover reveal for Christmas Bizarre, Rikkhe St. Claire Hygge & Bisous Holiday Mysteries! Rikkhe and Gemma definitely approve ⚜💖❄