Cruentus: Rise to Power
Book 1, The Cruentus Series
By LS Broomfield
A prophecy of old continued to burn in the embers of time; long left dormant until the Cruentus family rose above all others as darkness ascended the lands. Greed and deception were the name of the game, and Arturo Cruentus would stop at nothing as he concocted the ultimate scheme to get everything he wanted. No price was too high. The scene was set, the pieces strategically placed. The Gallo family could not come against him, and in the end Guido and Palmiria Gallo would come out the biggest losers, watching their only daughter, Emiliana, be taken away to render a debt settled.
Young Emiliana Gallo, a victim of circumstance, was thrust into a world she did not understand and forced to marry a man she did not know. But what no one expected, not even Arturo, was that Emiliana and his son, Donato, would fall in love against all odds. For Arturo, love made one weak, but for his son, it was love at first sight. Donato became an opportunist in his father’s dirty schemes and did everything in his power to ensure the woman he admired for so long not only took his name in marriage, but also fell in love with him. Donato wanted it all, his gamble paid off richly, and he achieved both marriage and love. However, on the day they said ‘I do’ and the Cruentus and Gallo families were joined, Emiliana was ripped from their home like a thief in the night.
An unknown force too unsettled to let the vision spill and strengthen the Cruentus family decided to do the unthinkable—double-cross the Cruentus family. Rage and disdain fuelled Donato and Arturo. Though their reasons were very different-their goal unified them. They squared off with the leader of the Russian Coven to take back Emiliana, and in the end the Russian coven paid the highest price as the leader's blood was spilled in retribution for his crime at the hands of Arturo. News spread quickly to the Magia Council, and before long Arturo was called before them to answer for his crime of murder unjustly. The Ancients of the roundtable at Mount Blanc, the mountain range bordering Italy and France, was now enacted as they listened to the tale that had unfolded. Little did they know that they were a part of the grand scheme Arturo Cruentus shrewdly planned for the ultimate betrayal.
About the Author:
L.S. Broomfield lives in God’s country – Central Labrador, Canada. She wasn’t born there, but it’s where she and her family call home. Born and raised in Hawkes Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, L.S. is published author who is currently working on book two of the Cruentus series, a series of tales about the Cruentus family; namely, Dragos Cruentus, who who will make his appearance in the second book. She is full of talent and takes a fresh look on the paranormal world.
As a child, Lisa always wanted to write. She didn’t have any predilection of what to write, as long as she was writing – she was happy. She remembers growing up and traveling to Flower’s Cove to visit family and letting her imagination soar as the pen sketched across the paper. At such a young age, it was perhaps mostly incoherent thoughts tossed across the pages but still for all, it was a desire even then to write and tell a story.
As an adult, Lisa met an amazing group of individuals, and with their support and encouragement was brave enough to write and let people read the stories in her mind. While writing is one thing, allowing others to read the words one has spent hours putting to paper is entirely another thing. It opens the author wide to both praise and criticism. Lisa found it to be scary, yet wonderfully exciting.
Lisa has many people to thank for helping her to reach where she is today, but none of this would be possible without the support of her husband, Shawn, and her amazing kids, Brittany, Daniel, and Jacob. These people fill her world with color and make it worth writing – they enable her to do what she loves.
You can find Cruentus: Rise to Power on Amazon
Now on to today's interview.
1. Did you always know you wanted to be a writer or did you want to be something else?
I don’t know if in my mind I wanted to be a ‘writer’ as such, but I always wanted and loved to write. I never clearly defined that in my mind. As a little girl, I’m sure all my hopes and dreams of future jobs matched many others. We wanted to be doctors, lawyers, and mechanics; but no matter where I decided to go, yes, I have always loved to write.
2. How long does it take you to write a book from start to finish?
It really depends on a number of factors as to how long it will take from start to finish. For instance, my short story, “Souls Caught Fire” in my joint collaboration with author Ashley Nemer, Soul Mates, it took me two weeks. For Cruentus: Rise to Power it took me about thirteen months from start to finally writing out the last sentence.
3. How do you come up with themes for your stories?
For me, it could be a picture that stokes the embers of creativity, or it could be a name or a face that does it. Sometimes it’s just the budding of an idea in my mind; more of a “that’d be pretty cool to write about”.
For “Souls Caught Fire” within Soul Mates it was based on a black and white picture in a bar. It gave the illusion of a 1950’s bar and the woman drew your attention immediately. I had to tell her story. Fierce and beautiful.
Cruentus: Rise to Power was based on an idea for Dragos Cruentus. I started writing him loosely in a writing group, and he took on a life of his own. Granted, Rise to Power is not about Dragos but his parents, Donato and Emiliana, as well as his grandfather, Arturo. Book one provides what I believe to be a very necessary back story for the Cruentus family.
4. Do you have a schedule of when you write?
I would like to be able to say I’m very regimented in my writing, but I am not. I’m like most moms—busy. I have work and children, and their extracurricular activities, so it makes it hard to devote a certain amount of time each day to my writing. I write whenever I can, and as their schedules allow me to.
5. How are you able to balance other aspects of your life with your writing?
Some days with great difficulty, but being the multi-tasking mother, I make it happen. I try to practice what I like to call ‘mental health time’ and use that to do things just for me, which usually ends up being writing. As well, a lot of the times I get to write are because my husband and children support what I love to do. They understand that mom has crazy ideas and has to get it down. Without their support in a busy home, writing wouldn’t be possible.
6. What elements do you think make a great story line?
For myself, I would have to say great characters. A character with depth adds an allurement to a reader. I think a story could have an amazing plot, but if their characters are un-relatable then I think it causes a reader to lose interest. So while a strong plot is very necessary, relatable characters are as well. Don’t be afraid to give a character depth. Not all characters are going to be brooding, strong men or meek and mild females.
7. What was the hardest thing about writing a book?
Besides finishing it? I would have to say it is finding the time to devote to its completion, as well as turning off my mind to other home related things. That would have to be my greatest battle sometimes.
8. How many books have you written so far? Do you have a favorite?
To date, I have written 2 short stories, “Firefly” (on sale within Evernight Vol 2 by author Allison Cassatta) and “Souls Caught Fire” (within Soul Mates jointly with author Ashley Nemer), and 1 novella, Cruentus: Rise to Power.
I loved each one that I’ve written all for entirely different reasons, but if I had to pick it would be “Souls Caught Fire”.
9. Do you have a favorite character?
My favourite all-time character is not one that I’ve written yet—Dragos Cruentus.
10. Where do you write?
I don’t have an office, so I just go wherever it’s quieter. It usually ends up being my bedroom.
11. When deciding on how to publish, what directed you to the route you took?
I searched through many publishing firms and took a lot of advice from my friend and fellow author regarding the self publishing route. In the end, I decided on self publishing for Cruentus: Rise to Power for the sole purpose of maintaining my rights as an author.
12. Have you gotten feedback from family about your book(s)? What do they think?
My family are terribly excited for me. My children, the ones old enough, are so excited. I printed off a copy of Rise to Power and gave to my fifteen year old, Daniel, to read. He was pretty impressed that he had the very first copy. My husband says I have so much talent. It’s such a prideful and wonderful feeling when the people you love the most support you so beautifully.
13. What kinds of things do you like to do outside of writing?
I love to travel whenever I get the opportunity, but one of my all-time favourite things to do is watch my boys play soccer. I’m an absolute soccer mom. I’m the mom in the stands screaming out to them, supporting them and pushing them harder to do what they love most. Then there is four wheeling. I love off road riding with my family.
14. What kinds of advice would you give to someone who wants to start writing?
First and foremost, get a journal and keep it with you. It’s amazing how sometimes hand writing in a notebook or journal can push creativity forward. Don’t set a deadline for yourself. Don’t stress if you can’t write every day, keep your journal close and write down random things that pop in your mind. You’ll be amazed how much you can write based on one sentence. Be organized—keep key details of your characters, down to the eye color and hair color, in one spot for easy access. Don’t over think how your story will play out. I’ve learned very quickly that our characters, once they have begun speaking, have full control over that. And finally, have fun with your writing!
16. What is your favorite book? Favorite author? Do you have an author that inspired/inspires you to write?
My favourite book is I Love You Forever by Robert Munsch. Favorite author, I would have to say Stephenie Meyer because once I read her books, I couldn’t stop reading books in general. I needed more and hence began my love of books. As for who inspired me to write, I believe it’s a collective between each author I’ve read. It ranges from childhood books to J.D. Robb, Stephenie Meyer, Laurell K. Hamilton, J.R. Ward, and the list could go on.
17. Do you have any go to people when writing a book that help you with your story lines as well as editing, beta reading and such?
I go to two people—Tevya and Ashley. They have been my support base through this journey in terms of editing, reading, and butt-kicking.
18. Are you working on anything now?
Currently, I’m working on an M/M short story. It does not have an official name, so for now I’ll just call it Blake and Ashton. It’s a story of love, loss, surviving through that loss, and finding love again.
Sarah Ashley Jones was raised in San Diego, California, but currently wrangles her husband and four dogs in Clarksville, Tennessee. When she's not writing she works in a pottery studio and comes home covered in paint on a daily basis. She has a slightly unhealthy obsession with cupcakes and chapstick. She is an eternal optimist and can often be found dancing and singing to music at any given time. It's rare to see her not smiling or laughing, but if you do, just bring her a cupcake and it will cheer her up.
