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The Lost Brother: A Legend of Tara by Colm Hearne (Book Spotlight / Author Interview)

with 

Colm Hearne

1. Welcome, Colm Hearne. For those who might not be familiar with you, would you be a dear and tell the reader’s a little about yourself? How you got your start in the writing business?

(Colm): I live in Dublin, Ireland. I’ve been writing since I was a kid and always dreamed about becoming a published writer. I’ve two children’s fantasy books published so far. They’re called “A Legend of Tara: Fionn the Reviver” and “. I have many different ideas for books and stories.

 

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Amazon Purchase Link

 

2. All writers fear the dreaded “block.” Please tell us how you handle it.

(Colm): Honestly, I’ve never had to deal with writer’s block because I never seem to run out of ideas. If I ever get an idea or inspiration for a book or a story, I make a note of it on my computer so I won’t forget about it. I’ve got hundreds of ideas, literally.

(KAM) That’s amazing! 

 

3. What’s your writing process like? Do you have a favorite snack or drink? Do you listen to music? Do you go old-school and write on paper, use a typewriter, or pen your thoughts on a computer? Do you have a particular writing outfit or location that inspires you the most?

(Colm): I write wherever I go. Whether it’s in a café or at home or somewhere quiet where I can do some writing. I usually handwrite my writing first, then type it up on my computer. I also like to have a cup of tea or coffee while I’m writing.

 

4. If you could have dinner with one author, alive or dead, who would that be and why?

(Colm): It would probably be Brian Jacques, author of the Redwall books. I’ve been a fan of his work since I was a kid, and he was a major influence on my writing of “Fionn the Reviver,” “The Lost Brother,” and even “The Legends of Tara” series. He was also a funny guy with a great sense of humour.

(KAM) I’ve never heard of them, so thank you for sharing their name with us!  

 

5. What or who inspired you to write?

(Colm): What inspired me were books by authors like Roald Dahl, C.S. Lewis, J.K. Rowling, Brian Jacques and J.R.R. Tolkien. When I read one of their books, I imagined myself being an amazing author like them and even coming up with my own fantasy world.

(KAM) I love Tolkien! 

 

6. If you could choose one book to go to the big screen, yours or otherwise, which book would you choose and whom would you love to see cast in the parts?

(Colm): If I had to choose, I would probably say the comic book script that I’m working on, “Skater”. Because I love superhero movies, and people have told me that when I read my comic book scripts like “Skater”, they can see them made into films. As to who would star in the film, I don’t really know. Maybe someone like Andrew Garfield because he was cool as Spider-Man.

(KAM) I would definitely watch your movie. Andrew was a fantastic Spider-Man, and I also love superhero movies! 

 

7. Would you please tell us about your current or upcoming release?

(Colm): Yes, I’m working on a few different projects. I’m working on a third and fourth book to “The Legends of Tara” series. I’ve also written a comic book script called “Skater” as I’m passionate about comics as well. I’m working on a few different comic book scripts. I also write short stories as well. One particular short story called “The Bad Word” I’m hoping to get published eventually. I’ve also written a chapter for a Christmas book called “The Missing Elf”. I seem to be always writing stories.

 

8. Where can we find your stories and is there a particular reading order?

(Colm): My two children’s fantasy books, “Fionn the Reviver” and “The Lost Brother”, are available on Amazon. They’re both part of a series, so I would start by reading “The Lost Brother” first, then read “Fionn the Reviver”.

 

“The Lost Brother”: Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

9. Would you please share how your present and future fans can contact you?

 (Colm): Yes, the best way to contact me would probably be my website https://colmhearneauthor.com/

Also, feel free to sign up to my mailing list if you want to hear news about my writing progress.

Subscribe to his Youtube channel!! 

 

10. Before we conclude this enlightening interview, do you have anything else you’d like to share? The stage is all yours.

 (Colm): Two things I’d like to say: if anyone buys or reads one of my books, I’d really appreciate it if you could leave a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads because getting reviews is tough. So the more reviews, the better. Second, to anyone aspiring to become a writer like me, I would say: first of all, keep writing, and don’t be afraid to show your work to anyone. And if you experience setbacks or disappointments, whether it’s writing, publishing or marketing, don’t be discouraged and don’t give up; keep going. Even J.K. Rowling experienced rejection several times when she was trying to publish “Harry Potter”, and she went on to become one of the best-selling authors of all time. Hope you found this helpful, and thank you for having me.

 

I hope you enjoyed my interview with Colm Hearne If you have any questions or comments for the author, by all means, leave them a message below. Thank you in advance for your visit! 

 

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A Mysterious Christmas Visitor by Barbara Leary (Book Review and Kickstarter Campaign)

On a quiet farm on Christmas Eve, a young girl settles in by the fire with a good book—until a crash in the woods shatters the stillness. Accompanied her community of woodland animals, she steps bravely into the shadows to face whatever might be lurking in the dark, only to find a creature that needs her help. What follows is a funny, whimsical tale told in lyrical rhyme and vibrant illustrations—a story of unexpected encounters, connection, and the magic that can find you when you least expect it. With themes of courage, empathy, and understanding, it invites young readers to imagine a world where kindness leads the way.

The rhyme is a fresh take on “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” known popularly as “The Night before Christmas,” attributed to Clement Clark Moore.

The book includes four pages of fun facts about the awesome animals who power Santa’s sleigh, blending entertainment with a bit of education to satisfy the natural curiosity of young readers.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

The holidays are fast approaching, and A Mysterious Christmas Visitor is the perfect book to get readers into the holiday spirit!

It was the night before Christmas, and a darling girl was nestled under a blanket, reading a book by firelight. Her house is filled with the lovely aroma of freshly baked cookies and piping hot stew. All is quiet inside the farmhouse, but outside, something is stirring in the darkness. The sweet young lady swallows her fear and ventures out into the cold winter’s night, but not without an axe. Brilliant idea, especially since she has no idea what awaits her in the dark woods.

The young girl, a beacon of bravery, ventured out alone into the snowy forest. When she spotted the ‘monstrous Thing’ and what she assumed was its glowing purple eye, she didn’t flee. Instead, she weighed her options: run, stay and fight, or offer them some of their delicious food? When the ‘monstrous Thing’ came into view and spoke, the child needed a moment to collect herself and allow her brain to register what was happening. For many readers, the instinct would’ve been to run back to the safety of the house. But she didn’t. And it’s a good thing she didn’t, because they were about to have a once-in-a-lifetime moment. 

The Christmastime character’s story of how they ended up in these woods was amusing. Their facial expression when offered the stew was a moment of pure comedy. Read the story to find out why, but don’t worry, no animals were harmed in the making of the stew!

A Mysterious Christmas Visitor is a wonderful story told through lyrical rhymes and beautiful illustrations. Some rhyme choices may require explanation to younger audiences, such as the use of “warily,” “altitude,” “barbarian,” and “adieu.” Some readers may also be unaware that “venison” refers to deer meat, a key element in understanding why the reindeer’s expression is so memorable in one scene.

Besides delivering a lovely Christmas story, the writer included a section on why reindeer are amazing. There, readers will discover interesting facts about these beautiful animals. For example, a reindeer’s eye color and hooves change depending on whether it’s winter or summer. They are also super-fast runners! Catch these fun facts, plus many more, in the final pages of this delightful children’s book.

Get in the holiday spirit and read A Mysterious Christmas Visitor to your little ones today! My recommended reading age is kids 9 years and younger.

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤1/2

Amazon Purchase Link

Kickstarter Campaign: To Fund a Spanish Edition of “A Mysterious Christmas Visitor”

 

 

 

Meet the Author
Join Their Kickstarter Campaign! 

Award-winning indie author Barbara Leary has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund a Spanish-language edition of her latest picture book, A Mysterious Christmas VisitorTold in lyrical rhyme and brought to life by illustrator Marrieta Gal, this heartwarming holiday tale for ages 9 and under follows a young girl who discovers a frightened reindeer hiding in the shadows and learns that courage and kindness can lead to unexpected friendship. The book has already been released in English and includes a bonus section of fun reindeer facts for curious kids. With translation by Camila Larrea—one of Barbara’s former grad students—the Spanish edition aims to offer children from bilingual and Spanish-speaking families a story that feels like it was written just for them. 

 

Backers can choose rewards starting at $5 in either language, including beautifully illustrated e-book and print editions, sticker sheets, holiday cards, and digital goodies. Shipping is planned for November. You can check out the pre-launch page here: 

Kickstarter Campaign: To Fund a Spanish Edition of “A Mysterious Christmas Visitor”

 

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