1--What is the title of your latest release?
The Lost Portal: Mirror Realm Series Book II
2--What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
Hadley Caldwell, ex-demon huntress turned dream-host, has just been given an impossible task: find the Portal of Osiris, or face the gods' eternal wrath. She and her band of huntress sisters embark on an epic quest spanning oceans, dreams, and time. But to defeat the gods, Hadley must first confront her troubled past. The Lost Portal is a mythology-inspired fantasy full of mystery, adventure, family drama, and sisterhood.
3--How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
The end of book one (The Last Huntress), hints at the involvement of an Egyptian god, so getting the characters to Egypt was essential. Having been to Cairo, I was excited to incorporate some of my own experience into the girls’ adventures.
4--Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
One hundred percent! Hadley’s drop-dead gorgeous looks are the least interesting thing about her. She spent her childhood learning how to pick locks, hotwire cars, and physically defend herself while other kids her age were busy making friends and having fun. But she’s never let her family’s criminal past define her. She knows who she is, and what she was meant to do—fight gods and demons. She might be a gorgeous bad*ss with the skills to match, but she’s also just a sweet girl who loves her friends more than anything in the world.
5--What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Charming. Independent. Headstrong.
6--What’s something you learned while writing this book?
While researching the pyramids of Giza, I learned a very interesting fact about The Great Pyramid which I used in the story. I can’t reveal it without giving too much away, but it’s a fun piece of trivia I hope my readers will enjoy.
7--Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I used to edit as I go but now I do my best to wait. Chances are that most of it will change anyway, so I’ve learned to trust the process and fix what needs fixing later.
8--What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Sweet: Dairy Queen’s Peanut Buster Parfait
Savory: Truffle potato chips, fries, or popcorn
9--Describe your writing space/office!
It’s cluttered but cozy, with a glass desk, a little blue reading couch, a window overlooking the backyard, and at least one cat always napping in the corner.
10--Who is an author you admire?
Kate Quinn
11--Is there a book that changed your life?
Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon. It didn’t change my life but it’s the reason I spent my honeymoon in the Scottish Highlands. My husband (fiancé at the time) was a good sport.
Fun fact: Six-hundred-year-old castles are not as romantic as they might seem. They’re cold and drafty, and a little bit scary!
12--Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
For my first book, The Last Huntress, I queried agents for almost a year before deciding to go with a hybrid publisher. As a debut author, I’ve found their expertise and guidance invaluable, so I know they’re the right fit for the rest of the series. Navigating the world of publishing can be overwhelming, and I feel lucky to have a strong team behind me.
13--What’s your favorite genre to read?
It depends on my mood. Right now, I’m reading a lot of psychological thrillers, but the last read that gave me a true book hangover was Andy Weir’s sci-fi masterpiece, Project Hail Mary. Man, I did not want that book to end. (and I’m very excited to learn it’s being made into a movie starring Ryan Gosling!)
14--What’s your favorite movie?
That’s impossible to answer (there are just too many!) but here are a few: Shawshank Redemption, Shawn of the Dead, Vanilla Sky, The Goonies, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Anchorman, and Practical Magic.
15--What is your favorite season?
A thousand percent Fall!
16--How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
Dinner with my husband (we share the same birthday), ideally while on vacation in a place we’ve never been before.
17--What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
TV Show: Severance, Movie: Twisters, Book: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, Podcast: Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend
18--What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
That’s hard because I love food in general. But if I had to choose, Mexican (I live for chips and queso)
19--What do you do when you have free time?
Read, go antique shopping, hike, binge-watch Suits, play Canasta (card game), or cuddle with my cats.
20--What can readers expect from you next?
I’m hard at work on book three of the Mirror Realm series. There will be four books total (each from a different huntress’s POV), and I can’t wait to share an update with my readers soon!
The Mirror Realm Series #2
For fans of Kendare Blake’s Goddess War series comes this second installment in a gripping YA fantasy series that follows a band of huntresses taking on a world of demons and gods.
For years, Hadley Caldwell kept humanity safe by hunting demons. But that came to an end when the Mirror Realm disappeared. Now her life is filled with bridesmaid dresses, family pressures, and—oh yeah—hosting ancient deities in her sleep. It’s not world-saving work, but if dream-hosting is all it takes to keep the gods happy, she’s willing to play along and leave her huntress days behind her. That is, until the gods demand something more: the Portal of Osiris.
The Portal was part of the Realm. It shouldn’t exist anymore. But the gods believe it does, and claim it holds the key to their salvation. The quest for the Portal takes Hadley and her band of huntress sisters on an enigmatic adventure to the sands of Egypt and beyond. But chasing a portal isn’t as easy as outrunning your past, and soon the only things Hadley knows for certain are that the gods can’t be trusted . . . and some portals should never be found.
Join Hadley, Alice, Olivia, and Soxie in this electrifying second book of the Mirror Realm series as they traverse the globe on an ancient scavenger hunt full of mystery, magic, intrigue, and sisterhood.
Young Adult Fantasy [SparkPress, On Sale: October 8, 2024, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781684632602 / ]
Lenore Borja grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. She attended Arizona State University before moving to New York City to study acting at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After a brief career as an actress, she spent several years working in executive search and human resources in New York and San Francisco. She now resides in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband and a bossy feline named Maximus. When she’s not writing, she enjoys adventure travel and anything that gets the heart racing, whether it’s hiking, running, or getting lost in a good book.
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