Welcome to the 2024 ARIA Author Showcase and Giveaway Event! 

  

  

How to enter – Comment on the daily showcases to enter the daily giveaway. Comments close four days after the initial Showcase post. GRAND PRIZE drawn on Dec 5th (1 -$250, 1 -$100, or a 1 -$50 Amazon gift card. One grand prize pp) – For every showcase you post on, you automatically gain one entry to the grand prize. 30 Authors = 30 entries.    

Jeremey Harrison  will be at the Rhode Island Author Expo   

On to the Showcase! 

 

What name do you like to write under? Jeremey Harrison

Where do you call home? Rhode Island

What genre(s) do you write? Young Adult (YA) and New Adult (NA) Romance/Fantasy

What genre(s) were you drawn to when you were younger? Was there a reason that genre(s) appealed to you the most? 

I loved anything fantasy-related because I was obsessed with the idea that something extraordinary can happen to someone ordinary and that normal kids/teens/adults can be heroes. I was constantly looking for something magical to happen to me as a kid (and I'm still waiting!)

What were some of your favorite books growing up? Why?  

As a child, I was obsessed with the Magic Treehouse Series, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Peter and the Starcatchers, Eragon, Alanna, and Harry Potter. 

What are some of your favorite books today?

Honestly, my taste hasn't changed much from when I was a teen to now. I still read YA Fantasy, but have transitioned a bit more to fantasy/ romance. Some of my recent favorites are: Fourth Wing, Carry On, ACOTAR, and The House In the Cerulean Sea.

What inspired you to become a writer? 

II have always loved reading and wanted my own world to get lost in. One day, I wrote an adventure I wanted to go on and I haven't stopped writing since! My inspiration is to tell stories I would want to read, either as a teen or now as an adult.

The Island Forever

Seventeen-year-old Max Greenfell grew up hearing stories about the Island of Forever—a beautiful paradise of intrigue and magic that was once controlled by a destructive shapeshifter who killed everything in his path. When monsters roamed its sandy shores, and the island’s magic began to dwindle, a hero emerged to overcome the evil and restore the land.  But all good stories have an end—and fairy tales are just that—or so he thought.  When a strange storm sweeps through his town, Max finds himself washed upon the shores of the fabled utopia. Faced with bullying and overwhelming anxiety at school, he finds solace in the island's allure, creating a better reality to confront. But his arrival has disrupted the world’s balance, threatening to unleash the shapeshifter once more.  With help from a snarky merman and a pistol-wielding fairy, Max must embark on a dangerous adventure to ensure the island’s safety. Returning home will be a challenging journey, requiring him to confront his deepest emotions, confide in his closest allies, and survive an encounter with his greatest foe: himself.

Tell us a little about how “The Island Forever” came to be. Did it start with an image, a voice, a concept, a dilemma or something else? 

I actually started writing The Island of Forever when I was 17. At home, I was writing my first novel (which will never see the light of day) and was telling a friend about it. I hit a particular rough spot in the book and needed time away from the story to unravel the plot holes and decided to write a fun Peter Pan-like novella where me and my friends went on a magical adventure - this is how The Island of Forever was born! Years later, I revisited the story and changed most of it to be what it is today!

Which scene, character or plotline changed the most from first draft to published book? 

To be honest, the whole story completely changed from first draft to published book! If I had to choose one, the main character, Max changed the most throughout this publishing journey. Originally, he was quiet and really didn't have much development, but as I revised the story, I realized who he was and added the struggles he faced in his day-to-day life, injected a bit more personality, and honed in on his priorities. I wanted his development to show that not every character has a "cookie-cutter" life and how teens taking on a parent role to their younger siblings shapes them. I'm so proud of Max's story and journey he takes in this book and hope it resonates with readers.

Which character was the most challenging to create. Why?  

Again, I'd say the main character, Max. Finding out his personality and who he is was a struggle for me. With each development, it added to his backstory and impacted the decisions he made within the story. Many of the supporting characters have huge personalities, so it was challenging to find where he fit when everyone around him seemed to already know who they are (which, funny enough, is something Max struggles with himself). 

What do you like best about being a writer? 

Honestly, I love creating the stories and worlds to get lost in. As a child, I read so many books as a form of escapism and I think the great thing about writing these stories is that I can now do that myself, but also (hopefully) help others find their own escape. 

If you could collaborate with any author past or present, who would it be? What would the title of the book be? (If possible) - Give us a one sentence blurb.  

Either Holly Black or Rainbow Rowell (or BOTH?!) - I think they're amazing at their craft and I'd love to collaborate with them, learn their process, and revel in their mastery. If we did collaborate, I'd think we'd agree on a YA urban fantasy!

 

You can follow Jeremy Harrison here - 

Website - www.jeremeyharrison.com 

FaceBook - https://www.instagram.com/jeremeyhwrites/ 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tabithalord/ 

Goodreads, X, Bluesky, Threads - @jeremeyhwrites

Jeremey is giving away a copy of The Island of Forever, a bookmark with an exclusive art print, character prints, and an exclusive sticker.

 

To enter, comment below → You have just been whisked away to a new realm, this realm is your version of Utopia, tell me what do you see?

(Comments are open for 4 days)