The Sapphire Storm by Amy Lignor 

By George Ebey

Amy Lignor’s debut novel, 13, introduced the world to the intrepid adventures of Leah Tallent and Gareth Lowery.  Now Tallent and Lowery are back in their exciting follow up, THE SAPPHIRE STORM.

This time around, a new puzzle from the past has come to life when the courageous couple becomes embedded in a world filled with liars, killers and greed. And when the riddle of a famous ‘Bard’ is solved, a strange woman appears who has far more in common with Leah Tallent than she can possibly imagine. The heart-stopping suspense of this new quest takes them from Coptic Cairo to the magical world of Petra, in search of a cave deep underground that once housed a true ‘Illuminator.’ Yet again, they must find the answers and stay one step ahead of true villains who are determined to make sure that – this time – Tallent & Lowery do not survive

I recently checked in with Amy and asked her to give us some insight into the writing and editing process as well as what the future holds for the heroes of 13, and THE SAPPHIRE STORM.

This book is the second in your Tallent and Lowery series. Can you tell us a little about the first book, 13, and how it figures into THE SAPPHIRE STORM?

I actually try to separate each novel so they can be read as stand-alone adventures. However, with 13, Leah Tallent& Gareth Lowery are first introduced, and the book opens the door to their relationship, humor, and the way Leah’s incredible mind works. In 13, the puzzle that must be solved connects the haunted Winchester Mansion in California to Whitechapel to a very famous home on the shores of Loch Ness and then on to Glastonbury. The reader gets to follow each and every step with the team as they head into these historical places and try to stop villain from uncovering a site that needs to remain buried. Although, THE SAPPHIRE STORM does stand alone, being a completely new adventure, I still think Leah and Gareth’s first meet is so intriguing that the reader will want to be on board right from the beginning.

THE SAPPHIRE STORM delves into incidents and places from history. What inspired you to write about these specific historical moments?

As the daughter of a career research librarian, I’ve always been completely compelled by history. Studying archaeological sites as well as historical locations, I’ve been able to put together these puzzles that could very well be true considering the past. It is kind of selfish, however, because I get to learn and study all of these amazing places and then share with readers all the truly unique and fascinating objects, locations, buildings, legends, etc., that really do exist. I get to combine my love of writing with my love of history, so it’s a win-win.

You’ve worked as an editor in the publishing industry for several years. Can you tell us how this experience has helped you when shaping your own narratives?

I have to say that those are two very separate ‘caps’ for me. As a writer, my own stories are on a much deeper level, seeing as that they are buried inside my own very over-active imagination. However, being an editor has certainly made it far easier to make sure that all grammar, spelling, etc., is intact, while also being able to understand how to ‘flush’ out the story in a way that’s fast-paced and will keep the reader intrigued. Make no mistake, I still have my own work looked at by outside eyes, because as an author you can only look at your story for just so long. The editing cap is much more professional. I make sure to set my own stories aside in order to provide the author with the best job possible. When I edit, I delve into their story in order to make sure that their work is the only thing in my world at the time.

Will Tallent and Lowery be back for more?

Tallent & Lowery will be a series of seven novels all leading to a very amazing climax, but each book will be its own separate puzzle with its own separate locations. Five of the novels are already written, with the next adventure being, THE HERO’S COMPANION,  which links the Acropolis of Athens to a clue left behind by Plato in one of his plays to Skull Mountain and then on to the caves of Cleopatra. It’s a whole lot of fun!

You are the owner and operator of The Write Companion. Can you tell us a little bit about this organization and what it does?

I began The Write Companion when I literally became a bit frustrated by some of the incredibly high costs that were being charged out there in the world. Putting together a company that would take on editing projects at prices that the ‘normal, starving author’ could afford was the goal. And with the advances in eBooks and other avenues, I wanted to make sure that authors who’d stuck their manuscripts in a desk drawer because they had no time or luck in landing an agent or a Random House contract could be heard. So everything from editing to reviews to ghostwriting are services available from TWC.

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As the daughter of a career librarian Amy Lignor grew up loving books; ‘Patience & Fortitude’ at the NYPL were her heroes. Beginning with Amy’s first book of historical romance, her career flourished when her YA series THE ANGEL CHRONICLES arrived on the scene. She began developing the storyline for this new seven-book series which moved her into the world of action, adventure and romantic suspense. Working as an editor in the publishing industry for decades, Amy is now the Owner/Operator of The Write Companion, as well as a contributor to various literary publications and websites.

To learn more about Amy, please visit her website.