The idea for The Mirror Realm was spawned from my husband discovering a hidden closet behind a mirror in our old apartment. It made me wonder: what if every mirror in the world led to a secret, hidden realm? Hence the Mirror Realm was born. 

Lenore Borja – 8 October 2024

The Back Flap

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.

About the book

What is the book about?

The Lost Portal is the second book in the Mirror Realm series. It follows Hadley Caldwell and her band of huntress sisters as they embark on an epic quest to find an ancient relic: the Portal of Osiris. Their journey takes them across 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.

When did you start writing the book?

Early 2020

How long did it take you to write it?

Short answer: ~6 months

Long answer: I began writing The Lost Portal at the start of 2020. I had just started querying my first book, The Last Huntress, and wanted to get a jump on the sequel (told from Hadley’s POV). Then the pandemic hit. While I continued to write, it wasn’t a very creative time for me. Despite focusing on other things, I’d occasionally return to Hadley and chip away at her story, making slow but steady progress. Fast forward to 2022—The Last Huntress was slated for release in November, and I had a 120K word draft for the sequel awaiting revision and edits. But something was wrong. I knew it in my gut—it wasn’t the right story for Hadley.  So I made the hard choice to scrap it and start over. I sometimes joke that once I made that decision, I blacked out and the book wrote itself. But the truth was I’d already done the work. It just took me a while to get to know Hadley, for her to let me in. But once she did, the right story flew out of me. So technically speaking, I didn’t start writing The Lost Portal until December 2022, but I count the extra two years (and one tossed manuscript) as part of the equation, and time well spent.

Where did you get the idea from?

The idea for The Mirror Realm was spawned from my husband discovering a hidden closet behind a mirror in our old apartment. It made me wonder: what if every mirror in the world led to a secret, hidden realm? Hence the Mirror Realm was born. Since The Lost Portal is book two in the series, I decided to focus on a different character’s POV—not just to freshen up the narrative, but to give another girl her chance to shine. And because book one hinted at the involvement of an Egyptian god, I needed to get the gang to Egypt. Having been there myself, it was fun to draw on my own experience visiting the Pyramids of Giza and Cairo.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The real struggle was scrapping a 120K word manuscript and starting over. But as hard as that was, I still consider it a valuable exercise. All that work eventually led me to the right story, one I’m extremely proud of and excited to share with my readers.

What came easily?

The relationship and dialogue between the girls. Sometimes it feels like they’re leading the charge while I just type and try to keep up. They each have distinct personalities and voices, and I’ve loved every second I’ve spent getting to know them.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

They are entirely fictitious, though some of my friends have asked which one of the girls they would be. It’s the YA fantasy equivalent to ‘Which Sex and the City character are you?’, only in this case, it’s ‘Which Mirror Realm huntress are you?’ (While I’d love to be Hadley, I’m more of a cross between Alice and Olivia)

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I read so many different authors and genres that it’s difficult to pinpoint whose writing has influenced me the most. Some of my favorite authors: Kate Quinn, JoJo Moyes, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Frieda McFadden, Diana Gabaldon, Suzanne Collins, Veronica Roth, Andy Weir, Amy Bartol, Jane Austen, and last but never least, Charlotte Brontë.

Do you have a target reader?

Young and new adults, 14+ who like fantasy and mythology with heavy themes of girl power and sisterhood—and maybe a little romance, just because.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

Showing up. That’s the only process I’ve mastered at this point. My husband works from home, so when he’s in his office working, I’m in my office writing. Some days are better than others, but I’ve found that the only way to write a book is to be consistent; to show up every day, and do the work.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I’m more of a pantser than a plotter. I begin with a vague outline, but it’s just a bunch of bullet points—things I want to happen, or need to remember—versus a meticulously plotted chapter-by-chapter outline.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I wait. Chances are most of it will change anyway, so editing as I go just slows the process.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Yes. (I’m with a hybrid press)

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

No. I love music, but I need a quiet space when I write. I get enough distraction from my cats!

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Not this book. I queried book one (The Last Huntress) for about a year before deciding to go with a hybrid publisher. Since I loved working with them, it was an easy decision to stay for the rest of the series.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

Querying can be an exhausting and demoralizing process. After receiving a few bites for The Last Huntress, but no offer of representation, I had a choice to make. Shelve it and move on, or find another path to publication. A friend of mine had successfully published her first book the year prior, so I decided to submit my manuscript to her hybrid publisher. When it was accepted for their Fall 2022 catalog, I did a little happy dance, then spent the next several months learning a ton about how a book gets published. It’s a long and arduous journey, but my team’s expertise and professionalism have been invaluable.  I’m very happy with the partnership.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

I offered suggestions and input, but my publisher’s design team handled the cover art.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I have a basic marketing plan, similar to what I did for book one. It’s a combination of giveaways, newsletter & social media updates, preorder promotions, and a local book launch.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Make friends with other authors. They will be your best resource for all things publishing-related, and they won’t sugarcoat it for you—they’ve been through it and they know what lies ahead. But they will also be your biggest cheerleaders. I’ve found an amazing community of writers who support and challenge me, and keep me going. Writing can be a solitary endeavor, but the truth is, you’re not alone. We’re all in this together, and there’s plenty of success to go around.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I moved around a lot (my father was a doctor for the VA Hospital), but I spent most of my childhood in a small town in Missouri, and my teenage years in Phoenix, AZ.

Where do you live now?

Northern Colorado

What would you like readers to know about you?

I’m obsessed with my cats (Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney), I love popcorn and apocalyptic movies, and I live for overcast and chilly autumn days. Also, I’ll never leave you hanging. My books won’t end on cliffhangers. They might hint at what’s to come, but the main conflict of the story will be resolved. I may not promise a HEA, but I’ll always give you a Happy For Now!

What are you working on now?

Book three of the Mirror Realm series (Olivia’s installment)

End of Inteview:

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Get your copy of The Lost Portal from Amazon US or Amazon UK.