Lifestyle

In conversation With Bestselling Author Lloyd Pilling Tosoff

Published

5 years ago

March 2, 2021

Lloyd Pilling Tosoff books have been a huge hit with readers setting off shockwaves on social media streams, which is not surprise since each and every one is a phenomenal work of literary art. “Children of Pleiades, Rise of the Henge” is a must read this season, and we believe it will hit the bestseller list very soon given the level of excitement it continues to generate.

“Children of Pleiades, Rise of the Henge” is the first book in this two book series, taking readers deep into a fascinating world, one where the children of a sacred bloodline are haunted by a murder perpetrated by an ancestor. The struggle between good and evil plays a very real role in this epic story, which is very much a human drama but it is also teeming with superstition and folklore, including an otherworld of pixies, faeries, angels, and legends of visitations from star men.

Pilling Tosoff takes readers on an epic journey, and recently we caught up with him to learn more about this talented writer, his work and when his next book is coming out.

“Children of Pleiades, Rise of the Henge” is a two-part series, which is quite brilliant, what was it like for you to write a series? What was your biggest challenge, and conversely what was the most fun aspect for you?

The truth is, it was not intended to be a series. The project started to take shape in 2012 as a historical fiction novel influenced by my writing hero, Ken Follett. After writing several highly descriptive passages such as the following: “Blue shadows cast by trees that lined the beaten dirt path kept a chill in the early morning air as the foliage on low hanging branches lit up golden from the first rays of the rising sun that spilled onto the forest floor. The reddish tint of the treefall carpeted the ground between massive trunks of ancient oak trees and filled his nostrils with a pleasing musty smell. Tiny bluebells perfumed the air with a delicate fragrance, hanging their curved tepals as if bowing in reverence to the sun. The glory of the morning made Gwain’s heart soar with the joy of being alive.” I soon realized that there is only one Ken Follett, and I was going down a rabbit hole that would lead to nowhere. I retained the idea of an ancient historical theme but decided to make it a human story of murder, lust, jealousy, envy, and the gamut of earthly emotions set against the background of superstition, folklore and legend that stirred the hearts of the people of Briton at the time. Over a period of several years, while writing a few other novels, the project became very lengthy, so I decided to cut it in half and make it a two-novel series. The biggest challenge was researching the history of henges, belief in an Otherworld, religious practices of the day, and ensuring the historical aspects of the story were accurate. I am not sure I would label the writing process as “fun” and would rather say I love to write because I know how to get inside the heads and hearts of my characters.

You have written eight epic books, which have caused a stir in the literary world. I know this is a bit like asking you which of your children you love the most, but I am going to ask anyway – do you have a favorite book you have written? And why is it your favorite?

“Escape from Konigsberg” received a flattering Kirkus review and wonderful response from my readers. Based on a true story, it follows a young Prussian boy, Walter Heinrich as he watches his beloved home of Königsberg, East Prussia fall into communist hands during the last days of WWII. Faced with unspeakable tragedy, the scholarly 16-year-old bravely escapes, along with his two young sisters on what may have been the last coal train to Berlin where Walter begins a quest that changes his life forever. A coming-of-age war novel that touches the heart and evokes deeply felt emotion tells of the terrible atrocities that befell the German people in the wake of a brutal war. Kirkus described it as a realistic rendering of a horrific period in German history, and “beautifully depicted” in its portrayal of a romantic affair in the midst of the destruction of the 700-hundred-year-old mediaeval city at the hands of the Red Army and the Allied bombing campaign. It is my favorite novel because of its real-life depth, in a story of love, loss, and hope.

Covid has been challenging for most people, what has it been like for you to keep your creativity flowing during this time?

My wife/editor and I live on a secluded acreage in the heart of the west coast Canadian rain forest. I am a lone wolf for the most part, so the lack of social contact during this pandemic has not been particularly mind altering as I have spent the last decade producing a large body of artistic work. I would say that I have not been affected artistically by Covid 19. We miss our children and other family members but hopefully things will begin to normalize as the pandemic is mitigated by the soon to be available vaccines.

You are both an author and a songwriter, telling stories in different ways. What inspired you to start writing books, and do these two modalities have things in common that you find compelling?

In short, they both use words. As a writer, musician, and painter, however, I can tell you that all art forms are inspired and emerge from the same creative place. My daughter Amanda is a prominent jazz composer and recording artist and we often talk about the creative process as the expression of artistic language. As a writer I love words, but I also recognize that at a prima facie level, they are at best symbols somewhat removed from the primal level of subtext and emotion. The language of all art forms can be simply stated in my view as the persuasive and articulate use of light, space, form, color, movement, and sound. Words, whether in a song or in a novel, must connect the reader or listener to an emotional experience through the use of the aforementioned aspects that are at the ground of all artistic expression.

I am now a huge fan of your work. Is there another book in the works?

Part two of the Children of Pleiades series, “The Curse of Nordumaal” will follow “Rise of the Henge”, likely in June of 2021. After that, I have a Canadian Crime Thriller, “Black Diamond Conspiracy”. Thirty-one-year-old former airline baggage handler, Jason Black miraculously survives the crash of his light aircraft near the town of Canmore in the Canadian Rockies. After lifesaving brain surgery, he awakens from a coma with no memory of who he was before the crash. Black is helped to uncover his past by the young woman who discovers the severely injured pilot as he lay slumped over the controls of his downed plane. The recollection casts a shadow over his second chance at life when he finds out that he was involved in a diamond smuggling ring. Forced into finding diamonds missing from the crash site, he faces the wrath of the mob boss and pursuit by a rogue cop for a double murder he did not commit.

You can find out more about Lloyd Pilling Tosoff and his work on his website. https://lloydtosoff.com

Lifestyle

When Seasons Shift: Dr. Leeshe Grimes on Grief, Loneliness, and Finding Light Again

Published

3 days ago

February 22, 2026

Michelle Langton

Some emotional storms arrive without warning. A sudden change in weather, a holiday approaching, or even a bright sunny day can stir feelings that don’t match the world outside. For many people, the hardest seasons are not defined by temperature; they are defined by what’s happening inside, where grief and loneliness often move quietly.

This is the emotional terrain where Dr. Leeshe Grimes has spent her career doing some of her most meaningful work. As a psychotherapist, registered play therapist, retired U.S. Army combat veteran, and founder of Elevated Minds in the DMV area, she understands how deeply seasonal shifts and unresolved grief can affect people. Her upcoming books explore this very space, guiding readers through the emotional weight that can appear during different times of the year.

What sets Dr. Grimes apart is her ability to see clearly what many people overlook. Seasonal depression, for example, is usually tied to winter months. But she often sees it appear during warm, bright seasons, the times when the world seems happiest. For someone already grieving or feeling disconnected, watching others travel, celebrate, or gather can create its own kind of heaviness. Sunshine doesn’t always lift the mood; sometimes it highlights what feels missing.

The same misunderstanding surrounds grief. Society often treats it as a short-term experience with predictable phases and a clean ending. But in her practice, Dr. Grimes sees how grief keeps evolving. It doesn’t disappear on a timeline. It weaves itself into routines, memories, and milestones. People learn to carry it differently, but they rarely leave it behind completely. And that’s not failure, it’s human.

Her approach to mental health centers on truth rather than pressure. She encourages clients to acknowledge the emotions they try to hide: sadness that lingers longer than expected, moments of joy that feel out of place, and the waves of loneliness that return even when life seems stable. Instead of pushing for quick recovery, she focuses on helping people understand how emotions shift and how to care for themselves through those changes.

Much of her insight comes from her military years, where she witnessed the emotional toll of loss, transition, and constant survival. She saw how people continued functioning while carrying pain that had nowhere to go. That experience shaped her belief that healing requires space, space to feel, to speak, and to move through emotions without judgment.

In her clinical work today at Elevated Minds, she encourages people to build small, steady habits that anchor them during difficult seasons. Journaling helps them recognize patterns and name what feels heavy. Community support breaks the cycle of isolation. Therapy creates a place where emotions don’t have to be minimized or explained away. And intentional routines, daily sunlight, mindful breaks, and calm evenings help rebuild emotional balance.

Her upcoming books expand on these ideas, offering practical guidance for navigating both grief and seasonal depression. She focuses on helping readers understand that healing is not about escaping pain. It’s about learning how to live with it in a healthier way, honoring memories, acknowledging loneliness, and still allowing room for moments of light.

What makes Dr. Leeshe Grimes a compelling voice in mental health is her ability to bring language to experiences that many struggle to explain. She reminds people that emotional seasons don’t always match the weather and that there is no single path through grief. But within those shifts, she believes there is always a way forward.

The seasons will continue to change. And with the right tools, compassion, and support, people can change with them, finding steadiness, softness, and light again, one step at a time.