Today I want to welcome Luciana Cavallaro to the blog to talk about her latest release, The Race for the Lost Coin. Take it away, Luciana!!
It’s funny how things come full circle. If you’d told me years ago that I’d be writing thrillers filled with action and suspense, I’d have looked at you as if you were mad.
I would’ve said, “No, I write historical fantasy steeped in mythology.” Yet as I reflect, I must admit that writing mythic adventure fiction set in a modern context was, perhaps, inevitable.
Childhood Reads that Sparked a Lifelong Adventure
When I first fell in love with reading in primary school, I cut my teeth on Enid Blyton’s Famous Five and Secret Seven, then devoured the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and Trixie Belden series.
Had I known that those childhood mysteries would one day inspire me to write about curious, occasionally reckless protagonists who constantly stumble into trouble, I would have laughed.
It seems my Coin of Time series echoes that same adventurous spirit.
Yes, I did try to drive a car at age three. Yes, I rode a horse—only to promptly fall off at a trot. And yes, I managed to knock myself out walking down a steep hill when my feet ran faster than the rest of me could follow.
There were other (mis)adventures too, all of which, I suspect, helped shape my storytelling instincts.
Discovering the Power of the Past
My fascination with blending past and present began when I read Kate Mosse’s Labyrinth—a dual-timeline story steeped in 13th-century France during the Cathar Crusades and the search for the Holy Grail.
The idea of connecting history and mythology to the modern world has always resonated deeply with me. I’ve long believed our ancient stories still hold meaning and lessons for today. Mosse’s work showed me how powerful those connections could be—through relationships, mystery, and timeless human struggles.
Learning from the Masters of Suspense
Then came Steve Berry’s novels, particularly his Cotton Malone series. I was captivated by his fast-paced plots filled with secret missions, historical enigmas, and political intrigue.
His books are smart, layered, and thought-provoking—qualities I wanted to infuse into my own writing.
In my Coin of Time series, I explore similar ideas: powerful artefacts, their potential misuse, and the moral duty of those who guard them. Like Cotton, my protagonist Nik is loyal, family-driven, and willing to risk everything to stop the forces that threaten global stability.
Returning to Myths and Legends
My stories naturally lead me back to ancient Greece and its mythologies—no surprise to anyone who’s read my books or followed my blog.
The echoes of Madeleine Miller’s Circe can be felt in Nik’s journey: a reluctant hero bound by family duty, grappling with inherited power and the burden of legacy.
Nik’s role as a modern guardian traces back to the time of Herakles, pulling him into a dangerous clash with a Slovakian magnate intent on resurrecting the Nazi regime.
Much like Circe, he must confront his lineage and accept a destiny he didn’t choose.
The Stories We Read Shape the Stories We Tell
Looking back, it’s clear that the books I loved as a child planted the seeds for my latest series.
The old adage “write the stories you want to read” has never felt truer. I don’t analyse books for symbolism or hidden meaning—I read for the sheer joy of being swept away.
That’s exactly what I hope to offer my readers: stories that entertain, engage, and linger long after the last page.
A Note of Thanks
Thank you to my wonderful and lovely host, Char, for letting me hijack their blog during my book launch tour!
You can connect with me via my website and socials—and for a limited time, pre-order The Race for the Lost Coin for just $0.99. On launch day, 29 November 2025, the price goes up. The Race for the Lost Coin – lucianacavallaro
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Extract – Chapter 5
Nik sat up. It was important he wrote down the effects he experienced from teleporting. He wanted to keep a record of any physical and psychological changes using the coin will have in the short term and long term. Knowing how the coin works and the impact it has would be useful. He’d have a better understanding of what to expect and future guardians could be forewarned. Although, maybe Herakles was right about keeping the power of the coins a secret. He shook his head. No. Best the information was shared and the dangers in using the coins understood.
He thought about his first experimental attempt in using the coin, which he had based on Herodotos’ application of the coin. When Nik time jumped, he arrived in his own home and not in Papou’s bunker. Throughout the teleportation, he felt as if his limbs were being pulled apart, almost like having his arms and legs wrenched all at once. Then there was the arrival, like a baby being born, squished out from a small aperture and thrust unceremoniously into another location. Nik rubbed the back of his head. A slight bump remained from having landed flat on his back and banging his head on the floor of his living room. It was difficult to believe this had happened only a few days earlier, what with everything that had since happened, it felt like he’d been in Paris much longer than five days. Thankfully, he improved with each time jump, learning to focus on particular features of a destination and landing on his feet.
He took the coin out of his pocket and frowned, hoping it would reveal something, anything, that would help him learn its secrets. One thing he did know, his grandfather would be unhappy with him if he found out Nik used the coin. He would deal with his grandfather’s outrage later but for now, it was vital he learned more about Konrad Resnik; what drove him, why he wanted the coins, how he intended to use them, and crucially, how he had found out about the precious heirlooms.
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