Author Interview with Trina Spillman, Author of 'A NEW DAWN' #authorinterview

Today we are interviewing Trina Spillman, author of the political thriller/romance, A New Dawn.

Trina Spillman, who also writes under the pen name Selene Greenleaf, crafts both practical witchcraft guides and immersive works of fiction that span romance, magical realism, and contemporary thrillers. Splitting her creative life between Colorado’s mountain landscapes and a growing library of story ideas, she blends current events, folklore, plant magic, and real-world rituals to invite readers into transformative experiences. Under Selene Greenleaf, she’s the author of Witchcraft Essentials: A Modern-Day Guide to Spells, Herbs, and Crystals; Cupid’s Craft: Love Spells for Valentine’s Day; and her forthcoming Plant Magic Encyclopedia: Rituals & Remedies, resources designed to help modern practitioners weave intention and botanical wisdom into everyday life. Writing as Trina Spillman, she’s best known for her engaging fairy tale retellings. Upcoming projects include:

A New Dawn — a gripping political thriller of power, ethics, and love, to be released by The Wild Rose Press

Collateral Justice — the powerful sequel to A New Dawn, where a hidden alliance of the world’s elite blurs the line between justice and vengeance.

The Witches of Fablecastle — When a witch hunter’s mirror exposes her forbidden magic, Holly McCool flees through a portal to Fablecastle, only to learn she’s the one destined to stop him from tearing both worlds apart.

The Quantum Hitchhiker’s Guide to Escaping the Matrix — a witty, mind-bending manual on how to hack reality, rewrite your personal code, and manifest with humor, consciousness, and a touch of modern witchcraft.

Whether she’s exploring the ethics of power in a thriller or sharing herbal recipes for daily rituals, Trina/Selene’s work reflects her unwavering belief in the healing and transformative power of words.

Trina’s latest book is A New Dawn.

Visit her website at https://authortrinaspillman.com.

Connect with her on social media at:

➺ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authortrinaspillman/

➺ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18389879.Trina_Spillman

Can you share a story about what brought you to this particular career path (becoming an author)?

At this stage of my life and career, I’m finally able to write what I want to write rather than what I have to write to pay the bills. Earlier in my career, writing was a necessity. I had children to raise, a mortgage to pay, and deadlines mattered more than passion. Now, with residual income and fewer financial pressures, I can focus on novels that matter to me creatively and intellectually. I can also travel to promote my work, which has been incredibly rewarding, though I’ll admit marketing myself is still the hardest part. Writing has always been my profession; now it’s also fully my choice.

Your latest book, A New Dawn, is about a pulse-pounding political thriller where love, betrayal, and democracy collide. How did you come up with this very unique idea?

I spent years freelancing within political circles, working with both Democratic and Republican organizations, and at one point even considered running for Indiana’s Eighth Congressional District. What I ultimately realized was that being a kingmaker was far easier and far more revealing than being the king. Watching politics from the inside made the manipulation impossible to ignore. I began asking myself what it would look like if we didn’t have to question whether our leaders were bought and paid for by shadowy interests. As long as money dominates U.S. politics, the country is effectively auctioned off every four years, and there’s no guarantee the highest bidder is even American. That question became the foundation for the story.

Can you tell us about the main character in the book?

Ian is intentionally ordinary at the start of the story. He isn’t a political insider, a strategist, or someone seeking power. He’s a capable, ethical man who is suddenly pulled into a situation far larger and more dangerous than anything he ever prepared for. What defines Ian is not ambition, but integrity. As pressure mounts and the stakes rise, he’s forced to make decisions that test his values, his loyalty, and his courage. His transformation isn’t about becoming powerful; it’s about refusing to surrender his moral compass when doing so would be easier and safer.

Can you tell us about the other characters in the book?

James represents the cost of secrecy. As someone who understands the political world far better than Ian does, he has learned how much of himself must be hidden in order to survive within it. His relationship with Ian becomes both a risk and a lifeline, forcing him to confront whether protecting the system is worth the personal toll.

Alex, on the other hand, is unapologetically strategic. She understands power, manipulation, and leverage, and she’s willing to use all three to dismantle corruption from the inside. Where Ian resists the system, and James navigates it, Alex exploits it. Together, these characters reflect different responses to power, secrecy, and integrity, and how each choice carries consequences.

What is the very first line of your book?

The explosion ripped through the hall like a hellish fireball, leaving chaos and devastation in its wake.

What is the main reason people should read your book?

A New Dawn challenges readers to look beyond the surface of modern politics and recognize how power truly operates, while still offering a story driven by hope rather than despair. It’s a reminder that systems may be corrupt, but people don’t have to be, and that integrity, love, and courage still matter even when the stakes are high.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?

Remove money from politics. Until elected officials are no longer financially beholden to corporations and special interests, true representation is impossible.

A catastrophic explosion at a New Orleans convention hall critically injures presidential nominee James Sinclair and ignites a national crisis. Attorney Ian McCullough soon uncovers evidence tying the attack to Vice President Jay Buckley, who has orchestrated a false-flag EMP event to mimic a Chinese assault and destabilize the country for his own rise to power. With the economy collapsing, industries crippled, and global alliances shifting against the United States, Buckley intends to weaponize fear, chaos, and national confusion to consolidate control. Secret recordings obtained by Lee Chang confirm collusion between the administration, foreign officials, and powerful tech interests. The evidence is strong enough to expose the conspiracy if Ian can deliver it safely.

Determined to return to Washington, Ian turns to naval commander Sean Hennessey and asks for a plane. Their strained past reignites when Ian finally admits how deeply Sean’s emotional withdrawal wounded him, especially after concealing the deaths of Ian’s mother, brother, and sister-in-law. Despite the unresolved pain between them, Sean agrees to help. With presidential immunity shielding those in power and time working against him, Ian risks everything to expose the conspiracy, protect James, and prevent the nation from descending into manufactured chaos.

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