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Sylvie Grayson 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Sylvie Grayson loves to write about suspense, romance and attempted murder, in both contemporary and science fiction/fantasy. She has lived most of her life in British Columbia, Canada in spots ranging from Vancouver Island on the west coast to the North Peace River country and the Kootenays in the beautiful interior. She spent a one year sojourn in Tokyo Japan.
She has been an English language instructor, a nightclub manager, an auto shop bookkeeper and a lawyer. Now she works part time as the owner of a small company, and writes when she finds the time.
She is a wife and mother and still loves to travel, having recently completed a trip to Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam and Hong Kong. She lives on the coast of the Pacific Ocean with her husband on a small patch of land near the sea that they call home.
She is currently working on her eighteenth book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Game Plan. It is book four in the Lies He Told series, and is Randy Bonnar’s story. Randy grew up on the Canadian Prairies and some of his older siblings have featured in the earlier books. I felt it was his turn. His story was just waiting to be told.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Probably not that unusual. I began to write sci fi a few years ago, and now I go back and forth, one contemporary, one sci fi. But life always interrupts, doesn’t it? That’s just the way it is. I have had times when I’ve had to reread the whole book over to see where I am in the narrative. Doesn’t stop me, though. I love to write.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Linda Howard- love her books.
Neal Stephenson, his books first got me interested in writing an imagined world.
Bernard Cornwell- I’ve read all of the Sharpe books, every one of The Last Kingdom series.
Sandra Brown – I’ve read most of hers
Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Lisa Kleypas– Love the humour

What are you working on now?
My current Work in Progress is Aqatain, a prequel to The Last War series. In the other books, the war is over and the people have tried to put their lives back together again, new countries formed. In this one, we get a glimpse of what Emperor Aqatain was like, who he was, and why the War began.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
www.sylviegrayson.com is where you can find me and all my books. I post fairly often on my blog there.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I think the best is to keep writing. Don’t get discouraged, there are plenty of books out there, so lots of competition. But yours is unique, so don’t give up.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Find or create a group of like minded authors to work with. I have a critique group that has been together for 8 or 10 years. We critique each other’s work, give useful feedback, brainstorm on plots, and in general are the main source of support for each other. It’s been invaluable.

What are you reading now?
Outfox, by Sandra Brown.
Bad Medicine, by John Reilly

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to be able to travel again one day, and have planned a trip to Paris and Florence in the future. Will I write while travelling? Maybe it will be more of a sabbatical.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
To All Appearances a Lady, by Marilyn Bowering
Cryptonomicon, by Neal Stephenson
The Pale Horseman, by Bernard Cornwell

Author Websites and Profiles
Sylvie Grayson Website
Sylvie Grayson Amazon Profile

Sylvie Grayson’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Morgan Douglas 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a research scientist who has a passion for writing. I also volunteer at a local farm and play the ukulele. I have written and published one book but right now the sequel to the book is being edited and is going to be published soon.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Distorted Purposes. It’s an odd story but after being up all night with someone who was in the hospital I had to go to a final discussion class for college. I started daydreaming or may have even dozed off briefly. When I did I visualized what the shapeshifters in my book look like. I dreamed of one that I described as a blank figure, something that looks like a sign indicating gender on a bathroom door or on a walk sign. From there I just started writing a story centering around shapeshifters that I dreamed about.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I sometimes use random sticky notes to jot down brief ideas and just put them in my purse to look at later.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I like reading Stephen King’s psychological thrillers. Even though this series is not in the genre my book is I found Michelle Moran’s Egyptian Royals to be fascinating and her descriptive words inspiring.

What are you working on now?
I am currently waiting for the sequel to Distorted Purposes to be edited. In the meantime, I have started writing the third book.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I tend to use Facebook and Instagram the most. I do post on my website and try to promote it as well. So far the best method I have found is just creating posts that I think might be interesting.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep writing even if it takes you a long time or if you get stuck. I have heard the advice that it is better to get it all out on the page at first than to go back and critique it before the story is over.
Anytime an idea comes to mind try to write it down because you will forget it otherwise.
Promote early before you publish, I didn’t do this and it is hindering me.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
That the work of writing doesn’t stop after you publish. You have to promote all while trying to balance it out with taking the time to actually write.

What are you reading now?
I am reading The Other Side of Dark by Sarah Smith. I also just finished the Lost Apothocary by Sarah Penner.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To just keep writing more books. I want to finish the series I am currently working on and then go back to some of the other stories I have started but tabled for the time being.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would take The Other Side of Dark by Sarah Smith, it is my favorite book even though it is for middle schoolers. I first read it when I was twelve. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Rosematter by Stephen King, and Life of Pi by Yann Martel.

Author Websites and Profiles
Morgan Douglas Website
Morgan Douglas Amazon Profile

Morgan Douglas’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

JOHN BALSER 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in Maine in 1948, and I am 72 years old and retired. I spenp 4 years in the Air Force, 20 years in the computer industry, 17 years being self employed with my own business and 7 years doing fraud investigation for the National Passport Center.

I lived in Maine until I was 10 and then my family move to Manchester, NH. After the Air Force, I move back to NH and lived there until 2014. I retired on my birthday in 2014 when i turned 66. I purchased a home in Milo, Maine and my wife and I moved to it in July of 2014 where we remain today with our dog, Sprout.
I have written and published one book titled, Mystery on Macomer Hill.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The book I have written and published is called Mystery on Macomber Hill and can be found on Amazon kindle and as a paperback on Amazon.

I was inspiried to write the book as I became older and realized what a dramatic difference there was between the living on a farm in Maine in the 1950’s and the current world. I decided to write about a place I lived as a youngster so all the locations and a lot of the activities that take place in the book are real. What I did was add a fictional mystery story to the book to give it a lot of excitement and appeal.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I thought it was rather unusual that once I started writing the first chapter of this book, the suprise ending jumped into my head. I ended up writing down the final chapter as best I could before continuing with the rest of the book. It came out great.
Whether that will happen with my next books is something we will have to wait and see.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I was never really influenced by any author or books, but I do enjoy reading Steven King books. He is also from Maine and he and his wife reside about 40 miles from me.

What are you working on now?
I have two other books that I am working on. One is a compliation of poems and letters that were written by my parents and grandmother. The book will be titled, Voices from my Past. The other book I am writing is a comedy about a young boy in Maine who was adopted from an orphanage and has an incredible and not so ordinary growing up experience.
The book will be titled, Me, Myself and I. I would also like to write another mystery using the characters from Mystery on Macomber Hill.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Amazon Kindle Unlimited

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Sometimes thing just seem to stop and you don’t know where to go next. DON’T GIVE UP!! Take a break, relax and get away from it for a short time. If it is meant to be, then it will all fall into place before you know it!!!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
No one will ever know what you are thinking if you don’t tell them.

What are you reading now?
I am inbetween books right now. Just finished reading

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Mystery on Macomber Hill (Me)
Pet Cemetary (Steven King)
Fairy Tale (Steven King)

Author Websites and Profiles
JOHN BALSER Amazon Profile

Sarah Ward 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a mother to three children and this is my first children’s book. I enjoy music, being active outdoors, and spending time with family and friends.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Our NICU Journey is my first published book and it was inspired from our experiences in the neonatal intensive care unit. We hope it raises awareness and encourages others on their own journey.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My writing usually happens all at once and in rhyme!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Love Colleen Hoover, Ainsley Earnhart, and Nancy Tillman

What are you working on now?
We will have to see!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
https://www.littlewardbooks.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Go for it! I never imagined writing and publishing a book but the end result is way better than I envisioned!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be yourself

What are you reading now?
ALL the children’s books with my kids

What’s next for you as a writer?
We will see!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Survival book, the Bible, Our NICU Journey, and a photobook of my family!

Author Websites and Profiles
Sarah Ward Website
Sarah Ward Amazon Profile

Sarah Ward’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Leonard Clifton 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Leonard Clifton I’m honored to have been named after Mr. Leonard Nimoy aka Spock from Star Trek. I live in Los Angeles, CA. I have written 4 books, I am a former actor. I worked with Steven Spielberg, Peyton Reed, (Ant-Man director) and Kirsten Dunst on the cult classic Bring It On. My book series The Last Prince of Atlantis Chronicles has taken me around the world doing extensive research. The book series is part of a curriculum at California State University, Northridge and will soon be in middle schools in Los Angeles and the first book is part of a STEAM program in Tanzania, Africa. I am a Comic-Con junkie. I recently filmed a promo video for The Last Prince of Atlantis in San Diego, CA. The mecca of all Comic-Cons and I am developing the first book into a movie and I have a documentary as well that will not coming out until after a movie is made.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is the 3rd book to The Last Prince of Atlantis Chronicles series. What inspired me was to simply to inspire the world to dream bigger and to inspire Black kids and Latino kids especially to see themselves represented in a positive way in the young adult Sci-Fi fantasy world. The book is a multiverse of characters from all backgrounds.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really I think each author who writes have unique styles when it comes to writing books or scripts. I can say that traveling the world was an unusual habit to write from my worldwide adventures including cage diving with great white sharks in South Africa in the same location the Discovery Channel shoots Shark Week.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
JRR Tolkien, Alex Dumas, JK Rowling are my favorite authors.

What are you working on now?
I am working on the screenplay for The Last Prince of Atlantis movie.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My websitehttps://www.leonardclifton.com/

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just write and look back at your work several months later to see how far you’ve gone creating your world only you will understand at the time before you have a great editor to help smooth out the grammar issues and formatting.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Enjoy life you only live once and be nice to people. You’ll be surprised how much you can make a stranger or a love feel by just giving a smile and a warm word to someone.

What are you reading now?
I am reading several books. Greg Hurwitz Orphan X, Zulu Shaman by Credo Mutwa and Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, my good friend former rocker Freddy Moore’s It’s Not A Rumour.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully a successful screenplay adaptation from The Last Prince of Atlantis Chronicles Book I and creating my charity foundation for foster kids and continue to be an advocate for climate change. I dived in the Great Barrier Reef with a marine biologist. Seeing the effects of the coral reef really educated me on how important it is to save our oceans and Mother Earth from the effects of a changing climate.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Hobbit, The Hero with A Thousand Faces, The Count of Monte Cristo ,and Sidney Poitier’s The Measure of A Man.

Author Websites and Profiles
Leonard Clifton Website
Leonard Clifton Amazon Profile

Leonard Clifton’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Jessica Butler 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hand me a “strong pour” glass of Pinot Noir, throw a Sherpa blanket over me and give me a good book and I’m a happy girl. I live in Pennsylvania with my mechanic husband, Andrew, my sassy toddler daughter, Mila and my even sassier cat, Barnaby. I love to escape with indulgent, guilty pleasure reads which is funny considering that’s exactly the type of book Iw wrote. Sweet Pear is my first novel I’ve written.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is Sweet Pear and it was actually inspired by a quote I wrote. The quote is, “Is the grass really greener on the other side, or is it simply artificial?” Months after posting that quote it popped into my head again. I thought of, “Who would wonder this? What would they look to see on the other side?” That’s when my main character Elle popped in. During the second month of the pandemic while I was home with my infant daughter 24/7 I started to write everything that was flooding my brain while she would take her 3 hour glorious naps each day. The rest is history.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to “set the scene.” Meaning, if my main characters are drinking glasses of wine, I too may pour myself a glass. There was one scene I wrote where Elle was at a Christmas market so while writing that scene (in August) I put on a Christmas playlist and dug out my Christmas frasier fir candles and brought Christmas into my house.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love Jennifer Weiner, Sophie Kinsella, Sally Thorne, Liane Moriarty, etc. I absolutely adored “Big Little Lies” way before it was turned into a TV show (which I equally loved). I love the back n forth banter between the main characters in The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. One of my most favorite books however that pops into my mind right now is, “The Art of Racing in the Rain.” It’s been a long time since I’ve read it but that book had me crying from the first page!

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on the sequel to Sweet Pear! In between books I also have on my website a blog that’s from the main character, Elle. One of the things that has always been bittersweet to me is when you finish a good book and you feel like you’re mourning them until the next book comes. I wanted to give my readers something to hold onto, something that they can check in with while they wait for the next book to drop.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I love creating posts and book trailer videos and I post them on my Instagram and Author Facebook page!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes, my advice is to just write. Just get your words down. You don’t need to worry or overwhelm yourself about the next step. Many times we can get ahead of ourselves and worry about how something will turn into fruition that we end up scaring ourselves and stopping. Don’t stop. Just keep writing (unedited) and get to those future steps when it’s time. Everyone has a story in them, you just have to listen to yourself closely to hear it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve ever heard is to listen to your body when you need to rest. Even if you have an internal clock telling you that you need to get something done to be productive or successful. Your body is telling you something and rest isn’t selfish, sometimes it’s needed for a sense of your self.

What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading “A Slice of Heaven”, the second book from the Sweet Magnolia series. I love the TV show so I decided to go back and read the books.

What’s next for you as a writer?
What’s next for me is to continue promoting Sweet Pear while also working on and publishing the sequel. After that, I’m going to continue writing many more books (maybe even some different genres if it speaks to me!)

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Hmm… this is hard. I suppose one of the books would be a survivalist type of book, maybe what foods you can look for and also see what types of things are poisonous. Then, I’d pick a good mystery book to keep my mind in a creative state and not to sound a certain way, but I would bring Sweet Pear. It would be to remind myself of all I accomplished at a time when things were uncertain and unstable. The 4th book would be a blank one ( I mean, cmon there’s gotta be a good story to write down being on a stranded island!)

Author Websites and Profiles
Jessica Butler Website
Jessica Butler Amazon Profile

Jessica Butler’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Edward Tick 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a poet, author, transformational psychotherapist, pilgrimage guide to Viet Nam and Greece, and peace activist. I have been writing for over 55 years, since I was a teenager, I am recognized as a “thought leader” in healing military Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Moral Injury, and in restoring ancient holistic healing methods for modern use. I have specialized in the holistic treatment of violent traumatic wounds for over 40 years. I have written seven books on these subjects, 4 books of nonfiction, including the award-winning War and the Soul and on the Greek tradition The Practice of Dream Healing. I have also written 3 books of poetry, including my latest.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Coming Home In Viet Nam is a newly published 20-year poetry collection documenting the healing and reconciliation journeys I have led to Viet Nam annually since 2000. These journeys bring extraordinary dimensions of healing to American veterans and others who travel there with me, and we contribute to Vietnamese recovery and healing from the war through philanthropic works, friendship, learning their culture, exchanging forgiveness. My poetry tells stories of encounters and healings from participants in every faction of the war – Americans and Vietnamese. These stories are unknown but deeply needed in this country. Poetry is the language of the heart and soul. I told these stories through poetry instead of nonfiction because that is how I have written my way through decades of journeys and because I wanted to appeal to the heart, the soul, the whole person, and not just the intellect.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I journal fiercely in both poetry and prose as I travel and lead the pilgrimage. For most of my life, I stayed up very late and preferred to write during the dark hours when the world is sleeping and will not disturb my creative process. Since I have a busy psychotherapy practice, I also rely on deadlines and tight scheduling of my writing tasks. Now as an elder I take the first week of every month off as a writing retreat.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The classical Greek writers and thinkers, the Bible, the poetry of George Seferis, the works of Nikos Kazantzakis, Melville, Poe, Peter Matthiessen, Mary Renault, Elie Wiesel, the Japanese haiku masters, especially Issa, the novels of my early mentor William Herrick, in psychology Jung, James Hillman, R.D. Laing, Joseph Campbell.

What are you working on now?
A major book chapter, “The American Way of War” for an anthology on The American Psyche and Its Shadow. My next nonfiction book on the Greek tradition, Passage to Poros: Finding Spiritual Sanctuary on a Small Greek Island.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
https://www.edwardtick.com/

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Believe in yourself and your vision. Keep writing until you find your unique voice. Try not to worry too much about being published. Have faith in your vision and purpose and that you will find outlets for your work at the right time. Grow callouses against rejections and misunderstandings of your work. Do not take rejections personally. Seek your tribe among readers and other writers. Understand and embrace the long hard journey of being a writer and that your deepest satisfaction must come from within and from your creative process. Know that somehow every good poem, every well-crafted sentence, contributes to the unfolding of consciousness, supports the human heart, and helps grow the universe.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
From my mentor, the novelist William Herrick, “Don’t worry about publishing. Just write your first million words and you will.”

What are you reading now?
At present, I am concentrating on rereading classics that can shed light and give support for the global crises we are in – C.G. Jung, Arthur Miller, Jean-Paul Sartre. Among contemporary American writers, I am rereading all the poetry books of Richard Behm and the new and previous books by Mark Nepo.

What’s next for you as a writer?
My next book is on the healing traditions of ancient Greece and how to use them today. Dream Incubation and Soul Medicine, the working title, will be published in fall-winter 2022.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Odyssey by Homer
Moby Dick by Melville
Zorba the Greek by Kazantzakis

Author Websites and Profiles
Edward Tick Website
Edward Tick Amazon Profile
Edward Tick Author Profile on Smashwords

Edward Tick’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

C Legorreta 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I had a nomadic childhood as a result of my parents’ work. The opportunity to explore and interact with the vast variety of environments and perspectives within the US and parts of South America deepened my appreciation for the beauty and diversity of these countries. After high school, I studied photography before getting a degree in History. I have always loved stories -the ones from our past and the ones we create. My goal, both in reading and writing, is to share the wonder of the human condition, with all the joys, sorrows, and triumphs that entails.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Creosote Bush is my first novel. The story, although fictional, was inspired by the people and conversations I had while studying photography in Seattle. I chose the title after reading about a ring of creosote bushes growing in the Mojave Desert. There are several such rings, but the one I read about is called King Clone. It stretches across the sand in a rather unassuming and unimpressive manner. Yet this clonal colony of genetically identical bushes is estimated to be 11,700 years old. Pushing ever outward, but still connected. Some might say, like us.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I first started writing The Creosote Bush nearly twenty years ago. I “finished” it more times than I can remember. During this time I was also working, getting married, having kids, moving across country, and so on. But I always kept coming back to it -editing, getting feedback, editing some more- to the extent that I can hear my past selves, each with their own perspectives, speaking to me from the pages. This long editing process gave my thoughts and writing style the necessary time to grow and evolve.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am delighted and immensely grateful for the huge variety of authors and works available. I wish I could mention all those who have influenced me. I found The Sparrow, Ender’s Game, and Siddhartha riveting and thought-provoking. Tanya French’s understanding of the human psyche and her ability to immerse the reader in everything the characters are thinking, feeling, and experiencing is incredible. I love Laini Taylor’s imagination and well-developed worlds and storylines. I love Alice Hoffman’s The Dovekeepers, and Maria Popova’s lyrical Figuring. I appreciate Amy Bloom and John Green for their honesty, and I am moved by Maya Angelou’s wisdom. I love all the authors who have poured their hearts out and shared what they’ve thought, learned, and felt with the world.

What are you working on now?
I believe that connection is essential to meaning. Without it, one loses everything; with it, one gains everything. My next project revolves around three characters who embody what happens when connection is either severed or found.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook and the writing community on Twitter have both been supportive when it come to promoting my work.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep going. Read much and write often. As long as you are writing consistently, don’t worry about how long it may be taking. Write first for yourself, but then be open to feedback. Whether the feeback is positive or negative, use it as a tool to become better.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep going.

What are you reading now?
I am reading In the Dreamhouse, by Carmen Maria Machado.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I plan to keep working on my next project, but I also am hoping to carve out more time for journaling.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Figuring, by Maria Popova
a History of Philosophy
and Norton’s Anthology of World Literature

Author Websites and Profiles
C Legorreta Amazon Profile

C Legorreta’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Trina Boice 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Dr. Trina Boice is a #1 best-selling author of 31 books and was named the California Young Mother of the Year in 2004, an award which completely amuses her 4 sons. She teaches online for Brigham Young University and Arizona College of Nursing, in addition to creating online courses for professional development at LifelongLearningEducation.com. She’s a movie critic at Movie Review Mom.com and has a daily podcast called “Daily Inspirational Quote Hosted by Trina Boice”. She’s an author coach at FromBook2Business.com
She worked as a Legislative Assistant for a Congressman in Washington, D.C., and was given the “Points of Light” Award and Presidential Volunteer Service Award for her domestic and international community service. She was selected by KPBS in San Diego to be a political correspondent. She taught classes at the famous Le Cordon Bleu Culinary College and says she has the weight gain to prove it. If she told you what she really did she’d have to kill you.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The Ultimate Guide to Mystery Shopping: How To Get Paid To Eat, Shop, & Play”. I’ve been doing mystery shopping for many years in three different states where I’ve lived and I still get a kick out of it! Companies pay me to pretend to be a “real” customer while I’m evaluating a restaurant, store, theme park, hotel, or some other venue. I make money and get free merchandise. What’s not to love? People ask me about it all of the time, so I finally wrote a guidebook and an online course to show others how to get paid to eat, shop, and play!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
To get into the writing zone, I listen to music. The type of music depends on what kind of a book I’m writing and what mood I want to get into. Sometimes I light a candle and I almost always have a delicious snack on my desk to much on. Before typing, I do a lot of research on the topic and begin brainstorming in outline form.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve read many books that had a powerful influence on me, so I don’t have a favorite author. I love many of the writers from the past, but I’m also inspired by living authors who are out there creating books, engaging their readers, and living their dream. That energy definitely rubs off on me and I want to do more! I would be thrilled to be called someone else’s favorite author some day!

What are you working on now?
I’m always working on several books at a time. Once I have a deadline for one of them from a publisher, I then focus on that one book until I finish it. Right now, I’m working on a book with a school principal in China. It compares the educational system in China and America. It will be a guidebook for Chinese parents who are interested in having their children study abroad.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use a variety of social media sites every day to share what’s happening with my books, which ones are on sale or being offered for free, and posts that feature reviews. Targeting my posts to specific Facebook groups where people who are already interested in my topic are gathered has been the best method for marketing so far.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just do it! If you truly believe in your project, don’t give up. Writing a book and getting a book published can be hard work, especially in today’s economy. Persistence in this industry definitely pays off.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Wow, I can’t pick just one! I absolutely love inspirational quotes that fire me up and give me good advice on a variety of topics. That’s why I created my daily podcast called, “Daily Inspirational Quote with Trina Boice.” I share a quote that inspires me and then I talk about a story that illustrates the point.

What are you reading now?
I usually have several books on my bedside table that I’m reading simultaneously! Right now, I’m reading an adorable book about “Hygge”, which is a wonderful concept I was introduced to on my first trip to Denmark. It’s a word that describes that cozy, warm feeling when you’re sitting by a fire, drinking hot chocolate, surrounded by loved ones. I’m trying to create more of those kinds of magical moments in my life.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m always working on a few books at any moment! I teach at a couple of universities, have a daily podcast, and 4 YouTube channels. I’m obsessed with movies and share my reviews on my Movie Review Mom YouTube channel. I will also continue to create online courses at Lifelong Learning Education. I’m always open for new opportunities and an adventure!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?

Author Websites and Profiles
Trina Boice Website
Trina Boice Amazon Profile

Trina Boice’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Mekhi Lindsey 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hey im Khi Im a new and upcoming author and only written 1 book. I started writing books in April 2021. I wrote my book in hope of becoming a great and famous author

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The Lone Ranger.” What inspired it what a dream of becoming something big and with the thought of doing something new thats different from what everybody else is doing.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
One of them is writing and stoping every few minutes its a bad habit but it gives me time to think

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Gary paulsen “The Hatchet.” Its a great Adventure book this book inspired me

What are you working on now?
Im working on getting my book out to the world getting my book promoted and gaining fans

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I dont think I have one yet im still searching but if there’s any good websites it would be helpful to send me a link to my email Milindustry25@gmail.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Im new to this but if I had any advice to new writers I would say have take your time and have imagination no matter how hard or long it take to finish your book

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Make it count while your young

What are you reading now?
At this moment im not reading anything

What’s next for you as a writer?
I guess getting my book out to the people and watch everything fall in place

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The hatchet, bad kitty, and froggy these are the book I grew up on there’s a couple more but theses are the one I remember

Author Websites and Profiles
Mekhi Lindsey Amazon Profile

Mekhi Lindsey’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Jose Santana 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an IT professional by day and author by night; I’m also a dad to a teenager soon to be an adult; I enjoy a variety of activities, from an active fitness lifestyle to water rafting in the summer and binge watching movies/shows or playing video games in winter. Road trips are something I enjoy. I read across different genres—poetry, supernatural/horror, fantasy, and science fiction—and disciplines like philosophy, mythology, and psychology, which have informed my philosophy and writing as a whole. Currently, I have written one book and two more I plan to launch by Halloween of this year.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Cool and Warmth of Hearts is a poetry collection of romantic poems where many of the poems in it go as far back as high school and spent most of their time archived on DVD discs until in 2019 I revisited all of my written work and pursued the path to be a self-published author. This poetry collection contains an overarching theme with sub-themes about love and romanticism where the inspiration varied from personal experience, second-hand observations of family, friends, and more; also philosophy in my dealings with the concept and anecdotes of those experiences. In addition, I received further inspiration by the works of classical poets from Shakespeare era to Lord Byron and Emily Dickinson that helped further inspire this collection with form, meter, sensibility, and imagination.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I haven’t really thought about this, but I have a writing routine outline in steps and I don’t always adhere to every step, but it guides my focus and revisit when there is an area I feel lost or stuck in. Sometimes I’ll listen to classical music while writing or in between every writing session I would get up and walk around until I identify the chosen words to write and I have instances where I have writing bursts—sometimes I write in the early morning before work or sometimes after work or spend most of it on the weekend because of my weekday job. Lately, I have separate writing days from reading, research, and marketing which has been helpful on which activity to prepare for the day.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Poets from 1500 to 1800 definitely played a big role in their varied style and diction; however, I kept revisiting specific poems or poets I enjoyed the most, like William Shakespeare, Andrew Marvell, William Wordsworth, Lord Byron, Edgar Allan Poe, and Emily Dickinson, that influenced with each revision I made in the book.

What are you working on now?
I have two books planned for release on Halloween Day of 2022; one is a poetry collection on the shadows of human nature and a short story collection of supernatural horror—think Edgar Allan Poe, Arthur Machen, and H. P. Lovecraft.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As a first-time author, I found having a marketing strategy and picking a couple of marketing channels to reach readers. In my case, that’s email marketing with a reader magnet and Instagram because of its popularity with poetry; a book launch strategy is also important to have at minimum two to three months before launch day in order to set up your book for success. Also, I recommend reaching out to genre specific book review bloggers, bookstagrammers, and lining up discounted or free promo days with book promotion sites (FreeBooksy, AwesomeGang), ARC reviews (harder to come by if you’re new but paid services like Book Siren can help with that), editorial reviews, word of mouth with family and friends. In short, plan a marketing strategy with two marketing channels and a book launch plan to ensure you have time for reach outs to help promote awareness of the book.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you aspire to be an author, see it through no matter what—I always wanted to publish a book for many years and I doubted my ability to do so until I found the courage to put pen to paper or in my case finger to keyboard. I recommend reading on the craft of writing and also publishing and marketing too. Develop a ritual to help reinforce good writing habits and stick to a schedule with a deadline. It helps to let people who are supportive hold you accountable; join a community of like-minded writers if it helps you stay accountable. Writing is a lonely endeavor, and it’s important to remember why you write and why you want to publish a book—of course you will do it for yourself; however, if you plan to do it for the long run, remember the value you provide to the world with your written words those who wants to read your book and find joy and insight that brings them value will motivate you every time you have doubts about writing your book.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I live by the motto “Amor Fati”. It means “love your fate” basically accept it, embrace it, love it, and make the most of it and don’t waste time hoping for a different (past) fate. This doesn’t imply take to things as they’re, but your response to it plays a role in shaping your next thought, behavior; especially when you have aspirations to write a book, and the next one and draw meaning for the value you get to provide not just yourself but also for others and take pride in it and be humble by your experiences, “Amor Fati.”

What are you reading now?
I’m reading a variety of books in fiction and nonfiction right now; I usually organize my reading list based on my next writing project, in this case I’m reading the works of H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, Classic Supernatural Stories by Barnes & Noble, Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene and a few more to help inspire my next two books.

What’s next for you as a writer?
My dream is to become a full-time author that provides outstanding books for readers to enjoy and cherish; I’m designing my life towards that lifestyle and one day transition away from a day job into one where I could produce several books a year and engage with a community of both writers and readers.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Complete works of William Shakespeare
Complete works of Edgard Allan Poe
The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri
Complete works of Lord Byron

Author Websites and Profiles
Jose Santana Website
Jose Santana Amazon Profile

Jose Santana’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Brohdny Ricketts 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Brohdny Ricketts, attained his Master of Social Work at University of Southern California in 2019. Ricketts did most of his undergraduate work at University at Buffalo, he graduated from Empire State College with a B.S. in Human Development in 2017. After serving a tour in Iraq 2006-2007, Brohdny was an active-duty soldier until he medically retired from the Army in 2012.

Brohdny became a youth group leader, a drummer on the worship team and a Deacon for one year at Winchester Community Church 2013-2018. Brohdny was born in Canada, moved to Jamaica where his family lived at one years old, came to America at the age of eight to New Jersey, move to Western New York area in 2010 and is now a Fulltime RVer traveling the U.S. since March 2021.

While fulltime RVing Brohdny and his family do a Mobile Ministry to help homelessness by handing out “Blessing Bags” whenever they see a homeless person.

Brohdny, is the main actor “Rerehab” and was nominated for best actor at a New Jersey film festival. You can watch short film on Prime Video.

Brohdny is the CEO of The Walk 615, LLC. Brohdny is also the Vice President of Konde Visions Inc.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Way of Life: Jesus is His Name. What inspired me is my desire to help people improve their quality of life spiritually.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I do not think so! I don’t think its unusual, may be unusual to other though.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a daily devotional and a book that talks about the Anarchy of Christ.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This is it, I am a new self publishing author

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just start writing and get out of your head. Just write without an intent to publish and you will have a lot of literature to put into a book.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Turn a negative into a positive.

What are you reading now?
365 days of prayer for men.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To continue to self publish and become a best selling author

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The bible, who moved my cheese, Garden City, and Jesus Unmasked

Author Websites and Profiles
Brohdny Ricketts Website
Brohdny Ricketts Amazon Profile

Brohdny Ricketts’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

JRC Cox 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
By day I work in the video games industry, by night I write for fun. Kings of the Land is my first full novel, and the beginning of an action adventure series I have planned out. Before that I warmed up by writing three children’s books with my young daughter, set in our Farland Valley universe.
When I’m not working, writing, watching action movies or doing stuff with the family, I love to read. I’m a big fan of urban fantasy and crime thrillers, sometimes in the same book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Kings of the Land

It’s an action adventure book series idea I’ve had in my head for over 15 years. Kings of the Land is actually the prequel to the main idea, but I found it needed to be written first to enable everything else to make sense. Also, as well as loving a good adventure book, I also love castles, so this was a great excuse to combine the two.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
About 95% of the book was written on an iPad typing on the touch screen with one finger. Either I think a lot more than I write or I’m just very slow.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Jim Butcher, Benedict Jacka, Stuart MacBride, and in the past Matthew Reilly.

What are you working on now?
Book 2 of the Kings of the Land series. I’m about 160 pages in.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far it’s been word of mouth, Amazon advertising and Facebook.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’m just writing for fun, as I enjoy my day job making video games, so I don’t have any pressures on me. However I still want to write the best books that I can. Therefore I get lots of people to test read my book before I release it and give me feedback. I highly recommend spending a good amount of time on getting feedback and editing your book. Though maybe don’t take quite as long as the 14 months that I did.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never give up, but make sure you’re having some fun along the way.

What are you reading now?
The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ve planned four books for the Kings of the Land series, to tell the full story from beginning to end, so that will keep me busy for a while.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Fated by Benedict Jacka
Cosmos by Carl Sagan

Author Websites and Profiles
JRC Cox Amazon Profile

JRC Cox’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile