Here Is Your Awesomegang Authors Newsletter
Published: Tue, 05/24/22
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Sabne Raznik
Interview With Author Sabne Raznik
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a disabled Appalachian poet of Cherokee ancestry. I like to say I’m a supranational poet because I believe poetry transcends man-made borders and traditions and I like to write from that space – everything goes. I have published 6 books in total so far: 3 full-length collections (“Following Hope” Xlibris, 2007, “Linger to Look” Amazon, 2015, and “Rabbit Hole” Amazon, 2017), one homemade chapbook (Marrow, 2013), one e-chapbook (“Dreaming of Bono” VoiceLux, 2022), and one collection of visual art (“Renaissance: Visual Art 2005 – 2019” Amazon, 2019).What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Dreaming of Bono”. It’s an echapbook from VoiceLux, 2022. I never had a stable father figure growing up so I kind of chose one: Bono of U2. When they released the “Songs of Experience” album, it sounded to me like they were preparing the hardcore fanbase for when U2 isn’t around anymore and I started having dreams about Bono and Seamus Heaney. I was doing some inner child work, I guess. Working through that personal psychology in relation to Bono and freeing both us from that parasocial parent-child thing. At first, I wrote the dreams down abstractly so that the reader can’t tell that they are dreams and that they are about Bono. But as the book developed, I got more direct. I think that was part of the healing process that was happening too.Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know if any writing habit is unusual, really. Every writer has a different process. My process changes for every book. I like the books to have themes, if I can, and each one is also different in style. Because the language has to change based on what you’re trying to convey and the way you go about finding and capturing that language is neccesarily different depending on the language you need at that moment. Something that does tend to remain consistent, though, is that I write in pieces and then organise those pieces into a whole later. It takes a long time to get a whole work that way. It’s a slow, painstaking process. But it feels like most of my better work comes out that way.What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am strongly influenced by world poetry and Irish writers. I didn’t want to be the stereotypical Appalachian poet. I wanted to show people that the stereotype is a lie. So I very much knew what I *didn’t* want to be. And so I didn’t read a lot of local, contemporary poetry until maybe the last decade. I read the Eastern European poets and poetry in translation from all around the world. And I’ve read all the important Irish writers and poets: Yeats, Boland, Kavanaugh, Kennelly, Muldoon. I’ve read literally everything James Joyce wrote. A lot of Beckett. My all-time favourite poet is Seamus Heaney: so much of his work could just as easily be Appalachian as Irish. Recently, I’ve been reading widely among contemporary American poets and sort of catching up on the Appalachain canon a little bit.What are you working on now?
I’ve been trying to put together a little Selected bi-lingual collection. That’s been really challenging because I have to pull from all my books which are each so unique and somehow make the selection work as a cohesive whole in itself. And that’s out of my comfort zone as far as how I usually approach putting together a manuscript. I also am working on a collection of short stories, where the stories seem centered around making the choice of integrity over reputation. So many people read my poems and ask for fiction, and I thought “okay, why not? See how it flies”. I’m also currently on a virtual book tour to support “Dreaming of Bono”. And I’m editor on two literary journals (“AvantAppal(achia) Ezine” and “North/South Appalachia”) and keeping those running is a continual process.What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Social Media is vital in today’s world when it comes to promoting anything, so I try to maintain a reasonably strong social media presence. Due to my disability, traveling is difficult, therefore most events I attend are virtual.Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read, read, read! And study the business. Journals have submission guidelines for a reason: follow them. Most importantly, throw your ego out the door. There is a lot of ego-bruising inherent to being a writer – from the constant submission rejections to the book review process – there is no room for a writer who is going to take every rejection or criticism personally. You have to really truly not care what people think. Do the work because you love it, not because you want it to love you. because it won’t. It doesn’t love back. You have to do all the loving – for the work and for yourself. Self-pity will only get in the way of opportunities. You have to be emotionally stronger than average, but you can do it, if you love writing enough and if you have enough faith in what you write.What is the best advice you have ever heard?
As long as there is life, there is hope.What are you reading now?
Wow. Um, I think you should just follow me on Goodreads to see my “currently reading” shelf because I can read up to 40 books at the same time. But a selection is: “The Story of Civilization” by Will Durant, “The Autobiography of Mark Twain”, “Drinking Guinness with the Dead” by Justin Hamm, “The Intimacy of Clouds” by Fatiha Morchid, “Brightening of Days” by Gabriel Rosenstock, The Works of Tolstoy, Chaucer, and a lot of haiku recently.What’s next for you as a writer?
I think, after I finally wrestle out the Selected and that collection of short stories I mentioned earlier, I might go back to some old projects that I put down before because I didn’t think the time was right. I started writing a series of poems about the 9/11 “jumpers”, it might be time to revisit that. And I’ll probably go through some poems I’ve written over the last decade but haven’t collected yet to see if there is enough strong work there for another collection.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, “Open Ground” by Seamus Heaney, Bono’s memoirs (the one he had written in interview style around 2006 and the one slated to come out in November 2022), “Facing the Lion” by Simone Arnold Liebster, and I seem to go back to “Cry, the Beloved Country” by Alan Paton and “Under the Eye of the Clock” by Christopher Nolan every so many years.Author Websites and Profiles
Sabne Raznik’s Social Media Links
D.M. Baird
Interview With Author D.M. Baird
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written 2 Ranch Suspense/Romance and either written or co-written anther 6 epic, cross world fantasiesWhat is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Prelude to Domination on Vella a collection of shorts that answers the unanswered questions from the Devil’s Realm seriesDo you have any unusual writing habits?
I write daily in the morning but often have to find a note to scribble down some Ideas in the bath…. Inspiration strikes in the strangest places.What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am an avid reader… Terry Brooks fantasy, any romance author but love Delores Fossen and BJ Daniels , snarky witch book by Amanda M Lee, clean cowboy romance by Jessie GussmanWhat are you working on now?
Splinter of Stars – 3rd in the Double Diamond Ranch Romance series… due to come out soonWhat is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook has been most successful so far or word of mouth in the Rodeo circuitDo you have any advice for new authors?
Write everyday, don’t try to control it too much and have funWhat is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write for yourself as a readerWhat are you reading now?
Ivy Morgan series by Lily Harper HeartWhat’s next for you as a writer?
Finish the Double Diamond series and the last book in the Devil’s RealmIf 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?
How to survive on a desert island
And the last 3 in the Shannara SeriesAuthor Websites and Profiles
D.M. Baird’s Social Media Links
Neela Arnaud
Interview With Author Neela Arnaud
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an Expressive Arts Therapist and Facilitator (EAFT), artist, and poet and am originally from Provence, France. Until the pandemic, I led international workshops for Adult Survivors of Toxic Families and Narcissistic Abuse. In 2021, I released my first book in my ‘Adult Survivors of Toxic Families’ series, ‘Waking Up to Toxic People’. ‘Protecting Yourself From Toxic People’ and ‘Releasing Toxic People’ were released in 2022, along with a bundled 3-in-1 series compilation (box set). My autobiographical book of poems, ‘How To Leave’, will be released in July, 2022. In my free time I tend to many goats and chickens on my small farm in Maine and enjoy painting and spending time with my husband and our many animals.What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Dealing With Toxic People’ (a 3-in-1 series compilation). I was inspired to share my knowledge of how to cope with the toxic behaviors of others, as well as how to end toxic relationships (including with toxic family members) and recover from the damaging after-effects.Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I do most all of my writing on the weekends as I see clients during the week. I might write for the entire weekend, doing little else, as I get so caught up in the material due to the passion I have for helping people recover from toxic relationships and the harm caused by abusive people, including family members.What authors, or books have influenced you?
Alice Miller, ‘Drama of the Gifted Child’. Books on Family Systems.What are you working on now?
My autobiographical book of poetry, ‘How To Leave’, which describes my journey of recovering from Toxic Family Abuse and Narcissistic Abuse.What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Amazon ads and regular promotions through reputable online book promoters.Do you have any advice for new authors?
It doesn’t matter how many books have been written on a given subject. Your experiences and your creative vision are unique, and the world needs to hear from you!What is the best advice you have ever heard?
As an author: Write about what you know and have a passion for.What are you reading now?
A book on Mast Cell Activation Disorder (MCAD) which I discovered recently I have.What’s next for you as a writer?
Beginning a new series or adding to my ‘Adult Survivors of Toxic Family Members’ series.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 collected works of Shakespeare. The collected works of Dostoyevski. Some juicy Gothic-period fiction books. The collected works of Rumi and Hafiz, as well as the Tao Te Ching.Author Websites and Profiles
Neela Arnaud’s Social Media Links
Marin Darmonkow
Interview With Author Marin Darmonkow
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Marin and for a good match I live in a port city – St. John’s, NL Canada. I have three children – one in Austria and two in Canada. Started writing in 2017 – kids became independent and suddenly I had time to create. First I decided to start by developing an old idea – The Adventure of Alex and Er was written, illustrated, and designed by my hands. I created even the fonts for the book. My goal was to create a one-of-a-kind art piece. Then I added four more titles under the name 2GETHER picture book collection. Plus ten more individual books.What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The title of my last publication is extremely demanding: ART. Art is an autistic and artistic individual. Art does not speak but creates art. Art that dismisses even gravity.
This is a story I kept close to my chest all my life and finally, I decided to publish it. It was inspired by something deeply personal…Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Usual only.What authors, or books have influenced you?
Probably I was influenced by many books and many authors in my early years. I grew up with my grandparents who gave me books instead of toys. I became a voracious reader and I knew how to read and write since I was four. Some of the books I read as a child were appropriate for my age, others were difficult even for linguists or scientists to comprehend, nevertheless for a child…What are you working on now?
Another picture book – titled EARL THE BOYGIRL.What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
For a long time, I stayed away from the 800-pound gorilla Amazon. Many promotional sites requested an Amazon link and I uploaded my books to the platform. On my site https://fontreal.com, one can find links to most online book retailers. The best promotional method? Developing an e-mail list of fans, according to me.Do you have any advice for new authors?
Go for it, if your brain says it is in your heart.What is the best advice you have ever heard?
This was my grandfather’s advice: never play leapfrog with unicorns.What are you reading now?
Great Expectations by Dickens – a real classic with beautiful language and settings.What’s next for you as a writer?
Just started year six as a writer/illustrator/designer/publisher. In the course of those years, I managed to create twelve children’s books (one belongs to a genre I invented – children’s stories for adults). Twelve more are in the process of development. The truth is that I truly enjoy the journey.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?
Escaping a desert island for dummies, volumes I, II, III, and IV.Author Websites and Profiles
Marin Darmonkow Amazon Profile
Marin Darmonkow’s Social Media Links
Jaelyn Jordan
Interview With Author Jaelyn Jordan
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am charismatic , inspiring , and empathetic. I love meeting new people and astrology.What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my book is “A Misguided Thought” . It’s a poetry book supporting mental health.Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wrote this book in “diary entry form”.What authors, or books have influenced you?
Shakespeare, Maya Angelou, and Edgar Allen PoeWhat are you working on now?
I’m working on my new poetry book called “A Misguided Thought: Roses And Thornes”What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, etc.Do you have any advice for new authors?
Stay true to yourselfWhat is the best advice you have ever heard?
In order to successfully negative through life you have to be a chameleon.What are you reading now?
I am currently not working because I am working on my sequel.What’s next for you as a writer?
My goal is to obtain a Nobel Peace Prize for my book “A Misguided Thought”. I would also like to be on Forbes 30 under 30If 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 read Nineteen Eighty-Four , The Great Gatsby, and Holes.Author Websites and Profiles
Jaelyn Jordan’s Social Media Links
