Here Is Your Awesomegang Authors Newsletter
Published: Sat, 07/30/22
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Elton Gahr
Interview With Author Elton Gahr
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Elton and I’ve published 12 books with two more coming out this year. I also have many short stories and more coming out every week.What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recently released book is The Thirteen Gates: The Oracle of Baltimore. It’s the fourth book in the Thirteen Gates series.
I was inspired by my frustration with the many fantasy series that introduce magic to our world and then never actually explored what would happen as people found out. So I wrote a series where magic returns to our world and actually changes thing.Do you have any unusual writing habits?
It’s been my experience that many people, including some authors, find actually writing unusual. Beyond sitting down every day and putting words on paper my most interesting habit is probably the use of the pomodoro technique. For me that means writing as much as I can as fast as I can for twenty minutes and then taking a break. On a good day I might do that eight or ten times and get five or six thousand words of a first draft written.What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are so many, but the biggest influences are probably the big names in science fiction and fantasy. I grew up reading Tolkien, Ursula K. Le Guin, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Philip K. Dick, Orson Scott Card and Douglas Adams.I try to bring some of the best lessons I learned from each of them to my writings.
What are you working on now?
I am currently writing the fourth and fifth books of the Spaceship Vision series. They continue to explore the ramifications of the discovery of faster than light travel and the many possibilities and dangers that it leads to.What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My newsletter works the best for me. It’s allowed me to share free short stories every week and connect with my audience in a more direct way.Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never compare the first draft of your novel to the final draft of a professional author’s best work. Their first draft was bad too.What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you don’t have time to read you don’t have time to write.What are you reading now?
I’m working my way through the Diskworld novels. They’re a major oversite in my fantasy reading. I’m two books in and still not sure what order I should be reading them in, but other than that I’m enjoying myself.What’s next for you as a writer?
I am beginning to work on the beginnings of a new epic fantasy series. It’s still in the beginnings but I have a few characters, a couple of locations and a conflict that I think can be melded into something.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 Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, The Lord of the Rings and Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. The first two because I can reread them and enjoy them many times and Grit because I’m going to need the reminder.Author Websites and Profiles
Elton Gahr’s Social Media Links
Julie Mannino
Interview With Author Julie Mannino
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Currently, I live in New England with my partner and two cats that are always trying to get to my earbud cords.I’ve written over forty books so far, and I’ve published 7 this year. I’ve still got a lot to put out, and many more to write!
My books are set in the same world and follow a few particular families over the centuries, plus extra side people. This allows me to write in a large array of genres and subjects. Paranormal romance, M/M romance, coming of age, and dark fantasy are some. More specific subjects vary: cracked faith, wars, homosexuality, asexuality, depression, anorexia, outlaws, etc. My characters all differ, and past choices have real consequences.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Thrall A Novel of Alternate Earth.I enjoy stories set in the middle ages, and when Vikings were still pillaging, they often took slaves. The term they used was thrall. Today, the word means to be in someone’s in power. Since the young kingdom of Gredoria in my fantasy world is loosely based on Canada, Greenland is currently inhabited by descendants of Vikings. They still use the term Thrall for slaves.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I can hyper focus for long periods of time if something greatly interests me. It’s not unusual for me to spend 14 hours working on whatever book is the latest project.What authors, or books have influenced you?
I loved Ken Follett’s Kingsbridge series based in the Middle ages. Ariana Nash is another favorite who writes M/M romance, and they inspired me to write my own.What are you working on now?
I’ll soon be publishing Finley’s Way, a short story of a boy trying to survive on his own in the 1400s when homosexuals aren’t widely accepted. I have four novels left for Jack’s Reign that I intend to put out by the end of the year. I also hope to start the Comfort Series on Amazon. The first is the Comfort of Perfection.What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Romance.io helped with Thrall and my reads skyrocketed.Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write several books. Revise and perfect until your head spins, and then do it again. Turn off the TV and write. If you have large backlog of novels, you’ll find it much easier when you first start publishing. You’ll have a better chance of success if you can get several works out in the first several months. It’s unfortunate, but most people aren’t always willing to wait a year for book two or whatever. Don’t let your readers forget you.
And don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it.What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Even if seems terrible right now, keep writing it because you can go back and fix it later. Nobody has to know that the first or second draft looked like a train wreck.What are you reading now?
I’m currently rereading The Cottage by Ariana Nash.What’s next for you as a writer?
Even after The Comfort Series is out, I have more. I’m also working on a novel with a Muslim hero set in 17th century Gredoria.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 Prince’s Assassin TrilogyAuthor Websites and Profiles
Julie Mannino’s Social Media Links
modu iziokhai
Interview With Author modu iziokhai
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Simple, decent and spiritual in Christ Jesus. 2 published and on one right now.What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
God first, is simply on the inspiring power and demonstrations of the living Spirit of God in human lives and affairs of creation. The depth and beauty of everything about God are all in His Spirit in Christ Jesus. Tapping into this infinite reservoir of purpose, happiness, wealth, health and other goodness is the real challenge to living the fulfilled life He has bestowed on humankind. This means, spiritual revival into humanity is now of great necessity as this is the vision of nourishment of the human soul with His eternal truth, love, peace and nobility.Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Always enjoy the leading of the Holy Spirit in writing because of the emphasis on realness and truth.What authors, or books have influenced you?
T L Osborne, Norman Vincent Pearl, and the Holy BibleWhat are you working on now?
God FirstWhat is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Amazon and other online opportunities I findDo you have any advice for new authors?
Keep the faith, keep grinding, keep writing, keep growing, keeping moving forward, keep working on yourself, more on the inside and embrace the world as your home to making it a better place.What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Nothing is impossible to those who believe.What are you reading now?
Myself on the word of GodWhat’s next for you as a writer?
Keep working on steps to improve and bringing the spiritual messages of the gospel of Christ Jesus out in simple and special way.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 Holy BibleAuthor Websites and Profiles
modu iziokhai’s Social Media Links
Luanne Brown
Interview With Author Luanne Brown
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written 8 screenplays and two books; one non-fiction and one fiction. I am also a collage artist and included some of my collages in my book (and the cover!)What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Once in a Pink Moon” is the first book in the Frog Tale Trilogy. The book was inspired by a combination of factors. When I was 20, I worked for the Fisheries Research Board of Canada doing a creel census (basically counting fish that were caught) in the Okanagan Mountains in British Columbia. Each night I was serenaded to sleep by a chorus of very loud frogs. (Or maybe they were trying to keep me awake!) Fast forward too many decades and I woke up one morning with the idea for this series in my head. Add more years, and a growing sense of anxiety about climate change–and the future life on this planet for my kids and grandkids, nieces, nephews, and now their children as well. But who wants doom and gloom? We have to have hope–and act in “ways that will heal” as one of my characters says in the book. That’s why I came up with an adventurous story about a young woman who was willing to go to the max to make a difference.Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I talk to myself and make lots of notes that I usually can’t read. I also invest in rolls of butcher paper that I can roll out six feet at a time to plot out all the scenes in the book and be able to study them in one view. I also believe in throwing the baby out with the bathwater and starting over again if the plot isn’t working.What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am older–and rather old-school. I am still very influenced by the authors I read as a kid. Loved Nancy Drew. Loved Mary Stewart (a mystery writer). Loved Lucy Maud Montgomery, who wrote Anne of Green Gables. I was also very influenced by a book called, Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw and of course Louisa May Alcott and her Little Women series. I was so smitten by all these books that actually planned my life around them when I was 11 when I vowed to be a writer like Jo (in Little Women), have red hair like Anne, and live in Egypt like Mara. And I have accomplished all of these things! Of course, I love modern authors as well like Rick Riordan.What are you working on now?
I am working on a book about a teenage boy who discovers that his younger brother is really a Sasquatch.What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am still at the stage of building individual relationships with environmental organizations. I hope your site will be my favorite! I also am digging deeply into Kindlepreneur. com.Do you have any advice for new authors?
Make your work the best it can be before sending it to anyone. Believe in yourself. Believe in your stories. Don’t let the naysayers get you down.What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Why here? Why now? Your story must have a compelling reason to ‘exist’. The answers to those two questions will determine the success of your story.What are you reading now?
A lot of my friends are mystery writers, so I have a stack of their recent publications in my ‘to be read’ pile. Top of the ‘books in progress’ pile is “The Summer I Turned Pretty” by Jenny Han.What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep plugging away. I have a new regime where a dear writer friend and I text each other at 6 a.m. and then launch into 45 minutes of writing. Then text each other when we’re done at 6:45. So far, it’s been really productive for both of us.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 books I read as a kid, as mentioned above. Sometimes I worry that I haven’t grown past those favorites. But it’s not that they are the only books I’ve loved, it’s just that I still find them to be the best ‘comfort reads’. (Also, there’d have to be wi-fi on my desert island because I can’t live without my Instagram account. @luanne_c._brown.)Author Websites and Profiles
Luanne Brown’s Social Media Links
Ian C. Grant
Interview With Author Ian C. Grant
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am from Dundee, Scotland and have created the Detective Inspector Wiggins adventure series of books. I have written two books in a planned series of six, featuring the lead character, Detective Inspector Albert Wiggins, who years earlier was the leader of Sherlock Holmes’s Baker Street Irregulars, and the only member to be mentioned by name by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The books are set in Edwardian London, just prior to the Great War.What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The Gallery of Death: a DCI Wiggins adventure” is the sequel to my debut novel “The Reign of the Beast: a DI Wiggins adventure” and follows on from the first murder, suspense and mystery novel. I have hopefully crafted memorable characters that readers can believe in and empathise with and I wanted to explore their development further.The series of adventures hopefully delivers a new spin on the classical tones of Sherlock Holmes with this new turn-of-the-century fiction featuring characters from the original work by Arthur Conan-Doyle. Hopefully, readers will like the books if they have a love for the Holmes originals – and have a fetish for top hats, monsters, and detective work!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wouldn’t say I have any unusual writing habits although I constantly cross my legs and there are two words I annoyingly mistype every time – becuase and recieved!What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Complete Illustrated Sherlock Holmes has for obvious reasons been a huge influence. The works of Dame Professor Sue Black and her lifetime of forensic anthropology have given me insight into the way I write about murders being committed and the anatomy and mechanics of dying. Also any books on Edwardian London, its people and times.What are you working on now?
The third instalment in the Wiggins adventure series. “The Hand of Darkness”. Wiggins and his redoubtable Sergeant Jem Pyke face an insidious new threat that touches at the very heart of their lives. A grisly menace shrouds the City already immersed in the evil of the criminal underground and a monster from ancient times past.What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I suppose it has to be social media. I don’t have much of a budget to self-promote and market traditionally, so this avenue seems best suited to self-published authors like myself.
I have done a couple of promotional videos which I’m quite proud of, and have appeared in a few radio interviews.Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you are writing historical fiction like myself, ensure your research is accurate; places, dates, descriptions and events of the time must all be accurate. With the Internet at our disposal, this is a lot easier to achieve today and is, therefore, more accessible for your readers to check!What is the best advice you have ever heard?
In regard to writing, this would be to spell check, grammar check and speel cheek again!
In regard to life, one of my first memories was of being very young and colouring in a colouring book with my Grandmother. I was distraught that I’d made a bit of a mess and she said to me, “Ian, sometimes it’s best to go outside the lines” and that has stuck with me ever since.What are you reading now?
As well as reading lots of murder mysteries and paranormal fiction, I absolutely love reading about the history of sports, specifically boxing and boxers. I am currently reading “Sam Langford: Boxing’s Greatest Uncrowned Champion” by Clay Moyle (2012).
It’s a fascinating read about Sam Langford, who stood at only 5′ 7″ tall, but who was one of the 20th century’s greatest fighters from middleweight up to heavyweight, and because of this many champions refused to fight him for fear of losing.What’s next for you as a writer?
Apart from the DCI Wiggins adventures, I’d like to write a book of short stories delving into the lives of minor fictional characters that played a huge part in a work of fiction. For example, the gunner who fired the shots that killed King Kong. What happened to him and how did he live and cope with his thoughts and emotions.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 Complete Illustrated Sherlock Holmes just has to be with me.
The Sweet Science by A.J. Liebling, is arguably the greatest work on the sport of boxing.
The complete works of Robert Burns. I’ll choose just three, as I seem to have cheated a bit with The Complete Works Of theme!Author Websites and Profiles
Ian C. Grant’s Social Media Links
Leilanie Stewart
Interview With Author Leilanie Stewart
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a writer and poet from Belfast, Northern Ireland. I’m the author of three novels and three poetry collections. I write mainly dark psychological fiction and poetry and my writing confronts the nature of self; my characters will usually have a crisis of identity and create a new sense of self.What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is my third novel, The Blue Man. I wrote it originally as a short story during covid lockdown in 2020 as I had an idea for a disturbing Irish ghost story and wanted to set it in my home country of Northern Ireland. This was because I hadn’t read any ghost stories from my hometown, Belfast. The short story version of The Blue Man was published in Scarlet Leaf Review in May 2021. I found that the ideas for this particular story kept coming however, especially to explore the backstory of the titular character, The Blue Man, and so I started expanding it into a novel-length story.Do you have any unusual writing habits?
It takes me a longer than usual time to develop my story ideas: the quickest it can take is six months. But on the other hand, once I have my fully developed concept, outline and chapter plan ready to go, I can write without distractions at any place. Some people find this weird, especially my husband, or friends, who laugh when I can be typing and having a full conversation with them without losing my writing thread.What authors, or books have influenced you?
I try to read widely in as many genres as I can, so lately I wouldn’t say I’m influenced by any specific books or authors, although I do admire Lucinda Berry’s page-turning style of prose. When I first started trying to write seriously twenty years ago, while I was a university student writing a young adult fantasy novel, I was inspired very much by Tolkien and H.G. Wells.What are you working on now?
I have just finished my fourth novel, which is another psychological horror book based on Irish mythology. It’s the second standalone novel in my Belfast Ghosts series, with the first book being The Blue Man, published in July 2022. I’m anticipating a release for my fourth book later in 2022 – title and cover reveal coming soon.What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I promote my books on my author website blog and across all of my social media channels. My YouTube readings of novel and poetry excerpts have gained interest lately. I find that reviews by book bloggers have helped to spread the word as well as running occasional ads, as my budget allows.Do you have any advice for new authors?
First of all, don’t give up on your book. Make the time to write regularly, even if it’s only a sentence a day. Once your manuscript is done, accept advice from your beta readers as they’re there to help you. The best thing you can do, if you want to put your writing out in the world, is to have a thick skin. Believe in your story – and yourself.What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Carry a notebook at all times. You never know when inspiration will strike. A writer friend gave me a lovely pocket notebook with a front cover reading, “Lost in a sea of words”. It has saved many an idea from getting forgotten on a busy day to day basis.What are you reading now?
My tbr list is always big. I’m reading Barbara Erskine’s ‘River of Destiny’, Lucinda Berry’s ‘Under her Care’, James Joyce’s ‘Finnegan’s Wake’ and Susan Hill’s I’m the King of the Castle’.What’s next for you as a writer?
I have started drafting my fifth novel, which will be the third standalone novel in my Belfast Ghosts series, and I’m also planning to release a full poetry collection soon, a third of which was previously published in literary magazines and as a chapbook by a small press publisher in the UK.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?
Finnegan’s Wake, as it might contain information for how I could escape the island – or at the very least, save me from ever being bored. I’d also bring a survival manual as I wouldn’t know the first thing about getting food for myself, and maybe a book on how to build a raft. That’s pretty boring, I know, but I’m a practical kind of person.Author Websites and Profiles
Leilanie Stewart Amazon Profile
Leilanie Stewart’s Social Media Links
Juliana Leamen
Interview With Author Juliana Leamen
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
After wanting to write for many years, I am happy to say my very first book, ‘Release – A Woman’s Guide to Releasing Weight In Midlife Through Becoming Your Body’s Best Friend’ is finally here!This book combines the last 11 years of my career and I am so grateful to bring these concepts to women in midlife.
I am the founder of Naturally Joyous Inc., the host of ‘Confidence From Within’ podcast and a Holistic Menopause Transition Expert.
I am trained as a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, Board Certified by The American Association of Natural Wellness Practitioners, University- trained with a Masters degree in Science, Registered Bach Flower Practitioner and trained in human behavior by the Demartini Institute.
I am on a mission to provide a new model of care for weight loss for women during menopause transition and post-menopause, what I love to call weight release, moving away from the ‘diet mindset’ and helping women find confidence from within.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The title is ‘Release – A Woman’s Guide to Releasing Weight In Midlife Through Becoming Your Body’s Best Friend’.This book was inspired by my own health struggles, as well as the work I have been doing with women in midlife for the last several years.
My life and health have greatly transformed by practicing the principles I share in this book, so I am pleased to share my story and knowledge with the world.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am a very visual person, so my writing process was inspired by how my mind thinks. When I decided it was time to write, I started by cutting colorful construction paper into rectangles. I then opened a new document in my computer and my book outline poured through me onto the page. Then, I transferred it to the colorful papers, which looked like a massive puzzle on my office floor!The next step was reorganizing the puzzle pieces in the best possible sequence, which allowed the book to take you on a 3 step journey:
1. Understanding your midlife body from a different perspective
2. Accepting the body, getting into alignment
3. Becoming its best friend, ie. learning to take good care of itThen, I chose one piece at a time and I wrote and I wrote and I wrote. At times, it felt like my hands were typing so fast, I could not control my fingers. Other chapters were harder, like the info was deeper inside of me.
Overall, the process of bringing this book to life was nothing like I had experienced before!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
So many to count! I love the conversational style of authors like Jen Sincero and my book follows a similar tone. I also like books that are to the point, where concepts are clear without too much fluff, so I wrote my book in the way I like to read.Other authors that have inspired me include: Jamie Kern Lima, Annie Grace and Glennon Doyle.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a Mini-Course to accompany the book. It is a Weight Loss Mindset Reset course to help my readers implement the changes in their lives with a deeper level of support from me beyond the pages of the book. More info will be available in my website (www.naturallyjoyous.ca). I also believe I will publish a second book at some point, so stay tuned!What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
By visiting my main website (www.naturallyjoyous.ca), you will find information on all my projects, including my book. For a direct list of all places where my book can be found, either as e-book, paperback or audiobook, please click on the BOOK tab or go to www.naturallyjoyous.ca/book to learn more.Do you have any advice for new authors?
My main advice would be to start getting all promotional activity organized early. There is a lot to get done to promote a new book during during its launch week, so giving yourself a solid month to have everything organized and submitted is key.What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It was from one of my mentors, who teaches that no matter what happens, we are in control of how we react to the situation. This has allowed me to take full responsibility for my actions (and reactions) and to feel at peace, even during difficult times.What are you reading now?
I am currently reading Dare To Lead by Brene Brown.What’s next for you as a writer?
I have started to collect ideas and notes, which I intend to include in my next book. My main passion in life is personal growth and development and I believe a woman’s weight struggles to be a big gateway to personal transformation. I expect my next book to continue to dive deep into this topic to help more women succeed when it comes to loving what they see in the mirror.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 bring a surviving in the wild guide-book, even though I have not read one before! I would also bring The Gene Keys, which is 576 pages long! Lastly, I would bring my own book, ‘Release’ to remind me to continue doing my release practice, no matter the circumstances.Author Websites and Profiles
Vinny O'Hare Awesomegang.com, P.O. Box 940711 Rockaway Park NY 11694