Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Huh, me? I haven’t written any books sir, I am the star of a book! Thas’ right my friend, I am Frazzle; fooled you, and I can tell that you don’t fool easy! Its all in the eyebrows, see? You can tell a lot from a person’s eyebrows you know.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Well now, the name of the book, that stars me (did I mention that before? huzzah!) is called “I Am Not Frazzle!” – oh but you are I hear you cry and you would be right, see, I said before, no fooling you is there? Well this book is bigger than me, you see, for I’m only staring in one story, I did chat to my agent about this but he insisted that others had to have some time in the spotlight too. So the full title, to be honest is “I Am Not Frazzle – and other stories for grownups!”

Anyway the book has been inspired by a charity that is very dear to both my hearts (dragon’s have two y’know, yeah, its not something I like to boast about but hey, Phil Collins did write a song about my hearts.) Anyway, I am keen to point out that all the proceeds of this book will be donated to the registered charity, The Devizes and District Opportunity Centre, they help kids with disabilities and learning difficulties get a good start to life. Great isn’t it?

The book has ten stories in it, all from the crème de la crème of self-publishing, they include that Darren Worrow, some bloke that developed the whole idea, wrote “White Space Van Man” too, check it out, Maria Miller author of “A Tribute to the Mother of the Waters” and “Abandoned China Dolls,” James Penhaligon who wrote the amazingly funny “Speak Swahili Dammit!” Holly Kothe who is a rising star with her “Sweet Violent Femmes” book, David Darby, author of the excellent thriller, “Driven,” Paul Howard from the Phoenix and Beethoven Incident series, Richelle E Goodrich author of the brilliant children’s series The Harrowbethian Saga, Nancy Brooks of Legendseeker fame, the incredible writer Cecily Magnon, Graham Downs, the author of “A Petition to Magic,” and “Heritage of Deceit,” and, and, and, well, there might be some others, I forget now!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Hey, what do you mean, I have no habits! Who have you been talking to, who told you this? Huh? Huh? If you’ve been talking to that evil knight Gordoth I will have to, ermm….I will have to, well, I would have to have a little cry. I do have a bit of a craving for the odd chocolate frog or ten, but I’m only dragon after all.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
All of the amazing authors that have kindly contributed a story to this book, oh and that Roald Dahl is pretty good too, I mean, a giant peach, who would want to live on a giant peach?

What are you working on now?
I am working on a huge chocolate frog, I’m gonna eat his legs, then his body and then his head. The authors are working on new books, not much to write home about though, I am the star really.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I stride up to these so-called book promotion sites and shout “Huzzah!” breath a little fire and demand that they plug “I am not Frazzle!” It gets the desired effect, they all laugh and say “no!”

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yeah, don’t write a book about dragons, we are a presumptuous bunch.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I heard the King of Lorff tell me once, “eat chocolate frogs, they are good for you!” Believe it kids!

What are you reading now?
I am reading “50 Lampshades of Clay,” its not what I thought it would be about.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Me, I am Frazzle, who knows, another book perhaps, “I am Frazzle!”

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?
Puff the Magic Dragon.

The Hobbit, that’s got a dragon in it.

Harry Potter, that’s got a dragon in it too.

No Tea, no Shade, that’s got a dragon….. what? Oh sorry, it’s a drag queen in that one.

Author Websites and Profiles
Frazzle The Dragon. Website
Frazzle The Dragon. Amazon Profile

Frazzle The Dragon.’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Frazzle The Dragon. is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live a life of faith in Jesus Christ. I hope people will get to know me through my poetry. I have 4 books published through 3 different publishers. “ Songs Of Poetry God Speaks Through His Creation, Ripples Of Reflections” were published by Publish America. Didn’t turn out good as I hoped and I am trying to buy the rights back for those, so I can republish them again for a better turn out. Ripples of Reflections I rushed because my Grandfather was dying of cancer then and wanted Him to see one more book published from me. Then I took a chance and went with Tate Publishing to publish my third book “Rainbow’s Hidden Treasures” which was a lot of fun to do if you have the funds to do so. I am still trying to sell that one so please check it out. I just published my new book “ After God’s Own Heart” through Create space. I just felt led by the Lord that it was time again to put a book together. I write from the heart and the inspiration that is felt. I listen for the voice of the Lord inside of me to give me the wisdom for the poetry given. I never read a book of poetry before writing my first poem. All just happened out of the blue. I never studied on how to write poetry. I just see the words form in my mind and then they come out in Sonnet poetry. Now over 500 poems later I am still amazed everyday that I still find something to write about. I love helping people and seeing my poetry has made a difference in somebody else. I don’t make books for the money, but more as a ministry and giving back to God for the calling He has given me. I give Jesus all the Glory.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My new book is called After God’s Own Heart. I just see so many kids struggling with finding the true value in life, and the lack of Faith in the home from a Godly man that strives for that relationship in God that will not only bring out the love needed, but also to protect the home. This is why I chose the cover with a family on it. In hopes of bringing God’s own heart back to where it belongs in the center of our love.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No, I just listen to good postive music and just whatever comes to my heart that God wants me to write about.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I loved westerns as a kid, still do. Love Stephen Bly books, and Louis L’amour. Al Lacy and novels by Frank Peretti.

What are you working on now?
I have written a few poems since my new book came out. I just lost my dog Lazz, black lab part collie of 10 years to lime disease. So that took the steam out of my writing a little bit, was there by myside every where I went around home. But I did write a poem about the good byes to those pets we call family.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
well I tried a website for awhile, but being on SSD got too costly to run with nothing coming back in return. So now I stick with facebook and word of mouth. Luckly for me My Sister works at a Christian book store. So I get to sell a few through them at hearts & Minds in Dallastown. PA

Do you have any advice for new authors?
yes, just keep at it, hang in their and don’t do it for the money, but to reach out and touch other people through their word and stories.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t lose faith, and don’t stop writing.

What are you reading now?
Grandmal by Joshua Holmes who is a good friend of mine, we like supporting each other. Great book about what a person goes through with a life where a seizure could strike at any moment.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Whatever God leads me to do, short answer I know, but only He knows what the path leads in front of 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?
The Bible would be my first, LOL would give me 66 books to read in 1. And the truth is God’s word is all I will need until He rescuse me.

Author Websites and Profiles
Kyle Walker Amazon Profile

Kyle Walker is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My career as a writer began in journalism. In the 1990s I was senior editor of two of the UK’s most popular ‘X-files’ style magazines, UFO Reality and Odyssey. It was a time when the X-Files was more popular in the UK than afternoon tea, and for this reason the magazines sold very well. UFO Reality in particular became one of the UK’s biggest selling independent publications, and as a result, I became known as one of the UK’s best-known ‘conspiracy journalists’—something I’ve been trying to live down ever since!

For the most part, though, being known in this way did work in my favour. For one thing it prompted one of the country’s top publishing houses, Hodder & Stoughton, to approach me about writing a book on the UFO phenomenon. The result was my first major book release, ‘Cosmic Top Secret: The Unseen Agenda’, essentially an A-Z on the UFO phenomenon from Roswell to the present day, with a particular emphasis on the alleged UFO coverup by the world’s governments and their various secret agencies. It was fun to write and it actually did reasonably well.

But it was my two subsequent books that really changed my life. Titled respectively ‘Princess Diana: The Hidden Evidence’ and ‘Princess Diana: The Evidence’, both written with my researcher and co-author, John Beveridge, these two books were the result of a rigorous, exhaustive and, quite frankly, at times terrifying investigation into the suspicious circumstances surrounding Princess Diana’s death. In truth the latter was the softback edition of the former, but due to the fact that six or seven years separated the two editions, and that so much transpired in that time – most notably the official British investigation into Diana’s death and the Royal Inquest – the latter was pretty much a new book in its own right.

And in any event, it was our investigation into Diana’s death that formed the backdrop for my latest book, an autobiographical conspiracy/spy thriller called The Cut-Out.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
As mentioned above, my latest book is called The Cut-Out, a conspiracy/spy thriller based on the true story of how and why I became involved in investigating Princess Diana’s death, and the sheer hell myself and my family went through at the hands of Britain’s intelligence agencies as a result of that investigation. It’s all fairly well documented in my previous ‘Diana’ books, but because I was able to write The Cut-Out in the form of a novel it allowed me for the first time to tell the gritty, personal, at times paranoid and often terrifying human story of my investigation in a way that I was unable to do in either of my two previous books, which of course were both factual documents. For the record, a ‘cut-out’ is someone used by intelligence agencies, often unwittingly, to funnel information from A to B. The fact that I was used in this way in the intelligence-driven media operation that followed Diana’s death, and my determination to tell the world about it, was the sole inspiration behind the writing of the book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
None that I’m aware of, no. I just try and fit in as much writing time as I possibly can between other essential life commitments!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
To be perfectly honest I’m not a prolific reader so this is a difficult one for me to answer. I would say, though, that the authors who have influenced me most have all been non-fiction writers, people like John Pilger and Robert Fisk, maybe Noam Chomsky.

I also like screenwriter, Paul Laverty, who often works with film director Ken Loach, another of my favourites.

When I do read fiction books I tend to flick from one author to another, one style to the next. I actually like a range of styles, anything from John Lennon’s highly original, if quirky, ‘A Spaniard In The Works’, to George Orwell’s dark, dystopian – and thought-provoking – ‘1984’, to John Buchan’s ‘The 39 Steps’ and Clive Barker’s ‘Weaveworld’. I really like Clive Barker’s writing style. In fact I like his style more than the content of his books.

What are you working on now?
I’m actually a screenwriter as well as an author and I’m currently working on two movie projects—the first a screenplay based on my current book, The Cut-Out, which I actually wrote before the book to be honest, so you could say the book is based on the screenplay. But any which way, the film is now in development. So fingers crossed!

The other screenplay is one that I’ve just finished, called ‘To Be Someone’. It’s set in 1979 ‘punk rock’ Britain and follows the fortunes of a young mod/punk band as they struggle to hit the big time. So very different to The Cut-Out!

To Be Someone has just been optioned and hopefully we’ll start work on the film at some point in 2014.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I guess if I knew the answer to this one I’d be selling more books!

Actually I just try to utilize as much social media as I can, as well as submitting my book to websites like Awesome Gang, Pixel of Ink and so on. It’s really very difficult, especially with a limited budget. When you’ve had the luxury of having a big publisher promote your book, of course, the thought of having to promote your own book can be really quite daunting. But you just have to get on with it and do the best you can. And anyway, being signed to a major publisher is not always as rosy as it may seem—the big promo budget often comes with its conditions, some of which can be really quite compromising. And there’s also the danger that the publisher might decide to hold your book back in favour of another on their list. Certainly I’ve been stung in the past by publishers, in more ways than one, so right now self-publishing is definitely right for me, despite the difficulties involved in having to self-promote. You just have to work much harder to get your book noticed!

Another useful thing to do is to try and persuade some or other radio and/or TV talk host to have you on their show. I find that getting a good, professional-looking press pack together can really help this process.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
As above, I guess. And also, at the risk of sounding trite and patronizing, just try to keep going! Self-determination coupled with self-belief must, in my opinion, be the greenest fuel for success. That and hard work. It’s so easy to give up when you receive that first bad review, even more so if you receive more than one, which just about every author does, even the famous ones. Maybe try to take on board some of what the reviews say, but only with a view to improving your skill as a writer, not to beat yourself up!

And remember, the most successful writers aren’t always the best ones. They just have the best editors!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“The more I practice, the luckier I get.” Golfer Gary Player.

Not really advice, per se, I suppose. But you get the drift!

What are you reading now?
‘Ghost In The Machine’ by Ed James. I’ve just discovered this author and I’m really enjoying his wit. A really enjoyable read.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I would say I need to work hard to promote my new book and develop my two screenplays before embarking on anything else, although I do want to start my next novel very soon. Perhaps in the new year.

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 really don’t know to be honest, but they would certainly need to be very long and highly interesting because the chances are I could be stranded for a very long time!

Author Websites and Profiles
Jon King Website
Jon King Amazon Profile

Jon King’s Social Media Links

Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Jon King is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello,

Born and raised in New York City, I like traveling, reading, hanging out with friends over drinks, or just lazying in bed. I wrote and published my first novel, The Reporter and The Girl which is based on my award winning blog. Its the only book I have out…so far.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The full name is The Reporter and The Girl MINUS The Super Man! Its inspired by a short story I wrote last year, and a friend encouraged me to expand and lengthen it in to a blog series. Now the blog is a novel, or “blovel”.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Uh…I like to write my chapters on paper. I think nowadays, most people have computers and stuff, but the first first draft is usually on paper.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
So many books I’ve read…but my favorite series are Girl, With the Dragon Tatoo trilogy, Hunger Games Trilogy, French Silk by Sandra Brown. I would say their style of writing or voice has influenced me in ways.

What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m working on promoting my debut novel. I also started on another writing project that’s a coming of age story.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Well, I’m new at this, so I’m still trying to find best practices. I know book reviews help, so I’m currently looking for writers/bloggers who would be interested in doing a review.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Outreach and network. Learn what you can and don’t be afraid to make mistake, because that’s how you’ll learn.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Patience is not the ability to wait but how you act while you’re waiting.”

In other words, these things take time….keep working on them until it happens!

What are you reading now?
Right now I’m actually waiting for a book in the mail. I ordered Rogue Rider by Larissa Ione. I got hooked on her paranormal romance series. God! I can’t wait for the end of the world, lol!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Well, I’m working on different writing projects so I can improve my writing especially for various industries. Right now I’m a health news contributor for Atlanta Black Star. I still write on my blog, TheReporterandTheGirl.com

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?
Oh no!! I can’t choose…Honestly, I would want books that I haven’t read. Because I never read the same book twice. Or maybe I could bring a kindle and download all the books I would want to read?

Ok but here are some books that I haven’t read, but would:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Gulp

The Book Thief

Author Websites and Profiles
S.C. Rhyne Website
S.C. Rhyne Amazon Profile
S.C. Rhyne Author Profile on Smashwords

S.C. Rhyne’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

S.C. Rhyne is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have always loved writing, but it came second to earning a living. As I am a musician I have spent many years working in music education. I have written and composed music as well as books, but these days I tend to focus more on the book side rather than the music education side.

I have three poetry collections out now and one in the pipeline. I love poetry because it is clean and there is the challenge of choosing the right words and avoiding redundancy. This really appeals to me in all my writing. I am not a fan of wordy writing full of redundancy – I think that is why I like hemingway particularly – every word and idea counts. My favourite poets seem to write in a musical way and I particularly love Dylan Thomas. I also write about musical analysis as this is of major interest to me.

Now I have more time on my hands, I am writing more seriously.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called The Cougar. I adore British Columbia and its scenery and I have always been fascinated by vampires and the supernatural. In the Western Hemlock Forest you get the feeling that anything could happen and this book arose out of a dream I had one night. In my mind’s eye I was walking to the Lower Falls in Golden Ears (a place I know well) and Berenice turned up and struck up a conversation with me. She turned out to be a shape shifter and vampire. Berenice (originally a Renaissance lady) spoke to me in that dream and insisted “Tell my story”. I ran with it, and The Cougar was the result. It is more of an old style Gothic romance than a horror story, although it has some horror elements. There is also quite an LGBT angle, so it is different in some ways from the average paranormal romance.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
With poetry I tend to scribble on bits of paper – bus tickets, shopping receipts, envelopes. Writing a poem is all in the moment and I don’t always have a notebook. Otherwise I tend to curl up with the cats on the sofa and type into my laptop. I drink endless cups of Earl Grey tea when writing and coffee when editing!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
So many! Wilfred Owen, Keats, Shakespeare, Dylan Thomas, Robert Frost, Josephine Austen, Shelley (both Percy and Mary), D.H.Lawrence, H.P.Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, Steinbeck, Kafka, Hardy, Hemingway, Anne Rice, David Michie, Eckhart Tolle, Richard Bach…. I read and enjoy a lot of modern fiction books, but the older writers were read in my formative years so I count them as stronger influences.

What are you working on now?
I just finished writing my novel, The Cougar, and editing a picture book on Kindle for a friend – The Cat the Bat and the Burglar by Colin Edward Mason. My next project may well be a “prequel” for The Cougar, dealing with Raffaelo’s tale – and Berenice of course. I also have a book about Persian cats in floating about in my head. We will see who emerges first!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am not very good at promotion. I come from a generation unschooled in computers, so much of what I have learned is self-taught and concerned with production and creativity rather than promotion and selling. That makes life a little difficult. I don’t much enjoy Facebook, although I have a page and friends there. Twitter works well for me because I can time tweets or interact if I choose. I use Tweetdeck. I am phone phobic, so life in the smart-phone lane is not for me. I am currently running a couple of Goodreads Giveaways and contemplating printing bookmarks to “bookbomb” libraries and bookstores. I do have a couple of websites and blogs but I genuinely suck at SEO! I don’t know, I hope if I help others they might be nice to me in my dotage.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write, write…. don’t let anyone discourage you. (Particularly not other writers because writers can be real trolls!) Up to a certain point, if you are young and energetic, try the traditional route because agents can offer good, sound advice about improving your work. If you are a lot older and you know you can write well it might be less frustrating to go down the self publishing route, but be prepared to slog hard at promotion. Whatever your age, don’t ever pay to publish your work! Pay to promote if you can afford it, but don’t pay to publish.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Focus on what you really want to do. Don’t procrastinate. You might not make money writing, but being true to yourself is what counts most in the long run.

What are you reading now?
I am currently re-reading The Lost World by Conan Doyle. It is strangely old fashioned which I love! The last two I read (and reviewed) were The Art of Purring by David Michie and Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg. Quite a contrast I know, but both were amazing books. I also have about half a dozen ebooks by indie authors downloaded to my Kindle and I have to choose one yet!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully The Cougar will take off, then it will have kittens (cubs?) If all that happens to plan, perhaps I might even sell a poetry book ?

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 Dalai Lama’s Cat, Conversations with God, Jonathan Livingston Seagull and the Complete Works of Edgar Allen Poe

Author Websites and Profiles
Lisa Marie Gabriel Website
Lisa Marie Gabriel Amazon Profile

Lisa Marie Gabriel’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Lisa Marie Gabriel is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a comedy writer from England and so far have written one novel. But I’m writing another one so there will be more, argh!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my debut novel is ‘The Day My School Fell Down’. The book is about a decrepit, disastrous school in England that is full of hopeless teachers, and even worse children.

I’m not sure what inspired the novel specifically, I have so many ideas and I think you can make comedy out of any situation. My main ambition was to create an entirely new world from my imagination, but a world that people can relate to – and ideally laugh at!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t drink coffee and I never stay up late to write. This is unusual because I think many people believe that writers are twitching, bleary-eyed Dracula lookalikes, staring into the abyss of their computer screen and throwing cigarette butts out the window at 2am. I am a stereotypical writer in other ways though, I sometimes go for a jog and am on the run from the bank manager. I was last seen in Timbuktu.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
None. When asked this question I often pretend I am influenced by Dickens. Although he’s one of my favourite writers, I’m not actually influenced by him. I very rarely read other writers’ books because I’m constantly writing myself. I try to create my own, original voice. That doesn’t mean I don’t greatly admire other writers though, because I do.

What are you working on now?
I’m writing a sequel to ‘The Day My School Fell Down’ and also a lot of very silly poetry that I’ll publish in some form. I very much hope new readers, and current ones, will enjoy it all!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
All the websites I’ve used so far for book promotion have been fantastic! The worst website has been my own, as my choice of coloured fonts has been spontaneous and ill-judged. I give my own website nil points.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Stay true to yourself and don’t listen to unprofessional critics with bushy eyebrows!

Unless the majority of the population truly despise your writing, chances are you are on the right track by getting published. Believe in your stupendous ideas, after all, you are the author. Be prepared for a few ‘oh, you should have written a book about fairies instead’ or ‘I didn’t understand your book what does it all mean’ types, as long as they are few, just politely listen, ignore, and cross them off your Christmas list. It’s a small, but very brilliant, revenge.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I owe my success to having listened respectfully to the very best advice, and then going away and doing the exact opposite.

- G. K. Chesterton

What are you reading now?
My own writing, as I tend to go over every sentence at least a hundred times, and even then, often it isn’t good enough! Unfortunately, this magnificent process doesn’t leave much time to read other books. I do hope to re-read The Hobbit one day, as I first encountered it as a very young child, so it will bring back beautiful memories.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Lots of promotion, which may include standing in the street and waving my book around. I may also resort to skipping down pathways whilst reading character descriptions and as a last resort, put my book in the sea, and hope it washes up on an island where mysterious tribes read it, and it enhances their whole outlook on life. And all this has to be done by next week. I need to come up with some similarly brainy ideas for the week after…!

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 Oxford Dictionary, a notepad (to do my own writing), and a puzzle book. Never dismiss a good puzzle, particularly a word game! I’m getting excited just thinking about it – when am I going to be stranded? I can’t wait!

Author Websites and Profiles
Gemma Ramji Website
Gemma Ramji Amazon Profile
Gemma Ramji Author Profile on Smashwords

Gemma Ramji’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Gemma Ramji is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up south of Chicago in a small industrial type town where I attended an all girl’s Catholic school run by ‘the sisters’. I served in the U.S.A.F. where I met my awesome husband and learned to shoot an M-16. I have a BS in Business Administration and I’m a CPA. I’ve written several screen plays, two of which placed well in contests, but haven’t made it to the big screen yet (maybe someday). I began writing about six years ago. At first it was just a hobby and a way to relieve stress. Now it’s a passion. I’ve written three novels. The Harvest is my first published novel and the first in a series.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Harvest is my latest novel and my first published. Although it has some sci-fi aspects, the story is about survival when humans are no longer the fittest on the planet. I saw a picture of three suns, well really the sun and two crescent shaped suns, one on each side. They call the two crescents Sundogs. So I thought what if one day those appeared in the sky and didn’t move. From there the story sprouted.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I’m a runner and whenever I’m stumped or not liking a part of my story I go for a run. I always figure it out while running. I don’t choose a title until I’m finished writing. I don’t know if that’s unusual it’s just what I do.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read a little bit of everything and almost anything. I like stories about real people in extraordinary circumstances, but enjoy some fantasy as well. Anne Rice and Stephen King are two of my favorite writers and of course I like the classic authors like Bronte, Lee and Dickens.

What are you working on now?
The sequel to The Harvest. I haven’t settled on the title yet.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Of course Awesome Gang, Twitter and Facebook.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Believe in yourself. Always work to perfect your craft. Learn from the great writers.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Steve Jobs said. “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”

What are you reading now?
With Devil’s Dwell By Anne Reeves

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on the screenplay for the The Harvest. I plan to publish the second book in the series in March 2014.

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?
Gone with the Wind, The Book Thief, Jane Eyre, The Dark Tower series and War and Peace. The last one because I have never been able to get past the first chapter and really want to read it.

Author Websites and Profiles
Anne Ferretti Amazon Profile

Anne Ferretti’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Anne Ferretti is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I don’t like talking about myself unless we’re sitting in a coffee shop, but I’ll give it a go.

I create and destroy worlds. I’m a freelance editor, an author, and have discovered I’m quite good at the romance thing—writing it, that is—along with vampires, werewolves, zombies, angels and demons. I’m the CEO and Founder of Just Ink Press, and review books in my spare time, of which I rarely have any. I’ve completed about six or seven books with several more in various stages of completion. I have four books published; three novels and an anthology. I’m currently working on three other books–one novel and two novellas–in the little spare time I have between my IT help desk job, the freelance copy edits, and the publishing company I run.

I was born on Friday the 13th, hence the name “Jinxie.” Currently, I live in Tempe, Arizona with Umi (my mother), whom I care for. I do enjoy riding my beach cruiser “The Betty” around downtown Tempe when it doesn’t have a flat tire, love a good pub crawl, and I’ve had the pleasure and the heartache of experiencing a love far greater than I could have ever imagined.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I have a short story in the anthology “Into the Darkness” titled, “The Token.” Inspiration came one day when I worked at a local college and one of the professors handed me a “Token of Appreciation,” which I thought was kind of neat, but then started thinking about the “what ifs” as the paranormal part of my brain kicked into overdrive. And I birthed “The Token.” It’s really not a good thing to keep.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
It changes from time to time. I have phases I go through. One book, I’ll need music. Another book, I’ll need complete silence around me in order to write. Sometimes I need chocolate. But I always need caffeine.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Shakespeare, Poe, Patricia Briggs, Stephen King, JR Ward. They’re all exceptional writers and three inspired me in my teens.

What are you working on now?
Currently, I’m working on the next book in the Kick-Ass Girls Club series titled, “Assassin.” Teagan’s being a real bitch about telling me her story, so it’s taking a while. My schedule has drastically changed as well, so I’m no longer writing in the middle of the night. In fact, I should be writing right now, but instead, I’m filling out this interview. Ah, procrastination. Thou art an evil bitch.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I try different things, and have been discovering quite a bit these past few months, so the answer to that is kind of up in the air, as in I’m not sure which is the best yet aside from word of mouth. In January 2014, my website justinkpress.com will offer direct buy, so I’m hoping that will help sales. Aside from that, I try to promote using Author Marketing Club, etc.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. And then write some more. Read a lot. Read everything you can before you write. Different genres, style guides, grammar books if you didn’t learn that in high school. Just read. And then write. And don’t allow anyone to snuff out your dreams. Don’t be afraid to put your writing out there. Fear is the one constant that kills dreams. Don’t allow it to stop you from doing what you love to do, what you’re passionate about, regardless of what that is.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“If you’re going through Hell, keep going.” ~Winston Churchill

No, seriously. My life has been a roller coaster to Hell and back several times, and you have to keep going when you’re knee-deep in the worst bit or you’ll never get out.

What are you reading now?
Gnash by Brian Parker. He asked me to review it for the Zombie Survival Crew website. In case it isn’t obvious, it’s a zombie book. Did I mention how restricted I am on time? Yeah. It’s taking me a while because of that.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Oh my God, so much! I see a lot of novels in my future, and they’re not all mine.

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?
Poe’s complete works, Shakespeare’s complete works, any one of the Mercy Thompson novels, and a graphic novel Witch Doctor. *grins*

Author Websites and Profiles
N.L. “Jinxie” Gervasio Website
N.L. “Jinxie” Gervasio Amazon Profile
N.L. “Jinxie” Gervasio Author Profile on Smashwords

N.L. “Jinxie” Gervasio’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

N.L. “Jinxie” Gervasio is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, I’m Rick Chiantaretto. I’ve often been accused of having done more in my life than the average person my age but if I were completely honest, I’d have to tell you my secret: I’m really 392.

So after all this time, I’m a pretty crappy writer.

I have two books published and a bunch half written (when you have eternity, where’s the reason to rush?). I’ve been favorably reviewed by horror greats like Nancy Kilpatrick, and my how-to-write-horror articles have been quoted in scholarly (aka community college freshmen’s) papers.

I enjoy the occasional Bloody Mary, although a Bloody Kathy or Susan will suffice.

Mostly, I just try to keep a low profile so people don’t figure out who I REALLY am.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest project is the Crossing Death series, and I just published Death of the Body (Crossing Death #1) on Friday, the 13th of December 2013

The entire series was actually inspired by a dream. Granted I had to take some liberal license and plug a whole lot of holes. From the human invasion of Orenda, to the dog Max, to the escape from Madam Lucacious’ test on the hillside, to the surprise at the very end of the book (and even to the very last page of the series that has yet to be written), I dreamt it all. The dream was so vivid that when I woke up, I was devastated that I had misplaced my father’s ring, and spent half an hour looking for it.

You know those dreams within a dream that are so vivid it takes you a while to convince yourself you’ve woken up?

I kept telling myself it was only a dream, but I had died and awoken so many times I couldn’t be sure. When I saw my friend for the first time that morning, I was so completely convinced I was dead that I sheepishly asked her if she could see me. She laughed and assured me I was alive, but it still took 3 hours to feel semi-normal again.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I suppose I don’t write every day, and that’s unusual for a writer. I have to be in the right frame of mind, and usually that ends up being pretty late at night. Since I write dark fantasy and horror, I tend to huddle myself in a blanket with my favorite cookie (or other snack), turn out all the lights, dim my monitor, and let the ghosts speak to me while I write.

Most of the time, I end up catching my own reflection in a mirror or window, illuminated by the glow of the monitor. The scariest thing in the room, of course, is me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
LJ Smith’s “The Forbidden Game” was a huge trilogy for me when I was a kid. That book made me fall in love with reading. Nancy Kilpatrick has always been an inspiration–she was one of the first “real” authors to support me and my work.

What are you working on now?
Death of the Spirit, book two in the Crossing Death series, of course!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesomegang.com!

I think it’s all about social media. You have to get to know the book bloggers, and make them fans. Book bloggers have their own little underground society, and I love it.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I hear people, all the time, say “Oh, I’m writing a book.” Usually, when I hear that, I get a little sad. Don’t get me wrong–I think EVERYONE has a book inside of them, and CAN write a book.

But what makes a writer is someone who finishes.

There comes a point when you have to decide you’re an author. That’s it. That’s the moment. That’s when you commit and you finish. If you’re “writing a book” you’re not an author yet. You’re an author when you dedicate to being an author.

And that dedication is what most writers lack.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t wait. Publish now. I can’t believe how many authors I know who sit on their work, waiting for one of the big publishers to pick them up, querying agents every day and plastering their walls with rejection letters. That’s because they don’t really have much else to put in the query letter other than “I finished this manuscript, and my mom likes it.”

Publish. Become the author you’re supposed to be. Then you can write in your query letter that you have 15,000 Facebook followers and are selling 10,000 books a month. That makes your chances much better, and you get to make money while you “wait.”

What are you reading now?
I’m reading Rebecca Ethington’s series (both Through Glass and Imdalid), and anything by Sheena Boekweg is great. Nancy Kilpatrick has a new short story coming out in an anthology, and I’m excited for that, and I’m about to one click Stephen King’s Dr. Sleep :).

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m going to finish up the Crossing Death series, and then start working on a couple of other books I have in my head. I’m very excited for a “fairytale mystery” I have planned, and my quintessential haunted house novel.

My husband and I hope to move to Costa Rica soon… so if I can find a way to write horror novels on the beach, that would be ideal.

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?
Can I take 3 or 4 Kindles instead? They’re smaller, and hold lots more books ;).

Author Websites and Profiles
Rick Chiantaretto Website
Rick Chiantaretto Amazon Profile
Rick Chiantaretto Author Profile on Smashwords

Rick Chiantaretto’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Rick Chiantaretto is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a Fantasy junkie and have been so since I was around seven or eight years of age. I played every fantasy and science fiction based game i could get my hands on before I began reading Fantasy novels. Once that began, it could not be stopped.
I loved tension in a book, great battle scenes and a believable magic system that held relevance to the story. So often, much of the setting, magic and hierarchy of the land is taken for granted, leaving the reader let down at the climax of the book. I never liked that. I love reading a story that promises a big ending and delivers. So now, that’s what I write.
I’ve written and published three fantasy novels (No Gods of Conscience, Pilgrimage of the Dead and The Vision of Men) with two more due out in 2014 (Shadows of Cass Vale and Dread of Spirit). All of my books are interrelated, occurring in the same setting, some characters moving through the various books interacting. My work thus far has been hailed by fans as “the best battle in fantasy.” I aim to forward that cause and stress character depth. I think those two things, plus magic and undead, make for great tension and story.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest published work is The Vision of Men and it is inspired by mankind’s response to the feeling that they are being pressured by fate, or in this case, the gods. It is the idea that if you caught fate moving you, you could make a strategy to use that against destiny and redirect your ultimate purpose. This is a sequel to No Gods of Conscience and Pilgrimage of the Dead.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, I typically have to have music in the background and a silent television playing, but only if it is playing a movie I’ve seen already. I’ll tune in for the parts i enjoy and then ignore it the rest of the time. I also write almost exclusively between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
C.S.Friedman, Steve Perry, Elizabeth Moon, L.E. Modesitt

What are you working on now?
Two things: Being a good father to my daughter and letting people know I’m here. I’ve written 19 manuscripts but the real trick is finding new readers. Marketing is an area I where I lack skill and understanding, so i labor along with those trying to guide me in order to let people know about my work.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Face to face always conveys the enthusiasm and passion and which website? Why, this one of course!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, and keep writing. One book means you can do it. Ten means your dedicated. Never stop. It’s like growing a Redwood. It goes slow and it takes time, but eventually you’ve created something that will outlast you.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Stop talking about your story and write it down.

What are you reading now?
I have a few books, depending on where I am. I’m reading historical work on Pearl Harbor, Shadows of Cass Vale (my own work) and The Deed of Paksenarrion

What’s next for you as a writer?
A Forest Beseiged, a novel about the Nemian people, a race created of human spirit magic, that tends to the great crystalline Gulphorns — these are trees — that recycle human souls. The forest is attacked by power hungry enemies and the Nemians must defend it to save Reman ( the continent on which they live) and balance all of Oerhe (the planet).

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 Deed of Paksenarrion, Pilgrimage of the Dead, Dark Sun Rising and Red Storm Rising

Author Websites and Profiles
Jason Bilicic Website
Jason Bilicic Amazon Profile

Jason Bilicic’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Jason Bilicic is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Michael J Synnott and I’m a sci-fi/fantasy writer from Ireland. I’ve been writing technical articles for IT industry magazines on and off for twenty years, but I published my first novel, The Magus Conspiracy, Book I of the Tír Saga, in 2013.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
In May 2013 I published my first novel, The Magus Conspiracy (CreateSpace; ISBN:1470080842.) It centres around three teenagers who get embroiled in a 12,000 year old conspiracy when their parents disappear in mysterious circumstances. It was inspired by the places I hung out in and comics I used to read as a child in Wicklow, Ireland in the 1970s.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Here’s a strange one: I do most of my writing on public transport. I still work in IT and I have about fifteen hours a week where I have to sit on my arse on a coach. I used to listen to music or doze in that time but I found out accidentally that if I find a quiet seat and crack open my laptop, I can be amazingly prolific during those fifteen hours.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m hugely influenced by fantasy or sci-fi books that involve alternate universes or realities. I’m also blown away by epic sci-fi with really clever extrapolations of what will be possible with physics and mathematics in the future; stuff like EON by Greg Bear, the Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons and almost anything by Iain M. Banks. I also love hard-boiled thrillers with edge of the seat action, detective novels and stuff with ancient puzzles which get uncovered and must be solved. There are elements of all those things in my first book.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working hard on the sequel to The Magus Conspiracy, ‘The Lebor Stara’ which is slated for publication in March 2014. I’m also preparing for the final book in the trilogy, as yet unnamed, which will be published in December 2014.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am pretty clueless about how best to market my books, I’ll be honest. I have been using Facebook fairly extensively but probably not in the most effective way. I recently engaged an Irish marketing company called STOMP to help me out with this. They have got me using FB more effectively and have finally gotten me on to Twitter, although they tweet far more in my name than I do. They’re also helping me to sort out my frankly hideous website – the state of which is a disgrace, given that I’m a software developer with thirty years experience under my belt!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t be afraid; jump right in. Even if you think your spelling and grammar isn’t up to scratch, get your first draft down then show it to someone you trust to help you with sharpening it up.

Also, I recently wrote the following short blog post about coping with writer’s block:

1. Re-read one of the books that inspired you to write in the first place. My go-to sci-fi novels are Eon by Greg Bear and The Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson. The Talisman by King and Straub is another favourite. After a chapter or two I’m generally raring to go again!

2. Do something tangential to the writing of the book like drawing a family tree, drawing a map, designing a building or a town. Imagine how you would describe it on paper as you’re doing it. This puts your head into the right space to be creative about your theme, but takes away the pressure of having to write word-after word. If you’re good at art and graphics you might even be able to use the resultant illustration in your book! The cube on the cover of my book The Magus Conspiracy was the result of one of those ‘avoiding writing’ sessions. http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/The-Magus-Conspiracy/book-KeNuw-VqmUuRI1wr5EGObg/page1.html

3. Drink a small amount of something alcoholic before you sit down to write. When I go out to socialise I’m a beer and whisky drinker (c’mon, I’m Irish!) – and I like an occasional glass of red with dinner – but what works for me to loosen the gears when I’m blocked is a chilled glass of white wine. Only white wine; all the rest just make me drowsy and distracted. And I’d almost never drink white wine otherwise. Strange, huh?

4. When all else fails, grind the words out one by one. Even if it’s horrid, turgid gunk that no-one in their right mind would read, even if it’s written in kindergarten English (or whatever your chosen language is), you’re writing and being productive. You can always go back and fix it later.

5. Above all, never worry about it if you’re blocked. Worry is pointless and it only exacerbates the problem.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Kill every adverb and almost every adjective from your writing. Treat every such embellishment with the utmost distrust and only leave it in if its pulling its weight.

What are you reading now?
The Istanbul Puzzle by Laurence O’Bryan

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Slant by Greg Bear

The January Flower by Orla Broderick

Pelican Bay by Jesse Giles Christiansen

What’s next for you as a writer?
Getting an agent, getting a decent publishing deal and getting the hell out of IT so I can write full time.

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’d bring two books. One; a large plastic inflatable book about three metres long, and two; a tutorial book entitled ‘How to make oars out of sand.’

(I wish I could lay claim to that as my own, but that’s from the stand-up of an Irish comedian called Ardal O’Hanlon who played Fr. Dougal on the Channel Four show Fr. Ted.)

In all seriousness, I would bring EON by Greg Bear, The Lord of the Rings, The Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons and The Stand by Stephen King.

Author Websites and Profiles
Michael J Synnott Website
Michael J Synnott Amazon Profile

Michael J Synnott’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Michael J Synnott is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
To say that I am a shy guy would be as accurate as any other description. I am a very private person, but at the same time, I try to be as open as I can about who I am as a person, without giving away every little dirty secret or tidbit about my quiet, yet blessed life. To be honest, I don’t like talking about myself unless someone asks me a specific question, and even then, I may politely refuse to answer if it is far too personal. Heck, talking about my work is even a chore for me… I don’t like to gloat or seem pushy (which is why I hate the marketing side of the business, but alas, it is a necessity, so I must grit my teeth and bear it).

What I can say is that I’m a good guy with two degrees in Creative Writing and Computer Graphic Design. I write as much as I can, when I can (and when I’m feeling it) and want to be able to do so as a profession… that’s not to say I care to be rich and/or famous, it simply means, if I can make a good living and pay the bills with my writing, that would be a dream come true (anything more would be icing on the cake!) Until then, I work diligently as a graphic designer.

I’ve written four novels, three of which are published (“Year of the Songbird”; “Jaxxa Rakala: The Search”; “In the Light of the Eclipse”) and one that I will be editing soon (after I finish my next book, the sequel to Jaxxa Rakala) for a release in late 2014. Aside from that, I have also written several screenplays (both short and feature length), some of which I have produced myself, still many others that continue to sit “on the shelf” (and still others that I need to go back in and re-edit).

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is a young adult novel called, “In the Light of the Eclipse.” It was inspired by a conversation I had with a group of kids at the annual Christmas Eve party that my aunt throws for our family. One year, I was discussing books and how much these kids read (all of whom are listed in the acknowledgments of the book, and include my niece and nephew), and I mentioned that I was a writer. They didn’t believe me and started razzing me about it, so I challenged them to come up with a story that I would then write for them. They didn’t miss a beat—by the time I left that night, I had characters and some possible plot points. I wrote it all down, added my own two cents to make the story coherent and viola—”In the Light of the Eclipse” was born (though it did take several years to actually start writing!).

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I guess my most unusual would be that I like to write with the television on. I can write without it, but it doesn’t feel the same. I like the noise and the distraction of the television. At times it gives me inspiration, at others it slows my mind down (and still others, as I’m trying to come up with the next piece of dialogue, or where to take the characters next, it serves as a nice break). Other than that, you can check out a guest blog I did at Book Loving Hippo, where I discuss my full writing process. Is any of it odd? Maybe, but that’s my way in a nutshell.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My biggest influences would be the works of Stephen King, Edgar Allen Poe and Dean Koontz (with a little bit of Michael Crichton thrown in for good measure). On the film side, Christopher Columbus and Christopher Nolan have influenced my writing. They all have a unique voices and a way of spinning a yarn that captivates my brain. Any of their writings have seeped into my work (including “The Stand,” “The Mask”, “A Tell-Tale Heart” and “Jurassic Park”… not to mention “The Goonies!”), but other works, such as “How To Eat Fried Worms,” “The Princess Bride” and “The BFG” have all infused a bit of their styles and voices into my soul and were instrumental in sparking in me the desire to write and create new worlds and characters. Oh, and Shel Silverstein as well—brilliant!

What are you working on now?
Right now I am on a bit of a break (though there really isn’t such a thing in the world of writing, is there?), but as the new year breaks, I will begin work on the second book in the “Jaxxa Rakala” saga, “Memoirs of Keladrayia: Jaxxa Rakala,” which I will be publishing sometime next summer. I will also be working to raise funding for a screenplay I am looking to produce next year through a Kickstarter Campaign that will begin in late January or sometime in February.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
That’s a tough one, since I haven’t had much luck promoting my books as of yet. I’m still feeling my way through this whole marketing thing (as I said before, I’m not good at it at all), but I am building a fan base on GoodReads and have been writing on and developing my blog, Chaos breeds Chaos (which is linked to my Facebook Author page). Right now, those are my two biggest promotion avenues (except for the publications official website, http://publications.divinetrinityfilms.com). I did have a blog tour for “In the Light of the Eclipse” and am always looking for new (and fresh) ways to find my audience. And then, of course, there is Awesome Gang, which I have my books listed on!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Stick to it, don’t give up and make sure you do everything you can to make sure the novel is at its absolute best (meaning, don’t rush) before publishing (or seeking a publisher). Also, don’t get so desperate to publish that you become susceptible to a possible scam. Always look over the fine print and do your research before accepting any contract or deal from anyone who claims they can sell your book. I found that out the hard way.

But whatever you do (and whatever happens), keep writing, no matter if it makes you a single dollar or a million of them, because if you are a writer, that’s what you do.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
When I was going to film school (long story), I was in an editing class and the teacher said (and I’m paraphrasing), “If you’ve ever been watching a bad movie and you catch yourself reediting and watching for the editing style, then you are an editor.” He went on to say that it worked for cinematographers and other professionals in the business. And that’s when it hit me that I was a writer, since when I watch a movie and television show that’s just outright horrible, I always catch myself “reading” the script as I watch and making mental notes about what I would have done different. Hearing those words all but solidified what road I needed to be walking.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading Stephen King’s “Under the Dome.” I wanted to try and read it before the show started on CBS last summer, but I got busy with some other things; and then I wanted to read it in alongside the adaptation, but again, life got in the way. I’m halfway through it now… but it’s been a long while. I’m also beta reading a friends new novel and giving my notes on that.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Other than writing “Memoirs of Keladrayia: Jaxxa Rakala” and editing my other novel, I am looking to begin a series of young adult adventures (with a planned twenty books), doing some more short stories, and writing some additional screenplays. I am also planning another story that I can’t divulge right now, since it involves something that I don’t think anyone’s attempted (though it’s always possible it has)… we’ll see if that goes anywhere, and even if it doesn’t, it’ll be fun to try.

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’d first demand to bring my dream girl with me, but if that turned out to be a waste of time, the books I would bring with me would be “Year of the Songbird,” “Jaxxa Rakala: The Search” and “In the Light of the Eclipse”… because if the world ended while I was on the island and someone came along to find me long after I was dead, at least then they would be some rare commodities.

If I was disallowed to bring my own work, then I would choose The Stand, The Princess Bride, Where the Sidewalk Ends and Peter Pan, as all of them embody, in some way, my personality, whether as an author or a person. I’ll leave it to you to figure out which parts of them are part of me!

Author Websites and Profiles
Bryan Caron Website
Bryan Caron Amazon Profile

Bryan Caron’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Bryan Caron is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a twenty year old student attending Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec. Usually, I am a shy person, but publishing a book and moving to the city has helped me to get out there a little more. I love being around people who share my passion of reading, writing, and video games. So far, I have written two incomplete manuscripts and published one book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first and latest book, Abiding Heart, is set in the mid twenty-first century after the third World War. The Hunger Games and Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door were important inspirations for this story. I enjoyed the dystopian theme in The Hunger Games and used a similar theme for Abiding Heart. The psychological issues that my main character Selena often deals with are also inspired by the panic attacks that I used to frequently get in high school.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think any of my habits are unusual. To write something good, I usually have to put myself in a bubble by wearing headphones with music that fit the mood of the passage I am writing. Even little distractions will result in a writer’s block.

I try to write every day (unless I am too busy with school or other things) for a minimum of a thousand words. This is usually how I gage a successful writing day; over 1,500 words is a good writing day, whereas less than a thousand is a poor day.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Terry Goodkind’s writing style as well as the dark themes in his books is often on my mind when I try to weave a good story. I also enjoy the inspiration that heavily psychological horror stories, such as books from Patrick Senecal, bring to my creativity. Contemporary teen books such as The Hunger Games and the Divergent series are a great influence on the way to build a strong feminine protagonist.

What are you working on now?
I am working on the first book of a trilogy called Shark Academy. So far, the title of this first book will be “Demons Below Us”. In this story, readers will discover the dark magical universe in which gifted kids learn to control their bodily energy in order to fight demons and defend the Earth. When fourteen year old Elyssa Stone and her best friend Theo learn that they hold these magical abilities, she is thrilled to be able to break the mold and make a difference in the world. But her strong powers and enthusiasm may get the best of her.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far Goodreads has reached the biggest number of people, but I have not been doing this for a long time. I have a WordPress blog and try to gain a bigger audience by engaging with my other interests and go beyond reading and writing. My blog is at charleneboutin.wordpress.com.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write every day. I am a newly published author, so I do not have a lot of experience on that side of things, but I have been writing fiction ever since I learned to write. The more you write, the better it will get. I wrote my first manuscript at the age of eleven, and that book was far from publishable, but by writing for several years I have evolved from that state.

Also, write what you know. I usually like to stick with universes that I have made up myself (or a modified version of our own world) because I have a lot of imagination, and also because I have never travelled that much. I know of the world, but I feel like I don’t know enough to write about it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Review, edit, revise. That is the thing I have the most trouble with, and so it is the advice I have to keep repeating to myself all the time. Any author will tell you that a book isn’t written; it is re-written. Several times.

What are you reading now?
I have just finished The Third Kingdom by Terry Goodkind, and I am about to read Insurgent, the third book in the Divergent series by Veronica Roth.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to write the Shark Academy trilogy while completing my Bachelor’s degree at Concordia. I hope to have Demons Below Us (Shark Academy Book 1) published by the end of 2014.

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?
That is a difficult question. I would have to say Faith of the Fallen by Terry Goodkind for sure, then Inkheart for nostalgia. I think I would also take Aliss by Patrick Senecal. But for the fourth one, I just can’t seem to make up my mind…

Author Websites and Profiles
Charlene Boutin Website

Charlene Boutin’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Charlene Boutin is a post from Awesome Gang