Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was a financial corporate type who followed the plan and took an early retirement, but within a year, the thought, “Is this it. Is this all there is?” was rolling around in my head. In search of an answer, I came out of retirement and went to live in a remote location in Canada’s far north with a small First Nations band of Chipewyans The experience was life changing and resulted in a paradigm shift in my spirituality, philosophy and aspirations for the future.

My first writing, an autobiography: Awakening in the Northwest territories, spans sixty years and covers childhood years in England, emigration to Canada by myself at 19, etc., but the core of the story takes place over a two year period in the N.W.T.

It is an engrossing, thought provoking read, full of humor, intrigue and adventure with richly detailed accounts of the dene culture and their traditions, life-views and challenges.

The story is particularly pertinent today because Neil Young (Canadian rock star) has recently raised awareness in the media about Aboriginal Treaty rights, the Alberta tar Sands and the Chipewyan people. There is much material in the book about the Dene culture and traditions, and even a sub-chapter – As Long As This Land Shall Last- that recaps what the Chipewyan people agreed to (through oral testimonies from people who were there) when they signed Treaty 8.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My autobiography, “Awakening in the Northwest Territories” began as a compilation of my N.W.T. journals into a story, explicitly written for my direct family. Close friends read and enjoyed the ms. and commented that other readers, who did not know me, would need to know who exactly was this guy who went to the N.W.T., and what did he do after his “awakenings.” The resulting memoir, Awakening in the Northwest Territories, spans sixty years ”

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am fortunate in that I have been retired for a number of years and have been able to travel (backpack ) to warm locations in the world to find idyllic settings in which to write. In 2010 I went to Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua and found self catering rooms by the ocean. I’d get up around six, go for a swim and a long walk up the beach, and after a light breakfast – egg and a smoothie – get into the writing until two or three in the afternoon. I found that I could get into the “zone” easily and the subsequent writing just flowed, effortlessly.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I enjoy a broad range of genres, but the most influential one was Eckhart Tolle’s New Earth. I guess that at the time I was ready to absorb and digest what he had to say about the human condition and that reinforced my own learnings from the north.

What are you working on now?
I am writing a second autobiography about my more recent life (last ten years) as an International Development volunteer with local NGOS in Asia (Bangladesh), Africa (Nigeria), South America (Guyana) and the Caribbean (Jamaica).

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I refer people, whom I come into contact with online, to my web site: http://awakeninginthenorth.com

I’ve also done a Goodreads book giveaway and am looking for legitimate reviewers to do honest reviews.

Because of the unusual nature of my autobiography -plot and settings in a land unfamiliar to most people – there is a great interest in my book readings, which I present as an audio/visual package to Seniors Centers, Seniors Residences, Tea shops, Libraries etc.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you passionately believe in what you have to say you will eventually find the right words, but it can be a long slow, process. You will know when you are finished because that’s when you are happy with it, and no revisions come to mind.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Show me-don’t tell me

What are you reading now?
Chris Hadfield’s “An Astronaut’s Guide to Life On Earth.”

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have found that I enjoy writing. I might write a non-fiction work once I am finished with auto-biographies.

Author Websites and Profiles

Alastair Henry Website
Alastair Henry Amazon Profile

Alastair Henry’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Alastair Henry is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Collin K. Francis is an internationally acclaimed Motivational Speaker, born in Grenada and now lives in Bronx, New York. He is a Radio Host, Personal Life Coach, Trainer, Politician, Former Classroom Teacher, a Re-Evaluation Co-Counselor, Nero Linguistic Programmer (NLP), Hypnotherapist, Bible Teacher, Union Activist, Sales Trainer (King Teleservices-Sprint Communications in New York City), and Managed/Owned, a Training and Employment Agency.

Collin holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Cameron University, Lawton, Oklahoma and has completed a Master’s Degree in International Business at St. George’s University. His work has been centered on helping young people prepare for the workplace, helping them find and keep jobs. He has shaped many lives and empowered young people to succeed.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Job seeker’s and worker’s guides:

Exceptional Customer Service
Professional sales
Job ready Guide
Front office management
Effective leadership

How to start your own business?
How to make money online

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write as I am moved by my inner being to impact the world.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
William Shakespeare
Charles Dickens

What are you working on now?
Empowering Women to Lead ” Creating the Relationship and Lifestyle you want
The Power to Break-free
The Secret to Infinite Wisdom

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

http://awesomegang.com/

Twitter
Facebook
Youtube

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be passionate , stick to what you love and write from your heart.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never give up, how would you want the world remember you, Les Brown.

What are you reading now?
Researching books

What’s next for you as a writer?
motivational speaking, workshops

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?
William Shakespeare
Charles Dickens

Author Websites and Profiles
Collins Francis Website
Collins Francis Amazon Profile

Collins Francis’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Collins Francis is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
The Purple Girl is my debut book. This is a story about a purple-skinned girl whose purple spreads to everything she touches. As a writer, and also a designer of tapestries with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, it’s only natural for me to weave visual stories. Between carpools and design work, I am plotting, scheming, writing, and revising. I live in North Carolina with my husband, our three children, and my unruly dog, Rascals.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Purple Girl was born from a writers block exercise. A fellow writer suggested I try an exercise that would force me to take off my editing hat. My job was to write for twenty-five minutes without stopping. And there were rules. I wasn’t allowed to erase a word, revise a sentence, or pause to collect my thoughts. The Purple Girl came to me . . . and I fell in love with her story.

Want me to dig deeper? The Purple Girl took root from a thousand pieces of life. As a child, I always had a book in hand; I loved fantastical escapes and stepping into new and different worlds. My art background definitely inspired me. Somehow, color or art always seems to wriggle its way into my writing. Children and adults that overcome obstacles inspire me daily. And always lingering in the back of my mind are amazing kids that feel lonely or different.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My favorite time to write is in the early morning while my family sleeps. It’s the only time my household is quiet! But that may or may not be so unusual.

What may be more unusual? Sometimes a word wakes me up in the middle of the night. A sentence I’ve been seeking suddenly pulls me out of a dream. Other times, dialogue or random ideas come to me when I’m in the middle of a luncheon or meeting—even driving the car. The best thoughts always come to me at the most inopportune times. My family finds little scraps of paper with words, odd notes, and descriptions written on them.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
As a young child, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and The Secret Garden kept me up late at night. They gave me a deep passion for reading. Other books? There are far too many for me to name, and I get overwhelmed when I try to narrow the list.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a fiction book for eight to twelve year olds. I can’t tell you more than that! The cat will get out of the bag soon . . . but not yet.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m a rookie at this, so I’m still learning the ropes of the author world. So far, I’m experimenting with Amazon, Facebook, and blog-tours. Goodreads is also on my list. And did I mention the Awesome Gang—where awesome readers meet awesome writers? I’m happy to be here.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep rowing! Enjoy the journey and the people you meet along the way. Readers, editors, bloggers, book designers, illustrators, fellow writers . . . they are an incredibly generous group of talented people.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Believe in yourself. If you don’t, who will?

What are you reading now?
I picked up Pocahontas by Gunn Allen. “A fascinating study of the life and times of one of the famous and at the same time least-known American women,” according to Robert J. Conley. Now, I just have to find the time to curl up in a cozy chair and open it up! A crackling fire and a cup of hot chocolate would complete the experience.

To further complicate things, I just received two books as birthday gifts: Princesses Behaving Badly and Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker. They both look fabulous. Now, I have a real dilemma on my hands.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m still learning so much. Who knows what is really next?

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?
My nose would be in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. I would definitely need an absurd and whimsical escape. I would pair it with some very thick novels; hopefully one entitled something like: How to Escape from a Desert Island.

Author Websites and Profiles
Audrey Kane Website
Audrey Kane Amazon Profile

Audrey Kane’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Audrey Kane is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello! My name is Sergio. I am a 28-year-old writer from Johannesburg, South Africa. I watch too much football, swear at Candy Crush, and enjoy the finer things in life, such as Ghost Pops and Cherry Coke. I have written 3 novels, 1 novella, 4 short stories, and half a dozen one pagers.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest project is titled “Don’t Steal from the Devil.” It’s a paranormal horror story that deals with the theme of demonic possession, but throws another horror into the mix: housebreaking.

I’ve been keen to tackle a paranormal horror story for a while now, and this one just popped into my head one day. I know – it is such a boring inspirational story…

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, I generally can’t write more than 300 words in one sitting. I will need to get up, drink a glass of Coke, and then come back to write the next 300. I’m certain that I cursed by the spirit of 300.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Roald Dahl is the sole reason I decided to become a writer. He just knew how to paint a picture in a child’s mind that would last a lifetime. I’m thinking of changing my name to Roald in tribute. Okay, I’m just kidding. Or maybe not…

What are you working on now?
Recently, I completed two short stories, and I’m now delving into a children’s story, which I hope to complete by April. I’m about 4 chapters into the story, with the rest outlined, so I reckon I should achieve my goal.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The word of mouth is still the strongest marketing technique, but I’m also comfortable approaching sites and magazines for press opportunities. Plus, there’s also media. I find that a combination of all these techniques work for me.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes, I do.

It’s a rat race out there, with everyone trying to promote their own work, but ignoring everyone else’s. Ultimately, it just turns into a glorious spam-fest with no absolutely soul.

My advice is: Take an interest in other writers’ books and aim to build a community. Be more personable and supportive of each other. We all have dreams, and it isn’t too difficult to just offer a kind work, or help out another author by purchasing his/her book. In other words, don’t be a self-entitled idiot.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be humble and never stop learning.

What are you reading now?
At the moment, I’m reading Richard Kadrey’s Sandman Slim. Great book!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Survival. Isn’t that the most important thing?

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?
“Matilda” by Roald Dahl

“Good Omens” by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” by Hunter S. Thompson

“Fight Club” by Chuck Palahniuk

Author Websites and Profiles
Sergio Pereira Website
Sergio Pereira Amazon Profile

Sergio Pereira’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Sergio Pereira is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in Atlanta, GA with my wife and two little girls. By day I’m a marketing executive for a software company, and by night I write novels.

I’m an avid runner, and just ran my fifth marathon this November in Philadelphia. Running provides me with the alone time I need to develop my stories.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Battle for the Afterlife Saga, Blue Courage

Why I Chose to Write a Fantasy Action Novel that Takes Place in the Afterlife

Regardless of your current belief, I think it is safe to assume that most of us have put some serious thought into what the Afterlife is like. There are so many questions without answers, relating to where we go when we die. What does the Afterlife look like? How many souls are there? How big is the Afterlife? Is there a society and culture? Are our pets in the Afterlife?

The great Afterlife mystery is truly baffling.

I of course, being the author of the Afterlife fantasy action book, Blue Courage, have thought about the Afterlife at great lengths, but prior to 2012 I would have considered myself someone who casually thought about it.

2012 A Year Overwhelmed with Afterlife Thoughts

2012 was a very intense year for me personally. Early in the year, out of the blue, I recieved a call from my Dad informing me that my aunt passed away. Within a week of attending my aunt’s funeral my grampa passed away. It was a crazy time, and my family was overwhelmed.

In a month’s period I had attended two funerals, for two family members, and as if that was not enough, within a couple of month’s my Dad had learned that 90% of one of his main arteries was blocked in his heart. I was in disbelief.

After a few excruciating weeks of uncertainty, a succesful surgery, and a healthy lifestyle, my Dad is doing great today. Needless to say, I was constantly thinking about the Afterlife during this time.

What is the Afterlife Really Like?

I was surrounded by death in 2012, and my mind naturally wondered where my loved ones were. Just saying ‘they were in heaven’ was too vauge for me. I wanted to know what they were doing and if they were happy.

Regardless, of what the Afterlife is actually like, I found it to be cathartic to imagine different Afterlife scenarios. After several months, I collected my thoughts and started to seriously consider writing an afterlife book. I aspired for this story to have the all the answers to the many Afterlife questions, and most importantly make it an interesting scenario for all souls.

An Afterlife Book I would Like to Read

As a huge fan of action adventure stories, fantasy and science fiction, I could not think of a story that has combined the elements I most appreciate in my favorite books and movies, in an Afterlife setting. I love the idea of characters with superhuman abilities, and really apreciate realistic worlds. The Afterlife is the perfect setting to have adventure, science fiction, superhuman abilities, and a believable premise that could all actually be possible.

Who is going to tell me my made up world is not true? Unless you are dead, you do not know “for sure” what the Afterlife is actually like.

A Fascinating Afterlife World

In summation I wrote a book about the Afterlife to create a world that would be amazing to “live” in, but mostly to have a fascinating place to be transported to when I write and read my Battle for the Afterlife Saga books.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m a runner and typically run 16 miles per week. During my alone time on the greenways I run on I think through my stories and characters. It has been tremendously helpful in fleshing out what I’m working on.

I also listen to soundtrack music when I’m writing. Some of my favorite soundtracks I listened to when writing Battle for the Afterlife Saga, Blue Courage were Oblivion and Tron 2.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My artistic influences include: J.K. Rowling, Suzanne Collins, George Romero, George Lucas, Billy Corgan, Max Brooks, and of course Tolkien, Koontz and King.

What are you working on now?
The follow-up to Blue Courage in the Battle for the Afterlife Saga book series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still figuring this out.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Listen to the Rocking Self Publishing Podcast. They have great interviews with well-known authors. I learned a lot from this show. It has a new episode every Thursday.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never give up!

What are you reading now?
The follow-up to a zombie novel called 900 Miles.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m a big history buff and aspire to write a period piece. I have a passion for Ancient Rome and Egypt.

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 first four Harry Potter books.

Author Websites and Profiles
CJ Davis Website
CJ Davis Amazon Profile
CJ Davis Author Profile on Smashwords

CJ Davis’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

CJ Davis is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing for years, but only started to publish recently. Five-Night Stand is my first published book, but I’m working on the next one at the moment.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My current book is called Five-Night Stand. I love good suspense and hot romance, so I wanted to combine the two and this time go for the bad boys/girls. I hope you’ll love my characters as much as I do.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not sure if this is unusual, but I love to write in silence and with darkness around me. This helps me see the scenes and the characters.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read a lot. I don’t have one special writer influencing me. Once I heard that you should write when you haven’t read the story you’d love to read. So I created my own characters and a story I wanted to read.

What are you working on now?
Currently I’m working on my second book that should be released soon. This one is more centered around crime, but emotions are not missing. I can’t imagine writing a story without feelings, hate or attraction. That makes my characters human and vulnerable.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m pretty new to promotion, trying to find my way. So far I used Goodread and Facebook, but I’d love to discover new ways to reach readers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t overdo your story. Use beta readers to find the weak spots and change them, but don’t sit on one story for yours. You need to write and write.

And one more thing: don’t try to save the cost for an editor and a good cover. It means a lot.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Heard this piece of advice once from a successful writer how to do a lot of books: “Ass on chair”. Found it funny and right on the spot.

What are you reading now?
Currently I’m reading something very much out of my genre: Game of Thrones. Great book!

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have so many ideas in my head that I don’t know if I ever have the time to write them all. So I’ll keep writing and hopefully getting better.

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?
Probably four very different kind of books. Romance, fantasy, thriller and history. I like variety.

Author Websites and Profiles
C.J. Evans Website

C.J. Evans’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

C.J. Evans is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Andrew Chapin, and I’m a middle school English teacher in New Rochelle, NY. I recently co-authored my first book FROM TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
FROM TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH – I was inspired by the subject of the piece John Tartaglio. Amputated up to his hipbones and told he would never walk again when he was 17 years old, John would not give up on life. Instead, he rose to do what others said he could not. Walking, running, competing, but most importantly living, he proved to them what he had always known – his disability did not define him; he defined his disability.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Outside of smoking too many cigarettes if I’m writing outside, no. I go through spells of non-stop writing and spells of inactivity to devote myself to other initiatives. However, I would like to implement a more set routine at some point.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Philip Roth – Portnoy’s Complaint; Bret Easton Ellis – Less Than Zero; S.E. Hinton – The Outsiders; Ray Bradbury – Fahrenheit 451; Robert Cormier – The Chocolate War.

What are you working on now?
KNOWING WHEN YOU’RE TOO YOUNG TO GROW UP – This is the coming-of-age story of a teenage protagonist who unknowingly sets out on a journey towards self-discovery when he travels abroad with his high school. Unbeknownst to him, this trip will indelibly change his life when he is confronted with situations that force him to question his worldview and reevaluate himself, his friends, and his overall conception of humanity.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Amazon; Facebook; Huffington Post; Twitter

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do not ever underestimate the value of hard work. Writing is an arduous, thankless journey, but so is any goal worth realizing. Keep going.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Patience is a virtue.

What are you reading now?
Killing Kennedy; too many student papers

What’s next for you as a writer?
Promoting FROM TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH and then returning to my fiction writing after a (too) long hiatus.

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?
As I Lay Dying – William Faulkner; Strange Interlude – Eugene O’Neill; American Psycho – Bret Easton Ellis; Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury

Author Websites and Profiles
Andrew Chapin Amazon Profile

Andrew Chapin’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Andrew Chapin is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing since I was a teen but officially, I’ve published two novels. How many have I written? I really have no idea since they are still in the “works in progress” stage. I have many tales to tell but there is still work to be done.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Second Chances: A New Star”

It came about after I had written a Fan Fic and started playing the “what if” game. What if the fan fic was really an original story and the author’s best friend got her a publishing deal (that became a huge success).

I love movies and I love the behind the scenes stuff even more. With “Second Chances: A New Star” I got to take my characters into the movie making world. A world where the main character gets to meet her Hollywood crush and finds herself falling for him

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wouldn’t call anything unusual. Most of my stories are written on legal pads with a fountain pen. I keep a Word file of plot points, outline and character outlines because those are easier to edit if something ends up getting changed.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Everything seems to influence me. I can not say one (or several) books or authors have influenced me because I try to read as much as possible and see a many movies as possible. A good story is a good story and I am glad that the e-publishing world has become a place where any author can upload a book to be read. You don’t need to have a multi-million dollar book deal to be a great author. (Although, if there is anyone who wants to offer me a multi-million dollar book deal, I will be happy to have my attorney look over the contract.)

What are you working on now?
I’m not sure. I have a few ideas brewing but I think I’m going to take a few days or weeks and do some knitting. It’s really hard to knit and write at the same time.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
There are so many ways to get the word out on book promotion. I like to take the approach of not putting all my eggs in one basket. Facebook, Twitter and my personal site (www.sarchix.com) has really helped, but just talking to people and having a tiny promo item has also helped. I am willing to tell anyone about what I’ve written on what ever platform I can figure out. (I still have no idea what this Tumblr thing is. My kids tried to explain it but it’s just not sticking.)

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write as much as you can, as often as you can and read everything you can.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write as much as you can, as often as you can and read everything you can.

What are you reading now?
“The Bad Luck Wedding Dress” by Emily March. I’m 45% done and should be onto something new in the next day or two. I can read during my commute to work so I really seems to tear through a good story.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Either “Fire and Ice 2″, “Second Chances 2″, or something new. All three are good contenders but I’m not sure what one is going to win. I need to take a bit of time to figure that out.

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 read so much that I really don’t have a favorite. If I could bring 300-400 books that might be an easier choice.

Author Websites and Profiles
Karen Maneely Website
Karen Maneely Amazon Profile

Karen Maneely’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Karen Maneely is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am in my early twenties with a degree in Graphic and Multimedia Design, I’m an avid gamer, and I’m new to the published writer scene with only having one published book that was released this past December.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book, the first in its Urban Science Fantasy series is Experimental Heart: Pieces. The idea for the series came from a project we had to do in my Science fiction and Fantasy themed English class which was to create our own Hero’s Journey. The project required us to create a hero, helper, and monster (typical for a hero’s journey) and then we had to flesh them out with back story and even a picture. This process ended up getting me attached to my three characters and want to flesh them out into a real world.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Sometimes I need my oldest cat to be sitting on my lap to think. Sounds weird, but it relaxes me and that helps me clear my head enough to think right.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
It’s hard to pick out just a few. I’ve loved science fiction and fantasy since I was young (I swoon over dragons and squeal over Star Wars) and like a typical women I’ve had a fondness for romance but if I had to pick someone (or some people), I’d say Garth Nix, Vivian Vande Velde, Lora Leigh, and Deborah Cooke have had the largest influences on me when it comes to my current published book and the planned ones.

What are you working on now?
Right now I’m working on the sequel to Experimental Heart: Pieces and a paranormal romance that has just begun taking shape.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far, Goodreads has been a major help with getting people interested. Once I joined that and started getting involved I’ve made connections and conversations that have lead to exposure. I’ve also popped in on some blogs that I think have been helpful. Other than that, I’ve been using word of mouth which has been the most powerful method.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Make sure your cover is good. Even though we say “don’t judge a book by it’s cover” we (readers) still do so take the time/money to hire a good artist. If you’re serious about being a writer, hire an editor or even two. I’m not kidding. I hired an editor and he found a lot of mistakes and we went back and forth and back and forth to the point I thought I was going to be okay. Well, had I brought in one last beta reader, I would have found out I wasn’t as fine as I thought and wouldn’t have had to do some mad scrambling to fix errors after releasing the book and selling a dozen copies.

Also, don’t give up. It’s not easy getting noticed. It’s actually really hard. So you’re going to get to the point where you don’t feel like you’re going anywhere. You’ll get t the point where you think you’re a failure. Don’t let yourself fall into that trap. Just keep trying and put out more than one book. The more good books you have, the more likely someone will notice.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Failure isn’t the end, it’s a new beginning. I was told this once, not in those exact words, but close, and it’s so true it hurts sometimes. We are going to fail. It’s just how it is. And you can either take that failure to learn from it or you can give up but if you give up, you’ll never know what you could have achieved had you just chosen to learn.

What are you reading now?
I just started reading Exodus Conflict and on my list to read is the Eragon series because I’m late to that party. I’m also struggling with picking back up Darkfire Kiss. It was a book I couldn’t wait to read from this series, and it’s been just one major letdown for me.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Well, I’m trying to plot out a bunch of new stories as I work on my current series and I’m just basically going to try to get noticed more. No clearer path than that really.

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 Kiss of Fury, Dragon’s Bait, Shade’s Children and Sabriel. I’m pretty sure I could live with just those four books.

Author Websites and Profiles
Shannon Pemrick Website
Shannon Pemrick Amazon Profile

Shannon Pemrick’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Shannon Pemrick is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I love anything crime fiction: books, movies, TV and video games. I was originally a big horror and science fiction reader before tripping over crime thrillers. I was inspired to write after a five-year obsession of crime fiction reading. Bourbon & Blood is my first crime fiction novel, but I have plans for several more.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest novel Bourbon & Blood is tribute to the 70s and 80s action movies I grew up on. I’ve loved crime fiction since I was a child and my Parents brought me to see Sean Connery as Ian Fleming’s James Bond in Goldfinger. I use to pretend that I was James Bond and run all over the house shooting the bad guys. When I was a little older I sat with my Dad and we watched action movies like: Steve McQueen’s Bullet, The Getaway, Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry film series and the French Connection with Gene Hackman. When The Godfather came out it had a huge impact on me and I tried to gather up my friends to make our own movies mimicking the gangsters. As an adult I always loved reading and listened to horror, fantasy and sci-fi for years. Then one day I discovered crime fiction novels by Ken Bruen, James Lee Burke, Dennis Lehane, Adrian McKinty and Stuart Neville. After five years of non-stop crime genre activities like: reading, audio books, movies and TV, I was overcome with a desire to write. I wanted to start painting since I’m a traditionally trained fine artist but my wife did want me messing up her house. Anyway, so I started painting with words and that led me to write Bourbon & Blood.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My favorite way to write is to put on some classic rock, make a fresh pot of coffee and sip bourbon. I find that with the right ratio of those three elements my character’s voices and action come to me and the book writes itself. Took much of any of these elements may end in a disastrous writing session. I could become, intoxicated, anxiety ridden or just plain pissed off. So I always tread lightly with my muse. It’s a delicate balance, but it does work for me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Authors that have influenced me the most are: Ken Bruen, James Lee Burke, Adrian McKinty, Dennis Lehane and Stuart Neville. Whenever I read their novels, I am amazed but their work. They are my professors of fiction. I can only hope to follow along in their shadows and learn from their success.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently writing the sequel to Bourbon & Blood. It’s been a blast to write and I think reader will enjoy another action packed adventure. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m extremely active on Twitter, Facebook, Kboards.com and awesomegang.com.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read as much as you write. Reading is the fuel and writing is the exercise to build up those muscles. I usually listen to one book and read another, switching between them depending on my mood. I set reachable goals of 500-1000 words a day. Some days it’s more and some days it’s less. It’s kind of like saving pennies. After a while you have a whole lot saved up.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
80 percent of success is showing up.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading Ian Fleming’s Casino Royal and listening to Adrian McKinty’s The Bloomsday Dead.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m feverishly trying to get bloggers to give Bourbon & Blood a chance. I’m the new kid on the block and I plan to keep writing. I can only get better over time and I certainly have my role models and know what I like to read.

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?
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts, Dead I Well May Be by Adrian McKinty, Ghosts of Belfast by Stuart Neville, Feast Day for Fools by James Lee Burke and American Skin by Ken Bruen. I’ll gladly fight it out and take a bloody nose for the fifth book.

Author Websites and Profiles
Garrard Hayes Website
Garrard Hayes Amazon Profile

Garrard Hayes’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Garrard Hayes is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Oh, good question! I don’t keep a running count, but according to my site, I currently have 16 fantasy/paranormals, 11 contemporaries, and 5 historicals, ranging from short story to novel length. My stories have been published with small and online presses including Book Strand, Lyrical Press, Decadent Publishing, The Wild Rose Press, Eternal Press, and Wild Child Publishing/Freya’s Bower and web zines such as A Long Story Short, Dark Sky Magazine, Cezanne’s Carrot, The Harrow, Flesh from Ashes, Quality Women’s Fiction, and The Writer’s online edition.

Though I now live with my family in beautiful central Pennsylvania, I grew up in the wilds of New Jersey and am a lifelong dreamer and story lover. I also write mainstream and speculative fiction as C.A. Masterson.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Decadent Publishing released my contemporary, A Wedding at the Blue Moon Cafe. It’s the second in my Blue Moon series. A blue moon signifies a rare event, and new opportunities. After reading an article about Marfa, a funky little town in the west Texas plains, I fell in love with it. One of the great things about being a writer is that I can immerse myself in research and virtually visit places I’d love to travel to. It’s home to cowboys and artists alike. A place where your soul can say ‘ahhh’ and your heart can soar to the stars—which, in Marfa, appear much closer and so much brighter that they hold Star Parties. Plus glider competitions, play festivals, arts festivals, and another festival to celebrate their Mystery Lights. A great background for a story about two lost souls who find a home there, and in each other.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wouldn’t call them unusual. Hot tea is a necessity to keep me going. I tend to start too many projects at once. At this writing, I have 23 stories in various stages, from sketchy idea to outlines to a few chapters done, plus an idea for a series of related stories that don’t even appear on the WIP spreadsheet. Maddening! lol Do I concentrate on only one at a time? These days, mostly yes, although if I hit a wall in one, I switch to another. Rather than diluting the focus on each, it actually sharpens it because I have to return to it fresh each time, especially if the stories were different genres.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
So many! I read any story that grabs me, regardless of genre. Growing up, favorites included Ray Bradbury and J.R.R. Tolkien. Then I found Margaret Atwood, Alice Hoffman, Michael Chabon, T.C. Boyle and fell in love with their writing.

What are you working on now?
I just put the finishing touches on the third Blue Moon novella, Twice in a Blue Moon. The characters don’t carry over from story to story, but the theme and tone are the same. With that one done, I’ve returned, at long last, to the third Goddess Connection novel. In each of these stories, the heroine discovers she’s descended from a goddess, and her quirks become strengths. I love the tag line for this series too – Every woman should embrace her inner goddess. And be treated like one!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
It’s so difficult to gauge what works and what doesn’t. I just love connecting with readers however possible – Facebook, my blog, chats, or live events such as signings. I love hearing from readers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Find tough, honest, caring critique partners. They are worth their weight in gold.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
At a book signing, I once asked literary author Ian McEwan for writing advice, and he answered in two words: Keep writing. And it’s true. The more you write, the better a writer you will be.

What are you reading now?
Richelle Mead’s The Gameboard of the Gods, a futuristic scifi thriller.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Wish I had a crystal ball to answer that! I’m going to keep doing what I love best – writing.

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?
Could I exchange it for an ereader connected to a satellite? And solar-powered?

Okay then, a collection of Ray Bradbury stories, a book of the best poetry ever written and Robert McKee’s Story to help me become a better writer.

Author Websites and Profiles
Cate Masters Website
Cate Masters Amazon Profile
Cate Masters Author Profile on Smashwords

Cate Masters’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Cate Masters is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! My name is Freda Mooncotch. I’m a fitness fanatic. I’ve been working out since I was in diapers. However I was absolutely uncoordinated, basically a bid klutz and no matter how hard I tried I just wasn’t very good at sports. Mom had high hopes and put my in ballet, tap and dance which I absolutely loved in-spite of my lack of grace. I tried out for cheerleading and again I made the squad but just couldn’t get my body to cooperate with me.

I tried out for all the numerous sports teams in grade school and by some stroke of luck I managed to make the teams, year after year, but at best I was the teams official bench warmer (every team has to have them). Then it all came together and the magic happened, I gave birth to my son at 19 and everything that I couldn’t get to work before came together like a well oiled machine and my coordination arrived.

As the saying goes… “The rest is history.” I became one of the top step instructors at Bally’s Chicago Health Club, and spin instructors at another club. All those tap, dance and ballet classes finally paid off. From there I studied Ortho-Bionomy, Jin Shin Do, Reflexology, massage therapy and nutrition and have been obsessed with fat loss, metabolism, and nutrition for the past 20 years. I love n=1 experiments where I can take theories and play them out into real life experience rather than spout off a bunch of research papers.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Defying Age With Food: It’s What You Eat, Not How Much You Exercise! Reclaim Your Health, Energy & Vitality. Came from deep within my soul after being sick and not understanding why. I was doing everything the doctors told me to and I was the picture of health and at the age of 39 my world just started falling to pieces. I felt as if I were stuck in a pin the tale on the donkey game where my team of doctors were blindly trying to guess what was wrong with me. Out of complete frustration I opted out and decided to seek alternative therapies and heal myself.

My book is about my journey and how I was able to overcome and heal adrenal burnout, hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue and chronic stress.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
That is a fantastic question. When I wrote Defying Age with Food, I did it in less than 2 months. It was like an obsession and once I got into the writing “trance” you couldn’t move me. And as any one who writes knows, you’ve got to be in the “flow” to really write a story that is worth reading. The worst thing a writers book can be is BORING! That is my nightmare. I didn’t want a boring story so I had to go deep within my soul and let the feelings, emotions speak to me and translate them into a story that many could relate to.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I don’t own a TV so I spend a great deal of my free time reading. So many authors have influenced me like Jimmy Moore and Dr. Eric Westman of Cholesterol Clarity, Dr. William Davis of Wheat Belly, Gary Taubes of Why We Get Fat, Pam Killeen of Addiction: The Hidden Epidemic, Dr. David Perlmutter of Grain Brain, Dr. Michael Eades of Protein Power, William Lagakos Ph.D., author of The Poor Misunderstood Calorie, and Mark Sisson’s work and too many more to mention.

Other books and authors that have had a profound influence on my life are Nutrition and Physical Degeneration by Dr. Weston A. Price, Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon, Good Meat by Deborah Krasner, and Folks This Ain’t Normal by Joel Salatin.

Dr. Peter Attia’s work fascinates me as well as Dr. Nannette Yount, Dr. Dominic D’ Agostino, Ellen Davis and others on The Ketogenic Diet and Cancer.

I’ve read every book by Malcolm Gladwell and am currently reading AntiFragile by Nassim Taleb and plan on reading all of his books too. I love book on history and war too.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on my Functional Diagnostic Nutrition certification as well as going back to school for exercise physiology an nutrition. I also just started my second book Shut Up & Keto ™ which is basically part 2 of my miracle. The Ketogenic Diet literally changed my life over night. What started out as a fun n=1 experiment turned out to be the best thing I’ve “accidentally” done, but then again I don’t believe in accidents.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The best method of promotion is writing a story that sells itself. A story that evokes an emotional response from the reader. Whether it is controversial, hate, erotic, sad, whatever the case maybe, you want to tap into those deep emotions. Someone who hates your work with a passion will, unwittingly, sell far more copies than someone who likes it, largely due to the passion they put behind knocking you and your work.

If you are self-published, the second method is having your own website for the book and creating a following and buzz through social media. There is no shame in self-promotion and cross-promotion with other authors.

Amazon.com is also a great place.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Oh wow! Being so new myself I feel like I shouldn’t be offering any advice. As a new author I can tell you what not to do in writing a book. I learned the hard way and made a ton of mistakes. Don’t give up if you are really passionate about your subject. Spend some time with other authors and pick their brain.

People make writing a book look easy. Trust me it’s not as easy as it looks!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The more you try to protect your reputation the more you lose it. People who are self-employed, like many authors, must not worry about protecting their reputation. In order to get noticed in a very loud world, you need to be interesting and fearless.

Comfort stifles creativity and innovation. When you get too comfortable you stop dreaming, you tend to get complacent. If you have goals and want to achieve those goals being uncomfortable helps you become incredibly innovative and think outside the box.

Be flexible, adaptable, Antifragile and ready to recreate yourself when the time calls for it. When you make a mistake or “fail” tear it apart, reflect, dissect it, and learn from it. Every thing we do in life is a lesson to teach us and guide us. Failure is not something to be afraid or ashamed of but a tool to learn from. In fact, allow yourself to experience “post traumatic growth” instead of post traumatic stress. Which means you thrive when life hands you your butt. It pushes you to the next level. One of my favorite movies that really drives this idea home is RUSH.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading Antifragile by Nassim Taleb, David & Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell and almost finished with The Diary Of A Young Girl by Anne Frank

What’s next for you as a writer?
I LOVE learning. The more I learn the less I know and I just could be a life long student. My brain seeks out knowledge like a moth to a flame. I’ve been this curious ever since coming out of the womb. I look out my eyeballs and just want to know what makes things tick, what makes things work, if I do this what will happen…

I’m self-employed and work with clients from skype and have the freedom to do this from anywhere in the world. With that in mind, I’ve set my heart on returning to school in Seattle, Washington Fall 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?
Anything by Malcolm Gladwell, history books focused on some of the greatest wars both wins and loses. Survival books. Yeah, I’m totally into that stuff. Definitely NOT any self-help books!

Author Websites and Profiles
Freda Mooncotch Website
Freda Mooncotch Amazon Profile

Freda Mooncotch’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Freda Mooncotch is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Books? I’ve mostly written short stuff, even the fantasy I’ve published have been short stories and novellas.

Got a bunch of drafts that need to be revised and polished, maybe four or five books of Far Isle Half-Elven stories, the trilogy which is the main part of my Far Isle Half-Elven. The first part of the trilogy Dark Solstice is finished but I’m not marketing it at this time.

Also have four non-Elven fantasies completed, one of which — There Be Demons — is scheduled for publication by The Grumpy Dragon in 2014.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest published novella is Taking Vengeance. The whole Far Isle Half-Elven appeared in my mind one morning when I was petting Wiggles, my cat. Both of us were half asleep — when this image of a woman standing on cliff with the winds blowing her unbound hair behind her. Wind? Mariah? What can I say? Anyway I wondered what she was doing there, and Mariah got a telepathic message from her daughter about being ambushed. The story and the Far Isle Half-Elven developed from that image.

500,000 words later, I decided to do something with the saga. Did excise one book out of the mess … of which Taking Vengeance was an extended prologue. An agent, who still wasn’t interested in the rest of it, suggested I turn the prologue into a novella. Taking Vengeance first sold to WolfSinger Press, but rights have now reverted to me and I self-published it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I try to resist playing Mahjong and write first thing in the morning. Sometimes I jump right into creating, but all too often I play with email … even though I know it’ll wait.

Walking around a lot is another distraction. If I sit too long, my hip ossifies.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Any thing and everything I read. Comics and the early Oz books hooked me on fantasy. I discovered used Ace Doubles in an used hardware store and authors like Leigh Brackett, Andre Norton, Fritz Leiber, C. L. Moore and A. L. Merritt among others. Still am reading fantasy and love it when I discover a new writer who gives the same- old, same-old at new twist.

What are you working on now?
Two things — when new ideas don’t intrude.

First, I’m writing about the origins of Far Isle Half-Elven with the arrival of Teemon in the Far Isles and his meeting with the two psychic sisters who had escaped persecution of magic workers in the Suderlands. It’ll probably be two novellas, but I might turn them into a novel.

Second, I’m waiting for edits for There Be Demons and taking plot notes for a possible sequel.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don’t have a clue about promoting my books or anything else. I tend to be impervious to advertising. I try to follow the directions … but … *shrug*

Do you have any advice for new authors?
In the vein of “do as I say” rather than “do what I do” — write until you get and ending on your story before you start revising.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The above

What are you reading now?
A YA historical “Cleopatra” about Cleopatra Selene, the daughter of Cleopatra VII and Mark Anthony.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ve got a middle grade novel set in 1950s Sacramento Valley about a girl who begins to see ghosts — Voices of Ghost Creek. I want to go back and revise it …

The Grumpy Dragon says they want a sequel to There Be Demons, but I’m still thinking about it.

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 cheat.

1. A comprehensive collection of the best poetry in the history of the world — translated into English.

2. A bound volume of all Tamora Pierce’s Rebecca Cooper books.

3. A bound volume of Tolkien’s Ring Trilogy.

4. A bound volume of Nora Loft’s Lonely Furrow trilogy or her House at Old Vine series.

You just reminded me I should dig out my Nora Loft books from my books shelves and re-read them.

Author Websites and Profiles
M. K. Theodoratus Website
M. K. Theodoratus Amazon Profile
M. K. Theodoratus Author Profile on Smashwords

M. K. Theodoratus’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

M. K. Theodoratus is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a retired college professor of English (24 years), and I also worked at Caltech in Pasadena as the Supervisor of Management Development at the Industrial Relations Center. I also worked as an editor, TV news writer, and freelance journalist. I now devote my time to my fiction and to an editing business, English Majors Publishers and Editors, LLC. I am married to Ellen, who is also a retired college professor, and we live in San Diego.

Forevermore: A Pat O’Malley Historical Mystery

Disappearance at Mount Sinai: A Pat O’Malley Historical Mystery

Jane the Grabber: A Pat O’Malley Historical Steampunk Mystery

The Digital Scribe: A Writer’s Guide to Electronic Media

Lucifer’s Wedding

Sins of Darkness

Russian Wolves

Iron Maiden an Alternate History

The Necromancers or Love Zombies of San Diego

Freak Story: 1967-1969

The President’s Parasite and Other Stories

The Mayan Magician and Other Stories

Catalina Ghost Stories

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Steam City Pirates

I read Writing Steampunk by Beth Daniels

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have a clear focus for the plot, but I write each chapter to “surprise myself.” If I am not interested, then I imagine my reader will follow suit. Therefore, I need to include surprises that happen to the characters and cause them to react/think/plan.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Camus’ The Stranger. All of Franz Kafka’s work (he should be read like history). Mark Twain’s work (humans are funny).

What are you working on now?
Another Pat O’Malley Steampunk Adventure: “Manifest Trickery”

The Steam City Pirates are sending young “pioneers” out West (so they believe). Instead, these people are being sent to other universes to repopulate the strange environments they find there.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I hired the Adwords Guy. He gets me to the top of the Amazon book searches.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you believe in yourself, then get somebody who is a “really good” writer (and not a relative or friend) to verify that belief. I did this with one Jacob M. Appel, a writer I met online who has recently won the prestigious Dundee (Scotland) International Literary Novel Award. Jacob also teaches writing in New York City, and he has won more story contests than any writer I have ever known. When he said my writing was “superb” and he compared me to guys like T. C. Boyle, Tom Wolfe, George Saunders and Steven Millhauser, I really started taking myself seriously! Unless you get accolades from other writers, then I would not consider fiction writing as a profession. There are too many scam artist publishers and vanity presses out there to “fly by the seat of your pants.” Besides, it gives us indie authors a bad name when too much crap is published to muddy the readers’ waters. Their time is too precious to be wasted on “wannabes.”

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
First, learn the craft from professionals and not from a writers’ critique group or a college MFA program. Second, get a really, really, really good editor. Third, keep up with what’s trending and go for it!

What are you reading now?
Eric Schlosser’s non-fiction book “Command and Control.”

What’s next for you as a writer?
Having written the trilogy, I am now plunging into the next four plots: All of the mysteries to come will have elements of steampunk, including: time travel, mazikeen supernatural abilities, steam-powered inventions, and the usual Edgar Allan Poe-type Gothic evil that lurks in all Pat O’Malley mysteries. Here are the plots for the next four mysteries in the series:

1. O’Malley and his “crew” must face-off with a steam-powered submarine that’s pirating commercial shipping off the coast of New York City.

2. Tammany Hall is backing a new venture called “Go West!” Winners of the lottery are supposed to be paid to become pioneers in the Wild West. Instead, O’Malley discovers these “winners” are being sent on much more dangerous pioneering missions into the future.

3. Mazikeen (half-angel, half-human) Seth Mergenthaler says his father has returned from the dead. O’Malley must find out whether Doctor Arthur Mergenthaler is real or if he is a clone created by the mysterious “steam city pirates” who live beneath New York City.

4. There’s a new steam-powered “sex machine” that is taking over Madame Becky Charming’s business. However, when this machine starts killing its customers, Pat O’Malley must step in to solve the case.

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?
Forevermore: A Pat O’Malley Historical Mystery

Disappearance at Mount Sinai: A Pat O’Malley Historical Mystery

Jane the Grabber: A Pat O’Malley Historical Steampunk Mystery

Author Websites and Profiles
Jim Musgrave Website
Jim Musgrave Amazon Profile

Jim Musgrave’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Jim Musgrave is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
“….Yes ! I Matter” is a vivid and a very realistic depiction of the life, times and dilemmas of a typical middle-class Indian Housewife. The Plot revolves around the love, the pain, the surrender and most of the time, call of duty, that forms the core of a housewife.

The Indian society is certainly in a transitionary mode. The economic well-being has brought its fair share of individual liberations, vulnerabilities, aspirations and a substantial change in outlook towards life.

The plot of this novel is neatly weaved around three generations of very strong, thinking and ever giving Indian women.

Lead by the protagonist Savitri, it revolves around the life of five women and their families.

These women who, have been wishfully happy in their own respective lives. Until at some point, when each of them in their own different way realize the latent vulnerabilities, miseries and the not so happy life they have been into.

The book witnesses the process rediscovery, going the various phases of realization, actualization and the subsequent changes.

Set in the backdrop of rural Rajasthan, where women are not supposed to have a mindset of their own. Marriages are arranged for social gratification. Personal likes and dislikes do not have a place. With the advent of social media the constrained and restricted environment takes a leap over physical proximity.

The book tells the tale of Savitri who used to be a flamboyant girl but marriage contains her to a simple housewife. The conflict in her heart is brought out in simple, heartfelt story.

She is surrounded by her family, mother and friends; each having their own stories. Their problems are beyond the basic needs of ‘roti, kapda, makaan*”

In totality, eternal love and happiness being the basis of every human being. Each person begins their quest of personal satisfaction, in their own way. Some succeed, some fail.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Yes! I matter” is the answer to the question dismayed Savitri, the protagonist asked. When she feels that she no more mattered to anyone. After the dedicated time-span of seventeen years, of life revolving around children and husband.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am not an avid reader, infact I must confess I hardly read. All I can say that I’m gifted with vivid imagination , I almost visualize the scene in my mind. Hoping that works for me;)

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Jane Austen, Toru Dutt, Sarojini Naidu, Rabindranath Tagore, Robert Browning..the list is endless

What are you working on now?
The sequel to “Yes! I matter”

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Social Media is all I’m banking on.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I know only the language of the heart.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“You are good, just hang in there.”

What are you reading now?
Toru Dutt and Aurobindo’s Savitri

What’s next for you as a writer?
The sequel to “Yes! I matter”. It is a youthful story..a must read.

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?
“Yes! I matter”

“Yes! I matter”

“Yes! I matter”:)

Author Websites and Profiles
Aakaanksha Singh Website
Aakaanksha Singh Amazon Profile

Aakaanksha Singh’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Aakaanksha Singh is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Q: How many books have you written?

I’ve written 8 (all in various stages of publication at this time) although I’ve only started publishing them for sale. I have another 4 that are partially written and a dozen or so that are in the concept stage.

Q: Why should someone buy your work?

Because it’s awesome. (laugh) I also donate a portion of the profit to charity.

Q: Why the name SeaMonkey Ink?

Why not? (grin) What’s not to love? I mean it’s Ink squirting out of a Seamonkey. I mean sure no one has ever witnessed such a phenomenon but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen. (laugh)

Q: Seriously?

No. When I was in school (high school and beyond) I used to play pranks under various code names – one of which was Seamonkey. I also have always enjoyed writing and back when I started to do so, I used to write everything by hand (which requires either lead or Ink) even long after I got my first word processor and computer. After I finally started typing directly, it still took ink to print.

Hence SeaMonkey Ink.

Q: Have you ever actually owned Seamonkeys?

Actually I have and I’m pretty well convinced that there is a wanted poster with my name and likeness up somewhere in the SIA (Seamonkey Intelligence Agency) headquarters for mass genocide. (laugh) I try but I fail.

Q: Are any of your characters based on people you know/knew in real life?

Not really. Most are composites. However, I will say that more than a little of my own personality/thoughts/expressions pop up in my stories and among my characters.

For instance, in Rebellion Book I: Book of Quay, Phong Quay makes a statement that one day he is changing his name and not telling anyone what he changed it to. I’ve said that to people since I was like 5 – particularly when I get agitated at being disturbed.

So if any real life person is used as a template for some of my dialogue and character behaviors it would be myself.

Q: You write some historical novels. How accurate are they?

Accurate enough. (laugh) I always say I do just enough research to be dangerous.

I enjoy history and find some of the portraits of these figures, times and places to be fascinating. I actually do put in quite a nice chunk of time trying to make the story as historically accurate as possible though I would like to think my work is more character driven then driven by the time, places and figures that inspired it.

Q: Why don’t you include your photo?

Because I’m incredibly homely. (laugh)

Q: You don’t look homely to me.

For my personal safety. (laugh) I’m always raising someone’s hackles for some reason or another whether it’s intentional or not. I’m also very private person and I would prefer to gain readers/admirers based on my work rather than my appearance. My appearance is just a bonus. (wink)

Q: Is there anything you would like to add in closing?

Yes! Buy my books. (laugh)

By contributing to my income through a purchase, you make it possible for me to spend more time writing new novels for you to enjoy. As a portion of the profits of my sales do go to charity, you are also placing yourself 2 degrees of separation from being a philanthropist!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Rebellion Book I: Book of Quay. I used to love Kung Fu theatre – especially Alexander Fu Sheng – when I was a kid. (laugh) I also am a history buff and found Qing Dynasty interesting.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I don’t ever get writer’s block though I can be a TERRIBLE procrastinator.

What are you working on now?

One of my horror stories: Cabello. It’s a supernatural horror piece. It’s great fun for me to switch it up every now and again.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still working on that. I’m very guitly of not marketing. (laugh) This is the first year I’ve actually started putting any time, effort or money into the marketing aspect of self-publishing. Trust me, my sales tell the tale. (laugh)

What is the best advice you have ever heard?

Do what works for you.

What are you reading now?
This screen. (laugh) Cabello. I’m in the editing stages…in theory. (laugh)

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m probably going to start work on M. This is another one of my horror books and then I’m going to start editing on Rebellion Book II. That’s if the people waiting on the Amarna Book II don’t kill me first. (laugh)

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 actually bring my own! I’m not being just being cheeky or arrogant in saying that either…ok, so maybe just a little. (wink)

Seriously, I’m one of those people who tinkers and tinkers and tinkers with their work over and over again. Not only would I have something to read if I brought my own work, I could occupy my mind with perfecting my work.

If for some reason I couldn’t bring my own books I would bring weird fact books. Strangely enough, I personally read more nonfiction than fiction. One of my favorite books of all time is An Underground Education by Richard Zacks.

Author Websites and Profiles
Grea Alexander Website
Grea Alexander Amazon Profile
Grea Alexander Author Profile on Smashwords

Grea Alexander’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Grea Alexander is a post from Awesome Gang