Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born 1943 in Grand Lake, Arkansas and grew up in a small rural town, Eudora Arkansas; graduated from high school in 1961 and joined the US Air Force. I was stationed in Germany for four years; I learned to speak German and met my wife Barbara. Married forty-eight years, we live in California and have two adult children.

I retired in 2003 after a thirty-five-year career in computers and telecommunications with NCR and AT&T. In my retirement, I accomplished my goal to write about my early life. The Child, The Soldier and The Adult make up The Alien in the Delta Series. The series are three books of memoirs about growing up poor in a hostile environment in the 1950′s, and later in life to experience unimaginable success.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Alien in the Delta Series, (The Child, The Soldier and The Adult) I was inspired to write after some light nudging by my daughter, Christina, who regularly listened to my stories as she grew up. She kept telling me that I ought to be writing this down, that I ought to write a book, so I started going out to the beach with a personal tape recorder and dictating a story at a time. About 14 tapes later, I was ready to commit to writing, and it all came together. The project morphed into its present form. My original vision for it was an autobiography, but along the way, more commentary became associated with it. I wanted to leave a legacy, not just a collection of facts, so I was okay with the memoirs

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to recorded all of my stories and ideas to tape or disk before I start to write. I am not sure that’s so unusual any more.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Authors: Dr. Maya Angelou and Sydney LeBlanc,

Books: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill‎

What are you working on now?
I have an idea for a fiction suspense novel that I have started to outlining.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am using all types of social media but I don’t know the best method yet.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes, learn how to use social media.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Invest in real estate.

What are you reading now?
Dis- Ease by the Dose (Toxic Relationships)
Bettye Deloach Presley

Mr. S: My Life with Frank Sinatra
Jacobs, George

What’s next for you as a writer?
Turning The Alien in the Delta Series audio books. I am also thinking about writing more about my life but it depends on how well the The Alien in the Delta Series of books are received my the readers. My inspiration will come from their success.

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,
Pryor Conviction and other life sentences
The Alien in the Delta Series

Author Websites and Profiles
Thankful Strother Website
Thankful Strother Amazon Profile

Thankful Strother’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Thankful Strother is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing stories since I was a kid, and have spent almost every night reading to my kids. I’ve lived in Montreal, Toronto, Silicon Valley and these days we call Calgary, Alberta home (and aren’t planning to leave this wonderful place). How could you not love the “Wolverine – X-Men” homeland?

My world changed in many ways when I started 15 months of constant horrible abdominal scar pain a couple of years ago, and had to be the driver in figuring out what was wrong and how to get the pain level down so that I could function. Nearly six months after slowly returning to the work force, I was hit with sudden, severe asthma. I came out of that changed even more, and thankfully my marriage and relationship with my children were stronger than they had ever been.

At the end of 2013 I completed the third round of editing of my memoir (mentioned ago below I think) and was ready to start going after building my fiction author career in a serious way. When I started writing Along Came a Wolf, my first book, I was reintroduced into how much I loved writing fiction and there’s no turning back now.

I’m also an experienced public speaker and mentor.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My last book was the first book in The Yellow Hoods series, Along Came a Wolf. After completing my memoirs which covered among other things chronic pain and being hit with sudden, severe adult onset asthma, I was ready to start a new writing project but having trouble getting started. My daughter nudged me to write “The Hoods” as I called it, and so I started. Before I knew it, what I thought would be a short story turned into a novel and a series with a distinct plan.

The story arc had been building for a couple of years, inspired from telling my daughter stories on the spot at bedtime and from singing The Muffin Man to my son for years. When I’d sing to him, I’d create new verses and then that became a story line. The core part of that storyline is planned for the series that will succeed The Yellow Hoods (which will be 5 installments), tentatively called Rise of the Muffin Men (which takes place 10 years later).

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t usually write upside down or in a batman costume… much.

Probably the unusual thing that I do is that I tend to write the story almost in random order, flipping back and forth until everything starts to weave together. In the world of mostly inductive and deductive writers, I am very much the abductive writer.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Influences as a person and ways of looking at the world, probably Aldous Huxley, George Orwell and Sun Tzu (Art of War) from a books perspective, and too many to list from a comic book story arc perspective.

As a writer? I’ll have to think about that one.

What are you working on now?
I’m completing the 2nd book in The Yellow Hoods series, which is targeted for September 2014. It’s called Breadcrumb Trail and will really step up the intrigue and technology elements in the story.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still learning this and am all ears.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Learn to finish the first draft, and then learn how to consider a story finished. Letting go and moving on, and accepting that it is going to be out there and potentially criticized is extremely difficult but absolutely essential.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Get out of your own way
You can do twice as much with half the effort by believing in yourself more
Never use parentheses or brackets (ever), even if you think you really need you (because you don’t)

What are you reading now?
Honestly I read non-fiction mostly. Also, as a dyslexic, I listen to more books than I read.
Currently – Write, Publish, Repeat by Johnny Truant, Sean Platt
Also – Flash Boys – by Michael Lewis

Fiction wise, I love comic books and read select material. I usually read for information and tips. I often feel like sitting down to read fiction is an indulgence that I can rarely allow myself, for no particularly good reason.

What’s next for you as a writer?
After completing book 2 of The Yellow Hoods, I’ll do book 3 and then switch to another series before returning for book 4 (don’t worry, that means only about 3 months off).

As an author, the next step is really increasing my reach, building my relationship with readers, doing more public speaking as an author. I’m pushing myself out of my comfort zone more and more as I am focused on making this a new career for myself over the next five years, and there’s a heck of a lot of work to do to get there.

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?
1. How to survive on a Desert Island by I. Gotfree
2. How to signal boats at a distance with only what you’ll find on a desert island by C. Me-over Here
3. How to make a writing implement while on a desert island by Roe Dit
4. Blank note books to write in while I await rescue

Author Websites and Profiles
Adam Dreece Website
Adam Dreece Amazon Profile

Adam Dreece’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Adam Dreece is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up in California and Utah. Classic divorced parents, middle child. The makings for a writer, or so I hear. I am married and have two dogs. I have partially completed a few books but only published one so far. I hope to keep going, with the goal of being one book a year.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My last book is Shattered, my debut novel. It was inspired when I suddenly wondered “What if everything you know wasn’t as it seemed?” I also got inspiration from North Brother island, history and today’s technology race.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Does wearing a backwards trucker cap and turning your lamp on and off 6 times count as “unusual?” Just kidding. No unusual habits that I can think of.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Every book I’ve ever read has influenced me. I read a wide variety of authors and books, taking nuggets of wisdom and sharpening my writing skill with each one.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on what I think will be a fantasy trilogy. Fingers crossed. I haven’t chosen my genre specialty just yet so I’m exploring.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think reviewers are my best method. I’m still discovering great sites like Awesome Gang and Indies Unlimited for promoting my book. Facebook has been very beneficial too.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep at it! It is so worth it when you hold your book in your hands for the first time. When you get that first 5 star review. So worth it. And remember that every artist was first an amateur.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Haha! The same advice I gave to the new authors. That every artist was first an amateur. It is good to remind myself of that when I think I’m demanding too much of myself too soon.

What are you reading now?
The Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb

What’s next for you as a writer?
Writing the next book, followed by another and another and another…

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?
Peter Pan
Pride and Prejudice
Harry Potter (#1)

Author Websites and Profiles
Shelby K. Morrison Website
Shelby K. Morrison Amazon Profile

Shelby K. Morrison’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Shelby K. Morrison is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Jerry Don Nicholes Sr I am the Author of the trilogy of books called The Voices in My Head.I have completed the 2nd installment of the Voices in My Head trilogy, and now I have started writing the 3rd and final installment. I have also completed a self-help/motivational book, and both are ready to be edited and published.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Voices in My Head is the name of my recently published book. I Wrote this book because I have always been a fan of the good verses evil concept, so I thought it was time for me to add my twist to it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes I do have some unusual writing habits. First off I often times get into the character and let them tell me their story. All of my stories have a part of me in them simply because I become the characters while I write down their side of the story. I call it my character interviews. When I do that it gives my reading audience the emotional point of view from my perspective.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Wow there are so many brilliant Authors that are writing great stories. One of my absolute favorite Authors just happens to be Stephen King. At the same time switching genres Tom Clancy goes on my list as a top Author too. I cant leave out John Grisham who creates some amazing stories.

What are you working on now?
I’m actually working on two books simultaneously. One is the third installment of The Voices in My Head Trilogy called The Voices in My Head Bloodlines. The Voices in My Head II The Bewitching Hour is complete and currently being edited . And last but not least my newest project is called The Diary Of Wynter Rayne which I hope to have finished by the end of summer.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
To be honest I look for every available website that I can find to promote and market my books. I try to leave no stone unturned. And Awesomegang.com is another great outlet for Author such as myself to reach a wide audience of readers. But to add to that I also use Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn/Google+/Wordpress/Goodreads/Amazon and a host of others.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I would tell up and coming Authors to not procrastinate, start creating your brand and make time to write as much as possible. The world is always opening doors for writers to avail themselves. Go and put you mark in the literary community.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Knowledge is only potential power until you put it into action.

What are you reading now?
Actually I’m focused on writing at the moment.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I believe I will put focus on releasing my Motivational/Self-help book called We Forgot To Remember And it is another one of my books that is complete and awaiting editing.

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 Firm by John Grisham, Lord of the rings by JR Tolkien, and anything by Stephen King. These Authors have such great writings that I wouldn’t worry about being rescued…lol

Author Websites and Profiles
Author Jerry Don Nicholes Sr Website
Author Jerry Don Nicholes Sr Amazon Profile

Author Jerry Don Nicholes Sr’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Author Jerry Don Nicholes Sr is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Last year I published a Young Adult Science-Fiction Fantasy Series called Beyond Earth Series that was made up of three books, “Beyond Earth”, “Beyond Planets” and “Beyond Time”. I’ve also have 12 of my short stories published this past year in three separate anthologies called “Giant Tales Beyond The Mystic Doors”, “Giant Tales From The Misty Swamp” and “Giant Tales: Down in the World of Pirates”. This June 2014 I will be releasing my latest novel, “Butterflies Wake”.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Butterflies Wake is coming out this June 2014 and it is about an underground female mafia that rights the wrongs of an unjust society. What inspired me was the idea that women are always depicted as weak or as victims via media and throughout the culture and I wanted to change that by writing a book that basically shouts from the rooftops the idea that “WE ARE NOT AFRAID”. The idea is to create a conversation about the way in which not only men perceive women, but how we perceive ourselves.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Much like an athlete during the playoffs, I tend to wear my favorite pajama pants for several days in a row and when they get dirty I wash them and wear them again. Its almost habitual. Perhaps I am afraid I’ll lose my mojo if I don’t have them on!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Suzanne Collins has been a huge influence on me because she writes strong female characters so well. The Hunger Games really made me sit down and think about writing in a way where I can make a difference by creating a conversation through my work. I also love Ken Follett and Dan Brown, those are my top three.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the next book in the series, “Butterflies Rising”. It’s a real killer.

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

http://www.beyondearthseries.com

http://www.butterflieswake.wordpress.com

I also use Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Stumble upon, Digg, LinkedIn, Google Circles, Goodreads and Pinterest!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t stop writing. Ever. Be like the people who start out in the garage and suck at everything until they finally get it right. Write until its right.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
That you can only get better with time. Never give up.

What are you reading now?
30 Pieces of Silver by Caroln McCray

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m looking to continue writing and on the side, promote my work for film.

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?
A book on how to build a boat

A book on how to build a house out of anything

A book on how to build a bow and make arrows

Greatest works of William Shakespeare

Author Websites and Profiles
Arlene Lagos Website
Arlene Lagos Amazon Profile
Arlene Lagos Author Profile on Smashwords

Arlene Lagos’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Arlene Lagos is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am Taylor Ann Bunker, an indie author of Young Adult fiction. I’ve published one book called “Witch In The Woods”. It is the first in a new Young Adult Fantasy series. The sequel “Clearly’s Corruption” will be published through Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, and Smashwords on June 13, 2014!

I am a Colorado native and I love the outdoors, although I prefer sleeping in my bed rather than a tent. I am an artistic person, and illustrate the covers to my own books.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Clearly’s Corruption” is my latest book, and is the Sequel to “Witch In The Woods”. It was inspired by one line in my first book, when the witch is talking with Victor in a dream: “Someone like Clearly can so easily be… Corrupted.”
I knew the witch would not let this end so soon. She clings to life, and will do anything to get it back.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
For the moment, none that I can think of,or remember. I could have the most bizarre writing habit, and I wouldn’t even know.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
J.K. Rowling, Adam Gidwitz, and Jacob Grimm (Because he did most of the work out of the two brothers.). Dark fairy tales, magic worlds, and grim humor has been a big influence for me becoming an author. Stephan King also had an impact on me, making me work a little harder at writing suspense.

What are you working on now?
I have recently started writing the third book in the “Witch In The Woods” series, which is as of this moment, under the file name: The Third! in my documents. I am also working on a book that I am calling “Desolation” that was influenced by a strange and realistic dream I had last year.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Goodreads… GOODREADS. I also use Facebook and Twitter, and I am still trying to figure out how google plus works, because I am THAT girl. But now I can add Awesomegang! *Smiles and winks*

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up! You may think that you will be a best selling author over night, (and you could be, you never know) but most often it takes a long time. Writing your book was the easy part. Promoting your book is a full time job on its own, but don’t let that scare or discourage you. Keep writing and stay determined. One day, you will find that you’ve made it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Okay, here is where I get nerdy, so beware! “Never give up! Never surrender!” It is a quote from the movie “Galaxy Quest”, and I have been telling myself that nearly every day since I was a little girl. Another bit of advice that is equal to my first one is “Never let your fear decide your fate.”

What are you reading now?
Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Writing more books of course!

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?
A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz,
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling,
Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children, because I have to find out what happens,
and Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book, because I am going to need some help getting to sleep if I don’t have my bed.

Author Websites and Profiles
Taylor Ann Bunker Website
Taylor Ann Bunker Amazon Profile
Taylor Ann Bunker Author Profile on Smashwords

Taylor Ann Bunker’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Taylor Ann Bunker is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Claudia McCants’ first novel, Dream Tapestry, was published in 2001. Shortly after that, she became ill and stopped writing while she spent the next decade dealing with various health problems and devoting much of her time to her growing son. In 2013, her second romantic suspense novel, Broken Angel, was published in softback and as an eBook.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Broken Angel, was actually inspired by three things. First, I heard a local newscaster make a remark about a news story that grabbed my attention. I used that line of dialogue to begin my first chapter. My second bit of inspiration came from my love of art glass. Around the time I began writing Broken Angel, my son was considering a career in glass blowing and we did everything we could to provide him with information to give him guidance and perspective. We had just recently attended the “Chihuly Across Florida” exhibition at the Orlando Museum of Art. I decided a glass blowing factory would be the perfect backdrop for my story. Finally, I am always inspired by the state I live in…Florida. My last book had been set in Maryland, my home state, but I wanted to take my readers on a tour of north Florida, where I now live.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I still deal with chronic health problems, so much of my writing is accomplished at night when I cannot sleep. Before I write, I usually pray for guidance and help, and then my words just seem to flow. Most writers are writing even when they aren’t putting words to a page. That means we think about storylines, dialogue and characters when we’re in the shower, shopping for groceries, or trying to go to sleep. I keep a recorder or notebook with me most times. Otherwise, I’d be writing on napkins or grocery receipts.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
In my late 30′s, I finally decided to pursue my dream of writing a novel, and I had to decide what genre I wanted to use as my nitch. At the time, I was an avid reader of Sue Grafton’s letter mysteries, and I liked romantic stories by Layrle Spencer, so I decided Dream Tapestry would be a mystery with a romantic backstory. The title of the book was inspired by the lyrics of one of my all-time favorite songs, “We Can Never Know” by Charles Aznavour. When I decided to write my second novel, I wanted to use it as a vehicle to encourage others who are having problems. Both of my stories are about families who are in crisis, and in both novels I try to show the grown of the character from the beginning of the story to the ending. Four authors made it possible for me to embrace the idea of sharing my faith in a fictional story. They are Donna VanLiere, Beverly Lewis, Marta Perry and Jillian Hart.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a Christmas-themed novel and a non-fiction book about prayer.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m always looking for new ways and new websites to promote my books. Some of my favorites include Good Reads, Book Daily, and Christian eBooks Today.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Use an outline to help you plot your book and plan your characters. Write every day, even if it is just a few pages. Do not proofread until you finish the story; otherwise, if you’re like me, you’d never get finished. I finish a chapter, print it, and put it in a notebook; then I make any changes in ink but I don’t go to the computer to make the changes until I’ve written the whole story.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
These words from a sermon preached by my pastor, Gene Guerra: “Sometimes God allows us to get into situations where there doesn’t seem to be any good answers. The only answer is humility and faith.”

What are you reading now?
George Washington’s Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution by Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m honing my skills as a public speaker. I can write a speech fairly easily, but being in front of an audience still gives me the shivers. That’s why I love writing…I can do it in the privacy of my home, even when I’m in my pajamas.

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; You’ll Get Through This: Hope and Help for Your Turbulent Times by Max Lucado; Praying God’s Word Day by Day by Beth Moore; Chesapeake by James A. Michener.

Author Websites and Profiles
Claudia McCants Website
Claudia McCants Amazon Profile

Claudia McCants’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Claudia McCants is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Well, I was born and raised in Miami to Jamaican parents, so you could say I grew up in as culturally diverse a community as you can in the U.S.

To me, it seems like I’ve been around a lot. But then I always end up thinking about how relative that idea is. If I compare myself to the friends I grew up with–most of whom have lived in Miami their whole lives–then I have done a lot. But then I talk to other people who tell me about the year they spent in France or South Korea or England or all of the above and then some, and I suddenly feel like I haven’t done shit.

Regardless, I’ve lived in Tallahassee in Orlando for undergrad and grad school respectively, after which I lived in New York for a year and worked a couple of different jobs (including one as Managing Editor of a real estate magazine, which was pretty much a daily replay of The Devil Wears Prada). The city kind of started weighing me down after a while though, so I moved back to Miami, taught English for a couple of years at Miami Dade College, then quit to become a bartender and focus on my writing.

I’ve been writing professionally for about nine years now, mostly short stories at first but moving into novels when I entered grad school. Quarter Life Crisis is my first published novel. Hopefully it won’t be my last.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My new (and first) novel is called Quarter Life Crisis. The original title was going to be “How to Get Over College and Become a Functioning Member of Society”, but you can see how changing it to something shorter was an almost universal suggestion.

The inspiration to write it actually came while I was in graduate school. I’m a video game nerd, and back then I had a mild (read: not-so-mild) obsession with Guitar Hero. My girlfriend at the time shared this obsession, so we used to sit and battle it out on my PS3. One day I beat her and was being particularly obnoxious about it when she turned around and told me that I was acting like I knew how to play an actual guitar. For some reason that struck me then, and it got me thinking about the limited number of things that I knew how to do. I mean, I was an academic and a writer and had gone to college for like seven years and gotten my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, but I still didn’t really know how to DO anything, especially not something cool like play the guitar. Neither did most of the people I know. So I went out and bought a guitar and taught myself how to play it, which was the inspiration for one of the protagonist’s–Sean’s–story arc in Quarter Life Crisis.

The rest of Quarter Life Crisis was inspired by this growing certainty I was gaining back then that a college education was (and still is) a lot less impactful than it’s ever been before. It’s also putting people into debt by the truckload, a lot of times without the return that an investment like that would need to be considered “smart”.

The ironic part is Quarter Life Crisis was actually my thesis in grad school. So my novel about why college isn’t necessary is what ended up getting me my Master’s Degree. I’ve always had a thing for irony.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I always thought it was funny how habits develop. It’s like, you can sit down and tell yourself you’re going to do something this way or that way and keep at it, but the body is always striving to make itself comfortable. So, regardless of your efforts, you’ll always inevitably veer towards whatever feels right, even if what you’re doing is weird as shit.

For me, one of the quirks that developed over the years is I can’t write in one spot for more than like fifteen minutes. I’ll be at home, fully immersed in whatever story I’m working on, and then it’ll be like I get this itch in my legs and I just stand, grab my computer, and move to another chair, or to the couch, or to the toilet seat (when you gotta go…), or wherever. To me it’s perfectly normal, but I could see how somebody looking in might think I’m slightly insane.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The true answer to this question could probably be a book in itself. I’ve felt influenced by a LOT of different authors over the years, and probably will feel influenced by many more in the future. In the case of Quarter Life Crisis though, the answer for what influenced that particular story and style of writing is a little more simple. Jonathan Tropper probably tops the list, especially his first novel “Plan B”. Nick Hornby and “High Fidelity” is another one. Definitely Tom Perrotta’s “The Wishbones”, and I’ll probably have to throw “The Catcher in the Rye” into the mix too, only because I’ve always credited it and the voice Salinger created in Holden as being the initial moment that got me wanting to write back in high school.

What are you working on now?
Quarter Life Crisis was actually a deviation from what I normally write. I’ve always liked to write with a comedic voice, but plot-wise I’ve always been into suspense thrillers, ever since I was a kid. MFA programs tend to frown upon what they consider genre novels though, so Quarter Life Crisis was my response to that aversion, a character-oriented coming-of-age comedy that went over well with my thesis committee.

Now that I’m free to do what I want though, I’ve gone back to my roots, so to speak. I’m currently working on a suspense novel about two best friends (one an ex-Marine, the other a very unorthodox college professor) who make ends meet by conducting a few armed robberies a year on the side. They make the mistake of robbing from the biggest drug lord in Miami though, which sort of sets things into a tail spin.

The scope of the novel’s wide, and lately I’ve been kind of leaning towards calling it historical fiction, since it switches back and forth between the modern day story and a parallel narrative taking place in Miami during the late 70′s and 80′s, during the Cocaine Cowboy days. Still got a lot of work and research to do on it, but hopefully it comes together nicely.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Honestly, promotion for me has always been about just being personal. I contact everybody I know and implore them to contact people they know who might be interested in the book based on it’s theme. I’ve had pretty good success with word of mouth in that sense. I admit Facebook, Twitter, and all the other social media sites play a huge role in making that task easier too.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Focus on writing, and making each piece of writing the best it can possibly be. All the other stuff like getting published and finding an agent and gaining recognition and things like that are all secondary to the act of writing. Seems like a fairly simple concept when people say it–like, of course writers should focus on their writing–but I’ve seen it so many times in my classmates and students, this desire to be recognized overtaking them and burning them out to the point that they eventually just stop writing altogether. Which is tragic, in my opinion. Focus on the writing, and if/when it’s good enough, things will fall into place.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
My college writing professors were geniuses in my opinion, and taught me pretty much everything I know about the writing process. And for that, I’ll always be grateful. But probably the best single piece of advice I’ve ever gotten was in the form of an Edgar Rice Burroughs quote I read on a writing website one day. I was feeling kind of doubtful about my storytelling skills at the time, and then I read this:

“I have been successful probably because I have always realized that I knew nothing about writing and have merely tried to tell an interesting story entertainingly.”

And it sort of just struck a chord with me, made me realize that I’d allowed myself to fall into the habit of looking at my writing career as having a sort of deadline for recognition. Like, if I didn’t have a renowned novel by time I was 30, my career would be over. The quote reminded me of why I started writing in the first place though, of that initial need to just get my thoughts out of my head and to just tell the type of stories that I myself would like to read. It calmed me and helped me to move forward, and I’m pretty sure Quarter Life Crisis wouldn’t be coming out right now if I hadn’t seen that quote.

What are you reading now?
I recently finished Chuck Hogan’s “Prince of Thieves” (the novel that the film “The Town” with Ben Affleck is based off of) and fell in love with his writing style and the combination of plot and character development. So I’m pretty much going through Hogan’s bibliography right now, starting with his first novel “The Standoff”.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More novels. I’ve got five fully formed rough drafts sitting on my computer waiting to be edited, not to mention a dozen or so short stories in various stages of development. So I’ve got my work cut out for me for the next few years.

Other than that, I’m trying my hand at screenwriting, hoping to either adapt Quarter Life Crisis into a screenplay or help somebody else develop it who’s way more knowledgeable about that stuff than I am. There’s enough on my plate right now though that I can keep myself busy for the foreseeable future.

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?
Only three or four? Wow…that’s rough.

Um…”Caught Stealing” by Charlie Huston. Probably “The Stand” by Stephen King. “Everything Matters” by Ron Currie Jr. And I’d go with “Beat the Reaper” by Josh Bazell.

Though I’m pretty sure the books I had with me would be the least of my worries in this situation.

Author Websites and Profiles
Patrick Anderson Jr. Website
Patrick Anderson Jr. Amazon Profile
Patrick Anderson Jr. Author Profile on Smashwords

Patrick Anderson Jr.’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Patrick Anderson Jr. is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in North Carolina with my wonderful husband. I love Star Trek, Star Wars, Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis. Huge football and hockey fan. Disney fanatic and Garfield memorabilia collector.

I have written four books. Book one in a sci-fi series was released in April. The second in the series will be released in either August or September. I have a romance being released in three weeks and am currently looking for a publisher on the other. I am currently writing the third in my series and almost finished with book one in a new sci-fi series.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Latest book is Mirror Image which was inspired by a recurring dream. I was the main character, Maddie. I experienced everything she went through. I would get excited by it and it really stuck with me. My husband encouraged me to write so I could get it out of my head and I did.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write by hand a lot then transcribe. Sometimes you can’t beat the feeling of the pen in your hand and the words flowing out of you onto paper.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I grew up with Star Wars book and Agatha Christie novels.

What are you working on now?
Book three in my Mirrors series and the first book in a new sci-fi romance series, the Amethyst Chronicles. Book one is Winter’s Kiss

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I post a lot on Twitter and Facebook. My blog is updated every Friday and my website is updated often.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Know the publishing house before you submit. Do research and speak to other authors about their experiences. Always write. I write every day to help me improve.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do what you love and what you are passionate about. Always stand by your work. Your first instincts are usually right.

What are you reading now?
Beginnings of an Empire: Consequences by Catrina Taylor

What’s next for you as a writer?
A historic erotic romance, Change the Stars, will be available on June 4th. The second in my Mirror series, Mirror Shattered, will be available August or September.

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?
Hunger Games, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Mirror Image, and Star Wars: Specter of the Past

Author Websites and Profiles
KG Stutts Website
KG Stutts Amazon Profile
KG Stutts Author Profile on Smashwords

KG Stutts’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

KG Stutts is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Like many authors, I have a day job. I work in an office and suppose technically I’m a bean counter. In my free hours, I spend a lot of time hunched over a keyboard writing stories and books. Ever since puberty started changing me from a boy to a man, I’ve been fascinated by relationships. Especially romantic ones. From that first look clear all the way through the process of falling in love. This is probably what turned me into a romance author.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My newest release is Sweeter for the Pain. I was inspired by the idea of a hero who is scarred. Not only scarred, but afraid to care again.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Probably not. I’d like to come up with something really unique, but the truth is I just sit at my laptop whenever I can find the time and energy and just pound away.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve been influenced by numerous authors. I love a well-written book. But as far as romance goes, I’d have to say Nicholas Sparks. He writes about love and does it so well.

What are you working on now?
Right now I’m still deciding on my next solo project. I’m also co-writing a romance novel with Madison Hartt. It will be set in New Orleans. It’s going very well and I’m pleased with the work we’ve done so far.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m not sure yet, since this is fairly new to me. At this point, I’d have to say Twitter. I’ve met a lot of readers there as well as fellow authors.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’m still a new author myself, but I guess I would say this: don’t give up. Keep writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
With regard to writing: proofread your work carefully.
With regard to everything else: think about where you want to be 5 years from now and plan accordingly.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading a thriller. It’s Q by KD George.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to keep on going down the same path I’m on right now, at least for the time being. There are a lot of love stories to be told.

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?
Lord of the Rings trilogy. I guess that takes up 3 of them. Something by Stephen King, with a lot of words in it.

Author Websites and Profiles
Evan Asher Website
Evan Asher Amazon Profile
Evan Asher Author Profile on Smashwords

Evan Asher’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Evan Asher is a post from Awesome Gang