Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am not only an avid writer but an avid reader and reviewer. I have 16 books indie published. I started just under two tears ago. I love to write and love when the readers imagination joins with mine and the books are completed. I want to share my stories with others. I write a bit of everything from supernatural novels to children’s books.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I have two books just released one for children of all ages it is the second in a series of humorous tall tales,”Stretched Stories 2″. I also have my new paranormal, psychological thriller “Lies in Shadows” I wanted to write a ghost story but also combine it with a mystery. Most of my ideas come from that place between I find myself between being awake and asleep when my mind won’t stop.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write everything longhand and it seems that when my pen hits the paper it takes on a life of its own, the words flow and I follow along for the ride.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen King was my first love, I also enjoy Dean Koontz novels. Charles Dickens and Alfred Hitchcock along John Steinbeck are must haves. But I read just about anything and everything. I feel when I read I am able to use my imagination to enhance the books and know readers do the same for my works. I have read so many new authors and am amazed at all the talent out there.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a supernatural suspense thriller called “Phases” Yes, it is about a werewolf. I wanted to try something like that but didn’t want to do a zombie or vampire book, too many out there right now. I am having fun with this book trying to be inside the werewolf as he is changing during the moon’s phases.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Right now I mostly use twitter and groups on Facebook. I like to get in all the interviews I can just to get my name out there. I would like to have a publishing company. For now though I am happy to just be writing. I can’t tell you have much I love it, plus I am independent and bullheaded and like to do my books my way. That is one really good thing about being an indie writer.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you love writing that is what is important. If one person says I loved that book you have done your job. If you only write for money, don’t quit your day job. I have a book called Heartfelts, a collection of tear jerkers. I had a reader say she cried all the way through. That was so awesome. I also had a reader who’s pregnant daughter was in the hospital having problems. The baby monitor hooked to this woman was erratic. The mother had one of my children’s books on her e=reader. She began reading and the monitor leveled out and remained steady. That is about the coolest thing I ever heard. Things like that is what writing is all about.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t give up. I think that is the best advice for not just writing, but for life. You have to follow your dreams, believe in yourself and then just do what makes you happy.

What are you reading now?
I just finished “The Sister” by Max China and loved it, I don’t know what will be next. I have done over 400 reviews on Amazon and read over 2,000 on good reads. Whatever I see that looks good I will grab. I use kindle unlimited to pick up books and also have all those I have written on there. It is a great tool for me especially when doing reviews.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Just keep writing. When I am finished with “Phases” I will have 17 done. I would love to do at least one more before the year is out, although it would be awesome to do three and have twenty even in two years.

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?
Something by Edgar Cayce, A Stephen King and a Charles Dickens. I would love to have a notebook and pen with me though and write my own.

Author Websites and Profiles
P.S. Winn Website
P.S. Winn Amazon Profile

P.S. Winn’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

P.S. Winn is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I work mornings (very early mornings) in a biology lab studying bone and stay at home as mom the rest of the time with my two small children. I do the real job with science and escape with writing and reading. I love to read and have been reading as long as I can remember. I have been writing almost as long. To date I have published seven books- but I have written several more that are not published.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Right now I am switching between two series. My last published book was Chrysoprase, which is the second in The Chalcedony Chronicles. This is a series about a college freshman that finds out she can travel through time and has to try to set right the changes someone else has made. The first book has a very contemporary feel- but it is still fantasy more than anything. The last book I completed just came back from the editor is a completely different series. The Day Human King will be out some time this fall and it is also book 2 in its own series- The Day Human Trilogy.

As with all my writing- my inspiration comes from dreams. I have a list of over twenty books I want to write from dreams I’ve have over the years. It can be hard to choose which one to write next as I want to write them all and there doesn’t seem to be enough time to do that.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really- only unusual thing I can think of is the fact that I can write while taking care of my kiddos. Even when I am home with them, I can find time to get a couple hundred or thousand words typed. Guess one of my strongest traits is multitasking.

What authors, or books have influenced you?

What are you working on now?
Right now I am writing the third book in The Chalcedony Chronicles and plotting out two other books related to the blue eyes trilogy I have already published. I like to go between them as time allows. Sometimes I only get a few minutes and it is easier to spend time plotting, or I may get a few hours and can spend time writing. It all depends on the day and the moment.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I actually don’t do most of the promotional stuff for my books. I have been lucky that my hubby has been along for the publishing ride and takes over all the promotional stuff. He places ads for me such as facebook and twitter, he plans book tours, book blasts, cover reveals, etc. He goes out of his way to find unique ways to advertise and it is amazing. I couldn’t even tell you how much he does, ‘cause I can’t keep track of all of it!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read a lot- and know your genre. There are tons of books out there and as an avid reader I can tell you we like the familiar books, but it is even better to find something different. Also write what you love. Don’t go write something because you want it to be popular or to get money fast. Readers will see through that. Write what you love to read, and others will love to read it also.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep writing. Just because you finish a book doesn’t mean you stop and see how it goes. The best way to keep going in the indie industry is to keep books coming out. (And as a bonus- the more you write, the better you will get at it)

What are you reading now?
I am actually between books right now. I tend to read several in one week and then none the next week. This is an off week for me, so the only thing I am doing is rereading my own books to help me get into writing the next book.

What’s next for you as a writer?
My goal at this point is to keep writing as much as I can and getting my stories out there. I am in the process of building a fan base and am always interested in interacting with new fans. I hope that soon I can be writing full time (maybe an extra book or two a year) but we shall see what comes. It is an unpredictable industry and I have a science brain- that can be hard for me to accept. Either way, I plan to keep writing as long as it is still fun.

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 never survive with 3 or 4 books. I can read that in two days!! I’d have to say, I’d rather be stranded with my e-reader and have hundreds to read- but even that would not be enough if I had to stay there too long. I guess it would be better to be stranded with a notebook and a pen for me!

Author Websites and Profiles
B. Kristin McMichael Website
B. Kristin McMichael Amazon Profile

B. Kristin McMichael’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

B. Kristin McMichael is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written my 6th novel; I released it August 21st and it is currently within my promo deals along with my other books. I enjoy writing and creating novels based on romance, thrillers and suspense. My writing is engaged by the energy around me where ever I am at. To me everything is a story, but I don’t take what a person is saying to create my work – I used the energy that the person puts behind it to influence my work. Good or bad… it is all energy and how I use it works for me.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The title of my latest release is SHE’S NOT WORTHY. I began writing this book in 2011 when I was basically challenged to write a book by a man. It came about while I was working on writing another book (which all of my books are started while I am in process of another one). I write all of them in order and I try not to skip over one just to write the next one. Moving forward, the guy said that he was tired of reading or hearing about how the woman suffers or feels when a relationship goes south. We both agreed on that part and then he practically dared me to create a book on what a man kind-of goes through dealing with a unworthy woman. Since I did not have anything really to go on, I listened to him rant and rave about his past relationships and I came up with this.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I guess using the energy behind circumstances would be an unusual habit. Other than that, I write all the time in my mind. Constantly thinking of better words, new words, and even how to make my words fun.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I cannot really give any author credit for my influence; however my sister have always been my best influence because she is the bookworm. Just watching her all of my life with one book to another reading it. She always had her nose in a book. However, I began writing because of the area that I was in and I wanted to be creative since I could not change the circumstances around me. So I began typing and I never stopped.

What are you working on now?
Currently I am working on Book 2 of my new release. This is the first time I drifted away from a stand alone. So I am very excited to see myself working on a second part to my book. I am constantly questioning myself about how I am going to make it better or greater.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am still searching for a best method of promoting my books; although I use G+ | FB | Twitter | Goodreads

I have thought about possibly looking into a blogsite/blogger.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I look at other authors writing style from a genre other than the one that I am writing. Each author has a style of their own and how they think. A person with good insight will be able to read and pick up on things that would make their writing better. If that is not something that a new author is capable of then I suggest that you take a class on writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep writing! Just keep doing it – don’t stop.

What are you reading now?
Currently I am reading COME FORTH IN BLOOD by Ryan Henry and Matthew Heilman. This is way out of my league, but I am really enjoying it. I find myself trapped by the work of the authors, the words, and my own thoughts as I read it.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To see if I can collaborate with another author and write a book together. I really want to try this and see how it works 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?
Please tell me that the island has internet…. laughing. Well that is something to think about, but I would take a romance to remember love and connecting; a thriller for action and suspense; mystery for staying on my toes in case of danger and finally a photo album to remember my family & friends.

Author Websites and Profiles
Patrena Miller Website
Patrena Miller Amazon Profile

Patrena Miller’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Patrena Miller is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a freelance writer, author of Rhyming Activities for Beginning Readers (T.S. Denison & Co.), Living La Vida (Lymphoma), I am Special – The Power is in ME! and The House on Pancake Hill (Amazon.com). I’m also a website content editor, proofreader, and daily blogger of, Living La Vida (Lymphoma).

I live in St. Augustine, Florida, and I’m member of Florida Writer’s Association and the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The House on Pancake Hill is my paranormal memoir — snippets of ghost stories and events that happened in my childhood home. I hid my gifts of being a child psychic medium well into adulthood. I decided to “come out of the paranormal closet” in order to help other children and teens who may be facing similar situations.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am a morning person who wakes up every day between 3 – 5 a.m. (I know! I hear all the groans!) Every morning, I light some candles, nag champa incense and turn on some quiet new age-y or classical music. I brew myself a big mug of tea and start by blogging, tweeting, and checking my emails.

Then I go straight to writing and researching for my newest book project. I try to keep the phone turned off until I am finished for the day. It helps to keep me centered and on task.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Some of my favorite authors include Stephen King, Ransom Riggs, Mary Higgins Clark, James Patterson…to name a few.

My absolute favorite author right now is Lisa Scottoline. Her books have so many twists and turns and there is always a BIG moral dilemma involved. Since most of the reading I do is at night in bed, I love her style — short chapters! This way, if I’m tired, I don’t have to look ahead to see how many more pages there are, AND, since her writing is so damn good, I find myself reading more than I usually would with another book / author. She’s good! My writing style is similar — I like to do short chapters as well.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a story that needs to be told. It’s about a teenager who is the victim of a hit and run accident. I had two other projects that I was working on simultaneously but once this idea popped into my head, everything is flowing effortlessly. That’s when I know I’m ‘in-the-zone!”

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use social media – Twitter, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Also, Awesomegang and Goodreads.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes! If you have a dream of being a writer, then W-R-I-T-E! Write. Write. Write! Don’t complain that you “don’t have time” — get up a half hour earlier or whenever you can squeeze a few minutes in. There is nothing worse than being a creative person who is trapped in a no-where 9-5 job he / she hates! You deserve to follow your bliss and, if you truly want to be a writer, then give yourself permission to have some “ME TIME!”

And, NEVER let anyone tell you that you can’t make a living at writing or that you will always be broke, etc. That is THEIR own insecurities and jealousies talking!

NO ONE IS THE BOSS OF YOU!!!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just write without going back every five minutes to edit! It will drive you mad! Write until you cannot write any more and then edit when you feel up to it. Believe me, you’ll do hundreds of edits by the time you are ready to publish!

What are you reading now?
The Obituary Society by Jessica L. Randall

What’s next for you as a writer?
I will continue with my current book project and hope to publish it by January 2015.

I also want to publish some more books for my “Empowering Children” series and do audio versions for my children’s book(s).

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?
They would most likely be in the paranormal, thriller or motivational book genres.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jodi Sykes Website
Jodi Sykes Amazon Profile

Jodi Sykes’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Jodi Sykes is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am 40 years old and wrote the first words to my debut novel, Fantastik sixteen years ago. I am the father of two boys age 5 and 3 who never seem to hear a word I say, but that’s ok…for now. I have one full length book published (Fantastik) and the first short story published in a short story series called, A Return to Normalcy, from the Harley Basil Chronicles. Both can be found on Amazon.

Fantastik was born out of a screenplay that I wrote while living in Chicago, Illinois. While I wrote a couple other screenplays after, I realized that I enjoyed the writing process and that there was something missing from just writing screenplays. Besides I had no idea what to do with the screenplays when I was done with them. So, I set out to write a full length novel and Fantastik was the obvious choice. Jake Mott and Charlie Boone were two characters that were etched in my heart and soul and I knew I wanted to tell their stories without leaving anything out.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Fantastik was born out of a cast of characters my father introduced me to as a child. My father was a trial attorney who spent the better part of three decades in a Camden city courtroom. Jake Mott’s character represents everything good and bad of the men my father had helped over the years. These men, who often seemed to be a weak moment away from transgression, knew me and my brother and sisters by name, they ate at our dinner table and sometimes they would come knocking on our door well past midnight in need of help or money. My father was never one to turn anyone away. Growing up in a safe, upper middle class environment, far from the streets of Camden, the lives of these men was another side of life that left an indelible mark on me.

As for Charlie Boone, I believe there’s a little bit of him in many of us. He epitomizes the plight of any hard working individual whose daily struggles, both financial and mental, overshadow all that is still good in his life; his marriage and his children, as he continues to make sense of the cards life has dealt him.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I can’t say that I do, however if more than a few days go by without me writing something I tend to get a little awnry. Writing not only makes me feel more productive it truly is the equilibrium in my life. All else seems to be ok, satisfactory, or not a big deal provided I am putting words to paper.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Authors that have left a mark on me are: John Steinbeck, Caleb Carr, William Peter Blatty, John Irving and Jack Kerouac to name a few of many.

Besides great authors music also and always will inspire me. It kind of sets my mood. Much of Fantastik was written (edits and rewrites included) listening to Bruce. Right now Coldplay is in my head and I’m loving Ray LaMontagne.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a 3 book series titled Tom Coneghan, Agent of God. Won’t divulge to much other than I got the idea while reading The Exorcist (for a 2nd time).

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Goodreads, goodreads, goodreads. And I just found twitter, which I’m loving…@camcgroarty

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Pay for professional editing, at least once maybe twice and if you find a good editor listen to them. Also, less is more…Do Not spoon feed your readers. That is something which took me a while to embrace, but it produces (in my mind), better writing. Last, take chances and believe!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I have a few. Write every day. You hear it all the time, but it’s very true. The more you have the quicker you get to market. Anything you ever write in pen, hold onto…it’s nostalgic. Be humble.

What are you reading now?
The Kept by James Scott.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am not sure, but hear is hoping for good things (toast now)

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 Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
The Alienist by Caleb Carr
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Any Jimmy Buffett novel (I am on an Island!)

Author Websites and Profiles
C. A. McGroarty Website
C. A. McGroarty Amazon Profile

C. A. McGroarty’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

C. A. McGroarty is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My goal is to help people get out of their rut and back into their groove by letting go of past negative emotions. I have written five books and two corresponding journals that are focused on achieving this goal. All of these books are part of The Blue Rainbow Series.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My newest book is: How to write off guilt. I was inspired to write it based on questions I received from my customers.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
The creativity of my books comes to me while I write in my daily journal. This includes the subject and free corresponding audios or meditations.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Authors: David R Hawkins and Michael Mackintosh both have been huge inspirations for me.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a book about shame.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still investigating which method and website is best for promoting my books. I’m currently focusing on Awesomegang because of its popularity, professionalism and ease of use.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice to new authors is to write the first draft of your book for yourself, then update it in a way that will help others the most (for self-help authors).

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I ever received is from a fortune cookie: “Only those who dare truly live.”

What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading “Do Nothing, Achieve Everything” by Michael Mackintosh.

What’s next for you as a writer?
As a writer I plan to continue to create books depending on my customer’s suggestions and needs.

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?
This is a tough question for me because there are so many great books waiting to be discovered. Does bringing my loaded kindle count?

Author Websites and Profiles
Barb Bailey Website
Barb Bailey Amazon Profile

Barb Bailey’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Barb Bailey is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Well, I am from India. My parents are from Kerala, and I was born and raised up in Kodagu, a district in Karnataka State. I did all his schooling in Karnataka and has been working as a teacher for 16 years. I had the passion of writing right from my childhood. I have recently published my first book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“April Showers bring May Flowers”, this is my first book published. I’m glad to say that the inspiration to write this was from my own childhood. I want those sweet memories to never be cherished. I can always remember and feel the nostalgia of, one of the good times that I had during my childhood.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Unusual? I don’t know! But I write when something haunts me… Maybe when I am extremely depressed.

What are you working on now?

I am working as a teacher at present. The job that I love a lot!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am really thankful for awesome gang for giving me this chance to promote my book. I usually promote through my website, or tweeting or posting in my facebook, like that.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Sorry, I am not that good to give advice. But I’d say, thinking from other’s point of view helps. Writing skill is a boon, so that one can convert his depression to something creative.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Let them say what they want… Just keep doing!” One of the best advice that I’ve heard, and off course, one of my favorite too…

What’s next for you as a writer?

I am trying to improve my writing skills. I have to overcome all the negatives if I’ve come across in my first book, and also I have to improve in my future writing endeavors.

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?

Author Websites and Profiles
Lathish Shankar Amazon Profile

Lathish Shankar’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Lathish Shankar is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Retired California State University professor, former Family Nurse Practitioner, currently author and Maya researcher. I live in a small town called Silverton, OR with my charming husband and two gorgeous white cats. Some of my other interests, aside from reading and writing, are gardening, preserving food, walks in nature, fine wines, gourmet cooking, and delving into the mysteries of existence. During my 30+ years as a professor, I published a number of textbooks in nursing and public health, plus a couple of popular books on menopause and the health effects of meditation and yoga.

After retirement, I began pursuit of my passion for the ancient Mayas. Through writing historical fiction about their advanced culture, I hope to reach more readers beyond those willing plow through technical and complex nonfiction just our of fascination for the Mayas. My HF books bring ancient Maya culture and civilization to life in stories about both real historical Mayans and fictional characters. I’ve studied Maya archeology, anthropology, epigraphy and history from the scientific perspective, but also wanted to learn indigenous viewpoints. To do this, I lived for five years in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. There I apprenticed with Maya Elder and Shaman Hunbatz Men, becoming a Solar Initiate and Maya Fire Woman in the Itza Maya tradition. I also studied with indigenous teachers in the U.S. and Guatemala, including Maya Priestess and Daykeeper Aum Rak Sapper.

Because my research about the Mayas crosses over between scientific and indigenous worlds, I believe that my books bring depth and complexity that weaves both realms of knowledge together. Story lines keep true to known archeological and historical facts, while bringing the mystical and shamanic native traditions into the action. Actual historic persons, generally rulers and elite nobles of Mayan society, are portrayed accurately according to what can be learned from ancient Mayan records. Their personalities, aspirations, fears and goals must be inferred from known events. Using artistic license, I expand upon historic facts to make them living characters in the story. Fictional characters and events are added to enrich the story and add drama, suspense or action.

The ancient Mayas created the most highly advanced civilization in the Western hemisphere, and my work is dedicated to their wisdom, spirituality, scientific and cultural accomplishments through compelling historical novels. As of August 2014, I’ve written three historical fiction novels about ancient Mayas:

“Dreaming the Maya Fifth Sun A Novel of Maya Wisdom and the 2012 Shift in Consciousness” (2006 paperback, 2011 Kindle ebook)

“The Visionary Mayan Queen: Yohl Ik’nal of Palenque” (Mists of Palenque Series, Book 1) (February 2014 Kindle ebook)

“The Controversial Mayan Queen: Sak K’uk of Palenque” (Mists of Palenque Series, Book 2) (June 2014 Kindle ebook)

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Currently I’m writing a series about Mayan queens of Palenque and have completed Books 1 & 2. The latest book is:

“The Controversial Mayan Queen: Sak K’uk of Palenque” (Mists of Palenque Series, Book 2) (June 2014 Kindle ebook)

When living in Merida, Mexico I found a book in Spanish called “La Reina Roja” (“The Red Queen”) at a local bookstore called Dante. Spanish dictionary by my side, I read the book rather quickly because it was intriguing. A Mexican reporter, Adriana Malvido, was adept enough to get permission from authorities to write stories about the discovery in 1994 of an unknown chamber inside Temple XIII at Palenque. When archeologists excavated the chamber, they found a burial vault containing a stone sarcophagus with a skeleton whose bones were colored bright red. They identified the skeleton as that of a woman who must have had highest status, because she was given royal burial with many jewels and artifacts and her body interred using cinnabar (mercuric oxide) as was done for rulers. Her tomb was adjoining the Temple of the Inscriptions, burial pyramid of Janaab Pakal, most famous Maya ruler. Finally her identity was deduced as his wife, Tz’aakb’u Ahau.

This story, told in Malvido’s book “La Reina Roja” spurred me to investigate women rulers, the Mayan “queens” although Mayans did not use that word. Their title was K’uhul Ahau, or Holy Lord/Lady. As I learned about the women in Pakal’s dynasty, I became convinced that their story should be told. They were among the most powerful women in the Americas, but hardly anyone has heard about them. So, I conceptualized the 4-book Mayan queen series that covers the lives of Pakal’s grandmother, mother, wife and daughter-in-law. Book 1 is about Yohl Ik’nal, his grandmother, and Book 2 is about Sak K’uk, his mother.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
While I outline each book and keep a detailed, accurate timeline of recorded events at Palenque, once I start writing the story often takes turns I didn’t anticipate. Characters may spring up or develop qualities I had not planned. Some scenes come to me in dreams or during meditations, and these I write down for future use even when it requires getting out of bed at 3:00 am. I’ve learned that details quickly slip away if not immediately written down. I have a story arc in mind but this may change as the characters and their actions unfold. For major characters, I plan their character development arcs but am sometimes surprised by what comes up as I’m writing.

It goes against conventional writing wisdom, but I edit as I go along. I keep a thesaurus handy and will stop writing to find the exactly right word. This process keeps refining my writing, but I do go back and re-read previous sections and edit again. I have to check and re-check my facts while writing, as well as spellings of the unusual Mayan words, to keep my story accurate and authentic.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Marion Zimmer Bradley is my all-time heroine author. I love “Mists of Avalon” and have read the entire Avalon series. As homage to her, I call my Mayan queens series the “Mists of Palenque.”

Mary Renault is another historical fiction author whom I greatly admire. Her stories about ancient Greece, Crete and Persia are spellbinding. These books, such as “The King Must Die,” “The Bull From the Sea,” “The Last of the Wine” and “The Persian Boy” serve as models of compelling stories based on facts and strongly developed characters who were actual historic persons.

Margaret Mitchell’s great saga “Gone With The Wind” is another classic HF book that I greatly admire.

Thomas Costain is another influential author for me, especially “The Chalice” and “The Black Rose.”

Samuel Shellbarger wrote excellent HF in fine style, my favorites are “Prince of Foxes” and “Captain From Castile.”

What are you working on now?
My current writing project is Book 3 of the “Mists of Palaenque” series about ancient Mayan queens.

“The Mayan Red Queen: Tz’aakb’u Ahau of Palenque” (Mists of Palenque Book 3)

This continues with Sak K’uk and her son Pakal, now a young man who recently ascended to the throne of Palenque (called Lakam Ha by ancient Mayas). It is time to find a suitable wife, and a shy young woman (Lalak) from a neighboring city is selected because of her pure bloodlines back to founders of the regional royal families. Pakal, however, is already enamored with a lovely young noblewoman in Palenque. He is conflicted but must follow his parents’ choice for royal wife. Lalak is overwhelmed by the complexity of society and court life at Palenque, and her mother-in-law Sak K’uk impedes her relationship with Pakal, viewing her as a breeder of future rulers and determined not to be displaced in her son’s affections. As Lalak struggles to prove her worth and find her place, Pakal contends with political and military challenges. Their relationship is strained, but Lalak is fated to play a pivotal role in Pakal’s mission to restore the portal to the Gods that had been destroyed by an earlier attack. He must come to see his wife in a new light before they can embody the immense creative forces necessary to rebuild the portal through sacred sexual union.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
There are several that can be helpful, depending on where you are in promotions. Some only promote free or bargain offers, others are ongoing processes. Here are a few I’ve used:

My own sites:

Website: www.mistsofpalenque.com

Blog: http://leonidemartinblog.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leonide.martin

Awesomegang.com

digitalbooktoday.com

BookBub.com

ebookdaily.com

addictedtobooks.com

BestIndieBooks.com

eBookshabit.com

IndieTribe.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Have passion for what you write and be persistent. Without a deep connection, nearly a compulsion to write about your topic, it will be hard to sustain the focus and effort required.

Have your work professionally edited. If you feel need for critique and editorial revisions, get a content editor. If you want checks for spelling, grammar and syntax, get a copy editor.

If you don’t have an editor pick things up, your readers will pick your mistakes apart!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Believe in yourself.

What are you reading now?
Dolly Wiseman. “Maya Memory: The Glory That Was Palenque”

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish the Mayan queens series! I hope to complete Book 3 by the end of November. Then comes Book 4 in the spring of 2015, hopefully finished by May. All of this series will first be published as eBooks, then I plan to pursue paperback publishing.

After that, quien sabe? There’s a story about a native American girl of the Calapooya tribe, our once abundant local Indians in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, that rattles around in my head now and then. We’ll see.

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 take a couple of Greek classics, maybe the Odyssey and the Iliad, full of adventure and challenge and conflict for entertainment.

I’d take “Autobiography of a Yogi” by Paramahansa Yogananda for inspiration and spiritual comfort.

Author Websites and Profiles
Leonide Martin Website
Leonide Martin Amazon Profile

Leonide Martin’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Leonide Martin is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have three published books and more in progress. I typically write twisty mystery-thrillers. My debut novel, Kings & Queens, is currently FREE on all online stores. The stand-alone sequel, Sapphire Reign, just came out summer 2014. And my first Middle Grade novel, Angels Club, has just released as well, and was co-written by another local author, Sandra J. Howell, who knows much more about horses than I do. Neither one of us could have written this book alone. We made the perfect team, which is kind of funny, because the girls in our book learn their Angels Club is at its best when everyone decides to overcome their differences and work together. Then, everyone gets to shine.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Sandra and I have been attending fairs with our local authors group to sell our books for over two years, and we always see kids streaming through, but no one in our group has kid books. We considered doing a picture book that showcased the rare American Curly horse, but I’m a cover designer, and one of my pre-made covers that I slapped the title “Angels Club” on kept calling to me. I craved it for myself. So I brought up the idea of combining the horse angle with a club that goes around doing good deeds. A Middle Grade novel would allow us the space to showcase all the things we care about: horses–especially the American Curly, ethnic and handi-capable diversity (we both have Autistic children and hers is in a wheelchair), bullying, friendship, riding therapy and using your talents and strengths to made a positive difference in the world. She loved the idea, so our collaboration began, and we work awesomely together.

We have a series of at least three Angels Club books planned featuring varied ethnic perspectives, not so we can have X, Y and Z represented, but because these are the characters with stories to tell.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really, but I always have to have coffee beside me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Dean Koontz and John Saul have probably influenced me the most. I don’t write exactly their genre or style, but it definitely gave me a taste for the weird and twisty, and that’s mostly what I write.

What are you working on now?
The second book in the Angels Club series. It has the alternating perspectives of Kat, a sassy little spitfire whose family owns the Sunny Brook Therapeutic Ranch, and River, her Cherokee frenemy and fellow adventurer whom she usually can’t stand.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ll be honest and say, I totally stink at promotion and marketing, but I learn a lot about publishing and promotion in general from KBoards and in various author groups on Facebook.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Get some beta readers/proofreaders/critters, I’d say six, before sending your book out to professionals, whether it be your own hired editor or to shop your manuscript to agents. You should have your work as clean and polished as you can get it before sending it out. It’s not an editor’s job to fix big glaring problems with flow, flat characters, plot holes and more, so be professional and do things correctly.

I know you are eager to publish, but do NOT sign up for anything that makes you purchase a package. Usually they are the first sites that come up if you search how to/where publish a book. This is not a real publisher; it is a predator press. They also take a chunk of your royalties on top of what you would have spent on a clunker car, at minimum. Seriously, run as fast as you can from these peeps and don’t look back. Either aim to find an agent that reps your genre if you want to go traditional or self-publish through Createspace, which is free, and source out your editor, book formatter and cover designer, if you don’t have the skills, for much, much cheaper, and then you’ll get to keep all your royalties and control your own career path.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Know the rules so you can know when and how it’s appropriate to break them.

What are you reading now?
I’m too busy writing right now, but some thriller, YA or New Adult novel will be likely next.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More Angels Club books. I also have an Urban Fantasy Romance novel that I keep working on a little bit at a time.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Bible
The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe
The Complete Works of Shakespeare

Author Websites and Profiles
Courtney Vail Website
Courtney Vail Amazon Profile
Courtney Vail Author Profile on Smashwords

Courtney Vail’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Courtney Vail is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born and raised in Zimbabwe, and lived in South Africa before emigrating to the U.S.A. I now live in Virginia with my husband Charles, and a cat. I am also an artist who paints in watercolor, and I coach other upcoming artists in my spare time.

My debut novel was “Talk to the Moon”. It was inspired by my mother’s life as a missionary, and set in Africa.

Recently, I realized that I wanted to write books in my favorite genre: fantasy. I enjoy writing for young people, so I combined the two and wrote my first fantasy novel, “The Six, and the Crystals of Ialana.” I enjoyed that so much I immediately wrote its sequel, “The Six, and the Gardeners of Ialana.” There will be a third, and more to come by early 2015.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is “The Six, and the Gardeners of Ialana”, in the Ialana series. The Ialana series is inspired by my love of Tolkien, combined with my own mystical and spiritual interests.

I understand that what we’ve always considered “magic” is actually an unknown science, a long-forgotten knowledge that once was common-place and known to many. I am interested in mysteries and legend, myths from long ago, such as Atlantis, and Lemuria, were-wolves and vampires, fairies and elves…. What are or were they, really?

I don’t claim to have answers, but I have spun a story around these myths and legends and created an adventurous epic that is filled with strange creatures, and perilous situations. The Six young people who set off on this adventure are inspired by the Hobbits and the Elves of Tolkien, although they are not Hobbits and Elves, but human.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write a draft for every book, then throw it away. It is not my intent to ditch the draft after a few chapters, but that is invariably what happens. My main characters have a way of writing the books for me, and I usually listen to what they’re telling me. They’re always right. I feel like the secretary, sometimes, and they dictate. I never force a character into a situation because it was in my draft. A character may make a throw-away comment that leads the plot line in a completely different direction to what I had planned. I am okay with that.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
J.R. Tolkien is my main influence, for fantasy writing. For Young Adult…Terry Brooks, Madeleine L’Engle, and Mary Norton. Stephen King is a master of horror, and there is an element of that in my writing too. These are all writers whose books I have thoroughly enjoyed.

What are you working on now?
I have discovered a site that allows authors to put sound effects into their books. I am presently compiling a sound track for “The Six, and the Crystals of Ialana”. It is not an audio book; no one “reads” it–that is done by the reader, but there is music and sound effects that go with it as one reads. The site is cdn.booktrack.com. Currently there are no books for sale yet, but sample chapters are up on the site. Books will be made available to purchase in a few months. I will also put “The Six, and the Gardeners of Ialana” up once I have completed the first in the series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Using as many social media sites as possible: Face Book, Twitter, book-promoting websites… I have no personal favorite. I try to find as many as I can that will take my promotions without charging an arm and a leg. Word of mouth is one of the best promotional tools, and friends who tell friends. Reviews are my goal. I find that if you don’t get reviews, its more difficult to get exposure.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep at it. I know it gets discouraging far too many times when it seems like we are swimming upstream. I got tired of the search for an agent/publisher and decided to do it all by myself. I am glad I did. I have not “made it” yet, but I plan to keep plugging away. It’s something I love, and as long as I find joy in what I do, I am a success.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
One doesn’t need a lot of money to be a success. Do not fall for the publishing schemes that ask you for money. Write every day. Even if you don’t feel like it.

What are you reading now?
The Queen of the Tearling, Erika Johansen; The Tenth Cycle, J.C. Ryan.

What’s next for you as a writer?
The third book in the Ialana Series, projected release 2015.

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 Hobbit; Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

Author Websites and Profiles
Katlynn Brooke Website
Katlynn Brooke Amazon Profile

Katlynn Brooke’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Katlynn Brooke is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live on the beautiful Gold Coast in Queensland Australia with my husband, two children and two dogs. After a lifetime career in retail I wanted to develop the creative side to my nature. After writing poetry as a child I am now an avid lover of books, movies and reading. The move I have made into writing my own novels and screenplays seems like second nature. As well as reading and writing I enjoy walking along the beach, collecting shells, boating and being with my family: and that’s only when you can pry a book out of my hands.

I enjoy writing in a number of genre’s. I have published on Amazon two books so far. One is called RIOT by Sandra Mayer. This book’s genre is erotica and definitely for 18+ only. The second book is SECRET AGENT S by SC Mayer. This book’s genre is children ages 7 to 13. I have written picture books but haven’t published them yet as I am teaching myself to draw. I have also written a short story for young adult called CERES genre science fiction/fantasy and SCRUB AND THE SEA SERPENT genre children’s fantasy both of these are in the third draft stage.

At the moment I am in the last stages of writing a thriller screenplay called ENOUGH (working title).

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest published book was SECRET AGENT S (Serena Silver) a story about a 15year old gifted chemist who with her cat MR No Name and her best friend Derek foil the sinister plots of DR Misery.

Serena uses her knowledge of chemistry and with daring exploits Serena, Derek and Mr No Name get into and out of scary and sinister situations. This book was inspired by many years of reading children’s mystery books but I wanted to put a modern slant on the characters and the situations that they get into. I’ve included volumes one, two and three into the one title.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I always find that I get my best ideas while sleeping or in the shower. Many a time I have had to get up at about four in the morning to write ideas down so that I don’t lose them. I like writing with my favorite music playing and no-one else in the house with me, except maybe the dogs. I love looking out at nature and cannot write stuck in a room like a box.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favorite authors have been science fiction/fantasy authors like Robert Heinlein, Ben Bova and Isaac Asimov. But I have read all genre’s and loved them all. The Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden series influenced my reading when I was growing up and now that I have children of my own I am enjoying sharing picture and chapter books with them.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a thriller screenplay called ENOUGH (working title). It’s going okay. I am in the last third of the piece. I do know the end but sometimes it’s hard to write it down. This is my first screenplay so as I have had no training in this art it is taking me longer to write than I thought, thank goodness for brainstorming and writing down all of the ideas that come to me in the middle of the night.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am still learning the trade of book promotion. So far word of mouth has gone okay so far. The use of AWESOMEGANG is my first foray into professional promotion and I’m sure sales will increase.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advise to new authors would be to keep all of your ideas written down somewhere. I use children’s school exercise books they are cheap enough to got down notes about a particular story or subject and if you are careful you can’t lose them like post it notes or loose pieces of paper. Have a place set up in your home or elsewhere where you feel calm, at ease, content and try to remove all distractions while you write. I like making lists so at the top of my list everyday is write then household jobs like sweeping the floor etc, it keeps me focused. But even if I am not writing I am thinking about the story and that is great.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Plan your daily minimum word limit and stick to it. I find that hard to do sometimes so when I get stuck I change art forms and do some drawing or brainstorm a different idea.

What are you reading now?
Snakehead by Anthony Horowitz

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish my screenplay, finish rewriting SCRUB AND THE SEA SERPENT and then rewrite CERES.

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?
Friday and Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein, Mars by Ben Bova and Seduction and Snacks by Tara Sivec

Author Websites and Profiles
Sandra Mayer Amazon Profile

Sandra Mayer’s Social Media Links

Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Sandra Mayer is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was raised in sunny and beautiful Los Angeles, CA and graduated from Loyola Marymount University. I’ve published one contemporary romance book and am preparing the release of my second romance book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my book is “Passion Never Dies” and my inspiration was long-lost lovers reuniting at last.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I often wake up in the middle of the night and write ideas down on post-its and scraps of paper. It makes for a messy desk the next morning.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favorite authors are Madeline Hunter, Julie Garwood, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Deborah Simmons and Amanda Quick. They’ve all been extremely influential in the way I write.

What are you working on now?
I’m preparing my second contemporary romance book to be released soon.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use several promotion sites and the following have been most helpful; Awesome Gang, Kindle Nation Daily, World Literary Cafe, Book Goodies, Frugal Freebies, Book Freebies, Kindle Book Review, Flurry of Words, ask David, Freebooksy, It’s Write Now, Wanton Reads, Pretty-Hot and Book Reader Magazine.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing and don’t get discouraged.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t let anyone ever tell you that you can’t do something. Listen to your heart, believe in your dreams and don’t let anyone stand in your way.

What are you reading now?
I’d like to read more of Sarah Maclean’s novels. She has a unique voice and I love her style of writing.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To continue writing and having fun.

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?
Several of my all-time favorite romance books which I never get tired of re-reading and a book about how to build a raft so I can get off the island.

Author Websites and Profiles
Joy Tremay Website
Joy Tremay Amazon Profile

Joy Tremay’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Joy Tremay is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an Australian author of Fantasy, Science Fiction, Paranormal/ParaRomance and Weird Westerns.

I have written four books. ‘The Kalarthri’ (Fantasy), ‘Howling Vengeance’ (Weird Western), ‘The Enclave (Science Fiction) and ‘Winter’s Magic’ (Paranormal).

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Winter’s Magic’ is my latest book. It is a paranormal.urban fantasy set in Adelaide, South Australia. Salman Rushdie made a statement about Adelaide years ago, that had stuck in my mind, so i decide to set a story around it.

Here is what he said -

Salman Rushdie came to Adelaide for Writers’ Week in 1984. He wrote of the “grim enigma of Adelaide” in the Tatler, saying that:

“Adelaide is an ideal setting for a Stephen King novel, or horror film. You know why all those films and books are always set in sleepy, conservative towns?” he asked. “Because sleepy, conservative towns are where those things happen. Exorcism, omens, shining, poltergeists. Adelaide is Amityville, or Salem, and things here go bump in the night.”

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think I do.

I have a habit of writing my first draft long hand in a notebook, then all subsequent drafts are done on a word processor. I also like to make maps and sketch out objects and scenes from my stories, so that I can describe them and use them better. One day I should put all of the sketches up on my web site, so others can see them.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love the work of Stephen Donaldson – especially his Gap series. Raymond Feist is another who I admire as well as Anne McCaffrey and Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey/Maturin novels.

I also read a lot of history books which are brilliant for inspiring story ideas.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on two books. ‘The Dream Thief’ which is the sequel to ‘The Kalarthri’, and the second Verge Novel which is the sequel to ‘The Enclave’ – it has no title as yet.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My author website is http://www.hmclarkeauthor.com/ If anyone wants to know or find out anything about anything they should go there.

My best method of promotion is mainly word of mouth. I don’t really push my books – if people want to read them, they can.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice for new authors is to establish an online platform where people can get to know you and to just keep on writing. Simple as that.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It is the same advice that I gave above, which is to just keep on writing and to establish an online author platform. But above all your writing is key to have all this work for you.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading ‘A lifetime to Die’ by P.S. Meronek and a history of the Maya Kings and Queens.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To finish off my current Works in Progress and to start planning my next projects. The work of an author is very circular – write, promote, release, promote, write, promote, release… etc.

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 take with me…Can I take with me my kindle that has all my books on it? No? okay…

The omnibus edition of Harry Potter

Daughter of Regals by Stephen Donaldson

Magician by Raymond Feist

The Brother’s Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

If I could I would have thrown in a few more history novels as well – such as Republican Rome by H.L Havell and any book by Robert Hutchinson.

Author Websites and Profiles
H.M. Clarke Website
H.M. Clarke Amazon Profile
H.M. Clarke Author Profile on Smashwords

H.M. Clarke’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

H.M. Clarke is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in Lagos, Nigeria, to Nigerian parents. I have a bachelors degree in Crop Science of the University of Nigeria. I emigrated to Canada in 2013 and now live in the city of Regina, where I currently write and have enrolled to study business administration at the university of Regina.
My works consist of plays, novels, short stories, poetry, children’s stories and song lyrics. I have written more than twenty books. I love to watch movies, listen to songs, keep an eye on happenings in Hollywood, watch Super Models strut their stuff. And I love to relate with people and feel what they are feeling, what they are going through. I love learning what celebrities are up to. Hey, Justin Bieber! You are not left out!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is titled HONEY GONE THORNY, inspired partly by my experiences as a writer, as well as events in the lives of some people I know. Good times and sad times.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Sometimes inspiration to write comes to me while using the washroom. And in the absence of a pen and paper or a computer, I would dictate lines, dialogue, sentences and phrases to myself while trying to memorize them as much as I can, before I am able to get them down on paper or on a computer. Sometimes I can’t help storming out of the washroom, naked, and on my way to grabbing my computer.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My influences have come from very many authors I have read and admired. Most especially J. k Rowling, Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Sandra Brown, Chimamanda Adichie, William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Tennessee Williams, Steven King. The list is such a long one. ANIMAL FARM by Gorge Orwell is one book I read in my very early days as a writer. It had such a strong impact on me that on getting to the last word on the last page, I could not help but scream WOW…… The HARRY PORTER SERIES is a great line of books that will forever stand the test of time. I read and read and could not stop, totally engrossed in Harry’s world uniquely created. Books have shaped my life.

What are you working on now?
I am working on some song lyrics, developing the concept for my next novel and polishing some short stories and poems that have gathered mountain of dust in my computer hard drive. It has been more than a decade since I last set my eyes on some of them. LOL….. I’m not kidding!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I love to use social media and any site I find useful. I think Awesomegang.com is a nice one. It is in my plans to engage the services of public Relations firms. This will commence as soon as I can afford their often exorbitant fees and author budgetary requirements. Those Guys love to charge thousands of dollars! Do they think writers pluck money from trees? LOL….. And this time, I am really kidding! They have to charge the right fees to remain in business and get the job done for their clients properly. I do understand….

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep writing, even through difficult times, because when the sun sets, it is only getting ready to rise. You will get to a point you will feel like quitting, especially when rejections start hitting you from Agents and publishers. They can only reject your work. But know that their NO, has no way of keeping you from attaining your goals. There are different ways to get to the top. Passage of time can change anything or any ugly situation you are immersed in, only if you find a way to remain focused, work hard and keep having conversations with God who left a bit of his immense creative ability with you. He did not deposit that gift in you for nothing. That gift is bound to ‘explode’ sometime in your lifetime, for the world to see and benefit, if only you don’t bury it and take it to your grave by giving up.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
When people laugh at you or malign you when you look like you are down, out and defeated by circumstances that throws at you for daring to be great, know the same people will make quick U-Turns, eat their words, ad shower you with praises when you emerge on top of the world. Don’t be distracted!

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading THE ART OF WRITING GREAT LYRICS by Pamela Philips Oland. I came across it on Amazon.com quite recently. Ordered it at the speed of light.
I wonder why I did not get to know about it, as a lyricist, a long time ago. It’s such an inspiring title.
Simple to read and understand. It deepens my knowledge of lyrics writing with every word, sentence, page and chapter in it. Awesome!

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have to keep writing plays, novels, songs, short stories, poems. I love to write. I dream to have my stories translate to Hollywood movies, have my songs recorded by top artists. There are so much more I want to do with my stories and gifting.

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?
Very difficult to choose as I have a lot of titles to pick from. This is like asking the question, the hen and the egg, which came first?
Well, I would take any three or four books in the Harry Porter series.

Author Websites and Profiles
KENECHUKWU OBI Amazon Profile

KENECHUKWU OBI’s Social Media Links

Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

KENECHUKWU OBI is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was raised in a suburb right outside of Chicago called Harwood Heights. My first book, Chicago’s Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Murderous Mobsters, Midway Monsters and Windy City Oddities was published by Potomac Press in 2005. I followed that up five years later with Vampires’ Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Bloodthirsty Biters, Stake-wielding Slayers and Other Undead Oddities (also Potomac, 2010).

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
To Touch the Sun, published this year by Dagda Publishers, is the first in my vampire series set in Chicago. It’s kind of funny because while I enjoyed reading vampire stories, I never had a burning desire to write one. But I wanted to interest an agent that I’d been in correspondence with whose agency handled a vampire series, so I thought I’d give it a try. It was an unusual way for me to work because normally I go into a novel with a very clear idea of plot and characters but this one all I had was a two word description: Vampire Chef. It went through a great deal of evolution until I finally had something I liked. Unfortunately, by the time I was able to send the agent a proposal (he liked the idea when I told him), he’d left the business. No idea why. So I didn’t get an agent, but I had a novel with characters that I’d fallen in love with to the point that I was able to easily write three more books in the series and a spin-off featuring paranormal investigators that appear in the third novel. More so than any other book I’ve written, this became a labor of love to find a publisher for.

One of the things I wanted to try with the novel was to approach vampirism as a condition and address inconveniences that might go along with it. So often you find in vampire books characters that are glorious immortals, rich, gorgeous, powerful. While my vampires are powerful, they still have certain inconveniences that get in the way of living a “normal” life. (For example, I use the “sun is a dangerous to them” idea. Well, if you can’t go out in the sun, how do you attend to things that have to be attended to out in the sun?) Later in the series a character enters which allows me to really examine what it would be like for someone to deal with these inconveniences when they don’t have money or a castle to flee to. And even the character of Narain Khan in To Touch the Sun is currently faced with a dilemma regarding one of the inconveniences.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Nothing standout unusual I don’t think. The vampire novels were written in a sort of quilt-like fashion. Because of my schedule I often found myself not in a convenient position to sit down and write. But I’ve always been good at day dreaming. So I would come up with scenes and ideas while shopping, driving, standing in line at a check-out, etc. Some of the scenes required scenes to patch them together. So it became sort of fun, a bit of a challenge to figure out how to “sew” a scene I might have come up with earlier into the novel. As I mentioned, most novels I’ve written in the past I had the idea right from the start so the writing of it was very linear. This wasn’t. But it was still fun to see it take shape.

In one way, I’m grateful that it took me a while to find a publisher for this because it gave me a chance to go ahead with the other books in the series and I was able to better understand the “universe” I’d created for the series. It gave me a chance to change a few things in the first one that worked better with what was built from it.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m really bad with these questions cause my tastes are all over the place. I’m very much into fantasy and science fiction. I’ll read anything that catches my fancy. As far as vampires, I think Anne Rice is an influence. She’s kind of what got me into the genre. But then I also enjoyed Richard Matheson’s take on the genre in his “I Am Legend.” I read both when I was very young. And I was extremely impressed by the classic Le Fanu story “Camilla.” . You’ll find a lot of humor in my books as well which is probably an influence of Douglas Adams. Yes, I think I blame him for that. And Harry Harrison ignited my love for pure, tongue-in-cheek adventure with his Stainless Steele Rat series.

What are you working on now?
Right now I want to tweak the next novel in the vampire series. All the novels I’ve finished are in various forms of draft and need a nip and a tuck. I’m also in the middle of a nonfiction project about a man who was wrongly accused of being a loan shark in 1960s Chicago. It’s a pretty compelling story, but it’s taking a lot of research. It’s kind of funny, the books I’ve had published were all projects that came to me unexpectedly. This is just fitting that pattern. But I’m enjoying writing this as much I enjoyed writing the others.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve yet to find a method that seems to be the best when it comes to promoting books. I think it’s good to have your own website cause it gives you a sort of base of operations. Facebook isn’t bad. From what I’ve experienced though, while social media can be great, especially for those who can’t afford to pay a lot for marketing, physical book stores shouldn’t be discounted. Book stores and appearances at various places. Depending on what you have to offer, people like to go to author programs held at libraries, book stores, community centers, etc. They like to get an autographed copy and meet the author. So in some respects I think one important method is simply boots-on-the-ground marketing.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
The one thing I would tell a new author is to be very clear on what they want from this. Some people aren’t looking for a lot of money or popularity so they’re fine if what they put out there sells a few copies. But if you want to make this a career, or if you want your work to sell really well, it’s going to take a lot of work. A writer friend in town told me once that the marketing end of writing can be a full time job. And he was right. People scoff at the idea of getting an agent now, or a publicist. “Why should I pay people to do what I can do?” Well, the main reason is because what they’re being paid for takes a lot of time and effort to get your name out there and keep it out there. And in some respects, social media is a double edged sword for while a lot of it is free, you have to keep all those pages and sites and channels fed. So to new authors I would say that your job isn’t done when you type “The End” on a page. In a lot of respects, it’s just beginning.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I think one of the best pieces of advice I’ve heard was that you can always edit later. In a way, it’s similar to what people will say about playing an instrument. If you make a mistake, don’t stop and go back. Play through. It’ll be less jarring. With writing, one of my problems was that I would write and write and then I’d start questioning what I’d already written and go back and fiddle with that and then just totally lose any love for the original idea. This happened a lot in high school. I had tons of unfinished novels cause I would start questioning and then figure, okay, I’ll go on to this next idea. Play through. See the novel or book through to the end, put it aside for a week, then pick it up and look through it with fresh eyes (and you’ll need to do that from time to time cause I guarantee you, you’ll be absolutely sick of it by the end of the third draft (Heck, by the end of the first draft you may feel, “Well, I told my story. Don’t need to go over it”). But that proofing is necessary. So give it a rest in between and you’ll be able to go through it with sharper eyes and sharper proofing skills.

What are you reading now?
Actually, I’ve been doing some research for the mob book. I just finished “The Martian” by Andy Weir which was fantastic! I highly recommend it. I’m also in the middle of listening on CD “White Out” by Ken Follett. I’m a huge fan of his historical fiction but have never read any of his thrillers so I thought I’d give one a try. So far I like it. And speaking of vampires, I’m shortly to get to the third book of “The Strain” series by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan. The first two were fabulously creepy.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Well, as I mentioned, there’s the mob book. I really want to get at not only the second book in the vampire series but the next two that are done. I have ideas for three more and then there’s the paranormal investigator spin-off. I have some ideas for other books as well. One an Asian dragon novel, one more urban fantasy. But for the next few months, the reality is marketing. Trying to build up the name.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Oh don’t do this to me! Okay, let’s say four. I’d have to take the complete works of Edgar Allan Poe, the complete Stainless Steele Rat books in one volume and the complete Hitchhiker’s Guide Books in one volume (I know, major cheat on those two). And of course, “To Touch the Sun” cause I hear that book is fabulous!

Author Websites and Profiles
Laura Enright Website
Laura Enright Amazon Profile

Laura Enright’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Laura Enright is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I hail from the small Indian Ocean island of Mauritius and came to the UK at age 20 to study medicine. I am a practicing part-time Pediatrician, currently specializing in Neonatology. In my other career, I write kick-ass action thrillers with a supernatural twist. I have published three books in the series Seventeen, with another three planned.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The book I published this summer was Greene’s Calling (Seventeen Book #3). It can be read as a stand-alone novel but forms part of the overarching plot of the entire series. Each protagonist in Seventeen has special attributes that stem from their history. The character in Greene’s Calling, Conrad Greene, is the healer of the group. The inspiration for the series comes from a mix of history, mythology, philosophy, and religion.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write on a treadmill desk! You can find pics on the blog section of my website. Just type “treadmill desk” in the search box. I also compile a music playlist for every book that I write and post one song every week with a You Tube video on my blog. The playlists are also available to listen to via the Bonus section of the website.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Gosh, so many to mention here. From my childhood, Enid Blyton. From my teens, YA writers like Christopher Pike, and adult horror/fantasy writers like Stephen King, Clive Barker, Dean Koontz, and Neil Gaiman. Other inspirational writers include the inimitable Sir Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, and Tom Holt.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a few projects. The biggest one is Ashstorm (Seventeen Book #4), which should be ready for publication early next year. The next project is a humorous fantasy series that’s quite close to my heart. They were the first books I wrote from 2006-2008 and I would like to start publishing them in the years ahead. I also have a series of shorts set in the Seventeen world that I am planning to write in the next six months.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have found free and 99c promos to work best. I have tried a variety of websites when I have run my promos and all of them have been very good.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
This business has a sharp learning curve. It is constantly evolving, so make sure you keep up with changes by visiting reputable blogs which address the business of writing and publishing. There are things you’ll do that will work and things that won’t. Don’t lament the failures. Learn from them and carry on.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep writing. It’s very tempting for a newly published writer with one book under their belt to spend more time marketing and promoting that one book than writing the next one. You will need to learn how to market and promote but try and be efficient with the time you spend on this. The best thing you can do for your career is to continue to produce more content.

What are you reading now?
I am currently rereading Interesting Times by Terry Pratchett. I am saving up my new books for my holiday in October!

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to continue to produce great content, grow my readership, and start to earn more with my writing. I would love to be able to write full-time in the 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?
A book on survival in the outdoors.
Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett
Dark Rivers of the Heart by Dean Koontz
Temeraire by Naomi Novik

Author Websites and Profiles
AD Starrling Website
AD Starrling Amazon Profile
AD Starrling Author Profile on Smashwords

AD Starrling’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

AD Starrling is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in rural Maryland with my husband and youngest two children, and I’ve written two books: one children’s chapter book (called “Muse: A Cat’s Story”) and one novel (called “Take a Load Off, Mona Jamborski”). I have also written a rhyming picture book (called “Mrs. Just-So”), but it’s in search of an illustrator, so I suppose I can’t count that one yet. The words are written though!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called “Take a Load Off, Mona Jamboski.” It was inspired in part by “Room,” by Emma Donoghue, because of how she took a specific, and sad, aspect of our culture, and fictionalized it, which was an entirely new perspective on a situation we only ever see on the news or read in particularly tell-all rags like People. I found myself wondering, a good year after I’d read the book, what other parts of our culture fascinate us, in the tabloid sense, and whether they had been yet been fictionalized in such a tender, thought-provoking way as “Room” had done. For some reason, my brain settled on recluses who are so overweight they don’t leave their homes. We have reality TV shows about them, but has a true in-depth novel been published that looks at whom one of these folks might be, and how she feels, and what it’s like to be her? I wanted to think of the situation in a non-exploitative way (i.e. not non-fiction, and not anything approaching a book version of reality TV) and really get a handle on her story, and her psyche.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Silence! I cannot write a word if there is music on, or a television on, or if anyone is talking. And since I love the sounds of all three of those, writing must be something I keep entirely separate from my every day life. I pick moments of quiet isolation when I can bang out whatever percolated in the noggin that day.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
What authors HAVEN’T, is more answerable. I can honestly say I’ve taken something away from every book I’ve ever picked up, even if it’s a lesson in what not to do. But that’s rare. I am always amazed at how an author can lend yet another unique sentence, or thousands of them, to the universe. I will list, however, the books I’ve slept with under my pillow, because I was so reluctant to ever reshelve them when I was done: “This Boy’s Life” by Tobias Wolff, “The Sparrow” by Mary Doria Russell, “Fool On the Hill” by Matt Ruff, “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas, the entire “Westmark” series by Lloyd Alexander, and that goes double for all things Narnia, Middle Earth, and Hogwarts. “Peace Like a River” by Leif Enger, “Ishmael” by Daniel Quinn, “Timequake” by Kurt Vonnegut, and “Catch 22″ by Joseph Heller. “Wonder When You’ll Miss Me,” by Amanda Davis. Everything by J.D. Salinger. Everything by Michael Chabon. Everything by Curtis Sittenfeld. I could go on for a much longer time here.

What are you working on now?
Now, I am engaging with my ninth grade self to try to remember more details about the most fascinating teacher I ever had, so I can better craft his character in a book about his classroom. This man, who technically taught me high school Biology, also taught me enough of everything else that I found myself relying on his words not only throughout high school, but also throughout college, and indeed, then also a great portion of my adult life as well. Unfortunately, like many geniuses, he was also bat mad, and he fell from grace in a way that shocked me, but didn’t surprise me at all. I am frustrated that I cannot remember him better, so I am forced to invent where the gaps are, and this is my current challenge.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Method? There’s a method? I am an indie newbie, so other than Amazon and Goodreads, AwesomeGang.com is the only other site I’ve explored.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Seeing as I am one, I cannot imagine I’m in a position to give any advice at all… What do I know, really? Right when I think there’s a “rule,” someone comes along and breaks it and I am so glad they did.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Relax. Nothing is under control.”

What are you reading now?
I am reading “Where the Dead Walk,” by John Bowen, and it is MIGHTY GOOD! Not only does the story keep me on the edge of my seat, but the writing alternately makes me laugh, or makes me gasp with a particularly well-crafted sentence. How often can an author make a joke and then make a jewel? He’s a rare talent, and an indie writer to boot.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Next, I’d love to connect with an illustrator who likes “Mrs. Just-So” as much as I do, so we can get it off the ground together. Also, I’d like to use the rest of this year to finish fleshing out my current project that I mentioned above.

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?
“Infinite Jest,” by David Foster Wallace. Maybe if I had the time to re-read it a dozen times, over the course of a decade, I could finally figure out all its secrets. Ditto anything by Pynchon. I’d need an eternity on a desert island to get him successfully into my brain. I’d bring, literally, “War and Peace,” because when it comes to desert islands, longer novels are better, I am thinking. I am almost afraid to re-read my favorites too often, less the spell ever be broken for me, so I am shying away from my true favorites. But I’ll happily re-read “The Master and Margarita” til the end of time. Can the entire “Three Musketeers” series be packaged as one volume? If so, then yes please. As long as I am cheating, you could bind all the Harry Potters into one fat volume and I’d take that as well. OH!! “Geek Love” by Katherine Dunn. God, I could read that forever.

Author Websites and Profiles
Joanna Franklin Bell Amazon Profile

Joanna Franklin Bell’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Joanna Franklin Bell is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Noah Fregger. I was born April 8th 1983 in Santa Clara, California. I feel like I’ve been a writer my whole life. Even when I was young, I’d sit at my desk and let my number 2 pencil lead the way to a new world. I had a great imagination (or so I was told) and would daydream often. I became fixated with Star Wars about as soon as I could say, “Lightsaber.” From then on I mainly enjoyed science fiction books. I also must admit my fascination with Greek mythology.
I aspired to be a writer very young, as well. It took a bit more maturing on my part to have the patience to actually sit down and do it. I’m so glad that I did. I can hardly describe a more rewarding experience.
So, officially, I’ve written and published two books and two short stories.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Gabriel’s Sacrifice. It is the second book in my Scrapman Trilogy. I suppose I gathered inspiration from all over for it. I say that a writer lives constantly half in and half out of his or her story at all time. It is essential to leave yourself open for inspiration and be able to recognize it when it comes. I get lots of inspiration from the people in my life, or odd scenarios I find myself in. Once I was on the roof of my work, saw a plane in the sky, and thought, “That’s it!” And “ta-da” it made it into my first book.
The story itself came from my love of post apocalyptic stories, but I wanted to write one I’d never heard before. It was a bit by the seat of my pants, but I’ll be damned if it didn’t work out just fine. This sequel stems from that.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Oh, geez, yes. I tend to pace, and I write practically everything on paper first. There’s something unnatural about a computer screen for me when it comes to writing. I find it very difficult to write directly into a computer. So instead I pace and talk to myself. Needless to say I’m usually alone for said activity.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I spent four years in Japan (US Navy) and ended up really enjoying Dean Koontz novels while I was underway. He was the first author I think I really grew attached to, although I loved Edgar Rice Burroughs when I was an early teen. I like to mix their two very different styles of writing. More recently than that I became a fan of Joe Schrieber, and dream of the day that I write a Star Wars book.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on wrapping up my Scrapman Trilogy, so I can get started on this other fun stuff I got floating around in my brain. Yes, I can’t wait to wrap this series up in a nice, little bow.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Still trying to figure this one out. I’ve been knocking down the door at BookBub like the big bad wolf, but they never let me in. I’ve seen moderate success here and there, like Book Daily. I’m really still waiting for that wider audience I dream about.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Hmmmm. Yes. Ponder your story, make it failsafe and something you love. Write for you, what you want to read, because you’ll never make everyone happy. I read somewhere, “God didn’t even write a book that everyone liked.” And that remains to be funny, yet entirely true. Don’t get caught up in dreams of fame and money, because your writing will surely suffer. Just write for you, for it’s one of the things you love the most.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Sheeesh…uh…buy low, sell high, don’t eat yellow snow, and…try McDonald’s french fries with ice cream. What a waste of advice. I’m so sorry.

What are you reading now?
I’ve got a legion of books to read. Right now I’m in the middle of an Ian M. Banks novel, The Player of Games.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m gonna finish this interview, hope that it earns me some new readers; and continue to lead my stride with the books I’ve written, and trust they’re worthy enough vehicles within this confusing and frustrating industry.

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?
Hmmm…I’d have to say Tarzan first, then a collaboration of Greek mythology, then How to Survive Whilst Being Stranded on a Desert Island…For Dummies.

Author Websites and Profiles
Noah Fregger Website
Noah Fregger Amazon Profile
Noah Fregger Author Profile on Smashwords

Noah Fregger’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Noah Fregger is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Author Bio

Paul C. Steffy has written several short fiction stories, two novelettes and one novel: Distant Wings. His travels include twenty-six countries and all fifty United States.

He enjoys flying; travel; wildlife photography; hiking; the feel of ocean spray in a brisk wind; wildflowers, pine forests and much more; stimulating conversation; quiet moments at sunset and fulfilling evolving goals. He values these and many other aspects of his busy life.

The Southwest is where he continues to write.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I am currently advertising my book, ‘Let’s Fall in Love’ Volume 1, Paris and Dubrovnik. I have travelled around the world, and visited twenty-six countries and all 50 United States. I know how wonderful it feels to be with a loved one while travelling.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I find it normal for me to write seven days per week, and from four to eight hours at a time. I try to read from one to three hours per day to feel in touch with various contemporary and historic authors. I read almost all genre of books and usually I read from three to four books simultaneously. Vacations for me include reading and writing daily or whenever possible. I write something daily even if it is only a paragraph or two while travelling.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Various Greek, Roman and early European authors inspire me. Their knowledge and intellect so long ago is amazing! Moving into the modern era I enjoy: James Joyce, Hermann Hesse, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Mark Twain, Richard Bach, Winston Churchill, John Steinbeck, C.S. Forester, J.R.R. Tolkien, Nora Roberts, Preston and Childs, John Grisham, Dan Brown, Steig Larsson, Stephen King, Frances Fitzgerald, and dozens and dozens of authors in a multitude of genre–and don’t forget Shakespeare. I’m not counting books because I’ve lost count of the many hundreds of great books I have had the pleasure to read, study and enjoy. Hopefully, I’ll continue to grow in knowledge and understanding within my lifetime. So many great books, so little time!

What are you working on now?
My current interest is to complete a story about a young man from the Midwest who feels the call to join the Army in 1967 amid the height of the Vietnam War. He believes it is his duty to lend a hand and fight the evil communist regime in Southeast Asia. During his year in Vietnam he realizes his reality and that of the people around him is not what he had expected, or was led to believe. When he returns to the U.S. after his year overseas, he finds his life, his friends, his family and his country have changed–some for the better and some for the worst. He returns from Vietnam when he is nineteen years old–unable to vote or buy a cold beer legally. He must pull himself together organize his thoughts and a game plan and succeed in a competitive environment within a nation torn apart because of a war he originally believed was just in purpose but poorly managed. His father was among the ‘Greatest Generation.’ He discovers his generation eventually does blend into society but after years of looking for answers not easily found.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I look for sites, such as this one, who allow an author to display his or her work for free or at a reasonable price where the presentation is professional and it attracts multitudes of interesting informed readers who look for special books to please their own eclectic interests.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up! It may take years to succeed. The personal satisfaction of seeing your books in print in any form is extremely satisfying and well worth it!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
When you know you are right, believe in yourself regardless of what others are saying. When you succeed they will be envious and continue to find fault with others.

What are you reading now?
Six books of all genre from fiction to poetry to history.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More 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?
The Long Valley, Tales of the South Pacific, The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire and The Wizard of Oz.

Author Websites and Profiles
Paul C Steffy Amazon Profile

Paul C Steffy’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Paul C Steffy is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello everyone! I’m Kaitlyn Davis, the bestselling author of the Midnight Fire series, a young adult paranormal romance (the first book, Ignite, is free!), and the A Dance of Dragons series, a young adult fantasy adventure! I adore books with strong heroines, complex world building, heart-stopping adventure, and, of course, swoon-worthy romance. And I hope to bring those elements to all of my writing.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest release, The Spirit Heir, is the second book in my A Dance of Dragons series and it goes on-sale on October 30th, 2014!

The entire A Dance of Dragons series was inspired by the first scene in The Shadow Soul, book one in the series. Jinji, the female protagonist, suffers a tremendous loss leaving her completely alone in the world–until she meets Rhen, the male lead. Her struggle to persevere against the backdrop of such devastation, paired with the bond that forms between these two strangers who learn to depend on one another, sets the stage for the entire series.

Of course, dragons and magic have a little something to do with it too…okay, well a lot, but those are the sorts of things you need to read the books to discover!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m a truly obsessive outliner! I outline my books before I begin writing, a chapter by chapter breakdown that goes on for pages and pages. And then, as I write and the book begins to really take shape, I re-outline as I go. By the end, I’ve probably written about a dozen different outlines, but I always need a path when I’m writing–even if it goes to places I never knew existed when the story first began.

Usually, the mid-story re-outline is my favorite though, because it means I’ve been so inspired by some plot twist dreamed up in my imagination that I just need to get the ideas down on paper before they disappear!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
So, so many! I am a completely voracious reader and have been for my entire life! Some of my favorite authors are JK Rowling, Tamora Pierce, Lynne Ewing, Laini Taylor, Raymond Feist, Sophie Kinsella, and so many more.

As far as an author who has truly influenced my life, I must say thank you to Amanda Hocking. While I enjoyed her novels, what I found truly inspiring was her path to publishing success. Ms. Hocking was the first self-published author I ever heard of, and without her, I’m not sure if I would have found the courage to try digital publishing myself.

What are you working on now?
The final installment of my A Dance of Dragons series–it’s going to be epic! I’m also writing a quartet of companion novellas following the story of Princess Leenaka, a supporting character in the series with a heartbreaking love story of her own. You can read the first novella, The Golden Cage, for free!

Aside from A Dance of Dragons, I’ve been working on a post-apocalyptic fairytale mashup series! I’m super excited about it, but everything is very early right now, so I can’t say too much. However, I’ll leave you with the hook: Sleeping Beauty is a ruthless soldier, and this time the prince isn’t her dance partner—he’s her target.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My website, KaitlynDavisBooks.com, as well as my social media sites! I frequently update my blogroll with series updates, fun posts about covers and plots, as well as polls and giveaways. I gather signups for my newsletter. And, most importantly, I can really interact with my fans which is wonderful.

For promoting, I love working with bloggers! They share my passion for books and are absolutely wonderful in helping to spread the word for famous authors or newbies alike. I also find sites like Bookbub and, of course, AwesomeGang tremendously helpful!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t write what you think people want to read, write what you believe in. Write the story that speaks to you–the one that latches on and consumes your thoughts until putting it on paper is only way to stop thinking about it!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Trust in yourself–whether you’re a writer, a student, a doctor, or anything else in the world.

For me, that means believing in my words even after a harsh one-star review, even after receiving a rejection letter from an agent, even after the doubts start creeping in whispering that whatever new story I’m writing is terrible. But sometimes, you need a little help and that’s what my amazing fans are for! Every time I get down on myself, I read an email from a fan, a glowing five-star review, a Facebook comment that brought a smile to my face, and I feel a little more confident in my work. What people think is completely out of my control, so I may as well latch onto the good rather than the bad–both sides will always be there!

What are you reading now?
I just finished Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone series–phenomenal! Each installment grew on the next, taking the books to a place I never expected them to go. The romance was gut-wrenching, the action intense, the characters compelling. The plot never stopped surprising and the conclusion came to a beautiful ending. Highly recommend!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Lots and lots of writing! My story ideas are coming much faster than my fingers can type! I’m working on the end of my fantasy series, polishing up my fairytale retelling, outlining a new adult contemporary romance–and those are just the ideas I’ve fleshed out. My notebook is filled to the brim with random thoughts and inspirations that may one day become stories–but that’s what I love about being a writer, there are so many lives to live.

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?
Oo, tough question!

1) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire!

2) The Survival Handbook, for practical purposes (I’m a suburb and city girl through and through–I wouldn’t last three days without some help!)

3) A blank moleskin notebook with an attached pen, for when inspiration hits (Let’s face it, if I’m stranded alone on a deserted island, my imagination will be running about a mile a minute!)

And…

4) Graceling by Kristin Cashore (It’s a standalone book so no cliffhangers, and I think I could read it a thousand times without getting bored!)

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

Kaitlyn Davis’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Kaitlyn Davis is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in the San Francisco Bay area and grew up there and on the Island of Kaua’i in Hawai’i. I graduated from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa and started his career in public accounting at Arthur Andersen in 1991. A Certified Public Accountant, I have worked in the real estate industry for the past 12 years focusing on finance and accounting for all types of development activities.

I have always been interested in personal financial planning since I first started my career. I have written two books so far.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Building a Financial Fortress: Getting Started in Real Estate Investing. I am very passionate about the real estate industry in general and real estate investing in particular. My inspiration for the book was wanting to share the process I followed for starting a real estate investment business with very little money during the Great Recession.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I drink a lot of coffee and usually write late at night when the house is quiet. I finished my latest book while I was on vacation in Hawaii. That’s why the cover photo is a group of palm trees with a sun rising behind them. I thought the dawning of a new day in paradise was a fitting visual image for starting a new adventure in real estate investing. It also evokes my personal aspiration to be a successful real estate investor (and have more time for tropical vacations!)

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Robert Kiyosaki, who wrote Rich Dad, Poor Dad is a major influence. I’m also a huge fan of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey.

What are you working on now?
I am preparing to write my next book, which will be on investing in gold and silver coins. This is another passion of mine. All of my books relate to my first book, Building a Financial Fortress: Lessons Learned from the Great Recession for Savers and Investors. I developed the Financial Fortress concept during the Great Recession.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I promote my books on a Facebook page and my Twitter, as well as my Blogger blog. I will be doing my first free book promotion in a week and we will see how that goes.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Pay attention to spelling, grammar and formatting. Spelling and grammar errors can really detract from what is otherwise a quality work. Have someone else proofread your book. Also, keep writing!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Think straight, talk straight. That’s a quote from Arthur Andersen, the man who founded the firm of the same name.

What are you reading now?
I’m planning to read a crime novel from an indie author that I have recently discovered – it’s called Exceptional Merit by George Norris, a retired NYPD police officer. I just finished his first book The Blue Executions and it was excellent.

I mostly read business books and the last one I read was The Soft Edge by Rich Karlgaard.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to write at least a couple more books on personal finance topics. I’m hoping some day to guest speak to college students about my books and give them some tips about investing that I have learned over the years.

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) Bible

2) War and Peace, Tolstoy

3) 7 Habits, Covey

Author Websites and Profiles
Nick Reichert Website
Nick Reichert Amazon Profile
Nick Reichert Author Profile on Smashwords

Nick Reichert’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Nick Reichert is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in Connecticut with my wife, three sons and one goldfish. I ave only written one novel so far – a middle grade book called Flicker – although I am working with my agent on a series about an ordinary boy who has the most extraordinary adventures.

When I am not writing, I work as a qualitative researcher, specializing in kids’ and families’ media habits. It’s a great job that takes me all over the US, chatting to 3-75 year-olds about TV, apps, websites and magazines.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My new book is called Flicker. I really am not sure what inspired the story – I can only say that one morning I thought to myself, “I wonder what would happen if you woke up one day and nobody knew who you were.” With that simple idea, Flicker was born.

Flicker is a book for 9-12 year-olds (although some of its biggest fans are adults!) about a boy called Joel. He is a regular kid who loves soccer, frozen yogurt and hanging out with his friends. His life is pretty typical until the day he wakes up and discovers that nobody knows who he is. . . not his friends, not his family, nobody.

He thinks he is all alone until he meets Sara – a teenage girl who has also been forgotten by everyone she knows. Joel and Sara team up to try and understand what is happening to their lives, but things quickly turn from bad to worse. Before long, it becomes clear that time is running out for them both.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes. I only like to write when I am wearing my Superman pajamas and my Curious George hat. I also like to sing the words as I am writing them.

OK, none of that is true, but it sounds much better than the real answer, which is “No.”

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Wow – that is a hard question! I have read so much that I don’t t really know where to begin. But, since you’re asking the question, here is an incomplete list of authors I can recall at this moment:

Michael Bond
AA Milne
Ann Patchett
John Irving
Agatha Christie
Douglas Adams
Barbara Kingsolver
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Robinton Mistry
Bill Bryson
Mary Doria Russel

What are you working on now?
I am working on a new middle grade novel about a boy called Kyle, his best friend Sofia, and his cat. It is a sci-fi adventure with plenty of humor and surprises.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Oh how I wish I knew the answer to that! I can only say that I am using an eclectic mix of strategies, including Countdown deals on Amazon.com, selling the book through local bookstores in Connecticut and making myself known through websites such as this one.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes – get ready for the best, worst, most fun, most frustrating, exciting, boring, surprising, predictable experience of your life!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Read a lot. Write something every day! When you have finished your first draft, take a break before editing and revising.

What are you reading now?
Currently I am reading The Widowers Tale by Julia Glass. Next up is Bubble Screen by David Chill.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I still have a far amount of work to do on my middle grade sci-fi novel. Since I have very little time for writing (that pesky family and full-time job really get in the way), that will keep me occupied for some time.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I have never been good at questions like this. I find it impossible to name my favorite movies, songs, TV shows, books, etc. Three’s just too much stuff that I love. So I guess my answer would be, I wouldn’t get stranded on s desert island (did you see Cast Away? That man went nuts!).

Author Websites and Profiles
Rob Hunt Website
Rob Hunt Amazon Profile

Rob Hunt’s Social Media Links

Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Rob Hunt is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
The oldest of six children, I grew up in New York City. As a child, I escaped my noisy siblings by voraciously reading every book in my parents’ collection and every romance novel I could check out of the public library. My tastes later expanded to include classics, spy novels, and thrillers. Inspired by the stories I’ve read, I began writing poetry and song lyrics and even tried to write a fantasy novel at the tender age of 13. I began writing novels as an adult during National November Writing Month in 2007 and have been chugging along ever since. When I’m not writing, I practice law in Miami, Florida.

“Just Dreams” is the only book I’ve published so far; however, I’ve written the second book in the series – “Dreams Deferred” and have started on the third. I’ve also written another book which will be published next year.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my novel is “Just Dreams.” I am a civil trial attorney by profession and a romantic by heart. “Just Dreams” was inspired by a combination of factors including my dream to write and publish a novel, my being a romantic, and my profession. Just can be seen as short for justice.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wouldn’t call them unusual. I tend to get more writing done when I’m sitting in cafes with my writers group and the head of the group cracks the whip by leading us in writing sprints – which are timed intervals in which we are encouraged to get as many words on the page as possible. The idea being to whip out a first draft and to fix it later. Of course, it helps to outline the book beforehand so that the editing process is not too painful.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I would say books by Nora Roberts, John Grisham, Tom Clancy, and Robert Ludlum, among others. I have eclectic tastes.

What are you working on now?
In terms of writing, I’m working on the third book in my Brooks Sisters Dreams Series – “Caged Dreams” – which is scheduled to be published in May or June, 2015.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don’t know yet. This is my first book and thus, my first time trying to promote a book. I’ll have to experiment to find the best method.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep working on your books and finish them. Don’t let anything or anybody get in your way. It’s worth it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You can edit a rough draft, you can’t edit a blank page. Get the draft done. Nora Roberts said that.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading a fascinating book by an author named Marjorie Belson called “Nothing is Promised.” It’s a memoir of a quintessential New Yorker who is diagnosed with breast cancer the day after her son’s wedding. As she mends from her surgery, 9/11 takes place and her son enlists in the military and is deployed to the Persian Gulf. She had me laughing out loud and crying on an airplane while travelling for business. That’s highly unusual for me as I’m not known for being the most emotionally expressive person.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I plan to finish writing and editing and publishing the remainder of the books in my Brooks Sisters Dreams series as well as the single title suspense novel I ‘ve written which is set in New York and Liberia. Then, I’ll try my hand at a movie script for that book.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The first two books in J.D. Robb’s “In Death” series and the first two books in Tom Clancy’s “Net Force” series.

Author Websites and Profiles
L.J. Taylor Website
L.J. Taylor Amazon Profile

L.J. Taylor’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

L.J. Taylor is a post from Awesome Gang