Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
A former firefighter, I sometimes feel as if I jumped from the fire into the frying pan when I took up writing as a means to fulfill my passion to create characters and worlds that I longed to inhabit or longed to avoid. I also play bass guitar, though not as frequently—something’s gotta give when you write.

I am a recipient of a State of Florida Individual Artist Fellowship, my work has appeared in, among others, New Plains Review, The MacGuffin Magazine, The Chaffey Review, and the anthology Everything Is Broken. My first novel, Die Laughing, is a humorously dark sci-fi adventure set in the 1950s.

Besides numerous short stories and a few poems, I’ve completed four novels and am currently working my way through a fifth one. I tend to gravitate mostly to sci-fi/fantasy/horror, but not always. My forthcoming release is a contemporary women’s lit novel.

I have two grown children. I live in Miami Lakes, FL, with my wife and our terrier, KC. Contact me at my www.louisklowy.com , or on Facebook/Louis K Lowy or on twitter:@LouisKLowy I love to hear from fans.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first — and latest released book by IFWG Publishing — is a humorously dark sc-fi adventure set in the 1950s of flying saucers, communist paranoia and live television. It’s the story of Las Vegas comedian, Sam E. Lakeside, who is abducted by shape-shifting aliens and their leader, a power-hungry mobster and forced to participate in a plan to rob the earth of it’s oil. Sam recruits a black-listed comic book writer and the mobster’s ex-girlfriend to fight back. This leads them to New York City and the Steve Allen Show, where Sam is forced to choose what he wants most in the world — to be a star — or the planet’s survival.

My forthcoming novel, Pedal is set for release in spring, 2015 by Assent Publishing. It is the story of Joanne Brick a single, 49-year-old elementary school music teacher who is fired and struggles to reclaim her life back through bicycle racing.

I wanted to create a realistic, contemporary story with an everyday, middle-age heroine, and where the stakes take on a greater significance beyond itself. I also thought the theme of change and how ordinary people deal with it was an important issue worth writing about, particularly in these times of economic uncertainty.

Though I’ve never raced competitively, I own and have ridden bicycles nearly my entire life, most frequently in college, where it allowed me to spend time with my thoughts. The opportunity to contemplate that biking affords, along with the physicality of the sport, attracted me to use it in my story.

I hope Pedal will inspire women and men of all ages to overcome life’s turning points.

I also have a sci-fi book titled Anatomy Of A Humachine: Book 1 – To Dream set for release by IFWG Publising in March, 2016.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write a minimum of three hours per day Monday-Friday. I keep strict, written notes on it. For instance if I start at 11am, I’ll note the date and time in my notebook. If I get up to grab a cup of tea, I’ll mark the time it took to make the tea. Whatever that time is, say 5 minutes, I’ll mark a +5 to my 11am start time, which means I now have to write to at least 2:05p to make up my three hours. So, yea, I’m anal about not cheating on my three hour minimal time.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Growing my I was a huge, hugh comic book fan – so I’d have to say Stan Lee from my childhood days. In highschool and college I loved (and still do) Stephen King, Charles Dickens, and Sinclair Lewis. Later on, I loved James Joyce, Cormac McCarthy, Ray Bradbury, Ernest Hemingway, Jane Austen and so, so many others.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a turn of the 19th century horror story. A good portion of it takes place in Florida, which is fun.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My website is www.louisklowy. com – I’m also on Facebook/Louis K Lowy – and twitter @LouisKLowy. I also have a Pinterest sight – Louis K Lowy. Though I enjoy all the sites, I would have to say that grand central station is my website, especially now that I just started up a newsletter. I’m going to be having lots of giveaways and exclusives. You can sign up on the website.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Patience and tenacity — and discipline. Get your butt in the chair and write.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
A writer writes. (Simple, but it says everything.)

What are you reading now?
William Gibson’s Neuromancer.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To finish the first draft of my fifth novel – first drafts for me are like hiking up a muddy mountain in army boots. The greatest writing joy for me is the polishing and re-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?
Dubliners – James Joyce. Salem’s Lot – Stephen King. The Art of the Short Story – Dana Gioia/R.S. Gwynn (this is a compilation of amazing short stories). The Road – Cormac McCarthy. (Of course I’m leaving out many, many, more marvelous books I’d like to take.)

Author Websites and Profiles
Louis K Lowy Website
Louis K Lowy Amazon Profile

Louis K Lowy’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Louis K Lowy is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a retired lady of uncertain age who loves reading & can’t stop writing. I started serious authorship when I lost my last job – I was a chemist – and in six months I had a book. It took a lot longer to get it published, however.
I live near Kettering, England, without my family: they are grown & pursuing their own lives now, which gives me more time for writing.
I am a witch & have been for more than 40 years. Much of my writing stems from this.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I am very near to publishing my third book, Hunting Spectres. It is the next volume in The Bloodwitch Chronicles: I have already published Witch in Blood and The Vampire’s Granddaughter.
The inspiration begins with the question ‘What if?’ and goes on from there: how a hero, or heroine in this case, overcomes obstacles through a combination of skill and thought and not, as happens so often in horror movies, by sheer accident. Good does not overcome evil, not unless good is really, really lucky.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
What constitutes unusual? I sit at a desk with a PC or laptop and hammer away. Doesn’t everyone? I have written straight through a night: I can find that an entire day has passed unnoticed when I’m on song. I do tend to run several, and I mean several, storylines at once and bounce around the timelines of my stories more in the way of a movie director: I end up with lots of random scenes which I then have to fir together. Surprisingly, they do tend to fit rather well – I must be a writer or something.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I adore Terry Pratchett. I’d give someone’s right arm to be able to write like he does. There’s Tolkein, naturally, and C S Lewis. Terry Goodkind did the excellent Sword of Truth series, and Ursula Le Guin was influential. I also devoured Asimov, Poul Anderson &, Michael Moorcock amongst a host of others… I loved the Worst Witch books and Harry Potter was part of my kid’s lives, and mine. There are really too many to mention.

What are you working on now?
Books Four & Five in The Bloodwitch Chronicles series, naturally: Fruit of the Bitter Tree and Witch in Chains. There’s also a couple of chick-lits, Country Pursuits & Dancing in Rainbows: a comic horror about a school in hell which I’m calling Fungus Notes right now, and a dystopian fantasy, For the Flowers: and anotheer supernatural fantasy, The Singers of Dalmyre and when I have a moment, my own autobiography – Five Colours in my Skirt, about growing up in the Fifties & the changes I’ve seen. Yes, Too many. But the inspiration strikes & I have to write it down……..

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Gawd knows, because I surely don’t or my books would sell better. I sell through Amazon.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep at it. Do not be discouraged by failure. Everyone’s had that.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
How do you know you can’t do it if you haven’t tried yet?

What are you reading now?
An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield. I didn’t think I’d like it, but he has a lot of down-to-earth sense that is useful for everyone.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Write, write, write. Promote, promote, promote. Pray for a publishing contract, I’m rubbish at marketing & stuff.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Can’t I take my laptop and a solar converter and write my own? I’ve read all the books in my library & I won’t be able to get new releases.

Author Websites and Profiles
Lynda Panther Website
Lynda Panther Amazon Profile

Lynda Panther’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Lynda Panther is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a North Carolina native living in Tokyo. I first left the US in 2001 (out of the blue according to my family) to go to graduate school in Christchurch, New Zealand. I earned my MA in Theatre and Film Studies from the University of Canterbury in 2004 and promptly hit the road (or skies). I went to Shanghai, China to visit my friend with every intention of moving back to North Carolina after my visit. After two weeks, I decided I liked China and ended up living there for four years. In 2008, I moved back to New Zealand. (By this time my family was used to my seemingly random moves.) After living through two major earthquakes in Christchurch, I decided to move to Japan in 2011. That last move in particular seemed to defy logic for most people. Anyway, I’m a conundrum even to myself.

Within New Zealand and China, I moved frequently from city to city. For a decade, only my parents and two of my three sisters, never all three at the same time, knew my physical address. I’m not really sure how many different places I’ve lived. I used to unpack but keep everything in grocery bags so I could just tie the bags closed when I was ready to move. I once moved from start to finish (packing, cleaning my old place, and unpacking) in an hour and a half. It would have been faster if not for traffic. Since moving to Tokyo, I have only lived in four different places. Marriage has definitely settled me down.

Dang: The Dang Series Book 1 (Episodes 1, 2 and 3) is my first and only book so far.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Dang was inspired by an idea I had to make a redneck soap opera series. For years, I started drafts and outlines for different books but I never finished anything. Dang was one of the ones I always wanted to develop. My wife encouraged me to just write and I followed her advice. I started writing Dang as a soap opera but somewhere along the way it turned into a trailer park comedy crime murder mystery thriller.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t really have any unusual writing habits. Sometimes I make myself laugh out loud when I’m writing. Is that weird?

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love to read Mark Twain. I like the characters and the dialogue.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on book 2 in the Dang series. The working title is Dang: The Legend of Vernon Boone.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think the best way to promote my first book is to write a second book. I’m working hard to get book 2 ready to publish.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just write. Don’t worry if the first draft isn’t perfect.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve ever had is to have fun. If whatever your are doing isn’t fun, then it’s time to change.

What are you reading now?
2k to 10k: Writing Faster, Writing Better, and Writing More of What You Love by Rachel Aaron

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m just going to keep on writing and see what happens.

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 clean joke book, a dirty joke book and a book of motivational quotes.

Author Websites and Profiles
Rob D Smith Website
Rob D Smith Amazon Profile

Rob D Smith is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was named for a grandmother I never met, I’ve lived in seven states and five countries, I once had 17 cats, and I’ve been writing since before I could spell properly.

Of course, my spelling has improved, and I no longer write in crayon. The cats had to be given away because it’s insane to try to move to Germany with 17 cats (my 5 year old self was very sad, but at least I got to keep ‘my’ cat). And, despite being named for my grandmother, I spent the first 13 years of my life being called by my middle name, which I have come to think suits me better, but which I haven’t started using again because… hassle.

Ah yes, books that I’ve written? Well, I’ve written five so far, but I’ve only published one of them. It was the first one to make it through sufficient revisions to be good enough for the public eye. In addition, I ran a Kickstarter campaign for it, hired a professional editor, cover artist, cover designer etc., so it’s quite pretty and professional now, which makes me happy. I’ve also published a handful of short stories with small literary magazines and even put a collection of them into one tiny volume that is available for purchase.

When I’m not reading or writing, I enjoy playing bass, rock climbing, trail running, backpacking, and general adventure having.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book (and debut novel) is entitled Blade’s Edge and it was initially inspired by the time I spent wandering around mountain shrines in Japan while I lived there teaching English.

As I spent more and more time hiking through the local mountains and encountering the various shrines everywhere I asked myself what the world would be like if all of the shinto spirits existed and were able to interact with the world? That was the initial spark.

From there the story evolved and eventually became something that was loosely inspired by feudal Japan, but was, in fact, it’s own completely imaginary world.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write at a standing desk. I can write sitting down, of course, but I prefer to write standing up for a number of reasons, not least of which is that I enjoy dancing while rocking out to electronica/dubstep violin music on pandora. Yep. I look ridiculous.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Well, hundreds of them, honestly even the books I don’t like have most likely influenced my writing in some way, even it was simply an example of what not to do.

That said, here are some of my favorite authors who I would be elated to find myself compared to (as in, I like them so very much that I would be suspicious that anyone comparing me to these great writers is actually my mom incognito):

1. Kristin Cashore

2. RA Salvatore

3. Anne Bishop

4. Tamora Pierce

5. Karen Chance

I’m going to leave it at five, but honestly the list goes on forever, and those are just the authors who write in a similar genre to my debut novel.

What are you working on now?
Well, I’m currently doing a lot of PR and marketing for Blade’s Edge, but next up on the list is to finish revising a contemporary fantasy novel entitled Gwendamned.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Goodreads has worked wonders for me so far in terms of exposure. Running a Goodreads giveaway has gotten hundreds of people to look at my book (and request it) who never would have seen it otherwise. In addition, facebook ads have worked well for me, and I’m looking into the benefits of doing a blog tour as well.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Hire an editor BEFORE you publish. It is always worth the money, I don’t care how good your significant other is at catching typos.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Well… that’s a strong superlative… But off the top of my head, this quote from Hugh Howey is pretty solid: “Don’t be miserable. Be happy. And nice. And work hard. And get discovered. How, exactly? I have no f@#$ing clue.”

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading a Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep publishing! I have a number of books that are in need of revision and then once they’re pretty and polished are ready for public consumption. I hope to release at least one more book this year…. Preferably two.

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?
Ooohhh… That’s a toughie…

1. The Count of Monte Cristo, it’s huge, worth rereading a few hundred more times, and can be used as kindling for about a year once I’m finally tired of it.

2. The Count of Monte Cristo in the original french. If I’m going to have that much time on my hands I might as well learn French, plus see the aforementioned kindling use.

3. Graceling by Kristin Cashore because it’s one of the best books ever, and the main character is probably the character most likely to survive being stranded on a desert island of any I’ve ever read. Perhaps I could channel her knowledge and manage to rescue myself.

Author Websites and Profiles
Virginia McClain Website
Virginia McClain Amazon Profile

Virginia McClain’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Virginia McClain is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Yankee transplant currently living in the south. Spent four years working my way around the world as a computer and English as Second Language (ESL) teacher. Now that I’m semi-retired I have time to write. I currently have one non-fiction and two fiction books on Kindle — all short.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
DANCING CRAYONS is my most recent Kindle submission. I was sitting at my desk thinking about what subject to use for a short horror story. I was staring at the 3 1/4″ cubed metal box next to my computer. The box has pictures of colored pencils on all sides. I was thinking, “What if these colored pencils could dance?” That thought developed into DANCING CRAYONS.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. Once in awhile I’ll wake up around 2:00 A.M. with a story idea. I can’t get back to sleep until I get up and write about it for an hour or two.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Margaret Atwood certainly.

What are you working on now?
Currently working on the next paranormal Christian short story for my TWELVE MYSTERIOUS WOMEN collection on Kindle.

Also working on another short horror story. It hints that people from the Wizard of Oz might be some of the characters.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still trying to figure that out. However, I’ve been very impressed with “ryuken” in fiverr.com Covers are very important. A cover that speaks to the readers, that gives a promise, is needed. I found a few people on fiverr.com who are good with this. It’s either pay them $5.00 (plus a 50 cent service fee) or pay a professional cover designer from $100 – $200 (2015 prices).

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

Proof read, proof read, proof read. Then hire a good editor.

For eBook fiction short stories, don’t make them too short or too long. I’d suggest at least 6,000 words, unless it’s free. Over 18,00 words is too long. Around 20,000 — 26,000 words is in that odd grey area. It’s too long to be a short story, but too short to be considered to be a full book.

Promote, promote, promote. Again, fiverr.com has a huge list of people who’ll promote your books to numerous blogs, social media sites, etc. Some are great, some mediocre. You’ll have to check the reviews and decide for yourself. Go to youtube.com (or any search site) and put “How to promote your eBook” in the search box. Youtube has a long list of very good videos about this. Many are by people who have something to sell. You don’t have to buy; they still give free advice.

Schedule; watch your time. Know your writing rhythm. I mentioned that sometimes I get up in the middle of the night to write. I also know that the few hours before I go to bed isn’t my best time, so read or promote during that time. Try to write 1,000 words a day.

Once you have three or four books of the same genre (or series) set up a blog that allows for an email list. Then as you submit books you can inform readers. It’s also a good way to communicate with them.

Read, read, read. In my opinion, the bets book for authors (or any short story reader) is “The Art of the Short Story” September 9, 2005 by Dana Gioia and R. S. Gwynn. It’s on amazon and your library should have it. It’s the “Best Short Fiction” by 52 great authors. There’s roughly a one page biography about each author before their story followed by the author’s notes about writing. That it’s required reading for MIT’s Reading and Writing Short Stories class speaks for itself.

I hope this information is useful for you.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
DON’T GET DISCOURAGED! Quoting a high school French teacher of over 50 (that’s not a typo; it’s fifty) years ago. OK, get discouraged but don’t quit. Hang in there.

What are you reading now?
Writing with Intent by Margaret Atwood

What’s next for you as a writer?
Getting a blog for my fiction eBooks together. Have joined a WordPress meetup group. They’re all over the place. See meetup.com. Also reading WordPress for Dummies.

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 Art of the Short Story (mentioned above)

A book about Acadian History (Haven’t decided which; am looking at some now.)

Modern Irish Short Stories

Patricia Noonan is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a pharmacy graduate based in Jodhpur city, which is also known as Suncity. I have written this book. In addition to this, I also wrote a book “Kuch Lafz” which is a compilation of 16 poetries written by a son for his mother.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is “The Tree’s Sister” which is a 130-page fictional book based on the theme of emotional bonding and environmental conservation. My zeal to do something to aware people for plantation and plant conservation is what inspired me to do this.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No. I don’t.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Many authors and their books have influenced me. But, my favourite is “Revolution 2020″ by famous author Chetan Bhagat. My another favourite book is “Love@Facebook” by well known author Nikita Singh.

What are you working on now?
Presently, I am preparing for my exams. I am appearing for competitive exams which will enable me to get a good and stable job. Writing is my passion, and I will continue it even after I get my job. Presently, getting a good job is my first priority

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I believe in word of mouth strategy for promotion. When we write good content then we can hope that people will surely like it. I am not a marketing guru and I may be wrong on this. I myself have not tried all marketing strategies but I believe that social media is the best way to promote books in addition to the traditional websites like Amazon.com and publisher’s websites.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you have a passion to write something, do write. Reading an interview of a successful author earning good income and then deciding over writing should not be done. Follow your heart for it will guide you to your passion.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
My father who is a Surgeon by profession was surprised when I told him that I plan to publish a book which I wrote some times back. He advised – “I like your passion towards writing. But, as a father I would advice you that you should first get up to achieve your childhood dream of becoming a civil services officer. You can continue on with writing after you achieve that.”

What are you reading now?
I like reading ebooks/books during leisure time. Presently, I am reading “The Guest” e-book by author Suneeta Balakrishnan.

What’s next for you as a writer?
For me, the idea of a book came randomly. For eg: The idea of my latest book “The Tree’s sister” came when I was walking in the park in the evening. Presently, I am preparing for my exams, but I will surely resume to writing after achieving my childhood dream.

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 my own list of favourite books. I will take the top-3 or top-4 from those books with me in that case.

Author Websites and Profiles
Ankit Singh Website
Ankit Singh Amazon Profile

Ankit Singh’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Ankit Singh is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am Ana, Author & Artist, and I´ve been working in publishing and communications for over 30 years, traveling around the world. I graduated in Translation and Interpretation in English, also in French at Alliance Francaise with the “Certificat Superieur de la Langue Française”. I also hold a Bachelor of Arts with License in Artistic Education, I studied Literature at the University Paris IV (Sorbonne in building), Theatre and Literature also in the Maison de la Culture du Monde and Meditation & Dance in the WAC (World Arts & Culture) from UCLA in Los Angeles, California. My passion for other cultures lead me to seek out different perspectives and ways of life. I went to Australia, Tahiti, Hawaii, Bora Bora, Easter Island, Peru, Venezuela, Argentina, Paraguay, Canada, Switzerland, Italy, Malta, Croatia, Corfu (Greece), Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Virgin Islands, Brussels, Portugal and Spain. I lived in England, France (Paris), United States, Chile, but I am originally fromBrazil. I specialized in Arts and all things related to multimedia features. (Did I already mention that I also love to travel and experience cultures from around the world? Well, very much indeed!) I write from different genres, so I can easily go from one genre to another being very eclectic and flexible (oh, those years as a Ballet dancer gave me longevity). My short-stories and poems were first published in my sweet sixteen by Mackenzie Publisher. I translated and illustrated many books, magazines, such as Magie by Editora Ondas, a book by Sebrae: on crafts for the Chilean Council for Handicrafts. Books translated into Portuguese, such as How to Break In TV Writing, with Gray Jones, Writing the Heart of Your Story (Escrevendo o coração da sua historia) and Filme Sua Novela both with CS Lakin, “Think like a Genius”(Pense como um genio) with Raimon Samso, “A Esperança do Tibete” and “Dicas de Autodefesa”. I wrote more than twenty books for adults. including three trilogies, “Memoirs of an Amazon”, The Pierrot´s Love” and “Interestelar Series” from my first sci-fi book “Out of Thin Air” which I wrote way before the movie was actually released. I also wrote book series for children such as “Sing-a-long”, educational books as “How-to” and “The Enchanted Valley” Series that teach children about natural environment and the magic surrounding it.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book will be the one I´m working now in Portuguese, translated from English “The Mysterious Murder of Marilyn Monroe” which is already available for pre-order on Amazon.com. I decided to write this book more than three years ago when I heard about the way Miss Marilyn Monroe died and I thought to myself, “Well, that´s fishy!” Also it was the year 2011, tne years after the September Eleven and the next year it would turn out to be fifty years without her grace. And I kind of channelled her thoughts and then… well, you might as well read it, for it´s already done!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I take little pieces of paper where I write my thoughts at any given time, which could be very unexpected indeed and in many odd places. For example, two days ago, I was riding a bus with my mother and I had to ask her paper and pen (I know as a writer I should carry it everywhere, such an essential material) and then I wrote down some words that just came into my head. My mother didn´t even ask me anything. She knew I was in my writing process. As I woke up or even in the middle of the night I have to jump off the bed to write down my thougths. Some may even come from a dream I just have. I just feel like that if I don´t do it right away the train of thought will simply run over me and it will be lost forever… and that´s usually how it ends up to be, anyway.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh so many, but I can easily name by heart, literally, Charles Dickens, especially with his David Copperfield, Agatha Christie and all of her books were sensational for a young reader going through the adventures of middle school, Arthur Conan Doyle, Andre Gide, Richard Bach (One), Paulo Coelho and his Diary of a Magus,

What are you working on now?
As I mentioned before, I am working on the translation of my Mystery/Suspense hybrid fiction/nonfiction which I originally wrote in English to Portuguese. I am also working in anew book for children in my How-to Series. So keep an eye on it for there is more creative stuff coming up.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I usually advertise it to my dear friends and fans on facebook, I also add the links on to my Twitter account and I keep updates as much as I can. But what I found out is that it doesn´t matter much how or where I promote my books, I guess that people often get my books through google search or other means that I´m oblivious. For there is time that I promote too much and I hear crickets. And some books that I even take the time and effort to promote at all that gain visibility God knows from where and bingo!… There are other ways to promote that I´m not even aware of, but I insist on those two platforms I referred above for at least this way people know what I´m doing even if there is no much effectiveness towards them.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Please, please, don´t go publish until you are one hundred percent sure you are doing a great job, the best that you may deliver. For in this publishing media it´s easy to get it all wrong when you are just starting. Then you will regret later on for not having a good editor to go through your writing, or having a great artist to do the best cover for your book. Because if there is something I learned during these years in the publishing market it is to never ever understimate the power of good editing. And plus, the saying “never judge a book by its cover” was created by a lazy author who didn´t give much thought to what really works in the marketing of both fiction and nonfiction.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Working so many years doing TV commercials had its toll on me. The best advice I ever heard came from an ad of a famous brand (and I am not even giving the name of the product, and you will know what I mean): “Just do it!”

And from another one (and again I´m not saying it, I have my mouth shut): “Keep Walking!”

What are you reading now?
I´m reading “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” in French. But then again, I prefer it in the original language which I read twenty years ago. I´m also reading ” The Zebra Network” which I had also read such a long time that I don´t even remember the plot. I enjoy rereading books that I forgot how the story goes, the same with movies. It helps me keep my brain from having literal “paraphrasia”.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I guess with time we accept concepts and ideas that we did´t conceive before. Now I´m not giving more to high ideals, and just keep my two feet on the ground. Of course, I still have some aspiring dreams such as becoming recognized for doing a great job. But then again, I already became a bestseller, as I longed to become so long ago, and I also get recognition for my good work in so many differnet venues that it´s hard to keep track. So once I decided to let it go and let it flow, now I´m just enjoying the ride. Not that it was an easy task to do so, it took me more than twenty years to realize that, to reach out to the position I´m in and to improve my ways. It´s not that I lack ambitions. It´s just that after a while, we kind of sorted out what works and what don´t, we stop sweating the small stuff and see that some things are just not our cup of tea and we excuse ourselves for not bringing us about to so much rustle. We become soft, but in a good way, not sloppy or lazy, but comfortable with who we are. Ok, I guess I didn´t even give you an answer but I´m sure I get to a soft point there by simply implying that I will keep writing. (Remember: Keep walking!)

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?
“Letters to Theo” by Van Gogh, which I read fifteen years ago and I would read it again and again until someone would find me in the island. The other three books would have to be some that I didn´t read yet, perhaps something about how to survive in a desert island, how to build a hut or similar interesting topics that would help me get it through and along the way. Maybe a book about meditation (I will need to not get crazy such as Tom Hanks in the movie “Cast Away”). I would take an autobiography of figures I admire, it could be a book about Marilyn Monroe, who I just wrote about or with the lives of any other celebrity that do better job inside their brains than while acting on scene. Maybe a book from Deepak Chopra would help me out there and make me feel less isolated. Actually, my own book, “Out of Thin Air” which is about being lonely in space would do the job.

Author Websites and Profiles
Ana Claudia Antunes Website
Ana Claudia Antunes Amazon Profile

Ana Claudia Antunes’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Ana Claudia Antunes is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Myself Surakri I alias S.Rama krishnan Iyer, a student of the institution known as creativity.I am professionally a non-linear video editor.But as matter of writing books,it comes to me very naturally.From the very starting i was a daily diary writer.Soon this habit turned out to be a passion which made me to write some fiction works as crime stories,poetry,social based short stories etc.Also I shot some short movies with my friends on the subjects as “SAFE DRIVING”,’SELF AWAKENING’ .In the field of education I am an Arts Graduate in BA ENGLISH LITERATURE.Also I had done my masters in MBA IT.

Some of the books I had written are “Super Human Brains” Which turned out to be the Best Seller in Amazon Kindle Stores then followed with another Best Seller “Twists & Turns”.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is “How to have a good relationship with your partner”.The people around me,My friends,My Parents and also some married couples who had experienced same problems and also the situation which I mentioned in my book had inspired me in writing this book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really.Just prefer to write on the balcony with some fresh air coming in.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Mahabharata the very great ancient epic has a very powerful influence in my life as i find it a complete script in itself.

What are you working on now?
My next book.Also in a short movie which I am making.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Liking all the pages on facebook or any other social networking sites and then posting the books link on them.

Through Newspaper,Tv Ads,through websites like yours.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just be you.Listen to everyone but follow your own instincts.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The more you try to hide yourself from the people around you of what you are,The less aura you will stock in you.As you are what you hide and not what you show.

What are you reading now?
I am researching on internet for my next book.

What’s next for you as a writer?
“The adventure of an Informer”

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?
“How to escape from desert island”
“How to survive on desert island”

If ever written

“Some mystery novels”

For passing time

Author Websites and Profiles
Surakri I Amazon Profile

Surakri I’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Surakri I is a post from Awesome Gang