Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I write romantic fiction with a sense of humour and, sometimes, a sense of the ridiculous – because we all know life and love aren’t exactly how we’d like them to be. I hope I also write with enough heart to touch the reader, so she can identify with the heroine’s experiences.

I’ve written three romantic comedies, and my fourth book is still a romance, but it’s more about the heroine’s journey, when she rebuilds her life after losing almost everything she owns.

It didn’t happen immediately. First, I had to earn a living, so I fitted in a few years of teaching Art and Pottery, writing training course materials and producing corporate videos, before I plunged into the world of romantic fiction.

I’d like to say I’m uber-disciplined, with a clear plan of my work in progress pinned to the wall above my pristine desk. Sadly, that’s not possible because I’m perennially untidy and I write all over the place – chiefly Hampshire and Andalucia – libraries, aeroplanes, cafes and ferries.

However, I do keep a very comprehensive spreadsheet on my laptop, containing timelines, character detail, chapter lengths, family trees and relevant plot data.

If that makes me sound like a truly cosmopolitan traveller, in cool suits with a sassy hairstyle, allow me to divest you of that image. I’m more likely to be lounging around with a cup of black coffee next to me, joss sticks burning (not on the plane, natch) and the radio playing quietly in the background.

I’m not good at writing first thing; I have to walk the dog, do half an hour of yoga, tidy the kitchen, do my emails, check Facebook, have coffee, watch Millionnaire Matchmaker/Dinner Date/Long Island Medium/Anything with Baking in it, and allow my brain to settle into writing mode, which kicks in around 2.30pm and lasts till around 6.00pm, if I’m lucky. Sometimes I get a second wind around 11.00pm, after more TV and some Facebook/Twitter/email stuff…again. I can keep going till 1.00am or later, usually until my eyes feel sore, my stomach starts rumbling and my back aches.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Chloe’s Rescue Mission. The idea for this was sparked off when I was watching an episode of Dragons’ Den, in which a business woman accepted the offer of finance and support from one of the male dragons. When they shook hands and offered the obligatory cheek-to-cheek kiss, I sensed a spark of attraction. What, I thought, might happen if this business relationship turned into something else? And so the seed was set.

My hero is Scottish and called Duncan, but that’s where any association between the dragon and my character ends!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Coffee is indispensable! I like to burn joss sticks and own a few incense burners. That, combined with classical music, works like a charm to create just the right ambiance for me. I find fragrance is very good for getting me in the mood to write.

I listen to classical music. Not because I’m highbrow or anything, but because I once read that when children were played classical music in the classroom, they became more creative. So I thought I’d give it a try. I have no idea if it has made me more creative, but if I listen to any other kind of music, I end up singing along or dancing around, which is counter-productive when I’m trying to meet a deadline. So, playing classical music, quietly in the background, has become part of my writing ritual.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I started reading romances when I was swotting for my finals. I don’t recommend it if you’re aiming for top grades but it does lighten the brain-load. I fell upon Jilly Cooper’s ‘Harriet’ and the course of my life was changed. I read all of Jilly’s books and knew, if I ever wrote anything, she would be my writing role model.

Since then, I’ve read everything Marian Keyes has written and admire her ability to combine humour with serious emotional issues. Her books are full of heart and laughs.

Now, I’m not saying I’m anywhere close to these fabulous writers, but a fun read was what I wanted to create and I hope I’ve achieved that.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a riches to rags story, about a sculptor called Gabriella Gill-Martin – known to her friends as Gigi. I’m setting it on one of my favorite places – the Isle of Wight – which is just off the south coast of Britain. I was lucky enough to live there for a few years, and still try to spend as much time as I can over there. It has some beautiful countryside and seascapes plus, being an island, it also has a lovely sense of community, which is missing from so many other parts of our world.

Gigi, who has had everything handed to her on a plate, moves to the island when she inherits her grandmother’s house. She’s a lovely girl but her world falls apart when the money stops coming in and she’s forced to make it on her own. She comes to learn the value of the simpler things in life, and finds true love where previously she’s mostly known cupboard love.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I belong to an online group of writers called eNovel Authors At Work, who share wonderful advice for great promotional sites. There are many sites out there, and it’s difficult to pin-point any one for greatest results, as there is usually no data to advise which sites have worked best. I genuinely think they all do a great job of putting our titles in front of readers. Let’s face it, there are millions of readers out there, and not every reader signs up for the same lists, so I like to give all the sites a chance.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just do it!! And join a writing group. I’d been writing, quietly at weekends, for years but it’s a very isolated occupation. Once I joined a local writing group, my output increased along with my confidence. Through that group, I discovered the Romantic Novelists’ Association and joined that. Their New Writers’ Scheme was fantastic for reviewing manuscripts and encouraging authors – as well as providing contacts in the industry.

Yes. Do it!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Even if you’re struggling with writer’s block, write anyway. You can’t edit an empty page, but you can work with five pages of ‘rubbish’.

Also – don’t feel you must write chronologically. If you can see a scene in your head, which doesn’t come up till later in the book, write it anyway. You may lose that vision if you don’t. And writing a future scene helps unlock the story.

What are you reading now?
About a Girl by Lindsey Kelk.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More writing! I also have an idea sketched out for a more serious, darker novel, that will take some research and probably some soul-searching. But I think it’s a great story!

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?
It’s important to keep your spirits up in that situation so I’d say:

Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes

Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine

The Power of Now by Ekhart Tolle

An anthology of short stories by PG Wodehouse – because he can make me hoot with laugher, and laughter is good for the soul.

Author Websites and Profiles
Rosie Dean Website
Rosie Dean Amazon Profile

Rosie Dean’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Rosie Dean is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Elspeth Grace Hall I currently live in Heanor, Derbyshire with my husband and daughter that is when I am not building a new home on a small farm in Caithness, where I intend to take up the country life rearing geese, chickens, pigs and vegetables.
So far I have had 1 book published and am currently writing 3 more.
To support my writing I work with my husband teaching history through costumed interpretation.
See us at work: www.history-survives.weebly.com

I was born in the 80’s to Anglo-Scottish parents and grew up on the banks of the Chesterfield canal. I spent the first 7 years of my married life near the junction of the Nottingham, Cromford and Erewash canals.

I graduated from the Open University in 2014 with a BA Open that covered history, languages and creative writing.

After losing my hearing in 2009 I learnt Sign Language and enjoy writing poetry in both English and Sign Supported English.

Examples of my poetry can be found at: http://www.thesigningpoet.weebly.com

I have also recorded a series of lessons in Sign Supported English on my youtube channel : http://j.mp/TheSigningPoetVideo

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Adventures of Puss-Puss: Puss-Puss the Splash Maker and the Rainbow.

Its the first of a trilogy. Originally I was just going to call it “The Adventures of Puss-Puss vol. 1″ but the publisher was worried that it would sound to much like an encyclopaedia, so she came up with the current title.

I was inspired when a cat was abandoned in a plastic bag outside my front door. As I watched her encounter the varied wildlife in our garden i wondered how she would have fared if she had been dumped on the canal bank just down the road.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I eat ready to roll icing as I edit…. In one week I can consume 3 kg of icing!
I tend to get my best ideas just as I’m drifting of to sleep. My husband will often find I’ve crept down stares in my nighty to scribble furiously.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
A.A. Milne, “The Famous Five”, Beatrix Potter, Terry Pratchet

What are you working on now?
Volumes 2 and 3. A book of Scottish ballads, poems and Waulking songs. (Yes you read that right Waulking is the process of drenching tweed in urine. You need a lot of funny songs to take your mind of the smell…) Also I am translating 15th century Scottish wills for a genealogical project that I shall be co-writing with my husband.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Goodreads.com is a good middle man. I found this and other similar sites through Goodreads, it also put me in touch with a fellow author who now exchanges unfinished manuscripts with me so we can check each others typos. A fresh set of eyes is always good.
But to be honest nothing beats meeting people face to face, I’ve made more sales through direct contact than through review sites. Its just a pity I cant be everywhere at once.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Edit edit edit. If you haven’t spent 20 x the amount of time you did creating on editing you will never get a publisher interested. Also don’t sacrifice your dream to make it fit a certain publishers standard there are so many niche publishers out there keep looking. I spent 2 years sending synopsis after synopsis to Publishers.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Even best sellers get rejected. Rejection is your vitamin x if you cant handle it you were never ment to be a writer.

What are you reading now?
Several children’s books… my daughter is an avid consumer of stories but is to young to read her self . We max out the library card on every visit.
I’m waiting on the arival of Comanche Moon by Simon Web and hope to start Spirit Walk by Charles-de-Lint shortly.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Once the trilogy is out I shall take a short pause to get the farm up and running. Then I shall start a new book on farm life from the animals perspective….. who knows it may turn into a series as well.

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?
Bible, The chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, A guide to survival of some sort (well how else am I going to survive), Beauvallet by Georgette Hayer.

Author Websites and Profiles
Elspeth Grace Hall Website
Elspeth Grace Hall Amazon Profile

Elspeth Grace Hall’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Elspeth Grace Hall is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I started writing professionally closing on a decade ago. I started writing fiction for the hell of it long before that. A few years after I started copywriting for a living, I decided to do what I wanted to do and write/publish my first book. It is a horror novel called Morrigan’s Shadows. I’m currently in the process of writing two other novels and of publishing the sequel to Morrigan’s Shadows. Within two years, I should have a handful of books published.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book (due out August 18, 2015) is called August’s Gardens. It was inspired by its predecessor, really. I already had a story, but I felt like the world I wrote about wasn’t done spewing out ideas, so I kept writing. Moreover, virtually everyone thought the ending was so abrupt that it needed more. It was deliberate and I meant to leave readers feeling that way, but I was persuaded by their pleas to pick it back up sooner than I would have without them.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Hmmm. I don’t know what is usual.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I would have to say every book and author I have ever read has influenced me in some way. I learned what I liked, what I didn’t like, how to find my own voice, etc. through reading. I’ve read so much by now that I couldn’t possibly say what has influenced me the most. I know my favorite books and authors in no particular order include, but are certainly not limited to Fahrenheit 451, Stephen King, To Kill a Mockingbird, Douglas Adams, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Charles Dickens, William Hope Hodgson, H.G. Wells . . .

What are you working on now?
I’m in the middle of a short story anthology that I am really enjoying. I’m also finishing up (kind of) a project that I started more than ten years ago.

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

I talk to people and try to write good books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Get ready before you publish. Get to know what that means and what your responsibilities are as a writer. If you’re not so busy you’re wondering when you will ever find time to write another book, you’re doing it wrong. If you’re selling well, you’re busy talking to people. If you’re not, you’re busy trying to.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Read more books. Everyone says it.

What are you reading now?
The Queen of Bedlam by Robert McCammon. It’s brilliant.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I think my short story anthology. It’s a very personal project that I know I have to finish in order to be happy.

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 notebook, assuming I had a pen, The Stand, because it would keep me busy, To Kill a Mockingbird, because I can’t live without Atticus Finch, and a short classic horror anthology that has a good collection.

Author Websites and Profiles
Michelle Barclay Amazon Profile
Michelle Barclay Author Profile on Smashwords

Michelle Barclay’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Michelle Barclay is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an author, screenwriter, and blogger. I have written one novel of supernatural suspense, one short horror story, three screenplays, and one cat memoir which are all available from Amazon. Two of my works, The Strangers Outside and A Good Man, have been turned into films. My short film script Next to Her is currently in pre-production.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is a cat memoir. It’s called Avalon: a Heartwarming True Cat Story. I started to write Avalon a few days after his passing in July 2013. I wasn’t ready to let Avalon go and the book was a way to keep him alive through my writing.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love to write at the airport… at night. The airport is almost abandoned during the night, but some coffee shops there stay open all night. There’s no better place to write.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
John Saul inspired me for my supernatural thrillers Drowned Sorrow and The Strangers Outside. For my cat memoir, Avalon: a Heartwarming True Cat Story, I wanted to know what works and what doesn’t in this type of story, so I read every pet book I could find.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently putting together a movie reference guide on animal attack movies containing essays from several writers. The contributors are a mix between film historians, filmmakers, screenwriters, bloggers, horror fiction authors, film critics, film festival programmers, film distributors, and writers of movie reference books.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Mentioning my book on my own blog and collecting reviews from top Amazon reviewers and bloggers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep improving yourself. Keep learning about your craft and about book marketing. Think hard about the emotional impact you want your stories to have and work consistently in that direction. Many works are forgettable because the emotional impact is missing. A book can be well-written, original, and smart, but if the reader doesn’t feel anything, the book will have less potential. And no DIY book covers, please.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Taking up one idea and making it your life in order to see real changes. However, I’m horrible at prioritizing. I want to do it all. I’m currently traveling, promoting my latest book, editing a new one, and growing two blogs. I’d better be following this advice myself.

What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading Children of the Most High by Anna Scanlon.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Next for me are several movie reference works, a horror novel, and a drama. This summer, my short story Next to Her will be filmed. It’ll be part of an anthology film.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The first two ‘olive’ books from Carol Drinkwater.

Author Websites and Profiles
Vanessa Morgan Website
Vanessa Morgan Amazon Profile
Vanessa Morgan Author Profile on Smashwords

Vanessa Morgan’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Vanessa Morgan is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a writer.
More? Oh, all right… let’s see… I have a husband, two children, a dog and believe in dreams. I come from Chicago and love my city, most times. I’m a HUGE football fan! GO BEARS!

So far, I have authored fifteen books and just maybe I’ll let them have life.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest to see life is Falling: Book One of the Negative Ion Series. Inspiration came from seeing this guy… this absolutely hot, muscled, tatted… just yummy all over and the story popped in my head and would not let me stop writing until I had it down.

Jaxen Malloy… ooh! Wee! *sigh* Back to reality…

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Unusual… no, I don’t think so. When I have something, I sit and sit and sit while blasting my Spotify. Fricking LOVE Seether and when one of theirs pops on, I shake all my a** while my fingers caress the keyboard but honestly, most genres get me going. My husband is amazed at some of the stuff I listen to and enjoy.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Anything Judy Blume. She was the first author that caught me, engaged me. Kept me, since I was teenager.

Terry McMillan’s Mama was awesome. Effortless by SC Stephens. Bridges of Madison County. I swear I’m anticipating To Kill A Mockingbird’s sequel.

What are you working on now?
Another series, still untitled. This will be my third. I recently finished an eight-book series that just made me wonder how I was at all sane and could comprehend anything anymore. I love those characters. They were my first and I will cherish them, always.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Word of mouth is crucial, no matter which avenue you choose. And of course, Awesomegang is… well, you know!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes… write to please you. You know your story, tell it and end it the way that feels right to you. Take the criticism, either learn from it or ignore it while remembering, not everyone is going to love or get you. Loving you, in every way, starts with you.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t give up and stay true to you, hence the answer above.

What are you reading now?
I’ve been asked to read an ARC and I’ll start that this weekend. After that, I’m not sure. Love to have recommendations, though.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Well, I think I’m going to finish this current series then bang my head on the desk as I search for a title for the books and series while ignoring the voices from the Cannons. For now. Maybe.

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?
Are You There, God? It’s Me Margaret – Judy Blume

The M Series, Book Four: MADISON – Me

Effortless – S.C. Stephens

Wifey – Judy Blume

Effection – also by me

Author Websites and Profiles
Ryanne Anthony Website
Ryanne Anthony Amazon Profile

Ryanne Anthony’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Ryanne Anthony is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have a Master’s in Mathematics, but I also love writing melodies, woodworking, and books! My first book was about the enormous amount of unique shuffles there are in a standard deck of playing cards. Most people have no idea how huge this number really is, and it is fascinating and mind boggling at the same time!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Euclid’s Fire: The Stones of Archimedes

The book has a little mathematics behind the story line. Three of the main characters come from Euler’s identity, being e, pi, and i (e, Pi, and Aelia). I’ve always loved the fantasy genre as a total fan of Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, etc.. On top of that, I’ve always had a desire to do my own thing. So those two characteristics together is a perfect storm to create a work of fantasy!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write late usually. As a night owl, my mind is the most productive and free at night. I suppose it is in part because I work a day job and come home to spend some time with my family after that. That only leaves late at night left for anything really! That’s probably not that unusual for writers in general.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I admit that I am a lazy reader. I don’t read much, as I seem to not have the time for it. Any avid reader will tell you that the book is much better than the movie, and I would not doubt that is true. However, you can watch a movie in 2-3 hours, and it might take 25 hours to read the same book! I do read a little. C Greenwood has been an inspiration, and seems very personable to her fans. So I like that. I could tell you some of the textbooks that I’ve read, but I doubt you want to hear of that! I do enjoy playing video games and in particular the role-playing/character creation games with open worlds.

What are you working on now?
I am currently about 3 chapters into the sequel to Euclid’s Fire. I haven’t nailed down a title just yet, but I have several ideas.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesomegang of course! They are awesome!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Take your time, and do your best work. Don’t worry about external influences steering you one way or the other. If you like your own work, then so will others.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
A quote by a French guy. I can’t remember his name or the exact phrasing, but I remember so well what it means to me. It goes something like this: “If you want to build boats, don’t have men gather wood and steel to stack in rows. Teach them to love the ocean.”

What are you reading now?
Unfortunately, mainly Facebook and emails.

What’s next for you as a writer?
It’s always about continuous improvement in just about everything that we do. That’s what I’ll keep doing.

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 boat would come in more handy than books. I’d rather take that. Let’s say I was thrown in jail for a crime that I didn’t commit. That sounds better. I’d probably read Euclid’s Elements, The Feynman Lectures on Physics, my Bible, and something by Tolkien.

Author Websites and Profiles
Michael Cottle Website
Michael Cottle Amazon Profile

Michael Cottle’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Michael Cottle is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a twenty-seven year old Australian writer who survives by typing court transcripts during weekday daylight hours. I tend to stick around speculative genres, mainly fantasy, but I like to thread in a bit of sci fi and dystopian. Going by how many books I’ve published (I’m including short stories, here, and those available for pre-order) I’ve written five books. Going by how many books I’ve actually written, it’s closer to 10, most of those extra being novels I’m continually picking at.

I live for and with my beautiful kitten Fi, I have difficulty reading and writing at the same time (hence my reading life frequently, sadly, goes down the drain … ), and I am a perfectionist when it comes to editing (if you’re reading one of my books and spot a blatant error, PLEASE point it out to me … now I’m going to be particularly embarrassed if I’ve made any errors in this interview …). I’ve played piano since I was four, though I’m not very good any more, and I love to sing. I’m a bit of an anime fan, and I have a special love for Japan – my story cycle, Treading Twisted Lines, was initially inspired by a few experiences I had while living there. I studied biomedical science, psychology, and Japanese at university – that was a few years ago now – and I love connecting with lovely readers and writers.

I’m just throwing down random facts down now. Favourite colour: usually green. Favourite food: katsudon. Favourite animal: cats/narwhals. Ultimate dream: to be able to support myself by writing.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is named Suddenly Calling, and it’s Book 4 in my fantasy story cycle, Treading Twisted Lines with Darren, Maddi, and Kai (it’ll be released on 16 July 2015). This book was more difficult to write than the first three, as Books 1 to 3 were truly created through bursts of intense inspiration. Suddenly Calling wasn’t. At first, it was a bit of a story of necessity, the other protagonists having featured in previous stories; one remained to be introduced. More, the fact that this story spans roughly 10 years of a girl’s life in a relatively short space made matters difficult for me. I tried a number of tactics – write in the style of a fairy tale, is the main one I remember. That certainly didn’t happen. I think Suddenly Calling became what it is through a large number of small, persistent nudges of inspiration – political moves I disagreed with, being introduced to the workers’ union, general corruption and awfulness on the news every day. A childhood pet of my mum’s. And sandwiches.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I sometimes find it difficult to write unless the whole house is tidy, but I’m not sure that counts as a writing habit. When I’m editing I often read aloud in rhythm, punctuating with taps, usually on my jaw. Again, not sure if that’s quite a writing habit, specifically. I keep special notebooks for every story, and I only write in them using coloured pens with erasable ink I bought from the best shop in the world – Loft. That’s getting warmer, I think. Actual unusual writing habits … I tend to write multiple stories at once (not only different stories in the one series) so themes and personalities tend to bleed across them. Not sure how unusual that is, but that’s what I’ve got.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve wanted to write for so long I’m not entirely sure what started that, but certain authors did influence me to write fantasy. The absolute earliest I recall is Jahnna N. Malcolm, authors of the Jewel Kingdom series. Soon after came the more obvious Tolkien and Rowling, as well as Tamora Pierce. More recent shapers have included the best YA dystopian writers, such as Hugh Howey.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a story called Trials of the Gods’ Hands, Book 5 of the Treading Twisted Lines series (Book 6 has actually been finished for over half a year …). I’m also re-editing and popping up my (to this point) great work, my fantasy novel Embraced, on Wattpad and Inkitt (not quite ready to publish it independently in print or ebook form, yet). As well, I’m slowly working on a fantasy called Behind Glass, and shaping a YA dystopian set in a city run by trains, which I plan to be my main project once Book 5 is complete. However, focus may shift back to my second novel (previously unmentioned) depending on how it’s received by those currently viewing it.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I haven’t been great at promoting thus far – I use my own Facebook, Twitter, and, more recently, Tumblr, but it’s difficult when your current audience is quite limited. Word of mouth is still helpful – possibly more than many think – but websites like Awesomegang are a brilliant way to reach new and interested readers. I still need to work on promotion in general, though. Hopefully, once more of the Treading Twisted Lines series is out, sheer numbers will assist.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Please don’t be discouraged. It may seem that everyone is writing and self-publishing now – and a huge portion of everyone is. That doesn’t mean that you can’t or you shouldn’t. It makes it harder to stand out, but I suppose we all need to work hard to be seen, now. You’re not alone.

And please take the time to edit. I hate the amount I harp on about books I’ve read that have been poorly edited when all I want to be doing is singing indie authors’ praises. I will sing, I promise – just make sure it’s edited well!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Revise backwards.

I forget where I heard that. But, once you’re finished, start at the end and work your way back. Odds are more time was spent refining earlier chapters. This is a brilliant way to make sure the end gets the same love and attention as the beginning. It’s also a good way to avoid plot holes, etc, and make sure things line up well.

But wait a few days or longer after finishing, first. I forget where I heard that, as well. Put some distance between yourself and your precious work. Then, when time comes to be necessarily brutal, you’re good to go.

What are you reading now?
Currently reading The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. Slowly.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’d like to move onto the above-mentioned train novel once Books 5 and 6 of Treading Twisted are released, but I suppose it depends on how things pan out. Shall continue to work on and slowly release Embraced, also. Maybe I’ll even find an agent … who knows?

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?
If I can cheat and count a series as one book, I would take the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, the Legend series by Marie Lu, the Wool series by Hugh Howey, and a guide for desert island survival.

If I can’t cheat and one book counts as only one, I would take a guide for desert island survival, and three really thick notebooks – I could get a lot of writing done on a desert island. I’m assuming stranded implies temporarily …

Author Websites and Profiles
Beth Madden Website
Beth Madden Amazon Profile
Beth Madden Author Profile on Smashwords

Beth Madden’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Beth Madden is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a civil engineer from the Philippines working at a construction firm in Manila. I’m an ordinary Catholic layman who loves to read books, and recently, while reading the Holy Bible again and again, I rediscovered the wonders of Catholicism. That prompted me to write my first book defending the Catholic faith, “Debunking Misconceptions About Catholicism – A Layman’s Defense”, which was published on October 26, 2014. I write during my free time usually before going to bed, early in the morning and on weekends. I’ am currently working on my next four books and my second book “Every Word Counts”, is now almost complete. This book is a follow-up to “Debunking Misconceptions About Catholicism”.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I wrote “Debunking Misconceptions About Catholicism – A Layman’s Defense” because I was fed up with members of countless Christian denominations having wrong perceptions of Catholicism. Catholic doctrines were always attacked during religious programs on TV by those different denominations. They usually say that Catholicism is not in conformity with the Bible. So, I gave them the benefit of the doubt, noted their arguments, and vowed to find out for myself if they were correct. I went to Sunday Mass regularly, observed carefully the proceedings, researched the history of Christianity and most important of all, read again the Holy Bible. It was exciting to read again about the inspiring adventures of our Bible heroes like Moses, David, Elisha, Elijah, Paul, Peter, the apostles and the early Christian martyrs, and of course the glorious mystery of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus! Then came that magic moment while I was praying at a Church one fine day. I decided to write a book about all that I’ve learned. My inner self was telling me, “Do it!”

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don;’t know if you can call my writing habits “unusual”, but I “usually” write during my waking hours in the morning because it’s the time that I’m the most productive. My mind is still fresh, and ideas usually pop up after a restful sleep. But sometimes there are things that can come up during the day, so I have to take note and include them on my draft before I go to sleep.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love reading Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels and I’ve read them all! They’re very special because they’re totally different from the James Bond movies! His attention to detail when describing something or someone makes you think that you are in that place talking to that person. I also like Stephen King and Jeffrey Archer. Reading Jeffrey Archer’s novels is like watching a well directed feel-good movie ! And of course the greatest book of all time is the Holy Bible. One’s lifetime is not enough to dissect a book of such grandeur!

What are you working on now?
My second book, “Every Word Counts”, is my follow-up to “Debunking Misconceptions About Catholicism – A Layman’s Defense”. It’s about the most powerful prayer of all, the model prayer that Jesus taught His apostles. It’s asking for God’s grace “daily” so that we can have the virtues that will guard us against sin and evil. I’m now working on the final chapter and copyright so I can publish it hopefully by August this year.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Hopefully, the best website that would promote my book will be Awesomegang! Twitter helps a little and i tried Bargain Booksy last month and I noticed that sales of my eBook went up a notch and improved my rankings in the sub-genres. I’m learning gradually and I find Awesomegang to be author-friendly! Thanks guys!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
For me, an author feels fulfilled when a reader says something nice about his or her book. So I think an author should write with the reader’s satisfaction in mind and the reader gets top priority. The author is happiest when the reader is happy with the book!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve ever heard was to “Never stop writing!” After writing a book, start writing again and again the next ones!

What are you reading now?
Of course, I regularly read the Holy Bible everyday, morning and night! As Joshua 1:8 says, “Do not let this book of the law depart from your lips. Recite it by day and by night, that you may carefully observe all that is written in it; then you will attain your goal; then you will succeed.” I am also planning to read Archer’s “Sons of Fortune” and “Paths of Glory”

What’s next for you as a writer?
As I’ve said earlier, I’m working on my next four books and hopefully my second book will be published by August this year, the third one in December, and the fourth and fifth, June 2016 and November 2016, respectively. To receive an award would be lovely.

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 bring the Holy Bible, one of my books, Ian Fleming’s “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”, and Jeffrey Archer’s “As the Crow Flies”

Author Websites and Profiles
JM Alvarez Amazon Profile

JM Alvarez’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

JM Alvarez is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a new author and have just released my first book called Travesty of Justice a romance drama, that will keep you turning the pages, and will pull at your hearts strings. I also have a book of poetry called Thoughtful Moments that will be release on amazon, next month. I am presently working on Travesty of Justice sequel called ” The Magic In The Little Gemstone Kiosk”

for more info on me please check out my author website and blog at www.authorheatherbutler.com

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Travesty of Justice , which is inspired by a true story. This story took place in 1989 in Nova Scotia Canada. But still the issue of allowing, International Graduates, access to their chosen profession in north american, is a huge hot button. Only about 15 % of international graduate who become citizens of our countries, gain enter to their profession. Leaving many broken families to suffer , just like in my book Travesty Of Justice. I ask the question of my readers?

Does equal opportunity exist? You be the Judge!

My Book Travesty of Justice allows you to see the day to day struggles, and see all the issues, that international graduates still face today. It informs and also pulls at your heart strings to see how hard these two people work, and yet all the doors they knock on still go unanswered.

Their are many twists and turns in this story that it will keep you hooked until the last page.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am a jewelry designer, and have a jewelry Kiosk in a shopping plaza in Toronto, Canad., OI also have a on line business at www.thebutlercollection.com. I write at my kiosk in between my customers, so I write almost everyday, except for Sundays, and that is my day to just relax. My creative inspiration comes, from everyday people and their lives. Someone once told me that real life, is the best fiction story in the making.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Nicolas Sparks, Danielle steels, Joel Osteen love a good plot with rich characters and love to feel entertained

What are you working on now?
I am presently working on Travesty Of Justice sequel call The Magic In The Little Gemstone Kiosk.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My Facebook , twitter, Instagram accounts and also Google + and you-tube.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be patience, write everyday even if it just a bit, writing a book, and also the marketing of that book, is a learning process. Be open to every opportunity you can get to learn something new. Be stay focus on what you love, and believe that all things are possible through your faith in whatever higher power you have. I call my higher power God! Stay blessed.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I ever heard was to never say never, because just when I though something would never happen , It did. Stay open to the positive energy that exist around you, and allow it to pull the things you want most into your world. The real secret is love and graduate! I spread love everyday and give thanks many time throughout my day.

Thank you Awesomeganag for this opportunity to promote and talk about my book, sending you love and blessings.

What are you reading now?
Joel Osteen Break Out

What’s next for you as a writer?
I will continue to write, and build my jewelry brand The Butler Collection.

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, Joel Osteen Break Out , The secret.

Author Websites and Profiles
Heather Butler Website
Heather Butler Amazon Profile

Heather Butler’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Heather Butler is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Denise N. Fyffe, B.Sc., PGDip. Edu., b.1981 in Kingston, Jamaica, since 2002 has worked in various Information Technology positions and as a Teacher/Trainer. Presently she is the IT Programme Coordinator for a Jamaican University. During her career, she has worked for such companies as Infoserv Institute of Technology, Heart Trust NTA, Pearson Education and the University College of the Caribbean. She also works as a freelance writer and works with many local and international clients to produce hundreds of online articles, creative content and website content in addition to eBook materials.

In addition to studying Software Development and Design, she pursued her degree in Career Development, Counselling and Education. As a child, she attended Harbour View Primary and Camperdown High. Denise holds fast to the philosophy that you should follow your interests as knowledge empowers you and do not set limitations on your potential; therefore she does not believe that you must only study one specific field.

Denise is one of the sitting board members of Jamaican Writers Society. For over a decade Denise N. Fyffe has written poetry and successfully authored various volumes of poetry, while maintaining several blogs, www.theislandjournal.com, on the WordPress platform. She believes her true calling in life is to be a writer and all else are bonus gifts that she has the freedom to explore. Her morals are deeply rooted in Christian principles and she lives to be a genuine example of her faith.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Thieves in the Workplace. It was inspired by a study I did of people stealing in the workplace in Jamaica and other countries.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
NO, I just write when the mood hits or when I am inspired. That is very often.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Too many to recall; I have read numerous titles.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a book of prayers – The Poet’s Prayer

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write daily, exercise the muscle.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write daily.

What are you reading now?
School books and materials…I am studying Education.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More writing, always.

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, a copy of one of my books, a book on getting off stranded island and a survival book.

Author Websites and Profiles
Denise Fyffe Website
Denise Fyffe Amazon Profile
Denise Fyffe Author Profile on Smashwords

Denise Fyffe’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Denise Fyffe is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
5 books some with pen names

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
A look at climate change, the facts. I wanted to educate people on what is happening with our earth today and now. I want to get people involved and save this planet

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t sleep at night sometimes

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Daniel Steel, JK Rowling, Andrew Mortein and Barbra Cartland

What are you working on now?
A Romance story

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Book-Store/1645040769045365

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do your research and the long hours in the begining, not the end.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do things for the long term

What are you reading now?
The Paleo Diet for beginners

What’s next for you as a writer?
More fictional books

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?
Richard Branson-Screw It Lets Do It.
Gina Rhindhart by Adele Ferguson
Flowers in the attic

Author Websites and Profiles
Alex Wong Website
Alex Wong Amazon Profile

Alex Wong is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Originating from St. Louis County, Missouri, it wasn’t until my senior year in high school at that I discovered more than a casual interest in reading chiefly because of my college-prep English class and frequent trips to a local bookstore. It was that class with an inspiring teacher and all the wonderful books he had us read and critique in class discussions and what he called written “critical comments” that lit the flame for me. I headed south with the Missouri Pacific Railroad the day after graduating to put together some money for college and packed some paperbacks and my cheap guitar to keep me company since I was now venturing out into the world on my own. The three months in Texas and Louisiana during that long, hot southern summer would yield valuable life lessons along with the hard-earned money. And, many years later, that summer would be the inspiration for my debut novel, Southern Passage.

At summer’s conclusion, I attended Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg, and after remaining there a while, enrolled at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. With a major in Sociology and several hours in Anthropology and Psychology, I graduated in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. My interest in creative writing was nurtured during my college years; some of my poetry, along with a one act play, appeared in the school literary publication at Warrensburg. After retiring from a 33 1/2 year career I took up writing and completed my first novel, Southern Passage, a coming of age story inspired by my summer with the railroad in 1966.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Southern Passage, my debut novel, is my only published work thus far.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I seem to write in fits and spurts, usually sitting down to knock out paragraphs when the ideas strike. I’ll stay at it as long as the creative juices last for that keyboard session. I find it impossible to follow a set routine; that creative urge simply has to be there. It’s far too frustrating and a huge waste of time for me to box myself into such a way.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Although I’m a fiction writer, the authors I most frequently read are biographers and historians. I love history, particularly American, and gravitate to historical novels when I read works of fiction.

What are you working on now?
Since finishing Southern Passage, I’ve written several short stories and I’m now in the process of molding some of them into a hard science fiction novel. I’m fascinated by astronomy and cosmology and my second novel is slowly taking shape. I find myself trying to imagine the unimaginable and trying to artfully and realistically fuse facts with fiction in the novel’s multiverse storyline.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m a member of the Rave Reviews Book Club and its members do a fabulous job of promoting each other with daily blasts on Twitter. Twitter and Facebook are great sources for getting word out.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Find the courage to step out of yourself and share your story with the world. Maybe it’s easier said than done, but the satisfaction you feel from hearing from people who’ve read your work is immense and so very much worth the anxiety or hesitancy you might have about revealing your inner self to others.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Forget about what other people think, write what’s in your mind and heart!

What are you reading now?
Tom Clancy, Stephen Hawking, along with a number of historical novels.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Certainly my current objective is to complete my second novel and get it published. After that, I’ll narrow down some of the fictional themes I’ve been kicking around and then get busy with starting the third novel.

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?
Stephen King’s The Dark Tower: A Concordance, #1

Douglas Adams’ A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Michael Herr’s Dispatches

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

Author Websites and Profiles
Jim Yonker Website
Jim Yonker Amazon Profile

Jim Yonker’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Jim Yonker is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written my first book: The Modern Mughal Mentality-New Strategies to Succeed in India and the Global Marketplace

About Dr.Afshan Naheed Hashmi
Book Trailer:
afshanhashmi.com/
drafshanhashmi.com/
Dr. Afshan Naheed Hashmi was born in India and educated both in India and USA. She now lives in Rockville, Maryland, USA. My parents kept my name Afshan Naheed which means Shining Star and they always wanted me to shine in the world. Hashmi comes as last name through my husband .
Dr. Hashmi is an author, award-winning entrepreneur, speaker, educator, and a book, movie, make-up and beauty products reviewer, film critic and Radio and TV show host, a successful regulatory and business development and scientific professional with more than a decade of experience.
She specializes in making innovative and value creation market entry strategies for companies looking to enter India. She also lectures and delivers seminars on “Doing Business in India,” including culture training. An award‐winning entrepreneur, Dr. Hashmi has coordinated meetings and accommodations for U.S. business delegations in India. She has facilitated the introduction of U.S. businesses to potential U.S. and international partners, and vice‐versa. Dr. Hashmi maintains an extensive professional network that is required to launch initiatives especially in the U.S., India, Qatar, UAE and Bahrain.
Currently every month she delivers lectures on India’s various aspects to a very large audience. Dr. Afshan Naheed Hashmi has an amazingly diverse career with extensive media experience. She is very popular in India, and many newspapers in India in English, Hindi, and Urdu having written about her including, “The Hindu”, “Hindustan Times”, and “The Indian Express” to name a few ( (drafshanhashmi.com/id16.html ).She has also appeared on major television channels in India and on TV Asia in the USA.

Dr.Hashmi has had a total reach of over one billion people worldwide via print, TV, and online. Dr. Hashmi is the author of two blogs,”India Business Innovations”
( indiabusinessinnovations.wordpress.com/ ) and “Connecting with the Dignitaries”
( connectingdignitaries.wordpress.com/ ).
She has authored numerous scientific reports, and has also written and presented various papers on the subject of biochemistry and molecular biology.
With years of experience as a business development, regulatory, and scientific professional, Dr. Hashmi’s wide experience base enables her to offer strategically sound advice in many business sectors. While working with clients on improving profitability, Dr. Hashmi was able to experience the powerful impact that the new business model revealed in The Modern Mughal Mentality firsthand. She has written articles and or comments for The Huffington Post, Elle India, Elle, Glamour, Forbes India, Harvard Business Review, Elle UK, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, The Chew Show website, TNW Blog
( drafshanhashmi.com/id15.html ).
Dr. Hashmi’s popular lectures range in topics and include everything from improving profitability in the international business to international cuisine and culture. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge with others.
Dr. Hashmi had founded Global Regulatory and Business Solutions, LLC as President, and has provided operations management, business development, market entry strategies for India and Qatar, and regulatory affairs expertise.
Prior to opening her own business, she was the primary company liaison to companies located in Asia and U.S. as the consulting liaison for ToxLogic LLC, and supported companies’ business development activities by communicating orally and in writing with potential clients and providing regulatory strategic planning and advice. She has traveled internationally to support business development and to give oral presentations to diverse audiences. She has been invited as a guest faculty by a very prestigious university in India to introduce and teach U.S. Regulatory Affairs and its relation to the business of Biotechnology via online classes. Dr. Hashmi is currently working on the curriculum for this online class. Dr. Hashmi successfully collaborated with a client to gather information to support filing of a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application to allow the client to file for a patent in multiple countries simultaneously. Reviewed scientific portion of application used this information to then help client develop licensing agreement to distribute a new technology. She has also provided entrepreneurship training.
Dr. Hashmi earned a PhD Biochemistry from Aligarh Muslim University in Aligarh(UP) India, 1991, M.Phil Biochemistry,(a pre‐PhD requirement), 1988, M.Sc. Biochemistry,1985 and a B.S. (Honors) Chemistry,1983. She was also educated at Johns Hopkins University in Regulatory Affairs in the Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Advanced Academic Programs, Department of Biotechnology. Coursework: Regulatory Processes for Domestic and Global Biotechnology Products and University of Maryland (Baltimore), School of Medicine, Department of Medical and Research Technology Categorical Course in Clinical Chemistry, 1997.
Dr.Hashmi earned a certification from American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) ‐ Technologist in Chemistry. She is also Regulatory Affairs Certified (RAC) US and has extensive experience with scientific research and publication as well as an in‐depth knowledge of regulatory requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Dr. Hashmi has evaluated outsourcing opportunities for clinical trials and manufacturing, conducted scientific literature reviews, and analyzed research data, and prepared press releases and other marketing materials. Dr. Hashmi worked also as Research Associate at Human Genome Sciences, Inc., Rockville, Maryland; Medical Technologist in Rapid Response Laboratory at University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD; Public Health Scientist at Maryland State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Laboratories Administration, Baltimore, MD; Postdoctoral Fellow, Division of Physiology, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; and as Research Assistant, University of Maryland Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD. She is also a member of The American Society for Clinical Pathology(ASCP); member of Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society( RAPS) and member of Maryland Writers’ Association(MWA).

Dr. Hashmi is a recipient of the Ibn Sina Public Health Award in recognition of her contributions in the field of Public Health Science and Entrepreneurship from the AIDS Cell of the Ibn Sînâ Academy of Medieval Medicine & Sciences, Aligarh, (UP),India. She also received an Award of Excellence by AMU Ladies Club, Aligarh, (UP), India.
On April 14, 2008, her company, Global Regulatory and Business Solutions, LLC, was awarded the Certificate of Appreciation by the County Executive,The Honorable Isiah Leggett of Montgomery County in recognition and appreciation for being one of Montgomery County’s outstanding companies chosen for visits during Business Appreciation Week. Also on April 14, 2008 another Certificate of Appreciation was presented to Dr. Afshan Naheed Hashmi’s company, Global Regulatory and Business Solutions, LLC, by the Mayor of the City of Rockville, The Honorable Susan Hoffmann and Executive Director of Rockville Economic Development, Inc., Sally Sternbach in recognition of company’s contributions to Rockville’s economy and participation in Rockville Business Appreciation Week, April 14‐18, 2008.
She was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation on March 10, 2008 by the County Executive of Montgomery County, Maryland, The Honorable Isiah Leggett, for serving as a member of Montgomery County’s November 2007 business mission to India.
She was also awarded Junior and Senior Research Fellowships by the Indian Council of Medical Research, May 1987 to November 1991. Dr. Hashmi was awarded an Aligarh Muslim University Medal for earning the First Position in the M.Sc. Biochemistry Program as well as the Science Merit Scholarship as a result of a written competitive test for the academic session 1983‐1985. A scholarship was given for the pursuit of a two‐year M.Sc. biochemistry program.

Dr. Hashmi loves to promote authors and artists, and through videoconferencing she interviews authors and artists and then shares these interviews on various social media platforms. She runs a book club on Goodreads and Twitter called Afshan Hashmi’s Online Book Club, which takes its members on an innovative, inspiring, and intellectual journey. The book club is also called Afshan’s Stylish and Glam Reading Corner, launched on 20 April 2014. In the book club she also reviews books. She has also created Hashtag #drafshanglambookclub to have a very stimulating and interactive discussion in her book club. Dr. Hashmi reviews books, movies, beauty, and make-up products on Amazon and Goodreads (books only) websites. Also she reviews books, movies, beauty, and make-up products via audio and video podcasts on her Youtube channel, internet radio and TV shows. A hashtag has been created #The Modern Mughal Mentality as well as a blog by this name, to have interactive discussions about the The Modern Mughal Mentality book online. Various other hashtags have been created to have stimulating discussions. These hashtags are #askdrafshan, #americaindiaexpert and # AMUtalk.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Name of my latest book is: The Modern Mughal Mentality-New Strategies to Succeed in India and the Global Marketplace

When I left India for the United States, my father told me that I was fulfilling my destiny and both of their dreams. He wanted his only daughter Afshan to write a book in America that would not only demonstrate her knowledge, but change the world. With tall orders to follow, I immediately embraced his dream, and imagined myself becoming the ultimate authority for American business travelers to India. For the past several years I have been working on this dream.
Today, India is a rising giant and now known to be one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. For the full fiscal year 2014/2015, the Indian government estimated that the economy would expand 7.4%. This represents a significant acceleration over the revised 6.9% increase for the fiscal year 2013/2014 previously reported: +5.8% (The Indian government revised the previous data series to reflect new methodology and a change in the base year). Thus I saw the potential and timeliness of the project. Even though my inspiration was India, I knew that my business philosophies would translate well, not only in my own consulting business to help my clients, but I began to see a correlation between the way that I had consistently applied Jugaad in my business practices and my high level of achievement. I seemed to excel at whatever I did. I believed that interpreting my business philosophies could fill a void in the current business manual market. I started to notice examples of Jugaad in all sectors in my daily live in the United States.
Finally, I decided that there should be a template for all companies to improve their bottom lines. This led me to create the Jugaad Management Principle, a new business model which can inspire “out of the box” thinking and innovative strategies to stay ahead in today’s market. As I worked on the book, I began to implement the new business model, and witnessed the transformation of many businesses.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write whenever ideas start floating in my mind. If in the middle of the night some idea comes to my mind I get up and start writing.
Yes when I write I do not take any phone calls. Take breaks in between and do things that I like to do which makes me motivated to write e.g. seeing TV shows which I like, listening to Bollywood songs, reading about fashion to name a few.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My maternal grandfather, Prof.Abdul Aleem, my mom Mrs. Jamila Siddiqi, and my dad, Prof. A. Majid Siddiqi influenced me a lot and instilled in me the quality of communication through the medium of writing. Being the granddaughter of the renowned freedom fighter and thinker of India Prof. Abdul Aleem, Mahatma Gandhi has always inspired me. I have been raised by learning about Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln , Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Martin Luther King Jr., Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Maulana Azad, and other renowned personalities of the world. I met Mrs. Indira Gandhi many times while growing up in India, and admired her a lot.

Authors and books that have influenced me:

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead- by Sheryl Sandberg
Hatching Twitter: A True Story of Money, Power, Friendship, and Betrayal-by Nick Bilton
Dilip Kumar – The Substance and the Shadow : An Autobiography -by Dilip Kumar
Think and Grow Rich- by Napoleon Hill

What are you working on now?
Right now busy with the launch of my new book : The Modern Mughal Mentality-New Strategies to Succeed in India and the Global Marketplace

Also have some ideas about my next book which will be a Science-fiction:As you all know that I am a Scientist also. So my second book will be a Science fiction novel ,which I will start writing soon.

For this book I have an innovative idea. Each page of the book will be sponsored by a company or an entrepreneur to place their logo and website link at the end of the page. To discuss in more detail the price of each page please contact me via email:

afshan@drafshanhashmi.com

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have hired a book marketing services and the company is lining up interviews for me. The book is available wherever books are sold both in print and online formats.

Most of the media coverage will start once the print format is launched in July 2015. Also I am trying on my own through some of my media contacts.

I also liked awesomegang and that is why giving interview on this website.
The reviews of the books are very good and you can read some of them at my author website.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Always do some fun things which you like to keep you motivated and focused as you move each day in your book writing projects. Never give up however much difficulties come across your path. I got lot of discouragement that I will not be able to write a book but I never got discouraged and never gave up and see today I am a published author!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never give up and never get discouraged when others say that you cannot write.

What are you reading now?
I am reading some best sellers in business category.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I will be speaking worldwide and have joined a Speaker bureau in this regard and you can go to this website to know about the speaking programs I have developed: http://www.worldclassspeakers.biz/speaker/69/dr-afshan-hashmi

Also as I mentioned earlier I will be writing a Science fiction novel next!

Also please go to the following page to see that new program about writing I have developed:

http://www.afshanhashmi.com/do_you_want_a_book_written_about_you_andor_your_company

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 ones I mentioned above they are so good that I can read them again and again!

Author Websites and Profiles
Afshan Naheed Hashmi Website
Afshan Naheed Hashmi Amazon Profile

Afshan Naheed Hashmi’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Afshan Naheed Hashmi is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a lifelong resident of Missouri, a fan of anime, comics, and movies. I love to draw, and even work on my own covers.

So far, I’ve written Vitamin F, a dystopian novel about genetic controls and a pair of short steampunk short stories featured in the Dreams of Steam anthologies.

I have a few more projects in development, some needing another draft, some just looking for a friend in the publishing industry.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest work is The Fanged Circle. It’s a dark fantasy serial inspired by video games like Dark Souls and Bloodborne.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to write out of order. When a scene charges my passion, I write it. When a character demands to let their story be heard, I tell that story.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The works of Stephen King and John Grisham are my earliest influences. These days, I’m most passionate about books written by Brandon Sanderson and Greg Rucka.

What are you working on now?
I’m editing a science fiction novel that deals with a group of linguists when they discover a species that impossibly speaks with a human tongue.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Best method? That’s tricky. Word of mouth has been the most effective so far. I’m looking around, trying new methods. We’ll see what sticks.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing. Finish what you write, then set it aside and write something else.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“No one can do it for you.”

What are you reading now?
Grudgebearer by JF Lewis

What’s next for you as a writer?
More writing, more editing.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Dune by Frank Herbert
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Smoker by Greg Rucka
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

Author Websites and Profiles
Len Berry Website
Len Berry Amazon Profile

Len Berry’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Len Berry is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
“A Ladder In The Dark” is the first Novel I have written, but I have been blogging about the long-term damage of bullying for 8 years. The first story I ever wrote was called “The The” and was a horror story that I wrote when I was about 7. My sister had written a horror story, so we competed to write our stories. I also wrote a story in third grade called “The Picker In Pete’s Nose”, which was about a person who could shrink down and get all the “mess” out of someone’s nose. While the teacher gave the story an “A”, she chose not to display it in the class due to the interesting “subject matter”. I knew early on that my unique style of writing would hopefully find a home other than a third grade board at some point.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is my memoir about a childhood of being bullied and the long-term Complex PTSD that resulted for me from that. It was inspired by my life and eventual recovery from anxiety and depression. I wanted to share with others what I learned about bullying and the need to recover.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Since my mind collects and stores my stories, my usual style is to try to outline and write character names up-front, but really do most of my writing from my mind as it is there waiting to come out. With my own short patience, it’s easier for me to write it all up-front first and then go back and fix all the mistakes or duplication I have. I depend on some great editors as well to make sure that the book is written well for the audience and not just me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
“Salem’s Lot” by Stephen King, because it was the first book I read by him and is still one of my favorite stories by him. I think that if vampires were around today, they would act just as Mr. King wrote them.
“The Life of Pi” by Yann Martel. I couldn’t put this book down and the ending just blew me away. It was such a compelling read.
“The Odyssey” by Homer. I might have been the only person in my English class in high school that loved this book. It is such high adventure and action and, while not easy to read, is the first book to approach the cliffhanger story that I know of.
“The Help” by Tate Taylor. Some books are life changing experiences and this is one of them. Telling the truth in a story and the obvious research to create this tale makes it one of my favorites.
“The World According to Garp” by John Irving. Really any book by John Irving, because his ability to take situations that would be bizarre to anyone else and make it seem real is uncanny. There are no other authors I know of like him and I am always surprised by each page he writes. It makes for fun reading.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a fiction book about bullycide and school shootings to due bullying issues. I have just started, so I don’t want to give too much away. The working title is currently The Very Thin Line.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use the free press-release websites, such as this one and many others. I try to also send out press releases to specific groups that I want to get the book into the hands of.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I find that the writing comes very naturally. In today’s world of self-publishing, all new authors should be educated on Library of Congress Numbers, ISBN numbers, the different methods and sites to publish on and how to reach the largest audience. Also, writers today are expected to help promote their own books, so taking a marketing course is not a bad idea either.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Your first impression is usually your correct impression. If something or someone doesn’t feel right to you, you should walk away. I wish I had learned this earlier in life.

What are you reading now?
I am reading “The First Phone Call from Heaven” by Mitch Albom. He is a fantastic writer. I am also reading “The Unquiet Mind” and “Columbine” to help me in my research for my next book.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To market and speak to people about “A Ladder In The Dark”. I believe it will help many people who feel trapped in their anxiety and depression due to C-PTSD.

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 Stand” by Stephen King
“The Odyssey” by Homer
“The Torah” (so that I could at least have hope of being rescued).

Author Websites and Profiles
Alan Eisenberg Website
Alan Eisenberg Amazon Profile
Alan Eisenberg Author Profile on Smashwords

Alan Eisenberg’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Alan Eisenberg is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve published ten books on Amazon Kindle in the Roger and Suzanne mystery series—six novels, two novellas, an anthology of short stories, and an omnibus volume containing three of the books at a substantially discounted price. There soon will be two additional books in the series, a novel and a novella, scheduled for publication in 2015. In my leisure time I work full-time as a professor at the University of California.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest published book is Unbearably Deadly, a suspenseful mystery novel set in Alaska’s Denali National Park. It was inspired by a vacation, which included a comprehensive tour of Denali National Park, we took in Alaska the year before I wrote the novel.
The soon to be published novel, Hunter Down, is a murder mystery set against the backdrop of Southern California’s circuit of canine hunt tests. It features Roger and Suzanne, as well as their two German shorthaired pointers, Juliet and Romeo. Oddly enough, my wife Elaine breeds German shorthairs and helps train them for conformation shows and hunt tests. Perhaps even more oddly, we have two dogs named Jolie and Ries (Jolie’s grandson) who have had a lot of experience in hunt tests.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Probably not. My biggest problem is finding time to write, edit, and try to sell the books. I’d much rather be writing than editing or selling!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The classic mystery writers—Chandler, Hammett, MacDonald. My third Roger and Suzanne novel, The Matador Murders, has its roots in Hammett’s “Red Harvest”, but starring my series characters, and with the plot updated to the present and set in Montevideo, Uruguay.

What are you working on now?
Final edits and input from Beta readers for the new novel Hunter Down, and final edits for the new novella, The Body in the Alpaca Pasture, set in Salta, Argentina. The Body in the Alpaca Pasture should be available for pre-orders from Barnes and Noble, iBooks, and Kobo early in July.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Probably mostly via Facebook and Internet book marketing sites like Awesomegang.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t be in a hurry to quit your day job!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Find a job you enjoy doing and do it as well as you can.

What are you reading now?
I just finished, and very much enjoyed, Jonathan Kellerman’s “Mystery”.

What’s next for you as a writer?
The next tasks are to get the two books I discussed above published and promoted, then start the next Roger and Suzanne novel. I’m not sure where they’ll be visiting when they find the next dead body, but Cuba is a strong possibility.

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’m not sure but they’d almost certainly be mystery novels.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jerold Last Website
Jerold Last Amazon Profile

Jerold Last’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Jerold Last is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a hairstylist by trade and I have only written one book so far. My lovely wife and I have been married since 1991 and we have three awesome kids…one of whom is married. Our lives are far from perfect, but about as close as anyone could ask for this side of heaven!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first book is called: The Diet Puzzle: My Journey from Hopeless Yo-Yo Dieting to Conquering the Weight Loss Puzzle for Life. I know, I know…catchy title, but how else can I convey how exasperated I was and how excited I am that I’ve FINALLY found something that works for me? I am just a guy who got sick of being overweight. At my biggest, I got well over 300 lbs. and just couldn’t take it anymore. After deciding to lose weight and having some success, I had people asking me for advice, so I decided to write about my progress so far. This is my first bookwriting project, and I’m totally hooked!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My wife is the techy in our family. Since my job offers many opportunities for breaks, I like to dictate book ideas into a talk-to-text app on my cell phone. She is trying to help me with my lack of techiness, but this technique seems to work for both of us. She’s trying to teach me to use Google Docs, but I think this is a hopeless endeavor!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Bible is a huge influence on me. I love to read it for short periods of time, I love to read it for long periods of time. I see something different almost every time I read. I also like to read classics like Great Gatsby and To Kill a Mockingbird. I actually quite enjoy love stories too, but I would it be manly if I said that?

What are you working on now?
I am working on a few short story ideas I have. Once I started writing, I can’t seem to shut off the idea factory!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This is still a learning process for me. I have a list of my own clients. They will be my first victims, then I’ll ask friends and family to help spread the word!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Let me get back to you on that!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.

What are you reading now?
I’ve just been doing a lot of reading on marketing lately. It’s more educational than for enjoyment!

What’s next for you as a writer?
I will pursue love stories. They seem to flow freely from my mind.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
As mentioned earlier, the Bible is a MUST HAVE! I would have to take a classic…something grandiouse…to remind me of easier times. I would also have to have a shipwreck book, maybe Robinson Crusoe, to remind me that I’m not the only one to ever be stuck on a deserted island. Lastly, I would need a survival guide!

G. Allen Wadleigh is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, I’m Cameron Lee, a Boulder, CO-based blogger turned author. I have always had an interest in writing, and in the last decade or so became immersed in the culture of indoor growing.

When I went online to learn about the craft, I realized that the art and science of growing indoors is changing so much every year that home growers are always using two-to-three year old information to grow their plants. This had to change!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I started writing my very first book, ‘Grow Great Weed’, after spending countless hours reading online publications, books, and blogs, trying to get the right answers, and ended up discovering that most of what I read was either an ad selling a product, or propaganda that didn’t educate so much as it had other intentions. That made me so frustrated and angry that I finally said enough, and threw my hat in the ring, to help others who may be interested in growing but may not know how or where to start.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’ve found writing to happen at the most random occurrences. I am an avid golfer, and have to carry a pen and notepad on the course, or driving range, should I have a moment of inspiration. I also have had many ‘a ha’ moments in the shower as well — I suppose that may be unusual!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen King’s ‘On Writing’ was a significant influence for me in learning about the craft. I also have a good friend who is a full time, travel blogger. His journey (and writings) have inspired me to be transparent and open in my writing.

What are you working on now?
I am fascinated by the way LED lighting is changing the world, and am looking to explore more around that topic in a future book. My first book, ‘Grow Great Weed’ was singularly focused on the indoor growing arena, which is a fascinating industry and pursuit. The folks involved are creative and have tremendous ingenuity to come up with creative ways to hone their craft, including working with LED Lighting. I’d like to look at other industries where LED is changing the way business is done.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am new to authorship and being a ‘book promoter’, so I still have much to learn! I’m really enjoying connecting with readers and getting feedback that helps me hone the craft.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Iterate, iterate, iterate! And find an editor much more skilled than you are!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Fail often, fail fast.

What are you reading now?
“The Girl on the Train” and some nonfiction books. I’m fascinated by what makes a book a viral success.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Perhaps exploring the world of fiction!

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. ‘Think and Grow Rich’ by Napoleon Hill
2. ‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho
3. ‘Four Hour Work Week’ by Tim Ferriss

Author Websites and Profiles
Cameron Lee Website
Cameron Lee Amazon Profile

Cameron Lee is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
A first time author, I have very recently published my debut novel on Amazon Kindle.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my book is “Fortnight before Dawn”. An abiding interest in languages and a growing disquiet at the manner in which terrorism is taking over the world inspired the book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I quaff green tea by the gallon when I write.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Way too many have guided this pen

Do you have any advice for new authors?
just don’t keep waiting till eternity; plus, don’t pin all your hopes on print publishers.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Go for it!

What are you reading now?
The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
My Kindle Voyage loaded with my library

Author Websites and Profiles
Bhamini Ravishankar Amazon Profile

Bhamini Ravishankar’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Bhamini Ravishankar is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Well, i am pursuing a PhD in political science, subjects related to politics, environment , anthropology and religion interest me.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
well its “INDIA AND PAKISTAN AN EMPENDING DOOM ANT THE MENAING OF GREATER WAR”

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Richard dawkins , Charles Darwin, Steven Hawkins , Isabelle Duyvesteyn

What are you working on now?
intelligence related , war related issues

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
well books are getting very market oriented not what is the true essence of wisdom , this should be looked into

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
wise man once told me don’t argue with fools , for people from a distance can’t see who is who.

What are you reading now?
The Future of Intelligence: Challenges in the 21st century

What’s next for you as a writer?
writing my heart 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?
the bible, Quran ,Torah , Veda ! lol

SS. ANSARI is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Nine years ago I was taken at gunpoint and loaded onto a plane some place over in Elmundo/El Paso and deported to a place I dont want to live. Leaving my wife and kids behind in a relationship scramble.

It has been a savaging experience and I, from my growing christian background, believe there is a better life for immigrants and for all else. This first book pich my understanding with the impending possibilities of Planet X passing.

I believe you will find this book a pleasunt way to deal with these difficulties.

This is my first book. Series #3 compiled from Post that were being developed on LinkedIn.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
– THE WAY – NAVIGATING NOW – TROUGH PLANET 7X – TO HIS MAJESTY BY HIS KINGDOM COME AND AUTHORITY ALL WALKING IN THE SPIRIT.

My inspiriation comes from agressively looking for difficult to find jobs here in Jamaica and efforts to use my experience to create a saleable book within my entrepreneural efforts with “value” to all on the planet, values that ares eternal.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I made many jottings when I was in immigration lockup.

They seemed to have been lost. but I do believe and practice storing my treasures in heaven where the thief does not steal and the moth does not rot. And like everyone else can I let this has a place and usefullness in my life. I heard a lady spoke on some programme of how the degital age allow the readers of a author’s work are able to better understand the auditors writing by seeing the path he/(she) goes through as he develops his/(her) writing. Through the pain of sentence structures, grammer and spelling probles I struggle with confrunting the problems that hinders us from living higher sandard of live (like moving from Global percapita income of US$15,000 to US$75,000. That is higher than USA percapita GDP of 52,000, China $11,000 but less than Singapore $83,000.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have been heave reader of Text books. qualifying as a certified Accountant with Chartered Association of Certified Accounts UK.

I concern myself with economics issues, political structures and practices of all countries but expecially with leading nations and emerging economies and evaluate them from my christian, economics an finance perspective.

I dont read the bible much these days though I am glad anything I want to check I can just google it and find chapter and verses in the pible on the phrases or quoes I can call from my own heart.

What are you working on now?
Book 2 of the Series. A presentation of MAJESTY SHOCK TRAIL IN CHRIST.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am new to the whole promoting of books. I draw attention to my hub on Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=84122142&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep on trying and improving. and aim to “Serve All” in each of your effort. Be global. it is very much part of the perfect will of God for our lives. It lowers cost of production and will still have potential to make us earn in abundance at low selling price. allowing seed capital to function more extensively. That is my belief in Christ, in God.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Serve All” by the grace of God in Christ Jesus.

What are you reading now?
What ever appeals to me on Social Media. I keep intouch with every thing economics global.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Singing two songs and doing audio books of my writing and evolve from there.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I need a tablet, access to the internet, and some unlimited power supply. Solar it would have to be perhaps.

Author Websites and Profiles
Sheval Anthony Smith Website
Sheval Anthony Smith Amazon Profile
Sheval Anthony Smith Author Profile on Smashwords

Sheval Anthony Smith’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Sheval Anthony Smith is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was raised in northern England where I played professional soccer before moving to the United States and attending Penn State University. It was here that I wrote my first book on soccer, published by Simon Schuster. I now live in Denver, Colorado and travel around the country speaking about my second book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Life’s Too Short for Leftovers – 9 Lessons from a Third World Kitchen.

Having spent time in Africa I have experienced many facets of the culture and life of these wonderful people who are experiencing immense hardship. I believe we can learn much from them and wanted to document such as a storyteller. It is part inspirational rallying call, part first-person, autobiographical narrative and part eulogy for a treasured friend and mentor. It is a highly personal journey of self-discovery. With my conversational style I attempt to relate timeless philosophies to contemporary challenges and opportunities that face Third World countries today. I bring a generous portion of lucid insights and aha moments to the table, leading the charge toward improved, positive outcomes – in our own lives and in the lives of others.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Nothing that unusual other than handwriting everything on paper first, after 4 cups of coffee every morning. Once that high is relinquished I take a 30 minute power nap and then go over everything again in a more soothing and thought provoking manner.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
On a spiritual front, Rumi and Ruiz and for recreational reading, James Herriot. Many books have brought me to literary watersheds in my life that have forged an identity for me with my subject matter. Bill Shore – The Cathedral Within along with Richard Dowden – Africa and William Easterly – The White Man’s Burden.

What are you working on now?
I am working on more speaking engagements around the country and planning my next trip to Ethiopia to spend time with the children at Project Mercy.

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

Here you will find everything you need to know and you can re-live my time in Africa through the videos from the trips I have made.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Begin…..with the first step and the first word

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t prove others wrong, instead prove yourself right

What are you reading now?
My own book. I never got the time to read it during the past 5 years.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to branch out to other areas of the world to see how much duplication there is both good and bad, that mirrors what Africa holds in it’s hand today.

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?
Shake Hands With The Devil

We wish to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our families

Stellaluna

Oh, the Places You’ll Go

Author Websites and Profiles
Michael Ditchfield Website
Michael Ditchfield Amazon Profile

Michael Ditchfield is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written poems and short stories but not entire books though I am in the process of writing two.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Well the last thing I published is The Boy and The Universe and it was inspired by my best friend who bluntly chooses to ignore everything magnificent and out of the ordinary so I chose to teach her a few things.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have a few places I must be at when I’m writing, otherwise it doesn’t work. And I could never write anything on another person’s laptop. Hmm, I don’t think there is anything else except perhaps the fact that I don’t properly use the keyboard like it’s meant for regular ten fingered humans, instead, I only use my index fingers, I never thought that was any unusual until my friends pointed it out.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The biggest influence on me have definitely, in the past when I was still entering the whole teenage years phase, had Sarah Dessen and Meg Cabot. Nowadays those influences include John Green, Guillaume Musso. When talking about the classics I was mostly influenced by Oscar Wilde as well as a variety of children’s books authors from my surroundings.

What are you working on now?
Currently I’m writing a novel about a child genius and his adventures in the world of computer science as well as a spy novel about an orphan girl.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Well I’ve had a very positive and, might I add, only encounter with promotion through Amazon and Awesomegang and I have been very pleased.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Being a new author I really don’t think I’m in a position to give advice but mine would be that the worst thing you write is still better than the best thing you didn’t write. Not sure about the credit of the quote, so excuse me on that.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I’ve just written it and it’s a simple quote: The worst thing you write is still better than the best thing you didn’t write.

What are you reading now?
I’ve just finished Danny Wallace’s Charlotte Street and currently I’m reading The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Well everything since I’m just starting.

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?
Looking for Alaska

How To Survive on A Deserted Island

The Fault in Our Stars

How Not To Die

Author Websites and Profiles
Irene Keller Website
Irene Keller Amazon Profile

Irene Keller’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Irene Keller is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
J Richard Knapp is an internationally recognized American author and speaker from the Pacific Northwest. His education includes degrees from the University of Oregon and Boise State university. Knapp is internationally recognized as a leader in education, bully prevention, and an author of many tween and young adult fiction books. J Richard Knapp is the Founder and CEO of Stop-Bullies.com, Magpye Publishing,and KnappStory.com.

Knapp has written eight fiction books for children and teens and 1 non-fiction book for adults on the topic of bullying.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Book of Codes’ is my latest publication for 10 year olds. This fictional story is an action/adventure of two twins, who break a secret Caesarian code to discover a hidden underground city. I began writing the rough draft of this story several years ago as I was researching codes used by the Romans.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I never write even one word until I have completely visualized the entire story, characters, and setting. At that point I begin composing the opening chapter entirely in my head. I will then play it back in my mind like a movie. If it makes sense to me, I begin transferring the story to the computer and will write relentlessly every day until it is finished. Once done, I walks away from the manuscript for at least a week and then return back to the manuscript for editing.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I met Wilson Rawls in the seventies and saw his handwritten manuscript (Where the Red Fern Grows). We discussed what it took to write a book of such magnitude. It was at this point in time that I knew I would write children’s books in my lifetime.

What are you working on now?
Shona Anderson (co-author) and I are writing the fourth book in the Cow Pie Gang series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have learned that authors must not rely on just one site to promote their books. This includes sites such as Awesomegang, social media sites, and much more.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
1. Don’t be afraid – just write!
2. Put the time in!
3. Learn everything you can about marketing and publishing! Do not expect others to do it for you.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t be afraid – just write!

What are you reading now?
Nothing. When I am writing a new book, I do not allow any distractions to interfere with my concentration.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I will begin writing the Book of Codes part 2 this fall.

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?
Bible, Where the Red Fern Grows, Biography of Lincoln, and a copy of the United States of America Constitution

Author Websites and Profiles
J Richard Knapp Website
J Richard Knapp Amazon Profile

J Richard Knapp’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

J Richard Knapp is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a mom with teens and an author. I was born in the land down under, Australia. Though a lifelong Aussie hailing from Queensland, I’m now also a Tassie, as I currently reside in Hobart, Tasmania. In my youth, I was a competitive swimmer, winning Silver for Queensland at state in the 200 meters butterfly and also representing in the 10K marathon swim. I’ve written several books including Kidnapped at K7, Mission Possible, Elusive Quarry, and Mumma Africa.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Mission Possible is my latest release. I’ve always wanted to be a writer and I’ve been scribbling passionately for many years. I’ve tried for a few years to find success with my first novel. Now I just write for me and have fun.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write in the wide outdoors. Sometimes kangaroos, koalas or whatever else may happen by and interrupt me but I enjoy it.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I know it may sound silly but I was really inspired by Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys as a child. I think my love of those types of mysteries is what led me to write cozy mysteries featuring a woman sleuth.

What are you working on now?
I’ve written a number of books in my series, the Bendersons Mysteries. I have more than a dozen actually, written over many years and I’m now trying to get them all published, working with a wonderful editorial team called Kindle Marketing.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Even though I’ve had books published since 2011, I haven’t really been successful. I kind of gave up for a while, until I connected with Kindle Marketing and they got me inspired to try again.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Chin up. Be brave. Be true to yourself. Know when to give up, but keep trying if you have even the slightest inkling of possibility.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Emily Asimov told me to keep writing, if I keep enjoying it, and I do, so I have. Kept writing that is. It may be hopeless, but I love just the idea of the dream of being a writer.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading the Star Chasers books by Emily Asimov. She inspired me to keep writing, and I’ve never before read anything like her work before. It’s very good.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m going to spend more time with my children, but also keep writing as much as I can. I like to write during my lunch breaks and when I have spare moments at night. It’s all I got, but it’s mine.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, After the Machines by Robert Stanek, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling.

Author Websites and Profiles
Leanne Schroder Website
Leanne Schroder Amazon Profile

Leanne Schroder’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Leanne Schroder is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have three great hobbies- health and healing, self defense and investing. Fortunately for you, I am nearly obsessive about each of these topics. I spend most of my free time learning about these things and then passing on what I have learned.

Passing on what I have learned could easily be classified as my fourth great hobby. I seem to be addicted to it as well.

So far, I have two books published, and probably a dozen in the works.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my most recent book is Investing 101- Safe, Simplified, Effective Investing and Money Management Basics for the Beginner.

Being self employed, I don’t receive a pension when I retire like a lot of people. Social Security seems to be a constant unknown. So my wife and I decided we needed to do it ourselves.

We learned the hard way that nobody cares for our money as much as we do. We also learned that nobody took care of our money the way we could. Even as an amateur we did better managing our money than professionals. Even if those professionals did well managing our money, their fees often ate up much of our profits.

Additionally, we had several friends and family members who lost almost their entire nest eggs right before retirement due to mis-management by professionals. In fact, most of these friends and family members had professional who out-right refused to take their money out of the market when it was crashing. As a result, these people who had saved their entire lives to retire in comfort, and had succeeded, lost it all in a very short period of time.

I also knew a few people who had invested on their own and lost a lot of money. So my wife and I set out to learn how to invest safely, yet very simply and very effectively. It took years of trial and error to perfect, but we now have a system that we are very happy with. And we want to share it with other people.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I guess we all do. My main thing is that I write and re-write the same little bit over and over and over. Everybody may do this. What I do seems excessive to me. Also, I binge write. Once I get in a groove the ideas won’t stop so I keep going. Even when I try to quit, the ideas keep popping up for a while.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
As far as investing goes, I studied Ken Roberts, Rich Dad Poor Dad books, Burton Pugh, Ted Warren, Dave Ramsey to name a few. My favorites were always the non-mainstream guys who tended to be brave enough to try new things. As a result, they typically found a way to make money that others had not yet thought of.

What are you working on now?
Just promoting Investing 101 right now. I want to see what kind of response I get, and see if any questions pop up that I might need to address in a revised addition.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am a new author, so I really don’t know yet. At all. I like writing. I like teaching. Promoting? That’s what I need to work on.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just do what you love.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To only take advice from those who have what you want. Everybody wants to give you advice, even if they have no clue how to do what you are doing. Its just human nature. But as far as the advice you want to go by- seek out people that have what you want, and ask them what they did.

What are you reading now?
Natural Born Heroes by Christopher McDougall

What’s next for you as a writer?
Learn how to promote!

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?
Blank books, to write in.

Author Websites and Profiles
Matthew Barnes Website
Matthew Barnes Amazon Profile

Matthew Barnes is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Anat Feldman, I am a health consultant and a personal trainer. I hold a Ph.D in Health Education from IUBL University, a Masters in French Culture and Argumentation from Tel-Aviv University and a B.Ed. in Physical Education from Wingate Institute. For the last 20 years, using the Gymind method (combination of Gym and Mind, Body and Soul), I have guided children and adults on their path for a better and healthier life. I currently lives with my husband and three sons in Israel. This is my first book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Health? Your Way!” is a life-project, a window to my work for the last 20 years as a personal trainer, a life coach and a healer. In an era of reality shows, this book reveals true fascinating stories of some of my clients. They are the true heroes. They chose to take charge over their life, to take care of themselves, to exercise, to eat smart and to clean their mind and soul. They are children, teens and adults who “Gymind” their way in life since they combine the physical part (gymnastics) with the mental part (mind) and literally create wonders. For example: Oliver the hypotonic kid becomes stronger in body and mind; Irene, diagnosed with Lupus, not only overcomes pain and discomfort but also finds that happiness has always been there right under her nose.
I have had the privilege to escort them, guide them and learn so much about the power of the mind, the plasticity of our brain and the fact that anything is possible, that even the sky has no limits. This book is so inspirational and powerful that each and every one of us can relate to Oliver, to Irene and to all the other heroes in the book or outside of it, meaning: us.
Health tips and helpful guidelines are all present, supported by the latest health researches, since my long years as a lecturer and a researcher at Tel Aviv University had taught me to bring solid proof to my statements. So when you hold the book you walk through the narrative and the academic, they both support and enrich each other, making us think, meditate and grow.
The process of writing the book felt very natural, just like giving birth to child number four after three sons. My Ph.D. thesis from IUBL was naturally converted into a story line I have the privilege to share with the readers.
At first I named it “Gymind your way in life; the linkage between fitness, nutrition and Mind”, and a copy of this title still appears on amazon. Yet, when I held a printed copy in my hands the title felt too heavy, too long, too complicated maybe too presumptuous. The book is so graceful and flowing that I needed to keep the title simple, catchy, easy to remember: “Health? Your Way!” got not only a new title but a new and more suitable cover with a straight message: take the road towards your health, your way !

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to shade in grey the personal stories as well as the tips and guidelines in the book. Some readers find it unusual. I find it special and unique…

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Robin Sharma, Liz Gilbert, Maria Shriver, Joseph Murphy, Brian L. Weiss, Dawn E. Clark.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a new book names “Sex for Health? Your Way!”

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write from your heart, believe your own words and enjoy the process – of both writing and advertising.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Practice what you preach

What are you reading now?
A beautiful french novel names “Leon and Louise” by Alex Capus

Author Websites and Profiles
Anat Feldman Website
Anat Feldman Amazon Profile

Anat Feldman is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing professionally, in one way or another, all my adult life. I was a TV promotion director, founder and creative director of a NY ad agency, public relations specialist, playwright, and novelist. I’ve written several books, including the murder mystery NICE PLACE FOR A MURDER, ARE YOU JEWISH? a collection of one-act comedy plays (which have been produced by groups across the US and as far away as London, Rome, Israel, and Aukland), business books including recently published START A BUSINESS – WORK FROM HOME.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest opus is BASEBALL TEAM SIGNS GEEZER, which is either a long short story or a short novella. It’s a story that’s been marinating in my mind for several months, about a 67-year-old geezer who happens to be a sensational hitter. Despite his age, he’s signed by a professional team, with the proviso that he maintains an unreasonably high batting average, and with the added motivation that if he breaks the season batting average of Ted Williams, who batted .406 for the Red Sox in 1940’s, he will receive a huge bonus. My own fascination with baseball began when I married my wife, who is a lifelong Yankees fan. Now I’m a Yankees fan, too. That’s real love for ya.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My writing habits are bad ones. The worst is my tendency to go over what I’ve just written again and again. If I were wise I’d just knock out a first draft as fast as possible, then go back and polish it when it’s all done. As Ernest Hemingway is supposed to have said, “First drafts are sh**.”

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The author who has influenced me most is Vladimir Nabokov – whose course in European literature I took when he taught at Cornell. It’s only in retrospect that I’ve come to realize how much I learned from this master prose stylist. All these years later, I continue to go back over his lectures. I enjoy the Russian writers, especially Tolstoy. I am the only person I know who has actually read WAR AND PEACE — twice! (I can’t understand why people say it’s long and difficult. Yes, it’s long. But the story is a real page-turner.) I don’t claim to write like the masters. My style is simple and direct. Like most writers, I do the very best I can.

What are you working on now?
I’m revising a romance novel I wrote some time ago. I wrote it just to see if I could write in a genre I knew little about. Bad idea. Now I think I know what’s wrong with it. We’ll see.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I really have yet to discover the best promotion method. If you have a method that works, please let me in on it.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
The wit Dorothy Parker is supposed to have said, “I don’t like to write. I like to have written.” If you want to be a writer, you gotta WRITE. Then when people ask you what you do, you can honestly say, “I’m a writer.” I have a theory that all writers have a million bad words inside them, and the good words don’t start to come until they get the bad ones out of their system.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
An early boss of mine once advised me, “Do something that makes money while you sleep.” I still think that’s a grand idea. But I haven’t found a way to be successful other than working very hard. I guess the best advice to any writer is: WRITE. You may never be brilliant, but you do get better. And from what I’ve observed, you don’t have to be brilliant to be very, very successful.

What are you reading now?
It seems I’m always in the middle of three or four books at the same time. I’m reading NABOKOV IN AMERICA, by Roper, a new bio of the writer; THE REDEEMER, a murder mystery by the excellent Jo Nesbo; the recently published COLLECTED POEMS of Mark Strand, winner of the Pulitzer Prize. I have also been reading the most recent translation of DON QUIXOTE for years now. It’s very funny stuff. I’m determined to finish it.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have a kindle short story, THE LAST OF THE BERGMANNS, which I think would make a strong one-act play, maybe even a three-act. Stay tuned.

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 DON QUIXOTE, so I could have the time to finally finish it; BLEAK HOUSE, by Dickens; and Bittman’s HOW TO COOK EVERYTHING, because I like good food.

Bruce Jay Bloom is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in Keta in the Volta region of the Republic of Ghana. As a senior high school pioneer of Keta Business Secondary School, I worked extensively in the financial sector for over a decade and holds an executive MBA in banking and finance from ESG—the Paris Graduate School of Management in France.

In May 2005, I was voted branch winner of Standard Chartered Bank’s Loyalty Promotion Competition. I also received three additional awards in my current financial career as a customer-centric individual whose humility and exhibited service standards were judged to be worthy of emulation and second to none. In July 2012, I was awarded Best Staff of Department; in October 2012, I was named the Overall Best FLA (frontline associate) for the southern zone; and in December 2012, I was the first to be awarded the International Award of Excellence from my employers. I was the very first to have won all three such enviable awards in a single year. I have written three books and currently working on two. I hope to get all five books two novels and three non-fictions completely out by December, 2015.

I am a versatile individual with very dark life stories; I was a child laborer and a survivor of the 1983 famine that claimed many lives. Now an author and a relationship manager of a renowned international bank, I speaks English and French and writes fiction, nonfiction, thrillers, and poetry.

I am interested in motivational engagements that inspire youth worldwide.
Living above the average poverty line today, he often says, “If I have started under a big mango tree and later in an old structure with palm-kernel walls, and today I am working with a world-class international bank, trust me—you have the potential to become a president. Just don’t give up.”

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book that is available and would soon be developed into other special settings is Tears of My Life – a true story that conveys a message of hope to a world that is already dominated by conflict and hatred, and it highlights the factual challenges that have inflicted bitter grievances on little children in many parts of the world. The author reiterates how Kofi, (myself) amid unfavorable difficulties, reclaims his lost hopes and ambitions in life.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, I usually write in the night when everyone is asleep. I am a very busy relationship manager in a normal business day.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Dave Spelzer’s, a Child called It, John Locke, James Patterson, Steven King, Oprah Winfrey , my mom and many others played a lot of role in my life as an author. I knew and read a lot of Steven King’s books e.g the half dark and a lot more many years ago before getting into creative writing. I love them, they are wonderful people.

What are you working on now?
currently working on Girdle of Disdain and Banker Without Portfolio, the first is a novel and the other is a non-fiction; I mean a true life story….

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am very new to that… looking at twitter, amazon, facebook etc, and author marketing club…. not very sure at the moment.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes new authors must never under-rate the experienced of the established authors. they must always look out for new skills to adopt.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep writing… hahaha

What are you reading now?
how I sold one million books in 5 months by John Locke

What’s next for you as a writer?
try to apply all the new skills being learnt from his book, there-after.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I will take three of John Lockes Book’s and Dave Spelzer’s A Child
called IT.

Author Websites and Profiles
Philip Gbormittah Website
Philip Gbormittah Amazon Profile

Philip Gbormittah’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Philip Gbormittah is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I used to work in Information Technology Security and Cyberwarfare and spent hundreds of hours waiting in International airports for flights to and from my clients. Lots of time to read though. These days I just write about some of the things I’ve come across in my fast-paced suspense thrillers. I currently have eight of these available (four in ‘the CULL’ series and four stand-alone. I have also written a non-fiction book for people who want to become writers themselves entitled ‘How NOT to be an ASPIRING Writer’ – loaded with practical tips and tricks and written in a chatty, witty, easy to read fashion.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest novel is book 4 of ‘the CULL’ series. The series happened when, first, I jokingly mentioned to a cousin a few years back that I now needed to write a Vampire novel and was immediatly asked to feature her daughter and, second, in response to the huge number of reader requests for more of the female Covert Intelligence Agents I had created for that book. Now up to the fourth of a series of five and people are still enjoying the series for its originality and morally-ambiguous characters.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Tea! I have to be constantly fueled by Strong (Strength 3) black tea or my brain freezes. Other than that, I’m about as normal as writers can be… which isn’t saying much. (Do the blood sacrifices and fruit offering count?)

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have been an eclectic reader all my life but have a special place in my heart for three writers I grew up reading: Charles Dickens, Ian Fleming and the British author John Gardner, who I had the pleasure of corresponding with and meeting and who gave me great encouragement to become a writer before Life appeared and set me on a different path… for a while. I’m now back to my first love.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on the sequel to ‘Outsourced’, again by popular demand. Seems my trio of protagonists, two New York thriller writers and a hard-nosed female Intelligence agent, have struck a chord with the readers and my email account Inbox exploded with requests for more – I am but putty in my readers’ hands!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My own website, of course, where readers can find extracts and the Inside Secrets of my novels, then Twitter. I did a very successful promo with Awesomegang last year and am now back for more, please.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Writing can be a very lonely business but it doesn’t have to be. Many writers, myself included, are only too happy to help our fellow scribes. I have found that, given my background, I’m a source for information for several other authors and am always glad to help. There are also several excellent sites out there for authors to obtain specialised research info: Judith Lucci’s Author911 http://author911.blogspot.com , Fiona Quinn’s ThrillWriting http://www.fionaquinnbooks.com/#!blogger-feed/cxss/tag/ThrillWriting or Jordyn Redwood’s Medical Edge http://jordynredwood.blogspot.com are amongst the best.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
‘Believe in yourself and others will follow!’ and ‘Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken!’ (Oscar Wilde?)

What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading ‘Weakest Lynx’ by Fiona Quinn. I read her ‘Chaos is Come Again’ (co-authored with John Dolan, another superb author I like, last year and l was looking forward to this new thriller, the first in a series. I’m over halfway through and it’s brilliant! Will definitely read the next two books in the series this summer.

What’s next for you as a writer?
After the sequel to ‘Outsourced’ I’ll be working on another sequel, this time to ‘Leaving Shadows’. The novel, entitled ‘Chasing Shadows’ pays a return visit to the Kidnap and Ransom Rescue team CACS and plunges them into a very delicate mission on behalf of MI6. After that I’ll be putting the finishing touches to a collection of connected short thriller tales entitled ‘FACETS’. By then it should be Christmas and time for a break, but not for long: the last book of ‘the CULL’ series is already biting at its chains.

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?
‘War and Peace’ (never actually got round to reading it and I guess I’ll have the time once basic survival stuff is taken care of), ‘The Complete Works of Arthur Conan Doyle’, and ‘The Art of War by Sun Tsu’ which never gets old.

Author Websites and Profiles
Eric J. Gates Website
Eric J. Gates Amazon Profile

Eric J. Gates’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Eric J. Gates is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, my name is Vince Barnett, I live and was born and raised here, Albuquerque, NM. I love literature and writing but I joined the marine corp and lost track o time with this skill. I wrote and published my first book The Reaper;
(http://www.amazon.com/Reaper-Vince-Barnett-ebook/dp/B0106FZ3U0/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1435765392&sr=8-12&keywords=the+reaper&pebp=1435765430124&perid=169TSP6B3F0225BAENJK)
and I love it, I want to write more and I’m in need of help of people to give me there reviews and trust that I will be the best author or try to be one of the best authors they ever known.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Reaper. I chose this topic because we always hear horror or mysterious stories about ghost, poltergeist, demons but what about the soul sorcerer himself. I want a book to grab those thrill seekers and bring them to a new life of the Reaper and his mysterious crimes.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Very, I always type slower than my thoughts and they overcome me but I always manage to keep everything caged and write as much detail I can to spread the image to the readers eye.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Steven King, Edgar Ellen Poe

What are you working on now?
A mystery, sci-fi thriller.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
http://www.amazon.com/Reaper-Vince-Barnett-ebook/dp/B0106FZ3U0/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1435765392&sr=8-12&keywords=the+reaper&pebp=1435765430124&perid=169TSP6B3F0225BAENJK

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Live strong and never give up your work, once it feels like you lost everything, you will see a major change and the best feeling in your life, so high hopes.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
live strong, be prosper.

What are you reading now?
The Hunger Games- Part 1

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep on 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 raven, Green mile, and Pet cemetery.

Author Websites and Profiles
Vince Barnett Website
Vince Barnett Amazon Profile

Vince Barnett’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Vince Barnett is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a father of four, married to the greatest person I have ever met.

As a kid growing up I was a baseball player and a wrestler – one who had much more desire than raw talent. The only way I knew how to bridge the difference between my talent and desire was through hard work. As a young man I had very high athletic goals, all of which I came up miserably short of achieving.

For the longest time I couldn’t justify the work I put into achieving those goals and how short I came up of achieving them.

Until I had adversity in my life as an adult.

It was then that I realized what the true importance of athletics and competition really is – to prepare you to be able to handle and win when your real test in life arrives.

My true test was my daughter being as close to death as one could be – to believe in her ability to recover. To be a fighter, to take everything I learned through athletics and utilize the lessons to help her recover.

I love to coach youth athletics – I believe there is not a more important person in the life of a young adult than a coach.

I love to inspire.

I love being the underdog.

I love winning.

I love beating an opponent who is bigger than I am.

All Life lessons I learned through athletics as a child, the athletics which I was so mad at- because I felt that I got nothing out of, because I didn’t reach my goals.

It made me realize – The reward which you seek, is sometimes not the reward in which you receive.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My inspiration to write the “Every Breath Is Gold” series came from life experience of having a daughter fall into a coma.

How I realized everything in my life up to that point was to prepare me to help her.

Looking back on my life I realized every adversity I had previously faced was to best prepare me to face my ultimate test – to save my daughter.

The name of my latest book is “Your Soul Knows” and is the 3rd book in the “Every Breath Is Gold” series.

Book 1 is –
6 Minutes Wrestling With Life: A Family’s Tragedy To Triumph

Book 2 – Again: The Ability To Muster Up A Little More When The World Would Understand If You Quit

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My best writing happens after midnight, more specifically around 3 am due to the phenomena of getting what I have called “3 am email” – emails from readers who have reached out to me to let me know how my works have touched them. I have often said – the greatest part of my writing are the wonderful people I have met through it.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Victor Frankl’s “A Man’s Search For Meaning” – without a doubt has had the greatest influence on my writing and also on my outlook on life.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a book about a very good man who has had a great influence on my life who sits in prison. He is not innocent, but he is good. I believe good people do bad things sometimes, I also believe people should never be given up on. Ever.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes – write what is in your heart and do not worry how many people will read it. If you connect with 1 person, your writing experience will be worth it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just do the next right thing and then repeat indefinitely.

What are you reading now?
“The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To continue to take life experiences and attempt to inspire others through words.

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 Man’s Search For Meaning – Victor Frankl

The Fault In Our Stars – John Green

6 Minutes Wrestling With Life – JohnA Passaro

Author Websites and Profiles
JohnA Passaro Amazon Profile

JohnA Passaro’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

JohnA Passaro is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written a lot of books in my lifetime, but so far only two are in the process of being published. The first one, The Blood Moon, will be out on August 1, 2015 and the second will be out in February 2016. I’m currently writing the third one now.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Blood Moon was really inspired by my love of magic and witches back when I was a teenager. At the time, I really loved watching the TV show Charmed and I loved the situations the characters were put in and the mythologies that were created and I wanted to do that myself. So I started my own book. Last year I really tore into the edits and now, nine years after I started it, it’s about to be published.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Nothing too unusual. I’ve kind of written in every environment, so I think I’m pretty flexible. I have my own ritual, I get my glass of water (and take frequent breaks to refill), pull up my word counter, put Scrivener on distraction-free mode and get to it. It’s pretty simple. Now, finding the two-three hours to actually write a chapter is another thing in general…

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen King, JK Rowling, Suzanne Collins – the usuals. But I’m also influenced by more midlist authors such as Cinda Williams Chima, Sally Green, and Pierce Brown.

As for books, I really love a great story, so anything that completely captures me. Stephen King’s 11/22/63 was like that as was JK Rowling as Robert Galbraith with The Cuckoo’s Calling and The Silkworm. The books that really inspired me as a writer and especially as a self-publisher are Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott, Write. Publish. Repeat. by Sean Platt, Johnny B. Truant, and David Wright, Let’s Get Digital by David Gaughran, and On Writing by Stephen King.

What are you working on now?
I just finished editing my second book, due out in February 2016, and I’m working on the first draft for my third novel. I wrote The Blood Moon as a teenager and edited as an adult whereas the second and third books I’m writing as an adult and I can really see a difference in the ease of editing with the later books. I have more of a direction and more of an understanding of the characters so I’m really excited to see these published.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Anywhere that’s free! I’m a new indie author with a tight budget and I just can’t justify spending money on promotions for one book when I could wait until I have a few books out and potentially sell more books in one ad campaign. Simple marketing, really.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Seeing how I’m a new author, I suppose I’d say what I keep telling myself: Do it right now, so you don’t have to rebuild your credibility later. I think self-publishing still gets a bad rap because many self-publishers are still delivering poor products. I want to produce books that look like they were traditionally published. I’ve read books by other indie authors like that and that’s what I’m striving for.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write drunk. Edit sober.

I like it because you need to write without a care in the world and come by in the editing process and sort through the pieces.

What are you reading now?
I’m actually in the middle of Let’s Get Digital by David Gaughran and I love it. I try to switch between fiction and non-fiction books, so the last fiction book I read was Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. Very dark, but very good.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I plan on publishing a holiday short story at the end of the year and then I’ll publish my second novel. Hopefully by then I’ll already be through my second draft of my third book, but we’ll see how the rest of the year goes.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
That’s hard because I don’t typically reread books. From my TBR pile, I’d probably take Jason Gurley’s Eleanor, Pierce Brown’s Red Rising, and Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs.

Author Websites and Profiles
David Neth Website
David Neth Amazon Profile
David Neth Author Profile on Smashwords

David Neth’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

David Neth is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
After spending nearly 4 years at sea working on Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships, I’ve compiled my knowledge of what to see and do in port into my first ebook. It’s an entertaining cross between a guidebook and a peek behind the scenes of living and working on a cruise ship.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The book is called “Sea More: Caribbean.” I wrote it as a way to tell my friends who were taking cruises where to go and what not to miss. I found myself always telling people the same restaurants and tours that they needed to try. One day I realized that it wasn’t just my friends who could benefit from my experience, but anyone headed to the Caribbean!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
With the exception of 2 or 3 days, I made myself sit at my computer and write for at least an hour every night until the book was finished.

And I keep a signed picture of my travel idol, Samantha Brown next to my television. That way when I’m sitting on the couch being lazy, I see Sam, realize I need to hustle, and get to work!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
1,000 Places to See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz
A college professor gave me that book for graduation. At the time I hadn’t been anywhere and didn’t think I would go anywhere. I’m now a travel addict and “1,000 Places” has been my guide many times.

What are you working on now?
As I like to say, “I’m finally traveling instead of just writing about traveling.” I’m on a quest to see 100 National Park Service sites before the National Park Service turns 100 in August 2016. So I’m spending a lot time driving, hiking, and exploring. When I’m not outside, I’m trying to keep up with my adventures on my travel blog The Road Lots Traveled (www.theroadlotstraveled.com).

I may start working on another book next winter, but I try to be outside as much as possible during summer and fall.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I certainly haven’t cracked the book marketing code yet. Social media has been key for me.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just do it. I know it’s scary and uncertain, but if your dream is to write a book then DO IT. Chase that dream! No one is going to live your life or chase your dreams for you. Nothing is stopping you from being a published author. Now sit down and write!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
So much. My top 2 quotes this week are:
“I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.” Lucille Ball
“Pick the scarier option. If you’re going to fail, at least fail ambitiously.” Brooke Runnette, President, National Geographic Studios

What are you reading now?
A book about writing for comedy.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keeping up on The Road Lots Traveled (www.theroadlotstraveled.com).

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Bible (I keep saying I’ll read it cover to cover in a year – hopefully that would happen if I were stranded on a desert island)
Wild (I’d probably need some courage in my new life on the island and I’ve found Cheryl Strayed is a good person to borrow courage from)
A Trip Around the Sun by Mark Batterson and Dick Foth (The book is all about choosing adventure, and I’d clearly be on a new adventure)

And hopefully a guidebook to my new island home. And if one hasn’t been written, I’d sit down and do it!

Author Websites and Profiles
Valerie Perry Website
Valerie Perry Amazon Profile

Valerie Perry’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Valerie Perry is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I graduated school in May 2015 and I’m a pharmacist. I’ve written 1 book so far

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
One-Month Willpower: A Simple System For Life-Changing Transformation
I completely turned my life around in a month’s time and felt I had to share with others

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Lol I’ll say no.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Tony Robbins, Napolean Hill, Jim Rohn, Darren Hardy, Dale Carnegie, Zig Ziglar, Denis Waitley

What are you working on now?
A book on exercise and nutrition

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just get started. That’s the hard part.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If your motivation is great enough you can do anything you set your mind to

What are you reading now?
Methods of Persuasion by Nick Kolenda

What’s next for you as a writer?
To write more books and teach others how writing isn’t as hard as they might think

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
Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy

Author Websites and Profiles
Michael Unks Amazon Profile

Michael Unks’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Michael Unks is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Founded in 2014, Reading Harbor is an American Publishing Company. Our goal is to provide meaningful works of art and literature to the public. Our team consists of award winning editors, writers, literature junkies and freelancers. We carefully scout for stories that appeal to the heart. Only our very favorites are published under our name.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Our latest book is “The Bullied Anthologies: Stories of Success.” Inspirational people who turned lemons into lemonade were are inspiration. A lot of young people are bullied and feel like they cannot get out of it. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. What we tried to do is put together a compilation that shows people you can succeed- even if the odds seem stacked against you.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
We are motivated by telling good stories that can help uplift and inspire people!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are so many great authors and books out there. The truly great ones leave a lasting impression and change the direction of your life. JK Rowling’s Harry Potter captured the imagination, taught values and the importance of friendship, and is a classic.

What are you working on now?
We are always working on another project. There are so many great stories to tell and share with the world!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
We have found Good Reads Giveaways a great way to connect with new potential readers. Good Reads is great in that it is a tool that can recommend to readers new books based on their personal preferences.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up on your dream. If you can dream it, you can write it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“It’s not the critic who counts, but the man in the arena.”

What are you reading now?
The Bullied Anthologies! We will keep re-reading it until it’s finalized. Right now, we are working on a hard copy edition.

What’s next for you as a writer?
The sky’s the limit.

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. Cinder

2. Robinson Caruso

3. How to Escape a Desert Island

Author Websites and Profiles
Reading Harbor Website

Reading Harbor is a post from Awesome Gang