Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have nine books in my Captain No Beard series. Sixteen in the non-fiction cultural series If You Were Me and Lived in…

I have one preschool story about yoga, and Whales’ Big Adventure- a collaboration with my five year old grandson.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
If You Were Me and Lived in…China. It is the latest in my introduction to culture for young children around the world. I am determined to cover the globe. The series discusses various aspects for children ages 4 to 8, that will hopefully spark an interest in learning about the customs and cultures around the world.

My other new release is number nine in the Captain No Beard series, A Flag for the Flying Dragon, a series that teaches gentle lessons for children ages 3-8. They are mostly action-packed and fun for the whole family. Captain No Beard must use his wits to both find a job for his newest crew member and cousin, Zach, as well as a flag for the Flying Dragon. The crew comes together with rewarding results. It was given Five Stars by the Foreword Review.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I can write at my desk while I am working my regular job. I like multi-tasking.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love to read. I started early when I was six with with Nancy Drew and now read at least one book a night. My favorite authors are Jojo Moynes, Phillipa Gregory, Tracey Chevalier, Bernard Cornwell, Liane Moriarty, James Clavell, and Michael Phillip Cash ( my son- I must add, a most gifted author.)

What are you working on now?
If You Were Me and Lived in…Italy.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Both my son and I use Julie Gerber from Away We Go Media. We share an assistant and budding publicist, Brittney Bass. We use Facebook mostly to get word of our books out there. We have an astonishing network of bloggers who’s generosity in both reading and promoting has helped get work of our books out there.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write all the time. Don’t be afraid. Ask for honest reviews and then use them to make your writing better. Don’t be discouraged by rejection or criticism. It’s the best way to challenge yourself to get better and hone your craft.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t think you are going to just sell a book once it gets published. You have to promote yourself and use all the help on the internet that you can get. Julie Gerber taught me that.

What are you reading now?
I just finished Flight of the Sparrow by Amy Belding Brown. The following is my review Extraordinary story about the early Puritan settlers that colonized the Northeast coast. This insightful book is the tale of Mary, a minister’s wife who’s courage and reason is tested when she and her children are captured by marauding Native Americans. This is not a one dimensional book. Mary is a sensitive, but moral woman. She helps a congregant that others shun, defying her husband behind his back. She is torn, struggling with the double standard and the lack of Christian charity. Her entire world is thrown upside down, when she is abducted and forced into tribal life. Her harrowing experiences are both heart-wrenching, the graphic descriptions of the attack, one of the most frightening things I’ve ever read. The author’s detail is stunningly vivid. Mary must examine her own prejudices, questioning the values that she accepted against her own common sense. Based on truth, this is a wonderful book about the early settlers who set the platform of this country and had the strength to weather the obstacles and endure the hardships making them strong.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am thinking that Captain No Beard may want to experience a little time travel.

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?
Sho-gun, Gulliver’s Travels, Swiss Family Robinson, the World Book Encyclopedia and the Bible.

Author Websites and Profiles
Carole P. Roman Website
Carole P. Roman Amazon Profile

Carole P. Roman’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Carole P. Roman is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Michael Phillip Cash and I am an award winning screenwriter and novelist. As of summer 2015, I have 11 written novels…two more are on the way. I live on the North Shore of Long Island and married to my soulmate with two amazing children. I can also touch my nose with my tongue.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is ‘Witches Protection Program’. The inspiration is sort of embarrassing but I was in the bathroom, checking out my wife’s trashy magazines. I saw the words Wetless Protection Program on one page and thought it said Witches Protection Program. I thought it was a great idea for the start of an incredible story. A few months later, Witches Protection Program is a best-seller on Amazon.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
9am to 5pm is research and development. Google…love it. Wife and kids are asleep around 8pm, then I write with the Travel Channel on in the background, until my eyes go.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
All my inspiration came from reading spiritual books and reading amazing screenplays. The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles was a huge inspiration for me. Any screenplay by Quentin Tarantino, Diablo Cody, and Scott Rosenberg have been very influential in my life.

What are you working on now?
I just uploaded the cover to my new summer release, Pokergeist. That should be out in the next week or so. I’m currently working on two more novels. The first one is my monster masterpiece, Monsterland. A teen must save his date in a theme park whose main attractions – real werewolves, vampires and zombies – descend the place into chaos. I’m having a BLAST writing this. Then after Monsterland is Witches Protection Program II. I’ve been conjuring up some bigger and badder witches who have the program in their sights.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I would be lying to tell you I’ve promoted my novels by myself. I have an incredible team that help spread the word. Starting from my social networking guru Julie Gerber, to my fabulous publicist Brittney Bass. My mother is my manager and gives my books to everyone that looks in her direction. These amazing ladies have been instrumental in getting my work to the masses. They promote my work all over Twitter, Facebook, Google, Newspapers, Blogs, etc…

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write, write, write, write. Research and keep writing. After you write, research more, and keep writing. It’s that simple. Oh, and pick up the book Save the Cat by Blake Snyder. The late and great Blake wrote the book on how every story belongs to an appropriate genre. He then teaches you how to beat out your story and structure it. Once you learn that, you will know what audiences are looking for. Read Save the Cat and write your story. And most importantly, have fun!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Of the many supposed rules of writing, the only one that’s legit is ‘write every day.’”

“The Coen brothers, Charlie Kaufman, Quentin Tarantino never tried to guess what Hollywood would make. They wrote their obsessions and so should you.”

Both quotes by Brian Koppelman

What are you reading now?
Shakespeare for Screenwriters: Timeless Writing Tips from the Master of Drama

Wheat Belly: Total Health

Steal Like an Artist

Captain America: The First Avenger: The Screenplay

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m looking to buy a 60 foot yacht with my royalties. Kidding! After Monsterland and Witches II, I’ve already started thinking about my next novel called ‘Neandythal’. It’s about a grating millennial who gets struck by lightning and is sent back 37 million years ago.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
How to build a boat, How to catch a fish, How to make useful things out of a desert island, and The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy.

Author Websites and Profiles
Michael Phillip Cash Website
Michael Phillip Cash Amazon Profile

Michael Phillip Cash’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Michael Phillip Cash is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an entrepreneur, speaker, and life empowerment coach. She specializes in spiritual and personal growth, stress management, time management, and motivation for teens and adult women. I have two associate degrees, one in Sociology and the other in Business Administration. I am working to encourage women and teens to define their goals in life, eliminate any mindsets that may hinder their desire to grow, and learn the necessary skills to lead an empowered, focused and passion-driven life.

I have written two books, one is called Fearless Prayer and the other is The Path to Your Path.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is The Path to Your Path. This book was inspired by my life’s journey. I was not comfortable with the traditional 9-5 lifestyle, and was very unhappy with life in general. I experienced many difficult situations that impacted how I felt about myself. I had to do some self-improvement to begin the journey on the life I really wanted. The Path to Your Path explores the principles I used (love, truth, gratitude, forgiveness, thoughts, faith, and vision) to become whole, and I wanted to share these principles with others.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
After I am first inspired to write, I begin to brainstorm. I determine what the book is going to be about, then create the introduction. The introduction gives direction to the purpose of the book. Then I create the title of each chapter. After that, I brainstorm the topics each chapter will include.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich, Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret, and the Bible.

What are you working on now?
I recently started a program called C.O.P.E. -Creating Our Peaceful Existence. I am currently interviewing families that have survived traumatic experiences to include their stories in a book about coping.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My best method when it comes to promoting my books have been book signings and social media. I share my books on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SherondaLBarksdale?fref=nf.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be patient with the process. Becoming frustrated will only delay writers block. Walk away when necessary. Celebrate your milestones (after the completion of each chapter, publishing, cover creation, etc.). We all want to become best-sellers, but you must also enjoy the process.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do not worry about who will or will not purchase your books. The people who it is intended for will come.

What are you reading now?
Eckhart Tolle’s Living in the Now.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Next is working on the marketing strategy I have created for The Path to Your Path. I am searching venues for book signings, finding sites like Awesomegang, and partnering with non-profit organizations to donate a portion of the proceeds that come from online sales. Currently, I am partnering with an organization called JUMPSTART. JUMPSTART is a non-profit organization that targets young women ages 12-18 who are victims of the sex-trafficking industry. You can find out more about this organization on their GoFundMe page: http://www.gofundme.com/JUMPSTART2015.

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 Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Lessons in Truth by H. Emilie Cady
The Bible

Author Websites and Profiles
Sheronda Barksdale Website
Sheronda Barksdale Amazon Profile

Sheronda Barksdale’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Sheronda Barksdale is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a civil litigation solicitor in Inverness, in the Scottish Highlands. I have written three books.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called In the Shadow of the Hill. I wrote a short story that was placed in a competition and published. It was about two young boys with very different lives, living next door to each other on an island. Someone commented that it would be great to know what happened to the boys when they grew up. That led me to think of the different paths they might take, based on their life experiences, and, eventually, to writing the novel, with the short story as the prologue.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write whenever I can, but it is not easy when working full-time. I tend to write in the evenings and at weekends, but I sometimes find myself scribbling passages while sitting in court waiting for my cases to call. I might get inspiration from a tetchy sheriff or an entertaining defender. Inspiration is everywhere.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
CS Sansom, Anne Lamott, Niall Williams, F Scott Fitzgerald, Neil Gunn, Ian Rankin, Val McDermit, Lin Anderson

All-time favourites – Good Times Bad Times by James Kirkwood and Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

What are you working on now?
I am working on a sequel to In the Shadow of the Hill. I am also polishing up my novel set in 18th century St Kilda, a remote island off the west coast of Scotland, which was inhabited until 1930.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesomegang! I have found Amazon to be very good. Interviews and reviews in local newspapers have led to big sales increases on Amazon. Local bookshops have been great too, and the ferries sailing to the Outer Hebrides have sold several copies in their shops.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep at it. Read as much as possible. Go to writing classes and retreats, and make writing friends. The support from other writers is invaluable. Don’t give up when you get rejections – so many famous authors were rejected – you’re in good company!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Read as widely as possible – you can’t be a successful writer unless you’re a prolific reader.

What are you reading now?
Where the Bodies are Buried by Chris Brookmyre

What’s next for you as a writer?
I just want to get the second crime novel finished and then the third and fourth and so on …

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?
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte; Good Times Bad Times by James Kirkwood; New Light – 12 Quaker Voices; Room – Emma Donoghue

Author Websites and Profiles
Helen Forbes Amazon Profile

Helen Forbes’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Helen Forbes is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a band director, wife, mother of a 3-year old, and a coffee-a-holic that loves running. I grew up in Chicago and now reside in the ‘burbs(!) with my family and two pups. I love Doctor Who, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Gladiator, and…Bubble Guppies (thanks to my son). “The Bard” is my first complete published novel, but definitely not the last!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The Bard” is part of a (soon-to-be-) trilogy. I am a musician (band director) and a hopeless romantic that loves mystery and suspense, with a fancy for Renaissance Italy. So… it was only fitting that amongst the suspense and mystery, my heroine fall in love with a hopeless romantic musician—in Renaissance Italy, of course.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Hmm…I rely on the good-ol’ notebook and pen as well as my lappy. I can’t seem to do without using both of them. I don’t write by an outline, because I don’t want to feel trapped. My characters have developed on their own with their own unique personalities, and “The Bard” ended up taking a much different route than I had originally anticipated. I guess the most ‘unusual’ thing is that I like to pretend it’s an RPG (yeah, I’ve played a lot in my life…) or a “Choose Your Own Adventure” book and play through multiple scenarios in my head before committing to anything on paper.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
David Baldacci, Steve Berry, Umberto Eco, and James Patterson have been some of my favorites in recent years.

What are you working on now?
The sequel to “The Bard” titled, “The Betrayal.” And lesson plans (a teacher’s work does not end during the summer!!)

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Word of mouth! The more people talk about your book and how much they enjoyed it, the more others are apt to getting it as well. I am also trying an author reading session in August to explore that avenue of promotion.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
It’s okay not to finish something. Consider it practice, like a musical instrument. I’ve written countless pieces of novels (quite substantial length ones at that) and have never finished them because I wasn’t “in love” with the story. If you’re “in love” with your story, the magic will happen. I’m totally “in love” with “The Bard” stories, and even though there are moments I get stuck, they always seem to work themselves out. Also, don’t be afraid to delete an entire scene. It’s scary, but if it doesn’t fit, it doesn’t fit—don’t force it. If you really like it, save it for something later.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Being an indie author is tough when it comes to promoting your work–Don’t have unrealistic expectations of becoming an overnight success. Do it because you love to do it, not because you’re hoping to become a millionaire.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading “Say Goodbye to Survival Mode: 9 Simple Strategies to Stress Less, Sleep More, and Restore Your Passion for Life” by Crystal Paine. The second book in the Outlander series is next on my list. Oh, and I’m reading the nightly “Monsters Don’t Eat Broccoli” by Barbara Hicks.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finding ways to promote “The Bard” while finishing the trilogy and the other story that will accompany it. My goal is to finish the sequel and have it edited by Christmas…

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?
And for the last one, I’d take “The Bard” as one of them. I would use it as reference for writing in the above mentioned journal, and I could read it again and again myself, simply because I enjoyed the process and the characters’ story that much.

Author Websites and Profiles
Karen Bedore Website
Karen Bedore Amazon Profile

Karen Bedore’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Karen Bedore is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Michelle Lowe, I’m a mother of two beautiful daughters, wife, and I love oil painting. Currently, I’m living in California. My published works include, The Warning, Atlantic Pyramid, and Cherished Thief. Children’s books, Poe’s Haunted House Tour, and the three part adventure children’s series, The Hex Hunt.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Atlantic Pyramid is my latest published work. It’s about a man named, Heath Sharp, trying to escape from inside the Bermuda Triangle. I wanted to write in a setting that hadn’t been explored much, and the Triangle is one of them. It was another reason why I wrote about the highwayman, Claude Du Vall in Cherished Thief, because no one has written a book about him. I think people like to visit worlds they have not seen before, and read about people they may not have ever heard of.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think it’s odd, but when I tell people, they’re amazed that I do it. I write a lot in longhand. I have notebooks full of first drafts. The reason is because I don’t like sitting in front of the computer all day trying to come up with a story, and with all the distractions offered online, I wouldn’t get a whole lot done. For me, I can take my good old fashion notebook anywhere I want, and write, write, write. Later on I type everything out. It might take a little longer, but it’s more enjoyable for me this way.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Neil Gaiman is most certainly a great influence on me. I’ve enjoyed, not only his novels, but his style of writing. I was also blown away with the quality of writing in Black Feathers, written by Joseph D’ Lacey. It inspired me to put more thought into the way I describe things.

What are you working on now?
I’m writing a Steampunk series titled, Legacy. Legacy is a fantasy adventure full of action, romance, loss, mystery, outlaws, fantasy creatures, and Apache privateers! The entire series wraps around the main character, Pierce Landcross, who falls into one adventure after another, finding out more about the gypsy family, he and his older brother, Joaquin, were separated from as children. Along the way, Pierce finds love, new mates, faces old enemies—as well as make new ones—and gets into loads of trouble!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook is a very good way to reach out. There are many groups to join, as well as setting up your own events that’ll help promote you and your work. Websites are a marvelous way to get yourself out there, too.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
It’s very tempting nowadays, with the access of free self publishing, but you must be patient. Don’t hurry along with your story just to get it out there. Take your time to write it out as best as you can. Revise it numerous times, seek editorial help, and wait a little while afterwards to take that last read through before either submitting it to publishers or publishing it yourself. Showcasing professional work will reflect on you more favorable. Take constructive criticism with a positive attitude and learn from it. Be humble and write what you love!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
In regards to writing, it’s a quote by Toni Morrison.
“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”
I love that one!

What are you reading now?
I’m nearly finished with Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Philip K. Dick. It’s a very good read.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Promoting the heck out of Legacy! I’m an author, still climbing her way up, and now with this entire series under my belt, I want to work tirelessly in getting it out 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’ve been flirting with the idea of writing about the Rurik dynasty, starting with Ivan the Terrible, so one book I’d bring would be The Romanovs, by W. Bruce Lincoln. Maybe a classic, like Jules Verne, 20000 Leagues Under the Sea. Some other Steampunk books, like Boneshaker, by Cherie Priest. And I know that they’re not exactly novels, per se, but I’d want to bring The Sandman Overture, graphic novels.

Author Websites and Profiles
michelle lowe Website
michelle lowe Amazon Profile

michelle lowe’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

michelle lowe is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
“Angels of the Quantum Gate” is the first book I’ve finished and published. I’m working on ideas behind others. I don’t know how long they will take. Sometimes I may develop a story over many years.

As for myself, I live in Northeast Georgia, USA. I’m about 65, and I’ve been here for about 20 years. Before I moved here, I lived in Florida. My wife and I like to hike, although she is much better at it than I am.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
For “Angels” I was intrigued by the possibilities posed by the ideas of multiple universes, super intelligent beings and how they might interact with us, and the possible importance of each individual when presented with an absence of meaningful time but the presence of infinite universes. To answer the question of why this or that happens, the answer might become that everything that can happen does happen, somewhere. Given a lack of evidence, do answers to such possibilities require an act of faith, of belief if you will? How do universes exist without intelligence to acknowledge their possibilities? This is a mysterious, even spiritual, realm for which the powers of science may prove lacking.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write in my head. The stories are developed over long periods of time during which I muse over them, over and over. And I write with only the most basic, unwritten, outlines. So, I don’t know where the writings will take me. They seem to write themselves in a way that may seem akin to channeling. Some chapters become discoveries, and I myself may become excited or emotional over them.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Arthur C. Clarke most definitely. I like his “Rama” series especially. I’ve read much of George R.R. Martin’s “Fire and Ice” tales. Otherwise, a great variety of classics. Mark Twain and Herman Melville were great story tellers. Thomas Hardy always had some interesting “pictures” to paint, even if darker and somewhat pessimistic. The Arthurian legends provide seemingly infinite possibilities within their own universes.

What are you working on now?
A collection of stories and poems, a sequel to “Angels”, a syfi horror tale.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I haven’t determined that yet. Audacity has been a good outlet for an audio version of “Angels”.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Self-publish, probably, even though there are many, many new books being introduced that way. Agents and publishers are difficult to find if you are new, and some may want to charge you a hefty fee for services that you can do yourself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t pay too much attention to advice. Or to judgments.

What are you reading now?
The fourth book from the “Fire and Ice/Game of Thrones” series, although I’m taking a break because too many new characters have been introduced, in my opinion.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To complete at least some of what I’m currently working on.

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?
First of all, I’d need books in print rather than ebooks if I were going to be there long. I’d probably take instructions on surviving on a desert island (also a fire starter, a pot, and a heavy duty cutting tool, as well as a waterproof container for the books). What would I feel like reading? Most anything really. I would be bored. I’d also need a journal and some pens.

Author Websites and Profiles
William Hannah Website
William Hannah Amazon Profile

William Hannah’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

William Hannah is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Amar Vyas, which is my pen name, and I live in Bangalore, India with my wife and our dog Buddy. As of now, not a full time writer- my day job pays the bills, though I hope to change that in the next couple of years. I have been writing poetry, short stories and blog posts for the past several years, but only in the past three years have I ventured into writing books. My Debut novel NRI:Now, Returned to India, was released in August 2014. It is the first in a four part fiction series featuring the protagonist Amol Dixit. As of July 2015, I am writing the third and the fourth installments in the series in parallel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Name of my latest book is Urban, Sophisticated. The title and the theme of the story is inspired by a true incident- A friend of mine had written a post on Facebook, announcing the birth of his first child. That triggered a thought, which ultimately turned into the third book in the Amol Dixit Series. If I say or write anything more, I might as well give the plot away

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My writing takes different forms- longhand, typing on a computer, and more recently, recording in audio format and then putting the different pieces together to get the first draft ready. I have to travel a lot because of my work- three or four flights a week- for me, pen and paper works best for the flights. When I drive to work, if an idea comes into my mind, I record it onto my phone. During other times, I type on my computer. My preferred location for typing is my standing desk.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My preferred genre of writing is Fiction/Humor, and P G Wodehouse has been a great influence. In addition, some of the early influences were Jeffery Archer and P.L. Deshpande (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1194308/), who was a very popular Marathi Writer, Musician and actor.

What are you working on now?
I am wrapping up the third book in Amol Dixit Series- Urban, Sophisticated. At the same time, I am also writing the fourth part in the series, which shall remain unnamed for now. I am also researching for my first science fiction novel, which I plan to write in early 2016.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The best method that has worked for me has been to email the potential reader(s) directly, with a book description and the link where they can buy or download the book. Or, if they prefer a free copy, they can write back to me.

Among other channels, a direct link to Amazon has worked best for me, because it is a known site, the reviews are already there (and fortunately, over 4 star rating). The reviews give validation and on a lighter note, some bragging rights.

My author website and blog are other resources- though I do not promote my book from my website (it is on my to do list).

A few weeks ago, I came across booklaunch.io – though I haven’t explored it much.

I am working on exploring other avenues- Goodreads is a must-do, podcasts, and of course sites such as awesomegang.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Set a schedule that works best for you, but don’t give up on writing. At the same time, do not forget to communicate and connect with readers. As authors, our primary role is to create content and communicate it to the readers. Next, we have to connect with people who care about our writing. Finally, we should also consume the content that has been crated by others. Blogs, books, podcasts, videos, you name it. That is what will help us grow.

I call it the “4C” rule- those who have taken business marketing classes might have heard about the classic “4P” model, my “4C” approach is a spin on the same.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Sharath Komarraju, a fellow author from Bangalore and I’d like to add a much more accomplished author (sharathkomarraju.com) told me a recently that as an author, the first million words you write are for you to grow and develop as a writer. after the first million, you are ready to put your best works out. I am not sure whose quote this is, and whether this is what the original quote is, but I really liked it, and while I am three quarters of a million words away from my first million, this is one advice that needs to be followed.

What are you reading now?
It is a Sunday afternoon here in Bangalore, and at the expense of earning the wrath of booklovers- right now, I am reading the newspapers from past week and a few current affairs magazines. Long hours at work and travel leave me with very little time to catch up on what is going on around the world. Going back to my “4C” approach- Sundays are for catching up on Content.

What’s next for you as a writer?
First and foremost, I need to finish the first drafts of the novels that I am writing. Next on the cards is possibly translations of my books- there are about six languages in India that are spoken by over 50 million people, and it would be hard to ignore translations in India!

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 is an interesting question and a tough one to answer. But let me be a bit greedy and grab four books. The first one would be the Bhagvad Gita. I am not a very religious person, but that book has had a profound effect on me. It is simple, everyday practical philosophy. The second book would be “Write, Publish, repeat” by Sean Platt, Johny B Truant and David Wright. I love their Self Publishing podcast, and that book has been on my To-Read List for a long time. Finally, I will take the books written by my grandmother and mother- the former is a biographies, the latter is an unfinished memoir. They are both in Marathi language, I would like to translate them into English and Hindi so that more people can learn from their writing.

Author Websites and Profiles
Amar Vyas Website
Amar Vyas Amazon Profile

Amar Vyas’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Amar Vyas is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Barbara Heman and me, we have a theatre group in Paris. She is an actress in our theatre. Last time we wrote the play “The Heaven Initiation”, and we show it in Switzerland, Bruxelles, Paris and others cities in France. Now we are invited for a festival in Greece.
I wrote till now 10 books in Hebrew, and 36 theatre plays, and translated from French 9 books edited in Hebrew

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Our life is our inspiration for each one of the books, and even the book for university studies are also, in a way, our life… The last one is “God awake from crisis to happiness” In Hebrew its sounds a little better…

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No idea, I start to write in the morning “only” at 04.00 in the morning

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Peter Brook, Constantin Stanislavski, Jerzy Grotowski, Augusto Boal, Martin Buber, Aaron David Gordon, Rudolf Steiner, Carl Gustav Jung… and some Israeli writers… and Arabs… and French… and English…

What are you working on now?
A new play and a new novel

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don’t know yet

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write the story and the book of your life

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be always yourself and even on the stage of the theatre

What are you reading now?
Theatre plays and a lot of books on the subject of the new philosophy of life, how to change the world… etc… like “The History of Tomorrow” by Yuval Harry

What’s next for you as a writer?
To climb the Everest

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
How to eat without money
How to sleep without house on a desert island
How to build life without people

Author Websites and Profiles
Ouriel Zohar Website
Ouriel Zohar Amazon Profile

Ouriel Zohar is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been a reader all my life, and I’ve always wanted to try my hand at writing, so I’ve been learning how — with some successes now and then — for years. I’m getting there. Slowly.

I’ve written and published ten novels, over six dozen stories and novellas, and a full-length graphic novel with artist Nike Smith.

I’ve been writing fiction seriously since about 1995, after I’d left my job as a junior high English teacher in tiny Bancroft, Nebraska, and moved out to North Carolina.

In the past I’ve tried bartending, teaching junior high, painting houses, being a secret shopper, working construction, and many more jobs; I prefer fiction writing. For my day job, I work as a technical writer at a software company.

I live with my wife Elizabeth and our two amazing sons in North Carolina.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recently published novel is Finders, Inc., and it’s my first real mystery (all novels are mysteries in some way, but this one is the first with actual detective-like folks in it).

It was inspired by the mountains of North Carolina, and all the quirky people I’ve met up here since I moved here in 2013. I look forward to writing more books about these characters in my “Finder Team” series.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’ve got to get up early if I want to get any good writing done. I can edit and revise pretty much any time of the day, but I’ve got to be up at 4:45 a.m. to write the new stuff.

I also require a lot of coffee.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I was hugely influenced by Tolkien, and some day I want to write my own alternate-world fantasy like his. I’m just not quite ready yet!

What are you working on now?
My current book is called Hunter’s Moon, and it’s a sequel to my “rural fantasy” novel Family, Pack. The inspiration for these books comes from events in the life of some members of my family. Given that the main characters in these books are werewolves, I’ll leave it to the readers to decide which details were based on reality.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use Amazon quite a bit to do free promos and to try new promotions.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write every day. Make it an integral part of your life, and don’t short-change your writing time. Be serious about your writing time, but have fun when it comes to the actual writing. That’s harder than you think.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Just write the next sentence.” Dean Wesley Smith

What are you reading now?
I’m actually reading To Kill a Mockingbird for the first time

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have three different series going on right now — a contemporary fantasy/YA series (Contagious Magic), a paranormal mystery series (Finder Team), and a rural fantasy series (Family Pack). Eventually I want to write a book where the Finder Team characters join up with the Family Pack characters. Can’t wait for that one!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, and The Bible.

Author Websites and Profiles
Michael Jasper Website
Michael Jasper Amazon Profile
Michael Jasper Author Profile on Smashwords

Michael Jasper’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Michael Jasper is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an only child. I did not growing up wanting to be a writer, but I always loved to read. I started writing at a tough in my life when I needed an escape or a reason to feel like I was doing something with my life. This is the first book I’ve published so far, but I have about three other books finished that need to be polished.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Introduction (Undying Love #1) is out right now. It was supposed to be one book. But, I was half way through and I was at 80 thousand words. I was like this is too long. So I decided to turn into a series. Skylar and Arianna (the main characters) have been bouncing around my head for a while. Arianna has a lot of my quirks, like the chocolate thing. Skylar is more or less my husband most of the time. So, the characters have some traits that I can vouch for but the storyline came from somewhere deep in my head.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I outline the chapters name first and I follow the outline. The chapters are mostly songs, so I get inspiration from the songs. I always have a playlists for all my books because they are a part of the books.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I adore Kristen Proby, Abbi Glines, and I think I’m in love with H.M. Ward and C.M. Stunich.

What are you working on now?
I’m on the editing stage of book two and I’m looking over book three. I’m not sure if I like it much.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Honestly, I don’t know yet. I’m testing out the waters to see where best suits me.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t stop writing even if it feels as if nothing is moving the way you want it. This is not an easy road, but if you love what you do it’s worth it. Surround yourself with positive people.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I was doubting myself and my work. One of my beta writers said to me once, “You are an amazing writer. Don’t be discouraged you just have to get your name out there.”

What are you reading now?
I am about to read “When You’re Back” by Abbi Glines

What’s next for you as a writer?
To finish the Undying series. It’s a four-part book series.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would take all of the Hard Rock Roots series by C.M. Stunich with me. Who doesn’t love Turner Mother****ing Campbell?

Author Websites and Profiles
Isabelle Connors Website
Isabelle Connors Amazon Profile

Isabelle Connors’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Isabelle Connors is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was raised on a farm in Kentucky and took piano lessons for over ten years. I received my Bachelors Degree in English at the University of Louisville, and I currently write music and books with my wife Sarah Rose. I have published several short stories and a feature length novel on Amazon, including the paranormal fantasy Nero Demare series.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
A lot of video games and movies inspired the tone of my paranormal fantasy Nero Demare and the Legend of the Vampires. After playing through a few Castlevania installments on my Nintendo consoles, I began developing the outline and premise to the novel; then I started binge watching the Blade trilogy, the Underworld anthology, and Interview with the Vampire — all of which helped me finish my own interpretation of the vampire mythology.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I usually listen to a YouTube playlist of dark themed music from films, e.g. Jaws, Terminator, and video games, e.g. Zelda, Metroid . . .

. . . and coffee. I drink a LOT of coffee.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favorite author is Charles Dickens, and I absolutely loved A Tale of Two Cities.

J.R.R. Tolkien comes in second place with the Hobbit stories, my favorite of which is The Silmarillion, which provides a detailed background and cosmogony that helps better contextualize the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

George R. R. Martin is my third favorite with his critically acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire; his writing keeps me hooked even when I am simply reading about a bunch of fat, drunken kings arguing in the feasting hall of some castle.

However, nobody and nothing has inspired me more than George Lucas and his masterpiece the Star Wars saga(s) . . . and yes, I loved the Prequels, esp. Revenge of the Sith.

What are you working on now?
I am working on parts II and III to finish the Nero Demare series. The first book remains open-ended in the same way that the original Matrix and Pirates of the Caribbean films were. The films draw you into a new world to experience, and then the second installment compels you to stay for the grand finale in the third installment.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My main website and blog post is www.legendofthevampires.com.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read a lot of books. Watch a lot of movies. Drink a lot of coffee.

And never, ever quit.

And hiring a sales and marketing director helps, too, if you prefer to delegate responsibilities so you can focus on cranking out more books.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Steve Jobs: Do what you love.

He was like a god among men. I respected him so much. His passion was contagious, and I think I finally caught it.

Thank you, YouTube binge watching.

What are you reading now?
I am always juggling two or three books at a time. Right now, I am reading Dave Ramsey’s The Total Money Makeover (since my wife thinks we need to actually prepare for our children’s financial future, not just our own) and A Clash of Kings, the second installment to Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire (otherwise known as Game of Thrones on HBO) . . . Also, I am perusing through the Book of Proverbs. Regardless of religious affiliation, King Solomon encompassed a vast amount of wisdom applicable for all peoples of all kinds, and I always learn something when I reread Proverbs.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I do not like to limit myself, even as just a writer; eventually, I want to produce film adaptations, even just indy films, of my books, which I then want to develop into some mobile games. My best friend Brendon and I both dreamed of putting an animated series and a comic series together when we were just kids, and we both think that my vampire stories will be perfect, esp. with our preference to anime style.

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?
Honestly? The Bible. Too many great stories with a lot of valuable wisdom, e.g. Proverbs.

The Lord of the Rings (or if that counts as three books, then just The Silmarillion)

A Tale of Two Cities

Author Websites and Profiles
David Patrick Website
David Patrick Author Profile on Smashwords

David Patrick’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

David Patrick is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am the author of five bestselling novels, including the Storm Chronicles and Midnight Roads. When I’m not writing I am a huge gamer-girl. My stress relief ranges from Halo to Dead Rising.

I am also interested in muscle cars, firearms, martial arts, hiking and camping and participate in as many events as time allows. I am often found at car shows, gun shows or hiking/camping in a variety of State Parks.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Ashen Rayne was released July 7, 2015 and was inspired by the passing of a friend who is also the inspiration for the character Ashley in the novel.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wear acrylic nails so I can’t bite through them when I’m thinking. I also use a white board to keep plot lines and chapters straight.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Roger Zelazny had a huge influence on me. My family used to shop at a small used book store and I purchased as many of his books as I could find.

I am also a fan of Dean Koontz, whose books got me through illness as a child.

What are you working on now?
A novel called Shadowstorm, Book 4 of the Storm Chronicles.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Being in front of as many people as possible, whether it is out in the world or on the net.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Pay an editor, and not someone who is your friend but someone who knows what they are doing and won’t hesitate to tear you a new one. And when they do, listen. It’s their job to help you and your job to listen and fix mistakes.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Ignore reviews and hype. If you start believing the good you have to start believing the bad and vice versa. Just keep writing.

What are you reading now?
The Firefly RPG rules

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish Shadowstorm and go on to Raven, the fifth book in the series.

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 Army Survival guide

A six novel Dean Koontz anthology (still only one book )

An empty journal

Roger Zelazny’s Roadmarks

Author Websites and Profiles
Skye Knizley Amazon Profile

Skye Knizley’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Skye Knizley is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My Name is Alice Orr. I’ve spent most of my work life in publishing in one role or another. I was a book editor and a literary agent. I still lead workshops on writing and publishing and I’m a published author. I’m pleased to say I now live what has always been my dream and write full time – mostly romantic suspense novels because love and murder are my two favorite plot elements.

I’ve published thirteen novels, three novellas and a memoir so far. My nonfiction book, No More Rejections: 50 Secrets to Writing a Manuscript That Sells was published by Writers Digest Books. Amazon.com says, “This book has it all.”

My novel A Year of Summer Shadows – Riverton Road Romantic Suspense Series Book 2 was recently published to enthusiastic reviews. Book ! of the series was A Wrong Way Home and Book 3 will be A Villain for Vanessa.

I’m married and I have two grown children and two perfect grandchildren. I live with my husband Jonathan in New York City.

To find out more email me at aliceorrbooks@gmail.com or check out my website at www.aliceorrbooks.com and visit my blog there too.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest published novel is A Year of Summer Shadows. It was inspired by overhearing my father talk about a dark family secret that involved a prestigious relative of ours – much more prestigious than we were. I was young at the time and my father’s story may or may not have been true. I also wasn’t supposed to be listening in, which made the tale even more unforgettable. It was bound to turn up in my writing sometime, and now it has.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I prefer to write first thing in the morning, but sometimes I’ll wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to keep myself from writing then – even though I know I should be sleeping. I find the pages I finish much more satisfying than a few more hours of shuteye. My husband doesn’t necessarily agree. Still he doesn’t say much other than to mutter that he thinks I’m a bit off in the head. I don’t respond because I believe that being off in the head is an asset for a writer.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are too many to list but I do tend to love authors who tell a good tight thriller-mystery – from Michael Connelly to Nora Roberts. with Stephen King thrown in when I feel like being scared to death. All of that began with Nancy Drew and reading under the covers late at night – as I suspect many of us book people did. Then I discovered the movies of Alfred Hitchcock and I was hooked. Murder and twisted motives with a conflicted romantic relationship in the mix. Those make my favorite cup of reading tea – right down to the leaves that predict how it all will end.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on Book 3 in my Riverton Road Romantic Suspense Series. It’s called A Villain for Vanessa. It is all about tangled roots, and that’s all I’m going to say.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still sussing out the mysteries of book marketing. I tend to do what I’m most comfortable with doing. I make quite a few public appearances at writers’ events and generally attend as an individual speaker or panelist. I also enjoy blogging so I do quite a bit of that. My latest new marketing project was a newsletter. I was terrified by the prospect of it at first, but now I love it. A colleague suggests I should market on YouTube next. Now I’m terrified of that but – who knows – in a few months I may be loving that too.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
There is so much advice every author needs. I think the most important thing for all of us to hear – over and over again – is that nothing counts as much as the quality of the storytelling. You can be the most gifted marketing maven around but if the story is lacking – your career success will most likely be lacking too.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I’m currently re-reading Stephen King’s memoir of his writing life – On Writing. He says that a writer should just let the story happen. Let it grow naturally out of itself like an organic being with a life of its own that we – as authors – simply have to discover and record. I’m trying to do that more and more.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading several things at once – as usual. Several books about book marketing; a legal thriller by Michael Connelly; a novel by Greg Iles; a romantic suspense by Barbara Freethy and a biography of Pablo Picasso. Talk about tangled roots and conflicted motives – he had lots of those.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I seem to have fallen in love with series writing so I intend to keep on with the Riverton Road Romantic Suspense Series. That series is set in a small town in remote northern New York State – which happens to be where I grew up. But I’ve lived in New York City most of my adult life. Which means I wouldn’t be surprised if I started a second series set here someday – a series that understands New York to be not so much a big city as it is a collection of much smaller neighborhoods.

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 own books of course. So I could rewrite them over and over again – getting closer each time to what I really want to say.

Author Websites and Profiles
Alice Orr Website
Alice Orr Amazon Profile

Alice Orr’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Alice Orr is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written two books on Amazon Kindle as well as single poems $0.99!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Guardians of Xegarath is my first book and it was inspired by a near successful suicide attempt that taught me to value life. Not just mine but every life on this one earth for my belief is that we all hold a destiny of some sort no matter how major or minor the role.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I am aware of!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
J.K Rowling and J.R.R. Tolkien and their works have always been my biggest inspiration too my writing.

What are you working on now?
I am working on book two of The “Xegarath” series and I am writing another book of poems as well!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use so many! It’s so hard to pin one down!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be patient and endure the hardships. Easier said then done though.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
NEVER GIVE UP!

What are you reading now?
I am rereading The Hobbit.

What’s next for you as a writer?
That question is like Pinky from Pinky and the Brain. Pinky: Gee Brain, what are we gonna do tonight? Brain: The same thing we do every night pinky, TRY TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings series!

Author Websites and Profiles
Jordan Zuniga Website

Jordan Zuniga’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Jordan Zuniga is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Anthony Madani is a professional creator. He is passionate about topics like writing, communication, productivity, human potential and motivation and loves to share his knowledge with others to improve their lives for the better. He is also very entrepreneurial and has developed several business campaigns.

Anthony is also a lifetime learner who constantly challenges himself to add new skills to his repertoire. His newest endeavor is creating a video production company. He prefers to live in the present and tries his best to live life consciously.

Anthony has been writing his whole life, and is finally ready to release his first series of inspirational books.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Master Listening Skills, is my latest book . It was inspired by a huge realization I had about conversation: people don’t have tools to help them listen better. I took to my research and found that there is a wealth of knowledge out there, but nothing properly streamlined to improve listening skills.
I have always been an amazing listener, so the best part was getting to draw upon my own life experiences.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love Ed Catmul, the creator of Pixar. His book is intelligent, inspiring, and full of knowledge.
I also enjou Gary Vanerchuk, and Tony Robbins.

What are you working on now?
I have always been interested in the brain. So my next book is about how you can better use your brain power to achieve greater results.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Amazon.com is by far the best outlet. Also Audible because they do audio books!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t be afraid to write about what inspires you most.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do what you love and the money will follow.

What are you reading now?
Creativity Inc.

Author Websites and Profiles
Anthony Madani Amazon Profile

Anthony Madani is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am the Program Director at Aviation Academy which is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) magnet that focuses on Aviation maintenance, piloting, electronics, computers and engineering. In my four years there I have identified several things that make our program stand This is my first book and I hope that I will be able to write more in the future.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of the book is Awakening Your STEM School and it was inspired on many factors. I am an educator at heart and really care about our children and what they do in the future. As I have tried to research on what makes a good STEM magnet, I realized that we had a lot of the critical elements at our school already in place. However, many schools out there don’t really know how to get started or are very fragmented in their STEM development which is why I felt the need to wrote the book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Some of my best writing takes place at 4:30am as soon as I wake up. I think about recent events that transpired in the work, do a little bit of research and think how we could optimize it for our program and for others.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have a few authors that have influenced me. John Maxwell and Jim Collins come to mind. Even though that focus on business, there are key components that can be captured and integrated into public schools. I am also a fan of James Hattie, an education statistician who has shown us proven ways to effectively plan, and deliver lessons in the classroom.

What are you working on now?
Right now, I am reviewing John Hattie and looking at how it can be fused with STEM concepts. To me, I think it is the next level of STEM, one that is often forgotten and under-utilized.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I wish I could say that there was a “best method” but truthfully, I am still learning how to promote a book. My co-author, Bud Ramey, advised me that I should go out and do something everyday to promote the book. Those words have sunk in my mind and I have continued to expand my network of readers.

One marketing tactic that I have done is to mail advanced copies out to a group of key STEM leaders in corporate America that have been recognized for their work. If you are going to do something similar, research the people you think could help promote your book by finding more info on them at linkedin.com and zoominfo.com.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be patient. It will not be done within one year. In fact, my book has been a three year process but the time spent in it is well worth it. As one can imagine, there are several aspects to writing and good things done take time to complete.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t write in passive voice. I have a bad habit of doing this and it is something that I need to continue to focus on changing from passive to active voice.

What are you reading now?
I just started reading The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell. I was a big fan of his other books and know that I will enjoy this one as well.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am going to continue my focus on marketing the book. While doing that I will be setting up presentations at conferences and book signings.

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 say the Bible, Good To Great, Visible Learning For Teachers and Killing Patton.

Author Websites and Profiles
Aaron Smith Website
Aaron Smith Amazon Profile

Aaron Smith’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Aaron Smith is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an author and screenwriter. ‘Trespassers’ is my debut novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I decided to name the book ‘Trespassers’ because it’s about what happens when people intrude where they don’t belong and the toll this takes on their personal lives as a result. This happens not only to the main protagonist, but to other characters in the novel.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to be a mostly night writer. I do my best work in the evenings. I also tend to rewrite the same paragraphs over and over again before moving on. Very time consuming, but I can’t help it!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I think I’ve developed my own voice and style over a number of years, but I do admire, Irvine Welsh, Yann Martel and Toni Morrison, to name a few.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently promoting my book like a madman, on social networking sites and the internet, in general. I’m also gathering ideas for a second novel.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m trying a number of outlets. This one, Facebook, Twitter and Amazon, to name a few.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes. Firstly buy my How to guide: ‘Writing Fiction FFWD: How To Write a Novel…Fast!!’ because it’ll really be of help when you just want to know the basics without too much surplus information.

Secondly, PERSIST! Because it’s far too easy to give up when the going gets tough. Regardless of how successful or not you become, you will feel a tremendous sense of achievement on completion and publication whether you self-publish or are published through a major chain. The difference between finishing a novel and not has less to do with talent and everything to do with stamina: mental, emotional and physical. So go for it and don’t let anyone tell you you can’t do it!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve been given was from my headmaster who said, “Read, read, read, read, read!” You will never hear a better piece of advice than that, whether or not you are a writer.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading the fabulous, ‘Elizabeth is missing’ by Emma Healy, all about an elderly woman who is losing her memory, but is convinced that something has happened to her friend. It’s funny, really well-written and incredibly sad. An excellent read!

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to build a following for my blog, Rubbanecka.com, which will showcase my urban vignettes. I also fully intend to write another novel and another screenplay, maybe adapt ‘Trespassers’ for the screen. We’ll see.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1. The Bible

2. ‘You’ll See it When You Believe It,’ by Dr. Wayne Dyer

3. ‘Life of Pi,’ by Yann Martell

4. ‘The Alchemist,’ by Paolo Coelho

Oh yeah, and, of course, ‘Trespassers!’

Author Websites and Profiles
Saul Delino Website
Saul Delino Amazon Profile

Saul Delino’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Saul Delino is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
A Minnesota native (I was born in St. Mary’s Hospital, owned by the Mayo Clinic), I grew up in rural South Dakota, where I attended a one-room country school. I was the first member of my family to attend college, where I majored in journalism. Since then, I’ve gone back for a master’s degree in journalism and public relations, taken courses in creative writing, and had a long career as a writer, editor, educator and p.r. specialist. I now live in Broomfield, CO.

In addition to writing hundreds of news, sports and feature stories, both as a journalist and in public relations, I’ve authored seven books – including the just-released “And The Wind Whispered” – three songs and a one-act play, contributed to two anthologies, and serve as senior writer for “Broadlands Living” magazine.

And, since 1990 I’ve taught journalism and public relations at the collegiate level. I continue to do talks about “The Writing Life” and “Storytelling – From Journalism to Creative Writing.” When I’m not writing, I love all sports and have coached girls sports. I also love community theater and have acted in more than 30 plays and musicals. My wife Susan and I have two grown daughters, two amazing sons-in-law, and four terrific grandsons.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“And The Wind Whispered.” The genesis for this book grew out of my time as a newspaper editor in Hot Springs, SD, where I learned about all the luminaries who had traveled there in the 1890s, and about a long-missing gold shipment (still missing) and buried somewhere in the region. Combining those two facts with an imagined murder in nearby Wind Cave, I was inspired to write a murder mystery, adventure that brings together a virtual “Who’s Who” of the Old West to solve the crime and (sort of) solve the mystery of the missing gold.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No, not really. I like to write early in the morning because it’s quiet and peaceful. Otherwise, no.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love adventure, mystery and, of course, historic fiction and historic mysteries — all influences on me. I also love the Old West and the interesting characters who populated it. In that genre I’ve enjoyed McMurtry and L’amour. In western mysteries, I love the works of Tony Hillerman and Craig Johnson. I’m a big Nevada Barr fan, and for the vast scope of his works, I’ve devoured everything written by James Michener. For adventures, I enjoy Ken Follett, Michael Connelly and Harlan Coben.

What are you working on now?
Another murder mystery set in the Black Hills, but moved into the 1920s. A few of the characters in my current book will show up again — older and wiser — but will be joined by a new cast of locals and some luminaries from that era.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think Facebook connections are great, as are newsletters and interview sites like this one! Getting reviews of any type are good, especially from reputable reviewers and from the media. And my publisher, Bygone Era Books, does a nice job of marketing too. Check them out at www.bygoneerabooks.com. Otherwise, I think personal appearances, book signings whenever I can arrange for them, and word-of-mouth also work well for any author.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t be so in love with your writing that you’re not willing to let it go to be published and then willing to let others offer words of advice to help you prepare it in final form. Readers and editors are there to help make your work better, so listen to their advice, be willing to do some “give and take” with them, and get your book ready for publication. You can only do so many drafts, and you’ll always wish you would’ve changed this word, or that phrase. That’s what gives you fodder for discussion groups and book clubs later.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It’s an oldie, but I think a goodie: Write what you know. Write from your own experiences; about the people and places around you, or where you are most familiar.

What are you reading now?
“The Carving of Mount Rushmore” by Rex Allen Smith, and “Edge of Eternity”, Book three of he Century Trilogy by Ken Follett.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Now that I’ve found myself immersed in Historical Fiction with a twist, i.e., mystery, adventure and humor all rolled together with the historical setting, I want to continue to write in that genre’ and see where it takes me. I love this new challenge.

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?
“Centennial” by James Michener

“Staggerford” by Jon Hassler

“The Poisonwood Bible” by Barbara Kingsolver

“The Letters of Hemingway” series (I’m cheating, but it’s all one big book just continuing over several volumes, right?).

Author Websites and Profiles
Dan Jorgensen Website

Dan Jorgensen’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Dan Jorgensen is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up in a very small town, about 900 people. You don’t appreciate the country life until you live in a city. I currently live in Phoenix, AZ and am planning on moving back closer to home. I am a mother of two and hold down a full time job, using all of my “free” time to write and market. I love motorcycles, computers, video games and close friends.

I currently have two books written, one published and the other will be out on July 31st. They are both first books in series, planned out to be trilogies..but that could change. I have at least nine other book ideas on the back burner, and some of them are already started and just waiting for me to find the time to spend on them.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My second book is called Hartman House. It is, as was my first book, based on a dream I had and the story didn’t go away when I woke up. Instead it built up and forced me to write characters, timelines, plot points etc before it let me go enough to be okay with waiting to write it out. I was in the middle of writing my first book when the story came to me so it was tough having to push it aside.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t believe so. I write at night mostly, when everyone is asleep and the house is quiet. I put on some good music and let the words flow.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Katherine Kerr was and still is my favorite author. Her way of intertwining stories within stories is amazing. My current fave author is Tim O’Rourke and not only because his stories are good, but because the man is a writing machine. I envy his ability to churn out one good story after another continuously. But his approach to fame is perfect. Just keep writing until someone sees you, then you have enough material out there to keep them interested. I’m trying to follow that approach.

What are you working on now?
Marketing. But that’s a constant. My next book will be the second in the Noble of Blood trilogy, currently titled Blood Ties. It’s already about halfway done. After that I think I have a story about gypsies that needs to get written.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Just keep swimming (writing). Do it often, do it daily. Promoting is hard, and you can tweet all you want but only having one book out doesn’t seem to help us Indie authors. So I will keep writing until I’m out of story ideas. That won’t happen any time soon!

But so far AuthorRise has been great for marketing tools, I advise other authors to check them out. And marketing check out booksgosocial.com.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
As above, just keep writing. But please don’t hurt yourself by not investing in a good editor or having a very very critical friend read your work. Poor grammar, spelling and bad comma placement can kill a story for a lot of people.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do what feels right. For me I’m not about being famous or hitting it big-time. I enjoy what I do, and I want readers to enjoy it as well. So I am just going to write and enjoy it. If I end up with a top seller, then yay. If not, then I still did what I wanted to do and had a good time.

What are you reading now?
In the middle of a series by Barb and JC Hendee, the dhampir series. I’ve been reading them as they come out every January. Barb Hendee also has a series Mist Torn Witches that I’ve been reading.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Write more books. I have too many stories that are my demanding attention. Gotta keep 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?
Ooh only 3 or 4… I’d have to take the first four books of Katherine Kerr’s Deverry series with me. They are old friends.

Author Websites and Profiles
A L Wright Website
A L Wright Amazon Profile

A L Wright’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

A L Wright is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have only published one book, but I have a few finished ones. I have many more that I started but never got around to finishing.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Extraterrestrial Encounters, and it was inspired by the Mars One expedition. My dad mentioned it during dinner one night, and I started the story soon after this.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write many stories at the same time. I also don’t stick to one genre. I write many different genres. Mostly science fiction and fantasy, but I’ve tried my hand at horror.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Ignore all advice. Write what works for you. Don’t write what you know, because the point of writing is to escape what you know and create something new. Don’t write every day if you don’t feel like it. Don’t ignore all adverbs if adverbs work for you.

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?
1984 by George Orwell
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Hitty: Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field

Molly Adams is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a Chinese medical doctor, eastern/western nutritionist, intuitive healer, author, and columnist. I frequently lecture in alternative health workshops and writes regularly for health magazines. I also lead meditation classes focusing on “how to activate our own divinity.”

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Title: The Seed of Christ/Buddha within You

I was inspired by many spiritual seekers, Hindu or Buddhism-based thinkers, but mostly by my spiritual teacher whose name is Simon Kim.

Since I was little, I’ve been thinking about weird questions such as why was I born, where do I go after I die, what’s the real purpose of my life, etc. I’ve had a pretty fulfilling life, yet deep down, I’ve felt lost and agonized for not knowing “why do I even exist.” To search for answers, I’ve meditated for decades, attended numerous spiritual workshops, read whatever spiritual books I could get. But nothing really gave me lasting effects.

Then, I’ve found a most incredible spiritual teacher who was entirely different from self-claimed gurus. He had answers for every single question I’ve been asking. In particular, I was mesmerized by one of his book, originally published in Korean in 2009. It was so powerful, deep, uplifting that I decided to rewrite his book in English. I was hoping the book would convey the main message: we do not need suffer (from external realities) as we are already divine creatures with infinite potential.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I tend to write as if they are in spoken languages.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Rumi, I am That by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, D.E.Harding, Ramana Mahrashi, Lama Surya Das, Thich Nhat Hanh, etc.

What are you working on now?
Another book on spiritual awakening focusing on how to apply spiritual wisdom in our daily lives. I am also writing a book on Chinese medicine, especially for emergency cases.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think amazon’s author central is pretty cool. Actually, I really do not know that much about book promotion. I am excited to have found Awesomegang–what an awesome name!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you have a compelling story to tell, just write it, with your heart, not with your brain.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Underneath your utterly small outer self, your immense real Self is shining through 24/7.

What are you reading now?
Thich Nhat Hanh’s The Art of Elevating Humanity

What’s next for you as a writer?
I haven’t thought about this topic. I will see how it 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?
Simon Kim’s My Amazing Self.

Nisargatta’s I am That.

Herman Hesse’s Siddartha

Author Websites and Profiles
susanna eun Website
susanna eun Amazon Profile

susanna eun’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

susanna eun is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Redemption is a debut novel of Jacklyn A. Lo.

A few years ago, walking in the secluded forest, Jacklyn set a new, ambitious goal for herself― to make a feature movie.

Inspired, she started to write a script, which eventually became a thick novel. The theme of the novel, provided by Higher Consciousness, has made the story unique and unforgettable.

Jacklyn has a Master’s Degree in Technology, an MBA in Finance, two years of High Astrology School, and years of self-study in New Age topics.

Currently Jacklyn lives in Europe.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Currently, I have only one completed book, which is called Redemption.

Raised in an atheistic environment, I was one of many who fell asleep at the first page of the Bible. I never had a hope to understand this Holy book until I experienced something in my life, which I have come to call my Spiritual Choice.

My Spiritual Choice…

Years ago I realized that the corporate luxury train, in which I was comfortably riding, was taking me in a direction that I did not want to go. Getting off of this train at my own risk and expense was very hard, but I jumped off. But nothing completely disappears, and in my case, the tangibles (prestige, security, wealth and social status) were replaced by an intangible: the ability to see a Spiritual Choice.

The realization first came to me from movies. The spiritual choices of Dracula, Scarface, and the story of Abraham and Jesus became transparent to me. This revelation led me to a fascinating conclusion: a spiritual choice is a shortcut to “upgrade” a human’s consciousness. My enlightening journey continued. I began to see things that I had never seen before. And I added a new word to my personal vocabulary—vision. I realized that vision is a direct product of Consciousness, and that Consciousness is a subject of both evolution and involution. However, the physical world was still calling for me. I was constantly looking for a new project in which to implement my skills and abilities; one that I had never done before.

One day, while walking in the forest, I suddenly had an awesome idea: I would make a feature movie. The idea was totally absurd; I had never had any interest in film production, but the idea stuck with me, and gave me the two things that I needed the most: hope, and a direction. But before I could make a movie I needed a complete story. This is why I decided to write the novel.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Can you further elaborate on spiritual choice and how it relates to your book?

My Spiritual Philosophy involves the concept of Spiritual Choice. I see Spiritual Choice as a powerful tool to upgrade our consciousness within a relatively short time period. During this transformation we absorb a different spectrum of vibrations than we do during merely theoretical spiritual exercises and practices.

In Redemption, the heroine experiences five Spiritual Choices in five different lives. Each time, she chooses a spiritual path towards LIGHT.

How was the main character created?

I knew I wanted my main character to be a woman because I greatly admire strong heroines. And I wanted her to be a powerful person, who had been raised to be independent, ambitious, and motivated for professional growth.

I gave her a ubiquitous name—Ann. I wanted her to be as free as possible from personal entanglements, so she is not only unmarried but has no attachment to any particular culture or nationality.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
What character do you most identify with?

Mostly I identify myself with the heroine, Ann. The qualities we share are independence, managerial and leadership skills, and a passion for high-tech solutions, especially robots. Also, like Ann, supernatural experiences have been a part of my own life journey.

What are you working on now?
Currently, I am working on the Redemption Volume II and script play Horror romance Return of Melissa.

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

www.Amazon.com

http://rbjal.com/

www.facebook.com

www.twitter.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
What is the learning core of the Redemption novel?

From time to time, we all ask where we are going, what we are supposed to do, and wonder about our final destination.

Redemption reveals the awesome journey of woman who makes a succession of Spiritual Choices towards Light and is rewarded for it.

My hope is that my readers will begin to see their lives in a greater context, and make more thoughtful choices in their own lives.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Did you enjoy the writing experience?

Yes, it was an awesome experience.

The project was magic; the story — a piece of Art. It was as if I was guided through the writing process by some higher power.

What are you reading now?
I’VE NOTHING TO OFFER

BY

PETER A. PIAZZA

What’s next for you as a writer?
To continue the Redemption series.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
How to survive in desert-island?

The survival kit in desert-island for dummies.

Cooking book for desert-island inhabitant.

Alchemy. Sand transformation into the drinkable water.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jacklyn A. Lo Website
Jacklyn A. Lo Amazon Profile
Jacklyn A. Lo Author Profile on Smashwords

Jacklyn A. Lo’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Jacklyn A. Lo is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Although I have written over twenty books, both fiction and non-fiction, writing novels is really my second career. My first career was as a commercial artist in Dallas, Texas. However, back in those years when I thought of myself as an artist, I was also still writing. I served as University Editor for The University of Texas at Dallas, where I wrote and designed collateral material for the various colleges. Then, when I opened my own graphics and advertising company, I designed brochures and newspaper ads and also wrote the copy. I did fashion illustration for several high-fashion boutiques and on a free-lance basis, served as Creative Director for a fashion magazine and got to attend runway fashion shows at the Dallas Apparel Mart, which I especially enjoyed. During all this time, I was also tinkering with a historical novel, which I did finish and still lives in a box on a closet shelf. When I began to write seriously, I joined a local chapter of Romance Writers of America and quickly wrote and sold six Regency Romance Novels. I founded and for sixteen years published The Regency Plume Newsletter, which at once went international and eventually became my full-time job. Since then, I’ve written four more long novels, and about eleven non-fiction books, most of which focus on various aspects of the English Regency. My three Regency Period Furniture books, which only this year, 2015, I turned into e-books, at once attained Best Seller status on Amazon, which thrilled me!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I have three “latest” books, Betsy Ross: Accidental Spy, Stalking A Killer, and my current WIP, The Wrong Miss Fairfax. However, to fully answer the question, I have to start with my novel set in the Colonial American colony of Jamestown in the early 1600s, titled Deceptions. I wrote that book several years ago when I was recovering from a long illness. In an effort to keep from losing my mind, I began to jot down, in longhand on a yellow pad, snippets of scenes as they began to float into my mind. As I began to feel better and could sit at the computer for short periods, I started to write the book and about two years, and tons of research later, I finished it. Then because I thought this is the best book I’ve ever written, I submitted it to a publisher and was overjoyed when it sold! I think the reason I like this book so much is because I wrote it to please me rather than to fit into a specific genre. Deceptions is not a romance but it has a love story; it’s not a mystery, but there is a murder and lots of suspense. It’s mainly just a good, solid story, with interesting and likeable characters, an unusual setting and lots of suspense. Readers have told me it’s the best book they’ve ever read! Others have said they stayed up all night to see what happened next. Nice comments about Deceptions always feel especially gratifying to me, given the awful circumstances under which I wrote that book. But, writing it kept me going at a time when I could have so easily given up. Soon after that, I wrote the sequel to Deceptions, titled Dangerous Secrets, about four young girls who travel to the New World on a Bride Ship. The girls meet some of the same characters who appear in Deceptions. Writing Dangerous Secrets went faster since I had already done all the research, and because the story is every bit as riveting as Deceptions, I also love that book a lot. I was very pleased when it sold it to the same publisher who published Deceptions.

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to write next, so I moved up in American history to the Revolutionary War and because I couldn’t find any novels that featured Betsy Ross as the lead character, I decided to write a mystery with Betsy Ross being drawn into the role of spying for the American colonies on the British military officers and ladies who frequented her shop in Philadelphia in 1776. I was pleased when that book sold as well, although to a different publisher. I soon began to write a sequel to my Betsy story, but got side-tracked when I began to wonder if I could actually write a modern-day mystery novel, since all I had ever written were historicals. And that is how Stalking A Killer came to be. I sold it to the same publisher, Mayfair Mysteries, who bought my Betsy Ross book, but sadly, soon after my contemporary murder mystery was released they went out of business. Feeling set adrift, I went back to a Regency romance novel that I had started writing after my first six Regency Romance novels were published. This one is titled The Wrong Miss Fairfax, and it’s the book I’m currently writing. However, when I finish it, I will probably return to the second novel in the Betsy Ross series. The thing that plagues so many writers also plagues me, having way too many story ideas and not enough time to tell them all. But, I’m trying.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, not sure how unusual this is, but I often get up in the middle of the night and without turning on a light (I don’t want to wake myself up) I write out scenes or dialogue between characters in longhand on my pink or purple pads. Even though I can’t see what color paper I’m writing on, I much prefer to write on pink or purple pages than the old-fashioned yellow ones. I’ve found that if I don’t write down what is floating through my mind right then, I won’t remember it the next day, so when my characters start talking in my head, I’d better write it down, no matter what time of day or night it is.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Lots of authors have influenced me, but I mainly like to read biographical historical novels by Philippa Gregory, Jean Plaidy, and also Anya Seton novels, written half a century ago.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on The Wrong Miss Fairfax, a Regency Romance novel.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Right now, I don’t have a “best” method. Back when I first began to write, all an author had to do was write the book and when it appeared in bookstores, people bought it. These days, publishing is a whole new world, so authors have to keep trying to get the word out about their books and hope somebody is noticing. I’m still trying to figure out what works.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice for new or aspiring authors is to just keep writing. Keep working on improving your writing style, write the best book you can and always triple check your spelling and grammar. Nothing screams newbie louder than typos, misspelled words, poor grammar and wrong punctuation. And, of course, you also have to write a good book.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I believe the best advice I ever heard came from Gary Provost, who when asked how to write a great novel, replied, “That’s easy, just leave out the boring parts.”

What are you reading now?
I always have four of five books going so when I sit down at night to read, I reach for whatever matches my mood at the time. I read non-fiction, as well as historical novels, but I also read books about Macintosh computers! I love messing with Macs. I have two antique Apple computers, and a newer one. I also have a PC, but I rarely use it. Just can’t figure those things out, but sit me down in front of a Mac and I’m happy!

What’s next for you as a writer?
To keep 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?
Stranded on an island doesn’t sound half bad. I’m sure I’d begin to think about writing a book, so I’d want to have something handy to help me with research, so I’d bring along Elizabethans At Home by Lu Emily Pearson. Then to keep myself sane, and my spirits up, I’d want The Law of Attraction by Esther and Jerry Hicks. Then because I’m sure I’d have a computer with me, I’d need Mac OS X Snow Leopard, The Missing Manual, by David Pogue; and just so I’d have something fun to read, I’d also bring along Dangerous Secrets by Marilyn Clay.

Author Websites and Profiles
Marilyn Clay Website
Marilyn Clay Amazon Profile
Marilyn Clay Author Profile on Smashwords

Marilyn Clay is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a 22 year old Mother of one from the Black Country, UK. Reading and writing are my absolute passion and finally being able write my own book is an absolute dream. ‘Forever Love’ is my first book, though i do have many more planned tat are coming soon.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Forever Love is the name of the book. Lots of things influenced me. I have read so many book sthis year and one of the things that stood out most for me is that despite how much i enjoyed them and i really did, i felt that they give an unrealistic view of women. Alot of romances are about blushing virgins with Alpha males, Liv, the main character is certainly not a blushing virgin. I like characters that have layers and i like peeling them back.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
If i think of something i have to write it down other wise it would send me crazy. Also, my Mom basically reads through every few chapters, i need her stamp of approval for alot of things.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are so many amazing authors that i look up to. Different authors have given me different ideas and advice. Right this second, the authors that i love are Jordan Silver, Abigail Barnette, M. Leighton, Tamsyn Bester and J.J McAvoy.

What are you working on now?
Im working on my next book which is a little bit different and little bit spicier than Forever Love. Im actually really excited for this next one.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook is the best way for me personally. Goodreads and KBoards.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
The only advice that i would give to someone every time is Only write what you’d be willing to read. I really do believe that you have to enjoy writing it for your reader to. Dont worry or think about whether people will like it, that just takes away from the creativity.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Chase your dreams because they arent going to chase you!

What are you reading now?
Priceless by Raine Miller, its fab!

What’s next for you as a writer?
My next book is ‘The Princepessa’ which i’m hoping to get out later this year. After that, ‘Forever Together’ which will be the sequel/novella to forever love.

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?
Aaaaaah that is definitely a hard one. Could i count series as one book. If i could, i would definitely take J.J Mcavoys Ruthless people series. This Man series, By Jodi Ellen Malpas and probably The Spitfire series By Jordan Silver.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jade Whitfield Website
Jade Whitfield Amazon Profile

Jade Whitfield’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Jade Whitfield is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Mandy Rosko, I write in all sorts of romantic genres in a couple of different pen names, and in total, for this name, I’ve written about 17 books or so. 18 if you count the Wattpad story I’m posting now, with a couple more and a few short stories in the works as well

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is Sold To The Enemy, and I think I was just in the mood for angst. I love me some angsty stories where one character did something really bad and needs forgiveness by the other character.

I think the thing that influenced this a lot was after I read Slaves of Love by Opal Carew. That was another book set in the far future that required big time forgiveness after a terrible deed, set in a world that would be a space pirate’s dream of taking women and property. I love that stuff, and to this day, it’s still my favorite of her books, though I have yet to read them all

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes and no. I write a lot, but usually under a different pen name. My bad habit is that I don’t tend to keep track of how many hours per day I write. I tend to want to shoot for 5 to 7 thousand words. If I can’t get that many words done in a day, I feel like I wasted the day, but that’s after I super procrastinated by watching Youtube videos or playing games. My Goodreads challenge could be in better shape as well …

What authors, or books have influenced you?
That’s a hard one to answer actually!

Hmm, I think a lot of my influence has actually come from reading and writing fanfiction. Anything goes in fanfiction. People wrote what they wanted, no matter how gruesome it was, and they never had to worry about what a publisher or editor would say to change it or tone it down. A lot of good stories came from that, as well as a lot of super angsty ones that would probably never get published. Also, in fanfiction, you were able to interact with the author a lot easier, or respond to readers more frequently since they commented on every chapter, instead of just after every book. I think that’s what helped me learn to be a writer, was being in that world, discovering what I liked, what I was comfortable writing, and learning how to interact with people on the Internet.

What are you working on now?
Currently I’m working on several things at once. I’m trying to finish up As Cold As Ice, the third book in my Dangerous Creatures series. I’m also working on a Christmas story for a box set that will be out in November, so I need to hurry with that one. I recently finished another short story for a Monster Box set which will also be out in October, and then a book for a series with other authors that will be out at roughly the same time.

To top it all off, I’m also working on my first Billionaire romance contemporary, The Arrangement, Bad Boy Billionaire Brothers Book One, and I’ve been posting it on Wattpad as the chapters get finished. I think it’s my love for the fanfiction writing that’s drawing me back to this form of writing. I want the feedback, and to know what people think since this will be my first Billionaire story. So far people seem to really like it, so I also put it up for pre-order Here’s the link if you want to check it out: https://www.wattpad.com/myworks

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m actually really terrible at promoting my own stuff. I’m kind of a hermit. I’d rather just write and read and play games, but I know that’s not how this works. Thankfully, I’ve now got people helping me with the promotion bits, which if how I got to be writing this interview :3

Do you have any advice for new authors?
There are two pieces of advice here, and they’re going to be something you’ve all heard before, but read as much as you can, and not just in the genre you write in. I know it sucks to hear the same advice all the time, but this is one of the few bits of universal advice that really does apply to everyone in the writing field. Everything else is pretty much subjective.

If you don’t have time to read, get some audiobooks and listen to them on the commute to work or while you’re at the gym. When you watch television and movies, analyze their stories, what they did right, and how they really grabbed your attention.

The only other thing I can think of is to not let your inner editor get in the way of your writing. This is another bit of advice that a lot of people hear, but again, this is gold, especially if you’re one of those writers who has to put it down, had to perfect it, has to make it shine before you can go on to the next sentence.

Don’t do that. Unless you’ve trained yourself to be able to do that while still finishing your 70,000 word book in less than 6 weeks, cut it out. I hear it too many times where people edit the crap out of their books and then put it down when they get bored just to move on to something else. I will promise you right now that my shitty, garbage, completed first draft manuscript will always be about a thousand times better than your unfinished for 5 years masterpiece.

You want to know why? Because it’s finished. It *exists.* If your book is incomplete then it doesn’t exist. That’s it. When my crappy manuscript exists in full, then I am leaps and bounds ahead of you because I am already at the rewriting stage whereas you’re still in the writing stage struggling to get to The End. Then I’m onto the editing stage, and so on and so forth. Then I can release it. You can’t do that.

So, seriously, unless you have trained yourself to be the sort of writer who actually can edit as you go, then don’t do it. If you need to ask yourself if you’re one of those people, count how many unfinished manuscripts you have in your drawer or hard drive. If the answer is more than one and they are all a year old or more, then you know you are one of these writers who editing on the spot does not work for.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
See Above.

What are you reading now?
Right now I’m reading a number of different things. I’ve got a couple of books that I promised to read for review, so they need to come soon, and I’m finishing up an erotic book right now to give myself some inspiration for my Bad Boy Billionaire romance. I’m also going through a novel on my 3DS, these seem to be getting popular. It’s basically a choose your adventure romance sort of thing, and I’ve got a lot of guys with swords to choose from

Also, Armada by Earnest Cline came in the mail today, and I listened to Ready Player One on audio, so I can’t wait to read this

What’s next for you as a writer?
Not sure. Still trying to get through this year. My goal was to read more and write more, and so far on on track, even though it still feels like I’m constantly behind. Thank God I’ve got some help now to see me through this whole marketing thing. Makes me want to be sick from even thinking about figuring all this stuff out myself.

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?
Haha! Suckers, you didn’t mention anthologies They’d all be big, thick anthologies of completed series I have yet to red, and this is assuming I’m stranded on an island *after* I’ve read Armada. But a quick example sitting on my desk would be Jill Kismet, the complete series by Lilith Saint Crow. This is a big ass book at 1390 pages. It’s got like five books inside of it, so that should tide me over nicely while I wait for rescue I’m not even entirely sure what it’s about, other than it looks cool and was in the Fantasy section of the bookstore. As for the other two or three anthologies, I’m not sure. One of them would definitely be a space opera romance, the other would have to be a paranormal M/M series, and the third…maybe that would just be an empty journal (a thick one) So I could write and entertain myself while waiting for rescue.

Anyway, yeah, anthologies or omnibus’s, whatever you want to call them. I’d totally be bringing those to my island

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