Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an avid adventurer and ultrarunning author. I divide my time between Florida, Arkansas and California where I train for 100 mile Ultramarathons. I have completed over 68 races, including 18 marathon’s and 12 Ultramarathons and am planning a Transcontinental Run across the United States from Los Angeles to New York City in 2016. I have kayaked the Mississippi River solo, and biked across the state of Florida. When I’m not outdoors, I am producing and directing a documentary film about adventure and writing. I have two sci-fi novels on Amazon and have completed twelve others that I am publishing this year. I love good craft beer and meeting with reading clubs and running clubs, especially if the aforementioned beer is offered.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My next book is called SPANNER, a YA novel about a young boy who builds a time machine that transports him back to fight with Joan of Arc. I envision it as a series of books combining my love of history, and adventure. I used a Kickstarter campaign to launch this book with good results, and hope to continue the crowdfunding success model for the next book, and to produce a pilot from SPANNER.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I remember reading that Daniel Dafoe had to be tied to his chair by a servant every morning with only his hand free to write. I’m glad I’m not quite that bad, but I do have to turn off all distractions and find a nice quiet place to finish up projects. In the beginning, I can work anywhere, and I like to start with a pen and notepad first. I think the tactile feeling of writing allows me to just free flow, and there’s an intimacy that’s hard to get with a keyboard. I transfer it all into a document and expand or cut from there.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Writer’s read, and I’m a life long reader. Have you ever seen that quote, “When I get paid, I buy books and with whatever’s left, I pay rent, groceries, etc.” I feel like that sometimes. I have a bookshelf of books to be read and I keep adding to them. I read one or two books per week, hitting fiction and non-fiction alike. Of course you can list all the greats and I’ll claim them as influences, but I have fun with Kevin Hearne, or Randy Wayne White every time they release a book. I think J.K. Rowlings is amazing and have had a thrill each time one of my children starts the series, because I can watch them fall in love with reading.

What are you working on now?
I am in the process of completing a sci-fi thriller called MOON MEN. Several years ago I was pitching scripts in Hollywood and a producer optioned this screenplay. Like a lot of projects though, this one didn’t get made, and the rights reverted back to me. I liked the story line and turned it into a novel that will deliver the thrills and adventure of the big screen. I’m very excited about starting the launch in Fall 2015.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
For an indie author, it’s all about who you can talk to, and taking action to get your idea in front of people. Great sites like awesomegang.com that allow you to participate in author interviews not only get the word out, but let readers know who you are, and potentially connect with you. Personally I’d like everyone to follow me on Twitter or Facebook and see the adventures I do, and to keep up with what book or project I’m working on next.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t stop. I was working as a younger man in Los Angeles, and just as I was making traction as a writer, getting gigs and paid, I branched out into business ownership. This took over my time, and when my family came along, I stopped promoting myself as a writer. I still wrote, but it languished in desk drawers, notebooks and computer files. After a ten year stint in corporate America, I have to work just a little bit longer to remind the world who I am and what I do, what I hope to do with them.
Don’t stop writing, don’t stop pushing your work, don’t stop promoting yourself, just keep going.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I pull from a lot of resources regarding writing and running. Stephen King says eliminate all but the necessary words, and I think that applies. I try to follow that advice. Read Faulkner on writing, or just Google some quotes if you need inspiration. The best advice about writing comes from the world of ultra running: Don’t stop. Keep moving forward. Never doubt that you’ll finish. “Run, walk crawl if you must, but just don’t quit.” Dean Karnazes

What are you reading now?
I just spent a weekend in Dallas for a fitness conference, so I picked up 3 books for the plane ride. Veiled by Benedict Jacka, V: Dark Ascension by M.L Brennan and I’m finishing up James Elliot’s Fearless. I’ve got THE RIVER OF DOUBT by Candice Miller on deck to go next, and a couple dozen books downloaded on my Kindle to enjoy.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m very stoked about the twelve books I’m releasing by the end of this year and look forward to setting up a book tour around the country. As I’m travelling, I plan to finish up a documentary called SUCKING WIND about running the inaugural Daytona 100 Ultramarathon in Florida. This will be my 4th 100 mile race in a year. I plan to write a companion book on running to launch with it. After that, it’s preparing for a run across America, which I hope to document with a book, and perhaps a television show. I just hope to keep getting to meet people who like what I’m writing and want to read more of it.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
This is a tough question to answer! You want something that makes you laugh, long long long so you can pass the time, and good enough to read again and again. The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Great Expectations and How to Survive on a Desert Island. Ok, I made that last one up, but wouldn’t that be THE BOOK you’d want on a desert island?!

Author Websites and Profiles
Chris Lowry Website
Chris Lowry Amazon Profile
Chris Lowry Author Profile on Smashwords

Chris Lowry’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Chris Lowry is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am Doug Oudin, a semi-retired harbormaster from Catalina Island, California. I have written two books, a memoir of my 32 years living and working on Catalina Island, and my new adventure novel, ‘Five Weeks to Jamaica’.
I now live in Grants Pass, Oregon, where I write, play volleyball, softball, fish, and enjoy the great outdoors. I am married to my darling little bride of 38 years, Maureen, and have two wonderful sons, Trevor and Troy, who have both followed in my steps into the marine industry.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Five Weeks to Jamaica, is my new book. It’s a rollicking seafaring adventure/romance that was inspired by my extensive travels in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
The journey follows four young friends aboard a 147′ so-called luxury yacht bound for Jamaica. Their experiences and discoveries along the way are nothing short of shockingly unique.
While the characters are fictional, many of the adventures and stories are all part of some of the things I lived, heard about, or shared during my own sea-going adventures.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to just start writing and keep on going until I am done. Rarely re-write my material; at least until my wife gets her hands on the manuscript and strongly suggests cutting out or revising passages.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I cannot honestly say that any person or book has directly influenced my writing. I write the way I like to write, and try to write clearly and smoothly.
I have loved several authors; Steinbeck, Melville, Hemmingway, Michener, and several current authors like Wilbur Smith, James Patterson, and King.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a family bio, and also doing some short stories.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook has worked best for me, personally. I’m attempting now to ‘spread my wings’ and learn more about how to use other social media sites, such as Awesome Gang!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be patient. I was so anxious, excited, and eager to publish my first book, that it kind of backfired on me. I accepted a publishing offer from a ‘self publishing’ company that is very high priced, and basically useless post-production. I have had to struggle on my own to learn the fundamentals of promoting and marketing. Take your time. Do your research. Try very hard to find a ‘traditional publisher’, and if not, then use one of the ‘self publishing’ companies that other ‘indie authors’ suggest; like Create Space.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be honest and be yourself.

What are you reading now?
‘Judge and Jury’, James Patterson and a co-author.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Other than promoting and marketing my current books? Working on a family bio with my brothers and sisters.

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?
Well, I suppose my two books, ‘Five Weeks to Jamaica’, and ‘Between Two Harbors, Reflections of a Catalina Island Harbormaster’, because of my own ego. Along with them, maybe Atlas Shrugged, because it’s long and deep; and maybe ‘The Day on Fire’, because I found that book fascinating many years ago.

Author Websites and Profiles
doug oudin Website
doug oudin Amazon Profile

doug oudin’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

doug oudin is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Since I have been active in a number of areas during my life – music teaching and performance, language teaching, astrological research and consultation (to name just a few) – I don’t know whether I should call myself primarily a “writer”, or not, although during the past seven years, writing has been, along with acting, my main occupation. I’ve written at least fifteen books, about topics ranging from music to humor.

Perhaps I should mention that I never write on subjects about which I have little idea – you know, like the many “authors” who get someone else to write for them, or who do a weekend’s worth of research on the Internet, and then write about some topic or another, just to make some money. I only deal with things that enthuse me, and about which I do have both knowledge and experience.

Of course, where fiction is concerned, imagination, and telling a good story, is everything! But even in that area, I feel that the best books are those in which the author pours out his or her soul, instead of simply doing mental calculations to figure out “what might sell”, and then write about that, even if there is no personal passion behind it.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is entitled: “How to overcome Stage Fright – The ultimate Guide for performing Musicians”. It’s a subject I’ve been wanting to write about for many years, since I myself was plagued with stage fright whenever I had to play in public. Using some simple mental techniques, I was able to completely overcome stage fright in only two weeks, after which I gave more than 70 recitals while living in Spain – without suffering from performance anxiety at all. Naturally, I felt a desire to share these techniques with other performers, and thus finally got around to writing this book.

Even though this work is of great practical value, of all my books, it isn’t my own favorite. That “honor” would have to go to “God, UFOs and the Death of JFK”, since it reveals much more of the real me, for the sci-fi/humor format allowed me to deal with a myriad of topics that have always been dear to my heart: psychology, philosophy, politics, economics, religion, self-improvement… you name it!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I can’t say I have any unusual writing habits, for I don’t really know how the majority of authors go about creating their works. I will say that when I start a work, I will not rest until it is completed. This is not to imply that I spend ten hours a day writing at a furious pace: no way! I’ve done that only once, with my very first book, written back in the 80s, and it was a torture.

When I took up writing again in 2008, I decided that it should be fun, so I decided to only work a few hours a day, and to stop whenever it became bothersome. That way, I am only writing when I feel inspired, and am enjoying what I am doing.

I might also mention that I will only begin a new book when the “right” day comes. that is, I must have the feeling that “now is the time to get that book started!”. Otherwise, I would have to be forcing myself to write when I might not want to at all, and this, at least for me, would put a damper on my creativity.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
As a teen, the author who influenced me most was Voltaire. At the time, I could not read French, so English translations had to suffice. Nonetheless, I was greatly impressed with his mastery of reason, his acerbic wit, and the clarity of his style. Now, I read him in the French original, and am of course just as impressed as I was back then, though my views on a number of subjects no longer coincide with his.

I was also a great fan of John Steinbeck, whom I consider to be a sort of “Beethoven” among modern writers, due to the immense emotional power of certain works of his.

In the esoteric field (or “new Age”, as it’s usually called today), my favorite book is “The Nature of Personal Reality”, by Seth/Jane Roberts. It should be read by everyone with an open mind, for it can truly be a life-changer!

What are you working on now?
At the moment, I am “between books”, so to speak, which isn’t to say that I have run out of ideas. Far from it…

As far as fiction is concerned, there will be a second volume of “God, UFOs and the Death of JFK”, or “my Lizard Book”, as I affectionately call it when speaking with my wife. So to all you fans of Cornelius: There’s a lot more to come!

In the area of non-fiction, I am planning to do a work designed to teach people how to teach languages. It will be a sort of companion volume to my “Language Learning – Outside the Box”. But whereas that book is meant to help you to learn a language, this new one will show you how to effectively teach others to speak your language.

Another book project of mine will deal with the area of belief, and how human beings tend to convert ideas into beliefs, and then go on to form “belief structures” that then in turn form our minds, influence our relations with others, and ultimately play a major role in determining “who we are”. Chalk this one up to the genres of psychology and philosophy, but also to “practical self-improvement”.

There are at least 10 others on my list of “books to write”, but there’s no need to “spill the beans” about each and every one right now, is there?

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Hard to say… Until now, I have mainly promoted my books by simply writing more of them. The problem was that it got to the point that whenever someone asked me how many books I had written, I myself wasn’t sure. That’s why I created a website (www.dboltoncreations.com), so I’d have a place to display them all (though my most recent one hasn’t been included yet: it’s such a pain to deal with html code!).

I’ve only recently begun to look for ways to promote through book groups, promotion sites, etc. “Awesomegang.com” looks really impressive to me, and if I see that the free promotion option works well, I’ll be doing some paid promotion with them, no doubt.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
To new authors, I can only say: Follow your passion! Write about what makes you enthusiastic, about things you love. Do you want to write nonfiction? Well, almost certainly there is some area in which you excel. Write about it; share your expertise, no matter which area is concerned. If you’d prefer writing fiction, let your imagination be your guide. And no matter what you write, make sure you express yourself as well as you can.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve ever heard? Now, that one’s really hard to answer. Most probably, it would be the inscription at the temple of the Oracle of Delphi: “Know thyself”. An entire book could be written on this one maxim, and its importance for the life of each and every individual. Mmm… perhaps I should add that to my list of “books to write”?

What are you reading now?
At the moment, and as is generally my wont, I am reading a number of books…

David Hume’s “A Treatise of Human nature”; “The Trouble with Physics”, by Lee Smolin; “Jerome Cardan”, by W.G.Waters; “Protect Yourself – Global Financial Meltdown” by Robert Wiedemer, and a few more.

One is in German: “Zeitabschnitt des Schicksals”. It was written by a friend of mine. A very interesting premise: the writer describes, from her (now deceased) mother’s point of view, what happened when Germany lost the war, and the German people living in the Sudetenland were subjected to atrocities by many Czechs, including the government, Though it is quite understandable that the Czechs would want to seek revenge for what they had suffered under Hitler, this book shows how a simple German girl of twenty, who had little idea of politics, suddenly found herself in grave danger, and had to summon up all her resourcefulness to get through that most difficult period alive. Unfortunately, the book is only available in German at the moment, but I am considering translating it for the English-speaking world, since the story is quite gripping.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m going to keep writing about areas I love, and will also continue writing some fiction, though my works in this genre will probably always serve as a vehicle for getting messages across that I feel are important: the importance of reason in our lives, but also of intuition, and inspiration; the obligation of the individual to develop him/herself to the fullest; the necessity of getting along better with others, and joining forces to create a better future for all.

Of course, adding some “ethical instruction” to a novel doesn’t mean that it can’t be entertaining, perhaps humorous, and a lot of fun to read!

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 know that many people, when asked which books they’d bring along if they were going to be stranded on a desert island, say things like “War and Peace”, “The Bible”, or whatever. Sure, there are some books that I absolutely love, but the truth is, if I could only take three or four, I wouldn’t bring any of them along. Instead, I would look for nonfiction books about things like: “How to do emergency first aid”, “How to fish”, “How to make your own hunting weapons”, “How to survive on a desert island”, and the like. After all, you DO want to remain alive on that island, don’t you?

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

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

David Bolton is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Award-winning author Crystal Marcos has been a storyteller her entire life. As the oldest of five children, she had to do a lot of entertaining. She lives on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington State with her husband and daughter Kaylee, with another child on the way. Crystal is the author of BELLYACHE: A Delicious Tale and HEADACHE: The Hair-Raising Sequel to BELLYACHE. Novus, her third book and first Young Adult novel, is Book One of The Cresecren Chronicles.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The idea for Novus came to me over three years ago in a dream that jolted me awake. I wanted to go back to sleep, hoping to pick up where I left off. I didn’t, and kept thinking about it. I wanted to know more about the people in my dream, more about the setting, more about what was going on and where the story was leading. I finally have the answers, and am delighted to share them. What you’re about to read is a look into my imagination and my dreams. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I had fun creating it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I build stories in my head when I can’t get to writing them down. I have a very good memory for that sort of thing. I also build stories or get ideas from my very vivid dreams.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Authors from my childhood such as Roald Dahl, Beverly Clearly, and Barbara Robinson influenced me to want to become an author. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is my favorite book and I can’t wait to read it to my kids someday.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a children’s picture book and writing the second book in The Cresecren Chronicles.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I mainly concentrate on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Pinterest.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing, you can’t have a new book published if you stop writing!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t fall in love with your own sentence.

What are you reading now?
I am excited to be reading my children’s books to my 6 year old daughter. We are on my second book in my Children’s book series, HEADACHE: The Hair-Raising Sequel to BELLYACHE. I also started listening to Alive: Book One of the Generations Trilogy. It is interesting so far.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Heavy promotions for my new release, writing, sending my picture book off to the editor, and working directly with the illustrator.

Author Websites and Profiles
Crystal Marcos Website
Crystal Marcos Amazon Profile
Crystal Marcos Author Profile on Smashwords

Crystal Marcos’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Crystal Marcos is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I come from a family of history buffs, and I graduated from University with a degree in Ancient History. So, I tend to write a lot of historical-themed stories. I have written 4 books so far. The first two are “The Three Realms” and “Kings and Giants” are part one and two of a series called “Wayang: Stories of the Shadow Puppets”, The series is basically a collection of ancient stories of Javanese creation myths seen from traditional performances of Shadow Puppets. I translated, retold, updated and simplified them myself from their original languages. My third book is “Songs from a Mountain,” a little novel, also based on East and South East Asian history.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is more academic-y, I suppose, compared to the others. It’s called “History, Prehistory and Biological Evolution” and it’s the first book of a series called “Time Maps”. I co-wrote it with Dr. R.K Fisher who is a mathematician. He worked on this book for about ten years before he came to me with the idea of writing a history book from a non-European perspective. I had just started my studies in Ancient History back then and was amazed at how detailed the chronicles are for ‘western’ histories like Graeco-Roman gods and goddesses, and I found that histories from other parts of the world doesn’t give that same level of details in their information. So it took me another six years to finish this book. What’s different about this book, I guess, is the notes left to me by R.K Fisher which said “Make this simple and interesting.” So hopefully it’s a more fun take on what’s usually out there.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wish I have. I really do! But, no. I’m pretty boring when it comes to work. Let’s see, I like to work with the TV on and I tend to favor Super Sentai Series (the original Japanese version of “Power Rangers”) instead of just random TV shows. So, I’d usually put the series on as a marathon while I work. I don’t know, between the language, the colors and the sounds, it just makes my sometimes excruciating work writing and re-writing a bit less depressing. If I want a bit more variation to my viewing while I work, I’d go for British sitcoms.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Robert Graves. I think he’s brilliant, and he was the writer who got me interested in studying history. My favorite works of his are “I, Claudius” and “Claudius the God.” For a lighter readings, I love anything from P.G Wodehouse, but if I am to recommend anything more specific from him I’d say the Jeeves and Wooster series. I learned a lot from his writings about making simple points from a sometimes complicated story-lines.

What are you working on now?
Promotion, promotion, promotion. I’ve been studying, working and writing non-stop for close to a decade now, so it’s time for me to really concentrate on telling people about it, I think.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I favor Amazon and Goodreads, as well as social medias, but I also always look for new ways to promote. I’d try as much as I can to link all my social media profiles and associated websites together so if I give an update I’d only need to do it in one or two hits. It just saves time.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I have spoken to a lot of people who say that they always wanted to write, but they never seem to be happy with what they’ve written. Please do not let that stop you. It’s like hearing your own voice on a recording sometimes. it sounds good in your head but not so much when you hear it. And that’s okay. That’s what drafts, revisions and editors are for. And if your writing is shockingly bad, think of it this way: before you can write a good story, you need to write a bad story. Before you can write a bad story, you need to write a story.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
One day, I was writing a report for one of my subjects in university and my professor wrote in his comment, “try to look at an event with the eyes of the time.” (in other words: empathize with your characters) and I realized that a lot of misunderstanding about history, and a lot of what makes some historical novels really uninteresting is that the writers would look at something like The story of Emperor Nero or the fall of the Roman Empire from the eyes of a 21 century jeans-wearing, beer-drinking writer. So that comment always stuck with me and became the basis of a lot of my writings.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading two books right now, “Invisible Man” by H.G Wells, and “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” by Luo Guanzhong which is one of the four great classical novels in Chinese literature. My ambition is to read them all.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on “Ramayana”, which is the third book of my “Wayang: Stories of the Shadow Puppets” series. Ramayana is a famous Hindu love story of Rama, who is an incarnation of the god Vishnu and Sinta. It should be ready for publication by the end of this year. If we are talking about my long-term plans as a writer, it will be to be able to somehow do this full-time, which I guess what every writer wants.

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, Claudius” by Robert Graves, “Jeeves and Wooster Omnibus” by P.G Wodehouse, and “The Feng Shui Detective” by Nury Vittachi. Oh, and I should bring one of my books as well, shouldn’t I? I might bring “History, Prehistory and Biological Evolution” just so I can show off to no one in particular and say “I wrote this.”

Author Websites and Profiles
Martini Fisher Website
Martini Fisher Amazon Profile

Martini Fisher’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Martini Fisher is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m 35, based in Salisbury, England and I write fantasy novels. I have just finished a 7-book series.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I have just published The Immortal Queen, the final book in my Three Cards series. I was looking to do something a bit different and settled on the idea that everybody is composed of three Cards, which influence how they appear and how they act. It was supposed to be one book, but I got carried away and now there are seven!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’ve found from talking to other authors that a lot of habits I thought were unusual are actually fairly common. I guess I have a higher than average character mortality rate…

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Most recently, George R.R Martin, and I’ve been reading Gene Wolfe again. Wolfe was one of my earlier influencers. Going back to childhood, Tolkien and C.S. Lewis had their hand, as did Pratchett.

What are you working on now?
The Stars From The Dead. Set in the same world that I established in The Three Cards, it explores a new continent and deals with extreme climate change.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m awful at promoting my own books. I confess to being shy when talking about it in person, so I do prefer tweeting and blogging. Recently I’ve connected with readers a lot more by e-mail and that’s been very rewarding.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just dive in. You will make lots of little mistakes but you’ll figure them all out as you go. My first two (unpublished) books were just practice, so I didn’t have to worry too much about the mistakes I made, it was writing for the sake of writing. They were lots of fun and I learned without being under any pressure.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Take your time.

What are you reading now?
The Book of the New Sun, by Gene Wolfe

What’s next for you as a writer?
To finish The Stars from The Dead. It’s the first in my new series of (5) books, named The Three Eyes.

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?
Four BIG blank books to write in.

Author Websites and Profiles
Tomas Care Website
Tomas Care Amazon Profile

Tomas Care’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tomas Care is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a retired teacher who finally has time for my own writing after years of mentoring students through their writing. My first novel, “NOLA Gals” was published by Neverland Publishing in January 2015. I have another draft, “Scrubbing Off the Dirt” I wrote years ago about a teen boy whose dad is suffering from cancer related to his service in Vietnam. I may dust that off some day, but first I am writing a sequel to “NOLA Gals.” I also have a memoir in the back of my mind. I would also love to see “NOLA Gals” adapted as a play or movie so I’m exploring those possibilities.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Watching continual coverage of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 inspired me to write the story of two fictional teens caught up in the aftermath of the worst hurricane ever to hit the coast of the United States. I found the coverage very moving and wanted to write a book that kids could read for two reasons: one, to learn about this storm and its disastrous effects on the lives of thousands of people and two, to practice writing in varying styles as seen in the book that range from narrative to essay to journaling to poetry to speech. When I go in classrooms, the kids always ask how to write extended metaphors like the ones I wrote to describe Hurricanes Katrina and Rita as angry teenagers. On my website: www.nolgals.com I have many photos and student samples to read, along with ideas for more writing for both kids and adults.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write sitting on my couch, my cat, Gracie above my head in the windowsill. I do research by hand in large notebooks, then type drafts on my laptop. I keep a handwritten notebook of the writing progress. I also sketch settings and act out events in the book to make sure they make sense physically. For instance, for the poolside setting at Grace’s house in Houston, I first researched the local flora for color and size, and then sketched out what would go where around the pool before writing a word. When the girls escape from the upper bedroom, I acted that all out using chairs. My cat watched intently. and I realized I needed to add a shed for the girls to jump on. It’s all about the accuracy an author owes a reader.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Nancy Drew was my first literary idol Then I moved on to Jane Eyre and the Bronte sisters, especially Emily’s “Wuthering Heights.” I loved “Rebecca” by Daphne DuMaurier. I still feel the damp winds coming off the Cornish coast at Manderley. mystery all around. My older sister, Mary was my reading mentor and at some point she introduced me to John Updike. I remember reading “Rabbit Run” and stopping cold at the idea that Rabbit, the main character was watching “Mickey Mouse Club” on TV. And so specific detail came into my writing life! Thomas Hardy was huge in my literary life. I love all his novels and have all the movie versions, recently buying the new “Far From the Madding Crowd.” Lately, I’ve fallen in love with the Henry VIII trilogy by Hillary Mantel, “Wolf Hall.” I was lucky enough to see two plays based on the books while in London. And what a thrill to spy the author in the lobby signing programs at both performances!

YA writers I read are John Green, Christopher Paul Curtis, Gary Soto (you can’t get a better writer to teach kids style) Gary Paulson. I also like “The Hunger Games” and “Divergent” series.

What are you working on now?
The sequel to “NOLA Gals” is in the works. I am in the research stage and just got another book in the mail today to read. I am filling in the gaps from the last nine years of the rebuilding of New Orleans. So many readers have asked for a sequel that I’m going ahead with it. Stay tuned!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am a member of about twenty-five writing groups on facebook and new ones pop up every day. Promotion takes many hours a week to do it effectively. Twitter is a great help in keeping titles in the eye. Reader’s Gazette runs ads around the clock. Book Goodies is good as is Book Twitter. New Pages also. You have to set a budget. If you want to spend a lot of money there are sites out there who will gladly help. I try to stay under $30 for each. Then there is the whole contest arena. Again they can be expensive, but a shiny sticker on a book cover does draw attention.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep reading as much as you can in your genre and read everything else, too. Don’t be afraid to take risks. Try to find a publisher who understands your vision. As for writing groups, listen to their advice, but in the end go with your own inner voice. Be persistent. It takes years sometimes to find your niche in the publishing world. Not everyone (and few are) can be an overnight sensation. And once the reviews start coming in, don’t take them too seriously and don’t respond to the bad ones.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“It is what it is.”

What are you reading now?
I just finished “The Martian” by Andy Weir and can’t wait for the movie. Next up, besides a stack of Hurricane Katrina books is “The Taming of the Queen” by Philippa Gregory, the story of the last wife of Henry VIII, Katherine Parr. I recently saw the play, “The Last Wife” about her in Stratford, Canada so this is further “research.”

What’s next for you as a writer?
I will be Writer-in-Residence for two districts this year, working in classes with students and teachers. I hope to preview my sequel with this audience as I write for feedback. I also hope to travel to New Orleans to visit schools there. I have donated some of my royalties to New Orleans schools.

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?
Rebecca, Wuthering Heights, Rabbit Run, NOLA Gals

Author Websites and Profiles
Barbara Rebbeck Website
Barbara Rebbeck Amazon Profile

Barbara Rebbeck’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Barbara Rebbeck is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I love telling stories, whether with my camera or on paper. It’s just something I’ve always done. Currently I have nearly 100 published titles; as well as audio books, foreign editions, etc.

I’ve been writing professionally for over 10 years. I couldn’t ask for a better career or life. When I’m not writing, I love to travel and try new things. Life is all about experiences, and those experiences can fuel the muse and help the craft. Plus, climbing Mayan temples and going on ghost hunts is just fun!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Warlocks MacGregor: Spellbound, about shape-shifting mischievous warlocks who like to pull pranks on each other. They’re a huge family, so there are a lot of antics. Plus, they’ve been around for a long time so they bring new meaning to “paybacks are hell”.

Inspiration can come from anywhere at anytime. I once heard someone say something along the lines of, “Authors are the only people who can have private moments in the middle of a crowd”. I think this is because we’re always watching and creating and in our heads. I don’t know how many of my books were started on restaurant napkins or in the middle of the night scribbles on a notepad that were barely legible the next day.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I can write anywhere, and often do out of necessity. As a professional author for over a decade, I know deadlines wait or no one. I’ve written in airports, hotels, parking lots, at conferences…

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Mandy M. Roth. Not only is she an awesome writer, she’s become like a sister. Her passion and drive for the craft is an inspiration every day.

What are you working on now?
I always have several books going at once. You never know what muse with strike on what day. Plus, they’re all in different stages. Some are being researched, some are being written, some are in various stages of edits and formatting.

Reader favorites that are coming up are more books in the Dragon Lords, Captured by a Dragon-Shifter, Warlocks MacGregor, and Lords of the Abyss series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think I am the best method of promoting my books — getting out there and talking with readers. Having a personal website and newsletter they can go to for content and information. No one is going to be as passionate as I am about my books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do your research. We’ve all were new once and you have to do the legwork if you want to make it in this business. There is no magic pill. Trust me, we pro authors have been looking for years, lol.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm” Swedish Proverb

What are you reading now?
Wicked Lucidity by Mandy M. Roth

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m a hybrid author. I’ve been with New York “big” publishers, with small press and e-first publishers, and now I’ve embraced indie. You have to change with the times and make decisions that are right for you. I love the control self-pub and indie give me!

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 shelter, encyclopedia of edible and medicinal plants, and how to get rescued. There would be no time for reading for fun. I would not do well in a survivalist situation, lol.

Author Websites and Profiles
Michelle M. Pillow Website
Michelle M. Pillow Amazon Profile
Michelle M. Pillow Author Profile on Smashwords

Michelle M. Pillow’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Michelle M. Pillow is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a proud indie author who focuses on helping kids, teens and young adults find their confidence sooner in life. As a young teen, I was terrified of not being perfect, opening my mouth if I didn’t have a well-crafted idea and I sought approval in anywhere I could get it. Flash forward to now, I’m a strong, confident adult who wants to show others how they can break through to be the best version of themselves to live their life to their full potential.

I’ve written two creations thus far:
> Happy Bright Light: A Weekly Empowerment Guide (paperback — includes full color and nature photography and an ebook)
> Dear Every Kid: Daily Confidence Reminders (a $0.99 mini ebook)

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
This past summer I have released both my books, which were inspired from my journey to finding my thick skin and happiness.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t write anywhere besides on my couch. When I get stuck, I listen to Enya to refocus and relax. It brings me back to lazy Sunday’s at my father’s house.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve been inspired by Louise Hay, who puts things very simply.

From a business-smarts standpoint, I also love the original works by Napoleon Hill, who was inspired by the amazing Andrew Carnegie.

As a career-focused woman, I was blown away by magnificent Sheryl Sandberg who authored Lean In.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on another project more content heavy for adults.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m just starting personal promotion, but my favorite method currently is sharing with a core group of friends, family and inspiring contacts on social media. I’ve built new relationships and strengthened current ones this way. I don’t believe it’s just about marketing a book, it’s about getting to know people and their stories so we can learn from each other.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice to new authors is to not only write for their intended audience, but to write for themselves because it’s a personal journey that includes a lot of layers in the process as a whole.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve heard and also apply in my life is to listen to others’ advice but to make your own decisions.

What are you reading now?
I’m a bit of a geek and love to read knowledgable books. I’m reading a couple books at the moment: Freakonoics, Book Marketing is dead.

What’s next for you as a writer?
In addition to continuing to write my next book, I’m also working on putting some workshops together for kids about how to build their confidence and self-esteem. I’d like to integrate nature photography as well to show how amazing it can be to explore and take in the world around us.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I’d bring a blank book to reflect my own thoughts and doodles. I’d also bring one of my favorite childhood books like the Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster or a Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle. Lastly, I’d bring one of the books by the enlightened Dalai Lama such as The Art of Happiness.

Author Websites and Profiles
Kelly Stone Website
Kelly Stone Amazon Profile

Kelly Stone’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Kelly Stone is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a 21 year old university student studying International Foreign Affairs, and Business Administration, in Ontario, Canada. I was born in Albania, an Eastern European country, which has undergone a rigorous communist past. I have only published one book, seeing as I started writing seriously around May 2015. Since that time, I have published one book, and am finishing up a second.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book that i have published–Symbiosis– is a political dystopian novella that was written more for me than for anyone else. It discusses corporations, and the inequality gap between rich and poor, and the diminish middle class. Daunting topics for some, but for a university student studying foreign affairs, this is ‘fun’. I was in Costa Rica at the time that i wrote the novella, working as an English teacher, as well as volunteering at an orphanage on my summer vacation from school.

I would come home after a long, and fulfilling day, working with abused children living in a developing country. I would be reminded of my childhood in a corrupt Eastern European country–it was extremely similar to their lives, which made the experience that much more surreal for me. I was finally getting a chance to help those like me. Finally someone who actually understood what they must be feeling etc. Very surreal indeed. I have no clue what really started Symbiosis. All I know is, I came home from work one day, and i just started writing. Just to put my thoughts on paper. Two weeks later i had a full first draft of 20, 000 words. I had never written anything of this length before, and naturally there was a learning curve. But it did not stop there, i challenged myself to get it published, and about a month after it was written, I signed a contract with Solstice Publishing. And here we are, about 3 months after it was written, and I’m holding a paperback copy in my hands, looking at my name on the cover. It is, and will always be, my favourite souvenir from my humanitarian travels in Costa Rica.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know about unusual, but I like to listen to relaxing background music when i write. Not TOO unusual I would say. I always say what is on my mind, and when I start a chapter I must end it–a process which usually ensures I get a solid two hours of sleep on some nights. totally worth it. Looking at newly written chapter in my hand, I simply read it, without making too many changes. I write relatively clean first drafts, and hate editing. But looking at it in your hand, and taking a deep breath…Totally bliss feeling, as any writer could tell you.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I really love dystopian novels, and I like to read classics. I think that everyone must read the classics first (or at least some classics) before jumping into the modern stuff. I really love Orwell’s work. Animal Farm, and 1984 are two of my absolute favourites, and I try my best to give them another read every year or so. I always get the same–if not more–enjoyment out of reading them again, and most of all, I always pick up something new. Other than that, I enjoy much of Dostoyevsky’s work.

What are you working on now?
Right now I’m finishing up what i hope will be my second published novel. A relatively small 50,000 word dystopian novel where reading has become a sort of taboo. With the technology to essentially download information into individuals’ minds, the richest individuals are now the smartest as well. The poorest individuals are now the most ignorant, and upon noticing this fact, they have given up on reading, or attempting to educate themselves altogether, because they see no benefit in the matter. The rich are already smartest, so the poor have no incentives to essentially waste time reading. The story discusses a lottery system in which one lower-class individual has won this service, and she can download this information for free.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Being relatively new to the writing world, I really cannot say what the best method is. For me, I have found so far, that twitter seems to be one of the more effective ways I can get people to visit my amazon page. Write effective hooks, and provide links, and they will come.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Coming from an introvert, that may not say much. But hey, if I could do it you can too. My motto was “what do they have that I don’t?” Always have a new hobby, a new goal, and always give it 100%. Because, ultimately, you won’t know which of those hobbies will stick with you. Don’t doubt yourself for a second.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write. Don’t stop. Just write. Write as a hobby, and most importantly write for yourself. To make yourself feel better. Therapy.

Also make sure you follow my blog, where I have way more tips about every aspect of writing.

What are you reading now?
Right now i am reading The “Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” by Stieg Larsson.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully publish a second book, and a third after that.

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?
Well, 1984 and Animal Farm of course. I would also take Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace, as well as a collection of Shakespeare’s complete works. I have time to kill, i may as well grab some big books.

Author Websites and Profiles
Tevis Shkodra Website
Tevis Shkodra Amazon Profile

Tevis Shkodra’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tevis Shkodra is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a Dublin-based freelance professional editor and author of five novels. I worked in a variety of blue-collar and white-collar jobs before spending two decades as an in-house editor for a U.S. academic publisher in its Irish office.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Breakfast at Cannibal Joe’s” is the first of my books to be published. The first draft was written way back at the turn of the century, on the cusp of the so-called Celtic Tiger, when some of us could already see it was going to end in tears. The Dublin it describes, however, is based on Pinochet’s Chile, with a few Hibernian tweaks.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I prefer to write longhand, with my favorite (heavy) Cross pen, before typing it all up and making changes. I then have to print the damn thing off before I can make editorial changes (with my pen again). That takes us to three drafts before I even start on a structural edit.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Martin Millar’s “Milk, Sulphate and Alby Starvation” taught me that it was okay to write about everyday picaresque life in a comedic way without expressing contempt for the characters. Steve Aylett’s “Bigot Hall” showed me how limited most authors’ imaginations are by comparison. He offers literary pyrotechnics whose sparks ignite all manner of explosions in the reader’s mind.

What are you working on now?
The finishing touches to “Ivy Feckett Is Looking for Love: A Birmingham Romance,” which will be released next year. A nerdy romantic comedy about two geocachers who take on the Patriarchy and organized religion in the dark heart of England.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still finding out. Having my own website and using Twitter has worked okay so far.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Ask yourself what it is that drives you. Are you writing for your own pleasure, because writing is an itch you have to scratch, to entertain others, or because you want to be famous? Your response to that question should guide what you write and how you approach your career.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw parties.

What are you reading now?
The Stieg Larsson trilogy. It passed me by at the time, and I’m catching up. Half way through the second novel. The pace has picked up.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Novel No. 5 needs a second draft. It’s a encyclopedia along the lines of Flaubert’s “Dictionary of Received Ideas” but I’m trying to shape it so that comes closer to Nabokov’s “Pale Fire.” In other words, it will be an encyclopedia with a plot.

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?
Not that I advocate book-burning in general, but anything that could make a fire bright enough to attract passing ships. Phone directories.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jay Spencer Green Website
Jay Spencer Green Amazon Profile

Jay Spencer Green’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Jay Spencer Green is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written two novels, both love stories. My first, Larkin’s Letters, was released in June, 2013 and the sequel, Ryan’s Letters, was released in September, 2015. My writing is inspired by Nicholas Sparks and James Patterson, so if you like to read their love stories, than you should hopefully like mine as well.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest novel is Ryan’s Letters, which is a sequel to my debut novel, Larkin’s Letters. Nothing specific inspired them. I just love reading and watching modern day love stories and always wanted to write one of my own.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I always write the first and last chapters first. I don’t know if that is unusual per say, but I guess some people may think that it is.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Nicholas Sparks is the main influencing author. The book that really inspired me to write is Suzanne’s Diary to Nicholas by James Patterson. It is the only book I read cover to cover and after I read it I knew I had to write something that could touch an audience the way that book touched me.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a paranormal romance called Jillian’s Touch. It is a slow process this time around because I have a toddler and work full-time so it has been difficult finding the time to write.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I find that Facebook is the easiest way to reach my readers and I like how I can interact with them on there. I use Twitter and Google + as well but Twitter is just so enormous that I find it more impersonal. I also have a blog that I write on and share my excerpts.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t expect success right away but also, never give up. Keep writing and you will find people out there who love your work.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never settle for good, go for great.

What are you reading now?
Not at the moment. I have several books that I want to read but I don’t have a lot of extra time. I try to use the extra time I have to write.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I would love to explore the world of screenwriting but it is so much different than writing a novel. I really will have to do some research. And I would love to be able to find an agent to help me reach that next level of success.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Suzanne’s Diary to Nicholas, James Patterson
Safe Haven, Nicholas Sparks
Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert
The Harry Potter Series

I guess that is really more than 4, isn’t it??

Author Websites and Profiles
Jax Jillian Website
Jax Jillian Amazon Profile

Jax Jillian’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Jax Jillian is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Julie Dawn grew up in southern Jersey, spending the summers collecting bee stingers in her feet. After graduating from Richard Stockton College, she dipped her toes in the environmental field for a few years, got married, moved to North Carolina, and finally got to become a mom. Four years of living in state parks was enough to make her relocate to the Oregon Coast. Under bright stars, she started writing again, determined to change the world one story at a time.

YOSEMITE RISING is her debut novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Yosemite Rising: a zombie novel. I started wanted to put my degree in biology and my love for Native American lore to good use.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I used to write between 8pm and 4am after bedtime stories with the kids. I’ve tried to squeeze in writing time anywhere I can and starting this year will finally be writing full time.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
A lot of authors have influenced me. Poe was a favorite when I was little. I read Jurassic Park when I was 8, before the movie came out. The movie was amazing, but it showed me that the book is always better. A huge chunk of my young adult years was spent reading non-fiction serial killer books in hopes of becoming a profiler for the FBI. I guess I’ve always dreamed.

What are you working on now?
Oh the ‘Fight Club’ question. Don’t you know you’re not supposed to talk about Fight Club?
My readers would expect me to be working on Yosemite Rising’s sequel, but I have a different apocalyptic story that is taking my breath away currently.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This is a question I have not discovered any promising answers to yet. So far, I’ve enjoyed interacting with other writers and readers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be passionate. If you think ‘I can’t put this in there’ do it! It takes a tremendous amount of courage to put yourself out there. Tell your stories. Close your eyes and jump.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I’ll say it again, read Stephen King’s On Writing. I keep a copy on my desk. When I get discouraged, frustrated, want to delete everything, I crack it open and read a line or two. That’s all it takes.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading The Stand by Stephen King, The Descent of Woman by Elaine Morgan, and Steve Jobs biography on audiotape.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To keep on writing. I hope that among the pile of books out there, I’ll find my tribe. Until then there are nine other stories awaiting their turn to get out of my head.

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 by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, On Writing by Stephen King, and the Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe.

Author Websites and Profiles
Julie Dawn Website
Julie Dawn Amazon Profile

Julie Dawn’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Julie Dawn is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello! I am a Fantasy and Paranormal Romance author from the Central Coast of California. My books are mainly aimed at a children’s or young adult audience, but many of my readers are my age or older. I have written twelve books in two different series. The Otherworld series tells the story of Meghan Elam, a junior in high school who learns she is from the Celtic Otherworld. This series is set in my home town of Arroyo Grande and incorporates Celtic mythology. My Oescienne series tells the story of Jahrra, a human infant found and raised by dragons in world where her kind no longer exist. The Legend of Oescienne books are an epic fantasy series.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my latest book is Faeleahn, a novella in the Otherworld series. A large part of why I wrote this short novel has much to do with the feedback from my readers. After finishing the first three books of my Otherworld series, many of my readers expressed they wanted to hear more from my characters. Faeleahn picks up where Luathara (the third book) leaves off.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wouldn’t say I have any unusual habits. I do have preferences, however. I like to write early in the morning, if possible, and I enjoy listening to instrumental music. A nice cup of tea is always a plus as well.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Early on in my career, I found myself very much inspired by J.K. Rowling. Over the years I’ve been inspired by Sherwood Smith, Sharon Shinn, Maria V. Snyder, Ilona Andrews, Amanda Hocking and Rick Riordan. These authors, and their books, have either inspired me to create my own works or have given me ideas for future book projects.

What are you working on now?
Currently I am working on another Otherworld novel, Faeborne. I’m also working on The Legend of Oescienne – The Ascending (the fourth book in the Oescienne series). Both books are finished but need to be read through by me once or twice more before heading to my editor.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use Facebook a lot to post information, giveaways and news, and I send out a newsletter once every few months. BookBub has been a great website for spreading the word about my free ebooks in the past. I also use Pinterest to collect images to represent my worlds. I also host a book giveaway every now and then on Goodreads.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up. It is hard to get started, especially when you are unknown. Keep writing and be patient. Establish an online presence and be open to taking criticism from readers. Just keep your dreams in sight and never lose your passion to write.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You can’t please everyone, so first and foremost, write for yourself. And write for those dedicated readers who love your characters as much as you do.

What are you reading now?
I just finished listening to the audio edition of Ever Shade by Alexia Purdy. On my Kindle I’m reading Threshold, the follow up to Widdershins by Jordan L. Hawk. Great books!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish up the manuscripts for Faeborne and The Legend of Oescienne – The Ascending and move on to the next project, hopefully some more Otherworld books. So many book ideas with such limited time!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder, my giant, unabridged dictionary, my Writer’s Thesaurus and a huge, empty journal. Can I take pens and pencils, too?

Author Websites and Profiles
Jenna Elizabeth Johnson Website
Jenna Elizabeth Johnson Amazon Profile
Jenna Elizabeth Johnson Author Profile on Smashwords

Jenna Elizabeth Johnson’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Jenna Elizabeth Johnson is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Serene McCarthy enjoys reading contemporary women’s fiction and historical romances to get some inspiration for her own writings. A true romantic at heart who’s residing in New York together with her family, she loves to dream up new heart-warming, spicy romance comedies, coupled with some sensual details to tickle and amuse her readers.

This book is currently available in Kindle edition. It will be available in paperback format in the next few days.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My Inspiration For Writing The Novel – SWEET REVENGE : A Scandalous Proposal From The Rogue Billionaire

I’ve toyed with the idea of writing a billionaire romance since last year, but I never got around to it. Then, somehow, it hit me that I really wanted to write about a deception charade involving two characters – one boss and one social escort. That, in itself, gave me the impetus to start writing on the plot once I’d settled on the names of the characters and the way they would behave. Hence, the plot just developed in a natural rhythm as I fleshed out the innocent, capable character of Kaitlyn Munroe and the cold, calculated rake of her boss – known as Roy Hearst. Used to getting what he wants without sparing the feelings of others, it is clearly felt in the way he dominates Kaitlyn when he makes her surrender to his advances. It makes you think of him as a complete scoundrel. Hence, to reiterate, the feelings and raw emotions of the characters are developed with much care, and the chemistry between the two characters are quite evident in the way they communicate with each other. What I truly enjoyed most, while writing this story was probably the fun I derived from making the male lead out to be an absolute cad in need of redemption from a woman filled with purity.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to jot down whatever notes that come to mind and piece the scattered parts of the story together later because I believe that the first train of thought is always most valuable. The editing can come later.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Revengeful romances written by various authors specializing in historical romance and romantic comedies.

What are you working on now?
The sequel to Sweet Revenge. The story will center on her cousin – Jewel Monroe and Tristan Caldwell. I’m presently still in the midst of developing the plot, but I’ve already started writing on some scenes that inspired me.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
No particular best method. I am still experimenting because I do not really have much time to market the novel. However, I do hope that readers will enjoy reading the story because it’s easy to understand and the romance is something the readers can identify with.

I may publish this book on other platforms, in addition to Amazon to reach a wider base of fans. If you are interested in purchasing my ebook and paperback on ‘Sweet Revenge,’ you can find it at this link : http://www.amazon.com/dp/B013YWAW26 Do help me by posting honest reviews for my book and drop me an email (found at the end of my novel) if you want to be updated on my next book release.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep on persevering. You may well see the light at the end of the tunnel.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

What are you reading now?
Nonfiction books on writing and publishing as well as some romantic comedies. I used to love reading Barbara Bradford. Danielle Steele and Nicholas Sparks’ novels.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Continuing with my sequel to Sweet Revenge, publishing more fiction books and looking after my kids.

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?
Books on cooking, mindfulness meditation, wilderness survival and romantic comedies to fill my time.

Author Websites and Profiles
Serene McCarthy Amazon Profile

Serene McCarthy is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a divorced mom of four – and I’ve had career ADD for years! With all of my different experience, I’ve decided to write some books about – whatever I want to! My first book is a Divorce Handbook – doing it smart. Then I moved to a weight loss book – that basically says – quit eating so much and work out more! Then – my oldest daughter was diagnosed with Celiac Disease – so, yet, I wrote a book about it! My next project is about nutritional detox recipes. It’ll be out soon!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Going Gluten Free – From Gluten Sensitivity to Celiac Disease. My oldest daughter was in and out of the emergency room at the hospital for over a year with various diagnoses that never really relieved her stomach pains. We finally got the Celiac Disease diagnosis – and she pitched a fit! We’ve learned a lot on this journey, and I wanted to share the information with my favorite folks – my readers!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well… I will sketch out a book title – and not do anything with it for weeks or months! I may create a new Pinterest board for my research – and then BAM – one day, I’ll sit down and write my book in about a day and a half! Now keep in mind – these are short books of around 100 pages or so, not an epic tome of literature.

I’m about to start writing some romantic fiction, and I’m hoping that I can find a different method – because I’ll be writing 24/7 for several days if I keep up my normal writing habit!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Charity Cason – she writes under pen names, but is a GREAT writing coach! I also follow Wesley Atkins. Now as far as big dollar writers – I adore Anne Rice. If I had a following like she does – I’d be one happy little camper!

What are you working on now?
A book about detox recipes – detoxifying the body has been a hot topic for over a year now, and there are quite a few books about detox. I’m picking up that ball and running with it!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don’t have a best method yet – I’m still figuring it all out. But Awesomegang has been SOOO good to me!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Figure out what you’re doing before you finish that book! There’s a lot more to it than you think – find an authorpreneur coach to help you muddle your way through the process. Figuring it out on your own is PAINFUL!!!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Once you publish your first book – you’d better start your second, your third – and never stop writing and publishing!!!

What are you reading now?
The Kristen Eckstein Author’s Quick Guide series. ALL authors should read her series, they’re short, sweet, and jam-packed with critical information for a successful career in authoring!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Video! I’ve invested in some studio quality lighting, audio and backdrops – I’m going to be creating YouTube videos to attract and inform my readers about my books, and other pertinent subjects.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Bible – NIV
The Mayfair Witch Trilogy by Anne Rice
Any Sherrilyn Kenyon book – they’re all HAWT!!!
Gray’s Anatomy

Author Websites and Profiles
Wanda Bailey Website
Wanda Bailey Amazon Profile

Wanda Bailey’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Wanda Bailey is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Faye Hall is a published author of Historical Erotic Romance novels & e-books. Faye’s passion driven, mystery filled books are set in small townships of North Queensland, Australia during the late 1800’s.

Each of her current 4 novels bring something symbolically Australian to her readers, from Aboriginal herbal remedies, to certain gemstones naturally only found in this part of the world.

Each of her books tell of a passionate connection between the hero and heroine, surrounded and threatened by deceit, scandal, theft and sometimes even murder.

These romances swerve from the traditional romances as Faye aims to give her readers so much more intrigue, whilst also revealing the hidden histories of rural townships of North Queensland.

Faye finds her inspiration from the histories of not only the township she grew up in, but the many surrounding it. She also bases most of her characters on people she has met in her life.

Faye was able to live her own passion driven romance, marrying the love of her life after a whirlwind romance in 2013. Together they are raising their 9 children in a remote country town in northern Queensland, Australia.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I’m so very happy that Mistress of Purity will be published. I’m so excited to be able to introduce all my readers to a very head strong Prue, whose desperate to keep her family’s secrets hidden; to the brooding Gareth, a man who seems near desperate to uncover the truths of the past despite his initial intentions. Also to two sub characters, Rosie and Tommy, who kind of have their own story to tell and their own secrets to reveal. There’s romance, there’s mystery, there’s a bit of suspense…Hopefully you will all love this story as much as I do.

It was inspired by the events that led to me meeting my husband and the hurdles we had to overcome to finally be together.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have a tendency to argue with my characters and ask them what they are doing.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have always loved the Amanda Quick novels.

What are you working on now?
Currently waiting to hear back about a couple of scripts so am writing Lust & Chastity, my own take on one of the seven deadly sins and heavenly virtues.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My own website http://www.faye-hall.com designed by clinteffects.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write from the heart and don’t give up.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Trust your own instincts.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Just finished last edits for Passions in the Dust so awaiting copy edit finals so it can go to print.

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?
To Kill a Mockingbird, Ravished, Lord of the Flies

Author Websites and Profiles
Faye Hall Website
Faye Hall Amazon Profile

Faye Hall’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Faye Hall is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have been involved in leadership in one form or another for the last 20 years. I have started the futurepastpodcast.com. My goal is to add value to people and leave this world in a better place.

I have recently published my first book on the Kindle Store. The title says it all: Meditation for Beginners, Without the Woo-Woo.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Meditation for Beginners, Without the Woo-Woo.

I was always someone who sceptical of meditation and all the woo-woo that came along with it. In fact, it was only until I heard Tim Ferriss talking about it on his podcast and I looked into how many successful people said it greatly helped them that I looked into it for myself.

The benefits are incredible – it’s not a silver bullet to solve all your problems – and I know it’ll make a massive difference in people’s lives.

I wrote the book for people like me who didn’t want the woo-woo, but wanted to experience the benefits. My aim for the book is to get people meditating the same day they read the book!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. Whats normal anyway : )

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Most of the books I have read are non-fiction.

Steven Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
John C Maxwell’s Failing Forward, 21 Laws of Leadership
Andy Stanley’s Visioneering

I love biographies and learning from people’s lives.

What are you working on now?
I am a third of the way through my next book 10 Actions to Grow Your Leadership
as well as researching another book about natural ways to conquer depression.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still new at this so I haven’t quite got that figured out yet.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I have been wanting to write for 20 years.
Don’t let fear hold you back. Get disciplined, listen to podcasts for encouragement (e.g.. The Portfolio Life)

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Life rewards action.

What are you reading now?
Platform by Michael Hyatt
Alphabet Success by Tim Fargo
Mavericks at Work by William C Taylor & Polly LaBarre

What’s next for you as a writer?
My goal is to complete 2 more books this year and write 6 next year (that makes me tired just thinking about it!)

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Bible
A journal to write
One of Bear Grylls survival books

Author Websites and Profiles
Clive Smit Website

Clive Smit’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Clive Smit is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an avid Netflix-er (is that a thing?) and a book-aholic. Books and movies are my second love, I have to put my daughter as my first love just in case she reads this. I’ve been writing since forever it seems, I remember pecking away on a typewriter at the age of 10. I’ve published two novels and two non-fiction books. All on Amazon. I have a degree in journalism from USC and I’ve done quite a bit freelance writing for magazines and newspapers. That background comes in handy when I’m working on non-fiction projects.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Baby Modeling & Beyond was inspired by my experience with my daughter when she worked in the industry as a baby model and did commercials. I really wanted to share with other parents so they could understand what’s involved and decide if they wanted to move forward.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t do anything unusual, the typical procrastinate all day and work through the night type of deal. It takes me awhile to get in the flow. I have to dance around the story, trying out different beginnings until I finally have that “A-ha!” moment. So I’ll have six or seven scenarios in different tenses and povs until the story takes on a life of its own.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I devour books and I think my earliest influences were the most powerful. Judy Blume and VC Andrews were my favorites while growing up, oh and of course, Steven King. They YA market wasn’t huge back then, so I read lots of adult titles. I think reading those authors as a child cemented my love of reading and desire to create my own worlds.

What are you working on now?
I’m juggling a couple of different projects. Popped, the sequel to my novel Bumped as well as novella.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Social media has proven to be most effective in terms of getting the word out. My trifecta is FB, Twitter and Pinterest.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
You do not have to reinvent the wheel, if you have questions – use Google. It can be your best friend. Find a support group, a group of writers that you can share your work with and trade info. A lot of groups can be found on Facebook and are an excellent resource.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just finish.

What are you reading now?
I love the true crime genre, which is an extension of my love for the ID channel. I just finished reading Exposed: The Secret Life of Jodi Arias by Jane Velez-Mitchell. It used to be what’s on your nightstand, now it’s what’s on your Kindle.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Growing and learning. I have some picture books I’ve written that I’m trying to find a publisher for and I have ideas for YA stories. World domination JK Rowlings style – that’s my game plan.

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 can’t bring my iPad? I have a ton of books on there. Hmm, I would bring something by Jackie Collins, a self-help book by Zig Ziglar (to inspire me to get off the island) and probably something by Stephen King to keep me on my toes and alert.

Author Websites and Profiles
Sibylla Nash Website
Sibylla Nash Amazon Profile

Sibylla Nash’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Sibylla Nash is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a “Geordie lass” from Newcastle upon Tyne, in the north east of England. The origin of the term causes many an argument and it depends on your family folklore. It could be after “Geordie’s men”, who were local followers of King George II, the last British king to lead his troops into battle. My own favourite is the “Geordie safety lamp”, invented for coal miners by the local engineer George Stephenson , as I went to the high school named after him. I’m married to Michael, an artist and we have one daughter. I’ve written seven or eight novels over the many years of my apprenticeship. After trying the usual rounds of slush piles, I decided to bite the bullet as an independent author.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
ANOTHER SUMMER is my first published novel. One stormy day, I had to cross a rickety bridge over a raging river. I spotted a shiny new motorbike trapped in the debris. There wasn’t a soul in sight. I started thinking, what if…?

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
As I have a full-time job and a husband I like spend time with occasionally, I only manage to steal around six hours a week actual writing time. In between, I walk around with a notebook and a purple pen, working out my next scene. I have become that mad woman talking to herself on the bus.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve loved many different authors during various phases of my life. I used to borrow the Nancy Drew mysteries by Carolyn Keene from my local library. I then devoured all Catherine Cookson’s historical sagas, which were set in Tyneside, where I live. I moved on to Judith Krantz and the big sex and shopping novels of the eighties and all the romantic dramas by Danielle Steel and Nora Roberts. Undoubtedly, the biggest influence was Rosamunde Pilcher, who inspired my lasting love of Cornwall. The UK may be a smallish island on the world map but Cornwall is as far away from where I live as you can get without leaving the country. I can fly to New York quicker than it takes to get to Cornwall. But I love it and I feel it’s my destiny to live there one day.

What are you working on now?
I’m editing my second novel, HIGH HOPES which I ‘m aiming to launch around Christmas. It’s a sexy romance, again set in Cornwall. The characters, this time, are long-standing friends who are rocked by a twenty year old secret.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m very new to this so I’m still experimenting. I’ve learned that reviews make a huge difference, so I’ve been concentrating on that. Also 99c deals seem to do much better than full-price promotions for obvious reasons.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what you love. If you don’t love it, why will anyone else?

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you want something badly, don’t wait for someone else to give it to you. Do everything you can to make it happen.

What are you reading now?
I’m half way through SPARE BRIDES by Adele Parks, set in the world of society house parties after the First World War. I’m not usually a massive fan of the background detail in historicals but I loved all of Adele’s contemporary novels and she’s winning me over.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I feel that after twenty years of trying, I only just dipped my toe in the water. I have several novels at various stages of “work in progress”. I also have a portfolio of short stories which I’m hoping readers may enjoy over a coffee, while they’re waiting for the next novel.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
What a lovely thought, having one of your books on somebody’s desert island list. Mine would be Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, Scruples by Judith Krantz and any of the big and fabulous dramas from Penny Vincenci. My all-time favourite novel is The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher. I had it in hardback and read it so many times over the years, it fell to bits and I had to buy another copy.

Author Websites and Profiles
sue lilley Website
sue lilley Amazon Profile

sue lilley’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

sue lilley is a post from Awesome Gang