Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
The Midnight Stand is my debut novel. Telling stories that can engage a reader is a passion of mine. I enjoy many different forms of storytelling, be it either written or visual. I am very much into movies and like to watch a few a week if I am able to. I also enjoy photography and the art of film making.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is titled The Midnight Stand and it is a dark look at a not too distant future. The story grew out of an idea I had about a highly advanced technocratic organization that seizes control of the government and proceeds to control all aspects of life including where a person can live to the food he eats and the job he has. It was inspired by such books as 1984 and Fahrenheit 451.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to do much of my writing at night. I wouldn’t call that unusual but it’s just when most of my ideas hit me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve always loved sci-fi, horror and dystopian fiction growing up and have been inspired by authors such as Lovecraft, Poe, Bradbury, Welles, Orwell and Stephen King. Some of my favorite books include Fahrenheit 451, 1984, The Dark Tower series, The Stand and Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

What are you working on now?
I am working on outlining the second installment of The Elysia Saga as well as working on different ideas for future novels.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I feel promoting through Facebook is a very good way to spread the word about your book and build an audience as well as Goodreads. Amazon also offers some very good ways to connect with readers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Being a new author myself i really can’t give any practical or successful advice at this point. I am still learning the waters of publishing and building an audience. All I can say is don’t get discouraged during the writing process. The most important thing is finishing your novel and getting it in front of readers. For me, the satisfaction I get from knowing that someone read my story and maybe got something out of it is the most important thing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Good writing is re-writing.

What are you reading now?
A Clash of Kings and Finders Keepers.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully continuing to tell interesting stories that people want to read. I take it one step at a time.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Stand, Fahrenheit 451 and Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Author Websites and Profiles
Louis A. Affortunato Website
Louis A. Affortunato Amazon Profile

Louis A. Affortunato’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Louis A. Affortunato is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing since I was seven years-old and had home tuition following open heart surgery. I’ve had many jobs over the years from a film and TV Supporting Artist (appearing in Vanity Fair, King Arthur and The Duchess) to a Team Manager at NHS Direct but I’ve always written. Since having my son in February 2014 and returning to work I’m focusing on being a freelance writer and author. I’ve had fiction and articles published in The London Magazine and New Welsh Review amongst others and have written for easyjet.com and lastminute.com. I have a MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University where I’ve also taught the Lifewriting course to Creative Writing undergraduates. I’ve written two novels, published one and am halfway through writing another two.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Butterfly Storm is my debut novel. It was time spent in Greece and on the wild and beautiful north Norfolk coast in England that inspired the novel. Place always plays an important role in my writing and is often the trigger of an idea for a story.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really unusual but I do like writing in a cafe with the buzz of people chatting around me. Despite the noise I find I can really focus on writing!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Kate Mosse, Joanne Harris (her descriptions and settings), The Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks and Leif Enger’s Peace Like a River are amongst my favourite authors and books. Growing up I loved reading anything by Roald Dahl and I devoured the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings.

What are you working on now?
A contemporary women’s fiction novel with the working title of Beneath the Apple Blossom. Told from the point of view of four women it deals with infertility and infidelity, love and friendship.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve found a handful of carefully placed paid promotions has always given a decent boost to my book sales. For UK visibility bookhippo.uk has been great.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing and edit, edit, edit. The other key thing is to not give up and don’t rush getting a book published, instead spend time making it the best it can be – that time will pay off in the end.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you’re enjoying what you’re writing then your readers will too.

What are you reading now?
A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To finish and publish my next women’s fiction novel before finishing the children’s time travel adventure trilogy I’m halfway through writing.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The one I’m reading now (A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin) because I’m desperate to get to the end but haven’t had much time to read recently. The Hunger Games (the whole trilogy if I’m allowed) for its readability and The Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks because it’s a book I love going back to time and time again.

Author Websites and Profiles
Kate Frost Website
Kate Frost Amazon Profile

Kate Frost’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Kate Frost is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I currently have one novel published and have a second scheduled for release in February. In addition I’m currently working on my third novel which will likely be released in about a year.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Worth the Wait (Sexy Nerd Boys, 1). I was inspired to write this new adult romance novel because I am an avid reader of romance and have found myself feeling uninspired by some of the heroines. I wanted to write a female character who has faced violence at the hands of a lover and handled it in a manner other than what I’ve read over and over in other novels.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to write the sexy scenes and the funny scenes first because I enjoy those the most. And then, I go back and fill in the ‘meat’ of the story.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
So many! my very favorite authors (right now anyway) are Jennifer Armentrout, Linda Kage, and Amanda Black

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on editing my second novel: Naughty Angel (Sexy Nerd Boys, 2) as well as in the writing process for the third novel which only has a working title of Off Limits (Sexy Nerd Boys, 3).

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still in a learning curve with promotions so I’m still figuring that out.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t overthink, let the words flow. You can go back and edit later so just feel it for now.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
write drunk, edit sober- Earnest Hemmingway

What are you reading now?
Today I’m reading Derailed by Alyssa Rose Ivy

What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully just to keep my joy and passion for writing and continue to put out books that people will enjoy. My fantasy is a person wasting a whole day away reading one of my books.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Stranger in a Strange Land, Enders Game, and The Single Game

Author Websites and Profiles
K.M. Neuhold Website
K.M. Neuhold Amazon Profile

K.M. Neuhold’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

K.M. Neuhold is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in Louisville, KY with my husband and our adopted cat, Grady.

My favorite thing to do is travel and so far I’ve visited all 50 states in the USA as well as somewhere between 55 and 58 other countries with a big trip coming up in five moths that will add 7 more countries to my list.

So far, I have written four books, but my fifth book is coming out in just a couple of months!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My newest book title is, “OH SHIP!” with the subtitle “Tales of a Cruising Chick and Other Travel Adventures” and is full of funny and silly stories of things that have happened on cruise ships and during my other travels.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have no habits, that’s my problem. No routine!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
So many books, so little time . . .

A big “Aha” moment happened when I met author Liz Curtis Higgs and her books have greatly influenced my life.

What are you working on now?
Another book in a completely different genre, still too soon to know what it’s going to be when it grows up.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
In-person public speaking is by far the best method, but in terms of online social media, Twitter has driven the most traffic to book sales for me.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just do it. Write the book you’ve been thinking about. Quit trying to make it perfect. Quit trying to get everybody’s input and advice.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
About writing? The worst book is the one not written.

What are you reading now?
You caught me! I’ve been too busy but have three Ted Dekker books sitting on the shelf crying out for me to read them.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More books and branching out into more genres.

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.

Author Websites and Profiles
Lori Moore Website
Lori Moore Amazon Profile

Lori Moore’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Lori Moore is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a lesbian writer from south central Kentucky. My partner and I have been together more than 16 years. We both had been previously married to me and had two children each. She had two boys and I had two girls. Between the two of us, we have 9 grandchildren. I have written 7 books. One is a full-length young adult lesbian romance, one is a full-length adult lesbian romance, three are short lesbian erotic romances, one is just a short lesbian erotic story, and one story is a full-length murder mystery.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My newest novel is a young adult lesbian drama titled Standing Her Ground. It’s about a young woman who is raped after her parents force her to a pray-away-the-gay event when she came out to them. It was inspired by an article I read a few years ago about “corrective rape” of lesbians in Africa. I’d originally started writing a story about a woman who was raped in South Africa while on a mission down there (and that story will tie into this one and come out later). The story wasn’t taking off like I wanted to and later I was reading another article about a lesbian who had been raped here in the U. S. It got me thinking about the possibility of radical Christian groups possibly encouraging corrective rape here. It would totally be something that would be covered up and most likely not reported, as is the case in this story. Except with Standing Her Ground, my main character ends up pregnant, but chooses not to report the rape, or tell her parents and their church about her son. When they find out my main character, Jodi Nelson started being harassed and she takes steps to stand up to her parents and their church. There’s a lot more to the story, but I don’t want to give away too much.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write every chance I get. My partner and I are raising 3 of my grandchildren and we both work full-time, so it can be a challenge to get in writing time. I usually write first thing in the morning and on my lunch breaks. Sometimes I’ll take a day off and spend the whole day writing, especially if I’m close to finishing a story.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m a huge fan of Gerri Hill, who writes lesbian romance and mystery. Julia Watts book, Finding H. F. was what inspired me to write a young adult lesbian romance with a positive ending. I also love to read murder mysteries from Patricia Cornwell, Tess Gerritsen, and Janet Evanovich.

What are you working on now?
I’m almost done with Standing Her Ground. It’s down to the last few chapters and I’ve been vigorously editing it as I’ve gone along. I’m also hiring FirstEditing to go over it as well. One of the chief complaints of previous books was grammatical problems.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I like to used excerpts to promote my books. I think giving the readers a little tease helps. I promote just about every where I think readers of lesbian fiction my be lurking.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write a story that you love and hire a good editor. Don’t give up. If a story seems to stall, put it aside and start a new one. Some stories just aren’t meant to be written, but a lot of stories are.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Stephen King in his book On Writing encourages writers to write every day and read a lot.

What are you reading now?
I’m listening to “Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven” by Fannie Flagg. I’m reading “Just Girls” by Rachel Gold in print, and Taking Flight by Siera Maley on my Kindle app.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m going to be reworking my young adult novel, “Suddenly.” The publisher who originally published it is going out of business so the rights are coming back to me. It really needs going over and cleaned up.

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?
“Artist Way” and “Rainbow Cedar” by Gerri Hill. The Bible and probably a dictionary.

Author Websites and Profiles
M. E. Tudor Website
M. E. Tudor Amazon Profile

M. E. Tudor’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

M. E. Tudor is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am self-employed and run several small businesses – but it hasn’t always been that way! After leaving school several millennia ago, I joined the ‘University of Life’ and worked my way up the corporate ladder, concentrating on sales and training – learning some tough lessons along the way and making lots of mistakes – but enjoying it greatly.

After several very successful years wearing a suit, a smile, and working for someone else – it was time to go it alone. Needing a new challenge I threw myself into self-employment, and now have several micro-businesses which are enjoyable and profitable.

I like variety – so on a daily basis I walk a collection of motley hounds (and get paid for it), design websites for small businesses, teach IT, write books and occasionally be a sales consultant!

So far I have written two books, which are: Simple Steps to Sales Success and Get a Job in Sales with plans to write several more. I have also written several fiction short stories and even had one published!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Latest book is Simple Steps to Sales Success, and is based on my long career as a salesperson and salesperson manager. It basically is a book for anyone wanting to improve their selling skills.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, I prefer to do all my writing in the buff! No only kidding!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Geoffrey Household – Rogue Male
Ernest Hemingway – All of them
Eric Newby – A short walk in the Hindu Kush

What are you working on now?
A new book about how to set up a dog walking business

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
No idea, I have only just started promoting them.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep on writing. I find it’s just like running, if you stop for a few weeks or months, it is really hard to get back into the swing of it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just Do It – What can I say Nike!

What are you reading now?
Several books (always have at least four on the go) – right now: Purple Cow by Seth Godin, Cesar’s Way by Cesar Millan, The Pursuit of Italy by David Gilmour and Angelmaker by Nick Harkaway.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m going to make some spagetti…

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?
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival by Dave Canterbury
The Collected Works of Rudyard Kipling

Stephen Atkinson is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi there!

I am a counsellor who holds a Masters Degree in Creative Writing from Birkbeck College, London.

My short stories for adults, The Chrysalis and For What It’s Worth, have both been published, and her first novel, Winter’s Bite, won first prize in the 12+ fiction category at the Winchester Writers Conference, UK in June 2012.

Fever Quest, the sequel to Winter’s Bite was published in December 2014.

I’m writing an adult thriller at present which I hope to finish by October 2015.

I’ve also got some short stories floating around which I’d like to make into a book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I’m not yet sure of the title, but it was inspired by an honour killing which took place in the north of England.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I know I pull faces when I am writing dialogue -:0. Otherwise, I am probably a bit suspicious. I like to have the same table in the cafe and use the same glasses, if it’s all going well. I also like to write quite early in the day. Not so good at night.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
How long have you got?

Tolkein, MM Kaye, CS Lewis, FH Burnett, Johnathan Franzen, Junot Diaz – sorry there are so, so many – the guy who wrote Motherless Brooklyn – probably one of the best books I’ve ever read.

What are you working on now?
I am writing an adult thriller for women. It’s pretty fun not having to watch my p’s and q’s. It’s also in the first person, which I’ve never done before!!!!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesome Gang obviously! SnicksList, Books Butterfly, FreeBooksKids and BookGoodies have all been really good for me. BookBub and Pixel of Ink when I can get in!!! I think Reddit are getting some good numbers too.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read and write alot, alot, alot. And don’t show anyone anything until you’ve finished. Otherwise if someone pulls a face, you’ll be put off. Writing makes you feel so exposed.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Let your characters do what they want – this is because your subconscious has usually worked it all out.

What are you reading now?
Book two in Game of Thrones and am completely hooked. Can’t believe it took me so long to find them!

What’s next for you as a writer?
This thriller and I get to go on a retreat next week to just write for three days – I cannot wait.

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?
Lord of the Rings
Game of Thrones
The Corrections
The Stories of Eva Luna

Author Websites and Profiles
Hannah Parry Website
Hannah Parry Amazon Profile

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

Hannah Parry is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I owned an advertising agency in NYC for 14 years before selling it to undertake a three-year isolated meditation retreat. “The Superyogi Scenario” is my first fiction book, which I wrote on Sunday afternoons in retreat. After retreat, I became a blogger for The Huffington Post and write about meditation. I also wrote the non-fiction book “The Perfection of Marketing” to support small and mid-sized businesses use best marketing practices.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The Superyogi Scenario” is a fresh take on the superhero story that packs a philosophical punch. When elite yoga practitioners use their meditative prowess to fly and manipulate their bodies like superheroes, not everyone uses their powers for good.

I was inspired by Master Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra (written in the 3rd Century). I used authentic verses that explain how supernormal abilities arise—like being able to fly in the sky, read minds, or become invisible. I wanted to give readers a taste for the transformations of heart and mind that occur at the higher levels of meditation and explore what makes someone a hero.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I started in an unusual place: a thousand day meditation retreat completely cut-off from the world. I had no cell phone, no internet, no news from the outside world. On Sunday afternoons, I would take a break from studying and meditating to write something fun. I wanted to see if I could create a page-turning thriller that allowed people to experience some deeper philosophical ideas in an experiential way.

Fortunately, critics are excited about my approach to blend superheroes with authentic eastern philosophy. For example, Kirkus Reviews said, “The supernatural meets the spiritual in this unusual, endearing thriller. Connor may have carved out a new subgenre.” And Midwest Books said, “In a world replete with novels, this story is a standout.” Readers can check it out and decide for themselves if this is a fresh experience.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Neil Gaiman, American Gods; C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters; and the Wachowski’s Matrix Trilogy.

I’m drawn to authors who have craft and are willing to start from unusual places.

What are you working on now?
Readers are asking for a sequel to “The Superyogi Scenario.” They love the characters and a new superhero world that is grounded in authentic philosophy.

I’m also polishing the screenplay for “The Superyogi Scenario” which is currently being shopped in Hollywood to turn into a movie.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Honestly, I enjoy doing book talks where I can meet readers face to face. Then you can really see who you are writing for and understand how your stories affect them.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Mostly, start in an unusual place. Tell a story that only you can tell. If that means you need to investigate further to make it real, do so. Then write. Then you’ll discover something to say that can help people.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“All the suffering in the world comes from taking care of yourself. All the happiness in the world comes from taking care of others.”

It’s from Master Shantideva, a Buddhist saint in the 9th century.

What are you reading now?
Story by Robert Mckee, it’s the classic on how screenwriters creating compelling beats within scenes.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Adapting a soon to be published novel, “The Training of Kara Steele” by Kristin Walsh into a screenplay. It’s one woman’s journey to cure her addiction to bad boys through increasingly radical means. It’s laugh out loud funny.

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 actually had to make that decision before spending three years in a cabin in the high desert mountains of Arizona! I took four classics on the steps of the path to enlightenment. “The Yoga Sutra” by Master Patanjali (3rd Century); “The Stages of Meditation” by Master Kamilashila (9th Century); The Lam Rim Chenmo, “The Great Treatise on the Steps of the Path” by Je Tsongkapa (15th Century); and “Liberation in the Palm of Your Hands” by Pabongka Rinpoche (18th Century). Reading and re-reading those books was time well spent.

Author Websites and Profiles
James Connor Website
James Connor Amazon Profile

James Connor’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

James Connor is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Since my first publication in 1976, I have written and published numerous short works individually and in the form of collections in books. I write in all genres including some poetry and I have one short play to my credit which was last produced at the Soho Theater in London.

My non-fiction books include a cook book that I compiled using my grandmother’s recipes and a book about how rock and roll artists came up with their stage names.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Angel and The Bear

The title story was inspired by my love of Yosemite National Park and my love for a 6 pound toy Shih-Tzu named Angel.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Sometimes my stories start with just a title (see my blog post “The Title Made Me Do It”). Unlike many other authors, I never write an outline. That could be do to the fact that I am not a novelist, but I cannot say for sure. When I have an idea for a story, I like to just sit down and start writing. It is an adventure to me because sometimes I end up in places I had not originally planned to go to.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have been influenced by a lot of authors because I write in all genres. The authors that have influenced me the most are Kurt Vonnegut, Robert Heinlein, Ray Bradbury, Mary Stewart, John Grisham, Michael Crichton, and to some extent, Ayn Rand.

What are you working on now?
Nothing at this time.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Usually setting up a fan page on FaceBook

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write everything. Don’t stick to one genre at first; identify what you are best at and go with that or write as the story needs to be written.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Free advice is worth what you pay for it

What are you reading now?
Dreamcatcher by Steven King

What’s next for you as a writer?
I never know until the moment strikes me. I will continue writing my blog as long as i have ideas for posts

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 Last Juror (Grisham), The Dead Zone (King), The Sirens of Titan (Vonnegut)

Author Websites and Profiles
John Darling Website

John Darling’s Social Media Links
Pinterest Account

John Darling is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was first published in 1994 for Animals’ Voice Magazine. My love for animals and expertise in writing animal stories awarded me the honor of featured writer in the Pets Across America book series on Amazon in 2009 and 2011. I contributed to a Christian book series from Good Catch Publishing in 2007 and was published online in two romance fiction websites, Romantic Shorts (2011) and Adventures of the Average Woman (2006).

My newest book series entitled Rubies – Escaping the Curse is a four book family saga which originated from the story of my own grandmother’s journey from Norway to America in 1913.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Rubies – Escaping the Curse is based on the real life story of my own grandmother who sought a new life in America in 1913. Kaja Ericsen was a real person with a story that turned to tragedy. She was so determined to start a new life; she left her two daughters in Norway fully intending to return for them one day. She never saw her children again and became consumed with bitterness until the day she died.

Her story is tragic but also uplifting as it portrays the determination of one woman to make a future for her family in spite of adversity, causing her descendants to find the true meaning of unconditional love.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I keep a notepad by my bedside and often awaken in the middle of the night with a story idea. It is then when I do my greatest work. If I am out and about without a writing tablet and I get an idea I quickly enter it on my phone’s Microsoft Word via microphone.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Years ago I read many romance novels of Joanna Lindsey and laughed at her wonderful humor. I am very into memoir writing and reading. The book entitled, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, was of particular inspiration to me as I am also working on a memoir of my own.

I believe most good fiction evolves from real life. Everyone has a story to tell and every good plan begins with story.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a memoir of my own life and death experience with a rare cerebral vascular disease that took 20 years to diagnose. The journey was more than memorable.

I am also writing a story revolving around mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse and how lives can be affected by the consequences.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My current books are promoted on my website: http://www.letcopyhoundtellyourstory.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write everyday, even if you don’t want to. Don’t give up on yourself. Accept constructive criticism for what it is meant to be and ignore complainers. Avoid people who try to turn off your creative juices. Take a negative statement about your work and find a way to turn it into a positive. We can all improve every day of our lives.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be very careful of the choices you make during your life as you and those you love with have to live with the consequences of your actions.

What are you reading now?
Right now I have been reading so many self help books which are great, I’ve just picked up a Romance Novel by Christine Feehan. It takes the mind off reality and puts life in a fantasy world. We all need some fantasy in our lives to keep the world’s negative vibrations from tearing us down. My Kindle Library includes a memoir by Billy Crystal- Still Foolin em; Think and Grow Rich; Pebbles in The Pond; Publish for Profit; Covering of Feathers; Greenland Diaries; Book Marketing and the list could go on and on.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I will always continue writing even though it may only be with pen and paper. I am working to build my own business helping others tell their story whether it be via a book or website.

Writing is greatest thing I do with the exception of loving my three beautiful granddaughters.

I am known as the Work at Home Grandma and I love every minute of helping others to achieve their dreams.

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
Websters Dictionary and Thesaurus
On Writing Well by William Zinsser
A favorite memoir or autobiography

Author Websites and Profiles
Sandra Eastman Website
Sandra Eastman Amazon Profile

Sandra Eastman’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Sandra Eastman is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello, I’m Jeremy McLean. I’m Canadian and live in New Brunswick. I’m kind of a geek and I love to play video games when I have the spare time. The novels I like to read are fantasy and sci-fi.

I’ve currently written three novels, two in a series and one a companion novella about one of the side characters. They are Blackbeard’s Freedom, Blackbeard’s Revenge, and Bartholomew Roberts’ Faith.

The first two are a mix of historical fiction and light fantasy elements (one reviewer likened it to Indiana Jones, so think Indiana Jones meets Pirates of the Caribbean). The third novella is closer to historical fiction and doesn’t have any fantasy elements in it.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Bartholomew Roberts’ Faith. It’s about the pirate, Bartholomew Roberts, and how he went from working on a slave ship to becoming a pirate. The main reason I wanted to write it is because I love pirates and I always found Bartholomew Roberts an interesting person.

According to history he was a man of God and regularly held bible studies with his crew. He also instituted his own “pirate commandments” aboard his ship, no doubt inspired by the biblical commandments.

I wanted to take what we knew about him from history and fill in the gaps as to why he might have become a pirate despite believing in the bible, as the act of piracy seems to be condemned by the bible.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I’m deep into writing, I like to break up my writing by watching a TV show on Netflix. So I’ll write for a while, watch an episode of something, write some more, watch another episode, etc. You’d think it would not be productive, but it works quite well for me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
When I was younger, the Pendragon series really inspired me to write. It had such an open ended world where it felt like anything could happen, and I really wanted to create something like that myself.

I’ve always love pirates, which is the reason I’m writing a pirate series right now, and there is a manga called One Piece which is about pirates in a fantasy world. The characters, locations, and plot are all stellar and I’m constantly inspired by the ingenuity of the author.

Currently, I’m loving the Song of Ice and Fire series and find those books enthralling. George RR Martin knows how to build a world and make you care for characters, only to take them away. It’s realistic and at the same time fantastic. I love how he’s able to maintain that balance.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on the finishing touches on the sequel to the novella, Bartholomew Roberts’ Faith, which will be called Bartholomew Roberts’ Justice. It follows directly after the end of the first book, so telling too much would be spoilers. You’ll have to read them to find out more.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
If you find the best one let me know!

I find the biggest promotional tool that just works is Kindle’s KDP Select promotions. I’ve tried things on Fiverr and other places where people tweet about the book and it just never seems to do anything, but when I put my books on sale or for free I definitely see an uptick in buyers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write, and write some more. Write even when you have writer’s block. Push past it as best you can because any mistakes can be fixed during editing. You’ll get better as you write, and soon enough you’ll have a novel you can be proud of to publish.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I recently heard a quote which I love. “If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.” ― Haruki Murakami

What are you reading now?
The Song of Ice and Fire.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m just going to keep working on my series and try to improve sales. I’m hoping to make this my full time job, but, of course, who isn’t?

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?
Pendragon #9 – Raven Rise
The Count of Monte Cristo
Ender’s Game
and this is probably cheating, but, The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection in one volume.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jeremy McLean Website
Jeremy McLean Amazon Profile

Jeremy McLean’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Jeremy McLean is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a lesbian Discordian writer with a penchant for all things awesome, especially PnP RPGs, martial arts, reading, writing, magic, philosophy, video games, and other cool geeky stuff. Only one book out so far, but book two of the series is about 50% finished, and I’ve done some work on the short story that follows it, too, with many more to come. I also do a good bit of work on co-authoring my wifey’s book series, it’s a series of stories that’s pretty important to me as well.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Destiny Abounds. It’s inspired by a pen-and-paper RPG I and my wife played for years, along with a few of our favorite sci-fi games and tv shows. It was a ton of fun to put together and to write.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, my wife and I tend to act out the parts of different characters interacting to make those interactions more real, playing out the characters to an extent. I imagine that’s pretty unusual.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Rothfuss, Sanderson, Simon R. Green, Neil Gaiman, Barbara Ann Wright, Patricia Briggs, and Harry Dresden – er, I mean Jim Butcher. Also a lot of video game and tv stories, too; there’s a lot to learn and enjoy there.

What are you working on now?
Book two in the series. :] And co-authoring my wifey’s books. And random scenes and outlines for books and projects to come.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
That’s something I’m still working out. We’re both pretty new to the publishing and promotion stuff. :] Multiple cheaper promotions have worked so far, as we build toward the requirements for some of the bigger fish out there in the promotion world.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Make the best book you can, and make it something you’d want to see as a reader. Love it. Learn from those out there who have been wildly successful, especially in your genre. Try to do everything you can to make it succeed, but don’t sweat the small stuff you can’t control, or every little detail. You’ll make mistakes, but you’ll learn as you go. And don’t get tied up trying to market it – your time’s better spent making books, once you get the marketing basics down. You’re an author, not a publisher/pr person. Unless, well, you actually are one of those things too.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Find the next word.” – Neil Gaiman. Look up the whole story, he tells it better than I ever could. I’d be surprised if it doesn’t help you, and I’m not even just talking about writing.

What are you reading now?
I happen to be in between books at the moment, trying to choose. Currently got a lot of recent recommendations from other authors and friends piling up, but having a hard time with my book hangover from the Slow Regard of Silent Things by Rothfuss.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Book two. And then I have tons of other series ideas past that, some of them with work already done on them. Then there’s my co-authoring with my wife on her 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?
At least one that details how to make a boat out of books.

Author Websites and Profiles
Annathesa Darksbane Website
Annathesa Darksbane Amazon Profile

Annathesa Darksbane’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Annathesa Darksbane is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been a writer for many years, but got serious about 7 years ago. That’s when I started a humor column in a local paper which still runs today, and I won a Lowell Thomas Award for travel writing (#humblebrag).

I have been blessed to have many of my essays published. There are links on my blog.

I’ve written and contributed to six books, but only one novel so far.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Matchbook came out of a writing prompt competition to start a story when a character finds a phone number in a matchbook. I was a finalist in the competition, and the character of Carol really grabbed me. I decided that her story needed to be told.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write at a treadmill desk. Sometimes I just stand there, other times I walk, other times I take a break and sit down.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
That’s a long list! Ursela LeGuin taught me that women could be heroes in stories, Elizabeth Burg taught me that beauty of expression is valuable. One book, Room, blew me away with the ability to stay in a voice of a child. Song of Solomon made me ache, House on Mango Street gave me hope that my experience of being Tex-Mex Hispanic was worthy of putting into words.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a second Blue Sage Mystery, this time featuring a young rock climber in the Texas Hill Country. The title is When I Knew You, and it involves profound amnesia, crime, and the tug between a mother and daughter.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far Booksends and Fussy Librarian have been the most successful. I’m hopeful about several other e-newsletters I’m testing. Word of mouth is powerful, but landing reviews is the most important. So, if you love a book, review it!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Make sure all the elements you control – advertising, book cover, editing – are the best you can make it. You’ve written a story you want to share. Give it the best shot at succeeding!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Finish. The. Book. Everything else pales.

What are you reading now?
Reflections on Resilient Living, Home to You, Beacon series by Hugh Howey, Take My Husband Please.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I will have at least three more books out by the end of the year; one is the start of a funny mystery series that will lead me into 2016.

I’m hoping to also meet more indies, read more indies, and discover the next amazing book to inspire me on my journey of growth!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
That’s tough. I never re-read books, so it would be a challenge to make it past the first month! Here’s a start:
SouthTown by Rick Riordan
Anything by Kurt Vonnegut
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Girl on a Train (because I haven’t read it, so it would be nice to have something new to read)

Author Websites and Profiles
Desiree Prosapio Website
Desiree Prosapio Amazon Profile

Desiree Prosapio’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Desiree Prosapio is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I write Cozy Mysteries, although they could be categorized as something different as they aren’t your average Cozy. I write the Fuchsia Minnesota Mysteries. Fuchsia is a fictional town in Minnesota which ignores all the rules we have in our real life communities today. My main character is Hermiony Vidalia Criony Fiddlestadt, better known as Granny. She defies everything we believe about old age and she is an amateur sleuth. I have written four books in the series. They are Granny Hooks A Crook, Granny Skewers A Scoundrel, Granny Snows A Sneak and Granny Forks A Fugitive. The books are published by Cozy Cat Press. I also write a children’s series and have a book out containing the columns I write for newspapers. I am a former computer repair business owner and have had many hats during my lifetime, but writing is my dream career. I like to encourage people to never give up on their dream.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Granny Forks A Fugitive. In my series you learn more about Granny and her family in each book. In Granny Forks A Fugitive, Granny confronts her past and the reader finds what has happened in Granny’s life and in her family that has influenced who Granny is today. All my books are inspired by small town life and the restrictions and labels we live with that I feel limit who we are and how we live our lives.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I plot my books in my head while I am going to sleep or in the early morning when I wake up. My mind is fresh and the weird ideas seem to pop into my head. I always have a cup of coffee or a glass of wine on my desk when I am writing. Coffee during the day and wine at night.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am a big fan of Catherine Coulter. I feel every book I have read has influenced me. I read many different genre’s. I must admit my favorites are mysteries and inspiration. Depending on what mood I am in, my favorites change. I am mesmerized by the creativity and diversity of new authors.

What are you working on now?
I am working on the fifth in my Fuchsia Minnesota series. I also am working on the first book in a new series, probably called the Brilliant Minnesota series. It will be a cozy mystery. It will have ties to Fuchsia, but the community will be totally different than Fuchsia, and the characters will all be new. I am excited about this new series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I promote on my Facebook page, on Amazon, on many, many different Facebook groups, Twitter, my own website, julieseedorf.com, my blog sprinklednotes.com, and whatever venues I can find.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do not give up on your dream. Listen to your gut but be discerning when listening to the advice of others. Know when a criticism is made to help you or to harm you. Be open to suggestions and don’t give up if it is something you believe in.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Know when to ask for help and listen to constructive criticism. When editing and listening to your editor, take the emotion out of your story so you can see the flaws that need to be corrected.

What are you reading now?
I am reading Just Evil by Vickie McKeehan. It is a new author that I have not read before.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More writing. I hope to expand my column into more newspapers. And I hope to expand on the series I now have and add new. I would also like to publish some children’s stories.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would bring Catherine Coulter’s new book, Nemesis, Max Lucado’s book, Before Amen, Allen Eskens new book, The Guise of Another, and The Bible.

Author Websites and Profiles
Julie Seedorf Website
Julie Seedorf Amazon Profile

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

Julie Seedorf is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Nancy Mauerman writes novels for kids that are beautifully illustrated and have a strong central plot with several sub-plots broadening the character’s motivation and adding quirky details used later in the story. There are surprise word pictures on most every page, like, “Worms don’t need legs. They dance together, in slime they spit out, cheek to cheek.” Nancy uses alliterations and assonance, invents new words and introduces others, previously known to adults. She explains their meaning and repeats the word again soon, without breaking the rhythm of the story. Family problem-solving is her favorite theme because children are hungry to share adventures with their adults. Her dialogues flow naturally, tempting the reader into reading the same passage a little differently each time. The story flows effortlessly, it and the pictures grabs children’s attention, while adults enjoy discovering new insights and the words feel good in their mouths. These are not books adults will ‘accidentally’ loose, burn, or spindle.

Nancy has published 13 books on Amazon and 12 of them are in paperback as well.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Latest book is a beginner reader, it is especially for boys. ‘The Magic Suit’ is full of adventure and even has a boom in the story.

I though boys could really use a good action packed story and I had the beginner reader in mind.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I also illustrate every one of my books. It is a long process to draw each image for a children’s book and I love it. It is sometimes easier to change the story than to redraw an image.

What are you working on now?
My current project is ‘Superman And The Bad Mermaid Queen.’ And it is a 4 part series with well over 100 hand drawn pictures. Many of my books are fictionalized stories of my two children, Paul and Anna.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
It takes a lot of work just to get the books onto Amazon and create the paperbacks as well. I am so thankful for being able to self publish on Amazon. The only other thing I do is have links on my website linking to Amazon.

I do hand submitting to the many free blogs that are out there when I offer a free ebook.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I have had these stories in my head for many years, but only began to publish them in 2011, so I still consider my self a new author. Then only real advise I can offer is NOW. Now is the best time to get your words and work out there. So go out and do it.

Author Websites and Profiles
Nancy Mauerman Website
Nancy Mauerman Amazon Profile

Nancy Mauerman’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Nancy Mauerman is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up being forced to learn about history. It grew on me! Now I write historical romance. My husband loves the Western United States and we travel there every chance we get so it made sense to write about that area.

I’ve published seven books so far and have many more in various stages that will be published at some point. It seems I have ideas for stories tucked in everywhere! I hope to have the time to write every single one of them one day!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called “A Troubled Friendship” and it’s about two friends who ultimately fall for the same man. The one who is the most devious in her tactics to win him, ends up losing.

I was inspired to write this as I thought about the struggles a friend of mine had. She lost her husband and she was very lonely. There were no single men in her small town who were a good match for her and she didn’t know what to do. Her friend talked her into doing some internet dating and it was a funny failure.

Her experience made me think of some of the perils of dating and sharing the info when the market is tight!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have a busy lifestyle and I have to take free time where it pops up sometimes. If I find that I have a free few minutes, I take out my laptop, put on headphones to give me some quiet, and start writing whatever comes into my head.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I grew up reading romance novels and then I started reading mysteries in my twenties. I realized early that I enjoyed reading books that were easy to read. Not that they were necessarily simple, but written in a way that you didn’t have to wonder what was going on.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a series about three sisters. Of course, they’ll meet their dream men and live happily ever after, eventually. They’re going to have a few hurdles to get to the happily ever after, though.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve had success from time to time giving away free books. When I have a free promotion, I always sell more of the books that aren’t on promotion. I try to do a free promotion about every four to six weeks.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t make your own cover unless you’re a designer. Don’t publish unedited work. Don’t let poor reviews upset you – read them, learn from them if there’s something to be learned, and keep writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t stop writing.

What are you reading now?
A bunch of chick lit. Jane Eyre, again.

What’s next for you as a writer?
A full length 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?
The latest John Grisham, James Patterson, Nora Roberts, and Debbie Macomber

Author Websites and Profiles
Annie Boone Website
Annie Boone Amazon Profile

Annie Boone is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
HI my name is Anthony I am from a little town outside of Dallas Texas. I have always been a huge fan of horror and thriller my book case is filled with Vincent Price to Clive Barker. I normally right to Deftones or Pantera blasting through my house it helps me with my crafting. I have wrote total books The Corners, And Lulladie which is 4 stories in one love it. And working on one do out soon titled Shedding Skin.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Corners was created out of straight fear. Its everything a good thrill seeking, horror junkie could ask for. I was inspired to write it on my own nightmares .

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write to heavy metal music and at 3 am the witching hour. I just seem to write better that way. I write chapter one by chapter no notes and no real ending except when hit the last chapter and it comes to together.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I really have gotten into a lot of Indy writers but I wouldn’t just say one.

What are you working on now?
A shuttering book that I have to walk away from daily it freaks me out sometimes. Its titled Shedding Skin.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesomegang has been great. Thank you guys.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Decide that writing is what you want and do it. You can’t have your feeling hurt easily you have to take criticism and run with it. But never give up.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
See what you want and don’t stop till you get it .

What are you reading now?
The Flip an Indy book love it.

What’s next for you as a writer?
My first sci-fi

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 for dummy’s , It , Lost In Paradise.

Author Websites and Profiles
Anthony Vidal Website
Anthony Vidal Amazon Profile

Anthony Vidal’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Anthony Vidal is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I don’t know how many books I’ve written/half written/planned. Firedance Books published two Young Adult books because they came at the genre in a new way. Wonderful reviews followed including a rather surprising one… http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R708PC8BEDI8L/ref=cm_cr_pr_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1909256005

Some years ago the best selling author Stephen Godden challenged me to write a short story entitled ‘The Girl, the Kite and the Broken Gate.’ Some writing later and Juliet exploded into my life, tore around the story telling me what to change and that she wanted a full book – not just a short story. She went on to demand another … several times. She’s doing it again. Yes, she’s a bit bossy – though I can’t help but utterly adore her. In Muffy College, Cambridge she escorts her best friend to a college interview and it all goes bang shortly after they reach the city.
A student from Cambridge wrote a lovely review, tracked me down and I ended up spending a day in the Paddock at Emmanuel signing books in the sunshine and having glasses of Proseco thrust into my hands.
The review is here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R29DUWNFCJNDG9/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1503252884&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=266239&store=books

The Cross-dresser’s Habit followed, Curses Foiled next and then Rude Awakening. It’s been such fun!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Subtle Strike being the third in the UFO:AI series of military science fiction. The first ‘Hive Mind’ was inspired by my son and we collaborated intensely over each character, scene, thread and arc. It was a wonderful experience to work so closely with him.
Strange! The series was intended for young men but the Parallel Chapters (free at http://garybonn.com/scifi/) have a huge female following.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
You really don’t want to know about my unusual habits!

I was once asked in an interview if I ever wrote naked. To my astonishment I realised the answer way ‘Yes’. Um …. let me explain. Writers always carry a notebook – with good reason. Once my wife called, “Do you want me to wipe all the condensation off the shower cubicle?” (Google translate – ‘Why haven’t you wiped the shower down?’) My son had just used the room – ha said, “No! it’s got all his notes written in it!”

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Louise Cole (Unpublished as yet – but has several MSs with a fabulous agent)
Jae Erwin (Stillness Dancing).
Janet Allison Brown (The Walker’s Daughter)
Patrick LeClerk (Out of Nowhere, Every Clime and Place, Advancing on Paris).
William Sauer (Unpublished – get weaving for goodness sake!)
Alf Haywood (ditto :P)
But most of all Stephen Godden (Kinless, Hollowspace [as Grant and written in collaboration with Colin F barnes])

What are you working on now?
I’m trying not to. Over the last ten years I’ve prepared so many books – seven are going out this year. I caught myself wondering ‘what do people do when they’re not working?’
I decided to get a hobby – and wrote three more Parallel Chapters before I knew it.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Word of mouth. It has to be that that’s working – I don’t do any promotion. I’m hopeless at marketing or selling anything. If I tried to sell pure gold I’d end up paying someone to take it away.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Oh my goodness yes…

If you are a Goodreads member read this: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/8851754-editorial-input

Remember Terry Pratchett ran his books past seven editors before he submitted them for publishing – therefore for more editing. Editors (Really skilled, trained and experienced) are utterly essential if you wish to be successful. The best way to evaluate an structural editor, copy editor or proofreader is to train in all areas. I was once asked to review a novel written by a PhD and edited by professional editors (non-fiction). The results were predictable. I begged her to take it back off the market and offered to help her rewrite it for free. She never spoke to me again. The novel was universally slated and sank into obscurity.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Gary – stop that!

Unrelated to writing – my wife said after the birth of our first child ‘We must try to spend every possible moment with them – children are only on loan’. Wiser words I have never heard.

What are you reading now?
I have no idea what will come to me next. My reading is dictated by the manuscripts sent to me for editing. It’s a wonderful way of falling in love with every possible genre.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have three more books completed as polished first drafts. I think I’ll turn to them unless Jeanette (UFOAI series) or Juliet (Rude Awakening series) start nagging me again. I also want to watch the market and see which my/our genres sell best – that’s my only indicator of what people want most and a writer must serve the reader.

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?
Comet in Moominland (Tove Jansson). I’d only need that. This book opened my mind and made me see what can happen when a genius writes. If only I could write like that!

Author Websites and Profiles
Gary Bonn Website
Gary Bonn Amazon Profile

Gary Bonn’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Gary Bonn is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a USAF veteran. Married with two small boys. I have written 15 books and been published and produced in 11 countries.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I Have No Exit: Select Writings 1984 -2002

What inspired it is the simple fact that the internet changed writing and even my audience for writing and playwrighting. I can now reintroduce older published works to a newer readership.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I often use small note pads and then rewrite and edit on my iPhone or laptop. I like the act of physical writing as a way to start the project.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Huxley’s Brave New World, Orwell’s 1984, Fletcher’s Situation Ethics

What are you working on now?
Editing a book on science humor.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
http://loyalfirstbooks.wix.com/books-seller

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you are seeking fame –try acting. If you are seeking glory —join the military. If you want to write in the 21st century it will be a 2nd job. No way around that.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The big picture is often right —-but not right now.

What are you reading now?
Huxley’s college speeches.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Complete the full release of all of my titles for electronic ebook additions as well as collections of all my plays.

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?
Huxley’s college speeches, Orwell’s essays, Edgar Alan Poe’s collected works. The Bible.

Author Websites and Profiles
Mark Antony Rossi Website
Mark Antony Rossi Amazon Profile

Mark Antony Rossi’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Mark Antony Rossi is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
If you look in the local coffee shop or bookstore you might just find me. I can usually be found with headphones in and deep into the worlds I have created. There is this thing about my pens if you touch them you might receive a smack to the hand and the well-known glare of destruction. Besides writing, I enjoy reading, photography, and playing with my dog. I live in Western Washington, but love to travel to Florida to sit on the beach to write.
I’m the author of Fantasy and Mystery stories. These include the Fur, Fangs, and Fairies series and the Skylar Wolfe Mysteries. I have many more projects planned and coming.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book was the Skylar Wolfe Mysteries bundle. I put four of my short stories in one set. I love these stories and they are my favorite to write. I dreamed up snarky Skylar years ago. I didn’t know how or what I was going to do with this crazy character until one day inspiration hit. Within two days I’d written the first story Slice & Dice. Then we were off on many more adventures. I don’t think these stories will quit coming for a long time. They are such a fun read and write.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Coffee, I always have to have coffee. My dog Tony loves to snuggle while I write. Music is always a need. The type of music changes depending on the book I’m writing.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love the Harry Potter series of course. The world creation is so amazing. The Lord of the Rings and Narnia series are what got me started writing fantasy at a young age.

What are you working on now?
Right now I am working on the third book in the Fur, Fangs, and Fairies series called Breaking Free.

Breaking Free centers around a wereleopard named Zaria. She had been kidnapped and held prisoner for three years. They had preformed all sorts of nasty experiments on her. Finally, she has an opportunity to escape and take her friend and fellow prisoner Ibu with her.

If you would like to read the prologue it is included in the Love Sucks Anthology.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use several methods and websites. The more I expand the better my books do.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Hire a good editor and good cover designer. Don’t go for the free or cheap. Covers sell the books. Find an editor that you can work with and become a team. However, do not leave all the editing to them. Learn how to edit your own work. Always find opportunities to learn. Don’t put out work that isn’t ready.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
This isn’t a sprint it’s a marathon. Don’t expect success overnight.

What are you reading now?
The Regency Collection. Vol. 1 by Elizabeth A. Lance.

If you like sweet romance you will love it.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep on writing. I love it. I’m redoing my fantasy novels the Three Kingdoms Trilogy after I get done with Breaking Free and the next Skylar Wolfe book.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Narnia. As many of those as possible.

Author Websites and Profiles
Mariana Thorn Website
Mariana Thorn Amazon Profile

Mariana Thorn’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Mariana Thorn is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Many years ago a young girl left the safety of Canada for adventure in Africa. This was in a generation when young girls didn’t go anywhere on their own and certainly not to the “dark continent.”
I had to adapt to the climate, the culture, the language, and above all time travel, for most Malians lived the way they always had. Modern conveniences consisted of basic items such as kerosene lanterns and little else.
It was the plight of Malians that inspired my Em and Yves novel series. Since I couldn’t wave a magic wand to make life better in Mali, I chose to do that fictitiously. I wrote my books to entertain, but also to offer a different perspective of life and what it could be. The wide warm smiles of Malians stay with me always. I hope that warmth and positive outlook is conveyed in my stories.

I’ve also published a book of short vignettes, mostly humorous, called Mali to Mexico and Points In Between.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Ah, don’t have a name for it yet. Often finding the right title is harder than writing the story.

I don’t remember how the idea came to me. I can tell you that it’s not science fiction this time and it does feature teens.

If you’ve read any of my books, that won’t be a surprise. I was a teacher/principal for many years. I loved working with the kids and learned so much from them. I taught grades 7, 8, and 9 when my own children were young and I credit that experience with helping me know what to do to raise my own son and daughter and guide them through those tough teen years.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, if you count scribbling on yellow stickies, then I do. I write notes all day, when I’m cooking or watching TV or sitting at red lights. I write notes when I can’t sleep at night and get a brainwave. Of course I write them in the dark and, in the morning, discover that I’ve scribbled so badly I can’t read what I’ve written, or I’ve scribbled one note on top of another and there’s no figuring out what either one is.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Robert J. Sawyer is my hero. I don’t write hard science like he does, but I had the great good fortune to attend a workshop with him. He is generous with sharing all that he knows about writing and is a natural teacher. Without that guidance I could never have developed my writing as I have.

I’m an avid reader and believe that I learn from everything I read. I can’t imagine a life without reading.

Perversely, writing has spoiled some books for me. Now that I write myself, I see more clearly the things that contribute to poor writing and those are the books I don’t finish.

What are you working on now?
I’m doing the final edit of the book without a name that I mentioned above. Then I’ll have it formatted and the cover designed.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Isn’t this the big question for all authors? I certainly haven’t found the magic answer.

I have my first book free www.emandyves.com and am trying to build an email list. I’m also posting information about my books in as many places as I can on the Internet and I am doing some paid promotions. I’m hoping these strategies will bring some good results.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Join a critiquing group. Have a writing partner. You NEED that second pair of eyes that will see the things you miss. If you can afford it hire a substantive editor to help with the plot, characterization, etc and then after you’re done, hire the copy editor for the fine tuning of grammar, spelling, sentence structure etc. Do Not publish until your ms is as perfect as it can be. And remember your writing will get better with practice.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you love writing, don’t stop, even if your books aren’t selling. Books, unlike tomatoes, don’t go rotten so you can always market them.

What are you reading now?
Where’d You Go, Bernadette? It’s marvelous.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Another novel, and I’m guessing there will be teens in the story.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Mixed Marriage by Elizabeth Cadell – I laugh out loud every time I read it.
Griffin and Sabine series by Nick Bantock – the books have letters the reader pulls out of the envelopes to read and the art is beautiful.
The Venetian’s Wife – also by Nick Bantock. Beautiful writing and mysterious story.

Really, I’d wan’t an ereader and a way to charge it.

Author Websites and Profiles
Darlene Jones Website
Darlene Jones Amazon Profile
Darlene Jones Author Profile on Smashwords

Darlene Jones’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Darlene Jones is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written and published just one book to date. I am in the process of developing three more books to publish later this year.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
35 SuperFoods on the FoodPyramid

I’ve got three members of my family that have negative results when they eat certain foods, and I set out to see if I could find out why.

What I found was, a HUGE ocean of information relating to the way foods work with and against humans. From that research I decided to put together a book that might positively help others the same way it positively helped my son, daughter, and me.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to finish my day, have dinner with my wonderful wife, and then sit down at my computer with a cup of coffee and write until about midnight. This might not be “unusual” for other authors, but for a guy that’s normally in bed sleeping by 10:30PM, it’s unusual enough for me!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have always been a fan of the autobiography, and self-help books.

Some of the authors that stand out are Anthony Robbins, Brendon Burchard, Donald Trump, Bill O’Reilly, and of course Norman Vincent Peale.

What are you working on now?
The three books that I am working on include a book on how to manage migraine headaches; titled “What Causes Migraines? Migraine Symptoms & How to Achieve RAPID Migraine Relief!”

Another book that is almost finished is “35 SuperFoods on the FoodPyramid,” and I should have this published on Kindle within 90 days.

The third book I am just starting is on Tinnitus, on how to deal with ringing in the ears.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am going to use many different methods.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
JUST DO IT!!!! (sorry NIKE) but that is the perfect answer for that question.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
My grandfather was a brilliant man, and one day he said “Your always going to be better off to keep your mouth shut and allow others to think you are a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”

That advise has paid off more than I can tell you!

What are you reading now?
Money; by Anthony Robbins
Product Launch; by Jeff Walker
Dotcom Secrets; by Russel Brunson
The Charge; by Brendon Burchard

What’s next for you as a writer?
Learn the proper construction of a book. My first book (Potty Training a Puppy) was a bit on the rough side, and I need to just figure out how my books need to be built from the ground up.

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?
Napalm and Silly Putty; by George Carlin
Braindroppings: by George Carlin

Author Websites and Profiles
Rich Wahne Website

Rich Wahne is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve published two books so far:
1) I’m Just Here for the Free Scrutiny — a collection of anecdotes from my time as a model (available in ebook form everywhere online including Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Just-Here-Free-Scrutiny-Wonderful-ebook/dp/B00JJEM8YO/)
2) Chick Lit (And Other Formulas for Life) — my first full-length fiction novel
(paperback available on Amazon, ebook everywhere else: http://www.amazon.com/Chick-Lit-Other-Formulas-Life-ebook/dp/B0157GPMO0/)

As for “written”, I have two more hanging in the shadows: one I hope to release in the near future and one that will probably never see the light of day without a proper gutting/rewriting first.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Chick Lit (And Other Formulas for Life) — and Sandra Bullock inspired it, believe it or not! Once upon a time I read about her landed the lead role in The Proposal, where the main character has to pretend she is engaged to her employee in order to avoid deportation. I remember rolling my eyes and going, “Yeah, I wonder how *that* ends!” This snarky comment set off a chain of events that eventually lead me to writing about a young woman attempting to find purpose in her life while everything else around her starts mimicking every chick lit trope.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Other than I write at seemingly all the inopportune times? I guess the only unusual writing habit I have is that I have no rhyme or reason when it comes to how/when/where I write. I can sit down at a desk and crank out a scene at a scheduled time — and then I can rapidly scribble something down at a red light in my car.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen King has been my biggest influence, even though I don’t write horror novels. He is a prolific writer who never gave up, even when the rejection letters poured in. On Writing is one of the best books, well, *on writing*, that you can ever come across.
I’m also hugely influenced by David Sedaris and Anais Nin. The way they can describe what has been going on in their lives is second to none. Whether it is done humorously or poetically, both have a way with words that can make anyone’s experiences come alive.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently editing and preparing my latest manuscript — In the Event the Flower Girl Explodes. My goal is to have this particular novel published in the more traditional, agent-and-publishing-house sense. But since my first book was published through a website (Thought Catalog) and my second book was self-published, I am okay with exploring whatever avenues this book needs to go down.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Whoever will take me and wherever I am heard! I love writing for websites like the Huffington Post or HelloGiggles, where I can simultaneously say what I want to say while promoting the things I want to promote. But I also love Twitter for its connectability and constant interaction. I love Goodreads for the sheer fact that you’re surrounded by fellow book lovers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be passionate about humanity. Be passionate about what makes people tick, what motivates people, what people turn to when they need something to turn to. Even more so than being passionate about words, be passionate about people.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write with the door closed. Edit with the door open.

What are you reading now?
Henry & June – Anais Nin. It’s one of my absolute favorites and I decided to dive back into it after months of reading and editing my second book (to the absolute detriment of any pleasure reading).

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m slowly but surely getting everything ready for a potential collection of poetry. If I can get it together the way I want it to come together, I’ll be publishing it through Thought Catalog, who has been nothing but wonderful in my writing career, since Day 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?
Me Talk Pretty One Day – David Sedaris
Dreamcatchers – Stephen King
Henry & June – Anais Nin
The Unbearable Lightness of Being – Milan Kundera

Author Websites and Profiles
Abby Rosmarin Website
Abby Rosmarin Amazon Profile

Abby Rosmarin’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Abby Rosmarin is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Two books have been released in my Spark Before Dying Series. I have three more books, which are in one level or another of completion.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is ANGELS CRY, and this was inspired by the rise in human trafficking and missing women in the area. I wanted to create a story that showed another perspective of the police officer, including his cynicism, and the struggles that he had with his case. Because I was participating in the Citizen’s Police Academy at the time, I was able to speak with several officers and get a better feeling of what it meant to wear the blue — not only the honor of it, but also some of the struggles.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When writing, I attempt to truly immerse myself in what I am writing. I ignore the world, make coffee or tea and refuse to drink them, and just get lost in the world of my creation. I like to think of this time as Coffee with Characters.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My writing is very much influenced by thriller and mystery greats, such as Thomas Harrison and Jeffrey Deaver; and because I believe that relationships are a part of every story and a part of the character development, romance writer, Jude Deveraux, has influenced my work as well.

I consider myself to be a crime fiction writer due in part because of how a story may be more suspense than mystery, such as ANGELS CRY. I braid my writing together — infusing my tales with crime, mystery and/or suspense and the human relationships surrounding it all.

What are you working on now?
Currently, I am working on a episodic serial, created in my Spark Before Dying World. The set of stories is called COLLECTING ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS and episode one is expected to be released in October.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The best website I’ve found to be helpful in book promotion is Facebook. By creating a fan page, which I am active on, and creating relationship with readers, who have signed up for my monthly newsletter (sign up here http://eepurl.com/llOF1 ), I’ve been able to create a community, building interest in my series and numerous writings, such as blog posts, articles etc, and continue to provide entertaining and informative posts which prompts interaction between me and my readers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Figure out why you wish to write and book how you define success. Success is a term that is often thrown around, but it means different things to different people.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Get it on the page; you can’t edit something that hasn’t been written.

What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading Bad Wolf by Nele Neuhaus. I am loving this book and would recommend.

What’s next for you as a writer?
With the audio book versions of both THOU SHALL NOT and ANGELS CRY coming on this fall, as well as the beginning of the episodic serial, I am looking forward to continuing the series with the next full length novel, called NUMBERS.

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?
Only three or four books? I think I’d need three or four crates of books.

But, no seriously, my top four books would be: Through a Glass Darkly by Karleen Koen; A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux; Bone Collector by Jeffrey Deaver; and, Red Dragon by Thomas Harris.

Author Websites and Profiles
Tina Glasneck Website
Tina Glasneck Amazon Profile

Tina Glasneck’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tina Glasneck is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Swan Morrison is a pen name. My real name is Brian Huggett.

I live with my wife and two cats in Hampshire, England, and I have been publishing work on the Internet and in print since 2001.

In 2000 some friends and I began an online competition called ‘the Booger Prize’. This was a monthly cash prize for humorous writing of around five hundred words. We called the genre ‘Short Humour’.

It is absolutely true that we wrote to the Booker Prize organisers in 2002 demanding that they change the name of their competition to avoid any confusion with ours. At best we were expecting a negative reply that we could publish. Almost immediately, however, they changed the name to the ‘Man Booker Prize’. We took this as an illustration of how seriously Short Humour was being taken in the world of publishing. Some people persist in believing that it was just a coincidence.

I started to write Short Humour at that time and had a page on the old site under the pen name of Swan Morrison. I continued writing when the site closed, and by 2006 I had written one hundred pieces. I created the Short Humour Site at http://www.short-humour.org.uk/ to publish these online.

A ‘Writers’ Showcase’ was created as part of the new Short Humour Site to include the work of those who had contributed material to the Booger Prize and work by new contributors.
I have now published three books of my own Short Humour – each containing one hundred stories, dialogues, poems, letters, spoof news reports, articles and songs.
These books are called:
‘A Man of Few Words’,
‘A Man of a Few More Words’,
‘A Man of Yet a Few More Words’.
The Short Humour Trilogy website can be found at: http://www.short-humour.org.uk/writersshowcase/The_Short_Humour_Trilogy.htm.

In addition to the above books, ten comic songs that were published in A Man of a Few More Words are also available in a book called ‘The Swan Morrison Songbook’.

I published my first novel, Judgement Day, in September 2014.
The Judgement Day website can be found at: http://www.short-humour.org.uk/writersshowcase/judgementday.htm.

I published the novella, Deep Black, in September 2015.
The Deep Black website can be found at: http://www.short-humour.org.uk/writersshowcase/deepblack.htm.

In addition to my own writing, I have published five other books – each of which contains Short Humour by fifty different contributors to the Short Humour Site.
These books are called:
‘People of Few Words’,
‘People of Few Words – Volume 2’,
‘People of Few Words – Volume 3’,
‘People of Few Words – Volume 4’,
‘People of Few Words – Volume 5’.

All profits from the books I write or publish are currently donated to the UK registered charity supported by the Short Humour Site, Friends of Teso (Uganda) – http://www.friends-of-teso-uganda.org.uk/.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is a novella entitled ‘Deep Black’. The core theme appears in any number of stories although my favourite manifestation of it occurs in the 1959 film by Alfred Hitchcock called ‘North by Northwest’.

My plot is totally different from that of Hitchcock’s film, but it also explores the consequences of mistaken identity.

I also try to incorporate elements of many different genres in my books. Deep Black touches on some of the same genres as North by Northwest including comedy, espionage, romance and cold war intrigues in the context of a fast moving adventure thriller.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I always carry a diary/notebook with me and record ideas that I might use in a story.

Once I have developed my main characters, I try to let them take on their own lives. Often, therefore, I do not know exactly what is going to happen next.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The list of my favourite writers of humour is a long one, but includes: P.G. Woodhouse, Douglas Adams, Spike Milligan, David Nobbs, Woody Allen, Terry Pratchett, Tom Sharpe, Ben Elton, Alan Pinkett and R. L.Tilley.

I would like to add a special mention for Robert Benchley and the Canadian humorist, Stephen Leacock, whose Short Humour would have been an enormous privilege to exhibit on the Short Humour Site had they still been alive to give permission. They remain something of an inspiration to me, the latter having been born in the village in which I live.

There are certain structures that appear in comedy writing that do not occur within more serious work in quite the same way. One man who understood this, and indeed invented some of the conventions used today, was William Shakespeare. On re-reading Deep Black, I was amused to identify themes that also occur in plays such as ‘Twelfth Night’.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a book called ‘Charlotte’s Lake’ which explores what might happen if some of the peculiar consequences of quantum physics in relation to sub-atomic particles applied at a macro level.

That may sound rather complicated, but the premise leads to a lot of simple comic consequences and, rather spookily, to events that seem to actually take place.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I promote my books via a number of websites. That starts with the Short Humour Site. In addition, each of my books also has its own webpage with links to sites where the books can be obtained.

I use Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and any sites that genuinely provide free listings.

I would not mind paying for listings, but I remain uncertain as to whether simple exposure of a book among thousands of other books significantly promotes sales.

Every time I publish a new book, the downloads of my other books increase, and I therefore assume that a fan base is gradually growing.

From my own personal experience as a reader, I think that feeling some engagement with a writer, or a book’s content, is probably what encourages people to buy. Having previously read a book by me or having had one recommended by a friend are two things that I believe are having a gradual effect – in addition to people having read stories on my website.

Starting out as a complete unknown, I have priced my eBooks as free, thus far, although downloads are now at a level that I will put a price on my next book and see what happens.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
There is more than enough advice available for new authors in terms of technique, and I do not feel that I can add to it.

One thing, however, that all writers must manage when they enter the marketplace, particularly via a conventional publishing route, is rejection.

Here are eight thoughts about having work rejected:

1 – All writers have material rejected, even the most successful. That may not be about the quality of the piece submitted but just about what editors need for their magazines at specific times.
2 – If there is a constructive response accompanying a rejection then you can learn useful things from it.
3 – Some submission processes and editorial responses demonstrate, possibly unintentional, arrogance and/or discourtesy. That is the editor’s problem, not yours.
4 – In submitting a piece of writing to any editor, you are simply offering that piece for publication. You are not seeking approval of your style, nor basing any part of your self-esteem on the outcome.
5 – A rejection of a piece of writing is just a rejection of a piece of writing and happens for all sorts of reasons. Don’t take it personally.
7 – Don’t give up.
8 – Don’t even think about giving up.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Advice that applies to me does not necessarily apply to others. A lot depends on why a person is a writer.

The best advice for me is to write what I feel inspired to write.

I write because I love it. It is rewarding if people enjoy what I produce but, at the end of the day, I write material that I want to read. I could not write to a formula or to a specific market.

If that is ultimately commercial suicide then so be it.

I am retired and have no need for income from writing. In fact, the money I make is donated to a local charity of which I am one of the trustees, and my current intent is to give away any future profits that I make from this hobby.

What are you reading now?
These days I read many more factual books than novels. Real life is more amazing and surprising, and it generates better ideas for stories, that anyone could ever invent.

At present I happen to be reading a biography of Willian Ash, the real-life prisoner of war on whom Steve McQueen’s character was based in the Great Escape.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I will not be rushing ‘Charlotte’s’ Lake’ there is lot to explore within the main premise.
I am, however, beginning to practice public storytelling of my own short stories and poems.

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 am not sure if the complete works of Shakespeare counts as more than one book but, in the tradition of the BBC Radio 4 programme ‘Desert Island Discs’ I will consider it as one.

Once again, in the ‘Desert Island Discs’ tradition, I would take the Bible. I am not a Christian, I would be taking it because it is a magnificent and diverse work of literature that could provide inspiration for an infinite number of storylines.

My two final choices would be the complete works of Douglas Adams (OK, I am counting that as one book too) and Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes.

In common with William Shakespeare’s comedies, Don Quixote is still fresh, brilliant and remarkably relevant to the modern day – over four hundred years after it was written. That must surely be the test of great writing.

Author Websites and Profiles
Swan Morrison Website
Swan Morrison Amazon Profile

Swan Morrison’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Swan Morrison is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an English writer born in Manchester in the north of England and now live in Tasmania with my wife on a farm with our horses. After travelling in Europe for many years my wife and I came to Australia for a holiday in 1981 and found that we could live in this country, so we migrated in 1988 to Melbourne, but now live in Tasmania. I have been writing for about 12 years, and have written 17 novels of fiction and about 100 poems that I may put in a book one day, I try and make my books somewhere the reader can escape to, and hope they enjoy my stories, I put in a few truths, just for spice to make it more interesting, and a few one liners, I put the characters in my stories of people I have met and places I have travelled to and write how I see things, I have had two books published in the UK one by i2i publishing.co.uk called The Joker, and one by Austin Macualey called The legacy of Tallow manor, which has just had a five star review

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Soul of Gordi Fitzsimons it just came into my head one day

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t get writers block, I can be writing three stories at once and never lose track

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Frank Yearby, Jeffery Archer

What are you working on now?
Fifteen Minutes of fame,

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
There are many yours is very good

Do you have any advice for new authors?
When you write a book, don’t get to involved with spelling and full stops, just write and then do all the editing later, or get someone to edit, the book if you get published they do it all

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
When you write a book be proud of it and if one person in the world reads it be proud

What are you reading now?
nothing at the moment I am to busy around the farm

What’s next for you as a writer?
putting my over 100 hundred poems into a book

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Tobias and the Angel by Frank Yearby, Michael Cains bio, The Eleventh commandment by Jeffery Archer

Author Websites and Profiles
terence goodchild Website
terence goodchild Amazon Profile

terence goodchild’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

terence goodchild is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have been in love with reading since third grade when it really clicked for me. I read anything and everything, but I just adore a good love story. I’m especially partial to ones in the fantasy genre.

I published my first book, Pippa of Lauramore in April of 2015. Since then, I’ve published another novel and a novelette. I have two more complete manuscripts in editing, and I’m working on a third.

I love to write; I’m truly passionate about it. Diving into a story, learning my characters–there’s just nothing like it.

When I’m not writing, I enjoy reading, hiking, and spending as much time with my family as possible. I love to be outside, and when I write, I’m almost always next to a window.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Anwen of Primewood is my latest, and it’s the second in my Eldentimber Series. The whole series was inspired by the idea of a marriage tournament. In the first book, Pippa of Lauramore, I got to know so many great characters, I knew had to write their stories.

Anwen’s book was so much fun to write. There are gypsies and fairies, princes and dark creatures hiding in shadows. I delved deeper into Eldentimber’s world, and I had the chance to really show how magical it is.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write the first draft of a manuscript as quickly as possible–usually in under a month. My ideas and the story flow so much better if I keep them going. It can be exhausting, but the end results are really worth it.

Also, I am an obsessive outliner. I work in acts, just a like a play. I have a theater background, and this set up really clicks with me. After I have my acts defined, I do chapter outlines. My characters almost always try to deviate from the original plan, and sometimes I go with it, but it’s easier to adjust and tweak when you have a plan.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
This is such a hard questions because there are so many! The Last Unicorn was probably the most influential story of my childhood, and I was completely enchanted once I finally read the novel as an adult. The Princess Bride was another big one.

There are great books in today’s young adult fantasy market, and I’ve read as many as I can get my hands on. One of my favorites is Julie Kagawa’s Iron Fey Series.

What are you working on now?
Right now I’m outlining the fourth book in my Eldentimber Series. I’m also working on the first draft of a new adult contemporary novel.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think the best method I’ve found so far is promoting your book through promotional emails. It’s such an amazing way to connect with potential readers. Also, you have to have a website or blog. I’m surprised how many people have contacted me from mine. And there is nothing more wonderful than receiving an email from someone who loved your book.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write a book you’re proud of. If there are areas that feel off, rework them. You know when something is awry.

After you’re happy with it, send it off to beta readers. Pay for a content edit. Once the story shines, have a copy edit done. When everything is finished, read it at least two or three times. Make the necessary little tweaks. Once you’re positive there’s nothing else you can do to improve it, send it to a proofreader.

After that, promote it. Set sales, contact promo companies, and find groups of authors with similar writing interests. Getting a book out there is like raising a child–it takes a village.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep writing. Start your next first draft while you’re editing the first. After you get started, you’re going to want to keep a steady publishing pace.

What are you reading now?
I’m about to get started on The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld.

What’s next for you as a writer?
That’s pretty simple. I’m going to keep writing.

After my Eldentimber Series is finished, I’m going to start on a steampunk fantasy. Actually, the first book in that series is almost finished, but it took a step back when I started Pippa of Lauramore.

I’m also going to keep working on the new adult contemporary series I’ve started. The first book, Just the Essentials, will be published in November under my pen name, Shari Lynne.

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 is a person to choose??? Cress by Marissa Meyer, A Different Blue by Amy Harmon, and I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

Author Websites and Profiles
Shari Tapscott Website
Shari Tapscott Amazon Profile

Shari Tapscott’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Shari Tapscott is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have four books currently published and am finishing up my fifth one while plotting the sixth one. I write both romance and erotica and I love it. I’m obsessed with Camaros, so much so that I’m sure it’s completely unhealthy. I love playing The Sims on my downtime or playing video games at times. I battle an autoimmune disease and am currently on dialysis until I get a kidney. Thank God for writing. I’d probably go insane without it!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I can’t discuss the title at the moment because it’s being queried out, but a song on my Spotify playlist inspired it. The concept of the song was everything that I wanted my characters to have. I know I’m super lame for being vague, but the song time is also the book title. I almost feel like a complete harlot because the song is actually a gospel song, but the book is an erotica, so…yeah. I probably just booked first-class tickets to hell for that one!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I can’t write without applying lip balm. If my lips are dry, I’ll be distracted from writing because I’m constantly touching my lips. I also have to have one leg thrown over the recliner I write in because sitting the “correct” way is SO overrated. Even if I’m not listening to music, my earbuds must be in or I’ll think about them the entire time and get nothing done.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’d have to say Stephen King, Brenda Jackson, and the indie community. Seeing how hard everyone works and the amazing quality that comes from them influences me to always improve.

What are you working on now?
It’s currently untitled at the moment (because every title that I think is full of geniusosity is TAKEN >.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I haven’t really explored a bunch of websites just yet. I’m still learning about a lot of them. If I had to name one, I’d probably say BookBub or something like it.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep trying. You can’t win them all. Just focus on the ones you CAN win and please them. It’s a lot less stressful to do things that way.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write what you love. You can’t please anyone. Trying to please everyone is like shooting fish in a pond. You’re going to always miss! Write what you’d love to read and you’ll attract those who are meant to read and love your work!

What are you reading now?
Watch Over Me by Sydney Landon

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to find an agent and be traditionally published. If not, I will continue to write and make my writing dreams come true on my own merit.

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. How to build a boat (because I don’t want to end up like the people on Gilligan’s Island).
2. Any Stephen King book
3. Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
4. Pierced by Sydney Landon

Author Websites and Profiles
Victoria Bright Website
Victoria Bright Amazon Profile

Victoria Bright’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Victoria Bright is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I love nature. In my little slice of the world I tend to a garden and faithfully try to be a good steward of the land. I share my space with our precious wildlife.

Most days you will find me writing, unaware of my surroundings. Other days you will find me with my husband, children, and grandchildren. I started my career late in life, this is my ‘second chance,’ so to speak. To date I have 7 published books. won a number of awards, and am currently working on 3 new projects.

I write in several genres from mystery, adventure, thriller, suspense, speculative fiction, juvenile fiction for the middle grade to sci-fi, paranormal, and romance, with a sprinkling of novellas too.

Jackie Mae’s new children’s chapter book series, A Taylor and Alan Adventure, is written with her young granddaughter, Alison Taylor. In the Taylor and Alan Adventures, where faction meets fiction, you will meet Taylor and Alan a sister/brother duo, who are called on to help the good wizards of the land. Artfully weaving rich history into the story, it instills the concept of being mindful and respectful of the environment while appropriately thrilling the young audience. A portion of the proceeds go to the Caitlin Dunbar Nature Center to help support Girl Scouts.

She also writes adult fiction; her series called, THE DARKEST SERIES, which chronicles women who struggle with their new found psychic abilities while trying to stop an invasion.

Her new series, ‘If…’ titled, If…Blurred Vision, If… Second Chance, and If… Dangerous Waters takes ‘what ifs’ to a whole new level. Surprise endings with a twist will leave you wondering…what if?

“The joy of all the ‘If’ stories lies in their surprise twists. Mae is a master storyteller and an uncommon ruler of the novelette form. Midwest Book Review

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Actually, I recently published 3 novellas at the same time. The series is called ‘If.’ They are titled: If… Blurred Vision, If… Second Chance, and If… Dangerous Waters.

Inspiration comes to me through a variety of ways. Inspiration for this series was born in between traffic lights. Like I have a handy notebook beside my bed, I have one in the car as well.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I do a great deal of self promoting that actually bites into my writing time, but when I am in the mood and I feel a story bursting forth, I generally drop everything and get to writing. I have been known to write for 10 or 12 hours straight when the protagonist is whispering in my ear.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read a lot of history books along with gardening books. My all time favorite book is called, Not for Ourselves Alone The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns

My favorite quote: “”The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” by Albert Einstein

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on the next novella in the ‘If’ series. Meanwhile, my granddaughter is working with me to finish up our 3rd book in the series, ‘A Taylor & Alan Adventure.’ If that isn’t enough to keep me busy I am also working on my 3rd book in the series, ‘THE DARKEST SERIES.’

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Believe it or not I vet the service providers just like they vet me. I want to use a variety of places to help promote my book. That is one reason why I rely on Awesomegang.com to help me reach readers that are interested in my genres.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Network. I have learned a multitude of tips and tricks when it comes to writing and marketing. Leave the notion of being huddled behind your laptop, and embrace learning from others. Whenever possible I share my knowledge, just like many have shared with me.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Be everyone’s friend, but nobody’s fool.” Unknown

What are you reading now?
The Trunk Key (Kindle Single) by Carolyn Nash

What’s next for you as a writer?
Continue to expand the number of books I publish. Inspire and make a difference in the lives of my readers. Dreams are possible; I will be exploring script writing in the near future.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Not for Ourselves Alone by Ken Burns
Dark Nights (Dark Series) by Christine Feehan
The Color War (Kindle Single) by Jodi Picoult
Purpose (Soul Savers) by Kristie Cook

Author Websites and Profiles
Jackie Mae Website
Jackie Mae Amazon Profile
Jackie Mae Author Profile on Smashwords

Jackie Mae’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Jackie Mae is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a blogger by nature – I’ve been operating Hooks and Harmony (http://hooksandharmony.com) for about seven years now. It’s a site dedicated to Beatles-type pop music and 80s music.

The Death and Life of Mal Evans is my first novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Death and Life of Mal Evans originally started as a non-fiction book – trying to create the ultimate Beatles fantasy album made up of songs that the Beatles released as solo works. I felt as if there was a story behind these albums that I created, though, and I used Mal Evans, a long-time assistant for the Beatles who never got recognized for all his accomplishments, as the protagonist and narrator.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love to write in Starbucks. Writing at home has too many distractions; somehow I can tune out the white noise and busy atmosphere at Starbucks and get a lot of writing done there. Most of my book was written there.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Nick Hornby and Dave Eggers’ succcinct, conversational style and humor have always drawn me in. At the same time, Frank Conroy can paint a picture with such clarity and give his characters such life that it’s spooky. If I could have a writing style that meshed the three of them together, I’d be happy.

What are you working on now?
I’m marketing my book night and day. After that I’ll pay some attention to my neglected blog.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Friends and word of mouth so far. It’s hard to get noticed nationally with a self-published book; I think we’re all still looking for that secret sauce. But locally, it’s a lot easier with book in hand to sell to people.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. Write more. A mentor once told me, “If you don’t write, you’re not a writer.”

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no way around these two things that I’m aware of, no shortcut.” – Stephen King

What are you reading now?
Duel for the Crown: Affirmed, Alydar, and Racing’s Greatest Rivalry (I’m a big fan of horse racing).

What’s next for you as a writer?
I really don’t know. I have a few ideas floating around in my head, but I’m content right now to just keep blogging.

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. A Short History of Nearly Everything – Bill Bryson
2. High Fidelity – Nick Hornby
3. Carter Beats the Devil – Glen David Gold
4. Body & Soul – Frank Conroy

Author Websites and Profiles
Peter Lee Website
Peter Lee Amazon Profile

Peter Lee’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Peter Lee is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have published seven works on Amazon & Kindle, including a feature length screenplay that was adapted from my novel, Atlantic City Nazi. My goal in writing is to entertain readers, and I write mainly in the historical fiction genre. Humor is also a favorite genre; I insert humor wherever it fits in a work. I base my locales mainly on locations that I have visited.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Campaign 2016 Election Comedy is recently published on Amazon & Kindle (free for the first time on Kindle 22-26 Sept. 2015). The novella is based on a generic presentation of candidates in the 2016 presidential race for the White House. The premise that the main character lacks experience in relation to managing a political campaign for a candidate with a (“get elected at any cost, legal or illegal”) mindset encompasses the work.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write early in the morning, take my dog for a walk, and think about my manuscript as I walk.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
F. Scott Fitzgerald is my favorite author. C.S. Forrester authored many sea stories that I enjoyed.

What are you working on now?
Nothing at present except for posts on Linkedin to interest producers in my screenplay, (see-Kindle title: RC and RUBY Screenplay.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I only use free sites and of course Awesomegang is my favorite from past experiences.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read the works of others, participate in blogs, and write everyday. Read the self-help books available in many bookstores related to the publishing industry. Write query letters and submit them to literary agencies to build a platform and gain recognition.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t be discouraged; someday someone other than your mother will purchase your book.

What are you reading now?
I am re-reading The Last Tycoon, an unfinished novel by F. Scott Fitgerald.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I listen to the news to get ideas for my next book.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Story by Robert McKee (excellent advice re writing screenplays)
The Wapshot Chronicle by John Cheever

Charles Frankhauser is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written a novella and a novel and I am currently working on a sequel. As far as pastimes, there is nothing I love more than digging on the beach for clams. I blame this on my parents for taking me to Cuttyhunk Island, MA as a child, where there is an abundance of shellfish and not much else.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Exodus from the Seven Cities. What inspired me was a life long love of all things action and horror. There are so many books out there that feature people who are miraculously prepared and have all the necessary skills when a problem presents itself. But that isn’t how life is. Most of us aren’t weapons experts, nor do we necessarily have all the skills required to easily survive the apocalypse. I want my writing to be a tip of the hat to the common man, an homage to the ordinary person who is required to do extraordinary things in a time of need.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Because I work nights I wrote mostly on my days off between the hours of 10pm to 7am. Even though I have worked nights on and off for the better part of a decade, my body still naturally wants to sleep during the nighttime. As a result I frequently wake up to a computer screen with pages and pages of one letter like “zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz” because I fell asleep with my hand on the keyboard.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have always wanted to be an author but there was a time when I found myself too self-conscious to write. It’s strange because I was the only person who was going to see my work; if it was bad I didn’t need to share it with anyone. One day I wrote to my favorite author, Orson Scott Card, and asked for advice. To my surprise, he responded and gave me a whole list of helpful recommendations. The most important thing Card told me was to get over myself when it comes to feeling self -conscious. I took his advice and haven’t looked back.

From a purely consumer perspective, another author I really like is Scott Lynch, who wrote The Lies of Locke Lamora. This book has everything a person could want. The main characters in this book have skills but they work for them and nobody is a Jack of all trades. This book was dark and gritty, two things I absolutely love in fiction.

What are you working on now?
I am working on an unnamed sequel to Exodus from the Seven Cities. The Seven Cities Saga will not be a never-ending story but I do have more to say about this world. The sequel is planned out and I believe it will take the reader on a great journey.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
We are about to find out.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Everyone says that if you want to be an author you have to write, but what they don’t tell you is that you have to be willing to edit. I literally removed a 10,000 word segment from Exodus from the Seven Cities and rewrote it. I probably rewrote every sentence at least one time. It is no exaggeration to say that I read Exodus a dozen times, plus my wife read it around six and numerous family and friends also read it and gave me feedback. I wouldn’t say editing is Hell because, let’s face it, you’re sitting in a chair and not roasting in eternal fire, but it is extremely frustrating and time-consuming. My advice is this: be willing to edit for hour after monotonous hour.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I was told in my twenties that emotions are like waves. There are crests, or high points, and there are troughs, which are the low points. When you are at the bottom of the trough it seems like nothing will ever get better. All you can see on either side of you is a wall of doubt and failure. This is called the window of despair. When you’re in the window of despair the trick is to keep moving toward your goal. Eventually you’ll start to go up the other side of the wave. Eventually you’ll reach the crest again and you’ll wonder what you were thinking when you were in the trough. All of those doubts and worries will appear to have been foolish.

We all have disappointments in life. At some point we all end up in the window of despair, sometimes more than we’d like to admit! I was raised with the belief that I could accomplish anything as long as I put all of my effort into it. But as an adult I learned something different: that sometimes, no matter how hard you try, no matter how badly you want something, there are times when life deals you an unfair hand and there is nothing you can do about it.

The trick is to keep moving, get through the window, and reevaluate your goals because there is a life on the other side of the trough and it’s good.

What are you reading now?
The Remaining: Allegiance by D.J. Molles. It’s the fifth book in The Remaining series. If anyone hasn’t read The Remaining and they enjoy survival horror they should pick it up. It’s a great series that was originally independently published and then got picked up by a traditional publisher. It’s different from Fall of the Seven Cities and Exodus from the Seven Cities because it features a highly trained Army bad ass and my series features a failed Realtor and an undesignated Navy seaman, but it’s a great series and well worth picking up.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Aside from the next book in the Seven Cities Saga I have a few other projects in mind. I have a pretty solid story line for a series of crime novels that start off with a murdered rookie police officer. The other is a fantasy series where the tone of the books will be a mix of Conan and The Lies of Locke Lamora. I will probably write the crime novels first because I want more experience as a writer before I attempt the fantasy series.

I’d love to continue in apocalyptic fiction but I also want to write in more than one genre.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I’m not going to cop out on you and tell you I’d bring a survival guide, since I don’t think that’s what this question is really asking. I would take Robinson Crusoe to give me perspective, Skeletons on the Zahara to help me understand that I don’t really have it that bad, The Hobbit for escapism, and War and Peace because I’ve never read it, I probably never will, and its Amazon description says it’s 1296 pages long, so there musts be something in there that’s worth reading!

Author Websites and Profiles
Jay Brenham Website
Jay Brenham Amazon Profile

Jay Brenham’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Jay Brenham is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I can’t say much about my because there is still yet more to accomplish in life. All of what i have written is based on my experiences. I was born in a tiny island called Guam, a United States Territory. Guam is a small dot according to the world map, I intend to change that by revealing what island style is about in Guam. The beautiful sandy beaches, the ocean filled with life, especially the home cooked food. My latest e-book about Guam is “Guam: Taste of Home Recipes”, it is currently available in Amazon Kindle.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest e-book would be Baseball Batting Mechanics. What inspired me to write Baseball is that i grew up with this sport, I’ve been playing since I was 9 years old. I would be honest, hitting a baseball is very challenging. I wish to help many with their struggles in the world of baseball. Remember, i was once an amateur in old ball game.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No, not that I know of

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Edgar Allen Poe

What are you working on now?
Currently working on creating a new e-book to further get my island roots noticed.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My best and most effective method for promoting my e-books is “word of mouth”.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes, stay influenced and keep an open mind, because you will never know what may come your way.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Mind over matter, but once it hits the mind, nothing matters.

What are you reading now?
No comment

What’s next for you as a writer?
No comment

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?
2 survival guide(s), a bible, and an island cookbook

Author Websites and Profiles
David San Agustin Jr. Amazon Profile

David San Agustin Jr. is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a Best Selling Christian Author of multiple titles. I have close to twenty titles with a mixture of published and unpublished. The release date varies according to the season of my writing. I write fiction, non fiction, poetry, and inspirational projects.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Pastor’s Daughter.
The inspiration for this book came unexpectedly. My heart is filled with compassion for those who are trying to live a life that’s pleasing to God. This book shows an illustrated path of sin that starts with uncontrolled desires.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I never outline my projects. Whenever I start working on a project, I allow my creativity to take wherever it desires. It never fails me and always completes the desired project.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have no one author who has influenced me the most. I read many authors and collectively they have influenced me.

What are you working on now?
Several books at one time.
The sequel to “Trial of Injustice”
The sequel to “A Husband’s Love”
The fourth installment of my Up Close & Personal Series “The Awakening”

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Twitter with the appropriate hashtags.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Continue to learn the craft and read a wide assortment of books.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
FOCUS ON THE STORY
NOT THE SENTENCE
~James Patterson

What are you reading now?
This present darkness by Frank Peretti

What’s next for you as a writer?
The completion of current writing projects.

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?
Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer
Destiny by Bishop T.D. Jakes
Instinct “The Power to Unleash Your Inborn Drive” by Bishop T.D. Jakes

Author Websites and Profiles
T.K. Ware Website
T.K. Ware Amazon Profile

T.K. Ware’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

T.K. Ware is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m British but I live in Portugal. Rising Tide is my third published novel but is the only one actually set in Portugal – in the Alentejo to be exact. My first novel, Perfect Score, is an m/m suspense set in 1960s US (a country I love) when being gay wasn’t at all easy. My second novel is called Hewhay Hall and is set in the UK (where I was born). It’s a dark fantasy novel and it won the 2013 EPIC ebook award for Horror.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Rising Tide is set in the Alentejo region in Portugal – an area that not many tourists know about. It’s the flat area of an otherwise mountainous country but has the most varied climate – baking plains in summer with fields full of sunflowers, temperate in spring when the fields are full of wild flowers and cool in winter but not cold enough to put a coat on.
Injustice is an important theme in all my books and it’s rife in Rising Tide where the under-dogs have to win through. The glory of the sea is also highlighted in all its moods. I adore the sea but have a great respect for it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m a terrible pantser, which means I wing it as I go along. When I start out I know the beginning and the end, but the middle bit gets fleshed out as I go along. My first novel, Perfect Score, has seventeen different versions!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m such a prolific reader – I read two or three books a week. They say that if you want to be a writer, you have to read and I agree with that. But if I’m influenced by any of those I read, I’m not aware of it. I’m constantly on the look-out for the book I just can’t put down, a real page-turner. When I’m lucky enough to find one, I think, “I wish I’d written that” at the end.

What are you working on now?
I’m going to continue in Portugal for my next novel. This time it will be set in the ancient town of Sintra which is just west of beautiful Lisbon (the capital will be featured too). Again, it’ll be a suspense novel with romantic overtones, a little magic and, I hope, a page-turner!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
To get an article published about your work in a local newspaper or broadcast on the radio is fail-safe. When I have a new novel out I immediately book a blog-tour and send out review requests. My Facebook page seems to attract some readers and I have paid for an ad. on there. I also look for competitions to enter.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Get a professional editor to review your manuscript. I did that with Perfect Score. You do have to pay for it (I used Cornerstones in London) but the advice I received from them was invaluable – they can spot where the plot’s not working or if the pace has dropped. I don’t think I’d have been published without them.
Do not just rely on your friends and family’s criticisms – they’re bound to say it’s the best thing they’ve ever read, dear.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Read a lot and getting people who don’t know me to read the manuscript (as mentioned above). I have two or three terrific beta readers who read as the book develops and we have brain storming sessions. Of course, I do the same for them as well. It’s all give and take in this business.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading “Wildwood – a journey through trees” at the moment because my next novel will be set in Sintra forest.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’d love to be noticed by one of the larger publishers. That’s a dream, I think, because there is so much good competition 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?
Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber
All of Terry Pratchett’s books.
They should keep me busy for quite some time. On the other hand I might be so absorbed that I’ll miss any passing ships

Author Websites and Profiles
Susan Roebuck Website
Susan Roebuck Amazon Profile

Susan Roebuck’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Pinterest Account

Susan Roebuck is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello, and thank you for taking the time to read my author interview. Writing a book was a long held dream of mine. I decided to do it rather than merely dream about it. Outspoken is my first book. I am currently working on my second novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is called Outspoken. It’s about a girl who is afraid to reveal her true self, who wants people to like her, and who comes to see that it’s a mistake to let others steer her life. Outspoken begins when she has decided to begin speaking her mind and sharing her truth. I was inspired to write this book because I feel this is a struggle many people have. I wanted to show people that you cultivate the deepest relationships when you are able to be vulnerable and open.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think this is very unusual, but I must be alone in the room when I write. I can’t have music playing, because I find myself singing along and then lose my train of thought. A bowl of something to munch on is always handy, especially M&Ms.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The list of authors who have inspired and influenced me is very long. I love Sarah Dessen’s books. The Truth About Forever showed me that I love books with young people figuring out life, dealing with family issues, friend issues, and falling in love.

I also love Amy Harmon, Anne Tyler, Jessica Park, Stephanie Perkins, Jandy Nelson, Rainbow Rowell…I could go on all day.

What are you working on now?
I’m nearly finished with the first draft of my second novel. It’s about a sixteen year old girl who lives with her cousin’s family for the summer while her parents are on a marriage retreat. Family issues abound, and the romance element is strong in this book.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I like to keep things as personal as possible. I approach book bloggers one at a time, and talk books and request reviews or giveaways.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
As a fairly new author myself, I am still working on this. But I did learn a lot while writing my first book. When you find yourself in a tough spot and can’t think what should happen or where the story should go, just write. Write, write, write. It doesn’t matter if it’s terrible, because you’ll go back and change it later. Don’t take time off when you feel stuck. You must barrel through.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Ernest Hemingway said, “The first draft of anything is shit.” He also said, “The only kind of writing is rewriting.” For me personally, these quotes got me through any struggles I had. I printed them out and taped them by my desk.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading Infinity + One by Amy Harmon, and I’m enjoying it immensely.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to publish my next book in the spring of 2016. I really enjoy writing in the Young Adult genre, so I’ll probably stick with that for the foreseeable future.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Making Faces by Amy Harmon
The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Author Websites and Profiles
Lora Richardson Website
Lora Richardson Amazon Profile

Lora Richardson’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Lora Richardson is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My Indian born hubby and I live in Auckland, New Zealand, we have been married for more than 20 years. I have written two books, Julie & Kishore and the sequel Julie & Kishore: Take Two. I am currently writing a third which I am calling Nina’s Art, which has many of the same characters but is a competley different story.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is, Julie & Kishore: Take Two which follows straight on from my first book Julie & Kishore. I always knew I would split the story over two books.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My little dog Louie likes to sit on my lap while I write. I love this, but when he puts his nose on the keyboard, I have to be careful!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
As a passionate reader from an early age many books and authors have influenced me, to name a few – Roald Dahl, Dr Seuss, C. S. Lewis, Judy Blume and many more.

What are you working on now?
I am writing my third book which I have called Nina’s Art. This is a competley different story to my other two books, but involves many of the same characters.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
List your book(s) with multiple sites and keep on promoting. Send copies or go and visit all of the bookshops in your city. Give them a free copy of your book.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep trying, don’t give up, and don’t get bogged down by the doing and forget to enjoy the process of writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you cant say anything nice about someone, don’t say anything at all.

What are you reading now?
At the moment I am currently reading a book called Elizabeth is missing by Emma Healey. It is a very good read.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To finish writing Nina’s Art and get it published.

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 an intriguing question! Perhaps a ‘How to survive on a desert island’ book? But seriously, just for the pure pleasure of reading….. A suitable boy by Vikram Seth, Charlotte’s Web by E B White, Lord of the Flies by William Golding and The life of Pi by Yann Martel. I have chosen a variety of books to keep me occupied on the desert island.

Author Websites and Profiles
Carol Jackson Website
Carol Jackson Amazon Profile
Carol Jackson Author Profile on Smashwords

Carol Jackson’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Carol Jackson is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
This is my first fiction Novel. I’ve spent much of my adult life as a community organizer, creating a food bank, being a member of a national seasonal food drive for the needy, a member of a gang violence reduction task force, organizer of a volunteer graffiti removal program, a union president and organizer, honors graduate from Delta college and attended University of California, Santa Cruz where I studied film making and theory.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Squirrel Days is a comic adventure thriller about a noble character who tries to fight injustice and ends up running for his life. Squirrel Days is loosely based on a column I wrote in the 80’s for the Sierra Journal called “Cabin Fever”. It was a political satire, focused on the War on Drugs, guerrilla marijuana growers, corrupt cops, and the misadventures of Aldo and Eldo, twin brothers born three weeks apart. It has since morphed into a dark comedy that begins in Juarez, Mexico and quickly moves to Squirrel Bay, California.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When you write from prison, you have to adapt with unusual habits. My cell is my living quarters, restroom and my filing cabinet. I have to write by hand and send them to a friend who helps me format the chapters for editing and publication. Thank you Vanessa!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are so many great authors in our history. One I especially admire is Thomas Paine and his book “The Rights of Man.” He was the father of two revolutions, ours and the French revolution that came right after ours. He summed up the principles of the Enlightenment era in his book “The Rights of Man”. That led to his pamphlets titled “Common Sense”, which many historians credit with being the most important influence in provoking the colonies to rebel.

Later, as our revolution was getting it’s ass handed to it by a well organized British army, and it looked like we were on the verge of surrender, it was Paine who rallied a despondent country and Washington’s demoralized army with the first of his thirteen essays titled “An American Crisis”. It began with the line “These are the times that try men’s souls” It rallied Washington’s army and motivated them to our first victory in the revolution, the battle at Trenton where Washington crossed the Delaware. Thomas Paine is part of the inspiration for my novel, Squirrel Days.

What are you working on now?
With the launch of Squirrel Days, I’m working on keeping in touch with my readers with daily Facebook posts and Twitter tweets. I am also working with my partners to build publishing company NEXGENINK. We will be featuring a prisoner publishing program to help prison authors like myself reach their goals of publishing and do something useful with their time.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up. No matter the circumstances, no matter the struggles, don’t give up. You can and will reach your goal if you fight for it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write, Edit, Rewrite and start again.

What are you reading now?
Black by Luz Thompson

What’s next for you as a writer?
Doing whatever I can to help other prison authors to publish.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
It’s so difficult to select titles under stress like that but I’m sure I could read Black and Beyond the Standard Model by Luz Thompson and Gone to Hell: True Crimes of America’s Clergy by Randall Radic.

Author Websites and Profiles
Dustin Costa Amazon Profile

Dustin Costa’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Dustin Costa is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
LungeloShandu is a 28 year male convict who is serving time. I am the first born of two in the marriage of my parents. I was born in Durban South Africa. I have Matric and also continued with my studies in Business Management during my term of incarceration and I obtain an N5 qualification. I am single and also the father of three girls.
I love God and i enjoy listening to music; plus motivational talks. I am a first time author and I have only written one book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is called, “Success & Wealth Through The Bible”. As i was creating my life with an unconscious mind, i landed myself in prison, and therefore i came to a decision to help people around the world and make them conscious about everything.
I didn’t want more people to go through the suffering i went through, and i was inspired to teach people on how to become successful in their daily challenges.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No

What authors, or books have influenced you?
1. Laws of Success by Napoleon Hill
2. The Secret, Rhonda Byrne
3. The purpose driven life, by Rick Warren

What are you working on now?
I am working on my second book, and I’m also designing a program on how to give back to the community of this world (serving God through His people).

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’m a new author myself, smiles. But i would advice them to continue to right more books and share their stories with the whole world.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
That God comes first.

What are you reading now?
Laws of Success by Napoleon Hill

What’s next for you as a writer?
To change the world and make it a better place.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Bible
Think and grow rich by Napoleon Hill
How to become your own stockbroker
Spiritual Marketing by Joe Vitale

Author Websites and Profiles
Lungelo Shandu Amazon Profile
Lungelo Shandu Author Profile on Smashwords

Lungelo Shandu’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Lungelo Shandu is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I founded Bklyn Custom Designs after witnessing some business owners I worked with struggling to drive traffic and profits to their businesses. I wanted to help them and others find the best and proven ways to brand themselves online and see profits sooner rather than never.

I have written two books so far, Turn Clicks Into Profit (#1) and Keep It Super Simple (#2) and plan on creating more to keep the information updated as online business evolves. I also have two non-fictions in the works.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My current book is Keep It Super Simple and this was inspired by the struggles I and my clients were having in keeping up with all the emerging technologies and social networks. We tend to get a bit anxious when something new gains popularity and think “we need to be there too”.

Keep It Super Simple is for those wanting to understand how to manage this anxiety and more. It’s a guide to help understand the importance of branding yourself online and knowing when and when not to join social networks. We don’t need to be everywhere. We just need to keep it super simple so we can find our own success.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think they are unusual, but I do like to use multiple apps to capture my thoughts so I will switch between two dictation softwares, use three mobile apps to write while I’m on the train, and I jot random thoughts on napkins so I have paper in various bags, on my desk, and tucked away in books.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My friend Zaji has been a major influence on my. She’s written When We Were One and has such a high standard for herself that I could not help but follow her example. The first time I read one of her creations I was completely blown away. Not only was I holding a book created by someone I knew, but it was actually an amazing story. Just knowing her has not only reignited my love for books, but has sparked my desire to write and share a story and my experiences with others.

I also admire and enjoy Ayi Kwei Armah (Two Thousand Seasons), Peggy Klaus (Brag!: The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn without Blowing It), James Patterson (his Alex Cross series is simple amazing), Maya Angelou (from her poetry to her books she’s a strong inspiration), Taylor B. Jones (she writes to empower women in making their dreams come true and live the life they want from what she’s learned in her own life), Troi “STAR” Torain (Objective Hate was different and helped me acknowledge my hunger to start my own business), Anne Rice (her vampire series is still the best I’ve read!), Toni Morrison (The Bluest Eye was just groundbreaking for me), J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter was a phenomenon that rejuvenated me and I was excited to read), Chandler Bolt (the excitement that he brings to his writing is wonderful to experience), Erika Lyremark (another author who takes her learned experiences and shows people how to live the lives they want), and Trisha R. Thomas (Roadrunner and Nappily Ever After were just amazing reads).

These are simply a few of the authors I love to read and learn from.

What are you working on now?
I am working on the 2nd edition of Turn Clicks Into Profit as I want to add so much of what I learned since it’s launch in February 2015.

I am also working on publishing my two fiction books that will show a different side to my personality. It’s not always about business and I hope these two books will help showcase that.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Aside from my promotion success with Awesomegang.com, I have found some success with Buck Books.

All in all, putting in the hustle is the best method I have found works when it comes to promoting my books. Staying up late when I come home from my 9-to-5 and submitting to various websites, purchasing a few Fiverr gigs, submitting to Facebook groups, Tweeting, and creating various images to share on Instagram and Pinterest have been an amazing experience.

I actually did not know what I was doing for my first book, Turn Clicks Into Profit, and I simply released it and left it. I did well but I never tracked it or gave it proper introduction to the world. I want to rectify that and show it the love it deserved and the love I gave Keep It Super Simple.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
1. Don’t allow fear to stop your dream of becoming a published author.

2. While you may think “no one wants to hear what I have to say,” you could be missing out on an opportunity to help someone.

3. When you think you have no ideas, think about all you have struggled with, overcome, and enjoyed in life. Use these experiences to create fiction or non-fiction. You can even look at what books helped you and think of a way to use that to write your own book.

4. Just start writing!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I have heard so much wonderful advice in my life but this year has been the year that I really understood “Done is better than perfect.” This is especially true for authors working on their first book. There is never the “perfect” book out there but there are multiple changes to create updates and new editions to include information that you may have forgotten or new methods you’ve learned.

Never hold back because you think your book isn’t “perfect” or you’ll never be published!

What are you reading now?
Now I am reading a few things. I like to keep entertained and educated; and not necessarily at the same time.

1. Design DNA by Matthew Healey
2. The Goslings by Upton Sinclair
3. Content Machine by Dan Norris
4. When We Were One by Zaji (re-read)
5. Paradise Lot series by R.E. Vance
6. We by Yevgeny Zamyatin
7. The Hard Truth About Soft Skills by Peggy Klaus

I read a little of each every chance I get as I switch between the books, the audios, and the electronic versions (where possible). I definitely get through quicker with the audio versions but tend to go back and highlight sections in the hard/paperbacks.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Once I complete my three projects currently on my plate I will continue writing about proven solutions to branding and online business issues that so many of us struggle with daily.

Now that I see I can not only write and publish, but help so many of my readers I don’t want to just stop. I want to be there to help as long as possible whenever possible.

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?
Only 3 or 4? Ha!
When I’m not exploring the island I would read and re-read:

1. Ishmael by Daniel Quinn
2. Nappily Ever After by Trisha P. Thomas
3. The Goose-Step by Upton Sinclair
4. When We Were One by Zaji

Author Websites and Profiles
Charlene Brown Website
Charlene Brown Amazon Profile

Charlene Brown’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Charlene Brown is a post from Awesome Gang

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I write paranormal romance in the BBW/Shifter subgenre because teaching high school biology wasn’t like how it is on television. My Wolves, Fae and Bears will most interest readers who like their alphas strong, protective and smokin’ hot; their heroines feisty, brainy and bootilicious; and their stories with lots of chemistry, tension and plenty of tender moments. I’ve written 6 novellas and 2 novelettes, and have another novel coming out soon.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Liam’s Bride ( A Clan Conroy BBW Bear Shifter Romance) is a 200 page contemporary paranormal romance inspired by my love of food, gardening and teaching. My characters are dealing with family issues, trust and forgiveness while navigating a new relationship that HAS to work out.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m pretty organized. My spreadsheets have spreadsheets.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love Anne Bishop, Robin McKinley, Nalini Singh, N.K. Jemision… there are so many.

What are you working on now?
Alphonso’s Baby, the 2nd standalone novel in the Clan Conroy series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m new to marketing… what I really love is word of mouth from happy readers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Get the damn thing done! Look, I’m a SAHM of four, I was working on an M.Ed- so I get being busy. Just commit to writing for at least 20 mins a day and watch your wordcount soar. And plot it first to increase productivity.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just get the damn thing done.

What are you reading now?
I’m burning through T.S. Joyce’s catalog.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Bears, Bears and more Bears. And some Fae.

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?
3 or 4? That’s silly. I have a kindle. I’d bring my entire library.

Author Websites and Profiles
Emma Aliysn Website
Emma Aliysn Amazon Profile

Emma Aliysn’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Emma Aliysn is a post from Awesome Gang