Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an entrepreneur and after years of soul searching, I realized my true passion is to teach people how to overcome challenges in life and to treat each other with love and consideration.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
This is my first book and I am already planning the sequel to this book. As a child I was homeless and I have had people asking me for years to write my story. A Heart Without A Home is about the period in my life where my parents and I were homeless. My second book will be about how my mom turned her life around.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wrote my entire book in one month, during National Novel Writing Month. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my local writing group.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Dee Henderson and Karen Kingsbury are some of my favorites.

What are you working on now?
I am working on sharing my first book with the world and planning my second book. I also organize a group of volunteers in my city to feed the homeless in our community.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am still learning the best methods for promoting my books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write, write. Don’t wait for it to be perfect. That’s what editing is for.

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

What are you reading now?
I read my Bible every day and have several ebooks on my phone that I rotate through.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Now I plan to start speaking to groups about overcoming challenges in life.

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

Author Websites and Profiles
Nichole Carpenter Website
Nichole Carpenter Amazon Profile
Nichole Carpenter Author Profile on Smashwords

Nichole Carpenter’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! As I note in my bio, I am a tale-spinner. I enjoy stories about ordinary people – the ‘you and me’ of the world – who get stuck in extraordinary circumstances and must find their way. And the only thing better than reading those stories is writing them. I started with Cab’s Lantern and that quickly led to a sequel when readers wanted to know what became of the lead characters after their initial adventure. Two other novels have followed since then and another is in the works.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘The Girl Who Watched Over Dreams’ is based on the concept that – while we are dreaming – our mind cannot distinguish between those dreams and reality. In effect, our dreams become our current reality. A facility that put a patient into a permanent semi-conscious state and allowed them to dream continuously – dreams of their own choosing – could provide that person with a future free from their physical and emotional past. In the story, that facility has a sinister hidden agenda and it is left to the protagonist to save the residents before she becomes trapped in their perpetual nightmare.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Like a fish that must move to breathe, it seems that I can only compose ideas while I am walking. I’ll take long, solitary walks and describe the story to myself, over and over. In the process the plot and characters transform into something better. Then I have to rush back and start typing before the inspiration vanishes.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
It started with Jules Verne, but Hemingway has had the most influence. Like myself, my target audience is looking for stories about real people caught in trying circumstances.

What are you working on now?
A thriller/suspense – which something new for me. Like my other stories, there is nothing fantastic or make-believe, but it involves a unique (yet scientifically credible) discovery that throws one person’s life into turmoil and has the prospects for inciting an international incident.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I try to reach out on all social media, however I’ve discovered that Twitter – by far – has the most reach. I also diversify my promotions across various advertising media to see which provides the greatest ROI.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what you love, and then write some more. I’ve learned something valuable from each of my books and I know I have so much more to learn.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never give up. It applies to everything in life, but especially to writing.

What are you reading now?
An original version of Victor Hugo’s “The Lady of Paris” … which some silly translator renamed ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame.’ Some of today’s works are okay, but to me the classics remain real treasures.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep writing. After the suspense/thriller mentioned above I have two other projects in the planning stage. Oh the stories we would create if only inspiration came with an equal measure of 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?
Any of Hemingway’s works – I’d cherish the time to study his writing style.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jeff Russell Website
Jeff Russell Amazon Profile
Jeff Russell Author Profile on Smashwords

Jeff Russell’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a bit of this and a bit of that. I’ve tried really hard to be just a very specific type of professional (physicist, mathematician, programmer…), but I only got a feeling of claustrophobia out of it. Eventually, I concluded that, strictly speaking, I am none of those professional figures, and I just have a little bit of each of them in me. This holds true for other things as well, like playing the piano or drawing portraits—I’m nowhere close being an actual musician or portraitist, but I manage. I certainly always had an urge to create something, and while all of the different possible careers options above could have provided an opportunity to satisfy it, I eventually realised that writing was the easiest and most pleasing way for me.

I always liked writing. I had fun writing essays in school, and I can remember several childhood attempts at writing a novel (they all failed, unfortunately). Things got a bit more serious around 2005, when my idea for ‘The Elynx Saga’ became sufficiently mature to be turned into a series of novels. As a matter of fact, I wrote four out of the planned six novels, I started to take the writing business seriously only in 2015. That’s why as of this writing, only the first book in the series—’The Fall of the Gods’—has been published. Others are closer to drafts than to finished books, really, and it will take time before they’re published.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first book’s title is ‘The Fall of the Gods’. It is the first instalment in my sci-fi series ‘The Elynx Saga’. It’s hard to say what inspired the first book specifically; a better question would be what inspired the whole series, and the answer to it would be ‘Two different video games’, whose titles I’m not revealing because I think readers would prefer to find out for themselves.

However, there are plenty of elements in the first book as well as in the entire series that have been more or less loosely inspired by movies, TV shows and comics, such as Star Trek and Batman, for example. Other elements have been inspired by my own life experiences.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really, no. The most unusual thing related to writing that I do I can think of is that I translate my own books in English. I’m Italian, and I naturally write my books in Italian. I figured if I wanted to have a chance to be successful, I needed to have my books written in a more international language than Italian, and English was the obvious choice. I decided to go full indie about it and translated ‘The Fall of the Gods’ myself (although it was of course proofed and double-checked by a professional, English native speaker editor). I enjoyed the process and I plan to translate subsequent books myself again.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m a bit ashamed to admit none probably have. As said, ‘The Elynx Saga’ has been inspired by several among TV series, movies, comics, and video games only. However, it is only my first series and you never know what may happen in the future.

What are you working on now?
Presently, I am revising the first draft of ‘The Pillars of Hercules’, the second book in ‘The Elynx Saga’. It’s the Italian version and I wrote over ten years ago, so I know it’ll take a lot of work both to refine and translate. I am hoping to publish it in mid 2017 at the latest.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
That one I still have to figure out… This is my very first experience with self-publishing and the advertising bit is especially hard. I’m going to try different options, including paid ones. I have a hunch Facebook ads can be very effective, but I haven’t tried them out just yet.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be yourself. Inevitably, you end up reading articles about how successful authors did it, and you may get a feeling that if you don’t do it the way they did, you’re going to fail. However, I think comparing yourself to others will only get you a panic attack. It’s certainly good to read how others did it and learn from their experiences, but don’t try to be like others or to do exactly what they did. In my experience, your worst failures happen when you try to be someone else than yourself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Same as above, i.e. be yourself. I’ve learned it the hard way (i.e. try and be someone else, and fail miserably).

What are you reading now?
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. I know, I know—’you mean you haven’t read HP already?!’ That’s right, I haven’t. I read the first HP in summer 2014 and I liked it, but I picked up the second one only recently.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ll be working on ‘The Pillars of Hercules’ for at least a year, and once that’s published, I suppose it’ll be time for me to pick up the draft of my third novel and start working on it. I’m not revealing the title just yet, though.

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?
Easy choice—manuals teaching you how to survive in extreme situations.

Author Websites and Profiles
Nicola Bagalà Website
Nicola Bagalà Amazon Profile

Nicola Bagalà’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
As of 2016 I am a new author with one fantasy book complete – The Witch’s Catalyst. It is the first book of two in the Risen Lands series.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I’m currently working on two fiction books, one is a companion novella for the Risen Lands series, and the other is the sequel to The Witch’s Catalyst. I’m about 80,000 words, or two-thirds complete with the first draft of the sequel which has a tentative title of ‘Wizard’s Resolve.’

I took a break from this to write the companion novella ‘Destiny’s Gem’ which details the upbringing of the main antagonist in The Witch’s Catalyst. I hope to have Destiny’s Gem available in July of 2016, and Wizard’s Resolve available in January 2017.

Destiny’s Gem was inspired by my wife, one day when I came home from work she had 1000 words or so written of a backstory for the main bad guy (girl, actually) and it was intriguing. It sat on a backburner for a while, and when I returned from a break from writing decided to pick this one up and finish it first. The best part is the ebook will be available for free when it is complete!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure if I would call my writing habits unusual. I work fulltime during the day so like many others have to make time and squeeze it in when I can. I shoot for about 1,000 words per day but don’t always hit that mark, sometimes it’s more, sometimes less. I wake up at 4:30 am and try to write for an hour or so before work, then during the day I squeeze a few short sessions in on break times.

On the weekend I mix it up with two tactics depending on how I feel; either I’ll sit and write as long as I can concentrate for, or I’ll write for 15 minutes at the top of each hour, for as many hours as I can push myself.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I didn’t enjoy reading until I was twelve and read The Hobbit, not even realizing fantasy was a genre and there were thousands of books I could have enjoyed. In high school I read Ursula Le Guin’s Earthsea series and liked that as well. After high school I found Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, and then Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth series. Eventually I was lead towards RA Salvatore as well and read each of his books a few times.

There’s something about Salvatore’s pacing I like, and I think that might reflect in how I write.

What are you working on now?
As mentioned above I’m currently working on the concluding sequel to The Risen Lands, as well as a companion novella for it, Destiny’s Gem. I have a few other ideas for companion novella’s to accompany The Witch’s Catalyst and Wizard’s Resolve. The companion books will all be able to be read as stand alone stories, but provide extra insights into the main two.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far I think I’ve had the best luck with Twitter, next to actually going out and meeting people with copies of the paperbacks. Twitter simply allows you to meet a very large number of people quickly.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I would say get a website up and running, and social media going as soon as possible. Try to have an established foothold as it will make life a little easier when you’re ready to market yourself. You don’t need to have a book complete to start in on this, that was a mistake I made.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t forget your toothbrush, and change your socks twice a day.

What are you reading now?
Currently I’m re-reading the last book of the Wheel of Time series finished up by Brandon Sanderson. I’d love to read his Mistborn series once I get my hands on a copy. Prior to that I read The Shining.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to get those next two books released and have been working hard each day towards that end. Offering Destiny’s Gem as a free book will hopefully appeal to readers and generate interest for the series. The next two years should be exciting! Beyond that I have another three or so stories in mind for the Risen Land series, and an entirely different series within the next 5 years.

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 James Herriot’s All Creatures Great and Small, Terry Goodkind’s Faith of the Fallen, something by RA Salvatore (I’d probably just have to grab something randomly, unable to decide), and my beginning astronomy book whose name is escaping me at the moment. Maybe then I’d be able to build a boat and navigate home by starlight.

Author Websites and Profiles
J. Cain McKrell Website
J. Cain McKrell Amazon Profile
J. Cain McKrell Author Profile on Smashwords

J. Cain McKrell’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello, Readers! I’m Bambi, and I really appreciate you checking me out.

I’ve been writing Romance for over twenty years. I have published nine books in that time. Most of them are set in the Medieval period, to include knights, Highlanders, and Vikings. My Highlander books also have a paranormal element in that one of the main characters is descended from a Celtic god.

I grew up in Georgia, but lived much of my adult life in Belgium. It’s here that I nurtured my love of the middle ages. In my spare time, I teach World History to teenagers, which gives me no end of fodder for my fiction.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I have just completed a 4-book series of novellas set in 1400’s Scotland. About a year ago, I got together with two friends of mine to create an anthology around the theme of mistaken identities. I had been toying with the idea of writing a Highlander story. I devoured the Outlander books back in the early 2000’s and loved the TV series. I wrote MASK OF THE HIGHLANDER as part of the anthology, MISTAKEN IDENTITIES with Lesia Flynn and Amy Boyles. My 4-book collection is called GODS OF THE HIGHLANDS.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
As a teacher, I have to put in many hours both during the day as well as after school. Therefore, I get up at 4 am everyday to get in two hours of writing before I getting my family up and ready for the day. I protect those two hours with everything I have, ensuring that nothing comes between me and my writing time. My husband built me a beautiful barn for my horse, and I have a writing studio there that is decorated like a Medieval castle. I’m inspired the moment I enter and have to force myself to leave most days.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favorite authors are Karen Marie Moning and Sherrilyn Kenyon. I love Sherrilyn’s Dark Hunter series and Karen’s early Highlander romances. Although I’m not much into the Regency era, couldn’t get enough of Diana Galbadon’s Outlander series. I waited anxiously for the TV show and haven’t been disappointed. New favorites are Mary Morgan and Cathy MacRae.

What are you working on now?
Ideas for taking my Celtic gods into the present day had been rattling around in my head for quite some time. I’ve discovered Romantic Suspense and wanted to incorporate some of those elements into my next project. Since my original couples didn’t get enough screen time in the novellas, one or more of them will be making an appearance in future books. I’m currently writing the first book in this new series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I get the most success from postings I do on Facebook and Twitter. I have a limited presence there because there are just so many hours in a day, but I definitely notice an increase in sales when I post blurbs and teasers. I’ve started blogging, and I use that term loosely, and find guest blogging garners tons of exposure. You can find my blog here: http://www.bambilynnblog.wordpress.com .

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Focus on your writing. Learn everything you can about craft. You need to have books on the virtual shelf before you concern yourself too much with marketing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Pack your Romance Novel with emotion and write every day!

What are you reading now?
Hot Rebel by Lynn Raye Harris. A word of caution: If you start reading the first book in this series, Hot Pursuit, you may need a support group to deal with your addiction.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ve never written anything contemporary, so this is a whole new world for me. I’m looking forward to the challenge.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I don’t even have to think about it. I would take all available books in Lynn Raye Harris’ HOT series.

Author Websites and Profiles
Bambi Lynn Website
Bambi Lynn Amazon Profile

Bambi Lynn’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My debut novel, Lying in Judgment, is being released March 5, 2016. Two more books are in the pipeline – The Mountain Man’s Dog, a crime thriller about a logger who gets dragged unwittingly into the world of politics, crime, romance, and dog ownership; and The Incident, about a woman who becomes a police officer to avenge her childhood experience of abuse.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Lying in Judgment is a legal thriller about a man serving on a jury for a murder trial, who discovers that the crime being tried is the one he committed. It was inspired by he realization that jurors cannot use information obtained outside of the trial – even if the information was gained firsthand. Deriving believable circumstances that could lead to that situation and the implications that would follow fascinated me, and I knew I had to write the book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write all of my first drafts with pen on paper, almost always in the morning after my first cup of coffee. While I outline extensively with a word processor, I write only a few pages per day on a given story until I have a complete first draft. Only then do I fire up Word to then transcribe, edit, revise, and sometimes rewrite the whole damned thing.

Writing on paper gives me the freedom to really *write* and not edit as I go. I find this lets me write more freely and creatively, while slowing me down enough to make the connections between plot points essential to good story telling.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Among legal thriller writers: Scott Turow, Philip Margolin, Michael Connelly, Steve Martini, Harper Lee, John Grisham. Other writers include Neil Simon (for great dialog), Barbara Kingsolver (style and language), John Irving (storytelling), and Dave Barry (humor).

What are you working on now?
The Mountain Man’s Bride, the sequel to The Mountain Man’s Dog, in which the mountain man must clear first his own name, then his fiance’s, in a murder investigation.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook has been amazing, but there’s no substitute for the direct connection. I send emails to my distribution list a few times per year, and people seem to respond very well to that. And of course, Amazon.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read great books and good writing constantly; write like crazy; edit sober; revise until you can’t stand reading it anymore; join a writer’s group, and be prepared to start all over again. Above all, keep writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Read, read, read. Read everything in your genre and the best of everything outside of your genre.

What are you reading now?
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie.

What’s next for you as a writer?
After I complete The Mountain Man’s Bride and get all three upcoming books in the publishing pipeline, I plan to complete a new stage play – a comedy about cancer. Really. I lost my father to this awful disease and three sisters are survivors, but there was never a time we didn’t find the humor in it all.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I’d take books I haven’t read yet – and which are very long. But who has time to plan ahead for being marooned on a desert island? Can’t I just bring my Kindle?

Author Websites and Profiles
Gary Corbin Website
Gary Corbin Amazon Profile
Gary Corbin Author Profile on Smashwords

Gary Corbin’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have been an ordained minister since 1997. I was born in Brooklyn, New York. I am a singer and songwriter who has worked with the likes of Queen Latifah and James Fortune. I am a Certified Life Coach who holds an MBA in Management from Rosemont College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Peirce College.

I am the author of the Amazon bestseller, Navigating Your Seasons of Change, which was named Inspirational Book of the Year for 2013 by Inspirational Book Review. In the summer of 2015, I released the critically acclaimed book, Loving Her Means Loving HIM. Me and my wife, Precious Graham, serve as Associate Ministers at the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in Philadelphia.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my latest book is entitled, Loving Her Means Loving HIM. The pourpose of this book is to help husbands, and men who aspire to be married, to develop the characteristics of a Godly husband. It is a journey of patience, humility, faithfulness and longsuffering. This journey requires that a husband’s main objective be to please God, while learning how to love and repair to his wife from a mental, physical, and spiritual perspective.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I often create a rough draft of the Table of Contents and then I develop my storyline around the chapters/sub-chapters. This seems to work well for me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Mark Twain, William Shakespeare, James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, and TD Jakes. The first time I read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn at age 8, I knew I wanted to be a writer.

What are you working on now?
My wife and I are finalizing the editing process on our first collaborative book entitled, “The 4P’s of Marriage”.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
http://www.ministerdonaldgrahamjr.com/?page_id=156

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Pursue your passion and remain committed to it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Take advantage of every opportunity you have to better your best.

What are you reading now?
Living Beyond Your Emotions by Joyce Meyer

What’s next for you as a writer?
Continuing marital counseling and facilitating marriage workshops with my wife, while promoting our 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?
The Bible
It – Stephen King
Lord of the Rings (series)

Author Websites and Profiles
Donald E. Graham Jr. Website
Donald E. Graham Jr. Amazon Profile

Donald E. Graham Jr.’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I love watching sports such as basketball, football, and baseball. I love to play basketball when I have free time. I’ve been writing for a long time here and there. I’ve written 4 books so far, one is currently published on Amazon. I’m currently working on 4 books at once for future publication. A lot of my poetry books are about societal issues and social stigmas that we as people deal with. My goal is to get people to critically think and realize how tough of a world we live in and that we should all be treating each other as human beings, not based off of what social class you are, whee you live, how many possessions you have and how much money is in your bank account.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Struggles and Growth of a Man is my latest book that is currently on Amazon. What inspired it is experiences I’ve been through along with male friends. We all go through our share of things in life but society makes us out to be people who have to always be strong and that we can get through whatever comes our way. The reality is men need as much of a listening ear, affection, love and compassion. Sometimes we need hugs, love and guidance from others. We don’t know it all and we need others to lead us and help us grow into better men.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write during the day but my best work is late at night after 11pm. I listen to electronic music, I don’t like to hear words when I’m writing. I tend to write my most creative poems when I just hear relaxing, melodic music. I write a lot of my poetry ideas in a book and when I write, I can work on different books at once, if I don’t want to write one, I can focus on another.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are no authors or books that have influenced me really, its more of experiences that I’ve been through, family members, friends and seeing society for what it is that truly inspires me to write my poetry. I use that as fuel and motivation to make others think about their words and actions and how we need to become better people as a whole.

What are you working on now?
I don’t want to indulge too much but I’m working on a book where there was a school shooting and there are 12 people who talk about it from their perspective. Another book is about a young teen who gets a chance to travel into the future and see how bad the world is and he is the one who is given a chance to come back to the present time and try to keep the world from becoming as catastrophic as he saw it in the future. Another book I’m working on is about two young girls who are kidnapped and become part of the sex trade which is a world issue that constantly gets swept under the rug and one girl chronicles her past and the experiences she went through dealing with it.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I mostly promote my stuff on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr. I’m always looking for other websites and ways to promote my book.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
The best advice is find a passion, go for it and don’t give up. There will be tough days and times when you want to give up. Just have a good 3-5 people who can get you through it and keep your eyes to the sky and pray and let the man above guide you.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Everyone is blessed with talents and gifts, its a matter of how you utilize them. Everyone has a purpose in this life and its a matter of you figuring out what it is and just going for it. You will have to sacrifice for a while until you get to where you want to be. Always have people who believe in your goals and dreams, all you truly need is one person and sky’s the limit.

What are you reading now?
Currently reading books on how to promote my book better and to reach people. Other than that, nothing at the moment, I will get the chance to read a bit when I am away on vacation soon.

What’s next for you as a writer?
What’s next is to finish up the books I’m working on and publish my second book about societal issues and social stigmas hopefully by the summer.

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 have to take with me a good autobiography book, a poetry book, a crime book and a good fiction book that’s inspiring.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jamell Crouthers Website
Jamell Crouthers Amazon Profile

Jamell Crouthers’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Greetings! I’m a Florida native and a life long lover of good engaging fiction books. From time to time I like to kick back with something light and fun, and that’s where my love of witty jokes inspired me to write this series titled Jokes Against Humanity. Check your inhibitions and sensibilities at the door and enter a world,of dark but hilarious humor. I also just got a Twitter account so I can interact with readers and understand your likes / dislikes better so I can create an even more rewarding experience with each and every New volume.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Jokes Against Humanity Volume 2 was just published. The tremendous positive feedback I received from volume 1 inspired me to go for volume 2. Also by the time I was finished with volume 1 I immediately regretted having left out some classics from my college days. I also had enough material that I first thought would be too dark for wide enjoyment but your feedback suggested otherwise. Now that Pandora’s box is wide open, I’m happy to say that Volume 3 is nearly 60% of the way and should be out by end of Spring 2016.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes. I find my writing flows best when I’m sipping single malt whiskey.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I grew up reading sci-fi and short stories. Folks like Robert Silverburg, Isaac Asimov, Alfred Bester and Larry Niven all played a huge part in my love of books. I plan to release my first Sci-fi novel in 2017. 7 years in the making!

What are you working on now?
Jokes Against Humanity Volume 3

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Haven’t tried many other than Reddit and now awesome gang

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’m a new author myself so my advice would simply be to write about what you love and pray each day you don’t have to rely on your writing to put food on the table.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Maya Angelou once said people will forget what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel (I’m paraphrasing). So always make sure your writing conveys emotion or else they’ll eventually forget everything about you and your book.

What are you reading now?
The Steel Remains by Joe Abercrombie

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m going to hell for my raunchy joke 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?
Anything by Bill Bryson

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Ray Ortiz arrived at the age of 18 to Atlanta, Georgia with only $50.00 to his name, a piece of luggage, no family and no domain of the English language. The author shares in this book his experience of persistence and spiritual journey, which translated into great life lessons and tips. Due to his endeavors and accomplishments, he decided to become a writer and Spiritual speaker after a successful career in vary industries. His most recent Life lesson was the challenge to endure a divorce after 20 years of marriage. Today, Ray Ortiz is fully recovering from the experience and with a great deal of wisdom, he decided to write this book and many others in progress. Mr. Ray Ortiz founded The Eureka Effect.info as a source to offer his writing and public speaking services to everyone in search for a better life.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Beyond the Fog, a journey of self-awareness. This book was inspired by a sense of a calling to share with everyone my personal experiences of overcoming life challenges and the realization of my spirituality approach toward how to resolve them. As my intuition always has guided me since I was a young adult to the point to become a GPS on all my endeavours, I decided to follow it and write this inspired book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My writing is intuitive. I feel as someone is dictating the context of my writing. Whenever I am ready to write, it happens as a whisper talking next to my ear and letting me know is time.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I do have a unique way of writing, and perhaps authors as Wayne Dyer, Louis Hays and Deepak Chopra could be considered as a source of influence.

What are you working on now?
I have several books in progress. The next book to be published will be title The Backpacker – a spiritual lesson of traveling lite.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
To promote a book, I used all channels available. I do workshops on local bookstores, Facebook, Book bloggers. These are some examples.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice is, write because you want to share your inspiration, be patience with the process to be known and be passionate so you do not quit.

Author Websites and Profiles
Ray Ortiz Website

Ray Ortiz’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a retired member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and a former law enforcement college instructor. I went to China to study their police training and remained living in Chongqing for five years. I was a widower when I went to China and I eventually met a wonderful woman and got married. We now divide our time between Canada and China. I have long been a health and fitness “nut” and my wife, Tian Yong, is a master of the ancient Chinese art of rejuvenation.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is “RAPE PROOF: STRATEGIES, TACTICS & SELF DEFENSE TO STAY SAFE”. I was alarmed that up to 3 million women are killed annually, most preceded by sexual assault. Rape is at epidemic levels on college campuses and women in India are at risk just walking down the street.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think I have any unusual writing habits although I suppose I have to be motivated to get started.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
For most of my life, I read mostly non-fiction, but now I read novels for the enjoyment and relaxation. My favorite is Bernard Cornwell but I don’t think any authors have actually influenced me.

What are you working on now?
I am not working on a new book at the moment.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am reading many books on the subject of how to market ebooks and I think I am learning more and more methods to become successful.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be confident in yourself…don’t worry about criticism and don’t associate with negative people or at least don’t listen to them. Just proceed with your writing plans.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never, never quit. Quitters never succeed at anything.

What are you reading now?
I am reading the Fletcher series, a historical drama about a Englishman and his adventures in the late 1700s.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I wrote four spy-mystery-thrillers in a series called, “The Chinese Woman”. I am tempted to start on a fifth in the series.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Books on how to live off the land, particularly on a desert island. Also how to build a sailing craft with limited resources…I already know how to sail to get off the island.

Author Websites and Profiles
Brian N. cOX Website

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Texas native and written over 100 books.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Books on learning for children

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. Type my letters backwards sometimes.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My mother Brenda Winters

What are you working on now?
How to use a computer

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Let others help me.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep at it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write every chance you get. Work for a school newspaper as I have.

What are you reading now?
Prayer books

What’s next for you as a writer?
Encourage others

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

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve worked as a journalist for mainstream publications for nearly twenty years. I’ve had two self-help books published over twelve years ago on how to use your intuition, Be Your Own Psychic and Be Your Own Cupid. Stop the World is a YA novel and is my first work of fiction.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Stop the World which came out two months ago and is inspired by a girl I interviewed for a magazine on how she ended up paralyzed after a car accident.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I start writing I find it addictive and have been known to get up in the middle of the night to correct a paragraph.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love John Green’s book The Fault in Our Stars, and if you loved that too I will be bold enough to say that you should enjoy Stop the World – but I also enjoy a good thriller like Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train and I let you go.

What are you working on now?
I have a historical thriller that is due for release in May called Letters to the Pianist.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I tend to use Facebook and Twitter mostly

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes, pick a story that you love, because you don’t know what the end result will be and it’s the story that will keep you going.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Always look for a solution, never a problem

What are you reading now?
I’m reading Six Points of Light Hooks Origin by Kalynn Bayron who’s a new write that’s self published. It’s about taking looking at the backstory of Captain Hook before he became a villain.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m waiting for my publisher to produce the cover for my historical thriller and have written the back cover synopsis in preparation. Next I plan to write Black Candy, a YA thriller about a girl who gets taken in the heart throb of her local town and finds he’s not all that he seems. It’s about that old saying – all that glitters …

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?
Living Wild by Bear Grylis so I could get some survival tactics.
Treasure Island for inspiration and I fancy rereading it
My first self-help book Be Your Own Psychic to remind myself how to use my intuition to create success
The Secret for more inspiration to keep me going.

Author Websites and Profiles
Sherry Mayes Amazon Profile

Sherry Mayes’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is L.J. Winters, and I have two books out currently, and one ready to be published this month.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book Soul Scavengers – Superstitious Feelings, was inspired by the first two of the same series. I love paranormal investigations and romance, and thought it would make a great story to combine the two!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love writing as if I’m watching a movie or TV. The POV hops around a bit, but it’s never confusing. I want all perspectives when reading a book, so I don’t get all bothered when I see a little head hopping. It’s my style, and I realize sometimes that irritates some readers.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Kathleen Woodiwiss, &Nora Roberts were great inspirations! I loved to get lost in the stories these talented ladies created. They gave me the urge to put pen to paper and start my writing career.

What are you working on now?
I am working on another possible series, called Don’t Lose Hope. It’s about a bush pilot and a woman he knew from the past. Hopefully I’ll have that ready to go by the summer!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I like Goodreads, but Facebook is awesome as well. I also use another romance bogger’s site, Promo Star Services.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing! There is always room for improvement, and the best way to learn is to make a lot of mistakes.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Pay it forward!

What are you reading now?
Finding Keepers, by L.D. Doornbosch.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More Soul Scavengers, maybe creating a series out of Don’t Lose Hope,and another stand alone romance I have on the back burner.

Author Websites and Profiles
L.J. Winters Website
L.J. Winters Amazon Profile

L.J. Winters’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an author of several Advance Chess books. I have always been fascinated with playing chess, however, over the years of playing the game became boring. I wanted to add pizzazz , intrigue and complicated dynamics to the game and have developed an Advance Art of playing chess using 3-D models that may involve more than two players.
My Advance Chess books may be found at :
http://www.amazon.com/author/siafabneal
http://www.coldcoffeepress.com/siafa-b-neal
htttp://www.independentauthornetwork.com/siafa-b-neal
http://www.outskirtspress.com/siafabneal
http://www.coldcoffeecafe.com/profile/SiafaBNeal
http://www.coldcoffeecafe.com/page/chess-enthusiasts

U-Tube:
http://www.youtu.be/ntupil5jVV4
http://www.youtu.be/uPJXn6Ma8GU
http://www.youtu.be/UX7Jh1Csz4M
http://www.youtu.be/2oE1458oh4g
http://www.youtu.be/qyjU3HYpqHY

Some of my hobbies include:
biking,walking, horse-back riding,swimming, soccer, tennis,ping-pong, 3-D Art Painting, reading,chess.

3-D Arts:
http://www.facebook.com/siafa.neal
http://www.twitter.com/chessplayer3334
http://www.googleplus.com/chessplayer3334
http://www.tumblr.com/chessplayer3334
http://www.pinterest.com/chessplayer3334

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my latest chess book :
Advance Chess : Extra-polative Insights of the Double Set Game (D4.2.11)
Subtitle: Matrix Logistics Poly-Plextics Informatics (Book 2 Vol 4)

This book is a series of books concerning the play of Double Set Games engagement on the Longitudinal Star Gate 14 Model , Model III, which is the name of the game board.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My writing habits are usually consistent when free time is available.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Authors who have been influenced my writings include : Charles Dickens – The Tale of Two Cities
Robert Louis Stevenson – Poetry – In the Woods

What are you working on now?
I am currently compiling the content materials for Book 2 Vol. 5 in my series of Advance 3-D Matrix Vector Logistics Dynamics chess books

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Some of the websites used to promote my books include :

http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/siafa-b-neal

http://www.amazon.com/author/siafabneal

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice to new author to be innovative, imaginative, persistent, open-minded and receptive to newer styles of writing, consistent,creative,resourceful ( time,money,talent,effort, energy-wise) , following your passion with compassion ( knowing the regions of your limits), finding your voice and being true to oneself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Being simple and true to oneself is to know the kaleidoscopic qualitative aspects of your potentialities and character.

What are you reading now?
I am now reading nothingness.

What’s next for you as a writer?
After completing the Double Set Games in my series of Advance Chess books, I shall commensurate with the Triple Set Games ( the Tri-Plextics Informatics aspects on the Longitudinal Star Gate 14 Model, Model III).

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?
Charles Dickens – A Tale of Two Cities.
Robert Louis Stevenson – In the Woods
Popular Science Magazine
National Geographic Magazine

Author Websites and Profiles
Siafa Neal Website
Siafa Neal Amazon Profile
Siafa Neal Author Profile on Smashwords

Siafa Neal’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a Zoologist and now an author. I travel to some of the more remote locations on the planet for work. Having spent nine months studying wild bonobos I then went on to be a safari guide in South Africa. I have also worked in Mauritius as warden of world renowned Round Island and more recently I have been habituating lowland gorilla in Gabon. I have an interest in animal behaviour, film making, photography and writing. To date I have written only my first book but have many more planned.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is: A Zoologist’s Stumblings In Africa: How to Habituate a Bonobo. It is about my time living in the Congolese rainforest with wild bonobos. When people hear where I have been they ask for stories. I decided I had so many that I would put them to page so many other people can enjoy them. I also wanted to continue supporting the wild bonobos in some way so decided a portion of my proceeds would go to bonoboalive charity.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write in the wild. Most of my last book was written on a desert island and in a tropical rainforest sitting beside a lagoon. I find being in nature relaxes me and lets me concentrate on my writing. As I write about nature I can glean influence from my surroundings as I write.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Gerald Durrell is a big influence. His books on conservation are both hilarious and inspiring. We need people like him in the modern age.

What are you working on now?
I am now writing a book on a collection of my encounters with wild animals across the planet such as being chased up a tree by elephants or waking up with a snake on my pillow.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far facebook has been my best way to promote my work as well as sites like awesomegang. My own site too has been useful in promoting my work.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep at it and write about what you know and enjoy. I write as I like to think back on past experiences.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t run whatever you do. This applies both to working with animals and writingStick at it even when it seems you are getting nowhere.

What are you reading now?
Right now I am reading the Improbable Trilogy of books and have just started the third in the series title “The Fortress of Improbable Destiny”

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to venture to somewhere remote and have more animal encounters to write about.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I have been (well I worked on one). I took Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton , Blue Horizon by Wilbur Smith, Edge of the Rain by Beverly Harper and My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell.

Author Websites and Profiles
John Matthew Stritch Website
John Matthew Stritch Amazon Profile
John Matthew Stritch Author Profile on Smashwords

John Matthew Stritch’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written about 40 books, maybe more. Quite a few of them never got published. At the moment, I’m like a writing machine! I’ve got into a new habit of writing first thing in the morning in bed after I’ve had my tea. The result is I’m getting through books at an alarming rate! Of course they are only first draft and need to be worked over and polished.

Whence this madness, you cry? Simple! I’m working with a group of fellow British Regency authors and we are releasing Regency anthologies three times a year. We began with reprints, but I soon ran out of books I could use and had to start writing again. I’m loving the productivity, and it’s helping me create a new series which I can release as they come out of the anthology.

It also gives me the rest of the day to edit, promote and do whatever else life throws at me.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
A Chance Gone By, the second of my new Cinderella themed books, came out in our Valentine Kisses: Regency Romantics 2016 anthology. I had a vague idea for this plot some time ago, but a song gave me the inspiration for the way it turned out.

I’m a diehard Elvis fan and these days anyone mad enough to get into my car is treated to Karaoke Elvis singalongs to his CDs. I got absolutely hooked by the song You Don’t Know Me – a classic which I originally knew from Ray Charles. The first scene of the book is based on words from this song and the title is a twist on one of the lines. The whole theme of the novel became wrapped around the idea within the song of being in love with someone who has no idea you love them and thinks of you as just a friend.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’ve said above that I write before getting out of bed for the day. What I write on might surprise you. It’s and Alphasmart – these days you can’t even get this model. This really simple computer was designed originally for young people who had difficulty using a computer at all. You switch on and it automatically takes you to wherever you last entered data. You type and it automatically saves, and if you leave it on accidentally it switches itself off. It’s battery run and the batteries last for ages. I love it! There’s only a small screen with four lines of text showing, but it’s plenty for me and I can write completely distraction free. No pinging messages or Facebook updates to tempt me away!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My early influence was Georgette Heyer, whose books I still re-read whenever I feel in need of a pick-me-up. When I began writing novels – after a good deal of messing about with different styles of writing – it was natural to choose historical romance set in the Georgian and Regency periods. I’ve never fallen out of love with the genre.

I’m an eclectic reader though, and you’ll find me as happy with an apocalyptic tale, Terry Pratchett or Harry Potter as with a good mystery and the occasional thriller. P G Wodehouse is another favourite and his tight writing and convoluted plots unfolding at breakneck speed were examples I learned from.

I enjoy some literary fiction and my edgy women’s fiction with an eye on the dark side is very much influenced by Daphne du Maurier. Reading authors who are masters of their craft is both a pleasure and a lesson. Like all writers, I strive to get better all the time.

What are you working on now?
I’m writing the first draft of the third book in the Cinderella themed series, having completed the first draft of the fourth book. Writing out of order! Must be one of those peculiar habits you asked about. The thing is, I have to write the book that is bouncing around in my head and demanding to be written. Once the characters start talking to me, it’s hard to set them aside and write something else. On the other hand, I’ve got to be able to meet the next deadline, so it’s a good thing I’m ahead of myself already!

The current book is tending to the gothic with a chilling villain and a bit of smoke and mirrors going on. Such fun!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use AskDavid for Twitter and I prefer to promote via established email newsletters. These are very targeted and, as I subscribe to many myself (I’m an avid buyer too!), I know that the promotion is only going to go to people who have requested the romance genre among their choices. That means I’m not wasting promotion on people who have no interest.

I’m currently using a very specific method I’ve learned from an author called Nick Stephenson to build my mailing list, which is already proving a success.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Get the story down. You can’t edit a blank page. Get your first draft written by hook or by crook. Write line by line and keep at it until you have a complete story. Then you can work it through and restructure, edit and polish until it’s the best it can be.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never give up.

What are you reading now?
Just finished the tenth in a mystery series and hovering between buying the next one and reading that, or getting my teeth into something sitting around and waiting for me on my kindle. I’ll decide tonight. I read every night before I go to sleep and get through a quantity of books that way – at least one a week and often more.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Once I get this new series underway, I’m planning to go back to my historical mystery sleuth, Lady Fan and finish the third in the series which rather fell by the wayside for a while.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
A complete Shakespeare is a must. Then I’d probably take Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable for never-ending curiosities. An anthology of Jane Austen and probably Pratchett’s Small Gods which is my favourite of his Discworld novels.

Author Websites and Profiles
Elizabeth Bailey Website
Elizabeth Bailey Amazon Profile
Elizabeth Bailey Author Profile on Smashwords

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

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I write romantic books are filled with smart, sassy women, hot men who love them, and a wild assortment of family members guaranteed to try to steal the show. As of this writing, I’ve published seven contemporary romance novels.

My mission in life is to give readers emotional romantic stories and unforgettable characters, a relaxing treat for the end of the day. And if I can help them escape the laundry pile, I’m totally on board.

When I’m not writing, I can usually be found in my favorite chair doing research (code for reading romance books) or devising multiple excuses to avoid cooking, laundry, housework, and shoveling the snow. I do, however, love to shop for flowers in the spring, and I’ll spend copious hours digging in the dirt to plant them…although my marriage contract clearly stipulates that the man of the house must pull the weeds.

Happy reading!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is titled Caught Between a Rock and a Hunka Man, book three in the Caught Between series (although the books in this series can be read in any order).

What inspired this book? I had to come up with a new story idea for a writing class and, well, maybe I’d watched too many Gilligan’s Island reruns, or perhaps it was a cold snowy day…but once these characters showed up on the page, they wouldn’t leave me alone until I wrote their story.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Sticky notes…on my desk, my walls, even on my computer screen.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Jennifer Crusie and Susan Elizabeth Phillips both write with heart and humor.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a super secret contemporary romance for a series of books with a group of writer friends. I’d like to tell you more about it, but then I’d have to tickle you till you swore to keep it a secret. It’s going to be romantic.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write one book, then write another, and then write yet another one. With every book you finish, you’ll learn more about your own voice and style, and I promise you, each book will be better than the last.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
See the question above!

What are you reading now?
Nalini Singh’s Rock Redemption. Love it!

What’s next for you as a writer?
More romance books in my Caught Between and my Rocky Mountain 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?
Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie
Fast Women by Jennifer Crusie
What I Did For Love by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Author Websites and Profiles
Sheila Seabrook Website
Sheila Seabrook Amazon Profile
Sheila Seabrook Author Profile on Smashwords

Sheila Seabrook’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Kimberli is a Spiritual Healer and has worked with the alternative healing arts for about 2 decades, her Native American name is Soul Retriever. She has learned many techniques, gained valuable insight and had her eyes opened to many possibilities that exist beyond our realm of knowing. Over the years, she has seen many things, things that defy a normal explanation. She has followed these deviations from the norm to help restore the people she was working with to a state of peace. Learn more at her website ghoulbgone.com.
Previous to this the books I have written have been text books for opening up to your multi-dimensional self.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My Cosmic Life, a modern day shaman’s journey. I found my self speaking impromptu at a paranormal expo in Texas. With no presentation materials, I choose to speak about my cosmic life experiences. These tales of my personal journey were very well received by the audience, I knew then that this story was one that wanted to be told.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Nothing I do is within the norms.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have been greatly influenced by Bernadette Cahill. She has written many books about her travels and mystical discoveries along the way.

What are you working on now?
Classes and webinars! I think I have about 20 lined up for the next 3 months. This is a big task to undertake, but going to be quite exciting!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I like the word of mouth that face book provides, A good post can make it around the world! Then there is my favorite website, ghoulbgone.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Formatting, do it right from the beginning and save yourself alot of headache on the back end. Download calibre.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just because you can does not mean you should. — Trisha Springstead

What are you reading now?
The Disappearance of the Universe

What’s next for you as a writer?
I do have several ideas, but I think there will be a non-fiction book about grids and energy work.

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 Keys of Enoch, The Disappearance of the Universe, and some old Archie comic books.

Author Websites and Profiles
Kimberli Ridgeway Website
Kimberli Ridgeway Amazon Profile

Kimberli Ridgeway’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
James R. Callan intended to write out of college, but that didn’t support a family. So he entered graduate school in the field of mathematics. This led to a thirty year detour working in mathematics and computer science, involved in such projects as artificial intelligence, VLSI design, and the mapping of salt domes. Along the way, he and his wife formed a database company which prospered for over twenty-five years.

Then one day,he said, “Aha. The kids are all out of college and self-supporting. I think I’ll get back to my first love – writing.”

Since that day, he has had ten books published, including two books on the craft of writing, requested by a publisher. His true love, however, is mystery/suspense books. His eleventh book will be published in the spring of 2016.

He and his wife split their time between a home in the middle of a forest in east Texas and a condo on the beach in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – that is, when they are not traveling elsewhere.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
His latest book, Over My Dead Body, was inspired when a pipeline company used eminent domain to run a pipeline across part of his property in Texas. He didn’t write about the pipeline company, but the book has some personal feelings in it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think they are unusual. I like to eat ice cream while I write. But then, I like to eat ice cream anytime. I do the creative writing mostly late in the evening. It’s quiet and for some reason, I eel more creative then.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Award winning author Jory Sherman, a prolific writer who published more than 350 books with all the major NY publishers, talked to me many times about painting pictures with words. He was a master at it. I am learning.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a suspense book, the second in my Crystal Moore Suspense series. It is titled The Silver Medallion. It follows a young woman, Crystal Moore, who discovers another woman being held a slave by virtue of threats to her young children left in Mexico. Crystal realizes that the woman will never escape as long as her children are held hostage. So Crystal travels to the jungles of Mexico to try and free the children.

It is set partially in east Texas and partly in Mexico. It should be released in June, 2016.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Great reviews, word of mouth. I speak at conferences and to groups on a variety of topics. And I use the Awesomegang.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write, write. And read a lot. And lastly, be prepared to do a lot of marketing, no matter who publiches your book.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep your bottom in the seat in front of your computer.

What are you reading now?
Black Water Rising by Attica Locke, and I just finished The Advocate’s Dilemma by Teresa Burrell.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have two books in the Father Frank Mystery Series. Once I finish the second Crystal Moore Suspense book, I will add the third Father Frank Mystery. And then, the third Crystal Moore Suspense 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?
One of survival on a desert island. One on small boat building. And one on navigation.

Author Websites and Profiles
James R. Callan Website
James R. Callan Amazon Profile

James R. Callan’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in Ontario, Canada with my family and have been here all my life. I have always enjoyed a good book and have been writing short stories and poetry since I was a young teen. It was always my dream to write a book, and after realizing how short and precious life really is, I decided to stop letting fear and doubt hold me back.

I am the author of the Destinations Series – Bent, Buffed and Bound. These books are romantic comedies. Each book is unique to the character who is the main protagonist of the story and told from the male POV. There is plenty of hilarity to be found in these books, but the main story is still a romance. Each book was written so that they could be read as a stand alone novel, but the story flows through each book and entwines the characters in the ongoing story. Three best-friends who own a bar slowly fall like dominoes for the women of their dreams, but nothing about the fall is gentle or easy.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is, Bound. This is the last installment of the series (for now) and is the most sensitive of the three books. The main character is damaged and broken from a tragedy in his past. The other books dealt with outside influences that affected the struggle to realize love, where this book was a more internal struggle for the hero to overcome. We have all had events in our life that have shaped the way we live, but it is our actions that define us. I think the inspiration for this book came from that.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I am writing I have to slap on a pair of headphones and crank my music in order to stay focused on the story I am working on. I tend to get lost in my imagination, or my mind wanders, so I have to drown the distractions in music. I also need to have something for my hand to worry while I think during breaks to organize my thoughts, otherwise my poor teeth take a serious grinding.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are so many authors that have influenced my decision to write, but the ones that prompted me to write romantic comedies are: Tara Sivec, Alice Clayton and Emma Chase. I wanted to write something that would be as fun for people to read, as it was for me to write. I have always had a quirky sense of humor and enjoy a good laugh when reading a romance. C.E. Black and Theresa Sederholt have influenced me by encouraging me to be better and giving me unconditional support. I have always loved their books and am honored to know them.

What are you working on now?
Right now I am working on a dark and twisted story about a damaged and broken woman who falls for the least likely man to return her affections – a prolific killer who’s soul is stained with the blood of others, and a known sociopath. He has no interest in the attentions of a lost and lonely girl, until he discovers that he is the cause for her path of self-destruction. Being a cold-hearted bastard, he struggles with his need to protect her from further harm, while maintaining his distance. Inevitably, one of them has to make a sacrifice in order to save the other. A love that is wrong and dark is tested against the lust for blood and death.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I haven’t dabbled much with promotion, but I have found that Goodreads and Facebook are good platforms for reaching new readers. I am always looking for ways to extend my reach, though.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My best advice would be to never give up, and always listen to the advice and feedback from your peers. The only way to succeed in any business is to constantly grow and improve.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
My mother’s advice: Don’t let fear and doubt hold you back. You will never know what you are capable of if you never try.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading Blood Kiss by J.R. Ward, and I am loving it!

What’s next for you as a writer?
My next step is to try different genres, like I am now, and find the one that I can flourish in.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
That is a hard choice, but I would have to go with Love Unscripted by Tina Reber, Thoughtless by S.C. Stevens and Real by Katy Evans.

Author Websites and Profiles
S.H. Timmins Website
S.H. Timmins Amazon Profile
S.H. Timmins Author Profile on Smashwords

S.H. Timmins’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born and grew up in Geneva, Switzerland. I completed a bachelor degree in film in London, England. I currently live in my country of nationality, Kuwait. I have self published three anthologies of short stories and a feature film script about a man lost in Hell looking for his way out.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called “The Void” and it is both a biography and short story.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Hermann Hesse was quite an influence in my younger age. I enjoy the simplicity with which he could recount stories.

What are you working on now?
Currently working on a feature film script with a friend.

Author Websites and Profiles
Tarek Al Duaij Amazon Profile

Tarek Al Duaij’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
i have written and illustrated many books which have been translated into several languages so I’m not sure how many are out there (around a dozen in English I think). My first book is called Girls Rule and was a best seller (it has since been re-released with a new cover). The books I currently have on the market at places such as amazon.com and Barnes and Noble are mostly aimed at tween and teen audiences, though I am currently working on books which are intended for adults.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The most recent book I have which is in the marketplace already is called Use Your Girl Power: Nothing Can hold You Back! The messages in it were inspired by ideas I had when I was growing up that a girl in the world could do anything she wanted to. i still believe that today (whether it applies to girls, boys, women, men… in other words, anyone who has a dream, as long as they work hard, in my mind, also has the ability to achieve it).

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
i wrote at home on my computer most of the time but i do some of my best writing when I am out and about and keeping busy. I’ll get an idea and then a stream of words — sometimes an entire section of a book — will come to me when i’m in the car, store, etc. And when that happens, I stop what I’m doing, whip to my phone, and type everything that’s on my mind into the digital notepad, then email it to myself from there so I can later paste the text onto my laptop and work with it further. I’m sure in this day and age, though, a lot of people are doing that!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Shel Silverstein, Todd Parr, Roald Dahl.. more specifically The Giving Tree, Where the Sidewalk Ends, and similarly illustrated books which egged my mind when I was a kid.

What are you working on now?
Books that help adults to figure out how to deal with specific issues in their life such as moving on after something traumatic or life-changing has happened to them; also a book about finding and pursuing your greatest dream or passion. For tweens and teens: a book on dealing with mean girls and another one about how to handle gossip.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
i have a website at www.ashleyrice.net, as well as an amazon author page and a page on good reads under my name.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep at it. Don’t listen to people who tell you that going into the arts, specifically writing, isn’t a realistic way to make a living. You can do it on the side if you need to, or, if it matters that much to you, you can find a way to make a living doing it (for example: my main job is writing greeting cards),,, but, no matter what, if you really want it enough, and you work hard enough, you can find a way to do it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never never never never never give up.

What are you reading now?
The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I plan to write more books aimed at adult audiences, while continue to do some writing for tweens and teens as well.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Bible (I’m spiritual rather than religious, but the Bible says a lot of great stuff in it, The Dictionary (because it would be endlessly interesting to read if you were someplace like that), a Thesaurus (for the same reason; and because, in my real life, I am constantly using the thesaurus you can find online to look up different ways to say the same hing, The Giving Tree, because it’s so simple yet is able to break my heart every time I read it again.

Author Websites and Profiles
Ashley Rice Website
Ashley Rice Amazon Profile

Ashley Rice’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am getting my fourth book ready for a June release. My first two books are children’s books, which I enjoyed writing, but I am grateful that I took the plunge into historical fiction with ‘Plantagenet Princess, Tudor Queen.’

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Plantagenet Princess, Tudor Queen’ was chosen as the title for my novel about Elizabeth of York so that even those who did not recognize her name would understand her importance. She was the daughter of Edward IV of England but wound up married to Henry Tudor, a man she had no reason to think would take the place expected to be filled by her brother on England’s throne. Her story is amazing.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Besides a timeline of historical facts, I do not outline. I don’t offer this as advice, but my stories seem to have come together without them.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Sharon Kay Penman has been a huge influence in my writing career. Not only did her books help create my obsession with the Plantagenet dynasty, but I have never read better historical fiction.

What are you working on now?
‘Faithful Traitor’ features Margaret Pole, the cousin of Elizabeth of York, and it carries on with the lives of the Plantagenet remnant during the Tudor reign. After this book is released, I look forward to shifting to an earlier part of the Plantagenet dynasty.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The independent writing community is amazing. So many other authors have helped with beta reading, reviewing, and promoting my books. I also enjoy having them as guests on my blog and spreading the word about their new releases. This network of authors has been the most helpful tool in promoting my books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write about topics that you have a passion for. We write our best when we are writing about something we love. In my case, I also had a network of contacts already in place for the release of my first historical fiction novel because that is what I read, review, and discuss with book groups online. Following my passion made every step of the process much easier.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t write something because you think it is what people want to buy.

What are you reading now?
I am always reading historical fiction and nonfiction, including the work of other independent authors.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Preparing for a summer book release and author events is keeping me busy right now, but I hope to start researching a new topic soon.

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 would have to have Sharon Kay Penman’s ‘Sunne in Splendor’, CJ Sansom’s Shardlake series (sorry, I just cannot pick one), Charlotte Bronte’s ‘Villette’, and Henry Vyner-Brooks’ ‘The Heretic’.

Author Websites and Profiles
Samantha Wilcoxson Website
Samantha Wilcoxson Amazon Profile

Samantha Wilcoxson’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m 34, a writer from London, UK. I have spent the last two years writing for online film review sites. Starting with Watch This Space, moving to the cinemarks where I worked up to being co editor and now I run my own entertainment site. Thepulseentertainment.co.uk. I have always written stories since I was a teenager, however this year is the first time I published one of my works.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Save Me is my debut book, its an LGBT love story showing the darker side of love. Its not all happy endings, its about pain, loss, dealing with these raw emotions and looking for love in all the wrong places. Before you can finally heal, to enjoy the kind of love you deserve. It is inspired by my own past of abusive relationships, and my struggle to come out opennly as a bisexual to my family. It is also inspired by a group of gay/straight and bi friends of mine and their own personal experiences in love. We wanted our stories to be told so the next generation of LGBT and straight young adults know that these darker sides of love are wrong. So no one else has to suffer the horrors we experienced growing up. It is part of what is going to be a series of books exploring all aspects of love, including all the darker nasty parts people love to ignore.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am very picky to my surroundings when I write. I have to have the right tracklist, the right pens, right notebooks (yes I write everything by hand before I type to a computer to edit). Even down to the right snacks. If I can’t find the right brand I won’t write that day.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Darren Shan is a big influence, I love his vampire series. I met him at a book signing a few years ago before I became and writer and he was really supportive.

Neil Gaiman was the first author who made me what to be a writer as a child when I read his dark twisted fiction, Neverwhere.

Edgar Allen Poe and Conan Doyle were also firm favourites of mine growing up. I like the darker side of things. The inner workings of man and mind. That things don’t always have a happy ending, or if they do it takes time and effort.

What are you working on now?
Currently working on Can’t Let You Go, which is a story of a man who discovers he has cancer and only six months to live. Trying to confront his bisexuality he has been avoiding all of his life to win the girl he has always loved before the end. Which should be published either Winter 2016 or Spring 2017.

Also working on the sequel to Save Me, called Too Many Tears. Which without giving away spoilers, will continue Nic and Jack’s stories as they both continue to try and deal with not only their pasts, but also the events of the first book. To see if they can ever be a couple or not. This should publish winter 2017.

There are plans in the workings for at least a further two books in this series coming in 2018/2019.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I tend to work through word of mouth a lot, it gives a lot of hype when you get involved with the people reading and reviewing your work.

Twitter is a very useful tool as well, I have connected to a lot of good authors there who are always willing to help out with advise.

I have experiemented with some paid for promotion, however I am not that impressed with it. I haven’t had a single sale connected to that medium for all the hundreds of thousand followers they tweet to about my work every day.

Also given the subject matter of the book, I promote a lot through LGBT friendly sites. Who are always very open and friendly.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be true to yourself. Everyone will give you a million pieces of advise to follow, and they all seem to controdict the other. At the end of the day, listen, take it in, and do what the hell you want anyway. ITS YOUR BOOK! Not theirs.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Think what you want to promote yourself as. Decide what your brand is and stick to it. Don’t sell out on your values for anything. Since publishing Save Me, I have had three different offers for paid work. All three of them very good pay, one of them crazily good pay! One was ghost writing, which after a lot of thought I decided against because I could never say hey this is MY book, or have it carry my name. Two others were writing articles on subjects I didn’t find appealing, and one site who offered me a job was on a very strict subject matter which went against my own belief system. You have to decide whether you are in it for the passion or for the money. Some people will write for anything, just to get a pay check. Others of us will write for passion and although we would love to make a living at it, the message we want to transmit will come first. I was told its the choice every young artist must make whatever their field is. So guys and gals, make the right choice for you.

What are you reading now?
Currently several books by talented new writers to review for The Pulse Entertainment. Including a sci fi thriller from Paul Chaplin.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Carrying on working with The Pulse Entertainment, building great connections with amazing talent. Honing my writing skills, so I can give the best in my upcoming books. Hopefully working towards a suitable paid writing position in the next year or so. That would be amazing.

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. Neverwhere: Neil Gaiman. The book that started me on this epic path is still a constant by my bed every single night.

2. The beekeepers Apprentice: Laurie King. One of the best later Sherlock Holmes books I have ever read.

3. The Princess Bride. Amazing storyline, film I grew up with.

4. Wicked. A book I constantly reread now.

Author Websites and Profiles
Sarah Beth James Website
Sarah Beth James Amazon Profile

Sarah Beth James’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have been publishing since October 2012 and am working on book #35. trying to hit 40 books by the end of my fourth year of writing. I write everything from preschool to young adult to supernatural suspense and even a couple of coming books about growing old. I tend to add a lot of spirituality to the books, although some don’t even get close. The stories so far, keep coming and for that I am grateful. We’ll see what happens after 40!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The last book published is called “Correlations” it is a murder, mystery with a touch of paranormal.
I was thinking how little things in life relate to other things and it was long until the book was on its way.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I do write everything longhand before I struggle with the typewriter. Mostly I write the books in my head during that strange time between asleep and awake. I don’t know if it has a name, I call it my “Zoning”. I write anywhere and everywhere and do a lot of the writing while waiting in doctors’ offices.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love classic writers and of course Stephen King and Dean Koontz. I was compared to Mr. King, and am flattered, but I believe the novels I write are closer to what Mr. Koontz would write. I read a lot of new authors, I have read 243 books so far this month, so I read a lot. I have found so many new authors that are very talented. I know it is hard to get the word out about the books and try to help when and where I can, especially on twitter where I do Monday Mentions and Friday Reads to push others books (mine too! LOL!) I have 13000 followers so I hope I am helping others a little.

What are you working on now?
I am writing a short story collection about how our world and the one after are closely related and how certain things may be signs from the next world. It will be called “Wings and Whispers.” It is also the third book I have drawn my own cover for.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think Facebook is good, but I also use twitter and Goodreads a lot. I have been very lucky having others to share my posts, tweets and shout outs of the books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what you feel. Don’t let anyone tell you there is a right or wrong way to put the words on paper. If you love the story, others will read that in the words. Don’t expect to get rich, if you are in the business for money, you are doing something wrong. Just one reviewer telling you that you’re book meant something to them is worth more than a bank account balance.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t give up and believe in yourself. Not just in writing , but in life in general, f you don’t believe in yourself, nothing goes smoothly. One more thing, always , always give back. No matter how many books you sell or stories you write. someone else needs help too.

What are you reading now?
Anything and everything. Some days I read five or six books. Although one book I haven’t read yet and am planning on buying the paperback of is Stephen Kings book about JFK. I love to read and also love to put reviews on amazon for writers, especially those whose books only have 1 or 2 reviews, I know how special it is when you receive them on your books.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Always another book. I would like to try and do an audio book, but am still unsure about doing that. First thing I want to do is finish the 40 books in 4 years for my goal and then go from there.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
A notebook first, then I can write new stories.
A thesaurus to look up words.
and a Bible, you can always read and reread that.

Author Websites and Profiles
P.S. Winn Amazon Profile

P.S. Winn’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska back in 1952 when Alaska was still a territory. Been lucky to travel the lower 48 with our children and family. Living in Southern California is very, very nice. The thought of driving up to the mountains and then down to the ocean is just fun for my husband and myself.
The Mis-Adventures of Trouser Bowser Professor of Bones came about from a nickname, Professor of Bones.Which was a nickname for our family pet along with my love of hounds tooth fabric. Face to Face With John Lennon, happened in Anchorage.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Face to Face With John Lennon came about when the Beatles landed in Anchorage in the summer of 1966. It was an unbelievable experience. Beatlemania, arrived in my home town. And I was literally face to face with, John Lennon. A day that I along with my family will never forget

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
To start, I like a brand new ream of ruled paper and a writing pen. Always with a glass of ice tea and chessmen cookies. Listening to classical music help sets a writing rhythm.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
John Lennon, “In His Own Write”

What are you working on now?
A story that has Alaska, “shaking!”

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesomegang, for sure.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write! When you find something that you are passionate about, write it down and keep writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be true to yourself and follow your dreams.

What are you reading now?
John Lennon, “In His Own Write”

What’s next for you as a writer?
Many ideas that I would like to write about. Having enough hours in the day to do so, is always a challenge.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Mis-Adventures of Trouser Bowser Professor of Bones (my first book)
War and Peace
The Bible

Author Websites and Profiles
Mary Jane Dougherty Website
Mary Jane Dougherty Amazon Profile

Mary Jane Dougherty’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an author from Canada who lives in the Philippines. I have six finished manuscripts at this time.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
AMERICANO IN THE PHILIPPINES IS A ROMANTIC SUSPENSE NOVEL. IT WAS INSPIRED BY MY OWN INTRODUCTION TO THE SEX TRADE IN THE PHILIPPINES. I WANTED TO WRITE A BOOK THAT EXPOSED THE INTRICACIES OF THIS UNDERHANDED BUSINESS. THAT IS WHAT INSPIRED ME TO WRITE THIS BOOK.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I ALWAYS WRITE AT NIGHT. IT IS COOL AND QUIET AND I CAN THING BETTER.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
CYNDIE LORD IS MY MENTOR. SHE IS A FAMOUS AUTHOR WITH A UNIQUE AND DISTINGUISHED WRITING STYLE. SHE HAS HELPED ME IN MORE WAYS THAN I CAN COUNT. C.S. LEWIS IS ANOTHER GREAT INFLUENCE IN MY LIFE AND MY WRITING STYLE.

What are you working on now?
I AM WORKING ON THE NEXT BOOK IN MY TRILOGY, AMERICANO IN THE PHILIPPINES. IT FOLLOWS THE FIRST BOOK AND WILL BE ACTION PACKED WITH THE SAME SWEET LOVE STORY FROM THE FIRST BOOK.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I USE A LARGE EMAIL LIST, TWITTER, FACEBOOK AND MY PERSONAL WEBSITE. I HAVE SEEN SUCCESS WITH THESE.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
IF YOU FEEL THE URGE INSIDE OF YOU, THEN WRITE. STAY TRUE TO YOURSELF AND WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW. DO NOT GIVE UP AND PROMOTE WHEREVER POSSIBLE. I ASK EVERYONE I MEET IF THEY READ. IF THE ANSWER IS YES, I DIRECT THEM TO MY BOOKS AT AMAZON.COM.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
THE OPINIONS OF MAN ARE A SNARE. IF YOU GET CAUGHT UP IN THIS YOU MAY LOSE YOUR UNIQUE VOICE IN WRITING. ONLY YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE MEANT TO WRITE. DO IT WITH PASSION AND NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR IT.

What are you reading now?
I AM READING AN AMISH STORY BY CYNDI LORD. SHE WANTS ME TO REVIEW IT.

What’s next for you as a writer?
TO KEEP WRITING, TO HELP AS MANY GIRLS AS I CAN AND TO BE A GOOD HUSBAND AND FATHER. IF I FAIL AT THIS, MY WRITING WON’T COUNT FOR ANYTHING. I WOULD FEEL LIKE A FRAUD.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
THE BIBLE, THE ULTIMATE SURVIVORS GUIDE, A TRAVEL BOOK FOR THE ISLAND AND A BOOK CALLED THE SHACK. MAYBE I COULD MEET THE LARGE BLACK LADY, OR GOD, WHO GRACES THE STORY LINE OF THIS BOOK.

Author Websites and Profiles
robert benjamin mccrabb Website
robert benjamin mccrabb Amazon Profile

robert benjamin mccrabb’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written eight books so far including a paranormal fantasy trilogy, The Ghost Protector Trilogy, as well as several non fiction titles including I’m Engaged! Now What? and Daily Writing Prompts To Spur Creativity.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Book two of the Ghost Protector Trilogy, Ghost Of A Smile, is coming out this month. I am working on book three, Ghost Of A Memory, which will be out in June 2016.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m prone to moving around when I write. I’ll have my laptop set up at the dining room table then I’m off to the couch or the back porch. I usually have multiple drinks going–a water, a tea, maybe some soda. I like to alternate what I’m drinking but still drink plenty of water.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read a lot of different things including non fiction, romance, paranormal, thrillers, mystery. I most recently have been reading a lot of paranormal. I tend to listen to audiobooks a lot as well.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on final edits for book three of my paranormal trilogy–Ghost Of A Memory. I’m also working on a second book of writing prompts. I like to work on a smaller project to help me keep the juices flowing while working on a bigger project.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I tend to just keep writing. I am on twitter and facebook and I have a website (www.ejdivitt.com) but I don’t have any one method to promote my books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My best advice is to keep reading and writing. The more you do of both, the better your work will be.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve received is to make sure to write regularly. It’s a lot easier to wait for that elusive muse and be inspired but you get a lot further if you just keep plugging away.

What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading the Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger and Archangels Enigma by Nalini Singh. The next book on my list is The Like Switch.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m in an editing stage right now. I have multiple books in the first draft stage that have been percolating; waiting for me to go back and finish them.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
If I could only have three or four books, I would want to bring some long ones. I would include old favorites like the Black Jewel Trilogy by Ann Bishop and include some I haven’t read yet such as the complete Jill Kismet.

Author Websites and Profiles
EJ Divitt Amazon Profile
EJ Divitt Author Profile on Smashwords

EJ Divitt’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My debut novel, Available to Chat, was just published by Booktrope.
The book is sizzling Women’s Fiction. Recently an essay I wrote about reconciling motherhood and writing steamy novels was published by The New York Times.
http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/01/03/please-read-my-book-unless-youre-a-friend-of-my-sons/

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My novel is titled Available to Chat. I was struck by how often I was hearing about the lure of social media friendships. I found myself trying to imagine how people go from, “Let’s be Facebook friends and discuss our kids’ sports to …whatcha wearing?”

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I live in Minnesota and I am cold from October to April. In our den, where the computer is, we have an electric fireplace. I used to write a couple minutes then go stand by the fireplace. Three winters ago I bought myself a portable heater and I write with it on my lap. Not getting up to stand by the fireplace every five minutes helped me finish my book! True story!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Some of my all time favorites are: The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez and Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen.

Classics, To Kill a Mockingbird and everything Jane Austen.

What are you working on now?
I’m venturing into romance. I’m working on a book about a character in her late thirties. I think writing romance is tough! It’s hard to write something contemporary and figure out what can keep a couple apart. But I’m enjoying the challenge!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Word-of-Mouth! I think all my friends wanted to read my book because they didn’t see me as a sizzling-type writer!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Get beta readers, then listen to what they say and make sure it resonates with you. There’s a difference between someone telling you they have a personal dislike for main characters with beards and a real story issue.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The world does not reward the perfect book, the world rewards the finished book. (At some point you have to say this is strong, not perfect, but strong.)

What are you reading now?
Sarah Addison Allen – First Frost

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish novel two and more essay writing. I’ve found i love doing it!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
How to catch and eat raw fish. How to build a shelter. And the complete works of Jane Austen – annotated.

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Jacy Sutton Website
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