Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Dominic Hodgson, I’m 18 years old and am about to go off to university. Writing has always been the greatest passion in my life, with my only ambition being to making a living out of the stories my wondrous mind continues to produce…even when I don’t want it to. So far I’ve only published one novel, ‘Gift Of The Mancynn’, which is meant to be the opening novel to a much larger science fiction/fantasy franchise, ‘The Ragnarök Chronicles’, of which this comes under the subseries ‘2016’.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
As I’ve already mentioned, if this is displayed in order, my debut novel is called ‘Gift Of The Mancynn’. It follows a supernaturally enhanced teen, Philip, as he and his companions learn of an ancient, inter-dimensional plot to turn Earth into a weapon for an alien war, and that he, Philip, is the key to its completion. The whole story of its inspiration is best spelt out in my early posts at dominichodgson.wordpress.com, but long story short I needed a way to open this generally planned franchise, and the events of this book, after some other possibilities were rejected, seemed like the most logical way to introduce my worlds.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Having not spoken with many other authors, I don’t know what constitutes ‘unusual’, but if it’s going to be anything I guess it would be the fact that I tend not to write chronologically in the latter half of the text, when working with prose at least. There just something about passing the halfway point of the story that gets me thinking about the exciting conclusion (I usually plan out the skeleton of the story beforehand and so know what will happen here), leading me to skip the next few chapters to write said finale. This can lead to come corrections for the sake of continuity later on once I’ve gone back and written the skipped chapters, but I find that’s how I work best, as that’s the order I think about the plot in.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I try not to be consciously influenced so that I can be as original as possible. That being said, I can never tell if anyone’s had a subconscious influence on me. If this is the case, the likely candidates are the works of JK Rowling, Terry Pratchett, Garth Nix, Eoin Colfer or Jasper FForde.

What are you working on now?
Prose-wise, I’m working on the third draft of my second novel, Archk of Angels, the sequel to my debut novel, Gift of the Mancynn, and the first draft of my third, Celestial Coup. Aside from this, I write what at the moment might as well be called ‘fan’ scripts for TV shows I’d like to write for in the future (*cough* *BBC’s Doctor Who*) as well as those of some original show concepts. But while I should have ample time to write in the summer, I cannot predict what affect my going to university in the autumn will have on the above.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Having only just started, I don’t really know for sure, but I would have to guess Twitter, as that’s what I’ve been using most for the purposes of promotion.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t expect instant success. That will likely lead to paranoia and depression. Trust me, I know from experience. You have to wait both for people to realise your book is out there and for them to actually read it before they pass judgement in the form or reviews or spreading the word.
But before this stage, while some editors/publishers might try to get you to change your story to fit ‘demand’, have faith in your creation (within reason, sometime their advise makes sense). Besides, how are new trends set if not with variety?

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Honestly, I have no idea. Sorry. I kind of just worked it out as I went along, rather than listening to others. Because I’m stubborn like that, for better or worse. I hope that’s okay.

What are you reading now?
Unfortunately I don’t have much to read at the moment, but I am slowly making my way through ‘Good Omens: According to the Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch’ by talented authors Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Once I’ve finished with this tetralogy subseries of my epic (by the archaic meaning of the world, but apply the other, more common, definition if you hopefully will) franchise, I plan to write a short horror story anthology novella under a pseudonym before coming back to the next subseries which should be a trilogy. I also plan, when possible, to further work on my scripts.

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?
Oh, this is difficult…Okay, I’ve got my four, but before I go into them, I’d just like to say that were I able to give a fifth, it would be ‘The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring’. I just wanted to put that out there.
1. ‘Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix’: it’s hard to beat a good Harry Potter book, but I struggle with favourites as a general rule, so I went with the longest one.
2. ‘The Big Over Easy’: a fun, upbeat, very imaginative crime mystery. Always good in a dark moment.
3. ‘The Complete Stories Of Sherlock Holmes’: I’ve been meaning to read this for a while.
4. ‘How To Escape A Desert Island’

Author Websites and Profiles
Dominic Hodgson Website
Dominic Hodgson Amazon Profile

Dominic Hodgson’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I started writing about the age of 12. Most of that stuff has blessedly been swept away by the tides of time! In college I took every writing class offered–journalism, English lit. I didn’t care. That’s where I learned the basics of sentence structure and story structure. Since that time I’ve written about 15 books, some of which will never make it off my hard drive but many of which are available on Amazon.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is “Wicked Little Things.” I’d be lying if I didn’t say it was inspired by Buffy the Vampire Slayer It’s steam punk set in a 19th century London that never existed except in my imagination. Of course, there are monsters.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write everything longhand in journals I make myself. (I also blog about journaling)

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Terry Pratchett, Agatha Christie, John Steinbeck, Arthur C. Clark. The best book on writing I’ve ever read is “Story” by Robert McKee followed by “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron

What are you working on now?
The 4th volume in the Black Jade Dragon Series. This one will be called “Dragon Gold.” I’m especially pleased with the two opening lines: “Running from the police is how I keep fit. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise to you that on a muggy Tuesday afternoon I was engaging in my favorite sport.”

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have done very little promoting. I am just now getting started. I do like the Awesomegang website!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Take as many writing classes as you can. Read as many books on how to write as you can. Find a writer’s critique group and learn to diligently consider even stupid suggestions. Read, read, read. Read stuff you’d be embarrassed if someone compared you to them.

This is the most important advice of all:
Write every day like your life depended on it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write every day like your life depended on it.

What are you reading now?
“The Vessel” by Taylor Stevens

What’s next for you as a writer?
I write in many genres and I’ve been working on fantasy for a year. I think the next book will be an amateur sleuth mystery–an homage to Agatha Christie.

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 couple of Terry Pratchett novels chosen at random. Lord of the Rings (I insist that counts as one book!) And a blank book so I can write so I don’t go crazy.

Author Websites and Profiles
Susan Cogan Website
Susan Cogan Amazon Profile
Susan Cogan Author Profile on Smashwords

Susan Cogan’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a business consultant and personal coach. After a successful marketing career at multinational Procter & Gamble, I’ve since worked independently as a consultant with clients including Burberry, Vertu, and increasingly also small businesses and startups. Today, I mentor entrepreneurs and young managers while I juggle my own three businesses.

My first business was my digital marketing consultancy, Crocus Communications, and I’m passionate about teaching people how to engage with consumers using digital media without becoming distracted, or intimidated, by the technology behind it. Last year I co-founded Wolf Leaders Academy, which provides training for a new generation of managers in the world of business. Having qualified as a certified professional coach, I now empower people through my personal coaching practice, One Step Outside, to take ownership of their own careers and transition into becoming an entrepreneur, changing career direction, or following their passion whatever that might be.

I’m a published writer, with articles appearing on Inc. Magazine, Business Insider, and other online publications, and I’ve now co-authored my first book, just launched on Amazon.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first book that’s just been published on Amazon is How to Succeed in Your First Job, co-authored with my business partner, Serena De Maio.

Together we founded a training organisation, Wolf Leaders Academy, to help young professionals become the best leaders that they can be, and we work with small companies and organisations to run workshops and arrange individual coaching support where needed. We originally put a guide together on our website and we realised that a comprehensive book available for sale on Amazon would be an invaluable resource that would reach a larger audience. We plan to launch other books in this Get Ahead of the Pack series with the same kind of format, focusing on key areas of expertise and including personal stories from experienced professionals sharing their advice.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I don’t have any specific idols or role models whose style I’ve tried to emulate, if for no other reason than the fact that I have a bad memory, which means that I can’t remember anything that I’ve read! I can only assume, though, that I’ve absorbed something from the countless novels, memoirs and business books I’ve read over the years.

What are you working on now?
My business partner and I have already kicked off work on the second book in our Get Ahead of the Pack series. Other than that, I’m always working on blog posts for my main website as well as articles for my business sites and for other media outlets.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Publishing on Amazon and using their KDP Select Program gives you access to their global platform as well as a range of promotional tools. Other than that, I come from a marketing background and so of course I’m applying the branding and marketing strategies that I’ve learned during my career. That being said, I’m new to book publishing so let’s see how I do!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Start writing! So many of us dream of writing a book and the reality is that it’s never been easier – that is, it’s never been easier to publish, to market and promote your book; you still have to write the book! Having the idea and then the discipline to stick with that idea and sit down and write until it is finished, that’s the hardest part. So start writing – and you’ll be halfway there!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?

What are you reading now?
I’m always reading several books at once, on my Kindle app, on Audible, and sometimes also in hard copy. I mostly read non-fiction business books and I’m currently reading Born for This by Chris Guillebeau, Mastery by Robert Greene, and Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion and Purpose by Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Now that I’ve popped my publishing cherry, I’ve got the confidence to proceed with my other book ideas. In addition to the second book in our Get Ahead of the Pack series, I’m planning other books in the self-development genre as part of my career coaching business.

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 have my iPhone with the Kindle app so assuming 4G and a solar powered charger I would have an unlimited library of books at my fingertips! If that is cheating, I’d take… an anthology of Jane Austen novels, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and all of Harry Potter. Still cheating?

Author Websites and Profiles
Anna Lundberg Website
Anna Lundberg Amazon Profile

Anna Lundberg’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Shauna Moore-Brown was born in Portland, Jamaica on January 11,1987 to a single mother who later migrated to Ocho Rios, St.Ann where they settled. While attending high school she found her calling in English where she started writing short stories and poems. Her first book “Top 10 Jamaican Comfort Foods and how to prepare them ” was published on amazon on April 2016. Shauna holds an Associate degree in Business Studies majoring in Accounting. While her heart is in Accounting her first true love is writing which lead to her writing her second book ” Money woes:A guide to understanding money management”. Shauna is a mother of three children 2 sons and a daughter and is also married to her high school friend.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is entitled Money Woes:A guide to understanding money management. I was inspired to write it after coming to a realization that a lot of people don’t really understand how to ensure that they are saving money and doing it correctly.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stefan Pylarinos, Raymona Brown, Joanna Penn

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a book about dieting. How to lose weight by simply changing your diet.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I really only ever used amazon. I’m just getting my feet wet in trying new sites.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Believe in yourself no matter what other people may say and even if your first, second or third book doesn’t sell a lot continue writing never give up

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
That I can do anything that I put my mind to

What are you reading now?
Kindle Marketing Secrets by Stefan Pylarinos

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m trying to venture into the erotic field of 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?
Fifty shades of grey, the 10x rule, secret of the millionaire mind

Author Websites and Profiles
Shauna Moore-Brown Amazon Profile

Shauna Moore-Brown’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I lived a miserable and unfulfilling existence* until the day I was invited to play Ultimate Frisbee by one boy, and left madly in love with another (my husband).

We Claws live with a hoard of ordinary, run-of-the-mill children, whom we believe to be spectacular and exceptional, and for whom we would gladly dash into a burning building to save.

Or just make the mundane, daily sacrifices required over a lifetime.

*5.775% accurate

Oh, and pssst–I’ve written numero uno book-os

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Goggles Gone Strong: Mighty Monday is my latest book and it was inspired for the need for speed in dashing across the beach, swinging from the banyan tree, chasing that tarantula for a closer look and finding treasure before the next kid.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write during the time of day when I’m the most tired–in the evening after my kids are in bed. Also, my husband is morally opposed to Word or any word processing software really (who needs words when you can code??), so my entire book was written in Google Docs, usually with my iPhone or iPad.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
What hasn’t?? It’s a big melting pot in my head, but a few childhood favorites do stand out.

I loved The Chronicles of Narnia. I read the entire series every summer. I also read one of The Three Investigators every week. (Maybe someday I’ll have a child named Jupiter.) I also read Joan Aiken short stories, and adored Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle–where is that woman when I need her?!

For years I listed The Fragile Flag by Jane Langton as my favorite book ever. (And don’t forget The Diamond in the Window or The Swing in the Summer House!)

Harry Potter wasn’t around until I was in college, but I’ve read all the books many, many times.

But most importantly, since I was 9 years old, I’ve read every day from The Book of Mormon. Back then, I understood very little of what was going on, but it made me feel awesome!

What are you working on now?
The second book in the Goggles Gone Strong series–True Tuesday. This one is written from Reggie Blue’s point of view, and he’s a hothead!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Amazon and Smashwords have both been invaluable to me. They both offer incredible free services, educational tools, and they’re both very helpful and easy to use.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Only the same advice I would give anyone: Put first things first. Make God and family the apex of your life. Then prove you mean it. All good things will follow.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Wow! This question is nearly impossible to answer–I hear (er, read…) good advice everyday. I did read this last night and like it:

“Never have women had greater influence than in today’s world. Never have the doors of opportunity opened wider for them. This is an inviting, exciting, challenging and demanding period of time for women. It is a time rich in rewards if we keep our balance, learn the true values of life, and wisely determine priorities.”

Belle Smith Spafford

What are you reading now?
Alma, Isaiah, Magyk and Fancy Nancy: Bonjour Butterfly

What’s next for you as a writer?
After I complete my Goggles Gone Strong series, I plan to start a series of picture books or early chapter books. Something for younger kids–my grandkids :).

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 Book of Mormon, The Bible, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (narrowly beating out The Horse and His Boy).

Author Websites and Profiles
S.M.W. Claw Website
S.M.W. Claw Amazon Profile
S.M.W. Claw Author Profile on Smashwords

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a former foreign correspondent for the Chicago Tribune and Professor Emeritus of Journalism at the University of Illinois where I was also the Dean of the College of Media.

I have written six books. My book, The Improbable Journeys of Billy Battles, is the second in the Finding Billy Battles trilogy of novels. I am also the author of The Kikkoman Chronicles: A Global Company with A Japanese Soul, published by McGraw-Hill. Other books include Aboard The Tokyo Express: A Foreign Correspondent’s Journey Through Japan, a collection of columns translated into Japanese, as well as three journalism textbooks: The Journalist’s Handbook, International Reporting and Foreign Correspondents, and Business and Financial Reporting in a Global Economy.

During my career as a foreign correspondent I lived and worked in Japan, Southeast Asia and Latin America where I covered several major stories including the fall of South Vietnam and Cambodia in 1975; the 1989 Tiananmen Square tragedy in Beijing; Afghanistan during the last year of the Russian occupation; and revolutions in Nicaragua, El Salvador an Guatemala.

My work as a correspondent was rewarded with several awards, including three Pulitzer nominations; the Inter-American Press Association’s Tom Wallace Award for coverage of Central and South America; the Peter Lisagor Award from the Society of Professional Journalists; and three Edward Scott Beck Awards.

I write a blog entitled “ForeignCorrespondent” that can be found at: http://ronaldyatesbooks.com/category/foreign-correspondent/.My Website and authors pages can be found at: http://www.ronaldyatesbooks.com/ and at the Authors’ Guild: http://www.ronaldyates.com/index.htm and on Amazon’s Author Central page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001KHDVZI.

I served 3-1/2 years active duty with the U.S. Army Security Agency in Germany, where I was worked in communication intelligence (SIGINTEL). I am a proud graduate of the William Allen White School of Journalism at the University of Kansas.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Improbable Journeys of Billy Battles is Book #2 in the Finding Billy Battles trilogy. It was released June 2016. Book 2 in Billy Battles’ life takes him far away from his Kansas roots and out of his comfort zone to the Far East of the 1890s and places like French Indochina, The Philippines, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Billy finds himself mixed up with political opportunists, spies, revolutionaries and an assortment of malevolent and dubious characters of both sexes. In short, How will Billy handle those people and the challenges they present? Book #2 was inspired by Book #1 and Book #3 will be inspired by Book #2.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to listen to music when I write. Most often, I listen to Mozart, Haydn, Telemann, William Boyce, and Beethoven. Classical music, played softly, is inspirational and helps me think. However, I also like the jazz of Dave Brubeck, Oscar Peterson, The Modern Jazz Quartet, George Shearing, etc. and I will on occasion switch from classical to that. I usually write about four hours every day. I view it as my job and that way I avoid any temptation to procrastinate. When I finish writing, I usually spend an hour or so doing research on what I plan to write the next day.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Scoop, by Evelyn Waugh; The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck; The Quiet American, Graham Greene; The Jewel in the Crown, Paul Scott; Kim, Rudyard Kipling; Huckleberry Finn, Samuel Clemons (Mark Twain); A Passage to India, E.M. Forster; Sister Carrie, Theodore Dreiser; The Naked and the Dead, Norman Mailer. I also love to read Elmore Leonard and Ernest Hemingway for their crisp, punchy style and barebones descriptions.

What are you working on now?
I have just begun working on Book #3 of the Finding Billy Battles trilogy. It will be ready for publication in April 2017. After that, who knows. I may finally get around to writing about my life as a war correspondent. I am thinking of calling it: “Looking for Trouble.”

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am still learning how to use the vast universe of social media to market my book. In addition to Amazon and Barnes & Noble, of course, my book is on Goodreads, Smashwords, Google Books, Createspace, NetGalley, Independent Book Publishers Association, as well as the Historical Novel Society, my blog, my author page on Facebook. My website is http://ronaldyatesbooks and I am constantly updating it. My blog is http://ronaldyatesbooks.com/category/foreign-correspondent/ I try to post to it at least once or twice a week. I also have an Amazon Author Central page at: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001KHDVZI, and an Author’s Page on Facebook called Ronald E. Yates Books. It is located at https://www.facebook.com/Ronald-E-Yates-Books-688075584557417/

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Try to write as much as you can from your own experiences. They are real and uncontrived and if you incorporate those experiences in your fiction, your work will have a truthful ring to it. Beyond that, KEEP AT IT! Don’t let anybody (editors, agents, etc.) discourage you. At the same time, be willing to accept constructive criticism from those who have experience as authors, editors, agents, etc. Notice I said CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. Some people criticize just to be criticizing–or to be malicious. You must believe in yourself, your work, your vision, and your story. If you don’t, who will?

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t let anybody discourage you from pursuing your goals. Don’t be discouraged by rejection. You must believe in yourself, your ideas, and your stories. If you don’t, who will? Certainly not that dense editor or literary agent who couldn’t see your potential or grasp your book’s storyline. Finally, there is this bit of advice: Never tell your problems to anyone; 20% don’t care and the other 80% are glad you have them.

What are you reading now?
End of Watch, Stephen King; All The Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to finish Book #3 in the Finding Billy Battles trilogy. Then, I want to begin my memoirs. They will tell the stories behind the stories–those juicy details that I couldn’t share with readers when I was covering the war, revolution and mayhem as a foreign correspondent.

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?
Scoop, by Evelyn Waugh; A Passage to India, E. M. Forster; The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck; Kim, Rudyard Kipling.

Author Websites and Profiles
Ronald Yates Website
Ronald Yates Amazon Profile
Ronald Yates Author Profile on Smashwords

Ronald Yates’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 currently a paralegal in the legal industry.

When I am not busy with legal writing, research, and analysis, I enjoy creating new novel ideas and fitness.

I am seeking representation for my debut story “Dagmarth: Escape from Palmar” which is the prequel to my first fiction series.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Dagmarth: Escape from Palmar. It is inspired by Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Star Trek. This series takes fantasy and magic to a galactic level with modern entertainment.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I type fragmented ideas for scenes. I type scenes in a rant as I visualize them playing on the screen. Etc.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, a movie exception is 300.

What are you working on now?
I wrote the sequel to Dagmarth: Escape from Palmar which is actually the first main story with Escape from Palmar included. I am going to start writing my debut crime romance thriller independent novel.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use a variety including Facebook. My best method is mixed with frequent advertising ans solicited reviews.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Once I am steady with sales, possibly.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be persistent and patient.

What are you reading now?
Nothing.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Editing the next Dagmarth book for publication and writing my first crime romance thriller.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
How to Survive on A Desert Island
Best Jokes About Being Stranded on A Desert Island
Stranded on A Desert Island For Dummies
(improv titles)

Joseph J. Miccolis’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a mother of two from New England. Writing has been a long time dream and I wrote several first draft novels that are moldering quietly in the closet. After many failed starts, I finally launched a complete book into the world.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Zombies vs Aliens is an apocalyptic monster mash comedy. It was inspired by predecessors of the zombie comedy genre, comic books, and 80’s monster movies.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have two small children. My lap top and I go anywhere and everywhere. I am rarely at a desk. I write on the couch, in their room, on the bed, on the floor. Wherever and whenever I can find time.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My biggest writing influence are Diana Wynne Jones and Neil Gaiman, that mix of wit and story weaving is something I aspire to.

What are you working on now?
Currently working on the sequel for Zombies vs Aliens, tentatively titled Happy Little Accidents, as well as a dark fantasy.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am still wading into this process. I am a total newbie trying to find methods that work.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t be afraid of self promotion and trying new methods.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice, writing advice, I’ve ever heard is “Just Keep Writing”. No matter how stuck you are or what self doubts are gnawing at you through the first draft, keep going to the finish line.

What are you reading now?
Currently reading Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard and Uprooted by Naomi Novik

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to finish and submit the sequel for Zombies vs Aliens before the year is out and have another novel finished and polished for submission 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?
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Lamb by Christopher Moore
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett

Author Websites and Profiles
Kristin Jacques Amazon Profile

Kristin Jacques’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a commercial writer by trade who specialises in writing fitness articles and travel features for print and online publications. I have published just one book to date which I have written under the pseudonym of Ferrel E. Calpin. This a phonetic play-on-words which translates as ‘for Ellie Calpin’ as the book is intended to be a legacy for my baby daughter

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is called ‘Expecting the Unexpected: One Man’s Journey Through a most Eventful Pregnancy.’ The inspiration initially came from the fact I simply wanted to keep a journal of my partner’s pregnancy so that I would have a record of this special time in our lives. In time, I realised that there weren’t that many pregnancy books around written from a male point of view so I decided to pursue the possibility of trying to get it published. The fact that we encountered such a rough ride along the way and had to deal with some life-changing issues after our 20-week scan made me all the more determined to commit our story to print.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t have any quirks (that I can think off) but I am a stickler for not forcing myself to ‘churn it out’ if I’m not in the mood. When I’m in full flow I’ll write and write until I can write no more. If I’m not feeling it though then I’ll simply down tools and and go for a long walk…

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Henry David Thoreau’s ‘Walden’ was a massive influence on me, both on my outlook in life and on my confidence, as it showed me you don’t need to be an overly gifted wordsmith (Thoreau wasn’t) to generate engaging content. I would put Thomas Paine in that bracket too. My own ‘voice’ was influenced a great deal by the earnest and chatty writing style used by Mike Carter in his classic 2009 offering ‘Uneasy Rider.’ Ted Simon was another who had a significant impact, largely because his writing, particularly in ‘Jupiter’s Travels’, was so frank and honest.

What are you working on now?
I am taking a break from book writing for a while as ‘Expected the Unexpected’ took the best part of three-and-a-half years to complete, all in.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m not much of a promoter really so my efforts at marketing the book have been pretty modest, truth be told. I would say Facebook has yielded the greatest returns for me but that probably doesn’t mean much – I’m not even on Twitter!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
It’s never been easier to reach an audience than it is now so my advice to anyone thinking of writing a book would be to just do it! If I can do it then anyone can…

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Carpe Diem – seize the day!!

What are you reading now?
I am just about to dive into ‘A Divided Spy’, the latest offering from the always excellent Charles Cumming.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have lots of commercial writing assignments which need to be finished by the end of the month..!

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 say ‘The Consolations of Philosophy’ by Alain de Botton; Ray Mears’ Outdoor Survival Handbook; a photobook I had made of my daughter’s first year and… a really, really big colouring book!

Author Websites and Profiles
Ferrel E. Calpin Website
Ferrel E. Calpin Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am the author of the Australian contemporary romance series Peters Junction. So far, I have published 3 books, with a 4th due for release in the next few months and the 5th a work in progress. Set in both rural and urban environments, my books showcase the best of Australia and reflect my love of travelling this vast country.

I have always been a daydreamer, and even though it took some time for me to work up the courage to put my fingers to the keyboard and actually commit my stories to the page, I rarely went a day without dreaming about my characters. Whenever I wasn’t working (and sometimes when I was!) I would get lost in my thoughts, dreaming up new characters and plotting the twists and turns of their lives.

My reading tastes are widely varied, ranging from fantasy to crime to romance, and drifting from poetry to biographies to non-fiction texts.

On a personal level, I am a wife, mother to four children, and I live with my family in a small rural town on the outskirts of Adelaide, South Australia. I love animals and although I currently only have two dogs, we are building up our property in preparation for chickens, alpacas and goats.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Redemption (Peters Junction Series Book 3)

This book actually came about because my primary beta reader requested it. The hero of the story is the “bad guy” in another book (Promise – Peters Junction Series Book 2) and I never intended to give him his own story. Even when the idea was suggested to me I didn’t take it seriously. My subconscious however, had other ideas and I kept thinking of more and more ways that I could give this guy his own “happily-ever-after” love story.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Every story starts with a daydream. I spend hours imagining every scene before I ever actually put my words on the page.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Rachel Gibson. I think they write real characters while at the same time incorporating humour and fun into their stories.

What are you working on now?
Cosmic Glitch – the first book in my new Stonebridge series.

When an accident unexpectedly leaves Jessie Hawthorn with an injury that ends her ballet career, she tries to rebuild her life by focusing on running the Stonebridge Foundation, a family owned charity. Shane Taylor, best friend of Jessie’s older brother Derek, has been in love with Jessie for years, but she’s never really noticed him before, until one day when suddenly she does.

As their relationship builds, Jessie continues to recover. When Jessie sees an opportunity to revive her ballet aspirations, she is faced with the choice of following her childhood dreams or embracing her new life with the man she loves.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Give away your first book for free! When you first start out, you’re competing against so many other new and established authors that you really do have to offer people a glimpse of what they can expect. I published my first three books all at once—because I had been a bit shy about publishing them earlier—so I decided to give away the first book, Secret, in the hopes that people would then go ahead and purchase Promise and Redemption. So far, the response has been positive.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
It takes time to get going. It’s unlikely you’re going to be a success overnight. But you’re not alone, there are so many resources out there (like awesomegang.com) who want to help you promote your book. All you have to do is search for them.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best way to sell books, is to keep writing them. The more you publish, the more you’ll sell. The best form of promotion is to keep bringing out new, fresh stories to keep your readers interested.

What are you reading now?
The Blinding Light by Renae Kaye

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have just started work on my new series Stonebridge, and have been hard at work on the first two books. Cosmic Glitch is almost a complete first draft, while the second book in the series – as yet unnamed – has the outline written.

I also intend to return to the Peters Junction series in the near future. I’m not done with it yet.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Only 3 or 4? What if I packed my kindle and a solar charging kit, would that be allowed? That would only take the place of about 2 books but I’d be able to load thousands!

Seriously though, I would definitely take:
Call Me Irresistible by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Man Drought by Rachael Johns
Avery by Charlotte McConaghy
Written in Red by Anne Bishop

Author Websites and Profiles
Nicola Sinclair Website
Nicola Sinclair Amazon Profile
Nicola Sinclair Author Profile on Smashwords

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

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m Sandra. HI! I’m 26. I have been married with my best friend for almost 5 years now. We have 3 beautiful, rotten, and simply amazing offspring. I am a military wife, and when I found that my passion for writing could really be more than a hobby, but a career. As a military wife you prep for the unexpected and you ten fold your strength. My husband is currently deployed in Germany. I have been an author for over two years now. I also love to sketch and obvi read. I’m a huge pitbull breed fan.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Tortured Love. (Book Two of A Hell Hound MC Series) My characters inspired it. They themselves, who they are, what they are. What they have survived and done.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Sadly, quite (Quite?) a few actually. As in I ALWAYS spell “Toke” for “Took” . Horrible basics mistake. But It’s my biggest, then I always seem to mispell/mistype the most simple words because when I start to write, it all starts flowing so fast I can barely keep up. As in, “cat’n” for “Can’t” . Another rookie mistake, but It’s like the story has to get written in that speed or I’ll forget and trust me I have self hated on doing it before. I always do my own edit of what I’m knowledged enough to do. Lol. But the way I see it is. I’d rather get that amazing twist or turn of events… or funny joke I just thought of down on paper and can always fix the minors later.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
OHH Dear, SOOOOOO many. Joanna Wylde was my very first MC read. Erotic MC read. Shes by far my favorite. She popped my biker book cherry. Lol. I straight bought (Pre-ordered) her book Silver Bastard a year before release. Madeline Sheehan is a very close second, if not a tie for first. Her stories, are perfection to me. I could read her MC’s all day. Bella Jewel is oh my soo must stalked next to Madeline for her releases. Her MC reads are not of the typical and she’s had me at chapter 1 since. (Like, “You had me hello” lol) Definitely fixated with every word she puts to paper. Then there was Crystal Spears… another close 1st, (I think they all are going to be close first. Hehe.) Her MC’s are perfection as well. Simply amazing. Glenna Maynard, OMG. Do Not, I mean DO NOT read her Grim Rebel series without tissues, extra panties ;0 , and The whole series, every book or you wiil be truly upset and out of your mind with what is going on!? It’s most deff a inspiration. Stephanie Tyler, OMG, I am warning and recommending the same advice as for Glenna’s series. Do not read unless you have entire series in hand. Can’t put hers down. I read her entire series in 48 hours. non-stop. I truly could not put it down. Nicole Snow, lord have mercy on me and the characters she creates. So damn sexy. Amazing author. Whole series and same advice with her as well. Matter of fact, all of these amazing authors had that same effect on me. So Beware and be warned. Also, London Casey, amazing MC author. C.C. Brown has a worded perfection also. Hers is Military. Perfect read. Kalya Perrin is my favorite as well. Have almost all her books. Such a way with words, addicted after the first page. S.K. Hartley. Need I say more? Ok I will, her Finding series, twists and turn ons. Strainght S.K. addict and not going to rehab. Last but most importantly, Michelle Turner. If anyone can write a book with lite to no sexual content and have me craving more. She is a MUST read. AMAZING with words and her characters are so realistic I forget they are simply just words on a page. I get lost in her books. Its an amazing feeling. I know there are many more, but that is just off the top of my head. I love reading books. I love writing. I love these authors for setting my soul on fire and to explore my options. I know, I know… I’m a bit of a book whore.

What are you working on now?
My Hell Hound MC Series and Savage Lust (With two other authors) , Loving Heartbreak, and a few others that are secret. ;0 You are first to know of those two actually. Lucky dog.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Sadly, very little knowledge on this. I did all my promoting for Delayed Love in Facebook groups and pages and 1 blog. I’m still a newbie/rookie so I’m learning as I go and it’s an exciting yet, frustrating experience. I’m actually taking advice if anyone is offering.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
More than most I’m sure. I’ve probably made just about every mistake a newborn could at this. My utmost VIP advice, DO NOT STOP WRITING. I worked on DL for 4 months straight pulling all nights left and right. 250 pages later. My first born was, well, born. I continued to promote NON-STOP to anyone and everyone for the next month. I got so burnt out I through myself into writers block and I was so unorganized it’s not even a little funny. (Still am Lol.) So, please, newbies, take your time and organize. Create your character bios. That is most important. Can’t tell you how many time I got eye color, age or a tattoo wrong. seems small. but it’s truly a book murderer. Second, prepare for your release. Line up promotions and launches and giveaways. DO NOT jump in blind or rush. Line them up. Even send them the info needed ahead of time. Also, collect quotes from your book AS YOU WRITE. unless you like rereading the very words you wrote digging for quotes for teasers. I hate reading my own work. Real pet peeve. Last but VIP most!! Make other author friends. Particularly in your genre. These friends helped me so much they prob got annoyed with my newborn tush. Every question I had, they were there. hints and advice, they are a VIP asset to have. Plus, they are amazing people. Join some author groups on FB. And Don’t ever lose confidence in your words. Last thing, A bad review. Your first one, will eat at you and make you question your passion and talent. It did me as well as every author out there. EVERYONE has a bad review. nobody’s book is five stars all day long. I guarantee it. Do not let it upset you. Look at the positive reviews. (And there will be) Those are the ones you focus on. Those are the ones you let feed your confidence and motivation.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
ORGANIZE your novel notes. Big preacher about it because I know how it is being unorganized. As I am still dealing with almost two years later. Bios and locations and everything between. Character jobs, interest, style, BODY TYPE, tattoos and more. All of it. Just organize as you go. Jot it down or quick open note/wordpad and have it pc ready. Trust me, it make a world of difference in your writing as an author and story teller and less stress and time on looking for that little sentence with the question, “Which arm was the tattoo on??” Then two hours later and 50 page backtrack, you find it. So, my best advice? ORGANIZEEEE!

What are you reading now?
Sadly, nothing at this moment. Very hard for me to read and write. I get confused very easy. So, I’m constantly on watch for my fav. authors and new ones as well. and have a personal closed party for me. Book binge and catch up after every time I finish a book.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully a signing event. I have been invited to be in a few, but sadly it was wayyyy out of m traveling limits. Wish me luck someone home-bound decides they need a dirty word writer with a twisted criminal mind.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I hope that is suppose to say 30-40 books? Or least 3-4 series right? That kind of question is for the tv people. Lol. But if I must, 1, most deff taking 4. not 3. My four would have to be,

Joanna Wylde – Devil’s Game – Reapers series
Madeline Sheehan – Undeniable – Undeniable series(Book 1)
Bella Jewel – Melancholy – Joker’s Wrath MC series
Crystal Spears – Shadowing Me &&&”” Seize Me – Breakneck Series. (Actually having inner battle of which I love more. So we’ll say I tossed out my extra bottle of sunscreen to pack an extra beauty.)
Stephanie Tyler – Defiance Series. I had Stow a ways. :/ (Also thought for twenty min. which one… you see whom I decided. Lol. )
Told Ya, I’m a book whore. Lol.

Author Websites and Profiles
Sandra Richmond Website
Sandra Richmond Amazon Profile
Sandra Richmond Author Profile on Smashwords

Sandra Richmond’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in Texas with two of my four children and several adorable cats. I’m also the proud “Gramms” of four equally adorable grandchildren. Blessed with a serious love of reading from a very young age, I fell in love with the historical romance genre many years ago when my grandmother gave me some romance novels to read. When I decided to pursue my lifelong dream of writing, it was an easy decision to focus on the historical romance genre, and Mystery Lady and Defying a Duke are my first efforts. I’m currently working on my third book, which is the second book in the Regency Heroes Series. I plan to continue to add many more books in the future.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I just released Defying a Duke on June 17, 2016. It’s the first book in the Regency Heroes Series, and I hope to have the next book in the series published by the end of the summer. The Regency period is one of my favorites in the historical romance genre. I love the dashing rakes and headstrong women that tend to dominate this period.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really, although I’m an extreme night owl, and some people might think that’s strange. I don’t like to stop when I’m on a roll, and that can lead to some crazy hours.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I enjoy reading books by a wide range of authors. In the historical romance genre, I love Johanna Lindsey, Julie Garwood, Julia Quinn, Jude Deveraux, and many others. Iris Johansen is one of my favorites in the mystery/thriller genre, and I love Janet Evanovich and Sue Grafton when I’m in the mood for female sleuths that make me laugh out loud.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the second book in the Regency Heroes Series, tentatively titled Deceptive Rogue, although that could still change.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m in the early days of learning the best marketing options for a newcomer. I have my own website, but I would say I’ve gotten the best results from features on Bookgoodies, so far. I also spread the word on social media sites.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
You should always focus on writing books you love. Commercial success is difficult to achieve, so it’s important to really enjoy what you do. I also believe it’s critically important to make sure all the elements of a book, from the writing to the cover, truly measure up to professional quality.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You can accomplish anything with effort and determination. I’ve heard it my entire life, and it’s always true.

What are you reading now?
I’m trying to catch up on the Eve Duncan books written by Iris Johansen. I absolutely LOVE the characters and books in this series, but I’ve fallen behind, mostly due to my own writing and other responsibilities.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Writing, writing, and more writing. Maybe with some reading thrown in for pure pleasure. I also have the four adorable grandchildren mentioned above, and I definitely want to spend some time enjoying them while I’m still young enough to chase them around. In terms of the writing, I plan to complete the Regency Heroes series and then maybe take a turn into one of the other genres I love, such as mystery/thriller or paranormal sci-fi. I have a ton of ideas bouncing around in my head.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would definitely want the opportunity to finish catching up on Iris Johansen’s Eve Duncan series (as noted above). If I’m supposed to interpret this as which books would I want to read over and over, I would hate to have to narrow it down to 3 or 4 books. That would be next to impossible.

Author Websites and Profiles
Anjannette Conner Website
Anjannette Conner Amazon Profile
Anjannette Conner Author Profile on Smashwords

Anjannette Conner’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I started writing my first book at the age of fourteen called “The seven Guardians”, one year later I found my self writing my second one called “Heavenly Hell”. The first one was about to be published but unfortunately the economy in my country caused the book agency that I was about to sign with, to close. I studied Movie and Theater as I wrote a lot of scripts and at the age of twenty the idea of “World of reign” came to my mind and three years now it is the only book I have been working on.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book which I finally got to put on amazon, is called “World of reign and the search of the Red Egg”. At first the only think I had in mind was the Light Spirits which they were the reason I started writing the book. I love fantasy and at that period I kept watching Marvel movies, so I think that is why Light Spirits were formed in my mind. I didn’t know how the story would go or my characters but I started writing. Then the first scene came to my mind and finally Alalieda was fully formed and with a mission. After that everything else followed along with the six species.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I always want to have a cup of coffee with me when I write and of course absolute silence. Because my writing place is my room, I like to make changes now and then, so my desk is always wondering around. I spend eight to twenty hours a day (when I can) writing, so change of scenery is always good.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The first book that really made and impression on me when I was a kid and I could not stop turning the pages was “The wee free men” of Terry Pratchett. I loved it so much that I could not let go of it and still is one of my favorite books. I also was one of the lucky kids that grew up with Harry Potter, so magic and fantasy was inside my life.

What are you working on now?
Now I am working on the second book of the series ‘World of reign” and unfortunately I put aside a true story that takes place in the world war two and I really want to finish it but I will after I finish the series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think today they are a lot of social media to promote your book. YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Tweeter but that dose not mean that people are going to trust you so easily, it takes time.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up, as hard as it might seem or gets, if you truly love writing and it is your life then you won’t stop fighting for it. Everyone has doubts about themselves and their work, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Unfortunately no one gave me any advise.

What are you reading now?
I am reading “The Gift of Darkness” by V. M. Giambanco

What’s next for you as a writer?
Actually right now I am focusing on letting people know about my world. I hope it is going to be a safe place for them to let their imagination go wild as it is for me

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Definitely Terry Pratchett, “The stand” of Steven King and Star Wars comics.

Author Websites and Profiles
Rena Harami Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve always loved to write, and English was my favorite class. When, as an adult, my best friend died of cancer, I began writing poetry, which came in the form of dreams at first. My father was a very prolific poet who lived in the Chicago area, so I grew up with poetry. I loved (and still do) the feel of words, the surprising word, interesting phrasing and unusual word usage. I love looking for magic, for the “almost possible,” to open an idea and release its white doves.

I’ve written three books of poetry, but Finding the Raven is my first novel. The second book of poetry won the Library of Poetry Book Award from Bitter Oleander Press. I live in southern Illinois and love hiking in the Shawnee forest.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
This novel is called Finding the Raven. For this particular project I was inspired by my grandparents’ era, and most particularly by my great uncle, who was a hobo and wrote of his travels to the St. Louis World’s Fair and across the country to live with Native Americans. I imagined who he might have seen in St. Louis and what he might have done, though he didn’t appear as a main character in the book. I enjoyed researching the times, and at the Southern Illinois University library, I found newspapers from April 1904. I wondered what it would be like to have answered ads from the classifieds at that time. So in my story I used actual excerpts from old newspapers and went in search of “what if.”

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write with an audio device, because I have a bad back. So I read the thoughts out loud, transposing them from my mind to the computer. My husband walks through the room and gives me odd looks. I imagine I must sound like one of those people you see in subways arguing with themselves.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
All of them, even the bad ones, who teach me what not to do. But some of my favorites are Francine Prose, Margaret Mitchell, and Frederick Douglass.

What are you working on now?
I’ve returned to poetry for now, but I’m considering writing more about the Raven. Who owned it before? Who has it later? Might it transport Julia to another time? What kinds of secrets will it unravel? I’m letting these questions drift through my mind until a concrete plot line surfaces.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still finding this out, since my novel was just released last month, and promoting a novel is very different from promoting poetry. I’m planning to do a reading in Carbondale on July 16, and this the old “tried-and-true.”

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Learn from your mistakes and try not to take anything personally.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It comes in two parts, “Don’t get it right, get it written,” and “The best stories aren’t written, they’re rewritten.” Following these two tips is a guaranteed cure for writer’s block.

What are you reading now?
The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian

What’s next for you as a writer?
Poetry? Fiction? Switching back and forth? I’m still settling into my next phase.

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

Author Websites and Profiles
Patty Dickson Pieczka Website
Patty Dickson Pieczka Amazon Profile

Patty Dickson Pieczka’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Anger Throws a Curveball is my first book. It was a ton of fun to write. It got published June 23, 2016 and is currently listed on Amazon. I’m currently write the second book for this series called Baseball with an Attitude.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Anger Throws a Curveball. I managed more than 20 youth baseball teams and took that experience and decided to write a fiction book for boys age 10-12. Trying to get the casual boy reader a story to keep them interested in reading books.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write outside in the sunshine, I’ve been know to write without my shirt on.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Dr. Charles Stanley is a huge influence. Ruthie Knoblock inspired the current book.

What are you working on now?
The second book in the series Baseball with an Attitude. Book two is about the coaches kid and his struggles with pleasing everyone. He lives for everyone else and not for himself.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Using Facebook to promote the book via Amazon.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Better done than perfect.

What are you reading now?
Game Plan for Life by Coach Joe Gibbs

What’s next for you as a writer?
Just keep writing, just keep writing, just keep writing. I sound like Dory from Nemo but that’s the focus.

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?
Born Survivor by Bear Grylls, The Firm, Love and Respect

Author Websites and Profiles
Paul Venosdel Amazon Profile

Paul Venosdel’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I closed my eyes for a while, after a very busy day, with writing my new book. I just looked back at the way I walked on in my life. Today, I am here, in a certain point in my life, feeling fulfilled and proud about the years passed. For years, I was fighting for my soul and what mattered to me. For years, I was fighting for my honor and dignity.

I have failed hundreds of times in my life. I have made hundreds of mistakes and learnt a lot. I have experienced heartbroken incidents and suffered extremely. Yet, I just forgot the past. I let go of my pain. But, I remembered the lessons learnt from the past for a better tomorrow. As it is said, the one, who knows more, achieves more.

I am just a common man, who loves exploring the deep bottoms in my mind and experimenting about the better ways of living. I love thinking without boundaries and journaling my insights. I have spent years, searching for the ways to achieve more in life; love, better relationships, happiness and success. I started my searching while I was still in the university years ago. Time passed. Read hundreds of books. Experienced a lot. Finally, I realized something invaluable. The way of achieving more in life is the result of personal transformation. In other words, everything can be achieved, by transforming yourself to the next level of realization.

SUCCESS GUIDE: 7 ultimate steps of achieving your life purpose was written by me. For now, I’m on a new book project.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
SUCCESS GUIDE: 7 ultimate steps of achieving your life purpose

My journey in life and experiences I had inspired my writing

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Mostly, highly motivational and story telling.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Robin Sharma-the Greatness Guide, The monk who sold his Ferrari
Napoleon Hill-Think and Grow Rich

What are you working on now?
Working on a new project. Writing a book on most strong characteristics of highly successful people

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
E-mail marketing and Amazon

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep on writing. It will make you feel great of yourself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never, ever stop writing

What are you reading now?
The Life of The Spirit by Henry Thomas Hamblin

What’s next for you as a writer?
Blogging.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Greatness Guide by Robin Sharma
Think and Grow Rich
The monk who sold his Ferrari

Author Websites and Profiles
Sanath Dasanayaka Amazon Profile

Sanath Dasanayaka’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Well, my name is Alvaro, and am a very young Hispanic author. I come from the far away land called Los Angeles. I started wanting to write at the age of 17 when I began to write stories on my own. So far I only have one book

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
And Now Ladies And Gentlemen…Stacy! What inspired me was that I wanted to free my imagination to the world. Expand it to the ends of the earth in a book that’ll be discovered by many. I felt as though I needed to let myself go and show that I may have much in common with others.

Another thing was that I wanted to create a female protagonist because I think a female character would be so cool to work with. Plus I kind of really didn’t want to have a male main character because maybe it’s time to change a bit. Maybe it’ll be cool to see this new looking, strength powered, heart loving heroine that can be just as good as a male character like the great Rambo.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Maybe it’s just that I use a lot of “HAHAHA” rather than simply typing : laugh. I just think I should really show how much the character is laughing rather than simply writing the word, laughter.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Lewis Caroll inspired me. I always thought he was an amazing author, and that he had a big imagination. A lot of others too but I’ve come to be more inspired by the comic book environment. Regular fiction book are amazing, but I can’t deny comics. However, my inspirations come from a blend of American and Japanese comics. Maybe more for the Japanese.

The authors that really influence me are Frank Miller of Sin City and the Dark Knight Returns, Todd Mcfarlane of Spawn, Akira Toryiama of Dragon Ball, Hiromu Arakawa of Fullmetal Alchemist, Bob Kane, etc. These kind of authors helped bring a different side of writing that I discovered and really left an impact.

I try to use those stories to create a mix of it into one really good story that both fans can love. Bring more readers together.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on my second book. Set in own Universe, it’s another fictional book, but possibly stronger than my last. Not to put it down, but it means that I’ve grown as a writer.

It’s another fictional story with lots of action and humor….but with a twist. I decided to add a romance feel to it. A short love story. It’s not entirely a full romance, but it is to a certain extent with a blend of the action I still left in.

Furthermore, I’m also working on re-releasing my first book to a better version. This one will take its time, but it will be done.

You can like me on Facebook to keep it up until I finish.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Goodreads so far. I’ve been looking around the internet for websites and it’s sometimes challenging. I try my best, but it kind of feels as though I may just get rejected much more.

However, I got to put myself together and face the challenges, no matter what!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice to new authors is to always be your best and write day by day your heart out. However, if there are errors, feel free to get family and friends to give feedback on it. It really helps. Never give up and keep striving for good! That’s my experience an advice for you all so far. Keep up with me to learn more!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Well I usually haven’t got a lot of advice, but probably the old “never give up” thing. I respect it and carry on with it. It makes me feel courageous and unstoppable to keep on going, even in the darkest hours I’ll come across.

What are you reading now?
Right now I’m reading Cinder by Marissa Meyer. I saw it one day at Barnes and Nobles and was really interested in it. Now I can take my time and read it.

In addition, I’m going to also start reading comics based on the Alien series.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully more interviews or gain a small fanbase. There’s more out there I got to face, and I got to be really strong on 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?
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Spawn Origins: Volume 1, and Batman: Dark Victory.

Author Websites and Profiles
A Bayona Website
A Bayona Amazon Profile

A Bayona’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Born in Manchester, England. I have published one novel through Amazon.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Of That Day and Hour.’ was inspired by many of the strange coincidences that I have had throughout my life, and a few near death experiences.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Probably, but they will seem normal to me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
George Orwell. However I am more influenced by my own thoughts and life experiences.

What are you working on now?
A new novel.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Amazon marketing services, it does work, although you may not break even.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Prepare yourself, marketing a new book is a lot harder than you think. However, a good book will sell! You have to get the title out there, and into people’s hands.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t give up!……Aim for the stars and you might reach the sky.

What are you reading now?
I’m not. I don’t have time to read and write. If you read other people’s work whilst writing, it will influence your own writing. Is that what you really want?

What’s next for you as a writer?
A new novel, and promoting my last one.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would only need one; how to survive on a desert island.

Author Websites and Profiles
Anthony O’Brien Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am, as per my own author bio, a Chinese-Canadian author who someday hopes to do this for a living. I currently reside in Toronto, Ontario but I spend most of my time time travelling between two opposite points on the globe on business with my wife Jeane, sometimes accompanied by a giant orange tabby cat. In my spare time, I have maintained the same great love since childhood for stories told through every medium imaginable.

My first book, going on 300,000 plus words, was never finished, though I plan to see it through eventually. If anything, it may be my own Monte Cristo in the making. My second, an epic fantasy called Eye of the North Wind, has since then gone on to find a publisher, and is currently doing the rounds. My third, written for young-adults, is undergoing submissions as we speak. The Lynchman’s Owl then, marks my fourth foray into the same battlefield, this time under the guise of self-publishing.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Lynchman’s Owl – a monthly serial of standalone stories concerning the adventures of a masked steampunk superhero made to come out of retirement twenty-years after he has hung up his hat.

I owe this particular piece to the enduring works of Sir Arthur, whose Holmes series I still hold up as the first in its class of worldbuilding examples from humble beginnings. What he has done with a few novels and a score of short stories which has since then become common parlance, I hope to imitate with my own work in the same field.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Mine is the unusual by being utterly mundane. Others have their strange quirks, their stories of long evenings and hard sacrifices for the craft they love. I, as somebody who has come into a considerable inheritance this early in life, is allowed instead the luxury of treating this hobby as a normal day job – even if pennies are at the moment its only incomes. I write from 9 to 12, allow myself a small siesta after lunch, and pick up until clocking out in the early evening. At the risk of inspiring jealousy in my peers I must comment that I have very little to complain about with this arrangement.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I draw from the enduring works of those who had come before. I count amongst my teachers and mentors Dumas, Tolkien, White, Conan Doyle, and the Bard himself. If, however, you must restrain me from digging up any more graves, I should also like to point out that King, and more recently Clarke, have done their share in pushing me down this path. If you are noticing a pattern I think it is because I despise above all else bland, everyman’s writing with no distinction in style and tone, like wine watered down until it becomes flavorless, colourless water.

What are you working on now?
The Lynchman’s Owl series – a monthly serial of standalone stories concerning the adventures of a masked steampunk superhero made to come out of retirement twenty-years after he has hung up his hat. It draws inspiration mostly from the Sherlock Holmes serials in the Strand magazine back in the day, with each ‘issue’ more or less a complete story in its own right, but also contributing to an overarcing narrative. Read as a whole, it becomes several novels dealing with specific periods in the history of the Lynchman’s Owl; seperately, you would still have a small adventure to call your own.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have a blog, and associated social media sources which to date I am loathe to make use of. All in all I prefer to let my writing do the talking rather than spend all my time talking about my writing. But therein also lies the flipside of that coin in that you can write the best story that ever existed, but would it still be the best story if no one ever knew it was there at all?

Do you have any advice for new authors?
As a new author myself I suppose it would be almost impertinent for me to recommend anything. You would not, after all, ask the blind for directions – but I suppose if there is anything I have learned in the little time I’ve had, it would be this: Not all styles will be to all people, and despite the common good sense advice that one should never dismiss criticism offhanded, one should also strive to keep to their own course wherever possible. After all, an enduring follower is the one who will inevitably come in second-place at best, whereas the man who is committed to striking out on his own might eventually become the first in his class.

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

The ones who say, forget about marketing and just keep writing are the ones whose advice I hold to heart as the most cherished. While I understand it is a necessary evil to wear two hats – that of the creator and the salesman respectively – I, for one, only want to write and to keep writing.

What are you reading now?
I have recently tried the Last Wish, the first book in the Witcher series, which was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Its sequels, however, were much more difficult to get through. It seems in the process of building a bigger world we lost some of the mystique with its smaller predecessor that the world was too big to fit between the pages. It is a common problem I identify with more modern writings – nothing is left to the imagination anymore, despite this medium being particularly well suited to just that.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To endure. To strive. And finally to persevere. Luckily this is one career where one tends to only get better with age, and with any luck (or absence of unexpected bad-luck, as it were), I shall have years and years yet to make something of myself.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The complete Sherlock Holmes series for its inspiration of the intelligent; the Three Musketeers for its sense of adventure that I might need; the Count of Monte Cristo to envision what I might do to my enemies on my return; and at last the Once and Future King to remind myself that all stories are eternal, and mine will as well some day be told (hopefully before I have to eat the pages to sustain myself on this island of yours, which for the life of me I don’t know why I would be on in the first place, for I, as someone who cannot swim, rightfully detest any body of water large enough to drown me in).

Author Websites and Profiles
B.Y. Yan Website
B.Y. Yan Amazon Profile

B.Y. Yan’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Bart Cline was born in California, USA.

After finishing school he studied film making before abruptly leaving the country to travel. His experiences on the road form the basis for many scenes from his first novel, Wanderlove.

Instead of returning to the USA as he had planned, he stayed in Europe for another year, and then another, before marrying and settling in northern England. Always restless, short careers in publishing, graphics, and IT kept bread on the table.

When his wife passed away due to cancer, he re-thought his life and turned to writing as a career.

Mr Cline has two children and is remarried.

Copout, Mr Cline’s 2013 novel, is a thought-provoking police thriller about a detective who works out the clues to his cases in his dreams.

His newest book, Send Him Victorious, is an amazing epic thriller about what would happen if today’s kings and queens ruled with absolute authority as in the past. How would it affect his or her family, country, and the world? Buy and read to find out!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The British monarchy in the Golden Age: powerful, glorious, lofty, backstabbing.

The British monarchy today: powerless, irrelevant, staid.

I thought, what would it be like if today’s British monarchs were like those of the Golden Age? How would it affect not only Britain but the world?

Send Him Victorious is the result.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I think my writing habit are pretty normal, except that novel writing is a pretty unusual habit in itself.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen Donaldson, Arthur C Clarke, Robert Heinlein, Frederick Forsythe, Ian Fleming, Michael Ende. All old or dead, I know.

I also read theology: Matthew Henry, John Calvin, John Gill, Arthur W Pink, Dr Peter Masters. Also old or dead.

What are you working on now?
Parts 2 and 3 of the God Save the King trilogy. They should be ready soon!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still pretty new at this book promotion thing, so if I can remember I’ll come back and answer this question properly when I’ve seen some results.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write.

Write the best you can.

Write clearly and simply.

Write with enthusiasm.

Write with restraint.

Write to edify.

Write.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It was something about keeping my expectations realistic while pursuing my dream.

What are you reading now?
The Big Sleep, by Raymond Chandler.

What’s next for you as a writer?
A graphic novel about a realistic superhero, which is an oxymoron.

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, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Oxford English Dictionary. I don’t think any fiction books would be useful because I can only read them so many times.

Author Websites and Profiles
Bart Cline Website
Bart Cline Amazon Profile

Bart Cline’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a sixth generation Floridian out of the Orlando Area who braved the adventures of being an Author back in 2014. “Cedric the Demonic Knight” was the first book in a planned Fantasy Paranormal Romance series that pulls from mythology. It is followed by the second book, “Romasanta” which dives heavily into the werewolf side of this Urban Fantasy-styled world in The Cedric Series. Another novel I have released is the first book in the Tattooed Angels Trilogy, “Rebirth”. This Young Adult Dark Urban Fantasy was a project I started while I was in high school and was the reason why so many friends pushed me into writing professionally. Currently I am editing the second book, “Judgment” while also drafting out the third book in The Cedric Series, “The Oracle”. I hope my readers are ready, since both of these books will shift assumed plots and push the characters to new limitations.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent release was “Romasanta: Father of Werewolves” which is book two in The Cedric Series. A lot of elements inspired not only the plot to this novel, but the character himself. Readers familiar with lores, mythology and even history will be stunned at the amount hidden in Romasanta’s story. His name is inspired by the first serial killer ever to stand trail who confessed to being a werewolf, Emanuel Blanco Romasanta. The novel ties in Fenrir, Apollo, Artemis, Borea, Lykoan (Lycan), Romulus and Remus, folklores, and so much more!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Oh, I have a tendency to literally bang my forehead on the desk when I lose my train of thoughts mid sentence. Also, I apparently talk rather loudly to myself according to my Husband.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
A lot of books and authors come in mind. First off, CS Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia was my first real experience in the Fantasy genre in Elementary School. I soon discovered Robin McKinley in 9th grade and learned that it’s ok to beat the heck out of your characters, but only if they can learn and grow from the experiences you place them through. It wasn’t long after reading her novel, “Deerskin” that I started writing more actively and having my friends reading my short stories.

What are you working on now?
My latest book, which is being edited currently, is “Judgment”, book two of three in the Tattooed Angels Trilogy. This is a life-flashing-before-my-eyes style telling of one immortal’s experiences through thousands of years. A lot of it is inspired by forgotten or not well-known historical disasters that I have managed to tie-in with my main characters, Talib and Hotan, but as well as many of the characters Readers have met through book one. “Judgment” answers a lot of unanswered questions while twisting the plot drastically by the time you make it to the end.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have found Twitter and Facebook great places to meet readers and talk to them one-on-one. Inkitt.com is another wonderful place I promote my work. Here I can share excerpts and short stories in a format that is clean and even mobile friendly. Overall, it comes back to me actively sharing posts with snippets and information at minimum weekly.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Daily marketing can go a long way, but if you don’t polish your written content, it can’t move anywhere. Whether you are Self-publishing or aiming to Traditionally publish, it is good practice to edit and polish every piece with every means and resource you have available. Readers and editors alike get frustrated and pushed away by copious amounts of errors, whether it grammar or gaping holes in content.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Change the font on the manuscript, print it, and/or read the novel from back to front in order to edit. These techniques have done me great justice to produce strong written content and I can never thank my mentors with The Alliance of Worldbuilders enough for this advice.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading Kristell Ink Publishing’s “Fight Like A Girl” Anthology. Absolutely loving this collection of Female writers and their short stories on this shared theme. Hoping to finish it soon so I can thank them with a wonderful review!

What’s next for you as a writer?
The next chapter in my career is hosting Workshops! I host my very first one as Author Valerie Willis on July 16, 2016 on Character Development. Super excited, and hope that this is something I get to do more often.

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 Odyssey, Dante’s Inferno, The Illaid and… Alice in Wonderland. Might as will read about other’s adventure to strange and even scary places!

Author Websites and Profiles
Valerie Willis Website
Valerie Willis Amazon Profile
Valerie Willis Author Profile on Smashwords

Valerie Willis’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a Ph.D in Business and Management. Scholar, Speaker, Coach, Professor. I have written more than 15 books.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Group Dynamics and Team Building A HandBook. It inspire to self motivation, how to work in a team and group. It ensures to improve in productivity, satisfaction and as early as promotes team leader of a team.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
NO

What authors, or books have influenced you?
M.K.Gandhi and Dr B R Ambedkar

What are you working on now?
How to make a Strategy : Yourself

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Promote in Social Media

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do Pre production and Post Production research before enter as author

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be human being

What are you reading now?
i am busy in preparing manuscript so that i am not reading

What’s next for you as a writer?
Become Newyork Best Seller Author

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?
Experiment of Truth, Strategic Management, How to influence to others, management

Author Websites and Profiles
Hiriyappa B Amazon Profile

Hiriyappa B’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
The McArdle Burkhardt Center For Leadership and Business Performance makes a strong case for why and how leadership and management can become more adept at reaching business success in ways that enrich all. The Center shares their wisdom, from firsthand leadership experience and decades of listening to people talk about their jobs and job culture, about the four critical ways the workforce now defines success. Making money for a few people at the top of a company and asking others to wait their turn is no longer good enough. The new triple success equation for the workforce of today and the kids of tomorrow raises the bar beyond what leadership development has yet to help leaders achieve. Let’s begin making work a more enriching and invigorating experience for all! – Mary Burkhardt, Sherri McArdle, Ed Gwynn

We are currently writing our third eBook!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Upside Down Triangle: Ignite the Life-Force Within Your Business.

Making the world better by enriching and invigorating employees who go home happier to their families.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Like to write while immersed in nature.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Paulo Coelho, Stephen Covey, John Wooden, Peter Senge, Robin Sharma

What are you working on now?
A book for millennials.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up!!!!!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Multiple quality books help compound the number sold.

What are you reading now?
Humble Inquiry, by Edgar Schein and The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell

What’s next for you as a writer?
Work on our next book

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Book by Robin Sharma, Paulo Coelho and Gandhi

Author Websites and Profiles
McArdle Burkhardt Center For Leadership and Business Performance Website
McArdle Burkhardt Center For Leadership and Business Performance Amazon Profile

McArdle Burkhardt Center For Leadership and Business Performance’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m retired from teaching English in high schol and community colleges, always a reader and writer of fantasy and science fiction. I have one novel out, Maven Fairy Godmother: Through the Veil, and five collections of short stories. Maven’s Fractured Fairy Tales and Pumpkineater star my fairy godmothe characater, while Just a Smidgen of Magic is more urban fantasy. Walking off Heaven’s Shore and In the Still Midwinter are stories set in the real world, mostly in the Southern US, where I live.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is In the Still Midwinter, a collection of five holiday short stories. I wanted to approach the holidays with a heart-warming set of stories that also deal with the painful side of the expections of the season.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I do a fair amount of planning paper with a pen, some general brainstoring and then freewrite and revise. Pretty normal stuff. I also do book design, and I make steampunk accessories when I am not grading papers.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My main influences were Robert Heinlein and Terry Pratchett, who while their stories were very different, their characters often shared a sardonic point of view. I’ve also read Louisa Alcott and L. M. Montgomery, as well as Esther Friesner and Janet Kagan.

What are you working on now?
My current book in revision is a steampunk adventure set on a very high-end brothel airship, where the madam is negotiating with colonial diplomats to prevent war among the colonies in an alternate history North America. The grandsons of the men who lost the revolution want to take over the continent from the British, the French and the First Nations.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am still experiementing with different promotions. Each time I run a promotion I learn something, and it seems that different techniques work for different authors.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write a lot and get critique on what you write. Don’t take all of it seriously, and don’t take critque from people who don’t write. Write the stories that only you can write.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write from your own unique point of view, from your own unique place in the world. Write what brings you joy.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading Gail Carriger’s Curtseys and Conspiracies. I love her sense of humor and absurdity along with the mechanations not only of political intrigue but of flirting and finding a suitable occupation for women of a certain class.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have several short stories in a prequel cycle to be published as a collection, and then there’s the sequel to Maven Fairy God Mother.

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?
Sir Richard Burton’s translation of 1001 Nights. But instead of books, I’d like a lot of pens and reams of paper.

Author Websites and Profiles
Charlotte Henley Babb Website
Charlotte Henley Babb Amazon Profile
Charlotte Henley Babb Author Profile on Smashwords

Charlotte Henley Babb’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a first generation American. My parents are both Panamanian. I was born on Fort Bragg Army Base, but have lived in Houston since I was six months old. I’m a mom, a Texans fan, and lover of all things literary and happy hour related; in that order. Men & Women Can’t Be Friends is my debut novel and I’m currently hard at work on my second.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Men & Women Can’t Be Friends came from just that, men and women trying to be friends. Between my own experiences and those of my friends, the exchange between men and women trying to navigate their libidos and and their need to make a connection was just too funny not to poke fun at.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I can write almost anywhere. My focus is almost scary. I can, literally, tune everything out. I also like to listen to music while I write. I try to match the music I’m listening to with the tone of the chapter I’m writing.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I like to read novels in the genre that I’m trying to write. To Kill A Mockingbird is one of my favorites; so is A Tale of Two Cities. I like to read indie books more than anything else. Low by Mary Elizabeth was really good. The Bachelorette Party by Karen McCullah Lutz was really good too.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a three book, Snow White retelling series. I’m about a month from being done with the first book.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Goodreads is really good to gain followers and get people interested in my books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you can spend the money on hiring an editor before submitting your manuscripts, do so. Editing is what gets a book from good to great.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Baby steps, baby girl. Baby steps.” My mom still says that to me to this day.

What are you reading now?
Cinder by Marissa Meyers. Every blog I’ve seen says this series is the top fairy tale retelling. It’s always interesting to see how other authors will take such a familiar story and turn it on its head. It’s what I’m aiming at with my new book.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m hoping to have the first book in my new series out by early December with the second going on pre-order the same 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?
Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons and The DaVinci code and/or all the Harry Potter books. They were so entertaining. I feel like I’ll need some entertainment on a deserted island.

Author Websites and Profiles
Elle Kelly Website
Elle Kelly Amazon Profile

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

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a Nashville-based singer/songwriter and as of a few months ago, a #1 best-selling author! I’m a wordsmith and love to connect with people, because I believe we all learn from each others experiences. I also love to make pottery and am almost always up for an adventure. Currently, I’ve written 1 book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my book is: “Let Me Be Weak: What People in Pain Wish They Could Tell You.” In April 2016, I released a new single, “Let Me Be Weak,” a song which eventually became the framework for her book. (Each lyric is a chapter title.) I often joke with my friends that I am “the crisis hotline,” because so many people call me to talk about their problems and/or ask for advice. I started writing the song to address some important issues I’ve learned about how people grieve. But then I realized I had a lot more to say about the subject than I could fit into a 3 minute song and so, I started writing the book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Generally, I write at my kitchen table or at a coffee shop near my house. However, I’ve also written from bizarre locations, such as a lounge chair at the public pool! I never want to feel like writing is a punishment and I was starting to feel that way over the summer, because I was inside so much. I love the sunshine and especially love the pool, so I decided I’d bring my work along. It probably wouldn’t work for everyone, but it made me feel happy and relaxed and then I enjoyed the process much more.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Too many to list, that’s for sure.

Among my favorite authors are (in no particular order): Brene Brown, Donald Miller, Brennan Manning, Beth Moore, Malcolm Gladwell, and Anne Lamott.

What are you working on now?
I am currently promoting my book, making my rounds as a guest on various podcasts, and writing songs for my next album.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I recommend creating a “launch team” to help promote books. I had a lot of fun interacting with people who joined my team and appreciated their help spreading the word when I finally released the book to the public. It was a lot more fun because it was a collective experience and I would definitely do it again for future projects.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t try to do it alone. Join an online or in-person writing group (I became a student at Self-Publishing School; you can find more information about their program in the back pages of my book). It helps to have feedback, guidance and emotional support from other authors who have already written books, and it’s nice to have a “peer group” of other writers who are working on their books at the same time as you. It helps to keep you on track and accountable for doing the daily work and is inspiring to watch others make progress as well.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You have to be willing to give up your ordinary life if you want to have an extraordinary one. So many of us want to stay in our comfort zones, even if we are not happy. We like the stability of routine and it can be hard to give that up and be willing to try something new…without knowing what the outcome will be. But if we never challenge ourselves, we’ll never grow. I think we have a tendency to miss out on opportunities simply because we are afraid of failing or because we will look silly. But we get to experience things other people don’t when we are willing to say “yes.”

What are you reading now?
Experiencing God by Henry Blackabee.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am a writer of books and songs. I’m currently writing songs for my next album and I’m also writing several articles for to publish as guest posts for blogs.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
This is simply an impossible question. But off the top of my head:

The Bible
To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
The Artist’s Way (Julia Cameron)
A Million Miles in A Thousand Years (Donald Miller)

Author Websites and Profiles
Brittany Barbera Website
Brittany Barbera Amazon Profile

Brittany Barbera’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Sometimes I lose count! To date I’ve written sixteen books.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Pure Sensation is the final book in my Fantasy’s Bar & Grill series. The inspiration actually came from one of my favorite shows as a kid called Fantasy Island. While my book has nothing to do with that show, it does involve adults having their fantasies met.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m a little odd when it comes to writing. I never do outlines. I just sit in front of the computer and let the words flow at will. So far this has worked for me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oddly enough I fell in love with romance by reading my granny’s old harlequin romance novels. They used to come in a four book set every month. I was eight or so, and wasn’t supposed to be reading them but they gave me great plots to play out with my dolls.

What are you working on now?
After a year hiatus I’m playing catchup on three series I began and then had to put aside due to illness. Thankfully I can concentrate again.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have a newsletter, facebook page, twitter, and a blog. I use those to promote normally.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write as many books as you can and get them out there. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t sell at first. It took me three years before I started selling books.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write what you know and don’t give up!

What are you reading now?
These days I tend to read more biographies than romance. I wanted to make sure my work wasn’t filtered by what I was reading.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Honestly? I can’t say. I write what I feel. If it ever begins to feel like work I’ll probably find a day job.

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?
Simple. All the Twilight books and Sookie Stackhouse series. I’ve read them hundreds of times.

Author Websites and Profiles
Michelle Hughes Website
Michelle Hughes Amazon Profile

Michelle Hughes’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a native of Los Angeles and once seriously entertained the idea of becoming a lion tamer. Though I believe strongly in animal rights and am glad to see a trend against forcing animals to perform in circuses, a part of me wants to keep the magic of being close to the magnificent big cats alive in fiction, where no animals can be harmed.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
A Spark of Justice, my Circus Mystery, will soon be followed by Sabertooth, a Suspense Thriller with deep POV tension. It was inspired by enjoying a few jurrassic era books and feeling that the Pleistocene epoch had some interesting animals to offer to literature as well.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m a little random and write around other life commitments, but when I do sit down to write I tune everything out and would forget to eat or drink if family didn’t bring me food.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
So many!

Toby Tyler by James Otis is high on the list. As a child I dreamed of running away with the circus because of this one. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton and Dinosaur Lake by Kathryn Meyer Griffith inspired me to look to history for some interesting animal characters.

What are you working on now?
Sabertooth is coming along and is my primary focus right now.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still establishing that. Marketing is a new arena for me.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Get someone else to read your first edit. You missed some typos. No, really, you missed some!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write where you feel your heart is.

What are you reading now?
A Classic, actually. Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have ideas for the next couple of books. One of them doesn’t have a big cat.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
How To Build a Tree House by Jason Bertrand
The Prepper’s Water Survival Guide by Daisy Luther
The Ultimate Survival Manual by Donna Carter

Author Websites and Profiles
J.D. Hawkins Website
J.D. Hawkins Amazon Profile

J.D. Hawkins’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account