Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
“Bright and happy,” “light and whimsical” have been the catch phrases attached to my writing and art for over 30 years. Sweet images dance across all of these creations, whether in the form of children’s books, paintings, wallpaper, ceramics, baby bibs, purses, clothing, or my King Features Syndicated newspaper panel “Happy Musings.”

I am a graduate of USC with a degree in Fine Art and through the years, have had 26 of my own licensed art galleries throughout the world.

My collection of books now exceeds 85 and are mostly children’s books.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
YOU CAN’T TEACH A DUCK.

My son once had a rabbit that he finally succeeded in teaching it something — to hop. Thus the duck in this book can’t learn much. There is one thing though that you can teach a duck. You’ll have to read the book to find out what that is.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I just start.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Seuss

What are you working on now?
I’m illustrating a new bedtime/dreaming book now titled GOOD NIGHT, GOOD NIGHT

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
We use a variety of promotional sites, probably just like other self-published authors.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep going!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep going!

What are you reading now?
Light is a Living Spirit

What’s next for you as a writer?
More 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?
I would take blank notebooks.

Author Websites and Profiles
Sally Huss Website
Sally Huss Amazon Profile

Sally Huss’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
During the day I disguise myself as a mild mannered psychology professor at a local university, but in the evening I exchange my boring blazer for a more exciting role a
as a mental health counselor. When I’m not stomping out mental illness you can find me spending time with my wife of 20 years and my two wonderful daughters. I enjoy hunting, fishing, and firearms. If I’m not at the gun range you may find me basking on some sun-kissed Caribbean beach.

Writing is a passion I’ve always had, but have only recently started pursuing. After turning my dissertation into a text book, I found publishing my ideas to be very satisfying. This is my second book to be published and I’m currently working on a third project that I hope to publish within the next year.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is How To Get What You Want When You Want It: Overcoming Obstacles to Achieve Success. I think it was inspired by my own journey to overcome some of the obstacles in my childhood. I lost both of my parents in an automobile accident when I was six years old. Although I survived the accident, it was not without the scars of trauma. Over time and with the help of an amazing support system, I overcame my own obstacles and now dedicate my time helping others succeed in life.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to write better later at night. There are fewer interruptions and I don’t have to share my peanut M&Ms.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Without question I have been most influenced by the Bible. More than any other book, the Bible has influenced my world view and motivated me to help others succeed in life.
Other influential authors include:
Louis L’Amour for his epic portrayal of American independence and determination.
John Maxwell for his timeless leadership principles.
Edwin Louis Cole for his description of true masculinity.
and Patrick Williams for his expertise in the area of Life Coaching.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a book for readers struggling with depression.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Historically I’ve used my course syllabus to promote my book to a captive audience.
I’m excited to come across www.awesomegang.com and I’m confident sales will skyrocket as I work with them.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just start! If you have an idea and a desire to write, don’t wait for the perfect timing or the perfect situation to begin. Start with something today!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you believe you can, or you can’t – you are right!

What are you reading now?
Start – Jon Acuff
48 Days to the Work You Love – Dan Miller
The 4 Hour Workweek – Timothy Ferris
The One Thing – Gary Keller

What’s next for you as a writer?
Once I complete the book on depression, I’ll begin fleshing out an outline I’ve developed for a book Anxiety.
I’m also working on a novel -a psychological thriller – that only thinly veils my own secret and disturbing thoughts.

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?
Assuming this island does not offer all-inclusive amenities I would hope to have a copy of the following:
1. The Holy Bible.
2. SAS Survival Handbook: How to Survive Anywhere.
3. The Old Man and the Sea – Earnest Hemingway.
4. A New York City phone book.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jeff Logue PhD Website
Jeff Logue PhD Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an engineer and a linguist, passionate about traveling and writing. After living and in various places in India and Nepal I moved to the USA. Now I and my wife enjoy exploring various areas of the US.
For over a decade, I have been writing travelogues and short stories for various journals in Bengali and English.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
To know Calcutta, the city of joy, you have to understand its pulse, history, and the people. Calcutta is not the fastest paced city or the most perfect or intelligent, yet we love Calcutta for its simplicity, the people, the food, and their love for books.
At the local tea shops, people meet every day debating politics, discussing the latest movie or a cricket match that was played a decade ago. Seldom people wonder does this city ever move forward?
CALCUTTA IN SHORTS, Stories from Calcutta, is a collection of four short stories that originate or revolve around Calcutta where I was born and grew up.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am not a regular writer, nor do I have a writing coach or have taken any writing classes. I write when I have something to say or a story in my head.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Every author has a story to say, you like it or not. I am influenced by whatever I read be it a comic strip, short story or a novel.

What are you working on now?
I am working on my next set of short stories.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am not a seasoned player, I am still learning.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you are passionate about your writing someone is there to read it. Just remember J.K.Rowling was also rejected by many publishers.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you are passionate about something, go for it.

What are you reading now?
Indians by Rick Steber.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Every road at one point diverges into two. I have not reached that point to decide what next.
I take each day as they come. I have never set myself goals to write 5000 words a day, sorry! not a word machine.
It takes me 3-4 days to write my shorts. I am happy.

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 will choose some books by Bengali authors.

Author Websites and Profiles
Sanjoy Dutt Website
Sanjoy Dutt Amazon Profile
Sanjoy Dutt Author Profile on Smashwords

Sanjoy Dutt’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 working on a childrens christian fiction trilogy called the Darnia’s Quest Book Series. Book 1 and Book 2 are complete and I’m currently working on Book 3.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Jenara’s Return —A Spiritual Journey to Awaken Your Hope. I had to continue the adventure and take it to the next level. There is more dialogue between the characters, more action, and more teen drama.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. Just love to write.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
C.S. Lewis the Chronicles of Narnia.

What are you working on now?
Book 3 and loving every minute of it!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I like draft2digital.com so far because of the support they give their authors and free phone support!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never get hung up on what to write; just write! Also be super professional and edit tons of times so that your finished product is a wonderful piece.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
William Wordsworth quote: “Poetry is a spontaneous overflow of feelings.” The same is true for writing; just get down your words immediately and you can edit and add to it later.

What are you reading now?
“No Compromise the Life Story of Keith Green”
by Melody Green and David Hazard

What’s next for you as a writer?
Book signings, church speaking engagements and christian and public school speaking engagements, and whatever else be the Will of God.

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?
King James Version of the Holy Bible. May of Joel Osteen’s positive books. The works of Dr. Mike Murdock.

Author Websites and Profiles
Don Alexander Website
Don Alexander Amazon Profile
Don Alexander Author Profile on Smashwords

Don Alexander’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Well, I guess this all started when I was 11, and worked as a custom spandex costumer. I started out in figure skating costumes, and moved on to include other sports in my repertoire in the following years.

When I was 18, I got hit by a drunk driver and ended up unable to work, as a result of my injuries. I decided that if I wasn’t going to be able to sew, I could sell my *knowledge* to pay the bills.

I wrote my first spandex sewing manual in 2000. I banged it out in WordPerfect, printed it out at home, and hand-drew sketches throughout. That master copy got photocopied and coil bound as orders came in – very rough looking, but people loved the information! A sequel soon followed.

About 10 years later, I had mostly healed up, was sewing again… and technology had come a long way. I combined those two books into a single new book – “Spandex Simplified: Sewing for Skaters” – and filled it with full colour photography. I’ve since released 5 more spandex manuals, covering synchro swimmers, fitness & bodybuilding athletes, gymnasts, recreational swimmers, and more.

While I was on hiatus from sewing, I took up culinary arts, working as a baker and cake artist. That led to my first cookbook, “The Spirited Baker” – a desserts book, all flavoured with liqueurs and spirits. “Evil Cake Overlord” soon followed, featuring all of the ‘ridiculously delicious’ recipes I’d come up with for my cake business.

Because Murphy’s Law rules my life, I soon found out that I was allergic to gluten – and closed my cake business. I found gluten-free foods to be terrible, despite what many recipe writers would say. I saw a huge issue with “all purpose” gluten free flours, knowing full well that none would work as a universal solution. I tinkered with various alternative flours, and in 2013 I crowd funded my first gluten-free cookbook, “Beyond Flour”.

The Kickstarter was wildly successful – almost double funded – and a year later, I released the book to rave reviews. People were so excited to have food that tasted and felt right again!

The sequel to Beyond Flour comes out in November, 2016!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called “Hedonistic Hops: The Hopheads’ Guide to Kitchen Badassery”.

It was inspired by my husband, who is just ridiculous about his love for hops – he’ll snack on them, right off the bine!

Over the past few years, I’ve played around with the use of hops in cooking, but there’s not really a ton out there on it… so I had to experiment, develop my own techniques, etc. It’s been a lot of fun, and really tasty – hops are a great way to add unique flavour and interest to food.

So, I ended up writing a whole book on cooking with hops – the first of its kind. It covers everything from buying the various forms of hops, to growing your own, to the organic chemistry involved in the flavours of hops, and how to extract them. There are recipes for hop shoots, leaves, and – mostly! – the flowers.

It’s a great book for anyone who likes to experiment with new flavours – you don’t even have to like beer, to benefit from the use of hops in cooking!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, I’m not super aware of what the writing habits of others are like, so… I guess I’m not sure.

I do best on a steady supply of eurodance and energy drinks, though!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
This is going to sound weird, but the book that’s had the most influence on me was a children’s book, from when I was probably 4 or 5. It was called “The Value of Believing in Yourself: The Story of Louis Pasteur”. It was published in the 70s, and has since gone out of print. To me, th\he book was inspiring on many levels.

For one, it formed the basis for my early love of science, and experimentation. While I did end up very off track from my original life goal of a career in virology, I’ve never stopped enjoying experimentation. I think that comes out in my flavors list nicely, in some of the design techniques I’ve developed, as well as in my cook books. While none of that is ever going to get my name immortalized in any science textbook… that book was foundational to my lifelong love of learning.

On another level, I really do think that the book accomplished it’s main goal – I do think I learned “The value of believing in myself” from it. In the early days of microbiology, a lot of germ theory seemed VERY off the wall.. and a lot of people thought that Pasteur was kind of off his rocker. He had ideas that could be regarded as weird or crazy, and believed in himself enough to develop them, see them through. We now vaccines, a much better knowledge of immunology, and pasteurization, all of a result of his “crazy” ideas.

While my “crazy” ideas are never as history-impacting as his were, I do believe that the book had formative impact on my desire and ability to not only think outside the box, but to just go for it, and really see crazy ideas through to fruition. I think THAT has really gone a long way to making work – and life – fun!

What are you working on now?
Currently, I’m finishing work up on Beyond Flour 2. The recipes are all developed, the photos all taken, and it’s set to go to publication in a month!

So, now is all about writing recipe descriptions, etc. The light at the end of the tunnel!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve grown pretty fond of Kickstarter. Not only does it basically guarantee you sales before you even publish, it’s a great platform to get the word out. It’s a hugely popular site, with great searchability. The back end promotion set up is fantastic, too.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t be tied to the idea of getting traditionally published. It’s a new world, with all sorts of new technologies and opportunities available to authors.

I did a traditionally published cookbook, with a very reputable publisher… and I likely will not ever see a dime for it. It’s super discouraging to have your work out there, to have another company profiting from your work, while you end up empty handed. For almost the exact same amount of work, you can self publish and actually see an income from it.

With the companies and services out there, you can put out a book just as good -if not BETTER – than what you could, going the traditional route.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I can’t actually think of any really great advice I’ve been given – I know, that sounds terrible!

I think I tend to live my life inspired by eurodance music lyrics, more so than any actual intentional advice. 2 Unlimited and E-Type are particularly great, in that respect.

What are you reading now?
Protecting Canadian Democracy: The Senate You Never Knew, by Serge Joyal

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m currently planning for 3 more cookbooks, and then I think I’ll be moving on. I change careers every few years, and I’m sure there’s another change on the horizon.

If I decide to continue writing, I think I might explore fiction. Perhaps something dystopian.

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 book on tropical (I’m assuming) flora and fauna, ideally with identification info, information on what is edible, etc

– A book on survival in such conditions. Maybe with chapters on shelter building, signals, fashioning weapons, etc.

– A book on primitive boat making.

Author Websites and Profiles
Marie Porter Website
Marie Porter Amazon Profile

Marie Porter’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a writer and life coach based in New Zealand. I have a passion for helping people create meaningful lives based on their own values.

I’ve had a crazy career path including working as an x-ray technician, English teacher, University lecturer and a policy adviser for the New Zealand government. I get bored easily and it’s taken me a long time to work out what I really have to offer others.

I love travel and adventure and I’ve lived in six countries including Russia, Turkey and Japan where I taught English. I learned to ride a motorcycle in my late 50’s and I love riding and taking photos in big open spaces. I’m the proud mother of three daughters and grandmother of six grandchildren.

This is my first book but the second is on it’s way.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Name: Superhero Me: How to Have a Great Life and Make the World a Better Place
A Superhero is a person who understands what makes them unique and how to overcome limiting beliefs, fears and habits. A Superhero exercises their special gift to make the world a better place.

This is the book I wish I’d read when I was a young woman starting out in life. I had an OK life, but felt disappointed in a way I could explain. It was only when I started to be honest with myself that I came to realize I was unique and I needed to live my life according to my values, not the values and beliefs of others. I also learned that I would only find meaning in my life by exercising that unique ability of mine that would are exercising your unique gift. I believe every person can be a superhero because we all have a special gift that will make a difference to others.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No – although I’ve only just discovered the delights of working in the corner of a cafe!!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Tama Kieves, Brene Brown, Wayne Dyer, Natalie Goldberg, Julia Cameron, Clarissa Pinkola Estes. All have been a bit part of my life at various times, particularly when I’ve been making life-changes that no-one else understood. I felt like I had a cheer team standing alongside me during those very lonely times when I felt like a misfit.

What are you working on now?
My next book – ‘I’ve Hit a Brick Wall – Now What? How to Overcome Obstacles in Your Life’. Planning to have that published by early next year at the latest. I’m also working on a Workbook to go with SUPERHERO ME.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m a beginner at this, so I’ve reached out to my personal contacts and friends as the starting point. A lot of people have shared my book on their social media links. I’m really hoping Awesomegang is a big help.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’m a new author – my advice is take one step at a time. Focus on what needs to be done today whether that’s writing 1,000 words, or learning how to upload in Createspace or getting to grips with social media marketing. There’s so much to learn that at times it feels overwhelming, but by doing 1 thing each day, you make huge progress.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Focus on the one thing you can do today and remember, you always have choice, even if it’s the choice about how you respond to a situation. I thinks that’s really two bits of advice.

What are you reading now?
I always have fiction on the go – at the moment its John Le Carre’s Night Manager for a change from contemporary fiction which I adore. In the non-fiction field, I’m reading a lot about social media marketing.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To publish ‘I’ve Hit a Brick Wall – Now What? How to Overcome Obstacles in Your Life’. Then I’ll be focusing on the book after. My goal is to bring 1-2 books to market each year.

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?
Tama Kieves – Inspired & Unstoppable: Wildly Succeeding in Your Life’s Work! I find everything Tama does is inspirational…
An old favorite is The Far Pavilions, after that, I’d struggle to choose – there are so many great contemporary books out there.

Author Websites and Profiles
Glenda Spackman Website
Glenda Spackman Amazon Profile

Glenda Spackman’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in Southern California, traveled to Paris when I was 20 to work and live for three years. I then formed my own dance company and toured the world for the next 10 years, gathering experience and discovering new and exciting cultures. Now living in Munich Germany, I write, teach yoga and conduct spiritual retreats and seminars. I have written three other novels to date

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
On Beyond Yoga was inspired mainly by my own yoga practice. In the last 40 years, yoga has gone through a lot of changes, not all of them in harmony with the true essence of yoga. I intended to address these differences in the book and also offer a glimpse into yoga as a lifestyle. A Course in Miracles has been a spiritual inspiration since it was published in 1978 and mirrors a lot of the deeper aspects of yoga philosophy; a perfect blend of Christian mysticism and eastern philosophy and metaphysics. Through the retreats I have conducted in India, I came to see this land as a perfect setting for the ideas I was trying to compound. The characters are based on the hundreds of students I have had the pleasure of teaching.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
The most unusual and least expected was rewriting the original book… 27 times! But, I am learning this is pretty much par for the course, reading other author’s bios. The worst habit I’ve developed is: sitting in doors writing when the weather is glorious.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Everything I have ever read has influenced me, whether good or bad. Authors I admire tend to depress be because they are so remarkable, but I learn so much from their style and story telling. Successful authors who are, in my opinion, not up to par, style wise, keep me inspired by showing me everyone who writes has a public; something not so obvious when the weather is gray and book sales are down to nothing.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a series of books, each taking place in the seventies, each in a new land and culture. It’s interesting to discover how many things have changed in such a short time period, which makes this time in history almost as archaic as the Ancient Greeks. I just finished a book about extreme culture shock in Greece at that time, and am working on a book about the darker side of Paris, before AIDS, Disco, and internet.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
It’s a labyrinth I am still working through. Obviously, self published books depend a lot on Social Media, something older authors are not so savvy with, being born in the dark agents when publishers did most of the selling. Websites like AWESOMEGANG seems to be making things a bit easier for us artists who have and overdeveloped right brain hemisphere.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Decide what you want. If you want dollars and renown, spend more time learning about marketing than writing. If you are passionate about your craft, if writing is a life force you can’t do without, don’t give up because family and friends don’t share your enthusiasm, try not to fret too much that you can’t find a reading public, and keep churning it out. Consistency hones your blades better acceptance.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Not to use so many adverbs, trusting your reading audience to understand more than you think they do.

What are you reading now?
Andre Aciman’s, “Call Me by your Name; Donna Tartt’s, “A Secret History,” and Fredrik Backmann’s, “A MAn Named Ove.”

What’s next for you as a writer?
One day at a time. Getting my books read. Finding my next favorite book to read.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I AM THAT, Shantaram, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal.

Author Websites and Profiles
Eric Brown Website
Eric Brown Amazon Profile

Eric Brown’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve loved telling stories since I was a kid, and even majored in creative writing (as well as communication theory) at the University of Puget Sound. But then for years I chose a different path, working in the tourism industry in Denali National Park and for a cruise company.

Eventually I made another change and became a massage therapist. I noticed a recurring theme when working with massage clients. They wanted physical relief, but much of their soft tissue discomfort was caused by stress. I knew from decades of personal experience that meditation could be helpful for reducing stress and a busy mind. I decided I wanted to share my knowledge with people, offering them tools and techniques which empower them to help themselves.

My meditation background is largely Taoist and compassion focused. But I also wanted to learn about how to structure meditation courses, so I enrolled in the teacher training program for Stanford University’s 8-week Compassion Cultivation Training. After completing the course, I blended their structure with philosophy from my long-time Taoist teachers and developed a curriculum called Cultivating Compassionate Balance.

This book is a spin-off from that course. Many of the idea presented in Cultivating Compassion are explored more deeply in the course, but I wanted everyone to have access to these concepts and ideas.

When not teaching, writing, massaging, I love to hike, travel, read, do jigsaw puzzles and goof off with my wonderful Labrador Lily and husband Scott.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My current book is Cultivating Compassion: Simple Everyday Practices for Discovering Peace of Mind and Resilience. Though this book suggests ideas for developing a compassion meditation practice, it is far from what one might imagine a book on meditation might entail. This book is for readers who are looking for simple, practical, everyday suggestions on how to calm the mind, and become comfortable in their own skin. It is set up with 66 daily chapters (66 being the average number of days current research suggests for developing new habits) each of which contain an inspirational idea, self-reflection questions, and suggestions for daily action. Each chapter builds carefully on the last, and yet can be enjoyed individually.

So, what inspired me to write this? It stems from the desire to help people thrive in their lives. All of us face difficulties and distress at one point or another. Sometimes it becomes easy to give up and not remember to see the positive things in life. Sometimes we just want to shove challenging moments under the rug. But, in doing so sometimes those challenges fester. This book invites people to take a look at some of the challenging aspect of life and offers suggestions for how to do so with comfort and grace.

Ultimately I just wanted to share some of the ideas I’ve learned through decades of meditation retreats in order to help other people thrive.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I really like my environment to be quiet and filled with natural light. It’s even better when Lily is snoozing on the rug next to me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love most works by a variety of spiritual authors, though none in particular have influenced this book.

What are you working on now?
I’m thinking about new ideas for more in-depth books on compassion meditation. For example: Compassion Practices for Parents, or Compassionate Leadership.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve found Self-Publishing School to be an incredible resource for both writing and promoting this book. I don’t think it would have come together without the support of that program and the incredibly helpful and kind forum that goes with it.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t over think it. Just do it. Write from your heart, and have faith it will all work out. Be patient with yourself, especially during the self-editing process.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Done is better than perfect. =)

What are you reading now?
I haven’t started it as I’ve been busy launching this book. But when I have a moment I think I’ll reread No Picnic on Mt Kenya. I love the story, I love the writing, and it is a fabulous distraction from current everyday life.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Though it isn’t in book format, it still takes a bit of writing… My next step is developing an online self study course based on the ideas shared in Cultivating Compassion.

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?
No Picnic on Mt Kenya, Comfortable with Uncertainty, West With the Night, Out of Africa

Author Websites and Profiles
Amy Pattee Colvin Website
Amy Pattee Colvin Amazon Profile

Amy Pattee Colvin’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
This is my 1st book, but am willing to write other books.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Woman’s Book: Only For Men.

And what inspired me the most is the increasing number of divorce in the world.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
nop

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Dan brown is my favourite writer of all times.

What are you working on now?
This is a secret.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
http://awesomegang.com/

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t be afraid.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you believe in your self, you can accomplish the impossible.

What are you reading now?
Woman’s Book: Only For Men.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Writing my new 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?
The Quran.
The lost Symbol – Dan Brown.
The Alchemist – Paolo Coelho

Eyden I.’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have one book which is currently in print, and two which I am currently writing. I have also completed several screenplays and scripts, magazine features and newspaper articles, and written for several columns.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Ancient Ways the Roots of Religion
I have been gathering the material for such a piece all my life. Both ancient humans and the various Faiths, naturally came together for me here.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
no

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Baha’u’llah, Mohammad, Christ, Buddha, Zoroaster, Krishna, Rama, Edouard Schure and Clive Cussler

What are you working on now?
Two books: a Sage Dalton piece Gift of Zoroaster, and a Secora James book Rising Wind

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Working on that. Social media accounts coming soon.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you, like me, don’t do social media – hire an expert, like Catherine Townsend-Lyon

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

What are you reading now?
Nothing

What’s next for you as a writer?
More books. Have material to start 5 more.

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 Kitab-i-Iqan, The Hidden Words, Ancient Ways.

Diane Olsen’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello! My name is Elen and I am an Iraqi-Canadian living in Vancouver. I have written 3 books. Two published, one on the way.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest published book is Graffiti Hack. It tells the story of a hacker who wants to make the internet beautiful. She installs lavish graphical design on commercial websites, this leads to all sorts of hilarious trouble. The book was inspired by a visit to the Freer Gallery in Washington D.C. I suddenly had the intense experience of how a work of art can change a person.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I do most of my writing lying down on a couch with a laptop sitting on my belly. So glad I get to do this in private, because it looks a bit weird.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Cities of Salt by Abdul Rahman Munif, opened my eyes to the full potential of what literature can be.
Unless by Carol Shields, is a novel I keep rereading and each time I discover something new within its folds.
All the Names by Jose Saramago is book that made me look differently at the world.

What are you working on now?
I just finished writing a novel called Spoonful Chronicles and getting ready to get it published. It tells the story of a woman who want to discover the meaning of her life by recounting all the memorable eating experiences of her life.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I just started focusing on marketing and so I am a novice in this field. Ask me again in 6 months.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be unique. Don’t listen to any advice, find your own way.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“You are doing exactly what you want to do, so enjoy it” is the advice my husband gave me when I was feeling stressed out. I try hard to remember that I am lucky to be able to follow my dream. Therefore, this is supposed to be fun. Right?

What are you reading now?
Glad you asked. I am reading Time Skipper by Stefano Benni. It is absolutely amazing. I am deliberately reading it slow to enjoy all the nuance.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Become a super duper marketer for my own books. I have this hunch that marketing a book should be creative activity, same way writing a book is. Experimenting with different ideas.

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?
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Arabian Nights
Robinson Crusoe might prove useful.

Author Websites and Profiles
Elen Ghulam Website
Elen Ghulam Amazon Profile

Elen Ghulam’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born and raised in the Philippines, but I’ve always been curious about a little bit of everything, so I travel quite a lot. If I’m not writing, you’ll see me painting, playing a musical instrument or piecing a jigsaw puzzle. The first book I wrote is called Frustrated by the Stars. The second one is Beautifully Burned, which was published in May 2016.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Beautifully Burned is my first published book, although it’s not the first story I wrote. After my internship in New York few years ago, I found my old notebook sitting at home and started to scan the pages, only to find “stuff” I wrote way back then. I had no idea those words would turn into something more. It’s kind of crazy but once I started writing, it’s as if situations got connected and words found where they truly belonged.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Sometimes I would wake up in the middle of the night just to write something random, and then go back to sleep. So when I wake up, I would check at what I have written. It could be a thought, a phrase or a quote. It’s kind of funny, but in all honesty, it works most of the time. Music helps a lot too.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My curiosity doesn’t pertain solely to books that catch my attention. It could be just a single sentence I read somewhere. But as far as totality of impact is the basis for this question, then I’d say… I’m a fan of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

What are you working on now?
I’m pretty secretive when it comes to unfinished work, but I could tell you that there’s a new novel I’m currently working on right now. Is it a love story? Yes.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As much as people tell me to use Twitter, I’m more active on Facebook and Instagram. It’s always good to connect to your readers, especially if you don’t know them. That’s when things become interesting after all.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
The only way to overcome fear is to have courage to fight it with. Writing, as engrossing as it could be, is also as dangerous, but always effective. Expect that not everyone will like your story, but it’s your call to use that as a form of constructive criticism. Don’t compare yourself to other writers, but hone your skills in accordance of your perspective.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Write more.” I think this is more of a comment than an advice. But this is what truly motivates me personally. Because people appreciating your work is one thing, but people asking more from you is another story.

What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I write romance novels, but I’m also very open to other genres.

What’s next for you as a writer?
A new novel is definitely brewing, but more than that, I’m also planning on taking writing classes in order to develop my skills. Once everything is set, I’ll spill it through my page.

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 Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Wisdom and Teachings of Stephen R. Covey and my own book(Beautifully Burned).

Author Websites and Profiles
Bey Tolentino Website
Bey Tolentino Amazon Profile
Bey Tolentino Author Profile on Smashwords

Bey Tolentino’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Adam J. Williams and I like to play pretend. I currently have written three books. I also edit a quarterly literary magazine, Literary e-clectic.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called The Queen of Oz. As I watched the movie, the Wizard of Oz with my two kids, I realized how it still holds up after 80 years. Then I started thinking about how the story could be updated from the original book. The story has a drag queen from Ohio that is transported into the book and takes Dorothy’s place. The book has a positive message about acceptance and staying true to one’s self.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am always working on a minimum of four projects. That way, if I ever get bored with one thing, I move on to the next.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
T.C. Boyle, John Irving, Sean Platt, Elmore Leonard

What are you working on now?
A serialized book series called Revenants. It is about a special class of zombies that keep their memories and mental faculties.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing. If you’re stuck, keep writing. If you’re bored, keep writing. It is great when you’re inspired, but that’s not always the case. Just keep writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Perfection is the enemy of getting things done.

What are you reading now?
Yesterday’s Gone.

What’s next for you as a writer?
The Revenants series, some santa-themed children’s books, the followup to Tangents in Eden, and two other series that I’m collaborating with other writers on.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Four really long compendiums.

Author Websites and Profiles
Adam J. Williams Website
Adam J. Williams Amazon Profile
Adam J. Williams Author Profile on Smashwords

Adam J. Williams’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Growing up, I was always interested in writing and computers. Through my high school years, I wrote a few short stories for extra credit and for fun. Mysteries have always fascinated me, especially the Hardy Boy mysteries. For my career, I chose to be a computer programmer and, at one point, I was a computer teacher. The desire to write has never left me so I am now wanting to fulfill a dream of mine.

I have recently finished my first book, “Escape World Peace.” It is a Christian, fiction, mystery about a mysterious politician that becomes the leader of the world. He promises world peace but, as the main character Johnnie finds out, this politician has other plans than world peace.

I also have a poem in e-book form, “Remembering September 11, 2001.” This is a tribute to those who died in the terrorist attacks.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Remembering September 11, 2001” was an assignment I had to do for an art class I was taking. The art class was required for the teaching degree I was striving for at the time. The poem was my way of remembering that awful day and trying to do something to support the families that lost loved ones and heal my country.

“Escape World Peace” was inspired by what the Bible says about the end times and world peace. I started working on this in the mid 1990’s. At the time, I was a young Christian and didn’t know much about the Bible. I didn’t feel comfortable writing this until I studied the end times events. It has taken several years and much studying for me to complete this book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have no set pattern. Sometimes writing for long periods of time is what I need to do and other times maybe short 15 to 20 minute sessions work for me. There are times I need the television or radio on and other times I need complete silence. Reclining in my couch is normally what I do but there are times I am at the kitchen table or out on my front porch watching the wildlife.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Franklin Dixon’s, “The Hardy Boys,” were probably the most influential books for me.
The Nancy Drew mysteries were alright but the Hardy Boys were my favorite.

Although these were TV shows and not books, “Columbo” and “Diagnosis Murder” influenced me, as well.

What are you working on now?
I am working on two stories I wrote back in high school. One is about a robber that keeps disappearing from police and the other is about an older lady that hoards newspapers. At this time, I have not titled these stories.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I do not have any but I am open to suggestions.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write because you like to and write about what motivates you

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Help others when you can.

What are you reading now?
The Bible and various commentaries on Revelation

What’s next for you as a writer?
I would like to get established and keep writing stories that inspire me. Right now, I think that will be mystery novels.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Bible
The Strong’s concordance
The Hardy Boys mysteries (although I don’t know how I would choose. I like them all.)

Author Websites and Profiles
Harry Martin Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have one so far.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Fast Draw is my only novel that was inspired by the legendary fast-draw artist, Bob Munden. I was amazed at his precision and speed and thought, in theory, he could make an effective superhero.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t outline, and I trust my intuition. If my subconscious is trying to tell me something, I tend to listen.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Mostly movies have been my inspiration, but if I had to pick a couple authors, I’d say Stephen King, Cormac McCarthy and Elmore Leonard.

What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m working on trying to figure out what project to finish next. I’m leaning towards the sequel to Fast Draw.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Goodreads boards seem to work pretty well.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just do it.

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

What are you reading now?
Get Shorty by Elmore Leonard.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully, to be a two-time novelists.

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?
True Grit, No Country For Old Men and the Game of Thrones Series.

Author Websites and Profiles
D. W. Collins Amazon Profile

D. W. Collins’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My background is in Nuclear Chemistry where I traveled to Nuclear Power sites around the world. I then go involved in Marketing to companies building data centers. The safety technology is close to the same. Learning successful marketing skills I moved to a small business that did Merchandising, Branding and Design Build for financial institutions. I learned social media, website design, branding (color) and internet marketing. Now, I mentors 100’s of small businesses in branding, website design, social media and marketing. I have written 2 medical thrillers and 2 non-fiction eBooks. I am in the middle of the 3rd thriller and the 3rd non-fiction in the series.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Color Me Successful Book 2 – Color Emotions: What Each Color Means For Your Small Business
Color is the first thing your business client sees when they look at your website or marketing material and they only give 3 seconds. It is the most important thing a small business owner will decide for their company, what colors to use. Few people realize how important this is, I am an expert and want to help people pick the right color to drive business to them.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I think I am pretty ordinary. I usually write in the morning when I am fresh. I mentor clients in the process of self-publishing which keeps me up on new things happening in the field.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
In fiction, Dean Koontz, and Steve King. They both write reality tinged with the unbelievable. I have recently read all of Bill O’Reilly’s books. Most give me a new view of an old subject.

What are you working on now?
I have a Medical Thriller in the works. It is the second in the Emergence Series, ‘ReEmergence’. The story of a sentient virus that has waged war on the human race and may win. I am also on the third non-fiction how-to in the Color Me Successful Series. Written for the small business owner to implement the best colors into marketing to drive business.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I like Awesomegang, definitely. Others I might recommend might be Ereader News Today and Book Goodies. If you can get on BookBub, this is the giant. I find joining Amazon Kindle Select has been good for my marketing. It lets me give away my book for 5 days, awesome!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be relentless. I was told from an author friend that if you are not planning on writing more than one book, why write and self-publish the first one. I believe this is true unless your motive is just to see yourself in print. If you want this to be a profession, then you must write more than one book. Keep them coming.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t give up! It is hard to stay motivated but don’t stop. Go to writing conferences, join writing groups in your city and hang around other people that are as inspirational as you. This will keep you motivated. The other thing I was told and it is important……everything must be edited. You and your friends might think your book is terrific, but get it edited, your friends love you, the public may not.

What are you reading now?
I am reading a Michael Connelly book, love his characters…Detective Bosch. I am also reading a book, Launch to Market, Easy Marketing for Authors by Chris Fox. He has written several eBooks. I try to keep up on marketing eBooks.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I must finish my two books in the two series I am producing. I am then off to the next book in both series. I write for several newspapers and e-zines, I find this fun as well. Writing is something I love to do.

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 my, what would they be. So many choices, it must be something profound.
I would probably choose the bible as my first book. On a desert island I wouldn’t be able to market so books on marketing through social media and the internet would not be useful.
My first book, ‘For I Am With You’ would be my second choice. My third might be Robinson Crusoe, to allow me to read someone who had been on my journey. The last might be an instruction manual for plants and health, healing plants and Chinese herbs.

Author Websites and Profiles
Judy Haar Website
Judy Haar Amazon Profile

Judy Haar’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a Gestalt-trained, Buddhist-flavored psychotherapist and group leader in private practice on Long Island. I have a wife, two kids, two grandkids, and a pit bull with a personality disorder. I love sushi, jazz, mystery novels and Rachel Maddow. MONKEYTRAPS is my first book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
MONKEYTRAPS: WHY EVERYBODY TRIES TO CONTROL EVERYTHING AND HOW WE CAN STOP (Lioncrest, 2015). It grew out of twenty years of working with all sorts of client, which taught me to see most emotional and relationship problems as stemming from what I call control addiction.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I won’t usually publish anything unless my wife likes it. Not sure if that’s unusual or just codependent.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Fritz Perls (especially GESTALT THERAPY VERBATIM), Alexander Lowen (especially DEPRESSION AND THE BODY), James Hillman (especially KINDS OF POWER), Mark Epstein (especially THOUGHTS WITHOUT A THINKER), Snell & Gail Putney (THE ADJUSTED AMERICAN), Robert Lane (THE LOSS OF HAPPINESS IN MARKET DEMOCRACIES), Charlotte Joko Beck (especially EVERYDAY ZEN), Viktor Frankl (MAN’S SEARCH FOR MEANING) and Alan Watts (especially PSYCHOTHERAPY EAST AND WEST).

What are you working on now?
The next book in what will be a six-book series. Titled MONKEYTRAPS IN EVERYDAY LIFE, it will describe some of the most common ways in which we unconsciously control our way into problems. Future books in the series will include MONKEYTRAPS FOR ADULT CHILDREN, MONKEYTRAPS FOR PARENTS, MONKEYTRAPS FOR COUPLES and MONKEYTRAPS FOR THERAPISTS.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Social media and blogging. I also lean heavily on my friend Cat Lyon, whose Lyon Book and Social Media Promotions (https://anAuthorandWriterinProgress.wordpress.com) repeatedly saves my life.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write for yourself first. Easier said than done, but I wasted years until I learned it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The more control you need, the less in control you feel.

What are you reading now?
I usually keep one foot in fiction and the other in nonfiction. Just now I’m alternating between IDISORDER: UNDERSTANDING OUR OBSESSION WITH TECHNOLOGY AND OVERCOMING ITS HOLD ON US by Larry Rosen, Ph.D., and DEATH WITHOUT COMPANY, the second of Craig Johnson’s Walt Longmire mysteries.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’d like to publish one book per year until I finish the six-book MONKEYTRAPS series described above.
Then I’d like to start giving talks and conducting workshops for readers who found the books helpful and want to learn more.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Bible, I suppose — not because I’m religious (I’m not) or familiar with it (ditto), but because (a) I’ve never read it cover to cover, and (b) I imagine, as both literature and psychology, it would hold up to multiple rereadings. I’d probably take THE ILIAD, THE ODYSSEY and BULLFINCH’S MYTHOLOGY for similar reasons.

Author Websites and Profiles
Steve Hauptman Website
Steve Hauptman Amazon Profile
Steve Hauptman Author Profile on Smashwords

Steve Hauptman’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m primarily an author of LGBT speculative fiction. I’ve written about zombies, rocket ships, robots, and tentacled heroes.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is The Moonlight Market. It’s an “up all night” story. My husband and I love this genre. There’s something intimate about staying up late, talking, and having adventures while everything else is asleep that appeals to me.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. Having a cat curled up under your arm to watch you type is pretty typical of most writers with cats. LOL!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve always been a fan of science fiction and fantasy. I grew up on The Lord of the Rings, Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, and Ray Bradbury. I adore all the scifi 1books by Lois McMaster Bujold.

What are you working on now?
I’m writing a paranormal young adult novel about two young women who see “smudges”. One of the main character believes that “when you die, your soul goes to heaven but there’s a smudge left behind. It’s not like a stain exactly, but like the memory of a memory of a person. Like little animated gifs, performing the same action over and over in the real world just like they did on the internet.” It’s not until she meets the other heroine that the smudges leave their loop and confront the two high schoolers.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m a fan of blog tours and blog hops. Anyplace I can grab someone’s attention that may not have seen my books before. And I get to write cool blog posts for them.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing. And finish what you write. You can’t edit or submit or sell a blank page.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Show don’t tell. This is one I’m still struggling with. Sometimes I’ll switch from third person to first person just to get a better sense of description through my character’s eyes.

What are you reading now?
Love As Strong As Death by Jane Davitt and Alexa Snow. I love the two main characters and their relationship, as well as the spooky ghosts that they help to settle.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m actually hosting a table at the Southern Magic Readers Luncheon this November. I normally attend the luncheon but it’s rare for me to host a table and participate in the book signing. All my fans can come to meet me in person! Tickets are on sale if anyone is interested: http://www.southernmagic.org/luncheon.html

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?
Probably a copy of the complete works of Shakespeare, the Bible, The Lord of the Rings, and Pride and Prejudice.

Author Websites and Profiles
Aidee Ladnier Website
Aidee Ladnier Amazon Profile
Aidee Ladnier Author Profile on Smashwords

Aidee Ladnier’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have authored 2 books in the self-help genre. I am a mom , have 3 pets, and am employed full time in the health care field. I enjoy reading, traveling, and studying people. I love helping people to live happier more fulfilled lives. I hope to reach as many people as I can with my books and help them on their journeys to their best lives. I’m sure we can all use a little help with that. I look forward to writing more books and sharing my insights with the world.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is titled Self-Love:The Art of Practicing Self-Love and Realizing that You are Enough.
My inspiration came from all of the people I come into contact with daily in both my professional and personal life. I see how so many people love others but fail to have that same love for themselves. I too have suffered from this. Especially as a mom. I am so consumed with loving and taking care of my family that I too fail to show myself that same love. I too have fallen into the habit of putting myself last. I want to reach out to others and tell them that it doesn’t have to be that way. This book offers tips on how to go about loving yourself the way you deserve to be loved

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I actually enjoy getting out into Nature and writing. I find that being outdoors calms my mind and allows me to focus. Something about observing the beauty in the world inspires me to think and write. I also enjoy listening to some of my favorite love songs while writing.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I really enjoyed Stephen Cope’s book, “The Great Works of Your Life”. This book really inspired me to find my true calling in life and that led me to write my books.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a guide that shows how to put the principles discussed in my book”Self-Love:The Art of Practicing Self-Love and Realizing That You are Enough” into daily practice.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I try to submit my book to as many sites as possible to get the most exposure.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Stick with it. It can be a lot of work and a lot to learn outside of writing. Learn how to market your books. This is very important if you want to find readers for your books!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Start marketing your book before it is available.

What are you reading now?
I spend most of my time writing and editing. The last book I read was “The 4- Hour Work Week” by Timothy Ferriss.

What’s next for you as a writer?
My goals include writing and publishing more books, hopefully, full 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?
Think and Grow Rich
The Hobbit
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Author Websites and Profiles
Levese Williams Amazon Profile

Levese Williams’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
As I keep saying, I <http://thesoulcreator.com/about-me-in-command/> am a sailor by profession, a writer by choice, a family man at heart, avid traveller and someone who has always been unapologetic in talking about achievements and professionalism. I have written only one book till date, the ‘Laughter Paradigm’ , which had hit Amazon No.1 in two categories during the Free promotion. I also write productivity hacks regularly for world-famous blogs such as ‘Lifehack.org’ or ‘Time management Ninja’.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called : Laughter Paradigm – having fun and the psychology behind.
The world around us is filled with gloomy faces, people have forgotten how to laugh and have fun with the pressures of life. Apart from a lot of packed-in laughter, this book is meant to inspire people to return to innocence and learn to laugh like a kid again.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
The sea has always Inspired me to write. Out in the middle of nowhere when I am sailing across oceans I find peace and I feel inspired to write.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have been inspired by a lot of people – My father for his free spirit, My wife M, for her unconditional love, Oindriz, for her ability to touch souls with her pen, Richard Wiseman, for his inspiring books on psychology and insights into people’s minds, and the sea, to give me the peace I needed to pen down my thoughts.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a book which I believe can be revolutionary in the art of Negotiation skills. It will have a wide-spread applicability, spanning various scenarios in personal or professional life, where one needs to negotiate.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have had several visits on my blog since I enrolled with Awesomegang. I could see the backlinks rolling on from here, more than any other place. But the most effective, generic and proven method of promoting is to create an awesome book (professionally edited, may I add) with great content, and making personal connections.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
There are 3 things you must do
Write, write and then write some more.
All the rest can wait.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It is always important to look at the bird’s eye view. Always look at the overall picture.

What are you reading now?
I am reading “The luck factor” by Richard Wiseman

What’s next for you as a writer?
I wish to publish my next book next year and we will take it up from there.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I guess: “How to build a boat” would be the right answer.
But practically, I am not so much into fiction, so I think I will also take collections of Richard Wiseman, Gary D Chapman, and Jonah Lehrer

Author Websites and Profiles
Captain D Website
Captain D Amazon Profile

Captain D’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I love science fiction n television and in the movies, and of course in books. I also have a tremendous interest in all things scientific and biologically cutting edge. I’m a state licensed veterinary technician in Nevada, living on the edges of Las Vegas with a one acre petite farm. I’ve written about half a dozen novels over 30 years, but also some short stories and novellas.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Paradox: The Alien Genome came about from two influences – one was requests from fans that I please flesh out a short story that was a fun blog, and the other was the news about the CRISPR technology used to splice genes. A science fiction tragedy becomes a love story that transcends bigotry and technology ultimately creating a child with a genome that could save humanity from its own genetic follies of the 22nd century.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I listen to music while I write, and depending on what I’m writing, I use either upbeat, or melancholy tunes to get me feeling the emotions for my characters.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Michael Crichton, Isaac Asimov, Jean Auel, Kipling, Twain. I also study a lot of non-fiction in medicine and science.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a new novel, number two in a series of five. I am inspired by news events in science, and this one is no exception. Antibiotic resistance has been a forefront topic this year and that is where it leads and resolves.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I like the Amazon free deals, and using Facebook and Twitter to get the word out.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Get the story out of your head and onto paper first, and know the ending before you start.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Use the “rules” as your template, but bend them when necessary.

What are you reading now?
The Physics of Star Trek

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep on writing! More science fiction, and some non-fiction related to pet care.

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?
Gone With The Wind, Collections of Mark Twain, Survival Skills, Black Beauty

Author Websites and Profiles
Holly Rivney Website
Holly Rivney Amazon Profile

Holly Rivney’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m Australian, living in the Sierra Nevada region of California. I’ve lived and worked in a number of countries and it looks as though I’ve settled in the snow country. I write science fiction and thrillers. I claim thrillers need a touch of science and science fiction need thrills to keep the reader engaged. I write full time, unless someone offers me a hefty IT consulting assignment; although that detracts from my writing focus. I enjoy hiking and sea kayaking, and in the winter–of course–skiing. I try to write in American English. Some of my reviewers think I make mistakes which are probably errors resulting from writing in British/Australian English. Oh, and I think ‘Aluminium’ is the correct spelling. Books published so far – 6 – three thrillers, three science fiction.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Fracture Lines [released September 10, 2016] is my latest science fiction story. It’s late. I know, I know. I detoured and wrote thrillers for a while. Fracture Lines is second of a trilogy–the Glass Complex. I’ve commenced the third book [Diamond Cut] and it’s due for December release. It’s a fun story, where the protagonist is able to communicate directly with computers, and needs to protect civilization from an alien species.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I’m lost for inspiration I like to hike in the mountains. I usually get inspiration that has nothing to do with the story I’m working on. I have far too many story concepts as a result.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Wells, Wyndham, Heinlein, Herbert, Asimov, Zahn, Modesitt, Cherryh, Banks, Agatha Christie, Lee Childs, Charteris, Larson, Buroker, Lowell, whassisname… the list goes on, because I think all books have some degree of influence on the reader.

What are you working on now?
I’m scheduled to complete the fourth book [Mark Four] in my thriller series – ready for edit – by end of September, 2016. It needs another 20,000 words, so I’m confident of achieving the target. I’ve also commenced Diamond Cut [see above], which I’m targeting for December release. I have another four or five concepts ready to run after this year.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Exploring all possibilities.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write and write. Self publish. Enjoy writing. Promote – it’s a business, after all.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Not sure of the best. The worst – you can’t write without experience [I wrote my first SF story when I was 12]. The only way to publish is via the traditional path – you know, spend six months looking for an agent, another six months looking for a publisher, when you find one, sign all your rights away and then wait 18 – 24 months for your book to reach the bookshops.

What are you reading now?
Waiting for the next Lee Childs and Modesitt books to be available. Snacking on self-published authors – there’s a smorgasbord out there – and some really do need editing while others match any traditionally published work.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More writing. I have an AI/thriller concept that I want to jump into, and a new space opera series.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
It’s a four book compendium of all self-published science fiction released in the last four years. I just invented it…

Author Websites and Profiles
John Hindmarsh Website
John Hindmarsh Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a jack-of-all-trades writer, with 8 books published, and short stories and essays in various anthologies and magazines. I write children’s books, non-fiction, sci-fi/fantasy, horror, and much more.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Too Wyrd was inspired by a dream and the Havamal, a text of Norse mythology. The combination gave me the idea to have the 18 spells of Odin from the Havamal be physical objects that the main character, Nicola, must find and protect. I’d been working on a piece for several years that ended up setting the general scene for the 1st chapter and kind of inspired the overall feeling of the book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to eat gummies while I write. I can’t chew gum because the flavor doesn’t last long, but gummies are a great consistency for me to chew on.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series and M.R. Sellars’ Rowan Gant Investigations series were very influential to me. I’ve also felt very inspired by Anne MacCaffrey’s various works.

What are you working on now?
Too Wyrd is book 1 of the Runespells series. I’m working on book 2, Fluffy Bunny, as well as The Crystal Wise, a sci-fi, and Paper Dragons, a Mid-Grade fantasy.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve really enjoyed interacting with people on Facebook, as well as participating in various author events on that site.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep writing. Don’t think about the money. Just keep writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just keep swimming! Dory had the best advice for anyone in virtually any situation.

What are you reading now?
I have a book that I’m reading for a review, Asana of Malevolence.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More writing, more publishing, much more promoting.

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?
Dead Beat by Jim Butcher, The Rowan by Anne MacCaffrey, and a couple of my fav romances (’cause I can reread them a bunch).

Author Websites and Profiles
Sarah Buhrman Website
Sarah Buhrman Amazon Profile

Sarah Buhrman’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account