Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I tried writing a book while I was working. I guess I started in about 1993. I finally finished the book in 2000 and printed it off to edit. After fifty pages, I realized trying to write a book, and work just didn’t mix. I waited until my youngest graduated from college and then started writing full-time. That was in April of 2012. I have finished four books since that time. Oh and the original manuscript? I found an excellent use for it. The printed document that is over one hundred thousand words holds the laundry room door open. I currently live on a barrier island off the South Texas coast with my wife and spoiled rescue pets.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I am getting ready to publish the third book in the John Cannon Trilogy titled Our Justice. The John Cannon Trilogy is inspired by my sister, and I making a visit to the Aircraft Carrier Lexington, which has a mooring in Corpus Christi Texas. Our father was a naval aviator and served on her during World War II. As I was standing on the flight deck which was massive, it was evident there was no way to protect this monument to America’s strength if a terrorist group decided to destroy her. Once I left the ship, I worked out a plan to destroy the Lexington and then a plan on how to prevent it. The story just grew from there. The other two books are titled My GRL and His Revenge

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure if my habits are unusual but I demand of myself to write at least a thousand words a day. Once I have done my daily goal I am free to do other things like tackle the to-do list around the house. While writing I have to listen to music. I enjoy iHeart radio because I can design my own music and pipe it through Bluetooth speakers. I’m partial to lite rock and beach music.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I was influenced by On the Beach by Neville Shute because I was impressed in the manner that he could make up a fictional situation and characters and craft the situation so that it seemed real. Kurt Vonnegut influenced me in several books by how he could use actual situations as backdrops to a fictional story. John Irving gave me the courage to write about whimsy and do it with a boldness that allowed the reader to believe the appropriateness of a sometimes outrageous situation to the storyline

What are you working on now?
I have finished the first draft of a book titled Circumstances of Childhood.It’s a general fiction story about two friends who dream of becoming successful business people and NFL stars. The protagonists are two friends named Curt and Sammy. Curt’s family takes Sammy in after his troubled mother slashes her throat during an Eagle Scout ceremony leaving him an orphan. Sammy and Curt are highly talented and go on to play for the University of Texas until an unfortunate accident takes Curt’s life with Sammy at the wheel of the car. Sammy needs to go on in spite of the oppressive guilt of his mother’s suicide and Curt’s death haunting him

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use a number of forms of social media to promote my books. The best method I have found is those sites which have a large following. I can think of Awesomegang and Ereader news as two of the best.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I would advise anyone who wants to be a writer is to do just that write every day. Also, do not show your work to anyone until it is complete. Kindly comments don’t help, and critical comments stifle the motivation needed to write. One a piece is complete there is plenty of time to hack it apart and make improvements.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I ever heard was from Elmore Leonard during a class I took from him. He said if your work sounds like writing then it is probably not good writing. What he was saying is overly descriptive scenes do nothing to move the story along and are frustrating to the reader. If a writer has an unfrustrated and happy reader the goal of goal writing has been met.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading only Indie authors. My current read is Passion & Struggle by Indie author John Feroavanti. It is a futuristic story about a fictional planet Genesis where the population has been governed by the same group of religious zealots for seven hundred years. The folks in charge decided that it would be wise to give democracy a try since a visit to the planet Earth impressed them on the advantages.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am currently thinking of another thriller where a cell phone is found on the beach and contains very sensitive information about terrorist plans. The couple that finds the phone turned it over to Homeland Security once they found some very disturbing pictures on it. The terrorists want the phone back and will go to any means to get it.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The first would be Desert Island Survival for Dummies. The second would be the Canterberry Tales since I don’t know how long I will need to be entertained. The third would be a medical book for obvious reasons. The fourth would be Our Justice by John W. Howell because you never know if a rescuer needs a good read.

Author Websites and Profiles
John Howell Website
John Howell Amazon Profile
John Howell Author Profile on Smashwords

John Howell’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I became an independent author since 2015. I am a college instructor and holds a doctorate degree in information technology, so much of my books are on computer sciences. My first and most recent work is the text: comprehensive introduction to computer science for schools and colleges. I am currently working on 5 title that will be released by the end of 2016.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Comprehensive introduction to computer science for schools and colleges is my most recent book and it is inspired by my love for computers and information technology

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I get inspiration mostly by 2 midnight, that’s when I write best

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Robbert schilden

What are you working on now?
Information technology for schools and colleges.

Programming in basic language for schools and colleges and a host of others

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I used amazon marketing services but of recent I came across awesome gang and I feel it is good.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be realistic. Write on marketable niches and never give up trying. Remember that Rome was not built in a day.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t give up trying, keep pressing on until victory comes your way.

What are you reading now?
Mark Smith guide to becoming an information technology expert

What’s next for you as a writer?
Anything comes. I am highly optimistic

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?
Lol. Surely the ones that will help me find my way out quickly.

Author Websites and Profiles
Victor oguejiofor Amazon Profile

Victor oguejiofor’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Writing under the pen name D. Keith, Dennis is a retired fire fighter who has lived in West Texas all his life. His passion for Texas shows in much of his poetry, short stories and now his novel, Rivers Crossing.

Dennis retired from fire fighting after 25 years of service. During that time he not only served the fire department, he managed to start two successful businesses and earn an MBA. Following his retirement, he spent time as adjunct faculty at a small university teaching undergraduate business management courses. He left this to follow his entrepeneuerial instincts and start a small retail business. When he finally decided to retire for good, he closed the business and now devotes his time to writing and taking care of his garden and greenhouse.

Dennis has two childrens books in publication, a wealth of unpublished poetry and now a novel, Rivers Crossing.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Rivers Crossing is my first fill length novel. It was inspired by current events on the Texas/Mexico border and a desire to tell a story that incoporates some of the traditions, heritage and the love of the land felt by Texans living in this area.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write at a standup desk. I find that it is easier on my old back, that being able to move and stand and shift while I work keeps my mind engaged and fresh.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, E E Doc Smith, Edgar Rice Burroughs

What are you working on now?
The second book in the River Brookes Adventure Series. The working title is Rivers Rise

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Best Method – Diligent effort. Utilize every channel and avenue you can find. Be passionate and talk about your book to everyone. Don’t be afraid to give copies away.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be persistent. Be consistent. Be insistent.

Keep at it and finish what you start. Half finished manuscripts will never sellf.

Write every day. Set aside a specific time and have a specific place to write. Set goals such as word counts or pages.

Take you writing seriously even if your friends and family don’t.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Robert Heinleins Five Rules for Writers.

1. You must write.
2. You must finish what you write.
3. You must refrain from rewriting, except to editorial order.
4. You must put the work on the market.
5. You must keep the work on the market until it is sold.

What are you reading now?
Churchill’s six volume History of World War II

What’s next for you as a writer?
Perhaps a volume of my poetry.

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
Robert Heinleins “Stranger in a Strange Land”
Tsung Tsu “The Art of War”
Maciavelli “The Prince”

Author Websites and Profiles
Dennis Howard Website
Dennis Howard Amazon Profile
Dennis Howard Author Profile on Smashwords

Dennis Howard’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up in a small town in West Virginia and never moved far from home. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Concord College, and I loved it there so much I made it the setting for my novel. I credit my love of reading and writing to Kate Chopin, Emily Bronte, and my mom. After the Fall is my debut novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is a new adult paranormal romance titled After the Fall. My novel is based on several dreams I had when I was a kid. Years ago, I imagined how they could all be tied together, and the idea for After the Fall emerged.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love to listen to music while I write. I’ll find songs that reflect the mood of the scene I’m working on, and that helps me stay focused.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I was only ever into the classics between high school and college. My favorite books were The Awakening by Kate Chopin and Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. But several years ago, my sister-in-law introduced me to Twilight, and my love of paranormal romance began. Yes, I was most influenced by the Twilight series. I’d always wanted to write books but never put the time and effort into it. While I read the series, I realized how much I wanted to write my own.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the prequel to After the Fall.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve yet to gain a lot of experience in marketing, but so far Facebook has been the best.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read and write in every free minute you have.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I’ve heard that you should write your first draft as though no one will ever read it.

What are you reading now?
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah Maas. It’s the second in the series, which I love so far.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to finish my After the Fall 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?
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, The Awakening by Kate Chopin, and The Ultimate Survival Manual.

Author Websites and Profiles
Carissa Lusk Website

Carissa Lusk’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a Polish writer introducing my debut novel, an adventure-thriller “The Bewilderment”.

As a Master of Science I’m a IT developer, but somehow I found working with people more interesting than working with machines. That’s why I decided to be a university lecturer. Since 1996 I also carry on a family tiny private college in my marvelous hometown of Bielsko-Biala, Poland.
I love inspiring people, make them feel and think in some creative way. I love to watch a spark in people’s eyes when they discover the new way of solving problems and when they find the things they thought difficult turn simple in fact. That is the main reason I’m back to writing again (I was doing it as a small kid turning some descriptions of my family trips into a vivid adventure story and issuing my amateur newspapers). I want to amaze and inspire people, showing some things from different angle. I believe an independent thinking and being open-minded is a key to make this world better.

Privately I hate boredom so I’m trying to lead an active life. Traveling, learning of different cultures and architecture and all kind of sports, especially skiing, swimming and martial arts are my favorite activities along with good music and books. Nevertheless, now I’d like to share my new passion of writing. I hope my books will entertain and inspire you.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The Bewilderment” is my challenge to write some extraordinary, unique thriller. I found some idea which definitely had to be written down. Nevertheless I could point some inspirations like ‘The Blair Witch Project’ movie, Stephen King novels, unexplained real story of Diatlov Pass, Tool music, etc.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I will surely miss many but the names twisting in my mind now are: Don Miguel Ruiz, Umberto Eco, Zbigniew Herbert, Dean Koontz, Dan Brown, Stephen King, Harlan Coben, David Baldacci… I also like to read biographies of interesting people. I love everything what’s innovative and unusual.

What are you working on now?
I’m on my first steps to create the second part of “The Bewilderment”

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Only this one: when it comes to writing – erase all the limits – think lateral and be creative!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Think for yourself, question authorities.”

What are you reading now?
“Promise me” by Harlan Coben

What’s next for you as a writer?
Another book for sure, cause I found my new passion of writing.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Maybe “The four agreement” by Miguel Ruiz or some of my favorite astrophysics books… no, I think I would choose some random books I have never read before.

Author Websites and Profiles
Radek K. Wylon Website
Radek K. Wylon Amazon Profile

Radek K. Wylon’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written five novels and a book of short stories. My first novel The Diary of an Innocent was written when I was living in Spain.

This book takes conspiracy theories from Moses right through to global warming; all told from the viewpoint of an ordinary person whose life it changed. The book reveals the way politics and organized religion have conspired to control the lives of ordinary people. Why did God threaten to destroy the world he had created, and what prevented him from doing so? Who indeed is God? Is the plan for mankind as straightforward as the Bible states, or is there a more sinister agenda? Why did the Vatican fund the `Rat Lines’ to help prominent Nazi’s escape? Who killed Pope John-Paul? These questions and many more are answered, as the world’s greatest conspiracy unfolds. It is told through the eyes of an ordinary man who finds the diary of a priest. What he discovers changes his attitude to life. The (verifiable) information feeding these theories will shock people into re-thinking what they are told by the barrage of influences bombarding their everyday lives.
My young adult book The Redemption came next.

Four teenage girls, one boy, and their swimming coach are trapped on a desert island, where the normal rules of living don’t apply. What will they do to survive? Are the rumours being spread about the coach, true? What else does he teach when he takes an individual on a hunting foray? Will Emma turn the tide of being bullied? Did one of the girls really fall to her death, or was she killed to cover up what was going on? This fast moving tale shows what can happen when the structure of society falls apart, old scores are settled and the innocent suffer.

I have always written Short stories and so I decided to put a few together with some anthologies and a chat around how they came to be written. Thus was born Different Eyes.

Often when we read a short story, we wonder about the surrounding events that placed the idea in the author’s mind. Over the years, I have written short stories to amuse close friends and relatives. Countless have been lost over the years but some of the old favourites remain. Different Eyes is a chat around the stories, to show where some of the ideas came from and how things can often change when viewed through another’s eyes. This book will make you laugh a lot, cry in places, but most of all it will show you life from a different perspective.

Having taught and raised my own children single-handedly, I wanted to use my books to help young minds understand the natural world, as well as helping them through the rites of passage into adulthood. The firs book in the series is Beyond Dark Waters.

From being cast out from the group to losing his way in the dark lake at night-time, Ben will never betray his friends. Even when he feels a vicious fang slowly piercing his flesh, he knows what he is doing is right. He will never submit to the bullies, racists or indeed anyone who tries to steer him from the path he is taking. Ben is growing up very quickly and soon he gains many followers. This leads to a multitude of challenges and to one of his friends giving his life for Ben. As an eleven-year-old, he manages to avert a war and bring pride to different communities. For Ben, falling into the lake and entering into different species presented many challenges, but the rewards will stay with him forever. Beyond Dark Waters plots a young man’s rite of passage into adulthood, seen from the viewpoint of different species in and around a lake.

Just to balance things, the second book, Above and Beyond Dark Waters has a young girl as the hero.

This is the second book in the Dark Water’s series. It sees Jane, a twelve-year-old girl who loved to read about superheroes, suddenly able to fly through the sky and rest on the rising thermals. However, Jane soon discovers that all creatures are affected by life’s challenges and she works hard to fit in and learn. After deciding she no longer wants to become a superhero, Jane is told that she is one already. Another tale charting the rocky road through the rite of passage into adulthood.

Writing for young minds can be exhausting, and sometimes I just need to let go and write something radical. Lamia is as far removed from YA writing as it is possible to get, but it bullied its way to the front of my mind and demanded to be written.

Excitement, graphic sex, and violence mark this tale of survival in the Colombian Andes. The story concerns a shy young girl called Maria who lives in Colombia with her missionary parents. She is kidnapped by the enforcers of the drug barons, gang raped, beaten and almost killed until her inner strength comes out in the guise of a mythical creature ‘the Lamia’. But survival was not enough. She exacts violent revenge on her abusers and builds an empire based on fear and gratitude; an empire in which she is queen and everybody must obey. She enjoys both men and women, often at the same time, until one mistake causes her empire to crumble. Her spirit lives on

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Beyond Dark Waters was inspired by my desire to teach young people about the natural world, and to help them during the difficult period of growing up.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I type one-handed on a computer, clutching a fossilized Megalodon (ancient shark) tooth in my left hand.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The one and only William Shakespeare because of the viewpoint he takes when he describes something.

What are you working on now?
I am working on the third in the Dark Waters series, Somewhere Beyond Dark Waters. This book grows up the hero in the firs book. Instead of living life as a Quinling, his quests are now real. He faces the trauma of hi future being wiped away, arguing with his parents, the death of a loved one and ultimately his own death. His lessons as a Quinling help him to put his life back on track, even when he can see no future.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Since working with a professional (Toni Michelle), I realise that I know nothing about marketing.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Work hard and believe in your abilities. I just wish that I could follow this advice!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Any time you give up is too early.

What’s next for you as a writer?
My aim is to get my Dark Waters series into every school. I have plans for other books in the series.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The complete works of Shakespeare, Touching the Void, Into Thin Air, Jaws.

Author Websites and Profiles
Des Birch Website
Des Birch Amazon Profile
Des Birch Author Profile on Smashwords

Des Birch’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
MY NAME IS ALISSA B. GREGORY. I HAVE WRITTEN 8 BOOKS, SO FAR. I ONLY HAVE 2 OUT OF THE 8 BOOKS PUBLISHED. MY BOOKS ARE PUBLISHED ONCE EVERY 3 MONTHS. I LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN IN MISSISSIPPI. I LIVE WITH MY HUSBAND, AND WE HAVE A 4 YEAR OLD SON, CARSON.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“SCHOOL’S NOT SO BAD” WAS INSPIRED BY ALL OF THE KIDS WHO ARE SCARED OF THEIR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. I WAS ALWAYS NERVOUS ON MY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL EACH AND EVERY YEAR.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I DON’T THINK THAT I HAVE ANY UNUSUAL HABITS. I AM VERY OCD AND TRY TO HAVE MY OFFICE AND MY MIND UNCLUTTERED.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I LOVED “THE HUNGRY CATERPILLAR” AND “GOODNIGHT MOON” WHEN I WAS A KID. MY ALL TIME FAVORITE IS “I LOVE YOU, FOREVER.”

What are you working on now?
I AM CURRENTLY WORKING ON A BOOK INSPIRED BY MY HUSBAND WHO HAPPENS TO BE A POLICE OFFICER.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
FACEBOOK HAS SEEMED TO GET ME THE MOST ATTENTION.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I HAVE LEARNED THAT A LOT OF WRITERS ARE SCARED THEY WILL BE REJECTED. MY ADVICE TO THAT IS, GO FOR IT. WHAT CAN IT HURT TO TRY, RIGHT?

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
THE BEST ADVICE I HAVE GOTTEN IS TO NEVER GIVE UP AND THAT I CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING I PUT MY MIND TO.

What are you reading now?
I AM CURRENTLY READING A BOOK CALLED “UNGLUED.”

What’s next for you as a writer?
I CURRENTLY HAVE MANY BOOKS WRITTEN, SO I AM JUST WAITING PATIENTLY FOR ALL OF THEM TO BE PUBLISHED.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING WRITTEN BY JAMES PATTERSON OR NICHOLAS SPARKES.
1. THE CHOICE
2. 1ST TO DIE
3. SAFE HAVEN
4. THE LAST SONG

Author Websites and Profiles
Alissa B. Gregory Website
Alissa B. Gregory Amazon Profile

Alissa B. Gregory’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Lisa and Gina Nardini are sisters who were born on an island called Okinawa, but spent most of their childhood in the Ozarks. They have four older brothers and one younger sister. Big Family! Lisa was always an avid reader. She chose a reading class as an elective over art in middle school. (Don’t tell Gina!) Lisa lives in a small coastal town in Florida and enjoys kayaking in the Everglades. When Lisa is not writing, she is a flight attendant traveling all over the globe. So be sure to look for her on your next flight! Gina likes to read, write and draw. In fact, she created the cover and all the illustrations for “The Underwear Dare”, using her married name, Gina Christoffel. She loves dogs, especially beagles. When Gina is not writing, she is teaching visual arts at an elementary school. She lives in a small town in the heart of North Carolina. Although the two sisters live in different states, they still make time to write together. While growing up in the Ozarks, they shared a bedroom. According to Gina, Lisa got all the good wall space and shelves! “The Underwear Dare” is their first novel. “Zoo’d” is the second in the series, featuring Josh and Eddie as they embark on a new adventure at the local zoo. “Camp-Off!” is the third book in the series. It follows Josh, Eddie, and the gang to summer camp. Besides The Underwear Dare series, The Nardini Sisters have teamed up with their younger sister, Sucia and her daughter, Marina for a short story collection of scary stories. Please check out “HALLO-TWEEN” by The Nardini Sisters and Family. A collection of 13 scary stories for the tween crowd. Visit their website: www.nardinisisters.com

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Lastest book–The Underwear Dare #3! Inspired by childhood memories of going to camp in the Ozarks.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
We are a writing team. Sometimes we write back and forth through e-mail. Other times, we get together and write. Of course, it’s much more fun writing together in person!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
As a child, Gina’s favorite books were: “Where The Red Fern Grows” and “The Summer of The Monkeys” by Wilson Rawls and all the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Lisa’s favorite books growing up were: “The Wolves of Willoughby Chase” by Joan Aiken, “Where The Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls and all the books by Norma Klein and Judy Blume.

What are you working on now?
The Underwear Dare Book #4.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
amazon free giveaway days and twitter

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you are writing for children join SCBWI (Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators). They have great conferences that really help improve your story. Also, listen to children. They are hilarious!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Follow your passion–our Mom.

What are you reading now?
Gina: 1Q84, Murakami
Lisa: Deep Blue, Randy Wayne White

What’s next for you as a writer?
We are developing our novels into screenplays.

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?
Gina: Midnight’s Children-Salmon Rushdie, The Complete Sherlock Holmes-Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Prodigal Summer-Barabra Kingsolver
Lisa: (A Survival Book), Tourist Season-Carl Hiaason, Killing Mr. Watson-Peter Matthiessen, Also, anything by Carrie Fisher

Author Websites and Profiles
Lisa & Gina Nardini Website
Lisa & Gina Nardini Amazon Profile

Lisa & Gina Nardini’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Leah Ruth Hart is an author and musician. She loves reading–especially fantasy novels. Leah first became interested in writing after a 5th grade assignment with her best friend. She lives with her husband, daughter, and cat, Squeaker, in Virginia.

Leah has published two books on Amazon.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Mistress of Magic. It’s been years since I started writing it, but it began with an image of a girl in a tower, with no friends and no magic. It evolved from there!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I have strange dreams I write them down. They often turn into stories!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Split Infinity by Piers Anthony was an eye-opening read for me. I love his work. My favorite author is Diana Wynne Jones. She wrote magic like it was the truth.

What are you working on now?
I’m always working on a bunch of things at once. Witches, We is closest to completion. It’s more adult than my previous two novels. There are love spells and missing memories… and a ton of relationships.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I published both of my books this year, so I’m still learning. So far, having sales is my best bet with promotions.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what you love. Pour your desires into your stories. If you write what excites you, it will probably excite readers, too!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Work on your writing every day, even if you only write a sentence or two. Keep moving forward! It’s important for your own encouragement.

What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading Fey Hearted, by N.E. Conneely.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m going to keep at it. I love writing and I have to believe that, one day, someone’s going to read my work and say, “Now that was a good 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?
Three fat notebooks and a dictionary.

Author Websites and Profiles
Leah Ruth Hart Website
Leah Ruth Hart Amazon Profile

Leah Ruth Hart’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
By day I am a stay-at-home-mom. And I have to say that this is probably the hardest job I’ve ever had (and that’s after working at places like Goodwill, MCL Cafeteria, and Captain D’s). My house is never clean! No matter how many dishes I do or toys I pick up, my two little ones come right behind me and make a whole new mess. Anyway, this is the first time I have not had some sort of job outside the home since I was 15. Kinda scary!

By night, I am… anything I want to be as I fling myself into the stories that constantly swirl inside my head. One of the main reasons I write is to read the stories that I wish other people were writing.

I live in Oklahoma with my husband, two small sons, two naughty puppies, and a mouse-killing cat. Now you know why I write FANTASY.

I have had one book published so far and its sequel is due to be published in the spring of 2017. I also have another book out on submission.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
In the Blood was published in March (2016). Years ago I bought a story collection called, The Maid of the North: Feminist Folk Tales from Around the World. One of the stories in this collection, “The Twelve Huntsman”, captured something in my mind and would not let go. It was filled with such vivid action and compelling themes that my imagination fired into full roar. So, I began writing a novel-length retelling of it.
But I soon saw that a literal retelling would become incredibly difficult given that there are twelve female characters, who all look almost identical. I decided to take a more figurative take and reduced the number of women down to three – two sisters and a cousin. And then the story kept taking very dark turns – turns into child abuse, neglect, suicide, abandonment, and public shaming. From this quagmire of material, one of the characters emerged and outshone the rest. Ottilde. From then on, I wrote just Ottilde’s story.

It might surprise some who have already read In the Blood, that Ottilde began life as a very different character. She was, in fact, the product of her mother’s rape. As such, she was hated and shunned by her mother’s husband, who Ottilde believed was her father.

Anyone given access to that early material might say I hated Ottilde because I piled crap on her that would have made Job finally throw in the towel. But out of all her suffering came greatness. She, in her own tragic story, was a central figure in the world I created, a mythic warrior crippled by her own humanity and suffering. One could have called her an anti-hero since, despite her many gifts and the fact that she was much sought after by those in power, she hated people in general and wanted nothing to do with serving her god or country.

I made her into a bitter loner, tormented by her past. The only people she allowed near her were her adopted family, people who took her in after her birth family and community cast her out – and they had to work damn hard to gain even the most rudimentary trust from her.
I actually had a complete novel out of that story. But I put it aside because it was an incredibly dark book and I wasn’t sure anyone would want to read such a depressing story (although it did have a really triumphant ending).

Then, I did National Novel Writing Month for the first time and completed a 50,000 novel (that I’ve yet to do anything with). The following January, my husband challenged me to write ANOTHER novel in a month in exchange for a prize. I just love people bribing me! So, I did it. I wrote a novel called The Witch’s Bargain about a young woman who is thrust into a perilous situation when a new overlord takes over her family’s ancestral estate. This was Oriabel’s story. She and her story have remained very similar to this original prototype, though I gave Oriabel a stiffer spine and a lower tolerance for hanky-panky from certain disreputable persons. In this version, Oriabel is forced into becoming the new lord’s concubine by her scheming stepmother in exchange for keeping the secret of her witchbreed nature.

I put this novel aside for over half a year. When I opened the document at last and read through it, I fell in love with the characters once more and decided to make something of it. But I felt that a novel confined to just one location might drag a little, so I tried to think of a way to introduce new locations into the plot. It was then I struck on Ottilde’s story, or at least part of it. I changed Ottilde to a tough but loving and loyal person rather than my embittered anti-hero. The rest… you’ll have to read the novel to find that out.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Recently, I’ve adopted writing on a treadmill desk. So, now I walk and write at the same time. Other habits – not sure if they’re unusual or not – are I have to incubate stories in my brain for a certain length of time before I can ever start writing. If I begin too early on a story, before it’s ready, the process falls apart and I end up putting the story away. I compose a lot of stories while driving in my car listening to music. Just the process of driving while inspirational music is playing, helps open up pathways in my mind. More often than not, I can get over snarls in a story that way.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Hmm… I have many. I like different authors for different reasons. But here are a few I can definitely say have had an influence on me and my work: Sharon Shinn, Cormac McCarthy, Lynn Flewelling, Patricia Briggs, Grace Draven, Elizabeth Gaskell, George Orwell, Tamora Pierce, Michael Ende, Charles Dickens, J.K. Rowling, Tanith Lee, Scott Westerfield, Suzanne Collins, Joan D. Vinge, Stephen King, Edwidge Danticat, Charlotte Bronte, Louise Marley, Toni Morrison, Salman Rushdie, Marge Piercy, Sarah Beth Durst, Michel Faber, William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Margaret Atwood, Jane Austen, Sherman Alexie, Clare Bell, Joy Harjo, Roald Dahl, Patricia A. McKillip.

My all-time favorite book, though, is The Neverending Story. Over the years, it’s the book I return to time and again as my favorite because there is no other book like it. And I’m not sure there ever will be.

What are you working on now?
Since I have several book projects I’ve yet to complete, my husband has challenged me to complete two of them by 11:59 p.m. November 31st. One is a fantasy fairy-tale retelling and the other is the 3rd book of the Witchbreed series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I honestly am not sure. Lakewater Press seems to have better luck than me promoting my work and they use mainly Twitter. So, I guess I would say Twitter. I’m a disaster at marketing myself!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
This is always such a loaded question because what works for one writer/artist won’t necessarily work for another.

But one piece of advice that I think works for everyone is this: be honest about your strengths and weaknesses; and be honest about what you want. Too many writers get into self-publishing with no idea how to put out a good product and/or how to market that product. For instance, I could produce a decently formatted book with a decent cover. But I’m HORRIBLE at marketing and getting my book into readers’ hands. So, for me, going with a small press and (as I hope to one day) working with a larger publisher is my best bet for getting my work out there. Even though I get a smaller cut of the profits. So, when you are ready to send your work into the world, sit down and make a very forthright list of your skills and wants.

And, if you ARE determined to self-publish, for the love of all that is holy hire a reputable, thorough editor!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write the stories you want to read. Along with that, don’t follow trends, just write the story that is inside you.

What are you reading now?
Several books, actually: It by Stephen King, The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski, A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet, The Steel Seraglio by Mike Carey, and Marginalia to Stone Bird by Rose Lemberg

What’s next for you as a writer?
My foreseeable plans include continue writing in the world of the Witchbreed for Lakewater Press. But I also have a paranormal romance (without werewolves, vampires, faeries, or other magical creatures) that I am shopping around. And then I hope to start submitting my fantasy fairy-tale retelling next year (2017) once it’s completed and edited. I would also like to get into writing speculative poetry.

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 Neverending Story by Michael Ende
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The Spiral Dance by Starhawk

Author Websites and Profiles
R. L. Martinez Website
R. L. Martinez Amazon Profile

R. L. Martinez’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 born in UK, lived in Switzerland and traveled all over Europe. I was originally a forex and credit trader for a hedge fund but then traveled to the far east to study karate and meditation in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong China. I went to USA and now I’m an entrepreneur attempting to launch a global women’s lifestyle magazine in October this year. I have written another book on Amazon Kindle – Money Science.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Money Science I published this week and will soon promote it. The novel When An Apple Tree Blossoms is also brand new and is a curious novel. I lived in Wales in the lonely rural countryside to get away from the city madness and its a wonderful 3hr train journey and I did live in a haunted house in Wales. It is a curious thing about the UK in that there are so many hauntings. I used to love walking in the open countryside in the twilight in the woods that are so quiet. It was a Midsummer Night that inspired me because it was a wonderful experience to walk in the blue moonlight at midnight. Perhaps it is because the land is so old and old places carry memories. Some of these experiences led me to write the haunted love story of Horatio Rees. it is a very different book that what you would see on the market. I do not use bad words, there is no adult content. The book flows out of the developing consciousness of the main character Horatio Rees who gradually becomes aware of another prescence.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I do drink a lot of coffee. I actually wrote this book in one week flat, mostly at night staring through the windows at the dark shapes of trees. Now that’s the funny thing. I spent the following three weeks editing. You cannot just sit and write i found but when it comes you stop everything or you just get up and start. So the book i wrote was very much something that developed in my subconscious mind. The conscious editing was the real ordeal because i wrote the book so fast!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Tolstoy – War and Peace, Charles Dickens – Bleak House, Isaac Asimov – Naked Sun.

What are you working on now?
Money Science project is a series of books of practical money management.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This is very new to me I am a beginner at writing. When An Apple Tree Blossoms is very new.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do not set a routine or you will become mundane. Better to write three very inspiring books than 300 bland books. if you ant to be original listen to your heart and when the thought comes just go for it

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Place all your eggs in different baskets. Yes, I’m guilty of falling down because once I ignored the old adage and so i will never forget to diversify your ability to earn.

What are you reading now?
A very witty book – ‘Appalling Guests’ by Victoria Mather

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am writing a comedy set in London – ‘The Broker’ about a fruit stall vendor in Portobello Road in London who dabbles in Internet money making promotions and ends up in a whole world of mischief. This time I am not writing the book in one week flat and 50 rounds of coffee but whenever a flash comes to my mind i will write a little of the novel.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Victor Hugo’s Les Miserable! it’s just absolutely intolerable and can send you to sleep in thirty minutes so I would take that for comfort. That aside I would take the Count of Monte Christo and Robinson Crusoe to give me hope and inspiration. Then of course i would take something light-hearted and that would definitely be Lewis Carrol’s Alice In Wonderland which has a wonderful perspective of humor and wit.

Author Websites and Profiles
Bruno Bernard Website

Bruno Bernard’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hey there! My name is Elizabeth Barone. I write contemporary New Adult romance and suspense—gritty, steamy reads focusing on social issues that 18-26 -year-old people deal with. As of September 2016, I have nine published books with several unpublished and slated for future release. I like binging TV shows like Sons of Anarchy and Gilmore Girls, reading horror and romance novels, and swearing like a trucker’s daughter should.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
WHAT HAPPENS ON TOUR, the third book in my South of Forever series, was released August 19th. The series follows an up and coming rock band and the belles that revolve around it. WHAT HAPPENS ON TOUR was heavily inspired by my early days as a web designer; I was younger than most people in the industry, and constantly felt like I needed to prove myself. Poppy is the band’s manager and may or may not have told a few little lies to get her job, and they end up compromising her feelings for the band’s drummer Griff.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m pretty much a cliche: I swig coffee in the morning, then switch to water; I love writing with snacks like Goldfish and spicy Doritos; I almost always have to have some kind of music playing. I wish I could tell you that I have to perform a blood sacrifice ritual before I can make words, but I’m pretty boring. It gets interesting later in the day when I’ve used all the good words on my work in progress and can’t English anymore.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
To this day I still idolize Stephen King. I used to write nothing but horror. Now I keep his amazing characterization in mind while writing. I believe every book I read makes me a better writer, but when I grow up I really want to be Tracie Puckett, Joe Meno, Tarryn Fisher, and Suzanne Collins. Oh, and Gail Forman. There are too many.

What are you working on now?
If I told you that, I’d have to kill you. Heh. Funny story: I had 19 billion books in my production schedule, but somehow ended up starting the one I’m not supposed to be working on ’til next year. I’m not quite ready to talk about it yet, but I’m having fun. I’m playing with writing in first person present tense POV, since that seems to be the expected default in New Adult fiction. (I normally write in third person past.) I thought I might struggle getting into the characters’ heads in first person, but their thoughts are consuming me. I absolutely can’t wait to share this with everyone!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far, no one strategy or tactic has worked for me; it’s been a combination of things. I’m always experimenting, throwing pasta at the wall. (I’m Italian and sometimes that’s how we cook.) But I think sharing excerpts on my blog and Wattpad, as well as showering my readers with bonus content, has really helped.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be tenacious. I think in this industry, only the truly stubborn succeed. In the last five years, I’ve seen a lot of authors come and go. You have to be relentless and keep trying. Don’t stop writing and don’t be afraid to try new things when it comes to marketing your work. All marketing really boils down to is getting eyeballs for your books, putting yourself in front of readers.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
When it comes to cooking, someone once told me to go easy; you can always add more spices later, but you can never go back. This has been pretty sound advice for feeding myself and my husband without one of us choking on pepper.

What are you reading now?
Tracie Puckett’s latest, STUCK IN THE MOMENT. I’m also beta reading for my girls Molli Moran and J.C. Hannigan. Then there are honest-to-goodness another like five books on my iPad that I’m itching to start. My theme lately is “not enough time.”

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ll be wrapping up my South of Forever series soon. In the meantime I’m releasing the first in a duology, the Not Just Any Love series. The first book, JUST ONE MORE MINUTE, is about a down-on-her-luck waitress who inherits a bakery with the guy who broke her heart and stole her dream job. Basically my plan is to keep releasing books until the day I’m old and wrinkled and pass in my sleep.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Only three or four?! Hmn, well… Stephen King’s WIZARD AND GLASS, Jean Craighead George’s JULIE OF THE WOLVES, Gail Carson Levine’s ELLA ENCHANTED, and my journal so I can keep writing, too.

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

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

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi Everyone,

Recently, I retired and my friends convinced me to start writing down my short stories. “The Last Master of Go and Other Strange Tales” is my first book of short stories for your reading entertainment. I must admit, I love playing with words and also have some paperback word search book series, so please do not freak out when you visit my web page. Thank you very much, and hope to see you soon, JB Wocoski

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I started writing Flash Fiction last year and I enter the Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Challenge. I had never entered a writing contest before. In January 2016 I entered the Little Tokyo Short Story Competition and to my surprise won it in April 2016. The short Story, “Last Master of Go” became the cornerstone for my first book of short stories, while the “Other Strange Stories” are the final edited versions of my weekly Flash Fiction tales and other stories I came up with in the last year.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am a very visual and audio person so I use writing prompts mostly images or pictures to trigger my short story ideas. Sometimes while listening to various podcasts, I start thinking to myself and tell myself a story. which I work it around in my head for a while and then eventually write down or come back to it later when I least expect it.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read for entertainment and I am a big fan of classic sci-fi and fantasy stories and tv. I grew up watching the series: “The Twilight Zone” and “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” as a result in my short stories you will find slightly twisted and often unexpected endings.

What are you working on now?
Right now I am working on my next short story book, expanding the stories into their final format and slowly building it. As I write my stories, I like to assemble them in book format as soon as I finish it, It gives me a good feeling to know when a story is done, has a home, and is ready for editing.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think having an author’s page on Amazon and linking your web page to it is very important. Being a newly published author it is difficult to say, about other promotional sites because they are not really new author friendly. Hopefully, Awesomegang.com along with indiesunlimited.com for a starter will give my books a boost.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Patience mostly and common sense when you write, publish and market your book. Come up with a simple inexpensive way to market your books. Learn to turn a phrase in all you write and please don’t take yourself to seriously that way you will enjoy writing. Just a reminder Amazon offers over 12,000,000 books in all to choose from, so find something in your writing that makes your books special to be read.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Heinlein’s Rules find them on line and stop taking yourself so seriously.

What are you reading now?
Harry Potter book 6 and Vonnegut’s Sirens of Titan and you may not believe this but I actually took some time yesterday to read my own book non-critically. I believe you need to read your final edited published book at least once for enjoyment and put yourself in your audience’s shoes in order to become a better writer. Ask yourself did I enjoy reading it? Remember, your part of your own audience and you need to enjoy reading your stories if others are to enjoy what you write.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To continue to write for my audience and enjoy a little bit of life while doing it.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
a good survival manual
The Lord of the Rings Anthology
A Pocket Bible

Author Websites and Profiles
JB Wocoski Website
JB Wocoski Amazon Profile

JB Wocoski’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve only been reading romance since I became an adult. Once I was hooked, my future was clear. I had to try my hand at writing so I could have a place to get the voices out of my head. It did take a while for life to settle down so I had time to pen my stories, but it finally happened. I first published in 2013 with a contemporary novel, Code of Honor. In writing this story, I realized the theme of my stories was family, something I care greatly about, and I know you do, too. My Historicals tell the beginning of two or three families getting started in 1875 Texas, and the series will follow them through the generations to present day.
My husband and I are both 6th generation Texans, where we still live. Our 2 children and 3 grandchildren live here, too. I guess Texas is in our bones. Besides writing, I play Bridge with a set of friends I’ve known since the 80’s, crochet, and do genealogy research.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Faith and the Texas Lawyer, The Texas Brides Series is book 4 in the series, and my latest release. It begins the second generation of Benning family. This one turned out to be the time travel romance I’ve had in my head for years. Joe Benning made his appearance in Book 1 as a newborn, and as a 2 year old in Book 2. When he told me the age he’d be in his story, it just so happened it was the time of the greatest natural disaster in Texas history, the 1900 Galveston Hurricane. The story took off from there.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think I have unusual writing habits. The hubs may give a different answer, but we won’t ask him. =) When I worked full-time, I stayed up most of the night to get words on the page. The last year, though, I can’t stay awake at night and the words come easier, early in the day.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My fave authors are Linda Lael Miller, Jayne Ann Krentz and all her pseudonyms, Sandra Brown, the early years, Nora Roberts, Bella Andre, Marie Force, and so many others I can’t name them all.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on Book 5 in the Brides of Texas Code Series, Alice and the Texas Cavalryman (this is a working title and may change to Alice and the Texas Marshal, due to where the story seems to be leading). It tells the story of Donal McTiernan, the 2nd generation of McTiernans. Donal first made his appearance in Book 2, when he was 6 months old. The story will take place in Brady, Texas.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My best promotion to date has been on Facebook., in general, and through a Facebook grpoup called, Pioneer Hearts.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice for new authors is to first get the words on the page. Join local writer’s groups that are specific to your type of writing, like romance, mystery, or another genre you write.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve been given is to get the words on the page. You can’t edit what hasn’t been written.

What are you reading now?
A new best seller, by Caroline Fiffe, Whispers on the Wind.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Next, I’ll finish the current book, and then I want to start the 2nd time travel that’s a sequel to Faith and the Texas Lawyer. It will be Stella and the Texas Architect. Oh, and I want to finish the 2nd contemporary, Code of Conscience, and oh – squirrel!

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 want to pack, Always a Cowboy by Linda Lael Miller, Tempt Fortune by Hebby Roman, A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux. Are you sure I can’t bring 10 or 15?

Author Websites and Profiles
Carra Copelin Website
Carra Copelin Amazon Profile

Carra Copelin’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 twenty years old, from Staffordshire, England. My debut novel ‘Hunted’ went on sale yesterday on Amazon! It is YA fiction.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Hunted was very much inspired by ‘The Hunger Games’ and ‘Divergent’. I love the idea of a dystopian world, especially when we can easily draw parallels to our lives at the moment. I think it was also inspired a tiny bit by my own high school experience, everything felt like a life or death situation, luckily though it wasn’t quite as bad as it seemed at the time!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, I wrote the majority of ‘Hunted’ in my local Costa Coffee, the rest of the novel I wrote at obscure hours of the night. When the cogs in my brain start turning, they are pretty much unstoppable!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are so many! Obviously, Suzanne Collins and Veronica Roth have had a huge impact. I also loved Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy series.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a few writing projects. ‘Deadly Secrets’ is my main focus at this time though, it is a novel written from the point of view of a female serial killer. I am hoping to release it before Christmas.

I am also very focused on ‘Trapped’ at the moment. ‘Trapped’ is the second installment of the Hunted series and will be released in March next year. You can find a teaser of ‘Trapped’ in the back of your copies of ‘Hunted’!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Oh this is a tough one! I use Twitter an awful lot. I think I reach a bigger audience through Twitter. I do get irritated with those pesky word limits though!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I think if you are writing a book you really have to persevere, it feels amazing to have finally finished your novel. I would also say that it is never too early to start marketing it, a lot of people don’t realize that your work doesn’t stop after the book is finished!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I would say that the best advice I have been given is that selling your book is a marathon not a sprint. – It takes a lot of time and effort to generate sales.

What are you reading now?
I have just finished reading ‘Secrets of the Mind’ by E.J Bennett. It is a really good read and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Well, I am continuing to market ‘Hunted’. I have a few content editing jobs to do and then I am going to finish, release and market ‘Deadly Secrets’ before Christmas. I will be a very busy bee.

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?
‘Dear Amy’ by Helen Callaghan – I love this book and could read it again.
‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ by Lewis Carroll – I am a sucker for a classic.
‘The 5th Wave’ by Rick Yancey – I have been meaning to read this for a while, it is definitely next on my list!

Author Websites and Profiles
Y.E Meakin Amazon Profile

Y.E Meakin’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
9

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Sable, Cam, & Serena 2. Just a mixture of my imagination and a few songs that I love listening to.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Play music real loud and sit by myself in a corner.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Zane, my publisher Leo Sullivan and everyone of my label mates, David Weaver, Ashley & JaQuavius .

What are you working on now?
A part three to Sable, Cam, & Serena.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Amazon.com, my twitter, and facebook.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Work hard dont let anything deter you from your goal.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To believe in myself no matter what.

What are you reading now?
Porchsa Sterling and Leo Sullivan Trigga and Keisha series

What’s next for you as a writer?
Write as many more books as I can and then start my own publishing company.

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?
Keisha and Trigga 2
The Ring by Rio
Zane Sex Chronicles
Zane Chocolate Flava

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am B.B. Gallagher, I am the father of two and the husband of one. When I’m not writing in the wee hours of the morning I am a data analyst.

I have written a Sci-Fi novella, Ark-13 and am currently writing, editing and releasing the Xander Whitt Series. Project Sparta has just been released.

Some of my interests include: Star Wars, people watching at Starbucks, cooking, sports, Christopher Nolan movies, Meg Ryan from ‘You’ve Got Mail’, Survivor, doing impressions of lazy people, EDM, and Not Doing Yoga.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Project Sparta is my most recent book and honestly all these terrorists attacks across the world inspired. I wanted to ask one simple question. At what point do the people fighting terrorists become terrorists themselves?

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I typically write while watching baseball games. I also listen to movie soundtracks typically while I’m writing. Right now I’m hooked on Hans Zimmer’s Interstellar soundtrack.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen King, Vince Flynn, Orson Scott Card, Robert Ludlum, Michael Connelly

What are you working on now?
I am editing Project Apollo (book two of the Xander Whitt series) and am currently writing Project Olympus (book three of the Xander Whitt series).

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Your site of course.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t try to right the next great American novel, because you never will if you try. Be honest and original. Don’t write for praise or wealth.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Success is not owned, its leased and rent is due every day.

What are you reading now?
How to Win Friends and Influence People

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am excited to release the Xander Whitt series. I am had a lot of success on Wattpad and am looking to break out onto the Amazon scene.

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, Harry Potter, Brothers Karamazov, and Surviving on a Desert Island for Dummies

Author Websites and Profiles
B.B. Gallagher Website
B.B. Gallagher Amazon Profile

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

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I successfully combined a passion for reading, a love of writing and a fascination for technology, to create a career in technical writing. With over 50 technical manuals (not) to my name, “RTFM” could have been the motto of my life; but I didn’t let the idea that “no one ever reads the manual” stop me from thoroughly enjoying writing for users of computer applications of all sorts.
As an army brat, mt childhood included seven different schools, three universities and a couple of emergency evacuations from conflict zones. Travel and adventure were a normal part of life. I now believe in seizing every opportunity to have a new adventure. Whether it’s camping on the beach in Australia, trekking in the Himalayas, kayaking in Queensland, whitewater rafting down the Ganges, or walking the Camino in Spain, my philosophy is to pack it into one or two weeks to create memories for a lifetime, (and disconnect from television and computer games).
I’m now on the next adventure of my life, writing books that are not technical manuals to help people have great experiences, training to be an awesome grandmother, and planning my next getaway.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Camino Ingles: 6 days to Santiago is my first book, and it was inspired by the walk I did in Spain, 100+ days in 6 days.
I want to encourage and show more people to add some adventure to their lives, even if they have little time, and aren’t super fit athletes.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write at 4 am. I also have a guilty habit of using brightly coloured Post-it notes to schedule myself, which I rip off triumphantly when the task is done.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
It’s hard to pin that down, I read widely and across genres, from being an Enid Blyton fan in my childhood, I went on to JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings; CS Lewis’ Narnia series and Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird being my favourite books and authors. I would say that these books created a love of reading and inspired me to seek to write my own books. As an adult, I’ve read almost every book of Isaac Asimov, Hugh Howey and Roald Dahl.
More recently, writers whose books I’ve come to know and love are Anita Heiss, Marilynne Robinson, and Anne Lamott.

What are you working on now?
I am working on my first fiction series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Be engaged with your readers on social media. I have no idea why people think it’s great to say “I don’t do social media”.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write, write and be connected with other authors. But first, go out and have an adventure, any adventure.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
There is someone out there who is waiting to hear your voice and change their life. There is someone who only you can reach.

What are you reading now?
I am reading Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon Stories, and going crazy waiting for the next book to be published!

What’s next for you as a writer?
More book writing adventures. I’m also seeking out newer authors 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?
Jane Eyre, War and Peace, Huckleberry Finn, and Rudyard Kipling’s Kim.

Author Websites and Profiles
Susan Jagannath Amazon Profile

Susan Jagannath’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written one novel and working on the second draft of the next.

A little about me, my goal as an author is to produce works that make people think and maybe change certain behaviors to make a better world.

I create stories, using psychological suspense and ordinary situations to give readers a deep sense of familiarity, with hopes of seeing themselves in the characters or situations that will inspire change. At the same time, it’s entertaining. The combination of these elements lead to gripping, thought-provoking novels. Enjoy!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Master of Manipulation is my debut novel. What inspired me to write this book is my desire to see people better communicate with each other. I see my parents and how they are not so close because they block off parts of them selves from one another. I know this because they talk to me instead of each other.

By creating a couple who are deeply in love and respect the value of great communication, they are better able to deal with hard issues that disrupt and change their lives. I’ve witnessed marriages, including my own, deteriorate because of fear of confrontation. Issues grow so big, it cannot be contained and it explodes and everyone blames everyone.

If this novel can help readers think a little deeper about themselves and how they communicate with others and change how they handle some things, then I’m happy and would love to hear feedback on their feelings and reading experience.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Define unusual. I must have the TV on and it can’t be anything new, or interesting or I’ll watch it. For example, typically, The Office is playing when one visits my home. I’ve seen all the episodes and it’s light, funny and keeps me in a great mood to write.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favorite novel is Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Other favorites include, Dracula, The Portrait of Dorian Gray, Pride and Prejudice, Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I’m partial to The Classics because of the deep, moral implications when a character does something bad. I don’t feel it a lot when read current works and I think that what influenced me to write stories that will make the readers think.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a nonfiction piece about how to get rid of chatter in the brain to focus on making good life changes.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I believe is interacting with readers in the stores, on Twitter and websites like this, who offer readers the ebooks they are looking for free or a low price.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes, keep frustration at bay. Don’t check your stats every five minutes, it’ll drive you nutty. Simply live in the moment and appreciate your accomplishments. If you are your worst critic, don’t be, leave that job for someone else, so you can use that energy to build a personality for your fans. It’s great to be humble, but don’t say anything bad about yourself or your work. Ever.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
That I have “it” and never stop reading and always keep my writing skills sharp.

What are you reading now?
Cuts Like an Angle by Mason Sabre and Lucian Bane and The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

What’s next for you as a writer?
After the completion of the nonfiction work, I’ll return to a book series I’m outlining about a woman taking a job demotion, with the same pay and benefits to satisfy corporate. Since her promotion, her former branches sales had plummeted 56%, leaving the shareholders frantic, desperate and at her beck and call until they sense she’s plotting an internal takeover, slowing causing the shareholders to relinquish their stock, pennies on the dollar.

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?
Crime and Punishment, Misery, Pride and Prejudice and You Can Heal Your Life.

Author Websites and Profiles
Eleanor Ohara Website
Eleanor Ohara Amazon Profile

Eleanor Ohara’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 28 years old. I live in a small town in Ohio, and I’ve lived here all my life. Although there isn’t much to do around here, I enjoy the solitude of the country. Plus, nothing beats the beauty of snow on the trees in winter.

I have written several short stories, novels, and novellas, but I have only published one novel so far. I am currently working on my second novel, and I’m in the process of editing a novella I hope to publish it soon.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my latest book is “Fireflies Under the Willow Tree.” I was very much inspired by Harper Lee’s, “To Kill a Mockingbird” for this book. I have a few more books to publish before this one, but this is my newest idea.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes. I think all authors do. I have to listen to music when I’m writing. Since I’m a historical fiction writer, it’s usually piano. I have to really get inspired before I sit down and write. If the music doesn’t help, I just immerse myself in period dramas.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Authors that have influenced me are Jane Austen, Emily Bronte, and Charles Dickens. Of the three, Jane Austen has inspired me the most. I relate to her on many levels, and I feel that many readers and critics misunderstand the messages in her books. She was a brilliant writer.

Books that have influenced me are, “Pride and Prejudice,” “Wuthering Heights,” “A Christmas Carol,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “Of Mice and Men,” “Twelve Years a Slave,” and “Newes From the Dead.”

What are you working on now?
I’m working on editing my novella, “Jacob’s skin,” and I’m writing the first draft of my second novel, “The Uncouth Miss Dunning.” Both of these are historical fiction, and both focus on important issues of the time in which they’re written, such as the institution of slavery and women’s rights.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I enjoy using Twitter the most. I feel like if I can get enough information out there about my work, then eventually people will take notice. It’s always important to look for different ways to promote your work as well.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be passionate about your work. I always tell people that if an author decides to write for the sole purpose of money and fame, you will be disappointed. You may achieve these things during your career, it’s possible for anyone, but you have to be passionate about what you’re doing. The most rewarding part of being a writer is when your readers enjoy the stories you put out into the world.

Another piece of advice I would offer is to just write. Don’t worry so much about the mechanics of your writing on the first draft. Just get everything out. When you’re writing the first draft, you’re getting to know your characters. Also, don’t rely too much on writing classes or books that give advice on how to be a better writer. If you’re a great writer, you don’t need the nonsense. All of it will come to you, but still do your research when it counts. If you write a specific genre, such as historical fiction, read as many books in that genre as possible.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve ever received was from my friends and family. They always tell me, “Don’t give up.” You can’t let one rejection or one bad review stop you. Just remember, books are subjective, just like everything else. Never let anyone make you feel like your work isn’t worth reading just because it’s not a popular topic right now. The majority ignores the important stuff.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading, “The Little Lame Prince” by Dinah Mulock. I love it so far.

What’s next for you as a writer?
My next goal is to get my novella published. Then, I want to finish my second novel and get it published. I have so many ideas. I just can’t wait to get them all out there.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would bring “Pride and Prejudice,” “Wuthering Heights,” “Northhanger Abbey,” and “A Christmas Carol.”

Author Websites and Profiles
Brittany Weekley Website

Brittany Weekley’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Currently in training to be a health/life coach. I wrote best foot forward and co-authored best foot forward second edition with ray lecara. Also in the process of compiling a beautiful quote book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Best foot forward – A student success guide with life skills strategies for the road ahead, is a book that evolved for 23 years in the making to help empower students to become all they can be.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write like the pieces of a puzzle they’re scattered at first but then they come together at the end.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Wayne Dyer and Leo BUSCAGLIA are two of my major influences.

What are you working on now?
Cool breeze – quotes that will chill your soul.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Yes2motivaton.com, selling at local bookstores, social media

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Good luck and do your homework. It may take 10 years to be an overnight success.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t leave this earth with the music still left in you shared by Wayne Dyer.

What are you reading now?
The code of an extraordinary mind.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Cool breeze quote 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?
Actually I would take my iPhone. I have all the notes I can ever need compiled in my iPhone with books that I’ve already read. There are Gems beyond comprehension in there.

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
After graduating from the University of Illinois, I moved to New York City where I spent ten years working. I actually was working in downtown Manhattan when the World Trade Centers were attacked. I didn’t see the towers fall since my windows faced south, but my whole building shook like in an earthquake. Besides that traumatic experience, I loved living in New York City and feel like I can draw on my experiences there for my writing. I currently live in Berlin Germany. While I was staying home with my son, I decided to try writing. It is something I have always wanted to do, but never got very far with since it demanded so much time. It has taken me a year, but I wrote the Laws of Seduction which is a four part serial romance. Book One is Captivate her.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Laws of Seduction is my debut novel. The four parts are Captivate her, Beguile her, Dazzle her, and the last book is Cherish her. Although a lot of people either love or hate Fifty Shades of Grey, I have to admit that it inspired me to a large degree. What impressed me about that novel is the pacing. There was not a lot of jumping around in time. I found that refreshing because I hadn’t even been aware it was possible to hold my interest like that.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am a big fan of audiobooks, and I have a computer program that will read what I have written back to me. I often pick up mistakes or have ideas when I am listening to the playback. The only drawback is that the narrator’s voice is machine made.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
When I was in my early teens, I can remember getting into my grandmother’s stash of romance books. I found some real classics. I loved Victoria Holt and Jennifer Blake in particular. They had a gothic feel to them, and sometimes the hero’s actions existed just on the periphery. I find myself trying to inject some of that gothic suspense into my writing. I think that is something that I want to work more towards developing in the future as well.

What are you working on now?
Right now I am working on a stand-alone novel with two characters from Laws of Seduction. There were several characters who I loved, but in the end I decided that readers might like to know what happens with Rex. Rex is the best friend of James.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The promotion aspect of publishing is new to me, and I am learning as I go. It is definitely a work in progess. At the moment I feel like it is all pretty much a shot in the dark.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
It’s advice that I do not always strictly follow myself, but I would say write, write, write. There is always something coming up to keep you from writing, but in the end that is your most important part of the job.

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

What are you reading now?
I am almost finished with Tiffany Snow’s Kathleen Turner series. It is really wonderful. I love the love triangle she has going on. It is awsome!

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have many ideas for books to come, but I don’t know which ones I will go with next. I want to continue to develop my craft so that the reader comes away with that certain feeling of joy and satisfaction that happens after reading a good book. If I could accomplish that, I would be incredibly 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 would definitely take Diane Gabaldon’s Outlander series. She is one of my all time favorites. I would also take every romance that Georgette Heyer has written. I can read them over and over again and never get tired of them. I was fairly dazzled by Sylvia Day’s Crossfire series so I would take that as my more recent selection.

Author Websites and Profiles
Ava Hayworth Website

Ava Hayworth’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Liam. I’m from Ireland, though I have travelled quite a bit, including the West Coast of the Unite States and Hawaii, which was amazing.

I have written two novels. Previous to that I had written two others, but never got around to finishing them. One of the main characters in my first book, “The Ethereal Vision”, named Max, has been with me since that second flunked attempt at writing a book ten years ago. He walked into my mind and wouldn’t let go until I wrote about him, so he eventually ended up in this story.

The second novel, titled “Rise” is a continuation of the first. They both deal with the struggle of a group of teenagers with psychic powers against a secretive committee.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The title is “Rise”. It is the second novel in the Ethereal Vision series. I know how the series ends, but the specific ideas for this second book didn’t come about until a trip through south east Asia last Summer.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Michael Crichton, Anne McCaffrey, Steve King, Terence McKenna and many more.

What are you working on now?
A couple of script ideas for features, and waiting for the right time to begin work on the third book in the Ethereal Vision series, which I think will end with three books (though it’s possible that it could be four). I have a title in mind, though I won’t reveal it just yet.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve tried many and had good success with Freebooksy, Ereader News Today and Kindle Nation Daily’s Free Book Highlighter service.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Go with your instincts. Try a lot of things — fail fast, learn quickly. Don’t be too concerned with making mistakes, because you’re going to make a lot of them anyway. Avoid the temptation to publish a book that’s not ready. Hire a copyeditor. Hire a good cover designer.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I have ever had was actually learned advice, rather than heard, and that is that instinct and intuition trump everything else in life, including what might seem logical in the moment.

What are you reading now?
Ringworld.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish the Ethereal Vision series 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?
Simply too difficult to answer!

Author Websites and Profiles
Liam Donnelly Website
Liam Donnelly Amazon Profile

Liam Donnelly’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My calling is being in gratitude and helping others to find their way in this practice as well. So far, I have published four books on this subject: two Grace of Gratitude Journals (with lined pages for the reader to write in their own thoughts of thanksgiving with inspiring passages by me and gorgeous full color watercolor art by Tara Thelen. I have written a 4×6″ book called “Grace of Gratitude Reflections” which is filled with grateful passages about life. We also have a wonderful Coloring Book called “Path of Gratitude” filled with hand-drawn black & white illustrations by Tara, and then the left hand pages have the illustrations continued, with a short thought of thanksgiving and then lines for the reader to write in their own thoughts.

I live in the country of Southern Oregon, love it and enjoy friends and family, nature, pets, reading, writing, creating art, photography, people and meditation. I am a spiritual person and a licensed practitioner for the Centers for Spiritual Living. I teach classes and workshops and facilitate retreats on the subjects of gratitude, and finding more peace and joy in our lives. I am married and we have two dogs we adore, and two cockatiels. I am a stepmom to three amazing young adults, and grandmother to 2 young boys through my marriage. I love the rivers nearby and swim as much as I can in the hot summertime.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My soon-to-be published book is called “Daily Gratitude Reflections, 365 Guides to Great-full Living” and is filled with day after day of grateful thoughts, which I compiled from the emails I send out each day to people who sign up on my website. This book can be used daily, perhaps in the morning time, to start your day out in appreciation for all the good in life.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My daily gratitude email list has helped me to write every day.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Many spiritual authors books have influenced me, including Deepak Chopra, Mark Nepo, Thich Nat Hanh, Carolyn Myss, Marianne Williamson, A Course in Miracles, Ernest Holmes, etc. etc. etc. I have a long list of spiritual mentors through their books!

What are you working on now?
See above.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Catherine Lyons has been wonderful assisting me with social media. We have a website www.graceofgratitude.com which is our main method of getting the word out about our books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write about what you love. Keep plugging away!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It is impossible to complain or feel lacking in your life, or mad or angry, if you are in gratitude for all that you have.

What are you reading now?
Carolyn Myss’ book, “Entering the Castle” is my favorite spiritual book I am reading right now; fiction-wise I have been on a jag of reading Kristen Hannah, devouring every book she has written.

What’s next for you as a writer?
After the Daily Guides, I would like to write a spiritual book, perhaps on gratitude. I am not sure yet, and I will listen and see what Spirit has in store 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?
A few of my very favorite spiritual books, probably Mark Nepo and Ernest Holmes.

Author Websites and Profiles
Deborah Perdue Website
Deborah Perdue Amazon Profile

Deborah Perdue’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a little snarky (okay, I’m a lot snarky) and introverted–as is the case with most writers I’ve met.

I’ve written a little bit of everything, but I’m always out to expand my horizons and try something new. Except aliens. That’s so not an option for me.

I currently have one book out (Virtue of Death), one about to come out (Wreck You), and three more under contract to release next year, as well as shorts under contract in two different anthologies.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Virtue of Death, (Earthbound Angels book one) which is a paranormal romance about Sera, an angel of death.

The idea of a back tattoo actually inspired it. It was plotted to be a contemporary romance, and I was thinking about unique character traits to give her and I decided to give her a full-back angel wing tattoo. Then I said, “But what if she actually is an angel?” As I’ve always been a morbid kind of person, making her an angel of death was a no-brainer for me. Especially since she is so the mirror opposite: pretty, blonde, perky, and perfect.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m a total pantser (and dear Lord do I hate that term). I try to plot, but my characters usually look at it, laugh, and tell me the way they want their story to go. Wrangling efforts have proved futile so I’m sort of used to just letting the characters pave their way. As such, I don’t ever write in order.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favorite book of all time is TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, and my favorite author of all time is Poe. But I wouldn’t exactly refer to them as “influences.”

I’ve worked in publishing for a few years in a behind-the-scenes role, and every author I have worked with has touched me in one way or another. Be it their resolve to continue despite rejections/setbacks, the amazing books they wrote, or even just how awesome they are. The one thing I’ve learned is that authors are so supportive of each other, and are always willing to help a new writer out, promote other author’s books… it’s just a cool circle to be a part of, and as such, I couldn’t name them all. I consider myself incredibly lucky to be a part of this amazing group.

What are you working on now?
I have two works in progress that are marinating right now. One is the continuation of the Earthbound Angels series, and the other is an erotic mystery.

Along the way, as anthology calls come up, I usually sneak in a short story or two.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have had tremendous luck with review tours at Itsy Bitsy Book Bits.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up. You’re going to get beaten down by editors/reviewers who just don’t get it, and that’s okay. That just means your book isn’t right for them, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t need to exist in this world. You’ll also be beaten down by yourself–I’ve found writers have more crippling self-doubt than anyone else; it’s hard to throw your all into something and then put it out there for everyone to read and have an opinion on. Surround yourself with good friends who will lift you up. I have a few and I know there are days I couldn’t get out of bed if I didn’t have them there. I call them my Optimist Calvary and they are essential to keeping me sane. (A daunting task, but they are also writers, so they understand the challenge and are up to it.)

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Just keep writing.” -Nora Roberts

I met Nora Roberts my senior year of college and told her I had a novel in me. She smiled sweetly and ducked her head to sign the book I handed her, and I’m pretty sure she rolled her eyes. I mean, seriously, how often must she hear that? (To my naive twenty-one-year-old self, the statement made sense. In hindsight it was the dumbest thing I could have said. Oh, if I could turn back time…) So she handed me the book and told me to just keep writing.

I did. Then I gave it up. When I did, I felt incomplete. Something was missing. I started writing again and I became whole again. I had purpose, as I had characters who were relying on me to get their story told. See, Nora Roberts was right. I just had to keep writing.

What are you reading now?
MINA, the second in the Monsters and Maidens series by Marie Piper and after that I’ll be picking up THE BLOGGER AND THE HUNK by Jane Matisse.

What’s next for you as a writer?
On September 13, the first anthology I was a part of, UNINTENTIONAL–North American Edition, releases.

Then, on September 27, I have a m/m contemporary romance novella entitled WRECK YOU coming out.

I have three more pieces, included a novel and two novellas under contract for release in 2017. Be sure to follow me on FB or Twitter for all the latest news!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee–no matter how many times I read this, I can’t ever seem to get enough.

Any anthology of Edgar Allan Poe (as long as it includes “Annabel Lee”)

The Harry Potter series. (That’s technically seven, I know, but they are like Lay’s potato chips and you can’t have just one.)

Author Websites and Profiles
Randi Perrin Website
Randi Perrin Amazon Profile

Randi Perrin’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
“Police Violence” is my maiden book. I’m a public health professional originally from Nigeria. I obtained my B.S. in Molecular Biosciences and Biotechnology from Arizona State University and a minor in Psychology. In 2014, I completed my Master’s degree in Public Health.
After moving to Texas in 2008, I became more conscious of police violence and my experiences and observations propelled me to write a book on police violence. The turning point for me was the death of Eric Garner. My insight and diverse educational background made writing the book easy.
My favorite pastime is to have fun by staying fit playing soccer or working out within or without a gym. I currently resides in Virginia.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Police Violence: Understanding Its Basic History, Causal Origins, Health Consequences, and Prevention Strategies.”

I guess I beat the gun is talking about what inspired my book. To reiterate, moving to Texas in the American South opened my eyes to police violence. The way the police talked and treated people was way different from what I had experienced in Nigeria or Arizona. Yes Arizona! So after some personal experiences with the police, my mind began to wonder what the deal was with the way they behaved.

I approached the issue like a scientist does using the scientific process that begins with an observation. I began asking questions like why were police behaviors different here in Houston, Texas than other places I have lived. I began reading and historical accounts, watching or coming across some documentaries, especially of the civil rights era. After observing some national cases of police brutality, as well as more personal unfavorable experiences I came up with a hypothesis on why it happens and this began my investigative process and led to writing the book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to think about what I want to write for a long time before writing them down. Especially when it comes to non-fiction. Your ideas need to flow logically. I also have a jotting paper where I jot ideas for my writing. I can sometimes just wake up or be watching TV and then run to my jotting book and write down my ides for later transcription into my manuscript.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I can’t name one because my book is quite different from every book I’ve ever read. I did not follow any blueprint. I basically combined the approach used in scientific journals that emphasizes evidence or proof in writing. I also tried to incorporate modern technology in my writing by referencing as videos on Youtube that are evidentiary to the topic of discussion.

Writing a novel is quite different from a non-fiction book that deals with a sensitive social issue, or a text book. I basically combined all the different approach for educational book and fictions.

What are you working on now?
An idea for a new book that hit me when I was in high-school. It is a very demanding and tasking book that would require a lot more resources and time–possibly 5 years to write. Of course it is a non-fiction book that seeks to bridge the gap between science and the Abrahamic faiths.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesomegang.com and Facebook.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you think writing is the hardest part, wait till its time to promote your book.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Marketing your book is a process.

What are you reading now?
The bible

What’s next for you as a writer?
Again I think I beat the gun for this question: Continued promotion for my book and working on an idea for a 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 bible, my maiden book (Police Violence), Malcolm X’s autobiography.

Author Websites and Profiles
Ben Emesowum Website

Ben Emesowum’s Social Media Links
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