Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am co-author of a fantasy series that I write with my best friend, Sara Cole. She and I and another friend, Nancy, wrote our first book, Journey to Wizards’ Keep, when we were in college just for fun. It lay forgotten for 30 years before I dug it out, typed it up and we finished it. I spent 3 years polishing it before Ravenswood Publishing picked it up in 2016. While I was doing that, I started book two with Sara: The Hunt for Winter. It’s a wonderful book that continues the story of Queen Irene, and her two best friends, Nan and Kay.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
When my co-author, Sara, wrote the conclusion to Journey to Wizards’ Keep, we all thought it was the perfect ending — not knowing if Queen Irene gives birth to a son, who would be a wizard, or a girl, who would be mortal. We initially had no plans to continue writing, but I couldn’t get the story out of my head! I finally sat down and wrote the first chapter and sent it to Sara, asking if she wanted to keep going. She answered with an enthusiastic “Yes! And I know just what the plot should be!” We were off and going with book 2!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to mull over ideas as I fall asleep. It usually takes me a long time to get to sleep, so I “day dream” a lot — and I find that’s the perfect way to come up with ideas for my next chapter.
I like to write in the morning, when I’m fresh and then edit in the afternoon or evenings, but anytime I get inspired, I will sit down and write. I was a news reporter most of my life, so I never had the luxury of “writers’ block.” When I am in front of a keyboard — I am in writing mode!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love authors who write about strong female characters — Amy Tan, Elizabeth Gilbert, Nicole Mones, Isabelle Allende, etc.

What are you working on now?
I am polishing book 3 in the Irene, Nan, and Kay series — Boy, Kay gets into a real touch situation in this book!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
still trying to figure that out!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep at it — I think i was the only one who really had faith in our books. I just kept pitching and pitching. I probably tried to pitch our first book too soon…but in the end, it was a small publishing house that picked it up, so I advise looking at those. The publishing world is so different now, with self publishing and boutique publishers — there are lots of options!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Join a writers group. I don’t have one, but am a member of Willamette Writers, which puts on a wonderful conference each year. I have learned so much!

What are you reading now?
The Jane Austen Project, by Kathleen Flynn. It combines my favorite era with time travel! I’m hooked already and I just started it!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Marketing, marketing, marketing!

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?
Pride and Prejudice. Mistress of the Vatican. The collected works of William Shakespeare. Websters Dictionary.

Author Websites and Profiles
KC Cowan Website
KC Cowan Amazon Profile

KC Cowan’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! I live in southern California with my husband and enjoy being out in the sun when I’m not writing. I’ve written a romance trilogy, created a book-themed coloring book for adults, have a romantic suspense which has a sequel coming soon, the first book of my scifi, dystopian, thriller trilogy and a contemporary, second chance love stand alone novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Hot Georgia Rein” is my most recently published book (Sept. 12, 2017). The two main characters are young sweethearts who have different goals and dreams as they grow up. Their journey is about growing apart as much as growing together. When they have the opportunity to see each other again, the passion still exists just as much, if not more, than it previously had been. I wanted to explore what two people might say, think, feel when it comes to catching up and revealing secrets and if their love really knows no bounds.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Most of my writing is at night and well into the early mornings. There have been a few times when I can plow through several chapters in the early morning or afternoon, but I have a tendency to do most of my writing at night. I like it quiet unless it’s nature or Baroque music in the background. There are times when I’m writing that I will skip a meal unintentionally.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve read a lot of books, but mostly ones that are not in the genres I write. Many of the classic authors have been inspirational, but my husband, who wrote his book before me, was what inspired me the most to become a writer as well. I encouraged him to turn a movie script into a full-length novel when he felt that many key subtleties were missing from the story. While he filled in the gaps, I began learning the self-publishing industry as well as started to read more fiction. All authors are inspirational in one way or another to me, regardless if I’ve read all, some, or none of their books. To have written a story that conveys something about them, their thoughts or feelings about a topic is always fun to explore.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on “The Killmores” which is the sequel to “Killmore,” my first romantic suspense book. It involves a badass main female lead, espionage and lots of crazy suspense–at least I think so. I had originally intended for it to be a single book, but the story took on more life than I had anticipated, causing it to be a two (2) book series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I continue to learn and experiment with new ways to promote my books. Some work better than others. Promotion is a tricky thing when you have a limited budget because you want to maximize your reach.

Social media is definitely a key, and free, resource that I’m constantly tapping into. Having some loyal fans who help promote you just because they love your stories so much also works great. I’ve got a few people who really help share when a book is released, is on sale, or just a continued promotion of previously released stories. For those supports, I always send them an autographed copy of my latest novel.

Book Blog Tours are a great way to promote, especially if you find ones that cater to your genre(s) which also work out to geting ARCs out for reviews. ARCs are a fantastic way to build attention and buzz around your upcoming release.

Using a site like Instafreebie or BookFunnel are another great way to promote your books. Offer up a few chapters for free of an upcoming release to people who are willing to sign up for your newsletter. If they like what they read, they’re more likely to stay on your newsletter, connect with you online, and read your books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
First, write and don’t look back. You can write as a hobby, but wanting to make money doing it is great too. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to write full time and being able to pay your bills with that income. My only thing, don’t say you write as a hobby but then complain that you aren’t selling enough. It’s one or the other, and there’s nothing wrong with either option.

Second, you can’t and won’t please every reader. It’s a fact. Think about that for a second and let me say it again. You CAN’T please everyone, not in any aspect of life, so you definitely can’t do it with readers.
Third, “bad reviews” are not bad. All reviews give you insight to your readers’ thoughts, beliefs, and feelings. Their review is a reflection on how the story/characters made them feel/think and have absolutely nothing to do with you as a writer.

Fourth, handling the self-proclaimed grammar Nazis is something you need to learn to do. A lot of what’s known as proper grammar has changed. Everyone has an opinion on it—I emphasize the word “opinion.” Even literary manuals are altering with what’s accurate. Also, editors are human. We all make mistakes: you, the editor, the reader even.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It was from my husband and it was about book reviews. Ultimately, a reader’s review of your book is more about them than you as a writer or even the story at large. The review is actually an insight to their thoughts, feelings, or perspective on life and how they do or don’t relate or react to your story and the characters. Once you take it as an insight into who the reader is and why they wrote their review the way they did, it makes it easier to remove the emotional side of a good or bad review.

What are you reading now?
I just started my first book from an author friend Claudia Burgoa, “Until I fall.”

What’s next for you as a writer?
What’s next for me as a writer? To continue to write. To write all the stories that currently reside in my head (which span across many different genres) and to publish them. I’ve got at least 20 more stories. Some of them are stand-alone novels while others will be series. I plan to continue to strengthen my storytelling ability, testing myself as an author with whatever story idea reveals itself to me, while striving to hit a prominent best-seller list other than just Amazon.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I’m a very practical person, and with being an author, the stories in my head could keep me pretty occupied. So, my first book would be survival book. Then, I’d have a rather large notepad to be able to write. Third, I’d have a “what’s edible and what’s not edible” book for all plants. The last book would probably be “Atlas Shrugged” or a copy of “Ask and It Is Given.”

Author Websites and Profiles
Martha Sweeney Website
Martha Sweeney Amazon Profile
Martha Sweeney Author Profile on Smashwords

Martha Sweeney’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I currently have six published titles under my belt with two more titles ready for release within the next month. I have a YA Fantasy series, Guardians of Terrin, with the first two books in the trilogy-Alina’s Crossing and Alina’s Quest completed and published. I also have a Contemporary Women’s episodic Fiction serial, If Not For My Friends. That series has 3 episodes published with the fourth currently in editing.
I am almost the BIG 40!! (aacckk!) In my spare time I work a full time job, paint and rehab furniture and home decor.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I am in the development process of a paranormal romance series. The idea came to me from a dream a friend of mine had. I loved the premise and asked if I could exploit her subconscious into a book series. Luckily for me, she agreed.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I CAN’T OUTLINE. I have tried so many times but it has the opposite effect. What is meant to be helpful in organizing my ideas actually hinders my writing process. I have given up on trying to outline and simply just hit the keys on the computer, seeing where I end up.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Diana Gabaldon is my all-time favorite writer. The Highlander series is stunning. I have read and re-read it so many times…it never gets old. Each time I read it, I pick something else up that I missed the last time.

What are you working on now?
My current projects include writing the last book of my Guardian series, Alina’s Majesty, final edits for If Not For My Friends, Episode 4, final edits for my paranormal romance book, querying children’s book agents and publishing houses for a children’s book I have written and ghost writing a memoir for a friend.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have just started this process.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing. If you write, you are a writer. The first draft is always the hardest. Just get it down…you can always go back and fix it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you write, then you are a writer.

What are you reading now?
The Last Woman Standing by Thelma Adams

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to be traditionally published one day, but until that day comes, I will happily chuck along in the indie world. Writing is my purpose and passion…whatever way it happens works 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?
Anything Diana Gabaldon

Author Websites and Profiles
S.M. Hunt Website
S.M. Hunt Amazon Profile

S.M. Hunt’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! My name is Julia Cirignano. I’m from Boston Mass, and I recently graduated form Endicott College. I have several articles published by Limelight Magazine and That Music Magazine, and poetry published in The Endicott Review, The Endicott Observer, Mad Swirl, The New York Literary Magazine, Red Wolf Journal, and The Somerville Times.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I recently self-published a book of poetry called “White Wine & Medical Marijuana”. It is inspired my life and the lives of people around me.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I just write when it comes to me. I don’t typically sit to write. Usually, an idea will randomly come to me and force me away from what ever I’m doing. Sometimes I quickly write the idea down in my phone for later, and then I sit down to finish the piece when I have a chance.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have a lot of favorites, both old and new. Dickinson, Bradstreet, Thoreau, Emerson, Bukowski, Raur, Leav, Ferrante, Plath, Faudet, and more. I read everything.

What are you working on now?
I am always writing poetry. Hopefully, some of the poems I am working on now will end up in my next book!

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing!! And also don’t let rejection of any kind make you doubt your writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I don’t like advise, but I have a favorite quote that’s similar to advise! “Some women choose to follow men, and some women choose to follow their dreams. If you’re wondering which way to go, remember that your career will never wake up and tell you that it doesn’t love you anymore,” Lady Gaga.

What are you reading now?
The Beautiful and the Damned.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to start really working on a second book soon.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Picture of Dorian Grey, Milk and Honey, The Bell Jar, and anything by Bukowski.

Author Websites and Profiles
Julia Cirignano Website
Julia Cirignano Amazon Profile

Julia Cirignano’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi. I’ve been writing since my grandmother created a game when I was eight years old. I’ve tried poetry but I always return to stories with danger and hope. I’ve published ten devotional books and six Christian suspense books.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Planted Flowers Bible Study Workbook is my latest published work. It was inspired by the Christian suspense series, Planted Flowers. I wanted other women to be able to experience the close support and relationships from the group. And enjoy a closer, more purposeful walk with God.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I enjoy writing with blow-em-up movies playing in the background. My favorite Christmas movie is Die Hard.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Grace Livingston Hill and C.S. Lewis were my biggest influences after my grandmother, Anna Daisy Siemens.

What are you working on now?
Currently, I’m editing and reprinting my grandmother’s books and publishing a book my mother wrote recently. I’m also writing a serial book based on a character in the Planted Flowers world. That is a bridge novel to a new series, Matthew’s Matchmakers. On the flip side, I’m producing a prayer journal I hope to release in December along with the bridge novel. I have other books on the back burner which will sadly have to wait until next year.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesomegang is a great way to promote my books but I also have ten websites covering different aspects of my life and interests. Writing, devotionals, publishing, and the Planted Flowers series are only one side of my life. I also spend time coaching other writers with their WordPress websites, helping women find a way to stay home, and attempt to find allergy free food to eat.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what you are passionate about. If you are unsure about that, fill a piece of paper with words that come to mind. Things you love and hate, desire above all else and will never go near. These are the things you write about.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write it all down as fast as you can. You can edit it later.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading several books right now. One is a blow-em-up movie in a book and the rest are cozy mysteries with cats. I love cats and I love humor.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Editing. I have so much editing to do. For fun, I’ll write again in April and July with NaNoWriMo. I just have too many books to edit and publish!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
My Bible. A thesaurus. A mountain of paper and a gaggle of pens. I’ll write my own books.

Author Websites and Profiles
Anna Payne Website
Anna Payne Amazon Profile
Anna Payne Author Profile on Smashwords

Anna Payne’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an artist working from both Amsterdam in the Netherlands and New York City. I used to sing and play guitar in a punk-oriented band callen !JP (pronounced as Illunga Pi). I’m traveling the solo-musician route since 2010.
I also work as a stage-actor from time-to-time.
As if I’m not busy enough already, I also try to be an author. I have written 6 books, three in English, three in Dutch.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Twelve Step Charlie and is inspired on my experiences with skin-cancer.
After I was diagnosed with skin-cancer, I kept up a journal, which I then turned into this memoirish-tale-of-abusement.
The book is a bit about skin-cancer and skin-cancer-awareness, but deals with me trying to deal with “bed news” even more. Going through a roller-coaster of emotion, I started to investigate “men”. Not that I didn’t know anything about other men, but my skin-cancer happened to “pop-up” on my penis.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Playing the radio really loud and make tiny notes. Then shutting myself away for a couple of hours in complete silence to get those notes typed.
Plus I like to drink red wine during the process. I know I’m not supposed to drink on the job, but it kind of helps me to find words easier. Not that I am a drunk behind a typewriter. I only allow myself two glasses of wine during writing.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Charles Bukowski. The beat poets. Burroughs. Haruki Murakami.

What are you working on now?
I am currently writing a lot for a blog which provides additional information about skin-cancer and my mental state dealing with it.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I haven’t got a clue. I’m not very good at promoting.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Why shouldn’t your voice be heard.

What are you reading now?
The Familiar series by Mark Z. Danielewski.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m thinking about a work of fiction about the world of music and a non-fiction about the world of acting.

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?
1Q84. All three volumes. All literature one needs in life is right there in those pages.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jean Koning Website
Jean Koning Amazon Profile

Jean Koning’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
So far, I’ve written 3 books: A Sight Unseen (Tolkienesque fantasy), Counting Losses (romantic comedy/drama), and Iniquitous (horror/mystery/thriller).

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Iniquitous is my most recent release. To me, recent horror films and books haven’t been too scary, but I can’t really be a critic if I’ve never attempted to write in that genre. So I gave it a go with subject matter I believe to be pure evil.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I must have an orchestral soundtrack prepared for whatever scene is taking place in the story. Also, I like to work on two or three books at the same time, so that if I get bored with one, I have something else to work on.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love the works of Chuck Palahniuk. Fight Club is still my all-time favorite novel.

What are you working on now?
Among a few works in progress, I’m working on a satire of self-help books. It’s guaranteed to be the worst advice you will ever read. I have a few sample chapters up at inkitt.com/craigrkey.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
To be honest, making people give a damn about your book is hard. No one wants to take a chance buying a book that they don’t know anything about. The only thing that’s going to get you started is getting good reviews. Go outside, shake some hands, build some buzz between new and old friends. Get on social media, make some fan pages, and talk yourself up. After you get all your friends and family to leave some reviews, you can start hitting up all the free paid review websites. These are the sites that send out free copies of your book to people who will give your book an honest in exchange. I can’t promise success because it’s all a game of chance. Maybe the right people read it, maybe not, but without your effort, it will never happen.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read. Read a lot. Find what you like, and what you don’t like. That’s how you find your unique voice. Writing is not easy. It’s time-consuming work. And sometimes, it’s lonely work. But you can only get what you put into your work, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll get anything.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you’re not hurting anyone, don’t give up. It’s simple but very true to many aspects of life.

What are you reading now?
I’m starting on Academ’s Fury which is book 2 of the Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher. It’s a cool fantasy with Roman overtones. So far, it’s been very entertaining.

What’s next for you as a writer?
If you want to make God laugh, make a plan. Regardless if you believe in a higher power or not, we can all agree that we can’t control everything; we can only prepare for what might come our way. So as for what is next for me, I’m going to keep writing until life makes me stop.

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?
Fight Club, The Disaster Artist, and Getting off Deserted Islands for Dummies.

Author Websites and Profiles
Craig R Key Website
Craig R Key Amazon Profile

Craig R Key’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a writer, astronomer, dancer, cosplayer, and more. I love the balance of science and creative expression in my life. I have drafted nine books for my New Dawn series, and am currently going through the exercise of professionally editing and publishing the entire series. My first book, The Disappeared, came out in September 2017, and by September 2018, I anticipate having the first six out.

While doing astronomy, I traveled to telescopes in Hawaii, Arizona, Texas, and as far as La Serena, Chile, hunting for black holes in the galaxy. After successfully avoiding winter for ten years, I returned to Maryland, and I work on weather satellites for NOAA. When not writing, I can be found at the community theater, acting, choreographing, directing, stage managing, and generally having a great time. When I needed to escape the science, I lived briefly L.A., fulfilling my childhood dream of being an out of work actress. I managed to get a few IMDB credits to my name, though none are for acting.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The New Dawn series began when I was sitting at work, waiting for a code to run. When I was an undergrad, I got a job as a research assistant, because there was no way I was going to grad school to become a full time scientist if I couldn’t handle doing it ten hours a week. My boss had a picture in his office – a satellite composite of North America at night – just the city glow. That picture was next to my computer and I looked at it every day as my programs were processing data. One day, I opened a text file and started to write a story about someone on the moon, looking down at the Earth, seeing that view that the picture captured. And that’s where it all began. When I graduated, my boss gave me a copy of that picture, and it still hangs over my desk.

Now, I work on weather satellites for NOAA, and I’m part of the pipeline that produces pictures like that operationally, so that we can predict the weather. It’s pretty neat to experience that picture from the production side.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write constantly. I have been known to get up in the middle of the night, go to my whiteboard, and scribble down an idea (in the dark, just going by feel). Then I go back to bed without having disturbed my sleepiness with light. In the morning, when I come out of my room, I see the words written there. I find this works better than writing on a scrap of paper, because I don’t have to remember to look for said scrap of paper. The whiteboard puts the note in my face over and over until I have time to sit down and address it.

When I was little, before I could write, I would imagine myself into whatever cartoon I was watching during the commercial break – kind of like writing fanfic in my head. This is how I watch TV to this day. As soon as a commercial comes on, I’m writing in my head. TV has always been a great creative fuel for me. Netflix really messes with my rhythm in this regard.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read Star Trek novels growing up. I loved that it was a series and I could know the crew and take adventures with people I was familiar with. (As an introvert, I have a hard time meeting new characters.) I always knew that I wanted to write a series.

I also enjoyed Hardy Boys as a kid, and I still go for a good murder mystery novel.

What are you working on now?
I just got Book 4: Ghost Dome ready to send to my editor and now I’m shoring up Book 5: The Gray Market so that it’s ready for my beta-readers. I find that the more I work with my team, the better I can anticipate criticisms. I definitely feel I’m improving as a writer.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Asking people who know better and have been in the field longer for help. I didn’t get into self-publishing because I thought I could do it all by myself. I did it, because I thought I had enough project management experience to find people who could help me.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I have a sign in my office that says “I couldn’t wait for success, so I went ahead without it.”

It is very different being an author than being a writer. I’ve been a writer my entire life. When you’re a writer, you write the story, and you’re done. When you’re an author (and I’ve heard this from both self-published and traditionally published types), you write the story, then you have to promote the story, get the story in people’s hands, and keep coming back to the story over and over. Five years later, you’ve written five more books, but promoting the first is still part of your life. Maybe someone will hand you this golden opportunity and take the burden from you, maybe they won’t. Defining success is up to you. If you want to be an author, just keep pressing on.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Stop and smell the roses.

I take that literally. If I see a pretty flower, chances are I’ve tested its scent. Leaves also have interesting scents.

What are you reading now?
“Resonance” by A. J. Scudiere. It was free on Amazon, and I needed something to read on the treadmill. I like it so far – especially that it’s following so many academic characters and catching that life so well. Can’t wait to see how it goes.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Well, right now, I’m trying not to come up with any new ideas until I finish writing all the ones I’ve already started. It’s not really working. Last week, my writing/critique group spent ten minutes on a exercise, and I wrote Chapter 1 of an entirely new series that I can’t wait to develop.

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 think they’d all be empty notebooks, and I’d have a pen, and I’d write all the books while I was there.

But assuming I was allowed to take books in addition to the empty pages, they would be:
– Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul by Douglas Adams
– Human Brain by Rita Carter
– Invasion by Robin Cook
– Timeline by Michael Crichton

Author Websites and Profiles
Valerie J Mikles Website
Valerie J Mikles Amazon Profile

Valerie J Mikles’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a Professor of English at the University of Allahabad. My multicultural novel, The Tailor’s Needle, was published by Penguin Books India in 2012. My first story collection, Marriages are Made in India, was published by Publerati (USA) in 2012. My second story collection, Intriguing Women, is published by The Paris Press (London) in Feb. 2016. He has published several short stories in American journals and papers.
I have published a number of academic books the chief of which is The T. S. Eliot-Middleton Murry Debate (1994). Among my best-published articles are “Charles Dickens and Me” (published in the Oxford journal, English) and one on Thomas Hardy’s poetry, published in The Hardy Society Journal, (UK).

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Saba & Nisha: A Love Story. I posted two or three paragraphs on my Facebook wall. People liked them so much that I felt like extending the paragraphs into a novella. I succeeded in doing that.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I normally write through with much-premeditated thought.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Shakespeare, Dickens, Jane Austen, Katherine Mansfield, R. K. Narayan.

What are you working on now?
My next novel, To India for Love, will see the light of day either in December 2017 or January 2018.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
http:\\www.lakshmirajsharma.in

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read regularly and write regularly. Write like yourself; do not imitate another’s style.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The author ought to live with their characters as they do with their families.

What are you reading now?
Sarah Waters’ Fingersmith.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have to complete my third novel, a book on Literary Fiction, and one on Shakespeare which I may take several years to complete.

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) Ali Smith’s How to be Both, (ii) Arundhati Roy’s The Ministry of Utmost happiness, (iii) Mohsin Hamid’s Exit West and (iv) Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale.

Author Websites and Profiles
Lakshmi Raj Sharma Website
Lakshmi Raj Sharma Amazon Profile

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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
1282 Victoria Ave.MJ Gardner is a web developer by day, who lays in bed at night and wonders, what if….? Her stories have been published in Mad Scientist Journal, Luna Station Quarterly, Plan B and Saturday Night Reader. She published her first novel, Evelyn’s Journal in 2015 and the sequel, Joe Vampire, in 2017. She also writes a movie review blog called Movies Off the Beaten Path.
Gardner has a B.A. in English and Classics (Greek & Roman studies) from the University of Windsor, and a Master’s degree in English from the University of Waterloo. She wrote her Master’s thesis on The Vampire in English Literature.
Gardner currently lives in Windsor, Ontario, Canada with her partner of 17 years and her cat Zoom. She is also the virtual curator of The Suicide Museum.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book, Joe Vampire, was born out of the previous book, Evelyn’s Journal. Evelyn is a vampire, and Joe is her boyfriend. At the end of Evelyn’s Journal, Joe has conquered his addictions, left foster care, and is finishing high school. He’s a laid-back, sweet kid. I wanted to follow his story and see how it turned out. It surprised me to find that Joe turns out to be an asshole.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I often get inspiration from dreams, especially on weekend mornings, when I can sleep in and wake naturally and remember the dreams. The end result is usually very different from the dream because, in order to make a story out of it, you need to make it make sense. One of the stories that I wrote that is very close to the original dream is Rest Stop” http://lunastationquarterly.com/story/rest-stop/

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Everything I read influences me, which is why I usually don’t read novels when I am deep into my writing; when I need a break from writing a binge-read.

What are you working on now?
I have the first two books in my Darkness and Light series published, and I should be working on the third, but I am being distracted by what will probably be the fourth book, which introduces a new character and involves only one appearance by two of the characters from the previous two books. I know George R.R. Martin got away with that, but I am not sure that I can.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far face-to-face sales have had the most success. In terms of getting reviews, Goodreads giveaways have worked best, but since you have to provide a hard copy and ship it to the winners, that’s $8-$10 each, and no guarantee the review will be good, or even materialize at all.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do not go into this for the money. Yes, we have heard the stories of the exceptions, like Hugh Howey and 50 Shades of Grey, but those are notable because they are exceptions. If you are going to write, write because it is what you want to do. Write because you can’t not write.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Let the past go. Oh, you mean about writing? Write for yourself, not for trends. If you enjoy what you are writing, other people will too. It might take a while to find them, but they are out there.

What are you reading now?
Nothing at the moment because I am writing. My most recent reads were ten Days in a Madhouse (which I found somewhat disappointing) and The Devil in the White City (which I loved).

What’s next for you as a writer?
Like Pinky and the Brain, I am going to do the same thing I do every day: carry on with my 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?
Wuthering Heights, the Devil in the White City, Publish and Perish, and How to Survive on a Desert Island.

Author Websites and Profiles
MJ Gardner Website
MJ Gardner Amazon Profile
MJ Gardner Author Profile on Smashwords

MJ Gardner’s Social Media Links
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I got my start in broadcasting, and co-produced Sirius XM Book Radio, so I got to talk to hundreds of authors. When my channel went off the air, I began writing my own books. I just released book number 4, so it’s about one a year!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Pure is a paranormal romance, a fairy tale inspired by the tapestry The Unicorn in Captivity. In my book, a young woman with a dark past saves the life of a unicorn.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Other than a cat on my lap and too much coffee, not really!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
So many! Pure was strongly influenced by Peter Beagle’s The Last Unicorn. My epic fantasy series The Demon Door was influenced by Dune. I look to Anne Rice for lush, sensual language and to authors like China Meiville for sheer audacity.

What are you working on now?
The third book in The Demon Door series, called the Glass Girl. Terrible things continue to happen to my poor beleaguered characters.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Meeting readers in person can’t be beat.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t be afraid to stink up the joint. You can’t fix a blank page.

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

What are you reading now?
In The Wake of the Plague by Norman Cantor. Research for a future project!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Picking out my outfit for The Golden Globes

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 Once and Future King, Dune, The Last Unicorn, The Eight

Author Websites and Profiles
kim alexander Website
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an ageless Disney kid who loves Egyptian mythology and zombies. I’ve got two cats and a dog who like my cooking far more than my one child seems to. I’ve written several novels, most of them including zombies in some way or another. I currently have ten of my own books out and available, as well as at least four anthologies I have short stories in. I have collaborated in one full work called Devil Station that was a ton of fun to work with! I’m a sucker for fantasy and magic and many of my stories have that otherworldly aspect. I’m a music junkie and almost always have something playing while I’m working, reading, cooking, or cleaning. I’m also addicted to Minecraft so when I’m not at work, writing, or with my family out and about or at home, you can find me in that blocky world!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The book is called Wonders: A Wanderer’s Journey and is being released under my pen name, AD Johnson. To be honest, I’ve always been drawn to Young Adult books when it came to reading but I didn’t think I could pull off that kind of novel myself. Wonders started as sort of a challenge novel for myself and went from there. I’ve been working on it for several years and I was thrilled to complete it this year. One of my dear friends is dying and she has always been a huge supporter of my writing. I’ve written Wonders for her, because she deserves all the adventure, magic, and revolution the world can offer and then some.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
They probably aren’t unusual but I prefer to have a snack nearby when I write for sure. I like hot popcorn and Junior Mints best! I also pretty much chug water when I’m writing. If I can’t pause to put something in my mouth every couple of minutes, I get anxious and can’t stay in my groove. I also tend to keep Facebook Messenger up so I can seek constant reassurance from my two best friends.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
So many it’s hard to name them all. My love of fantasy was first inspired by Emily Rodda, writer of the Deltora Quest series. It’s the one series I remember from childhood that had a phenomenal impact on me. The drive to create worlds people can lose themselves in spawned from that reading, and I re-read all eight every year. Now that my son is old enough, we read two chapters every night! My love of darker toned tales was inspired by Dean Koontz. I remember reading Phantoms in high school and I was blown away by how descriptive and fantastic he was! Every scene seemed to thrum with creativity and sharp-edged intelligence. I love every book of his I’ve ever read and he is personally the author I would love to be like when I get my big girl writing wings.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on Wonders: A Wanderer’s Discoveries, which is book two of the Wonders series. I am also putting the finishing touches on a horror novel called Crooked Creek and Shadowlands, the second book in my Cameron Connelly series. I have three books with editors now and several others that I can’t wait to dive into, so I hope to be happily busy for the foreseeable future with many releases on the way!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I honestly haven’t found one yet. I will admit at once that I don’t have a great mind for marketing, but I’m trying to learn every day! I love posting teasers on Instagram (even though I haven’t figured out how to make the buy links work…) and I also post on Facebook often. Hopefully, I’ll figure the marketing part out eventually but even if I don’t, I’m never going to stop writing.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just write. Don’t think about it too hard. Don’t steal material, don’t use images for your covers that aren’t yours to use, and don’t make enemies in the community. Writers are a weird, wonderful, welcoming group of people, but we are people. We need to work together for awesome things to happen.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t ever think you’re done learning because when you do, you’ll stop growing. Be embarrassed about your old work but appreciate it as a step toward where you are now. You will always get better as long as you never stop trying to.

What are you reading now?
I am re-reading the Deltora Quest series with my son and also re-reading Dean Koontz’s The Taking because it’s my favorite book ever.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to break into the YA scene as a serious contender because I have three series already planned out in that genre. The worlds are sprawling and fantastic and I know that readers of all ages would love to get lost in them. My number one goal has always been to create worlds people love to explore and I want to be able to do that full-time for the rest of my life as soon as possible.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Taking by Dean Koontz, a desert island survival guide of any kind, Phantoms by Dean Koontz, and admittedly I would probably take along Wonders: A Wanderer’s Journey because it’s my favorite book of mine so far!

Author Websites and Profiles
Ashlei Hawley Amazon Profile

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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a British born writer currently living in Finland. I began writing early, winning a short story competition to write stories for then baby Prince William. Later, I wrote game modules for a Star Wars role playing game. More recently, I have written short stories for the last four anthologies from Inklings Press, and you can find my stories on my podcast, StorycastRob and R B Wood’s Word Count Podcast.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest story is The Lords of Negative Space, and appears in Inklings Press’s anthology Tales from the Underground. It’s a modern day fairy tale set in the basement of a London hospital. It pulls elements from my previous working life, fairy legends and mathematics. It began life as a writing exercise, trying a style that I don’t normally use, and has ended up as something I’m rather proud of.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
The usual, really: stare at a deadline and see who blinks first.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have an eclectic mix of influences that pull from various ages of sci fi and fantasy: Eric Frank Russel’s Wasp for golden age sci fi with rocket ships and punch card computers. Robert A Heinlein’s Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Roger Zelazny’s Amber series, McCaffery’s Pern series, all the way up to modern YA writer Rysa Walker. Comic books are also a strong influence with writers like Stan Lee, Mark Waid, Chris Claremont, Peter David and Geoff Johns all rattling around in my head too.

What are you working on now?
I have two works in progress, both deep into the editing stage. You can hear chapters of my urban fantasy story Writ in Blood and Silver on my podcast, I’m hoping to publish that early 2018. My other is a YA superhero/sci fi adventure with the working title “So you want to be a Space Alien Super Hero”.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Promotion remains something of a mystery for me. I tweet, and engage with several writers’ groups on Facebook, thankfully several of the other Inklings are much more clued up on that side than me.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Find the path that suits you. Don’t worry too much about finding advice, as I’ve seen a contradiction for just about every inspirational writer quote out there. Find what works for you and stick with it. That said… write when you can, read when you can, and master the basics before trying to break the rules.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Okay, now edit that.”

What are you reading now?
Trust a Few by E M Swifthook

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish my edits on Writ in Blood and Silver, and So you want to be a Space Alien Super Hero. Then look towards a sequel, tentatively titled The Etiquette of Space Alien Super Hero Team-ups.

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?
Zelazny’s Chronicles of Amber, Memory by Loid McMaster Bujold, oh, and some sort of “How to survive on a desert island” guide book

Author Websites and Profiles
Rob Edwards Website
Rob Edwards Amazon Profile

Rob Edwards’s Social Media Links
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in Romania (yep, Dracula’s country!) in 1992. As a curious kid, I devoured every book I could on Greek, Roman, Ancient Egyptian mythology. I studied university in political science and languages. I speak five of them: french, english, romanian, italian, spanish (feel free to correspond to me in whichever language!). I live now in Canada with my husband and our two dogs, Zeus and Achilles, They really live up to their names! Zeus is a lab whose bark alone is like thunder, and Achilles is a Siberian husky who loves to fight and argue

I have four books out, 2 series.

Avalon Dreams (Avalon Chronicles Book 1) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JTLWT2W

Avalon Wishes (Avalon Chronicles Book 2) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0727QR4ZT

The Dragon Medallion (The Sage’s Legacy, Book 1) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X6LPWTB

The Dragon Manuscript (The Sage’s Legacy, Book 2) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X6LPWTB

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The last book that I published was The Dragon Manuscript, book 2 of The Sage’s Legacy series. Growing up, I wrote a lot in high school and the idea for Freya came really from my life experiences. She’s a lot like me back then.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yep! I’m a night writer. I write better at night than in daytime

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Too many to count… I wouldn’t say necessarily influenced, but my love of reading was definitely what pushed me into writing and creating my own characters. That love of reading started with Alexandre Dumas when I was around 8, then moved on to Christian Jacq, J.K. Rowling, in my teens.

What are you working on now?
The final installments of both Avalon Chronicles and The Sage’s Legacy. Books 3 (for each) will be available in 2018. I am currently writing Avalon Nightmares, to wrap up the saga of Merlin, Arthur and Vivienne

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Social media! And word of mouth

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be prepared to work your butt off !

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
A kick in the butt is a step forward – my mom.

What are you reading now?
James Rollins – the Sigma series.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More books I have a few series planned out, as well as some stand alone novels. One series will feature a werewolf pack and their quest for mates, only each werewolf will have a specific characteristic. Another series will focus around the gods of Ancient Egypt… Stay tuned

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
That’s too few But… “Kane and Abel” – Jeffrey Archer; “The Blood Gospel” – James Rollins; “Avalon Dreams” – me

Author Websites and Profiles
Alexa Whitewolf Website
Alexa Whitewolf Amazon Profile
Alexa Whitewolf Author Profile on Smashwords

Alexa Whitewolf’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written one novel, The Third Step.
A second is in process. I hope to have it in the hands of some agents by the end of the year.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Three Lives of Richie O’Malley
Its a story of man at the end of his life, looking back on his crimes. He finds himself trying to come to some peace. It is a brutal self-examination, an atonement

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love to write outside. I write on my phone. I like that I can write anywhere. I write in my head everyday. I put it down on the phone app. about every other day. I “compose” on my bike. I ride bicycles and I ride every day.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am a huge fan of Steinbeck and Hemingway. I’ve read just about all of their works

What are you working on now?
My second novel – The Three Lives of Richie O’Malley – mentioned about. That and endless marketing

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, my Blog, Mail Chimp. If and when I find “The Best”, i’ll let you know.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep at it. Don’t give up. Write what is real. Tell real stories. We live in a broken world full of stories. Tell those stories. We have enough vampires and wizards. Write what is real.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never take anyone’s advice and don’t believe your own bullshit.

What are you reading now?
re-reading Winter of our Discontent. A great Steinbeck novel.

What’s next for you as a writer?
My third novel. There was a community, near where I live, in the 1920’s and 30’s. A community of berry pickers. There are fascinating stories and interactions up on that mountain. Its a depression era story dying to be told

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 Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, The Old Man and The Sea, For Whom the Bell Tolls.

Author Websites and Profiles
William Lobb Website
William Lobb Amazon Profile

William Lobb’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a career writer who has worked in journalism, P.R., and marketing. I have been a magazine editor, news correspondent, content writer, and the list goes on. My desire to write creatively nagged at me for years. Then, I was inspired to write my first novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Nathan’s Fate is the name of my novel. It was inspired by a letter one of my ancestors wrote to the woman he loved during the Civil War. My second inspiration came from a Bible I inherited from my great-grandmother. I started thinking about how we may be connected to those we love not just during life but also after death. The characters in my book are fictional, but my ancestors did inspire me.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I compose at the keyboard like most of today’s writers, but sometimes I write my chapters out of sequence. I like to write my notes on yellow legal pads or spiral notebooks. I don’t drink coffee so I usually drink tea when I’m writing.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Maeve Binchy, Dorothy Parker, Alexandre Dumas, Thomas Wolfe…too many to even mention

What are you working on now?
I’ve been doing some short stories, but actually have an idea for a second novel. The characters are coming together in my head and sometimes keeping me up at night!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My publisher has a great web page for my book
https://www.dovechristianpublishers.com/catalog/christian-fiction/Nathan’s-Fate/, which is helpful. I hand out bookmarks to people in random places when it’s not too awkward to do so! Goodreads is a good exposure site, as is Awesomegang!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write an original story you feel compelled to tell. In other words, this idea is driving you crazy, and you have to take it from your brain to the page.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
In regards to writing: Be sure to read some of the classic books that have survived the test of time.

What are you reading now?
A friend just gave me Small Victories by Anne Lamott, but I haven’t started it yet.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I would love to write a children’s book! I would love to be able to write fiction every day of my life. The real world does come into play, of course.

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?
Long books, like War and Peace. Something on my to-read list, such as Forever by Pete Hamill. A Pearl S. Buck book. Maybe the poetry of Charlotte Bronte. Nothing too scary if I’m to be alone!

Author Websites and Profiles
Terra Lynee Website
Terra Lynee Amazon Profil

Terra Lynee’s Social Media Links
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Slavica Joković PhD, Doctor of Economics,Visiting Lecturer, published 4 books and 60 articles, specialized in the area of public procurement at International Training Centre of the ILO, Turin, Italy, with the internships of 6 months at the EUROPEAN COMMISSION as well as 3 months at the BANQUE INTERNATIONALE A LUXEMBOURG; independent expert in public procurement policy with more than 10 years of relevant experience including: drafting amendments to the Public Procurement Law in Serbia and legislation proposals; providing consulting services to enterprises/bidders and contracting authorities, rules interpretation, EU rules governing public procurement, training delivery, such as Training of Trainers workshops on EU legislation on public procurement organized by the ITCILO as well as workshops organized by TAIEX, seminars, conferences and workshops on national public procurement legislation.
Giveaway Prize Winner on Readers` Favorite 2017 International Book Award Contest
American Writers & Artists Inc. (AWAI) Member
Member of the academic research network “Public Contracts in Legal Globalization”
Associate Member of the Procurement Law Academic Network – The PLAN Network
Publications
Books
1. “Phare programme”, 1997. Beograd, p.199 (reviewers: prof.dr. Mlađen
Kovačević and prof.dr.Stojan Dabić)
2. “EU Financial Assistance – Phare”, 2001. Beograd, p.250 (reviewers: prof.dr.
Mlađen Kovačević and prof.dr. Stojan Dabić)
3. “International market of capital projects and economic development”, 2010.
Beograd, p. 296 (reviewers: prof.dr Ljubiša Adamović and prof.dr Miroslav
Prokopijević)
4. eBook: ”WINNING PUBLIC PROCUREMENT CONTRACTS IN SERBIA
Manual”, 2017/Amazon Kindle Edition (In English)

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
WINNING PUBLIC PROCUREMENT CONTRACTS IN SERBIA MANUAL

What are you working on now?
I am working on PUBLIC – PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND CONCESSIONS book.

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

What are you reading now?
I am reading now the Public Procurement Law Draft.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am going to publish my new book on public private partnerships and concessions.

Author Websites and Profiles
Slavica Jokovi Website

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up in the small Cajun community of Pierre Part, Louisiana. Any of you who have watched the hit TV show, Swamp People have seen this town. It’s where Troy Landry lives. I moved from the swamps to the city of Lafayette in 1980 where I graduated high school and attended UL Lafayette (Formerly University of Southwestern Louisiana when I went there) as an art major. Soon after, I got a summer job working the back deck of a seismic survey boat (looking for potential oil reserves) and remained in the oilfield my entire adult life. I have held several positions in this industry over the years – roustabout, roughneck, captain, navigator, and surveyor.

10 years ago I met Kathy…we just recently celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary. In December of 2016 I was laid off from my job due to the lowering of oil prices. But this turned into a blessing, as I found a job as machine operator which allows me to be home where I belong every night. The company I work for manufactures jet engine components used in commercial and military aircraft.

I wrote my first book, A Forsaken Soul, 15 years ago as a challenge to myself. I use to read voraciously and one day while reading I thought to myself, “I can write one of these.” So I picked up a pecil, grabbed a tablet, and got busy. A Forsaken Soul sat in the closet (By now I had actually digitizes it) until late in 2015 when I bumped into an old college friend on Facebook. Come to find out she is now an editor for her sister, who publishes books about Louisiana. When I told her about my 60 page short story she insisted that I send it to her. After reading it she urged me to have it published because “This is a very powerful story.”

I got excited during the publishing phase and hearing others tell me how good it was made me wonder if this was a one-hit-wonder or if I could do it again. Withing three months a rough draft of The Adventures of Nick and Billy was completed.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Adventures of Nick and Billy: The Mystery of the Rougarou, and what inspired me were several things from my past. When I was a Boy Scout, I remember being terrified as we were told camp fire stories of the Rougarou being spotted near the same swamp we were camping in. This creature, the Cajun variation of the werewolf use to scare the heck out of me! Next there were the adventure and mystery books I read as a kid. I loved them and will never forget most of them. That’s my goal – to create a tale so unique and well written that a kid will still think about it when he is 80 years old.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think so. I just sit in front of my computer and let my mind take control of my finger tips. Don’t think there’s anything too unusual about that. Well, sometimes i like my cat to sit on my desk. I do enjoy watching her explore the untidiness of papers, paper clips, pens, and pads scattered about. She’s a trip!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
At the top of the list is Mark Twain. He’s awesome! Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn are the sole reasons Nick and Billy came about. I absolutely loved being lost in these stories. I wanted so bad to build a raft and float down a bayou when I was a kid. Any bayou would do! It didn’t have to be the Mississippi River. OMG, I still get goosebumps thinking about what these stories did for me as a kid!

Edward Stratemeyer, creator of The Hardy Boys. Although I learned later that many people wrote these stories, he created Frank and Joe Hardy. I spent many hours as a boy reading of their hair-raising adventures.

What are you working on now?
After numerous request, and yes, my own desire, I am creating the second book in the Nick and Billy series, The Adventures of Nick and Billy: The Mystery of Hidden Lake. When I was a kid I remember hearing stories from the old-timers about these huge, lobster sized crawfish being caught near the location of a sunken barge. They use to say the barge was hauling fertilizer when it went down, and it was their belief that as the barge rusted away beneath the surface the fertilizer began leaking out. That’s the first hint I have given to anyone about this book. And all I can say…sorry!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m not sure if it is the best, but by golly it’s my favorite! Book signings I mean. I absolutely love to see a kid smile as I ask them for their name so I can put it in the book with a little message and my signature. Kids rock!

I also use my website and have just started blogging. I’m new to blogging so I hope I am doing it right. It’s only a week old but people seem to have a favorable opinion of the post I have published so far.

Last week, Nick and Billy won 1st Place in the 2017 SIBA Awards / Young Adult category. I think now that this book has won its first literary award it is time to step up my marketing strategy. I’m not the smartest guy in this area of business so, like many other people, I googled, “best book promo sites,” and Awesomegang is the first one on my list to try!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’m pretty new myself but I’ll share what I was told. “Write something everyday. It doesn’t have to be much or pretty, but write something.” Also from my experience, watch out for the sharks that seem to come out of the wood works when they see you have a book ready for publishing. I wasted a lot of money on my first book because I was so caught up with the notion of just wanting to see a book with my name on it and to see it on Amazon. Be careful and seek advice from other authors. There’s no profession that has more friendly people in it, and people that are more willing to help others succeed!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I have a quote from my father that is attached to the signature of every email i send out, “May you always choose happiness over sorrow.” I love those words and practice them daily.

What are you reading now?
The Third Step by William Lobb

What’s next for you as a writer?
It would be a dream come true for my books to earn enough income so that I can afford to write full time. If that never happens then I suppose I will continue my job as machine operator, while writing when I get a chance.

One thing that I am trying to get my foot in the door with doing is visiting schools. I am a firm believer in the necessity of feeding and nurturing every kids imagination. Growing up with a swamp in my back yard and a bayou in front, I never lacked the ability to let my imagination fly free on my daily adventures. I want to tell the stories of my childhood; the adventures I undertook; and the close calls I had with snakes and alligators. There is so much that I was fortunate enough to have witnessed. Much of it has transformed into the lives of Nick and Billy.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1. A Survival Guide for Life by Bear Grylls
2. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
3. White Fang by Jack London
4. Any novel by Clive Cussler

Author Websites and Profiles
Michael Hoard Website
Michael Hoard Amazon Profile

Michael Hoard’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a writer and illustrator, cartoonist. I’ve written children’s books in the past, and have also written some adult fiction, as well as fantasy, and sci fi. I had several children’s books printed up when I was younger, though nothing published up until now. I love to draw cartoons. My walls of my office where I am presently living are filled to bursting with sketches and style guides, and colour indicator charts showing most of the many strange and wonderful characters I’ve created recently. Most of these worlds and characters I intend to write about in future books and novels. It is a huge passion of mine.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest indie title is called Skylantern Dragon and the Monsters of Mundor. The main protagonist is gay or at least, at the moment, has what could be described as leanings, although he is barely aware of this until he comes into contact with the beautiful Tor Vallor, an envoy of the great and powerful Synistrom Empire. Fabian, the protagonist, also has an overbearing, and cruel brute for a father. His father is the king of Mundor, and he resents his only son, thinking him to be weak and abhorrent. I wanted to create a dynamic somewhat similar to the dynamic J.R.R Tolkien wrote about in LOTR. I found the relationship between Faramir and his father rather interesting. Plus I started with this question and premise: what would happen if one of our royal family all of a sudden came out in the public eye as being gay? How would people react? It would be interesting to see the mixture of responses.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I am in the throws of writing a novel I sometimes allow myself the luxury of going off on a tangent. I love the use of prose to describe thoughts and emotions. I have been known to fill page after page with thoughts. I always edit my work afterwards though, removing any if not all tangents, and save these original edits in separate files on my computer. The director’s cut (lol), the one that manages to reach Amazon, is trimmed and decluttered. But I retain the originals for my own archive. Sometimes going off on a tangent can be liberating, and often helps with moving the process of writing along.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have been a big fan of Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles. Love her prose. Love the descriptions of places she has written about, and the characters that populate her books. I have also enjoyed reading Henry Miller simply for his liberating prose. The way he can make the reader feel ambivalent is astonishing! He can free you with his honest words and, at the same instance, can make you feel frustrated and enamoured, so frustrated because it is at once difficult to relay to other people around you what an influence he, Henry, has had on you. The first title of his that I read was the Air-Conditioned Nightmare, and his honesty blew me away! I had to order the book from the library as none of the shops in my town seemed to stock his work (no surprise there). Would that all books followed Henry’s example. His Tropic of Cancer was like a dream dreamt on page, in ink. Forget beginning, middle and end, this is how honest books should be written, though sadly if they were written this way no one would damn well bother buying them, much less read them LOL.

What are you working on now?
I have several projects in mind. I have several short children’s stories and novels. Some of the ideas I’ve had sprang up during my recent trip to Manilla, in the Philippines. I decided on a group of unlikely superheroes, or mythological anti heroes that go by the name of “Diwata: The Legacy.” I also have ideas for a range of short illustrated books for kids about three boys who accidentally wash a book of monsters in a launderette and end up turning one of the spin cycles into a doorway to another world where all these monsters live. Already designed the visuals of these characters. They’re hanging on my wall now as a matter of fact. Also, I am working on another novel titled, The Millennial about an old man who is given the chance to go back in time to save his love from committing suicide. I’ve even considered doing a graphic novel in addition to all this. Yeah, so you can say I’m busy.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far, I tend to get more responses using Facebook and Instagram, but these platforms are the most popular. So no surprise there. I have made myself member of tons of Facebook groups: blogger’s groups, even groups that are heavily into 80’s cartoons. Masters of the Universe, Thundercats, Transformers, you name it, if there’s a group for it I’m likely in it. It helps to show off my artwork to people who are into that stuff, plus I can use it to promote work that I’ve created out of my own imagination. It hasn’t succeeded in pushing sales yet sadly, but I keep trying. I’ve just signed up for a Deviantart account. So I’ll see where things develop there. And Twitter, Pinterest are also utilised. I also need to look at developing my own website, when I have a moment.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Not really. All I can say is, just stick at it. Never say die! We are blessed with living in an age of social media and the internet. Although this doesn’t in any way make it easier to sell books, it does get you noticed. And that’s a start. In truth, I’m only starting out, and worthwhile things take time to develop, even finding potential readers.
As for advice in writing, I would say have fun with it. Be tangential. Be creative. Forget the rules. Waffle on in your prose as much as you want. You can always edit later.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Escape. Don’t let fear hold you back.

What are you reading now?
To be truthfully honest, I can’t say I’m reading anything at the moment. I used to read a lot. But I just can’t seem to find any time for it these days.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Well I think I shall finish The Millennial, the novel I spoke about in one of the previous questions. Already completed a huge chunk of it. I just need to dot the I’s and cross the T’s so to speak.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
One Anne Rice Novel and at least 1 Henry Miller title, and a couple of Masters of the Universe compendiums should suffice. I know, I know! An odd compilation!

Author Websites and Profiles
Scott Taylor Website
Scott Taylor Amazon Profile

Scott Taylor’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in Sydney, Australia, with husband Fred and my son Nicholas, and cherish my family life. I work as a Counseling Psychologist on a casual basis, striving for a nice balance between soaking up the delights of being a mummy and pursuing interests outside of the Wiggles and Pajanimals. I love connecting with people, and I love my time alone (usually late at night or ridiculously early in the morning) to reflect, pray, and write. So far I have two recent new releases: “Liberating Inner Eve” and “A Christian Gift.”

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My recent release “Liberating Inner Eve” is inspired by my concern about the restrictions and pressures women experience that impact on how they value themselves. I see this too often in my counseling work, for example in women experiencing less access to leisure time, opportunities for self-development, equality of pay, privileges in various contexts such as churches, and so… much more. I address many themes/ misconceptions within the Christian faith that contribute to this, in an uplifting and encouraging guide that strives to express my love of Christianity.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Writing feels like a treat to me and I make it even more delectable with a hot cup of tea/coffee and some delicious snacks on hand.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I enjoy authors who create characters who are reflective, with emotional and spiritual depth. As for non-fiction authors, I enjoy Christian and Spiritual writers who combine their love of Spirituality and Psychology in their writing.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a sequel to “Liberating Inner Eve,” as well as on developing my YouTube channel that features various easy-listening, relaxing, reflective Christian videos, with a touch of folk influence.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I feel that the most effective method is identifying your target audience and liaising with organizations that are influential to that audience.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Savour the joy of being able to express through writing all that you cherish the most.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
A long time ago, while discussing a problem within a relationship I was in at the time (long before I met my husband Fred) with my clinical supervisor, she asked me: “What do you want?” Yes, it sounds simple, but I consider this one of the best advice I received-bringing the consideration of my thoughts/feelings/aspirations/values into my every context.

What are you reading now?
Right now I am reading the daily devotions of John Paul II. Next on my reading list is anything by Cornelia Otis Skinner.

What’s next for you as a writer?
As well as working on a sequel to “Liberating Inner Eve,” next for me is continuing to contribute articles/reflections to various magazines/my blog.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
If I was stranded on a desert island, I would like to have with me: The Bible for personal reflection, Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening” for reading entertainment, and “Authentic Polish Cookery” for culinary inspiration.

Author Websites and Profiles
Bozena Zawisz Website
Bozena Zawisz Amazon Profile

Bozena Zawisz’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an indie author of contemporary romance from around the world: novels, novellas and short stories. I indie published my debut novel, From Here to Nashville, in February 2015 and I have just published my second novel, The Vineyard in Alsace. A follow-up novella to From Here to Nashville is also in progress, as well as the next novel.

I blog regularly on my website, ‘My Indie Writing Life’ about my publication journey. You can also find me on Twitter and Facebook.

I am a proud member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, The Society of Authors and The Alliance of Independent Authors. If you would like to be the first to hear about my new releases and other news, you can also sign up to receive my occasional newsletters via my website.

When I am not writing, I work part-time for a charity as a communications officer, and freelance as a proofreader, web designer and supply teacher. I am married and live with my family in Bedfordshire in the UK.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called ‘The Vineyard in Alsace’ and this book was inspired by my love of France, my experience of working for a mail-order wine merchant, and many visits to Alsace in France. I thought it would make a wonderful place to set a second chance contemporary romance.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think I do! I wish I could say something really interesting here… I use Scrivener to do my writing in and I set myself a target for my session and then I get to it. I’m becoming more of a planner with each new book I write so that when I sit down, I really am ready to get going.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
As a romance author, I love a good romance. Shakespeare got me started with ‘Romeo and Juliet.’ One of my favourite modern books is ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’ – it’s so poignant and yet so uplifting, much like ‘Me Before You.’ For a long time, as a teenager, all I read were Stephen King books! I still love him as a writer but I don’t read that genre much any more. I also love a good historical romance and I’m quite partial to a vampire romance too.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a novella sequel to my first book, ‘From Here to Nashville.’ This one tells the story of one of the characters who didn’t get their happy ending in the first book. I’m also working on my next full-length novel which is set in a restaurant in Devon. The novella is now being edited by my editor and the novel is being assessed at first draft stage. I hope that the novella will be published before Christmas and the novel next year.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far, I am finding that Twitter and my Facebook page do the best job for me. I have also played around with ads on Amazon and Facebook but have not had great success there as yet.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
The first thing I would say is to create a regular writing habit. If you are serious about writing, you need to be committed to it, even if you can only write 300 words a day because that will add up to a complete novel in about 9 months. The second thing, is to think about why you’re doing this. What do you want from your writing? If you want to keep it as a hobby, then that’s fine but if you want to make a living, then you have to start thinking about your goals. When I considered my goals, I knew I wanted to remain an indie author and not pursue a traditional contract for example.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I have heard is that you can reinvent yourself at any point in your life. You can take charge and make things happen in the way you want them to.

What are you reading now?
I am beta reading 3 books for other indie authors! I’m not sure which book I will be reading next for pleasure but I have ‘NW’ by Zadie Smith lined up on my Kindle.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am continuing to build my career as an author, writing and releasing more books so that I can steadily build up my income and make writing my main job.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Well, ‘Romeo and Juliet’ obviously. I’d also take ‘Pride and Prejudice,’ ‘Twilight’ and ‘Harry Potter – Complete Works (if I’m allowed!)’

Author Websites and Profiles
Julie Stock Website
Julie Stock Amazon Profile

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

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a native of Gary, Indiana married with 5 children and three Step-children. I hope to pull my readers into every story by their hearts, minds, spirits, and souls and vividly paint a picture, that they could easily visualize in their heads. I have written 6 books and working on the 7th.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is the third installment of the Respect my Gangsta series. My readers inspired me to write this book, I had constant emails from readers who wanted to see more of my characters from this book. They wanted to see more happiness in Sorrow’s life (THE MAIN FEMALE LEAD) she had gone through some much turmoil since birth, They needed and wanted to read about more happiness.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Mood music, I have to listen to music that is relevant to the scene I am working on. I also sit and play a scene in my head like a movie, I’m that character at the time acting out this scene, with background music, wardrobe, makeup, and location. Somewhere in my head, I’m the director, the producer, the actress, the music director, the writer of these books going to movies playing in my head.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have been influenced by several authors I could not possibly name them all, I think to see the success that writers have influenced and inspire me to keep writing, to keep advancing and turning my passion into a lucrative business.

What are you working on now?
I am working on the fourth installment of my Respect My Gangsta series it is turning into a thriller, which I love that it leads me down the path of a thriller. I have outlines for a serial killer novel I want to finish writing, titled Cold Thing.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
In my recent journey into researching marketing and book sales increase. I have learned that you should not limit yourself to one sale platform. Over the years I have only used Amazon, that was not working so I needed to find out what I was doing wrong and that was limiting myself to Amazon. You can not limit yourself to social media, you have to interact with your readers in the flesh sometimes.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Self-knowledge, read, study and prepare yourself not only as a writer but as a business entity. This is not an overnight success, this takes hard work and perseverance. It takes thick skin and you do have to humble yourself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You are the one responsible for marketing, promoting and selling your self and your book. The days are long gone where you can be an anti-social writer, confined to a comfy, cozy cabin in the woods, with your typewriter and bottles of wine producing greatness in front of a roaring fire. Times before internet and social media.

What are you reading now?
I am currently glancing different books on marketing and increasing book sales. Books on how to build my brand. I am glancing at books because I try not to take away from my writing time and currently I am working on my next books.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to branch off into a different genre, and advance my novels to visual art. Movies, web-series etc. also do Audio Books.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would take the bible, Othello, My Sweet Audrina by V.C. Andrews (actually any book by her would do) and a book on How to escape being stranded on a desert island.

Author Websites and Profiles
Ms Pantha Jones Amazon Profile

Ms Pantha Jones’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a relatively new writer but so far have loved every minute of being able to formulate stories from thoughts in my head. Becoming a part of the writing community has meant making new friends along the way. Generally I have written romance and romantic suspense but I am now branching out from that, experimenting with different genres.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is ‘Christian’. It is the story of a young man who underwent a very odd change when he turned 14. He thinks he is the only one in the world who is like he is, but soon he will meet someone who can do as he does. I like Christian as a story and as a character. He’s a real person with the same doubts and insecurities that most of us have.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know. I guess I write when I feel the need to. Some weeks I have to keep going, writing more and more. Other weeks I know I need to take a step back and write absolutely nothing.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Cynthia Harrod Eagles and Stephen King are my greatest influences. They are completely different writers but both intrigue me greatly.

What are you working on now?
I am presently embarking on writing science fiction! It is a new area for me but I’m enjoying it.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I like to try different things and different sites. Sites like Awesomegang who enable authors to create profiles like these are fantastic!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing. Don’t stress. Just enjoy it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t read reviews!

What are you reading now?
I have been reading books by unknown authors and I’m loving that. There is so much talent out there.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ll keep experimenting and growing my skills and knowledge.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Oh, definitely ‘The Founding’ by Cynthia Harrod Eagles … the other three? Maybe one about how to survive on a desert island!

Author Websites and Profiles
Ann M Pratley Website
Ann M Pratley Amazon Profile
Ann M Pratley Author Profile on Smashwords

Ann M Pratley’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My passion is, and has always been, creating things. I’m a scientist and inventor, and I truly enjoy writing thrillers when I’m not working on alternative energy solutions. Although it may seem odd, whether imagining fictional stories or developing new chemical processes or machines, both are very creative endeavors. My writing began with patents and technical reference books (published three books). I have four fiction titles published, and two more fiction manuscripts with my editor.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
HUNTING SAVAGE is my most recent release. I was inspired to write this story based on the unexplained circumstances surrounding the near sinking of the USS Liberty during the 1967 Six-Day War. Israeli aircraft and torpedo boats relentlessly attacked the U.S.-flagged naval ship for hours in broad daylight. And although aircraft were twice launched from nearby carriers to defend the Liberty, President Johnson recalled those aircraft. Why? Was there a conspiracy aimed at much larger ambitions? And if so, could it happen again? HUNTING SAVAGE imagines answers to these questions, and pits the protagonist (Peter Savage), and his loyal canine companion, against overwhelming odds as he risks everything to reveal the truth.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Unusual habits? Perhaps not. But since I travel lot, I’ve found time in airports, on jumbo jets, and in lonely hotel rooms to be excellent opportunities to write. There are few distractions, and interacting with my characters lends a feeling, however small, of normalcy even when I’m 10 time zones away and can’t understand the language.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh, there are so many. Here are a few of the more influential authors: Steve Berry for his Cotton Malone sagas–I love the dialog and the grittiness of Malone. Clive Cussler, whose Dirk Pitt novels hooked me on thrillers forty years ago. James Rollins and his Sigma Force Series, especially Kowalski, a teddy-bear of a brute. Lee Child with the wonderfully witty dialog displayed by Jack Reacher. Matthew Reilly, who delivers some of the best action scenes ever (especially the Scarecrow series). I’ve read nearly every book written by these authors!

What are you working on now?
I want to bring forth a female character, Danya, from HUNTING SAVAGE into my next manuscript. She is a trained Mossad agent, an accomplished assassin–but she begins to see the world in shades of gray rather than black and white, right and wrong, good and evil. It will be fun to develop this complex character, and place her in difficult situations where the right thing to do may be illegal and immoral in a normal society. I think this reflects the world we live in.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The major e-retailers seem to do a good job of promoting my books. I am active on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads, and I run a blog through my website. Still, when a reader is on the “Big A” posting a review and sees one of my titles there, it’s an easy connection to a sale. Without a doubt, the best approach for me to promote my books is to write another book. Each title promotes the others.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
This is a tough business, and trying to make money from selling your books requires a huge amount of work and no small amount of luck! So, if this is truly your passion, stick with it, work hard, and pray for some luck. There will be setbacks, muscle through. Embrace your successes, you will have them. Above all, never lose sight of your dream.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Luck favors the prepared mind.” To me, this means to know my goals, know my pathway, be ready to follow a different path if the obstacles become too great, and embrace opportunity.

What are you reading now?
“Beyond the Sea: An Event Group Thriller” by David Golemon. Every now and then I enjoy a quirky mash-up of sci-fi and thriller, and the Event Group Series does this well.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More of the same–meaning I want to grow in this craft, by expanding on what has worked, and continue to enjoy writing the next adventure and see how my characters struggle onward. My publisher (Light Messages) has provided an incredible amount of support, and they are a joy to work with. I want to see my reader fan-base continue to grow, and I hope to hear from more readers (I do read every email that comes to my attention). There are new adventures rattling around in my head, new characters to develop, and new controversies to expose.

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?
Impossible! Life cannot go on with so few books! OK, if I have to answer, I would say: ICE STATION by Matthew Reilly; RAISE THE TITANIC by Clive Cussler; THE LOST ORDER by Steve Berry; and BLACK ORDER by James Rollins. But truthfully, I’d find a way to sneak in a few dozen, maybe a hundred, more.

Author Websites and Profiles
Dave Edlund Website
Dave Edlund Amazon Profile

Dave Edlund’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have degrees in psychology, sociology, biology and education, all of which inspire my writing. I like to write stories that incorporate science and shift the perception of the reader. My first novel (The Conversationist) was badly self-published, but was fun to write. My second novel Incite Insight is available now through Tale Publishing. My third book – a collection of short stories called MoveMind will be out early next year (2018).
I’ve also compiled an anthology called View from the Hill for my writers group.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Incite Insight. It was inspired by my short story that won a writing competition when I was at university. The main idea was that someone had created an intelligence raising program, but the story never said what the program involved. Over the years I kept coming across ideas that I thought could have been levels in the program and eventually I organised them into an actual program which became the feature of the book. You get to experience the program just as the main character does.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Reading science journals for ideas.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
George Orwell, Peter Hoeg, Jeffrey Archer, Donald E Westlake, Jack Dann.

What are you working on now?
A short story collection and a new novel.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Being tolerably persistent to get a sale when someone says they are interested in your book. Mailing list marketing has been successful for me. My publisher has a distributor, which has also really helped get into the ‘physical’ marketplace.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Join a writers group and get an editor. My first book (The Conversationist) was self-published and edited and it showed. A good editor makes your writing better without compromising your voice or story.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just keep writing. It is easier to edit words than no words.

What are you reading now?
Peter Hoeg’s latest book – The Susan Effect

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m currently finalising a short story collection called MoveMind. It will contain speculative short stories based around the theme of characters having their perspective changed.

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?
1984 – Orwell
Sherlock Holmes Anthology – Doyle
Miss Smilla’s Feeling for Snow – Hoeg

Author Websites and Profiles
Robert New Website
Robert New Amazon Profile

Robert New’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is David, a name I gave to myself because I’m Chinese and my parents only gave me a Chinese name. I was born and raised in Hong Kong, and attended the same international school from grades one to twelve. As you can imagine, this created a language dichotomy in my brain; I only spoke English at school, and Cantonese (Chinese) at home. English won the battle for my mind, and so here I am, writing and reading in English. I’m ashamed to say I can’t write any Chinese besides my name.

I’ve always had an interest in writing, but never considered myself a writer (I’m still coming to terms with the fact that I’m an author). My mother was an avid storyteller, lulling me to sleep most nights with bedtime stories that were told over and over again. So I grew up loving stories. But it wasn’t until high school, where my English teacher praised my writing, that I realized my literary potential. Despite the revelation, I never managed to complete a short story until my university years. “When Hope Calls” is my firstborn in the sense that it is the first story I have persevered with for more than five pages (I usually get bored after three pages and abandon the story).

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My debut book is “When Hope Calls”, based on a true story about a group of humanitarian workers who try to rescue a kidnapped girl. A a year ago, I read a book written by my mentor, Matt Friedman, titled “Where Were You?” In it, he mentions the story of a kidnapped girl who managed to call an NGO with her cellphone. But there was no elaboration, no details, which drove me mad with curiosity. I had to know what happened. So I emailed him, and he encouraged me to dramatize the story, and I did (with a gargantuan amount of help from him).

Honestly, I never imagined I would ever write a book, let alone one on human trafficking. It is such a depressing topic, and the stories are rarely happy. But writing is the ability I was given, and I know in my heart of hearts that, if I don’t use my abilities for a cause bigger than myself, I would be wasting them completely.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
As a millennial, I’ve acquired the habit of writing on my iPhone. I’m not sure if that’s unusual, but it certainly helps me develop my stories 24/7; whenever the ideas come, I just write them down.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Besides the Bible (I’m a Christian), I would say Les Miserables. It was the first book I ever read that had so many plot twists and intriguing characters; it was most definitely the first “mind-blown” moment of my life. There are so many life-changing themes packed into the story of Jean Valjean that I believe speaks to every single person from every walk of life. I still have no idea how Victor Hugo managed to create such a masterpiece.

My writing style is interesting in that I assimilate the syntax of the author that I happen to be reading when I write, which is fun in terms of self-exploration, but difficult in terms of consistency. I would say that the greatest influence on my writing has been Charles Dickens because he is just so masterful at creating memorable and realistic characters. I’m trying to learn how to show a character’s personality rather than tell it in words, something Dickens and C. S. Lewis did with such ease.

What are you working on now?
Currently in the final editing and proofreading stages of my next novella about a broken family in which the father had an affair, followed by the son. It’s not an easy read, for sure, but an issue that I wanted to address. I guess I have a knack for writing depressing stories!

Working on a short story at the same time to lift my spirits from the quagmire of such serious issues. I guess I can’t really say that, because it’s about a man who receives a body bag as a gift, and how he tries to find uses for it.

Also, I’ve got 11 novels in the pipeline. It’s going to take a while.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still a complete amateur at the indie publishing game, but the website that has helped the most so far is the Librarything Giveaway; I got about 30 new subscribers from it. Awesomegang is pretty awesome too.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
As Hugh Howey (bestselling author of “WOOL”) says, read and write. A lot. Then repeat. Don’t worry about book length, or cover design, or publishing, or marketing…just write. If there’s a story in you, then only you can tell it with your voice. Don’t doubt yourself; there is no time to waste.

Oh, and also don’t forget to celebrate the small victories. If you managed to write 100 words today, have a drink – you deserve it. Soon, those small victories will accumulate into larger ones. I’m still celebrating 1000 words a day while many authors easily manage 3000-4000.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best way to market is to write more novels. It’s not about the ads, or the SEO, or any other mysterious marketing strategy. Just keep on writing. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

What are you reading now?
“WOOL” by Howey, “Story Genius” by Cron. And a bunch of mystery short stories to prepare me for my foray into novelettes and novellas. I consider reading an investment and education, not a pleasure.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Read more – much more. Write longer novels, interspersed with short stories and novellas for fun and practice. Words, words everywhere. My goal is to hit 2000 words a day, every day.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1. The Bible
2. “How to Survive on a Deserted Island” by Tim O’Shei
3. “The Collected Works of C.S. Lewis” by C. S. Lewis
4. “When Hope Calls” by David Lui. To remind myself that I’ll die as an author, even if I don’t publish another book before my (untimely, lonely) death.

Author Websites and Profiles
David Lui Website
David Lui Amazon Profile

David Lui’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Currently, I have written 2 books and I’m working on number 3. I, also, wrote a short story, which felt like it was harder to write than my novels.

I am a full-time student as well as working full-time. It makes finding time to write difficult, but I’ve been managing it somehow. Fitting time to read can be hard, as well, but being an English major, I’ve been keeping up with that, though the focus has been classics more than the romance novels that I want to read.

I have 3 cats, who are adorable in their jerkiness. I’m an avid animal lover, but cats are my favorite, specifically my cats. Yes, I am bias on that.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My newest book that was released on October 2 is Betting on the Devil: Fated to Hell Book 1. There wasn’t really anything that inspired it. I wanted to read a romance that featured the Devil as the love interest and couldn’t find any, so I wrote my own.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to eat sunflower seeds when I write. They help. I can’t explain it any more than that.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There really hasn’t been a single author that I can pick out that had influenced me. I read so much it’s really hard to tell which author could have influenced me in any way. I’ve kind of just mixed all of them together. I can say my favorite authors are Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, and J.K Rowling, but I don’t think any of them have any influence over what I’ve currently been writing.

What are you working on now?
The book I am currently working on is untitled. It’s the first in a series, which is currently untitled as well. It’s close to being halfway finished. With school I’m not sure when I’ll have the first draft done. The goal is to have it finished by the end of the year.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve only written the two books, so I don’t really have a method or website just yet. I’ll get back to you on this one after I released a few more books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep writing, don’t be afraid of failure, and learn from your mistakes.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just keep writing, don’t be afraid of failure, and learn from your mistakes. It’s what many authors have said to me personally and in general.

What are you reading now?
Several things. Some Shakespeare plays. Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography. Orion by Ruby Lionsdrake.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Another 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?
How to Survive on a desert island. How to build a fire on a desert island. How to build a Shelter on a desert island. And maybe The Stand by Stephen King because I’m probably going to be on that island for a while and I need something long to keep me occupied when I’m not trying to survive.

Author Websites and Profiles
Emma Mohr Website
Emma Mohr Amazon Profile

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

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m BS Murthy, an Indian novelist, playwright, short story, non-fiction and articles writer, translator and a ‘little’ thinker and a budding philosopher with “Addendum to Evolution: Origins of the world” published in The Examined Life On-Line Philosophy Journal, Vol. 05 Issue 18, Summer 2004.
The fictional part of my body of work of ten free ebooks (widely available in the web-world) comprises of three ‘plot and character’ driven novels, Benign Flame: Saga of Love, Jewel-less Crown: Saga of Life and Crossing the Mirage: Passing through youth; a stream of consciousness novel, Glaring Shadow; a crime novel, Prey on the Prowl, a book of short stories, Stories Varied and Onto the Stage – Slight Souls and other stage and radio plays.
The above creative endeavor emanated from my conviction that for fiction to impact readers, it should be the soulful rendering of characters rooted in their native soil but not the hotchpotch of local and alien caricatures sketched on a hybrid canvas.
While my Puppets of Faith: Theory of Communal Strife is a novel narrative non-fiction, possibly a new genre, Bhagvad-Gita: Treatise of self-help and Sundara Kãnda: Hanuman’s Odyssey) are my trans-creations of Sanskrit classics in contemporary verses.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Stories Varied – A Book of Short Stories” is my last book with a story behind it.
With the addition of ‘Prey on the Prowl’ to my body of work, I thought the accretion was over without short story genre. Not that I didn’t try my hand at that, indeed I did, but finding the output wanting, I didn’t refill my pen again.
Maybe, literature was keen to have my contribution in this fictional sphere as well, so it seems, as beginning from July 2015, Vinita Dawra Nagia came up with “Write India Campaign of Times of India”. Her idea was to let the aspiring writers build their stories on the ‘prompts’ provided by eleven of India’s popular authors starting with Amish Tripathi.
When I penned Ilaa’s Ire on Amish’s prompt, it felt like I had crossed the unassailable frontier, and thereafter, for the next ten months, thanks to the prompts by the leading lights of Indian English writing, I had experienced the joy of short story writing.
That in the end, I could pen my “Twelfth Tale”, sans any prompting, is a matter of personal satisfaction.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write thick, fast and furious to bring my creative idea to its literary fruition as a manuscript, maybe owing to my impulsive muse, and if it were to be an’unusual’ writing habit, so be it.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
When I was yet to touch an English book, at fourteen that is, it was C. Subba Rao, my ‘journalist’ maternal uncle, who advised me to first read classics for they would improve my language, broaden my vision of life and deepen my understanding of it. He also provided a rider to his advice that if I first venture into the fast-paced modern fiction, then I would never be able to develop taste to savor the slow-paced descriptive classical novels.
Fortunately, as I went by his advice, my literary course took me to the continental fiction of Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Gogol, Turgenev, Zola, Flaubert, Proust and some such ‘greats’ by which I am benefited literally and otherwise.
While I was savoring their works, never did I dream that in my mid-forties my muse, shaped by those, would stir me into penning my Indian writings in English.

What are you working on now?
Looks like, I’m done with it for after all, like everything else in life, one’s creativity too is bound by its limitations.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Given that our ‘world of letters’ has become a book jungle for readers to wade their way through it to find the work that could be right for them (a reader for every book and every book has a reader) there is nothing else an author can do than to try to place his works in as many websites as he possibly could, in the hope that some readers might notice them and find them interesting as well.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I have come to believe that my life had prepared me to be a writer, and possibly that could be the case with every aspiring author.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
There’s no dearth of sound guidance to good life in the air of any land, and it depends on how much of it we inhale and how much of it we exhale.

What are you reading now?
Right now I’m preoccupied being a trumpeter of my body of work and hopefully I would start experiencing the joy of good reading, sooner than later.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Live and die, with the satisfaction that my body of work could be giving joy to some readers.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
If I name only three books of others out of dozens I hold dear, not only that would be unfair to those I would leave out but also to my own works, and on the other hand, if I name my own ones ( in itself unfair to leave 6 or 7 of them), it would be ungrateful on my part to leave out the ones that shaped my life and times.

Author Websites and Profiles
BS Murthy Website
BS Murthy Amazon Profile
BS Murthy Author Profile on Smashwords

BS Murthy’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written three books, but I’ve only published one so far. I believe good literature takes time. I’m a poor, estranged, queer young-adult who is trying to make a place in the world where I belong. Story-telling, as an art, is a means through which I can temporarily alleviate my constant state of helplessness by giving voice to the existential crisis and interpersonal conflict that comes with being a target of transphobic bigotry.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my latest book is Punk Love Foucault, and it’s a play on and joke of the book “Eat Pray Love.” Life is ugly and dirty, and my memoir shows just how ugly and dirty it can get. I am pretty tired of the “life is great” perspective, because that’s only part of the truth. The other part is, life is crap.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I think it’s pretty common to smoke and drink lots of caffeine when writing. Other than that, I tend to write more when my life is going up in flames.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Michel Foucault, Susan Stryker, Riki Wilchins, Neil Gaiman, Anthony Burgess, and any book that has a second-wave feminist perspective (makes my blood boil with righteous indignation).

What are you working on now?
A sci-fi that incorporates queer theory.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Promote, promote, promote! Enter all the contests, do all the interviews, make a blog.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Don’t let someone else have control of your life.”

What are you reading now?
Celtic Patterns, How-to books on essential oil remedies.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully a successful career.

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 or four of the fattest dictionaries available, so I could burn them. Why would I be READING if I was stranded on an island? Priorities.

Author Websites and Profiles
Gabe Riggs Website

Gabe Riggs’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Sandra mayor is the author of IBS and ESSENTIAL OILs, she also published a new book titled The Healing Essential Oils and Aromatherapy Massage Recipes. These books were written based on my love for natural products as alternative to artificial (Medicine and Chemicals) products. I never thought, I would someday be an advocate of natural products as alternative to medicine in my entire life. But today i feel so proud to tell everyone around me the wonders of using essential oils and the magical benefits derived from it. Essential oils for hair, hand lotion, Aromatherapy, body cream, lip balm and lots more.

E.D Jonas has co-author several books on amazon kpd and createspace.com. He has vast knowledge in herbal medicines and essential oils for healing. E.D Jonas is the co-author of (1) HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SOLUTION: How to Prevent & Treat HBP, Stroke and CKD, (2) Electric Smoker Guide; The MasterBuilt, Char-Broil and Jim Beam Bradley unofficial Electric Smoker, and lots more. E.D Jonas is fondly referred to as The Herbalist by friends and associate. Get ready to learn revolutionary methods to live in good health. E.D Jonas and Sandra Mayor.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Essential Oils Guide: The Healing Essential Oils & Aromatherapy Massage Recipes. My love for essential oils as alternative to chemical products, inspired me to write this new book. I revealed lots of recipes for treating and alleviating different ailments using natural remedies. Get inspired to learn new tips on natural living.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Tom Corson-Knowles

What are you working on now?
Essential Oils for Beauty.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
awesomegang. askdavid.com, bookbargain.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Spend some few bucks on promotion

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
promote your book as often as possible-Stefan James

What are you reading now?
How to Improve Memory For Kids, Teens & Young Adult. By Scott Lewis

What’s next for you as a writer?
Promoting More of my 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?
How to Improve Memory for Kids, Teens and Young Adults

Author Websites and Profiles
Sandra Mayor Website
Sandra Mayor Amazon Profile