Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been a musical playwright for the last twenty or so years and The Sun God’s Heir trilogy are my first novels. Prior to my writing career, I’ve done everything from shoveling chicken manure on a farm to owning a small costume jewelry chain. Even I’m surprised by the number of different jobs I’ve had. I’ve enjoyed them all. Time and circumstance just moved me along.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Sun God’s Heir is the name of the trilogy. Return (Book One), Rebirth (Book Two) and Redemption (Book Three) which is due out on October 18th, 2017

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Pretty much the same as any other writer I expect. Getting my butt into the chair. Seriously, I began writing novels when a friend turned me on to NANOWRIMO. https://nanowrimo.org/ Check it out. You will write a novel (50,000 words) in the month of November. When you finish, you won’t have anything you can publish, but you will have started and that’s the hardest part.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Wilbur Smith, David Weber, Peter Hamilton… The list would go on and on.

What are you working on now?
Launching The Sun God’s Heir: Redemption (Book Three) I have three new projects under way.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Sites like Awesomegang, Freebooksy, and Ereader News Today and many others are amazing at getting author’s works before their readers. It’s a win for both.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Like anything else, the more time your butt warms the chair before your computer, the greater your chance of actually creating something.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Finish the work.

What are you reading now?
Stuff by Jay Allan. I love military scifi, and he’s great.

What’s next for you as a writer?
The exploration of a story is very enjoyable for me. Everything that comes after is hard work, but hearing from characters is something to look forward to.

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 make air conditioning from coconuts, Fish recipes, and Pierce Brown’s series.

Author Websites and Profiles
Elliott Baker Website
Elliott Baker Amazon Profile

Elliott Baker’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I wrote three stories up to now, one to published this February. I have one stand alone romantic suspense, Guns 4 Angels, and 2 novellas in the Crescent Creek Series, romantic contemporary with a dash of suspense.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
All Those Miles I walked, Crescent Creek Series #2, was inspired by a song, Eric Church’s Two Pink LInes. I started thinking, what happened to that boy and girl? What had they become now? What if the meet again? What if they never stopped loving each other?

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I drink–herbal tea, that is. I think, sip, write, sip, think some more, sip. It’s compulsive. I go through almost half a gallon without even realizing it…

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love Nora Roberts. She’s the one who made me want to write stories that would make people feel what I feel when I read hers.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on Crescent Creek book 3. The Hero, Rhett, doesn’t know what’s about to hit him. She’s British, with huge baggages and an agenda far from being squeaky clean.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Stop moaning on FB, get your butt on a seat, and write. It won’t happen overnight but if keep going at it, something will happen.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The one I just gave.

What are you reading now?
I’m not a big paranormal reader, but I’m enjoying The Awakened Dragon Series by Terry Bolryder.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep writing. That’s the only thing, really.

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, lord, no…. let’s see.
Wuthering Heigh. Something by Nora. The portrait of Dorian Grey. One more by Nora. (can I sneak in one more by her? a little one? Pretty pleeeease?)

Author Websites and Profile
Viviana MacKade Amazon Profile

Viviana MacKade’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an author and publisher of You, Improved, a self-help blog providing information to help you improve your body, mind, spirit and life. Additionally, I’m a writer-for-hire who turns words into revenue for corporate clients. As a veteran marketing, advertising and PR professional, I understand what motivates people to buy.

I have written three books. My first book was Moving To Charlotte: The Un-Tourist Guide, a book about making your move to my hometown a lot easier. Born Creative is my second book. I wrote this to convince people that they, too, are creative. They just have to believe it to make it true.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Get Glad: Your Practical Guide To A Happier Life. In the book, I lay out a simple, six-step process to getting happier. The book was inspired by my personal journey to find happiness after my father died on Christmas Day when I was 11.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
As a former journalist, my style is to write stories. Eventually, these stories turn into chapters, and then into books.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Michael J. Gelb, the author of How To Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci, heavily influenced my book, Born Creative: Free Your Mind, Free Yourself. I’m also inspired by Tim Ferriss and James Altucher.

What are you working on now?
Currently, I’m writing for numerous corporate clients. My projects range from blog posts on hiring and managing employees and living with children who have disabilities to branding a frozen treat company and writing a technical textbook.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Speaking in front of groups is the best way to move books, particularly my book on Charlotte.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Writing is the easy part. Marketing your work is a full-time job that starts well before you publish the book.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading several books by Robin Hobb right now, as well as the Alexander Hamilton biography by Ron Chernow.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More corporate work. That – not my books – pays the bills.

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?
Chris McNab’s Special Forces Survival Guide, the NIV Archaeological Study Bible, and the Lord of the Rings.

Author Websites and Profiles
Harry Hoover Website
Harry Hoover Amazon Profile
Harry Hoover Author Profile on Smashwords

Harry Hoover’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up in Mill Valley, California and as a teenager wrote several short stories. For a number of years work got in the way, and I didn’t write. A few years ago, I started reading more fiction again, and writing. The Gloaming is my first completed novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The book is called The Gloaming, Rise of the Stealth Vampire Elder. I was always interested in the vampire myth, but it was my travels in Europe especially Amsterdam that inspired the book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I know of, but I did wait to start writing The Gloaming from page one until I was back in Amsterdam. I had notes and some pages written, just not from the first page.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
For fantasy, it was JRR Tolkien, and CS Lewis. Science fiction was Ray Bradbury, Philip K Dick, Issac Asimov, Arthur C Clarke. As I got older Hunter S. Thompson and John Steinbeck. Cannery Row is still one of my favorites. I think they all impacted me, but I went through a period in my life due to working in technology in which I had to read so much non-fiction that I neglected fiction. It was really George RR Martin’s Game of Thrones series that got me back into reading fiction again.

What are you working on now?
If you have read the book you probably know there is still a lot of unfinished business. The last word in the book, a demand essentially from Karolina to Valentin, is the first word in the title of the second book. Right now, I have notes and pages on two more books in “The Gloaming” series. I also have pages and notes for a few other novels unrelated to vampires one of which is about Silicon Valley. All fiction.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am a huge advocate of NetGalley!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. I know that sounds obvious, but just keep writing. It doesn’t have to be toward a finished project. It can go nowhere, but write. You should read the books out there on fiction, but be careful you don’t fall into trying to follow a formula. It’s about the story above all, let the characters and their situations write the story. The other thing is to read as much fiction as possible. Understand why you like or don’t like what your reading, and apply what you have learned.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I’m still waiting to hear it.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading Lawton Green’s “The Resurrector” the latest from his Dominic Grey series. Also, I’ve been doing some research on Druids so “Druids A Very Short Introduction” by Barry Cunliffe. I’ve come to the conclusion we really just don’t know much about the ancient Druids.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m still trying to decide. Depending on the response to the Gloaming I’ll work on the second book in that series. I already have a lot of notes and some pages. I was also recently reading some pages from another book I was working on a couple of years ago about two brothers who have weaponized genetically modified organisms, and have a contract with the defense department. The pages looked pretty good and as you can imagine a premise like that, things just can’t go well for long.

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?
Cannery Row for sure. If I could I’d have my kindle with a hundred books, but that would be cheating. The best would be to find some books on the island I have never read. Perhaps an unpublished Charles Dickens, and an unpublished Jonathon Swift, something after Gulliver’s Travels. They would have washed up in two separate ship wrecks 120 years apart.

Author Websites and Profiles
ML Worthingham Website
ML Worthingham Amazon Profile

ML Worthingham’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Well, I got my 23andme DNA results, and turns out I have a 100% Sub-Saharan African ancestor from about 7 or 8 generations ago. I also have Asian and European ancestry, from more recent admixtures. I’m partially lactose intolerant, but gifted with genes that keep me fairly slim, so I’ve never worried about my weight. I also apparently have impeccable muscle composition, common in elite power athletes. Not bad, genes!

True to my geekiness, I also got my microbiome analyzed, and results show my bacterial diversity is on the high end of average. Probably from traveling and living in different countries growing up, as well as having five siblings, playing in sewers, swimming in disease-ridden flood waters, and playing in mountains of garbage as a child — fun times!

I like order and symmetry, but I also love delightful surprises. I like classically and aesthetically pleasing things, but I’m a bit of a rebel, so sometimes I might scoff at and smear perfection. I have many embarrassing guilty pleasures, but I’ll only name one here: kung fu and martial arts movies. Fires me up!

As for books, Ugly Things We Hide is my first novel. I hope to live long enough to write many more.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Ugly Things We Hide was inspired by a news article about a boy and his mother. I was taken aback by my reaction to it, and more so because I had read a similar news story immediately afterward and didn’t react as strongly. I’ve always acknowledged that we judge people differently based on arbitrary criteria, say, race, religion, gender, appearance, or socio-economic status, but I was taken aback at how quickly I fell into that trap even though I was aware of this propensity of ours as human beings. We are so quick to judge without knowing the whole story, without the full context of how an incident occurred, or how and why a person turned out a certain way later in life. I wanted to explore this, and to incite emotions and reactions from readers, but give them the whole story as well. I wondered: would we judge differently?

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Define “unusual.” Honestly, I’m not that inventive. I make my espresso, I make my breakfast-of-champions, and then I sit down and start the day with my awesome breakfast while reading the news (mostly science/tech & some politics). Then I look at the notes I emailed myself from the night before, check my to-do list, and I write. (I purposely left out the whole make-my-kids-breakfast-and-get-them-ready-for-school scenario. But, see what I did there?) I like to research a whole range of subjects, but mainly in the science arena. But I also love art, music, travel, nature, history, design, and pop culture–my unending well of inspiration.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am sure I will leave out some very important ones, but I’ll try my best. So, for more than a decade, while I was focused on a career track in the tech industry, I only read non-fiction books. Around the same time, I was grappling with questions about religion (I was born into Catholicism), and was interested in the Ground Zero history or founding of a religion, religion’s usefulness in our society, as well as its darker influence. I turned to science and logic. My eyes reopened to a universe with brighter colors, with wonderful things that were based on fact rather than fantasy or hearsay. And those books and authors have taught me a great deal, and I have learned so much from them. Here are some of my non-fiction heroes: Carl Sagan (influenced me in high school), Stephen Hawking, Richard Dawkins, E.O. Wilson, Martin A. Nowak, Bill Bryson, Nassim Taleb, Dan Ariely, Daniel Kahneman, and Joseph Campbell.

As for fiction, I only picked it up again more recently. I used to scoff at fiction: I really didn’t like the term “chick lit” and other similar terms. I didn’t like how men and women interacted in many novels, or what some authors focused on, physically and behaviorally, based on the character’s gender. It was disheartening that tropes like the billionaire playboy who goes for the bookish, mousy, librarian type were so popular. Every protagonist seemed to be a writer. The only jobs depicted were doctor, lawyer, or… writer. (Go figure!) It was all so uninspired. I didn’t think I could learn anything from fiction, and thought it was just pure entertainment of a lesser kind.

But then, I picked up and read Ken Follett’s “Pillars of the Earth.” My god. Superb writing and description of life during medieval times. And yes, I learned something! Then I discovered Isabel Allende. The first book I read of hers was “Ines of My Soul.” I thought, huh, fiction Can teach you something. I picked up Mary Renault’s books, and was on an Alexander the Great kick because of her, picking up textbooks and lectures about this much-studied ancient warrior-king after reading her novels. Then I picked up “Boys in the Boat” by Daniel James Brown. Another beautifully written gem in which I learned something, though this was more a biography rather than actual fiction. But I started writing after reading Khaled Hosseini’s “The Kite Runner.” After three years of reading fiction again, I decided: I want to write.

Oh, and, always and forever: “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently outlining the plot and sketching out the characters of my second novel, as yet untitled.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
You will like it!
www.uglythingswehide.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do your research. Have a process and stick to it. The creative process is only 1/3 (if that) of what it means to be a writer. Writing is a lot harder than most people perceive, and with often no compensation. Writing takes discipline, commitment, Logic (yes!), and loads of patience. As for the compensation, you will be required to do a Lot of hustling if you want your baby to be seen and heard and appreciated. Harsh truths, but I want you all to break through and succeed.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Hmm. Maybe from Dory: Just keep swimming.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading a book of poetry to review. But I’m excited to pick out a new book afterwards. Now that you know a bit about me, got any suggestions?

What’s next for you as a writer?
I will make like Dory, and just keep writing.

But since I’m not yet super famous, I must be practical and use my other skills and talents to support my creative endeavor. (I hear many writers lead a “double life” for this very reason.)

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 Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. I first read this book as a little kid. This book is my moral compass.

The other books must be ones I haven’t yet read. I like to experience new things.

Author Websites and Profiles
M. Ocampo McIvor Website
M. Ocampo McIvor Amazon Profil

M. Ocampo McIvor’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I hail from India, have interest in various fields. I hold MBA after getting Bachelors in Life Sciences. In 2016, participated in NASA’s “Robotic Arm Architecture Challenge” & earned Five Star Ratings from them which was booster for me to reach new heights as in the same year won challenges in other fields too & got honored from Harvard University for being a winner. Continuing my journey & keeping up the momentum, published my first book “See! You’ve a Magic Wand! (Innovative Tools for Entrepreneurs)” in which I endeavored to pour all wisdom which I earned through out & presented necessary configuration for success in leadership for budding & veteran entrepreneurs.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“See! You’ve a Magic Wand! (Innovative Tools for Entrepreneurs)” is my latest book.
Everyone has something to share which can help people in their journeys, me too have. When a vessel is full, it starts overflowing. Through this book I want to share something which helped me in realizing my dreams. I’m in good hope that this book will help the entrepreneurs who aspire to be successful in their business.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I had unusual reading habits since childhood. While reading I found myself fully immersed in book, to that extent that only message which the book want to deliver, left with me. May be this habit had evolved into writing habits.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Secret, Harry Potter, Osho Books, Rabindra Nath Tagore Poetry has impressioned. Also I’m influenced by Jack Canfield & J.K. Rowling.

What are you working on now?
Let me complete the projects successfully before I disclose.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I had good experience with http://awesomegang.com/. Also KDP eBook free book promotion on Amazon, goodreads.com, social media & many other tools are proving helpful.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Give best of the best to readers through your books & yes it can be a little difficult to reach readers but once you win their hearts through your work, your next books will be eagerly awaited by them!!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Regarding writing: When something is said with conviction & from one’s heart then word develop its soul auto organically, even the gap between the words starts saying!!
Regarding life: Live Life 200%: 100% Spiritualistic & 100% Materialistic.

What are you reading now?
Yours questions Haha…

What’s next for you as a writer?
Making reader aware of my book & certain projects.

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?
Some of the books written by Rhonda Byrne & Osho which will have cooling effect in the desert.
Thanks to the readers for going through the answers above & Thanks Awesomegang for interview.
See you soon while reading “See! You’ve a Magic Wand! (Innovative Tools for Entrepreneurs)” till then Take Care..

Author Websites and Profiles
Lata Koundal Website
Lata Koundal Amazon Profile

Lata Koundal’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I started righting the first book of the First Song Trilogy in the Autumn of 2010. Wrote it ever since then and with much struggle with my own writer’s block and two years of editing. I finally self-published the first of 7 books.

I am already half-way writing the 2nd book of the series and by next year it should be done.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my latest book is The Red Prince and it all started when I saw the 8 schools that will be competing in our yearly Athletics Competition and then it hit me, the climax of the first book. From then on I started to write everything down to the last detail until I have already created a world.

After that I have expanded all of it and now I have a full blown history of my world, Unibeltrasia. How it came to be and it’s destiny for lasting peace

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I started writing the first book without a plot outline that’s why it took me 5 years to finish the first of the series. But I learned from it and I already have everything outlined.

Other than that I tend to blaze through 1 chapter of writing it.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
J.R.R Tolkien is the reason I love fantasy and the one that influenced me to pursue my writing was my grandfather. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t even dared finishing a book.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the 2nd part of the series, Shardon’s Guise.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
For now my best option is facebook. But I found this awesome site, awesomegang.com and I think they will be able to help me out a bit.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just write it. Don’t do any workshops(well except english, you’ll need it) for creative writing and just write it at your own pace. No rush, no trouble means more fluent story.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just write it and edit it later.

What are you reading now?
The Six of Crows and the Grishaverse. I heard what I’m doing will be close to what the author did there so might as well check it out.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Getting my story out there and finally getting my world out of my head so I can focus.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, The Dark Tower and The Lovely bones.

Author Websites and Profiles
Stephen Lucas Lacroix Website

Stephen Lucas Lacroix’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in a small ghost town in Montana. The last time I checked, we had a population of 12! I love going hiking in the great outdoors – especially in Big Sky Country. The views are amazing and a person never knows what kind of wildlife he might encounter.

I have written five books and have a sixth set to come out in mid-October. I write Christian books that are completely free of foul language and inappropriate scenes.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is “Hidden in Harmony,” and it’s a Christian mystery scheduled to be released on October 14, 2017. It was inspired by a dream I had one night about a homeless man showing up on a family’s doorstep and having no place to go. The family, having no knowledge of accusations made against the man in the past, take him into their home and grow quite fond of him. Later, they discover the allegations that had been made against him and before they know it, they find themselves and their community is in serious danger. It’s amazing what can come from a dream, isn’t it?

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not unless falling in love with my characters counts as an unusual habit. I have been known to laugh or cry when my characters get themselves into different situations, but I don’t know how odd that is.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The number one book that has influenced me is the King James Bible. I love reading God’s Word and allowing His sweet holy spirit to speak to my heart.

What are you working on now?
Currently I’m working on a sequel to “Hidden in Harmony.” I’m not ready to release the name of the book quite yet, but I’m about 30,000 words into it thus far.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I believe word of mouth is the best method for promoting my books, but I also believe in heavy advertising. I advertise my new releases on approximately 15 to 20 different websites, seek out opportunities for author interviews, have book trailers created, and promote heavily on social media.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Writing that book is the easy part – getting people to find out about it, now that’s another story altogether.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Folks are just folks.” Sometimes it’s easy to find yourself afraid or nervous about what people are going to think about a book you have written, but people are people. Some will like it and some will hate it and that’s all just in our human nature. It’s nothing to fret about.

What are you reading now?
I’ve been reading Oliver Twist. Yes, I know that’s quite an old classic, but I’ve never actually read it before so I decided it was time for me to find out what made it so popular.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m highly considering turning “Hidden in Harmony” into a trilogy so that’s the goal I’m aiming for.

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 King James Bible is the only book I believe I would take. If I was stranded on that island, I would want to hear from my Heavenly Father as frequently as possible and if I stuck my nose in other books, I’m sure I would miss out on some important communication from Him.

Author Websites and Profiles
JR Thompson Website
JR Thompson Amazon Profile

JR Thompson’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I write Australian Historical Romances, each filled with passion, deceit and murder. I currently have 8 books published.

I try to encompass much of my own families history into my books, as well as setting most of them in my home town in North Queensland, Australia.

I am happily married to my childhood sweetheart and soulmate and living in North Queensland.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest release, Heart of Stone, is slightly different to my other books. The idea for that book came more from the unspoken history of blackbirding in our area of Australia. For those that don’t know, blackbirding was the title given to the slave trade in Australia’s past, mostly dealing with the islanders called Kanakas that were forcibly brought into the country. The main female character in the book is in fact an Irish slave, another scandalous past of Australian history.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Too many to mention! Some of them are humming weird tunes, poking tongues at my characters, wiggling in my chair – you get the drift.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Although I’m a historical romance author, I take inspiration from so many different kinds of authors from Amanda Quick, to Harper Lee and even Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently finishing edits for Lust & Chastity, the first book in my Sins of the Virtuous series. I also have another book from that series, Indulgence & Temperance which is contracted so edits for that shouldn’t be far away either. In the mean time I am trying to get the rest of the books in the series written to send off to the publisher.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My publisher, Beachwalk Press, does a lot of promo for me. I usually contact a few blog sites about promoing my work, and of course I have my own website.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
To learn to take criticism and to never give up.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
That a bad first draft is better than a blank page.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Could I say a best Seller? Hahaha wouldn’t that be great though? Seriously though I’m just trying to write as many good books as I can and try to get them published both to bring recognition to myself but also to Australian based romances.

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?
Lord of the Flies is a must. Then To Kill a Mockingbird. Then probably Ravished and Deception by Amanda Quick.

Author Websites and Profiles
Faye Hall Website
Faye Hall Amazon Profile

Faye Hall’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 self-published American author of fiction. I am a resident of Clarksville, TN, and graduated with honors from Austin Peay State University, TN, with a BS in Criminal Justice/Homeland Security and a MS in Management.

I have also been serving proudly in the Armed Forces since 2001, and I am a Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

American Z, is my debut novel and it was officially published as a kindle edition on 17 September, 2017, on amazon.com. The paperback edition will also be available in September 2017 on amazon.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
American Z, published 17 September 2017.
I originally had the idea for American Z while I was overseas in the military in 2005. I remember I wrote a page on it and then put it away, always meaning to get back to it. I’ve always been a fan of science fiction and conspiracy theory novels and movies, I think that is where the original inspiration came from.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, I have a full time job, so most of my writing is done after work or on my days off.
I actually prefer to write with pen and paper first, and then type. I feel more creative and free when using ink and paper, versus the computer. I still do free typing on my work on the computer, just not as much as handwriting. For instance, my entire manuscript for American Z is in a notebook.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture, is my number one source of inspiration and influence. I remember reading it for one of graduate classes at APSU, and it really had a lasting effect on me. He was a professor at Carnegie Mellon and died in 2008. I won’t go into great details about him or the book, but I would encourage anyone that has a desire to really make the most out of their life to read the book or watch his Last Lecture on YouTube.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on follow on books to American Z. They are all related, so technically the next couple of books will be considered a series, but none of them are cliff hangers. They all have their own complete stories and complete endings. I want readers to be able to pick any one of them up and feel a sense of completeness at the end, and I think American Z definitely does that. And, hopefully they like it and want to read all of my books. I’m still debating titles but the next two books will more than likely be BloodlineZ and UpriZing.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
First I would like to state that I am way behind on the Social Media scene. With that being said, I feel really comfortable with Facebook business ads. It’s fairly simple and seems to be generating a lot of positive results for the amount of money spent. I use Google Ads and it generates results but not as user-friendly as Facebook.
This is my first novel so I am still experimenting and growing my network and fan base, so hopefully the next time I do an interview I can provide better information.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never throw away an idea or thought. And when you get into a creative moment, see it all the way through until you empty it.
Don’t focus on the end result, 100 yards down the field; focus on the one chapter, the one scene, the one paragraph. Set small goals and accomplish them, instead of only thinking about finishing your book.
Let the scene or idea take you on its journey. Don’t get so glued to a particular idea or ending that you cut yourself short.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I’ve been very fortunate and had several great mentors throughout my life. This question is pretty tough. So, I’ll go with one of the earliest pieces of advice I received, and it was from my 8th grade English teacher, Mr. Farr. I wanted to drop out of his Advanced Placement English course, because it was hard for one, and it required a lot of extra reading and extra work. It was a college prep course and there was no requirement for me to take it. He told me he would support my decision but he wanted me to read a poem before I gave him my final decision, The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost. I got his point, and I decided to stay in his course and take the hard way, the road less traveled. And maybe that has really made all the difference in my life.

What are you reading now?
I am currently breaking from any major leisure reading while I’m working on my writing, so I haven’t read any recent new releases in the past several months. I have a pile of new fiction books from the past year that are waiting for me to read at my house. Orbital Cloud, by Taiyo Fujii, will probably be the next book I read. And I love reading classics, over and over again. I re-read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, last year before I started writing American Z.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Well, I plan on writing more Zombie Fiction for a while. American Z is really tapping into a different concept about zombies and I think this era of zombie fiction has a lot of life left in it, so I want to see where it takes me. But I do have several other fiction genres that interest me as well.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Tough question.
Definitely The Last Lecture, Randy Pausch. Reasons stated before.
Ghost Soldiers, Hampton Sides. An incredible true story about the ultimate will to survive.
Where The Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls. It was one of my favorite books as a kid.

Author Websites and Profiles
J.G. FLETCHER Website
J.G. FLETCHER Amazon Profile

J.G. FLETCHER’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Even as a small child I was a storyteller. In grade school, classmates would follow me around the schoolyard as I role played a new story that had come to me. I recently moved back home to Santa Fe, New Mexico. There, I met a woman I knew when I was seven-years-old. She related the details of a story that I had told. I didn’t remember the story, but even after fifty years she still remembered it. That was incredible to me and made me smile.

I’ve written too many stories to count, but I’ve only recently published my first crime mystery. I was a single mom from the time my two children were five- and seven-years-old. To provide for them, I worked for the military for twenty-five years. Long hours and a great deal of traveling, while taking care of two children, didn’t leave time for writing. When my children were grown and I retired, I had time to listen to the stories in my head. I have six different story ideas on my computer.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
PREDICTABLE VIOLENCE is my latest crime mystery. Ideas for this story and all my other stories just pop unbidden into my head. I swear I’m a writer – not a murderer, stalker, serial killer, or psychopath. But, ideas for characters that have these traits and the different ways a person could be killed come to me all the time. I also get ideas for main characters (female detectives) and their partners. They start telling me who they are and how they act. They start having conversations with each other in my head. I feel like I’m just the instrument for bringing them to life.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Before I started writing Predictable Violence, I read everything I could find on how best to write a mystery/thriller. What I found was that there are, generally, two types of writers. The first plans and outlines extensively. What works for them is to know it all, what happens in every chapter, in some detail, right from the start. The second type of writer just sits down and starts telling a story. They find that often the story knows better than they do what it wants to be. I’m one of these second type of writers.

For me, it’s like watching a movie in my head. My fingers are doing the typing, but I’m just enjoying watching as the characters and plot unfolds. When I start a book I know the beginning, but the rest is like going on an adventure. The end of a book is just as exciting for me as it is for the reader.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve always been a voracious reader of mysteries. When I was six, I read every Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books that were published. Next, I read every Agatha Christie book. As I got older, I started reading Sue Grafton, Janet Evanovich, Patricia Cornwell, Lee Child, John Grisham, Connie Shelton, Daniel Silva, J. D. Robb, Lisa Gardner. You get the idea. I love mysteries.

What are you working on now?
Currently, I’m writing my second crime mystery. It’s set in Montana and the main character is a sheriff’s detective with a secret. She and her partner, with the aid of an FBI profiler, are trying to stop a serial killer that is part of the secret.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
There are many sites that will promote books for free. I like those sites because they’re easy to use (usually) and there’s no pressure.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
1. Find reviewers. Reviews affect a book’s ranking on Amazon. Amazon uses their own algorithm to determine what book to put in front of its customers. Reviews are crucial in this algorithm.

2. Don’t listen to the nay-sayers. Keep writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve ever heard is to ignore the advice regarding the mistakes every writer makes.

What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading Sue Grafton’s latest book.

What’s next for you as a writer?
No matter what, I’ll keep writing. I love it.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J. K. Rowling
2. The Lord of the Rings, J. R. R. Tolkien
3. The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
4. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee

Can I leave some food behind and take more books?

Author Websites and Profiles
Gillean Campbell Website
Gillean Campbell Amazon Profile

Gillean Campbell’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Creative soul that I am, I’m always reading or writing something! To date I’ve written and published four books on Amazon, each one very different from the next. My Guide to Hot-Water-Bath Canning was my first book, published on a learning curve to be sure. I’m currently working on an update for this book with my husband. Together we are creating a brand new Guide to Hot-Water-Bath Canning, 2nd Edition, where we have added many more details and descriptions, and even a few recipes thanks to the suggestion from a few of my reviewers. There’s still a bit of work to finish on it. We expect it to be live on Amazon very soon.

Passionate about life issues, it seemed only natural to share a short book of essays ranging from womb to tomb. It’s not so much about being politically correct, as it is about recognizing all of humanity, and respecting our right to live and die in peace. This short book focuses on many life related issues including suicide, homelessness and elderly abuse, as well as the more politicized issues of abortion and euthanasia. The goal of this book is to promote healthy attitudes toward life, acknowledging everyone’s right to life, and the need to treat each person, regardless of our differences, with dignity.

Written to inspire and encourage, Letters to Self is the third book I published on Amazon. As encouraging and soothing as this book is, it also provides a much needed challenge from time to time, kicking oneself in the butt as it were, to remind us that life is not always about getting a nice pat on the head. Sometimes life is about picking oneself up by the bootstraps and moving forward already, without dwelling on the past or things we simply don’t have the power to change. Letters to Self remains unbiased in its recognition that sometimes, we are our own worst enemies. With a gentle but firm hand, it pushes us forward to move past all that, and become our best friend again.

M. J. Joachim’s Book Review Guide: How to Get Positive Reviews for Your Book was written for all the authors out there. As an avid book reviewer, this book was written with the heart and soul of a writer, and the guide and appreciation of the reviewer, for all those who publish books and desire the best reviews possible for them. I get it! I write and publish books, and I want positive reviews on them too.

Life and family have needed much of my attention and focus these past couple of years. Grandma duty arrived a few years ago, twice. The joy of getting to be so close to my two grandkids cannot be measured! Writing and publishing books was put on the back burner for a while. It’s slowly moving it’s way forward, something that excites and scares the daylights out of me. It’s not so much the writing, as it is the publishing and marketing that seem to be the most daunting of all tasks. Many thanks to Awesomegang for diminishing some of my fears about it right now!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
M. J. Joachim’s Book Review Guide: How to Get Positive Reviews for Your book was inspired by hundreds of authors and the books I reviewed for them, as well as hundreds more who’s books I couldn’t review, since there is simply no way to review all the books I get offered and requested to review. It was written to help and inspire authors, because as much as I want to read and review every book I’m sent, there’s simply no way to get to them all.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Choosing to write in the kitchen, I’m extremely adept at tuning out the family noise and activity around me. It’s become a bit of a family joke, where my kids will sometimes mimic my extraordinary skill when we are all sitting around enjoying some much needed quality family time. All of this is past tense now, as my kids are grown and two of them have kids of their own. It seems I’ve handed down the art of nodding without truly paying attention to at least two of them. My legacy lives on.

Truth be told, when my kids were teenagers, they used to use this unusual skill against me. They would purposely interrupt me when they knew I was intently focused on something, ask me a question about doing something they knew I might not approve of, or use it to get extra privileges and such. Later, when a friend of theirs was spending the night and I didn’t know about it, they’d remind me that I said yes, when I looked up from my computer and nodded. Naturally, I wouldn’t remember the conversation at all, and too often went along with their assessment of it. After a while, my standard response became, “Ask your dad.”

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Reading and writing are activities where thoughts percolate for days, months and even years in one’s heart and soul. I’ve read and reviewed some amazing books; so many have touched my heart and made me grateful to the author. My best response for all the books that have influenced me is to give them a positive review, in essence thanking the author for taking the time to write such a powerful book. Getting to know some of these amazing authors has indeed been my joy and pleasure. They are amazing people, sharing wonderful stories with the world.

What are you working on now?
Guide to Hot-Water-Bath Canning, 2nd Edition is so close to being finished and live on Amazon, I can feel it. My guess is this will happen before the week’s end. My husband and I are currently putting the finishing touches on it.

A new crochet pattern book full of square motifs is the other project I’m working on right now. I’ve been reworking old patterns and creating new patterns for this book. So far I’ve designed and tested about 20 patterns. I keep getting new ideas to add more, so as much as I hope to publish this book soon, I’m going to take my time to add as many new and exciting square motifs as possible, for all those who love to crochet.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Honestly, I haven’t spent much time marketing my books at all. I didn’t know where to go or what to do about getting the word out. I would post a link here or there, tweet about them and share them on my blog, but that’s about it. I sent out a few emails to anyone I though might be interested in my books. I was a little nervous about being too pushy with my marketing techniques for my books.

It wasn’t until recently that I decided to get serious about marketing my books. I’m on a few book email list, so I looked them up online and read their submission guidelines. Then I thought, these can’t be the only sites out there that help authors promote their books. I did a simple search and found an article on Kindlepreneur that shares over 100 sites where authors can get free promotion for their books: https://kindlepreneur.com/list-sites-promote-free-amazon-books

Awesomegang is the first site I decided to submit to from their list, and here I am sharing an author interview too. Thanks Awesomegang! You’ve made this marketing process a whole lot easier, and a whole lot less scary!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Dear New Author,

It is not enough to write and publish your book. You need to make sure it is done professionally, and that doesn’t mean you have to hire someone to edit it or make your cover. It does mean you should take the time to use every tool at your disposal to proofread your book, often putting it down for periods of time to give your eyes a break, and most certainly sharing it with a trusted family member or friend who wants you to succeed as an author.

There are ways to present your book professionally, using the many tools readily available to authors. The trick is to use these tools correctly, following all guidelines and specifications for your particular project. Cover creators have wonderful templates to make amazing covers. Editing tools are readily available for anyone to use. While I won’t discourage you from purchasing these services from others, I also know that money is tight for many authors. The tools are available, and it will take longer while you learn how to use them, but you can produce a professionally written and published book if you put in the learning and effort required.

Once you’ve done all that, you need to market your book. You need to reach out and shout it from the rooftops that you are a published author. Take it from someone who knows. If you’re not marketing your books, they will just sit there in your author profile. They won’t sell. Take the time and get the word out about your book!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Perception is reality! Dream big and don’t let anything stop you! Miracles happen everyday! You are as successful as the effort you put into anything you do. Okay, that last one I made up just now as I was writing this. It’s good, don’t you think? Dreams really do come true, but not if you don’t do anything about them. So put in the effort and make things happen.

What are you reading now?
I am currently about 40% finished with All the Things We Lost by Kayla Tirre. I’m 70% finished with my Goodreads Reading Challenge for this year. I’ve shared a lot of good books on there if you are interested in checking a few of them out. I’m also reading Midshipman by Vanessa Ravencroft. I’m only on Chapter 5 in this book, so it’s going to take me a while yet to finish it.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Marketing is my biggest hurdle as a writer, and it’s one I’m determined to overcome. I don’t want my books sitting in the big black hole with little or nothing to show for it. I’ve also got a few ideas for a few more crochet pattern books. And believe it or not, I’m planning to attempt writing a fiction novel at some point in the future. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, so I think I will have to make it happen.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Bible, hands down. A journal and pen to log my daily life. A gardening resource book, so I could recognize and grow the food I need to eat. A technical book to help me rig up my tablet and make it work. This way I could read all the ebooks I’ve already downloaded on it.

Author Websites and Profiles
M. J. Joachim Website
M. J. Joachim Amazon Profile

M. J. Joachim’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in former East Germany to a German mother and a Vietnamese father – two adamant readers and advocates of literature. I spent an inordinate amount of my youth nosing through books that I shouldn’t have been reading, and watching movies that I shouldn’t have been watching. It was a good childhood.

I have written over a dozen children’s books. Beverly Clearly once said that if you don’t see the book you want on the shelf, write it. With both my sons having quite peculiar interests, I often was unable to find books that would cater to their curiosities. So I made it my mission to translate my boys’ interests into books that can be enjoyed by many. They were interested in vacuums? – I sat down and wrote a vacuum book. They were mesmerized by lawn mowers? – I went for it and wrote a lawn mower book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is LIL FOOT THE MONSTER TRUCK. When my youngest became interested in monster trucks, I immediately sat down to research, write, and illustrate this book.

The story is imbued in life lessons and filled with monster jam fun for little rev-heads. I wanted the book to be fun to read, for both the child and the parents.

It’s hard at times to find a book that engages 2-5 year old boys and girls and holds their attention for the entire book. So I asked myself why kids love monster trucks. They love them because they are loud, and dirty, and crush anything that’s in their way. I knew that including these elements would help me make it a fun read for little ones.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know about the unusual part. People are always very surprised to hear how much research has to be conduced before a children’s book can be written. So I always start with the research, collecting data and fun facts that I think might interest the child reading the book.

My absolute favorite writing style is rhyme. Writing in rhyme can be quite challenging at times, and most people don’t realize that writing a couple of meaningful, short rhymes can take quite a bit longer than just composing a regular story. Because the text is so concise, every word counts. The ending is what almost seems to take me the longest. I usually have an exact idea in mind, but always seem to take a while to figure out how to say it best, for the biggest impact possible.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Having been born and raised in Germany, I think some of the books that influenced me the most are our traditional fairy tales, like Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella.

It’s not so much the stories, but more the way they are told. I think it’s pretty common knowledge that the original fairy tales are very different from the American versions. They are much darker. Very honest, very true and to the point. The language is not fluffy but rather describes things the way they really are. When they talked about harsh times, for example, they would describe it as such.

The American versions of these fairy tales, however, are always painting a very colorful and bright picture; it almost feels like they want to hide what feelings and places are really like and about. And I think this influences a child very much. I really believe that fairy tales had a huge part in shaping the way we are and interact within our society.

So I would definitely say that fairy tales as a whole have influenced me, especially when compared to someone that grew up in the US.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on my next book for my chapter book series, called The Amulet Of Amser, for 7-12 year olds. Two books have already been published in this series: The Case of the Mona Lisa and the Case of the Starry Night. It’s a chapter book series, much like Mary Osborn’s Magic Tree House.

This series’ premise is a boy, Wen, who is destined by his family’s ancient oath to protect the world’s most precious pieces of art. And to do so, he has to travel back and forth in time, to keep these art pieces safe.

I love this series because kids are exposed to famous pieces of art and because there’s time travel involved.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I love Awesomegang, of course. And I promote heavily within facebook groups.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep on writing and it will happen. Maybe not with your first book or your second, but if you’re persistent AND consistent enough, it will happen and you’ll be able to actually make a living with the writing of your books!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Something that was said by Entrepreneur On Fire podcast host John Lee Dumas: “It takes about 10 no’s to get 1 yes. Embrace and welcome every no, because it brings you one step closer to that one yes.”

I love that so much. From now on, whenever you get a no, get right back to it, knowing you’ve just moved that much closer to your yes!

What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading two books: Gretchen Rubin’s new book The Four Tendencies and Jay Abraham’s book Getting Everything You Can Out Of All You’ve Got, an oldie but a goodie.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I will continue writing my children’s books, letting myself be inspired by my two amazing little boys.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would bring a collection of all Pippi Longstockings books, James Patterson, and Dean Koontz.

Author Websites and Profiles
Yvonne Jones Website
Yvonne Jones Amazon Profile

Yvonne Jones’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
The Shores of Our Souls is the first of my books to be acquired by a publisher, but I wrote my first novel, Moments on the Edge, in the 1970s, and it won the Hollins Fiction Award. Being a published novelist and memoirist has been a lifelong dream of mine, but I tell students (mine and in local classrooms, too) that you don’t have to be published to be an author. It’s the day-to-day process and progress that makes a person a great writer, though of course, it’s nice to get it out into the world to stand on its own legs. Look at Emily Dickinson, for example. We never know how long-lived our work will be, or whose lives it will touch.

In addition to writing creative works, I’ve been a journalist, published in local newspapers, national magazines, and syndicated online, as well as a humanitarian, working for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent here in the U.S., Africa, and Europe. I became a life coach almost a decade ago, and when I’m not writing, coaching, or posting, I’m walking in Nature, traveling, hugging my fur babies, or having fun with my family. We currently live in Maryland, where my kids join my husband and I on school breaks from university.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My debut novel, the first in a multicultural romance trilogy, is called The Shores of Our Souls. I live in the Washington, DC suburbs, so to me, 9/11 still feels like it happened yesterday. My son was in kindergarten, my daughter in preschool. I didn’t want them to ever experience such an event again. I wanted peace in their world. However, I also knew so many Arab Muslims; they were my colleagues and friends from my neighborhoods and my work with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent in Geneva, Switzerland. I’m a champion for anyone who is blamed unfairly, and treated unjustly, and I saw that blame beginning in 2001. Plus, peace will not come to this world as long as we don’t realize we have to work together toward it. So I decided to write a story featuring a protagonist that reflected a well-rounded character, full of angst and contradiction, full of compassion, with a very good heart, whose only mission is to spread peace he’d not had himself to the world. And then he happens to fall in love.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I download ideas on my walks or in the shower. I always have a pen and some scrap of paper handy. The rare times I don’t, I’ve been known to write on my skin. You never know when you’re going to get an idea that will solve a plotting problem, or a character telling you something you’ve never known about them. For me, it’s usually in the park or in the shower. I think that’s pretty common, though. I’ve also gotten ideas taking the recycles out to the curb. At least then I have plenty of paper and cardboard to write on.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I graduated from a creative writing school called Hollins University in Virginia, so all Hollins graduates’ work influences me, including that of my advisor and mentor there, Richard Dillard. Though I’ve never met his former student and ex-wife Annie Dillard, her work speaks to my heart, and swayed me to attend Hollins instead of University of Virginia. At Hollins, I was able to sit in small classrooms and workshops and get hand-on advice from Henry Taylor, Richard Adams, Dara Weir, Alan Weir, and Greg Pape, to name a few. I also went to every reading I could in Hollins’ Green Drawing Room, and my favorite author who read there regularly was Eudora Welty. In my 20s, I actually followed her up and down the Coast for a while just to hear her read. My second favorite author of all time is John Steinbeck, and my favorite current author is Barbara Kingsolver. I wanted to write social justice literature about human connection, peace, and humanitarianism, just like Kingsolver. Yet Welty and Steinbeck are the reason I write at all.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on my revisions to my second novel in the trilogy and a children’s book, and I’ve just begun taking notes for a historical novel that takes place in World War II. I come from a family of World War II veterans, and I’ve always wanted to write about it. It could end up being fiction, nonfiction, or even fantasy. We’ll see!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
People seem to like visit my Facebook page more than my website: facebook.com/kathyramsperger
I use all of social media and have a monthly newsletter, but I have the most followers on my facebook page.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write often, Revise more often. Rinse. Repeat. During all of this, don’t doubt that voice in your head that’s telling the story. That’s your one true thing in the midst of chaos. Take care of yourself. Exercise. Eat right. This is a marathon, not a sprint. And never, ever, ever, give up, as Winston Churchill said. It’s the best of times to be a writer, and it’s the worst of times to try to determine how to publish. You’ll figure it out step by step. Just keep writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I had a dream one night about a decade ago, in which angelic voices sang a gorgeous tune: “Trust. Trust. Follow. Follow.” I can still hear the melody. I believe that the dream and advice from many friends are all about the same thing: trusting my own feelings and intuition. If something doesn’t feel right in a story I’m writing, I don’t try to wedge it in there. I’ve also learned the hard way to surround myself with a team that vibes well together. Timing is everything in getting your words read and heard, so you have to trust and believe that you’re following the right path and not give up on it too easily. I have hundreds of rejections from agents and publishers to prove that you have to believe in yourself, your words, and your journey, and success will eventually show up to meet you.

What are you reading now?
I’ve been excited to be reading lots of my friends books. We’re all getting our novels out there! Yet I took a brief moment this month to read Eleanor Roosevelt’s My Day. It gives me great hope for our world today. We think we’re dealing with new dilemmas, but we’re not. History repeats itself, and yet if we read about how people solved similar problems 100 years ago, we might use their solutions, find better solutions or improve upon theirs.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to publish my sequel, which is in revision now, as soon as my book tour slows down a little, and I’ll keep writing and publishing the scores of books on my list, some near revision stage, others just seeds. I also hope to travel more. I miss traveling. I’m happy to come to your town; just ask!

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. Khalil Gibran’s The Prophet
2. John Steinbeck’s East of Eden
3. George Eliot’s (aka Mary Ann Evans) Middlemarch
4. My latest manuscript…I’d get a lot of work done on a desert island!

Author Websites and Profiles
Kathy Ramsperger Website
Kathy Ramsperger Amazon Profile

Kathy Ramsperger’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Holly Bertone, CNHP, PMP, is a #1 Amazon.com bestselling author and health entrepreneur. She is the President and CEO of Pink Fortitude, LLC and runs the health and wellness website pinkfortitude.com. Holly is a breast cancer and Hashimoto’s survivor and turned these two significant health challenges into a passion to help others. She inspires others with her quick wit, brutal honesty, and simple ways to be healthy in real life.

Visit online at http://pinkfortitude.com/thank/

Holly is a Certified Natural Health Professional and is enrolled in a Naturopathic Doctorate program. She holds a Masters Degree from Johns Hopkins University, a Bachelor’s Degree from Elizabethtown College, and is a Project Management Professional (PMP).

Holly is passionate about reaching out to cancer and autoimmune survivors, and also volunteers for organizations supporting our military veterans. In her free time, she loves to garden, and hit flea markets and yard sales. Holly is married to a retired Green Beret, is a stepmother, and lives in Alexandria, VA.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Thriving in the Workplace with Autoimmune Disease.

The book was born out of my personal and painful experience and lack of resources available specifically for individuals with autoimmune diseases. I went through a horrible experience of discrimination at my organization and ended up resigning from a 6-figure salary because they refused to be flexible. I made it my mission to educate, empower, and inspire others who are going through the same difficulties.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m still battling health issues, especially chronic fatigue. I take a two hour nap every day.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Dr. Amy Myers, The Autoimmune Solution was the book that opened my eyes to regaining my health and literally saved my life. I had a chance to meet her this summer and give her a big hug and thank her in person.

What are you working on now?
My dissertation! It’s a Naturopathic Doctorate program and my dissertation is on cancer prevention. That’s all you can know about for now!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still very new and learning, but I’ve leaned on Courtney Kenney: projectmanagerwriter.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
For me, writing is easy. It’s the last 10% and putting it all together that is difficult. So just start writing and worry about everything else later.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
My parents taught me the grit of fortitude and thriving in the midst of challenges.

What are you reading now?
Primal Endurance.

What’s next for you as a writer?
My dissertation on cancer prevention. A million years ago, I started a fiction novel. All of my books have been health focused so I think it’s about time to have some fun.

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

Author Websites and Profiles
Holly Bertone Website
Holly Bertone Amazon Profile

Holly Bertone’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Well, I’ve always been crafty, and I’m one of those people that loves making cute little gifts for their friends. It started with making ornately bound and covered stories of recipe collection for my friends and family for the holidays, then I thought, “why not publish these”, so that’s what I’ve done with this book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My debut book is “Ketogenic Diet Cookbook: Keto and Paleo Dessert Recipes for Beginners.” In this I’ve shared some of my all time favorite recipes, and I’ve included some handy things for people new to the ketogenic Diet. They’ll find tips in there that will help them through their first month of getting adapted, that most people aren’t really writing about. I learned the hard way how to do this diet correctly, so hopefully nobody else has to! I’ve got a major sweet tooth, and I think these recipes will satisfy anybody new to keto and wondering “is my life made of avocados and nuts forever now??” No, sir!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I always have to write with my feet up! My left arm is looped through my right leg as we speak. If I had to describe it more accurately, I write like how an otter floats, Hana

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Maria Emmerich is an absolute favorite of mine. I adore her and her dedication to making her books as information-packed and lovely-looking as she can.

What are you working on now?
My second cookbook, actually! My otter-self had so much fun writing the first one that I intend on continuing this series until my five years of keto-concoction creating is written down!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still feeling that out, it’s all quite new

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I know personally for me, I have some pretty bad ADD. The sooner you figure out how to get into the “zone” of writing, the better. The rest will follow. Trust your knowledge, you can fine tune it all when you’re done. Just get in the Zone and write like the wind!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Take everything in life and break it down into baby steps. You can’t build Rome in a day, just carry as many bricks as you can today and keep going

What’s next for you as a writer?
I see myself on this cookbook kick for a while. After perhaps, I’ll write some craft books!

Suzanne Green’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have been writing poetry and stories since I was in sixth grade. It has been a dream of mine to one day publish one of my stories. I can now say that dream has come true as my first book was just published 09/18/17.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I love reading, writing, hiking, traveling and archery. My own adventures and love of mythology inspired my first book Waking Chaos. It is about descendants of the Greek gods with lots of sassy women and adventure.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to let the story just flow naturally. I was actually really surprised by where the story for my first book led me. I started with a general idea and just let the characters drive things. It was an interesting journey.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love reading. There are so many authors that I read it’s hard to say. Probably Suzanne Wright, Kim Harrison, R.L. Matthewson. I love the way they introduce funny scenes into their writing. It’s great when you can get lost in a book and even if you have a bad day a funny scene can turn it around. There are scenes in my book that made me laugh as I was writing them and just made the whole experience that much more fun.

What are you working on now?
I’m doing promotion for Waking Chaos and I’ve started writing the prequel to the series. I’ve also done some scene ideas for book number two in the Paldimori Games series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use Facebook ads combined with Facebook author promotion groups and other book promo sites like this one.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Becoming an author is much harder than I ever anticipated but it is also one of the most rewarding things I have done. My advice would be to never give up if becoming an author is what you truly want to do. There are a lot of resources out there to help new authors now and you should use them all.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I learned some lessons the hard way through the process of writing my first book. I plan to share my wins and struggles with other aspiring authors on my website. There is a blog post by Nick Stephenson on his YourFirst10kReaders site called “Normal People” vs High Performers. In that blog he gives a lot of great advice not just for writing but for life in general. One of the best ones is introducing “deadlines and consequences.” I worked a fulltime job, had a toddler at home, and was going through some medical issues while I wrote my book. Most of my writing time was between 9pm and 2am. I was determined to do this and set a deadline for myself. My consequence was giving up on my dream if I didn’t publish this time. Aspiring authors often give up before they ever get the book written. Having deadlines and consequences keeps you working toward your goal.

What are you reading now?
I just finished Call of the Wilde by Jenn Stark which is the latest in her Immortal Vegas series. Now I’m reading Ashes by Suzanne Wright.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have some draft title names for the rest of the books in the Paldimori Games series and will be working on those books. I also have several ideas for other books that I plan to explore a bit more next year.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Oh man, that’s hard. I have thousands of books and I re-read my favorites just to keep in touch with some of the worlds/characters. Ok, here goes: Written in Red by Anne Bishop, Trickery by Jaymin Eve & Jane Washington, The Witch with No Name by Kim Harrison, and Checkmate by R.L Matthewson. I’d go for mostly humor otherwise I’d be building sand people to talk to all day – that would happen anyway.

Author Websites and Profiles
T.L. Callahan Website
T.L. Callahan Amazon Profile

T.L. Callahan’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have been writing since the 1980s, starting out with punk ‘zines and international magazines. I’ve written four nonfiction books and two horror novels.

My latest horror novel “Black Devil Spine” has gotten some amazing reviews despite its subject matter. Horrorcultfilms.com gave it one of the best reviews I have ever received.

If you are a film fan, you may want to check out my Sinful Cinema series. The third volume is due out soon.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My last book was volume two of the Sinful Cinema series, where I delved into “Crypt of the Living Dead,” a long forgotten vampire movie. I started to write this book knowing next to nothing about the film, and when I finished I uncovered a story about a film that seems to be the director’s last gasp at achieving fame and starring a man who was a suspect in a murder case that had ties to the JFK assassination!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I get up around four a.m. so that I can write before the world awakens. If that’s unusual, so be it.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are so many … Stephen King, James Ellroy, Jack Ketchum, Peter Sotos … the list goes on.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on my next horror novel, which is also set in Humboldt County, California. I’m also working on the third volume of the Sinful Cinema series. I won’t discuss which film is being covered, but it will take people by surprise.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am truly horrible at promoting. Once I publish I feel like the book should speak for itself. This isn’t always the best route.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep at it. Don’t write to an audience. Write what you want to read. If you set out to please everyone, you will please no one.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write every day. Nothing could be truer.

What are you reading now?
Easter Eggs and Bunny Boilers.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ll be plugging away on my next novel and the next volume of the Sinful Cinema series.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would never put myself in this situation. What fool would.

Author Websites and Profiles
Doug Brunell Website
Doug Brunell Amazon Profile
Doug Brunell Author Profile on Smashwords

Doug Brunell’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have been writing for approx. the past 25 years, beginning with short stories and articles in magazines and then moving onto full length novels, on which I’m now concentrating. I have completed and published 4 contemporay romantic novels, all of which are available on Amazon as ebooks and in paperback.
In 2006 I was also commissioned to ghost write the autobiography of black American singer songwriter, Tommy Hunt, once a member of The Flamingos Doo Wop group. It’s entitled ONLY HUMAN, and was published in 2009 by Bank House books, and is available on Amazon in paperback.
my novels are entitled THE SECRET, A FACE TO DIE FOR, JOANNA and LOOKING AT YOU, all of which I describe as contemporary, romantic novels, but with a bit of an edge. This is because I frequently touch on very serious emotive subjects within my storylines.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Looking at You. A romantic women’s novel, which I felt inspired to write from my background experience in the designer optical trade. It’s about a woman in her forties who is a sales rep for a designer spectacle frame company and tells how she and her marriage is affected when she discovers she is being stalked. It also has an emotional subplot set in Greece. My daughter lived there for 17 years and consequently I got to know the country very well.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not exactly unusual habits, but I really can only write in my writing room upstairs in our house and I do like perfect silence and peace around me when I write. To the extend of sometimes having to wear earplugs if I do get disturbed in any way. I also never completely plot any novel… I prefer to get my characters and background setting in my mind first and begin the book with a bit of a crisis happening and then I wait to see how my characters develop and where they and the storyline take me. I also prefer to write about imperfect people. I like my main characters to be plausible with flaws with failings, like we all have. This, I feel, makes the storyline much more believable.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
An author I particularly enjoy reading is romantic novelist, Rosie Thomas, to whom my own novels have often been likened, and so she is the author ho has probably influenced me most. Also I love the wonderful human element in novels written by Maeve Haran and Anita Burgh, and I admire the wonderful humour in Trisha Ashley and Christina Jones’s books. I’ve learnt a lot from these authors from knowing them and hearing them speak at conferences etc. As a contrast I also enjoy thrillers by authors Jake Needham, Linwood Barclay and Lee Child.

What are you working on now?
I’m just starting to work on a sequel to my last novel, LOOKING AT YOU, which will probably be set this time quite predominantly in Greece,

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I promote my books on the internet, especially the Facebook groups and other writing and readers websites. “AwesomeGang” included. I also communicate as much as I can with my readers on line. Free or reduced price promos with my Kindle books on Amazon every few months are worthwhile too. I find these help to get new readers who then will often look for for my other books and buy them. This often brings me in some welcome reviews as well. Another bonus… the thousands of books downloaded from these promos internationally help to raise my author profile with Amazon.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Quite simply, if you feel you have a book in you… don’t procrastinate about it. Just sit down and start to write. Perhaps start with a short story which in fact ould end up becoming a full length novel. Don’t give up too easily. Try to attend writers summer schools and conferences, where you will get inspired by meeting other writers and often quite famous authors and worthwhile literary agents who could give you good advice. I find other authors are usually pretty generous in this way. Also read as much as you can and learn from the experts. Styles of writing do change in fiction over the years and you need to keep up with the different approach to writing to make sure yor own style is not too “old hat” I also strongly advise joining a good writing circle for encouragement and support.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The two best bits of advice I was given once and have never forgotten are…
1) Always research facts well for your books, particularly medical things, places and business/career backgrounds. But never ever let your research show too obviously in your work. Less is more, particularly when it come to descriptions. and this is where the advice of “showing rather than telling”, comes in. Actions and speech, to demonstrate emotion and drama etc. are far more effective than just telling. It reels the reader in more and gives more pace to your storyline.
2) Try not to use character names starting with the same initial for too many people in any one of your books, especially if they are in action together or connected closely in any way. It only risks confusing the reader. After all, you do have the whole alphabet to chose their names from. I recently started read a mainstream published novel by quite a well known author who had no less than six male characters with christian names all beginning with M! Hence the story became quite difficult to read and I gave it up in the end.

What are you reading now?
Sugar for Sugar… a psychological thriller by Seb Kirby.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I would so love to get one of my books made into a TV movie or a TV drama series and that’s what I’m intending to work on achieving over the next few years.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
TANAMERA by Noel Barber (my all time fav. book)
LADY OF HAY by Barbara Erskine (faultlessly written and the only time slip novel I’ve ever enjoyed so much).
ICE DIARIES by Lexi Revellion (so believably apocalyptic!)

Author Websites and Profiles
Jan Warburton Website
Jan Warburton Amazon Profile

Jan Warburton’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have only published one book so far but I am in the process of writing two more. I have been writing on an app called Episode Interactive and have nearly completed the second book, I just have to transfer into book form.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Invisible Scars. I had loads of dreams, so one day I sat down and wrote them into a book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not particularly but I have to write with music. I often get caught out with smiling like a goon whilst writing.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I haven’t read many books although I do love to read. My favourites are Fifty Shades trilogy, Twilight, Divergent Series, Hunger Games series.

What are you working on now?
The sequel to my first book and also the story in the male’s perspective.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am very new at this but have tried to advertise where I can. Awesomegang, ilikeebooks.com and facebook groups. I have also got my own fan base from episode interactive too so I do a lot of social media.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Always write from the heart and write for yourself. I really enjoyed writing my books but the hardest part of all is to sell the book. I’m only 5 days in so far of being a published author so I still have time. But you have to do a lot of advertising but don’t let that put you off. If you want to be successful you have to push yourself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I have always believed, if a job is worth doing, do it yourself!

What are you reading now?
My book? Does that count? I’m currently not reading a book at the moment but I do read stories from episode interactive when I have the time.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To publish the next two 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?
– My book (Invisible Scars)
– Fifty Shades Trilogy
– Divergent series
– Twilight series

Emma Lidgett’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in Cheshire and I am Mum to THE cutest puppy in the whole wide world! I have been writing books since the age of 14 and I have published five books. I published my debut romantic comedy novel, ‘I Wrote A Book About You’ on September 9th 2017 and within a matter of days it rocketed to #3 on the Romantic Comedy charts.

When I was 16, I lost my Dad to a rare form of brain cancer, aged 42. One of his wishes was for me to live a truly happy life where I reached for the stars – one of those stars was becoming an author. And so, that’s how the story unfolded!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called ‘I Wrote A Book About You’ and it was inspired by a whole lotta heartbreak, and a whole lot of sassiness that followed…

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to watch Made in Chelsea whilst I write… no idea why… probably so I can ogle Jamie Laing? Something like that anyway… I also eat chocolate. Confessing to being a writeaholic and chocoholic. Oh and spring rolls usually give me a spurt to right.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love, love, love Jill Mansell as an author. I think she is absolutely AMAZING! I also adore Emily Bronte – who doesn’t? I also really enjoyed Malorie Blackman’s ‘Noughts and Crosses’ when I was younger and I recently read ‘The Girl on The Train’ which was utterly fabulous. In summary, I like a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

What are you working on now?
A sequel…

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Probably my fansite! The ‘I Wrote A Book About You Fanclub’ which is easy to find on Facebook! over 1000 members on there!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice would be prepare for bad reviews. I remember reading my first bad review and wanting to go and hide in a hole somewhere. Don’t. Use it as positive criticism. And focus on the good reviews. Nobody is perfect and if at least one person falls in love with your writing, then you’re onto a winner.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Face life with a positive mental attitude. Something my Dad drummed into me!

What are you reading now?
I am reading Pullman’s ‘Northern Lights’

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?
OMG what a question. Right. If I’m stranded I would probably want:
a) Something by Jill Mansell because she basically rules the world
b) Maybe not a thriller because if I’m on a desert island alone… err… nooooo
c) Peter Pan
d) Bridget Jones by Helen Fielding

Author Websites and Profiles
Amy Louise Ware Website
Amy Louise Ware Amazon Profile

Amy Louise Ware’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an IT guy who writes children’s books for fun. My latest picture book, THE BATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE, came out September 7th via MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing. I have two self published pictures books, THE TAIL OF A BOY NAMED HARVEY and MEOWY CHRISTMAS. My son inspires most of my stories.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
THE BATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE is my latest book. It was inspired by my son.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure if it’s unusual, but I write all stories on paper first.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Josh Funk, Tara Lazar, Maurice Sendak, Lisa M. Bakos, Susanna Leonard Hill to name just a few.

What are you working on now?
I’m trying to figure that out. I have twenty stories that are all requesting my attention. I need to put their names on a wall and throw a dart to decide.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still trying to figure that out.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Revise a lot and have fun.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To put a draft away for a few weeks and come back to it with fresh eyes.

What are you reading now?
I read mainly with my son. He keeps asking me to read THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m looking to get into writing chapter books and middle grade.

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 Maltese Falcon, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The Complete Far Side (3 books in one box. Is that cheating?)

Author Websites and Profiles
Gregory Bray Website
Gregory Bray Amazon Profile

Gregory Bray’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
He is the Pastor of Kings Abode Church with a call to nurture divinity in the life of the Saints. He is an anointed preacher-teacher and a prolific writer loaded with insight from God’s word and the way forward for the 21st-century church of God. He has written unpublished books like Hospitals were not made for Christians, the victory of Zion, etc. Only one of his books has been published and the title is the Divine nature of God.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first book release is titled: the divine nature of God (Know GOd: be god)In 2008 shortly after I was ordained; I was seeking admission to study Masters of Divinity which was unsuccessful in all my attempts. So I kept praying to the Lord for direction then one day, I heard him speak to me. I want you to write about my nature. So I said, God, I wanted to go study divinity you didn’t let me now you want me to write about your divine nature? But as the voice was strong I bought a book and titled it the Divine Nature of God. Then the Lord started showing me things about him from the scriptures and I was writing. So I wrote the first for chapters then he stopped. Then I stayed for two more years. So in 2010 I started writing and finished the book in 2011. This book was born out of a period of suffering and divine revelation in my life. It is not just a literal exposition of the Bible. Rather it is the communication of the spirit and power of God’s nature to his children, so that at the end they will be truly transformed to be like him.
This book was therefore written, because God wanted to reintroduce Himself to His church in a way that they can know him as he wants them to know Him in the 21st century.Therefore, in it is written the revelation of an understanding of how God wants the church to know him to the end that they all become like him according to experience and perfection. It is written the people that know their God shall be strong and do exploits. Hence can we not conclude that the church of God is limited today in the world not by the strength of the Devil or their enemies but by the lack of the true knowledge of their God and his will for their lives?

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am a natural writer, however, I must confess I am not the day-in-day-out kind of writer. I usually will sit and write for four to six hours because I usually do not like thought-flow-breaks. However, I will not begin my writing without outlining my main chapter headings. While writing, if there are any quotes or images that come to mind I usually will just note them down for later.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
When I think about favorites, I have many who come to mind, however, The Believer’s Authority by Kenneth E. Hagin just stands out for me. Also when I think of the Book Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki nothing can beat the transformational ideas I got from that book

What are you working on now?
I am working on a Book release titled Hospital were not made for Christians. In this book, i am talking about a new kind of faith that will take Christians from hospital dependence to a completely sickness free life forever.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This website for me is the best for self-publishers, not because it promotes books but that I found it very resourceful when I was looking for great information about marketing promotion. http://www.shelleyhitz.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My Advice is for Christian authors. from my observation, there is a lot of consolatory writing in the body of Christ. writing about a tragic experience you suffered and using it to encourage others is great. However, I think our generation needs to hear from real winners to move forward. So let us work hard to bring our faith to the place of victory so we can actually show the world what we believe is possible.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be a leader by example

What are you reading now?
Based on the fact that my focus is on organizations, right now I am reading SCRUM by Jeff Sutherland. it’s good one for those who like changing ineffective norms

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am working on Public speaking and looking for such opportunities to share my concept of Christian revolution.

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 will be the first book I will pick, secondly The art of the deal by Donald Trump and SCRUM by Jeff Sutherland

Author Websites and Profiles
Emmanuel Efuetaka Website
Emmanuel Efuetaka Amazon Profile

Emmanuel Efuetaka’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written one full anthology myself, and been featured in two others, including a Simon and Schuster imprint. It was an awesome experience going to Barnes & Noble and seeing myself published in the store among so many other amazing pieces of writing.

This latest book has been three years in the making and I was the organizer, lead editor, and am now marketing it. One of my stories is also featured in the book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
It’s titled Vices and Virtues: A Horror Anthology. The other contributing authors and myself have worked together before on various projects: both online and in some physically published works.

We wanted to work on something new and the idea of doing a thematic anthology was really appealing. Sort of like a concept album or sorts, where each story would be based on a vice or virtue from human history.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m creatively nocturnal. Some of that is because I have a day job, but also because I love spending time with my kids. Once my wife and them are asleep, it’s game time.

I enjoy working in isolation. It probably sounds horrible to other people,

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are so many. I really enjoy reading Kurt Vonnegut and Mark Twain. Edgar Allen Poe is an influence, along with Chuck Palahniuk. I’m influenced by so many things. Comic books, anime, classic literature, music.

What are you working on now?
I just finished putting Vices and Virtues together and I have another anthology to polish up right after that. I’ve also finished a poetry book and a children’s book–both are fiction and departures from horror, which has been my primary genre so far.

It’s really exciting to have so many creative projects to work on. I love creating.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My website is the best place to go. If you sign up for my mailing list I give away a free novella once you sign up: https://www.asforclass.com.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never stop and don’t give up. Being an author is a long-haul type of journey. There are so many times when it feels like I’m shouting into an empty room. But then someone contacts me and tells me they’ve read my stuff and it pushes me to keep going.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
When it comes to creativity: live a life worth writing about.

When it comes to life: enjoy every day because tomorrow may be it. Stress happens, but concentrating on it isn’t worth the time wasted.

What are you reading now?
I just finished reading Lolita and Catcher in the Rye. The unreliable narrator is such a difficult and interesting construct to tackle. I’ve tried to start doing it more in my writing. Pulling something like that off would feel like such an achievement.

What’s next for you as a writer?
There’s the next horror anthology, the poetry book, and then the children’s book. After that, I’m going to tackle my first novel.

I have no idea what it will be about, but there’s some ideas floating around in the back of my mind. The sky is the limit.

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?
Watchmen, Maus, Man’s Search For Meaning, The Sirens of Titan.

Author Websites and Profiles
Ashley Franz Holzmann Website
Ashley Franz Holzmann Amazon Profile
Ashley Franz Holzmann Author Profile on Smashwords

Ashley Franz Holzmann’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a fifty-something petrolhead, gadget freak and fulltime indie author. I’ve written 10 books, though a couple are still in our pipeline having things checked and connected to online resources.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Surviving the Wild: A Dozen Ways to Die and How not to.

I saw a blog post on the twelve most common causes of death in wilderness areas and I was really surprised by some of the things in the list and particularly the order… bet you you can’t guess what’s at number 1!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I’m aware of… I use MindMaps a lot, but I don’t know if that’s odd or not. I’ve mapped at least 10 books in my EDC (Every Day Carry) series and I’m only on book 4!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Steve Scott’s books about kindle publishing are excellent.

Clear but with an easily read conversational tone which I try to emulate.

What are you working on now?
Book 4 in my Every Day Carry series, plus marketing for a mammoth set of discounts we’re running at Hallowe’en.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m not going to disclose that.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Get everything as close to perfect as you can. Great proofs/edits, great cover, great blurb. Market it. There’s a tendency to think people will realise the months of work it takes and magically appreciate the effort you put in… they won’t. They’ll leave you a vicious, sometimes factually inaccurate, 1* review in a heartbeat, trashing sales of your best-selling book and six months of your life… Try not to let it destroy you. Keep writing and learning.

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

What are you reading now?
The Kindle Publishing Bible by Tim Corson-Knowles

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finishing my EDC series… learning to get my relevance scores up on Facebook ads.

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?
Jabberwocky by Ralph Hoover
Goedel, Escher, Bach by Douglas R Hofstadter
Ten Easy and Not-so-easy Pieces by Richard R Feynman

Author Websites and Profiles
Chas Newport Website
Chas Newport Amazon Profile

Chas Newport’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I love my family, and almost lost all I hold dear due to selfish ambitions. I believed the lie that my self worth was tied to my net worth. Now, I am motivated to dispel this is powerful myth. For it easily ensnares and can cost us more than we ever imagined. I have written four books thus far to help provide faith-based encouragement to other restless hearts and support a “Rat Race Boycott”.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Highways End. It is a story of misguided loves, and the potency of discovering your true love. It is inspired by my own vain attempts to find meaning and purpose under the sun.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to have background noise – like a running hairdryer

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Tony Evans, Mark Batterson and Dr Seuss

What are you working on now?
Two non fiction books

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Word of mouth always works best – creating that movement is hard.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just start writing –

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just be that guy you want to be.

What are you reading now?
Wild Goose Chase

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish my two nonfiction 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?
Bible, Kingdom Agenda and Highways End

Author Websites and Profiles
Dagan Sharpe Website
Dagan Sharpe Amazon Profile

Dagan Sharpe’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile