Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing for decades, and used to write for independent magazines, as well as large scale publications, short stories, poems, all sorts. When things changed and the Internet became more prolific I moved over to other areas to write and promote.
I have six novels on sale, and am almost finished on my seventh. I love reading, love writing and will do it forever and a day.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called The Dog Under The Bed, and actually uses a real image of my own dog (Well, Daughter’s dog!) on it. His actual name is Scooby Doo, and he’s lovely. We have had lots of dogs, and always been lucky with them. Due to that extensive experience I had to write about them, and kept laughing while I was writing it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have a summer house outside the back which I always write in. I wear headphones, and listen to music while doing it. It’s very peaceful, and a lovely way to write.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Harry Harrison is my favourite author. I began reading his work from 2000AD comic, and just took it from there. He wrote a lot of novels and stories, and my favourite novel has always been Rebel In Time.

What are you working on now?
I am writing a sequel to my novel I Was A Teenage Necromancer, around the same length, and set in Warrington, where the original was set in Chester. It is a horror novel, suitable for all ages and mildly deals with strange and supernatural events.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Amazon is the best, far and away, but of course Facebook is great too.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up, keep writing, and most of all keep learning about the practice of selling as well as writing. Write what you love, not just what sells.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Actually write, don’t talk about it. So now I do, endlessly.

What are you reading now?
Harry Harrison, Rebel in Time – again!!

What’s next for you as a writer?
A follow up to my dog book, and then a long and serious novel which covers some of the things my mother went through when my father decided to opt for a new life without us.

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?
Rebel in Time – Harry Harrison, Weaveworld – Clive Barker, The Stand – Stephen King.

Author Websites and Profiles
DJ Cowdall Website
DJ Cowdall Amazon Profile

DJ Cowdall’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a former journalist who started as a free-lancer covering the war in Viet-Nam. I helped produce the Watergate hearings on public TV; won awards for uncovering corruption in state prisons and for documenting the failure of a public education system; traveled the campaign trail with presidential candidates and spoke about freedom of the press in Eastern European countries as communism fell. In the mid-1990s, I wrote a pioneering column about the new Internet technology before blogs were ever created.

After stepping away from the grindstone, I decided to try my hand at fiction but got called away to finish my Viet Nam memoir. I’ve written three novels, all of which are in states of rewriting.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Hotel Constellation is about the two years I spent in Southeast Asia after I was booted out of Viet Nam in 1970 during the war. I went to Viet Nam to study, not to fight. The Saigon regime wanted nothing to do with me, and I ended up next door in Laos. I discovered there a secret war between the CIA and the North Vietnamese, and started writing about it as a very inexperienced freelance journalist. So this is about what I saw, what I learned, and how I grew.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure what the norm is so I don’t know how far outside it I may go.
I try to sit down at my desk with a pot of coffee first thing in the a.m. and write until lunch. Next day, I read what I wrote the previous day, make any minor changes and forge ahead.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Too many to give adequate credit to all, but … Alexandre Dumas, the younger; James Fenimore Cooper; Annie Proulx; Orson Scott Card; Neil Gaiman; Terry Pratchett; Margaret Atwood. There are many, many more, but these are the people, if I see one of their works that I haven’t read, I will buy it, borrow it, pick it up and read it.

What are you working on now?
Lots of things in the queue. Revising for publication three books in a supernatural series I call The Black Orchid Chronicles. A first-contact sci-fi novel called PSNGR. And another memoir, this one a humorous look at my- ah – notable ancestors.
I expect to publish at least one more book this year and perhaps three in 2019.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Gosh, I’m hoping it’s Awesome Gang!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Same advice experienced writers gave me.
Write. Write some more. Don’t give up. Never stop.
The only writer who doesn’t become an author is the one who stops writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
See above. If it’s good enough for others, it’s good enough for me.

What are you reading now?
I just discovered the Longmire series of books by Craig Johnson so I’ll be working my way through all of those. That’s how I read. I discover an author and devour everything they’ve written.
But I’ve also got McMasters’ Dereliction of Duty underway as well as a bio of Max Perkins, a history of the Utes, a travel journal called Orchid Hunter and something called Data and Goliath by Bruce Schneier on “the hidden battles to collect your data and control your world.” (I also tend to read more than one book at a time.)

What’s next for you as a writer?
I keep trying to write fiction but continually revert to non-fiction.
I’m determined to finish all the fiction I’ve already started … although I’ve got this backlog of humorous family stories that beckons 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?
The Collected Works of William Shakespeare because it would keep me busy for a long, long time. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas because it’s just the best escape story ever told. The Leatherstocking Tales by James Fennimore Cooper because I appreciate his command of the compound, complex sentence. That should do it. (You are sending a boat for me, right?)
Oh, and Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series because it would remind me I might be better off on the island.

Author Websites and Profiles
David L. Haase Website
David L. Haase Amazon Profile
David L. Haase Author Profile on Smashwords

David L. Haase’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing for about fifteen years and have posted my work in online writing communities such as fanfiction.net, fictionpress.com, and Archive of Our Own. I have a passion for unconventional romances not usually portrayed in mainstream media and I tend to be ultra-realistic and detail-oriented in my writing. I have no reservations about jumping headfirst into awkward or uncomfortable subject matters.

I’ve written short stories and full-length novels over 200,000 words. I began creating original characters and stories at a young age, but throughout the years I’ve sunk my teeth into the Dragon Age video games and novels by David Gaider and South Park by Matt Stone and Trey Parker. I’ve written fanworks for both series, which can be found at http://archiveofourown.org/users/Jaden56. Lately, I’ve switched gears and refound my love for original works, although the stories closest to my heart are happily influenced by these fandoms that remain my most cherished muses even to this day.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Back in 2009, I wrote Spooning Leads to Forking as a fanmade story (fanfic) for South Park with the characters in a high school setting rather than stuck in elementary school for 20 years. I wrote all 12 chapters of SLTF in the span of 2 months and posted on fanfiction.net and later on Archive of Our Own. From 2009-2017, SLTF was an online hit for the South Park slash fandom. At the time I took the book down so it could be reformated into an original novel and published, the story had close to 50,000 views, a ton of followers, and over 100 seriously amazing reviews. I thought if any of my stories had a chance of making it out there in the “real world” it would be this one.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have a passion for unconventional romances not usually portrayed in mainstream media and I tend to be ultra-realistic and detail-oriented in my writing. I have no reservations about jumping headfirst into awkward or uncomfortable subject matters.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Dragon Riders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
The Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind
Bloodraven and Dynasty of Ghosts by P. L. Nunn
Goosebumps by R. L. Stine
Dragon Age by David Gaider
Ever World by K. A. Applegate
All Works by Poppy Z. Brite, Neil Gaiman, and Chuck Palahniuk (this is where I get my twisted side)

For fanfiction, these are some of my favorite authors:
Astolat
Lazy_Daze
Asecretchord
TheThirdAmell
Thorinsmut
Stormontheocean
ChocoChipBiscuit

What are you working on now?
I’m working on an original series tentatively titled “Leviathan” which will consist of at least 3-5 full-length novels with alternate endings that will each be a book on their own. It takes place in a medieval fantasy setting and the protagonist is an 18-year-old girl named Brennan whose brief foray into piracy results in a giant explosion that kills hundreds and tears the veil between her world and the Shadow Realm where demons and living nightmares reside. As the sole survivor – and suspect – Brennan wakes in prison with pieces of her memory missing and the sudden, inexplicable ability to destroy the demons that have been unleashed upon the land. This story is mainly action/adventure with a dash of drama and angst thrown in there.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Tumblr @ brie2230.tumblr.com
Facebook @ www.facebook.com/Brie2230
Amazon @ https://www.amazon.com/B.-A.-Smith/e/B079JQ4LHG/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
AO3 @ http://archiveofourown.org/users/Jaden56
Fanfiction.net @ https://www.fanfiction.net/u/1257912/DragonSapphire
WordPress @ briannesblog715656139.wordpress.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Write what moves you, not what you think other people will like. Everyone is a master of their own experiences and has their very own unique story to tell. Tell it! Do the things that scare you the most. They’re usually the most worthwhile.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“The most life-destroying word of all is the word tomorrow.” – Robert Kiyosaki

“Perfectionism is the mother of procrastination.” ― Michael Hyatt

“Stop selling. Start helping.” ― Zig Ziglar

“If you realize that you’re the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something and grow wiser. Don’t blame other people for your problems.” – Robert Kiyosaki

“If you aim at nothing, you will hit every time.” ― Zig Ziglar

“The moment you say ‘I can’t’ you stop searching for ways that you can.” – Robert Kiyosaki

“Be provocative.” ― Michael Hyatt

“Make failure your teacher, not your undertaker.” ― Zig Ziglar

“Don’t preface your work with apologies or by pointing out all the flaws. Confidence is the greatest way to sell yourself or your product. Learn how to bullshit well and you’ll be surprised how far you’ll get.” – indirect quote from my graphic design professor, John Chlebus.

What are you reading now?
Until My Feet Bleed and My Heart Aches by Reiya.

It’s a Yuri!!! on Ice fanfiction story about an altered universe where a single event changes the course of both Yuuri and Viktor’s lives, a rivalry is formed that spans across many years and both of them tell a very different side to the story.

The 2018 Winter Olympics rekindled my love for ice skating and – by extension – Yuri!!! on Ice.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I would love to finish my Dragon Age fics, Hangover and Bloodstone. I’ve also been dabbling with the idea of a sequel for Spooning Leads to Forking called Taste the Rainbow, as well as a short story titled Cyanide about an immortal man who sells himself to those wanting to carry out their most depraved murder fantasies.

And there’s also my Levithan series which’ll end up being at least 8 full-length books, possibly more. Lots to work on!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
How to Stay Alive: The Ultimate Survival Guide for Any Situation by Bear Grylls
SAS Survival Handbook, Third Edition: The Ultimate Guide to Surviving Anywhere by John ‘Lofty’ Wiseman
Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival by Dave Canterbury
The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

Author Websites and Profiles
B. A. Smith Website
B. A. Smith Amazon Profile

B. A. Smith’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an average german guy, who likes to slow travel and enjoys the sun more than the cold weather in Germany (who wouldn’t, right?). I am currently living in Hamburg but am escaping on a regular basis due to the lake of sunshine. I already published two german books (non-fiction) and now finally released my first english novell “And then came you”.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The story in “And then came you” was basically inspired by my own. I travelled through Australia for over a year and ended up at a place where I didn’t even plan on stopping (so did the character in the book), but stayed for more than five months. One of the reasons was cause I got attached to a quirky receptionist at the local backpacker hostel (so did the character in the book) who I am now proudly call my girlfriend.

When we parted and I had to go back to Germany I started to write the book (Just in case I have to win her over one day – Spoiler: It already worked without the book ;)). And even if the storyline is completely different from our story it’s a perfect reminder how everything between us started cause it includes moments or conversations we shared.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I would say I usually write under the shower but that’s technically impossible and you would spot it as a lie. So no, not really. Apart from the fact that the best ideas usually come right when I try to fall asleep.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have to admit (and I am not ashamed) that I am a big fan of chick lit/romance authors. I think that just the results from being raised by a mom, two sisters and a castrated dog (so if we have to blame someone, let’s blame them). So I really enjoy the books of Jill Shalvis who probably had a big influence on my writing skills.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Honestly, I am still trying to figure out what’s the best way. A lot of writers – including me – are really introverted and don’t like to be the center of attention. And that just makes it harder.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yeah, don’t be afraid of showing the world that you accomplished something you are proud of. Cause if you don’t let the world know that you published a book, no one will know about it and therefore no one can read it. Which is a shame since you already put the effort in writing it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t be afraid of letting people know what you feel (In writings but especially in real life).

What are you reading now?
A lot of blogs about how to promote my book :D.

What’s next for you as a writer?

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?
In case I can’t bring my girlfriend I would definitely bring my own book, so I can “escape” into the moments we met once in a while and if I can bring her probably some Harry Potter books. Just in case I need to make a fire and to annoy my girlfriend – who is a huge fan.

Author Websites and Profiles
Nick J. Hart Website
Nick J. Hart Amazon Profile

Nick J. Hart’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
5 fiction novels so far, 3 of them a trilogy.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The Defiled”
I like horror based on biblical lore, especially when there is a twist. I actually started writing this as a completely different novel about 2 years ago, but it morphed into this. I just had this vision of how the Earth would fare if the 7 plagues of the Revelations of St john the Baptist were unleashed upon it

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well I actually sit down and write …. for many people that would be classed as unusual

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen King
Dean Koontz
George RR Martin
Clive Barker (his earlier work is probably the biggest influence)

What are you working on now?
I have something that is developing called “Horsemen” . Again biblical, based on the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse and the antichrist

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just write and see what happens. but you have to keep doing it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t give up your day job to write.

What are you reading now?
It’s a book on law….doubt it would interest anyone lol

What’s next for you as a writer?
Unless I can break through and become an established writer, I might not continue

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
“How to build a raft”
“How to read the constellations”
“SAS survival guide”

Author Websites and Profiles
sean deville Website

sean deville’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My genuine passion for health allows me to take complex topics and turn them into something that reads like two old friends chatting over a pot of tea. Throughout the writing process, my goal is to create something worthy of sharing and anything less is a wasted effort. As someone who enjoys working, I put a great deal of effort into my books. It’s not uncommon to find me laboring over a single paragraph late into the night. This quest for perfection ensures that words have become the tormenting tools of my trade. To help lighten the load, I sometimes add a delicate hint of British humor to my content.
Unshackled from a conventional publisher, I like to think of myself as the unadulterated genuine article, roughly translated this means I am also the misunderstood starving artist. Either way, I’m so very glad that you finally found me and I hope you enjoy what I have to offer. Thank you.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is RADICAL HEALTH.
In 2011 I became seriously ill, everything my doctor tried appeared to make things worse. I then began to look into natural medicine and found to my surprise that many of the things I tried were actually helping me. This book is the blueprint I used in my own recovery. Having been to the edge of the abyss with my own health, the book is warmly written and made easy to understand.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have such a passion for writing that I sometimes write in the small hours of the night. I then edit my work in the cold light of day. It’s not uncommon for me to seek out people whom I know will dislike my work, and ask them for feedback. This, in turn, leads to a brutal cull of words and I eventually end up with something that I believe is worthy of sharing.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
As an avid reader, the challenge for me is to make this list to just three. I enjoy reading many of Dr.Mercola’s books, along with the good work of Dave Asprey and Jack Kruse.

What are you working on now?
I’m excited that my next book is in a totally different direction. It’s a collection of short stories that are intended to make the reader smile.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far, book promotion is still new to me so I would have to say Amazon as it’s the only one I know of.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My last book “Radical health” taught me so much. I was obviously trying to offer value but in the process, the book clocked up 143k words and took two years to write! Great for the reader as nothing was missed out, but for me, as a writer, it would have made more economic sense to split the book down into a series of smaller books. So my advice is, yes always strive to give value, but be careful not to shoot yourself in the foot.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value” – Albert Einstein.

What are you reading now?
“Never be sick again” by Raymond Francis

What’s next for you as a writer?
As yet, my work is still largely undiscovered. n order to get more people reading my books I have to stop writing and learn marketing, although I would much prefer to be writing.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
As a practical person, my choice would be the SAS survival guide, published by Collins.

Author Websites and Profiles
James lilley Website
James lilley Amazon Profile

James lilley’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Janna Ariane and I am currently 17 years old. I started writing my book, Just Play Along, when I was still 16. I plan on writing more books and have a passion for criminal justice. I am getting my pharmacy technician license in June and I will be attending college to obtain my psychology degree so I start my journey as a Criminal psychologist.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Just Play Along was written during a hard time in my life. Many repressed memories started to arise and I was having trouble seeing the good in the world. At the time, I was going through my first heart break and I wanted to understand why he did what he did and why he left, so that is why Just Play Along is written in a guy’s perspective. Writing this book helped me cope with the break up and helped me understand my parents and the world.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know if this is unusual, but I prepare to write by listening to sad songs and begin writing when I’m feeling sad enough.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Sarah Dessen and John Green influenced me the most. Many of my peers and teachers have compared my writing technique to the both of them. Just Play Along has both serious and comedic connotations.

What are you working on now?
I recently got released from residential treatment for trauma and eating disorder, and while I was in there, I started planning out my next book and even wrote the first chapters on my free time.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I usually have my publicist help me out with promoting my book. I meet him at a studio, which we call set, and record videos regarding my book to post on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and much more.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up. Writing a book is a very difficult thing to do that requires persistence and determination. Even when you feel stuck, take a step back and relax, go adventure or go out and keep doing that until you get an idea.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never stop dreaming. Your imagination and your hopes and dreams are important for happiness.

What are you reading now?
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

What’s next for you as a writer?
As of right now, I am going to continue adventuring through life to gain more experience for future books. My family comes first, and it’s been months since I’ve been home from treatment, so I’ll be focusing more on my relationship with my family for now.

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. Little Women, and a dictionary. I like words.

Author Websites and Profiles
Janna Ariane Lorenzo Website

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am from Pakistan, I have done MA in English. I have written Two books regarding English Langauge.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
1000 action Verbs for Beginners

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
yes

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am an English Teacher so I read educational books

What are you working on now?
at School

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Share my book onFacebook, Twitter etc

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you are a creative writer so observe things and people

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
read, write and review

What are you reading now?
novel

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am going to write about love and peace

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?
Story and novel

Author Websites and Profiles
Sajid Hussain Website
Sajid Hussain Author Profile on Smashwords

Sajid Hussain’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello. I have five books to date. My first book was a result of nearly being arrested. My new book, Judge vs Michigan is in the final stages of polishing. It should be ready in about a month.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Judge vs Michigan started with my fascination with Navy Pier in Chicago. My books give me a chance to teach a little law surreptitiously and to invite people to visit Chicago in all it’s glory.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Occasionally I think of a plot point and get up in the middle of the night to see where it might fit. I also love mapping out the book on large sheets of paper.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Sue Grafton, Harris Mark Petrakis, Lillian Jackson Braun and Amy Tan are a few of my favorites.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the cover for Judge vs Michigan.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write everyday and don’t edit until you have a rough draft.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
A few months ago, Barbara D’Amato said “keep writing.”

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne, Einstein’s Daydreams by Alan Lightman and my thesaurus.

Author Websites and Profiles
Una Tiers Website
Una Tiers Amazon Profile

Una Tiers’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a writer, which is astonishingly convenient as you appear to be a reader! I’ve climbed mountains in Africa, picked grapes in Switzerland, sold cameras in London, programmed computers in Fiji, and spent eight years working as a professional photographer. I’m also quite tall.

My first novel, “Telling Stories”, won the Reed Fiction Award, and in 20+ years of freelance technical writing I’ve won four Qantas Media Awards and been a finalist for Columnist of the Year. My second novel, “Too Many Zeros”, was published by Penguin in 2011, and a number of other novels have followed since.

I write, every day if I can, subject to the demands of my cat, who regards me as her personal servant, portable cushion and entertainment centre. In return, she allows me to share her house in Wellington, New Zealand.

This is my eighth book, but my first nonfiction one. All the rest have been novels.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Reasons for NOT Writing & How to Overcome Them” is all about the process of writing a book. It’s hard work. Not in the sense of shoveling dirt or climbing a mountain, but it can be just as daunting — more so in some respects because you can’t look back and see you’re making progress.

Many people have told me they’d like to do what I do — write — but they just don’t have the discipline. That’s always puzzled me because I’m not a particularly disciplined person. Writing is more about habit and “headspace”, figuring out how you work best then getting into the zone. Which is, hopefully, what this book will teach you.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I start at 6:00 am every morning and write for a couple of hours before breakfast. This is usually my most creative time.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep going. Write every day, As you’ll learn in “Reasons for NOT Writing …”

300 words x 5 days a week = 1,500 words a week
1,500 words x 52 weeks = 78,000 words in a year

The average novel is 70-80,000 words. The average novella is 30-40,000 words.
So that’s one novel or two novellas by this time next year.
Just keep going!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Persistence beats resistance.

What are you reading now?
(Nonfiction) “Command and Control”, by Eric Schlosser
(Fiction) “The Left Hand of Darkness”, by Ursula K. Le Guin

What’s next for you as a writer?
At least three more books this year. An historical novel, currently with beta readers, the fourth part of my Forty Million Minutes series for young adults, and the third book in my Bluebelle Investigations series.

Author Websites and Profiles
Geoff Palmer Website
Geoff Palmer Amazon Profile
Geoff Palmer Author Profile on Smashwords

Geoff Palmer’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Victor Ehighaleh is a Pastor, Poet, Motivational speaker, Mentor, and a global peace advocate.
By the special grace of God, I have authored the following books:
(1) The Salt Value in You
(2) Who Made You a Pastor
(3) The Terrorist Inclinations
(4) Hallucinating Caricatures
(5) Power of Spoken Word Practically Demonstrated.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Terrorist Inclinations.
It was inspired by the need to end terrorism.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No. Usually, I write when inspired.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Rick Warren – Purpose Driven Life.

What are you working on now?
Poetry.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Amazon, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Publishing is a long distance race.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Character is key.

What are you reading now?
The Bible.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Improve capacity.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Bible
The Salt Value in You
The Purpose Driven Life
Open Heavens Devotional

Author Websites and Profiles
Victor Ehighaleh Amazon Profile
Victor Ehighaleh Author Profile on Smashwords

Victor Ehighaleh’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a man-child, just turned forty and started writing a few years ago, mainly articles and game reviews for a local magazine. My friend eventually talked me into working on my first book in 2016, which is The Night Out, released on 19/2/2018. I took a lot of persuading at first as I didn’t have the confidence in myself to work on something long-form. But as people read it, my confidence grew to the point where I have completed work on the second in the trilogy, Backbones and I’m still working on the final part, GY ’til I Die.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Night Out. I live in a small, quite impoverished town on the East Coast of England. I’ve suffered quite badly with depression throughout my life and the feeling during the worst points was that I was simply doing the same thing over and over again, what I once enjoyed was a trap that eventually made me feel worse. With that in mind I came up with the idea of that quite literally happening in a ‘Groundhog Day’ type scenario. I wanted some sort of release for all of the negativity I was feeling. To an extent, it worked.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Nothing at all. I cried a fair bit at some points working on the trilogy and then felt like an idiot for doing so.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Irvine Welsh will probably be the main influence I would say. I love the way he blends a gritty reality with fantasy elements, particularly in Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs. He is one of a kind though, and whilst I may have a nod to him on occasion, I try not to ape anything he has done.

What are you working on now?
Still working on the third book and writing my blog, mostly short stories lately at https://tokyocowboy.wordpress.com

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve just started, so basically Facebook has been my first stop. It is an overwhelming world when it comes to internet marketing. I’m basically winging it.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I found it best to have a couple of close friends reading my work at first. That way I knew any criticism didn’t come from a position of malice. If they were excited, I got excited. I loved the reactions when I swerved. Just have some faith in yourself. No matter what you write, some people will like it, some people won’t.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t urinate on an electric fence. I wish I had listened.

What are you reading now?
Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep. I’m honestly not getting along with it.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More blogging. Finish trilogy and after that I have a few ideas for the next book. Possibly going to go with something a little more ‘global’.

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?
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (omnibus edition featuring all four books)
An Irvine Welsh book, I’ll decide when I’m packing.
Books of Blood collection by Clive Barker – Dread was one of my favourite short stories of all time. The film was a disaster.
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. Just for the nostalgia

Author Websites and Profiles
Ants Ambridge Website
Ants Ambridge Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I gave up a career in fashion photography to join the Army after 9/11. I wrote five interactive adventures for DelightGames before releasing my first novel, Noble Man. Now I’m on book number 3.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Noble Intent. It was inspired in part by the controversy surrounding Julian Assange and the questions of morality v. responsibility and freedom of the press.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
None of them seem unusual to me, but my fiancé says I’m pretty strange. I tend to mutter to myself and make sound affects, even facial expressions as I write.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The old hard-boiled masters inspire me the most. I love Dashiell Hammett, Ross MacDonald, Mickey Spillane and Robert E. Howard.

What are you working on now?
Working on the next Jake Noble book, of course!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think the best method of promoting your book is writing a really good book that gets good reviews. After that its a matter of putting your book in front of the right readers. Sites just like this are perfect for that. But writing a great book that gets readers excited and waiting for the next installment is make or break.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write everyday, no matter what. No excuses. I write on my birthdays and Christmas. There’s nothing I’d rather be doing. For more advice check out www.literaryrebel.com

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Malcom Gladwell’s Outliers is probably the best advice I’ve ever read for the context of writing. Writers, just like any other profession, need time to hone their skills and that means putting in your 10k hours. It’s not what most fledgling authors want to hear, but it’s the truth.

What are you reading now?
Right now I’m reading Power Down by Ben Goes and A Patriot’s History of the United States by Schweikart and Allen.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ve always wanted to write a modern fantasy.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Anything by Tom Clancy. You’d starve to death before you got to the end of the book!

Author Websites and Profiles
William Miller Website
William Miller Amazon Profile

William Miller’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a small town girl, always have been and always will be. I prefer the slow paced life here. I started writing about the Letrell family when I was 13 years old (they later became the stars in my Immortal Love Series). In eighth grade my english teacher gave us a writing prompt and then picked out three winners. I was one of the winners and she made me read my story out loud to the class. On that day, I decided I did NOT want to be a writer, I was so nervous up there. But it turns out that writing is my passion and it won’t be ignored. I got my first publishing deal in 2011 and have written 26 novels and novellas since then. I absolutely love it! I write a variety of romance and fantasy mixed with paranormal; my favorites being- time travel, ghosts, and space opera.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Lost In Flight. It’s a time travel piece and I was actually inspired by the cover. It’s a beautiful cover!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think they’re unusual! I basically just write every single day (I have a word count I hit). I watch the food channel while I work; I hate the silence but music makes my mind wander too far away.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Harry Potter influences me to go for the stars and be detailed and to invest some time into world building. Twilight influenced me, it opened up a whole new genre of stories.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a trilogy called When Leslie Cries. The first book is Deceitful Whispers. It’s about a young woman who finds herself locked away in a mental hospital for killing someone.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Promoting books is a hard business. I’m still trying to figure stuff out, but this one seems promising!!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I could go on and on in this section but I’ll keep it simple. The single most important thing you can do is get your books out there. Set a word count goal (whether it’s 200 words or 2000 words) and hit it every single day. Make your goal attainable yet challenging.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I got was to take a few classes on marketing. I learned so much from those classes that helped me grow as an author.

What are you reading now?
Rereading Harry Potter for the millionth time!

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ll continue to put my books out there and continue to take classes and learning. Every day I learn something new that takes me another step down the path.

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?
Harry Potter books 5, 6, and 7. And the bible.

Author Websites and Profiles
Amy Richie Website
Amy Richie Amazon Profile

Amy Richie’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Well, I’m in hiding from a hitman, which is an unusual situation to find myself in, and I wrote the book as Vol I and II combined, separated them, and sold them individually, then put it back together again, when, said hitman and other guilty parties, took offense. Felt like it’s been a life time. So previously I was citizen normal, raising a young man, and running a few businesses. Now I’m just never where people think I am, which is tiresome, and I desperately, to my core, just want this story spread like a virus, ( hopefully being a quality read) so that the justice system is forced to take note and finish its job. Then maybe I can come home, maybe.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
What Happened to Paul Carter? Edited VOL I & II. the very true story of love, passion & a hitman.
Sadly inspired because the events are true, and pretty much, no matter how you think the situation occurred, and what happens, you will be wrong. It is hard to categorize genre, when it’s a psychological thriller, mystery, dark romance, all of which happens to be a true crime.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wrote all of the events down on sticky notes, as I tried to figure the story out myself: what had just happened to my life. I then kept the confusion, that I had gone through, the manner in which it unfolded, bit by shocking bit, so the reader doesn’t get an easy ride. To be honest, I want the reader to feel every bit of exhaustion, shock and hurt, every fear. It was like studying being so clinical and third party to personal events. A thousand sticky notes of memories leading me untangle a web that my life has become.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My reading is soft history fiction, the odd suspense. Nothing romantic wishy washy, no horror. Nothing vividly scary. So imagine me suddenly living that, which I’m not even prepared to read about.

What are you working on now?
I did write another book about the history of a town. Sadly I cant link them. At least not at present.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The first edition received 40 solid reviews ( not including the hitman etc, who put some mean ones, on facebook and Amazon). I signed up for the hiddenromancegem reviews. They don’t just do romance, and book about 6 weeks out. This was my most successful review campaign. I also am trying Facebook review sites, and bloggers. Nothing to lose. Promotion is harder than the writing, or pretty darn close.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write and edit, leave it sit, then go back and read it afresh. ( and expect to learn a whole of of skills to promote your masterpiece)

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

What are you reading now?
Several indie books that I will kindly leave reviews for.

What’s next for you as a writer?
vol III? who knows?
In all seriousness, I have written another book. Two non fiction books, and sadly cant link them just yet. Hopefully one day, when I can walk down the street without looking over my shoulder.

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.
reader digest, greatest art works of the world
anything dhali lama

i think this would occupy my soul and keep me company.

Katherine De Bois’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have only authored one book called “KNIGHT SCHOOL”, which started off as a series of short stories back in 2015. I eventually collected all of my short stories together as “THE KNIGHT JOURNALS BOOKE ONE: THE ACADEMY” in 2016. Unfortunately, that version held many flaws and I would spend the next couple of years working on rewrites and making it a complete novel. Which would result in Knight School. I also wrote a short story called “THE MOVER”. Don’t ask. Lol.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Knight School. As for what inspired it… A few years ago, I watched the film “Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief”. I thought the concept was incredible, but the movie fell through to me. On the way home from the theater, I couldn’t help thinking that I could write something better. So, I bought the first Percy Jackson book, hoping to find an example of what not to write, but instead was amazed with how well written the book was! I loved it. I also re-read a lot of the Harry Potter books. So, I had some idea of what type of story that I wanted to write. All I needed was to figure out an actual plot. Then this idea of a young teenager, who was descended from a long line of knights and must save the modern world from magic came to me. That was eight years ago. The plot went through hundreds of different drafts and went from novel to short story to novel again. In the end, Knight School was born.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love to write manuscripts on my iPhone while walking around in circles. It helps me think more creatively. When I use this process, I feel like I’m really in my characters’ world.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Like I mentioned above, Percy Jackson and Harry Potter inspired me a great deal. JK Rowling and Rick Riordan, to me, are some of the modern world’s greatest writers. The way they write coming of age stories using magic or myths as metaphors for growing up and the the pitfalls of life amaze me. As the years went on, I also fell in love with The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare and The Isle of The Lost Series by Melisa de la Cruz.

What are you working on now?
I’m working the sequel to Knight School and a new YA novel called Mirrorville. If everything works out, I’ll have some great new books coming out in the next few years.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never stop writing and never give up on your dreams.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Nothing worth having comes easily.

What are you reading now?
Harry Potter & The Cursed Child Play Script.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m planning on self-publishing a print version of Knight School through Lulu.com and using their services to get Knight School in bookstores. Then, releasing the Knight School sequel (after I finish writing it lol).

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 & The Deathly Hollows
2. The Mortal Instruments: City of Ashes
3. Welcome To The Shadowhunter Academy
4. Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince

Author Websites and Profiles
Robert G. Culp Amazon Profile

Robert G. Culp’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written three books, a novel, a novella and my autobiography. I am married to the nicest girl I know and we live in a small house in the country. I love really old books and TV shows. I am an unashamed lover of chocolate and funny comics. I am also a really bad insomniac so most nights I can be found working on my computer because I can’t sleep.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent book is called Crippled Hearts and it was inspired by a personal question that I had about myself. One of the things I was hoping to accomplish by writing the book was find an answer.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I think best on my feet so when I get writer’s block I pace around the house trying to focus my thoughts.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I think Shakespeare’s plays, JK Rowling’s Harry Potter books and Freckles by Gene Stratton-Porter have had the biggest impact on me.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a series of flash fiction stories which are going to be made available for free on my website https://www.landonpurser.com/

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Probably my website https://www.landonpurser.com/
And my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/landonpurserauthor/

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Give yourself credit for everything you try even if it doesn’t work, and don’t worry if your first book doesn’t work out the way you would like it to it’s all part of a writer’s education.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You will never be happy if you live your life the way that everyone else wants you to, so no matter what you do in life follow your heart.

What are you reading now?
Till We Have Faces by CS Lewis and Republic by Plato.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Well I think at that my skill as a writer has improved over the last few years, so I think it’s time for me to try and tackle some of my more ambitious writing goals.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Assuming that there is no TV on the Island I would want some nice long books like The Bible, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare and my Complete Calvin and Hobbs Comic Collection.

Author Websites and Profiles
Landon Purser Website
Landon Purser Amazon Profile

Landon Purser’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Ivan, I am 30 years old, I am from Serbia and I currently live in Wenzhou, China, where I work as a teacher and a writer. So far, I have published one novel and several short stories

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Bloody Green and it is mostly inspired by growing up in a war zone and difficult living conditions of my generation.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Hemingway, Fitzgerald

What are you working on now?
Another novel

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write a lot and read a lot.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write a lot and read a lot.

What are you reading now?
1Q84, Murakami.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Getting traditionally published.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Farewell to Arms, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Catcher in the Rye.

Author Websites and Profiles
Ivan Bacic Website

Ivan Bacic’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Currently I have completed my first book called TubeStarter but I plan to write many more in the future including self-motivating books, a personal autobiography, and other social media marketing books based around YouTube and Instagram.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called TubeStarter: Starting A Successful YouTube Channel and what really inspired me to do it is my growing interest to write my first book and the decision to create a book where I had a lot of knowledge on the topic and that topic was YouTube Marketing and Growth Strategies.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not exactly. I like to create outlines for my books, then write the full book in only bullet point form, and from there I turn those bullet points into full fledged paragraphs.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I think the main books that have influenced me are ‘Crushing It!’ by Gary Vaynerchuk and ‘Trust Funnel’ by Brian G Johnson. I have also enjoyed reading ‘Gifted Hands’ by Dr. Ben Carson.

What are you working on now?
Currently I am planning out my next book release, constantly growing my online presence, working on secret new projects, giving much more attention to my business, and making sure I get good grades in school and make sure to stay first in my class.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think my social medias and YouTube channel is where most my traffic comes from when I have promoted my book.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just get the first book out there. Who cares if it flopped. The first book will teach you a lesson on what to do next time and you will continue to grow the more you publish.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Work hard today and enjoy the rest of your life or play today and work the rest of your life.

What are you reading now?
Currently I am finishing up on ‘Crushing It!’ by Gary Vaynerchuk

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am currently writing an autobiography that has been teased in my book TubeStarter but I don’t think it will be release until the 2020s and I am also working on a book about Instagram marketing.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would bring the first two books of the Kingdom Keeper series, Catalyst, and the Bible.

Author Websites and Profiles
Devin Street Website
Devin Street Amazon Profile

Devin Street’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I love to write and have currently written two books. My first book is called “Stop Making Yourself Sick”.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called “¡Dale Mambo! A Perspective on Salsa Dancing”. I was inspired by the growing popularity of Salsa dancing and the desire to help others develop a strong foundation for this phenomenon.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No, I don’t believe that I do.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read a lot of Non-fiction. However, the author that has probably had the most influence on my writing style is Jack McKinney who penned the series of Robotech novelizations.

What are you working on now?
Right now, I am busy promoting my current book, “¡Dale Mambo! A Perspective on Salsa Dancing”.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Always write something that you are passionate about.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never give up.

Jason Harry’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Regina Timothy and I come from Kenya. Full Circle is my debut novel and it has been an amazing journey writing it.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Full Circle is my latest book.
I love books and movies that inspire and motivate. I especially love those with a strong female characters, I wanted to be one of the million voices that are able to connect with readers on an emotional level. Thus Full Circle came to be.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know this qualifies as unusual but I consider myself a nocturnal. Most of my inspiration hit late at night before I fall asleep which forces me to wake up and jot down the new idea. Sometime I end up writing up to five chapters. A huge part of Full circle was written in the middle of the night.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The River and the Source by Kenyan writer Margaret Ogola was one of the first books I read as a child and one that has stayed with me ever since. It is a feminist book that puts women on a pedestal and depicts them as important members of the society. Despite Africa being a patriarch society at the time, the author based the book on matriarchy and takes us on a journey through three generations of women.

What are you working on now?
I’m toying with the idea of writing a sequel to Full Circle. I’m also working on a book centered on a young African woman who has been scarred by war and hopelessness.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Goodreads was a good stepping stone for me. It feels so nice when you get your first review posted. I’ve also found Blogger to be helpful in finding book reviewers who are willing to post their reviews on their blogs.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t talk about your writing, just write. Keep on writing. It’s the only way to improve the craft. Also, be patient and persevere.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You’ll never how good or bad you are unless you try.

What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading Emma of Iran by T. Marion Dodge. I found the book in Goodreads and loved the plot and decided to get it. so far I love what I’ve read.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’d like to finish writing my second book and publish it, hopefully before next year.

Author Websites and Profiles
Regina Timothy Website
Regina Timothy Amazon Profile

Regina Timothy’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Most Likely to Succeed is my first book. My full-time job is an English teacher in a mid-Missouri high school. I am originally from Mountain Home, Arkansas–a great place to live and to visit. However, I moved to Missouri for college, fell in love, and wound up staying. My heart will always be in the South, though. I have two young boys, ages 6 and 1. My husband and I have been married for 10 years and have a small farm that currently includes cows and dogs, but has included pigs, goats, and rabbits in the past. I’m glad the goat days are behind us.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is called Most Likely to Succeed. It is fictional but inspired by different things that have happened to me over the years–some for the better and some for the worse. There’ s a scene where a grandma’s skirt blows up around her shoulders right in front of the church building, showing off her underwear and a good portion of her bottom. Unfortunately this happened to me in the courtyard of the high school where I teach. Luckily, it was during class time, and no one has ever told me that they saw my bottom, so I’m going to keep telling myself that it never happened.
Otherwise, the older ladies are inspired by my grandmothers–they are both passed now, but were tough and funny and caring women. Their influences can never be separated from my fiction or my life.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I do all my writing after my children have fallen asleep at night. Sometimes this means I stay up until the wee hours of the morning writing. Sometimes this means I fall asleep with an idea in my head that never makes it onto the page.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Like many others, I love Jane Austen. I also love Kristan Higgins. Frank McCourt is another favorite.

What are you working on now?
I am working on the second book in the Big Springs series. I’m hoping to have it released in July of 2018.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I love Facebook. I use my page quite a lot.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep going! It’s a marathon to finish. Finish the book and then see what comes of it.
If traditional publishing doesn’t work out, don’t be afraid to self-publish!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corintians 16:14

What are you reading now?
I just finished Kristan Higgins’ book On Second Thought. I’m reading Mary Roach’s Packing for Mars right now. I try to mix it up with a little non-fiction–at least one per year. I’m currently teaching The Great Gatsby and The Old Man and the Sea. I read those almost every year.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m still writing. I really hope to release another book in July of 2018.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would take the Bible, Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice from Jane Austen, and maybe a survival guide! I’d be a mess in that kind of scenario!

Misty Wilson’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in Northern California with my wife, daughter, and Larry (the bunny). I’ve traveled extensively on five continents for business and pleasure, and derive a sense of wonder and adventure from the places I go and the people I meet. Funny things always happen, and my first published book, “Missions Accomplished and some funny business along the way” represents just 50 of these silly anecdotes — multiple sequels are in the works.

My passions include reading, geography, science, astronomy, space, science fiction, history, travel, politics, language, scuba, and great food.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Missions Accomplished and some funny business along the way” was inspired by friends who found the travel stories I told them to be amazing and incredibly funny. I’d heard “You should write a book” enough times that I finally did. Once I got started, it became obvious that one book would not be nearly enough to capture all the best travel stories I’d experienced. “Missions Accomplished” is the tip of the iceberg.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My stories generally get from “gleam in the eye” onto paper in an evolution like this: first, someone tells me what I just said makes for a great story; I then jot it down as a single bullet point in my day planner or notebook, before it gets added to a long list of story ideas on my laptop. Next, is actually writing the story. I prefer to write outdoors in the evening for 60 to 90 minutes, usually long enough to finish one or two stories. I start by deciding if this is a “character” story or “event” story. I then write it start to finish with the emphasis on the amusing aspects of the character and twists and turns of the event. Often, I’ll find that I’ve embedded a very short second story inside the first; some of these work great, others I’ll then decide should be split into two (or three) shorter, separate tales. I use the services of a good friend who knows me and knows good story-telling; she has strict marching orders to slash any and all excess words, to keep the story fast and fluid. I’ll then do two very fast edits, one for content to ensure the “magic” I intended comes through, and the final edit for grammar and mechanics.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I grew up reading science fiction. Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Harlan Ellison, Ursula K. LeGuinn, Larry Niven, Robert Heinlein, David Brin and Joe Haldeman are among my favorite writers. “2001: A Space Odyssey” is my favorite book — it tells one possible tale of human origins and rings more true today than ever as we see the rise of AI and space travel is about to become commonplace thanks to folks like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.

What are you working on now?
More funny travel stories. “More Missions Accomplished” will be released in June 2018. I’m also writing a book on a totally different topic with a much more serious focus. “Shooting the Elephant in the Room” is a step-by-step recipe for the elimination of nuclear weapons from the face of Earth. Like the proverbial elephant-in-the-room, we simply don’t talk about them. After more than 70 years, these weapons have out-lived their usefulness and are now nothing more than an expensive threat to humanity’s continued existence. I’ve done considerable thinking and research and my book will outline a solid path to these weapons elimination. No actual elephants will be harmed, of course.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I started with friends, family, neighbors and colleagues. I wasn’t shy about asking them to buy my book. I’m also looking for radio interviews, public speaking venues, and other forums to entertain people while promoting the book. Online, I let Amazon and associated resources help promote it, and given more books heading for publication soon, will shortly have my own website.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read the kind of writing that you’re pursuing. Read at least one or two books a week.

Figure out how many hours a week you can write, and what is the best time to do this writing. For me, one to two hours a day four days a week was plenty to get my first book done in a reasonable timeframe (less than six months). If nothing else, make sure you’re averaging one page per day. Set a target date for publication, and do everything in your power to hit that date.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t panic. Always know where your towel is. Keep an open mind. Be your own worst critic, and always find a way to forgive others and especially yourself. Follow your passion. Don’t be afraid to discuss religion, politics, or — if you’re really brave — sports. Be nice.

What are you reading now?
“Endurance” by Scott Kelly. Kurlansky’s “1968: The Year that Rocked the World.” Bryson’s “I’m New Here Myself.” A number of books on how to relate with your teenager (they help). I just finished re-reading “Yeager: An autobiography” by Chuck Yeager, and am ready to start re-reading “The Right Stuff” by Tom Wolfe.

What’s next for you as a writer?
The audio version of “Missions Accomplished” and two to three sequels, followed by “Shooting the Elephant in the Room”. After that, it’s unclear, but the bug has bitten, so there’ll be more.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
“2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Complete Works of William Shakespeare,” and “The Way Things Work” by David Macauley

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Doctor and Business Development/Contracts Management Executive, Raymond A. Hopkins, DBA, is the author of several articles in refereed marketing/international marketing journals. He completed additional graduate work in law, international business, and US government contracts. He was awarded the Emerald Literati Network Outstanding Paper Award, and has delivered graduate and undergraduate college courses in marketing, management and international business. He has purchased aircraft parts and structures from South Korea and Japan, and negotiated the execution and administration of contracts for the sale of aircraft, upgrades, structures and parts to the US government and customers in Southeast Asia (Japan, South Korea), South America (Colombia) and Europe (Denmark, United Kingdom). He is a first time author of his book, “Grow Your Global Markets.”

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Grow Your Global Markets” was inspired by my marketing dissertation, work experience in global defense contracting and the MBA courses I have taught in international business, marketing and management

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not having communicated with other authors, I can not say my writing habits are unusual. I do research material before committing myself to print and refining my initial drafts.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
No specific authors or books that I can think of. I want to blaze my own trail.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
From my vantage point, my personal website, http://www.raymondhopkins.net as I am able to post a blog to Linkedin, Twitter and Facebook. Book listings on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and my publisher website, Apress Media/Springer.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Research, write and rewrite to your satisfaction.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Persevere and never, ever give up regardless of the task you set before yourself.

What are you reading now?
Actually, I am reading the news of current events and global business news/events as they relate to book content.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am developing a second edition of “Grow Your Global Markets” as I reconsider the content of the first edition.

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?
Holy Bible, Christian prayer books, and those by David McCullough.

Author Websites and Profiles
Raymond Hopkins Website
Raymond Hopkins Amazon Profile

Raymond Hopkins’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account