Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Immaculate Days is my first book! It is a total labor of love

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The title ofmy book is Immaculate Days. The title of the book pertains to my belief that every day is extraordinary, hence “immaculate”. Poet Francisco Catalano wrote “Nothingness, emptiness are places of enunciation the poet must respect.” I feel like my poetry is journey into the unknown parts of my own psyche. Everything is bountiful and majestic, every step is a plunge into the abyss

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am very inspired by social media and other mass media. I easily pickup phrases and words that move me and integrate themintomy writing

What authors, or books have influenced you?
One of my all time favorite books is Approximate Man by Tristan Tzara, it is full of revealing irrealities! I am heavily influenced by language poets like John Pursch, Peter Ganick and Bruce Andrews. I am also enamored of surrealist poets like Andre Breton, Tristan Tzara, David Gascoyne and Philip Lamantia. On social media I have been very fortunate to seek out wonderful poets like Felino A. Soriano, Ric Carfagna and Christene Murray

What are you working on now?
At this point I am trying to help out other new poets! Sean Negus, Tara Lynn Hawk, Vincent Topp, Mathew Laverty and Casimir Wojciech are definitely writers to watch

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Social media has been a blessing in this regard

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write because you want to better understand yourself and the world you’re in

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
My friend Mathew Ahern wrote about me “Never the cerebral, nor the clinical, Rus Khomutoff’s work bends the reader into a subliminal frame where listless mental knots tied as words mute away in favour of more rich and substantive tele-significant verse. His poetic body signifies a telling, artful, impressionistic and intelligible beauty.”

What are you reading now?
I am always in the process of discovering new writing. I recently read Ric Carfagna’s Symphony No.1

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to hone my writing….I want to be able to express myself freely and comprehensively

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?
Approximate Man by Tristan Tzara
A Novel by Andy Warhol
America by Jean Baudrillard

Author Websites and Profiles
Rus Khomutoff Amazon Profile
Rus Khomutoff Author Profile on Smashwords

Rus Khomutoff’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written two books. I started writing in the January 2018.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Mindfulness Habits. It was inspired by other mindfulness books on Kindle.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
How to Win Friends and Influence People (Dale Carnegie), 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Stephen Covey), You are a badass (Jen Sincero).

What are you working on now?
Another self-help book.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Learn as much as you can about publishing on Kindle.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do a proper market research.

What are you reading now?
Money Master the Game (Tony Robbins)

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 Win Friends and Influence People, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Lord of The Rings, and Silmarillion

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m just a run-of-the-mill every day mom! I’m crafty and enjoy being creative whenever I can, but mostly, I’m just a homebody who likes to be home with my family, comfy and happy. I started writing a little over three years ago and have been loving the creative process! Writing has allowed me to meet so many people in a world I never knew even existed! I had no idea that romance readers were such a united group! And so much fun!! I like to laugh and be “naughty” when I can be, because life is short and if we can’t laugh at ourselves, we’ve lost!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my latest published book is “My Schmidt Smells Like Roses” Hahahaha! It’s actually the third book in a novella series called “The Schmidt Load” series. (Book 1: You Don’t Know Jack Schmidt, and Book 2: Schmidt Happens.) You meet Jack Schmidt in book 1 and follow his adventure as he decides it’s time for him to settle down and find a good woman that he can spend the rest of his life with. Jack’s character was created in a previous romantic comedy I wrote entitled “Hole Punched”. Jack is the best friend of one of Hole Punched’s main characters. You don’t have to read Hole Punched first to understand The Schmidt Load series, but you WILL enjoy it more if you do!

The book I’m currently working on is based very loosely on a true story. Ripped from the headlines! (I know, can you tell I’m a Law & Order fan?) The headline and story stuck with me and I started thinking what it would be like if I were reading about it in a book, so I decided to write one We’ll see how it goes!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Other than the fact that I don’t write everyday (I WISH I could), I don’t think I do anything unusual. I have a small book team that helps me to discuss story lines etc. so I like to send them chapters at time when I’m writing so they can make sure I’m staying on course and still making sense. They help make writing fun and they get free books out of it so it’s a win win! I wouldn’t be here without them, though. I appreciate what they do for me more than they’ll ever know.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Colleen Hoover wrote a blog entry once that changed the way I wanted to view my life. I may never be the person she is (I don’t want to be really. She’s is Colleen, and I am me.) but if I can one day make even half the impact on people that she has made, I’ll call that a success. She’s the reason I started to write so I guess she gets all the credit.
Some of my favorite authors that have influenced my writing style are K. Bromberg, Tara Sivec, Meghan Quinn, S.C.Stephens, Debra Anastasia, Gail McHugh, and so so so many others.

What are you working on now?
I spent last year working on romantic comedies and so now I’m back to working on a contemporary romance drama that as I said above, was sort of, kind of, taken from a headline story I heard about in the news one day. I’m finding that a story can be formed from so many different real-life situations and it’s fun to think outside the box and run with it. I’m really excited about it and hope it will be finished before summer rolls around

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As of right now all my books can be found on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited. As for promoting, word of mouth and fan-sharing seems to help the best!! Some websites are better than others, but I find that it’s all a crap-shoot. I just have to hope to get lucky enough for people to give my books a try and like them enough to keep reading!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions!
Don’t give up. It’s WAY harder than you think it is and no, it doesn’t pay you thousands of dollars a month from the get-go…and sometimes not even years later. It’s a process.
Just keep writing and keep learning and keep evolving.
And ALWAYS be appreciative of your fans!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Decide what to be and go be it.

What are you reading now?
I just finished PRICK, by Sabrina Paige and enjoyed it a lot! Now I’m back to writing though so I’m really only reading my own words. I’ll be grateful to be able to dive into another book soon! My to-be-read stack is GROWING!!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Actually, I’m considering using this next work in progress to try and get into the traditional publishing world. I’ve heard stories on both ends of the spectrum (it’s great, it sucks etc.) so I figure the only way to truly learn is to experience it myself. Maybe it’ll be the step I need to take to make my dream more of a reality. Maybe it won’t. But I’m not afraid to at least give it a try!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Maybe Someday – Colleen Hoover
Driven series – K. Bromberg
Walking Disaster – Jamie McGuire
The Mother Road – Meghan Quinn

Author Websites and Profiles
Susan Renee Website
Susan Renee Amazon Profile

Susan Renee’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a transformational coach and consultant and now a transformational author. The Infinity Loop for Women is my first book but I’m working on book 2 and 3 to come out this year. They will build upon this book. I merge Organizational Development with spiritual development. I love to read!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Infinity Loop for Women was inspired by my logo, the infinity loop. It represents infinite possiblilites for transformation, connection and communication. I saw it all in a vision and how my work of connection, awareness and inquiry all fit together in this loop and how women can change the world through this type of presence.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I found writing my first book to be the greatest experience of myself. I wrote it for myself and my tribe, wherever they are in the world. My habits of writing come from a sense of play, being creative, self-discovery and passion. Sometimes what comes out is beautiful and sometimes it’s the “sh#t&ing first draft.”

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I think I have my own style that comes from the way I coach and teach. Richard Rohr, Thomas Merton, Caroline Myss.

What are you working on now?
Numinous Love is Whispering in Our Ear: Learning to Hear the Voice of Love. I plan to release that this summer.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don’t know. My book is just now coming out. I’m figuring it all out myself.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Find the play in it all. Relax into it, let insights, inspiration and ideas come from everything, especially the silence. What comes from your heart and soul will always be most interesting.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
What others think, say or write about me is none of my concern.
My soul gave me that message.

What are you reading now?
I read a few books at a time…
but re-reading Women Who Run with the Wolves

What’s next for you as a writer?
Working on book 2 to release this summer. Podcasts about The Infinity Loop for Women and how the themes in the book intersect with what’s going on in the world. Seminars and retreats to do deeper work.

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?
Spiritual books to help me deal with being stranded on a desert island. Anything by anyone of my most nourishing teachers who help live the contemplative life, which one would hope would happen on a desert island:
Thomas Merton or Richard Rohr are great choices for me!

Author Websites and Profiles
Krista Vorse Website
Krista Vorse Amazon Profile
Krista Vorse Author Profile on Smashwords

Krista Vorse’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, you can call me Martin Matthews. I’m an expat from England living in the United States. I’ve traveled a lot, but currently I live in Illinois. I’ve written a lot of books, but only two have been published thus far! I novelized the video game Max Payne (which is available for free) and currently have just published my first Young Adult novel with Black Rose Writing.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Graveyard Girl and the Boneyard Boy

It was inspired by the idea of a what it would be like to live with a condition that kept you isolated from people — either due to their ignorance and bias, or because of self-imposed isolation. Drake Stevenson (the Boneyard Boy), my protagonist, has a form of albinism. He’s a video game geek and comic book nerd. His family have moved to one of the oldest and largest graveyards in the state to take over operation there. But instead of becoming even more isolated, Drake meets an usual girl — Scarlet (the Graveyard Girl). But there’s something strange about this new girl. For one, she only shows up in the graveyard at night. And two, she’s asking Drake to help find her killer…

The book explores and challenges our own perceptions of self identity, coming-of age, and love, while being a fun teen mystery with a few twists and turns that keep you guessing to the end.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Quite a few — however, I’m not sure if they are unusual or just unique to me. I always write while listening to ambient music — usually SomaFM, so a big shout out to those guys. I have been listening to that digital station now while writing for over a decade. I love atmospheric music while I write.

I also have gotten into the habit of dictating scenes and planning my writing using my recorder app on my phone during long drives. At first it was awkward, but now I love it. I’ve had some of my best ‘Aha!’ moments while doing that. It’s essentially brainstorming with yourself.

I also occasionally smoke a pipe while writing. Not the best thing health-wise, but that, coupled with a hot cup of tea really gets me in the zone. I have a great collection of pipes I like to use.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Contemporary writers that have influenced me include Orson Scott Card, Frank Herbert, and Dean Koontz, among others. I share a strong kindred mission with Dean Koontz because I feel he has become one of the best voices in contemporary American fiction for the promotion of objective morality in his books while maintaining a sense of deep mystery about the world, the universe, and the people in it.

I enjoy the writing of G.K. Chesterton. His novels, although written over a hundred years ago, are so zany and comic that they could have been writing today. He had such a wonderful way of turning the every day on its head, of challenging the reader to look at the mundane and view it with a new sense of wonder. It’s that sense of child-like wonder for creation that draws me to Koontz and Chesterton.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on another young adult novel. This one is more sci-fi than urban fantasy, and is set in the near future when quantum computing and augmented reality have allowed us to live almost entirely in a digital universe. It follows sixteen-year-old Christopher ‘Moria’ Unus on his quest to defeat an evil entity called ‘The Nightmare Machine’ that threatens the Cyberverse, and save his friend Sarah who is being held captive by it. A lot of video game references, 80s and 90s nostalgia culture, and cyberpunk elements. I’m having a blast writing it, and I think people are going to love it.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve found social media in general has worked well. It takes time, and you have to build momentum. It’s very much a snowball effect. Also, it’s very important to have your own website! You need an online presence. I resisted it for some time, but it’s really one of the best ways to launch your book while having a landing pad for interested fans in the future. Get a website!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never stop learning. The best advice I can give is to read a lot and write a lot. Read up on history, especially. Every story ever told can be found there! Then write your stories. Write well. Revise. Submit your stories to publishers and indie book sellers. Skip the agents – haha!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You can have everything you want in life, if you’ll just help others get what they want. – Zig Zigler.

What are you reading now?
Current reading through the Dune series. I love Herbert’s mixture of Sci-Fi and High Fantasy crossed with philosophy and Greek theater. Marvelous!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Concentrating on building my platform, gaining fans of my writing, and really pushing the uniqueness of my books. People who enjoy my books like the mix of traditional elements juxtaposed with fantasy and science fiction. I’m hoping to build on that and gain some hardcore fans. I’m also wanting to help promote others! My website, MartinMatthewsWrites.com is a great place to get interviewed and submit your own short stories for publication. Come check it out!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
If it came to that, I’d actually cheat and bring a whole library of books. There’s one book out there (it’s a best seller) that contains a library of 66 books. Can you guess what it is? I’d take that.

Author Websites and Profiles
Martin Matthews Website
Martin Matthews Amazon Profile

Martin Matthews’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I began writing seriously about 30 years ago but didn’t start submitting my short stories until many years later. I’ve always loved telling stories and used to create my own comic books as a child, marking off panels on writing tablets and drawing the figures, word balloons, etc. I wish my parents hadn’t thrown those away! It would be a hoot to see those now. I was very much influenced by comics in those days and, I think, some of that still filters into my writing today.

My short speculative fiction has been published in over twenty online and print publications, including Shoreline of Infinity, Across the Karman Line, and TV Gods II.
I was a finalist in the L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future contest and was the 2010 recipient of the CZP/Rannu Fund award for fiction.

The third book in my Spirit Winds Quartet urban fantasy series, Orcus Unchained, was released in 2017, following the novels, The Sixth Precept and Warriors of the Light from IFWG Publishing. My new self-published SF novel, Magus Star Rising, was released in 2018. Fantasy/Steampunk adventure, Blood of the Daxas, is still looking for a home.

I was never much of a joiner during most of my life but now I find myself happily participating in a number of groups. I’m a member of the Pittsburgh SF organization PARSEC, writing/critique group WorD, Pittsburgh Mindful Writers Groups East and North, statewide writers’ organization Pennwriters, and the Taoist Tai Chi Society of the U.S.A.

I live in Coraopolis, PA with my beautiful, talented wife Martha and wonder cats Trixie and Milo.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Magus Star Rising is science fiction with elements of mystery and horror. I’ve always liked the SF trope of metamorphosis and decided to set that idea on a distant planet where ancient mythology and black market technology merge into a form of “magic.” I initially wrote it as a short story but it kept growing. I think a combination of Star Wars and Andre Norton’s ideas of alien ghettos with names like the “Dipple” were part of the inspiration as well.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I belong to a Mindful Writers Group that gathers twice a week to meditate for 15 minutes and then simply write for 4 hours. It’s a great way to focus and share a special kind of creative energy. We also have 2 retreats a year in Ligonier, PA, for 4 days, which is terrific! Around 20 excellent writers of different genres, both fiction and non-fiction, attend. It’s not only a way to concentrate and be productive creatively but to participate in a community or tribe, if you will, of like-minded artists. I’ve become friends and colleagues with many of the group. I also like to occasionally write away from my home office in libraries or coffee shops.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
As a child, I loved Edgar Rice Burroughs, Andre Norton, and Ray Bradbury, all of whose works I still read today. My earliest writing attempts imitated Norton’s style. She had a very unique way of creating other worlds and different characters in both the science fiction and fantasy genres. Her work, even in the fifties, was inclusive of Native-American and African-American characters, which made an impression on me. Forerunner Foray is a particular favorite of mine. Later in life, I discovered Dan Simmons’ Hyperion and all the works of William Gibson, Neuromancer being a standout. Omni Magazine introduced me to Gibson’s short stories as well as those of many other authors during its run in the ’70s and 80s.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the 4th and last novel in my Spirit Winds Quartet urban fantasy series, Return of the Luminous One. This will wrap up the adventures of Kim Yoshima, which started with the novels, The Sixth Precept, Warriors of the Light, and Orcus Unchained. I combine 2 other favorite tropes of mine in this series – time travel and ESP. I became interested in feudal Japan after reading Shogun by James Clavell in the ’70s and wanted to set at least part of a story in that time period. I’ve never been to Japan, though it’s on my bucket list, but I did a lot of research on what’s known as the Warring States Period during the 16th Century in Japan. Very interesting and violent period. Since the first book, I’ve sent Kim and her friends to Venice, Italy, where my wife and I did visit. Fantastic place!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Well, I’m very pleased with Awesome Gang, having just discovered it, and want to thank the founders and staff for this great site and the opportunities they provide for authors! I’ve also used Angie’s Diary, BookBub, Reader’s Favorite, and PR.Com.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing and don’t give up! If one of your works is rejected, send it back out to another market immediately. Perseverance really is key. Plus, join a writing/critique group or start one yourself. That’s proven invaluable to me. Truly, writing is a passion and a journey, which, no matter the level of success one attains, contains benefits that far outweigh fame and fortune. It’s good for the soul and, well, it keeps you off the streets!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
See above. Keep writing and submitting no matter how many times you might be rejected.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading The Subtle Knife, the sequel to the Golden Compass and the 2nd book in the His Dark Materials series by Phillip Pullman.

What’s next for you as a writer?
As I stated earlier, I’m working on The Return of the Luminous One and have about a third of the sequel to Magus Star Rising written. It’s called The Beasts of Tranquility and I hope to have that out early next year, at the latest. I’ll be attending Pittsburgh’s science fiction/fantasy/horror conference, Confluence, in July both as a vendor selling my books and as a guest of the con.

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?
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Neuromancer by William Gibson
Forerunner Foray by Andre Norton
Last Call by Tim Powers

Author Websites and Profiles
Larry Ivkovich Website
Larry Ivkovich Amazon Profile

Larry Ivkovich’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a curious mind and I like to challenge my limits. Biomedical Engineer by profession but gentleman and warrior by beliefs. I have only written one book untill now but I plan to enrich my collection as I become more experienced.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is named “Excel with your manners” and it is inspired by my love about martial arts and good manners. Everything inside this book is what I really teach in every new student of mine, useful not only in school but also in every day life.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
As I am rised and trained, I like meaningful words and not chatter. I keep my writing short and in point.

What are you working on now?
Right now I am working on a short guide for martial art teachers. Teaching is not all about knowing the “moves” but also knowing how to pass the knowledge and keeping a professional image and attitude.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I am a new author myself and the only thing I find useful to say is “use hardships as a motivaton” it is working for me.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“If you wish to be a writer, write”
-Epictetus

What are you reading now?
My reading material these days is around project management and business administration.

What’s next for you as a writer?
As I am aexpecting my second child to be born I think I might extend my collection to children’s books also.

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) SAS survival guide.
2,3,4) the biggest books possible for tinder.

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a native of Texas with two wonderful children and married to my best friend along with a beautiful Australian Shepherd named Dundee and a spirited cat named Summer. I have had a passion for writing my entire life and want to extend that passion in writing for Amazon Kindle. I have just started on this venture and have published one short read ebook of which carries a very important message and hope for as many downloads as possible. I am now starting on my second work and hope to have it up soon which will be somewhat of an extension to the first published book. I truly believe that with a passion and a goal we can all succeed in whatever we wish to accomplish…and my passion is the written word! It is my hopes that I can inspire, educate, and entertain through my writing for all to benefit and enjoy. I am so happy to finally be able to say I am a self-published author and have a long and wonderful road ahead of me in publishing!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first book titled, “The Bullying Epidemic Hitting Our Youth: What Causes A Person to Bully And How Can It Be Prevented” is regarding the bullying problem. In the book I expound on what may cause bullying behavior to occur in the first place, proactive measure that a person being bullied can take to try and halt the behavior, and how both the bullied and the bully actually suffer with many of the same emotions but stemming from different circumstances. The bullying in schools has become an epidemic and must stop!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I carry a notebook with me at all times so when the creative ideas hit my mind I write them down, even if one should hit me in the middle of the night!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
In my past I have read many Stephen King books as he is a mastermind storyteller. Have read most all of Danielle Steel’s works. Love Ralph Waldo Emerson for his deep poetic touch as well as Robert Frost. Norman Vincent Peale is another favorite for his teachings of Positive Thinking and Joel Osteen. There are many others which have had a great impact on me but these are some of my favorites.

What are you working on now?
Am writing a short read on “Cyberbullying” which is somewhat of an extension of the previously published book on bullying.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have a Facebook fan page that I just started in publishing my first book. In the future I will most likely create a website, and I like to promote on Facebook groups as well as book publishing sites.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing, keep writing, and keep writing! Let your creative juices flow and just start writing…you can always go back later to edit. Pick the best day of time in which to schedule your writing and stick to it as having good time management when it comes to your writing will pay off in huge ways. Know that there will be mistakes, that there will be bad reviews on your books along with the good, but realize it is all a learning experience. And most of all, keep writing!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement (quoted by Rita Mae Brown) in which my Dad told me at a very young age and has always stuck with me…so very true!!
Another great one that has so much meaning is…. You need to have goals in your life. If you live without dreams, without hope, you will move through life in a very hollow way—Richard Boyatzis

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading “The Kindle Publishing Bible: How To Sell More Kindle Ebooks on Amazon” by Tom Corson-Knowles. This is a great book for tips on becoming a best-selling author.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Wanting to publish my future works on Amazon Kindle and may at some point in time turn some of my works into paperback.

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 Power of Positive Thinking” by Norman Vincent Peale, “Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience and Finding Joy” By Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant, along with “Chicken Soup for the Soul” by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen

Author Websites and Profiles
Rhonda Taylor Amazon Profile

Rhonda Taylor’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve lost count! I write interracial romance. Mostly historical but also some contemporary and paranormal. It began with the Oyster Harbor series and now I’m launching a new collection called Daughters of Africa.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My upcoming release is Mission of Pleasure. I’m a big Bob Marley fan, and Africa was very important to him. He visited several times. Once I researched it, I realized there were and are a lot of diverse women there with stories to tell of strength, courage, and love.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t write unless I have time to write a whole chapter, and I don’t let myself stop until I do. I also write in the morning.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Lots of them. I like to read different authors and genres for inspiration. I especially enjoy reading authors I meet at writer/reader conferences.

What are you working on now?
A novella for a boxed set. It’s top secret right now, but I will say it will be my biggest challenge yet. The story will navigate some very deep emotions.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use a variety of web sites and tools, and it’s constantly changing.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
It’s tough out there. Write regularly and treat it like a business.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write from the heart.

What are you reading now?
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. Actually, I’m listening since I go through a lot of audiobooks these days.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on a contemporary menage so maybe more contemporary. For historical, more countries around the world.

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?
Really long ones. I could be stranded anywhere as long as I never run out of reading material.

Author Websites and Profiles
Afton Locke Website
Afton Locke Amazon Profile

Afton Locke’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 huge nerd and a fantasy reading addict. Also a librarian, which probably makes me even nerdier. I’ve written upwards of six books to various stages of completion but “Chronicles of the Roc Rider” is the first I’ve chosen to publish.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Chronicles of the Roc Rider” started out as a side project, but as the character of Tanin Stormrush grew in my mind I eventually allowed it to become my primary focus. I’ve always had an interest in raptors and falconry, so I suppose it was almost inevitable that a roc would creep its way into my fantasy writing at some point.

The character of Tanin Stormrush changed quite a bit from his original inspiration. Originally he was going to be a character haunted by the demons of his past mistakes, like Denzel Washington’s character in the movie “Man On Fire”. As I developed the world, though, I came to realize that a character that broken wouldn’t work as a roc rider only because they wouldn’t be able to maintain the mutual respect and trust necessary to train such a creature. So Tanin morphed to become a man more haunted by grief than demons of his past mistakes.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have a habit of getting up and pacing the house when my imagination is really roiling, which can be something of an impediment to actually getting words on the page. To help combat this I use a weighted lap pad to help center me and keep my legs still when I’m writing.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Too many to name, really, but some of my favorite fantasy is from Robert Jordan and Terry Brooks. As a kid I gained a lot of insight into worldbuilding reading “Watership Down” and the “Animorphs” books.

What are you working on now?
The as yet untitled sequel to “Chronicles of the Roc Rider”, to be published later this year. I’m trying something a little different with this manuscript than what I’ve done before, in the hopes it will allow me to write the book a bit faster overall than I did the first. Of course, I’m putting quality before speed, though, so the book will be done when it’s done.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve had some decent luck so far with Instafreebie for list building, I’ve been on there a month as of this writing and acquired roughly one subscriber a day, but I’m still new enough to the publishing game that I haven’t developed a favorite site or strategy just yet.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Get words on the page, early and often. I didn’t focus on productivity enough early in my development as a writer and I would be much farther along than I am if I had.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To treat everything you learn about the craft of writing as a tool in your writing toolbox. You aren’t going to use every tool for every job, but it’s better to have a tool and not use it very often than to need it and not have it.

What are you reading now?
A bunch of stuff. “The Lightning Luminary” by RS McCoy. “Map of Bones” by James Rollins. “A Court of Mist and Fury” by Sarah J. Maas. “Code of Honor” by Alan Gratz and “The Titan’s Curse” by Rick Riordan, both in audio. So far I’m enjoying all of them.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m looking forward to continuing the “Chronicles of the Roc Rider” series and then moving on to some other projects. I’m also working on editing and publishing a novella I wrote during the 3-Day Novel contest back in 2016, which I intend to use, at least at first, as a freebie for those who subscribe by my newsletter.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Probably one of the Foxfire books so I would know how to survive off the land and do things, like building a raft. After that, “The Eye of the World” and “Watership Down”.

Author Websites and Profiles
Aaron Volner Website
Aaron Volner Amazon Profile

Aaron Volner’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 mom and a social worker. I have worked as a school social worker and with foster kids. I also worked in long-term care. I think I’ve collected a lot of stories along the way. Though I have only finished one novel, I have probably written a hundred short stories in my life.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Nocturnal Meetings of the Misplaced is the name of my novel. The main character was inspired by a boy I worked with in foster. The suspense element in the book was infused with my interest in cold cases and true crime stories.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wake up with ideas and write in the middle of the night. It is probably pretty normal for writers.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
S.E. Hinton was the first writer I read that made me knew I had to write. The Outsiders was the first book. Daughters of Fortune by Isabel Allende was amazing. Coming of age suspense like It by Stephen King really draws me in.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a romantic suspense novel.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am not sure. I’m new to this. I am going to try everything I can to get my little story out there.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t get discouraged, keep going. It just takes one yes.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Another writing friend told me not to take rejection personally and how she kept a list of great writers who were rejected numerous times.

What are you reading now?
I’m actually beta reading for a couple of writing friends.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To get Nocturnal Meetings of the Misplaced out there. Besides the suspenseful elements, it has an important message, just because something bad happens to you doesn’t make you bad.

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?
This is hard. Probably a collection of short stories for variety. In that vein, maybe the complete works of Alfred Hitchcock. I would have to bring Nocturnal Meetings, c’mon it’s my first book.

Author Websites and Profiles
R.J. Garcia Website
R.J. Garcia Amazon Profile

R.J. Garcia’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written 1 entire book and bits and pieces of several others that I intend to flesh out and publish as well. I’m 40 years old for 1 more month. I’m a single mother of a 15 year old son. Besides writing I love photography.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is called Uninvited. I started writing a book just out of high school and because of a lot of sudden changes in my life I has to leave that book behind when I moved to Maryland. Uninvited used some of the same ideas. Revenge between brothers who hadn’t seen each other in a long time, one of whom is very happily married. I don’t really know where that idea originated in my brain but I’m sure it’s something psychological

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, I tend to get inspired by actors. I started writing Uninvited after seeing Tom Huddleston in The Avengers. It helps me to think of an actor while I’m writing because I can watch interviews with them and watch how they move and hear how they speak and it kind of brings my characters to life for me. I also tend to write scenes that come to me while I’m working at my very boring job. So I’ll have a few scenes written and I have to find a way to connect them. It’s probably not the best way to do it but until I can write full time… it’s what I do.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I wanted to be a writer mostly because of S.E Hinton. The Outsiders changed my life as a young wanna be writer. I felt like it was accessible because she was so young and so good. Of course I’m no longer young but she was definitely a huge influence.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a few things. At the same time I was writing Uninvited I was also writing a more RomCom story that came a bit easier because I fancy myself quite funny. I gave both to some co workers to read and they all preferred Uninvited because of the suspense aspect. So, I’m going to go finish the other one and see how that does. I also have a kind of sequel to Uninvited called Lost that I’ve just barely begun.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve done no promotion so far, and it shows

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I don’t know that I’m in a place to give any advice but I would say don’t give up. Publishing a book has been a dream of mine for the majority of my life and being a full time author is still my dream and I’m doing everything I can to make that dream come true. So, even when it seems impossible just keep going. And believe in yourself. Don’t go into ANYTHING expecting failure.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write every day. Read every day. I do neither.

What are you reading now?
My sister lent me a David Sidaris book. I love him. However, do to somed issues I’m having with my eyes I’m not reading as much as I’d like.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Just doing what I can to get my work seen and putting out as much quality work as possible. I’m thinking Lost will be my next published novel.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Oooh. The Outsiders. I’ve read it a million times but I love it. Other than that I would want things I’d never read. A romance, a mystery and a comedy. Long long ones.

Sarah Cook’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Thomas Garry is a passionate Entreprenuer, Author, and Motivational Speaker who currently resides in Perth, Western Australia.

Starting out, Thomas worked as a salesman in the technology industry and dabbled in network marketing. After years of extensive studying and soul-searching, he decided to work for himself and became an entrepreneur. Nearly a decade later, Thomas had to make the difficult decision of closing his company. This failure ultimately served as his driving force

Today, Thomas is infinitely dedicated to providing people with the tools necessary to unleash their limitless potential so they can achieve their goals. Through his motivational methods, he teaches others to face challenges head on so they can finally live the life they have always dreamed of.

Thomas Garry has been happily married for 20 years and is the proud father of two sons.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Emotional Psychology

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Zig Ziglar “See you at the top”
Robert Kyosaky “rich dad poor dad” collection

What are you working on now?
New Coaching workshops on financial wealth.

After visiting Italy as a tourist (marvelous country) I met some professionals in the coaching and motivation environment and together with them we are promoting some online actvities that are not yet fully developed in that country.

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

What are you reading now?
“One million dollar habits” B. Tracy
“Limitless” M.Lloyd

What’s next for you as a writer?
Actually writing is more a hobby than a profession, although it is important to help my students develop a successful mindset to achieve the best results in their lives.

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 own books

Thomas Garry’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
By day, I’m an Administrative Assistant in Human Resources for my local municipality. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. I’m the co-chair of my workplace wellness program, planning and coordinating wellness activities and writing articles for monthly wellness newsletters. I’m also a certified Wellness Coach and Weight Management Specialist. By night, I write, something I’ve loved to do since I was in elementary school.
I’ve been blogging since 2009; my current blog is VitalAging4Women. Creating a blog and researching about wellness and aging taught me a great deal, and helped me develop self-confidence in my writing skills. Finally, in 2017, I gathered the courage to step out of my comfort zone and write my first book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is titled “The Art of Sane Aging for Women.”
For many years, I let fear and a great deal of emotional baggage keep me from reaching my dream of writing a book. But after the sudden death of my brother, when I was 42, I reached a turning point in my life. I chose a different attitude toward life, and took action to change what I could. Changing my attitude made all the difference in my life. I wanted to write a book and help other women do the same.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Jumping out of bed in the middle of the night to scribble an idea on a scrap of paper, hoping I can make sense of it the next day!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Dr. Partha Nandi, “Ask Dr. Nandi.”
Brene Brown, “The Gifts of Imperfection.”
Jack Canfield, “The Success Principles.”

What are you working on now?
My second book, tentatively titled: “Sane Aging Strategies for Women: Mind, Body, and Soul”

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My social media preferences are Facebook and Twitter. Because this is my first book, I’ve been trying to come up with the best options for marketing, and Google has certainly helped me with my research.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you have a dream of writing a book, don’t let it go. Be persistent, stay on the path; but be patient with yourself, as well. Seek support from your family or friends if you feel like giving up.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be willing to fail. Failure can be a stepping stone to success.

What are you reading now?
“Why We Write,” edited by Meredith Maran

What’s next for you as a writer?
To keep promoting my book, and continue my research for my second one. I will also be pursuing some additional coaching certification.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
The Success Principles (Jack Canfield)
Life’s Greatest Lessons (Hal Urban)

Author Websites and Profiles
Camille Goscicki Website
Camille Goscicki Amazon Profile

Camille Goscicki’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Not to get too deep but that question – who are you – is one I’ll be asking right up to the end. I guess I should start with that which is most important to me – my kids. First and foremost, I’m a mom. Also still learning how to be good at it even though my two are reasonably well-adjusted new adults.

I’ve been writing for most of my life, which is the second most important thing I do. Some days it’s easy. Other days, not so much. I’ve written 10 books so far with more on the way.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Aiden’s War, the first of a new fantasy adventure series, currently in the final stages of editing. I like writing stories about good people standing up in the face of adversity. Aiden’s War has that theme. The story is also inspired by the importance of family and the varied and intricate ties that bind us to those closest to us, who may or may not be related by blood.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I ‘walk write’ on a fairly regular basis. Don’t do this where there could be traffic involved.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Way too many to list, but top of the list – J.R.R. Tolkien, of course. Roger Zelazny, M.K. Wren, Mary Stewart, Weis & Hickman, Terry Brooks. More recently Sarah Woodbury and Cheryl Bradshaw.

What are you working on now?
The aforementioned Aiden’s War, which is looking like a 4 book series, along with another book I can’t quite talk about yet.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The best method of book promotion is to write the next book and then tell people about it and then write the next book…

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Find a good group of authors who have been at this a few years and pick their brains. Learn to accept constructive criticism. Set goals. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Keep writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Treat others as you would like to be treated.

What are you reading now?
I just started reading a book by a lady who is 95 about her life lessons and how to best handle the process of aging. The book isn’t published yet, so I’m unable to share the title yet, but it’s a fascinating story.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More writing. I’m developing other creative outlets like drawing and digital art creation that are just for fun and help stoke the imagination.

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’d bring a digital reading device with a solar powered charger so I wouldn’t have to make such a horrific decision!

Author Websites and Profiles
Jolea Harrison Website
Jolea Harrison Amazon Profile

Jolea Harrison’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I had been focused on my career even before I took the decision to join a B School. I tried many roles and grew up in Org ladder. When I worked with a IT partner to implement a major IT project for my operations, I discovered the tremendous impact Business Analysis can have on the success of the project.

It fascinated me so much that I switched careers and made a fresh start as a Business Analyst. And that was a right decision. I enjoyed the journey immensely. I also understood it is a profession akin to being a pilot flying a aircraft. You have to constantly be on the alert for unpredictable skies, understand many languages, patient with the situation around you, be tireless and deliver with perfection every time. That is precisely the life of a Business Analyst.

I have started off sharing my experience with my first Book on Business Analysis. I am working on other books all pertaining to Information Technology Industry.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The Adventures of a Business Analyst” is what it is. It is a unusual name for a book addressing professionals who believe they are very serious folks. The books for this skill are usually very exhaustive and make a dense read. I wanted to break this trend and share my learnings in a way it is simple for a person to understand and relate to their real life. So I took the path of story telling with slice of life happenings as a way of debating the morals.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
A good idea or thought if not cherished is lost. So when I get one, I jot it down as quickly as possible.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The classic “David Ogilvy on Advertising” is a book that has impacted me for its brevity and extreme simplicity, yet packing a punch. I also was very impressed with “Sapiens: A brief history of human kind” for the author’s ability to comb through immense sweeps of history but yet produce a condensed version easy for readers to understand and navigate.

These and similar authors are always a inspiration to me who make reading and educating yourself a pleasure rather than a punishing task.

What are you working on now?
I am working on spreading the knowledge on Business Analysis skills in different forms not limited to my book. You can generally try to get me across any social networking sites by searching for premkumarpost.

I am also working on a book for IT Program and Project Management.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Getting public forum reviews from people whose work and values you trust. Good websites where readers reach like this one.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Get out that first book. Don’t worry about impressing any one or making it a best seller. Your finished book will be the persuasion for you to keep doing more.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Work with people you like and the culture you enjoy.

What are you reading now?
A good variety of fiction. That keeps me charged.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep venturing into newer subjects and newer forms of writing.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Couple of Harry Potter and Dave Barry books should do for me.

Author Websites and Profiles
Premkumar Thiagarajan Amazon Profile

Premkumar Thiagarajan’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
To date, I have written and published two books, That One Small Omission and The Phone Call, both published through Solstice Publishing. My third novel, More Than I Can Say, is about to be released by Solstice. All three are contemporary love stories.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent novel is More Than I Can Say, and it was inspired by both a trip to Seattle, and a local mushroom farm.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I really like to write while I listen to Irish pub music.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love the work of Janet Evanovich, which has both humor and romance.

What are you working on now?
Right now I am writing my fourth novel, which is a sequel to More Than I Can Say, as well as writing a memoir.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Twitter! I have great followers who re-tweet my postings, bringing new readers to my work.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up! Even if you don’t get published, just completing a rough draft of a novel is an accomplishment most people will never complete. Second — use a professional editor!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Visualize what you want to have happen, and keep re-visualizing it!

What are you reading now?
300 Miles by P. A. Glaspy.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am finishing the first draft of my fourth novel, and am in the editing (professional editor) stage with my memoir.

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?
Jitterbug Perfume, the newest Demille and the newest Evanovich.

Author Websites and Profiles
Anna Belle Rose Website
Anna Belle Rose Amazon Profile

Anna Belle Rose’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello. I’m Skye McNeil. I write romantic suspense and contemporary romance. I’ve been writing now for about eleven years. So far, I’ve written 15 books with more on the way. Writing is my passion, but it’s also my second job. During the day, I work as a paralegal and absolutely love criminal law cases. I have two cats, two dogs, one adorable daughter, and an amazing family.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Exonerated with Love. This is book two in the Mobster Files and picks up a short time after the first book. My love of criminal law is the biggest inspiration for this book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have to write my first draft with pen and notebook. The notebook must be a yellow legal pad.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I don’t believe just one author influences me. It’s a combination of all the authors I’ve read and followed on social media.

What are you working on now?
Presently, I’m writing two books. One in my Atlas Series and the other in my Collegiate Peaks series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think Facebook and Twitter have been my biggest websites when it comes to promoting my books. Building an online presence is more important than pushing your books on readers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up. It may take a while before any publisher gives you attention, but it’s well worth it in the end.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t doubt your writing. Everyone has their own style.

What are you reading now?
Right now, I’m reading Mute by M.L. Nystrom

What’s next for you as a writer?
My goal for the next year is to write/edit at least three more novels. Some may be part of series I currently have out, but I also like to pursue stand-alone stories 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?
I would bring
A Little of Chantelle Rose by Cristina Hodgson
Damage Control by Eva King
and The Highlander Series by Maya Banks

Author Websites and Profiles
Skye McNeil Website
Skye McNeil Amazon Profile
Skye McNeil Author Profile on Smashwords

Skye McNeil’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
An Italian native, I move to the States more than twenty years ago. Although in Italy I graduated in Tourism (and Foreign Languages) and studied Journalism, it was in the United States and much later in life that I went back to my academic studies and graduated with a Bachelor, a Master and a Doctoral Degree in Holistic Health. I am a certified and registered Traditional Naturopath, Classical Homeopath, and Life Strategist. My coaching activity, which started more than 30 years ago as Personal & Spiritual and Marriage & Family Coaching, later on included also Education & Career and eventually Health-Lifestyle-Wellness Coaching as well. As a Life Strategists I am certified in Conflict Analysis, Negotiation & Conflict Management, with training including also Anger Management, Communication and Psychology.
I have always been very passionate about writing and dreamed for many years to make a full time career of it. As a consequence of my versatility, holistic approach to and multidisciplinary perspective of life in general and health as the result of it, my books embrace a great variety of topics and disciplines. So far I wrote the following books, which include Paperbacks and Kindle as well as the Italian Edition of one of them:
The Dynamics of Disease and Healing: The Role That Perception and Beliefs Play In Our Health and Wellness (Paperback)

Disease and Healing Dynamics (Kindle Version)

PTSD: Conquering The Invisible: A Holistic Approach to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Editions: Paperback, Kindle both in English and in Italian)

Dare To Rise: Reshaping Humanity by Reshaping Yourself (Coauthor: Denis Gorce-Bourge)

Hunting for The TREE of LIFE: A Spiritual Journey in the Garden Traditions (Coauthor: Rev. Anneli Sinkko, M.Phil (Retired)

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is titled Hunting for The TREE of LIFE: A Spiritual Journey in the Garden Traditions and I am coauthoring it with Rev. Anneli Sinkko, M.Phil (Retired). Having been all my life a person with a strong spiritual/inner life, I have always been interested in spiritual, religious and even esoteric topics. The “Mystery of Life”, the Sense of Sacred that surrounds all of us and all that is, and the understanding of the very reason for being “here” and for having such an amazing potential when it comes to fully enjoy life compared to its relatively short duration…have always fascinated and intrigued me. My desire, therefore, is to “penetrate” and “unveil” this mystery and somehow contribute to move the human knowledge a few steps forwards in the right direction.

This is what motivated me to write this book. I had already started working on it when I decided to invite Anneli to join me. Due to our very different cultural and religious backgrounds, knowledge and understanding of these topics, I thought that our similarities, but above all our differences could contribute to make this book even more interesting and successful. She was very happy to join me in this adventure and we wrote our book in record time.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, I do. Since a very young age, when I have to write about something, most of the times I do not write right away. It’s like I need some time to let my thoughts/ideas come to me from wherever the are. Once they “get there”, then I start writing at the speed of the light. This means that sometimes I can stay a long time sitting at the PC …in a sort of contemplative state…and apparently doing nothing, while in reality I am well aware that “something” is in fact happening despite my stillness and non-action state and that I will soon be writing interesting things.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
As I mentioned before, I am interested in many topics and disciplines. My “holistic” view of life and health does not include only the “mind-body-spirit” connection, but rather the understanding that all relates to all that is. I am a great observer, I like to see and identify differences as well as similarities; I like to “see” beyond appearances and understand what might be referred to as the metaphors and symbolisms of Life, of Nature. As a result of the way my mind works, I have also a multidisciplinary approach to almost everything. I am also very passionate about different cultures, history, psychology and sociology. Having said that, some of the authors that have influenced me the most are Erich Fromm, Ruediger Dahlke, Richard Bach, Tiziano Terzani, Luigi Pirandello, Kahil Gibran, Lao Tzu, Oriana Fallaci and many more.

What are you working on now?
Right now I’m working on a few writing projects: a couple related to Holistic Health and Lifestyle; and a couple of historical nature.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I try to use all the means (or at least as many as I can) available out there, this including social media and interviews.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes, I do. Writing is a hard work: being passionate about it is not sufficient and does not guarantee success. You also need to be very disciplined about your approach and persistent. Write regularly and make a habit of it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t take no for an answer. You have a dream to fulfill: keep moving forward and never give up.

What are you reading now?
Cognitive Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finishing a couple of projects I’ve been working on for quite some time and finally get them 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?
I would definitely bring with me a Bible along with the Tao of Love for their amazing universal practical principles, but I would also choose at least one book of Fromm whose vision of life and society – especially our western world – are still very actual, and this despite the several decades that have passed by. I would also like to have a good anthology with plenty of poems from authors from all around the world (best period in my view running from 1400 to 1900)

Author Websites and Profiles
Maria Teresa De Donato Website
Maria Teresa De Donato Amazon Profile

Maria Teresa De Donato’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 colonial India during the lean economic times of WWII. The eldest of seven siblings brought up with all the time-tested traditions of that era, I attended the only medical school in the state, became a doctor, served the Indian Army..and left it all behind in search of the American Dream. After struggling through the adjustments, prejudice encountered and succeeding in becoming a qualified specialist in Pediatrics, Allergy, and Asthma, I became the president of a reputable medical clinic and was invited and inducted as the Fellow of the prestigious Royal Society of Medicine, London. I have been involved and headed several professional and civic organizations.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“My Mother Called Me Unni – A Doctor’s Tale Of Migration” – My life and my children’s requests inspired it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tried to stay honest and simple.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
From Shakespeare to Kalidasa, from Hemingway to Tagore, Sherlock Holmes to Siddharth Mukherjee

What are you working on now?
Marketing my book

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
FB, and others

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Leave some notes about yourself and your life

What are you reading now?
Emperor of Maladies

What’s next for you as a writer?
Too old to plan

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?
Bhagavad Gita, Treasure Island, Palace of Illusions, Complications

Author Websites and Profiles
Venugopal Menon Website
Venugopal Menon Amazon Profile

Venugopal Menon’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
This is my first book – although I have been writing editorials for Eastern Massachusetts newspapers since 2009. I have currently accumulated about three volumes worth of slice of life essays, opinion pieces and human interest stories and this volume represents my earliest work. I finally decided to publish a compilation based on the advice of one of my previous editors.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
This book is called “My Thoughts Exactly,” and the pieces within were inspired by the good that exists in the world. Tired of all the negative headlines, I decided to create stories that emphasized the positive in the world.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I edit each story no less than a dozen times in order to assure that each word is exactly the right one. My first (and best) editor once told me that “It’s not about choosing the biggest word, it’s about choosing the best word.”

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Steve Hartman, Daryn Kagan, writers who can relate a story.

What are you working on now?
Volume 2 of My Thoughts Exactly. More inspiring stories to come!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Still looking for the perfect one!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Well, since I’m very new, I figure it’s best that I be the one taking the advice at the moment.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“It’s not about choosing the biggest word, it’s about choosing the best word.”

What are you reading now?
I just finished “What Made Maddy Run,” by Kate Fagan – a beautiful and tragic account of a high school All-American runner and the demons she faced at an Ivy League School. I just started “Murder in Music City,” by Michael Bishop.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I will continue observing the world around me and express my thoughts in my words.

John Reilly’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a Christian author that grew up in small
rural Central Wisconsin town of only nine hundred people. I spent
twenty-five years helping those around me as an emergency medical
technician. I always felt God’s calling on my life, but never knew
how to act on it. I discovered my desire to write God’s word while
incarcerated. Today I enjoy living in Southern Louisiana with my
wife of twenty years and our four children. God, family, and spicy
foods are the pleasures of my life. This is my first book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
From My Mess to His Message. Devotions That Carried Me Through.

I was incarcerated and needed my Saviour. God lead me to His word, and told me to share it with others.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love to write, so I just let it flow, but thankfully spell check is my best friend… It at least my readers best friend!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
All of the James Patterson Alex Cross books got me excited about reading.

What are you working on now?
Right now I am trying to crowd fund 500 of my devotionals to donate to jails and rehab facilities. Here is the link to the GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/inmate-devotional-ministry

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Word of mouth has worked really well for me.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Investigate publishers closely. Ask what you get for your dollar. Then compare a few different options!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Trust God, and lean not on your own understanding!

What are you reading now?
I want to start The People Vs Alex Cross.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on my second book called one word prayers… Watch for 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?
My devotional, my Bible, and any random Alex Cross book!

Author Websites and Profiles
Christopher Sparks Website
Christopher Sparks Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! I’m 14 years old, and I’ve written two books so far, one of which is on Amazon, and the other is a word document on my computer! I write because I enjoy it. It gives me a chance to forget everything and just focus and the characters in the book. I get my love of writing from my dad, who’s also a writer.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest book I’ve released is my first, it’s called “Last 13 days of my life.” I guess I just wanted to show people that not everyone’s life is as perfect as you may think, and sometimes you have to make the effort of looking deeper than the smile that nay be painted onto their face to see what they’re really going through and maybe try to help.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I normally tend to the think of the ending of my books before the beginning.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My dad has influenced my writing a lot, although he hasn’t published anything yet, his work has really inspired me.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on my third novel after taking a break for a little while from writing.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Promotion is something I’m struggling with for my books at the moment. I guess word of mouth and social media would my best methods.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just go for it. Start the book, and keep going. Do a little a day, it’s better to do that than write a ton of pages and then not touch it again for the next few weeks. Never be afraid of constructive criticism and always keep trying. Believe in yourself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Believe in yourself.

What are you reading now?
A book by Cathy Bramley, ‘The Lemon Tree Cafe.’

What’s next for you as a writer?
Promoting my first book as much as I can and writing my third.

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 Lemon Tree Cafe, Cathy Bramley. Pilgrims Progress. Hetty Feather by Jacqueline Wilson and my Bible.

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Eugene Turansky and now I live in Saint Petersburg. Writing is one of my favourite hobbies. I began to write when I was 30. My first work is a short poem about one’s life. I got it directly in my head and immediately wrote it on a paper. Since that day I’ve written more than 30 books but only now I begin to publish them. My books are about different things. They are about people. They are about people’s adventures. They are about people’s thoughts and actions. They are almost about everything. Most of my books are sci-fi stories. I like to read sci-fi and mystery very much. That’s why I like to write in this genre as well.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My last book is Mislife.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I would not say so

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen King and Ransom Riggs are my favourite authors.

What are you working on now?
Now I translate my books to English. First one which was translated was Mislife.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I do not yet know.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t be afraid to take your pen or turn on your comuter and just begin to write. First step is difficult. Other ones are much easier.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do not stop.

What are you reading now?
Asylum by Madeleine Roux.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Growth.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Pet Sematary by Stephen King.
Cause for Alarm by Eric Ambler.

Author Websites and Profiles
Eugene Turansky Amazon Profile
Eugene Turansky Author Profile on Smashwords

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Stacey Carroll. I’ve been a novelist for decades, and a freelance writer since 2011. I have a pro-pilot degree from Indiana State University. I’ve flown Cessna 152s, 172s, the Pipe Seneca and King Airs. I was a certified flight instructor for a few years down in Kentucky and Tennessee, so a lot of times, my main characters are pilots. I currently have four books written. I released the first one in 2005. In March of 2018, I revised that book due to inconsistencies with the rest of the series and rereleased it in 2018 with 50 to 75 percent different content. the second book in the Avia series is due to be released in May, and the two other books will be released later this year.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Thunderstorms and .45s is my latest book. It was inspired by watching and reading too many Disney films and books. So, the inspiration was creating something for adults that was the anti-thesis of Disney. It was further inspired by the fact that I could not find any books that ‘had it all’. If it had a good plot, it lacked character development and vice-versa. If it was a relaxing, no-stress book, it lacked adult situations. In this book, I really tried to emphasize the plot as well as the characters and provide enough mature content to satisfy even the most discerning of readers.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Being a freelance writer for the last eight years has given me a unique perspective on the writing process. When I talk to new writers or those who are still in the developmental phase of writing, I receive a lot of the same comments, and I receive some of these comments even from seasoned writers – it’s not ready. It’s not perfect. I can’t get my words right. My sentences aren’t right. I’m fretting over punctuation or a certain word. my favorite comments include – I have writers block, or I’ve lost my muse.

As a freelance writer, I’ve learned that those are excuses not to write, and I don’t get the liberty of having those excuses. When the client says I need X article by X date, it must be done regardless, so I’ve learned to push past all those excuses and just write. I can fix everything in editing. As a result, I write eight to 10 hours a day. I wrote 222,000 words last year. So, my unusual writing habit is that I have the ability to crank a lot of words in a short amount of time, and I do’t fret the details until the end.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have read so much from so many authors. I’ve read Stephen King, Anne Rice, Lee Child, Grimms Brothers and J.K. Rowling to name a few. My writing style is probably a combination of Stephen King, Anne Rice and Grimms Brothers.

What are you working on now?
Right now, I am putting the final touches on Avia II: Bullets and Betrayal, which is coming out in May 2018.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I find a combination approach is always best. An author should have a personal website, a professional website and several social media accounts where they can promote their work, and the earlier the better. I do take a freelancing approach to my advertising, so I create useful articles around my books. A few promotional articles that I did for Thunderstorms and .45s – 2018 Avia Version were 3 Benefits of Reading, Interview with Avia, interview with Benton and Top 3 Reasons to Buy Thunderstorms and .45s.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep going. Keep writing and keep working for it. You are good enough. You’re writing is strong enough, and your book idea is marketable. Don’t let the naysayers get you down or tell you, you can’t.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t listen to the people who tell you, you can’t. They’re not helping you. You need people around you that will pick you up when things look dire and people around you that will provide you with honest feedback.

What are you reading now?
The Art and Craft of Writing Historical Fiction.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Lots and lots. My publishing schedule is pretty packed this year. I have a book coming out in May, one in August and one in early December.

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?
Bush Craft 101
SAS Survival Handbook
Preppers Long-Term Survival Quide
And a blank book and pen. There’s probably a novel in tat experience.

Author Websites and Profiles
Stacey Carroll Website
Stacey Carroll Amazon Profile

Stacey Carroll’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Jodie Rose is actually two people! Jodie and Rose. They both good friends who enjoy writing and what started as writing stories for fun together, turned into a book! As of right now, only one has been written but with have nine more planned and some short stories.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Soul Fire is our first book, the book was inspired by a short story we wrote together!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I can think of

What authors, or books have influenced you?
JR Ward, Rachel Vincent, Diane Henders are all authors we find inspiration from!

What are you working on now?
Book two to Keepers of the City and book one of Demons of the City!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Right now, it’s been through word of mouth because we’re still so new!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do it! It’s going to be hard, you’re going to get frustrated but I PROMISE once you hold that book in your hands, it’s all going to be worth it. Don’t let anyone ever tell you that you can’t do this!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Believe in myself!

What are you reading now?
Jodie is reading book five of the Black Dagger Brotherhood and Rose is reading the Dark Tower series!

What’s next for you as a writer?
We’re going to keep going with this series! We have several trilogies planned.

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 JR Ward or Christopher Moore…Jodi Picoult… man…three or four is really hard. Lamb by Christopher Moore is certainly one.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jodie Rose Website

Jodie Rose’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in Texas and literally grew up throughout the US and Asia. My father was in the U.S. Air Force and we moved every year. I attended a new school every year. Even when we lived in Okinawa for three years, I attended a new school every year. I believe living in many places has made me open to the many cultures in the world. I believe, this has helped me describe the culture of the aliens in my first book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Connor’s Gambit. I can’t say if any one thing inspired the story other than my imagination went wild.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I know of – I’ll write on my IPod. Is that unususual.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a follow on to Connor’s Gambit. The story takes place three years in the future.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Promoters with newsletters or email lists

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Finish your book, copyright it and don’t let anyone talk you out of it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Copyright your book.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish book 2

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?
Dictionary
Finest Hour by Winston Churchill
Star Trek Cookbook by Ethan Phillips and William J. Birnes
Alien Stars Three Short Novels by C.J. Cherryh, Joe Haldeman, and Timothy Zahn

Author Websites and Profiles
z Gottlieb Website
z Gottlieb Author Profile on Smashwords

z Gottlieb’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I love the imagination. That’s why I’m more than just an author; I’m a game designer, dungeon master, and all-around geek. I’ve written three books so far, but I’m just getting started.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Fever Rising is my latest book. It’s inspired by a few things: League of Legends, books like Mistborn, and my untamed views on society.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have to write my first draft in a journal before I type it up. Sangria for night writing, and an entire coffee pot for pre-dawn ideas.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
JK Rowling, CS Lewis, Brandon Sanderson, Jim Butcher, and most recently, my fellow Trifecta authors.

What are you working on now?
My blog until I get back into my new series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I love Twitter, if only to get personal with fans.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up. I know it’s cliche, but that’s the truth. Believe in your work because readers will notice. Also, keep writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t think about what’s on the page. Write until your fingers cramp and you’ve emptied your brain of thoughts.

What are you reading now?
The Magicians.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep writing, keep promoting, keep reading.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Gone With the Wind, The Last Wish, Prisoner of Azkaban, The Final Empire

Author Websites and Profiles
KM Riley Website

KM Riley’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in a little USSR town in 1980. I like reading very much. But my first story I wrote only when I was 25. Now I write from time to time. It is not my professional job. I would say it is my hobby. My favourite writer is Stephen King with his mystery stories. His works affected me so much. That is why I like writing mystery stories. I like reading them and I like writing them. It’s easy! I hope I can publish my stories soon.
Also I like dieting and especially Keto diet. I love it very much. I followed it and I believe it is one of the best diets ever. It is quite easy and I like it for the mind clearness and for the fast results. That is why I decided I just had to share my diet experience with other people.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Keto Diet.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
It seems to me I haven’t.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
A lot of them.

What are you working on now?
A book about fat burning.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just do not stop.

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

What are you reading now?
Good to great.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am not sure.

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?

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello my friend. My name is Michael Cowrie and I am from Serbia. Now I live in US and I am 36 yeas old. Snowboarding is my favourite hobby but also I like to learn languages. I am crazy about them. I know Serbian and German. I can read Persian and Arabic. I learn French and Spanish. And of course I have learned English. I am always asked is this difficult to know so many languages. I usually answer that after second learned language the process becomes simple. And this is true. I hope my books about languages will help you to improve your knowledge. I’ve written only one book now.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Easy English. 10 Tips of Learning English to Begin Speaking Very Fast.
This book is based on my experience. And that was my inspiration.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes
I can write all day long.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Many authors.

What are you working on now?
Easy Deutsch…

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes. They need to write and write and write. And take their time.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be strong!

What are you reading now?
Arabic grammar.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Become famous.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Maybe it will be books about various languages… I need to think more.

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Oh boy. I’ve written…countless books. Or, maybe I should say, started countless books. I’ve finished about twenty, I’d say. I have the Nightwalkers series released on Amazon (a very Buffy-esque series). It was the first series I’d ever written, with my original babies. I write it all: steampunk, fantasy, urban fantasy, dystopian, sci-fi. Really, anything except contemporary. And it’s all usually YA or NA.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
A Mark Unwilling, coming out May 1, 2018, is my latest work. It’s inspired by my love for action, with a hint of romance. I love snark, so had to add some of that in there, along with some characters you don’t know if you should trust.

I think, if you read it, you’ll also realize I was heavily influenced by Xena when I was younger.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I sit and let the words come out. No pre-plotting, nothing. And usually, marring a few plot holes that I can fix later on, the characters take hold of the plot themselves. No outlines for me. Ever.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I really enjoyed Black Beauty when I was younger, though I read almost anything at our school library.

What are you working on now?
The second and third book of the Reckoning trilogy will be released this year, too.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Like my plotting skills, I just wing it.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. Every day. Just write. Even if you’re stumped. Write. Force it out and keep going. You can always go back to it later.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Whoever eats the fastest eats the mostest.

What are you reading now?
A book about faeries.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have a trilogy of thrillers I’d like to release soon.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
That depends if I took the books to use for a fire, or to read them….LOL.

For reading, probably the first Maximum Ride book, the first Harry Potter book…for the fire, a certain long story about vampires that I couldn’t finish.

Author Websites and Profiles
Candace Wondrak Amazon Profile

Candace Wondrak’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written six short stories and one full-length novel within the erotica genre.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘S.I.R.E.N.S’ is a full-length erotic action/adventure romance novel set in World War 2. It is based on clandestine warfare operations carried out by S.O.E, the British ‘Special Operations Executive.’

In the book, four women (one Austrian, one French, one English and one Italian) come together through different back stories to fight as a dedicated unit, seeking to destroy an experimental nerve agent being developed for inclusion in the V2 rocket weapons.
Along the way there is an ongoing background romance, characters dealing with bereavement and loss, and all manner of sexual shenanigans.

I have long been in awe of the female agents of S.O.E. While the book is primarily a piece of erotic entertainment with a strong action/adventure component, it also includes many accurate details and historical settings to flesh out the narrative.

As we celebrate the centenary of women’s suffrage in 2018, it seemed like a good time to author a book which (while a work of fiction) still reflects on the incredible bravery of many real women who made the ultimate sacrifice at a time when they couldn’t formerly fight in combat operations.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
In the erotica genre, not many. I enjoy the works of Jaye Elise.

What are you working on now?
‘S.I.R.E.N.S’ has been a mammoth undertaking, so I hope to have a rest.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Yet to find a standout candidate, but hopefully ‘Awesomegang’ will be it.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write, and then write some more! Writing is like a muscle: it needs to be used regularly. Everything else will follow in time…

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t eat yellow snow?

What are you reading now?
Oh, the choices! I really have no idea what to start next, but only because there’s so much great stuff out there.

What’s next for you as a writer?
A holiday.

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 Lord of the Rings
A Christmas Carol
High Road to China
The Wind in the Willows

Author Websites and Profiles
J. B. Crown Website
J. B. Crown Amazon Profile

J. B. Crown’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written two non-fiction books (Re:Birth and Birth in Blantyre), four children’s books (The Mystery of the Missing Sandal, John and the Mason Bees, Baby Steps 1, 2,3, and SpiderPants), and have an impressive pile of half-finished children’s stories on my desk!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Birth in Blantyre was inspired by an email from a stranger in Malawi. Edward Mikwamba contacted me after hearing about my first book (Re:Birth) from a press release. He wanted more information on Re:Birth to share with the women in Malawi because of the country’s incredibly high maternal mortality rate.

I was happy to help and send brochures and printable documents. Over 5 months, Edward would send me photos and stories from lovely women in Malawi. I grew to understand some of the unimaginable hurdles these women face and I wanted to do more to help them, but I wasn’t sure what I could do.

Finally, I decided to dive in and research and interview as many birth professionals and moms as I could. I learned that 7 women died in one hospital because the doctors didn’t have enough latex gloves to adequately assess their stage of labor. From that moment on, I was inspired to compile the stories and information I gathered into a book and use 100% of the proceeds to help purchase latex gloves for Malawian hospitals.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
98% of the time, I write standing up on my laptop. If I’m not standing, I’m writing in a good ol’ fashion notebook with a pencil!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
As a mom, I’m primarily reading children’s tales and love reading books by Sally Loyd-Jones. I also have a deep appreciation for many Christian writers like Eric Metaxas, Max Lucado, Ann Voskamp, and Beth Moore.

What are you working on now?
I have a line-up of three children’s rhyming tales followed, each supporting global causes. Then, I hope to finish up a non-fiction book about Job’s three friends [and how not to be one of them].

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Marketing is hard for me. I often joke that I couldn’t sell chocolate because my heart is always to give the material away. I’m learning more day by day and have found great resources from Dave Chesson, including this site!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t be discouraged by the obstacles you face. Writing a book is a lot like having a baby, you don’t give birth and then just leave the baby alone to fend for itself. It takes time to grow!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Love one another as I have loved you,” (John 13:34).

What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Letters from Prison.

What’s next for you as a writer?
On top of my “to finish” pile, I’m working on collaborating with other authors who are passionate about using their pens to support causes through Esther’s House Publishing.

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’d start off with my favorites- my Bible and Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem (I know, not typical!). Then I’d bring two titles I’ve been waiting to read, 7 Women by Eric Metaxas, Shaken by Tim Tebow.

Author Websites and Profiles
Alexandra Kulick Website
Alexandra Kulick Amazon Profile

Alexandra Kulick’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m first generation American on my dad’s side. My Czech heritage is rooted in the theatre and literature. My grandfather was an author, playwright, theatrical director, and owned a theater hall in Prague before having to flee the country. My grandmother was an actress on stage and screen. My father became an English teacher and performed in community theatre for years. That’s not really about me, but it’s certainly a huge influence on my love of books and the arts.

I love animals and nature, sci-fi/paranormal, fantasy, and YA, but I have a very eclectic taste and interests. We have a homestead farm, which I’ve wanted since childhood. I’ve got chickens and turkeys (ducks and geese will arrive later this year), goats, and small breed pigs. I’ve had goats for around 12 years now and I’m trading my last few to try a venture into hair sheep.

We homeschooled our kids for several years before they grew up and left the nest. Now it’s just my hubby and I living our dreams. I’ve been certified as a ProLiteracy tutor and worked with the local adult learning center for a couple years as a tutor and serving on several committees.

I’m a graphic designer, making book covers, ezine covers, t-shirts, and more. I love art and I’m working on learning more so I can widen my range of illustrations for my picture books.

My books range from picture books through those for adult audiences. I’ve written and published 22 books as of this interview. I have a nonfiction book scheduled for release on April 1st and a picture book releasing mid-July.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The last book published is For: Giva de Vine (Payton Chronicles 2). It’s inspiration eludes me beyond simply wishing to create something new from the darker elements and provide a powerful protagonist that rises from the darkness of her past to the limitless future where she has the power to be who she was always meant to be.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know about that. From the other authors I know… I’m just as unusual as they are. lol. I think we’re all a little unusual in some way. I started as a pantser, but I’m slowly shifting more toward outlines as I push myself out of my comfort zone and into improving my skills.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are so many amazing authors and books out there. I learned how to read before kindergarten. So, I couldn’t come close to listing all of those who influenced me. Anne McCaffrey and Madeleine L’Engle are among my all time favorites. So are L. M. Montgomery, Dr. Seuss, Orson Scott Card, Cassandra Clare, Neil Gaiman… (oh to hear him give a speech! <3 ) Louisa May Alcott, the Berenstains, Mercer Mayer, Suzanne Collins, Shel Silverstein, David Eddings…. There are so many more.

What are you working on now?
I’ve got my first full horror novel that I wrote during NaNoWriMo (Nov ’17) called Phantom Knights that I’m editing. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and the results are incredibly exciting for me. A young college girl, Restyn Peiss, stars in this dark tale.

I’m preparing for a new YA paranormal romance called Red Winter for CampNaNoWriMo (April ’18). It’s the first in a planned series of 4 novels and a twist on the traditional Little Red Riding Hood theme meets Rumspringa for wolves. Karis has an eventful year ahead of her.

My nonfiction fiction writer’s guide is coming out on the first of April and is the first of my Writing Hacks 101 series. This one covers plot holes.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I like using various blogs to promote through. I’m now reaching out more to other sites, becoming more active on twitter. I use Facebook extensively. I also have my own websites.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing, keep reading, keep learning. If you want it, you have to go for it. There is a lot involved in writing and selling books, but if you have the passion, it is more than worth it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write something great. If you’re looking for advice quotes, Neil Gaiman is your man. He’s amazing as a speaker and I aspire to be as fluent as him.

What are you reading now?
AuthorPreneur by Jesse Warren Tevelow. I just started it. So, don’t tell me how it ends. No spoilers, sweetie.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have an ongoing list of ideas and stories. I’ve set a goal for myself to write 3+ novels a year plus smaller books, like my new Writing Hacks 101 series, picture books, articles, and some short stories for a couple anthologies I’m putting together. I need to continue series I’ve already started and I have several series yet to begin. Ever onward with yet another word to be written.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
a dictionary, a thesaurus, Strunks & White’s Elements of Style and…. OMG the horror of having to choose only one more!!!!!! A huge baby name book. With these, I can write as many of my own books as I want. muahahahaha…

Author Websites and Profiles
Ann Snizek Website
Ann Snizek Amazon Profile

Ann Snizek’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
A. White, a former librarian who is also long time member of Romantic Time and Publisher’s Weekly. A. White has been writing for over fifteen years. She took classes in creative writing in college, specializing in ancient myths and legends. and at a local community center while living in Chicago. In college she won the national contest to verbally list every country in the world, it’s capital and ingenious language. Her works are mainly horror, fantasy, extreme, and sci-fi as well as, as some may says, “the truly strange predicament and puzzling.” Books that I’ve written are “Clash with the Immortals, and eleven others which are part of the “Unholy Pursuit saga,”

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Many of my books aren’t published yet but the name of the latest unpublished book is called “UnWritten” while the latest of the published books, “The Immortal Lover (The First Book of the UnHoly Pursuit Sequels): Revised”

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No, I have been writing a little each day for over twenty years.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I can not say I have one specific genre or author who influenced me. There are many of many of classic works of many different writers and cultures.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Word of mouth at book signings. People see you and your book and are more likely to buy if can meet you face to face.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes, get going. It’s going to be tough but keep writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never comprise your work or your characters. Stick to your plans.

What are you reading now?
Lucky Charm: A St. Patrick’s Day Irish Billionaire Fake Fiance Romance

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finishing this series.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Great Gatsby
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
The Work of Sofia

Author Websites and Profiles
A. White Website
A. White Amazon Profile
A. White Author Profile on Smashwords

A. White’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Just one book. I’m a middle-aged English man living in Cornwall with my dog.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘How To Be More Productive’
It was inspired by me noticing my own behaviour and that of those around me. The way we go about our lives dedicating vast amounts of time to our work when there is an easier way. There is always a better way to do things, so I went on a quest to search for those better ways.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I can think of, other than maybe refusing to work before 10 in the morning, I simply don’t function as well then.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
None come to mind, just the genre of self-help in general. I suppose some of the classics like ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ certainly helped.

What are you working on now?
A second book, but I’m afraid that must remain secret

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have yet to find my favourite, this site is looking good though.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just write. No matter what happens, just keep writing, you can always throw away what you wrote if you hate it. But don’t stop.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I honestly have no idea.

What are you reading now?
‘Superintelligence’ by Nick Bostrom and ‘Don Quixote’ by Miguel de Cervantes. A strange combination, but both great books.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More books I hope, and more reading.

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?
‘Sapiens’ by Yuval Noah Harari, ‘1984’ by George Orwell, ‘The Stand’ by Stephen King, and probably something long that I’ve never read before

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I currently have two short stories released, with another two in the pipeline. I have a full sized novel finished and am in the process of my eight or ninth edit, I lose track sometimes. My plan was to create the short stories to introduce readers into the Halycron Universe and then I can release the full length novel, which is the first part of a trilogy.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Megala: The Beginning and Rogan: Serpent Hunting are my two short stories, and they are very much inspired by works such as Chris Wooding’s Ketty Jay series, or Firefly on television. It’s all about having a fun adventure set in a sci-fi surrounding.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I am aware of when it comes to typing, but when it comes to writing in person I have the worst habit. Don’t judge me on this… but I don’t hold a pencil/pen correctly.

When I was younger I was extremely stubborn and found a way I preferred when it came to holding a pencil and I’ve never looked back.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Chris Wooding’s Ketty Jay series is definitely a big influence, as is the Mortal Engines quartet by Phillip Reeve. Another huge influence on me was the His Dark Material’s trilogy by Phillip Pullman. I think The Northern Lights was the first time I experienced the feeling of not being able to put a book down.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently finishing off more short stories and polishing the full length novel. I’m hoping to have more adventures set in the Halycron Universe available soon.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
If you find one, please let me know?

I mainly just use twitter and pray that someone notices my tweet.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Finish your book. So many other new budding authors I speak to start about six different projects without finishing any. Get one finished and get over the finish line, once you’ve done that I think you’ll grow and learn and that can help with the rest of the projects.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The above advice, finish your book. Also for a long time I was nervous about people I knew in person finding my books and taking the mick or something. Then someone told me, “who cares?”, and they were right.

Don’t ever be embarrassed about writing; because actually, it’s pretty cool.

What are you reading now?
Bone Dance by Emma Pull

What’s next for you as a writer?
In the short term… getting some food as I am starving. In the long run, hopefully getting more followers interested in the Halycron Universe and giving them more stories to enjoy.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The first would be a self help book called ‘How to Survive on a Desert Island’. The second would be the largest book I could find so if needs be I could use it to start a fire and keep warm. Then I’d have to say The Northern Lights by Phillip Pullman, and The Black Lung Captain by Chris Wooding.

Author Websites and Profiles
James Rogers Website
James Rogers Amazon Profile

James Rogers’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a syndicated columnist and freelance writer for multiple publications including Senior Wire News, The Philadelphia Inquirer, HuffPost, and many more. This is my first book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The book is called Rats, Mice and Other Things You Can’t Take to the Bank, an Inspirational Collection of Essays From Humorous to Simply Human. Yes, it’s a mouthful for a title, but when you read the book, you totally understand where the book name comes from. Some of the essays include previously published works of mine from various small publications, others just needed a home. After many years of illness, I was forced to go out of work just as I was turning fifty. I wasn’t going to let my illness or my age end my life. In writing about my experiences, I found a way to become the healthiest happiest sick person I know. I wanted to share my lessons in becoming happy no matter the circumstances. That’s how the book came to be. My hope is that readers relate to these stories by seeing themselves within the pages and nodding as they read…yes…she’s just like me!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I keep a running list of story ideas that I dictate into my phone. Basically, my whole life is writing. As I go through any given day, or even wake up in the middle of the night, ideas for stories pop into my head. I have to take note of them right away, or sadly, they will be lost forever. My life is one big senior moment. If I think I’ll remember the idea later, I’m always wrong. Ask me how I know this about myself.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Everything I’ve ever read has influenced me, but I would definitely have to say that other essayists have been my biggest influence. Think everything from Erma Bombeck to Jenny Lawson. If the author writes with personal candor, that’s always got the biggest impact on me. I only know how to write honestly…straight from the heart.

What are you working on now?
I continue to publish essays through my syndication and freelance work, and I’m enjoying speaking at events and swapping stories with readers at book clubs.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don’t know that I have a best method. Book promotion is tough. I have a wonderful publisher who handles some of the promotion. Most of us writers, well, we just want to write. I totally enjoy meeting my readers and hearing their stories, but I sure wish someone else could handle all the selling and promoting.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you love to write, write. Don’t worry about grammar, punctuation and spelling. Just write. The rest will come.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Ha! Now this story goes way back. When I was a teenager, we had a family friend from New York City. I grew up in the south so her accent and her manner were quite foreign to me. She used to always say “you don’t ask, you don’t get.” I used to think this was so crass. As I got older, I actually realized that this was quite good advise. You don’t have to ask rudely for what you want. You can be kind, but still be assertive. I found out that when I would like something, I just had to ask. The worst that could happen was that the answer was “no.” Sometimes, just sometimes, the answer was “yes,” and I never would have known if I hadn’t asked.

What are you reading now?
I’m almost always reading one fiction and one nonfiction book. I just finished reading “Tortilla Curtain” and I’m in the midst of Darrell Sifford’s “What Do You Think.” Unfortunately, I believe Sifford’s book is out of print now, but it’s a heartfelt collection of what were some of his favorite essays, so of course, I love it.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ll continue to write for my syndication as long as they’ll continue to have me, and I’ll continue with my freelance work. I’d like to see where this first book takes me. If it resonates with readers, perhaps they’ll be a book two.

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?
Nope, can’t go there. There’s no way I could ever be limited. As they say, “so many books, so little time.” I’d be like the Burgess Meredith character in the old Twilight Zone episode when he finds the world has come to an end, but he finds the library full of every book he ever wanted to read and all the time in the world to read them. If you’re old enough to be familiar with the episode, you know it doesn’t end quite so well, but I’ll be positive in that way I know so well. Otherwise, you can read the essay about Murphy’s Law in my book, and you can figure out for yourself how it turns out. Hint: I keep getting lucky.

Author Websites and Profiles
Leslie Handler Website
Leslie Handler Amazon Profile

Leslie Handler’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have adored western romances my entire life and started devouring them as a teen, sneaking them away from my mother when she wasn’t looking. My whole family is voracious readers and most of us writers too! I took up writing when I read a book and thought “Oh no! No! No! That can’t end like this?! What were they thinking?’

I proceeded to sit down and type out what *I* wanted in the book. I never sent it anywhere or did anything with it, but it made me feel better… contented. I have written eleven books so far and plan to hit 20 by the end of 2018.

Now, I have a process, a rhythm, if you will. My writing starts the moment my husband goes to sleep for his night shift. I get out my laptop, my cell, my iPad and park it on my favorite corner of our sectional. I have a velour blankie (yes, blankie! No one else better touch it!) that I throw over my lap and figuratively lose myself in the story. When I am in the ‘zone,’ I write out a book fairly quickly and with such joy! <3

My book, Treasured Bride, was written within two days. I absolutely adored the characters and my inspiration came from the folksong “Clementine.” I thought, ‘what if she wasn’t lost and gone forever’? as the song portrayed? What if she was glad to be found and escaped, because let’s face it … what woman wanders alone, around in a canyon…unless she is a rockhound?

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My upcoming book is called Brokken Vows. It’s part of a series set in Brokken, Texas after the Civil War. My story in the Brokken Road Romances was exactly like Treasured Bride. I *love* the main character, Ava Bestatter. I pictured a dainty, prim woman who was thrown into the most horrific job ever — undertaker. How would it make her feel? How would she cope?

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Other than my blankie and coffee? Not really. I need complete silence so I can ‘lose’ myself in the story.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh gosh… Lots of them! I absolutely adore Jessica Clare’s books, Jenna Brandt, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Judith McNaught, etc.

What are you working on now?
I just finished Lawfully Yours – coming out in May 2018 and am currently writing another book called Lawfully Challenged in the same series.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up. You write because you love it – keep that feeling close to your heart. There are some great moments and others that make you want to tear out your hair.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write, write, write! Use that muscle between your ears and keep writing!

What are you reading now?
I just got my copy of Lynsay Sands newest Argeneau book… Immortally Yours.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Good question! I think I am going to tackle another time travel book in my Timeless Brides 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?
1. A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught
2. Robotech: Battlecry by Jack McKinney (yes, yes! I <3 Robotech and am a kid at heart)
3. Dark Prince by Christine Feehan

Author Websites and Profiles
Ginny Sterling Website
Ginny Sterling Amazon Profile

Ginny Sterling’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 wife to an Amazing man and my childhood sweetheart! Together, we raise two beautiful children (1 girl and 1 boy). In addition to experiencing this wonderful life together, we partner as The Ministry and The Music. I am an independent ordained minister and my husband is a professional gospel hip hop rap artist. When we are not serving in our community or ministering via word or music, our family enjoys cooking “Master-chef” quality meals, vegging out on popcorn and netflix movies, or traveling the world. Jesus, Coffee, and Prayer is my debut devotional.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Jesus, Coffee, and Prayer is the name of my debut devotional book and it was inspired by many things. One inspiration comes from my love of Jesus Christ. He is my source and my strength- without him, i am nothing. My second inspiration was my son and all the newest that comes with a baby. I’m also inspired to help my readers gain back their peace and joy through gratitude.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Great question! If writing on my notepad from my cell phone at 3 and 4 in the morning, while nursing my son is considered unusual, then yes…count me in! The truth is, when writing my devotional, I truly had to have an attitude of gratitude simply to take in any opportunity to write. As a wife and mother of 2 (specifically a newborn while finalizing my book), I truly had to create space to glean on the Lords word and produce a devotional worthy of publication.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are quite a few authors that have influenced my authorship. The most relevant author would be Joel Osteen- Think better, Live better has a similar feel to Jesus, Coffee, and Prayer. They both include a journal entry available to help readers tangibly achieve their goals in Jesus Christ. In Jesus, Coffee, and Prayer (Attitude of Gratitude series), I encourage readers to write down what that are grateful for specifically, who, and how they are going to show that Gratitude in a real way. This process allows readers to gain real traction in their journey to peace and joy through gratitude.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a sequel to Jesus, Coffee, and Prayer. This devotional is still apart of the Attitude of Gratitude series and is entitled “Everybody wants a piece of mommy.” This book is designed to edify and encourage an attitude of gratitude for all my hardworking, multiple hat wearing mommies when their time, effort, energy, and money is spent. In addition to working on the sequel devotional, I am currently on a Carolina book tour.
Visit www.jesuscoffeeandprayer.com for more details

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My books, blog, book tour and other ministry speaking engagements can be viewed on my website- www.jesuscoffeeandprayer.com
or
Books can be purchased via paperback or ebook
@
https://www.amazon.com/author/minnakitadavis

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just Do It! Don’t put off tomorrow what you can do today! It took me year and half to produce a book that the Lord placed on my heart almost 20 years ago. Learn from me, do what you love now. Little by little is still progress.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The Best advise by far was from my mother! She always told me to Trust in the Lord. Everyday is not easy, but with God on my side, I know that I will not only survive but thrive through any situation. I want to encourage you too. Trust in the Lord!

What are you reading now?
The Bible…specifically the Old Testament. I’m gleaning from the book of Isaiah.
On a side note, before I begin my day, Its important for me to put on the full armor of the Lord. When i create space to study and meditate on the word of God, I become fully equipped to handle my day.
I’m not perfect and fall short daily, but with God on my side, I press towards the mark.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Loaded question! The Lord is truly in the blessing business! Outside of promoting my current book and working on the sequel; I am set for a book tour starting in my home city- Charlotte, NC in April.
Visit www. jesuscoffeeandprayer.com for details

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?
First and foremost, I would bring my bible. This is a daily must for me- not for religion but relationship with my Lord and Savior- Jesus Christ.
Secondly, I would bring Dr. Cindy Trimm’s “Command your morning.” This book was powerful and spoke Godly affirmations over my life!
Lastly, I would bring Jesus, Coffee, and Prayer. While stranded on an island, i would need all the positive affirmations I could receive. I’d also want to maintain an attitude of gratitude. It is essential to living a life of peace and joy…even on a stranded island! Lol

Author Websites and Profiles
Minister Nakita Davis Website
Minister Nakita Davis Amazon Profile

Minister Nakita Davis’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Bala Mookoni spent much of his younger years in the Deccan Plateau of the Indian Subcontinent, working with men, machines and glass-melting furnaces. He grew up gazing at the sea from sun-kissed coasts, dreaming of many things he did not have (a beautiful mermaid included). Now closer to the Thar Desert, he bid goodbye to a corporate career as a Vice-President and is working on what he missed for many years: doing things with his own hands, being more involved with his family (though he unwittingly ends up breathing down their necks) and having a cute Shih-Tzu at home. In-between, the wannabe author writes books. Like wine, apparently, he is getting better with age. And yes, he never found his mermaid but has instead a woman just as mysterious. His strong-willed daughter lives in Germany, and his teenaged son quickly takes his mother’s side when there is domestic discord.

When he is not writing, Bala consults for a US engineering company or works in the basement of his condo trying to ensure the water from the sewage treatment plant there smells good.

The Lemurian Triangles is Bala’s first Thriller.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is “The Lemurian Triangles”, a mystery-thriller.

I wanted to write something different that the readers would truly enjoy. Something that would delight, surprise and engage at the same time. It was then that I discovered about the legend of Lemuria. The challenge was how to make the completely unconnected ideas to come together and fit in a nice story. But I am glad that it all worked out beautifully in the end.

I hope my readers would find The Lemurian Triangles as delightful to read as it was for me to write it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, I like to write about the unusual and the little-known. While I want my stories to be racy, I also want to transport my readers into another world where they forget themselves. These are two contrasting requirements, but that’s another challenge that I relish.

Finally, I believe that language is an art. The use of the right language is essential to capture the spirit of the story. To that extent, the language that I use is not always the simplest.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
A lot of books have influenced me in different ways. Ernest Hemingway, Ayn Rand, Dan Brown, John Grisham and, more recently, AG Riddle have inspired me.

What are you working on now?
I just finished this book. It had been an intensive year working on it. The story had penetrated right up to my DNA, so to say. I lived it day and night, even during a break in my sleep. So, I guess I am sort of taking it easy a bit. It will be a while before I start working on my next.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Ha ha, that’s something I am still trying to discover.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t settle down after the first draft of your book. Your book’s shape only crystallises after a number of revisions, maybe 3-5 at least. Only after these revisions, your book becomes marketable.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep revising what you have written till you feel that it could get no better.

What are you reading now?
As I wrote before, I am just chilling at the moment.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Another book is all that I can say for the moment.

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. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
2. Camino Island by John Grisham
3. Inferno by Dan Brown

Author Websites and Profiles
Bala Mookoni Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a really down to earth guy with pie in the sky dreams, so I’m a bit cliche, even though I hate the thought of being in a mold. First and foremost, I’m a Christian, so a lot of what I write comes from that point of view. I have two published books, The Gadarene and Through the Needle. They are both novellas.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Through the Needle. It’s the story of the Apostle Paul after he was converted and sitting blind in Damascus. I thought the meeting between him and a man named Ananias (a Christian who was tasked with going to meet a known murderer of Christians) must have been a huge challenge of faith for both of them. The story is my exploration of that idea.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wish! I guess I could try writing with an eye patch or something.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I grew up reading the Dark Elf books by R.A. Salvatore. I loved his imagery, and that became a big focus in my writing. Recently, I’ve been a big fan of Ted Dekker. I like his fusion of spiritual truth and inspiration with strong plot structure and pacing.

What are you working on now?
I have a couple things in the works. I have another novella in the revision process and a young adult fantasy novel.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m experimenting right now. Maybe this one?!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Learn the craft. Practice the craft. Don’t put anything out there until someone other than your mom says it’s good.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Dreams are great but goals are better. Dreams happen while you’re asleep. Wake up and work to accomplish your goals.

What are you reading now?
Salvatore actually. I had a thirteen year hiatus and felt it calling to me.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on building my author platform, expanding my reach so that I can be a help and inspiration to as many people as I can.

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 or Treasure Island because I love irony. I don’t know other than that. Mystery or a thriller would be a bad idea because I’d only be able to read it once. I don’t love that kind of irony.

Author Websites and Profiles
Chad Pettit Website
Chad Pettit Amazon Profile

Chad Pettit’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I got my start as a reader, and as a daydreamer. I spent hours imagining myself in the stories I loved. What would I do if I got my owl from Hogwarts? (Attend Hogwarts, get sorted into Ravenclaw, and get my NEWT in Charms, just for the record.) What would I do if I was somehow, magically transported into the Lord of the Rings universe? What would my dress look like when I married Legolas? (It would have been awesome.)

Writing my own stories, where I could chase down those what-ifs, became my obsession.

I’ve written five (and a half) books now, with three of those currently published in the Witch’s Bite Series. I’m finishing up the fourth book in the series now

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Forbidden Magic.

The last book in the Witch’s Bite Series deals with the darker sides of magic and the price paid for wielding them.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Unusual? Probably not. I spend a lot of time day-dreaming about my characters, but I think that’s pretty common among writers.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
J. K. Rowling inspires me with her amazing world building and the depth of her characters.

In the Urban Fantasy genre I’ve been inspired by Patricia Briggs and Kim Harrison with their unique magic and fantastic worlds.

What are you working on now?
Forbidden Magic, Book 4 in the Witch’s Bite Series. It’s the final book in the series and I’m excited to wrap up Olivia’s journey

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
AMS ads have shown the best overall effect on sales. I always have a 5 to 10 ads running.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Learn to write quickly without fear. Make a detailed publishing plan BEFORE you publish your first book.

Read as much as you can!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
They’re your dreams. Do what you want with them.

What are you reading now?
Death Becomes Her by Michael Anderle (Book 1 in the Kurtherian Gambit Series)

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m brainstorming my next series! It’s going to deal with people that don’t fit in inside a magical world that values what you can do over everything else.
Kindness and generosity is more important that ruthless ambition. Family is a choice. Love is shown in your actions.

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?
Ender’s Game, Deathly Hallows, How to Build a Raft for Dummies, and a blank notebook.

Author Websites and Profiles
Stephanie Foxe Website
Stephanie Foxe Amazon Profile

Stephanie Foxe’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a retired teacher, coach, and administrator with 35 years experience in both public and private schools. I have been married to my wife Patti for 30 years and we have two children, Scott and Caitlin.
I have recently published my first novel which I wrote during the 2016 NaNoWriMo event. Since that time, I have completed two other novels, which are still in the editing and revising stages, and a book of poetry that I hope to publish shortly.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The What If Project, my only published novel, is about a man who is obsessed with his past. He believes that everything that has ever gone wrong with his life can be traced back to the accidental death of his sister as a child. The two main characters, Jack and Dr. Melton, are inspired by the HBO show, The Sopranos, and the many scenes of Tony sitting across from his therapist. The time travel elements were inspired by one of my favorite old movies, Somewhere in Time.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I listen to classical music while I write (so as not to be distracted by lyrics) which I suppose is unusual since I never listen to it at any other time.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love Stephen King and John Grisham, both of whom are excellent storytellers. Lately, I have been reading a lot of Cormac McCarthy and Lee Child, as well. For inspiration, Max Lucado.

What are you working on now?
Currently, I am working on editing my second novel, Brothers, which is a modern retelling of the parable of the prodigal son. I am also putting the final touches on my book of poetry which I hope to publish soon.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I promote through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, but my blog is the best source of current information about my writing projects. http://rdperryauthor.blogspot.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up! It is easy to get discouraged and frustrated, but my best advice is to keep writing. Express yourself and tell your story!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Learn to make your inner editor shut up! Get that first draft out of your head and down on paper, THEN worry about editing and revising.

What are you reading now?
Dragon Teeth by Michael Crichton

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on getting novels two and three ready for publishing, as well as working on a possible sequel for novel three.

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, Orwell’s 1984, Tolstoy’s War and Peace, King’s Needful Things.

Author Websites and Profiles
Rick Perry Website
Rick Perry Amazon Profile

Rick Perry’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Roberto Torres.I have written three books.
My first book is my autobiography titled “MY LIFE SABOR LATINO” (2014)
My second book is tilted “MIS GRANDES CANCIONES Y POEMAS”
(2016)
My third book is titled “125 quotes gathered from my life observations ”
March (2018)

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is tittled 125 quotes gathered from my life observations.
I always wanted to write a quotes book. So, I decided to write it using my life expiriences.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When past experiences come to mind, I usually create a tittle for it and use it in mu books or songs.
I usually write at my best when I feel like mu emotions need to be expressed.
At times, I might be in my car and things start to come to my head.I would pull over and begin to write on my notebook.I alwaus have a note book and sharpened pencil with me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read many psychology books.Since a young man, I was always interested in why individuals behave negatively. Studying psychology in college, now I can understand why some individuals behave the way they do.It’s very interesting.

What are you working on now?
At the moment, I’m working on my forth book titled,
” My alma mater Lehman College”

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I usually use all social media websites.
Getting your book on newspapers and magazines is also good promotion.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write from your heart, and never allow any one to tell you, that your book is not good enough.
Be creative,have passion, and always work on your craft..

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I ever heard was from my father.His favorite words are,
“Education is the key to your future”
Work hard,stay positive and never give up..

What are you reading now?
At the moment,I have been reading a lot of american history books.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Like I stated before, I’m working on my forth book titled ” My alma mater Lehman College”

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?
Psychology book
Writing book
American history book
Physical fitness book

Author Websites and Profiles
Roberto Torres Website

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an Australian Air Force wife and mother of two. I write stories of dance, romance and military life including Don’t Mean a Thing, Catching Onix, Wife, Mother, Woman, and Best Friends for Now.

When I’m not devouring books, reviewing and blogging on HeySaidRenee, or writing my own stories, I can be found swing dancing. Or possibly napping.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I usually write chick lit and women’s fiction but my latest book, Narrated by the Author, is non-fiction. It was inspired by my experience of narrating my own audiobook editions of Wife, Mother, Woman and Catching Onix. It is aimed at authors who are considering narrating their own audiobook and takes them through a step by step process from recording to editing to distribution.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I find big writing goals overwhelming so I set myself a small goal of writing 100 words per day which helps develop a regular writing habit. I also find that on bad days, I can still manage 100 words and on good days I easily surpass it.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I generally read 2 or 3 books per week so I struggle to narrow it down to a few books. Everything I read inspires me to some level.

I remember sitting on the floor in the second-hand bookshop when I was about 12 and rifling through the box of Sweet Dreams young adult romance books for the ones I hadn’t read yet. That series had a big part in developing my love of reading which then led to my interest in writing.

What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m finalising the audio edition of Narrated by the Author (I figured a book about making audiobooks should also be an audiobook) then I’ll dive back into the next book in the Got That Swing series, Tain’t What You Do. It’s a chick lit/sweet romance with a hero and heroine in the Australian Navy and lots of swing dancing.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I enjoy interacting with my readers on my Facebook page and I find my newsletter the best for promoting new releases and sales to my readers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep writing a little bit every day. If you work on your story regularly, it will stay fresh in your mind and you won’t waste so much time re-reading everytime you sit down to write.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
When I decided to change the POV of my first novel, Don’t Mean a Thing, from third person to first person about halfway through the first draft, a writer friend told me to just keep writing from where I was up to in first person, then go back and change the first half once I was finished. That kept the story flowing and let me finish the first draft faster.

What are you reading now?
I just finished Those Other Women by Nicola Moriarty and now I’m halfway through the audiobook of Firefly Lane by Kristan Hannah.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ve published a children’s book, a short story, a collection of flash fiction and a novel. I’ve tried my hand (or should I say my voice) at narrating audiobooks. I am about to release a non-fiction book and have a novelette-length story under contract. I suppose I ought to round it all out with a novella – LOL (I have one plotted out to start once I finish the novel I’m in the middle of. I know I should focus on one thing, but so many shiny new projects pop up.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Probably the first few Games of Thrones books – there would be enough characters to keep me company for a while and enough pages to build a shelter if I got desperate.

Author Websites and Profiles
Renee Conoulty Website
Renee Conoulty Amazon Profile
Renee Conoulty Author Profile on Smashwords

Renee Conoulty’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 married father of two, a business and management consultant and have written and self-published 3 books

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Adventures of Mothupi

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There numerous indeed and the list will be very long. I am influenced by both fiction and non-fiction books that are educational in nature

What are you working on now?
Nothing a the moment

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I do not have my own book website as I prefer Amazon, Xinxii, Createspace and other book promoting websites. I use these platforms to promote and market my books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write from your heart something that will either help others or entertain them. Believe in your product and be proud of it. The rest will follow from there.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Dream, protect your dream and act upon it

What are you reading now?
Hustler’s Bible by Gayton McKenzie

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am taking a break for now as I am focusing promoting my three 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?
Financial Literacy: The Basic Requirement for Financial Freedom by JB Malatji
The Richest Man in Babylon
The Alchemist
The Bible

Basi Malatji’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am Basi Malatji (JB), a married father of two and have written and self-published 3 books.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Financial Literacy: The Basic Requirement for Financial Freedom

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Numerous authors. The list is very long.

What are you working on now?
I do not have a writing project at the moment as I am focusing on marketing my three books

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I prefer using many different book promoting websites and face to face selling

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do not just write. Write about something you are passionate about – something that can add value to others either being informative or entertaining.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If we stop dreaming, then we cease to exist. Dream, protect your dream and act on it

What are you reading now?
A Hustler’s Bible by Gayton McKenzie

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have taken a break to focus on marketing my three 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?
Avoiding mistakes that most Entrepreneurs make by JB Malatji
Good to Great
Path Finder
Who Moved my Cheese

Basi Malatji’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have been a writer for a very long time, however ‘Iconoclasm’ is my first full length volume. I am honored to have such a positive response regarding it, and look forward to creating more books in the future!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book ‘Iconoclasm: Political Empowerment for the New Millennium’ was written in response to what I perceive as a deficit in understanding of political sociology. It is not bipartisan or conjectural, rather it aims to provide framework for more effective and positive political thinking.

I am an adamant believer in futurism and upward mobility for the entire world. I was inspire to write ‘Iconoclasm’ because of my true belief that we all have undiscovered power, and information may unlock unprecedented potential.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Absolutely! I have unusual phrasing sometimes and I have very specific times when I am able to write best.

I love authors like Kurt Vonnegut, Harry Crews, and Faulkner, whose writing styles are intently recognizable. I enjoy having an individual voice as a writer and hope it shows though in the content of my work.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Debt: The First 5000 Years by David Graeber
Hopes and Prospects by Noam Chomsky
Sleeping With the Devil by Robert Baer
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
Everything my Kurt Vonnegut

What are you working on now?
I am currently working to promote ‘Iconoclasm’ and schedule interviews, speaking opportunities, and touring. I will begin writing a new book in the winter of 2018.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far Amazon and Createspace have been immensely helpful. I am hoping to partner with more outlets soon!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Set time aside every day to work. Even thirty minutes is useful. Don’t feel like to you have to write! Reading over your work is incredibly important. But tenacity and discipline are the only means of finishing what you start.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you believe in what you do don’t give up. Its cliche, but as artists and writers we are up against a lot of hardships and we mustn’t let those things spoil what we do. Its really hard to be positive sometimes, but only positivity allows for growth.

What are you reading now?
Politcal Order and Political Decay by Francis Fukuyama

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to augment my writing as an activist. I want my work to help fuel progressive and positive futures in government and social works.

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?
Cats Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
The Power or Now by Ekhart Tolle
Feast of Snakes by Harry Crews

Author Websites and Profiles
Jaron Pearlman Website
Jaron Pearlman Amazon Profile

Jaron Pearlman’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have just released my first book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
It is called Pinnacle of Truth. Although the book is fiction it is inspired by some true events. I just could not stop thinking about writing this book. When I started to type the words just flew onto the page.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Karen Kingsbury.

What are you working on now?
Book 2 of The Wilson Series

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Word of Mouth

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write at least 5 days per week.

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

What are you reading now?
A James Patterson Book

What’s next for you as a writer?
More Christian Fiction
Ten books on homeschooling

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
Anything from Karen Kingsbury

Author Websites and Profiles
Tracey Hagerman Website
Tracey Hagerman Amazon Profile

Tracey Hagerman’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m currently living in South Africa with my Scottish husband and teenage daughter. I obviously love reading and writing about love and Happy Ever Afters. Sometimes it is difficult to choose between that and my other two loves of painting and taking photographs of anything that catches my interest. I love watching sport – not doing it anymore – especially rugby. During rugby season you’ll find me either next to the pitch or in front of the television, cheering for (and fighting with) my team., It’s probably not difficult to figure out why her debut novel, Eye on the Ball, as well as the series, Playing for Glory, has rugby as a theme. I love traveling, discovering new places with Scotland on top of the list. I’ve written many books (I think about twelve?) but Eye on the Ball is the first to be published.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
In October my second book, Making the Right Call, will be published. Making the Right Call is the first book in the prequel series to Playing for Glory called Kick-Off. It does not have rugby as a theme as it tells the story of the billionaire CEO of the team and his nerdy accountant. My publisher also accepted Running Interference, the second book in the Playing for Glory series which is a second-chance, secret baby romance. It also does not have as much rugby as Eye on the Ball. This is the story of the PRO and his high-school love who is now a journalist at an internet broadcaster.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No, not really. I may get up at unusual hours (like three in the morning) to write. That is usually when the muse wakes me up.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love Nora Roberts’ books. I guess that’s where I fell in love with Series. I also like Rosalind James’ Escape to New Zealand series.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on three novellas. The one, Taste for Coffee, is already finished and currently with my beta readers. It is the first of free-standing novellas in a series called Taste for Love which I hope to self-publish. Taste for Coffee plays off in Leith, Scotland and the idea has started in a coffee shop. Taste for Wine will be the second in the series and plays off in Edinburgh and Argentina. I’ve just finished Love by Design in another series of novellas called Blue Mountains, set in South Africa’s Cape Winelands. I can probably say that I got the inspiration for the last two in a bottle of wine.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I still have to find that one!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep on writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep on writing. The more you write the better you get. And read.

What are you reading now?
I’m trying to read as many books of other authors who follow me. I’ve just finished Terri Rochenski’s Love’s Sorry and am now reading Love’s Revenge, the sequel.

What’s next for you as a writer?
So many stories, so little time. I’m writing a story in my native Afrikaans for a competition, also relating to rugby. I want to finish my next two books in the Playing for Glory series and the second book in the Kick-Off series. They are all three in their final edits. I want to write the second novella in the Blue Mountains Series and the third in the Taste for Love series. I am also attempting to write a romantic suspense. Yeah, as I said, so many stories…

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?
3 or 4 books? I hope they save me quickly! If I have to choose, I’ll choose a couple of Nora Roberts’ collections and a Dan Brown collection (I still want to read Origin). I wanted to say I would take a Stuart Macbride but I think I’ll be a nervous wreck if I have to read it and I’m alone.

Author Websites and Profiles
Francine Beaton Website
Francine Beaton Amazon Profile
Francine Beaton Author Profile on Smashwords

Francine Beaton’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was a journalist in newsrooms in Tokyo and London when a sudden call to find myself and my purpose sent me back home to the States. I settled in Seattle and started writing short stories. A mentor helped me see the stories fit together as a book, and that night, in the middle of the night, I awoke with the idea for a series of books. Even the titles came to me in that sudden epiphany, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Ether. One protagonist coming of age over five books traveling the world amidst global climate change. Today, Earth, Air, and Fire are published (Fire was just published this month, March 2018). In writing the books I found myself more deeply, and became a book coach (artofstorytellingonline.com), and a visual artist. I now live on 80 acres in Oregon, and have a yurt art studio/writing space in the woods.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Fire is the third book in the Elemental Journey series, and was just published this month (March 2018), in print version, with pre-orders available for the ebook. Like my protagonist, I spent a year traveling through S.E. Asia and working as a travel writer, and I ended up settling in London with my then boyfriend. Fire is fiction, but was inspired by real-life adventures. Hiking in the Himalayas, snorkeling in the Philippines, a came trek through the Thar Desert in India — it was an adventure that would change my life forever. While in the Himalayas, I felt a “call” to find my purpose. It was strong and spiritual. Like my protagonist, I would have to make a decision. Would I have to give up everything and everyone I loved to find myself?

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have a yurt writing space in the woods that is also an art studio. It’s not heated in winter, so you can often find me down there in long johns, sweats, sweaters, down coat, hat, and fingerless gloves sitting at my desk writing my novels! Once I looked up and out the clear plastic window into the eyes of a mountain lion. I could not move. She was stunning. Poised. Primal. Glorious. She imprinted on me and I dreamt about being her for days afterwards. My writing was HOT that week.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
As a book coach, I have worked with hundreds of writers worldwide, from Spokane to Shanghai, and I am utterly fascinated by the creative process. What emotions are at play with writers? What creativity are they tapping into? Why do they get stuck? What is their authentic voice? I would say that my greatest influence are my clients. We work very dynamically together, and I’m influenced by their courage, their struggles, and the power that happens when they tap into their truth.

What are you working on now?
Water is the fourth novel in the Elemental Journey series. I am bundled in the yurt most days developing the characters and the story. Water is about our protagonist healing in the Pacific Northwest. There will be lost of rain. And flooding. (My novels also bring in climate change into the setting.) Carl Jung believes that rising water represents the unconscious coming into the conscious and I’m going to play with that concept. Not only must Pearl, my protagonist, heal wounds from her childhood, she will have to find out who she really is. As one who has been there, that’s not an easy process.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My website is carolineallen.com. But, the best promotion I have is through Kenya Moore at The Book Nymph PR, https://thebooknymphpr.com. Hiring her was the best decision I ever made. I run a super busy business, I do visual art, and I write novels, and all of this leaves little time to promote my books. And I just do not have a marketing brain. I hired Kenya just three months ago, and it’s not just about Kenya doing the promoting. She’s inspired me to step up and join the promotion fray. What has happened in the process is that I’m more fully owning the process of getting my voice into the world. And that is powerful. I don’t much much extra money, and I know if there are other indie authors reading this that finances are a common issue, but it’s been worth the investment. Why spend so many years writing if you’re not also going to invest in getting people to read your work?

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Rough means rough! For the rough draft, quit worrying the details. Get the story out of your head and onto the page. Go fast. Go hard. And watch your writing improve. To become a better visual artist, I decided in 2014 and again in 2016 to do a “painting a day for a year”. I did one 9×12 watercolor every, single, day for 365 days! I was running a business. I was writing and publishing novels. Often I only had 20 minutes. What happened? I had to go fast. I couldn’t think about it, I just had to do it. By the end, I’d become a much better artist, and now magazines and galleries contact me when they see my art! The same is true for writing. You’re going fast and sloppy and full on to get behind all of those critical voices in your head to your real voice, and your real truth!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Commitment to your creative work is easy when you’re succeeding, when you’re winning book contracts, and awards, and making money — when people love you. As artists, we must commit even when it’s not easy, even when we’re not getting book contracts or winning awards. We’re being called again and again to recommit to our path as voices that can inspire and change the world.

What are you reading now?
Bombarded with reading client books: One Soul, Two Lives, a historical and modern novel that follows one life over two lifetimes, being written by a client who is a Denver attorney. The Railroad, a historical novel about the BriBri, indigenous people who live in Costa Rica, and were displaced by the railroad, written by a woman of Jamaican descent living in Singapore. The Lavois Brothers, a memoir of an HIV positive gay man, a bike race, and his estranged brother, written by a California man who lives in Guatemala. Most of my clients are expats, people who do not live in their home countries. This is because I love how displacement draws up a person’s original voice.

What’s next for you as a writer?
As a book coach, I have so many books to write. I have two decades of knowledge in teaching thousands of writing students on both coasts, and coaching hundreds more new writers around the globe. Some ideas for books I have — The Four Pillars of Writing a Book, from setting up your creative life, to writing the book, to editing to publication and promotion. The Expat Novel, how to write a novel when English is your second or third language. I’m also fantasizing right now about Ether, the final book in the Elemental Journey series. The theme is “giving back” to the community. I may make it into a fairytale set deep in a hut in the woods!

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?
Eastern Body, Western Mind by Anodea Judith
Mary Oliver poetry
The Art Museum, a Phaidon massive book of great art
The Odyssey by Homer

Author Websites and Profiles
Caroline Allen Website
Caroline Allen Amazon Profile

Caroline Allen’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 all my life, so, “how many books” really depends on how you want to count them. There were a pair of riveting children books I wrote when I was 9 about a boy who finds a mouse. Then there were the required angsty/depressed/paralyzing ennui books I wrote in college and shortly after. (Two of which still linger on Amazon…yipes!) And then currently, as the closest thing I can come to as an adult, I have finally released a novel that doesn’t fit into either of the two previously mentioned categories.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest “grown-up” book is titled “Rephrame.” Like most things, it came to life through a long simmering mixture of ideas and jokes and questions in the back of my mind. I don’t remember the first time I started thinking, “this could be a book,” but I know it began to come to life about two years ago. Before that, however, there was always this intriguing story a student would tell me about his pet, called “the deathwolf.”

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I think the only truly unusual habit I’ve had is one I’m trying to get away from. For the vast majority of my long fiction, I really have no idea how things are going to end up. At least not when I begin them. I have vague ideas, or hopes, but nine times out of ten, I get to the end and think “well, how about that?”

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh book lists. I think this could go on forever. So, a few favorites: when I need to just get out of my head, you can’t be a good old Dumas or Hardy novel. There’s something so quintessentially “old novel” about them. When I want to be confused, I pick up Joyce, and then make disparaging remarks under my breath while not really paying attention to the words (I’m sure they are great works; I am also sure I’m not the brilliant mind to understand them.) Another recent favorite, is David Foster Wallace. Along with JD Salinger and Capote, these are guys who’s every word I will read over and over.

What are you working on now?
Currently I’m in the mental debate of salvaging as much as I can out of the first 100 pages of a manuscript I started a few months back. As I’ve dwelled on it, I’ve realized more and more how much opportunity there is in the story, and that I can’t just write it and see what happens (see: unusual habits above).

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Buddy, if you guys have any tips on this, I would love to hear them.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
This is absolutely the best time to be writing. There are so many opportunities to publish that didn’t exist even 10 years ago when I first started looking for an agent. Don’t get discouraged too soon, but don’t get too carried away either. This is the world’s impression of you. Do your best. Do something you can be proud of. And don’t forget the point of it all: to share our stories.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Wear thick gloves if you are going to try to learn whittling. (I had to hear this twice before it really stuck, however)

What are you reading now?
“Dorfpunks” by Rocko Schamoni
“The Lost Bible” by J. R. Porter

What’s next for you as a writer?
The goals for me have always been the same. Push a little farther. Find the next step and take it. I’m currently trying to wrap my head around marketing and promotion in a way I haven’t wrestled with before, so, many evening researching, trying ideas, looking for clever plans. Lots of throwing noodles at the wall to see what sticks, so to speak.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Beyond the clever “How to build a boat” type answers….
“Infinite Jest” by David Foster Wallace. This is its whole little world and I can’t get enough of it.
“Remembrance of Things Past” by Marcel Proust. Okay so maybe technically this is 7 books, but I’m sure somebody said Harry Potter on here before. Like Wallace, this is a story I just fell into and loved being there.
“Catcher in the Rye” by JD Salinger. Yes, it is a super trite answer, and a super short book for a desert island, but I think being able to touch base with someone else who was constantly griping would help my outlook on things. “These coconuts are a bunch a damn phonies!”

Clint Terry’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
From as young as I can remember, I dreamed of being an author. I wrote my first ‘book’ in second grade, a twist on Little Red Riding Hood where the Big Bad Wolf turns out to be, well, not such a bad guy after all. For anyone who’s read my work, my ideas on the world clearly haven’t changed too much. A blessing or a curse?

I began reading, REALLY reading, in middle school, breezing through five book series’ in a week. In high school, my love of reading rekindled my love of writing. First, it was poetry, and then, full length novels. I had written five of them before I reached fifteen years old, not a single one ever published (and, most likely, not a single one ever will be).

My first published novel, and currently my only published novel, is my debut steamy romance novel, HOOKED ON YOU. I have many other works in progress, but we can talk about those later…

Aside from writing, I’m very passionate about history, nature, reading, puppies, and doing anything I can to help make a difference in the world. I love hiking and exploring, the beach is my happy place, and cooking for people makes me super excited. I am a hopeless romantic (but aren’t all artists?) with big dreams and a hopeful heart!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book, which is my debut contemporary romance novel, is HOOKED ON YOU. It is a steamy love story that was inspired by the characters it centers around. Truthfully, it came to be when I thought up two amazing characters with their own battles and struggles. They showed me their flaws and begged me to redeem them, and I decided I’d find a way. That is how this novel came about. Two characters who wanted a chance.

I’d like to believe I gave them that chance and did right by them both!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
It seems as though I write the beginning and end of my book while thinking that I’m writing it in its entirety. I then look back and realize I missed half of the story and fill it all in afterwards! This is something new that I’ve noticed, so I’m trying to force myself to create (super brief) outlines now before starting a new story.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Julie Garwood, Cynthia Eden, and J. R. Ward are three authors that I love. Their writing style and character development really stood out to me when I first got back into my love of reading after a couple years of being out of it. While I’ve since branched out and have learned to love many other authors/books, these three were my first loves when it came to adult romance novels, and they’ll forever have a special place in my heart (and an automatic buy when they release new books on Amazon!).

What are you working on now?
I’m currently in the middle of several projects. One of them is part of the same universe that HOOKED ON YOU takes place in, starring one of my favorite supporting characters in the book. I’m also working on a paranormal romance short series of stand-alones, which has four different stories in it, a post-apocalyptic action/adventure/romance novel, a romantic suspense story, and some other (shorter) steamy contemporaries.

So, yeah… I’m a busy girl!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I honestly have no idea. This is all brand new to me, so I really couldn’t tell you what works and what doesn’t. All I know is that I really want my books to reach an audience, more than I want them to make me rich. Money’s not the driving force here, so I haven’t put as much into marketing and promoting as I probably should.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keeping writing! No matter what happens, no matter what obstacles you see in front of you, just keep writing. And make sure you’re doing it because you love it, not because you want money or fame or anything like that. Write because you can’t not write.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully I’ll stop bouncing from story to story and stick with one so another one of my babies can get published in the next few months, and, hopefully, reach people who will enjoy it!

Author Websites and Profiles
Brittany Anne Website
Brittany Anne Amazon Profile

Brittany Anne’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Walker James is a Christian Author who enjoys writing, teaching, speaking and encouraging others on how they can know God fully by desiring exactly what God desires. A close, personal, loving, intimate, relationship!

Walker is an active member of his community church in Southern California where he has served as the Small Groups Coordinator and Group Leader as well as a drummer on the worship team.

A Christian since the age of 15, Walker has spent years studying the Bible and reading hundreds of books by well-known Christian authors and has developed a hunger for Biblical History.

While learning as much as possible about Jesus and who He is, Walker became very passionate about sharing Him with others. His desire is to share with you what a “real” relationship with God looks like.

Walker, a U.S. Marine Veteran, lives with his wife Diana in Southern California. Together they have four children and two step children.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Two sons, both born with mixed-cerebral palsy. I wish my reaction to this challenge would have been a little different. I wish I would have cooperated with God instead of getting mad at God for what I assumed He was doing in my life. Through all of this, God still managed to give me a “better” perspective!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
A Christian since the age of 15, Walker has spent years studying the Bible and reading hundreds of books by well-known Christian authors and has developed a hunger for Biblical History. Some well known authors that have guided me are C.S. Lewis, Lee Strobbel,Billy Graham, J. Warner Wallace, Rice Brooks, Josh McDowell, Rick Warren, Brene Brow
,Max Lucad,Corrie ten Boom,Ravi Zacharias, and Francis Chan to name a few.

What are you working on now?
Perspectives Book Series, Book 2. The Power of Choice.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Bookbub.com
Amazon.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Let your heart guide you.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Compete Perspective 10 Book Series, become a internationally known Christian Author.

Author Websites and Profiles
Walker James Website
Walker James Amazon Profile

Walker James’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written, five completed books and several more partially written. Alas, one of the five, the first novel I ever finished, is mostly lost to history. Only the first fifty pages currently exist. A word of advice: Always back up your work!

I keep threatening to rewrite that first book. It’s a cute story, a sweet sports romance about a bickering figure skating pair who fall in love at the Winter Olympics.

My other four books — three novels and a novella — are available on Amazon. I write a blend of romance and women’s fiction, sweet stories in contemporary urban settings that aim for the funny bone as well as the heart.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Who Wants to Know? is my latest release. One of the main characters, Margy Hurley, has moved back to her childhood neighborhood in Queens, NY, to open a French bistro. Much of the action takes place there. My thirty years of working in the restaurant business inspired the setting. Needless to say, I had a blast working real-life work experiences into my plot!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I skip around to various parts of the story as I write the first draft, and I usually build my scenes in pieces, such as dialogue, description, etc. So keeping track of my progress by word count, like many writers do, doesn’t work for me. Instead, I keep track of how complete my various scenes are.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The one book that had the most to do with me wanting to become a novelist is Shining Through by author Susan Isaacs, published way back in the 1980s. She mixes laughter and tears so well, and when I read that novel, I thought, that’s what I want to do.

What are you working on now?
A rock and roll romance/saga set in the 1970s, which will either be a trilogy or one long novel.

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?
Keep writing! Being discouraged is part of the process, but don’t give up. I tried giving up writing fiction, but these characters kept on coming, walking through my imagination with their stories. Finally, I decided to give it one more shot. The result is my debut novel, Spare Me the Drama, which you can find on Amazon.

Author Websites and Profiles
Karen Tomsovic Website
Karen Tomsovic Amazon Profile

Karen Tomsovic’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi. I am Kshama Rao. I am married and I have a teenager daughter. I have written three non-fictional books. My first book is “Homemade facials, masques and beauty tips”, my second book is “DIY cosmetics and cleaners” and my third book is “Pregnancy guide and home remedies”. I have written more than five hundred articles and a few short stories.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book published was “Pregnancy guide and home remedies”. I have studied Msc in Human development which included life development. In this book, I have made an attempt to share my knowledge and guide women who are pregnant or planning to get pregnant. Taking care of self and the baby is very important during pregnancy. Reading a good book boosts the chances of having a problem free pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No. I am a homely person and like to write in the comfort of my house. So, just a great coffee and a keyboard is all that I need.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There is something to learn from every book.

What are you working on now?
Right now, I am writing a book named “Baby care and child care – zero to three”.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
There are so many websites. Awesome gang is one among the best.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Proofreading matters.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t forget to pray today. Because god didn’t forget to wake you up in this morning.

What are you reading now?
The day I stopped drinking milk, by Sudha Murthy.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To continue 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?
That is a hard one to answer.

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello. I am an author, researcher, inventor, ex-submariner and mathematics professor. My backstory is that I graduated from the US Naval Academy and served as a naval officer aboard the patrol gunboat, USS Douglas (PG 100), and on the fleet ballistic submarine, USS Will Rogers (SSBN 659). I attended Yale University on a sonar scholarship and received a Masters of Philosophy degree in electrical engineering. I studied writing and Russian history at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC.

My career in engineering research and development focused on underwater systems:
Modeling and digital simulations of underwater sound propagation
Submarine and surface ship sonar detection and tracking algorithms
Towed passive sonar arrays and active sonar modules
Torpedo development programs, torpedo test systems, and compact periscopes
As a pioneer in modern submarine detection, tracking, and localization, I published technical papers in multiple professional journals and lectured in the US and Europe. I won the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Journal of Leadership and Management in Engineering 2005 Feature Article of the Year Award. I hold four patents. I taught electrical engineering courses at the University of New Haven and teach mathematics at York Technical College in Rock Hill, SC.

This is my debut novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The Last Saturday of October: The Declassified Secrets of Black Saturday” is an almost unknown true story bout the most dangerous day in human history and an unsung Russian hero who stepped in to prevent the launch of a nuclear torpedo by a Soviet submarine against the American antisubmarine force during the Cuban Missile Crisis. I discovered this story while researching another piece. It grabbed me an refused to let me go until I got it out to the world.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write and research simultaneously. The research paints pictures on my mind that I write down when they are most vivid. The writing raises more questions that throw me back into the research. I love criticism. It reveals how other see the story and helps me reduce my bling spots. Positive comments encourage me to press on, but negative comments challenge me to get it right. I never met a criticism I didn’t like.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Steinbeck, Junger, Clancy, Hemingway, Buchheim, Webb, Stanton, Follett, Michener, Bowden, Dobbs, Smith, Larson and Agee. All guys, I guess.

What are you working on now?
A love story with climate change.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This is my new full time job. I research, promote, repeat. I’ll figure it out, and when I do, it will be great.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Stretch your rubber bands. Writing in the 21st Century is a battle with multiple fronts that all need winning. You have to love it all.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just start writing. The whole world of learning begins there.

What are you reading now?
“Let Us Now Praise Famous Men” by James Agee, a spellbinding look into the victims of the dust bowl by an embedded reporter.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I put down my second novel to concentrate on revisions for “The Last Saturday of October: The Declassified Secrets of Black Saturday,” and now I’m trying to figure out the balance between book promotion and writing the next book. Maybe I should take that advice I was bragging about and “just start writing.” Good idea. I’m glad we had this little chat.

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 books written by the founder of the Baha’i Faith. The scenario you propose would require some deep faith. Gee, another great piece of advice. Where do you come up with these questions?

Author Websites and Profiles
Douglas Gilbert Website
Douglas Gilbert Amazon Profile

Douglas Gilbert’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have been a writing professionally for a little over 20 years now and just recently have revived my passion for book writing. I have an incredible family that inspires me every day and are partially why I decided to give writing novels and short stories a try. I have within the last 3 years wrote 6 indie books. These include crime, horror and exotic genres.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book does not yet have a finished title but it is a collection of short stories. I mainly get the ideas from my kids and their friends. Playing pretend seems to light the creative side for all of us in one way or another.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wouldn’t consider my habits unusual anymore but some might. I find it a little strange when I get on a roll the idea will only stay for a limited amount of time and I seem to try and get it all written out at once. This usually leaves a complete mess and I have to organize it later but the main idea at least gets written down once the thought is gone.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
It is really sad that I do not recall the titles or authors anymore but when I was really young I enjoyed the books that let you choose your own fate. The story would start and at the end of the paragraph it would give you options and tell you to turn to a certain page to continue. At the time the options seemed endless and to a young reader and future author, I loved the idea of being able to pick my adventure. Having an endless adventure was the best adventure in itself, but being able to take readers on this journey inspired me more.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I mainly use Amazon and Facebook for promoting my books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice to new authors would be to keep it simple and short. Write a short story and pass it out to everybody you can possibly get ahold of. Feedback is absolutely crucial, do not only include sharing your work with family members and friends. Give out samples of your work of random people along with a link so that they can give you the feedback. You don’t want to spend your time writing a 400-page novel and then realize you have gaps or bad writing technique that should be addressed first.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I ever received was to take your time and pay attention. Following this advice helps you discover an endless world around you.

What are you reading now?
Currently, I don’t have a lot of free time to enjoy a good novel. Although there is something to be said about the time-honored classics of Dr. Seuss and Geoscience 101.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’,m currently planning on writing at least 4 children’s books by October and hopefully continuing the series of two other titles that I have published already.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The first and most important book would be The boy scouts survival guide. Distilling water might be a very important tip to have. My second book would be anything by Edgar Allen Poe, and the last book would have to be a copy of War and Peace. I might finally have the time to finish it.

Author Websites and Profiles
Edward M. Clark Amazon Profile

Edward M. Clark’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

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

My name is Kirsty and I live in the south east of England. I’m both a traditional and Indie author who specializes in romance. I love to write swoon-worthy guys that take your breath away. I write mature YA romance, New Adult romance and Contemporary. I’m a hopeless romantic and I suppose you can tell this from my books! So far I’ve published nine full length novels and two novellas.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The last book I published was called Worth Fighting For. It’s book two in the Fighting Series published by Hachette. I loved creating these books – I guess I was looking for a bit of excitement and a challenge to write this time around and Jamie, my car stealing ex-con with a heart of gold just popped into mind.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really – I like to write in the peace and quiet, I struggle if my family are home and making noise so most of my writing gets done with my husband is at work and my son is at school or in bed! I love to listen to music while writing too, but only on VERY low volume. If it’s too high I tend to spend more time singing along than writing!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Anyone and everyone. The fact that people sit there, on their own, struggling with their own demons, and bleed words inspire me. Writing can sometimes be a very hard and lonely job.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on book three of the Fighting Series. I’m not sure when it will be out but I’m so so happy to be back in the car stealing / bad boy world!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m not very good at promoting my books, it’s an area I lack in for sure – I tend to stick to Facebook and twitter. I’m hoping in 2018 I’ll learn a few tricks and get better at promotions!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up! When you find it hard or you’re suffering with writers block, just remember why you started in the first place – because you LOVE it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t eat yellow snow.

What are you reading now?
I’m currently on a psychological thriller binge! Current one is Bring Me Back by BA Paris.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m looking to start a new YA brand with a new pen name, something very different to what I usually write. I’m very excited about it but at the moment I can’t say too much!

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?
Twilight (yes, I know, an oldie – but still a goodie! Edward was probably one of my first book boyfriends.
A Court of Mist and Fury – Um, hello, Rhysand!!
The Green Mile by Stephen King. Classic, heart wrenching, amazing.

Author Websites and Profiles
Kirsty Moseley Website
Kirsty Moseley Amazon Profile
Kirsty Moseley Author Profile on Smashwords

Kirsty Moseley’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I consider myself a rolling stone as I have lived in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean and have also spent time in Europe and Latin America. Because of this, my books have been set in quite diverse locales.

I am the author of 50+ books, most of them romance novels, although I have also written literary fiction and non-fiction works. My first love, though, is the romance genre.

In my free time (when I can find it) I love to read (of course!) and escape from the cold of Canada to the warm climes where I can sit on the beach andwatch the tide roll in. If only I could do that more often!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest romance novel is ‘In Bed with the Enemy’ which is a celebration of the independent woman. Unlike most popular romances,many of which are ‘billionaire romances’, the billionaire featured in this story is a woman. I was inspired to write this story as a ‘counter balance’ to the overwhelming focus on the man as the ‘person of power’ in the relationship. As far as I’m concerned, now it’s time for us women to show what we’ve got – Woman Power.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am often up at 4 or 5 a.m. so I can get a few hours of writing under my belt before my son (and the sun, too) is up.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve been inspired by prolific writers including Melody Anne and Ruth Cardello, who also write in the romance genre.

What are you working on now?
I’m presently working on the outline/ plot plan for another in my ‘Billionaire Bachelorettes’ series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Websites that have been effective for me are:

eReader News Today
Bookbub
Freebooksy

However, it is important to bear in mind that things change very fast in today’s world so it is important to watch the trends as each website evolves.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
1. Try to write in a series so that readers can follow characters and families. This seems to appeal to avid readers. It also allows you to use the first book in the series as a promotional tool (give the first book away for free, and encourage readers to try the following books in the series). Critical, though – make book one really great, and hook the readers into the characters and their world.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best marketing tool is a really good book. Make your story the best you can make it.

What are you reading now?
I’m currently re-reading a book on writers’ craft, one that stimulates my creativity – ‘Writing the Breakout Novel’ by Donald Maas

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to explore the genre of ‘Historical Romance’. It’s a genre I enjoy reading, but one which I haven’t tried. Now may be the right time.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
– a survival guide
– a blank book with lots of leaves so I could write (about my experiences on the island, explore story ideas, etc)
– an inspirational or movitvational book, to keep me focused on making the most of my situation (e.g. books my Brian Tracy, Tony Robbins, Les Brown, etc.)

Author Websites and Profiles
Judy Angelo Website

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, my names Cal. I’m a novelist, screenwriter, and filmmaker from Los Angeles. I’ve currently written one novel, True Grandeur, and have another first draft of an upcoming action-adventure, Hollywood literary novel mash-up almost completed.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first and most recent novel is called True Grandeur, a Hollywood Novel. It’s available in paperback, hardback, and e-book versions with an audible version currently in production with Audible. It was inspired by some of my experiences in my early twenties when I first moved to Los Angeles to work in the industry. It’s a true Hollywood experience, taking a look underneath the surface at both the light and dark aspects of being a young artist in tinseltown, and aims to capture a time and place in the lineage of Los Angeles history that many Hollywood novels have been successfully doing since the early 1900’s.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write best in the few hours right after I wake up with a french press of fresh ground coffee. To write well, I really have to have good coffee. It stimulates my mind and puts me in a creative mood. It’s a complete addiction, and in a way a source of my strength — haters, don’t use it against me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
In terms of writing style to date, out of all the American authors I prefer and have taken a liking to F. Scott Fitzgerald. I get the most comparisons to his work with True Grandeur, and I do prefer his style and use of language in comparison to his other contemporaries. His novel, The Last Tycoon, is one of the greatest Hollywood novels. I don’t have to mention the sheer greatness of ‘The Great Gatsby’ of course. I’ve also been reading a lot of Hollywood novels and Hollywood literature over the last few years. The great part about Hollywood literature, is it is often written by screenwriters, so you’re getting a true inside look at the film industry. If you want to know what living and working in the film industry is really like, read the novels. Films are, for the most part, products that are written specifically to entertain the world and turn a profit for good reason, the novels are the truth of what is really going on. I’d say the greatest Hollywood novelist of all time is Budd Schulberg, who won the Academy Award for ‘Best Screenplay’ for his script On the Waterfront, starring Marlon Brando and directed by Elia Kazan. He wrote the novels ‘What Makes Sammy Run?’ and ‘The Disenchanted,’ which is a personal favorite of mine. I love John Fante’s ‘Ask the Dust.’ It is one of the greatest, but more of an LA novel than a Hollywood novel. Other great Hollywood novels are Harold Robbins’s ‘The Dream Merchants’, Gavin Lambert’s ‘The Slide Area’, Alison Lurie’s ‘Nowhere City,’ and Norman Mailer’s ‘The Deer Park’ — that last one is more about Palm Springs, but a classic, seedy tale about Hollywood’s favorite weekend get-away.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently wrapping up a first draft of a Hollywood action-adventure, literary mash-up of a lot of the surreal experience I’ve had in LA infused with heightened fiction. It’s much different than True Grandeur, but very intense and a lot of fun to write.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The best method to promote old writing is to keep writing and create new writing. ‘Work begets work,’ is one of the few Hollywood phrases that I buy into, only because I’ve experienced it for myself. Secondly, Amazon has a lot of opportunities for writers. I know they are the big-dog, but they’ve made so many tools available for young or first-time authors, it’s difficult to ignore them. But yeah, when all else fails, just keep writing. You can never go wrong by laying more stories down on paper.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep writing. Save all your old stuff, set it aside, and write more. If it’s really good, it will come back around at a future date. True Grandeur was a six year process from inception to publication, and it took me writing ten feature scripts before I got my first big screenplay deal. ‘Just keep writing’ — it’s advice you can never hear enough, and what I try and tell myself everyday by doing it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
‘Just Keep Writing.’

What are you reading now?
I’m finishing ‘The Slide Area,’ by Gavin Lambert. A classic Hollywood novel, and what I consider his strongest work that I’ve read yet. It’s really fun and has a lot of absurd snippets of Hollywood life in it, which is one of the essentials to a good Hollywood tale. I also just got done with ‘The Artist’s Way’ by Julia Cameron. I just read it as a general the first time through, but I hope to go back and do the whole suggested course once I have the time.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Aside from wrapping up my second novel, I’ve got a feature film version of the Award-Winning play I wrote, titled ‘Rise’, that is in pre-production with a member of the original cast. We currently have an investor which is terrific. I’m also working on my first major studio level screenplay. I keep doing re-writes on it, but it’s an exciting story and I’m confident it will make it to the international silver screen one day.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s ‘The Great Gatsby’ to remember what society could be like, J. M. Barrie’s ‘Peter & Wendy,’ to remember what it’s like to be the ultimate boy and keep up my sense of wonder, William Golding’s ‘The Lord of the Flies,’ to be reminded of what probably not to do, and lastly, probably Paramahansa Yogananda’s ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’, to remember that there’s more to life than what meets the eye.

Author Websites and Profiles
Cal Barnes Website
Cal Barnes Amazon Profile

Cal Barnes’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have been writing since I was a child, and began being published during college. I have a Ph.D. in ancient history and religion and a law degree. I write both nonfiction and fiction. The former are either academic works or studies for laypersons, about 15 books. The latter are novels: literary/contemporary fiction and historical fiction, of which I have published two.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
To and Fro Upon the Earth: A Novel was inspired by a reading of the book of Job, and how tragedy and suffering often leads to trite answers from those around us. I wondered if there were not some deeper lessons about life to be learned from exploring meaningless suffering.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I just write. Mostly in the afternoons, but sometimes in the morning or at night. In my home office, at a coffee shop, riding in the car with my wife…it doesnt matter.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, James Michener, Orson Scott Card, J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov

What are you working on now?
An historical fiction novel that takes place in the First Century Roman Empire. It is based on a minor character found in an ancient letter in the New Testament—a pagan slave named Onesimus who steals from his master and runs away. His journey leads him on a path to rethink the meaning of his life as a slave, some terrifying adventures, and interaction with some of the most famous people in history.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
An author website and an author facebook page seem to have worked well, but word of mouth is by far the best promotion.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write every day (at least during the week), read other authors, and read about writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Control what you can, ignore the rest.

What are you reading now?
Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury; Robert J. Sawyer’s Hominids’ Ryan Holiday’s The Obstacle is the Way.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finishing this historical fiction novel, and then begin outlining and researching for the next one.

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?
Finnegan’s Wake, the Lord of the Rings Trilogy; the Bible, and a book about how to live on a desert island.

Author Websites and Profiles
Markus McDowell Website
Markus McDowell Amazon Profile

Markus McDowell’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 lost journalism student who decided the characters in her heard were too persistent to ignore, so I started writing their stories.
I have published four books so far, with a fifth coming in June.
I am based on the Gold Coast, Australia but my heart belongs to New York.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Breaking Down.
It’s the fourth book of my Rocking Racers series and was inspired by the title actually. Most of my books are “Breaking (something)” so I was trying to think about what would go with that. Breaking Down obviously popped into my head and I built the story around that. I didn’t mean for it to be as emotional as it was, but the title demanded it and I liked the direction.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I handwrite, which in this day and age is really unusual. It’s a labour intensive way to do things, but I find the story flows better that way. It’s also an excuse to indulge in my love of pens and notebooks!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Tijan, Cambria Hebert, Sarah J Maas, Jay Kristoff have all been massive influences for me. One day I hope to emulate their success.

What are you working on now?
I literally finished the first draft of a M/M YA novel yesterday. i think my voice lends itself to YA really well so I’d love to write more of those.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Yours! Haha, and I’m finding Instagram to be an increasingly popular option nowadays. The whole bookstagram community is huge and on such a visual site like Instagram, those pictures really stand out.
Also, good old faithful Facebook.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep writing. Don’t listen to anybody who tells you not to, just do it. Be true to you, to your characters.
Also, learn how to market yourself, you’re going to need it!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To take a break. Sometimes if things aren’t working then step away, clear your head, then tackle it again.
Oh and save everything!

What are you reading now?
i just finished Obsidian by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman which was awesome. I have a TBR longer than the Nile, so I’m hoping to get through some of that, someday.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have a short spin-off I’m writing then it’s back into my Rocking Racers 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?
Never night, Jay Kristoff
A Court of Mist and Fury, Sarah J Maas,
Gemina, Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman,
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen

Author Websites and Profiles
Megan Lowe Website
Megan Lowe Amazon Profile

Megan Lowe’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an aspiring author of thirteen years old (wait, don’t go yet!) and I have just published my first ever book, Lucky Number Seven. Apart from writing, I enjoy swimming, YouTube, drawing and science.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Lucky Number Seven was named aptly because it is a collection of seven short stories. My favourite numbers are 24 and 7, and the same goes for everyone in my family. We LOVE the number 7, as most people do. Originally, I was toying around with the idea of seven seas or seven deadly sins but we eventually came to rest on Lucky Number Seven.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I mainly just lock myself in my room when inspiration hits. I perch on a chair, bed, table, etc, then open Google Drive and just start writing. I like to keep some YouTube videos playing in the background, but this is more of a bad habit to be honest.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Jeffrey Archer’s short stories were the first I had ever read, and from the first page to the last I was riveted by the plot and twists of each. I started writing short stories not long after that. Also, my mum is a fantastic writer (despite being a doctor by profession) and definitely nurtured my passion for literature, as did my dad.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on promoting my book and securing a few deals. I’m also entering a couple competitions like the Commonwealth Essay Competition, which I am a huge advocate of. The second book is forthcoming!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m not sure – I’ve only written one, and this is how I’m trying to promote it. But hey, if you have any ideas, drop me a line!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I feel heavily under qualified to be giving advice but if I know anything it’s that for me, inspiration strikes when it does. You can’t force it, per se, but you can induce it. Induce it by meeting new people and taking your time. A book will come when it’s ready, so write as much as you can but don’t feel any pressure if it doesn’t come immediately. Also never procrastinate. That’s how you lose your drive.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
A great sage once told me that you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. That sage is Winnie the Pooh and Piglet.

What are you reading now?
Bill Bryson’s A Short History of nearly everything is fascinating and is taking up most of my free time right now. A book that I found yesterday while scouring the library is George Orwell’s 1984 and it is GOOD. It also made me think a lot, and that’s the sign of a great book.

What’s next for you as a writer?
A couple competitions and another BOOK! Wheee!

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 Wikipedia Book, which is metres thick and contains most, if not all, of the featured articles on the website. I could learn helpful survival tips and use some of the most obscure pages as firewood!

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m 27 and have been writing stories since I was young. I have a full time job as a radiologic technologist (I take x-rays) but fine plenty of time to write on the side. Most of the time. I have a second degree black belt in Taekwondo and find it near impossible to write a story without a main character that can kick some ass. I have written two full novels at this time and am currently at work on number 3.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest book is part of a series. Hiding Till Dawn is book 2 in the Cross Chronicles. This series came to me when I was in the middle of the biggest mental block of my life. I had no creative juices at all, but one morning I woke up and there it was! These characters, their descriptions, and the adventures they would go on just came to life in my mind and I began to write it down. I think a combination of experiences in my life as well as just pure inspiration from my favorite stories helped to inspire this series.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Maybe? I like to write the old fashioned way, long hand. I have notebooks for each book I write and I initially start there. I then type everything up and edit it later on my iPad. I guess that is kinda weird.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh my gosh, I have four authors that I will literally bow before. I will read anything and everything they write even if it were on a piece of toilet paper. Jennifer Armentrout, Tamora Pierce, Maria V. Snyder, and Sara J. Maas

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on Chasing The Sunrise, book 3 in The Cross Chronicles.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still learning the promoting part of being an author, but Facebook seems to be the best for me so far. Only because all of my contacts and friends in the business are on there. It’s where I get all my support.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write every single day. Sometimes its really hard because life gets in the way, or you’re too tired, or you just mentally don’t have it in you. But try anyway. This is something I still have to work on, but when I write, even just a little bit, even when I don’t want to, it helps.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To write because you love it, not for what you want to get out of it. Its nice to have fans of your books and to have people tell you they love your stories, but if you only write for the then you will burn out. Write for yourself. Write because you love to do it and because that story needs to be told. No other reason is needed.

What are you reading now?
I just finished Sentinel by Jennifer Armentrout.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To continue writing and growing as an author. I would really love to make a list one day, but I’ll continue to write even if I never do.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Holy crap thats hard. And a mean thing to ask. I’d cheat and bring my nook, fully loaded with all my favorite books by all my favorite authors and then I’d bring a solar panel so I could charge it.

Author Websites and Profiles
E.M. Rinaldi Website
E.M. Rinaldi Amazon Profile

E.M. Rinaldi’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
We have written two books so far. We are a husband and wife writing collaboration with the sole purpose to see more Christian couples purify their marriages. Of course, we cannot purify ourselves, we need the Lord Jesus Christ to do that for us-and he will.

By turning to the Lord, we turn away from an impure world.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Bending Nature” is our latest work. We attempt to show how modern media and entertainment since around the 1960s rewrote the rules for how young men and women inter-relate.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
We try and write a book a month.

What are you working on now?
Are newest book is called “Reign”

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Ah! We are trying everything.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be happy when something good happens to someone else

What are you reading now?
The Bible, always.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Thankfully we have day jobs, so writing is our hobby.

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
Lockwood Roze Website
Lockwood Roze Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a 34-year-old trans man from California, and I’ve worked almost 18 years as Service Writer / Office God for the family auto repair business. I have a love of belly dancing, which I performed with my sister for nearly two decades, and CrossFit, which has given me some great friends and a second home.

Currently, I’ve self-published fifteen novels, most of them set in my fictional world of the Shifting Isles (a combination of fantasy, sci-fi, and paranormal, with a few m/m romance thrown in), and I have at least fifteen more planned, just sitting on my computer, waiting to be written.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest is Ice on Fire (Treble and the Lost Boys, Book 1), which will be released April 27th. I wanted to do a play on opposites, so all three books in the trilogy will have some element of that. I’ve also wanted to play with characters who are naïve, pure, or innocent in one way or another, pitting them against characters with worldly, tragic, or immoral experience, so this trilogy allowed me to create them in a way that tied them all together.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Having played at being a full-time writer for the past year, I’ve gotten in the habit of walking down to my favorite mom-n-pop restaurant for second breakfast and a writing session. I’m too easily distracted at home, but something about that place, even with the noise, really boosts my performance. Getting a few thousand words in over a plate of French toast with strawberries and cream cheese really sets me up nicely for a productive day.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My influences include Tolkien (for the brilliance and scope of his epic fantasy), Scott Lynch (for his interesting characters [apparently I have a thing for con men!]), Ayn Rand (for her philosophy, even if she didn’t take it to its logical conclusion), Jane Austen (for her brilliant stories), and Murray Rothbard (for his philosophy and logic). Also, a special shout-out to novelist Lisa Clark O’Neill, who was kind enough to read my first manuscript and give me constructive feedback, thereby bolstering my courage to self-publish in the first place.

What are you working on now?
I’ve just submitted a couple of short stories to two anthologies: a sweet m/m romance to the Rainbow Romances Anthology, which is for charity, as well as a reimagining of a fable for the Agorist Writers Workshop’s 2018 collection, the fourth in their libertarian anthology series. I’m also starting to write the tenth novel in my main Shifting Isles series, which will be reminiscent of a Victorian-era romance with a little paranormal thrown in.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am an absolute dunce when it comes to marketing. I really hardly sell any books, but I keep writing them because I love it. So far, the only thing that has made any difference in sales has been to put a book up on pre-order, so I’m trying that again with my upcoming release, as well as a cover reveal and blog tour.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what you want.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
That not everyone will like your story, but there may be that one person out there who NEEDS your story, who needs just the right character to connect with, and reaching that one person could make it all worth it.

What are you reading now?
Sadly, I’m not reading anything right now. I just bought a whole stack of paperbacks off my wish list, then got recalled to my old day job temporarily, so I haven’t had the time (and I used to read a book every day or two on top of doing my own writing).

What’s next for you as a writer?
Right now, it’s just a matter of trying to keep on top of my writing schedule, and hope the plot bunnies keep their distance for a while. I’ve got enough titles stacked up, waiting for attention.

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?
Good gods, that’s a difficult question. I think I’d have to default to the few books I actually re-read as a rule: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, and For a New Liberty by Murray Rothbard.

Author Websites and Profiles
G.R. Lyons Website
G.R. Lyons Amazon Profile

G.R. Lyons’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Phyllis L. Morneau. I am retired, live in Tennessee, and have been happily married for 45 years to my husband, Rich. I have 3 sons, 1 daughter, 1 daughter-in-law, and 7 grandchildren.
I grew up in New England with a loving Mom & Dad and 2 wonderful sisters. I was raised in the Catholic Church, which gave me a good foundation for my faith. However, although I knew about God, it wasn’t until I was 20 years old, that I surrendered my life to God and really came to know Him as my Lord and Savior. Actually, it is this knowledge of His love and saving grace that inspires me to share it with everyone who has an open heart to receive it through my writing.
A desire to write a personal memoir for my family, especially my grandchildren, was the reason for writing my 1st book “From My Heart to Yours: A Legacy of Love”. I wanted to share my family’s story and their love and also share God’s story and His amazing love, too. It was originally published in May 2011.
My 2nd book “My Season of Writing” was also written with my grandchildren in mind. It is a collection of Bible Bedtime Stories, Poems, Prayers, and Songs written during a season of my life.
My 3rd book “Hope for the Daily Grind: Morning Meditations on God’s Word” is a 21 day devotional focusing on the hope we can have by renewing our minds on the many promises in God’s Word.
My 4th book “Another Season of Writing Poetry: The Journey of a Christian’s Progress” is a book of inspirational poems about the seasons and stages of our journey of spiritual growth as a Christian.
My 5th book “My Love of Cooking and Homemaking” is a book that was written to share my love of cooking and homemaking with everyone.
My 6th book “A Cheerful Heart is Good Medicine” is a book filled with funny stories, humorous poems, and witty quotes about finding laughter in my life.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My 6th and latest book “A Cheerful Heart is Good Medicine” is a book filled with funny stories, humorous poems, and witty quotes about finding laughter in my life. The reason that I wrote it is because my grandchildren enjoy when I read the funny stories that are in my 1st book From My Heart to Yours: A Legacy of Love so whenever we get together they want me to read the funny stories that are throughout the book. However it always takes me a while to find them in the book so, to make it easier for me, I decided to put them together in this latest book. I think that everyone will enjoy the funny stories, humorous poems, and witty quotes in the book because laughter is indeed good medicine.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I usually get an idea for a book when I am having a quiet time with the Lord in the morning. I pray about it and, when I truly feel compelled to share what is on my heart by writing, I start putting pen to paper. I am patient in most areas of my life but I usually get so passionate about expressing myself that I can literally spend hours writing and lose all track of time. I remember when I was writing my first book that I had spent so much time sitting and writing that when I finally did get up I was so stiff that I could barely walk.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Although I enjoyed reading the Nancy Drew mystery books as a child, I think that one of my favorite childhood books is “The Diary of Anne Frank”. It had a deep impact on me. I loved how she wrote so honestly from her heart about her daily life. When I first read the book, I was probably about the same age as Anne Frank when she wrote it. I could relate to her when she shared the mixed emotions she was having as an adolescent. And, In spite of the terrible conditions of her daily life, she wrote these profound words, “Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart.” That statement really touched my heart.
Another favorite book of mine is “The Pilgrim’s Progress” by John Bunyon – it is not only enjoyable but also very inspiring. It is an allegory about the journey of a person called Christian from his home to the Celestial City or Heaven. He encountered much hardship along the way that threatened him many times and made it difficult to remain on the right path. I could relate to it as a Christian in my own life and was encouraged and inspired in my own walk with the Lord.
My favorite poet is Maya Angelou. Everything that she wrote – whether books, poetry, essays, or a memoir – she wrote from her heart. Her poetry, especially, touches my heart and affects me in a profound way. Each poem expresses her incredible wisdom and strength of character. I think that many people, including myself, have a new appreciation of poetry because of her.

What are you working on now?
I am currently writing a book called “Biblical Wisdom for Every Moment of Our Life: Practical Insight and Understanding from God’s Word”.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have more than 4,500 friends on Facebook so will promote my books on my Facebook page and Fan pages.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I would simply advise any aspiring writers to just start writing. If you have the desire to share something that is on your heart or something about your life that would benefit others, than do it. It is not easy but it is very rewarding.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” – Toni Morrison, Nobel prize-winning novelist

What are you reading now?
I am currently rereading one of my favorite books called Epic: The Story God is Telling and The Role That Is Yours To Play. It is a book written by John Eldredge that delivers a powerful message of truth about the reality of our life being a grand drama with God as the Central Character and the Hero in our own story. It is very interesting and inspiring. My favorite quote from the book is “The Lover of our souls, the One who has pursued us down through space and time, Who gave His own life to rescue us from the Kingdom of Darkness, has made it clear: He does not want to lose us. He longs to be with us forever.”

What’s next for you as a writer?
I would like to continue to write as I feel led by the Lord. For me, I think of my writing not so much as a career, but as a ministry.

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 enjoy reading Christian nonfiction, which is the genre in which I write. I would definitely bring the Bible to read and also many of the books written by John Eldredge and Philip Yancey – my 2 favorite Christian authors.

Author Websites and Profiles
Phyllis Morneau Amazon Profile

Phyllis Morneau’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Brooklyn Scott, and I am thirteen years old. I have an interest in writing books, and I would like to become an author, or a parasitologist. I would love to become a teen author because I have a million ideas that I always start to write down on a google doc. I have written three stories, but they are still a work in progress.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I have three books that I am writing now, but they do not have titles. The first book was inspired by The Walking Dead, the second story was inspired by Fifty Shades Of Grey, and the last story was inspired by myself.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Sometimes when I write, I will change the characters names and the actions they do.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The authors that have influenced me are John Green, J.K. Rowling,Madeleine L’Engle,R.J. Palacio, Jeff Kinney, Andrew Clements, Raina Telgemeier, and Theodor Geisel.

What are you working on now?
I am working on three books at the moment. One is a fan fiction based on the Walking Dead, one is a nonfiction, and one is a Fiction.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have not had time to find a website for my books because I have been focusing on my schoolwork and books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do not be afraid to get rejected, try again and make your dreams happen.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I have ever heard was, “Do not ever let anyone tell you that you can’t do something.” I’m quoting this because these are words that my family told me when I said that I couldn’t do something.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading ” A Wrinkle In Time” and ” The Diary Of Anne Frank”.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am hoping to fulfill my dreams of becoming a writer and let me career take me farther.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
If I was stranded on an island, I would bring the book Wonder, Cast Away, and survival book about islands.

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Leo is a pseudonym. I am 50 years of age and live with my partner Lin, my rock, and our cat Archimedes. We adore all animals, life actually, especially felines. I was also born under the star sign of Leo. We reside in Bristol in the UK.

Kandor The Warrior is the first of a fantasy saga I am working on. It was actually written in 1999 but I only published in August of 2017.

I have half finished the sequel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I cannot reveal the title of the sequel because it would be a spoiler. My books have complex and absorbing characters and
also definitely not for children. Kandor The Warrior is much of a pilot or a glimpse into the world I am building.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes indeed I do. I write in a manic way. Unfortunately I suffer from extreme emotional personality disorder and rapid cycling bipolar disorder. It is a mouthful I know. I am waiting for a full diagnosis but, I only see labels. When I am having a downward spiral I start to write. I write poetry also and have penned many of my poetic prose as reviews for books I have read on Goodreads. I have had many likes and the feedback has been encouraging. When I write for my novels I sometimes go for a walk in the woods and just stop and listen to nature. I close my eyes and breathe deeply. This boosts my hearing senses and I soak it in. When I return home I write maniacally. I create scenarios and introduce new characters. None of it really makes sense at first but then I stitch it all together.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh! Wow! So many. Tolkien. Verne. Carol. King. Straub. Wilde. Stevenson. Twain. Fighting Fantasy. Dungeons and Dragons. Lewis. Swift. Herbert. Just to name a few. I also study the esoteric, for many years, and I am fascinated with the ancient past.

What are you working on now?
The sequel to Kandor The Warrior and a picture book of esoteric poetry.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Goodreads. I came into this publishing world like a child. It was like I was a four year old in a class of teenagers. I actually still feel that way now and find this self promotion daunting and emotionally draining. If not for my partner…

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing. Sitting on one’s laurels is not the answer. I know this first hand. I guess all authors feel the same. Getting published is like winning the lottery without the windfall. Yes one has published but, Stephen King one is not. I am learning that every day. Know that how ever good a writer you are or, how good others say you are, without recognition your book will go no where. Even running an ad campaign can be demoralizing when your balance is diminishing but you have no sales. Keep at it and don’t keep checking like I do.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Joining groups on Goodreads. Since I have joined groups I have received some good advice both from readers and authors alike.

What are you reading now?
Encyclopedia of Celtic Wisdom

(Some of the fields below are NA but have to be filled so I copied the Amazon address in)

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope that I can sell enough books to get put of our one bedroom accommodation and write books for a living so my partner can retire. She is the sole breadwinner as I am unemployable due to my condition. We get no help from the government.

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?
Awe! So many to choose from. Shadowland by Peter Straub would have to be in there. Fluke by James Herbert. The Stand by the master King and maybe a survival book by Bear Grylls or Ray Meers.

Author Websites and Profiles
Leo – Website
Leo – Amazon Profile
Leo – Author Profile on Smashwords

Leo -‘s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in Turkmenistan, in Ashgabat, and raised in a family without a father, where my mother gave all her life to bring me up.
At the age of 17, I went to Turkey to get higher education. I graduated Istanbul University, the faculty of psychology and philosophy.
Being in love with horror, detective and fantasy books and films since the childhood, I started writing my own books in 2010.
Within last two years I gave a psychological help for many women in need.
At the moment I’m a Tarot reader and a psychologist, at the same time I publishing the books on topics which directly touch me.
My books are my inside world and I puts much of my souls and effort into them. I have about five books in Russian language and now two on English.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book name is “Istanbul crimson nights” that will be able 05/2018. What inspired? So much violence now around the world, and too many violence against women. So I write about it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Agatha Christie, J.R.R Tolkien

What are you working on now?
“Old new gods of apocalypse”
“Gods were revered for centuries. At all times on earth, they were called by different names. They were worshiped, scolded, feared, and praised. But the day came when people found a single god for themselves and forgot about the old gods whom got left only legends about. What if the deities that have sunk into being, would suddenly come back? All the tales would turn out to be true? Old new gods would promise people a paradise on earth? We would forget our god. Wandering in the happy world that they invented. Slowly turning into monsters, we would not notice how the gods would start a war. But the outcome of this war depends on the humankind! Where can the faith that lives in the soul turn to? The Faith in humanity, in yourself. It is necessary to choose. Either live and wait for the end, or kill the gods!”

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think tweeter and instagram.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do not stop writing. Believe in yourself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Love what you do. If you love it, you always be happy.

What are you reading now?
“Hollow city” by Ransom Riggs

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want my book “Black angel white demon: singed by darkness” to become a movie. My goal 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?
All series of “Harry Potter”

Author Websites and Profiles
Kristi Zeyn Website
Kristi Zeyn Amazon Profile

Kristi Zeyn’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, my name is Lynn Veevers and I am originally from Washington State. I am a traditionally published author as well as a self-published author and a member of the RWA (Romance Writers of America) with PAN status. With my mother being from Christchurch, New Zealand, and my father being a well-traveled retired Navy Chief, I have always had a fascination with different cultures around the world. As an avid reader, I prefer books that take me to a place I’ve never been and teach me something new at the same time. I strive to do the same for my readers in all my works. The Young Adult Genre is my absolute favorite to read, so it comes as no surprise that it is also my favorite to write. On average, I pen two to three full-length novels a year. My first novel this year was, “Pinnacle”, a YA Paranormal Fantasy Romance intended for an older YA crowd. My second Book to come out is available for pre-order now and is a YA Fantasy entitled, “Chloe Shipton & The Quill of LeFay” (Think Harry Potter with a multi-racial female protagonist.)This novel’s release date is June 12th, 2018. My third novel slotted for this year will be coming out on September 18, 2018, and is the sequel to Pinnacle entitled, “Eximius”.

Nowadays I live with my husband and kids in Southeast Oklahoma. My young adult and adolescent children are supportive and avid beta readers of my work and give me a straightforward and honest point of view about how authentic my characters voices and personalities are for their age group. What better reference than someone close to the same age as the main character. They are all very busy athletic types, but still carve out the time to listen to or read a “Mom wrote” story. My kiddos always have and always will be her greatest inspiration. Aside from my literary side I am also a Ballroom Dance Instructor and cover art designer, although at the present I am not actively teaching dance.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest novel is Chloe Shipton & The Quill of LeFay. It is the first in it’s intended series of four novels and intended for readers 13 and up. This work was inspired when my twelve-year-old daughter told me she loved Harry Potter but wished there was a novel kind of like it that had a main character that looked and acted like her. since none existed I wrote one for her and thus, Chloe Shipton was born. The dedication page is addressed to my daughter. So now she goes around telling all her friends that it’s her book and in reality, I suppose she’s right. After all, Chloe Shipton would have never come into existence without her insisting that I find her a book that was like it. When all else fails…do it yourself!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I can’t say that I do have any unusual writing habits. I am what is known as a “panster” because I do not draw up a plot tree or plan anything out extensively. I have a general idea that blossoms in my mind’s eye and then I sit down and write. The character, the worlds the story in itself reveals itself to me and I transcribe that to the written word. It is like watching a movie or reading a book in my head and then writing a detailed account of it.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are so many! Some are in my working genre, some are not. Well let’s see as far as the young adult genre goes, there are the ones you might expect, Veronica Roth, Cassandra Clare, Gayle Forman, Brenda Drake, C.C. Hunter, Rachelle Mead, Suzzane Collins, and the list can just go on and on. My tastes are very diverse. As for adult, I am a big fan of Romance so Nora Roberts, Debbie Macomber, Jude Deveraux, and Stephanie Laurens are few authors I also love.

What are you working on now?
The novel I am working on now is an Ownvoices YA Paranormal Romance entitled “Eden’s Echo”. Here’s a working blurb for now.

Eden knew she was different when the imaginary friend who lived in her head turned out to be a real person who had partial control over her body. Only after she got older did Eden learn the voice in her head was her mother Echo, who’d been murdered when she was just 34 weeks pregnant with Eden. Instead of passing over Echo’s spirit merged with Eden’s body. Now at seventeen Eden has learned to separate her impulses from Echo’s so her mother can’t interfere with anything other than Eden’s thoughts. Over the years Eden struggled to appear normal by perpetually lying about the bizarre things she’d do, but all that changes when her longtime crush, Drew takes an interest in being more than just friends. Telling the truth in the past had made people think Eden was crazy and gotten her falsely diagnosed with multiple personalities. Not wanting to lie to Drew has Eden telling him that no one knows who her father is. Echo refuses to give up any information, but when Eden learns an unexpected detail about her father’s identity, it takes her and Drew on a journey that peels away the layers of Echo’s past. Learning who her father is and discovering who killed Echo might just cost Eden her life. After all, some secrets are best left taken to the grave.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
There is no one thing that I would consider the “Best” method. For me, it is a compilation of many things. Virtual book tours (blog tours), reaching out to reviewers personally, submitting manuscripts for consideration in magazine review publications, Facebook ads, Amazon ads, Goodreads ads, networking through Social media, like Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Instagram, Pinterest, Booklife, Snapchat, ect. That is just online. Then there is the “live” and in the flesh venue with brick and mortar signing events such as Barnes and Nobles and Books a Million, writers Conferences, radio, newspapers, reaching out to local libraries to name a few. A solid marketing plan is essential.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Know who you are signing with! There are a lot of scammers out there so do your homework when it comes to publishers and agents. Cross-reference them on the web. For publishers, look how many titles do they have, how many authors, how long have they been in business, are they on Absolute Write or Writer Beware. What does the better business bureau say about them. Do they have a PHYSICAL ADDRESS a contact phone number? As for agents, what does their client list look like, how many deals have they closed, how long have they been in the business, what kind of experience do they have in the publishing industry, are they active! In a nutshell are they legitimate or someone operating by themselves out of a garage? Do your homework!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Rejection is part of the querying process, it is inevitable and not usually an attack on your writing. Keep at it and don’t give up. Persistence and resilience is key.

What are you reading now?
Immortal Descent by Carolyn M. Walker, again…for the third time. It’s an adult Paranormal Thriller with a fresh new take on the Nephilim.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Writing, Writing, and more Writing. I am finishing up Eden’s Echo, and also have the second installment to Chloe Shipton & The Quill of LeFay, in the works. It is called Chloe Shipton & the Witches of Calvary Hall.

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?
Angels Fall, Nora Roberts – Immortal Descent, Carolyn M. Walker – If I stay, Gayle Forman – Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins

Author Websites and Profiles
Lynn Veevers Website
Lynn Veevers Amazon Profile
Lynn Veevers Author Profile on Smashwords

Lynn Veevers’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello! I’m a creative nerd at heart and love exploring the imaginations of others as well as growing my own! So far I’ve written one novel, but I don’t plan on stopping there!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is the sequel to Wetherrand. I don’t have a name for it yet; I like to add the name after the book is finished, so I don’t feel the need to craft the story to fit the title.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write at night, while drinking a lot of coffee. It works really well for me, but I probably wouldn’t recommend it to other writers.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Some of the highlights of my childhood were getting a newly released copy of the newest Harry Potter book. I also enjoyed the Golden Compass and Eragon.

What are you working on now?
Apart from writing, I really enjoy traveling. I believe that in order to fully imagine and create a new world inside a story, you have to be as familiar as you can with the one you live in outside of it too.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Most of my readers have obtained a copy of my book through: https://www.amazon.com/Wetherrand-1-Jake-Imanse/dp/1539903591

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you are going to choose a theme to write about, think about the topics you could talk about until all your friends intentionally change the subject or have left the room. When you look over your book for the thousandth time, you want to fall in love with it all over again, not be sick of the content.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Books are the vessel for meeting and interacting with people that you’ve never met. The writer could have passed away hundreds of years ago, but a piece of who they were is timelessly preserved through their writing. It’s the closest we can get to meeting and knowing them.

What are you reading now?
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchet. It is a masterpiece.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to continue to expand my imagination as I meet and learn from other writers.

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’d bring the fifth Harry Potter book (my favorite of the series), The Golden Compass, and Frank Herbert’s Dune. I’m very nostalgic.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jake Imanse Amazon Profile

Jake Imanse’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Dear Friends!
My name is Galina Ottens. I am a dedicated traveler and a writer. This is my first book published. Now it is available for FREE on Amazon. I wll be so thankful to you if you download it here and write your positive response. With kind regards from the author, Galina.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
How to travel cheaply and comfortably: The best travel tips

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
travelling at first to this or that country than writing about it

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Jules Gabriel Verne

What are you working on now?
A book about Thailand

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
my own own one travelling-tips.ru

Do you have any advice for new authors?
write about what you are dreaming of

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
what does not kill you makes you stronger

What are you reading now?
Dan brown “The origin”

What’s next for you as a writer?
promote my 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?
Jules Gabriel Verne any 3 masterpieces

Author Websites and Profiles
Galina Ottens Website
Galina Ottens Amazon Profile

Galina Ottens’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account