Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Biography
Michael Patrick Mardel (1949-) was born near the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He has trained to be a teacher-librarian ending up with a Bachelor of Education and a Graduate Diploma of Librarianship. At the age of 40 he started studying psychology as that is what he always wanted to do. He graduated with a Graduate Diploma of Applied Science (Psychology) and has spent his time since then counselling, teaching students how to drive, and being a carer. In 2004 he assisted his publisher on bringing out Library Walkabout and from then on he self-published Walkabout Dreaming years 5-8 and 3-4, Sustainability in the 21st century part 1 (all revised in 2018) and part 2 (Growing your own), Computer Walkabout (being revised), Storyteller Walkabout, Music Walkabout, Psychology Walkabout and Style Manual. He wrote the Australian short stories for boys (& girls) over two years. These stories are now available from Amazon through CreateSpace for $5.99 and on Kindle. Other textbooks are available at his website: http://www.downunderonline.org.
Michael has now written a trilogy around the life of Paul O’Leary for middle grade readers. There are now 4 YA books: The diary of a babydyke in transition; Frack off: trouble in the high country and the Kimberley; The Mermaid and the Seahorse; and A Cowboy Downunder.
In between writing Michael reads for reviews.
He also has a counselling book under the pen name of Patrick Ferreira called Most common questions about surviving emotional abuse…and the answers..for men.
He now lives in Darwin.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Computer Walkabout. Many things have changed with Microsoft since this was first written about 2011. XP and Office 2010 were the go but now it’s Windows 10 and Office 365. Word 2016 is the latest version and still quite different from Word 2013.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Quiet. I still use paper to write things down.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I was never much of a reader until I met Enid Blyton in Year 5. One author I have followed, after JK Rowling, is Joanna Penn. I like her religious leanings.

What are you working on now?
Reading for reviews – I usually have 3 on the go – Kindle, PC and presently an epub on Edge.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Stick at it – no-one else can do it for you unless you engage a ghost writer.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be true to yourself – from a grandmother.

What are you reading now?
One of my books is from a real library: The quiet side of passion by Alexander McCall Smith. I enjoyed his lady detective books – he really gets into the minds of his characters.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Update my other textbooks

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?

Author Websites and Profiles
Michael Mardel Website
Michael Mardel Amazon Profile

Michael Mardel’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
A life-long Iowan, I’m a 51-year-old divorced father of two grown children who are out on their own. My real job is that of a consultant for an accounting software company. I self-published my only book in March of 2018.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Racing With “The Doctor”: Recollections from a Member of Jerry Crabb’s Sprint Car Pit Crew. I was an avid sprint car fan for six years until fate intervened in 1991, when I found myself, with zero experience, helping on a sprint car pit crew. Racing is often a family activity passed down from generation to generation, but not in my case. Since it was all interesting and new and shiny to me, I sometimes made notes of things that happened as a way to keep memories from fading. After Jerry retired in 2006 I tried to compile my notes in a book-like format – and then it sat on my computer for 10 years. But I believe it was always in the back of my mind, became an itch I had to scratch, and kept nagging at me and wouldn’t shut up until I did something about it. I came upon it again in 2017, continued working on it, and self-published in March of 2018.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
If I do, I’m not sure I’d realize it. I do know that while writing this book, if there was a thought, idea, or change I wanted to make, I’d become a bit obsessive – including writing late on Christmas Eve and early Christmas morning. I’m pretty sure I rewrote every sentence a minimum of five times.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m a big fan of non-fiction. I believe everyone has a story to tell, and inspiration can be found in many of them. I’m particularly interested in military stories, especially from the boots-on-the-ground perspective. But the one that probably influenced my writing the most was Paul Shirley’s book about his basketball career, titled, Can I Keep My Jersey? He was honest, often the flawed narrator, and hilarious.

What are you working on now?
At the moment, my first-ever interview for Awesome Gang. I can assure you I have not rewritten these sentences five times. In all honesty I don’t have anything planned at the moment, but I’d never say, “Never.”

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I wish I had one. I suppose this is my start. I was so absorbed in itching the scratch of writing the book, I didn’t think about anything beyond. I guess I hoped for word-of-mouth, which, frankly, has kind of sucked in my case. This also explains why I have no website, Facebook fan page, etc. But I am now doing some research on promotion, came across Kindlepreneur, which led me to Awesome Gang.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you’re in a real-life situation and you have the thought that it would make a good book someday, do yourself a favor and keep a journal. You’ll thank yourself for it later. And, be honest in your writing. Also, life is short. You don’t know what tomorrow will bring. What are you waiting for?

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Before my high school wrestling matches my dad would always say, “Just do your best.” While that may sound simple and cliche, when you think about it, it really is more complex. If you complete a task and you did your best, sometimes you meet or exceed your goal, sometimes you fall short. But if you ask yourself, “Did I do my best?” and the answer is, “Yes,” you really shouldn’t have any regrets.

What are you reading now?
I recently finished Smokey Yunick’s book, Best Damn Garage in Town. I also recently read Chuck Long: Destined for Greatness, and The Coffin Corner Boys. I’m currently reading All the Way to Berlin: A Paratrooper at War in Europe.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Right now I’m just trying to figure out ways to promote my book. It’s new, awkward, and uncomfortable for me. But I have a lot of experience with jumping into situations where I have zero experience.

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?
Off the cuff, which I’ll probably miss some and regret later – also, I’m taking five:
A Season on the Mat
Four Days to Glory
Can I Keep My Jersey?
Life’s Tough on the Circuit
Hewitt’s Law

Author Websites and Profiles
Todd Thomas Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
The author was a scientist and director of several companies whose passion for reading the Bible started since over forty years ago. He also studied the M. Nostradamus’ prophecies for about 30 years.
The author began to write this marvelous book about the Nostradamus’ prophecies for the last days, for the following three important reasons: The first one was because the author wanted to help and awake common people, Christians, and highly educated individuals. So they can begin to study from a Christian’s point of view the M. Nostradamus’ prophecies.
The second important reason the author had to write this present book was that the true meaning of many of the M. Nostradamus’ prophecies has remained hidden for more than 440 years. It happened due to the misinterpretations of almost all the writers, for not to say all of them, who did not mention the Sacred Scriptures in their books as much as they should.
The third important reason the author had to write this present book and the others was because millions of Christians have wrongly believed in what pagan writers mentioned in their books about the prophet Nostradamus and his prophecies.
The author has written several scientific papers before beginning to write his two prophetic books.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The title of his last book is The apostle Matthew’s chapter 24 compared with the prophet Nostradamus’ prophecies.
I was inspired to write the book because most of the religious leaders’ interpretations about the apostle Matthew’s chapter 24 are wrong and because the M. Nostradamus’ prophecies written in this volume will revolutionize the way many religious leaders interpreted the apostle Matthew’s chapter 24.
A lot of Christian leaders ignore the Almighty God gave hundreds of predictions to the prophet M. Nostradamus that relate directly and indirectly to the apostle Matthew’s chapter 24 and many other critical biblical prophecies.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
The author prays to God before beginning to write.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Bible.

What are you working on now?
The author is writing, when he can, his second volume of the series, “Nostradamus: The essential link to know important details of the biblical prophecies.”

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesome Gang, Twitter, and Facebook.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
The good ideas come from the LORD. Pray before beginning to write.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Ideas are the most important part of a book. Therefore, write first your ideas, do not worry about grammar, punctuation, etc. After ordering all your ideas, start by concentrating on grammar, punctuation, etc.

What are you reading now?
The Bible, the book of Enoc.

What’s next for you as a writer?
If the LORD allows, I need to write at least five more 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?
The Bible and books about how to survive on a desert land.

Author Websites and Profiles
Daniel Melendez Amazon Profile

Daniel Melendez’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a born entertainer. I’m the 2nd oldest of 10 kids and if I didn’t stand out, I’d never get any attention from my busy parents. I love to entertain with words and sometimes, music. I’ve written two novels and I’m starting my third.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is the novel “Into Brett Woods”. It was inspired by a place with the same name in Connecticut where I grew up. My friends and I would go there every weekend to drink and party when we were teenagers. The woods were dense and dark and I thought it would be a fabulous backdrop for a novel.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I write, I’m all in. I try to write 1000 words a day. If I’m having trouble, I start writing random words that all jumble together. Often that stimulates my brain somehow and I’ll come up with something unique and different to write about. Sometimes I piece things together. Once I moved the beginning of my novel to the end and it actually worked better there.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love the classic authors. Charles Dickens, Victor Hugo, Mark Twain, JD Salinger, and especially Jane Austen. But modern authors have influenced me as well: Kristen Hannah, Jojo Moyes, Amy Tan and John Grisham to name just a few. I especially enjoyed The Nightingale.

What are you working on now?
Another young adult novel. I think today’s younger set need to read books that will encourage them to take the high road in life.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I like Awesome Gang :). Also Goodreads has great promotions, and of course, Amazon.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up! And don’t be afraid to fail. It takes years to become successful at anything and you have to fail a lot. If you have a flair for writing and you enjoy it, just keep plugging away. That’s what it takes to become a good writer.

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

What are you reading now?
Still Me by Jojo Moyes

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’d love to write a screenplay someday…we’ll see.

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
Robinson Crusoe
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Author Websites and Profiles
Amy Steiner Website

Amy Steiner’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Lakyshia born September 1988 in pahokee fl to mary&lorenzo shelton but also was raised in clewiston fl is a self published author of 11 books and mother of two young sons.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I thought I married a man! My marriage failing and all the drama that i went through is what inspired me to write this book

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
N/a

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Zane, eric jerome dickey, james patterson etc

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on I thought the grass was greener, and MY Gaurdian angel….

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
feel free to Check me out:
Facebook like page:
https://www.facebook.com/Author28Shelton/

Instagram:
Www.instagram.com/author_l.shelton

Twitter:
Www.twitter.com/@author_lakyshia

Websites:
http://shelton1256604.site123.me

https://author-mslakyshia-l-shelton.business.site

Www.lakyshialshelton.godaddysites.com
https://

www.linkedin.com/in/lakyshia-shelton-412796167

https://authorshelton28.wixsite.com/authorshelton

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Do you have any advice for new authors?
N/a

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Continue to push forward because failure begans with uou.

What are you reading now?
N/a

What’s next for you as a writer?
Building a audience and promoting etc

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 very own:
My baby daddy and the family drama that came along with it, Let’s help each other can you relate to these stories, I thought i married a man, and poetry of life part 3

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written and published a total of five books. There are four books in the Jonas Watcher series. The first book is “The Case of the Running Bag”; the ebook is permafree. “The Case of the Bourbon Street Hustler”, “The Case of the Jade Dragon”, and “The Case of the Dead Detective” make up the Jonas Watcher Series.My latest book is entitled

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is entitled “M’Lady’s Gentlemen”. Initially, it was inspired by a gentlemen’s gentleman working for a woman. That morphed into A Lady Agatha Wingate Spy Adventure which takes place during the Nineteenth century during the reign of Queen Victoria. The Series is called “In Her Majesty’s Service”.

“Lady Agatha is considered nothing more than a novelty in the spy ministry. Foolish woman, she intends to prove them wrong!”

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I listen to music when I write, which can be a cross section of the big bands of the 30s and 40s and CCR.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, Ian Flemming.

What are you working on now?
I am working on the Prologue to The Adventures of Booh & Babbott. It is the first book in the series by the same name. It is an Illustrated Book directed at the market for Harry Potter.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
When I find out, I’ll let you know.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. Network. Write. Decide to publish traditionally or by yourself. Write. And Write some more.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
See above.

What are you reading now?
“he” by John Connolly

What’s next for you as a writer?
When I finish the “Prologue” of The Adventures of Booh & Babbott, I will work on crowdfunding, it is an Illustrated book. You can find Booh & Babbott on Facebook.

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?
An encyclopedia on how stuff works. Some kind of botany book. The complete works of Sherlock Holmes. The complete works of William Shakespear.

Author Websites and Profiles
Gene Poschman Website
Gene Poschman Amazon Profile

Gene Poschman’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a 55 year old mother and grandmother. I work as a teacher in a primary school and have been in education for more than 20 years. I was a headteacher and advisory headteacher but decided to go back into the classroom to work directly with children.
My eldest daughter died at the age of 25 from SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy). She was 7 months pregnant so we lost both her and her baby boy.
This is the first book I have written and it has taken me 13 years to find the courage to do so.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is called Through Plate Glass. It is a collection of poems, straight from the heart, about how my life changed from the day before Sam’s death to now. The title comes from the fact that, when you lose a child, you look at the world, and everything around you, in a different way. Life carries on but you are looking at it as if Through Plate Glass.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I write when I feel emotionally able and ask for memories from friends and families so that I can include them in my poetry.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love the romantic poets but I am an avid reader of thrillers, which have nothing at all to do with influencing my writing.

What are you working on now?
I am continuing to write more poems about Sam’s life rather than the experience since her death. She was so full of life and fun that it seems a shame to not write about her antics.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As this is all new to me, I have self-published and have used the KDP site. I have promoted on Facebook and Twitter and most of the epilepsy sites have taken the story for their websites. I have been on local radio and local newspapers have covered the story.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up on your dream. I wanted to publish my poetry as I want to raise awareness and also I want as many people as possible to know Samantha. I was offered publishing contracts from three companies who all wanted money from me to publish. My naivety could have led me to make a serious mistake. I decided I wasn’t going to let this stop me from publishing my book, so did it myself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” by Thomas Edison

What are you reading now?
I’m reading a couple of children’s books in preparation for next term.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I aim to continue to promote my book and to write a new collection of poetry.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Salem’s Lot by Stephen King
The Lord of the Rings trilogy

Christine Carter’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a 55 year old mother and grandmother. I work as a teacher in a primary school and have been in education for more than 20 years. I was a headteacher and advisory headteacher but decided to go back into the classroom to work directly with children.
My eldest daughter died at the age of 25 from SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy). She was 7 months pregnant so we lost both her and her baby boy.
This is the first book I have written and it has taken me 13 years to find the courage to do so.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is called Through Plate Glass. It is a collection of poems, straight from the heart, about how my life changed from the day before Sam’s death to now. The title comes from the fact that, when you lose a child, you look at the world, and everything around you, in a different way. Life carries on but you are looking at it as if Through Plate Glass.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I write when I feel emotionally able and ask for memories from friends and families so that I can include them in my poetry.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love the romantic poets but I am an avid reader of thrillers, which have nothing at all to do with influencing my writing.

What are you working on now?
I am continuing to write more poems about Sam’s life rather than the experience since her death. She was so full of life and fun that it seems a shame to not write about her antics.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As this is all new to me, I have self-published and have used the KDP site. I have promoted on Facebook and Twitter and most of the epilepsy sites have taken the story for their websites. I have been on local radio and local newspapers have covered the story.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up on your dream. I wanted to publish my poetry as I want to raise awareness and also I want as many people as possible to know Samantha. I was offered publishing contracts from three companies who all wanted money from me to publish. My naivety could have led me to make a serious mistake. I decided I wasn’t going to let this stop me from publishing my book, so did it myself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” by Thomas Edison

What are you reading now?
I’m reading a couple of children’s books in preparation for next term.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I aim to continue to promote my book and to write a new collection of poetry.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Salem’s Lot by Stephen King
The Lord of the Rings trilogy

Christine Carter’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a 55 year old mother and grandmother. I work as a teacher in a primary school and have been in education for more than 20 years. I was a headteacher and advisory headteacher but decided to go back into the classroom to work directly with children.
My eldest daughter died at the age of 25 from SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy). She was 7 months pregnant so we lost both her and her baby boy.
This is the first book I have written and it has taken me 13 years to find the courage to do so.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is called Through Plate Glass. It is a collection of poems, straight from the heart, about how my life changed from the day before Sam’s death to now. The title comes from the fact that, when you lose a child, you look at the world, and everything around you, in a different way. Life carries on but you are looking at it as if Through Plate Glass.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I write when I feel emotionally able and ask for memories from friends and families so that I can include them in my poetry.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love the romantic poets but I am an avid reader of thrillers, which have nothing at all to do with influencing my writing.

What are you working on now?
I am continuing to write more poems about Sam’s life rather than the experience since her death. She was so full of life and fun that it seems a shame to not write about her antics.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As this is all new to me, I have self-published and have used the KDP site. I have promoted on Facebook and Twitter and most of the epilepsy sites have taken the story for their websites. I have been on local radio and local newspapers have covered the story.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up on your dream. I wanted to publish my poetry as I want to raise awareness and also I want as many people as possible to know Samantha. I was offered publishing contracts from three companies who all wanted money from me to publish. My naivety could have led me to make a serious mistake. I decided I wasn’t going to let this stop me from publishing my book, so did it myself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” by Thomas Edison

What are you reading now?
I’m reading a couple of children’s books in preparation for next term.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I aim to continue to promote my book and to write a new collection of poetry.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Salem’s Lot by Stephen King
The Lord of the Rings trilogy

Christine Carter’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a 55 year old mother and grandmother. I work as a teacher in a primary school and have been in education for more than 20 years. I was a headteacher and advisory headteacher but decided to go back into the classroom to work directly with children.
My eldest daughter died at the age of 25 from SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy). She was 7 months pregnant so we lost both her and her baby boy.
This is the first book I have written and it has taken me 13 years to find the courage to do so.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is called Through Plate Glass. It is a collection of poems, straight from the heart, about how my life changed from the day before Sam’s death to now. The title comes from the fact that, when you lose a child, you look at the world, and everything around you, in a different way. Life carries on but you are looking at it as if Through Plate Glass.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I write when I feel emotionally able and ask for memories from friends and families so that I can include them in my poetry.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love the romantic poets but I am an avid reader of thrillers, which have nothing at all to do with influencing my writing.

What are you working on now?
I am continuing to write more poems about Sam’s life rather than the experience since her death. She was so full of life and fun that it seems a shame to not write about her antics.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As this is all new to me, I have self-published and have used the KDP site. I have promoted on Facebook and Twitter and most of the epilepsy sites have taken the story for their websites. I have been on local radio and local newspapers have covered the story.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up on your dream. I wanted to publish my poetry as I want to raise awareness and also I want as many people as possible to know Samantha. I was offered publishing contracts from three companies who all wanted money from me to publish. My naivety could have led me to make a serious mistake. I decided I wasn’t going to let this stop me from publishing my book, so did it myself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” by Thomas Edison

What are you reading now?
I’m reading a couple of children’s books in preparation for next term.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I aim to continue to promote my book and to write a new collection of poetry.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Salem’s Lot by Stephen King
The Lord of the Rings trilogy

Christine Carter’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
“Mollie’s Follies” is my first novel. I’m working on second novel, “Blue Pearl & Pepper Rose.” I’ve authored 345 poems on boomerwomenspeak.com in the Women Writers thread under the title of “What Say You” and using the internet name “Jabber.” I’ve a college degree from Bryant & Stratton College in accounting but I’m retired and married to a retired geologist. We love geocaching as a hobby. Hubby and I live in the country about twenty miles southeast of Buffalo, New York, and have lived here thirty-three years. I grew up on a dairy farm. At twenty-five months old, my birth mother abandoned me. I looked up birth family after my adoptive parents went to be with The Lord.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I met some biological relatives in 1995 and “Mollie’s Follies” is inspired by a late, biological sister. She was married six times. The book is fictionalized and since I like happy endings, I gave her an extra husband.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love God. I love the numbers seven and three.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
This is my first published creation.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on my second novel, “Blue Pearl & Pepper Rose.” Blue Pearl is a fictionalized creation of my adoptive mother. Pepper Rose is a fictionalized creation of myself; my real name is Bonita Rose.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Am just beginning to promote Mollie’s Follies. Have done 233 promos on Facebook sites.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
No. Just learning the ropes myself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

What are you reading now?
“Tis by Frank McCourt

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have two more novels in mind: “Blue Pearl & Pepper Rose,” and “Father’s Farms.”

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. Angela’s Ashes. Soul Food. The Source Of My Strength.

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have been writing for 20 years but have only published one novel so far. I am currently working on a young adult fantasy that I’ve been chewing on for 20 years as well. I’ve tried writing it off and on but it never turned out right. It will be the next book I publish.

I am a voracious reader from non-fiction to fiction. I love Jane Austin, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, J.K. Rowling and plenty of others. I try to read several books per month in both fiction and non-fiction.

I am happily married and have two adorable cats.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is “Love: What is it really?” I was inspired to write it because I’ve been born-again for 25 years and the subject of love has always fascinated me. I know I struggle to love myself, others, and God in the right way so I thought maybe others struggled with it too. My goal is to help people become more loving – to fill the world with love.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I can only write for about 30 minutes at a time before I need to take short breaks, otherwise, I burn out creatively. I can’t listen to music with words or I end up writing down parts of the lyrics. I can’t write long-hand because my thoughts move faster than my hand and I am much faster at typing. I can’t outline books at all. When I’ve tried to outline books I lose all interest in writing it. I have to write as things come to me or not at all.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Growing up I loved Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Jane Austin, and J.K. Rowling. But there are others that I remember and of course authors I picked up as an adult. K.A. Applegate, R.L. Stein, George R. R. Martin, and some others whose names I can’t remember right now. Every book I read has influenced me by either teaching me what to do or what not to do in my own writing.

What are you working on now?
I am currently writing a young adult fantasy novel that I’ve had in my head for 20 years. I wrote it all out when I was 10 years old but it wasn’t incomprehensible and unfortunately, I lost it years ago. I’ve tried writing it several times but it never turned out right. I think I’m on the right track now and I’m determined to finish it within the next 2-3 years.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am still learning how to promote my books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up! I’ve wanted to give up so often throughout the last 20 years. Writing is fun and for authors, it’s something you just have to do, but that doesn’t make it easy. You get writer’s block, you suffer from lack of creativity, getting a literary agent means jumping through a hundred hoops, and even self-publishing is challenging because you have to advertise yourself. Despite all this, if you are an author, you know that you can’t give up writing. It is in your blood. So, don’t give up! No matter how hard or challenging, no matter what obstacles you face, keep moving forward! Keep reading other people’s books, improve your own writing, write new stories all the time, learn new things and new ways of doing things. Just don’t give up!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Read other people’s books to improve your own writing. We can’t ever think that we’ve “made it” as an author – published or no. We can always get better and besides writing the best way to improve is to read the published works of others. Some teach you what to do, some teach you what not to do, but all books have something you can learn.

What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading George R.R. Martin’s “Game of Thrones.”

What’s next for you as a writer?
What’s next for me is finishing my young adult fantasy and either self-publishing or finding a literary agent to help me get physically published.

Author Websites and Profiles
Tara Canady Website
Tara Canady Amazon Profile

Tara Canady’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
At the time of writing, I’ve only written the one book. Took me long enough. But I’ve nearly finished the second, and that’s gone a lot faster since I’m no longer an easily-distracted teenager. I’m an easily-distracted adult instead. Between my day job as a pharmacy dispenser and my love of video and tabletop games, it’s a wonder I get anything done. I should probably combine them with the love of writing and publish D&D modules!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest book, the next one, is called “Emergency”. It refers to the several things; but mainly the state of emergency the world of the book is currently in, and the setting of the first half of the book, the Accident & Emergency department of a hospital.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know if I’d say any of my habits are unusual, exactly. I listen to a lot of atmospheric soundtracks on YouTube, but apart from that, I’m just as reliant on tea, coffee and biscuits as most writers. I also try to stick to certain days and times to get me in the creative mode, and treat the writing process as sort of like showing up for work – only I can do it in my pyjamas.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I used to just say that J.K. Rowling was the reason I wanted to read, Terry Pratchett was the reason I wanted to write, and Jim Butcher was the reason I wanted to write as down to earth as I could. Since then a whole heap of other influences have come into it. Ernest Cline, Scott Meyer, Peter V. Brett and V.E. Schwab are all on my “good authors” list, and were recently joined by my new obsession, Ben Aaronovitch.

What are you working on now?
Two things: “Emergency”, a story that runs alongside my first book, “Left Behind”. Originally it was planned as a short story, but my Strong Female Protagonist had a lot more to say than fifty pages, and I couldn’t be happier with where it’s gone, or the early feedback I’ve got from readers.

To ensure Emergency is finished on time, I paused work on another project – a fantasy novel about a young girl who wants to be a wizard. I’m not going to go into too much detail yet in case it doesn’t have the mileage and all the world notes just get funnelled into a D&D setting instead.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up. Even if you think you idea is stupid or overused – the execution is more important than the content, and there’s always more room in the genre. If I said to you “Students at Magic School have adventures”, I could be talking about Harry Potter, The Worst Witch or an Unseen University story. If I said “Man discovers reality is computer program”, it could be dozens of sci-fi stories.

TLDR: Write whatever you want, just write it well!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Show, don’t tell. It’s on every list of writing tips for good reason.
Show me your character slamming doors if they’re angry, or staring into the distance when they’re sad. Don’t just tell me about an emotion, make me feel it.

What are you reading now?
Ben Aaronovitch’s “PC Peter Grant” series. Police Procedural Drama meets Urban Fantasy.
The closest book parallel is “The Dresden Files”, but you could also think “Grimm”, or “Supernatural” if the Men Of Letters were introduced earlier.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep writing the books until either I get bored, or the readers do. So long as people are enjoying what I’m writing, I’ll keep doing it.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Ominbus editions, because I’m a big cheater. One of them would definitely be “How To Survive Being Stranded On A Desert Island”, but the rest would probably be Harry Potter or Harry Dresden books.

Author Websites and Profiles
T.A. Sorsby Website
T.A. Sorsby Amazon Profile

T.A. Sorsby’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a former ABC and NPR radio news host and journalist. During my tenure, I earned numerous first-prize honors for my news and features from the Associated Press and the Society of Professional Journalists. I’m a graduate of the CT School of Broadcasting and have earned a BFA in Theatre and an MA in English. I am the author of numerous volumes of short literature, which include poetry, plays, and short stories. My debut novel “THE WINDSOME TREE: a ghost story” has received much critical acclaim. My book of shorts “THE BOX UNDER THE BED” won the 2015 Paranormal Poetry and Prose Prize. I’m a two-time recipient of the Greater Hartford Arts Council fellowship for poetry. A freelance creative writing teacher, I’ve taught at conferences and institutions across the Northeast, including at the York Correctional Institute, CT’s maximum-security prison for women at the invitation of best-selling author Wally Lamb. My husband Wayne Horgan and I have owned and operated Heroes & Hitters, a comic book store in Rocky Hill, CT, since 1989.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My debut novel is “The Windsome Tree: a ghost story.” It is my third novel written, but my first to make it to publication. After writing my first two novels, I realized they were unsuccessful because I was not writing in the genre in which I love to read. My favorite genre is literary horror. With that in mind, I embarked on writing short stories in that genre. After having written about a dozen short stories, I realized they were just old themes with a new twist. I knew I had to write something unique. So, I interviewed myself. I asked, “What is your favorite kind of literary horror?” I answered, “Ghost stories.” Then I asked, “What kind of ghost stories?” I answered, “Those that involve nostalgia and family.” “What’s something nostalgic to you?” “Tire swings.” I continued that way until I got all the elements that I would love in a good ghost story. I began this as a short story, but quickly found it was bigger than that. Hence, a novel was born.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wouldn’t call this a habit, but my favorite place to write is in my comic book store. I own the store, so I am there all the time, and every day has its slow period. During those down times, I write. The space is open, brightly lit, organized, clean, and fun. So, it’s a wonderful space in which to write.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen King is at the top of my list. Many people have told me they don’t read King because they don’t like horror. But what they don’t understand is that many of his works fall under the literary horror category. He develops stories with strong, sympathetic characters, rich imagery, and a high evolution of prose. One novel that strikes me as being influential to my writing is “The Dead Zone.” It’s a significant story in any time. Itt took me on an often heart-wrenching journey with the main character who has formed psychic abilities after a near fatal car accident. Other writers who have influenced me are Brad Melzer, George Orwell, Ray Bradbury, Neil Gaiman, Dean Koontz, Richard Matheson, and many more.

What are you working on now?
I am working on my next novel, a supernatural crime story about a good girl who makes bad choices. It’s tentatively titled “The Once Good Girl.” I don’t like the title, but it keeps me focused on the plot of the novel. It will change when I am finished with it, just like the title of “The Windsome Tree” changed right before it went to publication. It was titled “Without Mercy” for all the ten years I was working on it, because the main character is Mercy Amoretto who is mired in grief after losing her youngest child to leukemia. It wasn’t until the story was completely written that I knew what the right title was for the book.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My Amazon Author Page
Facebook: www.facebook.com/EileenAlbrizio
Twitter: www.twitter.com/EileenAlbrizio
My Website: www.EileenAlbrizio.com

Those are the four with which I am most active. However, I believe an author should use multiple Internet and social media platforms in order to successfully promote her work.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
The best advice is to write every day, even if it’s garbage. I think the biggest obstacle for writers is fear. We are afraid that what we are writing isn’t good, no one will want to read it, the story will be hurtful to family, or it’s a waste of time. When you’re putting down that first draft, remember, no one will read it but you. So, really, you have nothing to fear by writing it and everything to gain. Ernest Hemingway famously said, “The first draft of everything is s**t.” And look what he did! The next best advice is to be a voracious reader. The more you read, the better you write. And an often overlooked bit of advice is to get yourself out of your room and into the world. Writing can be a solitary and lonely business. Break down the walls of solitude and go to conferences, public readings by other authors, anyplace where writers and readers connect. I met my agent at a writer’s conference. I pitched my novel (then “Without Mercy) to her and she rejected it. I went home and revised it and the next year pitched it to her again and she eventually signed me.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
There isn’t any one best piece of advice that I’ve heard or been given that has influenced me most. Rather there are several bits that guide me through the writing process. One is from Stephen King in relation to the last question. He said, “I’m convinced fear is at the root of most bad writing,” and “If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the time to write.” Solid words. When it comes to content, Berkeley creative writing teacher James Frey (NOT the James Frey who wrote the notoriously fabricated memoir “A Million Little Pieces) said, “The greatest rules of dramatic writing are conflict, conflict, conflict.” And a college poetry teacher once told me to avoid the abstract and embrace the concrete. Those four statements stand out for me.

What are you reading now?
“Wake” by Lisa McMann. It’s about a teenage girl who involuntarily gets thrown into other people’s dreams. It’s quite good.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To continue writing and reading, of course. I am also in the midst of touring with my novel “The Windsome Tree: a ghost story.”

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
That’s tough. I would like to find at least one new book I haven’t read yet. Maybe one by an indie author. To read again, I would possibly bring Neil Gaiman’s “Sandman.” Technically, it’s a graphic novel, but it’s amazing. However, that’s ten volumes, so maybe that doesn’t count. Really? Just three or four? Okay, Bradbury’s “Something Wicked this Way Comes,” King’s “11/22/63” (I figure it’s so long, it would take me a while to re-read it, so that would help pass the time), Aldous Huxley’s “A Brave New World” (I haven’t read that since I was a teenager, so it may be like reading it for the first time), and, to mix it up, “On the Road” by Jack Kerouac.

Author Websites and Profiles
Eileen Albrizio Website
Eileen Albrizio Amazon Profile

Eileen Albrizio’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written many e-books and a few soft covered books that are all self-published. My first self-published book is Piece of Planet or Planet of Peace. It is an autobiography that is an account of a trust walk I did, mostly on faith without any money or very little money, in order to let go of my soulmate who took his life when I was younger. I also write spiritual parables, short stories, poetry and stage plays. When I am not writing or thinking about writing, I am spending time with my companion goat. Goats have brought sanity and play into my life.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Cornelius the Goat. It is a short story that is part of the legacy of one of my goats that passed over in 2017. It has photos of my beloved current goat Sunshine, but the character is modeled after my beloved late goat Rocky. It is inspired completely by Rocky who resembles the main character. I know goats better than I do humans. It is a heart-warming story filled with action and suspense. It was written to support animals.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I take dictation when I write. I “hear” words coming to me and write them down. I don’t think about them before I write them, I listen to them. In this way, a lot of my writing can be called “channeled.”

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Paulo Coelho is my favorite author. I used to sleep with a stack of his books near me. His life as a humanitarian is also inspiring. Sometimes I meet people who are Coelho fans and we hug. He brings people together. I also love the books of Jeff Greenwald. He is an awesome travel writer that puts his heart and soul and life into his books. His books fill me.

What are you working on now?
Actually, I started creating video poetry. I am making videos of my poetry accompanied with music and visuals. I put them on youtube. I write poems like taking vitamin pills. I am hoping to get my plays produced. They are mostly comedies. One of them supports animals another highlights mental illness. I will write more plays once these are produced.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am a late bloomer when it comes to marketing my books. I was so caught up in my writing that I only started to market.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t quit your daydream.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It’s often better to say “sorry” than “please.” For example, if you really want to go somewhere to see a view, it is better to just go and see it. You might have to say “sorry” to someone, but if you asked first, saying “please,” you might have received a “no.”

What are you reading now?
I am listening to a book on cd, The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

What’s next for you as a writer?
As a MamaGoat, I write what I know. I know goats. I have some books about goats that I wrote. I want to write another. My goat Sunshine is my muse. He knows a ton of English and is extremely smart. He is a mama’s boy. He might butt someone, however. He is not such a people goat unless someone has food. He’s a foodie. Goats are funny. I want to write another comedy.

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 Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, Shopping for Buddhas by Jeff Greenwald, The Size of the World by Jeff Greenwald

Author Websites and Profiles
Lara De Ann Website
Lara De Ann Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an Indian author. I have published seven books so far through kindle. Right now, I am getting all my books re-edited and also changing the book cover and description. One of my books “The Heart of Gold” was republished recently and is available for free now. I am now almost ready to re-publish my second book. [By second week of August 2018].

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book which I just finished writing is “Blackmail”. I am yet to publish the same. In India, taking the help of detectives instead of going to the police is becoming common these days. Even parents, before finding a suitable bridegroom for their daughter consults a detective to verify the details of the boy. This concept of depending too much on the detectives inspired me to write this book. In this book, the detective after learning all the details of her family, blackmails her that she is the cause of a murder and draws out money from her frequently.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes. For the last two years, I have been experiencing a writer’s block [due to my mother’s passing away]. In fact, I have decided to stop writing. I wish to get out these eight books of mine out into the world first. I feel there is no point of writing when no one is reading. These days, with self-publishing, sometimes, I feel there are more authors than readers. And I wonder, how to get out my books to my readers. Hence, this decision to stop writing and concentrate more on spreading my books. In fact, I am learning the different marketing methods for my books.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Authors like Rabindranath Tagore, Sidney Sheldon, Jackie Collins have influenced me a lot. Presently I am reading Kuzhro Ishiguru’s [the nobel prize winner of this year] books. I finished “Never Let me Go”, “The remains of the day” and now reading The unconsoled.

What are you working on now?
Just learning to market my ebooks and searching the web for some good mentors who could help me in this regard.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am yet to come to a conclusion on this. However, I believe that shelling out a lot of money really helps. As everyone says, paid promotion works well. I like your awesome gang website as well. I have already promoted my books twice with you – one by paying $10

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I feel I am not yet capable to offer any advice. However, out of experience, I learnt that you need to spend some money for editing, book cover and book description, if you want people to even click on your free book link.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Same as enumerated above. Spend some money for paid promotion, if you want your book to get noticed by readers. Also, make your book free for a while and keep promoting it on all free websites and facebook groups. Building your email list, facebook ads and amazon ads are a few other things by which you can reach your readers, but I have so far not acquired knowledge about these.

What are you reading now?
“Unconsoled” Kazhroo Ishiguru

What’s next for you as a writer?
promoting and marketing my books. Once I succeed in this, I think of writing another book.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Books of Rabindranath Tagore and Jackie Collins.

Author Websites and Profiles
Hemalatha Gnanasekar Website

Hemalatha Gnanasekar’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a poet from Australia, I Use to write books all the time as a kid share them with teachers, Family etc but The Humble Wolf is my first book I self published With blurb.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Humble Wolf, Well it’s a combination of inspiration, I write my thoughts, feelings, expressions and then combine it all to form my poetry which can be taken from dreams, to just being lost in thought.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t like being deturbed when I’m writing, Poetry forms for me inside as true expression so if I’m lost somewhere I want to be able to take it all in, and if someone interacts with me that moment is then lost to me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I use to read a lot as a kid, Mainly kids books then as a teenager I Found poetry, No one author spoke to me so I Couldn’t name anyone and I’m not influenced by any book.

What are you working on now?
Just trying to spread the word on The Humble Wolf, and Hopefully if there is enough interest another book of poetry.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I Advertise booko a lot on my Facebook page, I also have my own page to buy the book directly from me, I’ve created a few quotes from my poems in the book and shared them on pages such as reddit, deviantart etc for people to enjoy as well as my own poetry page on facebook.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Maybe when I’m not so new myself, But all I Can say Is Don’t give up.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It is what it is

What’s next for you as a writer?
spreading the word on The Humble Wolf, and Hopefully writing more poetry in the future.

Dean Duffin’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an avid reader who loves to write. I have two books out. The first is a Fantasy about a young girl discovering she has powers called Ethereal. The second is a contemporary romance about two people who couldn’t be more wrong for each other called Can’t Let Go

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Can’t Let Go. My husband was my inspiration. The story of how we met is somewhat intertwined within Beau and Mallory’s story. Their story is very different from ours, but talking about us to a friend is what started the writing journey.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I can’t write to music. I need total silence.

What are you working on now?
Come a Little Closer. The second installment to Can’t let go. It features Beau’s friend Kevin and his long lost friend, Sophie.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Writing is the easy part. Getting your book noticed by the world is what’s difficult, but hang in there. If it’s as great as you think it is people will find it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
A crappy rough draft is better than no draft.

What are you reading now?
Vicious by L.J. Shen

What’s next for you as a writer?
keep on writing.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Last Vampire by Christopher Pike, Bailey and the Bad Boy by R. Linda, and More than this by Jay Mclean

Author Websites and Profiles
Chrissy Brown Website
Chrissy Brown Amazon Profile

Chrissy Brown’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a therapist, coach, keynote speaker and author. This is my first book!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
It’s called Riding Standing Up and it’s a coming of age memoir. I’m a trauma survivor so I was inspired to share my story in hopes that it would encourage others to do so.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My office is my laboratory! When I sit to write I’ll write for hours on end, until my hands cramp and my legs go to sleep.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs changed my life.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the follow up to Riding. It’s called Lather.Rinse.Repeat.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Social media and amazon

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing! Get an editor. Keep reading other people’s work. Don’t take advice from family.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be like a tree and let the dead leaves drop. -Rumi

What are you reading now?
With or Without You by Domenica Ruta. Amazing so far!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Book signings, writing, and a vacation!

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 Now by Eckhart Tolle
The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav
Understanding Jazz by Leroy Ostransky

Author Websites and Profiles
Sparrow Spaulding Website
Sparrow Spaulding Amazon Profile

Sparrow Spaulding’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is TM Blayte. I am the author of Until We Are Free.
By day, I am an aspiring journalist. By night, a book reader, and somewhere in between, an author.
Until We Are Free is my debut. I have other unfinished projects in the pipeline.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest and debut novel, is titled Until We Are Free. It was inspired by a number of things.
To narrow down a couple, I think it was the current political climate situation on the global scene. Especially when you look at countries that went through revolutions, only to be replaced by an even worse regime.
Historic events, such as the colonisation of Africa, the Vietnam war, and the French revolution also influenced some elements.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Unless you count my preference of writing while I’m on my back on a bed, instead of sitting at a desk, no.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I was inspired by George Orwell’s Animal Farm quite a bit. I think I can say Marie Lu’s Legend also had an influence on me, along with every Dystopia novel in the market.
In terms of authors. I have always wanted to write like Marie Lu. The quick pace, thrilling action, and concise pages.
In future, I hope to be able to create worlds like George R.R. Martin, and Brandon Sanderson. Though that might be a little too ambitious.

What are you working on now?
Well, right now, I just finished outlining the sequel to Until We Are Free. I’m now working on a Fantasy project I’ve been working on since April. At this stage, I’m still doing research, so there isn’t a novel yet.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
How about the entire Internet?

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up. It is not easy, it will never get easy. But don’t give up.
More importantly, learn to step back from your work, and admit your manuscript sucks. You might not get it right the first, or even eleventh time.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The publishing business is very subjective. A “no” from one person, does not mean “no” from everyone.

What are you reading now?
Thirteen Hours by Deon Meyer.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m hoping to start writing something in my Fantasy universe before the year is out. I’m also considering getting a Literary Agent for my next project.

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 about a guide to killing whoever decided to punish me like that, a slow and painful death?
I’m a grown man, but I would still take Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I would also pack in Frost Bite by Richelle Mead, something from George R.R. Martin (it aught to last me a while), and one of the Sean King and Michelle Maxwell novels by David Baldacci.

Author Websites and Profiles
TM Blayte Website
TM Blayte Amazon Profile

TM Blayte’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I go by the pen name Faith St. Augustine to distinguish my nonfiction from my autofiction books. I have also published a book called Chilangos in the House: The True Story of a Mexican. My background is journalism-newspapers and magazines-and I’ve been writing stories almost all of my 49 years. I’ve also edited a few books, such as You, Were Born to Love by Gloria Coppola, and many magazines.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Divine Stupidity: Part 1 is a story about growing up, chasing men (and women), and the mad search for identity and life’s purpose. My life experiences were the main inspiration, but more than that was the desire to be better, to do better things, and to keep on the straight-and-narrow with regard to relationships, especially married men. I thought that by writing about my indiscretions and giving them a life beyond the past and outside of myself that I might learn from them. I can’t say that it worked, but it’s a work in progress.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Too many to mention. I am fortunate that after 17 years as a freelance writer I have found a full-time job that supports my writing habit. As the Manager of Marketing Communications at Trinitas Regional Medical Center, a NJ-based independent Catholic teaching hospital, I write a weekly newsletter for employees and slip in autofiction each week to an audience that seems to be hungry for human connection. I believe that creating a friendlier work environment among employees will spill over into the underserved community in this impoverished area of the state.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love old and new writers like Anais Nin, Philip Roth, Mary Karr, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sheila Heti, Frank McCourt, Haruki Murakami, Janet Fitch, Betsy Lerner, Jeanette Walls, Tina Fey, the list is endless. Recently I re-read all of Frank McCourt’s books, actually listened to the audiobooks during my commute, and the muse jolted me awake as if to say, “Wake up! It’s time to write another book!”

What are you working on now?
At the moment I am writing another piece of autofiction about my relationship with food. It’s not exactly a love story. In fact, it’s more like a horror story with lots of chase scenes, me chasing my tail around the kitchen, that is.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook. That’s where all my friends are. But I’m getting friendlier with Twitter.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice for new authors, as in people who have recently published a book, is don’t stop writing. Write something every day. Keep a journal. Keep in touch with your ideas because some of the best ones are fleeting.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I have ever heard was to write what you know. I have also consistently appreciated the advice of Julia Cameron, author of The Writer’s Way, such as writing “morning pages” and going on “artist dates.” I do both whenever possible.

What are you reading now?
Speak from the Heart by Steve Adubato

What’s next for you as a writer?
More writing, of course, until I publish my new book about my relationship with food. I may even go the traditional route this time, as my first two books were self-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?
1. White Oleander by Janet Fitch 2. Eat. Pray. Love. by Elizabeth Gilbert 3. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

Author Websites and Profiles
Yolanda Fleming Amazon Profile

Yolanda Fleming’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Sonja has written three books. One is “Art Pedagogical Seminar Cultural Bridges Between Nations” Swedish Institute, 2003, second is “Tracks of Living” retrespective art works and poems, and together with Esin Tanrisever, she wrote “Free Art Learning With Kids” art education book aiming to reach parents, teachers and teacher candidates.

Esin has written memoirs as a volunteer rescuer in “AKUT” Search and Rescue Association that works in Disasters and also wilderness but not published yet. She also has written tens of short stories, not published yet but thinking to start collecting and publishing them in a book either in Turkish or English,couldn’t decide yet. She also is the co-writer of the book “Free Art Learning With Kids”

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Free Art Learning With Kids” is an intorductory book upon art education of kids and aims to reach parents, teachers and teacher candidates.

Sonja has been working with kids in art education for 58 years and Esin 20. Collected “lots(!)” of things to share and wanted to spread the word and there has been lots of requests for us writing books upon the subject.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Esin=> I can write my short stories while I write emails to someone else. That is mostly my best friend; he has been a “pen friend” for more than 10 years. When I’m writing him, or sometimes when for instance he is in vacation and ca not be online, I ‘pretend’ writing him, then I don’t need to worry about the words, sentences or composition, nothing… Because I feel the strong urge to tell the thing (whatever the subject is, which can be anything), the story comes out ‘by itself’. Sentences follow each other and I just watch, follow them

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Sonja: Panait Strati, Jean Paul Sartre, Gorki, Octavio Paz, Lorka

Esin: Jack London, John, Steinbeck, Dostoyevski, Gorki, Gabriel Garcia Marquez

What are you working on now?
Working on our second book on our art education “serie” handbook: Art making out of recycled materials

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
We are working on different promotion methods right now

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Sure. Do not be afraid of writing what you think or feel. Don’t limit yourself when it all just needs to “flow out”; let them (thoughts, emotions) all come out of you, some time later you will work on structuring them, that’s a “later process” and also you can get support from professionals for doing that but what comes out as a whole is very valuable and only YOU can do or write that. The rest, you can “play with” later on

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Don’t limit yourself when writing. Let is all flow. Somethings, some memories or obervations or whatever; you may not want to share with others. Don’t mind about that when writing, just let them all flow. Later on, you can “play with” and work on what you have in hand”

What are you reading now?
Esin: George Orwell, 1984.
Sonja: Inner Simplicity, Elaine St James

What’s next for you as a writer?
We want to write a big serie, which will make up a a library on art education with kids; especially on different techniques of art.

Esin: “In the meanwhile, I may publish either own rescue experiences from earthquakes as a volunteer rescuer, or collect the short stories I had written long ago, and let them make up a book”

Sonja: “So I may also publish a cook book, why not! In fact I mostly would like to publish a psychological novel; my experiences on ‘inner mirrors’. Another idea is collecting my notes on own artistic production”

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?
Esin: Gabriel Garcia Marquez – 100 Years of Solitude, Jack London’s Martin Eden, one book from Dostoyevsky.
Sonja: Rainer Maria Rilke- The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge, Hermean Hesse’s Siddhartha, one book from Nazim Hikmet

Author Websites and Profiles
Sonja and Esin Tanrisever Website
Sonja and Esin Tanrisever Amazon Profile
Sonja and Esin Tanrisever Author Profile on Smashwords

Sonja and Esin Tanrisever’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 Kela Calvin and I am from Hopewell, Virginia. I have a degree in Human Services. I aim to motivate and inspire others through the art of story telling. I also write poetry and have engaged in local poetry readings in my community. I have written one novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my newly published novel is “Living Proof”. I was inspired to write this novel because of the biases in today’s world. I want people to be motivated and inspired to turn their trials into triumphs. This novel focuses on a woman who tries to rebuild her life as well as deal with her mental illness.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Wow, I have read a lot of books! However, authors that have influenced me are Toni Morrison, Sista Souljah, Carl Webber, Angela Henry, and Eric Jerome Dickey.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a novel about three women and their experiences with being single; That’s all I will say about that.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
To be honest, I am fairly new at being a published author and I am still learning about how to market myself when it comes to expanding awareness of my novel. However, I do utilize social media outlets such as the Amazon Author Page, Instagram, and Facebook. I have engaged in one book signing event and have plans to do more signings. They are fun.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
To keep writing. Do not be discouraged about who or who may not read your work. Your stories will motivate and inspire someone. Do your own research about marketing and publicity and use methods that best work for you.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice that I have ever heard was to tap into my gifts, talents, and abilities; it is writing for me.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I plan to use my platform as a writer to help others. I would like to engage in some charitable events and even someday establish a scholarship fund for young people.

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 stranded on an island three books I would bring with me would be my Bible, Sista Souljah’s The Coldest Winter Ever, and The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison.

Author Websites and Profiles
Kela Calvin Website
Kela Calvin Amazon Profile

Kela Calvin’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I would like to fancy myself a creator in many ways. Photography, cinematography, blogging and now writing a book. There is hardly a time that goes by without me having a camera in hand. I enjoy walking down the streets of Tokyo, or whatever country I may be in at the time and try and capture a streets eye view of everyday life. I have only written one book at the moment in an effort to help fellow travelers explore Japan without worry.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called ‘A Gaijin’s Guide to the Japanese Train System’. After living in Japan for two and a half years, I found that I was being constantly asked how I figured out how to use the train system and that it looks so difficult. I decided to sit down one day and write a guide to help those travelers who need help or want a leg up before coming to Japan.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I’m aware of; unless listening to music and typing in your underwear counts.

What authors, or books have influenced you?

What are you working on now?
At the moment I am solely promoting ‘A Gaijin’s Guide to the Japanese Train System’. I don’t have any intentions of writing another book any time soon, though I guess we’ll see.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Being new to the book publishing game, I’m quite out of the loop when it comes to advertising. I suppose the wide array of social media would be the best method.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My only advice would be to do your research. Formatting, ISBNs, advertising, book covers, etc. I never truly understood what it took to publish a book until the time came.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve ever heard would be that it doesn’t matter how long it takes, as long as you do not stop. Love you Confucius.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading ‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho for the second time. It’s an amazing book and would recommend it to anyone.

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?
Let’s see, if I were going to be stranded and could take a few books it would be ‘The Alchemist’, a book on how to make fire and the largest dictionary I could find for kindling.

Author Websites and Profiles
Brian Breeding Amazon Profile

Brian Breeding’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Retired from upstate NY to Aiken, SC, 10 years ago. Live on a golf course and play about 3-4 times a week. Since I retired, I’ve published two books with a third one in the works. I hope to have the third one finished sometime this fall.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest completed book is titled, Southbound Terror. I’m presently working on Placid Terror. All my books are tied to the threat of international terrorism. This is due partly to my past employment with the Dept. of Homeland Security, as well as my work as a New York State Trooper.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I do not use an outline. I start with an idea of how I want the story to end, but i let the writing lead me to where it takes me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Lawrence Sanders (years ago), Mike Connelly, Vince Flynn and a few other.

What are you working on now?
My third in the ‘Marc LaRose Mystery Series,’ Placid Terror. As all my novels take place in the Northern Tier of NYS, I am intrigued with the Lake Placid, Saranac Lake area of the Adirondacks.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook, word of mouth, presentations to book clubs.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Join a writers group, I belong to the South Carolina Writers Association. They have helped me greatly.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write about a topic you know something about.

What are you reading now?
The Poet, by Michael Connelly.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Book #4

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?
An easily understood version of the Holy Bible, my high school yearbook, Lawrence Sanders ‘The First Deadly Sin’, the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Author Websites and Profiles
Bob Clark Website

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a new adult paranormal fantasy and romance writer who has published three books on Amazon.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The Sinclair Witch”
Sometimes pieces of a story or a character pop into my head and inspire a story. This time however I was watching a T.V. documentary about vampires in New England and my creative muses started whispering in my ear.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write everything down using pen and paper. I’ve heard a lot of authors do this also so maybe I’m not that original. However, before I begin writing I use a big sage stick to ‘clear’ my work space before I begin writing and if I’m ever stuck I have a habit of playing with a big piece of fluorite to clear my head.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K Rowling, Rick Riordan, Steven King, Edgar Allan Poe and Ray Bradbury.

What are you working on now?
The third installment of my Otherworld Series, and several other projects that keep rattling around my head. One of them has been in the works for about twenty-five years.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use Facebook a lot as well as Instagram. Currently I’m seeking alternative forms of promoting as I am branching out from the whole ‘indie self-promote idea’.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just write…write everyday! And never forget a writer is never finished!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
A writer is never finished. It was something my tenth grade English teacher used to spout off almost daily.

What are you reading now?
“Unenchanted (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale)”

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finishing up my book trilogy The Otherworld Series which I started writing just a little over two years ago.

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”
“The Once and Future King”
“The Talisman”

Author Websites and Profiles
N.K. Vir Website
N.K. Vir Amazon Profile

N.K. Vir’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a teacher, entrepreneur and author currently based in Madrid, Spain. I have helped thousands of students to succeed in English language exams in the last 10 years.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
IELTS WRITING TASKS 1 & 2 ADVANCED MASTERCLASS. This book was written to help students maximise their potential in the IELTS Academic Writing exam. This book offers a blue-print to achieving an outstanding score in the exam

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write while I exercise!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Cambridge IELTS Preparation books

What are you working on now?
101 Grammar Rules for IELTS!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m not sure yet

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep it simple

What are you reading now?
The Blue Ocean Strategy

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to publish several exam prep and business books before I move onto fiction

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?
Desert Islands for Dummies x 4. This way I’d have 3 extra copies in case something happened to the first one

Author Websites and Profiles
MARC ROCHE Website
MARC ROCHE Amazon Profile

MARC ROCHE’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m never particularly good when it comes to telling people about myself, which is actually highly ironic, given that the book I just published is a non-fiction book and is pretty much me telling everyone about myself! In general, I am a person who has always loved books and writing; literature is a huge part of my life, and I find so much pleasure in it. Although my latest book is my only book currently active, I did try my hand at writing and self-publishing a few things when I was younger, which didn’t really work out very well (largely owing to the fact that I was 14, and had absolutely no idea what I was doing!). But I do have a couple of short stories and poems out there somewhere.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called, ‘The Act of Constant Drowning,’ and this was very much inspired by events that were taking place in my life at this time. I began writing this book while I was in the midst of a pretty bad MS relapse, and I needed a way to keep my mind active when my body couldn’t be. What this then led to was me finding a sort of outlet for all of my emotions and the struggles that I’ve been dealing with in my life due to a mixture of chronic illness and depression. I found ‘writing through it,’ as it were, to be very cathartic, and I really wanted to be able to describe the things that I go through in order to not only provide relatable content to others who struggle with health issues, but also to raise more awareness about aspects of physical and mental health conditions.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure how unusual they are, but I certainly have habits that I like to stick to. I am very much a planner, and I like to have all of my works planned out – from inspiration to completion, I have numerous lists, hints, and areas of extra detail that I keep in very organized files on my computer. I like being able to find everything in its proper place, and structure my ideas in order to help with the process of actually writing then coherently.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am a huge fan of Virginia Woolf and Sylvia Plath – in fact, each chapter in my latest book begins with an epigraph in the format of a Sylvia Plath quotation. However, I am slightly unsure whether it’s specifically the writing styles of these great female authors that have influenced me, or just the similarity I seem to find in them in regards to my own personality. Either way, I think they are incredible.

What are you working on now?
At the moment, I am working on a novella that I originally wrote six years ago, and yet have never done anything with. I am hoping that it might amount to something more substantial over the next year or so.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
To be perfectly honest, I am very bad at promoting my books. I have a tendency to just push my book at all of my friends and family members until they give in and buy it. This is not the best method in the world.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Considering that I am pretty much a new author myself, I don’t have a great wealth of knowledge to share. However, one I will say is to never stop trying. As someone who has had total flops in the past, I know what it’s like to feel totally disheartened by an outcome that was pretty much the polar opposite of what was intended, but I do think that it’s important to just keep learning, and writing, and sharing what you love.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I have the memory of a goldfish. I have heard many pieces of good advice; I remember very little.

What are you reading now?
Right now, I am reading ‘Confederates in the Attic,’ by Tony Horowitz. Not the sort of thing I usually read, but it’s humorous and I’m certainly learning some stuff about something I’ve never really thought about very much before.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully, finally completing my novella to a standard I actually think is decent enough, which I have been working on for the past six years!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Hmm, what a question… I think I would definitely bring ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’ by Audrey Niffenegger, ‘Jane Eyre’ by Charlotte Brontë, and probably a few books by Angela Carter.

Iona Stuart’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Lee and Gary Jordan are the co-writing team PHOENIX. We have published four books. Their tales defy strict category and may contain a mix of genre, such as fantasy, romance, science fiction, action and adventure, mystery and even some occult. However, they can tell you this: none of them are a usual story and will take you to a place you have never been before.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Take Me With You, My Love, A Time Travel Fantasy. Actually, I (Lee Jordan) dreamed the whole story line, including the ending. I told Gary about it and he said it sounded great.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I forget to stop and eat, and Gary forgets to go to bed.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
All time favorite is Lord of the Rings, Otherwise, it is hard to say what genres we like because we have such a wide range of genres.

What are you working on now?
A novel called Shakti and the Prince, Enslavement of A Planet.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Twitter seems to work the best. And posting on our website. We post a wide range of subjects, but mostly short stories and flash fiction.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
There is no such thing as writer’s block. Just put your fingers on the keys and start typing. Amazing things happen after a while.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
A book on writing that gave the “rules” of writing” and then suggests throwing them all out the window. Write in the way you like to read. If you don’t mind books that jump from viewpoint to viewpoint without a break in the text (head-hopping) then go ahead and write that way.

What are you reading now?
LEE, Omega Force, Series 10. Science Fiction. GARY: Another science fiction series (he loves it so much, he is reading the whole thing a 2nd time). But then we have a back log on our Kindle of great books of all genres we have downloaded.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Being a novelist is an on-going adventure of writing and marketing. The writing is GREAT. The marketing is not something we like. But necessary.

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 hard. I would say one of each from Michael Hicks (Sci Fi), Michael Connelly (crime/dectective), John Grisham, (legal thriller) and Mimi Jean Pamfiloff (romance) See what I mean. I guess the genre thing is why we don’t stick to one with our own writing. Love it all.

Author Websites and Profiles
Lee Phoenix Website
Lee Phoenix Amazon Profile

Lee Phoenix’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Can we skip this part? (laughs) Talking about myself is a lot harder that writing, that’s for sure. Let’s see… I grew up in southern California, spent a lot of years in northern New Mexico. I’ve been living here in New Zealand for over a decade now.
I’m mostly a musician, I guess, with a background in horses as well. I’m a senior lecturer in music at a major university here, but I got my degrees later in life. I teach recording, songwriting, stagecraft and performance skills and other things. My research lies in the area of digital culture and ecosystems, exploring how this digital age is affecting humankind in general, and music and the arts especially.
I spent most of my musical years out there playing music. I play a whole bunch of varied and weird instruments. In addition to guitar, I play mandolin, banjo, Dobro, accordion, lap steel, pedal steel, bass, piano, and a few other obscure instruments like mandocello, Theremin, and the musical saw. I play on a lot of records as a recording session musician for other artists, and I have four or five of my own albums out there in the world.
I was a saddlemaker for many years, and I still keep my hands in the leatherwork from time to time. These days it’s usually me, ruining a perfectly good guitar by covering it in fancy carved leather. Sort of cowboying it up. Not practical, but it’s a lot of fun.
As for writing books, this is the first full length work I’ve done (unless you count my doctoral thesis… but nobody actually reads those, do they?). I’ve been a songwriter most of my life, so I do a lot of short form writing; poems, blogs, short stories. And academic conference papers for geeks like me.
Oh, and I have two grown daughters who are a LOT smarter and more worldly than I’ll ever be.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
It’s called “Man & Horse: The Long Ride Across America”, and it’s title and inspiration came from the same thing… in 1974 my horse, Gizmo and I made a journey across the United States. Forty-four hundred miles, seven months, across an America that was a whole lot different than it is today. It’s part memoir, part adventure story, with a large mixture of Gizmo thrown in. It’s a reflection upon my horse and myself, and upon how the country has changed through the years. And as it turns out, it is about how a young man found his way in the world, and the young horse who showed him how.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Isn’t the very act of writing, itself unusual? (laughs) I mean, what sort of person is up at three thirty in the morning, writing notes to himself and trying to figure out if he already said that, or if this word is the right one, or how many S’s there are in ‘Mississippi’?
I write a bit every day. I try to keep that part of my brain exercised. My desk is extremely cluttered (that’s a euphemism for, “muddled, messy shambles”). Piles of papers and books, and other research material. Wires and cables, headphones, microphones, musical instruments everywhere in the office. Three–count ’em– three computers, running different systems for different things. Amps and instrument cases, horse gear and leatherwork hanging on the wall. You name it, it’s there. Basically, it’s a mess.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read about a hundred books a year, and there are so many authors that it’s impossible to pin it down to just a handful. I’ve always love science fiction, so naturally you’ll see Asimov, Heinlein, Clarke, and all the classic sci fi writers, along with Brin, Benford, Stephenson, and others. But I read everything from westerns to hard science, philosophy to poetry, so on my bookshelves you’ll find Louis L’Amour, Richard Feynman, Margaret Atwood, Neil Gaiman, Cory Doctorow, Annie Proulx, Friedrich Nietzsche, Lawrence Lessig, John Perry Barlow, and Jack Kerouac. This past year I’ve been reading Sherry Turkle, Tim Winton, Ivan Doig, Kevin Kelly, John Yount and a bunch of academic writers like Daniel Dennett, Alan Williams, . It’s a long list.

What are you working on now?
Besides writing songs (which I’ve done all my life), I’m trying to write a novel. It takes place along the Texas-Mexican border in 1968, and has all kinds of wacky characters and quirky plot twists. There are hippies and outlaws, and buried treasure. Hopefully, I haven’t gotten myself into something that I can’t finish (laughs).

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Not sure if there’s a “best website” (although Awesome Gang has certainly helped!). That implies that there might be a SINGLE thing you can do to promote your book. I’m no expert on this, but I’m thinking that it just takes commitment and consistency. You just have to have a plan and follow it as best you can. In my case, it involves putting the book out there on different sites and platforms and allowing people to discover it. Trying to force things on people doesn’t work in the digital age.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Once again, I’ll reiterate what was passed on to me a long time ago: Do what makes your heart sing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you’re going to be a musician (and this applies to writers…), get a set of mechanic’s tools and learn to work on your own car. Because twenty years from now, you’ll still be driving the same car, and you won’t be able to afford a mechanic.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading the last in a 4-book “trilogy” by Caimh McDonnell called “Last Orders”. A great yarn, and a fun series of books. I’m also reading “Thinking Machines: The inside story of Artificial Intelligence”, by Luke Darmehl, and I’m almost finished with “The Human Condition”, by Hannah Arendt. I just finished “A Gentleman in Moscow”, by Amor Towles, and “The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet” by Becky Chambers.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ll just keep plugging along, playing music, writing songs, trying to get a novel finished, and enjoying life day by day. As I wrote in “Man & Horse”, it’s the journey that’s important, not the destination.

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?
Blank ones, so I could write in ’em…

Author Websites and Profiles
John Egenes Website
John Egenes Amazon Profile

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

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
The Crypto Novice is my first book. I am totally new to this and learning everything as I go. I think I’ve made every single mistake anyone could make. Yet I am excited about this new journey and look forward to publishing more books in the future.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Crypto Novice: The Handbook for the Cryptocurrency Beginner. It is a handbook to teach people how to get started investing in the cryptocurrency market. It is a very detailed book about what cryptocurrency is, what the blockchain is, and how to buy and secure the cryptocurrency.
When I discovered cryptocurrency and started researching in depth I found it to be an incredible opportunity. People who get involved early enough could profit greatly from this market.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure if it is unusual, but I write while watching cartoons with my five-year-old. Many people need to have a quiet place to write and collect their thoughts, for me, it is the opposite. Noise and constant interruptions make me focus more when I am writing. In fact, when I write at night after he is in bed I usually turn the tv on for the noise or I write with music on my headphones.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Timothy Ferriss, the 4 Hour Work Week was a life changer for me. The book is great and inspiring although a little out there on the practical application.

What are you working on now?
The Crypto Novice: A Deeper Dive into Cryptocurrency
As the title says it is a more in-depth view of the cryptocurrency market.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
In truth, I am learning as I go. I just discovered Awesome Gang, Indie Author News, and I am also using Amazon Marketing Services. I haven’t had any results yet to see which one is best. I can say that the setup for Awesome Gang is pretty user-friendly.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Think about marketing! I just wrote the book and thought I could put it on Amazon and it would sell. I am finding out now that I have to use resources such as Awesome Gang and other marketing websites to get my book seen and sold.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
A goal without work is just a dream. I say that to my daughter often as she has very lofty goals for herself.

What are you reading now?
Lots of websites about how to sell your book…lol. I am trying to get my book to sell.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am working on a second book in the Crypto Novice series. I have ideas for other titles I will write in the future, but for now I am concentrating on my first and second book.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Rich Dad Poor Dad, I could read that book again and again and never get tired of it. I would have to take an Encyclopedic Volume cause I love to learn about different things all the time.

Author Websites and Profiles
Colin Oliva Website
Colin Oliva Amazon Profile
Colin Oliva Author Profile on Smashwords

Colin Oliva’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 founder and principal unbroker of Lifesaver Leadership Development. Most people are living above their means and below their potential. My mission is to help people change that.

I have written one book so far, but have 13 books in my head that are dying to get out. I plan on releasing my next two books this year.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Adulterated: Pummeling success out of our kids.

It’s a social commentary and personal development book on how we are born with all that we need to know to win, and how parents/school/society condition us to struggle. Not exactly in an intentionally harmful way, but it happens nonetheless. I also explore how we can rekindle all those childish trait as adults to get us back on the path to the life we want.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure what unusual is in this industry. I write when I feel inspired and usually can’t type fast enough to get the information out of my head. Most inspiration come while doing other thing like driving or attending a meeting, so I’m excellent at taking quick notes.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are too many books to name. I spend all my time with non-fiction as I truly believe truth is stranger than fiction. I’ve particularly enjoyed Joseph Murphy, Steve Siebold, Grant Cardone. While Napoleon Hill overall is great, his one book called “Outwitting the Devil” is particularly amazing.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a new money simplification book to help people get their crap together in personal finance. What makes this book revolutionary (like Rich Dad, Poor Dad) is that it was inspired by a famous behavioral psychologist called Abraham Maslow and his hierarchy of human needs.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have my own website at www.LifesaverLD.org. I am honestly still learning how to promote books, so I’m mainly using Amazon and Fiverr right now.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes.
1. You have something you want to share (I know you do). Write down what it is.
2. Set a date you will publish. Write it down also.
3. Start writing/recording/getting everything off your chest.
4. Get someone to help you write in a book format if need be.
5. Publish it already. Not perfect? So what? You can always do a 2nd edition

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t listen to broke people on how to become wealthy.
(You can make any version of this you like…happy/successful/etc.)

What are you reading now?
The autobiography of Abraham Maslow.
Juice. Radical Taiji Energetics

What’s next for you as a writer?
Continuing my Monday Mindwash episodes until years end, when I will transition to short webinars to shock people out of their conditioning. I believe there’s enough success out there for everyone, so let’s go.

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, I do not re-read books. Too much opportunity cost of not reading something new.

Second, it would be three dictionaries that I could use for warmth if need be, and one book with a mirror on the cover that I could use to signal planes overhead. I would need to get off the island to read all the books I’ve been missing.

Author Websites and Profiles
Joshua Zepess Website
Joshua Zepess Amazon Profile

Joshua Zepess’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My author bio says it best, so here ’tis…

Maggie Aldrich is an avid reader, freelance writer, and yoga instructor who tends to catastrophize all situations.

“Good grief, you should become a writer, you’re always making stuff up!” her family said. And so, she did.

Winner of the 2017 Bess Streeter Aldrich Short Story Competition – Adult Division, Maggie lives on an acreage in middle America with her husband, daughter, cats, and other various unattended wild animals. This is her first novel.

Visit her website, sign up for “The Book Junkies” and get access to deals, promos, announcements, and updates to her blog, “Dinner, Drink & Book”! http://maggiealdrichwrites.com

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
It’s All Greek to Me was a work three years in the making. It was inspired by so many things, it’s hard to pick just one. I’d been longing to find a creative outlet since my mind tends to run free, creating bizarre “what ifs” endlessly. I remembered a story of a friend who had kind of been forced into joining a sorority. I thought, “Wouldn’t it be funny if she had to go back and be in charge of one?” And thus, the story began.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write best when I am anxious or angry. ??? How does that even make sense??

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Sue Grafton is my absolute FAVORITE author. I think it’s because of her MC, Kinsey Millhone. I always wanted to be a detective when I was a kid (watched alot of Magnum, PI, Simon & Simon, etc). I’m somewhat of a loner and fiercely independent…I don’t like dogs or other people’s kids…and I have a bad habit of finding out people’s secrets on accident. If I was single now, I think I would be Kinsey.

What are you working on now?
A sequel to It’s All Greek to Me, as well as a speculative fiction novel.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Still looking for that! Suggestions??!!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up. You can publish yourself and be successful. Don’t spend lots of money up front. You can do things affordably.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I read something about QB Russell Wilson and his dad a couple of years ago. When Russell was in high school, his dad was telling him he’d play in the pros. Russell said, “Why me, Dad?” His dad replied, “Why not you?”

I do not have a background as a writer, though I have always been a good one. My background is in science. When I first decided to try writing, my biggest fear was people asking me, “Why would YOU be a successful author?” I always countered with, “Well, why not me?” Really? Why not me?

What are you reading now?
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep writing, keep publishing, keep selling.

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?
Boy, this changes with every phase of my life. It’s so hard to pick 3 that I will love consistently forever.
1 – the Bible. Gotta take this.
2 – Fried Green Tomatoes. This book just warms my heart every time I read it.
3 – If Jacks’ in Love by Stephen Wetta. I love this book right now. Love it! It’s dark, but it makes me laugh, and I just love the character, Jack!

Author Websites and Profiles
Maggie Aldrich Website
Maggie Aldrich Amazon Profile

Maggie Aldrich’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up in sunny Saint Pete Florida on a steady diet of action movies and comic books. After 9/11 I left a career in photography to join the United States Army. Since then I’ve travelled the globe and written 3 books in the Jake Noble series along with four detective noir interactive novels for Delight Games.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest Jake Noble thriller is Noble Intent. It was inspired in large part by the controversy surrounding Julian Assange and the intelligence leaks inside the CIA.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Doesn’t every writer? I talk to myself, make sound effects, and quaff coffee by the gallon. I also listen to prohibition era jazz to fuel my imagination.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I take influence from everybody; Tom Clancy to Mickey Spillane. I’m not a picky reader. I’ll read almost anything. I really like the hard-boiled detective noir stuff from guys like Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett.

What are you working on now?
Right now I’m working on the next Jake Noble story, Noble Sanction.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The best method for promoting you books is to write a really great story that people suggest to friends and family. I get more readers from referral than almost anyplace else. But sites like Awesome Gang are also great!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write everyday, even when you don’t feel like it, especially when you don’t feel like it. That’s what separates winners from losers. Oh, and read a lot, in many different genres. I’m type A personality male and I read Twilight. Anything that makes that much money has something to offer, it’s speaking to readers. It wasn’t my cup of tea, but I bogged through it and learned something from it. Mostly what not to do, but that’s a whole other topic.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t eat yellow snow. For writers, the best advice is, start at the beginning and don’t stop until you get to the end.

What are you reading now?
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry.

What’s next for you as a writer?
A book about a hard nosed cop paired with an autistic detective. I haven’t got a name for it, but I’ve always wanted to write buddy cop story and this one has been simmering inside my brain for a while.

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 Rings, some Lee Child paperbacks, and a survival guide!

Author Websites and Profiles
William Miller Website
William Miller Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a first generation Asian American currently living in Chiang Rai, Thailand. I have been living overseas since 2009 and I’ve lived in not only Thailand, but Ecuador and Cambodia. During this time, I’ve been teaching English, exploring SE Asia, and avidly blogging and writing at Life, the Universe, and Lani.

I self-published my first book, the missing teacher in 2015, which retells my conflicting experience in the world of Waldorf education and how I recovered from it. The audiobook is available on Soundcloud and Gumroad.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Misfortune Cookie: an Asian American journey. It’s the book I’ve always wanted to write, and I finally got around to doing it!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No, I don’t think so. What’s unusual?

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m a bit “all over the place”, so this is a challenging question to answer. And what I mean is, I read everything – I don’t read within a genre or two.

That being said, I have loved Agatha Christie ever since high school. I also grew up reading YA romance books, fantasy and popular fiction. But back to Agatha, I liked how much she revealed through characters. She’s not overly descriptive either. Sidney Sheldon did this as well, so I think as a result, I’m a pretty straightforward writer.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on finding my second memoir a home. So I’m in the middle of researching, querying, and waiting. It’s a strange time between finished writing (and editing – but is it ever done?), and publishing. There is so much to do, and yet, there’s nothing to do.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve been too scared to self-promote so I’m new to trying different avenues. But so far, my blogs have been my most effective way to reach readers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write because you have to, because you love it! And be okay with “the story is never finished” – this applies not only to letting go of your manuscripts, but also to your writing journey.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I’ve read so much writing advice I don’t think I can chose just one. I think the right advice shows up at the right time during the whole process.

What are you reading now?
Right now I’m obsessed with Piers Anthony’s Xanth series. I’ve been reading the books one right after the other which is kind of crazy because I’ve never done this before!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Fame, fortune, you know, the deal.

Actually, I have some new ideas percolating – always.

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?
What a horrible question. I can’t choose. I can’t bring my Kindle because I’d run out of battery, so that’s out.

I guess the Island of the Blue Dolphins because that was my first book love – and it seems wildly appropriate.

Secondly, I have The World of Jeeves by PG Wodehouse by my bed which I’m borrowing from a friend. It’s a collection of his Jeeves stories, so I think that would be entertaining and they are funny – funny’s good when you are stranded.

Or maybe I’d take the Lord of the Rings trilogy – nice fat reads, good escapism.

Really, down right horrible question.

Author Websites and Profiles
Lani Cox Website
Lani Cox Amazon Profile

Lani Cox’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an Indian writer. I am born in Ernakulam district, Kerala state in India. My first novel ‘Mayakkottaram’(The Magic Palace) was published in 1999 at Manorajyam weekly. I am published forty short stories in different periodicals. More than 100 books have been published by various publishers.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latetst book is ” Neeli”. It is a horror novel based on Neelikatha is a Kavya who tells a strong revenge story of ancient South India. This old Tamil work is a description of the life story of Kalliyankattu Neeli by the time of the Chola dynasty in South India. “Neeli” is a bad spirit. This story describes the curious things like Reincarnation, Premonition, witchcraft, astrology, Yakshi, and blood intake bad spirits, like any other world fairy-tales. This fairy tale is an independent work based on the Neelikatha.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
At times, there is inspiration for me to write. At that time, I could write without even listening to the sound of the fan in the closed room.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love the book “One Hundred Years of Solitude”of Gabriel García Márquez.

What are you working on now?
I am a freelance writer and screen writer at Malayalam. Now I try to write books in English.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use most of this for Facebook ,Whatsap and twitter.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Try hard. You will get the result.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Try hard. See good dreams. You will get the result.

What are you reading now?
“12 rules for life” by Jordan . B. Peterson

What’s next for you as a writer?
Kerala is my home. A novel in the social background of Kerala in the 1970s. I’m in its 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?
I am bring the books of Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes series and Agatha Christie’s books.

Author Websites and Profiles
Vinod Narayanan Amazon Profile

Vinod Narayanan’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I reckon that the seed for my storytelling ambitions was sown when I was a kid. The classic tale: schoolteacher puts student on the spot by making him read his writing aloud. Other interests would emerge during summer breaks, when I would design tree houses and project manage their construction. I grew up in various countries, returning to the UK as a teen to study architecture at university in Bristol – the hometown of world-renowned graffiti artist Banksy. While writing my Urban Design Master’s Thesis in London on crime prevention, I befriended a police officer. Despite my best efforts, I wasn’t able to glean the kind of knowledge that could be used for a novel. Turns out that “Designing Out Crime” Police Officers know far more about residential layouts – oddly enough – than juicy murder investigations. I currently live in Sweden, where I work as a creative tech expert in urban planning, in addition to being an entrepreneur. I’ve written a mystery thriller called 24 Hours, and a techno thriller called Unforeseen Enemy. I’m currently working on several new novels. I promise to keep the words coming on a regular basis.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest, published book, is a techno thriller called Unforeseen Enemy. Sniper and intelligence operative Jack Shaw just failed a mission, leaving his partner dead. Anguished, Jack teams up with young operative Yi Ling on a globe-spanning mission to seek redemption. But when their search for justice collides with a twisted mastermind who controls the holy grail of human genetic engineering, they’re in a race to stop this sociopath’s homicidal technology before it’s unleashed on a history-altering scale. My fascination with genetics inspired me to write this story. Human genetic engineering will have the potential to cause great harm in the future; I created a sort of ‘worst case scenario.’

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have to take a walk before I sit down to write, as I like to write for long stretches of time. Physical exercise is crucial for my creativity and productivity. I also brew some Yerba Mate tea, which I mix with Rooibos tea to make it taste better! If I’m in a hurry to get my words down, I’ll go for a cup of instant coffee instead.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Michael Crichton stands out. Not only are his thrillers accessible to a wide audience (it’s easy to follow the well thought-out plots) but the story architecture makes for great blockbuster movies (Jurassic Park, Westworld, Timeline, etc.). I love being able to watch the action unfold in my mind when I read, and I strive to achieve this cinematic quality in my own writing. Other influences include Ian Fleming (James Bond 007), Robert Galbraith (aka J. K. Rowling), Greg Iles, Vince Flynn, Douglas E. Richards (to name a few).

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a sci-fi thriller. I’m halfway through the first draft, so there’s some work left to be done. Fans of Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One should enjoy this one. I’ve also done research for the next installment of my mystery series featuring PIs Martin Brunner & Daniel Lakin.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Whichever blogs and websites you feel comfortable using.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Ask beta readers to read the multiple drafts of your book. Entertaining readers is my top priority, so asking for continuous feedback is a must.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Learn to walk before you try to run (applies to most areas of life). To quote Ryan Holiday, ‘the ego is the enemy’ (disclaimer: the quote is not linked to my novel Unforeseen Enemy).

What are you reading now?
Noble Man, by William Miller (a Jake Noble thriller).

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m a relatively ‘new’ author, so I hope to have a long and fulfilling writing career.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Terry the turtle builds a raft (available on Amazon), Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Collected Works: 55 Works! (I haven’t gotten around to reading any of his books), C’est La Vie (I have know idea what it’s about – but the title seems appropriate somehow).

Author Websites and Profiles
Carl Strom Website
Carl Strom Amazon Profile

Carl Strom’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
One so far, working currently on Book #2 and #3

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
College Shortcuts is the result of my many years of struggles as a young adult when I was desperately working on completing my college degree. I was ultimately successful is completing my four year Bachelors degree for a low cost of under $7,000. Since then, I’ve been deeply disturbed by the general rising cost of college education in the United States, the frenzy of student loan programs and the misery it causes to millions of young American students. That is my primary motivation for writing this book, to relieve the students of the burdens of unnecessary student loans, so they can easily be successful with college while spending very little money.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Though this is a non-fiction/ self-help book, I often got very emotional recounting personal memories while writing this book. So I had to proofread the book multiple times to ensure that the book stayed objective to its goal of providing a DIY step-by-step guide, and to ensure that it did not delve into other strong emotional topics!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
4 Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris – this book showed me a whole new world outside the 9-5 and re-kindled the hope in me that I could live life on my own terms.

What are you working on now?
A Memoir of my College journey, followed by a Career self-help guide.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I would like to consider BookBub for advertising, when I have the resources to do so. Other than that, I’m still experimenting!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing a series of books, do not be dejected with the initial outcome of the 1st book. Learn from experts but know that you need to run your own tests and experiments to see what is relevant to your niche and to your particular book.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
We all make mistakes, so its important to learn from our mistakes and to have the courage to move on forward without delving on our failures too much!

What are you reading now?
A Time travel science fiction and a non-fiction on creating the perfect lifestyle.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Writing more and more………!!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Autobiography of a Yogi (Yogananda), books on spiritual inquiry (Osho), meditation, and another on astrology to figure out when I would make it out of the deserted island!

Author Websites and Profiles
Padma Subramanian Website
Padma Subramanian Amazon Profile

Padma Subramanian’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
One so far, working currently on Book #2 and #3

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
College Shortcuts is the result of my many years of struggles as a young adult when I was desperately working on completing my college degree. I was ultimately successful is completing my four year Bachelors degree for a low cost of under $7,000. Since then, I’ve been deeply disturbed by the general rising cost of college education in the United States, the frenzy of student loan programs and the misery it causes to millions of young American students. That is my primary motivation for writing this book, to relieve the students of the burdens of unnecessary student loans, so they can easily be successful with college while spending very little money.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Though this is a non-fiction/ self-help book, I often got very emotional recounting personal memories while writing this book. So I had to proofread the book multiple times to ensure that the book stayed objective to its goal of providing a DIY step-by-step guide, and to ensure that it did not delve into other strong emotional topics!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
4 Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris – this book showed me a whole new world outside the 9-5 and re-kindled the hope in me that I could live life on my own terms.

What are you working on now?
A Memoir of my College journey, followed by a Career self-help guide.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I would like to consider BookBub for advertising, when I have the resources to do so. Other than that, I’m still experimenting!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing a series of books, do not be dejected with the initial outcome of the 1st book. Learn from experts but know that you need to run your own tests and experiments to see what is relevant to your niche and to your particular book.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
We all make mistakes, so its important to learn from our mistakes and to have the courage to move on forward without delving on our failures too much!

What are you reading now?
A Time travel science fiction and a non-fiction on creating the perfect lifestyle.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Writing more and more………!!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Autobiography of a Yogi (Yogananda), books on spiritual inquiry (Osho), meditation, and another on astrology to figure out when I would make it out of the deserted island!

Author Websites and Profiles
Padma Subramanian Website
Padma Subramanian Amazon Profile

Padma Subramanian’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am basically an engineering student who is rebelling against all the rules of society that says, Engineers are only good at calculations. I believe, I am a free spirit who will never be content in one place.
I have written only one book so far, Timeless Affair.
PS: No best friend think, I am a sociopath. The choice is yours but I would prefer if you believe me.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Timeless Affair.
I was feeling dejected and depressed. So, I created a word where every character is a part of me. No one can be 100% good or evil, these words are relative. Every character in this story is based on my behavior with different people. This is how I see myself, when I meet different people.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Depends on your perspective. Does drumming your fingers constantly against your temple and making clucking noise count as unusual?

What authors, or books have influenced you?
War and peace by Leo Tolstoy and Ernest Hemingway were quite influencing.

What are you working on now?
A fantasy book, where a centuries old feud between two warlock brothers over the murder of one woman throws life of a group of friends into peril because one of them is the reincarnation of the same woman. Someone wants to kill the girl while her friends stand beside her in this time of danger.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am a fairly new fish in this pool. I thought, it was only about writing a book but clearly I was wrong. The rules of this game are not familiar to me.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
There will always be someone who will try to undermine your work and make you feel degraded. Never listen to that beep beep beep.

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

What are you reading now?
Fault in our stars

What’s next for you as a writer?
Who knows what tomorrow will bring.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The picture of Dorian gray
Me before you
The book thief
Lord of the rings

Author Websites and Profiles
Ramla Virgo Website
Ramla Virgo Author Profile on Smashwords

Ramla Virgo’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written two to date.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Boy. I would have to actually list two books, because two came out at the same time. “The Art of the Detox” is a book I just recently published, a self-help book of sorts. It has information in it that is useful for everyone on how to master detox–but it’s especially beneficial for those of us suffering from Lyme disease, a nasty tick-borne illness that has become an epidemic here in the United States of America and abroad. Anyway, the book is a rather humorous account of all the herbs I have taken, the bevy of methods I used to detox and feel better with Lyme. I bring it down to a science in “The Art of the Detox.”

My other book, published at the same time is “Hard Time.” Hard Time is a crime novel. It’s about this mobster Tommy Roma, who does most of his life beyond bars for a crime he didn’t commit, taking the blame for his boss, Mr. Spirochete. Roma is unleashed upon 21st century America and he has a bit difficulty assimilating, to put it lightly. The book is, in part, loosely based off to short stories I sold to The Saturday Evening Post and Mystery Weekly Magazine.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write on typewriters, believe it or not. I love the loud, strong sound it makes whenever I’m typing on one. It feels like work, you know? Whereas, typing on a computer doesn’t feel like work. Typing on a typewriter you get a feeling of how it must have felt for the masters–like F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, J.D. Salinger/whoever. Many people look at me like I have two heads whenever I tell them I prefer to type on a typewriter. For one thing, it’s a lot of work to type something and then re-typing it on your computer and then the revisions. But not me. I’m a typing fool. I was born to type. It is very cathartic for me–and I get a sense of what the greats must have felt.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m really inspired by Mario Puzo: “Fools Die,” “The Godfather,” “The Last Don.” I really like Henry Miller. Not really for the obscenities. I just love his long, fat stream-of-consciousness paragraphs. The man had such an exuberance for life. You could see it, you could feel it just reading those wonderful interrupted tangents of madness he had. Similarly, I was also majorly influenced by Ernest Hemingway and his stream-of-consciousness style. He would just let the character go in his thoughts, his beliefs. It’s like he turned on a faucet and let his characters’ souls pour into us better than any other author could do, past or present.

I also greatly, greatly admire the work of Cormac McCarthy. The novel “No Country For Old Men” left an indelible impression on me. Hunter S. Thompson inspired me a lot, too. I mean, he broke all the rules of journalism, of objectivity, made himself the subject, making the story revolve around him. That took guts. You have to respect that; that and his keen and hilarious political insights.

What are you working on now?
I don’t want to give a lot a way but it’s a novella, of sorts. It has a lot to do with what’s going on today, politically speaking. It’s a very, very humorous book. But I hope it will be insightful, too.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still testing the waters with book promotions and so forth. I’ve been strictly a short story and article writer these past ten years or so…. I’ve learned and written about The Art of the Detox. Now, I guess, I gotta learn the art of promotion! When I used to blog for The Huffington Post, it was just so wonderful. They’d just promote everything for me. Nearly everything I wrote. I’d see sometimes 800 people commenting on my articles on Facebook, 500 people sharing them. It was unreal!

Now, however, I have to be the promoter with self-publishing. In a way, I wish it weren’t so. In another way, I’m very happy it is so. Self-publishing might have a certain stigma attached to it via certain snobbish circles, but I don’t look at it that way at all. You have total freedom to be the author you were born and meant to be with self-publishing. Let that sink in. That’s fantastic. Nothing to be ashamed of. I spent over a decade of my life having to appeal to editors–desperately vying for their affections with my short stories. And although I had many successes, I had many many rejections too. With self-publishing, I get to be the boss. I don’t have to compromise my work. True, I gotta learn The Art of he Promotion. But so what? That can be my next book.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Sure. WRITE. Subscribe to Duotrope. Look for magazines–online and print–accepting the type of stories you write. Submit, submit, submit. And don’t let rejections get you down. That comes with the territory of being a writer. And don’t stop here, either. Write letters to the editor of your local newspaper. Make your voices heard about anything and everything. Leave reviews. Write reviews for your doctor. If you love him/her say so. If you don’t, say so, explain. If you thought you were stiffed at the local Walmart, Target/wherever because you didn’t get a refund, write to the corporate offices. Writing is so powerful a tool.

Also read as many writers as possible. The more diverse voices you read, the more unique your own writing voice becomes.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter—it’s the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.”–Mark Twain.

What are you reading now?
“Robin,” a wonderful biography on the late Robin Williams by New York Times contributor David Itzkoff’.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More books. More articles. More short 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?
“For Whom the Bell Tolls,” “The Tropic of Cancer,” “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

Jack Bristow’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a journalist, photographer, keen environmentalist, author and playwright with nine self-published nine novels and two plays. My writing deals with contemporary and environmental issues (eco-fi) and how they impact the human condition. I live on the west coast of Canada.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest work is Cold-Blooded, Book 2 of the Mattie Saunders Series.
I’m inspired by Mattie, a twenty-something, slightly eccentric, outspoken, loner who loves birds, and not so much people, and has devoted her short life to the rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing of exotic ones people buy as pets and then abandon.
Her grandfather established the Saunders Exotic Bird Sanctuary and ran it until he died. Now the responsibility is Mattie’s and it’s an expensive one.
Through Mattie eyes (much younger than mine) I try to experience her joy and sadness, successes and failures as well as challenges she faces in relationships, career, family and societal issues all the while struggling to keep the sanctuary running so she can continue with the work she feels passionate about.
The series is novella length (about 100 pages) and not genre specific with the first book being a romance and the second a murder mystery. All stories are fast-paced, contemporary and have a subplot that deals with animal welfare issues.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write best when Bridget, my cat is sitting on my lap. She’s my cat.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I prefer extraordinary stories about ordinary people. Anna Quindlen comes to mind

What are you working on now?
I’d hope the novel I’m working on would provide me with answers regarding climate change and its impact on civilization. It has – there’s no hope. Anyhow, it’s a dystopian story about three friends with exceptional abilities (not superheroes) and how circumstances enable them to influence the future of a new country.
For something completely different, East Van Saturday Night is four short stories and novella about coming of age in the 1960’s.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have most success (and profit) selling my book in person, at seminars I give, or book readings. I have had no success promoting my books online

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you write for any reason other than your love to write, I’m sorry, you’ll be disappointed.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
A little integrity is better than any career – Ralph Waldo Emerson

What are you reading now?
Considering the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results (and I don’t want that), then I’d better do try something new. Not sure what that will be though.

What’s next for you as a writer?
That’s kind of like asking which child do you love more.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Not sure, but maybe a book of coconut recipes and certainly one about how to build a raft.

Author Websites and Profiles
Rod Raglin Website
Rod Raglin Amazon Profile
Rod Raglin Author Profile on Smashwords

Rod Raglin’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Mark, I’ve been researching alternative health and testing various diets, supplements, hormones and drugs for the past 15 years. After years of experimentation and applying evidence-based information I’ve come to realize that the mainstream view of health is wrong in just about every aspect.

Currently, I’ve published 3 books and am working on more as we speak.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Red Light Therapy: Miracle Medicine is my latest book and I decided to write it because my self-experimentation with red light therapy has been so powerful that I want to help others find the same healing.

Currently there are over 50,000 published studies on red light therapy and it has been proven effective for literally dozens of diseases and conditions. After writing the book, it’s clear to me that there are probably no diseases or conditions that cannot benefit from red light. Dr. Ray Peat has said that red light is “possibly the fundamental anti-stress factor for all organisms.”

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’d say the place and way I position my body physically while writing is definitely unorthodox. From home I used to write using my treadmill desk and that was effective for a time, but then I injured my knee and had to think of a different way.

One of the best things I’ve ever done was cancel my internet at home and begin going to the library to do my writing. Armed with my daily ‘to do’ list, this has forced me to have specific purpose everytime I turn on the computer and as a result be far less distracted and far more productive than working from home.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Many authors and books have influenced me, but some of the more influential ones as far as health goes have been ‘Catching Fire: How cooking made us human’ by Richard Wrangham, ‘Fat and Cholesterol are GOOD for you’ by Uffe Ravnskov, ‘Hypothyroidism: The Unsuspected Illness’ by Broda Barnes, and a number of books and articles by Dr. Ray Peat.

What are you working on now?
Currently, I’m proofing my latest paperback called The Cancer Industry: Crimes, Conspiracy and the Death of my Mother. It’s time to find out once and for all if these so-called treatments are helping or harming. In short, if surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are increasing survival and quality of life of cancer patients, then we should keep using them. If they’re not, then it’s time we stop using them and find safe and effective treatments with which to replace them.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
https://endalldisease.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes. If you’re thinking about writing and publishing your own book or series of books, don’t think too much, just tell yourself you’re going to do whatever’s necessary to make it happen.

Publishing your own books is one of the most satisfying and fulfilling endeavor that you’ll ever undergo. Also, the process is definitely not easy, but like I said it’s worth it – and once you’ve done it once the next time will be far easier. Feel free to contact me through my form on endalldisease.com if you’re stuck on the publishing process and I’ll give you my best advice.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never compare yourself to others: It’s what prevents people from doing amazing things. Instead, compare yourself only to who you were in the past. As Earl Nightingale once said, “There is no competition; all man needs to do to succeed is create.”

What are you reading now?
Currently I am preparing for a big lifestyle change. I want to grow food and live on my own homestead in abundance. Currently, I am reading a book called ‘The Lean Farm’ by Ben Hartman.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Generally I tend to take on far too many projects at once. As a writer, my next step is to format my next book called Cancer: The Metabolic Disease for kindle and paperback. Then comes the launch!

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 ‘Introduction to Permaculture’ by Bill Mollison, my girlfriend and a bow an arrow. What more does a guy need?

Author Websites and Profiles
Mark Sloan Website
Mark Sloan Amazon Profile

Mark Sloan’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written 10 books and self-published 3 and recently was traditionally published by Black Rose Writing. I had given up on trying to become “the next Judy Blume” when Black Rose offered me a contract. I actually had forgotten I sent them a submission!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Till It Stops Beating was inspired by three things: my work with teens over the last 20 years as an educator and counselor, my own struggles with an anxiety disorder as a teen, and my grandmother who passed away just as she was about to submit her poetry to publishers.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I prefer to write on my front porch—rain, sleet, snow, or sunshine.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Authors: Judy Blume and JD Salinger. Books: The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Cure for Broken Hearts, Warm Bodies

What are you working on now?
I have a few projects that are very different from one another: an upper middle grade about a homeschooled girl whose the daughter of two famous writers and is tossed into public school when they decide to stop touring the world and I’m also dabbling with a sequel to Till It Stops Beating.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
No method per say just get out there as much as you can and talk with other authors to see what they are doing and try it all!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Work on your craft FIRST!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
See above!

What are you reading now?
The Museum of Heartbreak

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep writing what is in my soul and needs to be shared.

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 19th Wife, Catcher in the Rye, Forever, Some Assembly Required

Author Websites and Profiles
Hannah R Goodman Website
Hannah R Goodman Amazon Profile

Hannah R Goodman’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an Australian-American author of numerous novels, most notably the popular, Afterlife Series, an Afterlife-based series that follows Penny Lane’s chaotic day to day life beyond her death.

I have published 32 books catering to both adult and young adult in content, with themes include death, romance, murder, time travel, history, the supernatural, and most of all, mystery.

I live with my husband and dogs in rural USA in a historical museum themed house and have a passion for history, antiques, animals and philanthropy.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Porcelain Bones. I think of various titles until something captures me but I do not have a particular process, rather whatever gravitates towards me best. I wanted a book that had all the elements I enjoy writing about; supernatural, murder mystery with an eerie gothic feel, a romance of two enigmatic fascinating individuals and the digging up of old secrets.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I always create the cover and title before I write the book. I write daily with coffee and pajamas and dogs at my feet as being an essential part of the process.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am uniquely not a reader (gasp). I am not influenced, I’m a bit of a lone wolf, rather glimpses of thoughts and ideas in biographies or documentaries or things I have seen in real life are usually what instigates my investigation.

What are you working on now?
The Antiquarian. A middle aged man in the 40s looks back on his youth and how an accident propelled him into seeing and experiencing glimpses of those that bring their antique items into his shop.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My marketing is in its infancy. I had hoped writing something magical and addictive was enough but alas, that is not the case. I must lead the horses to water and so I am still in the stages of seeing what works.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing. If you don’t write you won’t finish. If you have doubt, write anyway. Share, help others, enjoy, keep writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Listen before you speak.

What are you reading now?
Whatever I am writing

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am doing more author fairs and trying to get more exposure as a writer. I have been considering making short videos discussing my books. I am trying to gain more reviews (the holy grail yes I know).

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?
You can heal yourself (Louise Hay). Probably a couple of my own that are favorites (The Mourning Storm, The Porcelain Bones and Mysterious Encounters of a 40s Phone Operator).

Author Websites and Profiles
Bambi Harris Website
Bambi Harris Amazon Profile

Bambi Harris’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am the author of The Omnia Iunctus Saga. I have suffered my entire life with various neurological disorders, but have used this to better myself and my storytelling.

Growing up, I didn’t have a lot of friends, so I spent my free time alone, coming up with stories and worlds. Fantasy has always been my greatest love.

I have currently finished and published one book, but I have many more in the works.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Form The Resistance. It is the start of the series and follows the main character attempting to do just that. It is an Urban Fantasy with hints of Technothriller.

Back when the book was almost done, but still unnamed, I was making a book trailer and when I finished the final line, it just clicked. The final line was…He must form the resistance.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t use a traditional styled outline. Instead, I have a full timeline, complete with everything from the beginning of the universe to many years after the series ends. Something is on this timeline for every single day that appears in the story…as well as major events and things like character births and deaths.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia are two major influences. I love the immense world and character building in LOTR and the Christian symbolism in Narnia.

What are you working on now?
I am working on the, currently unnamed, sequel to Form The Resistance as well as origin story spin-offs for a few of the characters that appear in the first book…Aloysius, Astra, Demetrius, and Viktor.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Definitely Twitter. I prefer Twitter over any other form of social media. I also have my own site, but it isn’t complete yet.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up. I’ve wanted to be an author for years. I’ve written multiple things and scrapped just as many…but eventually I finished the story I was trying to tell and got it published. As cheesy as it may sound, my advice is…Never give up. You can do this.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never give up. As said above, this may sound cheesy, but it is great advice.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading a book on marketing, an excerpt from an unfinished manuscript written by a friend, a book on world building, and The Savior’s Champion by Jenna Moreci.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Market the first book while writing the second. All the while, interacting with and getting to know my growing fan base.

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?
Eve The Awakening by Jenna Moreci
Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Sereine by Kurrie Hoyt
Caelestis by Kurrie Hoyt

Author Websites and Profiles
Daylin Knight Website
Daylin Knight Amazon Profile
Daylin Knight Author Profile on Smashwords

Daylin Knight’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
So I have written 7 books so far. The first two were Philosophical novels about a Boy who is mentored by Death and travels through time and history learning about life. These were privately published. Death was a mix of Death from Terry Pratchett’s brilliant books and Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal. I used one Chapter which was set in Space in my book of short stories, Equations Of Being.

So at the beginning of 2014, I was hospitalised for a month. I was writing a lot of poetry at the time. I had done several poetry books, so that’s 9 books in total, forgot about those. I wrote a poem in Accident & Emergency about what was happening to me and that was how my friends found out what where I was. I like emailing my stuff out for feedback.

Anyway I’m stuck in hospital, can’t work, can barely leave the ward. My one advantage is I have been taught to be positive.

I have great friends who visit me everyday. They talked me out of my first plan to be a professional backgammon player in Monte Carlo and Geneva. Writing this, I’m a little sad about that. I thought it was a corker.

So I think it would be a crack to make a graphic novel and go to Comicon. One of my good friends who had stood by me was a brilliant artist. He was too busy to do the artwork. So I look online for a Sci Fi convention and find Swecon, Sweden’s National Convention and book in as an author.

Well, I left hospital in February and the convention was in July. I wrote my book of short stories. My friend did a great cover for me, but couldn’t come to Sweden.

Another friend,the author and illustrator, Faramond Frie, offered to come with me and help. Good job, ’cause I would never have coped flying to Stockholm and getting a train across Sweden with two suitcases full of books.

It changed both our lives, and like all pebbles thrown in ponds, has sent its ripples out in to the ‘Verse.

Our adventures sparked off Revenge Of The Hrym and the books that were to follow.

Unfortunately we don’t have time for more.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Beano Grigio. It’s the third book in The Friendship Series.

I mentioned in a previous interview it was based on a joke. The band I am in were trying to come up with a name, and I came up with Beano Grigio. I thought it was brilliant. No one else did. Too good to waste I made it the title of my next book.

Lucky really because it’s my best book so far.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Unusual writing habits? What like sitting in a bowl of custard with a windmill on my hat?

I can write anywhere, but I write best in the mornings, often after waking. I need time, and to be relaxed. Years ago I could only write with a pen. Unfortunately the writing process is so urgent with the flow of creativity, and comes out so fast, I had trouble reading my writing. That is a little troublesome, especially as sometimes individual words can be quite specific and important.

Now I write straight into Notes on my smart phone. This is great, because I read it through, spotting errors. Then I send it to a few friends by email, both because that is satisfying, and also it’s good to get feedback.

I will read it through a couple more times, because I enjoy it, which is good, but I also pick up a few more commas, and maybe tiny alterations and email myself the edit.

Later I transfer it into Word, which picks up all kinds of errors, and finally into the final publishing software, ready for my proof readers.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
This is a real toughy. All of them to some degree. I am in my late fifties and have been reading all my life. The great Anthony Burgess didn’t distinguish between ‘Literature’ and other genres in what makes a great novel. I have read much Science Fiction, but mostly written last century. I think great novels are timeless. Great Sci Fi can be superseded by time and technology, but the ideas, and the characters carry on. “Slan,” by AE Van Vogt is as brilliant today as when it was written. But a space ship travelling at 300mph. Things have moved on.

A good novel, like good music is priceless, wherever it comes from.

Sci Fi, Asimov, Clarke, Simak, Van Vogt, Card

Fantasy, Tolkien, Donaldson, Peake, Silverberg, Moorcock

Aldous Huxley is a genius.

Lit, Burgess, Fowles, L Durrell, Hesse, Camus, Hemingway, Steinbeck, Greene

Action, Deighton, Clavell, Brown,

Humour, Sharp, Adams, Moorcock, Elton

Old, Dickens, Voltaire, Balzac, Goethe

That’s enough of lists. Modern stuff. I liked The Girl With All The Gifts by MR Carey. I missed him at this years Swecon, as I was only there for a few hours. Pity.

I think Philip Pullman is brilliant and George RR Martin. I loved Game Of Thrones. Ayra Stark is an awesome character.

What are you working on now?
Three concurrent projects.

I am writing the second book in the Polly Granger Series, sequel to The Lift. Set five years after Polly meets up with Walter and Andre.

As yet untitled, the fourth book in the Friendship Series is well underway, and finally treading water is Vigilante. This was originally two connected short stories in my book Equations Of Being. I always felt it could grow into a novel, and it’s about 20 chapters in. A superhero noir.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
When I first started I thought personal contact with readers at Sci Fi conventions was the way. It’s great to chat about the characters, and how the books develop. Readers gave me their email addresses, and I used to send out new chapters to them as I wrote them.

Now I communicate directly with readers through my Reader Group which I promote through the books themselves. As a thank you for joining my Reader Group, I send out a free copy of my book, The Lift.

Really keen readers join my Launch Team. Two weeks before a book’s launch, I send them a free advance copy, so they get to be the first readers in the world to read it. They help with any typos that may have been missed, and if I’m lucky give me a nice review. Reviews help bring my stories to a wider audience.

Website. Funnily enough I have been very impressed with Awesome Gang. From an Author’s perspective, I find them very supportive with good communication.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes copyright your book, and don’t blog every chapter. The second caused me massive headaches with Amazon. The first fixed it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
That’s a pretty broad question. My Dad told me it’s better to be half an hour early than five minutes late. I guess we can apply that to all situations, even preparing a book for publishing.

What are you reading now?
Dan Brown’s new book, Origin. Very good.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More writing, more travel, which often inspires writing, both in content, and opportunity. Audio books.

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

Lord of the Rings, A Song of Ice and Fire, Coleen McCullogh’s Masters Of Rome, I missed her out, absolutely brilliant, and Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse.

Thank you.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jhedron Luckspar Website

Jhedron Luckspar’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Born Tony A Horton Jr, Luny Eldritch is the pen name I write under. I have been writing short stories and poems for years, but have just recently decided to publish this website and get back into it as a way to positively express my creative outlook and deal with certain events in life which may cause stress, depression, or anxiety.

As the time of this writing, I am 34, married, and a father of 2 wonderful children. Currently I reside in MS and when I’m not writing, I can be found working on my other website, www.altgothictalent.com, reading various ebooks, listening to music, cryptocurrency mining & trading, spending time with my kids, and more. Currently I have published 4 books with Amazon Kindle Direct.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Luny’s Poems From the Heart Vol III. What inspired it was the need to publish all of my poetry online and finally get them out of a long lost journal I had discovered.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write about things society does not wish to read or think about.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am influenced by a genre of music called death rap. Such artists in this Industry are; Necro, Ill Bill, Mr. Hyde, La Coka Nostra, Vinnie Paz and more.

What are you working on now?
A new ebook full of my dark and gruesome poems.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Social media networks such as fb, twitter, ig and my blog http://lunyeldritch.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up. No matter how bad you think it is, publish it. Your work will improve overtime and eventually you will gain a following.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you want to be happy, learn how to fail.

What are you reading now?
Honestly nothing right now.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More ebooks!

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?
Any type of jungle or tropical survival book, a blank journal to record my thoughts, and anything by Mark Woods or Aleister Crowley

Author Websites and Profiles
Luny Eldritch Website
Luny Eldritch Amazon Profile

Luny Eldritch’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a writer and academic from Manchester, England. Most of my stories – crime, horror, romance, spy or otherwise – concern my home city in one form or another. I’ve written many short stories, one graphic novella and I am working on my first novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book, Perpetual Light, was inspired by the lavish funeral of a local crime boss I observed. After this man’s death, there was a spike in violent crime which shocked the whole country.

I wanted to understand the type of person who works in that world, and also the person who would dare to challenge such a powerful underworld force.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
If I don’t write 2,500 words a day, I feel it as keenly as a schoolboy who hasn’t done his homework. I achor myself to a chair and the soundtracks flits between ambient music, prison song, rain noise and white noise in order to focus my wandering urges.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The first book I ever read which engrossed me was Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited. It helped that my mum was a huge fan of Waugh, but the language – languid, lapidary, rolling, beautiful – arrested me and convinced me to write my own stories.

Requiem for a Dream by Hubert Selby Jr. was an experience as electric and invigorating as hearing Jimi Hendrix for the first time. It seemed to take language and at once cut it to the bone and chuck it into a blender. I traded this book for a copy of Alan Moore’s Watchmen, which smashed any previous notions of form and expectations I had, showing how attractive it was to hop genre and style. After devouring Moore’s canon, I came across his Neonomicon and kept reading about H.P. Lovecraft. While his style and opinions were baroque at the very least, his mythos was awe-inspiring.

Lest this sound too romantic, Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita and his Lectures on Literature were a sharpened needle to my ethereal baloon, reminding me that no one writes a half-decent book without a serious respect and attention to craft and detail. If ever I find myself floating above the ground with self-love, I read his lecture on Ulysses to bring me crashing back down to my writing chair.

Furthermore, whats wrong with good old fashioned genre fiction? Graham Greene’s ‘Entertainments’, Raymond Chandler, Clive Barker’s Books of Blood, Damon Runyon’s night owls… I could go on all day.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a rather large Cosmic Horror novel which examines the role of the city in humankind at large. It is set in Manchester over 110 years, from just after the Great War to the near future. This has been a monster to write and research, but on we go!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
You tell me!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
The only qualification to pick up a pen is the ability to pick it up and move it across the page.

Writer’s method, however, is a test not only of inspiration, but discipline.

Anyone who tells you that writing ‘ought to flow out of you like wine and if it doesn’t come, there’s no point’ is a damned liar. Only frauds make such ridiculous claims. Having a want or need to write is not conducive to having an abundance of good ideas, in which case KEEP THE BLOODY PEN MOVING.

You may have heard the much-trumpeted “Write what you know” and thought “What about me, the fantasy/SF/horror/speculative fiction writer?” Well, I would say “know what you write.” That is, if you want to write a book in a genre you’re unfamiliar with or in a setting you’re unfamiliar with, go for it by all means! But be prepared to do a LOT of research.

Also, bollocks to adverbs. They’re rubbish, use a minimal amount or none at all.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
There is no such thing as a good writer – only a good editor.

Writer’s block is only writer’s indecision.

The adverb is not your friend.

Kill your darlings. If you think its clever, it probably isn’t. Either get a second opinion or get rid.

Take every opportunity to delete words.

Never use a big word where a short one will do.

Be ruthless – bad writing will not get better if it sits in your drawer or journal or hard drive.

What are you reading now?
‘NW’ by Zadie Smith

What’s next for you as a writer?
My 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?
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh.
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov.
A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James.
The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse.

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Matt lives in Sydney, Australia.
This narrative began as a short story in 2014. Over the past few years it evolved through several plot, character and title iterations until Dream Phaze emerged as an episodic series. Germination is the first series in the journey.
​
– Australian Society of Authors member

– Previous novel – Nanomen: Absolute Possibilities – 2nd edition (2009) ISBN 9780957819924 (ebook)

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Dream Phaze – Germination
Everyone dreams, so everyone can relate to this story.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write every day. I work fulltime as a technical writer creating teaching and training course materials. If you want to be good at something you make a habit of it. You have to be disciplined. I write Dream Phaze in my spare time. Germination is the first in the series of Dream Phaze, there will be more to come.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Brian Aldiss. Robert Silverberg, John Wyndham, Issac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Philip K. Dick, Aldous Huxley, Frank Herbert, Robert Heinlein, Larry Niven, Margaret Atwood, William Gibson.

What are you working on now?
Dream Phaze for the foreseeable future.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write everyday.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Watch people and keep notes.

What are you reading now?
The Edge – Authors Manoj Garg and Mike Scheuerma

What’s next for you as a writer?
Writing more Dream Phaze episodes for the next 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?
A book on survival
A book on basic building
A book on island native flora for food
Ray Bradbury’s Martian Chronicles.

Author Websites and Profiles
Matt Watters Website

Matt Watters’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hey y’all! My name is Ashley Moesta and I am a stay at home mom with two children. Formally, I was a child welfare worker for the State of Florida. My sole purpose was to help abuse and neglected children find a happy ending whether that was with their parents, a relative, or an adoptive family. I moved into a case manager supervisor role for about a year before expanding my own family. My husband and I decided at the time it was best for me to stay at home and focus on our children. Staying home has inspired me to write as it was a task I often did at my former job.

I have a passion for helping children and cooking. I started writing recipes books with Deborah Thacker. We have coauthored two to date. Slinging Hash with Deb ‘n’ Ash: Ooey, Gooey Cheese Please (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DD636RM) and Slinging Hash wih Deb ‘n’ Ash: Casseroles in Big Bowls (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BSSG3RM). They were both inspired by our love for southern food.

I started jotting down ideas for children’s books and that is where our next book started. In a notebook. I handed it to Deborah and she took off with the idea and before we knew our next book was created, I Want to Dance! (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G2V2YRT)

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is I Want to Dance! I was really inspired by my daughter. She is so full of energy and has a spirit about her. She loves to dance and from there this book was born.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love Dan Brown, Sophia Kensella, and James Patterson.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on another children’s book about gardening.