Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Brent Jones, and I write fiction full-time from Fort Erie, Canada. I’m married, I’ve got two awesome-sauce dogs, and I love bicycles, guitars, tattoos, beer, coffee, and road trips. I self-published my first two novels back in 2017, The Fifteenth of June and Fender, as well as several short stories. This year, I am releasing a four-part series of thrillers, known as The Afton Morrison Series.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book, released June 25, 2018, is called Go Home, Afton. It’s the first of four parts in a serial thriller, about a small-town children’s librarian turned disturbed vigilante murderess by night. I first thought of the idea while watching a rerun of Forensic Files. I wondered to myself, what would the perfect murder look like? And who, in a small town, would be the last person suspected of murder?

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I almost always write to an instrumental soundtrack. I often like to write outdoors, too, but I don’t think either of those two habits are overly unusual.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m a fan of authors who can craft flawed protagonists that we can relate to and feel for. Learn from, even. A few examples that come to mind include Mordecai Richler, Nelly Arcan, and Douglas Coupland, all three of which happen to be Canadian.

What are you working on now?
The Afton Morrison Series will be released in 2018 in four parts: Go Home, Afton (June 25), See You Soon, Afton (August 7), Nice Try, Afton (September 17), and Time’s Up, Afton (October 29). Thereafter, the entire series will be released as one collection in print, audio, and eBook formats. At the moment, I’m putting the finishing touches on book four and coordinating with Kristin James (KJ the Voice Actor) to complete the audiobook ahead of schedule.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
That’s a great question. I don’t know that I have one website or method that stands out above the rest. I know in-person author events, often at libraries, tend to result in the sale of a large number of paperbacks. Pay-per-click ad campaigns via Amazon Marketing Services tend to work well, too. A lot of initial reviews my new titles receive come from my own email list, as well as working with book tour services, such as Shannon O’Sullivan over at rrbooktours.com.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yeah, write, and write often. The more we write, the better we get it at. The more we publish, the more we learn, and the better our odds become of connecting with new readers. Be fearless. Writing (not to mention publishing) can be scary stuff, not to mention difficult, but you never know what will come of it unless you try.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
That we regret the things we didn’t do more than the things we did. Always be willing to take chances and live with no regrets.

What are you reading now?
I just finished Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, and now I get to choose from the stack (next to my desk) what to read next. It’s a toss-up between The Smallest Thing by Lisa Manterfield, The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier, and Casket Cache by Janice J. Richardson.

What’s next for you as a writer?
You mean aside from selling millions of books, becoming a household name, and retiring on some private tropical island? I’m kidding, of course. The honest answer is, I don’t know. Follow my own advice, I guess, and write, write, write some 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?
That’s a great question. The Help by Kathryn Stockett, perhaps. I read that book a couple years ago, and I still find myself thinking about it to this day. Misery by Stephen King, only because I’ve always meant to read it, and yet it sits on my bookshelf, collecting dust. And since you used the word “stranded” in your question, I’m going to pick one of my own books. The Fifteenth of June, since it was my first completed novel. It isn’t the strongest of my published titles by any means, but it does serve as a reminder that every journey has to begin somewhere. And that’s just the kind of reminder I’d probably need stranded somewhere remote.

Author Websites and Profiles
Brent Jones Website
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written 4 books. I’ve only released one so far.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Aster The Spirit Talker. Walks through my local parks inspired this book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No. Unless you consider going for walks and taking showers to think about my work-in-progress unusual.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Everything I read influences me.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a romance novel set in Altus, Okaloma.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I like to use Twitter but I don’t tweet “buy my book!” like others. I like to interact with people and if they like my personality and sense of humor, they find their way to my website and my writing.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Get ready for lots of pain.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.”
— Henry Ford

What are you reading now?
Unanchored by Stephanie Eding

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m going to keep on telling my stories and trying to connect with readers.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I have no idea. I’d probably want blank notebooks so that I can write my own. Writing is my greatest joy.

Author Websites and Profiles
K. Alice (Allie) Compeau Website
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Monique A. Lynch and professionally I am a Programme Coordinator at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus in Jamaica. She is also a 27 years old woman of God, Youth Ambassador, Author, Research & Business Analyst, Regional Social Practitioner and Entrepreneur.

I am also the author of the books, ‘Betrayed’, ‘Building Your Confidence Workbook: A Guide for BBW’ and is currently working on the book, ‘Wisdom from Questionable Characters in the Bible’ and several research projects.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Building Your Confidence Workbook: A Guide for BBW. After entering a full-figured beauty pageant called Miss Curvy Jamaica 2018 and was ranked in the top ten; I was so amazed by the overall experience that it inspired her to write this book. A book that will empower women who struggle with low self-confidence, to break free from the prison of their minds, the opinions of others and live purpose-driven lives. Filled with illustrations, questions and transparent thoughts from a young woman who understands the BBW “struggle”.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, strange enough I have to write in an atmosphere of sad love songs.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I believe my pastor, Apostle Richardo Gordon, and Dr. Myles Munroe are my greatest influencers.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a book I am co-writing with two of my fellow authors Mrs. Donnette Wright-Myrie and Ms. Audra Bolton and it is called, ” How to Navigate a University: Perspectives of an undergraduate, graduate and staff/student roles.” I am also working on a book with my pastor, Apostle Richardo Gordon called “Wisdom from Questionable Characters in the Bible.”

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am still working on finding the best method but I usually use my social media (Facebook and Instagram) to promote my books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Ask yourself if your book is a book you would read.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Turn my past experiences into books, this way I can help others get through what I overcame.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading, Pursuit of Purpose by Dr. Myles Munroe

What’s next for you as a writer?
My next step is to write an academic book surrounding mental health

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
Pursuit of Purpose
The Power to Heal
Act like a Success, Think like a Success

Author Websites and Profiles
Monique Lynch Website
Monique Lynch Amazon Profile

Monique Lynch’s Social Media Links
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a stay at home wife from the deep South and I live on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere, with my husband and my four year old dog.
So far, I’ve written and published 18 books, 4 of them under a pen name that I later unpublished because I wasn’t happy with them, and I'm currently working on book number 19.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My last book was Hunted by Death II. I never intended to write a second book after Hunted by Death, but my sister was convinced that there was more to the story. So, it was written for her.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I’m aware of, unless needing noise in the background is considered “unusual.” I can’t write in a silent environment. Usually I have Grey's Anatomy, a criminal drama (too many favorites to list or a show about ghosts playing while I write.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen King and his works have been a huge influence on me. Also, Anne Rice, Bentley Little, and Dean Koontz.

What are you working on now?
I'm working on a story that started out as a rom-com, but it's taken an unexpected dark turn. Now, it'll probably be a horror or suspense.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I do almost all of my promoting on social media – Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and WordPress. I've done a few paid ads, but none have brought me very much traffic yet. Shares from readers and author interviews have helped tremendously this year.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up! Even when it feels like no one cares about your writing except you, keep going.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Write for yourself, before you write for anyone else.”

What are you reading now?
Homecoming by Scott Langrel

What’s next for you as a writer?
I don't know, but I know it will be amazing.

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 Stand – Stephen King
Lasher – Anne Rice
Blackwood Farm – Anne Rice
Acheron – Sherrilyn Kenyon

Author Websites and Profiles
Ginger Elinburg Website
Ginger Elinburg Amazon Profile
Ginger Elinburg Author Profile on Smashwords

Ginger Elinburg’s Social Media Links
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I'm a young man currently living in Alberta, Canada. I have published four books so far. I intend to publish over one hundred. Writing and creating for me is my inherent reaction to being alive. Some people seek money or power. I want to be able to sit in a little cabin, with my wife, writing more and more books. Even if I had trillions of dollars. I would still be up at 8am to start writing books at 9am. It is how I programmed.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Burden of the Monarch: Blade of Rails. I was inspired by all the fantasy I have ever read in my life. All the games I've played, the stories I wanted to see in them. I think most of my writing comes from observing a massive amount of material and using it as a catalyst to determine what it specifically is that I want to be creating myself. I have created a story and universe that allows me to discuss a variety of real world topics without them being shoved into the readers face. Nothing is worse then a story with something important to say and none of the skill required to actually deliver it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I'm an overtly analytical person myself. However I'm also aware of how annoying it can be. So my work has very complex characters but I never put an imposition on you as the reader to pay attention to all the details. Everything is connected, everything makes sense, but I haven't laid it out in the way an accountant would; taking all the fun out of it in the first place. I call myself out on anything that could go awry in the plot or developing narrative to infuse comedy.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Lots of CRPG series actually. My experience playing D&D. I would say Neverwinter Nights 2. China Miéville is a fantastic author. I admire Stephen King for showing me great stories obscured by annoying writing habits; motivating me to not repeat the same mistakes. Christopher Hitchens as well for constantly challenging my brain and using words I didn't know existed.

What are you working on now?
The sequel to Blade of Rails as well as an independent D&D campaign.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I'm still trying to learn the best way to promote my books. I have found facebook advertising is not helpful as it has never produced any interest none the less sales.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just push through. If something sucks, finish it, read it, gain a complex understanding of why it sucks then write something new! Getting attached to a project while you're developing yourself and your style is like getting attached to a footprint. Let all your writing be a part of you, a visualization of your dedication to writing. Maybe it is this project that meets your standards, maybe next one. At the core of my advice you cannot get discouraged. You will have to write hundreds of thousands of words. If that isn't something you want to do; writing isn't something you want to do.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”

― Ira Glass

What are you reading now?
I'm re-reading the comic series 'The Boys' by Garth Ennis.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finishing the entire Burden of the Monarch series. In the future I would love to publish a full D&D adventure with custom graphics and art.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I'm a survivalist so I would much rather take a knife and my hammock. But if it has to be books. I would bring everything Terry Pratchett has ever authored. His books are incredibly re-readable alongside touching on themes I feel would keep my brain happy while alone on an island.

Author Websites and Profiles
Josh Perry Website

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