Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
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, 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 KDP and on Kindle. Other textbooks are available at his website.
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; Confessions of a nanny, 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.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest novel is “A Cowboy downunder: a mystery and a romance. I was living in Broome at the edge of cattle country in the Kimberley. I’d also seen a series on TV about a group learning how to ride a horse and muster cattle.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Peace and quiet – rarely any music.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Joanna Penn – dark mysteries intertwined with spiritual aspects from the past.
Freeman – Blackwell series, plenty of drama.

What are you working on now?
A memoir. At the editing stage.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Goodreads have been good where you put up your book for other readers to critique.
Have been trialling askDavid on Twitter but my books don’t fit the general tone of it. I use KdRoi when I have one of my books for free (5 days max) on KDP. About 20 sellers are listed but not all accept automatically and then it’s rare for these sellers to feature my books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep at it. A plan may be helpful – I used a heap of post-it notes when I wrote my second textbook – like working on a table of contents to keep it tight.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You’re doing OK.

What are you reading now?
Ten Jack Reacher by Capri.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Sell my memoirs.

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 guess a Kindle won’t be any good as all my books are on it. Maybe a solar panel and a torch for night time.

Author Websites and Profiles
Michael Mardel Website
Michael Mardel Amazon Profile

Michael Mardel’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
This is my first novel. I started out writing a lot of horror stories, but the humor kept coming through. This is my first start to finish push for a dark comedy. They say write about what you know. I know fear, and I know laughter. I infuse them both in this novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Teaching Frankenstein: A Cautionary Tale is my first novel. I was a high school teacher for four years, and I choose that path as many teachers do, but quickly discovered it was much different from what I was told. I weathered a few storms but ultimately walked away. I wanted to write a novel that showcased the reality of the classroom in a way that reflected society and universal ideas. All while making people laugh in a way that will surprise you.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m literally insane about it. I will lock the door, blast the A/C and talk to myself while listening to epic music soundtracks on Youtube and only taking breaks to eat and shower. I’m a bizarre person.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Frankenstein. I can relate to Victor’s obsessive nature. The Stupidest Angel. Christopher Moore showed me how to keep it fun, but still be wholesome. And anything by Dan Brown. He knows how to get you to turn the page.

What are you working on now?
Promoting this novel.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
That, I’m still learning. This is my first big push.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Respect what’s come before, then figure out how to create a foundation for future writers.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“This was not what I expected.” When I was 19, I showed a friend of mine a short story. Knowing me, he was expecting humor. Instead, he got a very dark tale. It kind of stuck with me, a feeling like I was leaving something out of my writing.

What are you reading now?
Noir – Christopher Moore

What’s next for you as a writer?
Pure absurdism. A novel about a street war with unlikely heroes.

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?
Infinite Jest. It would be long enough to maybe ask the rescuers to come back a little later. American Psycho. Frankenstein. Choke.

Viktor Jmes’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Teresah is a Soul Coach and an Imprint Coach – helping others to listen to their soul’s true voice so they can make the necessary adjustment to live with ease and joy!
I wrote two books initially provide guidance for myself. (The Soul’s Journey & My Imprint).I wanted to know that the choices I was making were increasing my ability to live in alignment with my soul’s true purpose and passions. From here, others were interested in what I wrote and asked that I share! I hope my work/words bring the peace, clarity and direction they have brought me.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My Imprint
What inspired me was feeling lost and directionless for way too long. I needed to be absolutely sure what my purpose was. To do this I read and researched endless Life Purpose books and articles so I could compile a workbook that asked ALL the questions I thought I needed to ask myself before heading out on my path. After I finished writing and completing all the questions, I knew without a doubt what I wanted to do with my life.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My habit was to turn on the computer and reread what I wrote – this reignited my desire to write every time I just didn’t feel like writing.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Spark Your Dream – Herman Zapp – continues to be my bible to lead a life of passion!

What are you working on now?
Finding ways to live the life I feel called to live

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I created an app for my last book – it brought in a lot of sale.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write a book that you’d want to read.

What are you reading now?
Rereading Spark Your Dream

What’s next for you as a writer?
I wait for my next inspired book idea

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?
Definitely my Soul’s Journey Guidance Book and Cards
The Poisonwood Bible
The Alchemist

Author Websites and Profiles
Teresah Harder Website
Teresah Harder Amazon Profile

Teresah Harder’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in South Florida and absolutely love living here. I’m first and foremost, an avid reader, turned writer. My debut novel is releasing Sept. 22, 2018

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first romance novel is called Blue Diamond. Reading inspired me to give writing a go. I’ve always loved writing, but never really thought to write an actual book. One day, I sat in my room with my laptop and began…just like that.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have to have music on…and not very quiet music. Pinterest is a must for finding character inspiration. Also, when I get a random idea come to me, I’ve been know to write it down on old store receipts, napkins, whatever I have on hand. Coffee, tea and chocolate make for a great writing experience.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Gosh, there are far too many to list, but my love of reading, and the passion to do so, started after reading Judy Bloom books. I was hooked after that.

What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m working on another stand-alone romance involving an artist and a horror author. I hope to have it ready early 2019.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I promote on my website, Facebook, Goodreads, Allauthor, Pinterest, Hometown Reads, and brand new on BookBub.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Being new myself, I’m learning everyday, but what I can say, is not to compare yourself to other writers, embrace your own uniqueness. Also, don’t be afraid to write what you want…how you want.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve ever heard was to just be me, and i remind myself often.

What are you reading now?
Right now, I’m not reading anything. *Gasp* I’ve been so busy getting my book ready that I haven’t had the time, but I have a Kindle packed with books waiting for me.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’d love to meet some of my Author friends some day, continue learning and growing, and write 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?
I’d take Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan, One With You by Sylvia Day, Beautiful Disaster by Jamie Mcguire, and The Mighty Storm by Samantha Towle.

Author Websites and Profiles
Dawn Umrie Website
Dawn Umrie Amazon Profile

Dawn Umrie’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a big fan of comic books, anime, manga, and video games. I’m also into collecting figurines from popular series.
Armageddon: No More Games Vol. 1 is my first book and I hope to be able to continue the series for as long as I can.
I’m also preparing to write another fictional adventure book that will be in a lighter tone that will cater to all ages.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Armageddon: No More Games is my debut and latest book. It was inspired by many books and anime of similar genre. Titles like .hack, Sword Art Online, Log Horizon, Accel World, Overlord, and Fate series gave me the idea for my book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Before I write a scene. I always act out the scene in real life. Life for example when my character needs to use a sword, I would grab my back scratcher and wave it around like a sword. It would give me an idea how to describe the sword swing in the book. There are however some exceptions, like jumping from a tall building. I can’t really do that. But, I would instead watch a building jumping scene from youtube again and again until I can properly write it.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
From my elementary years. I read comics books. From Chinese to Japanese to Western comics. One particular favorite of mine is the Old Master Q series. I own a lot of those. Then from high school, I started reading the Hardy Boys series by Franklin Dixon. I used to borrow books from my high school library, then Nancy Drew by Carolyne Keene before reading thicker novels by John Grisham.
I started reading video game genre when .hack was introduced. From there I kept reading, and watching this specific genre up to today which heavily inspired my book.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently marketing my book to get people to read it. Armageddon Vol. 2 is still in work in progress so it will take some time to finish.
I have another book that I want to write but I’m still researching the materials, it might come out after Armageddon Vol. 2

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Social media like Facebook, Twitter, and GoodReads are good platforms. I’m still searching for other ways which brought me here in Awesome Gang. I believe Awesome Gang is a good website that can help authors reach out to potential readers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing. Don’t be afraid to experiment.
Write > Proof read > Rewrite > Repeat

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The more you rewrite your story, the better it gets.

What are you reading now?
Hardy Boys , Overlord, and Fate series novels.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Market my book, get my book to a wide audience. Get feedback from readers on areas I can improve. Improve my writing 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?
This is a tough choice, there are so many books I want to read. If I’m going to be stranded then I want to bring books that takes a lot of time to read, The Lord of the Rings series.

Stanley Yu’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, I’m Maria Johnson (pen name) and I’m the author of one published book, ‘The Boy from the Snow’. It’s a Celtic historical fiction, telling the story of a soldier named Daniel. Despite the battles that come his way, Daniel is content in his life until he discovers a truth that causes him to question everything he knows. Whilst he then searches for answers, a greater enemy is waiting to rise.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My novel is ‘The Boy from the Snow’, a Celtic historical fiction set in 590AD. I’ve had the basic plot and main characters in my head for years, since I was about 7. My brother used to build things with Lego and I would take the little yellow people to play with and make up stories. One was a soldier and one was a king character and soon the idea for ‘The Boy from the Snow’ was born.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really! At the moment with my current work I’m chipping away at multiple scenes which is a new experience for me, my previous work has usually been writing far more chronological. It should make the editing phase more interesting, but it’s just the way the plot has developed in lots of directions at once. No sooner have I had one idea than another pops into my head- and I want to write it all down in case I forget any of it!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favourite author & book is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. It was probably reading Jane Eyre several times when I was growing up that inspired me to want to take writing more seriously. I think my book has been influenced by a bit by ‘The Lord of the Rings’ by Tolkien, too, because even though it’s set in our world, the Celtic era is so different from modern day that it definitely has a fantasy feel to it.

What are you working on now?
A few months ago I finished a round of edits for the sequel to ‘The Boy from the Snow’ and since then I’ve put that on the back-burner for a bit. Currently I’m about halfway through my first draft of a potential third novel, also continuing my MC Daniel’s story. I’d love it to be a trilogy one day!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Here is my website: https://mariajohnsonauthor.wixsite.com/mariajohnsonauthor/about

My main home for promoting my book and for engaging with other authors and readers is twitter: https://twitter.com/MariaJauthor

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice for new authors is not to give up, whether published or not. So many aspects of the process can be daunting- I remember being quite anxious when hearing advice from marketers like ‘writing a book is the easy part, the hard part is selling it’. The world of publishing is a tough business and it can feel quite disheartening.

However, there are brilliant resources and support out there- one of the most helpful things I’ve found is the writing community on Twitter, where I feel like we’re all in it together to help each other- I’ve increased my book sales through it and even made a few friends! So don’t give up, because you’re not alone and you never know what might happen to that thing you’re writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve heard was on Twitter- that each of us as writers have a unique voice and whilst it’s common for authors to have the same ideas, be it plot or character development, nobody else will quite be able to tell a story the way that you can. I think the advice to concentrate on what makes you unique as a writer and letting your voice grow and develop is fantastic.

What are you reading now?
At the moment, I’m reading Annie Whitehead’s ‘To be a Queen’, an Anglo-Saxon historical fiction telling the story of Aethelflaed, the daughter of King Alfred. Writing historical fiction has really awoken a passion for reading in that genre which I’m loving. Really enjoying ‘To be a Queen’ so far!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Well, that would be continuing to write the first draft of my potential third novel, continuing Daniel’s story from ‘The Boy from the Snow’. At some point in the near future I’m hoping to develop the sequel 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?
Great question! The 3 or 4 books I’d take are:

The Bible (I’m a Christian)
Jane Eyre
A large lined notebook with a pen attached so I can continue writing.
If I was allowed to take my own book, then ‘The Boy from the Snow; (because I’d miss Daniel too much otherwise!)

Author Websites and Profiles
Maria Johnson Website
Maria Johnson Amazon Profile

Maria Johnson’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is a Helen Blacksmith and I am a self-published author of romance and young adult novels. My first two published books focus on interracial lesbian relationships and how love happens when you least expect it.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is about first love and being torn apart from that love love. What inspired is that I wanted to write a story that focused on love and the lead characters just happen to be lesbians because everyone who has ever loved someone deeply could relate no matter what their sexuality happened to be.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, because I have attention deficit disorder and my writing is done out of order, as the ideas come to me, and then I piece them together.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Maya Angelou, Shakespeare, Janet Evanovich, Langston Hughes… it’s a long list.

What are you working on now?
Currently I am working on a novel called Today I Love You. It is based upon today’s opioid crisis and focuses on the recovery and redemption of my main character.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use Twitter a lot, but most of my promotion is done on Facebook.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep writing and eventually you will find your audience.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The same advice I wrote for new authors: just keep writing and eventually you will find your audience.

What are you reading now?
Work related things. Between writing and my day job I haven’t read a good book in far too long.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have two novels I am focusing on, one will be the first book in a detective series I have been putting together.

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?
Tuesdays With Morrie, any heavily Ranger focused Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum novels would round out my other three

Author Websites and Profiles
Helen Blacksmith Website
Helen Blacksmith Amazon Profile

Helen Blacksmith’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name’s Candra Baguley and I’m the author of 2 scifi novels, with a 3rd currently in the works.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
TRANSMISSIONS TO TITAN was inspired by the idea of merging artificial intelligence with human evolution. It’s about the possibilities of colonizing a new place using memory uploading and A.I. and leaving the destructiveness of humans behind.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’d say most most unusual writing habit I have is writing with Christmas lights on, but the room light off. Something about the setting helps me think and write better.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
J.K. Rowling is a major influence in my life, especially as a writer. The novel Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell influenced my approach to writing TRANSMISSIONS TO TITAN.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently writing the sequel to TRANSMISSIONS TO TITAN. A release date will be announced on my website, when it’s ready.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use social media to connect with readers and other writers. I also have a Goodreads Author profile for reviews and other information.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Whatever happens, keep writing. You’re going to get better the more you refine your talent.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Read your work aloud for editing purposes.

What are you reading now?
Right now, I’m reading Old Man’s War by John Scalzi after a fan of TRANSMISSIONS TO TITAN recommended it to me

What’s next for you as a writer?
Another book, of course! Ideas come to me everyday, but I refuse to work on anything else until the sequel is finished.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling, Complete Poems and Tales by Edgar Allan Poe, and my books. If I didn’t want to get lost in the worlds I create then I wouldn’t be a very good writer, now would I?

Author Websites and Profiles
Candra Baguley Website
Candra Baguley Amazon Profile
Candra Baguley Author Profile on Smashwords

Candra Baguley’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written four books. The first a children’s book and I’m coming to then end of my third novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Glass Door was inspired by my daughter’s drug addiction.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I try for 300 words per day.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The First Fifty Pages by Jeff Gerke

What are you working on now?
The Glass Door as mentioned above. I have finished designing the cover using Unsplash.com and an app called Canva.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Amazon and Goodreads

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Carry a notebook at all times and a pen. Inspiration comes when least expected.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write something every day.

What are you reading now?
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler

What’s next for you as a writer?
Another novel. I have the embryo of an idea.

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?
Finding Sanctuary by Abbot Jamison
Pagan Philosophers by Timothy Freke
The Essential Rumi

Author Websites and Profiles
Robert Lashley Website

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an Internist. I practiced medicine in Egypt and Canada. This is my first short story and it was published on Sept 2018. I am a father of three children and my wife, Lugine, can draw and paint.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I wrote “The Scary Face” story when I saw the feeling of depression some of my patients had after they had an injury or an accident affecting their skin, especially if it affects their face.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Nothing

What are you working on now?
I didn’t start yet any new project.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think awesomegang.com is the best place to start with.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I am a new author

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

What are you reading now?
Viral Hepatitis B

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ll assess this step first.

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?
Holly Quran
Oxford ER handbook
Don’t be sad

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Steve Alex Demas is a media producer with more than twenty-five years of experience in television production, corporate communications, and medical education. He endeavors to offer readers an assortment of genres – each laced with copious amounts of irony and farce. Sex, Drugs, and Starships is his first science fiction work. As Steve puts it, “Space Opera is ideal for someone who refuses to fly. There is ample opportunity to see the universe (but without the Traveler’s Diarrhea), and you can board every spaceflight without a government-mandated rectal exam.” Steve’s other works include TUT: A NEW MUSICAL, for which he penned the lyrics, melodies, and book, The Price of Magic, a fantasy/horror anthology, and Glib: Fun with Selective Sociopathy. He lives in the Northeast with his wife, a mortgage, and two cats.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Glib: Fun With Selective Sociopathy is a series of interviews with a self-professed, selective sociopath. He recounts years of plots, ploys, scams, and schemes – all while maintaining an otherwise normal lifestyle. The tales are both humorous and sobering. I was inspired to pursue this project after recovering from an episode of identity theft.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write atop the roof of my building. The drone of air conditioners and the solitude are conducive to thinking.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve been solely influenced by the “characters” I’ve met over the years, many of whom frequented the diners I used to patronize.

What are you working on now?
Interview Number Three for GLIB.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have a substantial word-of-mouth following, with a website in the works.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Make the time to write. Steal the time to write. Take a sick day. Write on vacation. Keep it front and center.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I’ve discovered that life is ironic. Irony is my writing partner.

What are you reading now?
I’m in-between reads pending the completion of GLIB.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working with a third composer who is penning a piano/vocal demo for my musical “TUT.” We hope to solicit next year for an option opportunity.

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 blank pads instead – no laptops without power!

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am Sajid Iqbal. I am 24 years old poet and author from Guwahati, India. I published my debut poetry book BLOOMING IN THE SNOW on September 2018. I love to read fictions and poetry. When I am not reading or writing , I love to travel and try out new food.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Blooming in the snow. I got inspiration from my life itself. I fall in love when I was fourteen and never stopped since then. I struggled and survived toughest situation, and also saved our relationship from modern day struggles. My first book BLOOMING IN THE SNOW is a reflection of love, relationship, heartbreak, healing and self love. I had put out my honest feelings and left it simply like that, for the readers to feel and think about it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No. I write whenever I feel.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Authors like Lang Leav, Rupi Kaur, Paulo Coelho, Nicholas Sparks and John Green influenced me.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on my second poetry book.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think awesomegang is really awesome when it comes to promoting a book.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
New authors should keep calm and write more, to make their work visible to the audience. When honest feelings are pour out in a form of book, it sells the most.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To believe that you are the best.

What are you reading now?
I am reading a book named The God Of Small Things

What’s next for you as a writer?
To inspire millions of people around the word and to spread happiness, positivity and love. I wish to teach to the children of India how to write about what they feel.

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?
Love and misadventures, The secret wish list, Where rainbows end

Sajid Iqbal’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Born and raised in South Carolina, I hold a master’s degree in personnel services from Clemson University and am a member of Romance Writers of America and Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary society for women educators. I’ve been married for forty-five years to my college sweetheart. We have two sons who’ve given us three wonderful grandchildren. We also have a sweet calico kitty, and a devoted little black and white dog.

I’ve been writing since 2001 when my son asked me to proofread a book he’d written. I figured if he could write a book, so could I. My first published novel, A New Leaf, was the winner of the 2003 Timeless Love contest. If I wasn’t sold on writing before, that did it. I’ve been writing ever since and don’t have any plans to stop. Frankly, I don’t think I could even if I wanted to. Writing is a strange compulsion that drives me to spend long hours in front of a keyboard when I could be doing important things like napping or eating chocolate. My house isn’t dusted as often, I rarely cook, and who cares if the laundry gets done or not. Yeah, no doubt about it, I’m addicted. At present I’ve had 20 books accepted for publication.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is titled Turnaround Farm. It was inspired by my love of horses, determined, ambitious heroines, and hot heroes.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Maybe. I keep a bendy straw by my computer. If I get stuck playing with it helps me think the problem through.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are too many to count. My mother was a reader, and she taught both my sister and myself to love books. I’ve been reading since I learned how to read.

What are you working on now?
I just finished a book tentatively called Suds-N-Duds. I think I have revision to do, though. My heroine isn’t behaving as she should.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve tried many different methods, but I suppose word of mouth is the best advertising of all.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up. Believe in yourself and enjoy the writing experience.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write what you love and write for the love of writing.

What are you reading now?
Wedding Cake Crumble by Jenn McKinlay

What’s next for you as a writer?
Revision of the book I just finished. This is going to take 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?
That’s like asking which of my children I’d like to bring. Sorry, but I just can’t pick.

Author Websites and Profiles
Elaine Cantrell Website
Elaine Cantrell Amazon Profile

Elaine Cantrell’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a bibliophile, lexicomaniac and wordsmith. I’m the author of The Hunters Saga, The Clear Angel Chronicles, The Hell School Series and Survivalist Bible series releasing in October, 2018 with the first story, Survivalist Bible- Genesis as part of the Power of Words Anthology.

I also created Royal Prince Vince, Creative Exercises to Inspire, and A Penslinger’s Ponderings.

For the last year, I have served on the board of OWS Ink, a publishing house and writing community so most of my time is spent reading, writing, and talking about books.

When I’m not doing that, I love spending time with my family watching movies, playing board games, or playing with our three sweet little ratties!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I’ve always been obsessed with Zombies. I was a Romero kid ;). My borther and I, into our 20s used to joke about suriving the zombie apocalypse. When my kids were little, we had a running joke, whenever the boys would disobey I would tell them that if that happened in a Zombie apocalypse, they’d be zombie food. Mind you, this is at 3 and 4 years old when their only exposure to zombies had been the occasional Halloween costume. This was also before the whole Zombie resurgence. I started having dreams about how a parent would survive (again, before AMC The Walking Dead) and Survivalist bible was born of those dreams. It was supposed to be a stand alone book, but it just kept growing out of control. I realized that I just needed to start releasing the stories and as I was getting ready to release a section a month, fellow author and friend MLS Weech put out a call for his anthology, The Power Of Words. I felt like Genesis was perfect for this so I put off publishing a year so that the first story could be in that anthology.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am a nester. I don’t do well with short writing sprints. I want to delve deep, so I typically plan at least an hour (often 5) and make sure I have a blanket (in case I get cold) drinks, snacks, put my phone on airplane mode, shut down all distractions, and nestle in to write.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
As lame as this sounds, every author I’ve ever read. I learn from every single one I read. And I have read a lot, which can be seen by my goodreads shelf

What are you working on now?
Well, I am prepping survivalist bible to release 1 section a month for the next year or so, so that has me pretty busy. I am also responsible for advertising and financials for OWS Ink, so I have very little time. When I can squeeze in a writing session, I am working on the second book in the Hell School series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My best method is a multi-pronged approach that combines marketing, advertising, and real world events/ promo. But the best method is to track all of that by driving all the traffic to my website sales funnels and constantly measuring my results.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Being an author is a balancing act. Spend half your writing time writing and the other half building your platform. You can never start too early with promo.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write the book you want to read.

What are you reading now?
Pursued by the Past by PD Workman

What’s next for you as a writer?
Taking over the book world, one day at a time!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I hate these questions. I… would probably cheat and bring big thick anthologies. I can’t pick my top five books read each year, let alone only choose 4 books for the rest of my life!

Author Websites and Profiles
Heidi Angell Website
Heidi Angell Amazon Profile
Heidi Angell Author Profile on Smashwords

Heidi Angell’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a happily married woman of 35 years, a high school English teacher, and a mother of one son who is also a teacher and engaged to be married next spring. Although I love teaching literature to my students, I am also passionate about writing which I began when I was thirteen years old and inspired by Nancy Drew mysteries. I have a bookshelf filled with my manuscripts dating back to my junior year in high school when I finished my first one called Beloved Forever. Of those 15 manuscripts two are published. I was encouraged to self-publish by another author who is also a longtime friend and colleague. It’s been an incredible journey to get to this point, and I am grateful for her support and encouragement and my family’s understanding of my endeavors!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book, being released on October 2, is called Christian’s Choice. It is Book Two in a five book series called Choices. When I wrote the first one, Logan’s Choice, I never envisioned that four more would follow; but I loved Logan and Chelsea so much I decided to continue their story with their second eldest daughter, Britain, and three of their grandchildren – Callie, Michael, and Lily – who are featured in Books Three, Four and Five.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I still write the old-fashioned way with pen and paper on a clipboard. The radio has to be on, too. I get inspired by songs! One song by the Partridge Family (don’t laugh) inspired one of my best manuscripts to date!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have been highly influenced by the greatest names in historical romantic fiction: Kathleen Woodiwiss, Judith McNaught, Laurie McBain, Shirlee Busbee, Bertrice Small, and Rosemary Rogers. I loved Little Women as a teenager, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, and the typical classics such as Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and Pride and Prejudice.

What are you working on now?
All five books in my Choices series are done, so I’m in the editing process getting the next three ready for publication. I just started a manuscript which I’ve had to put aside while I concentrate on this series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve been posting in groups that I belong to through Facebook. I also hired a PA to help me edit and promote my books. I have Twitter and Instagram accounts, too.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be prepared to start slowly if you intend to self-publish. Join groups on Facebook. Make friends and connections. Hire an editor. You don’t want to publish your books with a lot of mistakes, although it may happen no matter how thorough you think you are. You shouldn’t have any grammatical errors, period. Be patient! Be prepared to spend money before you make any!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It takes time to build a loyal readership, but it can be done, even if you are an indie author.

What are you reading now?
Sandra Brown’s Tailspin

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish publishing my Choices series by next spring and then work on my newest manuscript while preparing my next series Heritage for publication next fall.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The King James Version of the Holy Bible, Shakespeare’s Complete Works, Little Women, and The Flame and the Flower.

Author Websites and Profiles
Dee Stewart Amazon Profile

Dee Stewart’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
After retiring from a successful career in the UK travel industry, I was able to make writing my full-time focus. Five books later, my latest novel is a thriller – You Owe Me – set in Florida, a place I know well. These days I spend most winters in Naples Florida, on the Gulf of Mexico, and just a few miles from the 1.5 million acre, subtropical wetlands – Everglades National Park. The larger than life characters I meet, almost daily, in Florida, provide me with a never ending rich seam of inspiration and material for my books.

Other books by me; No Way Back, Florida Clowns, Florida Shakedown and The Long Game

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My Latest book is titled; You Owe Me.
The inspiration for this particular book was a chance meeting in a diner in Naples Florida. We have a small condo in Naples, on the Gulf of Mexico, where we spend as much of the winter as possible. In 2015 I went to Mel’s Diner to get a take away meal. The place was busy so I decided to have a beer while I waited. I soon fell into conversation with an interesting looking character called Rudy. He told me he was a treasure hunter, diving for treasure-trove in sunken Spanish Galleons off the coast of Florida. At first, I thought he was some sort of fantasist, but then I checked online the next day and it didn’t take long for me to realise the guy was telling the truth.

There are literally billions of dollars’ worth of undiscovered treasure just waiting to be found a few meters deep, just off the Florida coast. Take a look on the internet and you’ll see plenty of examples. In 2015, the New York Post reported a Florida family who found $150 million in gold coins on a Spanish shipwreck. As recently as this year, there’s a report of “The largest discovery of sunken treasure in 30 years, and it’s somewhere off of the Florida coast.” The estimate for this find is around $150 million.

So I was hooked. In the back of my mind, I already had a plot planned, about Iraq, and the vast sums of cash dollars I’d heard had been squandered by the US government during the Gulf War. I decided to plan my novel’s plot around these two fascinating stories of grotesque amounts of money. And in case you’re wondering about just how much was squandered during the war in Iraq, read this:-

“In 2004, approximately $12 billion in cash – shrink wrapped bundles of untraceable US dollars (over three hundred and fifty tonnes), was shipped over to Iraq – and it vanished! Henry Waxman, a long-time critic of US involvement in Iraq was claimed to have said; “The way the cash had been handled was mind-boggling. The numbers are so large that it doesn’t seem possible that they’re true. Who in their right mind would send 363 tonnes of cash into a war zone?” David Pallister The Guardian 8 Feb 2007

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not sure what ‘normal’ writing habits are. I write when I feel like it. I don’t get writer’s block, or anything like that. I get an idea and work on it, I research a lot, combine life’s experiences and my imagination – and after a lot of hard work and many many revisions – the book is finished.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Raymond Chandler. I’ve read his books many times. My present day hero is James Lee Burke. I think of him more as an artist, painting pictures with words. His plots are quirky, his vocabulary and breadth of knowledge truly amazing. I don’t try to emulate Chandler or Burke, or any other writer. You have to find your own style – and I like to think I’ve found mine.”

What are you working on now?
My new book of course – you’ll have to wait for the title…but Florida comes into it.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’d like to know the answer to that myself.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I wouldn’t be so presumptuous as to give anyone advice. I might do so when and if I ever make it to the best seller list

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Show don’t tell

What are you reading now?
Something by Nicci French

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep on truckin’

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?
War and Peace, The Long Goodbye and the Dummies book of ‘How to get off a Desert Island.’

Author Websites and Profiles
Kerry Costello Website
Kerry Costello Amazon Profile

Kerry Costello’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born into a German family, living in middle Asia, former USSR. When I was two years old, we moved to Germany where I grew up and spent most of my life. I realized that everyone in my family, including myself, took their own inner prison with them, even years after having escaped persecution, imprisonment and the loss of basic human rights. But I’ve also learned from my family that there is always a way out, no matter how it looks like, which they proved when we left the USSR in 1966 at a time where almost no one got out. So, I started to dig deeper into what we humans need to liberate ourselves and heal, got two German degrees as physical therapist and naturopathic doctor, and was educated in 38 different modalities of healing. People asked me to share my vast knowledge and truth-finding skills, so I started to write manuals for healing practitioners. Then I noticed I want to inspire and motivate as many people as possible to move on in their life and wrote four books, Miracles For Soul Finders, Let’s Go Thinkabout, Choose Love Every Day and Making Zens Of It All.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Making Zens Of It All is the name of my latest book. I felt motivated to write it because it’s about being human, every day observations about so-called normal behavior which might not be normal at all, and deep insights that help you stay sane in an insane world. It is full of humorous remarks that help dealing with life while having a smile on your face. What inspired me was that I came to a point in my life where I had to stop and contemplate about what I’ve learned so far, how to integrate my experience, and where to go from here.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
O yes! I write with my German accent with the result that the readers have to concentrate more and be more focused while they read! Also, I write in a way that makes people look at things differently, partly because of my accent and partly because I always look at the bigger picture in life. Like a puzzle, I bring the pieces together to that the readers feel they understand something about themselves which didn’t make sense to them before. I also invent words, like for example to perfectionize, backgiveness and conscious miracleness, etc. This makes people stop in their track and think!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
OMG! Where shall I start? I would say every single author that I decided to read to the end of their book. I am selective in what I read because I read to learn, not to be entertained. Much gratitude is in my heart for Paramhansa Yogananda and Swami Sri Yukteswar.

What are you working on now?
Right now I am working on a book about Individualized Nutrition, called Love Your Food, Love Your Body, which is an inspiration and motivation to get to know your body-vehicle and what to put into it in order to stay healthy. Most people know their car better than themselves and this book wants to bring awareness of your own body and its ever-changing needs to as many humans as possible. Rather than talking about Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Blood Type Nutrition and Kinesiology, which are the foundation of what I call INP, Indivualized Nutrition Plan, my co-author Val Joy and I want to make people aware how important it is to know what you metabolize best, how this changes with the seasons or certain emotions and help gain control over body fat issues, diabetes, heart and brain diseases, allergies, food intolerances, fatigue, and more. I provide the natural healing background and my over 32 years of practical experience with real patients and clients, Val Joy gives recipes out that make people’s taste buds smile, and their butts and guts shrink.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Well I think i would have to say you guys The Awesome Gang

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be yourself. Dare to be unique. Be authentic. Don’t just repeat what someone else has said and done.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve heard is a quote by John A. Shedd, A ship in harbor is safe, but this is not what ships are built for.

What are you reading now?
How To Make Disease Disappear by Dr. Rangan Chatterjee.

What’s next for you as a writer?
A book about Chakracise. Talking about Spiritual Fitness for Body, Mind and Soul

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 German Naturopathic Doctor book, a book by Paramhansa Yogananda and The Tibetan Book Of Living And Dying

Author Websites and Profiles
Rita Harrison Website
Rita Harrison Amazon Profile
Rita Harrison Author Profile on Smashwords

Rita Harrison’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an award-winning writer of romantic suspense. My debut novel, Leather and Lies, earned an honorable mention award as a finalist in the 2018 RWA Kiss of Death’s Daphne Du Maurier contest and a 3rd place finish in the 2018 Valley Forge Romance Writer’s Sheila contest in the romantic suspense category.

I’m a hopeless romantic who enjoys plotting the harrowing journeys my characters go on before they finally reach their happily-ever-after. I live a quiet country life in northeastern Pennsylvania, residing on a piece of the old family farm with my husband, son, and two cats. Writing as a hobby since childhood, I spend my days as the grant writer and operations director for a local non-profit agency focusing on public health issues. When I’m not penning steamy romance scenes in her spare time, her interests include traveling, visiting amusement parks, collecting baseballs, hiking, and reading.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Leather and Lies was conceived in a burst of inspiration while I was elbow deep in dirty dish water. I’d been contemplating writing a steamy romance for a few days, but wasn’t sure where to start. I knew I wanted to have a strong heroine who drove the plot with more than just a “does he or doesn’t he like me” dilemma. My husband dabbles in criminal profiling as a hobby and also rides a Harley, so he served as both inspiration for my female lead, Skye, and my male lead, Wes.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Nothing that I consider unusual. While I prefer to be listening to music or in a quiet secluded place when writing, I also have a full time job and a 4-year-old son, so I’ve learned to seize any opportunity to write, no matter if it’s ideal or not.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Janet Evanovich is a strong influence on my writing. I love her Stephanie Plum series and have been reading it for years, so I knew I wanted to emulate her use of strong female characters as well as humor to balance out some of the more serious plot points in my novel.
I’m also influenced by Amy L Gale, whose books introduced me to the steamy romance. She was kind of my gateway drug to this genre.

What are you working on now?
I’ve got more pokers in the fire than I know what to do with right now. I’ve got a sequel for Leather and Lies on the way, as well as two stand-alone romance novels. One is a steamy second chance romance tale entwined with a murder mystery. The other leans more toward paranormal romance and has a time travel element.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m a debut author, so I’m still figuring this out. So far, it seems that creating a strong newsletter following is one of the best ways to promote books. There are no algorithms involved, no hoping the right readers see a promoted post. Everyone gets the e-mail and I can promote multiple books, events, and contests in one newsletter.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Find an established author in your genre who is willing to mentor you! Seriously, the amount of things I didn’t know about publishing and marketing was astounding. My mentor is the fabulous Amy L Gale and she told me after I finished the first draft of Leather and Lies “writing the books is the easy part.” She wasn’t kidding.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Find a critique group and let them read your manuscript. And learn to take the constructive criticism and apply it. Edit. Edit. Then edit some more. Also, critique other people’s writing in the group. It will help you learn to identify your own strengths and weaknesses as a writer.

What are you reading now?
Between my works in progress, a full time job, and family life, there isn’t a whole lot of time for reading. I do have a steamy romance set, Tropical Tryst, waiting for me on my Kindle when I do get a bit of downtime.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully releasing a few more books and perhaps getting in on some boxed sets. I would love to earn my letters and add “best selling author” in front of my name.

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?
Can I count Janet Evanovich’s entire Stephanie Plum series as one book? No. I guess I would take her Hard Eight, Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and Brown’s Davinci Code. I know, I have some eclectic tastes.

Author Websites and Profiles
Celeste Straub Website
Celeste Straub Amazon Profile

Celeste Straub’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! I live in California, USA with a crotchety old cat who I adore and spoil rotten. Chocolate chip cupcakes are my weakness and an excellent bribe if you ever need a favor. Writing is a recent adventure for me. I wrote a little in high school, then stopped for many, many years. One of my friends encouraged me to start writing again last year and here I am!

I have two short stories scheduled to be published this year, and I’m currently writing a novel. I love writing YA because it’s such a time of change in people’s lives, and everyone can relate to the heart of the stories.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My short story, Cinders and Blades, will be published in the Glass & Ashes Anthology with OWS in December 2018. I wanted to twist a classic fairytale: what if Cinderella was actually at the ball to assassinate the prince?

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Putting a movie on, usually an action movie, and looping it as I write. I like the background noise, and action movies get the adrenalin pumping which is great for fight scenes.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Mercedes Lackey, Robin McKinley, Debbie Macomber, Lisa Kleypas, Patricia Briggs, Kelly Oram, Bria Quinlan, Lynn Flewelling, Roald Dahl… I could keep going, but those are probably my top choices.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a YA romcom involving a scientist and a wizard. I’m really excited about this story, the characters are hilarious and are a blast to write! Did I mention there’s a dragon?

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Talking to readers on my Facebook page, and through my newsletter. I love hearing from them! People are so generous in sharing stories from their lives, pictures of their pets, and recommendations.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
You’re first story is going to suck, and that’s okay. The important thing is to write it. Your next draft/story will be better, and the one after that, and the one after that…

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Practice with intent. Natural talent will only take you so far, but anyone can succeed by always pushing to improve. Never get comfortable, you can always be better.

What are you reading now?
The Dragon Dreamer by J. S. Burke. It’s a recommendation from a newsletter subscriber and I love J.S. Burke’s posts on Facebook.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m looking for some great writing conferences to attend next year. And I’m always searching for new writing contests to enter- competition is a great motivator!

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?
Ack, so tough! Cinder & Ella by Kelly Oram, and the Tamir Triad by Lynn Flewelling and John Jude Palencar. Kelly Oram is a fantastic writer, she really knows how to pull at your heartstrings. The Tamir Triad is an amazing trilogy. Weirdly I hated it the first time I read it- too dark and disturbing compared to the normal romcom stuff I love. But something about it stuck with me, and on the second read I fell in love. I’ve reread these four books countless times and they are my go-tos when I’m in a reading slump.

Author Websites and Profiles
Amanda Kaye Website

Amanda Kaye’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a active sports athlete. Through the sports I have learnt many wonderful life lessons and values which I hope to spread to others as i believe these are values that cannot be bought using money. Thus by writing these books, i hope to spread my idea to as many people as possible and impact as many people life as possible.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Developing habits: Aligning the goals and action, a book for the successful people.
As mentioned earlier, I was inspired by the toughness, mental capabilities each an every athlete must have in order to break through our personal best especially when we hit a “wall”. When I first started learning the sports I kept failing, it was through self discipline and habits that get me through the tedious phase. Hence I would like to spread the power and importance of habits and how they can greatly affect your lives.

What are you working on now?
Another series check my instagram page @wholesome.mind for more details!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Haven’t really found one

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
When we hit our lowest point we are far open to the greatest change. It is because of failure we are given opportunity to shine.

What are you reading now?
A ancient Chinese teaching by Confucius.

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 Survivor book of course! so that i can survive and write more book

Kuzon Young’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am 71 years old and was born in Leeds Yorkshire England. Both my parents families came from County Mayo in the West of Ireland. I had a successful career in Retailing and Sales and only retired last year. Leeds 1969 is my first novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Leeds 1969. This was inspired by my experiences learning Retail at a very famous but down – market chain store. Until I started working there, I didn’t realize that you could have so much fun and excitement at work and get paid for it at the same time! I have tried to stay true to the time and place whilst ensuring that the content is acceptable to the modern reader.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I believe that whatever job you are doing whether it is writing or cleaning the toilet, you should put your maximum effort into it. The Jesuits at the school that I went to made us put AMDG (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam) at the beginning of every piece of work that we did. This has stayed with me although a lot of their other teachings have not!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Dubliners by James Joyce – The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner by Alan Sillitoe and Billy Liar by Keith Waterhouse. I also admire anything by Ian McEwan, William Trevor, Colum Toibin, James Plunkett and John McGahern. As you can see, there’s a very strong Irish influence there and I make no apologies for this.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a collection of short stories about the Irish in Britain between 1950 and 1975. Several of the stories deal with the inevitable link with the Roman Catholic Church and I am trying to show the influences both positive and negative. Like any good Irish song the stories have lots of tears, enlivened by a little laughter.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am too new to this game to give any advice in this area.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Although I would not presume to give advice about writing to anybody, I believe that there is no substitute for hard work.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
An innovator is a madman until his idea is proved to be successful.

What are you reading now?
Shannon by Frank Delaney

What’s next for you as a writer?
To finish of my Short Story Collection before considering a sequel to Leeds 1969

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?
Ullysses by James Joyce
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stephenson
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.

Author Websites and Profiles
Michael Gill Website

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
You remember reading under the blankets with a torch when you were supposed to be asleep? I started that with comic strips and picture books, hungry for stories and images that I could fold into my imagination and fly with, when I finally turned off the flashlight.

And now, after years of non-fiction writing, and for periods even reading a book a day, I have my first novel published as an ebook and a paperback on Amazon. Today is my first big promotion and I feel like I’m sitting at the grownups’ table. I’ve set out on the journey of a lifetime and I’m overwhelmed by how many wonderful people want to share it with me.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Amanda Cadabra and The Hidey-Hole Truth was inspired by the components described to me by my mentor and then research into a genre I’d only just heard of: a witch, a comical familiar, a contact in the police service, and then quintessentially English things like a village, a haunted Tudor mansion, a pub, a tea shop.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Probably writing in the middle of the night! The books write themselves, the characters wake up and take on a life of their own. Especially around 4 o’ clock in the morning.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Tolkein, CS Lewis, Terry Pratchett, John Wyndham and Isaac Asimov for world building; Agatha Christie for who-dunnit puzzles; Georgette Heyer for language and humour; Dick Francis and Alistair Maclean for adventure.

What are you working on now?
The sequel to Amanda Cadabra and The Hidey-Hole Truth.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My first promotion was with about 30 different sites and today is my first Freebooksy. I use a variety of social networking sites. So far the jury is out. When I’ve had more experience, I’ll be able to give a more definite answer.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do it for the joy. At first reviews, and other kinds of feedback, are more important than sales. Use every available resourse you can afford: K-ylitcs to help you choose the best Amazon categories, KDP Rocket to help you with keywords for AMS advertising, the free promotion sites and Facebook groups where you can get advice from other authors.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Wait for the wave. (Don’t force the writing.)

What are you reading now?
The Author’s Guide to Working with Book Bloggers by Barb Drozdowich

What’s next for you as a writer?
Writing Book 2 in the Amanda Cadabra Cozy Mystery Series and perfecting the audiobook for Book 1.

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 by JRR Tolkein, The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis, 1066 and All That by WC Sellar and RJ Yeatman, and The Definitive and Surefire Guide to Surviving and Getting Off a Desert Island Within a Week (hopefully someone would have written that.)

Author Websites and Profiles
Holly Bell Website
Holly Bell Amazon Profile

Holly Bell’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born on the island of São Miguel in the Azores, Portugal and since young I always had a passion for writing fictional and fantasy stories. I work as a UI/UX Designer and I have a small gaming YouTube channel, but I’ve been writing fantasy since I was 16 years old, but I never really finished any story until recently. My wife is also a writer. She only writes about our travels, but recently she wanted me to finish one of my stories. That’s how The Bridge came to live. At the moment is the only book I’ve finished.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Bridge. It was inspired by an old paragraph that I wrote many years ago. That text also inspired a short movie that I made for college 10 years ago. It’s a Fictional Psychological Thriller with a bit of fantasy.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I just listen to music to get into the mood.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
David Gemmell was the main author that made me love fantasy and writing. I also read many of José Rodrigues dos Santos books that had influenced me and of course my wife. She brought me back to writing my stories.

What are you working on now?
Until recently I was working on The Bridge (English Translation) but I’m starting to work on a new medieval fantasy project.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still new to all of it, so I really don’t have a best method, I’m still research it and trying all I can do.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I guess, it would be to never give up.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To never give up until your dreams come true.

What are you reading now?
The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

What’s next for you as a writer?
One of my biggest dreams is to write a Fantasy Saga and I guess I’ll start working on 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?
The books from A Song of Ice and Fire

Author Websites and Profiles
Nuno Viveiros Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was shoveling horse manure when I started to imagine a detective and a vampire talking in an office and decided to write a book series about it. Now I’m an author and go by the name Sarah WaterRaven. I’ve published three books in the Detective Docherty series and have a fourth book on the way. It seems my vampire and detective had quite a bit to talk about!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest publication was actually a collection of poetry called Wonderings. It was quite a step away from my fantasy series, though there are a few titles that contain fantasy elements. The collection was born of time, from years of writing poetry to help cope and inspire others who may have gone through similar experiences.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
You know, I wonder if I do. Is it abnormal to stay up till sunrise, days on end, because I am consumed with a writing project or is that just par for the course for an author? Because of my writing habits, I tend to jog at night and eat breakfast for dinner. There are days I find my way back to the diurnal habits of my fellow humans but truthfully, I am much more productive as a creature of the night.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Anne McCaffrey has been and remains to be a huge inspiration for me. Dragonflight was one of the first books I read for pleasure and would open up a whole new world for me. I loved the Dragonriders of Pern series so much, I wrote to Anne McCaffrey, telling her I wanted to be an author and asked her how I could become one. I was young and my mother helped me write the email to her. She wrote us back and while I don’t have the email anymore, I’ll never forget that she took the time to write to us. I cried when I heard she died.

What are you working on now?
My current work in progress is the fourth novel in the Detective Docherty series, Detective Docherty and the Dark Curse. It was inspired by the 2010 movie, The Wolfman.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Things tend to be hit or miss online but I’ve found I’ve always done well at book signings and conventions because I connect to readers through panel discussions or through one on one talks at my table. A large portion of my current readers I met in person.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what you love, always have your manuscript edited, and don’t give up. If you’re a self-published author and your book didn’t make the best seller list the first year, go back, re-evaluate your cover art and marketing, and come up with a new plan. There are tools available on blogs and youtube to help you, you just have to keep pressing on.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading Throne of Glass. It was given to me by a friend but I just finished Ink by Amanda Sun and Feeding Frenzy by Maaja Wentz.

What’s next for you as a writer?
The Docherty series will be around five to six books long and after that, I plan on publishing an illustrated novel and then starting another series. The truth is, my imagination won’t stop, and I plan on publishing novels for as long as I live

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1) The Book of Flying
2) The White Dragon (Dragonriders of Pern series)
3) The Night Circus
4) The Mists of Avalon

Author Websites and Profiles
Sarah WaterRaven Website
Sarah WaterRaven Amazon Profile
Sarah WaterRaven Author Profile on Smashwords

Sarah WaterRaven’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I just published my first book. Over the years I have written many short stories and started writing other novels and never finished them. Now that I finally bit the bullet and self-published, I’m in the mode. I’m going to start knocking these puppies out.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is entitled “Abusing His Grace”. The inspiration behind it is pretty simple–as a Christian, I am dismayed at how my faith is being abused by people who have either intentionally or not misconstrued what it means to be a Christian. I have decided to use my writing (in part–not all of my manuscripts revolve around Christianity) to confront incorrect doctrine. “Abusing His Grace” is about an issue that is often poorly handled, if not rugswept, in Christian churches–domestic violence. I’ve met survivors of domestic violence who said their faith is what kept them in their abusive relationships for as long as they stayed. I don’t think that is what God would want.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t always write a story in order.

You know how when a movie is being filmed, the scenes are not filmed consecutively? Well, I don’t write consecutively. I start with an outline, but I don’t always write chapter one, then chapter two, then chapter three. Sometimes an idea pops into my head for something and even if I haven’t written the information leading up to it, I flesh it out anyway and merge everything together. I’m not sure if other authors do that or not.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have been influenced by everything from Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck to Black Boy by Richard Wright to To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee to Your Blues Ain’t Like Mine by Bebe Moore Campbell to The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. I love to read great books and hope to write some of my own. Those people have created story art and I aspire to do the same.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a follow-up novel to “Abusing His Grace” as well as a spin-off novel that revolves around the main character’s teenage daughter, Eve. I am excited about both of them, but particularly that which involves Eve. She is a Christian teenager and I haven’t really found many works of fiction that would engage that particular group of people.

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?
Make like Nike and JUST.DO.IT. I wasted a lot of time trying to get published the traditional route. And for what? They would have put out the same book I did on my own. The only difference I see so far is that I put in a lot of work myself that they would have probably done for me but that is part of the joy–being able to claim this process as my own.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
My dearly departed Dad always told me that here in America I have two strikes going against me–being Black and being a woman–so that I have to work twice as hard. He was right.

What are you reading now?
“Death by Honeymoon” by Jaden Skye and “That There Las Vegas!” by Clyde Dowell.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Fame and fortune, hopefully.

On a serious note, I am simply looking forward to publishing more of my works. I have received my rewards already from this first publication. I have had more people than I ever could have imagined tell me about their own stories of survivorhood, and thank me for writing my book. It doesn’t get any better than that.

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 study Bible, my own book “Abusing His Grace”, a cookbook (wink) and one of my Garfield collections (I’d need some laughs if I was stranded on a desert island).

Author Websites and Profiles
Stephanie Gridley Gridley Website
Stephanie Gridley Gridley Amazon Profile

Stephanie Gridley Gridley’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am Lisa Sniderman, aka Aoede, an award-winning, quirky, folk-pop artist, playwright, and author from San Francisco. I combine expressive and teaching arts to inspire young adults and kids at heart to positively impact them. I’ve been honored with more than 50 awards for my songwriting, audiobooks, and stage plays since 2012 all while suffering from a rare autoimmune disease: dermatomyositis (DM), a progressive muscle weakness disease. My story is persevering through this darkness called DM for more than 10 years by obsessively turning to creativity to express and as a healing path. But my story and my life’s purpose is also becoming a light in the darkness and a muse, offering support, compassion, inspiration, connection, and encouragement to those who need it most-especially those experiencing transformations: illness, disability, or unexpected life challenges. “A Light in the Darkness” is my first book! It was just published by Crimson Cloak Publishing September 21st, 2018.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Helping others navigate their own personal darkness continues to be an important part of my own recovery. I’m learning that the acts of creating and sharing my story, music or art can also inspire you to live your dreams, open your heart, empower you to share your story and help you heal. I wrote my memoir, “A Light in the Darkness: Transcending Chronic Illness through the Power of Art and Attitude,” to share my journey of plunging into and through the darkness, my reflections, confessions, insights, and life lessons, to inspire hope and the courage to keep dreaming and living life to the fullest no matter what life hurls at you. If you or someone you know or love are struggling with or battling chronic illness, disability or unexpected life challenges; if you or they seek strength, new inspiration, hope, joy and healing, this book is for you.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I obsessively create! So that carries through to writing-songs, musicals, my memoir… I can’t stop creating!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
On the fantasy side, I was heavily influenced by authors I grew up with such as Tolkien, Piers Anthony, C.S. Lewis.

What are you working on now?
I just launched my first book! So I am excited to share it and it’s primary messages with many who need healing, encouragement and hope.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am new at this! I am still learning! Maybe this will be my best method!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I am one! I will get back to you on that!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Wow! Ever? I think it is don’t give up on your dreams-find ways to keep them alive even if you are battling illness or life challenges.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am collaborating with more than 50 artists who are also creating to heal. It may take the form of my next book and a documentary, sharing artists, musicians and authors stories of how they use creativity to help heal themselves and others.

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?
Possibly The Iliad and Odyssey, A Brief History of Time, War and Peace (having never read it) or the Lord of the Rings

Author Websites and Profiles
Lisa Sniderman Website
Lisa Sniderman Amazon Profile

Lisa Sniderman’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an award-winning author and professional musician who plays and teaches the violin, viola, and piano. When I’m not writing or engaged in musical activities, I can be found doing household chores, hiking, or exploring the world. My previously published works include Bubba and Squirt’s Big Dig to China, Don’t Feed the Elephant, Ten Zany Birds, That Mama is a Grouch, and That Baby Woke Me Up, AGAIN. I live in Atlanta, Georgia with my husband and two children.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Bubba and Squirt’s Big Dig to China is my latest book. The idea for it came when I was a kid living in Florida. I tried to dig a hole to China, but all I got was a hole full of water. I wondered what might happen if my plan had worked.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write all of my manuscripts by hand in a notebook. It doesn’t matter how long they are. That’s the way I always do it.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Jane Yolen, Mary Pope Osborn, and Rick Riordan are the authors who have probably influenced me the most.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the second book of the Bubba and Squirt series: Bubba and Squirt’s Mayan Treasure.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m a blogger, so doing blog tours and blog fests have worked very well for getting the word out about my new releases.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing and don’t give up. The more you write, the better you’ll get. If you can, take writing classes. Read about the craft and join a critique group. They’ll help you a lot!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Follow your heart. If you’re enjoying what you’re doing, chances are, you’ll stick with it.

What are you reading now?
Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss. It’s about negotiating. Someone recommended it, so I thought I’d read it.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Continuing the Bubba and Squirt adventures. That should keep me busy for a while. After that, who knows? I’ll see where the road takes me.

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?
Wow. That’s a tough one. I think I’d bring a couple books from the Caraval series by Stephanie Garber. I’ve heard they’re good, and I’d like to them. Then I’d probably bring some survival guide books so I could know what to eat and how to survive so I’d make it back home to read some more.

Author Websites and Profiles
Sherry Ellis Website
Sherry Ellis Amazon Profile
Sherry Ellis Author Profile on Smashwords

Sherry Ellis’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 Ronald. E. Hudkins, eclectic writer, Ohio born and raised – I was born in 1951 in Canton, Ohio and raised in Massillon, Ohio. My diverse writing prowess has been influenced by my many experiences.

I was drafted into the military in 1970 and remained there until 1993 when I retired honorably from the U.S. Army, Military Police Corps.

During my service and even afterwards I pursued several courses of study at several universities, including Kent State University, Maryland University, Central Texas College (European Branch), Blair Junior College, Hagerstown Junior College and Phoenix University.

Despite many General Studies, I declared two majors during my schooling which included the areas of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology.

In all the military assignments and scholastic studies, the true treasures I took away are not the certificates (though those are very important), but instead the overall experiences I had, the people I met, the foods I ate and even the places I stayed in.

In truth I am a citizen of the world and this greatly influences my writing.

So, if you are already a fan of mine, I appreciate you. If you are not yet one, then what are you waiting for? Read a book and then read some more. I create characters that resonate with you and infuse life into all I write.

Finding my Books
I have published over 69 fictional and non-fictional books written across many genres and my intent is to do so for the rest of my writing career, I have realized the need to make it easier for my readers to find my books. My author platform (RonaldHudkins.com) and its directory is born out of that need.

While keeping my books organized, my home page (I call my library index) also guides you, my esteemed readers, to the several library shelves (various pages) that contain my books according to specific book genres. To find your desired subject area, simply click on the subject icon you wish to review, the shelf will list all my books within the selected subject area and would detail whether the book has been published or if is pending.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is not yet published but, it is an Easy Read for children ages 9-12. The book is titled “The Space Traveler Next Door”. I am waiting for the cover art so I can roll it over to publishing mediums such as Kindle, Smashwords, Draft2Digital and CreateSpace.

I have recently published 5 other children’s books listed on Amazon under Hudkins Publishing https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B07H5QWJWN. I have been writing children’s books for a good while and rolled them over to file. The problem was I could not find an illustrator I was able to afford. I was talking to a technician who said can you draw a stick figure?- than illustrate those 100 books on your own! Some people have done that and became very popular. So, I said that person is correct by suggesting, take action you can accomplish. Long story short I found a few ways to illustrate on my own and am happy; as time permits between other projects, to be pulling the children’s books out of the mothballs.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I guess you could say the strange habit I have when it comes to writing is that just about everything under the sun grabs my interest and attention. I suppose the most influential conversation, event or activity of the day wins project of the night. I write from around 9 pm till 1 in the morning almost daily. This is when my undistracted thoughts kick into high gear and some project folder is chosen to start, add to or complete.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
When I was growing up – Arthur Charles Clarke along with Robert Heinlein and Isaac Asimov who were known as the “Big Three” of science fiction were my idols. I loved science fiction than and still do today. I am surprised I have not written more of it! We will se what the future brings.

Couple generations ago it was anything about wealth building. I loved the book Think and Grow Rich. Now days, a lot of non-fiction draws my attention that is relative to modern day Internet promotions be that paid campaigns, social media, press releases, articles, blog postings, on and on. Advertising myself and my books is my greatest weakness.

What are you working on now?
Right now doing a lot of book illustrations for the children’s books. Working on numerous cook books as I have managed to find some great resources for cook book photography that is actually free for commercial use. One of my more popular books right now is a non-fiction book titled “Sexual Performance: Anxiety and Sex” I’ll be doing some relative follow-up subject areas in that area. I am working on five other subject areas regarding problems folks are always researching. Non-fiction is actually my favorite project areas!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have an author platform named after myself (RonaldHudkins.com) that I designed and built myself. That sounds impressive huh? Fact of the matter is I have forgotten most of the HTML I used to know and use site building software nowadays. It is WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) A WYSIWYG (pronounced “wiz-ee-wig”) editor or program is one that allows me the developer to see what the end result will look like while the interface, document, webpage is being created. I am constantly adding books, tweaking this or that. Doing everything but promotion and begging for reviews. So, if you can type, you can build your own author platform.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice is to realize people are not out there counting the minutes before you release your first or next book so, don’t expect overnight fame and fortune. If someone is promising you that – fire them and save a whole bunch of money. Keep doing what you love doing. Keep writing, keep publishing and one day the spotlight just might shine upon you! Even if it doesn’t, you have already accomplished what many want to do but never do. You are an author in your own right. Do not take that away from yourself. Keep on plugging away building toward success internally and externally.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Surround yourself with positive and progressive people. Seek out the well-established financial investor, business entrepreneur, and other professionals and establish a student/mentor relationship. Success loves to bread success.

What are you reading now?
I am reading everything short, sweet and to the point that will help me get used to self-promotion, book promotion and social media posting. To name anything specific, there is too much to list. I will say however, a blog post led me to Awesome Gang and I was immediately impressed with what I see as a massive breath of fresh air. This has already exposed me to some fantastic advertising avenues and I am excited to build upon the available possibilities.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To keep plugging away on the multiple fiction and non-fiction projects that are being researched, imagined, written and built. To dedicate a pinch more time into getting my works announced and known to a larger slice of the human race.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Anything and everything that would help me survive in the environment stranded in be that the desert island, artic or a tropical surrounding. The military taught me a lot but there are many food, medical, shelter and clothing things needing enforcement. Scavenging for food on a desert island I think depending on many factors would be quite the challenge starting with gathering, preparing and then preserving food sources. Wow!! I have not watched the 12-15 seasons of Survivor. Nowhere to go but up!

Author Websites and Profiles
Ronald Hudkins Website
Ronald Hudkins Amazon Profile
Ronald Hudkins Author Profile on Smashwords

Ronald Hudkins’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Christo Garces (1973-present) was born in Durban, South africa to parents John and Suzanna, grew up in Seaview and for most of my life have been intimately involved in the Information Technology field. My first book, “WormWood – The wrath of God,” has been inspired by a dream and the mighty power of the one and only true living God.

I have always had a passion for the written word, and my qualifications range from IT Specialist to a diploma in Psychology, also studied as a missionary and am active in the church.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Wormwood the wrath of God. And it was inspired by a dream.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Dean koontz

What are you working on now?
A new ebook which looks at death biblically.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do your best and God will do the rest.

What are you reading now?
Droidscript programming.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Not sure as yet.

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?
Survival techniques, and bible

Author Websites and Profiles
Christo Garces Website
Christo Garces Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a busy, working mother with 3 beautiful children and a husband. At one point, I struggled to take care of myself. As a result, I was exhausted and overwhelmed. One day, I read a non-fiction book on publishing books and was hooked.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My newest book is The Busy, Working Mother’s Guide to Living a Meaningful Life: Living a Life of Passion – Tips for the Overwhelmed and Exhausted. This book is based upon discovering my passion for writing and publishing. I gain tremendous energy from doing something that fulfills and satisfies me.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write on paper and then type at night during my down time with the kids. I write any time I’m waiting!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve read hundreds of books about publishing, writing, self-help, and even more romance novels! I read them all. Probably for publishing, my biggest influences are Joanna Penn, Nick Stephenson, and Matt Stone.

What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m finishing up the next two books in the Living a Meaningful Life Series – Living a Life of Purpose and Living a Life of Gratitude.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesome gang has been a great source of downloads for my books in the past.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice is to write and write some more. If you like non-fiction, pick a topic that you know inside and out and come up with 12 or 14 topics. Then, each day, write one of those topics out and compile them into a small e-book. It is so easy!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write something that you are passionate about and you will never become discouraged or bored.

What are you reading now?
Right now, I’m studying neurolinguistics programming. It has changed my life!

What’s next for you as a writer?
As a writer, I plan to continue to write small e-books every month. However, in the future, I plan to pull out some of my old romance manuscripts and get them ready for publishing.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would bring pen and paper and write! However, the books I would read would be on NLP, romance, and the Bible.

Author Websites and Profiles
Nicolle Lowrey Website
Nicolle Lowrey Amazon Profile

Nicolle Lowrey’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! I’m Foxglove Lee and I write LGBTQ fiction for teens and adults. I started writing professionally around 2010, and until this year I’d written about a dozen novels, novellas and short story collections. I’ve devoted this year to writing ghost stories–a new one every month! I’m up to 10 so far and I don’t think I could stop if I tried. My Queer Ghost Stories series is pretty much always on my mind.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest release is the 10th book in my Queer Ghost Stories series. Each story in this series involves different characters and situations, so the stories can be read in any order. The most recent one is called “Off with the Fairies” and it was inspired by the Scottish folklore around fairies and death on foreign soil. The legend goes that if a person born in Scotland dies elsewhere, the fairies will come to them via secret underground passageways and bring them home to rest.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wouldn’t say that I have any unusual habits, but I will say that I do sometimes experience synchronicities, or strange confluences of events, as I’m working on a story. For instance, I’d decided I wanted Scottish fairies to play a big part in my story “Off with the Fairies,” but I had only rudimentary knowledge of Scottish folklore. One day I was out walking around the neighbourhood, and what should I find but a book called “Scottish Ghosts.” The first chapter had a section about Scottish fairies! I should probably mention that I don’t live in Scotland. I live in Canada. I’m not usually tripping over books about Scottish myths and legends, but this one certainly came to me when I needed it.

What are you working on now?
I just finished “Off with the Fairies,” so I’ll have to decide which ghost story to write next. People always ask writers where we get our ideas, but I think most authors (prolific ones, especially) will tell you finding ideas is never the issue. Fending off all the ideas that distract you from whatever you’re working on at the moment tends to be the problem.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Remember why you’re doing this. Your vision of success won’t be the same as anyone else’s, so don’t let others impose their ideals upon you. If you write for personal satisfaction, don’t be swayed by popularity contests and vanity metrics. If you write for money, don’t worry about critics going “but is it art?” I started writing queer fiction for young people because when I was in middle school I couldn’t find these books. I don’t think they existed yet–and if they did, my school library didn’t stock them. Sometimes you have to create what you needed. So my idea of success is creating fiction that resonates with people who might not see themselves represented in genre fiction, in particular.

What are you reading now?
I’m still reading that Scottish Ghosts book. It’s great! Lots of short stories about hauntings in Scotland.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I committed to myself and to readers that I would write one addition to my Queer Ghost Stories series every month this year, so I will keep on truckin’ with those. I’m still trying to decide whether I’ll continue next year with one story per month. I strongly suspect that I will. I have way too many ideas.

Author Websites and Profiles
Foxglove Lee Website
Foxglove Lee Author Profile on Smashwords

Foxglove Lee’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an award-winning instructor and international speaker on conflicts in the Islamic world, terrorism, and women in war. I have written two non-fiction books related to women in conflict–stories of their survival and sacrifice.

Currently, I am a Gender Expert Instructor, Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University and a Research Fellow at the Center for Global Policy. I received the 21st Century Leader Award by The National Committee on American Foreign Policy in New York and The Humanitarian Award by my alma mater in Texas.

I appear widely in the media and news as an expert on feminism, Islam, and conflicts in the Muslim world and have appeared in the mainstream media: CNN, BBC television and radio, Public Broadcasting Service, National Public Radio, Fox News, C-Span, Bloomberg, ABC News, MSNBC, Canadian national television, Voice of America, Al-Jazeera, The Daily Ledger Show and more. You can learn more at www.farhanaqazi.com

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Invisible Martyrs: Inside the Secret World of Female Islamic Radicals is a true story of women and girls in violent extremism. The book is both informative and personal: it begins inside the Counter-Terrorism Center in the U.S. Government, where I joined as the first American Muslim woman to serve and combat terrorist threats. The book is a journey into radical Islam and a discovery of its true tenants, which is peace, love and mercy for everyone.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I save magazines and use that as notepads; I jot down notes and ideas which comes handy when I actually begin to write short stories and non-fiction.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Award-winning journalists who risk their lives to report the truth are motivational and have inspired my own writing of women in war: Jon Lee Anderson, Robert Young Pelton, Christina Lamb, Isabel Coleman, Anthony Shadid, to name a few.

What are you working on now?
I am writing a romance series called The Honorable Life Series, which is set in Texas and explores a relationship between a Pakistani girl and a Catholic boy and the families that tear them apart. This story is a deeply emotional story that touches on themes of honor, shame, and the sacrifices one makes for love.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Sharing my story with countless friends, beta readers, and colleagues is priceless; these are the people who help promote the book through their contacts, word of mouth, and online (social media). Nurturing these relationships has been a gift for me.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write more. These days, one book is just the beginning of your career. The more you write, the more you develop your craft and create stories that people want to read.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Explore the world. Through travel, I discover new places and people which make for memorable stories. By visiting 70 plus countries, I have been able to write more descriptively and emotionally, which would not have been possible if I stayed in just one place. After all, writing is a journey, itself.

What are you reading now?
The Sewing Circles of Herat by Christina Lamb. A heart-warming story of girls in Afghanistan who dare to read and keep their educational traditions alive, despite the threat of terrorists and men who would rather keep women illiterate.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To write a series of fiction books of women in conflict with their families or themselves as they seek to create new identities. To show that women in the Islamic world can be strong, supportive, and sensual.

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 of prayer to guide my wounded soul; a book of poems to nourish my mind; and a book on mindfulness to help me live in the moment and find beauty on a deserted island.

Author Websites and Profiles
Farhana Qazi Website
Farhana Qazi Amazon Profile

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