Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in 1988 in Alabama, USA. I am married and I work as a full time author. I write mostly gay romance and interracial erotica. I am a bright and positive person, who loves sunny weather and sunflowers. My favorite music genre is bossanova and my favorite snack are fruits in chocolate.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“You Are My Sea” was inspired by two things:
a) My own journey to the seaside in winter 2014. I was heartbroken and hoped the sea would take my sadness away. The main idea behind this strange belief was that sea is a vast body of water that travels all the time, and also evaporates in the sunshine. What could be a better way to dissipate an unwanted emotion than giving it away? I don’t believe in writing things on paper and burning them later.
b) The Chinese drama “Addicted: Heroin”. Gu Hai was my favorite character and I think that Arnold, the protagonist of “You Are My Sea”, took a lot after him.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write down the words that I like and later use them to construct beautiful sentences.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I was influenced by Roe Horvat and Sloan Parker. They are my favorite writers in the LGBTQ erotic romance genre.

What are you working on now?
I am writing “Sleight Of Hand”, an erotic romance book about a stage magician and a detective.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think it’s posting quotes and excerpts all over social media, so that readers can get a glimpse of what your work is about.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write short stories. They are easy to write and fast to read. You can release plenty of them in a short time and build an audience faster.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Pick a genre and really stick to it.”
And also:
“Keep the promise that you give to the reader.”

What are you reading now?
“Thinking like a romance writer” by Dahlia Evans.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I would like to publish more short stories and the three books I’m planning.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I am a practical person. I would take with me a survival guide (to survive!), an encyclopedia (to learn new things), a book on ship building (to be able to leave), and something on home remedies (to cure myself if I got sick).

Author Websites and Profiles
Tina Isabel Leung Website
Tina Isabel Leung Amazon Profile
Tina Isabel Leung’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written:

I was born in Duncan, Oklahoma, and grew up in Seminole, Oklahoma. I graduated from the University of Oklahoma and hold a B.A. in English.
I have nine published novels, including five western historical romances: Fire Eyes, The Half-Breed’s Woman, Gabriel’s Law, Time Plains Drifter, and The Devil and Miss Julia Jackson. My contemporary romantic suspense novels include Sweet Danger, Capture the Night, and Beyond the Fire. Ride the Wild Range is my YA coming-of-age western tale. All are available at Amazon.
Three of my stories have been nominated in the Best Western Short Fiction category of the Western Fictioneers Peacemaker Awards. My paranormal western short story “The Keepers of Camelot” was nominated in 2013. In 2014, “It Takes a Man,” featuring my characters from the Wolf Creek series, was a finalist. “Hidden Trails” made the list of finalists in 2016.
I also have contributed heavily to the western “shared world” collaborative effort known as Wolf Creek since it came into existence. I have served as the President of the Western Fictioneers, a professional organization for western authors.
In 2013, I collaborated with long-time friend Livia Reasoner and we opened Prairie Rose Publications. PRP now offers five other imprints: Painted Pony Books, Tornado Alley Publications, and Fire Star Press, Prayers and Promises Publications, and Sundown Press.
My husband and I have lived in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for the past 34 years. You can e-mail me at: fabkat_edit@yahoo.com

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Kidnapping Kalli is a novella about a young Cherokee Indian woman who is kidnapped by a former Texas Ranger at the behest of her father, whom she has not seen for thirteen years.

Of course, something unexpected happens and Shiloh, the kidnapper, finds himself depending on Kalli for his very survival.

My inspiration came from a thought: What if the tables were suddenly turned on the kidnapper and the person being taken against their will? Even though Shiloh has good intentions and is being coerced by Kalli’s father, what might happen that would change everything for him—and for her? If he ends up depending on her for his survival, will she leave him to die, or will she make sure he’s taken care of—and what would motivate her to try to make him whole again?

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write everything by longhand in spiral notebooks, then enter it all into the computer.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I think everything we read influences us somehow, from the “funny papers” to the classics. But as far as my influences in romance reading and writing, Rosemary Rogers, Kathleen Woodiwiss, Kathleen Eagle, and Christine Monson all come to mind, as well as so many others.

What are you working on now?
I’m writing something I didn’t ever consider before this past year—a family saga about six Texans who go to fight in the Civil War. One of them is a professional gambler, and he makes a late-night, offhand bet with a fellow card player for “part of the business” since the other man is out of money. Turns out the “part of the business” he gets is six mail-order brides sent to Texas—just the very number needed for himself and his five other friends. I’m having a wonderful time working on this!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I promote a lot on Facebook. I have my author page at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cheryl-Pierson/e/B002JV8GUE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1542814253&sr=8-1

And I use the Prairie Rose Publications website at:

Home

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing. I know a lot of people say that, but discouragement can take over and kill your desire so easily when you have a few bad breaks. Just keep on writing, even if you think it’s only for yourself and likely no one else will ever see it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t expect to make a living off of writing—do it because you love it.

What are you reading now?
I read all the time for my job as Editor in Chief for Prairie Rose Publications, so it’s constantly something different—genres I might not normally read, all different lengths of books, new authors and those who I’ve read before. But when I just sit down to read for pleasure, right now I’m reading Kathleen Eagle’s Sunrise Song in the living room and Medicine of the Cherokee waiting for me in the bedroom

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working steadily on the saga I mentioned before, but also have two short stories I’ve committed to write before spring rolls around again. I never stop, and I work on more than one project 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?
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Stormfire by Christine Monson
Probably something by David Sedaris or George Carlin so I could laugh—I would probably need to laugh once in a while if I was stranded on a desert island.

Author Websites and Profiles
Cheryl Pierson Website
Cheryl Pierson Amazon Profile
Cheryl Pierson’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

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

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Nourish Your Tribe. It was inspired by my deep love and concern for the health of modern day children — those I see as patients, those I teach in schools, those who I love and hug every day, and all those I have yet to meet. This book is my effort to help make their lives better by empowering parents with invaluable tools to support their children with thriving health.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
To many to count but some of my favorites are The Inside Tract by Gerard Mulin MD, Digestive Wellness by Elizabeth Lipski, Deep Nutrition by Catherine Shanahan MD, and The Disease Delusion by Jeffrey Bland MD.

Author Websites and Profiles
Nicole Magryta, MBA, RDN Website
Nicole Magryta, MBA, RDN Amazon Profile
Nicole Magryta, MBA, RDN’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a Multiple Award Winning Media Personality and Actress from Nigeria who has reinvented herself at every stage of her Creative Career. I’m also the Creator of The NAKED Philosophy and the Creative Director at The BRAG Media Company.

I’m the Author of 4 Books – The Naked Truth; Lies Stripped, Stripped Down Success for Creatives, I Bared My Chest (A Global Anthology) and Uncovered! (a memoir).

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my latest book is “Uncovered!: The Naked Road From Timid Girl to Confident Woman…”. It highlights my mental transformation from the days I was operating with lots of self doubts both in my personal life and in my career – from how I envisioned my body, to what I thought love and sex was, to the concept of wealth, religion, friendships and all the other limited beliefs that kept me captive, chained and covered up, to uncovering my truth and freedom that gave a new kind of confidence to operate at the highest level of my talent and brilliance.

This book was inspired by my desire to give people the freedom they need to uncover the next level to their personal greatness.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, I love to sip my coffee and listen to music. I do 80% of my writing on my phone and then I email it to myself. Its weird. I think my phone works harder than my computer and laptop. Lol.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have been influenced by too many diverse authors and books of different genres. Not sure I can start to pick. But I clearly remember loving books by Danielle Steele, Sherry Argov, to James Allen. I also love books by Myles Monroe.

What are you working on now?
Even though I’m currently promoting my newly released book “UNCOVERED”. I’m also working to release a career/business book called “The BRAG Factor”. It is the expanded book version of an audio training I released in 2016.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Social Media, Radio Interviews, Podcasts and Book promotion websites like Awesome Gang.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Expression is a sign of STRENGTH not weakness. Don’t hold back in your writing. The more you give your reader, the more you will receive. Always have a clear direction of where you want to go with your writing, a clear intention of what you want to achieve with your readers, as well as what kind of emotions you want to evoke at every critical point in your book.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“No small roles, only small actors.” it was said to me years ago by my acting coach – Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD). I have long since reinvented that advice to mean “No small opportunities, only small minds”. It reiterates the concept that a person isn’t defined by how big or small the opportunities they are given, but the quality of their delivery and how best they choose to maximise it.

What are you reading now?
Mind is the Master by James Allen (The Complete Treasury). Over 800 pages of brilliance. It was gift from my Father.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More book signings, book tours and NAKED conversations around the world. Of course I have several books in me. I’m hoping to have written 9 Books by 2020.

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 first book, THE NAKED TRUTH ( ha ha… I still get inspired by own thoughts and my words), “Fine Things” by Danielle Steele, Sherry Argov’s “Why Men Marry Bitches” I love her humour and any book by Agatha Christie… Maybe “Clocks”. He he.

Author Websites and Profiles
Alex Okoroji Website
Alex Okoroji Amazon Profile
Alex Okoroji Author Profile on Smashwords

Alex Okoroji’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a Multiple Award Winning Media Personality and Actress from Nigeria who has reinvented herself at every stage of her Creative Career. I’m also the Creator of The NAKED Philosophy and the Creative Director at The BRAG Media Company.

I’m the Author of 4 Books – The Naked Truth; Lies Stripped, Stripped Down Success for Creatives, I Bared My Chest (A Global Anthology) and Uncovered! (a memoir).

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my latest book is “Uncovered!: The Naked Road From Timid Girl to Confident Woman…”. It highlights my mental transformation from the days I was operating with lots of self doubts both in my personal life and in my career – from how I envisioned my body, to what I thought love and sex was, to the concept of wealth, religion, friendships and all the other limited beliefs that kept me captive, chained and covered up, to uncovering my truth and freedom that gave a new kind of confidence to operate at the highest level of my talent and brilliance.

This book was inspired by my desire to give people the freedom they need to uncover the next level to their personal greatness.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, I love to sip my coffee and listen to music. I do 80% of my writing on my phone and then I email it to myself. Its weird. I think my phone works harder than my computer and laptop. Lol.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have been influenced by too many diverse authors and books of different genres. Not sure I can start to pick. But I clearly remember loving books by Danielle Steele, Sherry Argov, to James Allen. I also love books by Myles Monroe.

What are you working on now?
Even though I’m currently promoting my newly released book “UNCOVERED”. I’m also working to release a career/business book called “The BRAG Factor”. It is the expanded book version of an audio training I released in 2016.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Social Media, Radio Interviews, Podcasts and Book promotion websites like Awesome Gang.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Expression is a sign of STRENGTH not weakness. Don’t hold back in your writing. The more you give your reader, the more you will receive. Always have a clear direction of where you want to go with your writing, a clear intention of what you want to achieve with your readers, as well as what kind of emotions you want to evoke at every critical point in your book.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“No small roles, only small actors.” it was said to me years ago by my acting coach – Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD). I have long since reinvented that advice to mean “No small opportunities, only small minds”. It reiterates the concept that a person isn’t defined by how big or small the opportunities they are given, but the quality of their delivery and how best they choose to maximise it.

What are you reading now?
Mind is the Master by James Allen (The Complete Treasury). Over 800 pages of brilliance. It was gift from my Father.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More book signings, book tours and NAKED conversations around the world. Of course I have several books in me. I’m hoping to have written 9 Books by 2020.

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 first book, THE NAKED TRUTH ( ha ha… I still get inspired by own thoughts and my words), “Fine Things” by Danielle Steele, Sherry Argov’s “Why Men Marry Bitches” I love her humour and any book by Agatha Christie… Maybe “Clocks”. He he.

Author Websites and Profiles
Alex Okoroji Website
Alex Okoroji Amazon Profile
Alex Okoroji Author Profile on Smashwords

Alex Okoroji’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Back in the early 90s after a rather unpleasant divorce, I somehow got the notion to start writing. I took classes and went to seminars, even took the Writer’s Digest course. I discovered at that time that I wasn’t particularly clever and didn’t seem to have much knack for short stories, so I wrote a novel. It was heavily autobiographic of my situation and not very good, but I kept at it and ended up writing seven novels during that period. The publishing world is notoriously difficult to break into through normal channels, and none of my novels got published.

Although I continued to think about writing, I let it slip for a number of years until several years ago. I found a website called www.FaithWriters.com and discovered they had a weekly writing challenge. They provided a topic that you had to write to and a word limitation of 750 words. I decided to just start doing it, and by writing a short story every week, I accumulated about 130 stories and a number of highly ranked ones by FaithWriters Editors Top Ten. I’ve turned those into the several books of short stories you can see on my website or at Amazon. Everything I’m doing right now is self-published through the Amazon tools at Createspace and Kindle.

In that time period of writing short stories, I decided to tackle another novel. That turned into Sow The Wind with its follow-up books in the series Reap The Whirlwind and There Is A Time.

While in the editing process of There Is A Time, I pulled out The Tattooed Cat from my long-ago stash of novels and liked it a lot. I did significant editing on the book and released both it and There Is A Time in Fall 2018.

I write end-times thrillers because I got saved by reading the Left Behind series. How could I not write in the same genre when that is such a strong interest that I have?

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
There Is A Time is the third book in my end-times thriller Whirlwind series. I love to read and in the mid-2000s read the Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. That led to my being born again as a true Christian believer. There Is A Time fills in the gap between now and when Left Behind begins.

I originally wrote The Tattooed Cat in 1998 and only pulled it out of my dusty archives in 2018. Frankly, I was impressed with how good a story I’d written back then and decided to update it to my current Christian worldview.

I released both of these books in Fall 2018.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
This is probably unusual for the secular culture in which we live. I read my Bible and pray every morning. In that time it’s not out of the ordinary for God to give me both insights into His character, but for Him to also give me inspiration for my writing.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Left Behind series
Frank Peretti – This Present Darkness
Bill Myers – speculative Christian fiction
Davis Bunn – The Warning, The Ultimatum
John Grishom
Ruth Rendell

What are you working on now?
Hollywood and the media have done a pretty good job of promoting UFOs and the belief that alien cultures exist, that these aliens are advanced and evolved lifeforms. A common theme is that they are here to help humanity because we’ve completely messed up and are on the verge of extinction which only they can prevent. As a Christian I have a completely different perspective on aliens. Yes, they are real. No, they don’t come from “out there.” No, they are not evolved beings who want to help us. In fact, they are created, rebellious, and fallen, who want nothing more than to thwart God’s plan for all creation.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve primarily used AMS – Amazon Marketing Services – up till now.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
You have to love to read before you can write. Read as much as you can in the genres you love. Take classes. Learn the art. Then practice a lot.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
As a writer: Write what you love to read.

As a lost and sinful man: Repent. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

What are you reading now?
Just finished Dance Hall of the Dean by Tony Hillerman

Now reading Some Lie and Some Die by Ruth Rendell

What’s next for you as a writer?
Continue on with my alien thriller

Maybe pull another of my ancient manuscripts out of the closet

Potentially write a 4th book in my end-times Whirlwind thriller series

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Bible

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

A good dictionary

A book on building seaworthy boats and rafts

Author Websites and Profiles
Gary Ritter Website
Gary Ritter Amazon Profile
Gary Ritter’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
As a kid I found myself intrigued by the magical worlds I found on the library shelves. I read voraciously and began to create my own stories and poems. By age 14 I had written and hand printed my first books. Those books were the foundation and stepping stones to a lifetime of writing. I am the author of over 25 children’s books as well as several poetry books. My main purpose at this stage in my writing is to write books that help small businesses and just causes create whole new generations of loyal fans. For this purpose we have created QuickTurtle Books®.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called The Golden Stallion. It is a fiction book for engaging adolescents in the dangers of opioids. Opioids and other drugs are one of the worst crisis this society and the world will have to face and answer to in this century. Drug popularity and abuse uncurbed will lead us into biochemical societies that will be unable to produce and sustain the means for their survival. Drugs are the X factor in a bad equation that will never add up.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write while the world around me is asleep. I do not enjoy the noise of anarchy and chaos created by rabid journalists with agendas. Bullshit is like quicksand and I won’t be sucked in.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Many. Pablo Neruda is a master poet. Bob Dylan with his Nobel Prize in literature has made my day. Dr. Seuss, Leonard Cohen, Stephen King, Michael Connelly, Robert Parker, come to mind as just a few. It would go on and on, I love fantasy, science fiction and non fiction as well.

What are you working on now?
I am focused yet on The Golden Stallion. I am in the stage of getting feedback from community and teachers. Being I was with CreateSpace and had to move to KDP, a few monkey wrenches were thrown into the mix. KDP only allows me to get 5 proofs at one time and they put this ugly not for retail banner right across the cover. Not a good business policy. I had to publish the book before I wanted just to get Author copies to distribute for feedback. I have not had promising experiences with KDP thus far and this is one of the reasons why.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
That is an ongoing experiment. Community engagement and partnerships with like minded people has proven to be the most successful.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
It is full of shape-changers right now. You have to be more of a self-promoter than a writer. You can’t just sit back and expect people to read what you write. Getting them to pay for it is even a bigger challenge. The Internet is a double edged sword with millions of books offered everyday for free. Many of them are very flawed. I honestly don’t know where this will culminate for writers. I just try to do the best I can. You definitely should get your books edited at the very least.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you are a writer, write.

What are you reading now?
A legal mystery.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am procuring book partnerships with small businesses to help them grow.

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?
Extravagaria by Pablo Neruda. Shogun and a few thousand page Journal for my own story.

Author Websites and Profiles
Richard Rensberry Website
Richard Rensberry Amazon Profile
 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Al Cohen is an ordained Minister, called by God to minister and teach weekly under the anointing of the Holy Ghost across the United States through his Prophetic Office. Although Al Cohen had once pastor a local church, he has now been released in the Body of Christ at large under his Prophetic anointing and his revelatory bible teaching. Al Cohen deals with the move of God as it relates to the mind and heart of God dealing with situations and conditions that individuals may be facing as well as the world. Al Cohen is known for his prophetic insight of the time and seasons of the kingdom of God that is manifested in the earth realm through God’s body, which is the church. Through his teaching, he places a strong emphasis on the church functioning as the Body of Christ where every joint supplies. He is married to Janet Cohen in which they share two beautiful girls, Sabella (3) and Mila (2)

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
D.R.U.G.S Decrees Relating Unto God’s Standard. I was inspired to write this book after working in the medical field and seeing the addictive behavior that we all carry. I was then deposited with the idea what if we as God’s people had that same addiction towards God’s Word. And this is where the inspiration came from

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
The majority of my revelation comes in the middle of the night between 2am-5am.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh man, too many to name!! I love to read and study!

What are you working on now?
I am working on my second book entitled, “Just Like Him: As He Is So Are We”

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
www.justhisword.org and you can also see my teachings there.

Also via facebook at www.facebook.com/justhiswordministries

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up!!!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You have the power within you to do whatever you have been called to do!

What are you reading now?
The Bible

What’s next for you as a writer?
more books! I have received so much revelation that I need to pour it out in the form of a book!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Bible

Author Websites and Profiles
Al Cohen Website
Al Cohen Amazon Profile
Al Cohen’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written 40+ books.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
HITMAN; La Famiglia

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write at all different hours and will write for long periods of time when the mood strikes.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are too many books that have influenced me over the years to single many out. Armitage Trail, Oliver Stone, Mario Puzo for Scarface and The Godfather series. Nicholas Pileggi for Wiseguy that turned into Goodfellas and of course Casino, Chazz Palminteri for his screenplay of A Bronx Tale.

What are you working on now?
Book Two in the series of Hitman; La Famiglia

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use Amazon Marketing and also make ads and short videos that I place on social media.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing and look to experienced writers for help.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Look at what successful authors are doing and copy the effort.

What are you reading now?
Undercover Amish by Ashley Emma

What’s next for you as a writer?
I would love to see a novel become a movie!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Bible
An Anthology of great poets
Scarface
A book of short stories

Author Websites and Profiles
Theodore Valley Website
Theodore Valley Amazon Profile
Theodore Valley’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
As a New England native I am no stranger to cold weather and enjoy warming up by packing my romance novels with a lot of heat. I enjoy literary characters that are full of spunk with a touch of attitude.
When I’m not writing I enjoys binge streaming horror movies, painting with acrylics, and devouring novels.
I currently live in Vermont with my four children and adoring husband.
I used to write erotica under the pen name Akira Brooks, and have many short stories and novellas published under that name.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Essence of Desire (Book 1 in the Desires of the Myth Series) is my latest book. I am a huge fan of paranormal romance and really wanted the chance to flesh out characters and story lines beyond what erotica flash fiction allows.
My characters were all inspired by people I know, especially their attitudes and sassy retorts.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My biggest unusual writing habit is probably music. I need to have it blaring loud. It helps me focus. silence does the opposite for me, my mind wanders to places unknown and has a hard time fining its own way back.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Kresley Cole, Stephen King, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Lindsay Sands

What are you working on now?
I am working on Wicked Desires (Book 2 in the Desires of the Myth Series.)

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook. I would love to branch out beyond that but right now that is where my most active fan base is.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing. It might get tedious, you might get some harsh critics, but roll with it. Embrace it. Use it to fuel your writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You can only write regularly if you’re willing to write badly… Accept bad writing as a way of priming the pump, a warm-up exercise that allows you to write well.

What are you reading now?
The Guardian by Sherrilyn Kenyon

What’s next for you as a writer?
Working on books two and three in Desires of the Myth

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 Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King
Wilderness Survival for Dummies (Some one must have written this)
Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Author Websites and Profiles
Brandy Sullivan Amazon Profile
Brandy Sullivan’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m originally from the East coast of Canada and spent most of my life there but I moved to France in 2015 along with my wife and three children. We came to work with a small local church and are also doing some translation (Liz) and teaching English (Mike) for fun. I’ve just published my fourth book as an independent author, all through Kindle Direct Publishing (Amazon): Two in 2017 and two in 2018.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My newest book is “Paris, You Take My Breath Away” and it’s been in the works for a little over a year. I’d previously written a short Paris travel guide (2017) but wanted to do something a little less “textbook-like”… mostly information based. A lot of what makes Paris so captivating is the feeling you get when you’re there. Beyond naming attractions and things to do, I wanted to communicate some of the magic that I felt whenever I was there… magic that seemed to brim over from the simplest of daily pleasures.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m a night-writer. A LOT of my writing happens when the kids have gone to bed and the house is quiet. This means I don’t often have early nights! The second habit – which admittedly relates more to my blogging than to my books – is that very often, an image is my starting point. Pictures are my souvenirs for the most part and looking back through them often transports me back to the sights, the smells and the sounds of a place. It’s a good spot to write from.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
One of the fiction works that has likely influenced me the most is “The Alchemist” by Paul Coelho. The narrative description was amazing and child-like innocence oozed from the veins of this book. There’s an element of that that I try to maintain in this latest book as well as in my next project (currently in the works).

What are you working on now?
I have a couple of other projects on the go, but the two most likely to next see the light of day are (a) a travel journal that both welcomes a “Dear Diary” format but also prompts the reader with journal prompts, quotations, etc. The other project in the works is book 3 in the “Paris No Stress” series which talks about spending time on a French hobby farm in the country, tending to a small menagerie of animals and taking hammock-naps in the grove below the duck pond.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This is still an area that I have much to learn about. The writing, layout & editing are not difficult for me but promotion is the next step. To date I’ve only promoted via (a) Amazon (b) Facebook (c) Twitter and (d) by word of mouth. I’m currently following some of the tips from Kindlepreneur.com, which is what brought me to the Awesome Gang! Looking forward to perfecting this next step in promotions.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Sit down and just do it. Don’t think to yourself “I could never do that” … you can.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Great works are never finished, only abandoned.” I heard this from Jeff Goins although, I think, in retrospect, that he said is as a quotation of someone else (whose name I can’t remember). But it’s true… one can indulge “analysis paralysis” and tweak this & that until the cows come home. You can always add another description here of fill in a blank there, but there comes a point where all of those extra efforts will only barely move the bar so to speak. Sometimes you just need to let it go… (a) abandon it and either come back at it later or not at all… or (b) just publish it and go on to writing the next thing.

What are you reading now?
A couple of things… “Deep Work” by Cal Newport, “The Book of Mysteries” by Jonathan Cahn and a new discovery… “My Grape Escape” by Laura Bradbury (which, ironically, follows a young West-coast Canadian girl who moves to France to live… see the resemblance!?)

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finishing the two projects currently waiting in the wings and get a better hold on the whole promotions piece. I wouldn’t mind trying my hand at fiction as well but all in good 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?
The Bible, The Alchemist, something from Neil Postman… whose series I really enjoyed.

Author Websites and Profiles
Mike Long Website
Mike Long Amazon Profile
Mike Long’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up in Southern California, in the San Fernando Valley. It’s still a relatively calmer, slower-paced section of Los Angeles. I still live in L.A., but not in that area. Reading was always something that I enjoyed, even though I was also interested in a lot of other things. Career-wise, I wanted to do something scientific or technical. Writing was always considered a “hobby,” or “not a real job,” or something mostly for strange people that only a very, very lucky few could do for a living. Still, I enjoyed writing, and got great feedback from others about how good my writing was.

Fast forward a few years, to a time when my kids were very young. It was fun to make up stories for them – bedtime stories, stories for long trips, stories for mealtimes, and other occasions. It felt natural to do that; after all, my father had been a constant storyteller for my brothers and me when we were little.

As of now, I’ve written five books. My first novel, “Yaakov the Pirate Hunter,” was inspired by my son’s request for a story about robots, during a drive to school in the morning. I may have come up with the basic idea prior to that event; I took a correspondence course on writing for children, and wrote a short story that involved kids with robots. Either way, my son’s request definitely got the ball rolling in terms of putting together the novel. I included things were familiar to me and in my “world” at the time: the novel has elements of science and technology, adventure, and our Jewish tradition.

I took a break for a while; I was discouraged, and didn’t have opportunities like Awesome Gang to spread the word about my writing. Eventually, I got back into it and wrote several sequels. The series is titled “Peretz Family Adventures,” and now includes four books.

One confidence booster was finding out that somebody had nominated my third novel,
“Yaakov and the Secret of Acra Fortress,” for the 2017 Cybils Award.

“A Time for Vengeance” is my fifth book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The book is titled “A Time for Vengeance.”

With my children growing up, and looking to expand my readership, I wanted to write for the “young adult” age group, as well as for younger children. The idea for this novel first occurred to me during my research for the fourth Peretz Family Adventures book, “Yaakov and the Jewel of Jamaica.” I read about a fascinating subject: Jewish pirates during the era of the Spanish Inquisition and the Age of Exploration.

While the Spanish Inquisition raged, a good number of Jews, formerly exiled from Spain, struck back at Spain through piracy. They raided the Spanish ships that were on their way back to Spain with silver and other precious items from the New World. Religious freedom was a rarity in those days. Jamaica was a pretty safe haven from the Inquisition, and the Jews there helped bring the Spanish Empire to its knees. Also, some of the great Spanish explorers, including Cortes, brought Jews on their voyages; for Jews, it was one way to escape the physical torment of the Inquisition and to open new lands where their brethren might live free.

That knowledge served as a great backdrop for “Yaakov and the Jewel of Jamaica.” For “A Time for Vengeance,” I wanted to write something that took place during the Age of Exploration itself. The mid-17th century was also the Golden Age of Piracy. Yet, piracy was not the only way to retaliate. What if a teenage boy wanted to fight back in his own way? What if he had some unusual tactics and resources that gave him a battlefield advantage (admittedly a limited one)?

The popular image of Jews as passive, helpless victims who “wander” through history, letting the world’s powerful empires trample them, is a silly myth. In every generation, Jews have fought back ferociously, on both the physical and spiritual levels, against their oppressors; however, those stories are not told often enough. Even when physical retaliation does get some attention, the spiritual fight is generally ignored. People know about Bar Kochba’s battles against the Roman Empire. People know about the uprisings in Warsaw and Vilna that occurred during World War II. Yet, there was a deeper, more meaningful resistance, as well. The rabbi of my synagogue has often told the story of how his father and others secretly planned and pulled off a Passover seder inside a concentration camp. On another occasion, my rabbi’s father helped some other prisoners to put together a High Holy Day prayer book. Today, that man’s great-grandchildren number in the dozens, and all of them live up to the very ideals that the Nazis tried to eradicate.

For this book, I wanted to highlight the Jewish spiritual resistance to oppression, and to show that thriving and living up to one’s highest ideals is really the best way to win. Initially, the protagonist burns with rage, and responds to his father’s arrest in a raw, violent manner. Yet, as the story progresses, he learns what true vengeance really is.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes. One habit is to write very early in the morning. I like to go to sleep before 10 pm, when I can, and to get up before 5 am. I do most of my writing between 5 and 6 am. It’s a time when everybody else is usually still asleep, so there’s not much to distract me.

When still in the pre-production stage, working on an outline and beats, I often squeeze in extra moments to work on my book, using Monica Leonelle’s “8-Minute Writing Habit.” Sometimes that means that, after my long commute to the day job, I’ll sit inside my parked car and set the timer on my phone for 8 minutes. Then, I’ll write in a notebook for those eight minutes before entering the office building to begin the day’s work. Sometimes, I’ll sit and write my beats while eating breakfast. I like to keep that notebook as a pretty constant companion, so that at the end of every day, I know that I’ve made some progress.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
It’s a tough question, because you can learn something from every book that you read – whether it be from the content itself, the storytelling technique, the character development, or some other aspect.

One of the memorable series from my youth was “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” by Douglas Adams. There was a zaniness to it that appealed to me. It was also liberating in another sense: it gave me permission to write long, wordy, complex, descriptive sentences containing numerous clauses. One of my English teachers criticized that me for doing that, and wrote “awkward and wordy syntax” in red ink on my schoolwork; I didn’t care. The series also had an audacity that gave me permission to go wherever I wanted with my writing.

C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien excelled at world-building (as did Mr. Adams), and I think I learned a good deal from them. In writing the second through fourth books of my Peretz Family Adventures series, one of my goals was to expand the fictional world that I had introduced in the first book.

When I was younger, I discovered William Gibson and Isaac Asimov, two authors whose science fiction I enjoyed and who inspired me to write in that genre.

I read a number of Robert Ludlum thrillers, back in the ’90s. At the time, I don’t think I aspired to be a novelist, but I did learn to appreciate the rapid-fire action. More recently, Daniel Levin wrote a fast-paced thriller, “The Last Ember,” which reminded me of that writing style. In the second Peretz Family Adventure novel, I aimed to pick up the pace, and it’s something that I tried harder to do in Yaakov and the Secret of Acra Fortress.

As an adult, I devoured a kids’ book called “The Wall and the Wing,” by Laura Ruby. It was nice reminder of how to be a kid again and how to delve into the world of an inquisitive, daring child. So, it helped me to write the character of Yaakov Peretz, the hero of my series.

In a similar way, Neal Shusterman taught me how to write my way into the head of a young adult. His “Unwind” series did that in a fascinating way (although the books are kind of creepy).

What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m dreaming up ideas for a sequel to “A Time for Vengeance.” I definitely want to write one, and want to set it in a country that only existed for about 24 years. Once I’ve fleshed out the concept, I’ll be able to get to work.

I’m also thinking of writing novel set it in Los Angeles, about a young man who plays the accordion in a band and dreams of making it big. In a sense, that’s about me, a side of me that still deserves some exploration.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don’t have a great answer to that question yet. Amazon ads have sometimes been pretty good for me. I’m starting to get more involved in cross-promotion with other authors, where each of us promotes the other’s books to his or her email lists. I want to pursue that method further and see where it leads.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep producing content and don’t get discouraged. If you want to be an author, then you absolutely need to write books. And you need to find a consistent routine that works for you. It may take a while, so experiment. Take some time to test out which place and time are most enabling. For some, it may be in the late afternoon at the local coffee shop. For others, it may be at the kitchen table.

Get yourself into a routine; just show up at your designated time and place and write. Pretty soon, you’ll have a book.

Also, avail yourself of the many, many resources for writers. Some great books are “Prosperous Creation” and “Write Better, Faster” by Monica Leonelle, “Story Engineering” by Larry Brooks, “Book Launch” by Chandler Bolt, “Mastering Amazon Ads” by Brian Meeks, and “Newsletter Ninja” by Tammi Labrecque. There are courses and podcasts by Nick Stephenson, Mark Dawson, and Joanna Penn, all worthwhile, with very valuable knowledge and advice.

Definitely join a community of like-minded individuals. It will help keep you focused and empower you to reject the discouragement you’ll get from most people when they hear that you want to write. The support that you get from other authors, who are all in the same boat, will be critical to your success. There are online groups, forums and the like, as well as in-person groups like critique groups.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Eliminate distraction from your life and focus on what’s important. Focus on things that you can actually control, and aim to the best you can there. It will help you to be the best person you can be. Things like the news and politics are basically mindless entertainment that add little or no value to your life; forget about that stuff and pay attention to your own health, character, family, friends, and community.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading “Tevye in the Promised Land,” by Tzvi Fishman. It’s a sequel to Shalom Aleichem’s “Fiddler on the Roof,” with the main character, Tevye, expelled from his Russian village and on a journey to the Land of Israel. The book develops Tevye as a bold, confident, assertive man who stands up for what he believes to be right, rather than letting the world pick on him.

As of now, I’ve only read about 10% of the book. I’m finding it quite enjoyable and entertaining.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I would like to write a sequel to “A Time for Vengeance,” continuing my Chronicles of Simon Mendez series with a further development and maturation of Simon’s character. He’ll continue to a new phase in life, with facing new challenges that force him to grow in new ways.

I’m also toying with the idea of writing a novella that explores Lucinda’s side of the story. Lucinda is a relatively minor character in “A Time for Vengeance,” who reveals a bit about her experience. There may be more to her story, which occurs at the same time as Simon’s.

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 have to bring the Torah; as a Jew, I’m obligated to study it every day. I also highly enjoy studying it. For a (hopefully) short stint on a desert island, the Stone edition, published by Artscroll, will do.

I would bring “Life Hacks,” by Keith Bradford. It contains a lot of great information in the form of concise, easy tips. I’d have to make life on the island as easy as possible.

Since I’d want to eat well while on the island, I’d bring “Desert Island Dishes: Recipes from the World’s Top Chefs.” I wouldn’t pay the $1,649.95 Amazon price for it, though; a used copy would be just fine.

Author Websites and Profiles
Nathaniel Wyckoff Website
Nathaniel Wyckoff Amazon Profile
Nathaniel Wyckoff’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am Andre Michael Pietroschek, a rock-bottom hobby author. By now I have published 2 ebooks, plus a paperback on customer demand, and work on getting them translated. Sadly my publisher has terms, on format, which I no longer appreciate, so my next ebook would be via another publisher, or self-publishing.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Title is: Old roleplay stories & fiction – Unpaid prose of a mediocre gamer. It is a shortstory collection of all I had published cost-free throughout the recent years. One day I sat back at home, after ending my urban homelessness & eager to live a more regular life again, and decided it can’t hurt to attempt a low-price lucky shot here. Of course it failed miserably.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Smoking, as if lung cancer does not exist, coffee, and the opposite rushes of healthy food, workouts, or taking a walk through the real world.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Plenty, even though I stick with my old saying that life itself is the best author ever, as it writes the really important tales for each of us.

What are you working on now?
Regular job applications, as I never waited for my hobby to pay-out. Getting my ebooks translated, and the struggle of investing the unpaid efforts to either try one novel, or focus the occult worksheets I wrote to become a low-sales, but high on my list publication.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I scored zero sales, becoming urban homeless spoiled the publication of four further ebooks, and by all I know: If I ever find a way, which scores paying customers, then I will certainly keep it a secret.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes, become programmers, or get a real job. Life is too precious to swallow the frustration, time lost, and competition of a dying industry (writing).

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Stay true to yourself, for nobody else ever will!

What are you reading now?
I am back in the final part of Miyamoto Musashi’s Book of Five Rings, the book of the void.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Customers, god, please, make it some billion paying customers! Amen.

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?
Poisoned ones, so I die quickly.

Author Websites and Profiles
Andre Michael Pietroschek Website
Andre Michael Pietroschek’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a full-time working wife and mom of twins. I have been a certified project manager for more than 13 years, working for such company Patagonia, Guitar Center and Adobe. I have also worked as a copywriter and freelance author, in addition to writing 10 plays, several of which have been read, produced and published.

I recently wrote an e-book called “From Homework Hell to Help! A Parent’s Guide to 75 Solutions to Help Kids Save Time and Stress Less Using Project Management Techniques.”

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is called: “From Homework Hell to Help! A Parent’s Guide to 75 Solutions to Help Kids Save Time and Stress Less Using Project Management Techniques.”

It was inspired by the need to covert chaos into calm from a very busy life as a working mom of multiples, leveraging the organizational, communication, and productivity skills I used on the job every day as a successful project manager.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yeah, I write when the mood strikes and when my energy is there. I am a very disciplined person, but whdn it cones to writing, I find being less disciplined works for me!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I loved Steinbeck since high school. I loved his fresh and relatable way if expressing himself. I find the same with Stephen King and Dave Barry, on opposite sides of the spectrum.

What are you working on now?
I am gearing up to write another non-fiction book, this time for those who want to learn about project management.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Networking, getting reviews and supporting other writers. I find fellow authors to be a very supportive and encouraging bunch to be around.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Take classes, meet other writers and discover what your genre is so you can focus your passion in a direction that will make you feel the most rewarded and productive.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Done is better than perfect.” Sheryl Sandberg

What are you reading now?
I am about to read John Green’s “Turtles All the Way Down.”

What’s next for you as a writer?
More books, maybe exploring other genres, possibly pusuing tradional 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?
For laughs: Artie Lang’s “Too Fat to Fish.” For longing to be with my loved ones: “Wuthering Heights” by the great Emily Bronte. For when I am questioning existence: “Cosmos” by Carl Sagan. For hope: “Africa in My Blood” by Jane Goodall

Author Websites and Profiles
Chris Hare Website
Chris Hare Amazon Profile
Chris Hare’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written One book and working on the second one

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
In the Arms of a stranger. It was inspired by my own life. I went through a very difficult phase of life where everything that could have gone wrong seemed to go wrong. After fighting depression and almost going insane, I was able to experience Gods grace in my life and I can now mentor others that are still stuck “In the Arms of the stranger (The Devil)”

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write a lot when I am feeling emotional, be it excitement, sadness, Confused or simply dreamy, when I started writing I had no idea I could be considered a writer. I was probably about 7. In my mothers house were pieces of papers everywhere with my thoughts. When I feel Inspired I write, whether its a song or a piece of my thoughts.

In my house, that’s still the same case!

When I get the writing bug all I want to do is write. If I have nothing to write on I will scribble on tissue paper, on business cards back pages, I will write on any blank surface. When a thought comes in my head it has to be written, most times its not meant for anyone to read, I may be trying to clarify my thoughts, may be clear them, maybe confirm them, and other times just affirm them. I am just writing to me, or sometimes to God

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Francine Rivers- Scarlet thread, Redeeming love (Literally all Francine rivers) , Loren Cunningham-Is that really you God, John Maxwell-Think of these things, TD Jakes_ Woman Though at loosed, Corrie ten boom- Passion and Purity/ The hiding place, Teresia Wairimu Biography, Robin Sharma-The Monk who sold a Ferrari, Robert Kiyosaki-The Bussines of the 21st century and others

What are you working on now?
A new book which is a serial of ‘In the arms of a stranger’ I am not very sure of what the title But I am levitating between “When the enemy wont let you go” or ‘Just in the arms of a stranger 2″

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
www.carolinebongo.com and especially Facebook and my WordPress blogs. People love following me because I guess I am funny, and takes life easily even when sharing very serious inspiration. Because they love my writings they automatically want my books

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advise to new authors is first of all to keep writing, even when it seems like no one is reading. Its impossible that the whole world will like your style. But there are those that will really love what you do. Those are the ones you will need to find and keep. And finally when you start writing, don’t stop

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
When I was torn between focusing and prioritizing between my career and my hobbies (Writing, speaking and Music) My Uncle said to me. Your divine destiny is that which you can do if all your bills were paid and you didn’t have to make money. Straight away I knew what I would do if it wasn’t money I was trying to make: Write, speak and Sing

What are you reading now?
John Maxwell: Talent is not enough

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to get into professional blogging, and possibly convert these into printed books for the non digital generation. I want to share all that I have gathered over the years. Its the legacy that I can leave for my Children, Their Children and all my generations that will be here when I will be long gone

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Probably all Francine Rivers Books! Seriously. But I would take a few Biographies that I haven’t read yet.

Author Websites and Profiles
Caroline Bongo Website
Caroline Bongo Amazon Profile
Caroline Bongo Author Profile on Smashwords

Caroline Bongo’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Prancie’s Prayer is my first published book, but hopefully not my last. I did have a story published in 2017 in the book, Black Cats Tell All.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Prancie’s Prayer is loosely based on the story of how our cat, Prancie joined our family. She showed up on a very cold night in January 2005.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I do most of my writing with a pen and paper as opposed to typing on the computer.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Doreen Tovey, an English author who wrote about her Siamese cats. And Cleveland Amory, he wrote three books about his cat, Polar Bear. I even named one of my cats Polar Bear.

What are you working on now?
I am working on another children’s picture book about another cat of mine.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I paid for a Goodreads promotion/giveaway that seemed to help. I also have had other blogging friends write reviews on their blogs.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up and be sure to write every day. Just like an athlete needs to practice daily, one needs to write daily.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Advice from James Altucher, author of Choose Yourself. One piece of advice in his book is to literally choose yourself. If you can’t find a publisher for your book then self publish.

What are you reading now?
I am reading several books at once which I always do. Sally Field’s memoir, Writer’s and Their Cats, Twelve Patients : Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to have another children’s book published. I would also like to write a memoir about living with 15 cats.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Bible, Cleveland Amory’s Compleat Cat ( includes all 3 of his books about Polar Bear), Peter Gethers’ The Norton Trilogy ( includes his 3 books about his cat Norton).

Author Websites and Profiles
Ellen Pilch Website
Ellen Pilch Amazon Profile
Ellen Pilch Author Profile on Smashwords

Ellen Pilch’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing since my college days and sold my first book in 2001. Learning Curves, a Harlequin Temptation, appeared on the shelves in 2002. Since then, I’ve had 99 books published, including 84 with Harlequin. I really enjoy series romance, and have penned medieval historicals, romantic sagas, sexy contemporaries and a few suspenseful reads.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
One Night Scandal for Harlequin’s Desire line completed my 9-book McNeill Magnates series. The book gives a behind the scenes look at a movie being filmed on location at a ranch in Wyoming. I was inspired by my own experiences as an extra on movie sets.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love to write when it’s quiet and when I’m alone, and I will take my laptop most anywhere to find the quiet. Once, when my husband had a band practice in my home, I ended up in a closet to write. I was pretty happy with the nook I created for myself out of a –thankfully– good sized closet.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I fell in love with the romance genre reading medieval historicals by authors like Johanna Lindsey, Julie Garwood and Elizabeth Lowell. Their books made me eager to pick up a pen and try my hand at it.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a series with baseball-playing brother heroes. The Texas Playmakers of Last Stand, Texas will debut in spring 2019.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This changes all the time! I like to try new promotions for each title to reach new-to-me readers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read all you can, and write even more. Good books teach you all the skills you need. Add to that persistence and patience. Keep writing and submitting, and your stories will improve with each manuscript.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Follow your Bliss! I am a big fan of Joseph Campbell, and this idea emcompasses so much crucial life wisdom.

What are you reading now?
Tana French’s The Witch Elm

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m excited for a new series for Harlequin Desire kicking off in November 2019, set at the fictional Mesa Falls Ranch in western Montana.

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 take questions like this so seriously, my brain immediately calculating the LONGEST book possible for the most potential reading. A huge anthology of myths? The fattest encyclopedia? But if we’re talking about books I could enjoy again and again, I’d grab something medieval-ish like T.H. White’s The Once and Future King, something fun and heartwarming like a Susan Elizabeth Phillips novel (Nobody’s Baby But Mine?), and something more lyrical like Alice Walker’s The Temple of My Familiar.

Author Websites and Profiles
Joanne Rock Website
Joanne Rock Amazon Profile
Joanne Rock’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
UK born romance writer, filth aficionado and fantasy fanatic. Self-published author of the Hestaesia series. Lost in Love is my first book, but I’m excited to get the remaining four books in the series out into the world.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Hestaesia: Lost in Love. My only inspiration is my life-long love of romance books and the realisation that if I didn’t pursue my dream, I would never achieve it. Better to try and fail than to never try at all.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m fast! I must be the envy of many writers as I seem immune to writer’s block.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Kresley Cole and Gena Showalter were my main inspirations.

What are you working on now?
Book Two of the Hestaesia series! Keep your eyes peeled for it.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far I’ve had some lovely returns from Instagram and am developing a wonderful community of followers there – which, as a newbie, was totally unexpected!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up! Determination is my middle name.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Always be true to yourself. In the words of Dr Suess… those who mind, don’t matter and those who matter, don’t mind.

What are you reading now?
Nothing – only my own work (over and over and over…)

What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully a successful romance series and perhaps some ghostwriting opportunities. Who knows! The world is my oyster.

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 Kresley Cole’s Immortal’s After Dark series. It’s my jam.

Author Websites and Profiles
K. L. Thorne Amazon Profile
K. L. Thorne’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am Italian and was born in Rome. In my adolescence I spent a meaningful time in USA, Manchester, New Hampshire. For family reasons I came back to Rome, where I ended my classical studies. I’m married with two children and my life has always been full of “duties”, like all mothers have. The house, the husband, the children and an interesting work as functionary in the Educational Field and in cultural exchanges. It was a great effort to manage all this. And in my soul I have always had inspirations that only asked to become stories, but there was never time for that. Until something happened… I had an accident and I was motionless for two months. That’s when I started writing with my left hand, the only one I could move in those days. And from then I never stopped from writing. I published seven books and an anthology, three English editions and many important literary awards

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is an Italian edition “Una morte sola non basta”, that will be the English edition “One death is not enough”. It deals with violence on children and the plot is set in Rome, Italy, from the 50ties to the 70ies. It is defined by Italian literary critics, a great neo-realistic book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, for me it’s important to write always in the same place, that is my studio, maybe because from that window I can see the Bay on the Mediterranean Sea, with its magical scenery. When I need an inspiration I look at the sunset, discovering that each day dies in its own way, like every human being does.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The first one was Luisa May Alcott, with “Little Women”. I was still a child, but reading about Jo I knew since then that I would become a writer. Later I was attracted by Ernst Hemingway, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and contemporary Italian writers like Maurizio De Giovanni.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a series of Crime. The plot is set in Rome during the 80ies. The first book of the series was among the finalists of an important Italian Literary contest, organized by Mondadori.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have a fun page on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Linkedin and I try to spread news through the web. But very important are my websites, an Italian and an English one.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Believe in what you write, never lose the hope also if publishing is a very difficult goal to achieve

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t try to be what others want you to be. Be only what you are.

What are you reading now?
“Careless in red” by Elizabeth George

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m writing the second book of the crime series, and I’m also caring my English editions and advertising. I’m going to take part in the Italian most important bookfair in Rome, which is Piùlibripiùliberi

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?
“One hundred years of solitude” by Garcia Marquez, “The man and the sea”, by Ernst Hemingway, “Per mano mia” (Italian ed.)by Maurizio De Giovanni

Author Websites and Profiles
Daniela Alibrandi Website
Daniela Alibrandi Amazon Profile
Daniela Alibrandi’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 23-year-old male who grew up in a world created by books. I want to get kids off of their video game consoles occasionally and dive into a book. I currently have two published works with two more in progress.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent book is entitled “The Silver City”. I’ve always been interested in Egypt. The mystery of the tombs and pyramids have always been intriguing. I finally wrote a book that was partially based on real events from 2016. There was a question as to whether or not their may be hidden chambers in the tomb of King Tutankhamun. So, I took that and ran with it!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Hmm… I honestly don’t do anything too off the wall. I usually write from 6am-8am every single day. For some people that like their sleep that may sound terrible and possibly unusual I suppose.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Growing up I read a lot of Agatha Christie and Brian Jacques. Also, Philip Reeve’s Hungry City Chronicles was one of my favorite series. Very excited to see Mortal Engines hit the big screen soon!

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the sequels to both of my published books. My first book, “The Outsmarted” is coming along at a quicker pace since that is where I’m focusing my energy.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Booklemur is amazing for free book promotions. $35.00 with them got me 880 downloads in one day and got me up to #6 in my category. They are great!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just write. I literally have a document on my desktop with that very title. Whatever your mind comes up, with write it down! When you are ready to let the words flow into a book… do it! Also, it’s never to late to become an author. Anyone can do it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do one thing, do it very well, then move on.

What are you reading now?
My own books for editing and refining purposes.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Creating more and more YA books for people to enjoy! I’m only on the tip of the iceberg.

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?
Mortal Engines – Philip Reeve
And Then There Were None – Agatha Christie
One of my books

Author Websites and Profiles
Brad W. King Website
Brad W. King’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hailing from Gardena, CA, Aaron Jones is an urban fiction author who specializes in telling African American Romance stories. Although he writes fiction his stories are reality based as he chooses to write stories that readers relate too. His motto is “I don’t write books I write experiences.” His favorite writers are K.C. Mills, Latonya West, Jessica Watkins, Omar Tyree, Nathan McCall, and Langston Hughes to name a few. Aaron aims to gives readers the same experience reading his book as they did the first time they read books from Terry McMillan and Sista Souljah.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my latest book is the third installment of my December book series. The book is inspired by office romances and the complications they present. I like to write stories that read as more reality than actual fiction. I want my characters to be real and relatable.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write with as many distractions as possible. I like music playing, a movie on, and social media all going while I’m writing. The reason for this is that if I am writing something that is worth reading then all of those distractions will be drowned. Much like if I was a person reading a book then the book would have to be good enough to drown out all the distractions for me to continue reading.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My biggest influences include Harper Lee, Langston Hughes, Alice Walker, Nathan McCall, and James Baldwin.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a young adult novel which is centered in urban Los Angeles and focuses on interracial relationships and peer pressure. My inspiration for this novel is The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I like to tell as many people as possible about my books. I like to promote it across all social media.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write, write and continue to write but don’t forget that for each product you write you will also have to market. Bring the readers to you and place the books in places where they are accessible.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never Quit unless you suck and in that case quit yesterday.

What are you reading now?
The Alchemist

What’s next for you as a writer?
Screenplays

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?
Fahrenheit 451, The Pittsburgh Cycle, Lord of the Flies, Confessions of a Side Chick

Author Websites and Profiles
Aaron Jones Amazon Profile
Aaron Jones’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a writer inspired by nature and human nature. I’ve published two children’s books, one short story and one novel. I’m currently working on two poetry books.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My current work in progress is “MY MAINE, Haiku through the season.” As a nature lover, the Maine landscape has what it takes to keep me inspired all year long.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I always have my Canon PowerShot handy when I’m out and about–at home or on the go. Pen and small notebook are always at the ready to capture the essence of a scene.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson, Beatrix Potter, Robert Louis Stevenson, E. B. White, Harper Lee, Amy Tan, and Khaled Hosseini are the first that come to mind.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on two poetry books–a collection of haiku (5-7-5 syllable) verses that mark the Maine seasons and a collection of rhyming verses that highlight the life lessons we discover in the garden.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve found that one of the best methods to promote my books is to help other authors promote theirs. I read, write reviews, interact with members of both online and local books clubs as well.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I wrote a poem about that in 2014:

Writers must keep writing
WRITE-REVISE-REVIEW…
They do it over and over again
That’s what writers do!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Follow your passions and never give up!

What are you reading now?
Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
AND
In the Shadow of Lies by Mary Adler

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ll be enjoying the exciting journey…

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 Holy Bible (NKJV)
My writing journal
+ 2 books I want to read: Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak AND Sea Prayer by Khaled Hosseini

Author Websites and Profiles
Bette Stevens Website
Bette Stevens Amazon Profile
Bette Stevens’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Sarah, I am 24. I started writing at the beginning of the year (2018). So far I have written 1 book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Immortal Billionaire. Honestly? I just started typing. I hadn’t planned any plot. The words just came to me as i wrote them.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No so far.

What authors, or books have influenced you?

What are you working on now?
I am currently working in Dangerous Obsession, which is a suspense novel

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Social media. I use facebook and twitter

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

What are you reading now?
I am reading The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

What’s next for you as a writer?
More writing

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte because it’s my favourite.

Here be sexist vampires by Suzanne Wright

The secrets of my garden by Catherine Ferguson

And A gift to remember by Melissa Hill

Author Websites and Profiles
Sarah Jayne Harry Website
Sarah Jayne Harry Amazon Profile
Sarah Jayne Harry’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Well first off I am an ordained minister of my Lord, Jesus Christ. I came from a broken home with teenage parents. I am a sexual abuse victor and have worked in the children’s ministry for over 16 years as a praise and worship leader. “Honest Prayers From the Average Thirty-Something Woman is my first book that i have written. I also have my own blog www.honestprayersforwomen.com and I have written for www.blogsbychristianwomen.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
In 2017 the Holy Spirit inspired me to write my book, “Honest Prayers from the Average Thirty-Something Woman”, to help minister to women who need honest prayers. At the time, I had a need for honest prayers in my life. I needed help when I didn’t feel like going to work, when I needed joy and coffee wasn’t working, when haters are going to hate, when it’s hard to be nice and when those bad words want to come out! We all live in the same race called life and being a Christian doesn’t mean you are perfect and have everything figured out. Let’s be honest we need Jesus!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t have any unusual writing habits, I write first when the holy spirit inspires and second when I make time, usually at night, weekends, and vacations.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
One of my favorite books is written by Marjorie Holmes, I’ve Got to Talk to Somebody, God .

What are you working on now?
Right now I am in the beginning stages of writing my next book. Honest Prayers for Couples. This book will be written by my husband Paul and I. It will be interesting to have a husband and a wife’s perspective, on the honest things we deal with in life.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Instagram and Facebook ads have helped to promote my book.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
So my advice is don’t give up or get discouraged. God put the desire to write in you, so make it happen. I hear a lot of people say they don’t have time. It’s not that we don’t have time, we don’t make the time. I wrote my first book while working full time, being a wife, a mother to two working teenagers and a 3 year old and serving at my church.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Your natural strengths give you the confidence that you can excel at what you’re passionate about, because you were born that way!” – Marlie Love

What are you reading now?
Heaven Declares by Dr Hakeem Collins and 5 Steps to Finding your Purpose and Destiny by Marlie Love.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Well I plan to write my next book with my husband and continue to help women find their purpose through my website www.honestprayersforwomen.com

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 bible and two blank journals.

Author Websites and Profiles
Chrisenda Pereida Website
Chrisenda Pereida Amazon Profile
Chrisenda Pereida’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 an author and illustrator @ QuickTurtle Books®. I have written or illustrated more than 20 books. My last book, The Best of Me from a to z, Traits and Virtues for Kids, has been nominated for the Readers Choice Awards. It was illustrated by the very talented Sara Murtas from Italy.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Kenaf, Seeds For Life, is my latest book. It was inspired by a partnership with Kenaf Partners USA to create a children’s book to help educate a new generation on the environmentally friendly Kenaf plant. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon this month.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Writing is often a middle of the night adventure.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am a voracious reader. But I am mostly influenced by our great philosophers and prophets.

What are you working on now?
Currently I am illustrating a book about bees written by my author-husband Richard Rensberry. We are founders and authors at QuickTurtle Books®.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Live events. Meeting people is by far the most successful form of promotion. I was recently featured on a TV program as an illustrator and author; we’ll see what sort of an impact that may create.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t get discouraged. Writing and publishing is a process.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be positive and positive things will come your way.

What are you reading now?
Missouri Gateways. I am a sponge for romance.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am considering an autobiographical novel. I also have several books to illustrate in 2019. I am looking for more partnerships like the one our company created with Kenaf Partners USA. It is a QuickTurtle Books® new venture called New World Advertising.

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?
Wilderness Survival. A cookbook on fish and native plants. The Bible. An Anthology of Romance Stories.

Author Websites and Profiles
Mary Rensberry Website
Mary Rensberry Amazon Profile