Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a software engineer and IT administrator by day, and a bit of a writer at night. So far I have two released novels, named “Rescue at Waverly” and “Rebellion at Ailon” which are the first two entries in a six-book series titled “The Thaddeus Marcell Chronicles,” following a mercenary as he searches for Earth, seeks redemption for some of his less-than-honorable actions, and gets sucked into a mess of interstellar politics.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is “Rebellion at Ailon” and it’s part-two in my plot to put my main character through hell and change him into a different and better person. He goes undercover to a planet that is enslaved, partially because of his own past actions, and has to confront some of the terrible things he’s done as a mercenary and pirate.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Probably, but I don’t really spend time with other writers so I don’t know offhand. I suppose the biggest weird thing is that I wrote my own word processor to facilitate my workflow because I didn’t like Microsoft Word and didn’t really want to purchase more commercial software.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Timothy Zahn, Michael A. Stackpole, Aaron Allston, Tom Clancy.

What are you working on now?
I’m skipping around a bit. I have plotlines for two series, “The Thaddeus Marcell Chronicles” which consists of six novels, and “Secrets of Earth” which is set about 30 years later and will comprise four or five more novels. My immediate concern is “The Prince’s Revenge”, book 3 for the first series, but I’ve actually been skipping around a lot and working on all of these at once.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
To be honest, I don’t really have that figured out yet. I submit my work through a number of different websites, usually timing them with a discount period on Amazon, but I don’t have enough data to outright say that “This one works better than that one” or whatever.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just go for it! Self-publishing through Amazon is so low-risk that there’s no reason not to try. This isn’t the old days where you had to convince a publisher that your work is worthwhile and find yourself locked down by external deadlines, or forced to change your story before they’ll accept your work. And gone are the days of spending thousands of dollars on self-publishing and ending up with pallets full of paperbacks that nobody will buy from you.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be persistent, be prolific, and be thick-skinned.

What are you reading now?
Currently, I’m reading “Apocalypse” which is the final novel in the Star Wars Fate of the Jedi series. I’m also reading “Blackcollar” by Timothy Zahn.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have quite a backlog of work since I’m planning out two related series, so I just need to keep plugging away at them.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
That’s a tough call. A Bible for sure. Beyond that, maybe Timothy Zahn’s “Heir to the Empire” trilogy or Aaron Allston’s “Wraith Squadron” books.

Author Websites and Profiles
TJ Mott Website
TJ Mott Amazon Profile

TJ Mott’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
2

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Top Sellers Dropshipping Suppliers Revealed!!!:

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Influenced by most self help books

What are you working on now?
Currently working on a nonfiction credit help book.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never Give Up

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Good things come to those who wait.

What are you reading now?
Secrets of the Millionaire Mind

Author Websites and Profiles
Felicia Johnson Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Jaclyn Nicole Johnston, a.k.a. Journal Girl Jaclyn, and I’m the CEO of Manifest It! and successfully manifested 99% of my life’s goals and desires within 10 months. My focus is cognitive training through the power of positive Mastering ManiFASTing journaling paired with my uniquely empowering Law of Attraction techniques I teach in both my books and in my online mentoring programs.

I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin majoring in English and minoring in Communication Studies. I’m currently assists physicists at the University of Texas at Arlington, and loves to explore all of the possibilities of the Universe, the psychology of our mindset beliefs, and the philosophy of the meaning of life, itself.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Don’t Feel Stuck in Love! Journaling Methods to Transform Your Mindset & Manifest Your Ideal Relationship”…inspired by my Mastering Manifesting and after 9 years of being single manifesting my IDEAL relationship within 10 months of truly setting my love intentions.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I LOVE journaling because I believe in writing into reality. It totally works because writing is a very POWERFUL tool in both visualization and in speeding up one’s manifestations!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Anything by Dr. Wayne Dyer, Abraham Hicks, Louise Hay, Rumi, Bashar, and Buddha. I love their teachings!

What are you working on now?
I just launched My Manifesting Journal, a line of magical journals now available on Amazon in various colors and designs. After publishing “Don’t Feel Stuck!” and “Don’t Feel Stuck in Love!” I am now working on “Don’t Feel Stuck with Money!” after recently manifesting $30K in one, lump sum!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
https://www.amazon.com/author/jaclynjohnston

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just type it all out and worrying about making it “perfect” later on down the road. Get your content and ideas out NOW because this is your blueprint of success!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Patience is a virtue. I have no idea who originally quoted this statement, but it’s so true. Keep going, be persistent, never give up, and the compound effect totally works with your success.

What are you reading now?
You’re a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero.

What’s next for you as a writer?
After I publish “Don’t Feel Stuck with Money!” I plan to publish audiobooks for both this one and for my “Don’t Feel Stuck in Love!” books. And I am going to make a daily calendar full of inspirational and motivational prompts for the journalers out there in our amazing world.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Time Traveler’s Wife, Push Not the River, The Sparrow, The Great Gatsby, The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Author Websites and Profiles
Jaclyn Johnston Website
Jaclyn Johnston Amazon Profile

Jaclyn Johnston’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 of the popular “Street fiction” genre. A sub~genre of African American fiction. I have writing over 27 books.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest novella is entitled “Return of Trina: Chronicles of Southeast” it is a sequel to my popular 2010 novel, “How Do You Want It: The Story of Southeast Trina”, which chronicles the turbulent life of a young female drug lord.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well I don’t necessarily consider it unusual, but I enjoy listening to 90s hip hop music when I write.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Authors K’wan Foye, Donald Goines and Iceberg Slim have influenced me the most.

What are you working on now?
I am working on actually publishing young, up~and~coming street/urban fiction authors.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes. Make sure that you always believe in yourself!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The same as above. Always believe in yourself.

What are you reading now?
Mostly Marvel and DC graphic novels. (I’m a huge comics fans).

What’s next for you as a writer?
Short films…

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?
“48 Laws of Power”, “Rich Dad, Poor Dad”, “The Holographic Universe” & “The Autobiography of Malcolm X”

Darrell King’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a published author living with Cerebral Palsy. I have three Mafia/Romance books. One teenage Romance book, A screenplay, & a kid book out on amazon.com for sale. Deepest Elements my new dark romance “that’s worth your time” Deepest Elements is my Newest book is going to kick off a new series, that’s currently working on called the Deepest Elements Series, The Freshman’s Dream, The Sophomore’s Mischievous, The Junior’s Seduction, The Senior’s Nightmare part I, and The Senior’s Nightmare part II and also my life story Cerebral Palsy Gal

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
What motivated me to write my latest book, DEEPEST ELEMENT
I had this story idea since I was fifteen. About a girl that is determined to expose her school to the world after she had discovered a prostitution ring, sex trafficking, and murder within the school’s walls and on its grounds. Even though human trafficking is a foul subject, the morale of this book is “fight for what you believe in, for what’s right” and “never give up”. I never wrote it down until December of 2017 and now it’s coming out March 27!~

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I say what I am writing down out aloud. LOL

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Nora Roberts, Nicholas Pileggi, James Grady and such more wonderful authors, the best have to be Ronald Fino.
love reading any books that have to do with romance, mystery, thriller, suspense, psychological, crime fiction.

What are you working on now?
Cerebral Palsy Gal is heading in to re-write. After 14,000 words in it I realize that this book can be so much better telling my inner depth of emotions. Of a woman that has CP and a unique outlook on life. I did have my own demon’s to face and still do. Cerebral Palsy Gal has been a work in progress and I haven’t found the true words until now.
As well as a anthology book; Secret Colonial Williamsburg.
Lydia Dudley was born to Lord George, the Governor of Williamsburg, and Lady Jill Dudley in 1760. Little did anyone suspect that the birth room would also be the site of Lydia‘s death. Lydia grows up to become the Keeper of Secrets in Williamsburg, and is aware of everything and anything that goes on there. Her arranged marriage is without love, and since she has not been able to conceive a child, she has been sent to live in her parents’ home. Her estranged husband, James, and his mistress have two boys living at a house James provides for them in Williamsburg. To make matters more complicated, Ralph Thomson, a mysterious man who has come to town as a silversmith from Charleston, South Carolina, is attracted to Lydia. Is it her beauty, or her secrets, he’s after?

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook all the way. So far, my best results are Facebook group’s Take-over’s.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
New give up hope even if you have zero fan base, keep on going posting like you do have a hugs fan base because you’re never know what one of your books stand out to other’s.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I cant remember off on my top of my head.

What are you reading now?
Misguided Allies The Void Series, Book 2
By: Charissa Dufour, my dear friend. Just loving it.

What’s next for you as a writer?
just got on broad with Wild Dreams Publishing but a little amount of time with then I see that Wild Dreams Publishing staff and their Authors are super close. We have a Facebook PM chat and it has been a joy to meet all of them. I’m thrilled to have a Publishing house!

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?
Casino Love and Honor in Las Vegas by Nicholas Pileggi
Small Town Girl by Lavyrle Spencer
The Obsession by Nora Roberts
last but not less, The Triangle Exit by Ronald Fino

Author Websites and Profiles
Alexandra Forry Website
Alexandra Forry Amazon Profile

Alexandra Forry’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. I’ve been a writer for as long as I can remember. My writing adventure started with poetry and grew over many years. I have one published book which came out on March 29th of 2018. My second novel releases in June of 2019. I am currently finishing up edits for Runway Dreams: A Fox in the Fold, and moving on to a story which falls into a slightly different genre. I have a strong love for many different genres including thriller, romance, fantasy, and young adult.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Runway Dreams: A Fox in the Fold is the sequel to Runway Dreams: A Black & White Affair. The story picks up where the first ends and takes a turn toward the murder mystery genre, whereas the first was more of a romantic thriller.

I have a vivid imagination and the book sort of wrote itself. I would wake up from a dream and jot notes down. It took roughly three months to write the story with most of the work taking place over the last three weeks, followed by several drafts and the help of my beta readers.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I drink my coffee, conspire with my cat, and get distracted by social media. I write when I want to write, and read as many other books as I have time for. I don’t force myself into a writing schedule because I do this out of love and desire.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Nora Roberts, Charlaine Harris, Marissa Meyer, J. K. Rowling, and I’m sure others. There are so many wonderful storytellers out there. Honestly, the biggest influence in my life was my middle school English teacher Ms. Bollinger who believed in me from day one, even before I believed in myself. She liked my stories and for some reason, I didn’t think that writing could be a career. I wasted a lot of time doing things that I wasn’t passionate about. Writing truly is my passion.

What are you working on now?
I am finishing edits on A Fox in the Fold.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use Facebook the most.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you are truly passionate about writing, never give up and always remember that some people will hate your stories, while others will call them their favorite.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I have heard a lot of great advice. Mostly I think it’s important to believe in one’s self.

What are you reading now?
The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride by Joe Siple.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Writing some more. I’m laughing about that statement. It’s always writing and hopefully always will be. The question is which of the many stories in my head will I choose to run with? I’m currently torn between a fantasy I started writing a few years back and a romance that just waltzed into my life last week.

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 Christmas Carol by Charles Dickins, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by Michael A. Cramer, and Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts.

Author Websites and Profiles
T.K. Ambers Amazon Profile

T.K. Ambers’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written two books to date and am hard at work on a third..

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
17 & Life I am inspired by the youth who struggle to see the benefit of the position they are in, in life.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Just telling the truth. I like a laugh and so in writing memoirs it is all memories and some good laughs too.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Too many to list. No individual one.
(sorry)

What are you working on now?
A third book which will be a transition away from the memoirs. All the while focusing more directly on the inspirational aspects of my life for those who need a boost

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Twitter is full of wonderful people

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just continue writing. Do not stop this. Forget about all the oh my god moments and what about this and that. Just write.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep writing

What are you reading now?
Currently working on writing and I hate to thi k of myself influenced by reading and it pours into my own work. Time for work now.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Continue pro. Oting my two previous 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?
Probably all guide books or the survivalist type books.
Anything that can teach me to fish, hunt and cook.

Author Websites and Profiles
Aidan Mc Nally Website
Aidan Mc Nally Amazon Profile

Aidan Mc Nally’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing since I was a little kid. I started writing Dragon Ball Z fanfiction, and I wrote about ten of those before I moved on to my own original book. It was 200 handwritten pages and everyone died in the end. My friend did a book report on it, and he actually got a grade! I was completely hooked, since then, and I’ve been writing ever since.

I only have one book up for purchase at the moment, “Wayward Soul” on Amazon, but overall I’ve probably written at least 5-7 books. I’m working on getting the others out for publication within the next year.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Wayward Soul” is the name of my book. It was inspired by a dream I had. It was originally about a demon stealing Ellie’s sister’s soul, and how Ellie had to bring her sister back to life, and it kind of morphed into what it is now.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to write in sprints. I’ll finish a book in less than two months, and then spend another month lost in the void, unsure of how to start editing or even if I should be writing another book! I’ve been getting more consistent, and now that I actually have a schedule (thank you, Passion Planner!), I know what I’m doing next, and always have a plan.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Suzanne Collins and Kim Harrison have been my major idols in the book world. Both of them build super complex worlds using simple language and vivid images. I can only aspire to be as talented as them.

What are you working on now?
I’m finishing up the last book of the “Wayward Gods Trilogy.” I’m about halfway through the edits, and I have an editor lined up in April to take it off my hands.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still in the beginning stages, but I’m finding a lot of people like to interact with me on Facebook and Instagram. I’m most active on Instagram, mostly because I like taking pictures.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’m still new myself, but if anyone is still in the beginning writing stages, my best advice is to just keep writing. If it’s something you love, don’t give up, and don’t let anyone else tell you what you can and cannot write. Write what you love, and then edit it into something someone else will read

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Rachel Hollis has a quote: No one can tell you how big your dream can be. And that was REALLY influential to me at the end of 2018. I was really struggling and trying to decide what I wanted to do, and whether or not I wanted to pursue a safe, but relatively meaningless (for me), career, or if I wanted to push into writing. I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was ten. I decided to bet on my dream.

What are you reading now?
I’m a beta reader for a book by Harper A. Brooks called “Death Wish.” Y’all, it’s amazing.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m still figuring it out! My trilogy will be published by the end of the year, and I have to find a new story to share. It’s all up in the air.

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 Hunger Games” box set by Suzanne Collins
The last two books in “The Hollows” by Kim Harrison
And “Nice Dragons Finish Last” by Rachel Aaron

Author Websites and Profiles
L.D. Greenwood Website
L.D. Greenwood Amazon Profile

L.D. Greenwood’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a fresh author who loved writing his whole since a child writing play scripts in Ditmas International school. A reknowned songwriter I have written and recorded over 200 professional songs, and been a two-time semifinalist in the ISC international competition. Writing has been my outlet and provides me a world to paint visions that no one else sees. I have written three complete books in my life but started dozens. I am very proud to be a published author now.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Mystery Behind Mood Swing is my lastest book and growing up a child that loved Marvel comics and Mystery books I wanted to combine the two and make my own superhero.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think I have any unusual writing habits but I do love quiet when I write.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Hardy Boys
Nancy Drew
Marvel Comics Wolverine, Spider-Man, Superman

What are you working on now?
I am taking a short break to appreciate publishing my first book but then its on to volume two of The Mystery Behind Mood Swing.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am new to finding book promoting but I enjoy Awesome Gang a lot!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing keep writing keep writing. Don’t let distractions prevent you from making your mark in the world of writers.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t ever let anyone stop you from saying something if its whats in your heart.

What are you reading now?
I am currently browsing to find a new book, but I love James Patterson so maybe I can find one of his.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to continue to evolve The Mystery Behind Mood Swing into a series like Lord Of The Rings.

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 Lord of the Rings
The Dark Tower

Author Websites and Profiles
Nathaniel Monk Amazon Profile

Nathaniel Monk’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
According to Amazon, I’m a time traveler from beyond the Stellian Galaxy, but I pretend to be a life-long Michigander and SFF geek whose first crush (after my daddy) was Mr. Spock. This explains a lot. I began writing the stories that would lead to Oath Sworn and the Wolf’s Oath Trilogy when I was in high school–but I had already been writing for a number of years and wrote my first novel when I was 13. Thank God there was no Wattpad or KDP back then. It was a remarkable achievement, but it should never, ever see the light of day again. lol I earned my BA in English with an emphasis in creative writing and graduated with honors. I’ve trained dogs and horses, rescued cats, renovated old houses, gone spelunking, and fostered children. My husband thinks I’m cute even after almost 30 years of marriage, my kids think I’m weird (have they looked in the mirror lately?), and my cats just want me for my lap. I love woolly mammoths, Coca-Cola, men in kilts, and I have never been to the moon, but hope springs eternal.

My short fiction and poetry have appeared in Weird Tales, Masques of Darkover (and two other Darkover anthologies) The Temporal Logbook, The One Million Project, and other short story anthologies both in print and online. I was editor-in-chief of the semi-pro SFF magazine PANDORA back in the day and credit that experience with nurturing my love of short fiction in a way that school never did, honing my critical skills, and probably delaying my writing career by at least a decade. haha I have written a number of books, only one of which has been published so far.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My debut gaslamp fantasy novel, Oath Sworn, is part of a greater work that was originally entitled Wolf’s Oath–which now lends its name to the initial trilogy. The current story was inspired by the original which in turn was inspired partly by the first fantasy novel I wrote when I was 16. That one was inspired by a vivid dream. So I guess you could say it was all a dream… Time, life experiences, and developing more confidence as a writer further shaped the story into what it is now.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know how unusual it is, but I do a lot of writing and revision at night. Midnight to 3 am is often the most productive period of the day for me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh my, where to begin? I’ve been writing for so long that my influences have changed a great deal over time. Everything from Jules Vern and Shakespeare (I was that kid in your English class that loved the Bard) to Karl Edward Wagner, Anne McCaffrey, Ursula K. LeGuin, Lois McMaster Bujold, and C.S. Friedman. I was wild about Vern’s Journey to the Center of the Earth as a kid, grew into Heinlein’s juveniles. got lost in dark places following Kane, soared above Pern, sailed Earthsea, was charmed and inspired by Aslan, dashed after Miles Vorkosigan, and remain haunted by the Coldfire Trilogy. And that’s just the SFF.
I’ve loved books for as long as I can remember. Recently, I’ve had the pleasure of reading Skyfarer and Dragon Road by Joseph Brassey. What a blast! My TBR (or read again) stack just keeps getting higher. It is hard to read as much as I would like when I’m trying to write…

What are you working on now?
Right now I’m revising the second book in the Wolf’s Oath trilogy and rapidly coming to the conclusion that it might be a quartet. That or I have to cut 40k words out of this book. I have several other manuscripts in various stages of completion, most of which are related to the world I introduced readers to in Oath Sworn. I also have a strong draft of a novella that would start off an unrelated SF series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Seeing as I published Oath Sworn in December 2018 and this is February 2019, it is too soon to tell.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what you love. Don’t be afraid of the first draft. Once you have something written down, you have something to revise–and revision is essential. Don’t be afraid of that, either. Not if you want to continue to learn and hone your skills. Rarely will a first draft be an only draft–even if you revise as you write and those “first drafts” are remarkably clean. Embrace the revision process. Relish it. Set the work aside and come back to it with a fresh perspective when necessary and then get out your red pen and be merciless. Respect the craft and yourself enough to take your time and put out the very best work you are capable of putting out. Seek solid critiques and don’t be afraid to take one on the chin from someone that you trust. If you suspect something in your story is problematic, it probably is. Don’t be afraid to change it. It is your story. Explore the possibilities. Look at it from another character’s POV. You can always change it back…but you probably won’t. Follow the story. Be you a planner or a pantser, don’t be so rigid that you shut the muse out. Allow for inspiration and organic growth. Write often. Write honestly. Don’t bow to resistance. Write what you love.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I could talk a lot about craft advice, about limiting POV, about avoiding too much exposition, about annoying dialogue tags, and any number of things. But I think I’m going to quote something that someone told me today: “Don’t kill what makes it special trying to make it appeal to everyone.”

What are you reading now?
Shivering World has been waiting for months, I want to do a Coldfire Trilogy reread, and I have quite a backlog of indie ebooks that looked good. I also have a book here about Beatrix Potter, a Shakespeare devotional, Heather Gladney’s Teot’s War (for a reread), and some Doctor Who novels because #DoctorWho.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Learning to better navigate the indie author scene and increase my productivity because I tend to write organically and I’m not fast. I want to get the initial Wolf’s Oath series out so I can concentrate on other books both related and unrelated. I’d really like to write some short stories. I enjoy them. I’m also hoping to start going to SF conventions again after a long hiatus.

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?
Would an entire book of Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets count as one? Oh, good. Okay, I’ll take that one, a Bible, a novel that I’ve never read before so I’ll have something new at least once while I’m there, and of course some variation on How to Survive on a Desert Island. I hope I’m allowed to take a lot of notebooks and writing implements, too.

Author Websites and Profiles
Meg MacDonald Website
Meg MacDonald Amazon Profile

Meg MacDonald’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
So far I have published just one book: What to expect when you’re an Expat. However I am currently canvassing ideas for a new travel related guide or help book! I am also in the early stages of brainstorming a travel related adventure novella series. As you can tell I like to focus on travelling as I have spent most of my life living and travelling abroad. I grew up in the UK, and have since spent time living in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. I love experiencing rich cultures and am also a keen historian.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest is titled: What to expect when you’re an Expat. The book was inspired by a reunion I attended whereby I spent a few hours giving tips out to an old friend who was planning on moving abroad. A few days later he thanked me and said what I had told him turned out to be really helpful! After a few months I started to jot a few things down and the book sort of grew from there.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to put off writing when I have nothing better to do, and then pick it up again as a form of procrastination when I’m really busy! It annoys my wife no end!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
As a keen historian I love Bernard Cornwell’s novels and have re-read the Sharpe series countless times.
In terms of travel related content I must say that the Rough and Ready guides come in quite useful.

What are you working on now?
I am splitting my time between canvassing for a new travel related help book (non-fiction) and coming up with a storyline for a new travel adventure novella series (fiction).

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Other than here? I find that people who follow my blog are my best fans and so my best promotion comes from that.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you have the will to start then you have the will to finish a book. Don’t fret if it takes you longer than anticipated, just keep plodding away at it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Always get someone else to read and edit, it is impossible to do yourself with any kind of success.

What are you reading now?
George RR Martin’s Game of thrones series.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Like I mentioned before, either the novella series or a new travel help book. The content has to be there though so I won’t be rushing anything out.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
As a Sharpe enthusiast I wouldn’t be able to bring the series along so I would have to bring the Inheritance cycle with me. The historical fantasy novels never grow old on me.

Author Websites and Profiles
Stuart Newby Website
Stuart Newby Amazon Profile

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

Sofia Clarke is a writing duo dedicated to writing steamy romance. As of February 2019, we’ve written seven short stories and one reverse harem novel. We’re just getting started!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Three For Me – A Reverse Harem Romance. It was inspired by a dream one of us had (no joke), as well as our love for menage and steamy romance!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
This may or may not be unusual, but we write the first draft as fast as humanly possible. They are usually done in a week or so. Then it takes us wayyyy longer to go back through and see what the heck we just did.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Authors—Nora Roberts, Alexa Riley, Neil Gaiman.

Books—Far too many to name!

What are you working on now?
Another reverse harem novel with significantly more than two *hint hint* handsome men who are VERY eager to please their lucky woman.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Try to be everywhere and keep writing.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
We’d recommend three things in this order.
1. Train yourself to be consistent.
2. Write constantly.
3. Watch those who are successful and learn from them.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Know yourself

What are you reading now?
One of us is reading We Are Legion (We are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor.

The other A Merciful Fate by Kendra Elliot

What’s next for you as a writer?
We will be writing menage and reverse harem for the foreseeable future.

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. Encyclopedia Brittanica (15th edition, 2010)…because who wouldn’t like to read a little bit about everything?
2. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
3. A Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin
4. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Author Websites and Profiles
Sofia Clarke Website
Sofia Clarke Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
In all I’ve published around forty books, the first twenty-odd were written for children. My last five books have been novels, two written under a pen name.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
ANN irresistible spirit. I like writing romantic fiction and getting to know the characters as they come to life in my head.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, write very quickly after thinking in great detail about what I’m going to say. To me fiction writing is like describing a film that’s happening in your head.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Chiefly 19th century novelists and poets, French and English.

What are you working on now?
My next novel, probably entitled WASTED PAIN should be finished by the end of February. Another romantic story about a homeless girl in n American city.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write your first million/ two million words then burn them. Then you’ll have some good work when you start again.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
From Percy Shelley, ‘Nothing should move a truly great spirit which is not sufficiently mighty to destroy it.’

What are you reading now?
Haven’t time for much reading. Writing is more important.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep turning them out.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
L’assommoir by Zola. Shelley’s poems. Keats’ poems. And maybe Wilfred Owen’s poems.

Author Websites and Profiles
Ken Ross Amazon Profile

Ken Ross’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My pen name is L. Salt and I am an emerging, multi-genre writer from the UK. I studied History of World Culture and did Master’s Degree in Art Expertise at the St. Petersburg University of Culture and Arts.
I was born in Belarus and have lived for many years in Ukraine and Russia, then finally settled down in the North of England, where I currently live with my husband. My interest in writing dates back to my teenage years. Apart from creative writing, I have a passion for travelling, arts, history, and foreign languages.
So far, I’ve written two full-length novels, two novellas, and a few short stories in different genres.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book which will be releases 24th of February called “Legacy of the Iron Eagle.” It’s a thriller/mystery novella with some elements of history and suspense.
I love history of WWII. This dramatic period of history still leaves more questions than answers for historians and researchers, and continues to tease imagination of authors and writers with its theories and conspiracies. This is my second novella dedicated to this subject.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think it’s an unusual habit as such, but I prefer to write between 12:00 and 16:00-17:00. I also prefer to print out my works when I edit them. I think it helps me to pick up more typos and mistakes.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve read almost all of Carlos Castaneda’s books, and I think they’ve influenced my vision as a writer. Style-wise, I think I’ve adopted a lot from Dan Brown’s thrillers. Not only authors and books, but films influence me as well. I think lots of elements in my books came from David Lynch’s works.

What are you working on now?
I’ve just started to work on my third novella. It’s a thriller with some sci-fi elements and historical references with the plot set in present days Scotland, Berlin, and Montenegro. I hope to finish this book in the end of March-beginning of April with a view to publish it in the end of this year.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use primarily Facebook groups and other bloggers’ pages/blog to advertise my new and upcoming releases, information about sales, etc. My publishers push really hard to get my works out there, using their own channels as well. I hope all of these methods combined together should work.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I think I’ll repeat Dan Brown’s advice. Write something what you’re passionate about, something you would like to learn more. You’ll find out that there are lots of people here who are passionate about the same things.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never miss an opportunity. It’s better to take a step, make a mistake, and (maybe) regret about it later, than not to take a step and regret the whole life about an opportunity that you’ve missed.

What are you reading now?
Surprise, surprise:))) I’ve just started to read “Origin” by Dan Brown.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope I could grow my audience of readers and followers. Of course, I plan to continue to write and experiment in different genres. I have a dream to work with screenplay writers to turn some (or all) of my books into scripts. It would’ve been my greatest achievement to see my characters “alive” in a big screen.

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?
Some kind of DIY books which can help me to survive:))

Author Websites and Profiles
L. Salt Website
L. Salt Amazon Profile

L. Salt’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written a niche classic on “colon cleansing” (colonics) titled, Inside Poop. The sequel to that is called, The Conspiracy Theory Diet. My book on human parasites is: Intestinal Parasites and the Meaning of Life. I’ve written on “the Anglo-Saxon mind” in a book titled, The Exquisite Donald Trump Down Through History, which is not about Trump, but about “the mind of his fans.” Also, several books reviewing The Wizard of Oz. I’ve written a memoir about dating titled, White Anglo-Saxon Male on a Date. And a memoir about my experiences steeped in the evangelical church titled, A Curse, My Blessing.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Driving For Better was inspired by two things: 1) The high number of fatal automobile accidents in my state and 2) Being forced to take “Driver Education” after a really stupid traffic ticket and seeing how UNHELPFUL our bureaucratic system is to assist the public to drive better.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Three of my books are all hand-drawn. I sit on the floor with a pen and paper and just scribble it out. I used to draw as a child sitting on the floor, so I’m putting out the things I know about while honoring my inner child. Driving For Better is hand-drawn.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
On the Road, by J. Kerouac. I like the voice in Catcher in the Rye and The Moviegoer. The Imperial Cruise, by James Bradley is an eye-opener about little-known U.S. history at the time of Teddy Roosevelt. I’ve enjoyed Alan Watts and Joseph Campbell. I listen to lots of autobiographies in my car, checked out from the library, a list too long to mention, but Keith Richards wrote a good one.

What are you working on now?
I just finished Driving For Better, uploaded on Amazon TODAY. I graduated from bartender school recently, which I do part-time and I’m going to focus on that, making interesting and healthy alcoholic libations.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am lousy at book promotion and filling this out here is the most book promo I’ve done in years.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Love it. If you don’t love it, love what you do and do that.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Humans tend to obsess over their social STATUS, but the real currency exchanged between humans is one’s ability to be fully present while in another’s presence.

What are you reading now?
Libations recipe books.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ve stumbled across some fascinating YouTubes about Bigfoot, megalithic structures, and pyramids all across our planet, information which is mostly suppressed. Why?! I’ve started hand drawing on this topic for a book titled, Mommy, Is Bigfoot For Real?

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?
Masturbation for Dummies and How to Build a Boat from Coconuts.

Author Websites and Profiles
Scott Webb Website

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an author, freelance journalist, and history enthusiast. I have writing professionally for nearly 20 years, having begun my career at the turn-of-the-century as a newspaper reporter and copy editor, but I began writing fiction when I was a child. I blog on my website about history, the writing process, author interviews, and historical fiction book excerpts and reviews. I am particularly interested in the period 1890-1920 and how WW1 changed the lives of ordinary people.

I am the author of three nonfiction books, contributor to a fourth, with two books – one fiction and one nonfiction — launching in 2019.

My three published books are A Tale of Two Nations (available in five parts and as a complete edition), Enterprising Women: Practical Advice for First Time Entrepreneurs, and Enterprising Women: A Practical Guide to Staring Your First Business. I contributed to When Women Become Business Owners.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
A Tale of Two Nations is my most recent release. I wanted to present a different perspective to World War 1. Since I am a former newspaper reporter and editor, I decided to focus on how newspapers at the time reported the war. Through this lens, I examine events as they occurred, not with the benefit hindsight and analysis.

In our 24/7 news cycle, it is difficult to imagine a time when news reports were often days old, when stories weren’t necessarily confirmed and when colorful language permeated articles. During World War 1, that’s exactly how newspapers in Canada and the United States reported events locally and aboard.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure if this qualifies as unusual, but I write all rough drafts by hand. I enjoy the connection between writer and story.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I really enjoy Edith Wharton and the way she wrote about hypocrisy in the Gilded Age. The Gilded Age is one of the eras that I really love, and she lived through it and wrote about it first hand.

What are you working on now?
I am in the process of getting my historical fiction novel, Angel of Mercy, ready for its June 28 launch. I also am working on my next nonfiction book, Murder and Mayhem in the 1910s, for release later this year.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still learning what works and what doesn’t.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice for new and aspiring authors is keep working at perfecting your craft. The more you write the better a writer you will become. Don’t bog your story down with details that don’t matter or are misplaced in the plotline. Don’t use dialogue tags other than “said.” Keep dialogue realistic. Avoid first person; it narrows your storytelling.

I see many grammatical, punctuation and style errors in indie books, so I would advise either learning these points on your own or using a professional copy editor or both.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Once Angel of Mercy and Murder and Mayhem have launched. I will begin working on new novels. I have two already written, but in rough draft form, so I will begin polishing those. I’ll also make a decision as to which novel will follow those two – I have several ideas – and begin my research.

Author Websites and Profiles
Melina Druga Website
Melina Druga Amazon Profile

Melina Druga’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have started writing from my college days. I began writing in my mother tongue TELUGU, which is the second most popular language in India. My first short story was published in BHARATI, a literary monthly. I wrote many stories and plays, some of which were published and some broadcast by the All India Radio. My drama KALACHAKRAM was staged at TANUKU in 1960, at the All India Andhra Nataka Kala Parishatttu where it won four Awards, including the second prize for the Script.
A book of my 16 short stories was published in 1995 by Visalandhra publishers. I obtained Author’s permission and Translated Arthur Miller’s drama ‘The Price’ I translated some of the plays by Galsworthy and of Priestly. My story KANUVIPPU won the second prize in 2008 in the competitions conducted by the American Telugu Assossiation (ATA).
In English, I published
1. Stories from Andhra,
2.1972-A saga of change,
3. A paradox of life;
on KDP. ‘1972-A saga of change’ was also published as an Audio Book by ACX.
Tate published the three books and “Indian Stories”‘ they promised to publish all my books but they went out of business.
I self-published the following books.
. Change Your Destiny.
2. Don’t disturb a sleeping dog.
3. Life is a paradox.
4. War accelerated liberalization.
5. A girl’s quest for self-realization.
6. A girl’s quest for self-realization (Abridged).
7. Scintillating stories- Book 1.
8. Scintillating stories- Book 2.
9. Scintillating stories- Book 3.
10. Scintillating stories for ADULTS.
11. Akasa Ramanna
12. The Faded Lives
NOTE:
My Book “LIFE IS A PARADOX” was accepted by ‘WriteristsHouse LLC’ for publication but it went uncommunicative suddenly.
FURTHER
I am aged now; my vision is impaired. I can’t read except on the computer, using its zoom and magnification features. I can work only for short intervals of time. I am on WordPress, Facebook, twitter and Linkedin but am unable to use any of them.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
It is ‘The Faded Lives’. The common callousness with which the aged are treated, inspired me. unfortunately I was hospitalized soon after I began; I compressed my theme and completed it early. If health and time permits, I want to enlarge the book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Every book I read influenced me, both scientific and literary. I can’t recall all authors that influenced me but a partial list is:
A.J.Mee,
Viswanadha Satyanarayana,
Constance Garnett,
Galsworthy,
J.B.Priestly, etc.

What are you working on now?
I am still in the planning stage. As I said, I would like to enlarge ‘The Faded Lives’. I also want to write a sequal to “Don’t Disturb a Sleeping Dog”

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have just started thinking about ‘Promotion’ of my books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
“Don’t give up; persevere with self-confidence”.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Don’t lose self-confidence”.

What are you reading now?
Now, I am unable to read anything new.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope that at least some of my books become popular.

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?
Alas! My vision and health do not cooperate.

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is David James Zoppi and I am an author and award-winning musician. I am retired, have a masters degree and rehabilitation counseling and worked with the disabled for over 15 years before suffering a massive heart attack. After my heart attack and retiring from my job, I wrote 14 books of various genres and pursued my black belt in karate which was the inspiration for my latest book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name is my latest book is “Reaction-Based Self-Defense for Life and Death Situations”. I was inspired to write the book to help people learn to defend themselves, and learn to react rather than think if faced with a life or death situation.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to do Tai Chi before writing. It helps me to relax and focus more.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
William Shakespeare, Stephen King, Ernest Hemingway, Ray Bradbury, George R.R. Martin.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a book which addresses the problems with our broken political system in Washington and how to fix them.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My best method for promoting my books is to run campaigns on sites like Facebook or Amazon.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Learn to write outside of your comfort zone. Great chefs know how to cook lots of different foods, and writing is no different. Pick a topic you would like to write about but may not have much knowledge about, such as politics. Then, write an outline, research your topic and then starting writing!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Give your book away for free! I know it sounds crazy, but on Amazon I have let people download some of my books for free. It helps to increase exposure to some degree and helps you to get reviews as well!

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading a book on how to use internal energy, or chi, in martial arts.

What’s next for you as a writer?
My passion could take me anywhere. So, it is hard to know what is next for me. I just keep moving forward and let the winds of my passion guide me to my next project.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Holy Bible for sustaining myself spiritually, a book on first aid and a book on survival.

Author Websites and Profiles
David Zoppi Website

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a Law of Attraction author and have written a self-help book based on using Law of Attraction principles and a novel called Bollywood P.I. (upcoming).

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
It’s called The Law of Attraction Game Book: 28 Days of Love
Everything really boils down to how much self-love, self-worth, confidence, esteem etc, that we have. It’s almost impossible to define what you really want – if you don’t have a solid core of self-love and self-worth. You’ll end up moving towards what someone else says you should do with your life. And you’ll get stuck along with the way with doubts, self-criticism and the like. In the manifesting groups I’m in, and aside from moving towards desires and goals, there is a common theme – everyone wants to be loved. But you have to love yourself first. This is what The Law of Attraction Game Book is all about – it takes the reader through 28 fun daily exercises that really brings their attention to all that is lovable about themselves, and then locks it in with a daily ritual.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I find ways to write whenever and wherever I can. I use my email drafts on my smartphone if I’m on transit.
I write before and after work. I type into my phone with one finger during a lunch break on the go.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
For non fiction:
Rhonda Byrne
Esther Hicks
Sanaya Roman
Marc Allen
Jack Canfield
Joe Vitale
Mike Dooley
and many more

What are you working on now?
I’m getting the print version of the Game Book ready to launch as well as an audiobook.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m pretty active in several FB groups, so I share excerpts from the Game Book.
I also create LOA Games (which won an award) and the Game Book is actually based upon a real-life game we played in my group.
So word of mouth, posting in the groups and very curated book promo sites is the way i like to promote currently.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes, let it all out!
Let everything flow – then organize your writing, edit and revise a LOT!
You’ll be surprised how much editing and revising is involved but it’s also great fun to see your work develop. I don’t think there is a writer out there who doesn’t want to still “fix” a little something in their published work!
But most importantly – know that what you have to say is valuable. For yourself first and for others. You’re contributing to life itself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Take one step every day towards your goals.

What are you reading now?
A Victorian romance, and I have more LOA books on my bookshelf to read.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on a new Law of Attraction book that will launch in 2019.
And I plan to launch my novel Bollywood P.I.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Anything by Abraham Hicks, Rhonda Byrne, the Law of Attraction Game Book, and of course my copy of Pride and Prejudice.

Author Websites and Profiles
Priya Khajuria Website
Priya Khajuria Amazon Profile
Priya Khajuria Author Profile on Smashwords

Priya Khajuria’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
A native of Upstate New York, Clifford Beck received the bulk of his education at the State University of New York at Albany. His writing began with experiments in poetry, inspired by ancient literature. Later, he attended Southern Maine Technical College, earning a degree in New Media. His work is largely an exploration into human darkness and the dynamics of madness. Having a background in design and illustration, he also creates the cover art for his novels

Now a resident of Portland, Maine, he writes what speaks to him the loudest, occasionally relying on music for inspiration. But, ideas have always come to him during the most unlikely of situations and is always with pen and pad at the ready. During the course of his life, he has been seen as someone in possession of a rather peculiar personality, but has come to accept this as a commonality among writers in general and an expression of what makes the mind of a writer tick.

He has most of his life in the helping professions and has witnessed a good deal of human suffering. Using his work as a tool of reflection and a doorway into his own personal demons, he brings these experiences to the surface in the form of ideas pertaining to social issues and the direction the world appears to be taking, and he is able to paint the darkness of human nature on a much broader canvas. Using a strong sense of visual imagery, he is also able to bring his novels to life, immersing the reader in a world governed by a unique and separate reality.

Thus far, I have written eleven books and currently working on number twelve.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My last book is titled ‘The Devil’s Daughter’. To be honest, inspiration comes from many places and I’m not sure where this one came from.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Dante, Stephen King

What are you working on now?
Right now, I am working on a post-apocalyptic story titled ‘Black Sun’.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Amazon promotional free downloads as well as free pmotional sites and Facebook.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Work, work, work…

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write every day. Even a paragraph is enough.

What are you reading now?

What’s next for you as a writer?
Award submissions.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Stand by Stephen King. Anything about serial killers and a collection of ghost stories.

Clifford Beck’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! My name is Crystal Crawford, and I’m a writing teacher, homeschooling mom of three kids, director of a non-profit, and former animal trainer. I would write in my “spare time,” but I don’t have any… so I schedule in writing time around all my other things, which of course means I don’t get nearly as much sleep as I should, or I’d never get anything written! Coffee is my friend.

I have a YA contemporary romance duology up on Amazon (it was first popular on Wattpad), as well as assorted short stories and non-fiction books, but my current and primary focus is writing YA fantasy and speculative fiction.
I launched my first fantasy trilogy in the summer of 2018, and I’m currently working on releasing more books in the series, plus developing a new side-series set in its own, different story world.

I believe in meticulous creativity — carefully crafted stories that impact and entertain readers, and I strive to provide quality clean fiction with strong values, but that also takes readers on an exciting ride and delivers all the feels.

I love connecting with my readers! For more information, visit http://ccrawfordwriting.com, follow me on Facebook at http://facebook.com/ccrawfordwriting (I’m most active there!) or email me at ccrawford@ccrawfordwriting.com (Yes, I respond to emails!).

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called The Ends of Exile, and it’s the third and final book of The Lex Chronicles trilogy. The Lex Chronicles is the debut trilogy in a larger series, Legends of Arameth, which is a story world I’ve been working on for literally over a decade! You can find out more about the series and what inspired it in a recent blog post here: https://crawfordwriting.wordpress.com/2019/02/04/welcome-to-arameth-the-world-it-took-me-12-years-to-build/

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Unusual? Maybe. I outline carefully before writing, then usually my characters go rogue and have to totally revamp my outline every few chapters… but I like having the big-picture guide to keep me focused and motivated. I drink a lot of coffee — probably way too much — and I write mostly in the afternoons and early evenings, after I’ve done school work with my kids but before I need to get stuff ready for dinner. Oh… and my office is hidden behind a bookcase with a secret door that my husband built for me. I love him for that.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
In my early years, I loved adventure stories, especially ones with animals — Island of the Blue Dolphins, Julie of the Wolves, that sort of thing. Around middle school, I discovered Chronicles of Narnia, and suddenly I realized that adventure and animals could be taken to a whole new level in fantasy, and I loved that! I still mostly read contemporary, until marrying my husband, who came with an intense love of all things fantasy that eventually rubbed off on me. In college I finally read the first few Harry Potter books, and I was hooked… fantasy completely wormed its way into me and wouldn’t let go. From that point on, it was my dream to write a fantasy series, and I studied Tolkien and Lewis and Rowling and tried to learn everything I could about how to create a vivid fantasy world. As an adult, I’ve continued to read fantasy of all kinds, expanding my interests to urban fantasy, science fiction, and more, and I’ve found so many great books in these varied genres that are all inspiring in their own ways… Hunger Games, Wheel of Time, Elantris, and pretty much the entire Ender’s Game series and its spin-offs. I read a LOT, and I find something inspiring from nearly everything I read. I try to just glean the core of it… asking what makes me feel this way? What did the author do to create this sense of wonder, or suspense, or intrigue? And then I try to apply those techniques to my own series, my own created worlds, to improve the experiences for my readers.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on releasing the final book in The Lex Chronicles trilogy, but I’ve also begun work on the next book in the larger Legends of Arameth series, and I plan to release that later this year. I have a new fantasy series in the works as well, something unconnected to Arameth and with a much different tone/feel to it. I’m also working on some non-fiction writing guides as tools for the writing classes I teach, and I also have a co-written SciFi Romance that my co-author and I are slowly posting in pieces on Wattpad, for now, though we plan to eventually publish it elsewhere. I work on short stories, too, and plan to release a collection of fantasy short stories eventually. Oh! And probably my weirdest and most unique project is the Spinner Story, which is currently ongoing. You can find out more about it at http://ccrawfordwriting.com/spinnerstoryblog

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use a combination of social media, newsletter, blog, and then some promotions through various reader-centric sites. I also network a lot with other authors and partner with them for promotional events, co-writing projects, and more.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up. Writing is a long game, a marathon rather than a sprint. Sure, there are those who hit success seemingly instantly, but there was usually a lot of hidden work that prefaced that success, a lot of preparation and hard work and just pure grit. The more you write, the better you get at writing… not that it ever gets easy. But then you love it, right? So it’s worth the work and effort.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write. Publish. Repeat. There’s literally a whole book called this (it’s by Platt & Truant, if you want to look it up), but it’s really so important. I learn something from every single project I write, and the focus on just continuing to write and learn and grow (rather than expecting to somehow produce “the” book, the one that will be the best book ever) has freed me to really enjoy the process and to see the small ways in which I (and my writing career) are growing and progressing over time.

What are you reading now?
That’s a really hard question, because my TBR list is out of control and I’m trying to get through it as quickly as I can! But currently, I’m primarily beta-reading for another author, since my leisure-reading time is limited. Her fairy tale re-tellings are great, by the way! MJ Padgett… The Immortal Grimm Brothers’ Guide to Sociopathic Princesses. The first few books are available on Amazon and more are coming.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Well, I keep having ideas for new books series, so… you can expect to see many more books from me in the future, both in the Legends of Arameth world and in 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?
Oh, goodness. This is a hard one. I think… The Bible, of course, because it’s my go-to read when I need encouragement and re-centering (which I would certainly need while stranded on an island!). My other three would probably be Dickinson’s David Copperfield (I love that book!), Inkheart (because even though I haven’t read it in years, I remember loving it), and Book 7 of the Harry Potter series, because the ending of the series is the best part, right? I’d really miss a lot of other books, though… I reread The Hunger Games every few years because it’s just so well-executed, and there are so many others I love as well.

Author Websites and Profiles
Crystal Crawford Website
Crystal Crawford Amazon Profile

Crystal Crawford’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 written one actual novel, I Am Not Thirteen. I published one of my short stories, “Endless Holiday,” on the Kindle store just to prove to myself that I could do it. Right now I’m working on a short story collection and another novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I Am Not Thirteen was inspired by a tumblr post, where the author wrote “What if you woke up tomorrow and it was the first day of seventh grade, and all your life since then was a dream?” Underneath that, somebody posted a gif of a woman from Family Guy lighting herself on fire. It made me think, “Well, what would I do, really? I’m not going to light myself on fire, but how would I survive?” And from that idea a book was born.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Sometimes I close my eyes while typing so I don’t see what I’m writing. That keeps the inner critic at bay, at least for a while. It may be horrible dreck, but in writing, every problem can be solved. It’s better to get something down and fix it later.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Too many to list! I read almost everything by George Orwell as a teenager and in my early twenties, and his work, especially his nonfiction, had a profound impact on me. I also read Stendhal’s The Red and the Black, Laxness’s World Light, and Platonov’s “Soul” at a very impressionable age. They moved me tremendously; I didn’t know books could be that powerful.

I also read a book of interviews with Werner Herzog, the film director, that influenced me when I was young. Herzog was absolutely determined to do some quite insane things, such as hauling a ship over a mountain using pre-modern technology–and he did it! Same, to some extent, with Greg Sestero’s The Disaster Artist. Tommy Wiseau is such a strange figure, but at the end of the day, he got it done. He had an idea for a movie, he saw it through, and now millions of people have gone to see it around the world. It’s not just a file on his laptop.

What are you working on now?
I finished the rough draft of the sequel to I Am Not Thirteen, and now I’m finishing up a few short stories that I couldn’t work on while IAN13 was underway. Once those are in a better state, I’ll start editing the sequel.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m brand new to this, so I don’t have one yet. I’m hoping to figure it out through trial and error–hopefully not too much error.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Focus on finishing the first book. Nothing happens until you have something to show people, something to sell. Then focus on getting the next book out. I’d also set a small daily goal for yourself, and hit it no matter what. Quantity over quality–the more you write, the more you practice, the better you’ll get.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
A family friend bought me a seat at a stand-up comedy class as a teenager. I had no interest in doing stand-up, but I went anyways. The teacher was a bitter guy, but he said one thing that stuck in my head: when the audience applauds, think to yourself, “What’s my next line?” Don’t just bask in the moment, or you’ll whiff it when the applause dies down. Keep your eye on the next line, the next thing, and you’ll keep your footing. That’s applicable in so many areas of life.

What are you reading now?
Trying to read The Devils of Loudun but my concentration is shot. I just read an interesting article about Foxconn in Bloomberg Businessweek, does that count?

What’s next for you as a writer?
Who knows? It reminds me of that old joke: How do you make God laugh? Tell him your plans. Right now I’m trying to promote my first book and figure that out, while also carving out some time to work on new projects. It’s been a challenge to say the least.

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 English Standard Bible
Parade’s End by Ford Madox Ford
A Comet in Moominland by Tove Jansson
A blank journal with a waterproof pen attached!

Author Websites and Profiles
A.O. Monk Website
A.O. Monk Amazon Profile

A.O. Monk’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 multi-genre author living in Belgium with mixed roots, namely Anglo-Indian and Goan-Portuguese influenced.

Having travelled the world extensively, as an Inflight Safety Training Instructor, I have worked in the Aviation industry for over two decades.

I am quite an artistic person and a professional modern jazz dancer. I love music and I am passionate about writing! Fluent in 5 languages, I love writing poetry, stories and quotes.

My aim is to bring poetry back to its glory and I have already published a narrative poetry story series ‘The Creep’, in a thriller genre! Other fiction genres that I am currently working on are horror, romance, children, fantasy and I will be surprising you all with a few more!

I constantly write poems and I also recently released my first non-fiction series – ‘Aviation Stories’. Other books authored by me include ‘She Said!’, ‘Coffee & Bagels’, ‘Dreams & Dew’, ‘Aviation Stories’ and ‘Accursed Forest’ to name a few.

Currently I am working on book 9!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent book is ‘Aviation Stories-1: Dying to Fly’. It is the first book in the series of non-fiction books, based on a true story.

Having been in the Aviation sector for so long, it has become second nature to me. I have always found Aviation Safety enormously interesting. Recently, I started hearing ghastly stories from a lot of my friends/ex-colleagues who have ended up on long term sick leave after flying for many years. Unfortunately there are some young crew who have also been put on medical leave due to serious health problems. I found this quite alarming and decided to research more on the subject, after which I felt that a serious voice needed to be given to this subject, which is blaringly ignored! This is what inspired me to write the book.

I also started the “SHIFT” movement (Sharing Helpful Information For Tomorrow) through various social media channels to help crew, passengers, people come forward with their stories, be it concerning health dilemmas, flight safety aspects, environmental impact, etc.
I have already started working on book two as a follow up to this series.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Unusual…not really, but I do make it a point to scribble something down as soon as I wake up. I scribble whatever is in my head and make a quote, poem or verse out of it.

Sometimes I close my eyes and try viewing a scene live in front of me and then start making notes of what I see my characters doing and saying, as if I was the observer.

Another unusual story is that I hardly wrote before. But ever since my grandmother passed away, who was an avid reader, a pure genius in the written word and loved collecting quotes, I had this sudden instinct to write enormous lengths of text, quotes and poems. I am amazed at how much I can go on writing, sometimes with a very little effort!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have a very wide range of authors that I love reading and it is an actively changing list. I love Shakespeare, Edgar Allen Poe, Stephen King, James Patterson and many more. My list is exhaustive! I am also constantly looking out for new authors that might peak my interest. And so the quest continues…

What are you working on now?
It is important for me as a writer to push my boundaries. I have tried various writing styles and different genre types. Something that is probably not so common and that I love writing, is narrative poetry with an edge. I have already written two books as part of a series of narrative poetry in a thriller/horror genre (The Creep), and the current book that I am working on now is somewhat similar, but with more of a supernatural/romance twist. The book is titled Hadiss!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I try to be active on social media, which helps promote my book sufficiently. I am active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr and I also use my personal blog: ‘chriselda.blog’ as a means of getting my material out there.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never forget why you are writing! There are different reasons why we write; it could be to vent, to tell a story, to relate, to inform, to guide… whatever it be, it must give you joy and satisfaction. Keep writing and keep making time for it.

Every morning as soon as I am up, I make it a point to write something…a quote, a poem, a continuation to one of my stories! Anything to keep it flowing. Make it a daily process, no matter what!

If you have a dry spell, take a break and read A LOT… it always gets me back on, real quick. And lastly just have fun with it and be creative!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Don’t stop writing and if you have stuff, get it out there!”

What are you reading now?
For the moment I am thoroughly focusing on writing my next WIP. I have so many thoughts flowing through my head that it distracts me from actually reading anything.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I would like to keep growing and evolving as a writer and a poet. I also want to dedicate more time to getting some more children’s books out, as a follow-up to my first children’s book: ‘Melina’s Rainbow’. When I had the book in hand, I loved the way it looked and felt. Moreover the reaction of my little daughter to it, totally inspired me to do some more!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1) Anything by Stephen King
2) The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson
3) The Complete Tales & Poems of Edgar Allan Poe

Author Websites and Profiles
Chriselda Barretto Website
Chriselda Barretto Amazon Profile

Chriselda Barretto’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Sheri Chapman loves to laugh frequently and enjoys life. She loves to write multi-genre fiction. From memoirs to paranormal to horror to romance, she always has a computer nearby to write whatever inspires her. Being a part of Wild Dreams Publishing is a dream-come-true for Sheri!

Sheri has a few books on the Read-it-Before-You-See-It list. Wild Passion, renamed “Captive Heart” will be filmed this year (2019). Other books on the list include Werewolves Don’t Like Green Beans (a YA coming soon), “Predatory Evil” (paranormal horror to be included in an anthology), and “A Killer, Revisited” (action/suspense to be included in a reincarnation anthology). More will come as progress is made.

Professionally, Sheri works as a teacher in Missouri Public schools and plans to retire in May of 2020 with thirty years of experience. She got her bachelor’s degree and first masters in special education from Missouri State University. Later, she decided to pursue administration and got a second master’s and a specialist degree from Lindenwood University. Instead of becoming a principal or person in a district’s central office, she decided to raise her favorite animal: Pomeranian dogs. Sheri raises exotic colored fluffy babies and sells them to people who love to hold their little princesses or princes. She is licensed and inspected by Missouri State, USDA, her vet, and AKC. Someday, when she has less on her plate, Sheri would love to show her dogs.

Personally, Sheri is the mother of four beautiful daughters. They are the apples of her eye! She and their father enjoy spending time with each other and friends. Aside from reading and writing, Sheri loves animals and being outdoors. She likes going for walks, being around bodies of water, playing games, and watching movies. Sheri is a big Harry Potter fan.

On her bucket list, she would like to scuba dive off the Great Barrier Reef, go to London, and travel the world a bit. She would also love to meet Simon Cowell, JK Rowling, and all of the actors in the Potter movies.

BOOKS WRITTEN:
“Eyes with No Soul” (YA paranormal suspense) – Muse It Up Publishing
Wild Passion (Book 1 of the Passion series – historical romance) by Wild Dreams Publishing

BOOKS coming in 2019:
Passions of the Heart – (Book 2 of the Passion Series) – Wild Dreams Publishing
Werewolves Don’t Like Green Beans – (Book 1 Wolves Unchained)- Wild Dreams Publishing
Protectors of the People – (Book 2 Wolves Unchained)- Wild Dreams Publishing

Anthologies 2018
For Melissa: An Anthology: “My Shadow” – Wild Dreams Publishing
Rags to Riches: Cinderella Love Stories (Anthology): “Recovering the Magic” – Hydra Productions
A Wild Dreams Christmas: From Our House to Yours (Anthology): “A Humble Christmas” – Wild Dreams Publishing
Christmas Fairytales 2018 (Anthology): “Shooting for Christmas” – Hydra Productions

Anthologies coming in 2019
Romantic Interludes: Paranormal Romance: “A Little Bermuda Love” – Stained Glass Publishing
Reincarnation Anthology: “A Killer, Revisited” – Wild Dreams Publishing
Chasing Your Wildest Dreams – “Chief Spirit Bear” (part of Passion series) – Wild Dreams Publishing
Paranormal Antibullying Anthology: “It’s In the Cheese” – Wild Dreams Publishing
Fae Beginnings Anthology (Untitled at this point) – Wild Dreams Publishing (WDP)
Calendar Themed Anthologies (Volume 1 Fantasy/Paranormal): (Untitled at this point) –
Wild Dreams Publishing
Calendar Themed Anthologies (Volume 3 Horror): “Predatory Evil” – Wild Dreams Publishing
Murder at Christmas Anthology (Untitled at this point) – Wild Dreams Publishing

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The second in the Passion series, Passions of the Heart, will be released soon.

I have always been fascinated with Native American culture. When I was young, I always played the “Indian” when my friends wanted to play “Cowboys and Indians”. I loved horses and nature. Therefore, I wanted to write a story in which the Native American was the hero instead of the bad guy or part of the atmosphere (nondescript characters).

This story is about an Oglala Sioux war chief who falls in love with a white woman. I’ll include a concise blurb of what it’s about:

Kaitlin Farley, now known as Mazaska Zi Ista by her Oglala band members, has been blessed by the Great Spirit! She is preparing to marry her promised one, the attractive and fierce war chief. Enemy warriors, however, have different plans. Kaitlin is captured and used as bait to lure the mighty Spirit Bear to his demise. How can such a man live a leader’s life when his heart and motivation have been stolen from his side? The war chief must make an imposing decision: does he risk his community for the life of his one true love, or does he let the only woman to stir his blood go and be lost to him forever?

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Hum. I probably do. I come up with an idea and just start writing. I go where the story takes me. Once in a great while, I’ll know more about how I want the story to turn out, but more times than not, I don’t.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have so many – I’m sure I won’t mention them all.

Harry Potter – J.K. Rowling
The Earth’s Children books – Jean M. Auel
The Chronicles of Narnia – C. S. Lewis
Nora Roberts – I love her romance trilogies and her In Death series!
The Wolfen – Whitley Strieber
Pet Cemetary – Stephen King
A Wrinkle in Time books – Madeleine L’Engle
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss – historical romance

What are you working on now?
I have turned in the first two books in the Wolves Unchained books, a young adult teen werewolf story about good shape shifters. I’m awaiting edits back!

Werewolves Don’t Like Green Beans
Protectors of the People

I’ve also turned in the second Passion series book, Passions of the Heart, and it’s been edited. It will be releasing SOON!

I also am writing for some anthologies. Currently, I’m working on “Chief Spirit Bear”. It will be released in the Chasing Your Wildest Dreams Anthology. It’s about the war chief’s rise to power from the Passion series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My website: https://prayerpawpuppies.wixsite.com/authorsherichapman/books

To stay up to date with Sheri Chapman, you can follow her at any, or all, of these sites:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B07HMHB4BK
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8332075.Sheri_Chapman
Wattpad: http://wattpad.com/user/SheriChapman
Facebook Account (personal): https://www.facebook.com/sheri.branson.3
Facebook Page (author): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSheriChapman/
Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheri-chapman-a256276a/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sheri7303

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

Also, please allow others to critique your work. You only improve your abilities if you listen to constructive criticism. Learn what type of errors you typically make so you can become aware of them and begin to fix them yourself.

Show, don’t tell. Don’t say, “He’s 6’2″” with no other description. You could add, “When I looked up, I noticed his vivid blue eyes…” stuff like that where you can see it in your head.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be positive and look on the bright side.

What are you reading now?
Broken Grace by E. C. Diskin

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have the third Passion book to start, the third Wolves Unchained to start, and the following anthology stories to write: Fae Beginnings: by Lelene Anthologies, Murder at Christmas – horror genre by Lelene Anthologies, and Calendar Themed Anthologies: Volume 1: Fantasy/Paranormal. In addition, I have written a few more stories (completed) for other anthologies as well.

These two anthology stories will be released this year (written and submitted)

Romantic Interludes: Paranormal Romance – (“A Little Bermuda Love” by Sheri Chapman) Stained Glass Publishing Word Count: 18,590
BLURB:
The Bermuda Triangle has intrigued the world for ages. A group of high school graduates are chosen to disprove its legend. While traveling through its essence, crazy weather formations appear, and their plane tragically crashes onto an island with a core of magnetic fog. With no power, they are stranded… forever.
The island is isolated, and its inhabitants are wild and dangerous! How could the teenagers have known about the perpetual civil war between shape shifting species? If it weren’t for the understanding of the handsome Prince of the Pantheri, the entire group would have perished the first night. Now, each person must make a choice: submit to Pantheri protection or join the Commundo. For Reina, there is no other choice but the alluring attraction of the powerful prince.

Back to Life, a Reincarnation Anthology (“A Killer, Revisited” by Sheri Chapman) Wild Dreams Publishing Word Count: 14,279
Blurb:
The government has a plan for the perfect killing machine. They created a flawless soldier in a lab: a clone. The issue was he needed a soul in order to awaken. A counselor of death row inmates, also involved in the experiment, studied these men in order to discover the vibrational frequency of the murderer’s soul before his execution. Then, at the time of the inmate’s death, his soul would be transferred into the cloned soldier to propel him to life.
The doctors had no way of knowing that once the fighter received the deceased’s soul, his personality would also shine through. The newly awakened soldier, Wylie, rebelled against the extreme measures the government imposed on him to keep him under control.
With an arsenal of state-of-the-art weapons placed at his disposal, Wylie begins a vendetta to execute those involved in the experiment in order to gain his freedom. In the quest for the perfect soldier, has the military gotten more than it bargained for?

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 wouldn’t want to take a survival guide, but that would be a must (LOL)
Other than that, oh, boy. I have to pick?

The new series I’m INFATUATED with is The Gray Man series by Mark Greaney. I’d take several of his.

I’d take some Potter books, of course.

I would love to read The Clan of the Cave Bear again, as well.

I just bought The Wolfen to reread – I haven’t read that since high school and your questionnaire made me want to reread that!

Author Websites and Profiles
Sheri Chapman Website
Sheri Chapman Amazon Profile

Sheri Chapman’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account