Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I started out as a sketch comedy writer for television. After that, I moved into non-fiction freelance writing, screenplays, short stories, and now novels. This is the fourth book I’ve written, but the first one published. I also have a collection of short stories available.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
It called A Different Time.

The inspiration came from a year-long project my daughter had just completed. She took a picture a day with her camera and collected them into a large book. Flipping through the images I began to make connections between the locations and the people in the pictures. That was when the idea popped:

What if someone in the future found something like this and had a special connection with it?

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Some days I need specific music to write (Mozart and Miles Davis usually). Other times I’ll switch on ambient sounds of ocean waves and rainfall. I try to write in the morning, my work later in the day is seldom any good.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Ray Bradbury, H.P. Lovecraft, Elmore Leonard, Stephen King, David Foster Wallace, Hunter S. Thompson, O. Henry, Shirley Jackson, and many others.

What are you working on now?
A series of children’s books about monsters.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Persevere. It’s critical to never give up and always believe in yourself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“A writer writes. Always.” – Billy Crystal in Throw Mamma From the Train

What are you reading now?
Just finished “Nobody Move” by Philip Elliott. It publishes in September. Loved it.

What’s next for you as a writer?
A promotional tour for “A Different Time” and completing the first installment of my upcoming children’s series of books.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Stand by Stephen King
Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
The Stories of Ray Bradbury by Ray Bradbury
Homicide by David Simon

Author Websites and Profiles
Michael K. Hill Website
Michael K. Hill Amazon Profile

Michael K. Hill’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Frank Prem has been a storytelling poet for forty years. When not writing or reading his poetry to an audience, he fills his time by working as a psychiatric nurse.

He has been published in magazines, zines and anthologies, in Australia and in a number of other countries, and has both performed and recorded his work as ‘spoken word’.

He and his wife live in the beautiful township of Beechworth in northeast Victoria (Australia).

Franks books are:
1. Small Town Kid – a free verse memoir of growing up in rural Australia in the 1960s and 70s https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L6114KS; and

2. Devil In The Wind – in free verse poetry, the voices of survivors and victims of the catastrophic 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria (Australia).

Franks web page is located at: www.FrankPrem.com.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Devil In The Wind is my most recent work (may 2019). A decade ago the area I live in (Victoria, Australia) experienced horrific and catastrophic wildfires that destroyed forests and farmlands, townships and lives.

AT the time, I was living close enough to see the glow of the fires out my back door. The fires went the other way. We were saved, but others died.

For weeks I wasn’t able to stop hearing the stories of what had occurred and what people had gone through. I’m a poet, so I wrote them down.

Now, a decade later, I’ve put them into book form (e-book and paperback) as a way of honouring what happened, and of keeping the stories alive.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, I’m a poet and write in free-verse, so there’s two things right off the bat.

More seriously, I have developed a skill – a kind of empathy, I believe – with pictorial images and find I can ‘allow them’ to tell me a story, which becomes my poem. For instance, I am currently using photographs from World War 1 as inspiration for a series of poems/stories – human stories – that throw an experiential light on what happened in the context of the picture. hard to explain, and I’d be happy to provide you with an example to illustrate what I mean. In fact, it occurs to me that you might be happy to take a look at one of these pieces over on my poetry blog. Feel free if so. Here is a link: https://frankprem.wordpress.com/2019/05/20/la-boiselle-1-clip-clop-stay-alive/

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Short story and fantasy authors have been great influences on my writing. Short story writers like H. E. Bates and Damon Runyan (largely forgotten, now). Fantasy authors such as Tolkien, Robin Hobbs, Ursula Le Guin, to name a few.

To be able to tell a complete story in very few words has been the biggest lesson I’ve learnt from these greats, so far as my own writing technique is concerned.

What are you working on now?
Writing wise, I am developing the collection I referred to above, where I’m using pictures of WW1 battlefields, and ruins, and graveyards, and people to tell a human size story of what went on around those places and at that time.

Book wise, I am just commencing production of a further free verse poetry memoir of my involvement with psychiatry – as a child when my parents worked in a Mental Institution, to my own nurse training and on to my further experiences of psychiatry over a 40 year career.

It should be a cracker!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m an amateur insofar as paid promotion of my work goes, so I can’t refer anyone that way.

I have a poetry blog to which I’ve attracted about 1,500 followers. These folk are a solid supportive core for my work.

In addition I frequent a number of Facebook writing/reading/book promoting groups that have been helpful to me.

perhaps the best, the very best help and method for me, though, has been to engage with other bloggers who are happy to promote and encourage a new author. have benefited from online author interviews (like this one), and guest blogger spots at other sites.

These folk have often been good enough to read and/or buy my work, and to provide reviews (wonderful reviews) that have absolutely helped raise the profile of my work and ultimately sales, as well.

What I have done here in my home environment is to sell a lot of books in person. I have utilized local media mercilessly to get interviews and photographs and other forms of free promotion in newspapers and radio. Successfully, I might add – 3 full page spreads in local papers, 3 on-air interviews and one dedicated half hour podcast of myself reading some of my work. Here is the podcast link, if you’d like a listen. https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/indigofmradio/episodes/2019-03-20T20_37_22-07_00

This next link is to a video of myself reading the closing poem in the Devil In The Wind book, which featured in the online edition of one of the local newspapers. https://frankprem.com/wp-content/uploads/FrankPrem_final_smaller.mp4

Soon, I’ll have some video of readings posted to my own YouTube channel.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice is not to be in too much of a hurry to get published. It’s a little contrarian, I know, but taking the time to develop writing skills and to establish a sense of your own ‘voice’ as a writer is invaluable.

In these (Indie publishing) days, as soon a s book is in print or e-book form, the task of supporting it becomes all-consuming.

So I say: ‘Take your time, so that you know who you are as a writer before you get swallowed up by your own creation.’

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I received was a year ago, when I was told that:

a) I could produce industry standard and quality books through my own initiative, and in my own name; and
b) Help was available and that I could afford to use and rely on it to get me to the end of the process.

Two books later, with a third on the way, I have found that to be true.

What are you reading now?
Reading for pleasure is a speculative fiction book released by an Australian author who has become an online friend in recent times. The book is titled: Miira (book 1 of Innerscape) by AC Flory and deals with a person translating into an online kind of avatar life as a way of achieving a kind of immortality as the persons actual human existence nears an end. I’m enjoying it very much, so far. https://www.amazon.com/Miira-book-1-Innerscape-acflory-ebook/dp/B076GYZBKQ

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have started writing in collections, rather than randomly, so I see myself engaging in more complex projects that are conceived a s a finished whole (ie I can see the shape of a book, rather than a handful of poems that come together when completed).

I am tempted by more complex and perhaps multi-media work.

Pictures and poetry, spoken word and audio books.

I suspect that some of the options that attract me will prove expensive (even black and white photographs in the public domain cost as much as AU$55.00 each to get high quality copies that are suitable to use in a book.

Therefore, mastering the art of grant applications and award submissions has to become part of my next stage of development.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
An omnibus set of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I find this series very nourishing, in a way that allows me to revisit the books and come away satisfied each time.

I would take at least one (I would prefer them all) of my collection of works by the French Philosopher Gaston Bachelard. For the sake of it, I’ll nominate Air and Dreams as the chosen volume. Bachelard examined poetics from a philosophers perspective and spoke in images that communicated themselves to me, resulting in a series of poems that I am very proud of and which came to around 800 individual pieces of work by the time it was done. These I hope to publish in book form, one day.

I would also take (as omnibus as possible) the stories that Robin Hobb has written that started out as the Farseer Trilogy but extended to many more books. These are books that I can return to and easily re-engage with the charactors easily, every time.

Author Websites and Profiles
Frank Prem Website
Frank Prem Amazon Profile

Frank Prem’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live near Philadelphia with my wife and 5 kids. I’ve published one other book – An Uncommon Blue (2014 Cedar Fort)

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Groomed-
I saw a man flirting with a woman much older than him. It made me wonder what a dating service would be like if age didn’t matter, if you could go back or forward in time to court anyone you choose.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write in the jetway between flights. (I’m an international gate agent for American Airlines.)

What authors, or books have influenced you?
JK Rowling, Roald Dahl, CS Lewis, Patrick Rothfuss, Brandon Sanderson

What are you working on now?
The Time Traveler’s Sewing Kit (YA Fantasy)

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Um….guilting my friends into buying my book.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Find some good beta readers. Connect with other authors. Read LOTS of books on the craft. Don’t be afraid to shelve a project if it’s not receiving interest. Keep pumping out those novels and sooner or later you’ll hit gold.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t compare yourself to other authors.

What are you reading now?
Just finished Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. AMAZING.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep having fun without letting my children starve.

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 Book of Mormon, Name of the Wind, and a blank notebook to write notes for rescue.

Author Websites and Profiles
RC Hancock Website

RC Hancock’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a British writer and journalist. I’ve been writing for more years than I care to admit to, and I’ve published a dozen books, both nonfiction and fiction. I’ve written about subjects as diverse as Anglo-German relationships and the two world wars, Darwinism, and how propaganda and PR found their way into politics. Three of my books have inspired TV films in the US, Britain and Germany. I’m on my fourth novel – all thrillers.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called “When Sally comes marching home”. It’s based on the incredibly brave women who fought undercover behind enemy lines in WW2 as agents of the Special Operations Executive – SOE. When the war was over they were simply dismissed back to civilian jobs as teachers, secretaries and sales girls. I’ve imagined what might have happened if one of them – Major Sally Honeychurch – had acquired intelligence during the war that was vital to the intelligence agencies in the postwar world.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I just plug away at my trusty old laptop on the dining room table.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love all thrillers and I’m a special fan of writers who started as journalists – Dashiell Hammett, Hemingway, Ian Fleming.

What are you working on now?
Currently I’m halfway through my second book about Sally Honeychurch. I won’t give much away except to say it’s set in the United States in 1947 and involves the Mafia, the fledgling CIA and Hoover’s FBI.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Tough question. There’s no magic bullet. I think you’ve got to spread your promotion as far and wide as possible over the dozen or so well-run sites. One thing I will say is that Goodreads has become important site and now that they do Giveaways for Kindle books, they are a must for reviews, although I haven’t yet tried them for advertising.

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

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.” Thomas Mann.

What are you reading now?
The biography of Lucky Luciano.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ve got to get Sally Honeychurch out of a whole lot of trouble. Of course, I’ve got to get her into trouble first.

Author Websites and Profiles
Richard Milton Website
Richard Milton Amazon Profile

Richard Milton’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a new author with two books under my belt and a third 60% completed. I have lived in East Texas all my life. I am 69 years old (still feel young inside though) and retired. Having spent the majority of my career as a Technical Writer, it was a natural step to fiction writing in my retirement. For two years in the 90’s, I authored five screenplays. I spent a year farming them out and, other than some truly positive rejections, no bites. I am a voracious reader who consumes four to five novels a month.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest published book is Idimmu. It is written from whole cloth and is a horror novel. It could be described as a creature feature. The genesis of the idea came from reading and researching about true-mirrors and psychomanteums.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am a care provider for my wife, so my writing time varies greatly. I must write in silence, no TV, music and the like. I do not plot out my stories. I usually have a beginning and end in mind, then I just write, letting the characters guide me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The biggies would be King and Koontz. I have discovered many great authors once I bought my first Kindle. J.A. Konrath, Blake Crouch, Joe Hill, Jack Kilborn, David Wong, to mention a few.

What are you working on now?
Currently working on the sad story of a chronic Epileptic sufferer, since he lost his parents in a severe car wreck. The ensuing induced coma and surgeries has left him a cave dweller in his own lonesome home. It also changed his brain in some astounding yet mostly unknown ways. Enter a surgeon with an advanced quantum-level technique and some highly advanced chemicals who will attempt to cure the poor guy. Nothing goes to plan (as these things go) and a terror is released upon the world.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I haven’t gone beyond Kindle Select, so far.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Same as they always hear. Write and write and write. In between those, read and read and read. Also, the Internet is your friend (in so many ways.)

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t overthink any writing session. Just utilize stream-of-conciousness and get it down. It can be modified or even deleted later. Don’t concern yourself with grammatical perfection. That is for futue editorial passes.

What are you reading now?
From Away by Phoef Sutton.

What’s next for you as a writer?
My forth book has been entirely researched and I am anxious to start on it. At the heart of it is an ability to control dust via the quantum mind.

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?
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein, The Stand by Stephen King, The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice, Phantoms by Dean Koontz.

Author Websites and Profiles
David Mayo Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written 5 books. I am a writer who specilaized in satire when I was in high-school. I wrote may featured articles that were eventually printed in regional and national magazines.
I never liked “Horror” movies, I never liked the idea of someone getting killed for some else’s pleasure. Honestly Serial Killer Moviers like Hallloween 57 (or whaever) is an old, antiquiated and riduculous and boring concept.
The reason I write horror, id only because I have had so many unusual experiences in my life.
I’m talking about things that would drve a normal person insane.
So after many years, I decided to write these things down as a form or therapy.
To make it more entertaining I included realistic elements of both sex and violence, and I coined this new genre Eros Macabre (which is really just a combination of horror and erotica).
What are the two most popular types of films? Porn and Horror. Or said another way Sex and Violence.
I don’t know why but for some reason there have tried to mix genre’s before, like Horror and Comedy. Both good in their own respect, but horrible together. Like Peanut Butter and Ketchup, instead of Peanut Butter and Jelly.
I got it right thou.
My first book, “Yes Master: Rise of the Witch,” was about a beautiful thirteen year old redhead who practices witch-craft to protect herself from Rape and Incest. It was very contemporary and realistically written, so much so, that Amazon banned the printed version and now the uncut version is only available in E-format on my private website:

https://payhip.com/b/Ntng

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Multi-Verse, the bible inspired it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Everything I do is unusual.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Everything has influenced me.

What are you working on now?
Multi-verse its a saga.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Ancient Chinese Secret like Calgon!!!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
None.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t Kill Youself.

What are you reading now?
Don’t have time to read others work.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Audio Books

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
If I was stranded I would try to find a way to get me rescued.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jason Kondrath Website
Jason Kondrath Author Profile on Smashwords

Jason Kondrath’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a deep thinker. Long ago I learned that my thoughts produce the experiences of my life. I began to write about this with my first book, Thought Into Form, continued with another called 360 Degrees of Good, and then took to writing a novel about the energy crisis which featured Nikolai Tesla in a cameo role in Reach For The Sky. I have written a total of seven books, Bahir Revealed, Tikkunei Zohar revealed, and Zohar Chadash Revealed all explaining the deep mysteries of Kabbalah. I have also written a fun novel called Shoe.

My greatest love is my music, I play guitar and sing and perform for senior citizens. My repertoire is vast I like a lot of different kinds of music.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Zohar Chadash Revealed is the name of my last work. It is both a translation and commentary of an ancient Kabbalistic text in which I describe and do commentaries to shed light on the code of Torah wherein it is consciousness that is being spoken of throughout. It is the third of my revealed series, (Bahir Revealed, Tikkunei Zohar Revealed) coming previously. The inspiration is to share the secret knowledge of Torah in today’s language and mindset.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to write in spurts realizing that keeping at it each day brings a whole lot of writing at the end of the year.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Torah, Science of Mind, Zohar, Patanjali, Hemingway, Emerson.

What are you working on now?
The second part of of Zohar Chadash Revealed.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am still working on that aspect now.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep at it. Time is on your side. Complete the work each day and then come back to it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
See yourself through and then become the thing you see.

What are you reading now?
Too busy writing to read much. Writing books and songs.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have a Fantasy novel called the Roilnork Saga that I’ve been working on and off on. Over five hundred pages to date. Looking to complete that.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Torah, Science of Mind, A book of jokes,

Author Websites and Profiles
Mark Siet Website
Mark Siet Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I always knew I had a unique take on life, but it wasn’t until I was 18 that I was diagnosed with Aspergers – an autistic spectrum disorder. Consequently, my early schooling was a disaster and I was home-schooled from around the age of 7.

I wrote my first children’s book at 14, when I began to struggle with depression and anxiety. As I have always understood animals much better than people, it’s no surprise that my story revolved around them. In fact, the story is told through the eyes of the huskies and wolves involved. My heightened senses of smell and hearing help me to understand the way dogs, and thus wolves, are affected by these.
Bonus Trivia – I can smell colours (How cool is that?)

This book, ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’, was published in 2017, around the same time as my autism diagnosis. It’s unique perspective draws the reader in and bonds them to the main husky character, Akea. I have been really encouraged by many adult readers comments and reviews, as well as those by children.

I have been working on the sequel to this first book, and hope to have it published by the end of this year – 2019.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’ came about purely by accident. I’m very much a visual person and I like to work with an image of my character in front of me, rather than from a written character profile.

I was searching the internet for the image of a dalmatian with a husky. It was supposed to be for a dalmatian led story I was working on, but when I finally found a photo of the two dog breeds together, it was the husky who told me her life story. This is the story that became ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’, and the dalmatian story was never written.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am a compulsive multi-tasker. I am usually writing on one device, researching on another, and watching You-Tube videos all at the same time. I am also writing a series of adventures for ‘Akea’, but not in consecutive order. Even I can’t work out how I can start writing book 5 before I have finished book 4.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
To be honest, I can’t think of any that have actually influenced me. The main books I was reading around the time I started writing were the Animal Ark series by Lucy Daniels. As far as I can tell, the only thing these have in common with my books is the presence of animals.

It feels more like my books are already written in my head, and my brain is just trying to connect with my consciousness, so they can be written down.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the follow up story to ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’, although it can also be enjoyed as a standalone. ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’ followed Akea’s dramatic journey from sled dog to wolf queen. My work in progress, ‘Akea – His Mother’s Son’, follows both her hybrid son, Salvador, after his capture by humans, and Akea as she and her pack face an attack from neighbouring wolves. Salvador discovers he is as unique as his mother, and must rely on his ‘gift’ to unite them in time.

Although the manuscript is finished, I am still waiting for some of the illustrations that will precede each chapter. There is the unenviable task of cover design etc still to do, but I am confident it will be ready for publication by the end of the year.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As someone with autism, I find book promotion an even bigger challenge than most authors. I do what I can with my website and blog. With support, I have approached several independent bookshops who are now stocking my first book, as well as Amazon (UK & US), and social media has also proven useful.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write first, edit second. If you try to do both at the same time you may lose the flow. Nothing is ever perfect first time round, so don’t expect perfection from yourself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t worry about the spelling, punctuation or handwriting. Just get the story down first and pick these up in the edit.

What are you reading now?
Aside from reading up on my dog breeds – nothing! I’ve taken some time out to support my mental health. I’m not very good at balancing writing and life in general, so I’ve started a veggie patch to get me out in the fresh air and sunshine in a productive way.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on the next 4 stories for Akea, and experimenting with new genres and what may be my first people based story.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Something by Gene Rodenberry, Erin Hunter, and Brian Jacques.

Author Websites and Profiles
Elizabeth Jade Website
Elizabeth Jade Amazon Profile

Elizabeth Jade’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I always knew I had a unique take on life, but it wasn’t until I was 18 that I was diagnosed with Aspergers – an autistic spectrum disorder. Consequently, my early schooling was a disaster and I was home-schooled from around the age of 7.

I wrote my first children’s book at 14, when I began to struggle with depression and anxiety. As I have always understood animals much better than people, it’s no surprise that my story revolved around them. In fact, the story is told through the eyes of the huskies and wolves involved. My heightened senses of smell and hearing help me to understand the way dogs, and thus wolves, are affected by these.
Bonus Trivia – I can smell colours (How cool is that?)

This book, ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’, was published in 2017, around the same time as my autism diagnosis. It’s unique perspective draws the reader in and bonds them to the main husky character, Akea. I have been really encouraged by many adult readers comments and reviews, as well as those by children.

I have been working on the sequel to this first book, and hope to have it published by the end of this year – 2019.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’ came about purely by accident. I’m very much a visual person and I like to work with an image of my character in front of me, rather than from a written character profile.

I was searching the internet for the image of a dalmatian with a husky. It was supposed to be for a dalmatian led story I was working on, but when I finally found a photo of the two dog breeds together, it was the husky who told me her life story. This is the story that became ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’, and the dalmatian story was never written.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am a compulsive multi-tasker. I am usually writing on one device, researching on another, and watching You-Tube videos all at the same time. I am also writing a series of adventures for ‘Akea’, but not in consecutive order. Even I can’t work out how I can start writing book 5 before I have finished book 4.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
To be honest, I can’t think of any that have actually influenced me. The main books I was reading around the time I started writing were the Animal Ark series by Lucy Daniels. As far as I can tell, the only thing these have in common with my books is the presence of animals.

It feels more like my books are already written in my head, and my brain is just trying to connect with my consciousness, so they can be written down.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the follow up story to ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’, although it can also be enjoyed as a standalone. ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’ followed Akea’s dramatic journey from sled dog to wolf queen. My work in progress, ‘Akea – His Mother’s Son’, follows both her hybrid son, Salvador, after his capture by humans, and Akea as she and her pack face an attack from neighbouring wolves. Salvador discovers he is as unique as his mother, and must rely on his ‘gift’ to unite them in time.

Although the manuscript is finished, I am still waiting for some of the illustrations that will precede each chapter. There is the unenviable task of cover design etc still to do, but I am confident it will be ready for publication by the end of the year.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As someone with autism, I find book promotion an even bigger challenge than most authors. I do what I can with my website and blog. With support, I have approached several independent bookshops who are now stocking my first book, as well as Amazon (UK & US), and social media has also proven useful.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write first, edit second. If you try to do both at the same time you may lose the flow. Nothing is ever perfect first time round, so don’t expect perfection from yourself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t worry about the spelling, punctuation or handwriting. Just get the story down first and pick these up in the edit.

What are you reading now?
Aside from reading up on my dog breeds – nothing! I’ve taken some time out to support my mental health. I’m not very good at balancing writing and life in general, so I’ve started a veggie patch to get me out in the fresh air and sunshine in a productive way.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on the next 4 stories for Akea, and experimenting with new genres and what may be my first people based story.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Something by Gene Rodenberry, Erin Hunter, and Brian Jacques.

Author Websites and Profiles
Elizabeth Jade Website
Elizabeth Jade Amazon Profile

Elizabeth Jade’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I always knew I had a unique take on life, but it wasn’t until I was 18 that I was diagnosed with Aspergers – an autistic spectrum disorder. Consequently, my early schooling was a disaster and I was home-schooled from around the age of 7.

I wrote my first children’s book at 14, when I began to struggle with depression and anxiety. As I have always understood animals much better than people, it’s no surprise that my story revolved around them. In fact, the story is told through the eyes of the huskies and wolves involved. My heightened senses of smell and hearing help me to understand the way dogs, and thus wolves, are affected by these.
Bonus Trivia – I can smell colours (How cool is that?)

This book, ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’, was published in 2017, around the same time as my autism diagnosis. It’s unique perspective draws the reader in and bonds them to the main husky character, Akea. I have been really encouraged by many adult readers comments and reviews, as well as those by children.

I have been working on the sequel to this first book, and hope to have it published by the end of this year – 2019.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’ came about purely by accident. I’m very much a visual person and I like to work with an image of my character in front of me, rather than from a written character profile.

I was searching the internet for the image of a dalmatian with a husky. It was supposed to be for a dalmatian led story I was working on, but when I finally found a photo of the two dog breeds together, it was the husky who told me her life story. This is the story that became ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’, and the dalmatian story was never written.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am a compulsive multi-tasker. I am usually writing on one device, researching on another, and watching You-Tube videos all at the same time. I am also writing a series of adventures for ‘Akea’, but not in consecutive order. Even I can’t work out how I can start writing book 5 before I have finished book 4.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
To be honest, I can’t think of any that have actually influenced me. The main books I was reading around the time I started writing were the Animal Ark series by Lucy Daniels. As far as I can tell, the only thing these have in common with my books is the presence of animals.

It feels more like my books are already written in my head, and my brain is just trying to connect with my consciousness, so they can be written down.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the follow up story to ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’, although it can also be enjoyed as a standalone. ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’ followed Akea’s dramatic journey from sled dog to wolf queen. My work in progress, ‘Akea – His Mother’s Son’, follows both her hybrid son, Salvador, after his capture by humans, and Akea as she and her pack face an attack from neighbouring wolves. Salvador discovers he is as unique as his mother, and must rely on his ‘gift’ to unite them in time.

Although the manuscript is finished, I am still waiting for some of the illustrations that will precede each chapter. There is the unenviable task of cover design etc still to do, but I am confident it will be ready for publication by the end of the year.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As someone with autism, I find book promotion an even bigger challenge than most authors. I do what I can with my website and blog. With support, I have approached several independent bookshops who are now stocking my first book, as well as Amazon (UK & US), and social media has also proven useful.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write first, edit second. If you try to do both at the same time you may lose the flow. Nothing is ever perfect first time round, so don’t expect perfection from yourself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t worry about the spelling, punctuation or handwriting. Just get the story down first and pick these up in the edit.

What are you reading now?
Aside from reading up on my dog breeds – nothing! I’ve taken some time out to support my mental health. I’m not very good at balancing writing and life in general, so I’ve started a veggie patch to get me out in the fresh air and sunshine in a productive way.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on the next 4 stories for Akea, and experimenting with new genres and what may be my first people based story.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Something by Gene Rodenberry, Erin Hunter, and Brian Jacques.

Author Websites and Profiles
Elizabeth Jade Website
Elizabeth Jade Amazon Profile

Elizabeth Jade’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I always knew I had a unique take on life, but it wasn’t until I was 18 that I was diagnosed with Aspergers – an autistic spectrum disorder. Consequently, my early schooling was a disaster and I was home-schooled from around the age of 7.

I wrote my first children’s book at 14, when I began to struggle with depression and anxiety. As I have always understood animals much better than people, it’s no surprise that my story revolved around them. In fact, the story is told through the eyes of the huskies and wolves involved. My heightened senses of smell and hearing help me to understand the way dogs, and thus wolves, are affected by these.
Bonus Trivia – I can smell colours (How cool is that?)

This book, ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’, was published in 2017, around the same time as my autism diagnosis. It’s unique perspective draws the reader in and bonds them to the main husky character, Akea. I have been really encouraged by many adult readers comments and reviews, as well as those by children.

I have been working on the sequel to this first book, and hope to have it published by the end of this year – 2019.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’ came about purely by accident. I’m very much a visual person and I like to work with an image of my character in front of me, rather than from a written character profile.

I was searching the internet for the image of a dalmatian with a husky. It was supposed to be for a dalmatian led story I was working on, but when I finally found a photo of the two dog breeds together, it was the husky who told me her life story. This is the story that became ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’, and the dalmatian story was never written.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am a compulsive multi-tasker. I am usually writing on one device, researching on another, and watching You-Tube videos all at the same time. I am also writing a series of adventures for ‘Akea’, but not in consecutive order. Even I can’t work out how I can start writing book 5 before I have finished book 4.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
To be honest, I can’t think of any that have actually influenced me. The main books I was reading around the time I started writing were the Animal Ark series by Lucy Daniels. As far as I can tell, the only thing these have in common with my books is the presence of animals.

It feels more like my books are already written in my head, and my brain is just trying to connect with my consciousness, so they can be written down.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the follow up story to ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’, although it can also be enjoyed as a standalone. ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’ followed Akea’s dramatic journey from sled dog to wolf queen. My work in progress, ‘Akea – His Mother’s Son’, follows both her hybrid son, Salvador, after his capture by humans, and Akea as she and her pack face an attack from neighbouring wolves. Salvador discovers he is as unique as his mother, and must rely on his ‘gift’ to unite them in time.

Although the manuscript is finished, I am still waiting for some of the illustrations that will precede each chapter. There is the unenviable task of cover design etc still to do, but I am confident it will be ready for publication by the end of the year.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As someone with autism, I find book promotion an even bigger challenge than most authors. I do what I can with my website and blog. With support, I have approached several independent bookshops who are now stocking my first book, as well as Amazon (UK & US), and social media has also proven useful.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write first, edit second. If you try to do both at the same time you may lose the flow. Nothing is ever perfect first time round, so don’t expect perfection from yourself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t worry about the spelling, punctuation or handwriting. Just get the story down first and pick these up in the edit.

What are you reading now?
Aside from reading up on my dog breeds – nothing! I’ve taken some time out to support my mental health. I’m not very good at balancing writing and life in general, so I’ve started a veggie patch to get me out in the fresh air and sunshine in a productive way.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on the next 4 stories for Akea, and experimenting with new genres and what may be my first people based story.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Something by Gene Rodenberry, Erin Hunter, and Brian Jacques.

Author Websites and Profiles
Elizabeth Jade Website
Elizabeth Jade Amazon Profile

Elizabeth Jade’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written eight sci-fi short stories that I have now compiled into a collection and published on Amazon as Living Portals: A Sci-Fi Short Story Collection. I am a dean of online legal education at The University of Tulsa, but I’ve had a diverse career from stockbroker, to car salesman to corporate attorney. I do like to ride dirt bike motorcycles and boating. I’ve had two boats a small john boat and a nice fish and ski bass boat.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Living Portals is the name of my collection (Wolf’s Blood is one of the eight short stories in the collection). I was inspired to write by an old Arnold Schwarzenegger motivational video. Arnold encourages you to decide, “will you be a consumer the rest of your life or will you be a producer?”. That question sat on me for 2 years and I finally decided that I would get serious about writing (a dream I’ve had for years).

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write pretty quickly. When I’m able to get time to sit down and go to it, I can write 3,000 to 4,000 words in a 4 to 6 hour session. I don’t worry about editing when I’m creating, I just tear into it. I can edit and get editing support later, I just don’t want to stop the creative process once it starts rolling.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
John Carter of Mars (Burroughs)/ Speaker for the Dead (Card)

What are you working on now?
Helping about 85 students get through a Master’s degree program that was shut down at TU. They have a reasonable time to complete their degree and I’m trying to help them get it done.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Everything. I’m a shotgun approach person. I put effort towards anything and everything that moves and hope something will stick.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you want to write, just quit making excuses and go to it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Read the Bible

What are you reading now?
Jack London’s: To Build a Fire

What’s next for you as a writer?
The next great short story! My first book was a series of action/adventure short stories. I want to do something a little more complex and layered on the 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 Bible, Any Giant Sci-fi collection (preferably one with some Asimov and some Arthur C. Clarke), A Hemingway collection

Author Websites and Profiles
Timothy Thompson Website
Timothy Thompson Amazon Profile

Timothy Thompson’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written several short stories and novels, but only recently have I had anything published. I’m notoriously shy and have talked myself out of publishing in the past; it’s my hope to start getting these things out there now, old and new, for people to see.

Some random trivia? I was born on St. Patrick’s Day, my mother was born on Memorial Day (weekend), my father was born on Labor Day, and my brother was born on Friday the 13th.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
SAME OLD, SAME OLD is a short-story/novella (can’t really decide which). Without going too much into the story, it’s about struggling against things like futility and hopelessness, and not giving up when things look their worst. There’s also a lot of reflection on autonomy, and on routine, what we busy our lives with. It’s not strictly horror: it’s probably better to say it’s weird fiction, with elements of horror and suspense,.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I can never decide if I’m a plotter or a pantser. SAME OLD, SAME OLD, I more or less dared myself to write, as I’d never written anything like it before and I wanted to see if I could do it. I often do that: I will have an idea, and I’ll convince myself to try my hand at it before I chicken out.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I try to read as broadly as possible, but shorthand, some of my favorites are Stephen King, Joe Hill, and Neil Gaiman. I’m also a big fan of HOUSE OF LEAVES and the way Mark Danielewski composes his work. I also draw on other mediums for inspiration, especially film, but I try to pull from others that might not be so obvious: sculpture, for example, and 3D art. The hope is to glean as much as possible from as many sources as possible.

What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m resting from having put the finishing touches on SAME OLD, SAME OLD. I will be looking into what to do next, of course – I have plenty of options – but for now, I’m content to rest, marketing it, etc.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I haven’t gotten that far along in my career yet to know. But Facebook has been pretty fundamental so far. It’s by far where I’ve gotten the most feedback.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t wait. Logically, I could have released SAME OLD, SAME OLD, and a lot of my other works, over a decade ago. I let fear and neuroses get in the way, and there was a lot of self-image problems that didn’t help. And don’t be afraid of what people might say about you if you write what you love. Maybe it’s just me – I kind of doubt it – but I used to have this image of myself finally releasing something I put my heart and soul into, and people I knew and cared about basically disowning me. Sadly, that’s always a risk. I wish I could say that wouldn’t happen, and that it’s easy to remedy, but I can’t. The only real solace you can get out of the situation is that if those people don’t love you for who you are, and support you even if they don’t necessarily understand, maybe you don’t need them in your life…and sad as that might be to some, there’s a special kind of freedom and happiness from finally accepting it. For all the disapproving parents, grandparents, and critic trolls online, someone out there is going to like what you do. Keep at it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Neil Gaiman once came to the city I lived in as part of his book tour. My wife took me to his show as a birthday present. The visitors got the chance to put handwritten questions into a bowl and he would pick questions to answer on stage: by sheer luck, he chose mine. I asked something to the effect of, “How do you get the courage to put yourself into your work, and release it to the world?” And his answer was not profound, but blunt; paraphrasing, he said, “Because I have to. Because it pays my bills and puts food on my table. Because I literally can’t do anything else.” I don’t know what I’d been expecting, but it wasn’t that. It was, however, exactly what I needed to hear, profound in a way he probably didn’t even intend. The fact was, I needed something harsh and blunt, not something lofty and inspiring, to get me going. Sometimes, that’s what other writers do too. We think we need something almost prophetic, and wispy, but what we really need is to stop waiting for stuff like that because we already know the answer. Anything else is just procrastinating.

What are you reading now?
I’m currently working my way through my Kindle library. I also hope to get to the couple of C. Robert Cargill books I’ve had forever that I haven’t had the sense to read yet. I used to read his reviews all the time when he went by the handle Massawyrm on Aintitcool, and now he’s off living my dream of writing movies. I’ve been told he’s very Gaiman-esque, so that excites me.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I don’t plan. Maybe I should, but I don’t. I’m notoriously bad at it. I suspect I will go through my piles of manuscripts and see which one needs fine tuning. Or, maybe I’ll start something new. The future is nice and mysterious right now, and that’s fine by me.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Let’s be honest: any books I brought with me, I would either try to eat or use as kindling. Both would end in regret, then death. I was not meant for the sea.

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I always knew I had a unique take on life, but it wasn’t until I was 18 that I was diagnosed with Aspergers – an autistic spectrum disorder. Consequently, my early schooling was a disaster and I was home-schooled from around the age of 7.

I wrote my first children’s book at 14, when I began to struggle with depression and anxiety. As I have always understood animals much better than people, it’s no surprise that my story revolved around them. In fact, the story is told through the eyes of the huskies and wolves involved. My heightened senses of smell and hearing help me to understand the way dogs, and thus wolves, are affected by these.
Bonus Trivia – I can smell colours (How cool is that?)

This book, ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’, was published in 2017, around the same time as my autism diagnosis. It’s unique perspective draws the reader in and bonds them to the main husky character, Akea. I have been really encouraged by many adult readers comments and reviews, as well as those by children.

I have been working on the sequel to this first book, and hope to have it published by the end of this year – 2019.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’ came about purely by accident. I’m very much a visual person and I like to work with an image of my character in front of me, rather than from a written character profile.

I was searching the internet for the image of a dalmatian with a husky. It was supposed to be for a dalmatian led story I was working on, but when I finally found a photo of the two dog breeds together, it was the husky who told me her life story. This is the story that became ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’, and the dalmatian story was never written.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am a compulsive multi-tasker. I am usually writing on one device, researching on another, and watching You-Tube videos all at the same time. I am also writing a series of adventures for ‘Akea’, but not in consecutive order. Even I can’t work out how I can start writing book 5 before I have finished book 4.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
To be honest, I can’t think of any that have actually influenced me. The main books I was reading around the time I started writing were the Animal Ark series by Lucy Daniels. As far as I can tell, the only thing these have in common with my books is the presence of animals.

It feels more like my books are already written in my head, and my brain is just trying to connect with my consciousness, so they can be written down.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the follow up story to ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’, although it can also be enjoyed as a standalone. ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’ followed Akea’s dramatic journey from sled dog to wolf queen. My work in progress, ‘Akea – His Mother’s Son’, follows both her hybrid son, Salvador, after his capture by humans, and Akea as she and her pack face an attack from neighbouring wolves. Salvador discovers he is as unique as his mother, and must rely on his ‘gift’ to unite them in time.

Although the manuscript is finished, I am still waiting for some of the illustrations that will precede each chapter. There is the unenviable task of cover design etc still to do, but I am confident it will be ready for publication by the end of the year.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As someone with autism, I find book promotion an even bigger challenge than most authors. I do what I can with my website and blog. With support, I have approached several independent bookshops who are now stocking my first book, as well as Amazon (UK & US), and social media has also proven useful.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write first, edit second. If you try to do both at the same time you may lose the flow. Nothing is ever perfect first time round, so don’t expect perfection from yourself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t worry about the spelling, punctuation or handwriting. Just get the story down first and pick these up in the edit.

What are you reading now?
Aside from reading up on my dog breeds – nothing! I’ve taken some time out to support my mental health. I’m not very good at balancing writing and life in general, so I’ve started a veggie patch to get me out in the fresh air and sunshine in a productive way.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on the next 4 stories for Akea, and experimenting with new genres and what may be my first people based story.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Something by Gene Rodenberry, Erin Hunter, and Brian Jacques.

Author Websites and Profiles
Elizabeth Jade Website
Elizabeth Jade Amazon Profile

Elizabeth Jade’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I always knew I had a unique take on life, but it wasn’t until I was 18 that I was diagnosed with Aspergers – an autistic spectrum disorder. Consequently, my early schooling was a disaster and I was home-schooled from around the age of 7.

I wrote my first children’s book at 14, when I began to struggle with depression and anxiety. As I have always understood animals much better than people, it’s no surprise that my story revolved around them. In fact, the story is told through the eyes of the huskies and wolves involved. My heightened senses of smell and hearing help me to understand the way dogs, and thus wolves, are affected by these.
Bonus Trivia – I can smell colours (How cool is that?)

This book, ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’, was published in 2017, around the same time as my autism diagnosis. It’s unique perspective draws the reader in and bonds them to the main husky character, Akea. I have been really encouraged by many adult readers comments and reviews, as well as those by children.

I have been working on the sequel to this first book, and hope to have it published by the end of this year – 2019.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’ came about purely by accident. I’m very much a visual person and I like to work with an image of my character in front of me, rather than from a written character profile.

I was searching the internet for the image of a dalmatian with a husky. It was supposed to be for a dalmatian led story I was working on, but when I finally found a photo of the two dog breeds together, it was the husky who told me her life story. This is the story that became ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’, and the dalmatian story was never written.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am a compulsive multi-tasker. I am usually writing on one device, researching on another, and watching You-Tube videos all at the same time. I am also writing a series of adventures for ‘Akea’, but not in consecutive order. Even I can’t work out how I can start writing book 5 before I have finished book 4.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
To be honest, I can’t think of any that have actually influenced me. The main books I was reading around the time I started writing were the Animal Ark series by Lucy Daniels. As far as I can tell, the only thing these have in common with my books is the presence of animals.

It feels more like my books are already written in my head, and my brain is just trying to connect with my consciousness, so they can be written down.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the follow up story to ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’, although it can also be enjoyed as a standalone. ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’ followed Akea’s dramatic journey from sled dog to wolf queen. My work in progress, ‘Akea – His Mother’s Son’, follows both her hybrid son, Salvador, after his capture by humans, and Akea as she and her pack face an attack from neighbouring wolves. Salvador discovers he is as unique as his mother, and must rely on his ‘gift’ to unite them in time.

Although the manuscript is finished, I am still waiting for some of the illustrations that will precede each chapter. There is the unenviable task of cover design etc still to do, but I am confident it will be ready for publication by the end of the year.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As someone with autism, I find book promotion an even bigger challenge than most authors. I do what I can with my website and blog. With support, I have approached several independent bookshops who are now stocking my first book, as well as Amazon (UK & US), and social media has also proven useful.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write first, edit second. If you try to do both at the same time you may lose the flow. Nothing is ever perfect first time round, so don’t expect perfection from yourself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t worry about the spelling, punctuation or handwriting. Just get the story down first and pick these up in the edit.

What are you reading now?
Aside from reading up on my dog breeds – nothing! I’ve taken some time out to support my mental health. I’m not very good at balancing writing and life in general, so I’ve started a veggie patch to get me out in the fresh air and sunshine in a productive way.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on the next 4 stories for Akea, and experimenting with new genres and what may be my first people based story.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Something by Gene Rodenberry, Erin Hunter, and Brian Jacques.

Author Websites and Profiles
Elizabeth Jade Website
Elizabeth Jade Amazon Profile

Elizabeth Jade’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I always knew I had a unique take on life, but it wasn’t until I was 18 that I was diagnosed with Aspergers – an autistic spectrum disorder. Consequently, my early schooling was a disaster and I was home-schooled from around the age of 7.

I wrote my first children’s book at 14, when I began to struggle with depression and anxiety. As I have always understood animals much better than people, it’s no surprise that my story revolved around them. In fact, the story is told through the eyes of the huskies and wolves involved. My heightened senses of smell and hearing help me to understand the way dogs, and thus wolves, are affected by these.
Bonus Trivia – I can smell colours (How cool is that?)

This book, ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’, was published in 2017, around the same time as my autism diagnosis. It’s unique perspective draws the reader in and bonds them to the main husky character, Akea. I have been really encouraged by many adult readers comments and reviews, as well as those by children.

I have been working on the sequel to this first book, and hope to have it published by the end of this year – 2019.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’ came about purely by accident. I’m very much a visual person and I like to work with an image of my character in front of me, rather than from a written character profile.

I was searching the internet for the image of a dalmatian with a husky. It was supposed to be for a dalmatian led story I was working on, but when I finally found a photo of the two dog breeds together, it was the husky who told me her life story. This is the story that became ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’, and the dalmatian story was never written.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am a compulsive multi-tasker. I am usually writing on one device, researching on another, and watching You-Tube videos all at the same time. I am also writing a series of adventures for ‘Akea’, but not in consecutive order. Even I can’t work out how I can start writing book 5 before I have finished book 4.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
To be honest, I can’t think of any that have actually influenced me. The main books I was reading around the time I started writing were the Animal Ark series by Lucy Daniels. As far as I can tell, the only thing these have in common with my books is the presence of animals.

It feels more like my books are already written in my head, and my brain is just trying to connect with my consciousness, so they can be written down.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the follow up story to ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’, although it can also be enjoyed as a standalone. ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’ followed Akea’s dramatic journey from sled dog to wolf queen. My work in progress, ‘Akea – His Mother’s Son’, follows both her hybrid son, Salvador, after his capture by humans, and Akea as she and her pack face an attack from neighbouring wolves. Salvador discovers he is as unique as his mother, and must rely on his ‘gift’ to unite them in time.

Although the manuscript is finished, I am still waiting for some of the illustrations that will precede each chapter. There is the unenviable task of cover design etc still to do, but I am confident it will be ready for publication by the end of the year.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As someone with autism, I find book promotion an even bigger challenge than most authors. I do what I can with my website and blog. With support, I have approached several independent bookshops who are now stocking my first book, as well as Amazon (UK & US), and social media has also proven useful.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write first, edit second. If you try to do both at the same time you may lose the flow. Nothing is ever perfect first time round, so don’t expect perfection from yourself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t worry about the spelling, punctuation or handwriting. Just get the story down first and pick these up in the edit.

What are you reading now?
Aside from reading up on my dog breeds – nothing! I’ve taken some time out to support my mental health. I’m not very good at balancing writing and life in general, so I’ve started a veggie patch to get me out in the fresh air and sunshine in a productive way.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on the next 4 stories for Akea, and experimenting with new genres and what may be my first people based story.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Something by Gene Rodenberry, Erin Hunter, and Brian Jacques.

Author Websites and Profiles
Elizabeth Jade Website
Elizabeth Jade Amazon Profile

Elizabeth Jade’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I always knew I had a unique take on life, but it wasn’t until I was 18 that I was diagnosed with Aspergers – an autistic spectrum disorder. Consequently, my early schooling was a disaster and I was home-schooled from around the age of 7.

I wrote my first children’s book at 14, when I began to struggle with depression and anxiety. As I have always understood animals much better than people, it’s no surprise that my story revolved around them. In fact, the story is told through the eyes of the huskies and wolves involved. My heightened senses of smell and hearing help me to understand the way dogs, and thus wolves, are affected by these.
Bonus Trivia – I can smell colours (How cool is that?)

This book, ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’, was published in 2017, around the same time as my autism diagnosis. It’s unique perspective draws the reader in and bonds them to the main husky character, Akea. I have been really encouraged by many adult readers comments and reviews, as well as those by children.

I have been working on the sequel to this first book, and hope to have it published by the end of this year – 2019.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’ came about purely by accident. I’m very much a visual person and I like to work with an image of my character in front of me, rather than from a written character profile.

I was searching the internet for the image of a dalmatian with a husky. It was supposed to be for a dalmatian led story I was working on, but when I finally found a photo of the two dog breeds together, it was the husky who told me her life story. This is the story that became ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’, and the dalmatian story was never written.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am a compulsive multi-tasker. I am usually writing on one device, researching on another, and watching You-Tube videos all at the same time. I am also writing a series of adventures for ‘Akea’, but not in consecutive order. Even I can’t work out how I can start writing book 5 before I have finished book 4.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
To be honest, I can’t think of any that have actually influenced me. The main books I was reading around the time I started writing were the Animal Ark series by Lucy Daniels. As far as I can tell, the only thing these have in common with my books is the presence of animals.

It feels more like my books are already written in my head, and my brain is just trying to connect with my consciousness, so they can be written down.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the follow up story to ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’, although it can also be enjoyed as a standalone. ‘Akea – The Power of Destiny’ followed Akea’s dramatic journey from sled dog to wolf queen. My work in progress, ‘Akea – His Mother’s Son’, follows both her hybrid son, Salvador, after his capture by humans, and Akea as she and her pack face an attack from neighbouring wolves. Salvador discovers he is as unique as his mother, and must rely on his ‘gift’ to unite them in time.

Although the manuscript is finished, I am still waiting for some of the illustrations that will precede each chapter. There is the unenviable task of cover design etc still to do, but I am confident it will be ready for publication by the end of the year.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As someone with autism, I find book promotion an even bigger challenge than most authors. I do what I can with my website and blog. With support, I have approached several independent bookshops who are now stocking my first book, as well as Amazon (UK & US), and social media has also proven useful.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write first, edit second. If you try to do both at the same time you may lose the flow. Nothing is ever perfect first time round, so don’t expect perfection from yourself.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t worry about the spelling, punctuation or handwriting. Just get the story down first and pick these up in the edit.

What are you reading now?
Aside from reading up on my dog breeds – nothing! I’ve taken some time out to support my mental health. I’m not very good at balancing writing and life in general, so I’ve started a veggie patch to get me out in the fresh air and sunshine in a productive way.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on the next 4 stories for Akea, and experimenting with new genres and what may be my first people based story.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Something by Gene Rodenberry, Erin Hunter, and Brian Jacques.

Author Websites and Profiles
Elizabeth Jade Website
Elizabeth Jade Amazon Profile

Elizabeth Jade’s Social Media Links
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Magdalin is my debut novel in the genre of romance fiction. Being a writer has always been a dream; I believe being a writer is terrible fortunate. You can touch so many hearts across universe through your story. Having written couple of MNC websites, that’s how my interest grew and my writing skills improved.“Madgalin is my debut novel and I will come up with many good and inspiring stories and I earnestly hope people appreciate my work.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Magdalin
Magdalin is story of young girl in the genre of romance fiction. She fought against many difficulties that changed her into new version of herself.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have habit of writing fascinating stories.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My library was dominated by Nicolas Spark and his unconditional love stories! I found it incredible. In my opinion, the way he narrates a story is unreachable. I don’t know if many of you agree, the magic he creates in his storyline is a beautifully entangled dream, fairy tale or nightmare or maybe illusion that impacts your mind and it controls you for a moment to make you realize you are reading a fiction story. I mean you look around the world and there is no classification. In every book of his, he narrates a saga and the journey of his characters in such a believable way that you forget one is reading fiction.

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

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I chose book launch grand party with media, online marketing strategic etc.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I believe every author is unique in portraying stories and that’s inspiring.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
No matter how good or bad you write never stop writing. You will learn by writing.

What are you reading now?
Woman Everything will be fine

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to write something in magazines.

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 walk to remember
see me
Dear John

Author Websites and Profiles
Munmun Singha Chowdhury Website
Munmun Singha Chowdhury Amazon Profile

Munmun Singha Chowdhury’s Social Media Links
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written quite a few novella’s under other names, mostly to get my feet wet. But my first true book is the first of a series I hope readers will enjoy. Its a love letter really to just about everything that inspired me to get into reading and I truly hope it will give others that simple joy, even as it did me.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Its called ‘A Grimm Beginning’ and is the first of a series called the Outer Zones. It can be found on Amazon and is everything that inspired me as a child. From Shakespeare to Oz, with a few nods here and there to other fables for the discerning reader into a massive world that I’ve lovingly tended to for quite some time. I’m also a Dungeons and Dragons player and this world in particular is one I’ve ran as a campaign for my players once upon a time. One day, I got the urge to write it and here I am.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write on anything when I’m inspired. Napkins, mostly a notepad, but almost entirely on my little computer-thingie. I forgot what its called, but its useful as anything when I’m metaphorically struck by lightning. My handwriting is a tad messy as well, so its even more appreciated!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Sir Terry Pratchett, may his memory never fade. Neil Gaiman. William Shakespeare. Just about every fairy tale writer of the past, Lovecraft for sure. Honestly, this piece would be far too long if I was to sit and express my love and influences. Lately I have been revisiting old favorites like Alexander Dumas and quite frankly, I regard his works as some of the best of literature in general. Tolkien is a classic as well and someone we all turn to, one way or another.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the sequel to a Grimm Beginning. The first was just the set up for a wider world, the second is showing the ramifications of what happens when an Empire set up for the gratification and power of a single person suddenly loses that person. And there are a lot of people in power-the bootlickers, the brown-nosers suddenly without any sort of hold and they’re going to go wild.

And all the while as this happens, one of the ancient monsters of the old world held back by Glinda previously begins to stalk people. I hope people enjoy it when it comes out.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Honestly I’m not entirely sure. I’m hoping this one, hahaha. But I do have a facebook which is mostly me posting funny pictures of muppets and cats. I also have a twitter I hear all the cool kids do nowadays, so there is that. Honestly, while I’m not the best at advertising I am hopeful that my work will speak for itself as people read it and share.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Prepare for pain. Prepare for headaches. And prepare for seeing your characters in all their flaws and glories to experience all manner of heartache, pain and hate. Tormenting them is your job and it makes the end game if they succeed all the more sweeter. But mostly, if you have a story its your responsibility to let it out and be free.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Take care of yourself. This I believe cannot be stressed enough. The work is good, but the body and mind it comes from must be cared for too. Love yourself enough that you don’t work yourself into an early grave. There are folks who care for you and its never weak to accept their help.

What are you reading now?
I am currently cycling through Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman once more, always a classic for me to go back to. Its depictions on the end of the world and the human condition are surprisingly sweet, for a humorous book.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I don’t know. Really, some days I wake up and I wonder why I’m doing all this. And then I look at my work, smile and remember.

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?
Offhand? Making Money and Thud by Terry Pratchett. Stardust by Neil Gaiman. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle.

Author Websites and Profiles
Micah Hong Amazon Profile

Micah Hong’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m from southern Louisiana, but I’ve always been a big city girl. I’ve called Houston, San Diego, and even New York City home, but now I’ve returned home to be close to family and raise my daughter. City life experiences have provided plenty of writing inspiration and you’ll find lots of adventure in every romance from me. I love live music, tattoos, classic cars, and corgis. I’ve published six books and am halfway through writing the first draft of my seventh.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
King Me was my first venture into self-publishing and it debuted this past January. I loved learning the process of indie publishing and look forward to adding more titles. The story of King Me has been in my head for 10 years. I started writing it in 2008 and was doing research in New Orleans about Voodoo for the book. One day, I was told to “stop digging.” So, I took that as a warning and stopped writing, moving on to other projects. Finally, I decided that it’s fiction and I can make up what I don’t know. So, I finished the book in record time (for me) and released it. It’s one of my favorites that I’ve written.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure how unusual it is, because everyone has their own writing process. But I am a complete “pantser,” meaning I do not outline and write by the seat of my pants. When I sit down to write a novel, I know the beginning and end, everything else is up in the air.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I barely read romance before I started writing it. I was into Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Dan Brown, and Anne Rice. I think that’s why all my books have so many elements of adventure, suspense, and surprises.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on my first RomCom right now and it is so much fun, but so different than anything else I’ve done. I’m excited and a bit nervous!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I haven’t figured that out yet. ;P

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just. Keep. Writing.

If it’s all you think about and you need to do it to be happy, it doesn’t matter how many books you sell or reviews you get. Just keep going. Keep telling your stories. I guarantee, your words matter to someone.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do not compare yourself to others. Only compare yourself to who you were yesterday.

What are you reading now?
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

What’s next for you as a writer?
Who knows. I’m up for anything and have so many stories to tell. I’ve been kicking around a YA storyline for a bit and may end up seeing if I can write it.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Outsiders, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Under the Tuscan Sun, The Sound and the Fury, and Paradise Lost.

Author Websites and Profiles
Season Vining Website
Season Vining Amazon Profile

Season Vining’s Social Media Links
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve had four thrillers published traditionally under my own name, one black comedy set in Cuba under the name JW Diaz, and now I’ve just self-published my latest thriller, The Reticent Executioner. My very first book was non-fiction and written in six weeks on an Olivetti portable. It was only around 60,000 words. The Soviet Occupation of Afghanistan was published in Asia by the South China Morning Post and in the UK by Methuen.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Reticent Executioner is a dark and twisted murder mystery set in a post-Brexit London several years hence. It’s intended as the first in a series featuring Detective Inspector Kramer, a brilliant but deeply flawed anti-hero of Scottish origin. I was inspired – if inspired is the right word – by the mess the United Kingdom finds itself in; the disastrous military interventions in Iraq, Syria and Libya, the appallingly incompetent and extreme Tory government’s handling of Brexit and the impact of ‘austerity’ on the lives of ordinary people. I suppose you could say its source was disenchantment with the political ‘elite’ in Westminster and the dystopia they’ve created.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wouldn’t know if they’re unusual or not. I mull over an idea for months, expanding it and pulling it this way and that until I have a rough sense of direction before I start writing.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
So many. They include Tolstoy, Graham Greene, Ernest Hemingway, John le Carre, Patricia Highsmith, Denis Johnson, Norman Rush – the list is long.

What are you working on now?
Well, I’ve finished another book, this time a spy thriller. I’ve had one offer for it but I’m mulling over the advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing it. I’m also jotting down thoughts for the second in the DI Kramer series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m new at this. It’s a steep learning curve. Working with Awesome Gang is one of my first promotion efforts! I am getting to grips with Goodreads, too.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just write. Then kill your darlings and rewrite. Read Francine Prose, Charles Baxter and James Wood on the craft of writing. I wish I’d done that before I started.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I don’t think advice ever did me any good. Rather, I didn’t listen. I have can only learn by doing it myself and making my own mistakes.

What are you reading now?
‘Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?’ by Bill McKibben. It’s probably the single most important book one can read at this point in time.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Get on with the next novel of course!

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?
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. A History of the World in Seven Cheap Things by Raj Patel and Jason W. Moore. East West Street by Philippe Sands. The Art of Joy by Goliarda Sapienza. Against the Grain: A Deep History of the Earliest States by James C. Scott – and finally, Stendhal’s the Red and the Black.

Author Websites and Profiles
John Fullerton Website
John Fullerton Amazon Profile

John Fullerton’s Social Media Links
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Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have been working in the Web and Digital area for over 20 years, both in business and technology. I have written a lot of books, but mostly under company names. This is my first book using my name.

I also like to: write lyrics and poems, brew beer, paint and binge watch on Netflix (I can’t believe I just shared that with you)…

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Don’t Work Stupid, Coach Yourself – The inspiration for the book was the fact that my time is finite – there are only so many more people I can mentor. In the 1990’s when companies cut out middle management, so also went the mentors and coaches. Maybe this book levels the field a bit and enables more people to be successful. My hope is to create legions of new mentors with this book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, only that I don’t write that much. Sometimes I blog on Linkedin about Civility.

My process is write, edit, then stop for a few days and edit it again.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
So many authors – where to start? Non-fiction has the most influence on me. Writers like Stephen Covey, Dale Carnegie and others. I enjoy reading books that have actionable knowledge.

What are you working on now?
I am not working on a book at the current time, but am seriously thinking about writing a book about Civility in the Age of Modern Politics. There’s just too much harsh rhetoric out there. Someone needs to talk about it… in a word: Can’t we all just be nice to one another?

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don’t know. Ads on Amazon, don’t seem to work. Some promo sites work, but ultimately it may be reader reviews and word of mouth that make the largest impact. Also, Dave Chesson of Kindlepreneur has fantastic insight and advice.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Grow a thick skin to criticism, if you want to get great feedback that is honest and can make your work better. If you can’t grow a thick skin, then rent one.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Robert Cormier once told me to “just keep writing.” I think that says volumes.

What are you reading now?
I am reading “Understanding the British” by Adam Fletcher. It’s both a humourous and stoic look at what makes the Brits the Brits. Not only does it explain a lot about the UK, it explains how we in the US got some of our sayings and querks. (If you’re interested: https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-British-hilarious-Apologising-Wimbledon-ebook/dp/B07Q2CKH4H )

What’s next for you as a writer?
Thinking about what I want to write about next and outlining the next 5 years worth of projects.

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 probably replace the books with notepads and writing instruments. I think that much time is meant for writing, not reading. Ok, well, I might take along “Sick to Death” by Greg Levine, it’s a hoot and well written.

Author Websites and Profiles
MARK BAGGESEN Website
MARK BAGGESEN Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m the Founder and Chief Empowerment Officer of CreateWriteNow.com where I mentor health conscious people in using therapeutic journaling (Journaling for the Health Of It) to heal the issues in their tissues and grow and transform their life. I’ve authored 20+ self-paced journaling course eWorkbooks and the multi award-winning bestseller Journaling Power: How To Create The Happy, Healthy Life You Want To Live (ebook, paperback, audiobook).

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I just published Heal Your Self With Journaling Power, the second book in the Journaling Power trilogy. My goal for Journaling Power Book #1 was to share my story (and lots of journaling exercises) and introduce people to journaling power. In Journaling Power Book #2 I share 10 Journaling Journeys (with journaling exercises) of journalers who use journaling in many different wats to master life challenges.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No. I’m very organized, and write my next book every morning Monday through Friday.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Julia Cameron (The Artist’s Way) and Dennis Palumbo (Writing From The Inside Out).

What are you working on now?
The third book in the Journaling Power Trilogy: Create Self-Love Write Now: Journaling Power Book. I have the front and back cover drafted and then it’s on the structure and the writing.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Email blasts through my website and email blasts to my target audience like WOW-WomenOnWriting, Spirituality and Health Magazine, and Body/Mind/Spirit sites. Email blasts work best for me.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Set goals, schedule and write every day on your award-winning bestseller.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It’s from my father who art in heaven: Plan your work and work your plan.

What are you reading now?
We The People by Ryan Grim

What’s next for you as a writer?
Daily journaling and daily work on my next book, Create Self-Love Write Now

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?
Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
Our Revolution by Bernie Sanders
How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body by David R. Hamilton

Author Websites and Profiles
Mari L. Mccarthy Website
Mari L. Mccarthy Amazon Profile
Mari L. Mccarthy Author Profile on Smashwords

Mari L. Mccarthy’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a teacher, educator, leader, former principal and follower of Jesus Christ.

I taught for 6 years as a Primary (Elementary) teacher and Curriculum Coordinator before becoming Deputy Principal and then Principal of a Lutheran Primary school at the age of 32. I then spent the next 20 years in the job and, in addition, was heavily involved in supporting School Principals and leaders across Australia through my work with Lutheran Principals Australia as well as the Independent Schools Association of NSW.
After 20 years of being in the job as Principal, I decided to take some time off to replenish, reflect and recreate.
It was during this time that I decided to record and share some of the lessons learned from my time in the job and record them in such a manner as to encourage others to use them and thus save them valuable time in the process.
As a result, my first book “Easy Speeches: Instant Inspirational Speeches and Motivational Messages for Busy Leaders” was written and published and then “Easy Speeches” Book 2 followed shortly thereafter.
In addition to writing, I am actively involved as a Kids leader and musician in my local church and love to read, play guitar, bike ride, create and have recently learned to weld!!!
I also love to travel, spend time in the garden and dote on my fluffy white companion “Baxter” – a much loved Maltese Shih Tzu dog.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Stop And Give Me 20 Minutes: 20 Faith Exercises to Make You Stronger in 20 Minutes or Less is a Christian Devotional Book aimed to develop your faith and to share with others.
If you are looking for quick and easy, instant online devotions (or Spiritual ‘Exercises’) to start your day and perhaps share with others but you don’t have the time to spend searching online for good material that is short yet inspirational, then this book is for you.
As a past teacher and principal, I was often looking for quick yet inspirational devotions to share with others for our staff devotional times. However, I found that I simply didn’t have the time to wade through the multitude of messages contained online and try and weave something together that would keep people engaged, learning and developing their spiritual muscles!
Well here is the solution I was looking for and now offer you! I’ve done all the hard work for you and have spent much time gathering and organising all the resources into an easy tool for you to grab and use!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I consider unusual!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
John Maxwell, Robert Morris, Joyce Meyer, Jentezen Franklin just to name a few.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a Membership Online Storehouse of materials that new Principals and leaders/educators might find useful and which I wish I had when I first started out in the job!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m just learning in this field but I believe Word of Mouth is still a very useful tool but an online presence is a must!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Give it a go! Don’t be deterred because you think you can’t do it. You can!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be thankful in all circumstances!

What are you reading now?
God Generals – The Revivalists!

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m thinking some more devotional books – but will see.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would try and smuggle in more than three as I have so many.

Author Websites and Profiles
Sharon Kotzur Website
Sharon Kotzur Amazon Profile

Sharon Kotzur’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I write upmarket/book club women’s fiction – stories that modern women can relate to, that move you, sweep you off into a world that feels so much like your own, and make you ponder long after the last page is turned. My novel After You Left became an Amazon Charts bestseller and hit the #1 spot on Amazon, as did my second, The Secrets of Married Women. I live in Canada, though I’m a Brit who happened to marry a Canadian. Because I’ve been here most of my adult life but retain strong emotional ties to the UK, my books try to embrace both.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My novel The Shadow Between Us was released this March. Of all my books, this one was the most emotional for me to write because it’s a story that centres on one of my worst fears and a question I’ve had for years – what would happen to my life if my worst fear came true? I wanted to write it from the very first moment I began writing novels – some 18 years ago, but I didn’t really feel I was mature enough for the subject matter back then. Besides that was an era when chick lit was popular and this story felt too dark to sell at that time. But it always sat there in my head, and finally, in my late forties, I decided it needed to be told.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Interestingly, I do! I am lucky enough to be able to write full time. I take this seriously. I write Monday to Friday, pretty much keeping office hours. (no TV. no naps. Well, er, perhaps on long winter days when the cat and dog are both asleep beside me). What I find fascinating about my process is that I can sit there all day at my computer and be very unproductive at times. But as soon as 4pm hits, something very strange happens. I write. I write fast and fluidly. The words pour out of me – they all make sense. Between 4 and 6pm I can make up for an entire wasted day. Even if I am seriously stuck and panicking, I will find myself waiting for 4pm to roll around because somehow I know something will kick into gear and I will write myself out of my slump. It’s very weird. But I hope it never changes or there may be no more novels!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Many. I try to read women’s fiction as widely as I can. I prefer books where great writing truly shines through, rather than intricate plots. I need to feel swept away by language. If an author can do that and give me a story I won’t easily forget (which is what I aim to do with every novel), then I am hooked – she will be a favourite for me. Over the years I’ve loved Louise Candlish, Rosie Thomas, Anita Shreve, to name only three…

What are you working on now?
My new one that will be out March 2020 is in edits so technically I am adding the finishing touches to that. I had a title for it that I thought was rather wonderful but now the publisher might want me to change it. So I can’t really tell you what it is, but I will say please friend me over on Facebook or follow my author page – that’s where I’m most interactive. Then you’ll know more as I get to know it!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesome Gang is fantastic, as well as several other paid websites. I am lucky enough to be published by Amazon’s Lake Union so I tend to do very little promoting myself. This is good because I HATE selling myself. Most writers are introverts and don’t have big heads, so it’s very hard for me to get out there and shout about my own work.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Understand which genre you are writing in. Read widely in that genre. Write the best story you can write – because YOU want to write it, not for any other reason. If it’s not exciting you, it won’t excite readers. Then put your business hat on. Publishing is a business. Your book will only be bought by a publisher if they see potential for big sales – that’s the reality of the industry today. You need to approach agents/editors with some understanding of the business. Be professional. To succeed, you need a smart head on your shoulders, a powerful novel – and of course a little bit of luck. It took me years. YEARS of setbacks, sadness, and self-doubt. But I kept at it. I improved my craft. I tried not to take rejection personally. I believed I could do it. I got there eventually. So might you!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write your draft the set it aside. Ideally for 2-3 weeks. Longer if you can. When you read it again you will see it with new eyes. It’s the truest thing anyone ever told me.

What are you reading now?
I am re-reading The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes. How many times have I read it no? It never fails to delight me.

What’s next for you as a writer?
One more book to write in my contract with Lake Union. Then…. hopefully a brand new contract and more books!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Julian Barnes – The Sense of an Ending
The Bridges of Madison County – Robert James Waller
Apple Tree Yard – Louise Doughty
The Prince of Tides – Pat Conroy

Author Websites and Profiles
Carol Mason Website
Carol Mason Amazon Profile

Carol Mason’s Social Media Links
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a psychologist by training, but I quickly realized the world of therapy and academia wouldn’t be enough for me. After graduate school, I started a career in marketing and have built a solid career as a strategy, branding and insights guru. This is my first book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Epiphany Marketing: The Heart of Marketing Starts at Your Core is my first book and was inspired by my own experiences across 20 years in the industry. In many ways, it is a nod to marketing of the past but it’s much more than this. I put on my hat as organizational psychologist and remind leaders what it means to lead from within. It is a book that highlights some best practices based on numerous Fortune 50, 100 and 500 companies I’ve had the honor of working with.

I am an indie author, but this won’t be my last book. I’ve loved every minute of the process.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write late at night and usually can’t sleep until a thought is finished. I go a lot on my gut and trust it to guide the message.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I really enjoy a lot of spiritual teachers – Deepak Chopra is at the top of my list. Not far behind is Iyanla Vanzant

What are you working on now?
Right now I’m working on a book about organizational culture and how to improve environments.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am a talker, so I find getting out and in front of people works best for me.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just do it!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Focus on the big picture and don’t get lost in the small details.

What are you reading now?
You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’d like to do more public speaking and inspire people to get back to who they really are.

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 Four Agreements, The Celestine Prophecy, The Alchemist, The Untethered Soul

Author Websites and Profiles
Maisha Cobb Website
Maisha Cobb Amazon Profile

Maisha Cobb’s Social Media Links
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Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a husband and father of three who resides in the beautiful environs of Montana. At heart, I’m an outdoorsman, a hobbyist, a technologist and a lover of ice hockey. I’ve been successfully parenting my kids for eighteen years with many more to come. This is my first book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is Journey to Men: 25 Awesome Missions to Teach Boys Resourcefulness. The idea for this book came from an afternoon drive listening to one of my favorite podcasts. In the story, the narrator had discovered that he had cancer with only 6 months to live. The story continued with the narrator describing everything he planned to do with his remaining time and the things that suddenly mattered little. I found myself very emotional by the end of the podcast and I knew why. I realized that if I was to die tomorrow, I would have left my two boys without fundamental skills I’d intended to pass on. Skills that would help them on their journey to being capable men and productive resourceful members of society. How could I possibly be so busy that I neglected to pass on those important life lessons? Further, I didn’t see a timeline where this would naturally happen.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wouldn’t say anything out of the ordinary, I spend a lot of time in coffee shops around Bozeman. As I have a full-time job and 3 kids I write whenever I can find some time wherever I happen to be. Ideally, I’d be sitting at a desk looking out over a beautiful lake with a glass of Kirk and Sweeney rum next to my laptop but I have no reason to expect that ever to happen.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The inspiration for Journey to Men wasn’t related to anything I’d read. In fact, it was the lack of similar resources that inspired me to write this book. I was definitely influenced by other wonderful books for boys such as the Dangerous Book for Boys and WWII era field manuals.

What are you working on now?
I’m developing some additional resources for Journey to Men fans available on the website and in the future I can see some additional Missions for different aged kids.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still learning in this space, but my own Facebook friends have been the largest supporters.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t be afraid to get out there and try and realize it’s a marathon, not a sprint, especially for us indie authors.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t–you’re right.” — Henry Ford

What are you reading now?
The Orvis Fly Fishing Guide

What’s next for you as a writer?
More writing once I’ve got this one successfully launched.

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
Robopocalypse
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Jurassic Park

Author Websites and Profiles
Paul Van Lierop Website
Paul Van Lierop Amazon Profile

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I started writing in earnest around 2016, and have only managed to produce 2 books! I grew up in Sydney, Australia. After working in business for a couple of decades I had an opportunity to ‘role swap’ with my wife – she is now the bread-winner, and I’m an amateur writer / house dad to three amazing (and challenging) teenagers.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Wasting Time on Mars is the second instalment in a Trilogy. It was inspired by the referendum for independence in Australia in 1999 (which failed!), and is centred on the idea that colonies always eventually struggle for independence.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
If I’m writing action I like to rev up with hard rock and old-school metal… not sure if that is unusual?! Otherwise it’s coffee and trying to get on a roll.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen King, John Wyndham, all the old school scifi writers (eg Arthur C Clark etc). I liked action authors as a teenager (e.g. Robert Ludlum). My all-time favourite book is The Count of Monte Cristo, although War of the Worlds and Day of the Triffids come close.

What are you working on now?
Book #3 in the Time on Mars Trilogy.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesome Gang, obviously! Actually, I think targeted advertising on Amazon can work.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
You probably won’t hit the jackpot. If you slog for years you may eventually make ends meet. Write ‘what you know’… but challenge yourself and stretch what you know into new and unusual situations.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Live for now, life is short

What are you reading now?
My sister-in-law’s draft novel

What’s next for you as a writer?
Solo sailing circumnavigation of the world. Nah, not really.

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?
Count of Monte Cristo, perhaps the Millennium series?

Author Websites and Profiles
A.M.R. Taylor Amazon Profile

A.M.R. Taylor’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a veteran copywriter and a lifelong goth. I was a ghostwriter for many years.I love art but cannot draw a straight line with a ruler to save my life. Twice The Demise is my first and only book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Twice The Demise was published March the second of this year. There was a time in my life where so many bad things had happened. Thankfully, I had a mentor who knew my strengths as a writer. She was my college professor as well. She would always tell me how much she enjoyed reading my essays. Years later, as I was staring at a picture of my favorite graveyard, whilst doing a ghostwriting assignment, I opened another Word page and started writing the first two chapters of my book. I showed it to her and after editing it, she gave me the green light.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I do not know what counts as unusual but here we go. I still use a typewriter for some of my writing. It helps me think better. I also need to have a notebook and a pen. I cannot rely completely on a computer. If I get stuck on an idea, I will whip out my guitar and start playing. If it is too late, I will howl at my neighbor’s noisy dog. We have an understanding.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Dean Koontz , Philip Zimbardo, Edgar Allen Poe, Daphne Du Maurier Alphonse Daudet and newly- Sylvain Reynard.

What are you working on now?
I am working on Twice The Demise’s second installment. I have other projects but have yet to finalize some details.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Social media, whether I like it or not, is one of the best methods to promote almost anything. It is my primary method right now.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I am a pretty new author myself and I do not think I am qualified enough to give advice. But I will say this: Do not be afraid to market your book to people who do not read your genre. You will be surprised. Also, do not be afraid of bad reviews. Bad reviews are better than no reviews. Not everyone is going to like your work. Writing is an art and as they say- ‘Art is subjective’.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
A famous painter told me that if you write for the sole purpose of money then you will be let down. Write just to put your story and soul out there. People are going to critique and criticize you. People are going to make fun of you. But you know what’s important? You did something that people are afraid of doing.

What are you reading now?
The Book of Job

What’s next for you as a writer?
Drafting TTD’s second installment. It is my baby and it is my main focus for now.

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 Lucifer Effect
The Eyes of Darkness
Twilight of The Idols

Author Websites and Profiles
Maureen Joseph Website
Maureen Joseph Amazon Profile

Maureen Joseph’s Social Media Links
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