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Rick McKeon 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a nature lover, engineer, musician, and health addict. So, I have written 15 books on a variety of topics. To find out more visit my book page here https://www.rickmckeon.com/bookstore.html

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Plant Based Health & Wellness. It is the story of my personal health journey over the past couple of years as I recovered from some pretty serious health issues. The amazing difference that adopting a plant based lifestyle has made for me also inspired me to start a free monthly newsletter called The Journal of Plant based Health & Wellness.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t have a strict writing regimen. I just write when I feel like it . . . which is all the time.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Recently my focus has been on health, so my heroes are Dr. Neal Barnard, Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Dr Michael Greger, Dr. Michael Klaper, Dr. Pam Popper, and John Robbins. OK, there are many more, but you get the idea.

What are you working on now?
An ongoing project is my monthly newsletter called The Journal of Plant Based Health & Wellness. I’m not a doctor, so it takes me a whole month just to produce the next feature article. Also, I am working on a book titled The Keys to Radiant Health: Diet, Lifestyle, Stress Management, and Detoxification. I’m really excited about this one, and think it will help many people.

At the same time I am working on some instructional books (with accompanying video lessons) for guitar and banjo playing, and getting back to playing some rest home gigs.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesome Gang of course! But I also belong to a lot of Facebook groups and use AMS to promote on Amazon.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
What we believe about ourselves determines our actions. For some reason I have always had an inferiority complex. This has held me back in so many ways (personally and professionally). I think that new authors need to believe in themselves and hang in there. There is no such thing as failure, you just haven’t reached your goal yet. Success is on the way!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Treat others as you would like to be treated.

What are you reading now?
Everything related to health and music.

What’s next for you as a writer?
My health books are just a vehicle. I want to get out and do more speaking to promote healthy living. Also, I want to get out and give the gift of music to the elderly as small residential rest homes. Both of these things are a privilege and a blessing.

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?
How to Build a Raft
How to Cook Bananas
Navigation 101

Author Websites and Profiles
Rick McKeon Website

Sergei Katz 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Greetings to you, great and terrible fan of fantasy, good literature and just a random visitor to my blog! My name is Sergey Katz, I was born in 1974 in Moscow, and now I live in Israel. I have been working in the hi-tech industry for more than 15 years, successfully generating new ideas. Right now I fully completed 3 books and working on two new ones

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My last book is part of Changing World series and called “The Fast Flow”, the whole idea behind series is to create always changing game world (the book is LitRPG genre) and make everyone gamer’s, NPC’s and even Gods feel pressured by all this changes. I really want to make this world alive and make reader dive deep inside and feel he is part of action.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Writers are not born — unlike the children of millionaires — they become. So it was with me: once I got tired of keeping my “savings” in my dreams: overwhelmed with ideas and voices in my head, I decided to pick up a pen and try to pour everything on paper. As it turned out, it is not only cheaper than making an appointment with a cool psychiatrist, but it is much more fun! The first book was an experimental product, and although the beginning was hard, then it was impossible to stop me. You probably know this when something carries you away so much that you confuse day and night, you have a phone with an iron, you drink hastily sour milk, or you forget to comb your hair. Writing sclerosis is even more difficult than domestic sclerosis, but while the rest are looking for a second sock all over the house, I sit in one and obsessively write a new interesting chapter. No, I’m not cold.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Well, I do like a lot of different writers starting with awesome Roger Zelazny “The Chronicles of Amber”, continuing with unbelievable Andrzej Sapkowski “The Witcher”, one of my first fantasy loves Dragonlance Chronicles and much more.
I also adore Detective writers like Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie and Rex Stout.
In my Adult years I read a lot of Sci-fi and historic books too.

What are you working on now?
Right now I’m in the middle of first book at new LitRPG series, which will be totally different from everything I wrote till today. The world setting is very … how I will say it unexpected Really hope I can pull this idea, and even more hope for readers to like it.
Same time I’m working on story line for 3-d book in Changing World series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Till now everything was done via Amazon, but now I’m ready to try all new way’s.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes! Don’t stop. to become a good writer you have to write and improve yourself. Readers will find you. Some will like your story some not, and this is great! More feedback’s you get better you can become. Always and I mean it always ask for feedback and reviews.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Everything is easy if you do it in chunks.

What are you reading now?
Dan Sugralinov “The Final Trial”

What’s next for you as a writer?
I wan’t one of my books to become a movie or TV series.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Really have no answer for this one. Hope I will never be in this situation. 4 books is nothing :))))

Author Websites and Profiles
Sergei Katz Website
Sergei Katz Amazon Profile

Sergei Katz’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

A.J. Morrison 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have been writing for the better part of 30 years, and seriously writing for at least 20 of those. I have “officially” written 2 books, one of which published that I don’t talk about, and the other available for pre-order now, available 2/1/2020. I have the lore and storyboards done for the next five in the Seven Seals Archive series, and most of the content written.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Embersoul; Book One of the Seven Seals Archive. This is my passion project. I have been developing these characters and this world for over twenty years, and can tell you every detail all the way back to the creation of all things. Each of these characters are representative of me in some way. The real inspiration came from using these characters in years of games of Dungeons and Dragons with my friends and really feeling them flesh out into reality. I have been storytelling and DMing for a very long time, and it was time to put life into characters that have been as real as life to me.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think so. My process is pretty simple, I write until I feel the burn, then break for a while. I am a hybrid of explorer and architect, I plan key points in the plots and then let the characters guide me from there. If I had to pick one “unusual” habit, I would say that on most occasions I will write many of a characters chapters in a row before I start the next characters POV, and edit them in place later.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Hugh Howey strictly for his business sense and success as a self-publisher. GRRM, JRRT, Sanderson, Jordan, Crichton, Bret Easton Ellis, Barker, Jacqueline Carey. R.L. Stine, RA Salvatore, Mark Manson, Me.

What are you working on now?
Now begins the marketing phase for Embersoul. After I have a good foothold on promoting, I will be continuing work on Book 2 of the Seven Seals Archive.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I wish I knew!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
The work doesn’t start until after you are ready to publish. If you don’t want it enough, you’ll fail. You could write the best words ever put to paper, but without all the insane amounts of legwork you need to do to get off the ground such as marketing, networking, promoting, etc, then you won’t make it anywhere. Read Mark Manson’s “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck.” He has the best advice for entrepreneurship I’ve ever heard. If you give up when it gets hard, you may as well give up now. This won’t be handed to you, it is a full time job getting noticed and read.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You’ll never succeed if you never fail. We learn from our failures more than our successes.

What are you reading now?
The Great and Secret Show by Clive Barker

What’s next for you as a writer?
HBO or Netflix series or bust!

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?
Embersoul by A.J. Morrison (No seriously, I enjoy my writing a lot, even though I’ve memorized it at this point.)
Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady just because it’s almost a million words.
GRRM or JRRT

Author Websites and Profiles
A.J. Morrison Amazon Profile

A.J. Morrison’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

K. E. Adamus 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have been writing for long time, but as a perfectionist did not wanted to publish. Finally, I got rid of this habit. I published two books in Polish language and one in English – compilation of stories “Losers”.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Stories in my compilation – Losers, are inspired by many different things. Sometimes I was using personal experience (but NO, I did not kill anyone), sometimes from real events, but mostly all is made up. The main theme comes from describing and average person with lots of problems.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Nothing unusal here. I brainstorm the ideas, make a plan of whole plot, and start to write. The only unusal thing is that sometimes events described by me on pages of the book, manifest later somehow in my own life.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I like prose of Philip Roth, Amos Oz and Haruki Marukami.

What are you working on now?
I am working on few projects, ordered by clients. I’m writing in my native language. I am also trying to complete my second novel.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Newbie in this area, so can not advise much.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Try to read as many books as you can. Keep a daily journal. Also I recommend to sign up for creative writing classes or to find a mentor.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write, write and write. And write.

What are you reading now?
Sociology book.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Completing my novels, and publishing them one by one.

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?
“Martin Eden” by Jack London. The rest would be survival books, quite handy in such environment.

Author Websites and Profiles
K. E. Adamus Amazon Profile

K. E. Adamus’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Leon Stevens 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written a grand total of…(drum roll)…One!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures is a book with poems, pr (umm, I guess it’s all in the title). I never thought of myself as a writer, but certain events in my life made writing a necessity. Along with songwriting and composing, it was a way for me to organize my thoughts and make sense of it all. I’m happy to say that it did.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I do some of my best writing when I am running or hurting. Often, that is the same time…
Ideas come to me when I’m running or cycling. I suppose it’s the way that exercising relaxes the mind and gets the creativity flowing. A lot of my poems have an environment/nature theme, so when I’m out, I’m looking around and taking in all the beauty and ugliness in the world.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I grew up reading early Sci-Fi books, Verne, Asimov, Bradbury, Niven, to name a few. Then came Tolkien, Lewis, Orwell, Huxley, Wyndham, and Vonnegut.

What are you working on now?
My first book: Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures is in it’s final production phase and should be available in January 2020. I did take some of the works from that book and created a free eBook, so that readers could get an idea of what I’m all about (psst…it’s on my website). Some of the poems deal with loss and struggle, others with ego and human nature. Observations of places and the environment are included, and then some of my illustrations with very short stories round out the book. A lot of it has a humorous tone, and I admit I do have an odd sense of humor.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m totally new at this so it’s been quite the challenge as a new author to reach readers who hopefully will want to read what I have written. I started with a website, then LinkedIn, Goodreads, AllAuthor, and the like. I think the main thing is to participate in some of the great discussions out there.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Being a new author myself, I would say just do it. If you think what you have written has merit and people will enjoy reading it, then publishing your book in any way is worth it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I read this in a Bear Grylls book and it stuck with me:

“Commitment is doing what you said you would do, long after the mood that you said it in has gone.”

What are you reading now?
I just finished re-reading Ready Player One (Ernest Cline) and starting to read some of Greg Bear’s novels.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am currently working on a series of short stories in the style of early Science Fiction, when imagination was king and not overshadowed or disproved by technological facts. I’m also including some post-apocalyptic tales. Can’t have enough of those…

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?
There are a few books that I have read many times:
Klondike: Pierre Burton
Alive: Piers Paul Read
The Chronicles of Narnia: C.S. Lewis
Does the entire collection of Calvin and Hobbes count as one?

Author Websites and Profiles
Leon Stevens Website

Leon Stevens’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Trisha Chiriboga 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a writer based in Brooklyn. I’ve written two books with a third on the way. My debut novel is, “The Sorry Tale of Mr. Khan” and “The Mistaken Path” is my second one. It’s actually out right now.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest novel is, “The Mistaken Path” and it was written when I was a young teenager. It took me two years to write, from ages 12-14. Nothing in particular inspired it, but I was influenced by television and what was one tv and movies at the time.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to listen to music while writing and it seeps into my subconscious a lot. That’s about as quirky as it gets.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m definitely influenced by Thomas Hardy. I read, “Jude the Obscure” and was blown away. I was amazed at how he was able to write about women in the way he did. He did them justice. I had no idea how they longed for freedom back in those days.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on my third novel called, “For the Love of Lisa.” It’s a modern story about a woman looking for love and living in the big city.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don’t have one yet, but this site seems to be very author friendly.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Promotion is key to your success.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do what you love and let it kill you.

What are you reading now?
A biography of Tom Jones

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to make, “For the Love of Lisa” as a three part series. I want to see where my character goes and what she goes through.

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?
“Eva Luna”, “Complete serial killer guide”, “Jude the Obscure”, and the fourth, I’m not sure.

Author Websites and Profiles
Trisha Chiriboga Website

Srijit Mondal 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hey folks, I am Srijit Mondal.
Speaking about myself , I’m a 20 year old from Kolkata, West Bengal. Other than my writing career, I pursue a bachelor’s degree in Statistics from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata. An IYMC pre-finalist and scholar, mathematics, literature, data and the human mind amuse me and leave me in awe. My books have won me wide acclaims including nomination in “Top 100 Innovators in Education”, an esteemed award presented by the GFEL in 2019. Recently I’ve got a nomination for “Author of the Year 2019” from Ne8X Litfest and “Best Debut Author” from Star India Awards 2019.
I have published four books till now, three mathematics books and a book of Bengali poems.
Of the three Mathematics books ,my first book ,the first edition of “Mathematical Tricks” was a Bestseller for a long run of 87 days also spending time in Amazon India’s “Hot & New Releases” , selling over 500 copies in 6 months all over the world.The second edition of the book is also out now and is doing equally well.
My second and third book “201 Mind Boggling Problems In Mathematics” and “1001 Objective Problems In Mathematics” has also been favorites to various educational institutes and students preparing for various entrances. These books as the names suggest, covers some “out of the box” problems delicately designed covering a vast range of topics from set theory, algebra, geometry to almost everything.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest book, “Uro Bhabnar Jonmostup”, is an outcome of the experiences of life faced by young minds. As the title suggests, the book is a collection of poems and a few short stories curling up from random thoughts on almost anything and everything – social dogmas, love and emotions, friendship, intellectualism and many more. The book has got positive criticisms from writers and intellectuals and has been an Amazon India “Hot New Release” selling more than 100 copies in a month of its release.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have been a hardcore booklover since my childhood gobbling anything from comics, fantasies, literary pieces and the craving has just increased with age. Writers and what went inside their mind always fascinated me but I never thought I’ll be one.
I remember writing my first poem when I was 16…too late may be but better late than never…haha.
First idea of mathematics book came just from the love for the subject and the poetry book is a collection of what me and my co-authors have written over the past few years
, I never plan and write. I generally write when I’m idling may be…suddenly some thoughts come and I jot it down .
Even for mathematical things, it’s like I’m solving a problem and I find it great and useful…I take a note, some shortcut or some useful formulae…it’s just that way. Later on I find a place to add it in the draft.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Well, its hard to pin point some particular authors or books which have influenced me…there are a lot of them.
Yet some special Mathematics books are there like “Finite dimensional Vector spaces ” by P R Halmos, Mathematical Circles, Arthur Engel’s “Problem Solving Strategies ” and a lot others.
In literature, books by Nicholas Sparks, Dan Brown and a lot others don’t fail to amuse.

What are you working on now?
I have a poetry book (this time in English) coming up, a collection of around 100 poems on varied topics. It’ll be out in a month or two. I wish to go for a crime fiction and a book on Life Lessons. Let’s see

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have an obsession towards “Organic” reach. But I still have my own marketing strategy. Facebook ads and aiming proper groups related to the books helps the most. Also Quora is another useful site alongside a lot of sites that review books for free.
For paid promotion I choose promotion either in newspapers or through Amazon paid ads.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Naturality and uniqueness. Do something unique, don’t copy others. Have your own style because that style will later on become your signature, will speak for you. And yes, take the risk of self-publishing your book if traditional publishers are not taking up your book. Self-published books with quality writings and proper publicity are nowadays beating a lot of traditionally published books. So believe in yourself and go for it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Not to look back and learn from failures is what we always hear from our elders and teachers.
But one of my teachers once said me a beautiful line, “Fail…and then use these failures to build your staircase…climb up and you’ll see its the strongest staircase to success”.

What are you reading now?
A voracious reader…I’m gobbling up a lot of books presently…there’s The ABC Murders, The Fault in our Stars, Inside Chanakya’s Mind, Kargil: The Untold Story and a lot of others.
I’m three-fourth way through and will be finishing up soon.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I wish to go for a crime fiction. It has always been a dream to be someone like Agatha Christie…marvelling readers with the strangest mystery and crime plots. And a book on Life Lessons is also what I’m thinking of. Let’s 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?
Umm…let me think…
Well firstly I would like to have an Atlas so that I can at least try to find my way out…haha.
Other than that I would love to take Paradise Lost, Brief History of Time, Brief Answers to Big Questions and Life 3.0

Author Websites and Profiles
Srijit Mondal Website
Srijit Mondal Amazon Profile

Srijit Mondal’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Ben Lyle Bedard 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
A writer from rural Maine, the strange wheels of life have brought me to live in La Serena, Chile. I’ve written several books. My science fiction trilogy, “The Slinger Trilogy” is on amazon as well as my coming-of-age zombie story, “The World Without Crows.” I’ve just finished the sequel to that called “The World Without Flags” which is available now on pre-order!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My last book is called “The World Without Flags.” I really have no idea what inspired it. My inspiration usually comes to me in several distinct bursts. It’s never one idea, it’s like a dozen that come together for a book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know if it’s unusual, but I try not to talk about my writing. At least not until it’s ready to be published or read.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Many books have influenced me, but when I think of good prose, I usually think of Raymond Carver, Ernest Hemingway, and Cormac McCarthy. It’s difficult because for me each book has its own parents, so I might think that the next book’s prose should be more like Margaret Atwood or Ursula K. LeGuin.

What are you working on now?
I’m planning a fantasy book now.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think Goodreads is an excellent place to find readers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be disciplined and keep moving forward. Writing is a craft learned over time. You’ll probably have to write a thousand pages before you write one good story.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you want to write, read.

What are you reading now?
Some good ole Terry Pratchett and a book on Darwin’s Finches.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I plan on sticking to writing fantasy for a little while, although I might take a break to finish the World Without Trilogy.

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?
100 Years of Solitude
Dune
The Confederacy of Dunces
The Silmarillion.

Author Websites and Profiles
Ben Lyle Bedard Website
Ben Lyle Bedard Amazon Profile

Ben Lyle Bedard’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

J.R. Wirth 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written two full-length novels, with the third ready to go. I also have two short story series’: the Twisted Family Holiday Collection series; and the Christmas Town series—book four was released December 5, 2019. I have other short stories, some in anthologies, others stand alone. In total, there are fourteen unique works on my Amazon page—thirteen with independent publishers and a biographical football anthology, in which I had others contribute. I edited one of the football stories and was a ghost writer for my high school coach. I have countless others in online venues.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest published work is book four of the Christmas Town series: The Christmas Town Calls. My granddaughter came to me before book one (just after Thanksgiving, 2014) and asked why I hadn’t written a book about her and the grandkids. I looked at the Christmas tree and the town beneath it, and then had her accompany me to inspect it. The series was born.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t have any unusual habits, except maybe doing a lot from my spot on my bed with my laptop.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favorite authors are Dean Koontz, Dan Brown, and John Grisham–so I’m sure they’ve influenced my writing, thought not consciously.

What are you working on now?
I waiting on one more review for “The Institute,” which is a thriller that pits a group of youth against some evil men to save their friend from an evil psychiatric hospital where he has been sent. The first three including Reader’s Favorite and Kirkus reviews have been exceptional with quite flattering comparisons by Kirkus. After I have the next review, I’ll decide how to proceed, perhaps I’ll try an agent to get into one of the big five publishers.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m not sure what’s best, but I use Facebook a lot paid and not. But as far as getting the books out–free promos are best. I get a lot of hits but no money…so?

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing. You’ll get better and better, even if you think you’re great, you’ll get better.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Trust your voice.

What are you reading now?
Dan Brown’s Digital Fortress.

What’s next for you as a writer?
We’ll see what happens with The Institute. If all goes well, full steam ahead…

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?
Lightning-Koontz; Da Vinci Code-Brown; Client-Grisham; Bible-New Testament

Author Websites and Profiles
J.R. Wirth Amazon Profile

J.R. Wirth’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Francis H Powell 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Born in Britain, now living in France. I have written two books, the first being Flight of Destiny, the second being Adventures of Death, Reincarnation and Annihilation.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Adventures of Death, Reincarnation and Annihilation
Set in a variety of settings and time periods, the past, the present and the future, the book explores the inevitable unknown that lies before us all “death”. Death can be arrive in a multitude of forms. One theme is the last living being. The book took me in a variety of directions, horror but also science fiction. There are are also elements of humor.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I know of

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Rupert Thompson author of The Five Gates of Hell, Dreams of Leaving, This Party’s Got to Stop.
Roald Dahl

What are you working on now?
A very dark story called “I am the priest killer”

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use Twitter a lot

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep going, don’t get put off, by any rejection. Start with short stories and then move on to full length novels.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To promote my latest book and try to finish I am the priest killer

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?
Dreams of Leaving
War and peace
some Roald Dahl

Author Websites and Profiles
Francis H Powell Website
Francis H Powell Amazon Profile
Francis H Powell Author Profile on Smashwords

Francis H Powell’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Veronica Eden 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Veronica Eden is the author of dark new adult romances + reverse harem romances with spitfire heroines and irresistible heroes. She loves exploring complicated feelings, magical worlds, epic adventures, and the bond of characters that embrace us against the world. She has always been drawn to gruff antiheroes, clever villains, and the twisty-turns of morally gray decisions. She believes sometimes the villain should get the girl and is a sucker for a deliciously devilish antihero. Veronica Eden is the pen name of romance author Mara Townsend. When not writing, she can be found soaking up sunshine at the beach, snuggling in a pile with her untamed pack of animals (her husband, dog and cat), and surrounding herself with as many plants as she can get her hands on.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest release is Unmasked Heart, a dark new adult arranged marriage romance. I was inspired to write this story because I wanted to tell a tale of mistaken identity and play with the power dynamics of the mafia through a ritzy New Year’s Eve gala between two people in an arranged marriage.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Lately I’ve been obsessive about making spotify playlists for each character in my book to get into their head/voice as I write!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
JK Rowling, Jude Devereaux, LJ Shen, Leigh Bardugo, Renee Ahdieh

What are you working on now?
A dark new adult high school bully romance series following four different couples.

What are you reading now?
Currently reading Steel Princess (Royal Elite Book 2) by Rina Kent! It’s got me on the edge of my seat!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Coming up in 2020 is a 4 book dark new adult high school bully romance series and a standalone paranormal reverse harem romance with a witch and three accidentally summoned demons ready to do her bidding.

Author Websites and Profiles
Veronica Eden Website
Veronica Eden Amazon Profile

Veronica Eden’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

James Carlo 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
When I was twenty-one I took a job teaching English and coaching football at a small Catholic high school in Southern California. It was intended to be stopgap, temporary employment until I decided what I really wanted to do with my life. Within a year I was hooked on the coaching and found I had the wherewithal to manage a classroom full of high schoolers, and even transmit knowledge. Forty-two years later I retired.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The Top Out of View” is my latest published work, a book of poems trying to capture the essence of the high school football experience. If you find the idea of poetry and football incongruous, all I can say is if poetry is an effort to capture human authenticity in action, football qualifies as a suitable subject.

 

 

Takako Daniel 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in Osaka, Japan. I came to the United States as an exchange student during high school. I went back to Japan after graduating, but came back 3 years later and attended college. Soon after graduating, I got married and had two daughters. I went back to school in my late 40s and became a Licenced Massage Therapist.
I enjoy crocheting, singing, baking, and gardening. I love animals, especially cats and dogs.
I now have written two books, although my first book is a very short one. I wrote my first book because one of my younger daughter’s friends’ mom kept asking my daughter what I do to look so young. I’m 53 years old, but people tell me that I look like I’m in my 30s.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my latest book is Waste Not, Borrow Not : An Easy Guide to Finding Money You Didn’t Know You Had. I wrote this book because I’m a very frugal person and many people around me are wasting lots of money. Most of them make a lot more money than I do, but they run out of money before the next payday. I wanted to teach other people how you can live without spending a lot of money.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m very old-fashioned. I like to write everything on paper. I can’t ever start writing on my computer.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I can’t remember the name of the books. I read many non-fiction books from the local library and someday decided to write.

What are you working on now?
I just launched my book, so I haven’t had enough time to think about the next one yet. One of my massage clients wants me to write a book about stretching and self-massaging though. I don’t know if I will or not.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m terrible with promotion. I don’t know what works yet.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I used to think that I could never be an author, especially in my second language. If I can do it, anyone can. You just need determination.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You can’t ever please everyone. Do what you believe is the right thing.

What are you reading now?
I checked out Anne Frank : The Diary of a Young Girl from the library.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have to see how my book is going to do first. I might make my first book better, because I didn’t hire a formatter for that book. Or, I might think about the next book to write.

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, Jesus Calling, The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook, and some kind of big and thick logic puzzle book.

 

Alix Lee 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Most of my own creative work has been oriented towards the visual arts. I would like to try creative writing (fiction) when I’ve finished the True Tales of a Traveller series, but these travel stories themselves don’t fall into that category; they are more like journalism. There are 13 in the series so far.

I considered publishing my own travel experiences many times in recent years, but self-publishing seemed too complicated so I never got around to it until I discovered in 2018 that Amazon had streamlined the whole process. Now I’ve got the ball rolling with the first few stories available in paperback and as e-books, but I still have many tales to tell! I would like to make them available as audiobooks, but unfortunately that option is only available in a few countries, not including Taiwan.

I’m putting excerpts of all my work on my personal website, alixlee.com, so that anybody interested has an alternative to Amazon’s Look Inside facility, which only shows the first pages.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest story is True Tales of a Traveller: Winter Break. This true account is set mostly in the Philippines about a year after the deposal of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos. The People Power revolution that led to the end of the Marcos era and ushered in the new government of Corazon Aquino had been positively reported on throughout the free world, and just reading those news reports made me keen to visit the country and see life there first-hand.

The years immediately after the People Power revolution were a time of soaring crime rates and political instability. A weak government and a brutal communist insurgency which seemed at times ready to topple it, along with an undermanned police force and rampant corruption throughout law enforcement and the judiciary provided the perfect backdrop for criminals and even people who no criminal history to settle old scores with impunity. In an era which makes Rodrigo Duterte’s murderous post-2016 campaign against drug dealers seem uncomfortably familiar, murder without legal consequences became commonplace, and ‘hitmen’ proliferated. This story also provides insight into exactly how that happened.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to work very early in the mornings or late at night; that way I don’t have to many other concerns to interfere with my writing.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I may not be a good judge of that. But I have enjoyed most of the classic travel books, so it’s possible I’ve been influenced by any or all of them. I give any book a listen (I mostly listen to audiobooks, although I do occasionally read paperbooks and e-books) if the subject interests me and the writer seems to know what he or she is talking about.

In my late teens in the UK I was obsessed with science fiction, particularly the ‘new wave’ writers, such as J.G. Ballard, Thomas M Disch, Harlan Ellison and so on. Then, while in Morocco on my first piece of independent travel in 1981, I read the book that changed my life: Jupiter’s Travels by Ted Simon. I couldn’t put the book down, and it started me on a travel ‘career’ lasting many years.

What are you working on now?
For the next year or so I expect to continue working mostly on the True Tales series and The Taiwan Experience trilogy. The True Tales paperbacks will be published in chronological order, but the stories themselves I just work on in any order as I feel, or according to what’s clearest in my memory.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I only free promotion websites like this one! Perhaps when I have had more success I will have the option of trying a few paid promotion methods.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Only the same advice I give myself: Don’t give up!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Probably the above.

What are you reading now?
The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Success, hopefully!

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 take the above-mentioned Jupiter’s Travels, plus The Great Railway Bazaar, The Motorcycle Diaries, and On The Road. All these books would be able to take me to other places.

Author Websites and Profiles
Alix Lee Website

Blair Denholm 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! I’m an Australian crime fiction writer who publishes both traditionally (with a small press here in Australia) and self-published. When not writing, I work as a translator specializing in Russian language. I’ve also worked as a researcher, writer and consultant in New York, Moscow, Munich, Abu Dhabi and Australia.

A couple of weird, fun facts about me: I voted in a foreign election despite having no eligibility to do so, was almost lost at sea on a Russian fishing boat, and was detained by military forces in the Middle East.

My debut crime novel, SOLD, was the first in a thrilling noir trilogy, featuring the detestable yet lovable one-man wrecking ball Gary Braswell. Watch out for the next exciting book in the series, SOLD to the Devil due for release early 2020.

The first book I wrote was a children’s novel, Escape from Passing Winds. The perfect middle-grade reader for young girls who love reading, and a great book for boys to discover how awesome girls can be.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent release is piece of fun inspired by Twitter. It’s a collection of funny tweets collected together with some illustrated by a very talented cartoonist, Vince Steele. It’s called Boyd and Sarge: NYPD Law and Disorder, and it’s packed with puns, dad jokes, black humour and fantastic cartoons. I was inspired to turn these daily tweets into a book by followers on Twitter who said, literally, these guys need to go in a book!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to email myself the latest versions of any books I’m working on, and read them back to myself on my cell phone. I guess that’s a bit weird.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I could spend all day answering this question, there are so many! But I’ll break it down to the main ones.

For the crime stuff, I can go all the way back to Dostoevsky. For me, Crime and Punishment is the ultimate detective novel. Tense, brooding and with beautiful language. Actually, I can go even further back – as a young child I would borrow my mother’s Agatha Christie novels and read them one after the other. I think I got through the entire catalogue by the time I was 12.

I also love the Scandi writers, like Nesbo, Larsson, Camilla Lackberg. I’m a huge fan of British writers Mo Hayder and Irvine Welsh. Trainspotting and Tokyo in particular.

As someone invested in the Russian language, I have to add Chekhov and a lesser-known guy called Daniil Harms to my list of all-time favorites. Chekhov for the drama, Harms for the sense of the absurd and ridiculous.

What are you working on now?
My WIP is called Revolution Day. It’s based on true events that happened in the late 1980s in Moscow. A foreign student, a young man from Nigeria, was murdered and the case was never properly investigated. I’ve fictionlized the story pretty much 100%, but I hope it resonates with those who appreciate a good crime story with a moral message.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m fairly new at this promotion thing. I try to talk about my work on social media, but you have to be careful your friends and followers don’t feel you’re trying to ram your product down their throats. Even my best freinds will “like” and “share” and make encouraging noises, but will they actually buy the book? Often, no. I’ve had some sales through taking out ads on Facebook and boosting posts, but am yet to try Amazon ads in earnest. I’m open to all good suggestions, so send them to me please! And sign up to my email list while you’re at it.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be patient. I need to take my own advice here, because I often want success to come quicker than is realistic to expect. Also, switch off distractions and just, write, write, write. It’s not rocket salad, after all.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Trust your inner voice. It’s from a book by Dean Wesley Smith called “Writing into the Dark”. I highly recomment this terrific work to all aspiring writers. Especially those like me who are true “pantsers”.

What are you reading now?
A book called Idaho by Emily Ruskovich. I’ve only just started it, so can’t give a huge commentary on it. What is interesting is why I’m reading it. The novel was recommended to me by a British reader who was impressed enough by my novel SOLD that he reached out to me personally with some lovely words of encouragement and praise.
However, I do like to review books, as you can see if you look me up on Goodreads.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Revamping my website and creating a good email list are the priority technical tasks. As for the actual writing bit, I want to finish Revolution Day (I’m immodestly hoping it will become the next Gorky Park) as fast as I can and turn it into a series of at least three parts. I’ve already grown to love the main character, a Moscow cop called Viktor Voloshin. He’s brash, a bit of a klutz, but persistent. His side-kick, Boris Adamovsky, is also fun to write.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1. 101 ways to cook fish and coconut
2. Building a life raft for dummies
3. The subtle art of not giving a f*ck

Author Websites and Profiles
Blair Denholm Website
Blair Denholm Amazon Profile

Blair Denholm’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Vito Neshev 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I believe that a grown-up can become a crucial positive influence for a child, if they practice two simple principles:
* Lead by example – model or find an expert to model the desired behavior for the child (like a coach, teacher, friend, sibling, cartoon character, etc.), and
* Go for a win-win relationship – be sincerely interested in the child’s own needs and desires, as well as yours.

In addition to authoring the “Roro Goes…” series, I am also the creator of the Bond With My Child Method, which enables a grown-up to connect with their child in record time (under 90 seconds). I am launching and growing an online community to serve as a collaboration platform that champions child development and growth.

Roro Goes… is my first book of the series.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Roro Goes Around The World – the birth of my first son Max started me on this journey and the news of my second son Teddy gave me the fuel to finish it. Along with the unwavering support of my wife and high-school sweetheart Mira.
Roro goes is an expression of my belief as a parent, that when there is a two-way communication and a good role-model, a child can make their dream come true almost certainly.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am most productive in the dark hours – either very early in the morning or very late.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Wayne Dyer with his practical spirituality, A. A. Milne with Winnie-the-Pooh, and Russell Brunson of ClickFunnels, who inspired a re-write of Roro Goes, to put in the bonding spin that I did as a bonus to the story line. Russell is a direct response marketer, who inspired me in the way I communicate with my son – and it turned out pretty useful!

What are you working on now?
The second part of Roro Goes, where he continues his journey throughout Europe, Antarctica, countries in Africa, North America and a secret other place…
I am also creating a book for grown-ups – on best practices in connection and bonding with their child – targeting to support not just the parent, but also any loving grandparent, teacher / educator or a kids’ coach.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use social media – LinkedIn, facebook groups, Amazon ads – but my goal is to also speak on the subject – whether through a podcast or interviews, we’ll see…

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be strategic about your “products” – decide first on who is your ideal audience – as in a single reader – who do you want to serve. Then, define the enemy – what or who’s your reader’s major problem you are solving – a book can “fight” boredom, but can also provide knowledge, confidence or sense of belonging to a certain “tribe”. What can your reader call themselves, by reading your book, and be proud of it?
My offer to my audience is this: a child developer – an adult who is committed to grow with their child.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
In my life, the win-win principle has given me a lot of value. Here is what I mean: when I go into an event – whether it is a dinner with someone or playing with my son, I strive to find the right amount of fun or “benefit” for both of us. It’s the same in business for me, too – if you are better off and I am better off as a result of this deal, then let’s do it.
The way this is reflected in my writing is that I promote feedback or “discovery” – finding out what the child, or Roro as a metaphor of a kid, wants or needs.

What are you reading now?
Since I was 12, I switched from fiction to 99% business or personal development books.
Right now, my focus is on marketing Roro Goes and producing more content around the grown-ups book, so I am reading a lot of direct response marketing materials. DotCom Secrets and Expert Secrets by Russell Brunson, to name a few… I am weird like that – when I go in production mode, I read with a highlighter and a pen in my hands. I love to put to use what I like right away.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Spreading the word about Roro is my main focus. It was always a dream of mine to give the world something that I created and that I am really proud of – and Roro is this thing for me now.
It is more than a kids’ book – it’s a mindset of breaking beyond one’s comfort zone and making dreams come true by using the right experts as your mentor or role model.
This will be the focus of the bonding book for adults too – along with finding those areas where you and the child are the “expert” in your own mutual and unique world…

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would bring not only books to read but I’ll make sure to have notebooks and pens.
Dancing between consuming and producing is vital for me.
– “Abundance” by Peter Diamandis – he offers a great spin on technology and our future;
– I’d also take a Tony Robbins book – one of his older ones or the Personal Power II workbook
– a spiritual book like The Bible, too – I love the fact that it has so many layers in its story line – literally, one can read it as good-night fairy tales and as a life-changing scripture. I am certain the main books of all the world religions will have a similar effect – the stories are metaphors one can use to accept or understand what’s yet unclear by liking it to something familiar.

Author Websites and Profiles
Vito Neshev Amazon Profile
Vito Neshev Author Profile on Smashwords

Vito Neshev’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Clive Du Cros 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I currently live in Mallorca and was born in England, spending most of my time there in Wiltshire. I ran various companies in the public sector but found time to sail boats, race cars and fly vintage aircraft. I always had wanted to fly a Spitfire and spent 10 years building my own full size one that I flew at air shows. Now retired, I enjoy reading and writing books and staying pretty active.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Falcon and the Viper is my latest book, the first part of which is set during the Battle of Britain. This period in Britain’s history and the sacrifice made by the famous “Few” inspired me to start the book. I have used other exciting events in my life to help bring the book alive which I hope you will agree with!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really, although once I start I do tend to work night and day on the project. It’s great that my wife, May, has been supportive throughout these long periods!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh, I can’t read enough books on historical fiction, adventure and biographies. Ones that come to mind are Bernard Cornwell, Ken Follet, Robert Goddard, and Harry Bosch’s mentor Michael Connelly.

What are you working on now?
I’ve just started the second book in the Charlie Britton series. It’s featuring most of the characters that are still alive from the first book and features a twisting, turning plot.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Amazon has been good but I think they are starting to fall by the wayside and being hit by the competition. Also, they are making it incredibly hard for readers to list genuine reviews.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just come up with a great idea and get stuck in!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If at first you don’t succeed…….

What are you reading now?
Dambusters by Robert Radcliffe.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To write the next Charlie Britton novel.

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 Longest day by Cornelius Ryan, Robert Goddard’s latest novel together with the next Cormorant Strike by the excellent J. K Rowling.

Author Websites and Profiles
Clive Du Cros Amazon Profile

Daisy Rodriguez 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a mother of four beautiful kids 2 boys and 2 girls. I have been married for 16 wonder years. I am a big animal lover, I have 2 cats one dog and a bunny. I have written and published my first book on 5/8/2019, this day was the most amazing day ever besides the birth of my children. On that day I made one of many dreams of mine come true.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest book is The Prince Within. I am a big Fan of Horror and I have a soft spot for the Villains. My inspiration came from a possession movie, there is always a movie on how demons are bad and we always here about Lucifer. Little do people know that Lucifer has a son. So I let my imagination role with a lot of concepts from possession.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I think a lot of people find it weird that I write my story by hand first and then transfer it to my laptop. I feel if I write it I fall into the story, I become the character.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have one that has influenced me to the core and that is Mr. Stephen King. He is my idle, I love the way his books hook you and give you the twist that you would never expect. There is not one specific book the influenced me because they all have. There is another author that has touched my fantasy writing and that is J.K Rowling . Her Harry potter series and Fantastic beast are addictive to say the least.

What are you working on now?
I am working on book two of The Prince Within. this book is a sequel and the ending of this journey and story. This book they will be descending into the world of demons and my depiction of the eight gates of hell. Except a good twist for the ending.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have Promoted my book on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. I think the best one would be Facebook only because I have a lot of relatives and friends that shared my book on their page so their friends could buy and re-post.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do not give up hope, Writing is the hard part. It could be a little frustrating to see that not a lot of people like to read, but if you are writing for the love of it. It is worth every minute of your time.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t ever give up on your dreams. I have to say I have been writing since I was 12 years old and only now have I gotten the courage to publish one of my stories, but I never gave up on what I love.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading Stephen Kings the Institute. A very good Book so far and I can’t place the book down.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Hoping to have Book two published and out for sale in the summer and then begin another story that I have been wanting to write.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
This is hard, Let see IT would be one, Dreamcatcher and The Lovely bones

Author Websites and Profiles
Daisy Rodriguez Amazon Profile

Daisy Rodriguez’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Halo Scot 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello! I am the author of the Rift Cycle, a grimdark, science-fantasy series. Feel free to follow me on Twitter and Instagram (@halo_scot), or visit haloscot.com. EDGE OF THE BREACH is my debut novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
EDGE OF THE BREACH is my latest book. It was inspired by my own struggle with mental illness and sexual identity as well as my lifelong love of science fiction and fantasy.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I try not to establish any specific habits/routines. I try to keep myself moving and adaptable, and this helps me personally stave off writer’s block.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Ray Bradbury, Kurt Vonnegut, Joe Haldeman, Pierce Brown, Leigh Bardugo, and V.E. Schwab

What are you working on now?
I’m working on writing/editing the rest of the Rift Cycle.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Twitter and Reedsy (https://reedsy.com/) are my favorites thus far.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do whatever works for you.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep writing. No matter what.

What are you reading now?
SEVEN BLADES IN BLACK by Sam Sykes

What’s next for you as a writer?
A long, long nap. And then some coffee. And then hopefully a stand-alone sci-fi in 2020 or 2021, after the Rift Cycle.

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?
SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE by Kurt Vonnegut
THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES by Ray Bradbury
RED RISING by Pierce Brown
NINTH HOUSE by Leigh Bardugo

Author Websites and Profiles
Halo Scot Website
Halo Scot Amazon Profile

Halo Scot’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Crystal Reavis 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a fantasy writer as of right now I have written 3 books. They are a part of a series which will consist of 4 books. As of right now, the first book is published and the second one is due out soon. “Areal” is available on Amazon and my publisher’s website breakingrulespublishing.com as well as various websites online. Here is the blurb: Angela Asher lives a relatively normal life—work, friends, a devoted mother, the whole works. One day she receives a phone call from a mystery man who tells her she’s being watched and to be careful. Worried at first, Angela decides he must be crazy and ignores it. That is, until strange things begin happening: dreams of people with black eyes, an urge to enter churches, and meeting strange people she feels oddly connected to. As she tries to figure it all out, she learns of another world; a world of angels and demons, a world she is a large part of.

The demons want the earth for their own and will stop at nothing to get it. Will Angela learn what her role is in this crazy new world? Will she be strong enough to save everyone? The world is relying on her, but she isn’t sure she can live up to the expectations placed upon her shoulders.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is as of yet untitled. I’m still working on getting it edited and ready for publication. It is the sequel to my first book “Areal”. My series as a whole was inspired by my love of angels. I wanted to give a different spin on angels and hope I have been able to do that. I tried to make them more human-like, more emotional, and even where they can be made to forget who they are. I hope that translates on the page as well as I hope. From what my readers say I have done that pretty well.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Hmmm, I don’t think so. I’d have to think about that someone. I just usually write in the morning before my kids get up and late at night after they’re in bed.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My biggest influences are Stephen King, Terry Goodkind, and Terry Pratchett. I watch a lot of videos about their writing habits, read Stephen King’s “On Writing” and tend to take their writing advice the most. I just find them really inspirational and feel like I connect to them the most.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently editing my second book with my editor and am finishing writing the third book to my series “The Awakening”.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook is my go-to for sure! However, I also have a blog, email list, Twitter and Pinterest account dedicated to writing. I’m beginning to branch out with ad promotion on sites like Awesome Gang, making a website, starting a newsletter and just trying generally to market myself more.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
People tell me all the time they want to write or they have something written but don’t know where to begin on how “to become a writer”. First, if you’ve written something you are a writer. If you want to become published do your research! Research the different ways of getting published, talk to other authors, watch videos about publishing, being a writer, etc. Also, know that just because you have written something doesn’t mean a publishing hosue will pick up your book. There maybe reasons they don’t, take their advice and work on what you need to fix. Don’t give up just keep working, improving and taking others advice when you know it will work for you!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t get into your own head, it can be harmful to be in your own head too much. I took this as meaning if you listen to all those doubts or second guess yourself too much you’ll never get anywhere.

What are you reading now?
I’m not currently reading anything. I’m too busy working on the two books that I’m trying to finish. I need to read again as I think it’s important to read as well as write.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to work more on promoting myself and getting myself out there more. Life has thrown a lot of curveballs lately and I haven’t really done any marketing for myself. It’s time to get back to work doing that. I also want my whole series to be published by next year.

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?
“Pride and Prejudice”
“To Kill a Mockingbird”
“Misery”
“Wizards First Rule”

 

Leslie Aldridge 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a stay at home mom and independent author living in Ontario, Canada. I enjoy outdoor activities such as gardening, hiking, camping, canoeing, fishing, and skating. When the weather is bad I indulge in such indoor pursuits as reading, watching movies, listening to music, and playing piano.

I am currently writing a young-adult fantasy series called The Nebril Riverland Chronicles that I’ve planned to be twenty books in total. It will be split into five sub-series of four books each, each series set in a different time period and told from a different point of view, but all in the same universe and all female protagonists.

So far I’ve completed two books in the series (Guardians of the Light and Clan of the Ancient Minds). I’m currently hard at work on my third novel. It’s still a long way to the end, but I hope that you’ll join me on the journey.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
What inspired my latest book is the same thing that inspired the entire series, which is headaches. Strange, I know. I’m a long-time sufferer of chronic migraines, the pain occurring generally in the left side of my head. Occasionally, while in the throes of agony, I would desperately try to grasp at wild and crazy reasons that this pain might be happening to me and why always on the same side. Through these imaginings, the character of Emerin was born, who also has headaches on the left side of her head for a very specific reason, which she finds out about in the first book. From there, I basically built a whole world around this premise and came up with a reason for Emerin to go on a grand adventure because of it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m an extreme plotter. I don’t know if this is unusual or not, but I know a lot of writers who just kind of write and see where the story takes them. This is incomprehensible to me. I cannot write a word without having everything in my novel planned out first–character arcs and traits, detailed chapter breakdowns, the systems of how everything works in the world. I have pages upon pages and documents upon documents pertaining to the world I’ve created.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I would say I was most influenced by The Belgariad and Mallorean series by David Eddings, as well as George RR Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, and of course, The Lord of the Rings.

What are you working on now?
Right now I’m writing the first draft of my third novel.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Generally, I like to use Twitter. I find it provides the most engagement. I also like Instagram, but I really have a hard time remembering to take pictures to upload.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be prepared to work really hard. It’s not just about writing for fun anymore once you decide to make it a career. And writing’s only part of your job; even if you’re traditionally published, you’ll still have to do a lot of your own marketing. You have to be all over the internet, using every possible avenue to promote your book, and it’s extremely hard to get noticed. There’s a lot of competition out there. You’ll spend more time marketing than you will writing. Those who are successful treat it like a nine-to-five job, and then some.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You have to write more than one book before you find success, otherwise, I would have definitely given up after my first.

What are you reading now?
I’m just about to start The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss. I’ve heard good things about it. But unfortunately, between family, writing, and book marketing, I don’t have much time for reading these days.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Continuing to work on my fantasy series. I’m going to see it through to the bitter end (it won’t be bitter, don’t worry!)

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?
Honestly, I couldn’t choose. I’d have to close my eyes and pick. There’s no way I could ever narrow it down!

Author Websites and Profiles
Leslie Aldridge Website
Leslie Aldridge Amazon Profile

Leslie Aldridge’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Casey Dorman 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My background is in psychology and neuropsychology. I have a Ph.D. in Psychology and have authored a few dozen papers on brain injury and cognition and a major book in this area. I turned to writing fiction as I neared retirement. I have written mysteries and thrillers and science fiction. So far I have published 10 novels, both by traditional publishers and using self-publishing. I also edited a literary review for seven years.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent book is a reissue of a book I wrote fifteen years ago and was published in hardbound by a traditional publisher, but is now reverted to my property. It is called I, Carlos. I took the occasion of its fifteen anniversary to self-publish paperback and Kindle editions of the book, adding an author preface. It is a scifi/political/crime thriller about a man who has a computer chip implanted in his brain that causes him to plot to assassinate the President of the United States. I also recently had my psychological mystery, The Oedipus Murders published by Black Rose Writing. Both books are on Amazon.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My only unusual writing habits are that I read a great deal about the subject matter that I am writing about before beginning a novel. I also may visit locales featured in the story. I write at least 2-4 hours per day nearly every day.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favorite books are literary novels by authors such as Thomas Wolfe, Lawrence Durrell, Walker Percy, and current novelists, Jonathan Franzen, Richard Ford, William Boyd and Panayotis Cacoyanni. I also read science fiction and enjoy classics by Asimov, Clarke, and Heinlein, among others. In the mystery genre, I am devoted to classics such as Raymond Chandler and his character Philip Marlowe and to Dashiell Hammett and his Thin Man and well as Ross MacDonald. I love anything by James Ellroy. I’ve tried to write like all of these authors at one time or another, mostly unsuccessfully.

What are you working on now?
I’ve just finished a science fiction novel, called Ezekiel’s Brain about AIs destroying the human race and establishing a race of AIs in the future, one of which is a copy of a human brain, named Ezekiel. I’m writing a sequel to it in which a group of AIs plus Ezekiel explore the universe and interface with other organic and nonorganic races. I hope for it to be a series. Ezekiel’s Brain has been accepted by a small-press scifi publisher, NewLink.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My own website and a second literary review website, plus a substantial mailing list. My books all appear on Amazon and most are available at other websites and, on order, from most bookstores.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep submitting to agents and publishers. I’ve had a couple of agents, but I’ve had better luck getting small presses to publish my books. If you are a talented marketer, you can earn more and have more freedom by self-publishing. I’ve used both Kindle Direct Publishing and Ingram Sparks to self-publish. I find Kindle Direct Publishing easier to use.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I met Jonathan Kellerman once and told him I was writing a book and what was his advice for getting published. He told me “write at least 8 more. I didn’t get published until my 9th book.”

What are you reading now?
Dostoeyevsky’s “Notes from the Underground”

What’s next for you as a writer?
I like to write book reviews and I will continue to do so. I also am planning to write a series of scifi novels using my characters from Ezekiel’s Brain, which will come out in late 2020 or early 2021.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
One Raymond Chandler, Philip Marlowe novel, The Brother’s Karamazov, Walker Percy’s The Moviegoer, and Ulysses, which perhaps I could make it through.

Author Websites and Profiles
Casey Dorman Website
Casey Dorman Amazon Profile

Casey Dorman’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Lawrence Cipriani Jr. 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up in Orange County, California. I think it is the greatest place on earth.
I love to read, write, play video games and travel. The most memorable place that I have gone to so far was Machu Picchu in Peru. It was inspiring to stand there. The churches in Cuzco were amazing. Most of my jobs have been customer service oriented, you know to pay for college.

I actually have no particular genre of book that I like to read. If it looks good and is good then I read it. I really don’t like to limit myself in that respect.

So far I have written one book. It took a long two years to write and it was a labor of love. Every day after work I would be on the computer typing away. No matter how tired or frustrated I was, I had to push myself to write. Sometimes I felt as though there were not enough hours in the day. But I kept at it. It was my goal and I had to get to it.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Theo Steren Champlain: A QUEST OF ONE. It was actually inspired by several instances in my life. One occurrence in the book was based on a dream that I had, a dream about a library. Another theme in the book was based on me being overlooked a lot. I am sure most readers are familiar with that feeling. Some of the animals in the book are based on my pets. I think that the feeling that I had at that particular time affected the tone of the part of the story I was writing that night.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I make a lot of notes. I mean a lot. All over the place and in separate pieces of paper. In addition, I did not write my book in order. I wrote some chapters before others and then decided to put them in a different order.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Clive Cussler is one of my favorite authors. He mixes fact and fiction so well. I really liked “Raise the Titanic”. It was incredible. Another book that I really enjoyed was “The Search For My Great Uncle’s Head.” It was a really good mystery.

What are you working on now?
I am working on book two of the Theo Steren series. In addition, there are some kids’ books that I am working on. The Adventures of the Binky Animal Babies are referenced in Theo Steren Champlain: A QUEST OF ONE, so I wanted to expand on that. I wanted to create that universe where the characters are tied together.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Since I am a new author, the one that works. I don’t think there is a right way. I think that I have to figure that out through trial and error. But I hope that in any case, I can connect with the fans.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Most people dream of escaping their reality. Of getting out of their world and living in someone else’s. We, as authors, continue to exist because people believe in us and our characters. They are our created children that we have breathed life into. They have a piece of us inside them. Just as they have enriched our lives, we want them to enrich the lives of others.

The most important thing for us as authors and as people is to believe in ourselves. That what we have inside is worth telling to the world. That what we have written to escape our reality will help others take a vacation from theirs.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Measure thrice and cut once.

What are you reading now?
Gods and Heroes of Ancient Greece by Gustav Schwab.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Write more books. Read more books. Of course, more time to do both.

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?
Victorian Tales of Mystery and Detection an Oxford Anthology
The Search For My Great Uncle’s Head
Sphere by Michael Crichton

Author Websites and Profiles
Lawrence Cipriani Jr. Amazon Profile

Lawrence Cipriani Jr.’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile