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Dr. Allen SMITH 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Dr. Allen Smith was born in the little town of Neoga, IL in 1951. He was saved at the early age of 12 years and started preaching when he was just 15. He has been preaching and teaching now for 46 years. He has been a pastor for over 30 years of that time. Rev. Smith has been a featured speaker at camp-meetings and conventions down through the years. In addition, he spent 3 years as president of International Bible College and Seminary in DeSoto, Missouri, where he authored 9 different syllabi for the Seminary.
Dr. Smith presently holds a Master’s Degree in Religious Education, a Doctor of Divinity Degree, and a Doctor of Theology Degree and has published several articles, in nationwide religious publications.
From October of 1993 until July of 2010, Dr. Smith published a nation-wide Southern Gospel news magazine called SGN Scoops Digital. He is currently the founder and President of Lighthouse International Ministries which is a missionary outreach program.
Currently, Dr. Smith is a much sought after speaker and an author of several Amazon.com best-selling books.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Life-Changing Prayer Manual. The need for Christians to learn the proper way to pray.

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

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Jimmy Swaggart, Perry Stone, & David Wikerson

What are you working on now?
Life-Changing Faith

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

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

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never give up.

What are you reading now?
Stronger by Kathy Crabb Hannah

What’s next for you as a writer?
Another book.

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

Author Websites and Profiles
Dr. Allen SMITH Website
Dr. Allen SMITH Amazon Profile

Dr. Allen SMITH’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

May Woodoworth 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi!
My legal name is Mary, but everyone calls me May. Since 2010 I have written over 25 books, 18 have been published so far. I am working on releasing the remaining (and a bunch more) over the next 2 years.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Sticky Girls: why Do Women Stay In Bad Relationships? is a 2nd edition. The 1st edition was released in 2016 through Arrow publications. Our contract ended. I decided to re-release it with a new cover and MUCH lower price. It was originally $16.99. It is now $2.99 Kindle & $4.99 paperback. Much more affordable with the intent of spreading its message: That any person can restart their life at any moment by taking responsibility for their actions, shedding old behaviors and beliefs, in order to become a more empowered version of themselves.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Don’t know if they are unusual habits, but:
I listen to a wide variety of music when writing. Each book has a different vibe-I choose music in alignment with that vibe.
If I am writing a fiction-I tend to eat foods that connect with the tale. When writing Heart of the Hurricane (Nova Scotia Maritime)-I ate lots more seafood!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Pretty much every book I have ever read influenced me. The branch library where I grew up right outside of Boston was my 2nd home beginning in kindergarten. Every book I have ever read gave me a bit of knowledge. Each author gave me a different message.
As far as popular authors I am a fan of: Stephen King, Nevada Barr, Janet Evanovich…and so many more!

What are you working on now?
By Summer these will be released;
Halcyon High Jinx:
Book 2 of Twin Flame Flare-Up (Twin Flame Connections Series)-A Fantasy/Light Sci-Fi
Cow Crazy:
Book 3 of The Critter Court Photo Book Series
Audio book:
Sticky Girls: Why Do Women Stay In Bad Relationships?

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I try everything
I actually did not really focus on promoting myself until this Spring. I have been promoting other artists and businesses in social media/ marketing roles.
Now that I have extra time at home with this pandemic-I can put a bit of time into my own works.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing-keep reading-keep doing what you love.
If you don’t already have one-develop a thick skin. Other people will give advice, opinions, and reviews. Learn from this-but try not to let any of it stop you from writing. The longer you write, the better you will get at relaying whatever message you are trying to get out in the world.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
From Stephen King-ALL the advice he has given. These in particular stuck with me:
-First write for yourself, and then worry about the audience.
-The magic is in you.
-Don’t worry about making other people happy.
-Read, read, read.
-You have three months. “The first draft of a book—even a long one—should take no more than three months, the length of a season.”

What are you reading now?
I just re-read one of my older books in order to write the next one in the series. I am also reading ‘Set it and Forget It’, by Eric Ho and several homesteading/ self-reliance magazines

What’s next for you as a writer?
Continue writing for homesteading/ farm life magazines in hopes that more people will begin taking control of their food sources. We all know it’s a crazy world-taking control of as many aspects of our survival is crucial.
Continue releasing all of the books I started.

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 dictionary
A thick book about the cosmos
A book about the various dimensions of the occult
The entire gunslinger series by Stephen King (I know they equal more than one!)

Author Websites and Profiles
May Woodoworth Website
May Woodoworth Amazon Profile

May Woodoworth’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Laikyn Meng 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Laikyn Meng was born.
Award-winning Indie Author.
Penning promise to the authentic voice for the Romance genre.
Laikyn’s unique tone perks up eager ears; a poetic dance with a dark flare.
Love language consists of the dictionary, making her a glorified logophile. Fascinated with the color orange. Enjoys funerals. Eternally optimistic. Japanese at the knees, because only a quarter.
Momma to three descendants, in which they actively participate in living room dance-offs. All angels, except Mister who is a Wolfe and Fiddler who is a Riddle. InnSaei now that one is an angel.
If there is but one thing you take from her characters and their worlds, is that you are never alone. Through every breakup, new experience, falling in love, becoming someone new, Laikyn as a writer is here for you.

Recently published her 6th novel.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Didn’t We Say Forever?

Inspired by try heartbreak and the journey of self-love. A tragedy that begs forgiveness.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write for hours and daydream equally as much.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Lori Brighton, The MInd Readers Series
Scribbler of Dreams, Mary E. Pearson

What are you working on now?
I have currently working on a 6 book series due out this summer.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up and believe in your past struggles, to serve your purpose.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write about what you know.

What are you reading now?
Very Bad Wizards, C.M. Stunich

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?
Women who run with wolves, Clarissa Pinkola Estés
A woman’s worth, Marriane Williamson
A Writer’s spirit, Lynn Andrews

Author Websites and Profiles
Laikyn Meng Amazon Profile

Laikyn Meng’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Pinterest Account

Emily Matthews 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I just self-published my first book and am halfway through writing my second. Saving Mitch is the first in a five-book series.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Saving Mitch.
My husband and I both worked in law enforcement for many years, so writing about the “cop world” didn’t seem like a stretch. The characters aren’t based on anyone real.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I would welcome any habit! I just write willy nilly whenever I have time.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Rachel Gibson, Sandra Brown, Lisa Kleypas, Toni Anderson, Julie Garwood, and Nora Roberts.

What are you working on now?
The second book in the MacDonald Brother’s series, tentatively titled Chasing Sam.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I still consider myself a new author and welcome any advice

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
What you focus on determines how you feel – Tony Robbins

What are you reading now?
Mostly how-to books on publishing and marketing, Getting Things Done, and Outfox by Sandra Brown.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish the series, then see what comes next!

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?
Awaken the Giant Within – Tony Robbins
Outlander – Diana Gabaldon
Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen

Author Websites and Profiles
Emily Matthews Website
Emily Matthews Amazon Profile

Emily Matthews’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Steve Wilmot 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
First and foremost, I’m a lover of Jesus. I write to inspire and encourage other Christ-followers on their spiritual journey. A journey that is a struggle sometimes. My books send a clear message that it’s worth it to fight the good fight, keep the faith, and finish the race. There are things that matter and things that don’t–and a relationship with Jesus matters most.

I have written one book—a novel. It’s about facing the fear that sometimes stalls a Christ-follower’s spiritual journey. I wrote it to let readers know there is a way out of your comfort zone where you refuse to take risks—and hate yourself for it later.

I married my college sweetheart, Becki, in 1974. We have been married for the best 46 years of my life. Our four grown children and eight grandchildren keep us busy and full of joy.

I pastored a church and worked as a rural mail carrier for the United States Postal Service. In 2017 after 25 years satisfying years, I retired. No longer a bi-vocational pastor, I focus my energies on family, building believers through small group involvement, and writing books, devotionals, curriculum and blog posts. For over a decade, I’ve written a weekly column called “Pastor’s Ponderings” for a couple of newspapers.

In my spare time, I love reading, gardening and swinging on my porch swing. I also enjoy speaking from God’s Word and sharing my spiritual journey at churches and conferences.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest—and first—book is called “Cornered in Shallow Water: One Man’s Journey from Crippling Fear to Freedom and Faith.” It’s a novel that’s based on my life. I’ve always battled fear that’s caused me to miss a lot of wonderful things in my life—both in my spiritual journey with God and life in general. This book offers hope and a model for Christians and those who aren’t. I believe there are thousands of other people who are in the same point and want to know fear can be overcome.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I get ideas and even sentences a lot of times in the shower or when I first hop into bed. So I grab my phone and jot them down as soon as I get out of the shower. I’ve disturbed my wife more than once when I flipped on my phone to record those ideas and sentences. For some reason, the light tends to wake her up.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favorite authors are John Eldredge and Ted Dekker. Many others have fed into my life over the years. Recently, I read “The Cure” by John Lynch, Bruce McNichol and Bill Thrall. It had a big impact on me.

What are you working on now?
I’m still writing a weekly newspaper column for two area newspapers called “Pastor’s Ponderings.” I’ve been doing it for over a decade.

In addition, I’ve got another novel in the pipeline and I’ve written short chapters for two devotional books I hope to release in 2020 yet.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Amazon is the obvious answer. I also have an author website where I talk about my books, write a blog and connect with those who read my books and want to tell me how they affected their lives.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
[1] Don’t let fear keep you from writing. Especially the fear that no one will read your book or buy it, and that everything will think it was a waste of their time to even labor through the first chapter. Keep writing.

[2] Write at least something every day. It may be a paragraph or 10 pages, but write.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Since I was one of those who worried no one would read or buy my book, a quote I ran across by Christian author Mark Batterson kept me working on the book.

He said, “Your greatest influence might be the children or church or charitable trust that outlive you. For the record, this is one reason why I write. Books are time capsules. I write because I want my great-great-grandchildren to know what I lived for, what I was willing to die for. And if others want to read my books while I’m living, all the better. But I write for the third and fourth generations.”

I’ve adopted that mindset and it made all the difference in sticking to writing the book.

What are you reading now?
The Bible
All Things New by John Eldredge
Creating Community by Andy Stanley and Bill Willits
Get Your Life Back by John Eldredge

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish my next novel and create a few devotionals.
The novel is about an estranged mother and son who finally reunite after one speaks one sentence at the funeral of her mother and he realizes he feels the same thing. And time is running out.

The devotionals have working titles of “One Month with Joshua” and “The Biggest ‘Buts’ in the Bible.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
My Bible – God
The Cure – John Lynch, Bruce McNichol and Bill Thrall
How’s Your Soul – Judah Smith
The Sacred Romance – John Eldredge

Author Websites and Profiles
Steve Wilmot Website
Steve Wilmot Amazon Profile

Alice Foster 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I created more than 100 picture books: books with sounds, pop-ups, short and instructive stories, educational literature for kids.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
THE BRAVE RABBIT. This story about a brave rabbit and a family of noisy elephants will teach children how being messy, loud and disrespectful to your neighbors may lead to problems and cost you friends – and how tidying up after yourself, caring for others and keeping your planet nice and clean might help you find new ones.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My books are useful for children, as well as kind and always with cute illustrations.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Eric Carle, Elizabeth Gilbert, J.D. Salinger, Paulo Coelho, Andrey Kurpatov, Haruki Murakami

What are you working on now?
Over children’s books for learning

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
promote your books

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Act and everything will be

What are you reading now?
Killing Commendatore, by Haruki Murakami

What’s next for you as a writer?
I create a children’s book about fear

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?
new books

 

Alice Foster’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Catherine Downen 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m 22 years old and I have written a multitude of books, however I have only published one so far. I am a debut author with my novel The Markings. I majored in Mechanical Engineering at Bradley University in Peoria IL, and have been working as an engineer ever since. I enjoy science and how things are made, but writing is and always has been my escape. I love to write, all the time. I have notebooks filled with stories and ideas. I like to say I’m a 50/50 balance of science and the arts. I love music and acting. I was in band and choir in school as well as a part of the drama club and speech team. I grew up in southern IL and still live here today. I love the outdoors and warm weather. The only genre I’ve every written in has been YA and usually tends to be fantasy. Sometimes they don’t start out as fantasy but they always end up going that way.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest (and first!) book is The Markings. This was a book that started back in 2011. The original idea for the story (about the first 5 chapters) came to me in a dream. I jotted it down and ran with it. At the time I was a sophomore in high school so I just wrote it in my free time, and I’d continue to come back to it for the next 4 or 5 years until I finally had time to go from jotting ideas down to finishing a polished manuscript. I grew up with this story, and am so happy to see it finally have a life of its own.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have to write by hand first. Everything in The Markings came from a notebook. I have to write the book out on paper first. It helps me get the story out and not get hung up on spelling or grammar. It’s just my thoughts and the story. I tend to write in sections, so I’ll handwrite 20ish pages and then I’ll sit down at my computer and type them up. This let’s me double check the plot and make sure I like where I’m taking the story. After I have it typed I read the section through and make any additions directly on the computer. It’s pretty unusual because most people tend to just type everything up, but I enjoy the physical writing of the story. It reminds me of when I was young and wrote all my stories in notebooks.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Three authors have really influenced/inspired me as an author:
John Green
Suzanne Collins
Victoria Aveyard

I grew up reading these authors and I fell in love with their books and their characters. I dream that one day I’ll have a series of books that can touch as many people as they have. They also all write to the same audience I write for and I enjoy that I’ve found authors like that to look up to.

What are you working on now?
Now I am working on book two in The Markings series! This is set up to be a series of three books, with book two and three already being outlined. I’m spending a lot of my time now filling in book two and I’m so happy I get to continue to be with these characters for a couple more books. It was fun to work on book one, knowing it would be a series because there were things I could plant in book one that I have already been able to write or reference in book two. (look out for some foreshadowing!)

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Right now it’s Twitter! I have connected with so many amazing writers and readers through that platform. I’ve found people who believe in me and my story and give it endless support. I love that I get to know the people who read my book and we get to connect over the same love for writing,

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing! Never stop because you never know where it’s going to take you. I started this book in 2011 with a dream of one day publishing it. Never rush the process because when it’s supposed to happen for you it will! My last piece of advice is to know your options! The publishing market is CHANGING! You should never follow the same steps as someone else, because there is a unique path for each of us. I thought I had to get an agent and be accepted by a top publishing house to be successful and it’s not true. Because to me “success” was defined by seeing my book in my hands and to have a couple of people love the story and find a connection with Adaline. I didn’t need an agent or a big publishing house to reach this success. I self-published through Amazon, I marketed where I could and I achieved everything I set out to. So know your options, decide what success means to you, and discover your own unique path!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep writing and always be researching how the market is changing!

What are you reading now?
I’ve started Three Dark Crowns and I’m looking forward to reading the newest release in The Hunger Games series this May!

What’s next for you as a writer?
The Markings series! I will be writing book two and three and I will enjoy living in this world a little longer. I have a couple other projects started and some ideas jotted down in notebooks that may get to go somewhere after this series is done, but we’re a long ways off from 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?
I would bring the first book in The Hunger Games, the first book in the Red Queen series, and Paper Towns by John Green.

Author Websites and Profiles
Catherine Downen Website
Catherine Downen Amazon Profile

Catherine Downen’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Luis Mercado 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an engineer from northern Mexico. I have been writing short stories since I was 15 years old. This is my first book. I’ve decided to gather 5 of my latest stories in a small book.
Hoping for the best, it will be the first of many.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Scientist and Other Tales.
It is inspired mostly in dreams.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
To write from 1am to 6am, but I guess that is not very unusual.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Haruki Murakami, Carlos Castañeda, Khalil Gibran.

What are you working on now?
Larger book that will contain 9 stories about the desert next to my home town.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, Write, Write, and publish with no fear.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write daily

What are you reading now?
Lean Hearn.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Novels

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?
Hopefully, something I haven’t read yet.

Author Websites and Profiles
Luis Mercado Amazon Profile

Caroline Beauregard 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Express Pursuit, a romantic thriller is my debut novel. I always enjoyed the escapism of a good romance and I love to travel whenever a get the chance. This novel represents the type of books I enjoy reading and my love of traveling. When I Express Pursuit, I still can’t get over the fact that I wrote it. Talk about suspension on disbelief!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I had these two old 1090s Harlequin romances that I read again in 2013. One had interesting story taking place across Europe and the other involved the famous Orient-Express. I decided to write the story I always wanted to read although never found in book stores. Since I am a movie buff, during the writing process, I also imagined myself directing the characters and using the best sets and costumes.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Because I learned about creative writing with this specific story idea in mind, I became very keen on organizing every aspect of the story in regards to plot, character development and romance increments. I actually started to write this fiction novel while following a spreadsheet! Enclosed in the document was also every geographical location minute by minute. With this road map I could write more freely like a kid enjoying his play pan.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I would say that I am more influenced by favorite movies than by authors. I like Jack Ryan series, Knight and Day, classics like Charade, North by Northwest.

What are you working on now?
Now, I am trying to launch properly this debut novel. I am waiting for a good concept to stimulate me to write another novel.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Many months prior to the book launch, I reached out to family, friends and colleges to collect emails to ask them join my book launch team. Then I created a newsletter about the book with relative content; a sort of bonus features just like with a DVD movie. I posted on Facebook site related to romance novel and the train travel.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Being a new author myself, I am not in a position to give advise. If I had any words of wisdom I would say: Do it for fun, for self accomplishment – no for money- , be patient and be realistic about your goals. Have a tough skin to handle criticism. Most of all, enjoy this exciting experience.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
There are so many I found in several Writers Digest craft books. I think it was really a good investment to get the story building blocks evaluated by a writing mentor because if the premise of your story is flawed, the novel will sink no matter how well it is written.

What are you reading now?
“Mine to five” by Tara September.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I would say, find my comfort zone or my style as a writer. Getting the courage to write another book when you don’t know if I have any talent is a challenge for 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?
These are my all time favorites:

The Time Machine by H.D.Wells
Lost Horizon by James Hilton
The portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Express Pursuit by Caroline Beauregard LOL

Author Websites and Profiles
Caroline Beauregard Website
Caroline Beauregard Amazon Profile

Caroline Beauregard’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Britney Lyn Hamm 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a writer, editor, homeschool mom of 4 young kids, and ministry wife to the director of a college ministry network in Kansas City. Most importantly, I am a daughter of King Jesus who I have known as my Lord and Savior since I was a young child! I have been reading, imagining, and writing stories for as long as I can remember. My first book, Finding Freedom, released in January of 2020. It’s a romantic suspense novel that explores some pretty heavy issues (such as trafficking and domestic abuse) with a theme of redemption and the unrelenting love of God.

Aside from writing fiction, I write articles and journalistic stories for a few ministry publications. I also do some graphic design (I designed the cover of my book, for example!).

In addition to writing and reading, a few of my favorite things are: my husband, my kids, coffee, chocolate, music, and taking walks. I love all things FBI/mystery/military, but I also dig a good, well-developed romance. I enjoy books, movies, and TV shows that depict complex characters and real life issues with intense drama (basically, I like having my heart wrenched a few times, as long as there’s an underpinning of hope). I have a degree in Psychology, so I like people and characters!

I’m an introvert with an outgoing personality. I prefer one-on-one interactions with people, but I also enjoy teaching publicly. I’ve been told I have a gift for counseling and mentoring. Small talk, large groups, and crowds I can do without, however.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Finding Freedom. The initial inspiration for the book came over seven years ago. I had a fictional scene in mind that to me illustrated the gospel of Jesus Christ very clearly. That climactic scene was my muse for the entire book; I always kept it at the forefront to guide the story.

The theme of freedom came later. I was reading another author’s blog and she encouraged praying over the theme of each book. As I did, the concept of freedom emerged. There’s a nonfiction book called The Prodigal God that explores the idea of finding freedom from our goodness and freedom from our badness in Jesus Christ, but I hadn’t read a fiction book that illustrated the same concept. Finding Freedom juxtaposes two characters – one who is in desperate need of freedom from her past and her shame, and the other who is in desperate need of freedom from his own attempts to be good enough. That juxtaposition meets at the cross of Jesus.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Mochas. Lots of mochas Usually decaf, though, because I have the caffeine tolerance of a 95-year-old. My preferred writing location is at a corner table in a favorite coffee shop or in the oversized chair in the reading nook of my living room. I’m usually listening to my “Break of Reality” station on Pandora…I can’t listen to music with words when I write, but I love intense, emotion-filled instrumental music.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Marcus Pfister first drew me into the wonderful world of fiction with his shiny book “The Rainbow Fish” when I was just a wee tot. It may have been the sparkles, but those shimmering scales had me hooked nonetheless.

When I was 15, I read Francine River’s Redeeming Love for the first time. I couldn’t put it down. I was totally beguiled by the power of that story to convey the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That was the first time I really saw how a work of fiction could be a vessel of life-transforming truth. From that moment on, I committed that if I ever wrote a novel, it would be THAT type of novel…a complex story with raw characters that illustrated the power, mercy, grace, and love of God in tangible and compelling ways.

Soon after that I read Lynn Austin’s “Candle in the Darkness.” I underlined the heck out of that book! It challenged me to think, ripped my heart out, put it back in, and left me again marveling at the incredible power of fiction to transform thought.

From a more classic standpoint, the ingenuity of the storytelling of G.K. Chesteron, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien is always inspiring. The Man Who Was Thursday by Chesterton is utterly brilliant.I don’t have a fraction of their creativity and intelligence, but they serve as reminders that fiction is a worthwhile endeavor.

Finally, Julie Lessman. She was the first non-family member to read my manuscript of Finding Freedom. From that point on she has championed me, told me it was worth publishing, offered me guidance and advice, endorsed and promoted my book. Her mentorship has been invaluable, and it means the world coming from a successful author whose books have impacted my heart.

What are you working on now?
Book 2 of The Prodigal Series, “Finding Forgiveness.” The series is intended to be a three-book series (at least). I have visions of a prequel as well. The theme of the second book, if you hadn’t guess, is forgiveness.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Great question! I’m still a newbie at this, so…ask me again in a year?

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep writing. After I released my first book, the response from my readers was overwhelmingly positive. They kept saying “When will the second book come out???” I felt this intense pressure to promote the first book and get the second book written. Under all that angst, my inspiration to write disappeared. I had a horrible case of writer’s block until one date night my husband said, “It sounds like you’re losing your joy in writing.” He was absolutely right. I had to remember why I do this: because I love writing and believe stories can impact hearts!

Once you’re published, there is a long list of ways you could spend your time, and it takes wisdom to figure out how to juggle it, especially if you, like me, have other responsibilities (like raising 4 kids). There’s always more you can do to promote your book. But you know what? If you stop writing, or your writing becomes so filled with pressure you can’t enjoy it anymore, you’ve lost the very thing that makes your writing yours to begin with. No matter what, just keep writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
With regards to writing a novel, “tell the story.” That advice keeps me grounded as I’m writing. I’m always asking myself, “what’s the story? Does this scene, this character, this setting, help tell the story?” It also keeps me from over-obsessing about the perfection of the first draft so that I can focus on telling the story – there is time for polishing, perfecting, and closing loopholes later, but the first draft is about getting the story out.

What are you reading now?
I just started The Land Uncharted by Keely Brooke Keith, a new-to-me author. I’m not very far in, but the summary was intriguing.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Continuing to write The Prodigal Series. After that, I have another story lurking in the back of my mind set in Ireland during the height of the Irish Revolution.

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?
Ahhh! Only 3 or 4? My Bible is a given, plus Redeeming Love, Bridge to Haven, and Candle in the Darkness. I could read those endlessly.

Author Websites and Profiles
Britney Lyn Hamm Website
Britney Lyn Hamm Amazon Profile
Britney Lyn Hamm Author Profile on Smashwords

Britney Lyn Hamm’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Deborah Nichols Poulos 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a 74-year-old retired teacher with ALS. Since 2011 I’ve lived in a retirement community, URC, in Davis CA, with my husband John, an emeritus law professor at UC Davis. In 1999 I was diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), a progressive degenerative neuromuscular illness of the voluntary muscles. I retired in 2000 so I could travel while I
could still walk. By 2003 I needed a power wheelchair to get around. Since about 2016 I’ve been in a wheelchair 24 hours a day. I feel very fortunate to still be able to type so that I could write this book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is THE CONSCIOUS TEACHER. I was reading my autobiography in my memoir group here about my early struggles with reading and math as an elementary student. I related how this inspired me to become a teacher with insights about how to do a better job of reaching all students. The group said, “Debbie this is too important to just write for your memoir. You need to stop and write a book about your teaching for parents and teachers before its too late.” I was excited they thought my ideas were worthy of a book, but saying “before its too late” really got me. It was true that having ALS meant I better get to it before it was too late. So I started writing in earnest, turning my autobiography into this book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I got up, got my cup of coffee, and started writing. I wrote for at least two to three hours every day. ALS has impaired my fingers so it is difficult to type as I used to. It took about a year to complete the first manuscript. Then I had to add stuff, rewrite parts, and edit. Waiting for the publisher to make the changes in the manuscript took time. That took almost four years.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve enjoyed reading all kinds of books, but this just came directly out of me. It wasn’t influenced by any other authors.

What are you working on now?
I’m back to writing my autobiography. That includes not only my childhood, but also being
on the Davis City Council, finding the love of my life, designing and being the general contractor for building three houses, quilting and developing my own original designs as I became more handicapped by ALS, among other highlights of my life.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
N/A

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write about what you know and what inspires you. Honestly tell your story. I don’t have
advice for fiction writers. But they amaze me with their imaginations.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I don’t know. I guess it might be: follow your heart, don’t give up, tell the truth, and persevere.

What are you reading now?
I am a member of two book groups. I just finished The Last Bus to Wisdom and The
Traveling Cat Chronicles.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m back to working on my autobiography. I’ve thought of writing a book about living with ALS, but for now that’s on the back burner. I was diagnosed in 2006, so it has been slow to
progress, thank goodness.

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 have no idea. I order ebooks, so I would just order what I wanted from there. Hopefully the island would have an internet connection.

Author Websites and Profiles
Deborah Nichols Poulos Amazon Profile

 

J.D. Knapp 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is J.D. and I’ve written many books but only published one. The reason my other “books” aren’t published is because they’re rife with plot holes and terrible characters. They’re long enough to be novels, but the characters are weak and the manuscripts were written by an 11 year old.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Candied Acridity was inspired by the roleplaying I used to do with my friends. My first draft was almost two hundred thousand words and it tried to fit all the characters. It was awful. For some reason I tried to salvage it and I ended up with a nice character study relating to grief and the search for sanctuary.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Most of my writing happens in the middle of the night. I listen to my music and forget everything else that’s happening in the world. It’s almost like a trancelike state.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I listen to the NoSleep podcast at my work (I’m a dishwasher) and examine the different styles used to create tension. I enjoy the works of H.P. Lovecraft and George Orwell.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a book with a bit more science fiction focus. I don’t have a good name for it yet, but it’ll be focused on science and human morality.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My book hasn’t been published that long yet, but I presume Whizbuzz will be my best friend in terms of promotion.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Getting words down on paper is more important than perfection. It’s easier to get ideas written down and refine them later as opposed to edit as you write. In my experience, ideas come slowly and it’s good to keep your plot open ended to later changes once you’ve developed a cohesive story.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve ever heard is to assume all people are selfish. Although it sounds blunt in edgy, if you don’t expect a lot out of people, you are able to recognize glimpses of goodness in places you wouldn’t expect.

What are you reading now?
I’m in the process of reading Altered Carbon by Richard K Morgan.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’d like to continue writing. I’m going to start with my separate science fiction novel. If there’s considerable demand for a sequel I will absolutely make a sequel to Candied Acridity.

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 Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil DeGrasse Tyson, 1984 by George Orwell, and The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien.

Author Websites and Profiles
J.D. Knapp Website
J.D. Knapp Amazon Profile

J.D. Knapp’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile