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C.J. Fisher 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a law student, an artist, and a writer. Growing up I dreamed of being a great science fiction writer and YA novelist. Later I developed an interest in writing for television and film. Although I certainly can’t be counted among the greats yet, I’m excited to finally be living my long time dream. This past December, I published my first YA book: Enemy Rising. It is the first in a series set in an alternate 1805 India. I am currently at work on book two, as well as a number of other manuscripts.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first published book is a YA called Enemy Rising. The book is set in 1805 India, which was a volatile time in history, when the British had broken faith and began battling to conquer country. However, in my book there is an outbreak of curseds (zombies) which reshapes the political powers and forces four radically different youth to take unexpected measures to survive. The story was inspired by a dream I had of a princess and her best friend fighting zombies.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Honestly, I don’t think so. The greatest advice I ever received from a mentor was, “Writers write.” So, that’s what I try to do. I sit down. I chug my coffee. And I write.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh wow, honestly, so many authors and books have influenced me. I love the English and Russian classics. Writers like Tolstoy, Dickens, Austin, Hardy and Dostoyevsky were among my favorites as a child. But I also loved and was influenced by science fiction stories and YA series. Bradbury, H.G. Wells, Asimov, Suzanne Collins, and Brian Jacques were some of my favorites. Although the styles vary greatly, these authors all had the ability to paint a whole and complete picture. It’s something I will always aspire to and strive for.

What are you working on now?
Currently, I am working on the sequel to Enemy Rising. I’m also about half way done with a science fiction novella. It’s different from my previous work. More mature in tone. It’s something I’m really excited about. Of course, I also have several YA and middle grade books outlined, and as long as Book Two makes reasonable progress, I will begin working on a second series this summer.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m pretty new to book promotions. I’ve been running ads on Amazon with decent success, I also managed to unload a number of copies with a Books Butterfly promotion. I’ve heard Robin Reads, James Mayfiled, and Buck Books are also good sources, so I’m going to keep throwing it out there and see where it sticks.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Writers write. Seriously though. If you have a dream, fight for it. You can always edit a bad story or a rough script. You can’t fix an empty page.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, writer’s write. To be fair, I think that applies to anyone no matter what their dream is. Dreaming is good, but it will always be just that without action. So, pursue dreams. Take the knocks. Get back up again and keep going.

What are you reading now?
As a 2L, I read a lot of legal texts. Although it’s very different from pleasure reading, it’s taught me a differnt side of writing, which I really appreciate. As soon as exams end, I’ll be finishing the second book in Cixin Liu’s Three Body Problem trilogy. I can’t recommend it enough.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope that I will continue to hone my skills and that my books will find an audience. I’m going to keep writing, keep learning, and keep trying.

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?
Hmm. Tough question. Probably Oliver Twist, War and Peace, the Bible, and a very thick Survival Guide.

Author Websites and Profiles
C.J. Fisher Website
C.J. Fisher Amazon Profile

C.J. Fisher’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Yumi Cox 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m Japanese but moved to Australia in my early teens. I now spend time between both. I have always been fascinated with romance stories and particularly enjoy writing in the transgender genre. I suppose it’s a mix of traditional Japanese and western. I have published two books and have another three ready to go.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Private Dancer was inspired by an event in the life of a friend of mine. It reflects his first introduction to the allure of the transgendered.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. It’s a bit like baking a cake. I go hard at the writing, then let it simmer, then polish it off.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have a few fave authors. They include Nikki Crescent, Melanie Brown, Barbara Deloto, Kylie Gable & Akyson Belle

What are you working on now?
A new book inspired by the life of a well known celebrity. It’s early days though, so that may change.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Hopefully this one.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’m too new to give advice.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Buy Scrivner.

What are you reading now?
Melanie Brown’s I’m with the Band.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Get some books under my belt.

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?
Game of Thrones, The Art of War, Beatles Complete, How Things Work

Author Websites and Profiles
Yumi Cox Website
Yumi Cox Amazon Profile

Yumi Cox’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Jennifer Penrose 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
This is the first book I have written. I plan to write 2 more.

I am a mother of 3 boys, a wife, a business owner, and a doctor of physical therapy that loves helping people stay active and pain free! I am board certified in orthopedic physical therapy.

I love analyzing movement and helping people understand why their body is breaking down and where the pain is coming from. I enjoy educating people about movement and helping them get back to what they love. I opened Penrose & Associates Physical Therapy in 2007 in Lacey, WA. I love creating a place where we “Listen to patients and achieve lifelong results.” We partner with our patients for life to keep them mobile and free from pain killers. We are on their team as we will all need “tune ups” and we all need to continue muscle and joint maintenance.

I have a podcast called “Stay Health South Sound” where I interview providers and health fitness experts to help our community stay active and pain free. I offer free quarterly workshops on knee pain, back pain, shoulder and neck pain, balance, and osteoporosis. I love to educate people about their body and what they can do. Do not assume it is age. The best thing to combat aging is exercising and eating whole foods (lots of veggies!).

I offer online classes and can work with many people via Telehealth. Email info@penrosept.com for more information. Check out www.penrosept.com.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Run Forever! Secrets to Common Running and Walking Injuries.

This book was in the making for several years. A good friend said I should write the book and so I started it when I was on bed rest for one of my boys. Since then I joined a business group that encouraged owners to write a book to help others and explain what it is exactly that physical therapy does for people. I don’t do physical therapy. I help people get their lives back! I get them to sleep without pain for the first time. I get them to get back to traveling and playing with grandchildren. I get them back to work. I give people what they want and their identity again. I had to write a book showing them how that is possible. Do not assume it is just age and that this is what it is.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I use the ap Otter to dictate and then go edit the document later. It is just faster that way. I love integrating patient stories to help readers find themselves in the story.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love “The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery” as it truly helps me understand myself and others.

“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change”

What are you working on now?
Next book is more of an “anti-aging book.” The secret really is exercise and diet.

The next one will be osteoporosis and how to combat that naturally.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Not sure yet. Just starting out.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep finding ways to help more people.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Focus. Schedule out your day and stick to it.

What are you reading now?
Profit First.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Promoting my book and making an online course to go with it. Virtual courses to go with my books.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
First of all the Bible. Then likely how to survive on the island books as I have no idea how to do that! I also would want to read a good mystery so an Agatha Christie book.

Author Websites and Profiles
Jennifer Penrose Amazon Profile

Jennifer Penrose’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account

Lilly Avalon 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Well, I’m a thirty-something author who works from home. I have two pet rats who are my snuggly friends. I love to watch YouTube videos of playthroughs of my favorite games.

As of right now, I have five books published: one novella, three novels, and a compilation of six short stories and novelettes. All of them are contemporary romances, either romantic erotica or new adult romance.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest release is Irresistibly Yours, which is a compilation of short romantic erotica stories. The inspiration came from multiple things: dreams, my wandering mind, a spark of a scene idea… and culminated in a sweet set of six stories.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not particularly. Before I can actually write I usually mull over my idea and work out plot holes in my mind prior to outlining. Then I’ll start writing once I have a decent outline written up.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Lots! I particularly love Emma Hart, Sara Ney, LJ Shen, and Noelle Adams for starters. A couple of the books that influenced me early on were His Wicked Games by Ember Casey and Escorted by Claire Kent.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently writing the third book in a trilogy of novellas about naughty men. They’re interconnected, so I’m going to finish the last one before I start revisions. I want to make sure I have everything tie up in a nice bow between the three.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’d say my newsletter gets the most attention out of everything. Most of my social media doesn’t get a lot of traction, but that’s due to algorithms and what is showing on somebody’s feed.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read. Write. Repeat.

It’s a good idea to read, especially in your genre so that you know what the expectation of the readers is. And keep writing. Practice makes perfect and you can’t become a better writer if you aren’t writing on a somewhat regular basis. I went a couple years barely writing and I can attest to losing some of my skill due to not writing regularly.

Even though marketing is an important aspect to assist with success, I still stand by the notion that getting the next book out will be the best way to market yourself as an author.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t give up. Writing can be a struggle in many aspects. Either it’s a struggle to get the words on the page, or to edit them to sound decent, or to get people to actually read it so that you can make a career out of writing. If writing is your passion, don’t give up on yourself. You can take a break if you need it, but never stop trying. Keep writing, keep editing, keep publishing.

What are you reading now?
I have an intense love for historical romances, so I’m currently reading Sophie Jordan’s upcoming book The Virgin and the Rogue. I’m also in the middle of reading Rache’ Aaron’s 2,000 to 10,000, a book about how to write faster and better, which I definitely need right now. Too many books to write, never enough time!

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ve been loosely outlining a novel about a girl who meets her celebrity crush and they have a summer fling. I keep fiddling with the details, but I think I’ve finally nailed down the details and the overall plot. Once I finish my naughty men novellas, I’ll likely work on this. Then I have two other stories I’m debating between: a cute and steamy Christmas novella and an enemies-to-lovers next door neighbor novel that takes place around Christmas. We’ll see which wins out!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Oh wow. These questions are always difficult, especially as an avid reader. Let’s see… I would like to have a little variety, so I would go with Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson, and The Grand Escape by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. A romance, a young adult, a memoir, and a childhood favorite.

Author Websites and Profiles
Lilly Avalon Website
Lilly Avalon Amazon Profile
Lilly Avalon Author Profile on Smashwords

Lilly Avalon’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Jacqueline Pirtle 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, my name is Jacqueline Pirtle. I am the owner of the lifestyle company FreakyHealer, and I am a holistic practitioner, speaker, and the author of 365 Days of Happiness, Parenting Through the Eyes of Lollipops, and What it Means to BE a Woman. That makes 3 books!

My passion for mindful happiness shines through in all of my life and work, helping clients to shift into a high-for-life frequency—a unique experience that calls people into their highest potential in their NOW!

I have been featured in multiple online magazines, including Authority Magazine, Thrive Global, NBC NewsBetter, have appeared on Women Inspired TV, and interviewed on podcasts and radio shows such as The Sunday School Radio Show, The Lisa Radio Show and WoMRadio. My article “Are You Happy?” is in print in The Edge Magazine.

I was born in Switzerland, have lived all over the world, and am now making my home in the US with my wonderful family. My professional background is in holistic wellness and natural living, I hold various international degrees, and am an internationally certified Reiki Master.

I also consider myself a professional red wine and dark chocolate taster.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called What it Means to BE a Woman.

The inspiration clearly came because I am a very happy woman.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not sure if that is unusual, but, I get my physical me and my mind out of the way so words can just flow though me, into the computer, and onto paper. The more I let go of what I think my new book has to be the better and easier writing is for me.

Plus I truly enjoy writing.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am always influenced by everything, be it an author, a book, an article, or nature and life itself. It is a constant inspirational play that is going on for me.

What are you working on now?
Right now I am promoting my new book since it was just published, while, of course, playing with new ideas to write about.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use all my social media accounts and my website to post about my books, I also make videos, use your service and the service of BooksGoSocial, and have a publicist that helps me out when needed. Plus I am very proud and happy to self-promote, something I learned to enjoy.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t be shy to self-promote and to talk about who you are and the writing work you do. Be outspoken and infectious with your writers-joy. People love that.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Stay lighthearted and enjoy what you are doing. BE happy!

What are you reading now?
I always read a bunch of different things, books, online, letters, articles… I read everything right now!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep writing and writing and promoting and promoting.

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?
Books from Esther Hicks
Books from Gregg Braden
Books from Bruce Lipton
And a journal for me to write my own next book…

Author Websites and Profiles
Jacqueline Pirtle Website
Jacqueline Pirtle Amazon Profile

Jacqueline Pirtle’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Barbara Banks 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was raised in a western Pennsylvania town with a population of 5,000. My access to books was limited to the school library until the age of 12 years old. My neighbor was establishing the town library and asked me to help her. I worked for $0.25 an hour checking in books and re-stacking them on the shelves. It was then that I discovered many things to learn by scanning book titles and checking-out many books to read. I learned that reading was a fun way to learn many different things that were not discussed or taught in school. I attended college and graduate school in PA, TX, and D.C. in the fields of political science, economics, and finance. I earned my private pilot’s license, joined the Air Force, co-built an experimental aircraft and lived across the U.S. and in England. I believe that the more you learn, work, read, travel and experience, the easier it is to be a storyteller. Now I write to help make learning fun for children who choose to read for entertainment. I hope that you enjoy my storytelling and feel the same as I do – that it’s important to learn the difference between FACT and FICTION AND that reading is a fun way to learn, because learning is a lifetime experience!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first book and latest is The Critter Family: The Fun Begins! It is the first in The Critter Family series. Book 2 entitled The Critter Family: Exploring the Shenandoah will be released in late May followed by Book 3 entitled The Critter Family: To Wyoming and Back! while will be released in August. I was on vacation when I completed a day of touring and sat down with my computer and began making a list of critters (animals). My husband asked what I was doing. I said that everyone loves animals, maybe I’ll write a book. Then 3 months later I began. I wrote over 300 pages which are not the basis for the first 3 books in the series.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have a background in political science/economic/finance and have accomplished a significant amount of research and analysis in these areas. I believe that to understand and learn anything, a person needs to be able to pull up information. When I did these things, search engines didn’t exist so I needed to use library catalogs and search through library stacks, something students today aren’t quite as familiar with. But my writing habits haven’t changed much. I begin forming ideas and start writing. After my first draft, more ideas come to mind. The difference in writing this children’s book series from my earlier research is that all kinds of fun ideas come to mind at all times of the day and night and must be captured. I also have unsolved issues in the stories that I will revisit in later books in the series.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Eevi Jones, author of “How to Self-Publish a Children’s Book”

What are you working on now?
I am editing Book 3 in The Critter Family series, have outlined Book 4, and am ready to take pen to paper. (or keyboard strokes on the computer!)

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Website is at http://www.barbarabanks.studio/taxiway.
Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/BarbaraBanks.Author

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t hesitate to begin writing. Write from the heart and let your ideas flow. You will go through several phases of editing to embellish your ideas, refine your expressions and writing style. You will never write a book if you don’t capture those initial ideas. There’s always time to add to your story. BUT it is just as important to set a deadline or else your will never finish your book.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t be afraid to start writing. It will come to you.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading a couple of Newt Gingrich books.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Publishing Book 2 in The Critter Family Series in late May 2020 Aentitled “The Critter Family: Exploring the Shenandoah” followed by Book 3 entitled “The Critter Family: To Wyoming and Back” in August 2020.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
A book on stock/option trading; a book on social media; a Newt Gingrich novel; and a Michele Malkin book.

Author Websites and Profiles
Barbara Banks Website
Barbara Banks Amazon Profile

Barbara Banks’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

A.G. Vlahos 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
A.G. Vlahos was born and raised in Maryland with a special fondness for the Eastern Shore. Countless summers were spent visiting the coastal towns along the Chesapeake Bay. ‘Bella the Blue Crab’ is a tribute to the beloved Maryland blue crab and is the first book in the Bella the Blue Crab series. This beautifully illustrated Children’s book pays homage to the towns where the Chesapeake Bay blue crab is celebrated and enjoyed.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My recent Children’s book is ‘Bella the Blue Crab,’ and my beloved daughter was the inspiration for the book. Bella the Blue Crab promotes the importance of being a positive role model through acts of kindness and good deeds. These wonderful qualities are demonstrated when Bella helps her fellow Sea creatures, and as a result, helps saves the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Very interesting question, but none that I have been told!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Many of the Children’s books we’ve read to our daughter, have helped inspire my passion for writing a Children’s series. I believe our children provide so much inspiration and great material to get our creative juices flowing.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on the next story for the Bella the Blue Crab series. Bella’s adventures will take her on an exciting trip through the Atlantic ocean, with many exciting stops along the way to help her friends in need.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
AwesomeGang has been the most forward thinking and helpful that I have come across in assisting Authors with their book promotions and spreading the word.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice is simple – write about what you enjoy and believe in. If you believe in your idea, don’t let the doubt creep in that you can’t do this. Everyone starts somewhere, and those that succeed are the ones who didn’t cave at the first, second or third sign of rejection. Also you must be open to feedback and critiquing, and have thick skin!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you strongly believe in your book and your idea, keep moving forward.

What are you reading now?
I enjoy reading Mystery Thrillers in my personal time, which is scarce. I also enjoy exploring the wide variety of Children’s books available these days. I particularly enjoy books that promote kindness and helping others by being a positive role model.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am working to continue my Bella the Blue Crab 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?
That is a great question, and I believe the Bible should be one of those books.

Author Websites and Profiles
A.G. Vlahos Amazon Profile

A.G. Vlahos’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Anitha Perinchery 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Written? many
Published? 2 so far. I hope to come out with the third soon.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
A Goan Holiday. When I wrote One Monsoon in Mumbai, I wanted to pursue the story behind two side characters and see what got them to do something so illogical, so evidently self-defeating.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I thrash out my plot on long drives.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Like a lot of other writers: Jane Austen
P. G. Wodehouse is another.
Erle Stanley Gardner
Anuja Chauhan among Indian writers.
I love the sheer drama of Erich Segal.

I read many others but can’t say my writing is influenced by their works. Current fav to read is Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I loved the first 4 books of the Harry Potter series. Indian myth-litt author Krishna Udayasankar is an all-time fav. Nora Roberts prior to 2010 ish. Stephen King, Mark Twain, Tom Clancy, Robert Pirsig… the list goes on.

What are you working on now?
Book 3 of the Indian Summer series. Plus,. one other work I can’t talk about right now.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Trying out now; will let you know later.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes. Make time to write.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You can’t edit a blank page. Write even if you end up deleting the scene later.

What are you reading now?
A mythology retelling

What’s next for you as a writer?
A cowriting project, followed by a contemporary romcom/suspense which is my forte.

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 Kindle.

Author Websites and Profiles
Anitha Perinchery Website
Anitha Perinchery Amazon Profile

Anitha Perinchery’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Ben McQueeney 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Ben McQueeney. I am a mad scientist turned creative type (It’s true). I like in the north of England with my GF, two kids and two really small dogs. My other interests include video games and keeping fit (CrossFit).

I have written one book that’s just come out “The Spirit of Things” However, I have had published short stories in a series called Harvey Duckman Presents.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The Spirit of Things.” Its book one of what is planned to be a five-book series with a sprinkling of two novellas to season.

It was inspired by books series like “The Kingkiller Chronicles.” “Discworld” and “Lotr” all of which have carved their own corner on the Fantasy spectrum which I am also hoping to achieve. I am not reinventing the wheel here aha.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes!

I must have a cup of tea, I must sit on my sofa in a certain way and I must listen to retro RPG video game music in the background. Such as Final Fantasy soundtracks from the 90’s. Don’t ask me why. ahahah

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My goodness that is a hard question as I have so many favourite authors. Here’s a bunch, Brandon Sanderson, Terry Pratchett, Patrick Rothfuss, J.K Rowling, Geroge R.R. Martin

What are you working on now?
The Whisper of Fire. The sequel to the Spirit of things.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don’t know yet its the second day my first book has been released! aha

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes. Believe in yourself. You will get there. The 16th edit is close but the next 7 edits will fly by don’t worry.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To become a better writer, read more.

What are you reading now?
American Psycho by Brett Eastern Ellis.

Disturbingly brilliant.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish this second book then write the third wooooo!

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?
1984
LOTR (whole series)
The Name of the Wind

Author Websites and Profiles
Ben McQueeney Website
Ben McQueeney Amazon Profile

Ben McQueeney’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Ken Bailey 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am the middle child of three born to a country church pastor, raised in various parsonages throughout south Alabama and the panhandle of Florida. I have been involved in church music essentially throughout my entire life. I sang in children’s choir, youth choir, and the adult choir even as a child. At the age of 16 when the pianist at my father’s parish took a sabbatical to have a baby, I assumed the role, playing for services until I left for college. I graduated from Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama, with a degree in music education and have spent my adult life as a church musician working in southern churches. I met my lovely wife, Pam, through my work in church music. She was a member of one of the church choirs I directed. The chair of the committee which hired me as music director at the church where I met Pam boasts that I was guaranteed they would find me a wife, and they did. I have written three books which I have now bound together as a trilogy.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is a trilogy – my first three novels bound into one. The trilogy follows the life of a conservative southern family – their solidarity through life’s highs and lows, the fun and sometimes quirky, but always quintessentially southern citizens of the town in which they live, and their faith in God.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I find I get the most writing done late in the evening while sitting in bed with a notebook computer in my lap, my wife next to me either reading or asleep.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My wife is an avid reader of Christian fiction. Each night, she sits in bed reading a novel to unwind and prepare to sleep. After some years watching this ritual, I began to casually thumb through the novels sitting on her nightstand and developed an interest in writing this genre of fiction.

What are you working on now?
Currently, I am working on the 4th book in the Bellamy Family Series which will be a retrospective on the life of “Aunt Vivian”, one of the supporting and quite colorful characters in the series.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t stop writing.

Author Websites and Profiles
Ken Bailey Amazon Profile
Ken Bailey Author Profile on Smashwords

Ken Bailey’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Pinterest Account

Astralia Dik 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in Russia and studied Math in University, but since childhood I loved to write books. I preferred for writing mostly a magic and a sorcery, and my love to seek solutions induced me to dive into depths of these areas and to find behind them more than just supernatural abilities. Then I began to study books of psychology and philosophy to know how to explain any life events and personal relationships. Also I wanted to know what natural skills person has and can have and how he could develop them. I wanted to write the only one a book of advice for it could explain absolutely everything, but I could not put all my thoughts in one book, therefore was appeared two more books.
I have a series “Facets of the Soul” from 3 books about soul development.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Mystics. The book contains thoughts about life and death, human being, man’s vocation and his comprehensive development. These themes are important for me. I wanted to show how to reach freedom and wealth in any situation. I wanted to show all people are equal. Everyone can be happy.
The heroine of this book finds the meaning of her existence in the most inappropriate city for life, waiting for the end of the world. She finds her vocation through an appeal to soul without being blocked by limitations of consciousness, which helps her to save not just herself and the rest of the inhabitants, but also the whole city, which is also a separate world.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love to collect the thoughts inspiring me then to share them on suitable themes. I love to read many books and articles before I catch the inspiration.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Dostoevsky, F. M. “Crime and punishment” is the great book involving all the feelings of reader’s soul in herself. If I could I’d name it the best psychological thriller. I wanted to create such stressful and hopeless environment in my books.
Mahabharata. In this epic you can find advice for any case in life. It is no accident that it is considered the fifth Veda, because it includes the wisdom of those who lived in the past Yugas, in which people had a higher consciousness. It’s full of spirituality and inspiring. Every word of it can fill my heart by love and striving to dharma.

What are you working on now?
Truth. It’s the third book of my series. It’s based on myths and fairy tales of different countries. I saw in them a holistic picture of the world view of people from past eras and I wanted to prove that it was united for all who lived in those days.
The main character of the book is goddess Morena. She is Slavic goddess of winter and death. I saw in her kind nature and showed it in my book.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve just begun my promotion path and don’t know all the hints of it but now I like Twitter. It allows to follow many interesting people which can see your book.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be yourself. Don’t hear anyone. Write what you want. Only you know your book must be.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to write a non-fiction book about soul development to tell people how it’s important to feel every process in life by soul. Only soul can give man an opportunity to raise above himself because it keeps all his unrealized dreams, wishes and goals.

Author Websites and Profiles
Astralia Dik Website
Astralia Dik Amazon Profile
Astralia Dik Author Profile on Smashwords

Astralia Dik’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Michael Miller 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a 38 year veteran of the rat race. I’ve held many leadership positions from Assistant Superintendent to Manager to Director to Associate Vice President.

I have a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s of business administration. I am a lifelong learner and a voracious reader.

Bad Boss is my first book and I am excited to have it on Amazon. I am currently researching my next book. It is tentatively titled The 7 Habits of Highly Dysfunctional Leaders.

I live in Round Rock, Texas with my wife and two Scottish Terriers.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is titled Bad Boss – 7 Steps to Survive a Nightmare Boss.

Over the years, I have had many Bad Bosses and many good bosses. Both have inspired to write my book Bad Boss.

If my book helps just one person, I will consider it a success.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to sit in a comfy chair in the living room and work from my laptop. Often times, I will have some tv in the background. Most recently any travel show on HGTV. Right now Mexico Life.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
John Maxwell is my all-time favorite. His 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth is my favorite. Leadership Gold is another.

Stephen R. Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is another.

What are you working on now?
I am researching a book about the 7 habits of highly dysfunctional leaders. It will look at what these leaders do that makes them ineffective. My goal is to provide information that will help others avoid falling into these habits.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far Amazon, but I also have an author’s site at https://themillerchronicles.com

As I mature in my marketing prowess I hope to discover.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Stick with it. Writing and publishing can be hard at times, but work through it. And write at least 3 words every day.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write at least 3 words every day. Nothing is more important than just sitting down and writing anything. Three words inevitably turns into more.

What are you reading now?
I’m taking a break from non-fiction and reading Dean Koontz’s Devoted.

What’s next for you as a writer?
When I’m not researching The 7 Habits of Highly Dysfunctional Leaders I am working on a short book of things people can do while stuck at home during these unprecedented times. My goal is to give people outlets that they can safely do at home. Many ideas involve staying connected with Facetime or Skype.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Anything that John Maxwell wrote and any Dean Koontz book for entertainment.

Author Websites and Profiles
Michael Miller Website
Michael Miller Amazon Profile

Michael Miller’s Social Media Links
Pinterest Account

Patricia Watters 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a full-time author. I grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana and lived in a world of make-believe, preferring that to reading, which I hated. I just wanted to live the adventures written about in books, so I concocted a world around me. The first chance I got I moved out of the city, and for the past 35 years I’ve lived in a little hand-built log cabin in the middle of 30 acres of evergreen forest in the foothills of Oregon’s Coast Range. My dear husband and editor passed away a few years back so I live alone with my German Shepherd, Sophie, my cat, Izzy and a mouse named Minnie Mousey. As for my writing, I’ve written 24 romance novels. I started off selling to Harlequin Soperromance and Avon-Harper Collins, but with the rise of ebooks I joined that bandwagon and never looked back. I love having COMPLETE control of every facet of the writing, including covers, editing, formatting, uploading and marketing.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is THE FINAL TURN, which followed on the heels of TALL DARK STRANGER, which is the first book in my CAJUN COWBOYS series. My inspiration came when I discovered, while tracing my ancestry, that I’m a Cajun, having descended from a man who lead 240 Acadian exiles from Nova Scotia to SW Louisiana, where they settled in and around Bayou in the late 1700s. With a little research, I learned that those Louisiana cowboys were the toughest cowboys in existence, often needing to round up cattle in swamps where alligators roamed and tangles of venomous water moccasins hung from trees. Other than one of my heroes wanting to raise alligators, I leave all that disturbing unromantic stuff out unless it’s important to the plot, and then all bets are off.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know if it’s unusual, but I can be at my computer from 5:00 AM until bedtime when I’m deep into writing a book. I’m a fast writer so I can complete a book in anywhere from a month to a couple of months. Spring is more difficult because I also want to be outside, so I take more breaks. One thing I thrive on is research, which I love to incorporate in my hooks, and in return I get a lot of praise from fans who claim they learn something new every time they read my books. That makes it all worthwhile.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
As for what books or authors influenced me, when editors in the publishing industry would come to conferences and tell budding romance writers to read, read, read every romance they can get their hands on to know what sells, I decided if I did that my writing would read like every other romance, so I read from other genres. My favorite author to date is Kay Nolte Smith and her book, “A Tale of the Winds.” It’s a saga that spans two generations. I love sagas, and that’s what I did with my 13-book DANCING MOON RANCH series, which spans 30 years and two generations. As characters are introduced, they remain with the stories as secondary characters throughout so my hero and heroine in the first story is very much present in the last, though 30 years older.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently writing the third book in my CAJUN COWBOYS series, which is entitled, FLIGHT OF FANCY. I’m about 14,000 words into it and it’s going well. I hope to have it available in a couple of months. However, the weather here in Oregon is beautiful and things are bursting into bloom, which cuts into writin time.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My best promotion tool is the Prequel to my DANCING MOON RANCH series, which is a perma-free entitled JUSTIFIED DECEPTION. It always gets readers into the series when I promote it though marketing outlets like Awesome Gang. At the end of that series it takes readers into my current series. I also respond to every fan who takes the time to tell be they liked a book or the series. I don’t do any social media, including Facebook, but I love corresponding with fans, and a couple of them have come to visit.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice to new authors is to learn to weave in story threads. These should be introduced early on, then woven through the story, and one by one, resolved in the later chapters. Weaving story threads also means not telling too much too soon. Elements of each subplot should be arranged into a logical sequence and these elements interjected into the flow of the story over its entire course, while also interwoven to achieve graduated dramatic complications.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
This advice came from a senior editor at Harlequin prior to purchasing my manuscript for a Superromance, and that’s to avoid the episodic trap. This is where a conflict is introduced, it builds to a dramatic climax, and in short order, maybe within the same scene, the conflict is resolved. But the story is far from over. There are still a few hundred pages yet to fill. The logical thing, from the viewpoint of a novice writer who understands the importance of keeping conflict going, is to introduce another conflict, have it build to a dramatic climax, and resolve it… and so on, until the story has reached the required number of pages when the hero and heroine can stop fighting and declare their undying love. The problem is, the plot is not defined. What the writer has created is a series of unconnected, or at best, tenuously connected vignettes that are contrivances to keep the hero and heroine apart for the duration of the story. This is where a knowledge of using story threads comes in and it’s essential to a well-crafted plot.

What are you reading now?
I only read for research and that takes me all over the place.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ll finish writing the CAJUN COWBOYS series, which I see as six, maybe seven books, then I’ll write the second edition of my memoir. The first edition is entitled AROUND THE BELT, which is about growing up in New Orleans in the 50s and 60s. It only comes in paperback, but those who’ve read it found if fun and interesting, especially some of my early escapades. After that I’ll probably plan another cowboy series, one set in the west. I love those cowboys, the old-style cowboys who don’t use crude language and who’d lay down their lives for their lady loves.

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’d bring to this island, “The Secret Teachings of All Ages” by Manly P. Hall; The King James version of the Bible, mainly because I’m in the process of decoding the new testament, which is a marvel of mystery, based on manuscripts found among the Dead Sea Scrolls; “Louisiana Cowboys” by Bill Jones, so I could continue my research for when I’d get off the island; and a book of survival for if stranded on a desert island.

Author Websites and Profiles
Patricia Watters Website
Patricia Watters Amazon Profile

E Stuart Marlowe 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Pauper King is the sixth novel I’ve written. I also published a compilation of short stories, Gone is Gone.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Pauper King just came crashing out of my head like most things do without any real source of inspiration.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tap with two fingers on my iPad at 2AM when everyone in the house is asleep.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve been inspired by various books. For this one, I drew on stories by HG Wells and Stoker, and of course the original fairy tales as compiled by the Grimms.

What are you working on now?
Just wrapped up Ivory!! which is about the next American Revolution. Fiction, but not.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Still figuring that out.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read a lot. Write a lot. Rewrite until it hurts.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep your day job.

What are you reading now?
Jules de Grandin mysteries. Look it up.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Writing.

Author Websites and Profiles
E Stuart Marlowe Website
E Stuart Marlowe Amazon Profile

Nick Hetcher 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, my name is Nick Hetcher. As a youth I wanted to be a stand up comedian. I even moved to Hollywood. Ended up as a radio DJ.

My first book, “The Coffee Joke Book” was written (mostly compiled jokes) in 2018 and is listed on Amazon. About 175 hilarious coffee one-liners.

I just released a book that compares God’s creation to the theory of evolution. And yes, some humor is included. It’s primarily written to Christians, however, the skeptic may find it of interest as well. I hope you’ll read it.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“EVOLUTION: A Fairytale for All Ages.”

After many years of research on the subject, I have learned that the theories of evolution are no more than a fairytale. I absolutely prove it in 177 easy to read topics and 323 pages. I have learned and prove in the book that evolution is easily disproven both scientifically and mathematically in many ways, and that it is really nothing more than a religion for atheists.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Nah. Sorry if that answer bores you.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Bible of course. “The Evolution Handbook” has been the most helpful.

What are you working on now?
Marketing my new book.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook. And, word of mouth through other creationists.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Stick with it, eventually your book will get done. Then the real work begins, lol, so expect to spend a lot of time marketing it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. – Romans 10:9

What are you reading now?
“Published,” by Chandler Bolt.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To sell a million of this book in the next 3 years.

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
Nick Hetcher Website
Nick Hetcher Amazon Profile

Nick Hetcher’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

John Ryland 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have been a published poet since 1997, and recently have had four short stories published. Souls Harbor is the first novel that I published, but I have written three in the past. I just finished another novel that I an shopping around to agents.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My newest novel is The Man With No Eyes. It started out as a short story. I got the idea from a writing prompt on a website I follow. After much encouragement from a family friend, I expounded in the story and it ended up as a full length novel. I hope to have it on shelves in early 2021.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Only that I can write anywhere. I wrote Souls Harbor sitting at our dining room table. I often stop at work and write down poems on my notepad app on my phone. I believe most writing takes place in the author’s mind, so putting it on paper isn’t that hard for me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I absolutely love Anthony Doerr. He is phenomenal. I also love many of the southern writers like Hemmingway and Harper Lee. I have also ready everything from Ken Follett. I really admire his style and the flow of his writing.

What are you working on now?
I am doing final edits for The Man With no Eyes, but in my mind I am kicking around the idea for a techno thriller about an artificial intelligence gone bad. Also, there may be a sequel to Souls Harbor if there is interest.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use my Facebook page heavily, and my Goodreads page.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. You learn something every time you write. I mentioned my first novels, well they never saw the light of day, but I did learn a lot writing them.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never give up. It’s not easy creating something that thousands of people want to read. Keep at it.

What are you reading now?
Phillip Kerr’s Field Gray

What’s next for you as a writer?
I plan to continue to write and put novels out, hopefully my following will appreciate 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?
Anthony Doerr’s The Shell Collecter
Edgar Allen Poe’s Unabridged collective works
Emerson’s Leaves of Grass
A collection of Hemmingway’s short stories

Author Websites and Profiles
John Ryland Amazon Profile

John Ryland’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Darin Martineau 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Darin Martineau is a Master Magician, Magic Creator, Magic Mentor.
He is a Best-Selling Author of over 100 + Magic books and many are sold in Magic Shops worldwide. He is an award-winning magician- 1st place – I.B.M. Ring 257 – International Brotherhood of Magicians Las Vegas. He is the Founder/CEO and creator of The Master Magic University online magic course and his group: Master Magic Mentors- a Facebook group that mentors many magicians worldwide.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Magic Tricks Sentimental Surreallusion is a book that was inspired by my Magic Creations and also by my Art; I am also an Artist. This book is powerful New Close-Up Magic!
Shin Lim used my Original Card Trick on his Spanish TV Special. Many world class magicians use my Magic.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Taking notes in the middle of the night.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Edc Marlo books, Allan Ackerman books & videos, The Monk who sold his Ferrari by Robin Sharma, The Compassionate Samurai by Brian Klemmer

What are you working on now?
A massive Magic training online membership site and my New Las Vegas Magic show with my mentor Allan Ackerman and many world class Master magicians!

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Learn Marketing and create a good marketing plan

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do each thing as if that were the only thing you were going to do.

What are you reading now?
The Compassionate Samurai by Brian Klemmer

What’s next for you as a writer?
More Magic books and Magic Video downloads

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 scriptures
The Monk who sold his Ferrari by Robin Sharma,
The Compassionate Samurai by Brian Klemmer
Neo-Magic Artistry by S.H. Sharpe

Author Websites and Profiles
Darin Martineau Website
Darin Martineau Amazon Profile

Darin Martineau’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Donald Morrow 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a retired bank robber. When I was nineteen two drunks jumped me. I left them lying in the street and delivered the young boys I was bringing home from the beach to their parents. The mayor of our little town gave me sixty days and sixty dollars. That night I broke out of the sheriff’s jail. With cop’s chasing and shooting at me, I managed to get away from them, but being on the run requires money so I began robbing banks. Eventually, I was forcefully retired by seven FBI gunslingers. I pulled fifteen years. At one time they had me scheduled to be transferred but my congressman got it canceled. Robbing banks was the only crime I ever committed. I was wild, and I was hungry. Since my release, I have built six big houses, two successful carnival rides, and created a company that I sold to MacDonald’s who has put the play units in many of their stores. I’m also a painter. I have hung my paintings in two churches and twenty-four federal buildings. When reading my novels you might notice that I have transferred my youthful wild side into my eleven novels.
While I have been shot at by the police, I have hurt anyone with a gun.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Bum Rap. It’s a term used by convicts to claim they are innocent, and I lived with them for fifteen years, many of them famous like Martin Monti who stole a fighter plane and flew it into Italy and became a friend of the German SS. And Douglas Chandler an aristocrat who made anti-American recordings for the Germans, and David Greenglass who told me more about the atomic bomb than he told the Russians. He ratted on his sister who was executed and he had to live with that the rest of his life. The barroom fight at the start of Bum Rap is actually true and that’s what started the novel. The remainder of the novel is not planned. It just happens.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I began writing when I was in the carnival. Banks didn’t want to send my money home for me so I would go to the post office and buy money orders. I noticed the missing children posters and decided to write a book that might make parents aware of the dangers their children were exposed to. To do this I made “Eula’s Jug,” exceedingly graphic.
I have no planned approaches to writing. That is, I have never made an outline. My books always start with a character that has carved himself a inch in my brain and who is hollering to get out. What he does when I let him out is mostly up to him so many times he gets me stuck. Then if he doesn’t figure it out I stick the unfinished novel in my documents file until my character starts making a lot of noise again, then I let him back out to try again.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have always enjoyed historical fiction more than anything. For my first five years in prison, I read only technical books and took college correspondence courses. The last ten years I read fiction because I found out that I would never be able to get a job because of the background checks that all the companies were using hat made all my technical training useless. Most of the authors that I’ve enjoyed I have forgotten their names, but two of the earliest are Steven king and John Grissom.

What are you working on now?
I’m about two-thirds of the way through a novel about a young man who was raised in the red light district of Wheeling, W. Va. As with all my novels, it’s a badass shoot-em-up and right now my character has gotten himself into a dilemma. He’s going to have to figure it out himself because I have developed a TV binge.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I do not have a web site. I have never promoted or advertised in any way, any of my books. I got sent to this site by Dave Chessen.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Damn straight. Unplug the tv. Read books! Sit in a soft recliner. Get a remote keyboard. Put your computer on a table about four feet away from you. Keep some liquid beside you. Now just open a page and let er rip. Write about anything at all. Your childhood. How far back can you remember? Describe the prettiest girl in the seventh grade. Write your first sex experience. Who pissed you off in high school? You get it? Nothing is sacred. Think sideways. That last half hour in front of the tv could have been the start of a beast seller.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If anyone ever gave me any advice, I didn’t hear it. My fourth-grade teacher had a sign on the wall which read: Character is what you are. reputation is what people think you are.

What are you reading now?
I have read over five-thousand books both technical and fiction. If I were to do it again, I would choose all fiction. I read my own books constantly looking for errors, so let me share this little tale. When I was fifteen, I worked in my dad’s saloon. The clientele all had wonderful stories to share. I loved everything I ever heard from them, and yet, I doubt if any of them ever heard about an adverb or conjunction. They were storytellers. I doubt if any of them would have inspected a book for the correctness of the text. If they read a book, it was to read the story.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ll just keep pecking away, and not expect any pulitzer.

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?
Regeneration, Provoked and Sneaking out of prison…every day

 

Chris Baum 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in Ohio (US) and am married with two kids. I am a Christian and like to write inspirational, uplifting stories. And I also love reading books because, unlike TV, they don’t have redundant commercials. I have written two books and will be publishing my third by mid-2020.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Magnificent, and God is my inspiration.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Nothing too unusual, just as long as I have coffee to fuel me along the way. Writing in the morning time with my morning coffee is what works best for me, along with some chocolate periodically.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are so many too mention, but to name a few:
1. C.S. Lewis – The Chronicles of Narnia
2. Stephen King – The Stand
3. Lee Child – Make Me
4. L. Frank Baum – The Wizard of Oz
5. The Bible…

What are you working on now?
I’m now working on my third book, Out of Darkness: Twists & Turns, which will be released in mid-2020. It will be a variety of fiction – Flash, short stories, a novelette, and even some poetry. It is a collection of shorter stories that I believe is needed. The writer’s market tends to have more novels and novellas, but rarely shorter fiction that I feel is needed in a fast-paced society in which we live where people don’t have as much time to devote to a longer story.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My author website, which is as follows:
www.chrisbaum.net

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write and read often. I tend to read more than I write, but wouldn’t be the writer that I am without reading other’s writing.

“To write is human, but to edit is divine.”

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write for yourself, not for others.

What are you reading now?
Thinking Me Dead by Parker McCoy.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Only God knows that, but speaking of him, I’m sure it’ll will be more inspirational fiction like my Sci-Fi Inspirational 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?
1. The Bible
2. Surrender
3. The Stand
4. How to Survive on Your Own

Author Websites and Profiles
Chris Baum Website
Chris Baum Amazon Profile
Chris Baum Author Profile on Smashwords

Chris Baum’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Robert (Bob) Brink 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a retired newspaper and magazine writer/editor. I have five books in the hopper — three novels, a book of short stories, and a short, ghost-written memoir.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Blood on Their Hands, a legal thriller, went up on Amazon in the Kindle edition three or so weeks ago, and is set for official release May 4 in the paperback edition. The publisher is TouchPoint Press. The seed for the story was planted in 2008 when an office supply computer salesman voluntarily came to my home to fix a computer problem gratis. He was a mixed-race fellow from the Caribbean, and had an Obama bumper sticker on his car. Cops stopped him for some equipment flaw, and roughed him up. From that tale, I was reminded of two of my favorite movies: Gran Torino, in which Clint Eastwood is this racist Vietnam War veteran; and My Cousin Vinnie, starring Joe Pesci as a very funny attorney who reminded me of a lawyer I knew, a racist. So, besides a lot of suspense, the book is replete with humor, even a little slapstick comedy.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Completely disorganized. I’m inspired to write if I know where I’m headed next in the plot, but am amazingly good at procrastinating if I’m stumped. Although, if I’m engaged in a political war on Facebook, I eagerly jump right in. And I email like there’s no tomorrow, which there usually isn’t because I often do it in the wee hours and tomorrow is already there. Always a late person (yes, tardy too), I usually begin working on my book at 10 p.m. or so, then do some emails, then have to read the day’s newspaper before going to bed. But I rise late because I need a lot of sleep. This habit has worsened since my retirement. Am I still working, people ask? My answer: I’m working harder than when I was working. This author business ain’t no piece o’ cake.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Geez, hard to say. I was really taken by Pete Dexter’s Paris Trout for literary suspense, and Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes, which some people found depressing but I thought was hilarious despite the extreme hardship portrayed. Jane Smiley’s way of getting inside of characters in A Thousand Acres strongly impacted me. And I was deeply moved by John Grisham’s realistic portrayal of a racist in the legal thriller The Chamber.

What are you working on now?
A woman who read my roman a clef Murder in Palm Beach told me a friend of hers had communicated with the real person represented as the main character. She had led an amazing life of crime, and effected prison reform in Florida after the death row prisoner she married was beaten to death by guards. A Texas filmmaker began working with her on a film documentary 13 years ago, but abandoned it. He is awaiting completion of my book of creative nonfiction on the woman with the hope of resuming the project.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use various methods to garner reviews, and have built a decent-sized email list, mainly through participation in book giveaway contests called BookSweeps, by Ryan Zee. Although I should stay away from politics in my blog posts, I sometime yield to temptation, also blogging on the mechanics of writing and alternative health care. Lately, I’ve concentrated on book subjects — my books and others’.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Craftsmanship is important. Too many start-up authors pay little heed to the niceties of writing, thinking such details are of little importance. But readers judge harshly, and are turned off by what they perceive, rightly or wrongly, as amateurism in writing with typos, and spelling and grammatical mistakes. Get the basics right first, and move on to such salient elements as showing versus telling, point of view (which still baffles me), and command of dialogue.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again — until the realization dawns that further effort is fruitless. Actually, nobody advised me to end my dream of becoming a Major League pitcher; I finally decided I lacked one necessary element. Talent.

What are you reading now?
I’m deep into Margaret Atwood’s classic, apocalyptic story, The Handmaid’s Tale. It’s scary, making me realize that the current political milieu in the United States could devolve into a destruction of our democracy and take-over by an autocrat.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I haven’t looked beyond the book about Wanda, the reformed criminal whom the Texas filmmaker is interested in portraying. Murder in Palm Beach: The Homicide That Never Died, could become a documentary subject of two local filmmakers, and that project also would be time-consuming. The six children of the victim of the 1976 murder all did a sudden reversal recently and decided, after decades of insisting the man who spent 15 years in prison was guilty, that he in fact was completely innocent. They petitioned the Florida governor to grant him a full pardon. If that happens, they’ll have to reopen the case, which would draw much attention to the book, and also entail a renewed promotional campaign.

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?
No. 1: How to Survive Alone on a Desert Island (has that been written?).
There are so many that I wouldn’t know where to begin. Maybe some of the classics, such as War and Peace; Thomas Wolfe’s Look Homeward, Angel; Sinclair Lewis’ Babbitt; Joseph Heller’s Catch 22; Somerset Maugham’s Of Human Bondage — books I’ve always wanted to read.

Author Websites and Profiles
Robert (Bob) Brink Website
Robert (Bob) Brink Amazon Profile

Robert (Bob) Brink’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Christopher Earnshaw 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve worked for over twenty years in the pharmaceutical industry, based in Japan. To date I’ve written over a dozen books, including a unique Tarot system together with the cards, some books have been translated in Japanese. My hobbies include playing Bach on the ‘cello, Aikido and spiritual studies.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is “Freemasonry: Initiation by Light.” It is one of a quadrilogy of books on the same subject. Originally it was a larger, single book of about 600 pages, but a publisher suggested that I divide the content into smaller units. There are four degrees in Freemasonry recognized by the United Grand Lodge of England, so that seemed a logical way to divide the book. I was inspired to write these books after staying at a Daoist temple in Taiwan. That is where I found the similarity of the two initiations, the Daoist and the Masonic.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I do not write fiction, so I start with months of background research. For this book, I spent nearly two years researching various aspects of the story before starting to write. I like to spend long hours of intense writing, say 12 to 14 hours a day, when I won’t be interrupted. I often skip meals, and survive on coffee and bananas.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Charles Dickens, Seeds of Change by Henry Hobhouse, The Hobbit – JRRTolkein, The DaoDeJing, anything by William Buhlman – the list is too long

What are you working on now?
The fourth in the quadrilogy, “Freemasonry: Royal Arch.” It connects the esoteric teachings of the first three books to show what the first three Grand Masters of the Revival of Freemasonry, 1717-1740, were designing. A way to experience immortality!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
No idea. I have only recently started to self-publish on KDP. I have been paying Amazon to promote the book. I pay about 14% of royalties.
Before I have always used publishers, but recently the results have been less than stellar, so I decided to branch out on my own.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Forget about traditional publishing. Unless they can sell 100,000 copies of your book per year, they won’t bother to market it. I write non-fiction books, so I know where my audience is. This is #101 marketing; identify your market and provide the book they want at a price they can afford.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Concerning writing: write the chapter, then don’t look at it for a week. Reread, and then correct. Finish the book and then don’t read it for a month. Reread and then correct.
Second: learn to love your Thesaurus.

What are you reading now?
The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F**K, by Mark Manson;
The 48 Laws of Power, by Robert Green
Harmonica for Dummies, by Winslow Yerxa

What’s next for you as a writer?
To find a way to market my books more effectively.

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 survive on a desert island” by Bear Gryles
The DaoDeJing
Three Books of Occult Philosophy, by C. Agrippa
The Secret Teachings of All Ages, Manley P. Hall

Author Websites and Profiles
Christopher Earnshaw Website
Christopher Earnshaw Amazon Profile

 

Amy Watkins 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born and raised in Washington, DC. I received an undergraduate degree from Frostburg State University and a Medical Degree from University of Maryland, Baltimore. I served in the US Navy for 8 years and currently work as a family medicine physician for the Navy. I am a single mother of three. Writing has always been a hobby for me and I am thrilled to have recently completed my first novel, 200 Letters

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
200 Letters is the name of my book. It was inspired by situations that me or some of my friends had to endure. I put a lot of different stories together to make this novel. I put my heart into it. The novel has a lot of references to the Bible which was a huge inspiration. I prayed over this book a lot. I prayed for guidance with my writing.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
A lot of prayer.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favorite book is Better Than I Know Myself by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant. that has had a great influence in my reading and writing. I also think Zane has been a big inspiration. The Bible has definitely influenced me.

What are you working on now?
I just finished 200 Letters but I think I may do a few spin off books from some of the characters in 200 Letters.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up. You may need to take breaks in the writing but go back to it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Use social media for marketing and don’t pay for reviews.

What are you reading now?
Men cry in the dark

What’s next for you as a writer?
marketing

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
definitely better than I know myself, the bible, and some zane book to keep me warm at night.

Author Websites and Profiles
Amy Watkins Amazon Profile

Amy Watkins’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Rinoshun K 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, I’m Rinoshun from India. I am a budding independent filmmaker from India. My first film is on the making and the book, ‘the butterflies have died’ is my debut poetry collection.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my latest poetry book is, ‘the butterflies have died.’ I often have trouble getting over things that happen around the world like war and other things that happen in my personal life. These are fifty of the poems out of many others that I have written.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I could think of. No.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love the way Dan Brown writes. I am a big fan of George Owell too. Two of the authors that have influenced me in writing poetry are Charles Bukowski and Rudy Fransico.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on my first feature film and my first novel. Simultaneously I am working on my second film’s screenplay.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Just reaching out to people through Instagram posts and personal messages.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I am a new author myself so all I can say is get over that fear and put the book out.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You’ll never know if you have done something great until you have put it out for others to judge it.

What are you reading now?
Bodily Harm by Margaret Atwood and The definitive Kipling.

What’s next for you as a writer?
My second film’s screenplay and my first 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?
1984, Pleasures of the damned, Life of Pi and Alchemist.

Author Websites and Profiles
Rinoshun K Amazon Profile

Paul Nyman 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
The psychological type of people always interested me. I always wondered what life reasons and circumstances influenced a person’s lifestyle and how did it lead to who he/she is now. I thought about ways to warn people about the possible problems and unpleasant situations that they may encounter.
This is my first book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Corporeal Corset of Success:All about Leaders’ Habits and Development of Your Life Base
This is my first book. Now I am preparing 2 books on similar topics

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I can type text on the keyboard with my eyes closed!)))

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My life has influenced me more! And also my favorite authors:Kiyosaki Robert,Napoleon Hill

What are you working on now?
Above the second book. So far, only outline

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I can’t say for sure. I hope that this site?)))

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Life is movement. Motion is experience. Experience is knowledge.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do not be afraid! Go forward only!

What are you reading now?
I love to read books that I once read again. And some new thought always comes to my mind. Now I’m reading Robert Kiyosaki’s book “Rich Dad, Poor Dad”

What’s next for you as a writer?
Development

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1.Yossi Ginsberg-Jungle. There is only one law in nature – survival
2.Inga Moore: House in the Forest
3.Paul Nyman-how to sing in the voice of Tarzan!))))

 

Paul Nyman’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Marti Shane 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m Marti Shane, a contemporary romance author that writes what I love to read. Smart heroins and strong, successful heroes conquering conflicts and really fighting for love. My first series is The Promise Lake Series set in secluded southern Georgia. Small towns don’t mean small conflicts. Book 1, Pleasures of Promise Lake published in December of 2019 followed by Book 2, Pleasures of the Pride in March of 2020.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Pleasures of the Pride. This book is inspired by protecting the truly innocent. The Pride Academy has produced generations of successful, highly trained males to help innocent victims alter their circumstances. They’re not assassins, they’re strategist. They’re not for hire, they’re what every innocent deserves. If you’re strong enough to stand up against the bad guy, they’ll stand behind you. If you break the law because the devil made you do it, and now you’ want out, you need not apply. For generations, The Pride was a school for boys who evolved into an elite secret society of men. Not anymore.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Many. I write in my head while I’m out running. When I see something out of the ordinary, I try to squeeze it into the piece of the story I’m writing on. It doesn’t always work, but it sparks creativity and adds depth to the character or the place you are writing at the time because stories need little pop-ups.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love series. My favorite writer of a series is J.R. Ward, Black Dagger Brotherhood.

What are you working on now?
Book 3 of the Promise Lake Series. The secrets, the money, and connections had Mick thinking the FBI would show up any day and take it all away. Mick’s lived her whole life never knowing her father was the leader of The Pride. When the FBI shows up to ask for help, she sees her world in whole new light.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Using a small fan base to promote and share on social media.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Try. There’s not a perfect formula.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write something down. Once it’s on the paper, you have something to work with.

What are you reading now?
All The Little Fires

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finding that new place for the next 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?
My high school Chemistry book. I always thought it was interesting but who wants to read about chemistry? With the time on your hands, why not?
The With Me Series by Kristen Proby (The first three are my favorites)

Author Websites and Profiles
Marti Shane Amazon Profile

Marti Shane’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Elena Troyanskaya 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Elena Troyanskaya, and I am from Russia. I work in the field of online trading, helping people to ensure not only financial results, but also make progress in terms of improving their own discipline and gaining internal freedom. In my free time I study and accumulate solutions to many problems that ordinary people face in their life: illnesses, stresses, psychological conditions, relationships in the family, relationships between fathers and children, problems of adaptation in the team and in society as a whole, identifying oneself as part community, defining your role, functions and goals, setting goals, etc. I hope my research will be close and clear to you. My goal is not to directly help people, because I am not an expert in the above areas. My goal is to develop theses and rules based on my theoretical knowledge of behavior and reactions, thanks to which it will be easier for people with certain problems to adapt to difficult conditions and improve, despite their physical disabilities and psychological uncertainty.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
many authors and books

What are you working on now?
Over my next book)

Do you have any advice for new authors?
be real and persistent

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Take it and do it!

What are you reading now?
books about finance and trading

What’s next for you as a writer?
have an extensive bookshelf from my books

Author Websites and Profiles
Elena Troyanskaya Amazon Profile

Elena Troyanskaya’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Linda Anderson 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a retired airline captain, having been a pilot for over 36 years and 22 years as an airline pilot when I retire in 2012. I loved flying most of all and spent so many years reading technical manuals and filling my head with aviation-related details, i.e. is the weather good for us to go or should I choose an alternate airport? Then when my husband who had retired in 2002 started writing he encouraged me to do so also. I began the research for my first book, Charles Barnhill U.S. Deputy Marshal in 2005 but did not have time to actually write then book until 2012. I self-published it in 2015. I have since written two other book, Missouri Man, an historical Missouri journal I edited for detail and published with pictures and From Pigtails to Turboprops, my memoir. I also took the 400+page Charles Barnhill book and turned into three separate 200+ page books for ease of selling and reading. I am currently writing a book about the Osage Indians in Missouri.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
From Pigtails to Turboprops – my memoir. I wrote it for those readers who want to know what happens when someone chooses to make flying a career. I detailed it to reveal my journey from a sacred-of-heights pipsqueak to the director of flight operations for the third largest regional cargo carrier in the United States managing over 60 pilots and 35 airplanes on the flight line. Not a big company but a very busy one. I also wanted to include enough personal details to let the reader know what kind of dedication and sacrifice is required in this highly technical career. It took me ten years from my first flight lesson to reach airline pilot status. This is typical of the training the is required.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write in my mind when I try to sleep. Many times I will get up from a good night’s sleep and sit down to my computer with the story completely written out.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Louise Penney in her Inspector Gamache series. I have read very one and am waiting for the new release in great anticipation. Also in the area of aviation I have enjoyed Stephen Coonts and his Jake Grafton series of books on naval aviation.

What are you working on now?
A non-fiction history about the Osage Indians in Missouri from their discovery by the white men in the 1500’s to present.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
AllAuthor.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Start writing anything and keep at it until you find your niche and what you like to write.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“You can do it” – my husband and “Never Give Up” – Winston Churchill.

What are you reading now?
Season of the Fox by Denise Domning

What’s next for you as a writer?
Continue to write and promote my books more on social media and Internet sites.

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, Matthew Henry’s Commentaries, Fox’s Book of Martyrs, and Les Miserables by Victor Hugo.

Author Websites and Profiles
Linda Anderson Website
Linda Anderson Amazon Profile
Linda Anderson Author Profile on Smashwords

Linda Anderson’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Isabel Tilton 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a seventeen-year-old published author. I have published one book as of now, and my plan is to continue to write. My goal is to change the world and inspire those like me to reach for what they think us unachievable.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Ember’a Dragons.
The motivation behind it was my horse. Trooper was my lesson horse of many years. The U.S military gave our family a grant due to my dad being deployed. This grant paid for my riding lessons. Eventually, the grant ran out, and I was separated from Trooper for many years. He had helped me through such a tough part in my life, and I had always known I would own him someday. Although I wasn’t sure how to get him, I knew one thing; and that was that I loved to write.
I set out an put my heart into Ember’s Dragons, and years later, I stand here with a published book, and the same horse who helped me all those years ago.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to write my book straight through! I believe this helps me go through the story as my readers would. Although I would not count this as “unusual”, I have found others bounce around when they write their books.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The book Isabel of the Whales by Hester Velmans and Chancey of the Maury River By Gigi Amateau. Both of those books gave me a feeling of “Holy cow, what a journey” when I closed the back page. They are books that can stand alone strongly. That has lead me to my philosophy: NO SEQUELS!!!!

What are you working on now?
Another book that deals with robotics and AI! I do not want to give too much away.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Face to face. Go out, go to expos, print flyers, introduce yourself, be bold! Hold yourself with grace, have a purpose and a fire. Others will see this. Make an impact on those you meet.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Go with your heart, not your mind. As authors, we are often analytical thinkers. Our minds are our weapon. But sometimes, we forget to listen to our hearts. Never get so lost in your journey to forget what sent you there in the first place.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Always take pictures. There are so many precious moments that can be captured.

What are you reading now?
Currently not anything sadly! I have been quite busy!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Continue to promote Ember’s Dragons and write my second!

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?
Isabel of the Whales, Chancy of the Maury River, Racing in the Rain, and Until Friday Night.

Author Websites and Profiles
Isabel Tilton Website
Isabel Tilton Amazon Profile

Isabel Tilton’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Brenda MacElroy 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written over 100 technical and instructional books for the IT industry. In 2018, I started writing about topics that interest me personally like yoga, meditation, and vegetarian cooking. Today, I do both. I am a contract writer working for companies in the financial, scientific, and healthcare fields and I also write my own nonfiction books.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Hygge- Living the Cozy Life: How to Use the ‘Danish Art of Happiness’ to Add More Joy to Your Life and Home. I enjoy doing research, and when I find something that I’m interested I like sharing what I’ve learned with others.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write for my business customers during the day, so all of my other writing is usually done between 5 and 7 am every morning.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
When doing research, I read a vast amount of non-fiction books about whatever topic I’m investigating. When I get the time to read for pleasure, murder mysteries are my favorite genre. I love Mary Higgins Clark, Sue Grafton, Martha Muller, Sara Paretsky, and Ed McBain.

What are you working on now?
My books are all about topics that interest me — activities that I want to pursue such as self care, exercise, and cooking. I am currently writing a book about how to get a good night’s sleep — something I personally struggle with.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My own website, http://bydesign-books.com. Twitter and Instagram. And making my friends promote my books on their social media accounts.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing! The joy is in doing the work, or as Steve Jobs said “The journey is the reward.”

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Believe in the inevitability of your success.

What are you reading now?
Murder on the SS Rosa by Lee Strauss. It’s set in the 1920s, an interesting time period — and great clothes!!!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Writing about the things I want to learn and implement in my life — vegetarian cooking, bullet journaling, creativity. Then someday I’ll write my own murder mystery.

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 Alienist by Caleb Carr. The Other by Thomas Tryon. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.

Author Websites and Profiles
Brenda MacElroy Website
Brenda MacElroy Amazon Profile

Dominic Green 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a human man. I started out writing short science fiction, mainly in Interzone magazine in the UK, and received a Hugo nomination for my short story The Clockwork Atom Bomb in 2006. Since then I’ve been writing ebooks – eleven of them in the Ant and Cleo science fiction series for children and young adults, two in the Elder Shepherd series of thrillers, two in the Smallworld adult SF series, and Warlords of Llantatis, which is SF Fantasy. I’ve also written fantasy (Tirnahiolaire), urban fantasy (Phil and the Death Machine), SF horror (Abaddon), and mainstream fiction (Cowboys and Dinosaurs). There are other books I will not admit to the existence of.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Twinkle, Twinkle, Collapsar is essentially a Star Trek novel for people who shout at the television when Star Trek comes on. I wanted a space opera story that enshrined the idea of a civilized interstellar society we see in a lot of idealistic SF, but I didn’t want that society to be saccharine-perfect. Instead, I’ve presented two neighbouring societies who have flaws that complement one another, and neither of whom are necessarily good or evil. Good space opera has to have good guys and bad guys, but I want the reader to have to be on his or her toes and require to guess which is which in some cases. I also wanted a minimum of pseudo-scientific gobbledigook. It’s amazing how many people are prepared to loudly proclaim that STAR TREK IS SCIENCE FICTION BUT STAR WARS IS FANTASY ACTUALLY whilst being simultaneously willing to lap up Trek characters holding forth on remodulating the transwarp conduit deflector plasma phase array variance. They usually follow this with ‘It’s risky, but it could work’. Then another character grabs that character firmly by the shoulders, gazes into her eyes, and says: ‘It has to, Ensign. It has to’.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write underwater on special waterproof paper, whilst being serenaded by my pet dolphin.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The two greatest SF authors who have ever lived were H G Wells and Isaac Asimov, but there are so many others it’s hard to choose between them. Neal Stephenson. Frank Herbert. Jack Vance. Philip K Dick. Roger Zelazny. Larry Niven. J R R Tolkien. Douglas Adams. Terry Pratchett. This list sounds a little chauvinist, but I’m certain that, had women been given the same opportunities as men for the greater part of the twentieth century, there would have been female Wellses and Asimovs. One of the greatest female writers (Ursula le Guin) died relatively recently.

What are you working on now?
Book 12 of Ant and Cleo, which is at 300 pages and seems may never have an end; a third book in the Elder Shepherd series; book 2 in the ‘Phil and the’ series; a fantasy novel set in pseudo-renaissance Europe.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am the world’s worst marketer and not by any means someone anyone should be getting advice from on the subject.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Go into used car sales, you’ll make more money.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You’re a grown man, Dominic. You can’t go out in public naked any more.

What are you reading now?
Weirdly, I’m reading C S Forrester’s Hornblower series and Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books, in parallel.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Half an hour of World of Warcraft and then bed.

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 Survive On A Desert Island (Waterproof Version)
The Edible Richardson’s Clarissa (Chicken Korma Edition)
How To Signal Low Flying Aircraft By Burning Extremely Large Books
The Super Jumbo Pop Up Mein Kampf (Folio Edition in 200 Volumes, Signalling Low Flying Aircraft Edition – Now Comes With Free Bucket of Petrol)

Author Websites and Profiles
Dominic Green Amazon Profile
Dominic Green Author Profile on Smashwords

Dominic Green’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Virginia Barlow 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am in my fifties. I am a mother and grandmother. I like to read as much as I like to write. I have one published book “The Wicked Sister.” I have on book due out later this year. “A Fallacious Seduction.” I have three more manuscripts in various stages of production.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My last book (published) is The Wicked Sister. It is a twisted version of a classic fairy tale. My husband and I were joking one day about fairy tales and how they should have been written. This particular one came up and we tossed idea around about how it probably happened. The idea was sown and I began to write.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to eat cherry nibs while I write. They help me thing. LOL

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read A LOT of romance books over the years. Mostly, to keep me sane. I have a house full of children and my husband was a truck driver. So, I was the only adult in the house most of the time. I would send the kids to bed and curl up in my tub and read a good book.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a story called “The Heir”. It is set in Europe in the 1600’s. It is about a woman spy.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Net Galley has d one a fantastic job so far.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Stick to it. If you get a lot of refusal’s read the editor’s comments. They comment to help you get better, not to tear you apart.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you book is refused by many, look it over. Go back through the list of required elements and see what it is missing.

What are you reading now?
The Twilight Series. I watched all the movies. Lately, I decided to read the books.

What’s next for you as a writer?
What’s Next? To keep right on writing! I have two more stories inside my head that i need to get down on paper!

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?
Island Survival for Dummies, would be the first one I would grab. LOL. How to make yummy food from practically anything, would be the second book. The Big Book of Shipping Lanes and their navigated paths, would be the third. The Notebook, would be number four.

Author Websites and Profiles
Virginia Barlow Website
Virginia Barlow Amazon Profile

Virginia Barlow’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Mia Heintzelman 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I write modern, funny, pulse-racing contemporary romance experiences with strong female leads and a heavy emphasis on the newest ways to find love. There’s always texting and dating apps, autocorrect mishaps, and lots of fun, awkward situations, but the heat is there too. I’ve written six romance novels and novellas.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Mixed Emotions is my latest release coming on April 28th, and it’s book 3 in my All Mixed Up series. This book is inspired by my niece’s digital dating experiences. She’s a millennial and she’s always talking about how she met some guy on this app or that one, and how it’s so hard to meet someone nice. Usually, as in her case, the guy was there all along.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m a night owl. After my whole house goes to sleep, I brain synapses finally light up and the writing juices flow. I’m up at all the tiny hours of the night.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
This is the hardest and the best question. My initial love of reading came from a book titled Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody. Then I discovered Emily Giffin and immediately wanted to write like her. After that, it was like I kept finding amazing authors who wrote so beautifully with realism and humor like Kennedy Ryan, Sally Thorne, Helen Hoang, Christina Lauren, and Jasmine Guillory. I’m in love with fun, upbeat, slow burn romances. They keep me reading and writing.

What are you working on now?
Ooh, I’m working on a new high concept romantic comedy with an instalove, love triangle situation. I’m already falling for my characters and dreading the torture I’ll have to put them through to find their happily ever after. But the book is turning out to be so much fun. I’m going to query agents with this book for traditional publishing.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Wired for Story. Hands down, it’s the one that gets me thinking about the “why” behind my characters’ motivations to really build a great plot and engaging characters.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes. Write shit. Fertilize it with editing and revisions until it blooms. Just get it down on paper/computer (saved on every drive, hard drive, and cloud). Once you’ve finished writing, you’re already ahead of the curve because you know how to complete an idea.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Find out what works for you. They are going to be resources and sites and money-sucking vultures all out to tell you that the only way to write a book is the way they are selling, but it isn’t true. Find your process. Keep drilling down on the writing time that works for you, or the plotting method that works for you. There is no one way to do it and no right way.

What are you reading now?
Reading: The Chai Factor by Farah Heron
Listening to: The Honey-Don’t List by Christina Lauren

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m in a discoverability phase, so what’s next for me is to keep writing and improving my craft while spreading the word about my books. Reviews are so crucial to indie authors.

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?
Hating Game by Sally Thorne, Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren, and Kennedy Ryan’s Long Shot.

Author Websites and Profiles
Mia Heintzelman Website
Mia Heintzelman Amazon Profile

Mia Heintzelman’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Sean (aka WJ) Donovan 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am winding up (polishing) book three, which began as a short story called ‘The Recording’, available and free if you contact me via the email address. Its a science fiction 9 page story about the first woman to reach Mars. The story allowed me to break through a wall of ice (writers block) that had developed as a serious problem on my second novel: ‘The Journal of Resurrection’, available at Amazon stores as an ebook. Amazon have been pretty amazing at messing up my self publishing career and even attributed my first novel to an American poet of the same name! As if the whole writing process was not hard enough! Anyhoo, we march on.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘World of Difference’ is a science fiction narrative and was inspired by writers block (see above) and it was a life long desire to write in the sci-fi genre. Writing is not a passive hobby, it demands a steady marathon fit discipline, its not for the weak minded or tardy. But if you do plunge into the icy water you are rewarded with healthy exercise and eventual achievement. Hopefully your experience will be happier than mine, I’m glad I committed to the writing journey but it is an intensive work out. Now I must consider book two in the series: ghastly!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write in the morning, half dead in my dressing gown coffee in hand then collapse a few hours later, happy that the day is done.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Frank Herbert saved my life in university, the Dune cycle and radio were my only friends.
At the moment I am analysis the work (44 books) of Jack Vance in a vain effort to understand how he does the magic. I have resorted to purchasing a copy (Hardback) of the writers of the twenty first century series devoted to his work. I first made Jack’s acquaintance reading ‘Emphyrio’, (1969). Even though a little dated his writing still drags you under and before you know whats happening your hooked. Richard Morgan and Anthony Ryan also impress and happen to be fellow UK residents.

What are you working on now?
As mentioned earlier I slave presently on ‘World of Difference’, which nears completion, I was fortunate enough to learn from my past mistake and worked out a simple system to avoid writers block: sketch out stand out KEY scenes, including ending and inciting incident, then use these (however many) scenes to link up the story. I found that this allowed me to write the whole body of text in months instead of years. You may have as little as two or three key scenes, but once you find those you can build various pathways into, beyond and through the narrative. The memory tree of backstory can provide more than character detail.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I find Amazon worse than useless, they stopped people buying my second book because I sent prospective readers the link to my book! A bitter pill to swallow. I’m tapping away now to promote my book, its hard to be a marketeer and novelist, welcome to multiple hat universe.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep at it, if you show up on a regular basis, the job eventually gets done! And you do improve. I would also add that most first novels can be discreetly hidden under the sofa or burned. Your choice. Read as time allows, but as much as you can. And if possible, dive deep.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Make you posterior sit in front of your computer, or where ever you write with quill and ink or on your cell phone, BUT do it every day for the rest of your born days! Think of it as eating or breathing, an ESSENTIAL and DAILY activity that allows the odd day off for Christmas, Thanks Giving, or any other once per year celebration.
Secondly keep writing materials near your bed, hut, cabin, tower block, within easy reach. You never know when inspiration or notes to self will occur.

What are you reading now?
Several Jack Vance novels, Anthony Ryan’s latest series, some Gene Wolf and the occasional Corona virus headlines.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Bug out finish novel three and try not to have a nervous breakdown about novel four.

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?
Dune omnibus if it exists (six books in one), or if that’s not allowed the last one, Chapter House, book six. And at the moment a Vance trilogy. Blood Song by Anthony Ryan, probably one of the best fantasy novels I ever had the pleasure to read. The other two books in the trilogy are also noteworthy, if not quiet as fantastic as the coming of age first episode novel.

Author Websites and Profiles
Sean (aka WJ) Donovan Website
Sean (aka WJ) Donovan Amazon Profile
Sean (aka WJ) Donovan Author Profile on Smashwords

Sean (aka WJ) Donovan’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account