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Robert Deen 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I write for the fun of it, non-fiction books. I’ve written four books because the topics appealed to me, a pretty eclectic mix — a policy book on transportation financing in California, a career guidance book for students considering business communications as a career, and a historical book about one of the most remote and sparsely populated counties in America — Owyhee County in southwestern Idaho.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent book is “The Boiled Peanut Book.” It is the first and only book entirely devoted to the subject of boiled peanuts, a southern snack that is largely unknown outside the south. Since I now live in the Pacific Northwest, boiled peanuts are extremely hard to come by. The book is designed to be both an introduction to boiled peanuts for the novice, and a guide on how to obtain boiled peanuts outside the south — even if you have to grow and boil them yourself. Granted, it may not be a book for the masses, but self-publishing is an ideal way to do something that I am interested in, without too much concern on the financial aspects.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Some might say that writing about boiled peanuts is unusual. Otherwise I do most of my work in bed. Each morning I prop myself up in bed with pillows and coffee, and spend a couple of hours working.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Frank Herbert (Dune) is my favorite author of all time, and I would say Joseph Conrad influenced my life the most, if not necessarily my writing.

What are you working on now?
I’m focused on marketing The Boiled Peanut Book right now, but I think my next project will be a book about fishing for surf perch on the Oregon Coast.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Book signings at local book stores.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Make sure you enjoy your writing, because it will show.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Choose work that you really enjoy, because disciplined people can do well at things they dislike, but the very best work is always done by people who really enjoy what they do.

What are you reading now?
Dudley Pope’s “Lord Ramage” series about a British naval officer in the 1800’s.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Choosing another topic to create a book about, one that is interesting to me personally.

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?
Lord Jim, Dune, Atlas Shrugged, and The U.S. Air Force Guide to Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape.

Author Websites and Profiles
Robert Deen Amazon Profile

Robert Deen’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Jessica Glade 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Jessica Glade is a former literature teacher with a Bachelor’s degree. After becoming a mother, Jessica discovered a passion for writing.
She lives in New-York state with her husband and two wonderful children.
I published 1 kids’ book on Amazon for now. And I’ve been working on the new books to make a series.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Big Bug who Loves to Hug : Hugs make everything better. Read aloud book for kids 3-5
My 2 kids are the biggest inspiration for me.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
no

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Backyard Bug Book for Kids: Storybook, Insect Facts, and Activities Paperback – September 24, 2019 by Lauren Davidson

How to Catch a Mermaid Hardcover – July 17, 2018
by Adam Wallace

What are you working on now?
I’ve been working on the next books in the same kids’ series and on one non-fiction book about the habits.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don’t know yet. This is my first book and first promotion.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I am a new author and looking for the advice.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best marketing tool is to write, write, write the new books.

What are you reading now?
A lot of kids book and my Bible

What’s next for you as a writer?
To create a few series of the kids’ books and to write a few non-fiction books for women and about the parenting.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
my Bible
Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
Jules Verne, Les Enfants du capitaine Grant (In Search of the Castaways)
Jules Verne, Un capitaine de quinze ans (Dick Sand, A Captain at Fifteen)
Alexandre Dumas, The Three Musketeers

Author Websites and Profiles
Jessica Glade Amazon Profile

Jessica Glade’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Jacqueline Bance 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Jacqueline Bance grew up on a small dairy farm in southeastern Minnesota where she spent countless hours immersed in detective novels in between farm chores and exploring the bluffs and river valleys. She and her husband currently reside on a hobby farm in Wisconsin where she cares for a small herd of alpacas, goats, and chickens.

From Blossoms to Beehives is the second in the Adventures on Grandma’s Farm series, which is inspired by life on the farm. The animals featured in the stories feature real-life farm animals and the stories are inspired by their antics and occasional escape-artist adventures.

Jacqueline is an information technology professional. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family as well as a variety of hobbies including fiber arts, writing, and drawing

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
From Blossoms to Beehives inspired by the desire to educate children on the importance of bees in the production of food for animals and people.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My stories often come to me in the middle of the night. I find myself grabbing a notebook to jot down ideas and these become the seeds of the stories.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Annie of Green Gables, Nancy Drew mysteries, and the 1000 of other titles I have read over the years.

What are you working on now?
A third book which will tell of the benefits of using solar power to energize the farm.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m just learning, but hoping to leverage Awesome Gang along with popular social media outlets including Facebook, Pinterest, Amazon, Twitter, and Instagram.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be authentic and write what comes naturally to you.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep you chin up – things will always be better in the morning.

What are you reading now?
I always have about 5 books going at a time on my Kindle which include business leadership, historical novels, and craft books.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to continue learning and growing as a writer and illustrator. I’ve found the process of creating and illustrating stories to be extremely enjoyable and therapeutic in these challenging times.

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 about surviving on a desert island
Art and crafts books
A Yellow Pages book
A book on how to build a boat

Author Websites and Profiles
Jacqueline Bance Amazon Profile

Helena Fairfax 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a British author living in the north of England. Besides writing, I also work as a freelance editor, so my life revolves around books. I have the job I’ve always dreamed of!
I’ve written four contemporary romance novels, a romantic suspense called In the Mouth of the Wolf, and I also put together, edited and published two anthologies about a wonderful character called Miss Moonshine, with stories by myself and eight friends from the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Besides my contemporary romances, I’ve also written a non-fiction social history called Struggle and Suffrage in Halifax: Women’s Lives and the Fight for Equality. This is part of a series of books set in towns across the UK, which was put together for the centenary in 2018 of the first women getting the vote in the UK.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have a rescue dog who suffers from separation anxiety hates to be parted from me. I write every day with her beside me. She’s sitting next to me right now!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh, that’s a really tough question. I love Marian Keyes, and also Helen Fielding, Sophie Kinsella, Paige Toon, Jojo Moyes, Mhairi McFarlane… I could go on!

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a follow-on to Felicity at the Cross Hotel. It’s set in the Lake District, in the north of England, and the story revolves around a wedding dress designer.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use Amazon ads quite a lot now, but other than that I don’t really do much promotion. I have quite a few followers on Facebook and Twitter and for my blog and newsletter. I like to speak to readers directly through those outlets.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Writing is hard work, and getting your book published and in front of readers in many ways is equally difficult. My advice would be not to be discouraged. Keep trying, and don’t let rejection and disappointment get you down. It’s the writers who persevere who succeed!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading Date with Death, by Julia Chapman. It’s a cosy crime set in Yorkshire, where I live, and I’m loving the setting of the Yorkshire moors and the dales.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To finish my 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?
Oh, this is so hard, too! I’d take Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen; one of Georgette Heyer’s – perhaps The Quiet Gentleman; The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas; Our Mutual Friend, by Charles Dickens. That should keep me going!

Author Websites and Profiles
Helena Fairfax Website
Helena Fairfax Amazon Profile

Helena Fairfax’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Marty C. Lee 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
M.C. Lee told stories for most of her life, but never took them seriously until her daughter asked her to write a particular one. The plotted six chapters grew to an entire novel, and now a series is in progress.

Currently, she writes young adult fantasy as Marty C. Lee. Her future adult fiction will be under M. Cate Lee.

Her characters take over her brain on a regular basis. If you catch her muttering to thin air, she’s probably arguing with one of her characters. She has learned to keep a notebook by her bed to jot down ideas so she can go to sleep and deal with them in the morning.

In between writing and spending time with her family, she reads, embroiders, gardens, and teaches small children at church. She prefers walking over bicycles or cars, because her feet are less scary. (If she walks, she can read at the same time, which is a nice bonus.)

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Unexpected Tales is a small short story collection I created to introduce my world of Kaiatan. There’s one story for each country/race, starring minor characters from my main series, Unexpected Heroes.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No? What counts as unusual in the odd world of writing?

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh, so many. I read a lot. I mean, a lot. I used to read an average of 600 books a year. Children slowed me down to 400, and writing my own books knocked me down to 200. But people tell me my books remind them of Ranger’s Apprentice and Chronicles of Prydain.

What are you working on now?
Book 4 in the Unexpected Heroes series, as well as more short stories, both “contemporary” to the series and “fairy tales” set in the past.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read a lot, write a lot, and learn grammar.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Two books of short stories, including fairy tales rewritten to fit in Kaiatan (currently working on Snow White, and Dick Whittington might be next). I’m also pondering expanding one particular short story to a novel because readers keep asking for more.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
That’s not fair. That’s really not fair. But if I really have to choose, I’ll bring my scriptures and then write my own stories.

Author Websites and Profiles
Marty C. Lee Website
Marty C. Lee Amazon Profile

Marty C. Lee’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Alan Nettleton 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
This is my first. My day job involves developing and promoting innovative and environmentally friendly forms of transport. Having written professionally for many years, I felt it was time to turn the pen (or keyboard) to something more creative, and hopefully inspirational for children.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Space Kids – The Journey of Hope. It originated during a conversation with my daughters about what it would be like if kids could go to space without adults. However, being a bit of a geek, I wanted to make it sound technically feasible. I also wanted to give our main character, Sophie, a real challenge, and so coming to terms with the loss of her father is the sub-plot running through the book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I actually like writing on my phone using a cloud-based document editor. Predictive text makes it possible to write quite quickly, and I find I can add, polish and finesse sentences wherever I am. Plus, it looks more normal than getting a laptop out wherever I go. Sitting by the canal is a particular favourite spot.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I loved The Martian – a real masterpiece by Andy Weir (and the movie was good as well), and other sci-fi classics like Avatar, Interstellar, Star Wars, Star Trek, etc. I also loved how Stephen Hawkin made very complex science easily accessible to us normal people. I’m trying to do the same for kids.

What are you working on now?
Space Kids 2 is almost finished, and I’m very excited about it. I think it is even more exciting, slightly darker and intriguing. The kids really get challenged in the sequel.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m fairly new to this, so I’m learning very quickly. I have my website: https://alannettleton.wixsite.com/home. I think self-published authors need to just be confident, think big and don’t worry too much about what people might think. I’m still waiting for my retweet from Elon Musk – I’m sure he’ll love it when he gets around to it.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Take advantage of the countless books available on how to write a good story. Don’t by tempted to break all of the rules to do something completely new – follow the tried and tested story plot ideas.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Other than the tips on writing, I think the best book I read is Atomic Habits by James Clear. He talks about setting up an environment so positive habits are easy and negative ones are harder to stumble into. That inspired me to delete silly apps from my phone which were adding little value to my life, spend more time writing and put my running gear near my bed ready for when I wake up!

What are you reading now?
Other than reading stories to my girls, which has involved far too many fairies and talking animals for my liking, I don’t read much, but I do listen to audiobooks whilst jogging and travelling. I’m currently on Homo Deus – A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari. He provides an interesting perspective, and makes you think how little time humankind has been in the ‘civilized’ state that we currently claim to be in, and how quickly technology is changing our world.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish Space Kids 2. I’ve also started a funnier kids book called ‘Mum, Aliens have landed in our garden’, and I’ve got quite a few more ideas.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Probably something on how to survive on a desert island! Then, something big to use for a fire.

Or maybe I would take the Martian, as I would probably be in a similar situation!

Author Websites and Profiles
Alan Nettleton Website
Alan Nettleton Amazon Profile

Alan Nettleton’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Lauren Hill 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a young, autistic woman who has loved art and writing since childhood. I have written many stories in my time. But my first book wasn’t published until January 2020. I self-publish on Amazon because I believe in the phrase, “If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.” I follow the same rule when editing my manuscripts as well. So far, I’ve published two books. But I have many other books coming.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My second and latest book is called, “The Devil’s Sergeant.” I’ve always loved the supernatural. A few years ago, I’ve fallen in love with demonology. I’m not a devil-worshipper, I just love studying these dark entities. It was also during this time when I realized how some people are willing to kill anyone who doesn’t share the same religious views as them. I wrote The Devil’s Sergeant because I want the world to know that people should be judged by their merits and not their faiths.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I’m writing my stories or working on my art, I’m usually listening to music from composers like Adrian von Ziegler and Peter Grundy. In fact, a certain playlist of Adrian von Ziegler’s music inspired the plot of my first book, “Venturing into the Darkness.” I hope to one day share the full story of what inspired this book.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Like H.P. Lovecraft, I was inspired by authors who wrote in the same genres as mine. Lovecraft, of course, was one of the authors who inspired me. Edgar Allen Poe and Steven King are also my idols in writing.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on the manuscript of my third book. It’s a story about an italian mob boss named Giovanni Neri. One night, he’s captured by a demon assassin named Fiamma. He then learns that his father made a pact with Fatal Inferno, an evil gang of demons who plan to take over Italy. Despite his involuntary involvement in his father’s deeds, Giovanni is taken hostage by Fiamma as she ventures through the country to take down Fatal Inferno.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As of write now, I can’t say that I have either of those. Even as I’m typing this, I’m consulting every website for free promotions. I won’t have a confirmed method until progress has been made.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Becoming a true author isn’t accomplished through college-level education or fancy degrees of any kind. True writing comes from within. Edgar Allen Poe’s writing was forged in the depths of his inner darkness. A series of hapless events in Poe’s life created the foundation of horror in which he built his writing career on. I was in a dark place myself when the inspiration for Venturing into the Darkness came to me. Writing has become an outlet for all of my pain and misery. This is how I learned the true purpose of writing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Nobody’s perfect and we all make mistakes. It’s if we realize our mistakes and learn from them that actually counts.

What are you reading now?
The Lesser Key of Solomon. Remember, I do not worship the Devil. I am only fascinated with knowledge regarding demons as I am with all things spiritual.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am trying to promote my books an let the world know of me as an author.

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?
Key of Solomon, The Mysterious Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Beowulf, and Dracula

Author Websites and Profiles
Lauren Hill Website
Lauren Hill Amazon Profile

Lauren Hill’s Social Media Links
Pinterest Account

Barbara Smith 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Barbara Smith is a nonfiction writer posed to homeowners. The owner of the creative post who have written a couple of books. Eco Friendly home and Are you secured?

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book (Are you secured?) Is a book which gives homeowners Tips for maximum protection of their homes.

burglary crimes increases at an alarming rate in the U.S alone, and most homeowners are in need for maximum security.

The book is a complete guide on majority of the tips in handy, of what is needed, and “do it yourself” guides to home security.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Writing for me, comes from the needs of home security owners as I am more geared by the need to increase home comfort.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am my own influence.

What are you working on now?
I am and will continue to seek for new ways to to improve home comfort.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Continue to write about what is you believe in, and the sky is your limit.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Always do what you believe in.

What are you reading now?
I still read Non fiction books by Napoleon Hill.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Working on new 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?
Think and grow rich by Napoleon Hill have interest me for sometime now.

 

Adam Stemple 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am the son of a prolific author, so when I say I have written ten novels, it sounds like a very small number to me. People have told me it isn’t, but I have trouble believing them.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest novel is called DUSTER. My first two novels were urban fantasy—which I love—but I grew up reading epic fantasy and had always dreamed of writing one. I’d had a character in mind for many years so I threw him into a world and away I went. Before I knew it, I’d written creation myths for my world, an 1800 year history, family histories of my main characters etc.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I get most of my best writing done between the hours of 1 and 4am while the rest of the house is sleeping. I always listen to music on headphones, but nothing with lyrics in a language I understand. I’ve been diagnosed with severe to moderate ADHD, and the music seems to occupy the part of my mind that is constantly whirring and allows me to concentrate on writing fully.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Sooooooo many. The ones I list are all from my very fallible memory. There are too many and I will definitely forget some important ones.

When I was young: Tolkien, Joan D Vinge, Lloyd Alexander, Ursula LeGuin, Diane Duane, Jane Yolen (my mother), Ann McCaffery. I was pretty voracious reader and still am.

Later in life: George RR Martin, Barbara Hambly, Joe Abercrombie, Walter Jon WIlliams, Lois McMaster Bujold, my Mpls. bandmates Steven Brust and Emma Bull

What are you working on now?
I’m writing the sequel to DUSTER, titled GALLOCH, while editing the first draft of DEED OF EMPIRE, the first book in a brand new epic fantasy trilogy

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesome Gang, of course! *shameless pandering* I am not a good promoter but am trying to change. So I’m pretty scattershot right now, trying to determine what works for me. I’ll be sure to report back when I figure it out.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Only listen to people who tell you how THEY write. If someone tells you how TO write, they’re just trying to sell you something.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never piss on an electric fence. If only I had listened.

What are you reading now?
PIRATE HUNTER : The True Story of Captain Kidd by Richard Zacks. I devour history books these days. Knowledge of history can do so much to infuse your secondary worlds with realism and complexity.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Honestly, what I’ve been working on lately is just writing more. I used to be a 500-1000 words a day writer. And there’s nothing wrong with that. But I wanted to do more. SO I’ve been working out and am now regularly writing 2 to 4k a day.

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 refuse to answer that on account of all the poor books feelings I would hurt.

Author Websites and Profiles
Adam Stemple Website
Adam Stemple Amazon Profile

Adam Stemple’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Amy Abraham 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My first book Killer Desserts came knocking at my door in the form of my neighbour who told me the mind-boggling true story of Udo Proksch. Since then I’ve written two romance novels designed to make you feel warmer than a hot chocolate on a cold winters day – because who doesn’t need a good warm fuzzy feeling? When I’m not writing – I was born in England, in London, to Irish parents but moved to Vienna 12 years ago. I now live in the city with my husband Olivier, my border Collie Fuegos and my one-month-old daughter Rose. When I’m not busy looking after my baby I write, I read lots, research Viennese history, indulge in cakes, and to balance out the cakes do yoga. I give a cake/ history tour of Vienna on the weekends – which I adore.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Killer Desserts. It’s an incredible true story. In 20th-century Vienna, Udo Proksch made dazzling pastries while running the royal confectioners — but he was living a much darker life at the same time. Based on his real-life crimes, Killer Desserts reveals his story of debauchery, seduction, and mass murder.

Spoiler: I thought the police were going to come to my door for googling ‘How would a person have intercourse with a snake’ – the wild things they did in the 70’s!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write when my newborn daughter sleeps, so I’ve developed an usual but necessary focus. It’s true what they say, necessity is the mother of innovation.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love Lindsey Kelk’s humour and Louis de Bernières dexterity.

What are you working on now?
Viennese Swirl – a time-travel romance where the protagonist tries to stop both world wars in 19th century Vienna.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Apply pareto’s principle to everything you do: writing and marketing.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write to market.

What are you reading now?
The Blind Reader.

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

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?
50 Spiritual Classics (SNEAKY)
50 Self-Help Classics (I’d need self-help if I were stranded)
New Earth
Jenny Colgan’s The Chocolate Shop in Paris

Author Websites and Profiles
Amy Abraham Website
Amy Abraham Amazon Profile

Aaron Wise 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing my whole life, but only started publishing in 2013. Since then I’ve written and published over 20 titles, most of them in the horror genre. I enjoyed a surge of interest in my books when I released the 314 trilogy, all three of which continue to sell well.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I’m currently finishing up a novel titled, ‘Fascinating Times’ about a coven of witches and warlocks existing in modern times, plying their wares in secret while the world goes on around them unaware of what they’re up to. It was inspired by merging magic with science, and wondering what sort of things we might think of as magical today that will eventually be explained away once we understand them – as well as what we might never be able to explain.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have the hardest time getting going whenever I sit down to write. I often spend upwards of an hour or more futzing about online, watching movie trailers, checking the news, reading emails, and generally convincing myself I’m never going to get down to the business of writing. Then magic happens, and everything starts to flow the way it should.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Steinbeck has always been a personal favorite and major influence. I’ll never forget the effect the ending of Grapes of Wrath had on me, and how it changed my perception of story-telling. It’s not always about the flash-bang, crowd-pleasing finale. Sometimes it’s better to be given something that makes you sit back and contemplate the story once the last page has been read.

What are you working on now?
Fascinating Times. It’s an urban fantasy novel with some deep horror roots.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I do a lot with Facebook, and try to connect with fans there. My family has been trying to convince me that I need to start doing more social media platforms, so I might venture out into those minefields soon.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
There’s never been a better time to try your hand at being an author. Self-publishing used to be a dirty word, but these days it’s a genuine path to success.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write. Write even when you don’t want to. Write even when you think what you’re writing is garbage. Sometimes you’re right, and the project you’re working on is in trouble, but more times than not the act of writing through the struggle will solve the problem.

What are you reading now?
Suffer the Children by John Saul

What’s next for you as a writer?
I plan on doing a few books in my new series, Fascinating Times, and then seeing where the muse takes me after 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?
Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
And I’ll cheat with the last pick by saying The Lord of the Rings since Tolkein originally wrote that as one long book, but it was then turned into 3 by his publisher.

Author Websites and Profiles
Aaron Wise Website
Aaron Wise Amazon Profile
Aaron Wise Author Profile on Smashwords

Aaron Wise’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Francis Keogh 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written two books to date. My latest is really my seminal, life’s work. It is the culmination of sixteen years of development, in which I have refined my ideas through a number of manuscript versions. I am also a photographer, or rather a photographic artist, as I am currently interested in composite images that are non-representational. I’m passionate about creativity generally and intend writing a book on the subject, sooner rather than later.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
It’s called “The Liberated Self” and it was inspired by an insight I had in 2004, while reading about transpersonal theory in a book by Ken Wilber called “The Atman Project”. Just why it is that we often deny our needs as individuals (especially in relationships) suddenly became clear to me. It’s actually a kind of ‘anti-egotism’ and its influence over lives can be so vast that I think my book only really introduces the subject.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I normally try to write about half a page each morning, which is generally when I get the most inspiration. I will then often review what I have written in the evening as I find that I’m often my own best (and worst) critic at this time of day.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve been influenced by Carl Jung, whose psychology inspired me when I was a young man. I found Ken Wilber’s books to be useful ‘potted summaries’ of psychological thought and they have increased my understanding of the stages of conscious development. Eckhart Tolle has helped me to appreciate the value and importance of being present, or in the Now as he often refers to it.

What are you working on now?
I’ve just finished editing “The Liberated Self” for the second time, so I’m taking a break from writing. I’ll be going out with the camera, which is just good fun and less intense than writing for me.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I list my books on Amazon. I experimented with Facebook and my own blog, but I’m just not a social media kind of author. I know that’s sacrilegious in terms of the ‘how to’ of being a successful writer online, but I believe my strengths lie elsewhere.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice for new authors is to write. Only by writing (and rewriting) have I been able to develop as a writer to the point where I am generally satisfied with what I produce.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
As per the above. There’s no great secret to writing. If you’re good enough to succeed, sheer bloody-minded persistence and dedication will get you there.

What are you reading now?
I like to read Lee Child for entertainment. He’s a master of crime fiction. I’ve also been reading a book called “Creating” by Robert Fritz, whose concept of structural tension I find interesting.

What’s next for you as a writer?
As I mentioned earlier, my next book will be on creativity and not just that of an artistic kind but in general.

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 take a Lee Child book to reread, “The Atman Project” by Ken Wilber and “How to Survive on a Desert Island for Dummies”, if such a book exists.

Author Websites and Profiles
Francis Keogh Amazon Profile