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Livia Lance 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a mother of two living in Georgia. I’ve always loved writing but haven’t had the luxury of being able to write creatively since I was in high school. Once I graduated, I went on to ghostwrite articles for various websites and blogs, but it just wasn’t much fun. I finally took the plunge and put all of my energy into becoming an author, and it’s been a blast. I have written two books. One was a truly terrible romance that I won’t even mention, but my newest book is something I really care about.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is The Halfling Rises, and it’s my first official novel. One of many, I hope. Honestly, I’m not even sure what inspired it exactly. I just love all things fantasy related, and the novel poured out of me. I sat down to start a new book after I had published the unmentionable romance and decided I wanted to write a genre I cared a little more about. I started with a captive princess character, kind of like a Rapunzel scenario, and it escalated from there.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have to have my earbuds in when I’m writing. They do nothing for blocking out sound and I’m not listening to anything through them, but if they’re not in my ears, I can’t focus.

I don’t know if this counts as an unusual habit, perhaps it’s more of a negative side effect, but I keep forgetting to eat! I’ll write all day and realize I skipped breakfast and lunch. It’s gotten to where the kids bring me snacks while I’m working.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Wow, this is a loaded question. Robert Jordan is hands down my number one favorite fantasy author, there’s not even any competition. I grew up reading The Wheel of Time and I think I’ve re-read that series probably 5 times or more over the course of my life so far. I don’t doubt that I’ll continue to re-read it. I’m also a fan of Terry Brooks, Brandon Sanderson, Patrick Rothfuss and George R. R. Martin.

I feel like I take a little from Anne Rice in my prose. I like a little poetry in my writing, and she’s a master at that.

Philippa Gregory is my favorite romance author, but I am a little obsessed with the Tudor era of England’s history, so her books really scratched an itch for me.

What are you working on now?
I just finished the first chapter of the second book in The Eva Chronicles, a sequel to The Halfling Rises. It’s currently called The High Priestess and I think that title is going to stick, but I’m waiting to see what the book is about.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This is my first go-round with book promotion, so I hope I can answer this better in the future.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t get discouraged. There are so many roadblocks waiting to trip you up and slow you down, but persevere. No matter what.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I saw a meme recently, actually, and I guess it’s probably great advice because I think of it from time to time, especially as I’ve been going through the process of publishing a novel I care so much about. It took the word ‘fear’ and laid it out so it read Face Everything And Rise. I think that’s probably a great way to live every day.

What are you reading now?
I’m not reading anything. I’ve been worried about starting a book while I’m writing. I guess I’m afraid it will confuse me, somehow. But, I have Chase the Dark by Annette Marie in my kindle app that’s next on my list.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Once I finish The Eva Chronicles, I plan to dip my toe into urban fantasy and see what I can do there.

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?
Swan Song by Robert McCammon – my all-time favorite book. IT and The Stand by Stephen King – they’re super long, so it’ll take me some time to go through them. The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff – I think keeping the tao state of mind would make island living a little more tolerable.

Author Websites and Profiles
Livia Lance Website
Livia Lance Amazon Profile

Livia Lance’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Bill Mesce, Jr. 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
This is my 23rd book, my 8th novel. My day job is as a college adjunct instructor gypsying around the several campuses where I work, although because of the pandemic, I’m now doing all my teaching from my basement on my laptop.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
MEDIAN GRAY, which, on the black/white color scale is the exact middle. The biggest inspiration for the book were my own young days working in NYC during the early 1980s. The city was a crazy, scary, exciting place for a young person and, in a way, the novel was something of a response to all the scary, exciting craziness I was witnessing.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not especially. I’m not one of those write-every-day types. In fact, I’m not particularly disciplined at all except when I have a due date. I’m pretty good about making due dates. My corporate experience (I was corporate for 29 years) cultivated a skill for turning in work on short turnaround times. Helped me develop the ability to do a lot of work in my head so when I actually had the time to sit at the keyboard, I could bang stuff out.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh, it really depends. Different authors have influenced me on different things. On MEDIAN GRAY, I would say Evan Hunter’s Ed McBain novels and George V. Higgins’ work. On my first novels, a series set in WW II, John LeCarre’s was a style I was trying to emulate.

What are you working on now?
Nothing in particular. There’s a crime story I’ve been working on for quite some time, and now that my semester has started up and it’s all got to be done remotely because of Corona I don’t have a lot of writing time. I do have a film project on a low simmer and am waiting to see what happens with that.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I actually haven’t done much of it and am pretty inept at self-promotion.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’m very reluctant to offer advice because I find we all find are own way. I’ve never had a plan, have fallen into some opportunities, chased in mercenary fashion after others. I suppose the only advice I’d feel comfortable giving is one of attitude. Take your writing seriously, but don’t take being a writer too seriously. As my first creative writing teacher told me, don’t do this for the money because you probably won’t make any. Don’t do this to become famous because, again, probably not going to happen. That only leaves doing this because you can’t NOT do it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
A few years ago I went back for my MFA to better qualify me to teach. One of my instructors there gave a piece of advice I often repeat when a discussion about do’s and don’t’s and supposed “rules” comes up: “You can do anything…as long as you do it beautifully. Of course, you can get yourself into a lot of trouble that way, too.”

What are you reading now?
Nothing. Once my semester starts, I’m too busy reading papers. I’m teaching 5 classes at 3 different institutions.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Oh, I don’t know. There’s that crime book I’d like to finally finish. I have a mystery romance done under a pen name submitted at a couple of places. I’d like to see if this film project takes off. Other than that, for the next three months it’s about reading 50-60 student papers each week.

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?
Hmmm, that’s a toughie. Ernest K. Gann’s memoir FATE IS THE HUNTER is something I’ve read a bunch of times and have always enjoyed, maybe because I’m terrified of flying and envy someone who truly seems to have loved it. Steinbeck’s EAST OF EDEN because I love the organic structure of it. Salinger’s CATCHER IN THE RYE. Evan Hunter did a book called STREETS OF GOLD which so echoed my own family’s immigrant experience that maybe that might be my 4th.

Author Websites and Profiles
Bill Mesce, Jr. Amazon Profile

Bill Mesce, Jr.’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

William Becker 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is William Becker. I wrote my first actual book when I was 12. I self-published it under a fake name when I had no idea how to write or edit. It’s called “The Watching.” That was my first work. I ended up writing another work called “The Things Hiding Within” which ultimately went absolutely nowhere. My first book that was actually published under my real name was called “Weeping Of The Caverns.” Weeping took a lot of elements from “The Watching” and morphed them into something readable. That book came out when I was 15 and it was followed up with my second novel, “Grey Skies.” I’ve published a few short stories through my website since, but otherwise, I’m working on a third novel

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent release came in the form of “The Egg.” As simple as it may sound, it’s literally about a girl giving birth to an egg. It explores themes of childbirth, abortion, maternal instinct, and obsession. It was actually inspired by a trip to Michael’s around Eastertime. We found a giant toy egg and I asked my friends, “what if someone gave birth to this?” It was a painfully simple concept that turned into something really cool.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write 600 words a day, rain or shine, motivated or not. If I miss a day, I add 600 words to the next day, taking my total up to 1200 words. I only take breaks on weekends, but this makes me actually much more inspired and motivated to get stuff done. Even if I have to write in the bathroom in between classes, I always find time to write. It’s very hard for me to understand people talking about not being inspired or finding time to write. If you want to write, you find a way. That’s coming from someone who is taking 16 college credits and is in four different clubs at my university.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
“We Need To Talk About Kevin” and “Of Mice and Men” have shaped my way of describing things. Some people find it painfully overbearing and longwinded, but it’s given me some good abilities at creating pictures.

What are you working on now?
A couple of things. I’m gearing up for my final short story release of 2020. I’ve released two short stories so far this year, “The Egg” and “Seventh Circle.” “For We Are Many” will be my final work of the year. I think I’ll take a break from all of my promotion and whatnot during the first half of 2021, then maybe release a short story compilation and something film related.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I try everything, but my Instagram has gotten me decently far.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. Write every day. Don’t be scared of promoting yourself or showing other people. Even if you suck, the best way to stop sucking is to practice and show other people.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“You can’t lose the game if you don’t play” is probably one of the most impactful things I’ve ever heard. It might sound dumb, but it keeps me from getting involved in a lot of drama and petty garbage.

What are you reading now?
I’m about to start “Everything’s Eventual” by Stephen King. I bought the book when I like ten years old and absolutely hated everything about it, and that’s coming from someone who has always had an intense love for horror. I put off Stephen King for my entire life after I read half of “The Stand” and the first handful of stories from “Everything’s Eventual.” I decided on a whim to read “Elevation” and fell in love, so I decided to revist some of his back catalogue and review it on Goodreads.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Write and then die.

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 1100 page H.P. Lovecraft collection would be the first and most important book. I could spend years reading his work and interpreting it and never get sick of it. Sure, he was a racist prick, but his work is immaculate in every sense of the work. I would love to try reworking some of the stuff or building the mythos. I can’t think of any other book that I would enjoy as much. Maybe the first few “Bone” graphic novels.

Author Websites and Profiles
William Becker Website
William Becker Amazon Profile

William Becker’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Shika Nelson 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born and raised in New Orleans. I have been writing since I was 13. I am a new author. I self- published my first book in March of 2019. I am excited to see where this journey takes me.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Cast Your Burdens. It was inspired by the #METOO movement.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, I do a lot of writing in a bookstore. It seems odd, but it’s where I get my ideas.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Authors that have influenced me- Eric Jerome Dickey, Nikki Turner, Kimberla Lawson Roby

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on my 3rd book in the Right Before My Eyes series:The Life of Speed.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I haven’t found a “Best method or website” yet. I often use Instagram and Facebook. I absolutely love “Word of Mouth”.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice would be to be patient.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To follow my heart and let G-D do the rest

What are you reading now?
American Marriage by Tayari Jones

What’s next for you as a writer?
I would like to have at least one book published with a traditional publisher

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 Shack
Anything book by Tanehisi Coates
The Coldest Winter Ever -Sister Souljah

Author Websites and Profiles
Shika Nelson Website

Akilah Tucker 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Honestly this is so new to me. I originally entered this into a contest and they liked it enough to want to adapt it into a book. This is my first one so you can’t begin to believe how excited I was to learn that!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Jericho’s Painting and I guess just watching horror films and wanting to see something new. I’ve never seen a horror with a main character like Jericho, absolutely unstable yet is 10 steps ahead of everyone.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
It is a must for me to listen to music when I write. If not I’m in a complete funk and can’t write anything to save my life.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I would say Twilight. It’s simple, but I think a twist of making a couple like Bella and Edward tragic and depressing would be more entertaining.

What are you working on now?
I want to do a romance so badly about two “weirdos” falling in love. Just something extremely cliche and mushy.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
It’s overwhelming, but satisfying knowing that someone out there will enjoy what you wrote.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Patience is everything. If you put in the work and effort, everything you want will come to you in due time.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Getting my script produced! It will eventually.

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?
All the Harry Potter books.

 

Sean Haughton 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an independent author, specialising in Fiction & Poetry. I’ve self-published five books, and I have countless ideas for books going forward, such as novels and collections.

In terms of fiction, so far I’ve released the first three instalments of The George & Sally Series; “Guided by the Ghosts”, “The Secret In The Breeze” & “The Summer of ’16”.

Elsewhere, I have released the poetry collections “Reflections” and “Second Wave”.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The Summer of ’16”, the third instalment in The George and Sally Series.

The first instalment, “Guided by the Ghosts”, was never meant to trigger a series but that’s exactly what happened. “…Ghosts” and its follow-up, “The Secret In The Breeze”, are short novelettes but “The Summer of ’16” is my first novel, and takes place roughly 5 1/2 years after the first two instalments. It is a philosophical drama, and possesses themes of family tragedy & trauma, mental health, love & friendship and the coming of age phenomena.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have one that applies to poetry, in that I don’t write poetry spontaneously as some do. Instead I come up with a concept for a poem, capture it’s identity with a title and then bring it to life by writing it. I almost treat poems like stories in that sense.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I suppose simply the concept of writing itself is my biggest inspiration, alongside the creative nature of “story”, but I’ve certainly been inspired by authors like Timothy Zahn and James Luceno, as well as the likes of HG Wells and HP Lovecraft.

What are you working on now?
Currently, my collection of short dark stories. I have a number of ideas for novels lingering in the background, but I love the concept of a collection of short stories for people to dip into whenever they like, especially stories that will get their minds racing.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I found that networking with readers and writers certainly helps, especially word of mouth or people you really click with online. Don’t be afraid to try and make those connections.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Believe in yourself and what you want to write! Whether you intend to self-publish or go down the traditional route, just create your stories and/or poetry, or find the inspiration to put down in word any non-fictional pieces you wish to create. Be inspired by the authors you have enjoyed over the years.

If you have a story, tell it! And if there’s a rule, break it!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just write! Don’t keep trying to overthink what you’ve written, just write the book and the editing will come later! Get what’s in your head down on the paper! Or Word Document, of course.

What are you reading now?
I’m currently on a Star Wars book marathon after the disappointment of the Sequel Trilogy. I always had an appreciation for the old Expanded Universe, and I’ve dived into that era in a big way this year, going back to the Old Republic, some Prequel-era novels and of course a lot of post-Return of the Jedi material. I’m about to finish Survivor’s Quest and embark on Outbound Flight, with plans to begin the 19-book New Jedi Order series in 2021.

What’s next for you as a writer?
The collection of dark short stories will probably represent a new chapter for me, with this first year of writing and publishing being very much a learning curve on a number of levels. Going forward, I intend to develop the various ideas I have and introduce existing and would-be readers to a variety of new stories.

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?
Marcus Aurelius’ “Meditations”

The Collected Works of Oscar Wilde

James Luceno’s “Darth Plagueis”

Author Websites and Profiles
Sean Haughton Amazon Profile

Sean Haughton’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Vallean Jackson 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Vallean, but Val is fine. I am graduate of Jacksonville State University where I earned by BA in communication and minor in biology. I love journalism & freelance writing about as much as I love being an author. I have written a total of 7 books including anthologies and short stories with more in the works.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Adventures With Liyah presents: Colors At First Sight
I was inspired to write this book because of my daughter and the desire to want to encourage kids to learn, take adventures and not be hesitant to try new foods etc.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think I have any unusual writing habits, maybe where I sometimes write maybe in the living room, closet, kitchen or in the car….where ever the juices hit me I like to get to it. Wait an unusual habit is I love writing in google docs on my phone. Like my story on working to release, the whole thing was written off of my phone. Even my latest release was done directly from my phone even down to illustration proofs.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am honestly inspired about a lot of authors almost all of them I would say because everyone is unique and their hustle to market their themselves and their books is truly inspiring. I use to be a big fan of Wahida Clark, but then I got a chance to do some work for her once, and her passion about her writing and to excel seemed just like mine and I noticed as authors we are all hungry and I love seeing that hunger.

What are you working on now?
Well currently I am working on a book I have titled “Love On Thin Ice” which relates to the urban fiction/romance genre that I love. As well as book number two for my children’s book series Adventures With Liyah.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My best method of promoting is networking and social media. I once interviewed someone and they said word of mouth is the best way to get things out and I have grown to witness that that is true.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be yourself and do not compare yourself to other authors. Your vision is your own and everybody might can’t see what you have in mind. Just put it out and trust it to do well.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I ever heard was to start back writing. Do not let what occurred cause you to bury your talents.

What are you reading now?
Honestly right now, I am reading a different book every night to my daughter, but they are all children’s books. Last nights read was “Hug the Pug” which was a cute little story.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Honestly, I hope to do a book tour this upcoming year as well release the books I am working on towards the end of this year or maybe the start of next year, and continue to blossom from there with the hopes of more opportunities arising for me. I want to do some tv and movie scripts.

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?
It is completely bias, but I am taking the books I wrote, my series that I first released, but have to re-release because a revamp is needed. One I have them back now and two because sometimes as the author you get so caught up in writing that you don’t get to read your own work.

Author Websites and Profiles
Vallean Jackson Website
Vallean Jackson Amazon Profile

Vallean Jackson’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Lauren Eresman 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! I’m Lauren. Stay-at-home mom turned children’s book author and girl empowerment advocate. I wrote my first book “The Cherry on Top” in 2019. I was hooked immediately, and decided to target my audience to young girls because many of the stories geared to girls imply that they will grow up to be perfect, pretty princesses. This inspired me to write my second book “The Treehouse Trio.” It’s about a group of young girls that want to start their own business. Because girls need to see examples of other girls chasing their dreams.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The Treehouse Trio” was inspired by my daughter on a regular walk to school when she was 7-years-old. She noticed a bird and just casually mentioned that it was a black-capped chickadee. Her matter-of-fact tone and the sureness in her voice helped me build a character in my head. At that time she also loved to create little businesses with her neaighborhood friends selling friendship bracelets, or various snacks and beverages, and so a story of kidpreneurship and wildlife conservation took shape from there.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I am writing my 3-year-old cavapoo puppy, Bruno, has to be sitting right next to me, often with his chin resting on the keyboard. I blame him for any typos. As a fun Easter Egg, Bruno makes an appearance in all of my books!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I grew up on Robert Munsch and Little Critter, but my all time favorite book was always “Red is Best.” I just loved the way it captured the character’s (Kelly) free spirit, and how it was told from her perspective. It’s my biggest hope that all my stories will be as relatable.

What are you working on now?
My third book “I’m a Messterpiece” will be releasing this year (2020) as well. It’s about a young girl (suprise!) who is struggling with self confidence and having a rough week, but she is pulled through it by the amazing adults in her life. It was inspired by Peggy O’Mara’s quote: “The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice.” I want all girls (all children really) to have a voice inside that is supportive, resilient and compassionate!

 

Author Websites and Profiles
Lauren Eresman Website
Lauren Eresman Amazon Profile

Elena Miro 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Im a new author from Europe. So far I have written 3 books and working on the next ones now. I adore human psychology, therefore it is the main topic of my books

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Loved and Wanted series of books.

I’m a dating coach for the western men who dream about marrying exstern european women. So, on the first sessions I was always asking them why they decided to look for Ukrainian or Russian lady. What is wrong with their local women, I questioned myself. In fact, western women lost the natural femininity and turned to unisex human creatures, as my clients love to say. This inspired me to write a book for western women, so they could empower their inner femininity and allow themselves to be loved and wanted. As money and career will not make women happy. My goal is to help them to achieve happiness and love.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to eat some snacks, but its not good for my shape. hehe

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love book of Michelle Obama

What are you working on now?
Book series about Narcissism

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Im searching for it now

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up! And believe in yourself!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Nevermind”

What are you reading now?
Untamed of Glannon

What’s next for you as a writer?
Awesome book sales!

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 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change
by Stephen R. Covey
2)Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy, and Commitment
by Steve Harvey
3)The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts
(5 Love Languages)
by Gary Chapman

 

Elena Miro’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Pinterest Account