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Erik Tyler 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
At heart, I am a personal mentor. I've mentored since I was a teen and have never stopped. I would venture to say that I've had personal mentor relationships with over 1,000 people by now. And I've seen lives changed over and over again—not temporary change, but lasting change. Change that people are still living and talking about decades later.

At first, I mentored teens and young adults. But soon I found the call for life change extending to parents. Parents asked me to host parent groups—with the same advice I'd been sharing with their kids. (After all, as I often say, adults are just kids in older bodies.) Soon, I found the calls for real life change extending, and I was asked to speak to colleges and businesses, to do Ted talks.

Along the way, I began to realize that as wonderful as live mentoring and even speaking are, they are inherently limited. That is, there are only so many people I can mentor or address in person. The next natural step was to begin writing, so that I could share with more people what I describe as "all the real life stuff that works—but that no one seems to talk about."

Really, I've always been a writer. But I did not begin to publish until the last few years. I've published two books so far, with another three in the works presently. The most rewarding part of the process has been reading the reviews, which affirm that my primary goal in writing is being achieved. The theme running across all reviews has been that people don't so much feel they've read another book as that they've had a conversation with a real person who cares about them, and that the books have caused them to make real changes—often big, "scary" changes—sometimes for the very first time.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest release is called "TRIED & (Still) TRUE." I explain the inspiration in the book itself. But in short, I began to find it unsettling just how much "good information" people see scrolling up their computer and phone screens every day—thousands of beautiful pictures with inspirational words that they "Like" or "Share"—but that don't stick. That don't ever make it inside to where choice and change happen. I think the modern world has become obsessed with "new," always chasing the next "new" thing. Yet all the while, we've got a treasure trove of time-tested advice that's bolstered generations through the worst of times with grace and cheer, all going by the wayside simply because it isn't "new." So I set about to reintroduce a new generation to the best of "old" wisdom in personal, practical, current ways that show that if something is true, it stays true. And that means it still works just as well today as at any time in the past.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Much of what I write, not surprisingly perhaps, is inspired by real encounters with people. So I've always found that I do my best writing while I'm out where people are. Often, I'll break from writing and have a conversation with a stranger (this happens a lot), and what we talk about will infuse what I'd been writing, or will perhaps become the basis for another chapter.

The pandemic of 2020-2021 has created challenges in this regard. But I'm still having conversations around my writing, whether with readers who email me, through blog discussions, on phone calls and the like.

If I'm not around people, I put on my noise-cancelling headphones and listen to the ocean. One piece of advice I share often (in person and in my books) is to make room for constructive stillness. This is as vital a part of inspiration for me as engaging with others. Conversations let me know others better. Constructive stillness is the only way we get to know ourselves on deeper levels.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh, gosh. It's hard to list them, if only for the fear of leaving out someone. There are many, though I don't feel they've influenced my writing style or content as much as the writers themselves have influenced me: their work ethic, their empathy, a turn of phrase, an observation about life. And that happens across genres, not just in my main category.

Here are just a few:

"Made to Stick" and "The Power of Moments" by Chip and Dan Heath

The Rose Shield tetralogy by D. Wallace Peach

"A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" by Donald Miller

"One Man's Meat" by E. B. White

If anyone were to read all of these, they'd wonder what the common thread could be. They are all extremely different. And yet they each get at real facets of the human condition and the stuff that matters, conveyed in novel ways.

What are you working on now?
The central advice from my first book—"The Best Advice So Far"—and the central theme of everything I speak or write about is this: "You ALWAYS have a choice." My present WIP is so titled: "You Always Have A Choice." It will be divided into five sections, each based on one single word form the title. (Yes, there is that much to say even about "A"!)

The book dives even deeper into the nature of choice, recognizing that many of the choices we each face are very difficult, excruciating at times. My goal is to acknowledge that difficulty, extend empathy, bolster courage and offer strategies for navigating these toughest of times life brings—all while gently reminding the reader of that one central truth: that no matter what, you ALWAYS have a choice. Choice is power. The lack of it (or perceived lack of it) leads to victim mentality and inaction, which only extends the pain.

Somehow, even with these deep, real topics, I seem to manage to approach the topics without things feeling morose. All of my writing is based on stories to which people can relate, rather than just doling out information.

"You Always Have A Choice" has been the most difficult book to write thus far, and it will likely be the longest. But I'm very proud of it thus far and look forward to sharing it with the world. (Those with whom I've already shared chapters or passages have had strong, positive reactions, which certainly keeps me going strong.)

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Engaging with other bloggers (in genre and out) has opened many doors, both ways. I've made good friends across the country and the world, some of whom I've never even met. I've found that one of the best marketing tools is a genuine, thoughtful, REAL review from someone who read one of my books and loved it, and who them shared that with their own readership.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Marketing takes work. It's never finished. I think we all start out with dreams of having our book on Oprah's list; and I'm all for pursuing dreams. But most of the time, being a writer is real work. So learn to love it. And when you stop loving it, step aside to refresh and remember how to love it again.

And if you're doing it solely for the money (i.e., "passive income")… quit now.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Well, if you've read this far, you've probably gathered that the entire content of my first two books is to deliver the best advice I've ever heard. I mean, my first book is literally entitled "The Best Advice So Far." So I'd direct you to the book for a full answer on this one. However, I'll share a few pieces of central advice shared in that first book of mine:

"You ALWAYS have a choice."

"You have to start from where you are, not where you wish you were."

"Kindness still works."

"Don't color the present with the past."

"Apologize less and mean it more."

"Learn to listen as well as you speak."

What are you reading now?
Honestly, I'm doing a whole lot of reading of my own WIP. In between, I'm reading a fantasy novel for complete escape.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Again, I've got three books currently in the works. I'd like to complete the audiobook version of "TRIED & (Still) TRUE" in between, as well as potentially starting a podcast. (As if I didn't have enough to do, right?)

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?

Author Websites and Profiles
Erik Tyler Website
Erik Tyler Amazon Profile

Erik Tyler’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Warren Tuttle 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Directly out of college, I spent six years working for a New York City Department Store. Then I started a collection of upscale gourmet housewares and food stores in Southern Connecticut. One day I met an an inventor with a new product called MISTO, The Gourmet Olive Oil Sprayer. I helped him with the launch and it went on to sell millions of units. Since then I have gone onto help many inventors take their products to market without ever charging them.
My book, Inventor Confidential: The Honest Guide to Profitable Inventing, is the inside story of what I have accomplished launching several corporate Open Innovation programs, reviewing over 100,000 product submissions, being responsible for signing over 100 license agreements and bringing to market many innovative products that have generated over one billion dollars in retail sales.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Inventor Confidential: The Honest Guide to Profitable Inventing was inspired by my years and years in Open Innovation. I am able to highlight what serious product development is all about, including hard work, prototyping and the pursuit of intellectual property. I focus on what questions naive inventors should ask invention industry marketers to learn the long odds in actually making money instead of just lining the marketers pockets. I am always inspired by what is going on in Washington DC with innovation legislation
and at the US Patent and Trademark Office. Most importantly, I understand what we can all do to make America an truly innovative country where grassroots inventors can succeed.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I get writer’s block like many others. I’m a live-in-the-world get-it-down person. It is hard for me to settle down at a desk and force myself to write. I laid out the book in my mind, then purchased huge post-it notes and put it throughout the house. I wrote my notes so that I could stand in the middle and visualize everything and get better organized. That helped me organize and get back to writing.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My wife and I are in a book club and we read five books per year, plus I read a lot on my own. My favorite book is “Love in the Time of Cholera” by Gabriel García Márquez.

What are you working on now?
Right now, I am working on promoting “Inventor Confidential.” I’m excited to speak for a variety of Inventor Clubs affiliated with the United Inventors Association of America (501c3 non profit). I’m hosting virtual events so that others can learn more about my book and conducting press outreach to drive awareness.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’d have to say that LinkedIn is the best site for a business-to-business book such as “Inventor Confidential,” since the social media site is targeted towards businesspeople.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
It’s more work than you realize. It’s like remodeling your kitchen — always costs twice as much and takes twice as long. It’s twice as hard. Once you get into it, now you have to do a good job.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The advice I gave my children —-“Look to the horizon and you’ll know where to go” (a quote I made up for my children).
The best advice I ever got was from my high school graduation. Sydney Poitier was my speaker (his daughter was in my class). He said that hard work and dedication are the most important things in life. I hear those words every single day.

What are you reading now?
I just read “Caste” by Isabella Wilkerson, a definitive novel on racism in the U.S. It is brilliant. Everyone should be required to read this book.

What’s next for you as a writer?
At this time, I am focusing on Inventor Confidential. I’ll see where this book takes me. I know that I have other books in me. Time will tell.

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 favorite books of all time. I’d re-read them:
“Love In the Time of Cholera” by Gabriel García Márquez
“Catch 22” by Joseph Heller
“West with The Night” by Beryl Markham
Finally, I’d probably pick a crime thriller.

Author Websites and Profiles
Warren Tuttle Website

Warren Tuttle’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Courtney Lillard 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest and first book is titled “The Shadow’s Grasp” and is the first book in the Dark Angel series. I’ve had the idea for it for nearly a decade and find a lot of inspiration in the fantasy genre, specifically more modern books, movies, and even TV shows, and enjoy taking readers into another world.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
A lot of my writing is influenced by the music I listen to. When I sit down, I have to have some sort of melody in mind to “set the mood” so to speak. This allows me to have the mindset for what is taking place in the story to help convey what emotions the characters are experiencing.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favorite fantasy author is Mercedes Lackey and her Heralds of Valdemar series. I remember wandering through the public library and seeing “Take a Thief”, pulling it off of the shelf, and flipping through the pages in interest. That was my first real experience reading outside of school requirements, which is an important moment as individuals mature in life, and her series has provided the most motivation for me to begin writing.

What are you working on now?
Currently, I am writing the fifth book of the Dark Angel series. It’s funny to admit I began the publishing process for “The Shadow’s Grasp” at the end of the fourth book because at the time I wasn’t certain I would even be publishing anything. This final book in the series (probably) is far more extensive than the first, allowing me to review and revise certain plot points and details. I hope to begin publishing the second, untitled book in 2021 as well.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
When I began promoting my first book, I had a few people mention that they have ideas for stories or wrote some pieces on the own time. I think amateur writing is really important on the journey to becoming a professional author or for even publishing your work. The difficult aspect is simply having the motivation to sit down and write. You can compare it to going to the gym: it’s really easy to find excuses not to even though you have built up encouragement, but once you start and continue on the results are evident. If you’re considering writing, sit down and write in your free time because the words aren’t going to throw themselves on the page for you.

 

Author Websites and Profiles
Courtney Lillard Website

Myron Edwards 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have two published books and the third one to be released later this year. I was a freelance comedy writer for the BBC in TV and radio programmes such as The Two Ronnies, A Kick Up the ’80s, and for radio Hudd Lines and Week Endings.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My books are a trilogy the first is Mistress of the Rock, the second is Scylla the Revenge, the third will be Alpha and Omega the Return. My inspiration was an epiphany moment had at the site of the Goddess of Love’s birthplace in Cyprus. I saw something which triggered my imagination and needed to get it down on paper. This was my first step in writing the trilogy, the latest book completes the story.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know if you call it unusual but in order to write I have to think in pictures, that way I can visualise not just the action of the characters but also their dialogue.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Probably the most influential is the late George MacDonald Fraser, author of the Flashman books. His skill in being able to capture historical events and interweave them into his stories makes him a true talent, but he is not appreciated enough in my opinion.

What are you working on now?
I have just finished book 3, so I am waiting for that to be delivered, after which I will be promoting the trilogy. However, at the back of my mind, are two more works, I am thinking of one is a Children’s book, the other a drama/comedy, both are not yet at the initial synopsis stage yet.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use social media and my own website, I also try to do as many interviews and podcasts as I can both live or recorded. Personal recommendations are always a good source of promotion and of course reviews.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Always difficult to do, because each person is different with different circumstances. If you want to be a writer, just write, don’t give up at the first rejection, it’s part of the writing process, and always, believe in yourself. It’s a cliche I know but it does concentrate the mind.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Again a tough question, perhaps I can paraphrase it with a statement I once heard on a Groucho Marx movie.

“What about that, I didn’t make it, exciting though wasn’t it!”

What are you reading now?
I am reading the three books by Stephen Fry, Odyssey, Heroes and Troy, all very apt for my own writings.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Honestly, getting my books in front of a movie company or Producer, so that I can reach a vast audience to tell them my story of how a visit to a sacred ancient site, changed my life.

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, I think, The Odyssey so many amazing tales in there to keep me occupied, second Robinson Crusoe to give me some hints on how to survive, and finally the Bible, just in case I didn’t make it and whoever would find me, would be able to say a few words over me.

Author Websites and Profiles
Myron Edwards Website
Myron Edwards Amazon Profile

Myron Edwards’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Pinterest Account

Harris Kligman 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Born and celebrated in the “City of Brotherly Love,” the author left Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in his early twenties. For over thirty-five years, I interacted with various military governments and business entities who dominated the spheres of influence throughout the Far East, Africa, and South America.

​A linguist, a devotee to the Martial Arts (holder of a Black Belt in Hapkido, earned while living in South Korea) and a retired United States Army Intelligence Officer, I bring all of my varied experiences to my writings.

I have currently published 3 novels (The Profession, The Shaolin Covenant and Her Father’s Daughter but have written ten additional novels, a few short stories and a couple children’s books. I hope to publish the entire back catalogue of my work along with illustrations for the children’s books.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest book is call Her Father’s Daughter. All of my books contain something I have experienced from my years as a United States Army Intelligence Officer, my approximately four and a half years of living in South Korea, my extensive travel for over thirty-five years throughout South America, Africa and the Far East and of course the many personalities, both male and female, that I have met during this period of time and with whom I worked, partied, and shared some difficult times. The story takes life from there and I weave in some fictional aspects to make the story more readable. And from all my experiences – some good and many not so good, I discovered one thing many years ago that has become the foundation of my belief system – “One act of kindness can change a person’s life forever.” I try to weave this into all my stories in some fashion.”

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I always began writing very early in the morning, when my mind was uncluttered. Once I started to feel tired or found that my mind was wondering, I stopped and called it a day. I didn’t start writing again until early the next morning and kept up this pattern until I finished the novel.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
George Orwell’s 1984 & Animal Farm along with Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged.

What are you working on now?
Just released my third novel Her Father’s Daughter, a novel that follows Kathy Longrin, a lawyer with an extensive art background is recruited by a man who is trying to recover priceless artwork stolen from his family during World War II. Kathy soon finds herself immersed in a world of diamonds, stolen art, aging Nazis, Neo-Nazis, Israeli agents and discovers a secret that will change her life forever. My next release will be called The Dark which follows United States Army Lieutenant Craig Benson, who finds himself separated from his unit in a country ravaged by insurrection and war. Bonding with a young woman, Benson struggles to stay alive as he tries to reach one of the remaining free states and sanctuary. It is a dark journey where life is measured in seconds.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have found organic promotion has worked very well, this includes social channels like Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. As for paid media, I work closely with Goodreads and Amazon…both of which have produced tremendous results.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
We all have a book inside of us. Don’t be afraid to put that book on paper whether it’s a short story, a life experience or some fictional idea you have thought about.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
That one act of kindness can change a person’s life forever

What are you reading now?
Currently reading and editing my next book to be published…The Dark, which is a story that follows United States Army Lieutenant Craig Benson, who finds himself separated from his unit in a country ravaged by insurrection and war. Bonding with a young woman, Benson struggles to stay alive as he tries to reach one of the remaining free states and sanctuary. It is a dark journey where life is measured in seconds.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Next for me as a writer is to hopefully get more of my completed novels published, so that they can be enjoyed by the reading public. After that, there is always another book inside my head that I’d like to get into manuscript form.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would take a book entitled “SAS Survival Handbook” by John Lofty Wiseman, which is a book of survival skills on land and sea. The SAS or Special Air Service is a British Special Operations force similar to the United States’ Army Special Forces, SEALS or Army Rangers. The next two books would be Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland,” and the sequel, “Through The Looking Glass, and the fourth book would be the Bible.

Author Websites and Profiles
Harris Kligman Website
Harris Kligman Amazon Profile

Harris Kligman’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Ananta Govinda 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Ananta Govinda and so far I have written 3 books.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Mirror of Desire. It is an elegant weave of fantasy, philosophy, romance, and adventure, chronicling a voyage through a world of earthly duality into the realms beyond time. In the allegorical storyline of the Mirror of Desire trilogy, white and black wizards compete for access to the mysterious land of the Pyramid. I wanted to show those two colors are the range of the spectrum, indeed they cannot exist without each other.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My favorite writing time is at dawn, I feel most inspired then. My friend has a beautiful vacation house that he lets me use sometimes in Oregon. It is located on a hilltop overlooking the valley, and the view is magical, especially in the early morning when the fog rolls over the hills down to the valley.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I was very much influenced by Eastern wisdom and practical philosophy. As I dove into the ancient Sanskrit texts things started opening up in a different light, The Bhagavad-Gita As It Is really influenced me deeply and made me reevaluate everything. The Bhagavad Gita and Vedic wisdom were putting everything back together, there were no loopholes, everything was solid and consistent.

What are you working on now?
Working on the Mirror of Desire media show and 360′ immersive experience.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Since I don’t have a large budget I have to make do with what is available. Besides my own website, I try to create a strong social media presence, gather book reviews on Amazon which turned out to be quite a success since the book is trending number 1 in fantasy & science fiction and has a lot of good reviews on Amazon. I also try to promote as much as possible on forums and websites like Goodreads, which have a strong book reading community.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Go deep inside yourself and write from the heart.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just the good old plain and simple – be yourself.

What are you reading now?
American Veda by Phil Goldberg

What’s next for you as a writer?
Probably starting on the second book of this trilogy – “Self-Writing Book”.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Bhagavad Gita
The Book of Joy by Dalai Lama
The Mahabharata

Author Websites and Profiles
Ananta Govinda Website
Ananta Govinda Amazon Profile

Ananta Govinda’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Art Norman Jr. 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Even back in College I loved to drift off into the worlds of ‘What If’s’! Sort of like ‘What would you do if…….’ & we would get drunk around 7 of us & we would send it around the room & by nights end we would trip ourselves out completely & totally! I have written 2 books so far they are: ‘Hollywood: Hollyweird’ “How People Survive And Make It!” & ‘Hollywood: Hollyweird’ Part 2 “Last Ditch Effort!” Both based on my nearly Decade long stay in HOLLYWOOD, CA! There as a Bodyguard…….

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Well my last book is: ‘Hollywood: Hollyweird’ Part 2 “Last Ditch Effort!” It is about my departure from HOLLYWOOD, CA & taking the ‘Hollywood Mentality!’ with me through out the good ‘ole US of A! And I do sprinkle in there my take on interracial relationships in HOLLYWOOD from the Stars all the way to the average street pedestrians its weird but you wouldn’t trade it for nothing!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well I like to write my good material real late at night! Even when I was in HOLLYWOOD I would love to go out for strolls late at night in the rich neighborhoods being that you call it that…..and just think because Hollywood can get crowded during they day especially with all the agendas!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I was schooled on John Grisham almost 30 years ago by my 1st cousin when he was on Christmas break from Stanford University & I would be on break from North Carolina A&T State University…….he would suggest a vast amount of books to read & that’s when I learned about the Stock Market!

What are you working on now?
I’m working on ‘Hollywood: Hollyweird’ Part 3 “Dream Sequence!” It is a Mystery Novel…..based in good ‘ole HOLLYWOOD, CA!……& it also has some air travel through out the world!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Believe it or not I like to start with the local newspapers; I mean get your picture in there & do a piece with the editor explaining the book! Next I like to promote it through websites like this one ‘Awesome Gang!”

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yeah….stay persistant & remain focused!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Get your schooling out the way first; then you can move on to other ventures!

What are you reading now?
Ruth Ware, John Grisham, Harlan Coben, James Patterson………

What’s next for you as a writer?
Well I’m doing a project with my Alma Mater: HBCU – ‘North Carolina A&T State University!’ it involves a vocal setting of what it was like when you were there & your life experiences! I’m including my books along with an absorbent amount of knowledge gained from my B.A. in Psychology! ’93

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 Girl On The Train” by Paula Hawkins, “The Turn of the Key” by Ruth Ware & “The Firm” by John Grisham

Author Websites and Profiles
Art Norman Jr. Website
Art Norman Jr. Amazon Profile

 

Ben Krieger 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
This is my first book, but the graphic novel prequel is also out now, and the sequel is on its way!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Under the Shadow of the Plateau is all about marginalized communities in a society and culture totally consumed by technology and multimedia. I think all the issues I see and deal with every day manifest themselves in this story in a really engaging and exciting way, even though it’s fairly pessimistic.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t sleep a lot but I’m not sure if that’s unusual.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Frank Herbert is my literary role model. His ability to weave social issues into compelling characters and situations is what I try to emulate in this series.

What are you working on now?
The Frontier Forever series is my baby. Aside from an unrelated children’s book I’m writing with my sister, it’s all I can see myself working on for the next few years.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Honestly, I’m floundering with the book promotion end of things. Thus far I’ve relied on word of mouth, and my Instagram fans all love the art from the comics, but I’m not sure how many of them will read the books!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write it. Hopefully you don’t have to give up as much sleep as I did, but you have the idea, so sit down and write it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Drink more water.

What are you reading now?
I REALLY loved Murderbot. Stylistically its completely different than what I’m used to reading, but the rich personal characterization is extremely compelling.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m editing book two of the Frontier Forever series, Blood Beneath Water, right now, and there are 6 more issues of Regenesis that are written and being illustrated.

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 1-4. Easy.

Author Websites and Profiles
Ben Krieger Website
Ben Krieger Amazon Profile

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

Julia Stebbing 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written lots of books, and published just two while one book is ‘waiting in the wings’. I love writing children’s books in rhyming verse. I am a mother, wife and grandmother who enjoys doing codewords, playing boggle and look forward to the time ceroc dancing can take place again.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book to be released soon, When Moggie Met Froggie, was inspired by my love of rhyming verse. As was my last book, Remarkable Women in Verse which tells the stories of amazing women: Rosa Parks who by not moving to the back of a bus galvanised an entire movement; Helen Keller who lost her speech and sight at 18 months and with the arrival of her governess, Anne Sullivan, finally learned how to communicate with her family and the world; Florence Nightingale who was born into a wealthy family and against her parent’s wishes became a nurse and revolutionised the nursing community.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think I have any unusal writing habits. I LOVE my laptop and don’t think I could write an entire page by hand.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I like Julia Donaldson, Roald Dahl, and I think whatever we read and enjoy influences us all.

What are you working on now?
I am working on follow-ups to The Lost Smile which is the first in the series called The Fabulous Five. I am also working on marketing which is another world. I love writing and dislike marketing.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
At the moment the best method I have when it comes to promoting my books are my website and Facebook and these both need further attention.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Who am I to give advice? But definitely find a good editor.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I have ever hears is: You cannot help the world, but you can help one person at a time.

What are you reading now?
I am enjoying The book Wonder.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to continue to bring out other books in The Fabulous Five series – The Lost Smile is the first book – and after When Moggie Met Froggie has been released I will ask the illustrator to work on the second book.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
There are films I can watch over and over and although it probably goes against the grain, there are no books I read over and over again.

Author Websites and Profiles
Julia Stebbing Website
Julia Stebbing Amazon Profile

Julia Stebbing’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Marilyn Willis 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi Awesome Gang! I am Marilyn Willis a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor who loves to help people. I write books to help brokenhearted survivors of loss find their RESTORED lives! I have published 3 books. All three are under the RESTORED umbrella. The RESTORED Workbook has won three awards:
• GOLD MEDAL WINNER Grief / Hardship Category by Readers Favorite
• FINALIST Health: Death & Dying Category by 2020 Best Book Awards
• BRONZE MEDAL WINNER Grieving / Death Dying Category by LivingNow Book
and all three books are Amazon Best Sellers and have hit #1 in most of their categories.

When I am not writing or counseling people I am spending time with my family outdoors or traveling across the country in our RV Trailer to see this great country we live in.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
RESTORED Moments. When we are grieving finding just one restored moment feels like a breath of fresh air.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Sure, doesn’t everyone? I homeschool my young children and so my writing fits into the nooks and crannies of my life. Usually, my “revelations” come in the middle of the night!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love C S Lewis, Dr Caroline Leaf, Gary Thomas, Kevin Leman, Paul Tripp, Richard Foster, Malcom Gladwell, Donald Miller, Dr Daniel Siegel….I’m sure there are more.

What are you working on now?
Just published RESTORED Moments: A Six-Day Grief Devotional this last week. I am working on a Facilitator’s Manuel to go along with the RESTORED: A Self-Paced Grief Workbook for Your Journey from Loss to Life. It is in the test phase being utilized with several grief support groups.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
https://www.goodmourningwithmarilyn.com/restored
https://www.facebook.com/GoodMourningwithMarilyn

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t get overburdened by all of the advice out there on writing and publishing. Plan out, or outline, your project then focus on the next thing you need to get done.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Advertise with Amazon….when you spend the time to learn how to do it- it works!

What are you reading now?
The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis
The Lifegiving Home by Sally Clarkson
Marketing Made Simple by Donald Miller

What’s next for you as a writer?
This seems unconventional but I have a friend who is an AMAZING singer and she is recording a CD to go along with the workbook. She and I plan to create a RESTORED conference to help people survive and thrive after loss.

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. That would be all I need.

Author Websites and Profiles
Marilyn Willis Website
Marilyn Willis Amazon Profile

Marilyn Willis’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Sophia Lee 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello, my name is Sophia Lee. I am a faithful believer in a higher power, I call the higher power God. I had my first unnatural encounter when I was in kindergarten. I dreamed I was martyred just like Christ Jesus and died and saw a heavenly place. Since that dream, I have always believed in God, heaven, angels, and everything the bible says. Nevertheless, I have had over 50 additional encounters. I have written one book, “The Holy Spirit is Christ Jesus Alive: Encounters of the Holy Spirit,” It took me over seven years to write, I had to do soul searching and much more.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is titled, The Holy Spirit is Christ Jesus Alive: Encounter of the Holy Spirit. It was inspired by similar books of its kind. Such as: Heaven is For Real, by Todd Burpo, and Lynn Vincent; 23 Minutes in Hell, by Bill Weiss; and 90 Minutes in Heaven, by Don Piper, and Cecil Murphy. I had similar encounters as all three. I was as child when I had my first encounter, the same as Colton Burpo in Heaven is for real. Secondly, I had encounters of hell, the same as Bill Weiss, I had Deja vu memories as some event in B. Weiss’s book. I also experienced heaven after an auto mobile accident, the same as Don Piper in 90 Minutes in Heaven.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Writing for me is a challenge because I suffered from Dyslexia, but I have been cured substantially and not entirely through reading the entire Holy Bible. Spell check helped me minimum because it is an artificial intelligence and is flawed.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Holy Bible and other non- fiction books in my book genre or niche have Influenced, me. After reading several books, I realized that I should write a book, as well because of my similar encounters.

What are you working on now?
I am working on getting my book noticed, it is my work of passion.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am offering on my website an opportunity to read my book for free, the flip book version. There is a link at the bottom of the page of one of my blogs titled, ‘Read Free Option.’

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes, just start writing, no procrastination. Make your writing a labour of love and do noy give up. There are tons of resources on the internet.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Offer the books for free; therefore, the readers may sample your written; they may give feedback, or constructive criticism.

What are you reading now?
I am looking for a book to read, I am interested in mysticism, mysteries, the unknown; non- fiction books in general.

What’s next for you as a writer?
If I am successful with my book, I will write similar writing; nevertheless, my book has not been discovered therefore, I will not continue in a similar arena.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would take my book, the Holy Bible, and another non- fiction book and an award winning apocalypse book on the last days or zombies.

Author Websites and Profiles
Sophia Lee Website
Sophia Lee Amazon Profile

Ashley Jae Carranza 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have always loved reading and writing as well as film. I have a masters degree in English from California State University, Fullerton with an emphasis in creative writing. I’ve worked as an educator for about the last 10 years, five of which were at the college level.

This is my first book published in my name. I edited this collection of essays and wrote a chapter about the film ParaNorman for this particular book.

I have a chapter called “The Rebirth of King’s Children” in Kevin Wetmore’s collection Uncovering Stranger Things (2018) and a chapter “Using Flash Fiction as a Pedagogical Tool to Teach Creative Writing Online” in Tamara Girardi and Abigail Scheg’s Theories and Strategies for Teaching Creative Writing Online (2021).

My flash fiction tends to get kind of wacky… it appears in several literary magazines including Flash Fiction Magazine, Postcard Shorts, Maudlin House, Beautiful Losers, Helen: Unincorporated, and others.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My collection of essays was just published a couple weeks ago from McFarland Publishers.

Our Fears Made Manifest: Essays on Terror, Trauma and Loss in Film, 1998-2019 focuses on a variety of films from different genres, tying them together through the connective idea that they speak to unspoken cultural fears in American society.

I have been a film buff since I was a child. I’ve always spent time analyzing deeper meaning in movies; it wasn’t until graduate school that I found out how much a film can say about a time period or a group of people. It isn’t always what the director intended, but popular culture exists because it does something for people. It scratches subconscious itches in people. Movies can help guide us or speak to silent turmoil without us even realizing it’s happening.

I wanted to explore the vicarious satisfaction that IS film and examine the ways that society views the exchange between the screen and their own lives.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
In my fiction, I use what I refer to as “the snowball effect”. In this, I will begin with writing that seems totally logical, but toward the climax, I will begin to implement a lot of sensory details meant to sweep the reader into the scene, losing themselves. I want my reader to feel like they just got hit in the back of the head with a 2×4. I want them to lose themselves for a minute.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I recently came across Chelsea Martin’s work and am reading Caca Dulce. I felt a strong connection between her work and my own. My current publication is academia, so it obviously isn’t in the same style, but my fiction feels as though it comes from a similar place–one of self discovery and laughing at the lunacy that is being alive.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a collection of short stories about a character named Julian Pepper who undergoes a lot of personal discovery through her battles with increasingly poor decisions.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ll let you know once I’ve figured it out.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep trying. You are going to be rejected uncountable times. It makes you feel like crap. It makes you question every decision you’ve ever made. Just keep doing it. Something will stick; you just have to find it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t jam forks in the toaster.

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading Pay It Forward for my day job. The last book I read for fun was What Dreams May Come. It blew my mind.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have some ridiculous projects in the works… a children’s book involving poop, a book with a silverback gorilla as one of the main characters, and my short stories about Julian, several of which have already been published.

I guess I just want to have fun with the experience and hope someone gets something out of my manic scribblings.

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?
Where’s Waldo (Once I found him everywhere, I could use the pages to make a fire)
King’s It (even though I’ve already read it twice)
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck

Author Websites and Profiles
Ashley Jae Carranza Website

Ashley Jae Carranza’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Brittany Earnest 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My Name is Brittany Earnest, and I’m a self-published author on Amazon. I’ve always been interested in writing, since I was very young. I would write short stories, or brainstorm different ideas, but I didn’t really do anything with them until recently when I published my first book Finding Hope. I started to write it, right after I came out as a lesbian to my family. I finally felt free to discuss things that I thought were important, which is why I choose to write an LGBT inspired book. I want to use my writing to discuss issues that are important to speak about to help create an understanding about things people go through, especially in the LGBT community. I want to help highlight issues so change can occur, or at least make people look at the issues differently.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Finding Hope is the first book that I’ve published. When I first started writing it, I didn’t have anything in mind for the book. I knew I wanted to write something that was LGBT related, but I didn’t really know how I was going to do it. Once I came up with the characters names, I started to think about what plot I wanted for the book. It took me a little while to figure it out because I started to write to see what I could come up with. As I wrote, I incorporated some of my experiences into the book, along with other things that I’ve heard about. I thought it would make the book more relatable if it had real life issues in it, which is what I wanted to do in the first place. I wanted to make something that was relevant, as well as, entertaining for the readers.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I prefer to be laying down when I write because I spend long hours writing. If I sit in a chair too long, it causes me to be uncomfortable, which affects my writing abilities.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
When I was growing up, I used to love the Goosebump series by R. L. Stine. My parents would always read them to me as a child. I used to create short stories about monsters that were inspired by the books. I thought that I would someday write books similar to those, but after I got older, I decided to change my writing style after I started reading romance books. After I read a couple Addison Moore, J. S. Cooper, Saranna DeWylde and Tammy Falkner books, I decided to write compelling romance novels that help readers connect to characters that go through real issues. I want to help my readers feel less alone because there are other people that are going through the same things.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a new book that focuses on some of my own life experiences in a fictional way. It also has other issues in it, but it has two of the most difficult situations that I’ve personally been in, which makes it more personal to me than my first book. I wanted to write about the two situations to help readers understand what it’s like to be in the moment. It’s also LGBT inspired, which I hope helps others in similar situations.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Since I’m a first-time publisher, I’m still trying to figure out how to promote my book, so that readers will be interested in buying it. Right now, I’m using my social media accounts to promote my book. I also have a website on wordpress.com, where I post information about my book.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice to new authors is to write about subjects that they’re passionate about, so that they can make good content that people will want to read. It’s important to write about subjects that you enjoy because you will have to spend a lot of time writing and talking about it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice that I ever heard was to be true to yourself and to always stand up for what you believe in. It took me a while to follow the advice, but it is very helpful.

What are you reading now?
I’m currently not reading anything because I’ve been spending all of my time writing on my new book, and promoting my book Finding Hope. I recently read the Jessica Brodie series by Willow Summers, which I enjoyed. The characters are well developed, and the plot keeps you invested in the story. I would recommend it to anyone who loves romance books.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I plan on writing a lot more books that are LGBT related because I think it’s an important subject to be discussed, especially since there is still a lot of issues that LGBT people face. I hope that I can use my writing to give people a voice about what they may be feeling in different situations. I also want to connect with my readers, so I know if my work is helping them in any way. I want to try to make a difference with my writing, which is why I choose the genre that I have.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would take the three books of the Jessica Brodie series by Willow Summers and The Last Boyfriend by J.S. Cooper. I’ve read each of the books more than once because I love them so much. They’re all very well written and compelling. I could read them over and over.

Author Websites and Profiles
Brittany Earnest Website
Brittany Earnest Amazon Profile

Brittany Earnest’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Johannes Koch 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been a financial journalist for over a decade and cut my teeth at newswires, FT Group publications, and Bloomberg, among others. I’m German-Indian, grew up in Switzerland (can’t escape finance, I’m trying) and I’ve written two non-fiction books for aspiring journalists (so far).

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
In the age of the publishing revolution, we can tell truths and dispel falsehoods but also tell lies and spread falsehoods. What do you choose to do? The book was inspired by the clickbait-infested waters of the web and the spread of fake news. The name of my second book is called Behind the Scoop: Why You Should Think and Act Like a Journalist. I wanted to help anyone who’s looking to cut through the sea of irrelevant news better understand what makes great journalism, how to get a scoop, and give power to people to recognize great journalism.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m still trying to work out the best habits… I’ve tried late-night writing, early morning writing, writing on phones, writing on in notebooks, on the laptop, on holiday and it just boils down to writing, not sure I have any fixed habits, I guess that might be considered unusual?

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Malcolm Gladwell’s David and Goliath. Homer’s The Odyssey. Ryan Holiday’s Trust Me, I’m Lying.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the third and final book in the journalism series which will be a highly tactical book for anyone looking to enter business journalism. It will be the business journalism blueprint and ultimate guide.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still learning a lot about this, I think generally it’s my weakest point, but I’m glad I found Chandler Bolt’s Self-Publishing School and Dave Chesson’s Kindlepreneur, which are two great sources to help an author grow and learn about book marketing.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
You’re not a “new” author. You’re just an author. Write and publish. Rinse and repeat. No fear.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Ego is about who’s right, truth is about what’s right.”—Mike Maples Jr.

What are you reading now?
Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty

What’s next for you as a writer?
Once I’ve completed the non-fiction books in the journalism series I want to try my hand at a book for middle school kids. I have been developing story ideas, characters, and plots with my daughter and we’re going to bring it all to life. Meanwhile, I’m also working up another book on jump roping for men over 40 but that will just be an e-book and in terms of writing, less challenging.

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?
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl.
The Odyssey by Homer.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.
Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien (can I please take all books in the series and count them as one, please?)

Author Websites and Profiles
Johannes Koch Website
Johannes Koch Amazon Profile

Johannes Koch’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Anand Kumar Yadav 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Being software engineer, he has addiction of reading and learning computer programming languages and coding. He is a young motivational speaker, poet and entrepreneur.
Anand is passionate about writing story, and poems. He has written three books. His debut novel is Burdened by Fate and a few short stories, which are available on amazon. His other works include a short story, You Are My Sunshine Love, and one poem book, Dil Ki Awaj, which is published on kindle. Currently, he is also working on his next book which is a story of one man and two girls.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I’m working on my forthcoming book. It is based on a true story of one man and two women. It’s full of mystery, inspiration and romance. My debut novel Burdened by Fate and I want to deliver a knowledge based, entertaining, and inspiring tale to my readers because it’s only one life so they get something from my tale and thoughts, which is inspired me a lot to write my next book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, Drinking 6-7 cup of tea.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favorite book is Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. This book is a milestone in human growth and more importantly in getting rich. I loved every chapter of it. I am very much disappointed that I didn’t know or read this book earlier in my life; it would have made a huge difference in my life.

What are you working on now?
I am working on my forthcoming novel.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Digital media and mouth-words.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read a lot and improve vocabularies, which polish your book. Writing is a part of life, which can explain feelings and thoughts on paper. It is not easy to write a book because it takes a lot of patience and courage. If you write any kind of book then you have not enough time for nonsense gossip. It makes you productive and can imagine whole characters in your imaginations.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Follow your passion and dream big. Take action for your goals, which led towards your dreams.

What are you reading now?
The 7 Habit of Highly Effective People

What’s next for you as a writer?
Gender inequality has been a social issue in India for centuries. That in many parts of India, the birth of a girl child is not welcomed is a known fact. I want to change this barbaric mindset of the patriarchal Indian society who perceives girls as liabilities.
I wish to become a famous motivational speaker because lack of motivation a few people gives up on their goals / dreams so it’s essential for them.
I will write more inspiring and spiritual books which motivate and improve the mental stability of people. And people will know the true fact about life.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would bring three self-help books and one fiction books because self-help book would maintain stability f my mind and fiction would spread my emotion inside desert heart.

Author Websites and Profiles
Anand Kumar Yadav Website
Anand Kumar Yadav Amazon Profile

Anand Kumar Yadav’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

James Goddard 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have now written two books (on dancing) and am working on a third about judo. I am waiting for illustrations as text complete. Unfortunately my illustrator has been ill so delays have crept in. I am checking if same illustrator can continue.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Goddard Method of Latin dancing.

This is an abridged version of the information in my book (Goddard Method of Ballroom and Latin Dancing) released for lockdown and as we come out of it. The book focuses on the Latin part of Ballroom and Latin dancing.

It may be difficult to find space to do Ballroom dances. Latin dances can be done in a large room or conservatory [indoors]; or [outside] on a flat surface such as a patio.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write upside down….just kidding!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
W E Johns.

What are you working on now?
One non-fiction book and maybe some fiction ones.

I am also looking at how to promote these.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
No idea. Still trying to find this out. All information sources appear to contradict each other. I need a way to go viral… like ‘Magic Max’ the dog who just got an OBE for being an assistance dog.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep trying. Self publishing is a good way to start and get noticed.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Listen to others then make your own mind up.

What are you reading now?
Various books including the complete Arthur Conan Doyle story collection.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep plugging away on projects.

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?
Several W E Johns and Sapper books.

Author Websites and Profiles
James Goddard Website
James Goddard Amazon Profile

Joanne Madden 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello everyone. I am a Canadian writer from Toronto. I love following current events and the media. I originally wanted to be a journalist. I ended up becoming a library technician and I was employed for many years as a library and information specialist in the library of the Toronto Star newspaper. I assisted reporters, columnists and editors. During my years at the Star, I had six articles published on a freelance basis.

In 2010, I accepted a volunteer buyout from the Star. I then took a course on teaching English as A Second Language. I have been tutoring ESL one-to-one on a part-time basis. However, writing is still my passion. I keep two blogs – Number 16 and TV Banter – and I have written several poems over the years.

I am a movie buff and a political junkie. I am interested in history, trivia and collecting quotations. My favourite game show is “Jeopardy!” I also enjoy word puzzles, cards and playing board games such as Scrabble. Of course, I love a good book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I recently published my first novel as an ebook on Smashwords. It is entitled “Children of Dieppe.” I had worked on the novel during my leisure time for a few years. I finally completed it during this COVID-19 and self-published it.

I really became involved in the characters. I wanted to write something about friendship, family and the aftermath of war. The protagonist, Denise Nair, loses her father in the 1942 Dieppe Raid. The novel chronicles Denise’s life until the year 2012. Historical events are woven into the story. It not, however, an exceptionally long novel. On the contrary, it breezy, suspenseful and thoughtful.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write at night.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My taste in reading is very eclectic. I especially like to read biographies, classical novels and mysteries.

What are you working on now?
I am working on my second novel. It is full of mystery and suspense.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As an indie writer, the best chance you have to promote your book is through social media sites such as Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I am a new author myself. I have learned a great deal from writing my first novel. I can only repeat the advice that someone

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve heard is from Shakespeare’s hamlet: “To thine own self be true.”

What are you reading now?
I am currently reading an old classic, “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.” I recently finished Rachel Maddow’s book about Spiro Agnew. It’s fascinating and I recommend it. I also have two other books lined up to read after “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.” They are “Extraordinary Canadians” by former news anchor Peter Mansbridge and “Promised Land” by former U.S. president Barack Obama.

What’s next for you as a writer?
As I mentioned, I am working on my second novel. I am taking my time with it and I am really trying to do a good job. At the moment, I don’t know when it will be finished. I am also working on my two blogs.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would bring the Bible and the complete works of Shakespeare. There are so many other books, I wouldn’t know where to start. It would be a very difficult decision for me because I like so many authors. Some of my favourite books include:
The Great Gatsby (by F. Scott Fitzgerald)
Crime and Punishment (by Fyodor Dostoevsky)
The Chosen (by Chaim Potok)
A Separate Peace (by John Knowles)
The Catcher in the Rye (by J.D. Salinger)
The Portrait of A Lady (by Henry James)
Pride and Prejudice (by Jane Austen)
To Kill A Mockingbird (by Harper Lee)
Anne of Green Gables (by L.M. Montgomery)
Life of Pi (by Yann Martel)
Wuthering Heights (by Emily Bronte)

Author Websites and Profiles
Joanne Madden Website
Joanne Madden Author Profile on Smashwords

Joanne Madden’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Jane Powell 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! Born in Sweden to Irish parents and raised in Montreal, I’ve always had a lust for new adventures. I lived in Australia, New Zealand and Norway (where my hubby is from) for several years and am currently living out my latest adventure (along with my family) in Golden, British Columbia. Along with being a mum and a special needs support worker, I’m a creative writer who has self-published two novels (YA/Contemporary fiction), a children’s book, some short stories, and opinion pieces. My passion for creative writing started as soon as I could read. I’ve always been fascinated with books that tell stories about life, society, and people. I model my writing off authors such as Bryce Courtenay, Miriam Toews, Paulo Coelho, and Audrey Niffenegger.

For me, life is a riveting research project. Possibilities for learning are everywhere, in every interaction and experience (whether good or not so good). My “life toolbox” includes living and working in several countries, degrees in Anthropology, World Religions, and Education, as well as surviving the youth protection system (of which inspired my second novel “Butterflies in the System”), becoming a teen parent, and overcoming trauma associated with sexual assault (which inspired my first novel “Sky-bound Misfit”).

I am currently working on my third novel.

For more details about me and my work, be sure to check out my website and blog!
https://www.janepowell.org
https://www.janepowell.org/blog

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Butterflies in the System” is a story inspired by my experience as a ward in Montreal’s youth protection system. The story brings readers on a journey through a year in the life of five teens (as well as a childcare worker and social worker) as they navigate their way through group-homes, detention centres, and street life. Full of both adventure and sorrow, I wrote this book to highlight ethical violations in Montreal’s youth protection system and to help bring awareness to the importance of mental health resources for youth and the need for systemic change in the system. For details, see my blog post “The Story that Inspired Butterflies in the System”: https://www.janepowell.org/post/the-story-that-inspired-butterflies-in-the-system

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I do most of the creative part of my writing while I’m on the go, skiing, biking, or hiking – where I imagine my characters and story, then write it all down when I get home again. I highly recommend this process!!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Bryce Courtenay, Miriam Toews, Paulo Coelho, and Audrey Niffenegger. One of my all-time favourites is The Power of One, by Bryce Courtenay.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on my third novel … it’s a secret, so stay tuned!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Giving talks and writing workshops at high schools.
Goodreads – connecting with other authors.
And, of course, my own website and blog:
https://www.janepowell.org
https://www.janepowell.org/blog

Do you have any advice for new authors?
The hardest part in writing a book is starting. I find the best way to get over this initial block is to put aside your pride and worries about being perfect, and just start writing. Even if it’s just a big messy brainstorm on a napkin, it will help to get the juices flowing. Also, first drafts are always far from perfect – you can change things later. The first draft is just about getting your juices flowing. For help in developing great characters and story-telling, be sure to check out my online writing workshops (see my blog for details: https://www.janepowell.org/blog). Happy writing

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Perfection is way overrated – it is the imperfections that make life interesting, exciting, touched with love and laughter even in the toughest of times.

What are you reading now?
Jack of Diamonds, by Bryce Courtenay

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on my third novel. I intend to continue writing novels, as I have definitely found my niche in creative writing.

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?
SAS Survival Guide: the ultimate guide to surviving anywhere (John ‘Lofty’ Wiseman)
The Art of Happiness (The Dalai Lama)
The Neverending Story (Michael Ende)
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)

Author Websites and Profiles
Jane Powell Website

Jane Powell’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

C Drying 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a rare female INTJ. I earned a B.A. in English lit. I spend a lot of time thinking about (questioning really) postmodernism. I’m proud to be an American vegetarian. I’m a Lesbian. I Photography, and I’ve published two books.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my latest book is <i>The Transcendental Focal Point: Images & Thoughts.</i> I created this book because I wanted to share my thoughts and photography. Both thoughts and photography in the book were inspired by transcendental experiences and by reading the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I admire Margaret Atwood, and all the books I’ve ever read have attributed to my sensibilities when it comes to writing.

What are you working on now?
I’ve recently started a book of digital art under another pen name.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think Awesome Gang is one of the best ways to promote books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I welcome all writers. The act of writing is most definitely a self-discovery experience.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Ellen Brock warned about falling in love with your characters. Good advice.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading a work on non-fiction called <i>Cynical Theories</i> by Helen Pluckrose.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Ideas about books float into my every day. I’ll catch a ride on the one with the biggest sail.

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?
Emerson’s collection of essays, Nietzsche’s <i>Thus Spoke Zarathustra</i>, a dictionary, and an encyclopedia of philosophy.

Author Websites and Profiles
C Drying Website
C Drying Amazon Profile

C Drying’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Victoria Black 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written two books that have been independently published through Amazon. They are both for the same series titled Becoming Heroes: The Story of the New Guardian. I am a mother of two, wife, veteran, and I work for the FBOP. I grew up in New Jersey and always enjoyed writing. As I got older life seemingly got in the way of writing often. Now that my kids are about to be teenagers though it was time to brush off the old creative brain.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Becoming Heroes: Growing is my newest edition to the Becoming Heroes series. I have always been inspired by nature and believed everyone is somehow connected to it. In this series I like to use the idea of animal spirits fusing with our souls to grant the heroes special abilities. The world is in such a choatic spin lately that I felt everyone could use a good pick me up story. I hope you all enjoy it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write in my kitchen sitting at my kitchen island. Or looking out my big window in my living room. Watching the trees and birds flying in the yard and the squirrel that bothers my poor dog (lol) gives me a sense of peace. I also listen to music while I am writing. Normally it’s Imagine Dragon’s radio on Pandora, played on my Google home mini or Alexa devices.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh wow… there are so many. Growing up my favorite poet was Edgar Allen Poe. Favorite poem by far is The Raven. Fun story at work my office is in our front lobby and being in the mountains we have a lot of animals around us. The one day two ravens sat in front of the doors pulling apart this bag of trash that they pulled from the dumpsters. Probably should have stopped them long before they ripped it open but me and my partner were so fascinated by it we couldn’t stop watching.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on book 3 of the Becoming Heroes storyline and its going to be a doozy. I won’t give any hints or spoilers but let’s just say a lot of things from books 1 and 2 are about to come full circle. It will certainly be a story you won’t want to miss reading. I am also working on a spin off series of one of the sideline characters who I felt could use his own story.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have used a few places to promote my book. My biggest are Amazon, kindle, and social media with the exception of FB because I just havn’t created a page for it yet.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep writing and improving your writing. Also hire a good editor. My editor is amazing and I wouldn’t be able to create my books without him.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t ever let your ego ruin your story. This goes back to the previous question. Always strive to improve, improve your writing, improve yourself, improve your attitude and never think you are better then everyone else out there. Stay humble and keep moving forward.

What are you reading now?
Currently I am reading some fan fiction books and focusing on my two upcoming books. Mostly right now I am trying to focus on book 3. I want it to be a great story arch and really show the characters improvements so there has been a lot of editing and revising with this one.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Well finishing book 3 in the next year will be my main focus. However, I would really like to see more people enjoying this series and I am hoping it will pick up some longevity in distribution. After that who knows, I am a let the wind carry you type of person.

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?
Ha, irony at best! Myself and some of my coworkers just had this conversation recently. So I would take as odd as it sounds a dictionary (cause I am always looking something up), a survival guide book, and probably one of my books. Oh or a Stephen King book cause who doesn’t like a good Stephen King story.