Please check out the authors below and share them if you like on social media and help them out.
Good karma goes a long way. If you belong to an Author group help spread the word about our free author interview series. We have started a new Facebook author group that focuses on author interviews and podcast interviews. Come Join us!

S. Lee Fisher 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a retired clinical pharmacist. My title is Dr. “P”, writing as S. Lee Fisher.
Becoming Olive W. is my second book and the first in this series, The Women of Campbell County Family Saga. I am currently deep into my next book, Under The Grapevine.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Becoming Olive W. It was written as a prequel to my original story A Mystery of Grace. I wanted to share with my readers why Olive became a troubled, bitter young woman.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
None that I consider unusual.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Too many to list. I enjoy reading historical fiction.

What are you working on now?
Book 2 in the Women of Campbell County Family Saga series, titled Under the Grapevine.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing. You’ll never publish if you don’t complete your story.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To treat writing as a hobby, it shall become a hobby. However, treat writing as a business and it shall become your livelihood.

What are you reading now?
I’m currently in between books.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Book 3 in my series.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
War and Peace. My favorite all-time book. Gone With the Wind, and The Joy of Cooking. Must be practical!

Author Websites and Profiles
S. Lee Fisher Website

S. Lee Fisher’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Mary Jane Humes 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have two books published and in the process of publishing the third in the series. I love reading good fiction, especially adventure, spy, sci-fi, fantasy. but I write non-fiction. I am a Bible scholar with a degree in Biology and I teach Sunday school at my local church.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The book that is coming out very soon is Joseph’s Faith. I love the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis. It is such a wonder rags-to-riches story, plot twists with a great ending. But more than just a great story, this was recorded for our encouragement in our Christian walk and that was why I wanted to write a devotional about it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write in the evening. I am an evening person and in school, I would do my school work at night. I work during the day and so I write at night.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Other than the Bible, I was influenced by Madline L’Engle. I have my BA in Biology and a deep interest in science. I did some original research in college with the cellular organelle mitochondria as a direct result of her in one of her books writing about the mitochondria!

What are you working on now?
Currently I am in the process of publishing the third book in my Faith Series Devotionals. This is Joseph’s Faith where I also point out many similarities between the Old Testament Joseph and Jesus Christ.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have not yet found a favorite. I am still learning. Next I want to learn how to use ads to promote my books.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Work with an editor! No, work with more than one editor. Get your friends to edit your work and then invest the money with a professional editor. I have found for me that editors are some of my best friends. Don’t fall in love with your work. Let the editor rip it up, you will end up with a much better product and it will make you look great.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do ever say that you are going to do something. Rather just do it and then you can say, “I did this”.

What are you reading now?
I just finished Two Days Taken: A Mylas Grey Mystery by Luana Ehrlich and currently I am reading A Layman’s Guide to Prophecy by my friend Dr. Charles Brown.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am working with my editors on Job’s Faith and I am writing Abraham’s Faith – the next two books in my Faith Series 30-Day Bible Study devotionals for women.

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?
Other than my Bible, I would probably bring some empty journals so that I could write rather than read.

Author Websites and Profiles
Mary Jane Humes Website
Mary Jane Humes Amazon Profile
Mary Jane Humes Author Profile on Smashwords

Mary Jane Humes’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Melody Heart 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up in the Midwest, the oldest in a large family. I have always been an avid reader and dreamed of writing a novel, but never found the time. I raised two children, had a full time job and was active in my community. When the kids went off to college, my husband and I started a construction business. I recently reached a major milestone in my life and decided that this is the time to write my novel.
I have two independently published books. My debut novel, “Move A Pawn” is about a young woman who escapes with her four-year-old son from an abusive situation. She finds refuge at her estranged sister’s home in Aurora, ND. I drew on my North Dakota roots and based the fictitious town of Aurora on the small rural communities. The flat countryside is where blizzards become life threatening, but neighbors have warm hearts when they help each other out.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My current book, “Who Is Victoria Island?” is a young adult fantasy that I wrote for my grandchildren. A teenage girl, Victoria, is found on an island with a traumatic brain injury and has no memory of who she is. She embodies all of the things that I love doing; hiking and photography. She finds out that there is the family you are born into and the family that you make.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
The best time for me is late at night when there are no distractions. When I am on a roll, I write until about midnight.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read a variety of authors: Nora Roberts, Danielle Steel, Stephen King, James Patterson, John Grisham, and Nicholas Sparks. I grew up with fairy tales that have that Happily Ever After ending. Shouldn’t all stories have a satisfying ending?

What are you working on now?
I am working on promoting my current book.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far the jury is still out. I have used Facebook boosts, Instagram, and have my own website for promotion. And of course, Awesome Gang. I am also listed as a Goodreads author.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
You can do anything when you put your Heart into it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t buy a used car if the radio is cranked to a rock station.

What are you reading now?
I am re-reading the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I may do a sequel for Victoria Island. She still has an adventure to continue.

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 Barbecue Bible -by Steven Raichlen
The Pocket Outdoor Survival Guide -by J. Wayne Fears
Home Winemaking -by Terry Garey (just in case)

Author Websites and Profiles
Melody Heart Website
Melody Heart Amazon Profile

Melody Heart’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

John Parham 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
When I retired from my software/technology company, I wondered “what next?” My wife and I became nomads, roaming the US looking for adventures.
While staying the winter on a beach in Florida, I decided to finally use my Journalism degree I had earned almost 50 years ago and write a book.
My first full length novel, The Binding Volume 1, self-published in 2019, is an Amazon 5 Star book. I also have self-published a collection of short stories, The Cat Chronicles by Bastet. One of the stories, The Town That Dreaded Halloween, was selected to be read on their national AIARWIP National Pod Cast.
I continue down the highway of life in our motorhome, accompanied by my stalwart companions Mindy (my wife, inspiration for Mindy the Voodoo Queen), Juno (inspiration for the magical cat Bastet) and Loco (my nickname is Crazy).

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Binding Volume 1.
I walked the beach in Destin, Florida and began to wonder “What if my cat Juno was telepathic?’ Then wondered “What if Juno also was 5,000 years old?”
From these “What if’s” The Binding was conjured!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t advocate this for everyone, but for me on serious creative writing sojourns a good cigar and scotch gets the juices flowing!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Dean Koontz, Clive Cussler, Douglas Adams, David Golem

What are you working on now?
The Binding Volume 2, a planned tribology of The Binding series.

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
When you get “stuck”, and we all do, write just a word. Then a sentence around it. Then a paragraph to finish the sentence. Rinse and repeat. Before long you have a page. Then a Chapter.
Congratulations, you are writing!

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To continually develop your wings as you fall off the cliff.

What are you reading now?
Jack Reacher

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have several ides for different story themes, all in a fiction/science fiction concept.
Complete The Binding series then move on.

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?
Hitchhiker at the End of the Universe – Douglas Adams
The Hobbit – J.R.R. Tolkien
Jack Reacher Series – Lee Child

Author Websites and Profiles
John Parham Website
John Parham Amazon Profile

John Parham’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

Cisel Ozbay 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a Law graduate going into practice next year. I have always had a love for books and increasingly found myself writing during difficult periods of my life. Sometimes I journal, and sometimes these develop into poems. I have a simple writing style as I believe a lot can be expressed by saying a little.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my latest book is Parts Of Me: Lost And Found. The book is a compilation of short philosophical poems which attempt to capture all the ways I have lost myself, and all the lessons I have learnt along the way.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I get random sparks of inspiration sometimes as I’m drifting off to sleep. I usually get up and quickly note a poem in the notes section of my phone so I don’t lose the idea.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love poetry in general, and my Literature studies throughout school have influenced me, but I mostly enjoy reading the works of Turkish poets.

What are you working on now?
I am not working on a specific project at the moment but I continue to write daily.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am new to promoting but I find blogs very helpful. Connecting with people who are genuinely interested in books is a good start.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write in a way that works with you. Be authentic, and don’t try to change your style for validation.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do a little every day.

What are you reading now?
I am reading Jordan Peterson’s new book ‘Beyond Order: 12 More Rules For Life’

What’s next for you as a writer?
To continue writing and reach out to as many people as I can. You can connect with me on my poetry instagram @parts_of_me_poetry_

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
‘A New Earth’ by Eckhart Tolle
‘Man’s Search For Meaning’ by Viktor E. Frankl

Author Websites and Profiles
Cisel Ozbay Amazon Profile

Kyra Keys 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I just finished writing my 10th short story erotica set in the same universe.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Name of book 10 is Teddy’s Treasure and it was inspired by a new friend I made in the erotica community. I was only doing human woman with alien men stories and she wanted me to write one with an alien woman marrying a human man, so book 10 was for her.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Nope, just like any other writer who tries to balance life with writing.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Ava Ross was the first author I read who did steamy alien romance. I didn’t even know it was a thing before coming across her book Vork early on in the pandemic. I was intrigued and ended up binging her series, which eventually lead me to writing alien erotica.

What are you working on now?
I’m starting 10 more short stories with another alien species set in the same world as my first series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
There isn’t many places erotica writers can advertise, so Twitter is mainly lit.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just write whatever you want, there is always going to be someone who is interested in reading it. Who knew people were interested in weird short stories that are classified as alien erotica, but closer to alien steamy romance?

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The whole, even if you fail it’s better to have tried than not tried at all. I take that to heart with writing.

What are you reading now?
Mostly just other short story eroticas to help support the writers. It’s a rough world out there for short story erotica writers.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Once I feel ready, I’m going to move to alien steamy romance novellas.

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?
Kushel’s Dart, Kushiel’s Chosen, and Kushiel’s Avatar, all by Jacqueline Carey.

Author Websites and Profiles
Kyra Keys Website
Kyra Keys Amazon Profile

Kyra Keys’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Samuel Freedman 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a writer of both fiction and non-fiction. I primarily enjoy both reading and writing in the genre of science fiction. In the past I have written, edited or co-written several non-fiction books, but I am now focused on my science fiction novels. The first was published last Fall (see below).

I live with my wife, Nancy in Las Vegas, Nevada, with our two Chihuahuas, Chimi and Nacho. I also enjoy painting, spending time with my family, traveling the world with Nancy, and riding rollercoasters.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first novel, “Venerable: The Price of Paradise” was published last Fall. It is the first in a series about a utopian future society that is undermined when the secret to its idyllic existence is unexpectedly revealed. The second book will be published on May 1 of this year, “Viceroy: The Cost of Peace.” The third, scheduled for completion in September, is titled “Vault: The Becoming of Venerable.”

The series was inspired by my frustration with the unrest in today’s society, and the thought, “What would a society that has solved all of its problems look like, and how would it have achieved such a utopian state?” “Venerable” takes us to one such possible place, and shows us how imperfect and fragile its existence would still be.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not super unusual, but I find it difficult to write in silence. When I listen to music, typically classic rock, the words just seem to flow almost effortlessly.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favorite authors are Kurt Vonnegut, Philip K. Dick, Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov and Dean Koontz. They have all influenced me in different ways, some with their humor, some with their worldbuilding, others with their underlying spirituality.

What are you working on now?
I am nearing the completion the second book in the Venerable series, “Viceroy: The Cost of Peace.” The final editing is underway.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My books are available on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. I do a bit of advertising, but do not spend much on it. I utilize several social media platforms, author groups, and host my own author website with my blog: samuelfreedman-author.com. I also write a weekly newsletter available to the subscribers to the website.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep plugging away. Write every day, even if you are not inspired or think it’s not very good. Just get something down consistently. Be patient with the promotion. It takes time.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write every day. No matter what.

What are you reading now?
“Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society” by Nicholas A. Christakis

What’s next for you as a writer?
Completing the Venerable series (have not determined yet the number of books that it will contain).

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?
“One Door Away from Heaven,” by Dean Koontz
“Childhood’s End” by Arthur C. Clark
“The Sirens of Titan” by Kurt Vonnegut
“The Man in the High Castle” by Philip K. dick

Author Websites and Profiles
Samuel Freedman Website
Samuel Freedman Amazon Profile

Samuel Freedman’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Shreya Ghosh 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a 20 year old college student. I have written one poetry book called Embracing Life: the highs and lows of life and society.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my book is Embracing Life. It is based on personal experiences and life events.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to write in the notes at midnights.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Although I am a very big follower of Robert Frost, this book is based on personal experiences solely.

What are you working on now?
Currently, I am working on the 2nd part of this book.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Submitting to various promoting websites.

 

Shreya Ghosh’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Garet Christopher 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello. My name is Garet Christopher. I am a new independent author. I have written three crime fiction novels and one sci-fi novel. They are currently available on BN.com. I am currently working on another sci-fi piece and am considering making it into a series. I am still working on the first draft, so we’ll see how I feel a few weeks from now.
I love to write! I love to read! I love how some authors can create imagery out of a single sentence or word. This, to me, is a special talent. Anyone can put sentences together, but for those creators that can take the reader to a different place before they even know what’s happening is something altogether. I aspire to be that kind of writer.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My last published work is titled “GENE”. It’s my first sci-fi novel and oddly enough, it originated from a political discussion. My youngest daughter and I were talking about some different topics and I yelled out “we need Gene!”. That night we drew a picture of this little green alien wearing a baseball cap, flip flops, Bermuda shorts, and a tank top. Gene somehow came to Earth and through his personality and great wisdom would lead the world to a better place.
The book turned out to be a little less “cartoonish” than that but that’s where it all started. And eight months later, I was working on the final draft. If you get a chance, check out the cover. I really like it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My family says that I’m weird to begin with, so I’m not so sure that my habits are anything different from my normal routines. I’m still working on ways to get me to “that place”. The spot where nothing else matters but the writing. I get to it every once in a while, but my mind tends to drift a lot and I have to reel myself back in often.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Lately, I’ve grown fond of Elmore Leonard, David Baldacci, Lisa Gardner, Michael Connelly, and Harlan Coben. I’ve always loved John Grisham and my first literary love (after grade school) was Charles Dickens. There are plenty of others that I could name and I feel that I’ve been influenced by everyone I’ve ever read. Even comic books.

What are you working on now?
So, this new work is about a captured alien that escapes the military compound from where it was being held. And, come to find out, another alien helped it escape. They are extremely strong and busted right through both the metal bars of the cell as well as the gated perimeter. Two aliens are eventually recaptured, but the major soon discovers that the original alien is still on the loose somewhere. It starts in New Mexico and will travel to a town just north of Boulder, Colorado. I don’t want to give away much more than that, but I think it’s got a chance to be pretty interesting. It will probably turn out a little more “gory” than my other works and, hopefully, a little scarier.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still learning that. Maybe I’ll have an answer a few months from now. Goodreads appears to be a very helpful site.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’m still seeking advice myself. There is a young lady by the name of Edie Ewing that told me very specifically to “never give up” and to “be myself”. She made it very clear that there is only one of me and whatever I feel led to write should not be ignored. If you have a story, then write it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Oops. It looks like I jumped the gun. Edie’s advice is what is keeping me going.

What are you reading now?
I am finishing “The Ghost Writer” by Alessandra Torre. I recently viewed one of her resources and felt that I needed to find out more about her. I think reading someone’s work is a good way to do that.
I have about twenty books waiting in line and I can’t wait to get to each of them. My reading list can be found on Goodreads.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m going to keep on writing while I continue to find ways to introduce myself to as many people as possible. I love my stuff! Now I need to find out if readers feel the same way.

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’m going to cheat a little. I’m going to name a couple of collections.
The complete Sherlock Holmes (volume one or two)
Frankenstein
Great Expectations
and one of mine. (I’m telling you, I really love my stuff!)

Author Websites and Profiles
Garet Christopher Website

Garet Christopher’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Tex Jerhand 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I really like Plato’s famous phrase: “Every problem has three solutions: my solution, your solution, and the right solution” because I believe it conveys an important truth that I fully agree with faced with any problem that may arise encounter in life, there can be more solutions but only one is right and that produces the desired result. The problem is identifying the right one for me, considering it may not be the right one for you. Starting from this assumption, I thought that the best thing is to expose various solutions and let the reader draw the right conclusions for himself, for his case, or rather for his life. With this in mind, the idea was born to write a series entitled 10 WAYS OF THINKING, which has the prerogative of being a series of books all comprising 10 chapters, or the solutions to the problem. The number 10 is symbolic, in fact inside the book there are so many solutions contained for each chapter that everyone can easily identify the one they consider most satisfying for themselves. The series all deals with topics related to Self-Help and Business Life. The first of the series just released on Amazon is a Self-Help and entitle “TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE. Achieve the Goal of a Fulfilling Life.” The second in the series, just released, is a Business Life entitled: “TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE… while drinking coffee. Test New Ideas, Turn your Habits and Awaken Decision-Making Power.” I have written 5 more books in this series, which will be available in the next few months on Amazon and all major bookstores.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The first book in the “10 WAYS TO THINK” series is: “Take Control of Your Life: Achieving the Goal of a Fulfilling Life. Self-Acceptance to Gain Mental Strength, Willpower, and Stronger Positive Relationships,” is the essence of self-help.

In the business world, it is essential to come up with new business ideas to stay competitive. It is perhaps more important than ever in today’s world. Sometimes it seems difficult because we have a lot more options today than we did a year or two ago.

In this second book in the series: “TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE… while drinking coffee. Test New Ideas, Turn your Habits and Awaken Decision-Making Power.” I mainly focus on Business Life.

The inspiration to write this book came to me reflecting on some events that have happened to me in my life and seriously reflecting on the true values ​​that should distinguish every human being. I also thought a lot about sharing, social life and the difficulties that every entrepreneur must face to be successful, both in business and in private life.

During the day, we make thousands of decisions every minute. We make most of these decisions without conscious reflection; instinctively or through responses learned as habits based on the experience of a lifetime. Unfortunately, these habitual decision patterns persist in the business world, so that owners react without thinking about changing situations without really thinking. Such behavior is not appropriate in the business environment, where change is constant.

The habits you create today influence your future. Your habits are your daily actions. Change your habits and change your way of thinking.

The secret of success is based on what you think of yourself, on how you consider life. Actual business leads you to be happy for having taken control of your life, not for being dominated by it and spending your days enslaved by it. The genuine change is in yourself because once you improve yourself then everything around you, including your business, will grow accordingly.

Courage will serve you to make the right decisions and make the changes, using fear for your goal, not as an insurmountable obstacle. It will be a fundamental step to take control of your life, knowing that to do so you must act immediately without delay and thus overcome indecision because knowing how to decide at the right time determines the success or failure of any business you are doing or about to start.

My goal in writing the book is to create a work full of tips and solutions already successfully tested, sometimes even very complex, making them understandable to everyone.

Rich in principles of life and human values, in just ten simple steps, with a direct and immediate language, “TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE… while drinking coffee.” it can help you change your private life and your business.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have refined a method. All my life I have been writing notes in a notebook, very detailed and so chaotic that now I find it hard even to reread it. Written in small print, even in the corners of the pages, sometimes the writing is scrum bled with arrows, symbols and more that I won’t tell you and the paper has turned yellow.

However, with effort and effort, I reread it, and I reassembled it and divided it into topics. This facilitated me in identifying the solutions to the various problems encountered.

Later I did a lot of research which I then compared together with some of my collaborators, experts and professionals in various fields.

This is just to say that each book has its own story. The inspiration to write it comes to me above all when I return to my home in Aspen from London, where I have a company. When I am immersed in nature, away from the hectic life of London, in my garden, near my beloved donkey or on top of the mountain, I reread and reflect on my notebook. Every time I read it, I get inspiration for a new book. I mark the ideas and then develop them.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
One of all that I would like to mention who made me think about the problems of managers to realize new ideas that work, is Dr. W. Edwards Deming, who became famous in the seventies for helping Japan with innovative and high-quality products. Other authors who have written self-worthy and interesting information on various topics that I have been able to read are: Dr. Daniel Amen, psychiatrist and specialist in brain disorders., Dr. Bryan Vartabedian, Dr. Aimee Daramus, Dr. Barry F. Vaughan, Ph.D. Suniya S. Luthar and others.

What are you working on now?
I am working on Business Life books of great social value on Leadership and Career. I am spending a lot of time in research, because the subject is delicate and I really care. I think they will be ready towards the end of the year.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Here, honestly, you find me a little unprepared. In principle, I rely on Amazon, but I am also testing some services, and awesomegang.com is one of them.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Think a lot, a lot, a lot
Take nothing for granted
Always compare yourself with others for your ideas
Test and verify your solutions
Find your way to get inspired
Leave your mark in the heart of the reader
Only write things of value

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES. Which means: get busy, don’t get discouraged or throw in the towel, don’t dump your responsibilities on others because you have all the tools to do it. Just do your research or read an excellent book.

What are you reading now?
I am enjoying reading this novel “An Answer from the Silence: A Story from the Mountains” by Max Frisch, Smith Nicholson.
An evocative book on the motives of life. It is about a man looking to fulfill his childhood dreams never reached. Then he climbs to the peaks of a mountain that no one had ever reached, and there the story takes color with the rediscovery of the basics of life. That something similar happened to me, too. Perhaps therefore I find it interesting, a light but sobering reading. If you haven’t read it, I recommend it.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Continue the 10 WAYS OF THINKING series and improve it more and more.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The book of books, where history, law, wisdom, values of life, the origin of everything and everyone meet, unites the past, the present and the future. The book you read, the more you always learn: The Holy Bible.

Author Websites and Profiles
Tex Jerhand Website
Tex Jerhand Amazon Profile

Alexandra Tourret 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a professional dog trainer, dog groomer and hydrotherapist. I have always loved dog training and it has always been a passion of mine but when i see a beautiful sunny day i just want to be outside playing with my dogs. So i decided to write this book, my first book all about the combination of my two passions. Dog training and doing things with my dogs. The first book is water based activities such as SUP boarding, Kayaking, River trekking and 20 activities that i have done step by step guides for to make it easy to follow for the owner.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Adventure Dogs
My dogs inspired me to write this book, i love being with them and sharing all these experiences with them. I wanted to show others what was possible with their own dogs.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
not that i know of
probably showing more pictures of my dogs than is necessary – but when you see them you will understand why!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
various dog trainers in my life have influenced this book, but i would say my grandparents are the biggest influence as they have given me my love for the water and all the fun that can be had in or on it. i have just taken that one step further and included the other passion in my life, my dogs.

What are you working on now?
Adventure Dogs: Land based sports

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
dont give up
keep going
its hard but you will get there if you keep going

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
tomorrow is a mystery
yesterday is history
today is a gift, that is why it is called the present

live every day as though it was your last

carpe diem

What’s next for you as a writer?
my next books
adventure dogs 2
puppy books
trick training books
winter editions of adventure dogs

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?
eragon
ready player one
dont run whatever you do

 

Kevin Casey 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a professional freelance writer, former Alaskan chess champion, explorer of the world’s remotest wilderness rivers, and author of several non-fiction books, including:

The Little Encyclopedia of Modern Ignorance
Australian Bush Survival Skills
The Jet-setting Copywriter
The Over-40 Digital Nomad
Attracting Frogs to Your Garden
Jobs Abroad
Australian Chess Brilliancies

I was born in California, but have lived in Australia for the past thirty-odd years – and am loving it.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘The Little Encyclopedia of Modern Ignorance’ was primarily a reaction to how much spin, ideology-based denial and bias has been creeping into the information we absorb in this century. This book explores some of the most common forms of ignorance today, covering subjects as diverse as bottled water, life coaching, overpopulation denial, recycling, religion, vaccination and much more.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Pre-COVID, I did a lot of my best writing overseas, sitting in an Airbnb apartment at least ten floors above the traffic noise in cities like Plovdiv (Bulgaria), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy) or Santa Cruz (Bolivia).

I research first, write second, edit third. I never mix these three vital tasks together.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read all sorts of non-fiction. I’m a big fan of science and nature books. In the fiction realm, I like John D. McDonald, Lee Child, Harlan Coben, Elmore Leonard and Rex Stout.

What are you working on now?
Mostly, kayak fishing on the beautiful east coast of Australia!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Rule #1: When a new book comes out, don’t be shy about giving away enough freebies to get a nice chunk of honest reviews.
Rule#2: Put an Author Page on any website that will let you.
Rule#3: Always be polite and grateful in all interactions. Most people will love your books, but treat the haters just the same as those who gush over it.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Writing a book is the easy part. Making that book known to the wider world is where the real time and energy is spent, and when the serious work sets in. It can be the greatest book on earth but if no one knows it exists, you won’t sell a single copy.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Proofread everything three times… at least.

What are you reading now?
‘Riding the Rap’ by Elmore Leonard. It involves Raylan Givens, the U.S. Deputy Marshal made famous from the TV series ‘Justified’.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I tended to be guided by whim when deciding to write a new book. I still take on occasional freelance writing work, from crafting articles to ghost-writing other folks’ books for them.

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 think Killing Floor by Lee Child is possibly the best debut novel ever written, so I’d probably start with that. An instruction manual on how to open green coconuts and catch fish with a makeshift spear might also come in handy, under those particular circumstances. I’ve actually been stranded on a desert island (on purpose, in Papua New Guinea in 1989), and it wasn’t that fun. I contracted malaria and was robbed by bandits toting machetes, spears and an axe. The snorkeling was exceptional, though.

Author Websites and Profiles
Kevin Casey Website
Kevin Casey Amazon Profile

Kevin Casey’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

TS Krupa 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
T.S. Krupa was born in New Haven, Connecticut. Krupa and her younger sister were raised in a Polish household with a blended American culture by her parents Stan and Krys; she is fluent in Polish and frequently travels to visit family abroad.
Growing up in Clinton, Connecticut Krupa attended The Morgan High School. She started playing field hockey in the seventh grade after being cut from the soccer team. She was accepted to Franklin Pierce University (College then), where she continued playing field hockey for four years. She made it almost all ten years of her field hockey career without any injuries only to break her nose playing during her senior year. After college, Krupa traveled cross-country for a job at Texas Tech University. While there, she earned her Master’s and became a Red Raider (Guns Up!) and a huge college football fan. It was there that she started coaching club lacrosse and found an instant connection with coaching.

The next chapter in her life took Krupa from Texas to be with her then fiancé in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She continued coaching club lacrosse and then began coaching club field hockey. She is now in her seventh year of coaching club field hockey.

In 2009, she finally started work on her childhood goal and began working on her Doctorate of Education from North Carolina State University. Her dissertation topic focuses on ethical decision-making. Krupa graduated with her Ed.D. in May 2014.

Krupa now lives in North Carolina with her daughter, husband, and dog, Chase. Chase came into her and her husband’s life in 2009 after a neighbor found him tied up at a gas station. Krupa’s husband brought him home and told her that he had a surprise and if she wanted to keep it she needed to buy dog food. It was love at first sight and Chase is now spoiled rotten.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Big City Dreams is my latest full length novel. It initially, started out as novella back in 2016. After a three year break, I finally released it as a full length novel. It started as an idea in my journal as ‘girl walks dog – dog very spoiled’. I knew that I wanted it set in New York City because of the feel and attitude the city has. Logan being from Texas was a bit of a surprise and I wasn’t sure if it would work but her dialogue is so fun and comical.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have a toddler and work full time so I write where ever I am able. Most recently it’s in bed at night with my sleeping toddler draped over me in some form or fashion.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love reading so I have always felt that any author who has been able to create and put their work out to the public successfully is someone to look to. Authors I like reading – Sarah Dessen, Nicholas Sparks, Deborah Harkness and Emily Giffin. Throw back books would be Babysitters Club, Goosebumps and Wayside stories. Books I can reread forever – Harry Potter and Discovery of Witches.

What are you working on now?
When I thought about writing, I always thought I would write this story first. However, I kinda chickened out and put it on the back burner. It’s just this one is more personal. It’s still fiction but I really wanted to base the role of the older women on my babcia (Polish for grandmother). It just carries an extra weight of getting that character just right.

Here is a small teaser from Chapter 1 of my WIP 36 Pearl Street:

“Joey come here,” I heard mom calling. I looked up and saw her standing in the entry way to the building. She was standing with an older woman. She was heavier set and from what I could tell she had shoulder length gray hair that was swept back in a bandanna. She had a round face with a set of large glasses pushed up on the bridge of her nose, paired with a flowing frock as she rested on a cane.

“What’s up?” I said coming closer after giving up the search for my book.

“This is Pani Mazurek,” she said stepping aside as I came up the stairs.

“Pani? Is that Spanish?” I asked in confusion.

“No, it’s Polish, honey,” she said suddenly fidgeting. “You should know that.”

“Why should I know that?”

“You always talk to your mother like this?” the women said in a heavy accent.

“Why is it your business?” I shot back.

“Joey, manners,” mom got a little edge to her voice. I took a deep breath and forced a smile.

“I’m Joey,” I finally said extending my hand. Pani Mazurek made no move to shake my hand but instead studied me closely. I could see her eyes moving up and down before she narrowed her eyes.

“Joey is a boy’s name,” she said when she finally spoke.

“That’s a rude thing to say,” I replied without thinking.

“That’s not her real name, it’s a nickname,” my mom interjected with a nervous laugh.

“What’s your full name?” Pani Mazurek asked looking directly at me.

“Josephine Kaminski,” Mom answered as if the question was directed at her.

“Josephine good girls name, strong.” I repressed the sudden urge to stick my tongue out, like I was six. I just crossed my arms across my chest. After several long seconds, Pani Mazurek finally spoke.

“Ella, welcome to Pearl Street.”

“Don’t you mean welcome to New Haven or Connecticut?” I questioned unable to bite my tongue any longer.

“No, I said what I mean,” Pani Mazurek replied before turning and slowly walking back down the hallway to her apartment.

“Ella?” I questioned. “Mom no one calls you that, everyone calls you El.”

“Well, I’m trying something new,” she huffed and turned to walk up the stairs.

“Mom what gives? First you expect me to know some obscure Polish prefix and then out of the blue you’re suddenly going by your full name?”

“Do you remember Mrs. Brodjeck?” She asked. I mulled the name over for a minute.

“Was she the lady that you worked with at the dinner?” Mom shook her head no.

“Was she the lady you worked with at the bank?” Again, she shook her head no.

“Was she the elderly lady you watched in the evening?”

“Nope.”

“Oh, she was the lady that you cleaned houses with.”

“Yes, that’s her. She knew a lady who knows Pani Mazurek. When we were looking to leave North Carolina, I mentioned I was thinking of trying Connecticut and Mrs. Brodjeck called in a favor. She said she knew a place, furnished in a good neighborhood, reasonable rent but only rents to Polish people.”

“So, you lied?”

“I didn’t lie, we are Polish. Well, your dad was. He grew up in Connecticut not too far from here, remember?”

“I didn’t know that about dad,” I said trying to rack my memories for any stories about Connecticut, but I came up empty.

“Mom, we are Polish in name only. We know nothing about being Polish. Say one thing in Polish,” I said undeterred from my original point. We were back in the apartment and I stood with hand on hip waiting for her response.

“I now know that Pani is Mrs.,” she replied sheepishly.

“Mom you lied.”

“Joey, we needed a clean start, and this was promising. It is not a lie…it’s just a bit of a stretch. Mrs. Brodjeck also got me a job interview with the Catholic School around the corner. It is an administrative position and will have benefits. It will be good for us.”

“Sure, thing Pani Kaminski,” I snickered as I headed into my room and shut the door.

“Come on Joey don’t be like that,” she called after me.

“New life, new me…for now,” I mumbled to myself as I pulled open a box looking for my missing book.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I took a three year hiatus so I’m trying to figure this out again. The bloggers, reviewers and sites I used when I started in 2014 aren’t all around anymore so I’m starting anew. I have always been a fan of Goodreads and am working at getting better navigating it!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today. I mean it – there will ALWAYS be excuses for why you can’t write today, or you need more time, more money, etc. Just start writing – don’t worry about the other stuff until you have a completed book or project.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Remember even if you wrote just a page a day, that means in one year’s time you would have 365 pages! It was actually from a book I read, “The Compound Effect” by Darren Hardy. Great read, that talks about building on the little things to make big things rather than trying to build the mountain in a day – build it pebble by pebble.

What are you reading now?
I just finished Anxious People by Fredrik Backman it was so unique and refreshing.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on my fifth novel, 36 Pearl Street. One of the main characters is based on my feisty Polish grandmother.

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?
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (the longer the better!)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
Where she Went by Gayle Forman

Author Websites and Profiles
TS Krupa Website
TS Krupa Amazon Profile

TS Krupa’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Miranda Lyn 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an American author of epic fantasy novels. I have three published books currently. Blood and Promise, Chaos and Destiny, and Fate and Flame. All are part of my Fae Rising series. Since I was a kid, I liked to write short stories, most diving into intricate magical worlds with crazy twists and turns and epic battles. I just took that love and magnified it into something massive and loveable.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent book is Fate and Flame which is the finale of the first set of books in the Fae Rising series. I think I knew how that story was going to end before I ever knew how it was going to begin, or where it was going to begin. Fate and Flame challenged me more than I’d ever been challenged creatively. I knew I wanted to write adult novels, with a cast of characters everyone could relate to, and through that series, I think that was accomplished.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My first three books were written in 4.5 months. I lived and breathed that story. I occasionally consumed food and held conversations with my family, but for the most part, I hid away from a world suffering through a pandemic and wrote and wrote and wrote. It became an obsession. I dreamed of these characters and had conversations with them while showering and it truly became such a real story in my mind.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve been incredibly influenced by women as a whole. Every step of the publishing process has been handled by women. From the cover artist to the editor, even down to the book tour companies, I’ve taken a lot of time letting women help me build these books. Though she didn’t create the idea of fae, Sarah J Mass (Throne of Glass) certainly paved the way for storytellers to use the nature of the fae in the most creative ways. Holly Black (Folk of the Air) as well, showcasing more of the lore behind them. But then there was Morgan Rhodes who wrote such an epic, adventure series (Fallen Kingdoms). It all came together with Tricia Wentworth (The Culling Series) inspiring me to publish my obsession and Beck Michaels (Guardians of the Maiden) doing a little hand-holding. These incredible women have changed my life.

What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m working on the 4th book in the Fae Rising series, which follows a brand new character and dives a little deeper into some of our favorites from the core books. Pirates and sirens and fae, oh my.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I rely heavily on my readers. Instagram has been a source of great word of mouth to light a flame under these books. But that just isn’t enough. There are so, so many readers in the world and only a fraction of them are showcasing that on social media. I use ads, facebook, blog tours, and newsletters to help spread the word as well. Speaking of which, you can grab the first chapter of Blood and Promise free on my website (https://www.faerising.com/) if you sign up for my newsletter!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write the book. Start there. I wrote all three of my books before I even started worrying about publishing. I’m so glad I did. Be patient. Spend some time marketing your finished books while you’re editing. If you’re going to be an indie author, don’t assume it’s cheap or easy. If you really want to do well, you hire the appropriate professionals. No matter what they say, people do judge a book by its cover. Make sure it’s beautiful. Indie authors get a bad rap because of the poor editing some books have. Don’t be like them. Pay the professionals. Save if you have to. You’ll never be sorry you created a masterpiece with a beautiful finish.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You’ll never please everyone. I was totally that person that thought I would write this amazing series and everyone was going to love it and throw petals at my feet as I walked down the road waving to the fans. NOPE. Not everyone likes the same things. What one person finds fast-paced, another finds slow. What one person loves in a character, another will find annoying. Write your story the way you feel it’s meant to be written. Consult the professionals and let that be enough.

What are you reading now?
Right now I’m reading this amazing true YA series. The first book is Crystal and the series name is Starlatten. It’s really inspiring to read books outside of my genre. Darby Cupid does a beautiful job of creating interesting characters you want to know more about. I’m on her second book now, Rebel and I love the world-building and intrigue.

What’s next for you as a writer?
More writing. More books. More growth. That’s the ultimate goal of all of us I think. We keep going until the words run out. Storytellers must tell stories. I often wonder if I’ll stay in the Fantasy genre or if I’ll wander off into contemporary romance or write something witchy. I don’t know yet.

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?
Is it a desert island or a deserted island. I think there’s a difference right there. There’s wifi in the desert sometimes… I could bring my loaded kindle. Why am I panicking about this question? It’s fine. I’m fine. Hypothetical.
I’m bringing the whole ACOTAR series with me and you can fight me if you think I’m going to narrow it down from there.

Author Websites and Profiles
Miranda Lyn Website
Miranda Lyn Amazon Profile

Miranda Lyn’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Inez Colbert 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m Inez Colbert, cookie-baking soccer mom and dog lover by day, renegade erotic romance writer by night. Currently, I have seven books published, but that number climbs weekly as I release my short story series bit by bit. I also have novels lined up, already available for pre-order and releasing soon.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is the third book in the Confessions of a Call Girl series, called Bad Intentions. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YFHKJPQ
My short story series are all about pushing the limits, testing boundaries, and being the person we truly are rather than wearing a mask for the sake of what society thinks about us.
I grew up in a household where a lot of what’s real wasn’t talked about, because it just “wasn’t done” and it took me a long time to become comfortable with who I am and what I like. My books–especially my short stories–are all about embracing the parts of us that are natural and normal.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am a ghostwriter, so my day already consists of writing full-time. I guess I’m a sucker for punishment because when I’m not writing for clients, I write for myself. I sit down, set a timer, and need to reach a word count every time the alarm goes off. Some people call me a machine, but I don’t know how else to do it other than all the time and as fast as possible.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I discovered authors like Laurel K Hamilton and JR Ward, who were eye-openers to a world where sex and sexuality are acceptable. Before then, the topic was considered taboo in my life. I think those books shaped me as a writer, although I don’t write in the Paranormal Romance genre. They’ve shaped me not only as an author, but they’ve changed my outlook on certain things.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the first book that forms part of the One and Only series, called Yours Truly. It’s a full-length novel, where there book focuses on more than just the characters and their sexuality but the every day challenges they go through. It’s a love triangle, and a lovely story about finding and accepting your true identity. It’s currently available for discounted pre-order at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VJJJHBK and will be live on March 30th!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m new to the indie publishing world, and so don’t have a set method yet, but I have found great success advertizing with Awesomegang.com. I work on my mailing list where a lof of my sales come from when I advertise my books in newsletters, and I have an author website www.inezcolbert.com

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep at it. Write every day. Learn everything you can learn. Try, and try again. Every bit of energy you put out will come back to you, you just need to keep at it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
When you pick your audience, pick one person that embodies that audience and write for that person. Don’t write for an entire audience of say 1000 poeple. You can’t please everyone and give them what they want but you can please one person. Thats’ all you need.

What are you reading now?
The Wright Brother by K.A Linde

What’s next for you as a writer?
Regarding short stories, book 4 in my Confessions of a Call Girl series – Play Nice – is releasing next week. And I’m working feverishly to get Yours Truly ready for publishing at the end of the month. But I’ve already started working on the plot for book 2 in the same series, Yours Sincerely.

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 Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult, Timeline by Michael Crichton, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and A Dream of Fair Horses by Patricia Leech. These books are the golden classics to me, the books I keep coming back to over and over again.

Author Websites and Profiles
Inez Colbert Website
Inez Colbert Amazon Profile

Inez Colbert’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Bentley Turner 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Bentley Turner, a pseudonym, has written several short stories and numerous poems that have been published in literary journals and anthologies. Under his legal name he has written articles for academic journals and conference proceedings, chapters for academic books, entries for encyclopedias and other reference books, and books of nonfiction for the academic and reference markets.

“The File on Thomas Marks” is his first full-length mystery.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The File on Thomas Marks,” a full-length mystery, is actually inspired by a short story I wrote years ago. However, the only similarity between the two (novel and short story) is that both have two detectives investigating the murders of two women. Of course, the full-length mystery features Thomas Marks, the young, intelligent leading suspect.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think so, unless spending a lot of time researching something is considered unusual.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have been influenced by numerous writers over the years. Some of these writers have been Ed McBain (Evan Hunter), John D. MacDonald, Erle Stanley Gardner, Raymond Chandler, James M. Cain, Dashiell Hammett, Ross Macdonald, Ira Levin, Irving Wallace, and Sidney Sheldon.

What are you working on now?
An espionage novel tentatively titled “The Agency” that is set during the height of the Cold War.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am using various websites to promote my mystery “The File on Thomas Marks.” If this strategy is successful, I will use it for my next book.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you think whatever you’ve written is the best you’ve done, then send a sample of it to literary agents and/or publishers. Expect to receive rejections. More than likely you will. But don’t give up. You never know which agent or publisher will show interest in it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t give up!

What are you reading now?
I’m reading “The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway,” “The Stories of Erskine Caldwell,” and “The Collected Short Stories of Louis L’Amour: The Crime Stories, Volume Six.”

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m trying to interest a publisher in a collection of short stories, several of which were published in literary journals years ago, and editing “The Agency,” which I mentioned above.

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 Holy Bible,” and several lengthy books of short stories by various writers.

Author Websites and Profiles
Bentley Turner Amazon Profile
Bentley Turner Author Profile on Smashwords

Bentley Turner’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Maria Imbalzano 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I recently retired from the practice of law to write full time. I write contemporary romance and have four books published (Unchained Memories, Dancing in the Sand, Sworn to Remember, and Sworn to Forget) as well as two novellas (The Blueberry Swirl Waltz and A Song For Another Day). The third book in the Sworn Sisters series, Sworn to Fly, is under contract and will hopefully be out this summer.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“A Song for Another Day” is a novella inspired by my love of country music and Broadway. The hero of this novella lives in a small town working several jobs to survive, but he aspires to making it in Nashville as a singer/songwriter. The heroine is in town for two months to direct a community revue while awaiting word on whether she will be hired for the touring company of CATS. The songs that ran through my head as I was writing this book were Rumor by Lee Brice and One Man Band by Old Dominion.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I need to energize myself, I put a handful of M&Ms in a tiny white bowl and try to eat them slowly while I’m writing. It makes me happy. Chocolate in any form makes me happy.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Judith McNaught is one of my all time favorite romance authors. I love all her books. I also love Rachel Gibson and Emily Giffin. When I’m stuck on a scene, I will pick up any one of these authors books (I have them all) and read to get inspired.

What are you working on now?
I have two projects going. The third book in the Sworn Sisters series is in final edits with my editor. I am also writing a novella for The Wylder West series – a series put out by The Wild Rose Press. Most stories take place in the late 1800s in a fictitious town called Wylder in Wyoming. But since I’m a contemporary writer, I am fast-forwarding 140 years and setting my characters in that town in the present.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use many different sites to promote. A few are NN Light’s Book Heaven, Goddess Fish for review tours, In D’Tale Magazine, Wild Woman Reviews, Voracious Readers, NetGalley, Twitter, FB, and of course Awesome Gang.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Learn your craft. There are so many people out there who want to write a book, and they do. But they don’t learn how to write a story. Point of view, goal, motivation and conflict, story arcs, character arcs, dialogue — there is so much to learn, but some writers don’t want to take the time. And then they self-publish and the book is not good. There are hundreds of seminars and books to learn from. It is a life long learning experience. And its so much fun to learn.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write the best book that you can, no matter how long it takes. You don’t want to put something out there with your name on it that is lacking. Each of your books is a marketing tool for your next book, and you want your readers to want to read that next book.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading several books in the Wylder West series to get into the spirit of the town for the book I’m writing. Although my story takes place in the present, I want to experience the setting in the late 1800s. I’m also reading The Guest List by Lucy Foley for the book club that I’m in. We just finished Four Winds by Kristin Hannah.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am learning how to narrate my books for audio. It is quite a process and I’m not an actress, so I’m having a hard time changing my voice to distinguish one character from another. It’s a work in progress. Just like with writing, you must put out a good quality book so readers/listeners will pick up your next one.

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?
Gone with the WInd by Margaret Mitchell, Truly Madly Yours by Rachel Gibson, Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin and Replay by Ken Grimwood.

Author Websites and Profiles
Maria Imbalzano Website
Maria Imbalzano Amazon Profile

Maria Imbalzano’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Mackenzie Lynn 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born and raised in a small town
in southern Indiana called Spencer. When I am not writing or playing volleyball, I am traveling or spending time with my friends, family, and my cat, Manning. The Garden is my debut book.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Garden is a labor of love that is three years in the making. From sexist bosses to bad relationships, I wanted to create a place that women could find solidarity and encouragement in the times that strength is needed the most. I hope that this book brings as much comfort to those who read it as it has brought me to write it.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I will write in the middle of the night when I cannot sleep. I feel the need to take advantage of the time I have when no one else is awake and love to write when the rest of the world is asleep.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I grew up reading a lot of Junie B. Jones and John Green. This eventually turned into reading Steven King and memoirs by some of my favorite people.

What are you working on now?
I am working on writing more poetry, and hope to create a youth version of The Garden.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
While it’s hard to determine how it has helped my book sales, I enjoy talking to readers on social media and seeing how my work has impacted their outlook on feminism.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write whatever you want! Seriously, write everything you think down because you never know what it will turn into. The Garden was initially a diary of mine that has now been published.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You will regret more the things that you did not do than the things that you did.

What are you reading now?
Turtles All The Way Down by John Green

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am hoping to publish my next book in 2022.

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?
Yes Please by Amy Poehler
What I Know for Sure by Oprah Winfrey
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur

Author Websites and Profiles
Mackenzie Lynn Website

Mackenzie Lynn’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile