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Julie Lyford 

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

Julie Schanke Lyford has been fortunate enough to live and travel throughout much of the US and Europe. She has visited Greece, Holland, Scotland, Wales, France and Denmark, to name only a few. In the 80s, Julie lived in London and camped out to witness Princess Diana’s in the royal procession to her marriage, an interesting tidbit she rightfully likes to share. The chance to see so much of the world has also given Julie the unique opportunity to see how humanity functions in various countries. She has witnessed both the good and the bad and been inspired by both.

Throughout her life, Julie has lived as an activist. She employs her degrees in Theatre and Communications, coupling them with her passion for public speaking to stand up for the rights of others. The cause closest to her heart has always been same-sex marriages. Julie was trained by Minnesota United for All Families and traveled throughout Minnesota, giving speeches, working tirelessly in rallying the vote for Marriage Equity in Minnesota. According to her father, Robert, co-author of Katy had Two Grandpas, Julie began her life of activism at an early age after a rally with her parents at Capitol Hill. Julie has dedicated many, many years to her causes and received the Lavender Community Award in recognition.

While raising her children, Julie noticed the lack of picture books depicting a family dynamic such as their family had. There were books about gay dads and moms, but none featuring gay grampas. Recognizing the need children have to connect with stories and see themselves in the pages, Julie and Robert created their book Katy has Two Grampas. Julie worked with illustrator Mariia Luzina, who lived in Italy at the time, during the Covid pandemic lockdown. The two of them communicated via text and email to create the perfect pictures to go along with the story. Katy has Two Grampas is based on an event that happened to Julie’s youngest daughters and features a cast of characters from the lives of Julie and her family.

When she is not writing or presenting, Julie loves to spend time with her family. She enjoys watching movies and live theatre and is looking forward to traveling again once the world recovers from the pandemic. Julie Schanke Lyford lives in West Saint Paul, MN, with her husband Rafe, two daughters Katy and Madi, and Wallace, their rescue dog.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Katy Has Two Grampas
“Being a mother, I have read many picture books to my children. However, there were NONE that showed OUR family unit, a family with gay grampas. Working together with my father, Robert, we have taken a true story and turned it into a beautifully illustrated picture book.”

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Our entire book was written during COVID – the author, illustrator and publisher never met up in person…it was all created virtually. The authors lived in Iowa and Minnesota and the illustrator was in lock down in Italy.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Cricket in Times Square, Lucy in the Country, Make Way for Ducklings

What are you working on now?
We aren’t working on another book yet but have many ideas…

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

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up. It sounds trite but its true. We toyed around with the idea for our book for YEARS and finally have a published book.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Throw kindness around like confetti.

What are you reading now?
Star Wars: Ahsoka

What’s next for you as a writer?
Promoting the heck out of my current book, visiting classrooms

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?
Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, Drums of Autumn

Author Websites and Profiles
Julie Lyford Website
Julie Lyford Amazon Profile

Julie Lyford’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Pinterest Account

D. Gabrielle Jensen 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have been writing and telling stories for as long as I can remember. The only thing that has potentially been a bigger part of my life is music, always present, always comforting, always inspiring. I am a cat mom and spend my days as a cosmetologist. I have written countless stories over the years, publishing several in anthologies and others through online platforms. I am currently two books deep in a trilogy with the finale coming in September, 2021.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The trilogy I am working on right now is centered around a bounty hunter named Fia Drake; the series is named for her. The first book is Drummers and Demons and the whole story started as a short story challenge through a writing group: a human female protagonist with dragon-like characteristics in a speculative fiction environment. Once I started writing her story, she took the reins and wouldn’t let go until I finished.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t plan my first draft and I don’t even write it in order. I just write whatever comes to me, as it comes to me. Then I stitch it together into a kind of Frankendraft before planning how to fill in any gaps, sort out continuity, and add details.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The earliest influence on my writing was R.L. Stine. I read every Fear Street book that interested me throughout my early teens. As an adult, I have taken a lot of inspiration from Jim Butcher, Neil Gaiman, and Stephen King.

What are you working on now?
The final book of the Fia Drake series is with my editor who is giving it the final touches before publication. While I’m waiting for that, I’m doing some initial brainstorming on new ideas. I am looking at my next novel as well as short stories and novellas for a few other avenues including Patreon and Kindle Unlimited.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am on Instagram and I have a Facebook group for fans, both of which I have been cultivating for five years or more but in just this year alone I have amassed a comfortable following on TikTok. I think the active content is more engaging for authors looking to make real, genuine connections with readers, in contrast with the static nature of other platforms. I have definitely had more people on TikTok tell me that they have purchased or read my book(s) or added them to their Amazon wishlists.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Determine for yourself what success looks like to you. Decide what you want from your books, from your career. Are you successful because you got the words on the page? Do you want to help people overcome trauma or just escape from their everyday lives? What is your goal? That will make it easier for you to decide your next steps.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I struggled with a creative block for long enough that I was afraid I would never get past it. I reached out to a fellow creative who told me essentially I was getting in my own way, that I was overthinking. He told me, “don’t be afraid to get stupid. Be free, be wrong.” When I’m in the early stages of any new project, I write those words on the cover of my new notebook to remind myself.

What are you reading now?
I am a die-hard paperback reader so I tend to be a little behind in trends. I have started Peace Talks, the sixteenth book of the Dresden Files. I have managed to avoid any real spoilers but I have heard that it is a rough ride so while I have been waiting less-than-patiently for this and the one to follow, I am not eager to have my heart broken.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am sorting through a collection of ideas. My intention, moving forward, is a new novel with new characters while also sorting out a serial novella for Patreon subscribers and something to test the Kindle Unlimited algorithm, all of which are in their infancy so I am not quite ready to share details.

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 am not a re-reader. I can count the books I have re-read on my fingers and half of them are collections of Garfield comic strips and the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series. So I would probably pick some off my to-be-read list, maybe some of the more daunting titles like Stephen King’s IT and the Stand. I still have my literature texts from college that could provide some variety, perhaps the collection of American literature. It really depends on how long I’m going to be stranded.

Author Websites and Profiles
D. Gabrielle Jensen Website
D. Gabrielle Jensen Amazon Profile

D. Gabrielle Jensen’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

Ian Slatter 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in Somerset in the UK with my wife, two teenage kids and two cats.

I cut my writing teeth writing for a satirical news website called Newsbiscuit and also wrote for some comedy sketch shows on TV and radio, before moving on to writing books.

The first two I wrote were non-fiction books about sport, called Premier League Legends and Incredible Moments in Sport, but I really wanted to write some fiction, so in 2020 I published my first novel. It’s called Eco Worrier, and it’s a funny middle grade novel with lots of twists and turns.

I’ve also written a short story called Don’t Mess With Marty Marsh, featuring the hero of Eco Worrier, which is available for free on my website – ianslatter.com .

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I released my second middle grade novel – Danny Mann Super Fan – in May 2021. It’s all about an eleven-year-old boy who stumbles across a bizarre pre-match ritual that seems to make his favourite football (soccer) team really lucky, and they start winning.

Sports fans are generally a pretty superstitious lot who will try anything that they think gives their team any sort of advantage, no matter how ridiculous, but I started to wonder – “what if someone found some sort of superstition that actually worked?” That’s where the idea for the story came from.

It’s one thing finding a lucky ritual, it’s another managing to keep it going though, as Danny soon finds out.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to use Excel spreadsheets to plot my stories. I find it really easy to change and move scenes about. I only start writing once I’ve got the plot laid out in a way that I think works (although it often changes once I’ve begun to write it).

What authors, or books have influenced you?
If I could write like anyone, I’d love to be able to write like Sir Terry Pratchett. I love his sense of humour and his ability to use a fantasy world (Discworld) to hold a mirror up to our world. He was also gifted enough to write brilliantly for children and adults. It was terrible that he was taken from us so soon.

What are you working on now?
Next up for me (I’ve finished the Excel planning stage and have started writing now!) is a follow-up to Danny Mann Super Fan.

Although it’s a series, each book is going to feature a different protagonist, with the common thread being that they’re all based around the same football team. Book number two is going to have a time-travel element to it too – I’m saying no more than that right now!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I wouldn’t just pick one, I think you need to cover lots of bases – social media, blogs/reviews, Amazon ads, paid promotion sites, getting your categories and keywords right… You need to blitz the lot!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My best advice would be to get your first draft finished. Don’t stop if there’s a passage or a chapter you’re not happy with – just get that first draft completed, even if it means leaving gaps here and there. The sense of achievement when you finish your draft will give you momentum, and you can then go back to rewrite whatever you think needs changing without the feeling that you’re never going to get it finished.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I was told by an editor to make sure your readers really care what happens to your protagonist. Show them early on what your hero is trying to achieve, then put lots of obstacles in their way to make it interesting. If your reader sympathises with your hero, they’ll be rooting for him/her and will want to keep reading to find out what happens. If you think about most of your favourite books (and movies) you’ll probably find that’s the case with them.

What are you reading now?
The Stranger Times, by CK McDonnell. I’d loved his Dublin Trilogy (five books!), written as Caimh McDonnell and so wanted to try this title under his pen-name. I’ve not been disappointed. If you like a great tale, well told, with plenty of humour, give his books a go.

What’s next for you as a writer?
As I mentioned earlier, Danny Mann Super Fan is the first in a series, and I want to write at least two more books to follow it up (maybe it’ll be a five book trilogy – see above). After that, I’ve got some ideas I’d really like to turn into a mystery series for younger readers. I’d also like to go back and write a sequel to Eco Worrier.

That should keep me busy for a while!

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?
Moving Pictures by Terry Pratchett – As I said above, I’m a huge Discworld fan. All the books are brilliant, but if I had to pick just one it would probably be this one.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie – I’m a big fan of Agatha Christie too, and this is definitely one her best.

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster – One of my favourite books from my childhood, I love re-reading it.

The One Man by Andrew Gross – I read this last year and it really blew me away. A fantastic story and a very important subject.

Author Websites and Profiles
Ian Slatter Website
Ian Slatter Amazon Profile

Ian Slatter’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account

Billy McLean 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an Aussie mum, author, coach and entrepreneur.

After working in many industries & becoming frustrated, as an employee, network marketer and contractor, I realised the common theme of my frustration and restlessness was that the frameworks were not mine. I wanted to unleash my gifts & purpose by creating my own business that I could thrive in; so I entered the world of entrepreneurship!

I love connecting with nature through gardening, bushwalking and camping, and find these passions refreshing & calming in the midst of the constant busyness of modern life. I advocate time out in nature to slow down and channel all those creative ideas that come when you give them time & space.

My ultimate goal is to get women reinvigorated; about their choices, their potential and their purpose. I set women on a journey to rediscover their inspiration & ultimately follow their unique path.

I have written my first book: Little Ideas, Big Business: 5 Steps to Turn Your Ideas into A Business, and the accompanying workbook is coming out in June 2021, along with a collaboration with 12 other amazing women: The Smart Girl Revolution.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My Ideas Workspace is my latest book, which was inspired by my coaching clients that wanted a workbook to go along with the Little Ideas, Big Business book.

The workspace is a place for you to channel your creativity and hone in your business ideas, and turn them into action plans.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I do the majority of my first drafts on Zoom! I love being able to talk out my ideas and then refine them later on.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The book that encouraged me to finish my book, was Finish by Jon Acuff! I don’t think it would be done without reading that book!
The Heart-Centred Woman’s Guide to Healthy Boundaries by Lauren da Silva was amazing to remember that my goals & dreams are as important as other people’s.
The Joy of Genius by Gay Hendricks is another great book to help you zone in on the things that you love to do in life.

What are you working on now?
I am currently finishing the The Smart Girl Revolution collaboration (Book #1), which tells the stories of 13 amazing women who have forged their own way instead of conforming to what society told them “success” was. It’s an amazing project to be working on!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Get a launch team together and get them to help you promote on the socials!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Your story is worth telling! If you are worried that it’s not, remember what inspired you & why you’re writing. It’s ok to take a break, as long as you commit to coming back.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You are the only one who can tell your story. Therefore, you have something to share.

What are you reading now?
Soul Modes by Carlie Maree

What’s next for you as a writer?
I am embarking on a new series of semi-illustrated books for thoughtful adults. So super excited!!

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
The biggest Suduko book I could find
Soul Modes by Carlie Maree
Feelings Buried Alive Never Die by Karol K Truman

Author Websites and Profiles
Billy McLean Website

Billy McLean’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Pinterest Account

Marianne Thomas 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hello! So lovely to share here. I’ve written the first two books in the Castlewood High Tales series and one related short story in the Castlewood High Origin Stories series under the pen name Mary-Kate Thomas.

The first book, Pumpkin Run, is a clean and wholesome high school romance with a fun take on retelling of the classic fairy tale, Cinderella. The second book in the Castlewood High Series, Team Peabrain, is also a clean and wholesome high school romance with a fun take on retelling the fairy tale, The Princess and the Pea.

The short story, The Ugly Truth, is the origin story of the stepmother character in Pumpkin Run (remember – Cinderella always has to have a wicked stepmother!) and is more of a mystery with a touch of romance, using the classic fairy tale, The Ugly Duckling, as a framework for the story.

I like to describe myself as a lifelong reader and a newbie author, but in truth, I’ve been writing since I was very young – like most authors.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is the second book in the Castlewood High Series, Team Peabrain. Again, it’s a retelling of the classic tale, The Princess and the Pea, with a high school romance between an unlikely couple.

All the main female characters in the Castlewood High Tales series are girls who are both strong and smart; the “magic” in these books is the magic of falling in love for the first time.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to dictate my first drafts while walking. I find it easier to think my way into the heart of the story while I’m moving instead of sitting at a desk.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
So, so many – truly. I read so many different authors and genres (and hope to write in different genres over time, thus the pen name) and it’s hard to narrow down to just a few.

I will say Stephen King was a huge influence on me, both in the detail of everyday people and places that he captures so skillfully while weaving together complex plots as well as his books on writing and craft.

What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m working on the third book in the Castlewood High Series, Camp Castlewood. This one is a fun retelling of the classic fairytale, The Beauty and the Beast. It’s set to release in early August 2021.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still learning! That’s probably one of the best things about indie publishing – you’re always challenged to learn a new skill in order to build your business and promote your books.

I have taken part in several newsletter swaps which always help to introduce my books to new readers.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Find what works for you. Sitting at a desk to type my first drafts is difficult for me; experimenting with dictating then editing the transcript has been a game changer for me. Keep reading about anything that interests you – from fiction to non-fiction. Writers need active and curious minds.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
From Stephen King – write the first draft with the door closed. Literally or metaphorically. Gaurd that story and give it the time and space it needs to grow to fulfillment with as little outside interference as possible.

What are you reading now?
I just finished The Lightest Object in the Universe by Kimi Eisele and am now reading Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin. I also just finished The Girls in the Attic by Marius Gabriel.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep hitting my word counts, publish book three (Camp Castlewood) in the Castlewood High Series, write another origin story for a side character from Team Peabrain. And keep growing my audience of readers. I’m thankful for all those who have given my books a chance.

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 Stand by Stephen King
Watership Down by Richard Adams
The Once and Future King by T.H. White
All the short stories by Shirley Jackson and Flannery O’Connor.

Author Websites and Profiles
Marianne Thomas Website
Marianne Thomas Amazon Profile

Marianne Thomas’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile

AJ Skelly 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
AJ Skelly is an author, blogger, and lover of all things fantasy, medieval, and fairy-tale-romance. And werewolves. She has a serious soft spot for them. As an avid life-long reader and a former high school English teacher, she’s always been fascinated with the written word. She lives with her husband, children, and many imaginary friends who often find their way into her stories. They all drink copious amounts of tea together and stay up reading far later than they should.
First Shift is her debut novel, but the sequel, Rogue Shift will be released October of 2021. Several other books are in the works!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
First Shift is my debut release–it’s YA paranormal romance. There are a few things that inspired me to write it. My first two years teaching were at the height of the Twilight craze. A handful of students started a rumor that I was a werewolf. It stuck. The next year, I had freshman come in and in all seriousness ask me, “Is it true that you’re a werewolf?”
First Shift is largely a nod to those special students. You can find more about them in the dedication of the book.
The other major thing that inspired the writing of The Wolves of Rock Falls series is my general love for shifter fiction. I think it’s such a cool concept–but I kept getting annoyed at the books I was finding. They had elements I wanted, but too many I didn’t. I couldn’t find the exact shifter fiction book I wanted to read, so I decided to write it myself.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Almost all my writing takes place in the late hours of the night after my kids are in bed. I turn on my epic battle music (because I am that nerd), and I write until I can’t stay awake anymore.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve been a reader all my life, and a store creator nearly as long. But I didn’t put the metaphorical pen to paper until much later. But some of my favorite authors who inspired me along the way are Shari L. Tapscott, Chanda Hahn, C. J. Redwine, Karen Hancock, C. S. Lewis, Brenda Pandos, April White…the list could go on for ages.

What are you working on now?
Right now I’m working on Book II of a trilogy. Currently, the trilogy is titled Tales of Sugar and Spice and it’s a loose YA retelling of The Nutcracker.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I love social media as a way to connect with readers and like-minded readers and writers. I also really love it when people sign up for my newsletter and then email me to tell them about themselves! I answer every email.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up! Writing and publishing is not for the faint of heart. But it’s massively rewarding. Tell the stories inside you.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Some of the very best advice I’ve ever gotten can be summed up in a quote from my dad,” If it’s right, it’s right. If it’s wrong, it’s wrong. If it’s wrong, don’t do it.”
But as for writing advice, two of the most useful bits I’ve picked up along the way are, “The only method that works is the one you use.” And, “The magic happens in the edits.”

What are you reading now?
Right now I’m reading through my final galley (the last round of edits) for First Shift’s sequel, Rogue Shift, which will be released with The Wild Rose Press in October 2021!

What’s next for you as a writer?
At this point, I’ll be working on finishing up The Wolves of Rock Falls series, as well as working to finish the Tales of Sugar and Spice trilogy. After that…I have about half a dozen other story ideas floating around in my head that will need to get out at some point.

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 cheating to bring three or four series? My all-time favorite series is Karen Hancock’s Legends of the Guardian King series. I think Pippa of Lauramore by Shari L. Tapscott is up there pretty high on the list as well.

Author Websites and Profiles
AJ Skelly Website
AJ Skelly Amazon Profile

AJ Skelly’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Laurie Sudbrink 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi I’m Laurie. I grew up in a tiny upstate-NY town where cows outnumber people! I’m the middle child of 14 (I fondly refer to us as the Crazy Bunch – kinda like the Brady Bunch gone wild!). This childhood experience is probably what set the course for me to “help people work better together.” I founded Unlimited Coaching Solutions, Inc. in 1999.

Leading With GRIT is the first book I’ve written. It was a lot more work than I anticipated, but it was a labor of love for sure. I’ve created a GRIT Productivity Planner, and just finished and submitted the audio version of Leading With GRIT. My plans are to create a self-directed Lead With GRIT workbook, and then write some more GRIT books: Communicate with GRIT; Team GRIT; etc.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Leading With GRIT was inspired by my own workplace dread, along with watching so many people dreading Monday morning! I grew up in a bit of a dysfunctional family, and I started to see a lot of workplaces are dysfunctional too. After over 15 years training and coaching, I thought it was time to put it into a book so even more people could benefit from this simple formula – GRIT.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure if this is unusual, but I’m not structured and disciplined. I need to think about it – take walks, visualize it – and then get it to paper. Collaborating gets my juices flowing and ideas popping. My thoughts flow way faster than I can capture them. Ideally I’d love someone to just audio record my workshops and sessions and help me put it all together… but, it didn’t happen like that. I had index cards, sticky notes and papers sprawled over my entire living room and dining room for weeks!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Four Agreements has been the biggest influence for me, both personally and professionally. I met Don Miguel Ruiz in NYC many years ago and connected instantly (as he does with many!).
I went to multiple retreats and spent 1:1 time with Don Miguel. I had already been using “don’t take things personally” and “don’t make assumptions” in my trainings before I met him.
I am forever grateful for that time with him, and for his wonderful endorsement of my book.

What are you working on now?
As mentioned, my next project is a self-directed Lead With GRIT workbook, and then I’ll write some more GRIT books: Communicate with GRIT; Team GRIT; etc. I’m also considering an online, self-directed course on Lead With GRIT.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Linked in and Amazon are all I’ve used to promote my books so far, and messages to my email list. I just discovered Awesome Gang and some other cool book promo sites.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Understand your Truth around writing the book. Why are you writing it? What is the purpose? This helps keep you in Integrity (aka aligned to your Truth). You’ll stay focused on the actions that make the most sense. You’ll be respecting yourself, and it will be easier for you to genuinely give to your audience. (Um, we just used GRIT, did you notice?)

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Be yourself – everyone else is already taken.” Oscar Wilde

What are you reading now?
Just finished “The Nightingale” last night – what an outstanding book.

What’s next for you as a writer?
To write more GRIT books and share the formula in different situations. It really is a great roadmap to create the life you deserve. It can be applied in so many ways. I want to share that with people so they can be free to choose to live life authentically and without regrets.

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
The Four Agreements
Wilderness Survival Guide
Blank Journal

Author Websites and Profiles
Laurie Sudbrink Website
Laurie Sudbrink Amazon Profile

Laurie Sudbrink’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile

Leigh Hall 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a wife, mother of three boys, soaker of the sun, lover of the words. Born and raised in Texas, where I plan to spend the rest of my days.
I write twisted and sometimes a little disturbing thriller and suspense novels. My books are not for everyone as they contain some triggers, but boy, are they fun.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Capability releases on June 24th, 2021
This dramatic psychological thriller was oddly inspired by my neighborhood. Watching the people around me and all their odd quirks but Melany and Richard Polk into my head. I love this story, and I hope you all do too.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really, I do not write every day, only when the mood strikes. I write my endings first if that counts as unusual.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Charlaine Harris. I love everything she has written. I got the chance to meet her back in 2019 and fell in love with her as a person. She doesn’t know it yet but we are best friends.

What are you working on now?
Something different. A dark humor fantasy book of sorts. I’m only about a third of the way into it and hope that people won’t think I am insane once it’s finished.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I find that connecting with readers on a personal level never fails. Get to know them and let them see a glimpse of who you really are, whether it’s online or at in-person signing or events.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read! Read everything you can get your hands on. Offer to arc read anyone else’s books. Read every genre, fiction, and non-fiction. Also, never bash another author. If you don’t like someone or their books, you don’t have to play with them.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
When you finish a rough draft, set it aside for a couple of months. Take a break and start something new. You will have clearer eyes once you come back to it.

What are you reading now?
The Stand by Stephen King and Four Winds by Kristin Hannah.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have a ton of traveling coming up. The next twelve months are booked with several stops in different states.

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?
Edible Wild Plants by Elias and Dykeman, How To Survive On A Deserted Island by Tim O’Shei, and The Invaders Plan by L. Ron Hubbard-I haven’t read it, but it sounds interesting, and with close to 4,000 pages, I assume it will keep me entertained for a while.

Author Websites and Profiles
Leigh Hall Website
Leigh Hall Amazon Profile

Leigh Hall’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile

Edward Arno 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Edward Arno was born in a field in Frankley Beeches, Birmingham, England. My father was a milkman and my mother was a house parlor maid. They met during a bombing raid at the end of the Second World War. Growing up on a council estate in Birmingham England, I attended the local state schools. The Issigonis Mini auto plant at Longbridge was the symphonic sound of my childhood. After attending the Royal Radar Establishment College of Electronic I joined the entertainment industry. Performing as Brinarno the Clown in Clown Cavalcade. I was writing, directing, and performing in a string of plays based on traditional Comedia del arte in theatres all over Britain, including the Royal National Theatre. After making two films with David Bailey, as a clown, I had the opportunity to appear on the front cover of European Vogue. Moving forward with my career I directed many music videos for Eurythmics, Aretha Franklin, and Bob Dylan. I wrote and directed Willie and the Poor Boys, a 30-minute film starring Rolling Stones’ Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, and Ron Wood, as well as Pete Townsend from The Who and a cameo role from Ringo Star. This led to directing and producing Celebration Jazz – featuring the Charlie Watts Orchestra in concert with performances from virtually every name in the British jazz scene, including Courtney Pine and Gail Thompson. My next project was writing and directing the film Murder Story, staring Sir Christopher Lee. I moved to America after a short spell of teaching in corporate America he began writing murder mysteries. So far, I have written eight books and have five published. I reside in Burbank, California, and an active member of the Mystery Writers of America.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Artist Within. The life I wanted as a teenager inspired the Artist Within. Forced by my father to get a proper job. I had won a place at a prestigious Art School only to cancel and take up electronic engineering.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have a teddy bear on my desk and read to him after I have written something. He usually just looks at me and thinks, is that it.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Anything by P.D. James, Ruth Rendell and Gar Anthony Haywood. For a book that influenced my I would say Breathing Life into your characters by Rachel Ballon.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a spy mystery set in Los Angeles. The protagonist is accused of being a traitor and set up for two murders.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Obviously I use social media, my research has suggested that Awesome Gang is the best for promoting my book.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write the book, then edit. I know too many new authors who, several years later, are still on their first chapter. I think knowing your audience (readers) will be is very important.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Start at the beginning, go onto the end, then stop. Then edit.

What are you reading now?
I am re-reading Police at the funeral by Margery Allingham. Just finished Death in Shangri-La by Yigal Zur.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I have five ideas which might become books. My James Pidgley series is crying out for a new story.

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?
Literature by Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs. The Culture of Make Believe by Derrick Jensen. Alan Turing The Enigma by Andrew Hodges. When A Stranger Comes to Town a Mystery Writers of America anthology.

Author Websites and Profiles
Edward Arno Website
Edward Arno Amazon Profile

Edward Arno’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
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Shannon Ezzo 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, I’m Shannon. I’m a wife, mother, and small business owner who has a new book out about
MY story of survival with domestic violence. This is my first book so far!

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The book’s name is “Battered Blessings: Surviving my abusive, toxic relationship.” I wrote
it in hopes of being able to help other women in similar situations and ignite much
needed open and honest conversations surrounding this topic. I hope to answer some
questions for people who are curious about how this can happen to someone, and
hopefully, show how it IS possible to exit safely and still have an amazing life.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. It only took about five weeks to write the whole 515 pages, but that’s most
likely because it was my real-life experience.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
David Pelzer was a big one for me. His book, “A child” really stuck with me, and to
be honest inspired how open and honest I was in my book.

What are you working on now?
Currently, I am not working on another book. However, MY abuser’s most recent victim and I are throwing around the idea of co-writing a follow-up book about her experience with
him. We’ll see how it goes…

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My best advice would be to send your manuscript to as many publishing companies as
possible and find the best fit for you.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t settle for someone you can live with. Wait for the person you can’t live without. My
father always told me that, I believe he got it from his mother who I never got the
chance to know. But it always made sense to me.

What are you reading now?
Unfortunately, nothing at the moment. I run my cabinet finishing company which is
keeping me overwhelmed now. But it is a good thing!

What’s next for you as a writer?
Possibly the follow-up story.

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?
Wow-what an awesome question! I’d have to say the Harry Potter books, only because I love all the movies but never actually read them. Anything Steven King, I love scary books. Last but certainly not least, the Bible.

Author Websites and Profiles
Shannon Ezzo Website
Shannon Ezzo Amazon Profile
Shannon Ezzo Author Profile on Smashwords

Shannon Ezzo’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Pinterest Account

J. Gibson 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I previously published only nonfiction, papers in academic journals, but I’ve always had an interest in creative writing, and so I decided to dabble in dark fantasy fiction.

I have a quadrilogy and one solo novel planned for my book series. The first book is written and available on (eBook) pre-order as of June 15, 2021, to be published on July 15, 2021. The second book is largely done, and I am outlining book three now. Though, I have many scenes written for all of the books.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The first book of my Planar Lost series is called “The Blackened Yonder.” I had an idea a few years ago for a short story and then decided to turn it into a full novel. The book was originally going to be a prequel story to a little RPG (a video game) that I was working on, but I decided that I enjoyed making the book more.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I obsess over certain words that catch my eye as I read repeating too closely together. It causes my editor and book designer a bit of grief, and my editor insists that no one will notice and I should let it go (“these are horizontal improvements,” as he likes to say). I’d like to stop, but I don’t know how!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I actually don’t read much fiction, at least not regularly because I usually don’t have time, so I wouldn’t say I’ve been influenced by any books or authors in particular.

What are you working on now?
I am currently working on book two of my series (to be titled, The Ember Reach).

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My primary promotional tool is Twitter and my newsletter has helped me quite a bit.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Learn the “do’s” and “don’ts” of good writing noted by existing authors and style guides, like not overusing adjectives and adverbs, but keep in mind that those “rules” can occasionally be broken. Showing is often best, but some things can be told, otherwise the reading becomes labored. Imagine, for example, if every reference to a character’s past was presented as a full flashback rather than simply being communicated briefly to the reader sometimes. I think it’d become tedious.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
No book is ever finished, only abandoned, so don’t worry too much about it being “perfect.”

What are you reading now?
When I do read, I read almost exclusively nonfiction.

I am currently reading The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England by Dan Jones.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to finish my series and solo novel, and then I’m not sure.

I may write more, or not.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I’d probably bring books I could learn something from, in case I ever got away from the island, so I might bring: (1) The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England, (2) Life in a Medieval City by Joseph Gies, and (3) The Face of Battle: A Study of Agincourt, Waterloo and the Somme by John Keegan.

I feel nonfiction would make you feel more connected to the real world.

Author Websites and Profiles
J. Gibson Website
J. Gibson Amazon Profile

J. Gibson’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

DarrenChristopher Rowland 

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an Experienced Professional Life Coach and Specialist in Permanent ( Not temporary ) Weight Loss with over 30 Years of Experience.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have been awarded many times including Best London Life Coach, Best U.K Life Coach, Best International Life Coach, and as a weight-loss coach he has been Awarded: Leading Specialist in Weight Loss & Weight Management between 2018 & 2021.

I have been Coaching for weight loss to Top VIP’s from around the World since 2012.

I qualified in the National Academy of Sports Medicine and have over 30 years of experience in the field of Exercise Physiology and the field of Nutrition, I’ve been designing Exercise Programs and Nutritional Programs since 1991. In addition, I have been Life Coaching since 2001 and I have vast experience in the field of Psychology.

I have written a 500-page book and co-authored a second book with Jim Britt, a top 20 world coach in personal development, this book reached #1 Amazon International bestseller recently and is also endorsed by Tony Robbins.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Only For The Serious – Permanent Weight Loss’ is a Complete Mindset, Nutritional and Exercise Program that from start to finish, will effectively Navigate you on HOW to keep your excess weight OFF – Permanently.

I was inspired to write this because of the dismal figures that haven’t changed for eons, which are that around 95% – 99% of people who attempt to lose their excess weight – fail.

With the experience and background of 30 years behind me in this industry, I decided to put everything into a cost-effective resource – a book – that virtually anyone could access. Quite honestly it pains me to see good people put so much effort and commitment into trying to make their health and shape better – only to fail.

I believe that people deserve a better model than the outdated and inefficient diet and calorie-reduced based approach, people don’t fail per say – the model they use fails and as an industry, I believe it needs a thorough shaking up!

I hope my book becomes the game changer that I designed it to be, it not mainstream or traditional, has none of the limitations associated with weight loss ( NO dieting, NO calorie counting, NO cutting out any food groups, NO cutting out naughty / treat foods etc… ) yet still produces fabulous results and is modelled for the world’s top VIP that I have the privilege to have coached in this area for a decade now.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes! I am not grammatically perfect when I write, I strongly believe that real, in-person conversing involves a large number of variables including tone of voice, body language etc… and plain monotone content writing, for me at least, misses out all the ‘depths ‘ of the conversation so I tend to use underlines, bold, large writing even colour in my delivery as a means to deepen the impact of the conversation.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Tony Robbins, Zig Ziglar, Brian Tracey, I also love to read autobiographies.

What are you working on now?
Mentoring Life Coaches to make the progressive leap from standard – to Superior in the industry. Because I started at rock bottom in 2001, I have been able to create the success I now experience because of – all the errors and mistakes I went through, I believe I can help others to ‘skip’ these pitfalls and make speedier progress in this industry than I did.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Quite honestly, delivering and sharing free information anywhere and everywhere, I believe, is the best method to obtain the attention one seeks. I am not a salesperson, I couldn’t sell snow to an Eskimo! I believe in simple and honest sharing of valuable info to positively impact the audience that it is reaching.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes, humbly, write from your heart, not from your head. Write what you believe in, not what you think people want to hear. Big difference. I got very tangled up in the very beginning because everyone was dishing out varying opinions on what to write, how to write etc… And it became a minefield of contradiction. Eventually, I just pushed it all aside and went with my feelings.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“When your green you grow – when you ripen, you rot” Mr. McDonald shared that.

What are you reading now?
The Autobiography of Bruce Springsteen “Born to run.”

What’s next for you as a writer?
My 3rd book is based on Mentoring Life Coaches to make the progressive leap from standard – to Superior in the industry.

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 “Republic” by Plato, ” Laozi” by Tao Te Ching and “No time like the future” by Michael J Fox.

Author Websites and Profiles
DarrenChristopher Rowland Website
DarrenChristopher Rowland Amazon Profile

DarrenChristopher Rowland’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account